My 2017 Highlight Reel

Man, 2017 was a year I'll never forget. Aside from the obvious part where I got engaged and married, I also quit my job to freelance full-time. There were lows, of course, rocky seasons and adjusting to transition, but overall 2017 was a year where a lot of dreams I had been dreamin' came to fruition.

The above image is my 2017 top nine posts on Instagram, so I'll share a little about those and a few other highlights below:

- Austin proposed on March 5 of 2017. What a day! He surprised me with an engagement photoshoot immediately afterward; our friend Joe Bulger snapped our photos (and caught my surprise in the middle square above)! Above, photos 1, 5 and 7 are from this day.

- Not pictured above, but I said goodbye to my day job about two weeks after Austin proposed. Between adjusting to being a full-time freelancer and planning a wedding, this was a huge season of transition for me. Like all changes, I had some good days with it and some not-so-good ones. Overall, I learned a ton about myself during this season.

- Not pictured in the Instagram top 9, but Austin and I got to go to Hawaii with his family in May. It was such a relaxing trip and definitely in my personal top 9 memories of the year.

- In July, I entered my late 20's. Not pictured here, but it happened!

- In August, I had two bridal showers — one thrown by my great family friends, and another hosted by three of my bridesmaids and best friends. This was such a sweet experience (more on that in this post), and photo 6 above is from that day.

- October 21, 2017. We had the wedding of my dreams; seriously the best day we've had to this point. After our ceremony, our friend and wedding photographer Kinsey Mhire found the most gorgeous field for some portraits. I've shared a couple previews of that on Instagram, and I'm excited to share more about our wedding in the coming months!

- Our honeymoon was so wonderful (more on that coming too), and photo 4 is from one of my favorite locations — the Sacre Coeur in Paris.

Overall, 2017 was full of a lot of love. Not sure how 2018 can top this one, but I'm willing to stick around and find out!

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Why I Make Goals Instead of Resolutions

“Goals” versus “resolutions” may seem a lot like “tomato, tom-AH-to” to some people, but I think there’s a legitimate difference between the two. A lot of times, New Year’s resolutions sound like a list of don’ts for the upcoming months. And once you break them, you’re toast. Oh, and speaking of toast, remember that “no carbs” resolution? No toast for you.

Personally, I think making goals instead puts the focus on a more positive approach to the new year. Instead of saying everything you’re going to cut out, you get to dream (and dream big!) about what you would like the year to look like. I talked about it in this post, but research says people who write down their goals are 80 percent more likely to achieve them. So, last year, Austin and I had a date where we went to one of our favorite local shops, got cozy and dreamed big for 2017. It was so simple, but it might be my favorite date we’ve ever had. We both took our own journals, lined out a few things, and then collaborated on a list of goals together. We’re planning to do it again this year.

So, here’s the other thing: We didn’t hit every goal on our list last year. But honestly, that makes me even more excited to rethink our purposes and goals for 2018. Maybe we’ll bring some 2017 ones into 2018, or maybe we’ll reconsider whether those goals were the right ones for us. Making new intentions for the year should be things you want to do, not things you just feel like you should do.

If you want to make goals but don’t know where to start, here’s my 2 cents:

• Think about the type of person you want to be, on the whole. Don’t just write down weight loss goals or career goals, consider how you can be a more intentional friend or family member.
• Consider what actions represent your aspirations. Instead of writing down “lose 20 pounds”, a better goal would be “cut out processed sugar”. It can be hard to figure out how to get from point A to point B without a clear roadmap.
• Give yourself grace. In my opinion, resolutions are strict and goals are all about grace. There’s that saying on a poster in 5th grade classrooms that says, “Shoot for the moon. Even if you fall, you’ll land among the stars”, and while it’s cheesy, I think there’s some amount of truth to it.

Going to write down some goals and gettin’ all excited about the year to come! xo!

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7 Supplies for Last-Minute Hosting

It’s the most wonderful time of the year — that sacred week between Christmas and New Year’s — where old friends are in town and nobody remembers what day it is. Naturally, if you live in the town your friends are visiting, the likelihood is high that you’ll be opening your home to unexpected guests.

So, if you’re like me and prone to inviting people over last-minute, here are seven things to have on hand this weekend.

Sparkling water or a warm beverage
I like to keep items stocked that won’t go bad, so you can use them when company comes without having to make a special trip to the store. A can of LaCroix or a mug of hot tea is a welcoming gesture for any friend who walks through the door.

A good candle or diffuser
You know how the smell of an Anthropologie wipes away every care or concern you’ve ever had? That’s my goal with the candles I buy for my home. A nice, clean scent can really make all the difference in atmosphere! And if your plans are last-minute, that candle can make it seem like you just vacuumed five minutes ago even if you haven’t vacuumed for a week.

Timely reading materials
Whether it’s a current magazine or a unique coffee table book, it’s always fun to see what other people have in their homes. And bonus, if the conversation stalls, you’ll have something to fall back on.

Supplies for a quick, simple cheese board
OK, so I realize cheese isn’t exactly an easy pantry item, but if you don’t have cheese in the house between Christmas and New Year’s, might I ask: What type of person are you? Oh, a healthy one? Oh.. well, OK then.

A clean kitchen/living room
I’m not sure how this one is so far down the list… who wrote this blog post? But, really, clean common spaces are a necessity unless you’re hosting your family or closest pals. When you’re having guests over who you haven’t seen in ages, just throw all your junk in the bedroom or office and shut. the. door. Otherwise they’ll talk about how messy you are when they leave, oops!

Music to set the tone
A good playlist can instantly set the mood for any gathering. Want to have a nice, long conversation with old friends? Choose something with a lower tempo. Or, want to joke around and party like it’s 1999? Play the Spice Girls.

A coat rack
This feels like a bonus one because most friends I visit don’t have coat racks, or even a coat closet. But if you don’t want your friends to judge you for a messy bedroom, a coat rack is a necessity. Or I suppose it’s a possibility that you have a clean bedroom; in which case, you can put the coats in there. I’ll allow it.

These tips are particularly relevant throughout the holiday season, but I think they would work year-round, as well! Are you having friends over last-minute? Invite me!

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