HAPPY NEW YEAR! How is everyone’s 2024 so far?! Anyone have any goals or resolutions for the new year?
We had quite the low-key New Years Eve this year. We drove back from Lexington, SC NYE morning where we had spent the weekend visiting my family for a delayed Christmas. One thing about Casey and I is we always unpack immediately because we can’t stand to have bags and clutter sitting around – especially to start the new year! After grocery shopping for the week and ordering pizza, we ended the night cozied up on the couch with Casey watching football and me reading a book, being in bed by 10pm. Call me lame, but I wouldn’t change a thing about this night!!
DECEMBER 2023 REFLECTION
December was a fun one. So festive, joy-filled and magical. We started off the month with a very special birthday – Blakely turned 3! She’s in a unicorn loving phase right now, so we had two cute unicorn parties with family to celebrate (one with my family in Nov and one with Casey’s family in Dec). Casey’s mom actually made the cake we’re holding!!
Our elf “Cha Cha” came to visit us again this year which was super fun since Blakely is a little bit older. She would wake up each morning and go find the elf first thing. So fun!
Another fun festive event was Blakely had her Christmas performance at her preschool! The theme was nativity and her class dressed up as the animals – Blakely was a camel LOL! It was SO cute. I tear up every time!! They then served a delicious dinner after and had a walk through petting zoo. Such a fun evening celebrating the true meaning of Christmas!
A few other highlights before Christmas included Blakely meeting Santa, visiting the Atlanta botanical garden walk-through lights (this was AWESOME!), having a girls night at a Christmas pop up bar (The Select in Sandy Springs – such a cool vibe!), and throwing Blakely’s class a Christmas party at their preschool.
LASTLY, I can’t forget to share a few tidbits about our Christmas. We spent Christmas at Caseys’ parent’s house this year and had a whole lot of fun. We woke up Christmas Eve and went to an 11am service at a church nearby. The service was super kid friendly and interactive, and at the beginning they did a big giveaway. Two of the items were a baby doll and a talking Elmo, and Blakely’s Kiki held her up (see pic below LOL) to have the pastor see her to pick her as the winner! We had rows and rows of people around us pointing at Blakely and cheering for her to win! Unfortunately the pastor didn’t see her, but it gave us all a good laugh!!
Christmas morning : chaos, fun, and reliving the magic of Christmas through Blakely’s eyes! We were abruptly awoken at an early 5am by Blakely sneaking out of her room. Luckily I’m a light sleeper and woke up to grab her. She was so excited to go see the presents, but we waited until 6am to go wake up everyone else because they all wanted to see her reaction!
Blakely loved being able to open all her presents and often times wanted to start playing with what she got right then before opening more. Her favorite presents were definitely the piggy bank Santa got her (it’s the little things – she spent an hour putting coins in one by one!), this Paw Patrol look and find and these reusable water balloons we use in the bath now. It was truly so fun and special now that she understands more of what is going on than in years past.
December 2023 – you will be missed! And now onto the favorites of the month after a longer recap than normal. Below you’ll find the books I read, podcasts I listened to, shows/movies I watched, favorite recipe of the month, & a roundup of my 5 favorite things. As always, thanks so much for reading and I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and new years eve. Let’s dive in!\
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1.) READING…
It’s so fun to look back and see my reading goals increase over the years. In 2020 I got back into reading and read 9 books that year. In 2021, I wanted to read one book a month and ended up reading 18! In 2022 my goal doubles as I hit 24 books read. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, my reading goal for 2023 was to read 30 books. By the end of the month I had just finished my 26th book, which is still something to be very proud of as its more than I’ve ever read in one year! I’m making my reading goal for 2024 30 books again. I will hopefully come back stronger and either hit or exceed this goal. I’m curious, what is your reading goal for the year!?
A COURT OF FROST AND STARLIGHT By Sarah J. Maas ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5
Thoughts: LOVED this one! This is the 4th (or technically 3.5) book in the ACOTAR series. It was a quick, cozy and easy read after an intense, gruesome book #3. Themes of healing after the war, finding peace and comfort in community and enjoying the slower pace of life. Just so obsessed with these characters and being a part of their world!
2) THE WOMAN IN CABIN 10 by Ruth Ware⭐⭐⭐/5
Thoughts: This one was just okay. Interesting enough plot that I kept reading, but I just can’t get past a whiny unreliable narrator! I listened to the audiobook which was harder to follow with all the characters, so I’d recommend reading a physical copy if you decide to read this one. I’m kind of in a thriller slump… Need recs!
2.) LISTENING TO…
IDAHO COLLEGE MURDERS AND BRYAN KOHBERGER – 5 PART SERIES | The Megyn Kelly Show
This series was incredibly informative and addicting! I thought I knew everything there was so know about this case (that’s been released), but Megyn Kelly dives so much deeper and sparks conversation and questions about it all. Highly recommend this one, especially if you’re into true crime.
CHRIS HARRISON PART 1 & 2: THE SECRETS BEHIND BUILDING HIS HOSTING EMPIRE, BTS OF LIFE DURING AND AFTER HOSTING THE BACHELOR AND MORE | Trading Secrets Podcast
For all my bachelor fans, this one is a good one! This two part series dives into Chris’s past and how he made his way from being on the bottom to hosting the Bachelor franchise. They also get into the number in how much he was paid per episode which was interesting. Definitely an entertaining episode!
3.) WATCHING…
I recently watched Lessons In Chemistry after reading the book and it was soooo good! The book is better (always), but they did a phenomenal job casting for this show and producing it. Flew through this series!
I feel like there hasn’t been a movie I wanted to see in theaters in SO LONG, and now all of a sudden there are 4!
Wanting to watch:
- Wonka
- The Boys In The Boat
- The Color Purple
- Anyone But You
4.) EATING…
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
At the beginning of the month I was down with a cold for almost a week and ate this soup for lunch and dinner 3 days in a row LOL! It is so good and hit the spot for a cozy nutritious soup, especially if you aren’t feeling the best. I’ve never used egg noodles before but they definitely made this soup!
5.) CURRENTLY LOVING…
1) CHARLOTTE TILBURY FLAWLESS FILTER… I have tried many dupes for this product and nothing compares. This will give you a glowy, clear look that appears as if you’re not wearing makeup at all. Often times it’s the only product I’ll wear for my everyday!
2) LULULEMON PACK IT DOWN JACKET… A NEED for staying warm this winter. My mom got me this jacket for Christmas and it’s the only jacket I’ll wear now! So warm and so flattering with an almost sinched form fitting waist. I recommend sizing up one size from your usual (I got a 6)!
3) PHILIPS ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH… yes I am loving a toothbrush!!! This is my first electric toothbrush I’ve used in years and now I won’t go back to a regular one! My teeth feel like I just went to the dentist after I use it. Obsessed with this adorable pink color too.
4) SCOUT BAG… Casey’s mom gifted this to me for Christmas this year and I am SO excited to use it for all the pool and beach days this coming summer. When you have kids the amount of things you have to bring TRIPLES, so this will come in handy with all the pockets. I got the cutest navy and white striped pattern!
5) E NEWTON BRACELET… my older sister so generously gifted me this beautiful bracelet for Christmas (thank Sav!!!). I absolutely adore the dainty cross style she got me, especially in white since it matches everything. I’ve never been much of a jewelry wearer, but want to get into it more this year!!
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