Happy New Year!!! I hope you all had a wonderful week with friends & family. We had family staying with us for the last few days, we had SO much fun with them and the girls were seriously on cloud nine having their cousins sleep over every night. We had the most laid back (and lazy) NYE ever, it rained almost the whole week so we made do at home with lots of fun meals, board games & lounging in front of the fireplace.
I am always optimistic about a new year, a fresh perspective & a feeling of restored energy to make changes. 2016 was a big year for us, I haven’t talked much about it on the blog, but I spent the majority of the year not feeling like myself after I stopped nursing Claire and went on birth control (multiple different types, pills, IUD, bleh!). In late Fall I realized my body just can’t handle them, and finally started feeling normal again just before the holidays. The move was also a huge change for us, we spent most of Spring & Summer prepping to sell and our home didn’t really feel like home anymore, then after moving into our new house,we jumped right into renovations, back to school & Halloween shortly after. Things are still out of place just about everywhere, we have bare walls, half finished projects & storage boxes everywhere. It was a messy year. Our goal for 2017 focus on what is important, our health and our family.
This starts with getting our home in order so we can create healthy habits & happy spaces. I plan to dive right back in to one of my favorite books The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. We are in desperate need of organization & de-cluttering and this book really does work wonders if you follow all of the steps!
I want to make more time for adventuring with the kids, more fun weekends away, day trips to do fun things & saying yes more to all of their silly requests. Even if that means jumping on the trampoline in the rain or road tripping to meet family at an airbnb somewhere for the weekend.
I want to take more risks with my business, focus more on the things that I love and cut out things that I don’t. We are bringing real prints to the shop this year, along with tutorials & DIY ideas for printing the digital downloads. I also want to create more outside of just chalk, more hand lettering & painting to come!
More memory making, less social media. More new recipes, less donuts. More date nights, less obligations. More presence, less multitasking. More praying, less worrying. More intention, less clutter.
MORE LOVE, less of everything else.
We are always on board for a fresh start, and I couldn’t be happier to do it along side all of you. Thank you for all of the support and kindness you have shown us, we are so grateful & excited for everything that is to come!! XO
I am looking forward to your posts in 2017! 🙂
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
I’m so looking forward to a fresh start as well!
Happy New Year!!! We just had our third and I debated back and forth about the IUD. I ultimately decided it’s not for me, as no hormonal pills/birth control methods are. I’m glad you are feeling back to yourself!!
Love your goals for the New Year!! I completely agree with all of them. I want to be more intentional with my family, spend less time on my phone, and grow my business. Cheers to 2017!
-Sarah http://www.thefrugalmillionaireblog.com
So sorry to hear that you haven’t been feeling yourself : ( I also felt like birth control wasn’t for me and I found a book called Taking Charge of Your Fertility. It’s about the fertility awareness method (natural/taking your temperature/etc) and it worked great for me (preventing pregnancy AND helping me get pregnant). Excited about what’s to come on your blog this year!
Cheers to more love! Happy new year!
I feel your pain with the birth control. Knowing that pills caused me an emotional roller coaster I opted for the hormone IUD…although they swear they have no emotional side effects I was a wreck! Cried all day, had no desire to interact with my kids. After 2 weeks, I gave up and had it removed immediately. The things we go through!!! I now have the copper IUD with zero side effects. I appreciate your honest blog 🙂
I feel ya with the birth control. I’ve tried ev-er- y- thing!!!!! About to have my iud removed because of the same feelings. ? Cheers to 2017 and new beginnings!!
Good for you! You’re gonna rock this year!
LOVE this! Wishing 2017 is your best year yet! Thanks for your always amazing posts!
I so respect and admire your honesty. It’s brave to say that things are hard and, personally, I think saying it out loud helps with moving forward. May 2017 bring love, joy, peace, and prosperity to your family.
XOXO
Birth control is so hard! I’ve tried so.many.kinds. and they are just not for me. I’m a much better wife and mom off of those ? glad you’re doing better. Nothing is worse then feeling off and not yourself.
Check out Natural Family Planning. Great way to learn about your body and when it is ready or not ready to make another miracle. Being off of birth control is such a freeing experience to take control or your body and free it of harmful chemicals!! Love your New Year’s post! All things I would love to strive for as we navigate life with two littles and hope for another one when we are ready. Your blog is one of my favs because of the way you incorporate fun, love, and joy into your children’s lives. Xoxo
Your list looks a lot like my set of resolutions for 2017. I shared them via instagram stories 🙂
Thanks for opening up! I too want to say yes more to my kids and no more to over planning my calendar. Hope you have a wonderful 2017, you guys sure had an adventurous 2016. Cheers!
I love this post! Yes to all those things you want more of! Thank you for being so honest and open– I’m drowning in clutter-toy-crazy-ville over here some days, and I often wonder how other Moms do it (as in I thought your house was perfectly labeled and organized, lol!) Happy New Year!
I don’t use birth control either, of course we were told we could not have kids and our daughter is a little miracle baby…I like the feeling of allowing my body to do whatever it wants without any artificial hormones. Do what feels best! I too am hoping for less social media and screen time… It it tough to cut out! Pinterest calls my name! Don’t stress the small stuff, your house will get done in due time.
Thanks so much about being open about not feeling yourself. Obviously, as your readers, we know that your life probably isn’t always perfect but you do such a good job of capturing happy moments that it’s easy to forget! So thank you. I have felt the same way. Is it too personal to ask what you ended up doing in terms of birth control that made you finally feel better? I am at such a loss of what to do for birth control (the copper IUD made my body temperature 92* for a week?!) but really feel like my family is complete and the thought of getting pregnant again makes me anxious. Feel free to PM/email me if you’d prefer/have the time. Thank you! Glad you’re feeling better and here’s to an amazing and more relaxed 2017! 🙂
You got this girl! 2017 will be amazing!!!
Yes to it all! You say it so well, let’s just LIVE life fully this year. Happy New Year!
Amen momma!! I hope you are feeling well again – mind, body, and soul ❤ Thank you for your reminders – I need less multitasking, worrying, etc. in my life too. Love your blog so much
I wish you all the best in the new year! I am so inspired by you and the business you created for yourself, and I love following along for the journey!
Oh my gosh!! Can this please be one of your hand lettering or chalkboard prints to come???
“More memory making, less social media. More new recipes, less donuts. More date nights, less obligations. More presence, less multitasking. More praying, less worrying. More intention, less clutter.
MORE LOVE, less of everything else.”
LOVE this!!!! ❤ So perfect!!!
This was very inspiring! Thank you! I was on the Mirena and wasn’t feeling myself for a very long time! I didn’t realize it was from the mirena until I had it taken out when we wanted another baby (which then I had issues making my own progesterone because of being on the mirena and put my pregnancy at risk-all was fine with a supplement though). I am now on the copper IUD and feel just fine, but can’t wait to be on nothing because my husband just got the ol’ *snip snip*. Hahahaha. Thank you for being so open and honest. Looking forward to your blogs this year!
What a great post, thank you for sharing. And I couldn’t agree more with the Morse love, less of everything else! Wishing you and your family all the best in 2017!
What a great post, thank you for sharing. And I couldn’t agree more with the more love, less of everything else! Wishing you and your family all the best in 2017!
I was a bit sceptical about the book “the Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up”. You referenced it in one of your blog posts a long time ago, so I decided to check it out- you are SO right, definitely works if it is followed! I loved it!
Looking forward to following your posts in 2017!
I love this! <3
Happy New Year! Love this post, and I share similar hopes for this year! Also, give your time to adjust after nursing. It took me close to six months to feel normal after nursing my last baby last year, and it sounds like you are well on your way to figuring it out.
Why is it that after all these years, they still haven’t come up with a good birth control that doesn’t make us crazy, right?! I’ve had the copper IUD for 2 years and have not liked it one bit but can’t see a better alternative so I still have it. I really do feel it affects my mood as much as the hormonal types but since there is no back-up plan and we don’t want any more kids, not sure what to do. I’m not ready to have my tubes tied! Ugh, womaning is hard!
I need that tidy book in my life, and then someone to come and tidy it up for me! Trying to raise organized kids, when I am not a fan of organizing….is hard!!!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR! I am so all over the place with birth control. After having to inject myself with everything under the sun to get my first two and then Hi there mom #3 we want to take charge of when we welcome any further additions. My drs def recommended birth control but I hate it, cannot remember it and it makes me feel yucky and hungry all the time.
Your plans align with mine. Move forward in my career, simply my life, say yes more and MEAN it. Be present, Enjoy my babies more!
I totally feel you in the birth control as well! I also recommend Natural Family Planning. Has worked great for our family for 8+ years. Takes some extra time but well worth it. I look forward to following your blog again this year!
While you are “tidying up” you should also read “the life changing magic of not giving a F*%$” it was soo good and really helped me to channel more of my energy into the things and people that mean the most. leaving behind feelings of obligation or guilt! Happy New Year to you! Love your blog!
Oh I love that!!! Never heard of it, going to look it up right now!! XO
Sarah Knight is the author! Enjoy!
I just finished that book and today alone got rid of 5 trash bags worth of stuff and made 140$ and it felt amazing to be rid of stuff !
Thanks for sharing!
Can I ask what form of birth control you’re using now? I just had my second son 4 months ago, and it’s time to start thinking about BC. I’m just so reluctant because it makes me crazy but am not ready for another baby yet and iud is out of the question. Do we revert back to high school days and go but condoms all red faced and embarrassed? 😉
It was two different pills (not actually sure what the names were off the top of my head, the one I took while nursing was very low dose and didn’t affect me near as much) and then I also did the Mirena IUD for about a week before realizing I needed to get it out asap. And yes, red faced at the grocery store seems to be the best option! 😉 I also read Taking Charge of your Fertility which is an amazing resource!
I also had MAJOR emotional problems on birth control so we go the old fashioned condom route as well. Just wanted to let you gals know you can order condoms on Amazon Prime, have them delivered to your door, and not have to face the Target check out gal with the judgey face, haha ; ) I realized this a months back and it was life changing, hahaha!
Yes, yes, yes!! So excited to see what 2017 brings for you, friend!! I’m also on the red faced grocery store train… better than feeling completely crazy, right?! Amazon is such a good idea… not sure why I never thought of that…
Love your post! So true in so many ways. As mamas, we are always trying to do EVERYTHING and I find myself not being as present as I would like to be. Less social media and more kisses and hugs this year in our house. More listening and laughing. Movie nights and snuggles. Adventures and days at the beach. ❤
Ps. I had BC issues in the past as well. Also just stopping breastfeeding my youngest in the fall (more tears from me than her for sure). I wear the patch. It’s called EVRA and works like a charm. I haven’t had any hormonal roller coasters (I should mention I used it for 2.5 years between my girls) and no harsh side effects. You put the sticker on once a week and smooth sailing. Of course everyone’s body is different but felt is was worth to share!
Hi Jessica,
I came back here, because I remembered that you had talk about birth control last year. You currently are in a green way of life as considiring to eat more vegetables and less meat (I saw that somewhere but don’t remember where!) I would like to ask you If you had already find a good contraceptive method ? Have you tried the sympto thermal method ?
Thank you 🙂