5 for 2017

Podcasts: I know, I know. Podcasts have been around for a loooong time but we have started listening to them a lot more. They make naptime chores more enjoyable, long walks shorter, and days that your house feels isolating more sociable. We have branched out lately from our go to's (Stuff You Should Know, Stuff You Missed in History Class, Modern Love) and discovered a few new ones: Sidedoor (short 20 minute episodes put out by the Smithsonian), Accused (same vibe as Serial but its a cold case), Reply All (This is a little bit of everything but really hit or miss), and Gilmore Guys (really helping me get to the bottom of why I didn't like the new episodes). 

Roomba: Get one. It will change your life. We snatched ours up on Groupon for 200 and we haven't regretted it for a moment. I no longer live in fear of what is growing under our couch.  I want the fancy mop one next!

Weekend Trips: Lucky for me that I have a group of girlfriends that live all over the country and we love getting together. We did a weekend trip to Chicago this summer and I am heading to Texas in couple weeks to meet up with them. They are the perfect length of time to get away. Craig and I are also heading to Tampa for a concert in March and Vail in May. I am hoping to plan a fun family one for the three of us and one for Craig's 30th birthday! 

Upgrading Everyday: I have been making a point of upgrading the things I use everyday. So far the roomba and a new curling iron have made my days so much easier (and feel a little bit more special). Next up, our pots and pans.

Making Time for the Little Things: Whew, I really let this go this past year. It was pretty easy to collapse in a heap for the first few months after we had Isla and now it's become a habit. I've been trying to use the first 15 minutes after working out in the morning to use my planner, write out a note to Craig for him to find, or anything else I want to do. I really want to get this lettering journal to do after Isla's goes to bed.  

Isla's Birthday

Isla is ONE! I still haven't actually wrapped my mind around that but we celebrated. We kept it pretty low key since it was New Years Day and Isla got overwhelmed at Christmas.

Our parents stayed at hotels so that we could wake up with Isla and spend some time as a family of three celebrating this milestone. It was the sweetest part of the day because she was SO excited to see her teepee and kept sticking her head in and out of it to make sure we will still watching. 

The rest of the day was kind of a blur but we loved watching her eat cake and celebrate her being one.

This little white outfit is a bigger version of the one we brought her home from the hospital in. It was a bittersweet moment to put it on and see how well it fit compared to the newborn one was too big for her the same time last year.

new year

A New Year: Time took on a whole new meaning this year with a baby born on New Years. I could literally watch time go by as she grew and changed. It was a big year of change and trying to figure out how to balance being a mom, wife, and me. I don't usually make resolutions but I had a running list in my head of things I wanted to do in 2017. As I was scrolling through instagram, I was coming across people having a word for 2017. In my head, I was like a word that's silly until I came to Waiting on Martha's instagram (love this idea) and her word was complete. That is exactly the word I need (along with organization). I LOVED LOVED LOVED this past year with Isla but  I am ready to pick some things back up and follow through (or complete them if you will).

Here is a list:

1. photo albums: I have photos all over the place and this year has really taught me that I do not want to lose these memories. My goal to make yearly albums for the last 6 years (and hopefully a combined college one for Craig and I) along with a wedding album. If you have any recs of a website to make albums I would love to hear!

2. Dates: Not that we haven't gone on any... we usually sneak out when Grandparents come to visit but they aren't regular. We love spending time with Isla but she is starting to hit the age where she requires  more attention at a restaurant.  Craig and I are going to find a babysitter so we can try to make it a point to go out alone.

3. Organizing my house: Goodness. It has gotten out of control in terms of things being stashed in all kinds of places. I want to complete house organization projects. I started doing the simplified planner month challenge to kickstart my year.

4. Friends: Trying to be SO much better about friends. I want to remember birthdays, wedding anniversaries, big work accomplishments, etc. My friends have been amazingly kind to Isla and I and I want to work to be half as good as they are. This is just as much as organizing my time to make it happen as it is about completing gifts.

5. Complete thoughts: This is really random and drives Craig BONKERS. Since I have had Isla I can be in the middle of a sentence and just stop. I think its related to  post pregnancy (and my head being totally geared towards Isla) but I am trying to be mindful of it so I can stop doing it.  (I will also pick up the vacuum cleaner when I am done using it, LOVE YOU!)

Do y'all make resolutions or goals for the New Year? I would love to hear them!

Isla's playroom

We have been toying (no pun intended!) around with the idea of making Craig's office/junk room into Isla's playroom. I kind of resisted since we are going to be moving out of this house pretty soon and it seemed silly to have a whole room dedicated to playing with one kid. However, with her getting into everything and I have been using the dining room table as a work space for various projects I have been getting  stressed about the mess (along with the ominous warning from my mom, "just think about all the toys she will get from Christmas." #firstgrandchild). I have decided to split the room in half so Craig can still study in there at night and the other half can be Isla's space.

In terms of decor, we have a couple items that didn't fit in her room and a couple of things I really wanted but didn't fit in with the design SO I am incorporating them here!

Blanket Ladder: Isla recieved several beautiful handmade quilts and blankets that I want to display

Rifle Paper ABC print (received as a gift but didn't use), Ikea storage, bright lab lights (a crowd favorite in our house so another string is a must), Fiona Walker Elephant head (was dying for one in her room but didn't work), Copenhagen print (was going to use in the nursery if we had a boy but we didn't), target chair, land of nod baskets, land of nod tent