I didn’t realize it would be a few weeks between my posts but if you missed the announcement on Instagram…we MOVED! I should probably do a whole dedicated post just about that, but needless to say, it’s been quite busy around here. They say moves are one of the most stressful life events and I would have to agree. It’s exhausting on the physical level, but also the mental one as well. And then throw a few busy kids in the mix, and it’s even more challenging. We are finally feeling a little more settled though after unpacking about 100 boxes. There is still a lot of organizing to do and unfortunately it’s very hard to find the time during the day between Matthew working, and me taking care of the kids. Lately, at nighttime, I’ve been unpacking but also obsessing over home design. While we have a few rooms that we really need to get together, like the living room, the biggest focus for me right now is finding window treatments. If any of you have gone through this with a house you know how overwhelming it can be. First of all, curtains and shades are way more expensive than you’d think so there’s a lot of comparison shopping happening. But what about the quality? And does the size fit to the exact 1/8th of an inch?? And what’s their turnaround time? Because right now our neighbors can see exactly what we’re doing all day long! So anyway, that’s what I’ve been busy with. It’s kind of a boring detail, but I’m happy to share my findings with you all if you’re interested!
January always feels like the perfect month to get organized and refresh your home space so I have to say our move has been perfect timing. While I love the holidays, I also love the fresh start to the new year. I’ve been doing a lot of brainstorming about 2021 and the things that I’d like to focus on this year. I feel like in recent years I’ve stepped away from resolutions because I’ve been very unrealistic with them. I’ll expect the impossible – like no sugar and no shopping. So, instead, I’m focusing on a few key areas of growth for this year, and also actionable ways that I can make them a reality.
2020 changed all of us, in ways I don’t think we could have imagined when the clock struck midnight on January 1st, 2020. What started off as hope for a new decade turned into an array of feelings from confusion, fear, anger, and uncertainty. I was thinking back on this year and despite everything, gosh it was a good one. I truly do believe that. There were so many happy moments and positive changes that I don’t know would have been possible if it wasn’t for 2020. Sharing 5 things I cherish most about this past year below.
Merry Christmas, friends! My spirits are flying so high this week because it’s Christmas week. I love this time of year, but especially after this year, I’m really ready to soak up this holiday time. There’s been so much going on these days, on top of all the 2020 events, so to be able to focus on what this holiday is really about gives me a great amount of joy. God has been teaching me a lot of lessons this year, and one, in particular, is that I need to trust Him no matter the circumstance. When things have felt heavy, turning to Him has given me comfort and hope that are just impossible to find anywhere else.
On New Year’s Eve last year, one thing I really hoped from 2020 was simplicity. I can go into all the ways that 2019 was busy – adjusting to life as a mom of two for example, but that is exactly what 2020 brought for me. Simplicity. For better and for worse. Having no childcare support has meant I’ve had to step back from the blog and a lot of work projects, but it’s also allowed me to fully immerse myself into motherhood. These two kids are my greatest joy and I see how valuable my role as a mother really is. I’ve enjoyed the simple days at home, the additional face time with Matthew, and less pressure when it comes to work. But on the other hand, I’ve missed family and friends, I’ve seen people I know suffer, lose jobs, get sick, and struggle in many ways. I’ve longed for the connection that just doesn’t work through a video call. I’ve also missed connecting more with you, although to be honest that’s been its own challenge. I’m someone who wears their heart on their sleeve and I can’t do things halfway. I’m just not able to get on Stories and share things when I’m feeling low, uninspired, anxious or worried. So I cut back there too, which the Instagram algorithm loves to remind me of. But posting content while there’s so much hardship feels a little insensitive. Long story short, this wasn’t the simplicity I was hoping for, and yet, it’s been a lesson for me in how to learn, adapt, and ultimately trust God. Putting my faith in Him, and to be honest removing an idol that I had placed on my heart when it comes to social media and “likes.” That’s never where I want my worth to come from, not ever.
We’ve had to make some life changes this year which has also resulted in us moving around a bit this fall. We decided to look at this as an adventure but after almost 3 months of living out of a suitcase, I am so ready to be settled. Like, so ready! While I’m longing for things to feel more permanent and familiar, and oh to sleep in my own bed again, I’ve also appreciated the minimalism of not needing all our stuff. We’ve gotten by with what feels like a 5 outfit wardrobe, the most basic skincare products, and a few books and toys. This hasn’t been an ideal situation necessarily but it’s allowed me to focus on more important things.
I’ll be updating you all next week with some other life changes, and also some plans I have for this little site of mine. I’ve been posting on here for 12 years now if you can believe it. I don’t have any plans to hang up my blogging hat, but just make some intentional changes that I hope you all will love and appreciate as well. In the meantime though, please let me know if there’s certain content you’d like to see more or less of. I really value all of you so much and your opinions have helped guide many of my content decisions. Are you interested in style posts anymore? More recipes and home content? I’m all ears.
Until then, I have one more sponsored post going up this year. In advance, thank you for all that support! I love to find natural ways of incorporating sponsors I use and love and when you all like, comment and engage on those posts, that goes a long long way. Here’s a hint of what I’ll be featuring because I have a feeling it might sell out fast.
I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas with your families! I’m excited because I’m going to be doing all the cooking. I’m making this herby mushroom croissant stuffing again because it was a big hit on Thanksgiving, and I’m also baking this chocolate pie since I have pie dough in the freezer. Matthew and I aren’t doing gifts this year for us but we are so excited for the kids to open theirs! I have a feeling it’s going to be a very memorable Christmas!!
Welcome to M Loves M! My name is Mara and I created this lifestyle site in 2009 as a place to share my love of fashion, beauty, food and entertaining. I moved from Southern California to Idaho and love adventuring with my husband Matthew, our two children, and our dog Ginger. We're also pregnant with baby #3, due this autumn! I strive to create a site that’s relatable to women, while also being inspirational. I’m so glad you stopped by!
