Looking Behind In Order to Look Forward

{Written with an optimistic heart— and a pile of gummi bears #haribo} 

As always, I can’t believe this year has come to an end. They always just seem to fly right on by, don’t they? I have mixed feelings again about this year, just like I did in 2016. My son was born in 2016, which was one of the best things to ever happen to me, yet we lost my father in 2016, which was one of the very worse things that has ever happened to me.  2017 was a year of firsts for us: we became a family of four, Hudson took his first steps, we celebrated his first birthday, I started my own law firm (and we hired our first associate!!)... and there were other firsts too- all of the holidays without my dad, celebrating his birthday without him. The good and the bad, the ying and yang- this is life. I have come to learn that the euphoric highs and crushing lows are all just a part of the journey.   We will have joy in this life, but we will suffer pain too.  This realization has had a profound impact on my outlook.  It’s made me so cognizant that this moment – – the mundane, the routine, even the boring – – will never come again  and we need to embrace it as much as possible. And trust with all our heart that God has a plan for us. With all this in mind, my 2018 thoughts/hopes/ goals are shaping up to look a little bit as follows: 

1.  Be more mindful of the things that I buy for my family:  try to buy sustainable, quality, local, good-for-our-world kind of goods as much as possible. Sometimes, this whole concept seems so overwhelming to me, but I am going to start making small, smart, changes and hopefully it will snowball.

2. Play more outside!!! 

3. Have engaged conversations with my kids.  I sometimes feel like I am running around doing 26 different things at once and I am listening to what my daughter is telling me while making dinner and dictating an email into my phone.  I need to slow it down and put it down and be present. 

4.  More spontaneity: I like to plan everything out with long lists.  I need to toss those out the window more often and just make memories! We live about an hours drive from a million great places to explore- now, I just need to get out there and do it!  

5.  Strive to have a grateful heart and show this to my children.  My husband and I send each other emails about the things we are grateful for, just to make sure we remember how fortunate we are. I need to somehow incorporate this in the conversations I have with my kids because  they do learn by osmosis and we (my family but more broadly, basically everyone who lives in the United States) have an abundance of blessings. We can (and should) find something to be thankful for every minute of every single day.  Kids are greedy little monsters at this age 😊 and I know this, but it still bothers me a bit how much they constantly want want want. I would love to try and have my children realize that we have enough of everything. Not the least of which are the most important things —each other. 

6. Find a little more time for myself.  As a  mom, I seem to spend 28 hours a day fulfilling the needs of my family.  I am not complaining — this comes with the territory!  While I am happy to do this,  since Hudson was born, I find I have zero time for myself – – a nail appointment, a facial, a run- nada!! I would like to reclaim a little more of me time in 2018 (and not feel guilty about doing it!)

7.  Spend more time dating my husband! This seems impossible in light of #6 but I am gonna try! My marriage has had its share of ups and downs for sure but right now, we are in the best place we’ve ever been.  We turned a corner when we realized that even though we hate leaving the kiddos, we NEED time for ourselves. Even if a date night is just a date lunch or a movie on the couch when the kiddos are asleep- connecting as adults makes us better parents (and people!)

I also like to throw in a few achievable goals each year— things I know there is a chance I will actually do (like, giving up coffee or sugar is never gonna happen). I’m thinking this year, (1) Learn to sew (and actually make something that isn’t only trash can worthy and (2) Do something new every month. My friend Emily did a challenge in 2017 where she did something new every week (and it WAS challenging for her to come up with new ideas ) but so cool. She tried new restaurants, went on a ton of adventures, saw plays, went to museums, and generally, got out of the box! I’m gonna try one a month and see how it goes!

I am so  fortunate to have you all on this journey and I look forward to more of it in 2018.  Happy happy new year! XOXO Michelle 

PS: I did a little 2017 recap below, which I should do every year because as I scrolled through these pictures, I was reminded about what a fun year we had! 

In 2017, we made new friends who are already old friends.... 

We remembered that love is all you need.... 

We saw a heck of a lot of palm trees.... 

We learned to stand tall.... 

We had a Coachella Party (of one)! 

I pulled a tooth (no more of this in 2018! Ugh!) 

We lugged Huddy around to mama’s coffee shop addiction...

We thought about kindness and we tried to spread it.... 

We went to lunch with our cousin... 

More of those palms... 

We learned to crawl... 

We opened our house...

And our hearts.... 

And we filled them with friendships... 

We painted tiles at School... 

We loved bounce bounce bouncing!...

We went to a lot of movies together.... 

We have lift off!!! 

Eight months of this love...

We waited in a long line to see the Easter bunny... 

He was sort of creepy, to be honest... 

We learned that everything at a baseball game is better with friends.....

She did not catch that ball, for the record.... 

Easter Sunday!!!

We made an ombré cake for Easter....

We learned that being with our cousins is the best.... 

Hiiiii cousin! 

Addison loves all of these babies!

We learned that Mother’s Day is one of the best days.. 

Hi mama! 

We learned that we really like bagels.... 

A lot.... 

We learned when you’re a kid, you can pretty much wear jammies everywhere... 

We went to a very special fairy party.. 

We went to Mexican food around 3 times a week!!

We spent time with our dearest friends... 

All sorts of time... 

But no time is enough time.... 

Super mamas! 

Being a baby is tiring stuff... 

We love water... 

A LOTTTTT!!... 

My hubby had a terrifying 3 months that ended with spine surgery... 

But 2 months later, he was on his feet again... 

We played with a lot of furry animals... 

(Do goats count as furry animals?)😊 

All ready for a little swim mama! 

We turned 10 months old! 

We learned we love horses...

We learned that our Mommy loves the USA...

Hudson took a little to warming up to this concept.... 

❤️❤️❤️ 

More Mexican food!!!! 

Before...

After!!! 

We were in a theater group!

We took a little girls day together... 

And went to the Hollywood Bowl!!

More time with our cousin!

Thumb sucker alert! 

Hi Charlotte! 

Bagels are better with friends... 

Happy 4th of July!!! 

More bagels! 

11 months old!! 

We took a trip to Chicago!

How’s that for matchy matching? 

We love our Chicago cousins!! 

Huds first wedding... not particularly impressed... 

Family ❤️❤️❤️ 

Hudson turned ONE.... 

And then went on a juice cleanse 😂

I made an office move....

Saw an eclipse....

Got reacquainted with chocolate malted crunch ❤️

Began an obsession....

Best friends sometimes have fur... 

Fed the obsession again.... 

Saw our cousins in Manhattan Beach.... 

Mom life right here folks

One of only 67 matching pairs!!! 

Happy Halloween! 

We celebrated life’s greatest joys with dear friends... 

We came back to what feels like home.... 

Maui is Magic... 

There are no words for the way some people touch your life and become a part of your heart (and family)... 

More beautiful moments with beautiful friends... 

Santa learned to take careful notes... 

Ready to race into 2018!!! 

What Does It All Mean?

{Written over hot tea and toast because #sick #again} I am in that end-of-the-year, reflect-on-it-all state of mind.  I went to a surprise luncheon for my uncle this week and the guests were all asked to wear red.  And do you know that the only article of clothing I had in my wardrobe that was red was my Christmas card/ holiday photo shoot dress?  It made me wonder...why do we choose certain colors over others?  Is there anything more to it than just a preference?    I always say I love to wear black because of the contrast between my light hair/pale as ever skin but could there be something more?  With the caveat that the answer is probably a resounding (and sane) no, read on and see what your favorite color says about you!   (My favorite colors are pink and gold and the descriptions sorta fit!)

If your favorite color is BLUE, you are: Calm, cool, and able to keep things more even keel than most.  If blue is your favorite color you love harmony, are reliable, sensitive and always make an effort to think of others.  You like to keep things clean and tidy and feel that stability is the most important aspect in life. Blue is the color of “trust and responsibility,” according to the site “Empower Yourself with Color Psychology,” and people who love blue tend to seek stability above all else. You may also be a nostalgic person who dislikes change in your routine. You value trusting, stable relationships, and are known as a reliable, giving friend. You are genuine and sincere, and it may take a while for others to earn your trust, but once they do, they have it for life.

If your favorite color is RED, you are bold, sexually charged, and want to make a lasting impression. Those who love red live life to the fullest and are tenacious and determined in their endeavors. According to Empower Yourself, red typically means you’re, “extroverted and optimistic, courageous and confident.” You crave attention and win friends easily, and you may tend to be impulsive in your decision-making. Sex is super important to those who love red, and you may have a temper; however,  you’re completely a “doer,” and you never put off to tomorrow what you can do today.

If your favorite color is GREEN you are prone to putting lots of importance on money and security. Those who love the color green are often affectionate, loyal and frank.  Green lovers are also aware of what others think of them and consider their reputation very important. Of all the colors, green indicates the greatest balance between the head and the heart, and is often associated with equilibrium. However, because you often seek balance in life, you can become anxious when you do not feel you have it. Lovers of green are often practical, have high moral standards, and enjoy being part of a group and community. While a loyal friend and partner, you’re typically gentle, not passionate.

If your favorite color is ORANGE, you are friendly, easy going, and probably a theater major. Orange is associated with the boldness of red and the cheerfulness of yellow. You tend to be high-energy, optimistic, and good-natured. You’re also assertive without being aggressive — a rare and useful skill. You’re great at socializing and at bringing people together, often making yourself the self-appointed “bridge” between different groups at social gatherings. You love planning parties and festive events and are especially good at it, though you can become overly concerned with how you are perceived by others.

If your favorite color is PINK, you are a little naive, sheltered, and have delicate sensibilities. Pinks are the nurturers of the world, but they also love to be nurtured in return. You’re generally optimistic and can easily see the good in others, and you’re very in touch with your feminine side. You often come off as sweet and reserved, and one of your biggest challenges is trusting in yourself and your own self-reliance.

If your favorite color is BLACK, you are part moody, part sophisticated. People who choose black as their favorite color are often artistic and sensitive.  While these people aren't introverts, they are careful with the details of their lives and do not share easily with others. Those who love black are all about prestige and power, and sometimes may take themselves a little too seriously for their own good. You may also keep people at arm’s length and maintain a cold exterior — but only because you’re secretly trying to protect yourself from hurt or harm. In many ways black is the color of protection, as it allows you to retreat from others while dealing with your own inner world and emotions.

If your favorite color is Yellow you are are fun, cheerful, and known for your sunny dispositions. You likely are full of creative ideas, but generally need help making those ideas a reality. You prefer to befriend a small number of like-minded people as opposed to being part of larger, less-intimate social groups, and you’re one of the more independent personality types. You’re at your best in pursuits of the mind, like chess and crossword puzzles, but can sometimes give advice or information on topics you don’t know much about. You also can be quick-thinking and fast on your feet, and you may tend to keep your real feelings to yourself, preferring to maintain a cheerful exterior.

If your favorite color is Gold, you are unique and charismatic, and are great at putting others at ease. You tend to attract many friends because you make the people around you feel good about themselves. You also appreciate the finer things in life. You may tend to attract “false” friends, or people who are mostly interested in your wealth or what you can do for them; however, you’re careful about choosing romantic partners, so this doesn’t tend to affect your love life.

 What do you think? Anything to this color stuff? Maybe, right?! Thank  you so much for stopping by- -Sweetly, Michelle

Dress|| Shoes|| 

Prepping for Fall

{Written over episode one of Ozark...um, yes, we're hooked} Hello beautiful friends! While summer has been absolutely wonderful--we celebrated my son's first birthday on Saturday and there will be a few posts on that later--it is time to start thinking about fall.  This outfit holds at least 2 of my probable fall faves--these shoes and this blazer.  I adore navy blazers-- I am at heart a classic girl and there is nothing more classic than the double breasted navy blazer, complete with gold buttons!  It is as versatile as can be and I will wear it to the office (which is always chilly) with a dress like this one, or a pencil skirt and a crisp white shirt and on the weekends with jeans and statement sneakers.  It's something my closet always holds ( I probably have ten of them!) 

And then there are these shoes.  Even though I closely follow fashion trends, I am not a slave to them.  I sort of recoil from buying and wearing what everyone else is wearing but I do like to incorporate trends into my daily work-or-mom-wear.  And if I am buying a designer piece, I want to make sure the investment is worth it.   I love these shoes.  I saw them and mentioned them to my hubby and a few days later, they showed up in a pretty box! Yay for dropping hints that work! I will wear these with pant suits and jeans and that striped band really adds an interesting detail to an otherwise simple pair of cream heels.  Now, the weather just needs to cooperate and we will be off and running! What are your favorite fall pieces? I would love to hear from you and as always, thank you so much for stopping by!  Sweetly, Michelle   

Shoes || Blazer || Dress || Purse || Sunnies

Oh My Maxi

{Blogged over chicken bowls, because Taco Wednesday is a thing. Kinda} Happy Wednesday night friends!!  It was love at first sight when I saw this dress, but I circled around it for a while because I was afraid that everyone would have this and be wearing it.  And when you wear an animal print maxi dress, you don't exactly blend, amiright?   But then I decided I didn't care-- and I'm so happy with this decision because when I put it on, it feels like a throwback to the 70's or something. It's flowy, it's caftany and just glamorous.  And it has a built in bow that ties around your neck. I mean, could it get better? (and if your answer is " Yes, if it had pockets" well, guess what? It has those too!) I have never purchased an article of clothing in an animal print- I usually just do it as an accent piece in shoes or a clutch.   I feel like everything else should be subdued when you wear a busy print-- understated jewelry, soft curls or a pony tail, and simple chic heels.  My sandals are from JCrew and I love them. Speaking of JCrew, do yourself a favor and peruse the spring line.  Almost everything is sold out (but of course) but it is outstanding.

It's an exciting night over here.  The kiddos are asleep, the kitchen is clean and I am on my way to finishing up the OJ series ( we are 2 episodes away from being finished).  We need something else to binge on...any suggestions? I will take 'em!  Hope your night is a great one! Thank you for stopping by, dearest friend. Sweetly, Michelle

Photos by the amazing www.bleudogfotography.com

Dress and here|| Shoes ||