Looking Back at 2021

Looking back on the year and one word comes to mind for me - healing. 2021 brought on a lot of challenges and I'm doing my best to heal emotionally, mentally and physically. 

I've been in a constant state of worry and anxiety for almost two years since the pandemic began, and I'm working to find my new normal and calm myself through daily mediation & movement. Feeling more comfortable to socialize with our family and friends has really helped after being isolated last year. Greg and I were vaccinated as soon as possible but are continuing to live cautiously as Jack's age group is not eligible yet. 

Our family was sick a lot this year (thanks daycare) - between regular colds, stomach bugs, a weird possible reaction to the vaccine that caused near paralysis in my wrist joints for 3 months, laparoscopy surgery that had me down and out for longer than anticipated and now physical therapy to hopefully, finally get the chronic pain that has ruled my life for 4 years under control. 

There were many bright spots in 2021 - most pertaining to the light of my life, my son. Parenting during these unprecedented times has been so difficult but also rewarding. Spending most of our time at home means more time together, making memories in the mundane, and I am trying to not take one minute for granted.

My wish for 2022 is health for myself, my family and loved ones. 

Dear Jack - Part 3

Jackman, I can't believe you are THREE! Every day you feel like less like a baby and more like a little man. This past year you've grown so much - from swim lessons to potty training, our first keys vacation with you, and everything in between. You're talking in complete sentences and your imagination is endlessly entertaining. You are obsessed with trucks and excavators. Your current favorite color is red. It takes you exactly 20 minutes to warm up to anyone not in your village of family and friends - you quietly observe the room from the comfort of my lap until you slowly break out of your shell and act like your goofy and inquisitive self. You love to dance with us in your room, which mostly consists of you running in circles to music. You are thriving in school and I could not be prouder of the sweet, smart and silly boy you are becoming. 

I never want to forget the way your face lights up with joy over the most simple things, like finding an acorn on the sidewalk or seeing a tractor doing construction on the side of the road. I never want to forget the way you run full speed into my arms for a hug. I never want to forget the way you carry a book tucked under your arm for a bedtime story. I never want to forget how you so innocently ask, "Wanna play with me?" and I will drop anything I'm doing to join with you. I never want to forget the sound of your laugh and the way you say, "I love you" unprovoked that melts me every single time. 

The things you say are so funny and cute, and although I write these "Jackisms" down in your Jack Journal, I want to share a few of my favorites here too.

One night, you were squeezing my neck so hard while we hugged. I whispered in your ear, "Jack, you give the best hugs in the whole world." You softly whispered back in my ear, "I need to blow my nose."

You call Dada and I "guys" all the time and end every sentence with "kay?" Ex: "Hey guys, I'm going to get my legos, kay?"

You call all belts seatbelts and regularly critique my outfit. "Mama, why do you wear a seatbelt on your dress?"

While you were sitting on the kitchen counter I said you could only stay up there if an adult was nearby. You replied, "But you're not an adult. You're a mommy."

"Kitty can't give hugs because she doesn't have shoulders."

- - -

Happy Birthday, baby boy. Celebrating you is easy. You are everything I dreamed for and more. I love you to the moon and back.

Morning Routine

On several of the podcasts I listen to regularly, the host asks the guest to describe their morning routine, and I find it oddly intriguing. Are you the type to wake up early and have a leisurely morning or snooze through your alarm and jump out of bed to get ready last minute? I'm the former.

Below I'm breaking down my routine for weekday mornings with micro details - the time I set my alarm for, what I put in my coffee, current makeup products, how I make my daily smoothie, etc. The first hour of my day is for me. After becoming a mom and turning 30, I have committed to carving out time for myself. For me, that means waking up earlier (I'm a morning person anyways) and devoting my evenings to family time to catch up with Jack and hear about his day, cook dinner and connect with Greg after Jack goes to bed.

First off, I should note, I shower in the evening after work and only wash my hair twice a week (typically Sunday and Thursday). Since showering is not part of my morning routine, styling my hair isn't a major time commitment since it naturally airdries straight. I haven't used a hairdryer in years!

{iced coffee always}

Starting the Day

My alarm goes off at 5am. I'm not a snooze person - I get up immediately and go into the kitchen. I feed our cat Zoey and make my coffee. I prefer iced coffee and keep a lidded cup in the fridge with brewed coffee from the day before. I use oat milk creamer and a stainless steel straw (better for your teeth!). I refill the storage coffee cup with fresh, hot coffee and pop it into the fridge for the next day.

{I stick to my morning routine, even on vacation}

Meditation & Movement

Since I had laparoscopy surgery in September and my daily workouts were on pause during recovery, I was searching for something to fill that void and provide a positive self care act to help with my mental state. I began meditating for 5-10 minutes. I use the Melissa Wood Health app for both guided meditations and yoga & pilates flows. I bring my coffee into the den, and sit comfortably on the daybed with the light dimmed all the way down. I practice mindful mediation, focusing on my breath, not holding onto the continuous thoughts that come up, and repeat a mantra in my head if I'm struggling with my to-do list popping up.

After meditating, comes movement. I workout in my bedroom and choose a flow on the Melissa Wood Health app - typically a 20-30 minute class. I listen to my body and decide which area I want to focus on (abs, arms, lower body, stretching, full body, etc). It's been almost 2 years since I started MWH and I'm still just as obsessed with the results, the way I feel during and after a flow, and how easy I can fit it into my schedule. One of the things I love most is that I'm consistently a little sore from using new muscles but don't even have to break a sweat to achieve those long, lean lines. I wrote more in depth about my relationship with exercise here.

{messy bun & gold jewelry}

Makeup, Hair, Clothes

After my workout, I do my makeup and sip coffee while listening to a podcast. Most work days, I keep my hair straight, but maybe once a week I'll curl my hair (tutorial here). Then, I check the weather on my phone and take a lap around my closet to narrow down options for the day. I make the bed and then lay out the clothes and shoes I decided on.

Makeup I'm currently using:

+ Wash face with Cetaphil Daily Cleanser.

+ Apply Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Cream with my ring finger under both eyes.

+ I mix Origins GinZing Moisturizer with IT Cosmetics CC Cream on my fingertips and apply all over my face and neck to even out my skintone.

+ I use 2 concealers (genetic dark circles are my worst enemy!) First up, I rub IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye between my ring fingers and dab under each eye. I then use Bobbi Brown Color Corrector on top of that. I finish with a dusting of translucent powder using a small brush to set it.

+ For blush I use the Ilia Multi Stick in the color "I Put a Spell on You." I swipe it on my cheekbones and lightly blend with my fingers.

+ Next, I use Bare Minerals matte powder foundation with a large brush and lightly cover all areas.

+ Benefit Hoola Bronzer is my favorite (no shimmer!) and I strategically brush a little on my forehead, cheekbones and neck. Don't forget a tiny bit on the eyelids, which is key to making it look like a natural tan, especially since my face is usually more fair than my body. 

+ For eyes, I use the L'Oreal Brow Stylist eyebrown pencil and make small strokes to fill in my natural shape and then use the spoolie to brush them up.

+ I've tried every mascara but keep coming back to L'Oreal Voluminous Butterfly in "Blackest Black." I'm not a big eyeshadow person (didn't even wear it on my wedding day) due to having hooded eyelids and I prefer the "no makeup-makeup look" with a natural face, long lashes and have fun with lip colors.

+ I change up my lip color daily but two of my favorites are MAC "Kinda Sexy" for a nice nude, and the Burt's Bees matte lip crayon in "Niagara Overlook" for a subtle coral that I always keep in my bag.

{fave combo}

Green Smoothie

I've been drinking a green smoothie almost every single morning for the past 8 years. My current go-to is 2 handfuls of organic spinach, 1 frozen banana, 1 teaspoon of chia seeds, 1 scoop of peanut butter or PB2 (powdered peanut butter) and the last 1/3 cup of my iced coffee. Depending on what other fruit I have on hand, I'll sometimes throw in a few strawberries or dates to switch it up. As my bananas get freckled, I break them up into pieces and store in a plastic container in the freezer. Chia seeds have replaced the protein powder I used for years - they have protein, fiber and omega 3s to keep me feeling fuller for longer. I use a NutriBullet to blend it all up and re-use the stainless steel straw from my iced coffee.

{legos and cinnamon apples before school}

Jack Time, Drop Off and Commute to Work

I wake up Jack at 7am, get him dressed and make him a little bite to eat. We spend 30 minutes together while I drink my smoothie and he eats breakfast. I then brush our teeth, get myself dressed and grab my lunch box from the fridge. I bring lunch to work 4-5 days a week. I rotate chia pudding with fresh fruit and granola, leftovers from dinner or meal prep quinoa and veggies for the week on Sunday. Jack and I jump in the car to get him to school at 7:45. Then I call my mom to chat on my way to work, and get to the office by 8am. 

Gallery Wall Tips

 Gallery walls are popular for a reason - it's the perfect way to showcase photos in an aesthetically pleasing way in your home. I'm a big fan of using family photos as wall art in certain areas of our house. In our living room, we have a huge wall behind our couch. When we first moved in two years ago, I started searching for a beautiful painting or cool piece of art but between the price and commitment, it didn't align.

I shifted my focus to creating a gallery wall of some of our favorite photos. I decided to only use pictures with Jack, Greg and I - no other family or friends so no one feels left out when they are visiting. After narrowing down the options, with an assortment of photos ranging from different years and locations, I thought it was best to turn each photo black & white to keep it cohesive. 

I found simple square frames with a black frame and white mat, and used the measurements to map out the size on the wall to see how many total photos would look best. I landed on 15 - 3 rows with 5 across. I then planned the layout on excel to make sure we had the right mix including candid photos & landscapes from adventures, and special moments & milestones, etc. I ordered matte prints online though Walgreens. I've used mpix too, and they have good quality.

Greg and my dad installed the gallery wall with my direction. This actually went up during Super Bowl 2020. I watched the J. Lo and Shakira halftime show and the guys were measuring and hanging - they're the best :)

We used 3M picture hanging tabs for multiple reasons: no damage to the wall, the frames won't budge or ever be crooked, easier to hang and ensure they are level. We placed the frames with one inch between each. To do this, we cut out a 1-inch piece of carboard and used it as a guide to make sure the next frame was positioned correctly. 

After measuring the wall and marking the center, we figured out how low the bottom row should be since it's above the couch and don't want someone accidentally hitting their head on a frame. I put the photos in all the frames, cleaned them with Windex, and applied the 3M strips to the back. We started with the bottom middle frame, then the middle center, and middle top - and working our way out from there. Each frame was measured using the 1-inch cardboard cutout and a level. 

The final result is the gallery wall of my dreams! Our living room is where we spend the most of our time at home, and is open to the kitchen so we see it often. We've received so many compliments from family and friends on how well it turned out and have inspired loved ones to create their own black & white gallery wall. I can attest that not one frame has moved out of place (thanks 3M!). I love that we can always swap out a photo or two to refresh but some will always stay - looking at you, proposal shot!

Do you have a gallery wall or want to create your own? Below are the items we used:

+ printed photos
+ frames with mat
+ 3M picture hanging strips
+ cardboard cut to the size of the distance between frames
+ a level

The options are endless with gallery walls! You could use different size photos and arrange them in a more free-flow placement, keep the photos in their true color (great if you're using an assortment of images from a professional photography session), arrange frames on a ledge instead of hanging, or skip the family photos altogether and mix a collection of different artwork mediums (think paintings, mirrors, sculptural elements, etc). Sharing a few ideas from Pinterest below for inspiration.

Keys Trip 2021

 I've been vacationing in the Florida Keys with my family for as long as I can remember (maybe 5 or 6 years old?), and I've been chronicling our trips on the blog since I created it in 2011. This year in particular was one of my favorite trips by far, thanks to Jack. Seeing one of my favorite places through my son's eyes and experiencing it with him was truly special.

We rented a house for a week in Marathon with my parents, my cousin Alana and her boyfriend Paxton. The weather could not have been more perfect - and in turn the water in the Gulf of Mexico resembled a lake, it was so calm. We caught 19 keeper lobsters, Paxton caught a snapper, and Jack caught 4 little fishies off the dock with Poppy. It was an unforgettable vacation filled with delicious homecooked meals, hours spent playing in the pool, game nights, and a ton of laughs.

Jack had the best time "driving" the boat, petting the lobsters as my dad threw them overboard and yelled, "incoming!" and he only napped twice the entire week - both times were by accident when he couldn't keep his eyes open on the boat. With 6 doting adults, Jack never wanted to leave and has repeatedly asked to go back for the last month. Needless to say, we're all ready to start planning our 2022 trip.

{my family}

{southernmost point in Key West}

{Jack and Poppy driving the boat}

{poolside PB&J with Nana}

{my mom named the iguana that lurked around the backyard Max - he stole the sandwich right off Jack's plate!}

{workout partner}

{Paxton caught a snapper!}

{cheers to two of my favorite women}

{my dad going overboard in search of lobsters}

{keeper!}

{19 total this trip}

{from Seattle to snorkeling}

{one of my favorite candids}

{floating in the pool for hours}

{between the 7 mile bridges}

{sleeping on Dad on the bow of the boat}

{proud of his fishie!}

{sweet snuggles with Alana}

{pit stop at our wedding venue}

{adventuring at the sandbar}

{sister cousins}

{thank goodness for swim lessons this summer because Jack played in the pool for hours every day!}

{swimming in the ocean}

{me and my mini}

{feeding the tarpon at Robbie's before heading home}