As 2015 rapidly winds down, I wanted to take a moment to share my top posts of 2015. So much has happened in just 12 months. Busy, to say the least, but oh so much fun. We can’t wait to kick off the new year. Also, I may have a few things up my sleeve for 2016. Please check back soon! In the meantime, let’s walk down 2015’s memory lane on eat. sleep. market.
Click on the titles to read the full post. I was going to share which of the top ten were my personal faves … but I ended up marking almost all of them. Ha. Go figure. Please enjoy!
Happy New Year, friends.
10. Day Dates with My Favorite Two Year Old
Sneak Peek:
This age has brought a world of change to our daughter. And I’m sure it’s a world of change to your little one, too. She can articulate needs. She can refuse. She can take. She understands sharing. She is vocally empathetic. She walks into the world with eyes wide open and sees things differently than me. A breath of FRESH air. In turn, I’m experiencing EVERYTHING again.
As a mom that works outside the home, time F L I E S. I want to soak up as much time with her as I can. I want to be with her and share experiences, darn it! So, what do two gals do that are eager to get out and love on life? Age-appropriate day-dates, of course!
09. Random Acts of Kindness
Sneak Peek:
My partner tells me that he appreciates me. He tells me that he never wants to take anything I do for granted. I do believe that to be true. However, when I opened up this card, this simple act seemed to speak volumes. A simple act of kindness. It went a long way. I just looked at him. I hugged him. Everything I do, I do because I love it. It’s not a chore. It’s not a duty. I’m called to do the things that I do, but it can be exhausting. Sometimes. And his single act of kindness recharged me.
08. Toddler Activity: Pasta Art
Sneak Peek:
I saw a fun toddler sensory activity circling around on Instagram and Pinterest that I thought would be the perfect start to an art project: dyed pasta. It’s seriously one of the most simple DIY sensory projects ever, and the entertainment lasted for hours … on multiple days. Score. Added bonus: we used it for a really sweet art project for family and friends to enjoy.
07. 5 Ways to Survive Kids’ Birthday Parties
Sneak Peek:
Friends {aka parents}, if you thought you were “young” pre-kid’s birthday invite, just wait. You’ll feel like someone hit fast-forward. Your youth vanished. Their youth is very much here and present.
And, of course we’ve been to parties of the birthday and wedding variety with Mads, but these were family and adult friends. Familiar. Now, we’ve turned the page. We’ve entered the world of kid friends. And other kids’ parents.
06. I Blinked
Sneak Peek:
I know what happened … I blinked. Truly a mother’s curse.
I’ve never been so scared and yet so anxious to blink.
I remember when we were finally able to bring her home from the hospital. Those first few days were a hazy dream. Those newbies can s l e e p t h r o u g h t h e d a y. Wrapped up like a baby burrito, just like the nurses taught us in the hospital, our tiny Madeline quietly slept in her bassinet as her dad and I picked ourselves off the floor, literally*, and slept in our own bed until that first nighttime feeding alarm sounded.
05. My Mom Journey with Google
Sneak Peek:
And by some miracle, many most of the time, we ultimately fashion a solution out of shoestring and spit that comes out looking like golden treasure. Why? Well, one, because we’re awesome creatures. We’re the closest thing you’ll find to a unicorn. And another? We love Google*. This search engine is our sidekick. Next to Pinterest, Google could be the one that holds the solutions to our most ridiculous questions so we can continue on being the most magical, can-do, will-do-{almost}-everything creatures.
04. First Time Moms: 10 MORE Things They Don’t Tell You
Sneak Peek:
The first installment of First Time Mom // Things They Don’t Tell You was definitely a very accurate summary of the first year of Madeline’s life and my first year as a first time mom. It focused on the itty-bitty of it all. The very beginning. Now, we’re winding down the second year. I have no idea where that year went {AND that is one thing they DO tell you – you blink and time vanishes}. So let’s jump in! A few brand-spankin’ new things that rushed in this year …
03. 5 Reasons I Shouldn’t Have Married Him
Sneak Peek:
There are a ton of articles out there that tell us what makes up the perfect man. A LOT. I’m sure if I went the opposite direction and looked up the ideal woman, I would be greeted with 10x more “research” and be equally disappointed. But to be quite honest, I think I did receive the perfect man … for me. He was made for me, which I think is pretty cool. And I for him. Although some days I’m sure we are wondering what HE was thinking when He paired us. Regardless, after reading so much ridiculousness, I wanted to share a few reasons why this whole “marriage” thing should work against us, according to our lovely society – and why in the end, these are actually our dealmakers.
So, here they are – the five reasons I shouldn’t have married the bubbs …
02. Let Them Be Little
Sneak Peek:
Having this brief moment of clarity brought forth several reminders to my mother self. Every day, we dedicate ourselves to helping shape the lives of these little people – these little, precious gifts that will continue to grow. One day, they will make decisions, go to work, vote, grocery shop and everything in between, including laundry, picking car insurance and making their own doctor appointments. They will trade in naps for all-nighters and juice cups for coffee tumblers. Perhaps they will sit at a computer after a long day and start pouring their heart over a keyboard, like so many have done before them, or maybe they will just call it a night and get the recommended eight hours of sleep. In a blink of an eye, they became adults. They are us. No longer babies. A time when Winnie the Pooh is … babyish.
01. At-Home Honey Lavender Latte {No Fancy Equipment Needed}
Sneak Peek:
There’s a coffee shop in town that makes the best honey lavender lattes. I’m addicted. #NoShame However, because weekends are lazy and let’s be honest, I’m not going to travel too far each weekend to get my latte fix, I needed to come up with a way to make it at home. And I cracked it. So, so happy. When I tasted it, I shouted to bubbs, “This is it!” And so, my coffee-loving friends, I’m passing this on to you!
