Happy new year, beautiful! It’s the most wonderful time of the year! (I’m still singing Christmas songs, because it’s my party and I can do what I want to.) The air is crisp, the leaves are on the ground, maybe even some pure white snow where you are, and the freshness of the first of the year has us all spinning our wheels on how we can purge, organize, and regroup to make this year our best one yet. But before we start talking about GOALS, let’s talk about counting our blessings.
RECAP OF 2017
Ever since I started blogging, I’ve done a recap of the year (like so many bloggers do) to take a step back and remember why I do all of this in the first place. I didn’t do one last year, because I was digging myself out of postpartum depression, so this recap is long overdue.
I’ve been blogging since the spring of 2014, and it’s been quite the ride. Today, I’m beyond grateful that I get to call this my job. What was once a hobby of mine has become my full-fledged J.O.B. It’s crazy to think that all of the hard work, late nights, blood, sweat, and tears I’ve put into this little space has come to this: a beautiful community of moms sharing what we love.
The last quarter of 2017 was a whirlwind. I became a full-time blogger (meaning I earned a paycheck of a full-time job), and let me tell you something, working from home with your two small children is not a feat for the faint of heart. And believe me, I almost fainted a time or two.
Beyond blogging being hard sometimes, as any job can be, the last two years hasn’t been easy. I think I share more in my captions on social media (and through Instagram Stories now) than I do on here lately, but if you’ve been following along, you’d know that the last two years has had lots of ups and downs. From a job loss to a pregnancy, to selling a home and buying a new one, from juggling an infant and a preschooler, to battling PPD and overcoming it, it’s been a lot to handle. And that’s not even including all the other “stuff” that goes on behind the scenes that I don’t share, because you know, I have to use some discretion on keeping some family matters private. But anyway.
Now that the holidays are over and I can finally catch my breathe, I can take a step back and reflect on all the GOOD things that happened in 2017. Everything GOOD that happens here on Seven Graces is because of you, and I’m so blessed to have you all standing with me.
In 2017, I managed to publish 87 blog posts. That is a lot of hours devoted to this blog. That’s pretty amazing to me considering that I was a yo-yo of emotions throughout the year. There are so many blog posts that haven’t yet made the blog because exhaustion got the best of me, but I am going to work my hardest to make sure they are published this year. Things like: our favorite NYC spots, Colin’s first birthday, and a home tour.
Want to see what blog posts were the most popular posts of the year? Sure thing!
Top 5 Blog Posts of 2017
Only two of these were written in 2017, isn’t that the strangest thing? Pinterest is my bread and butter when it comes to circulating my blog posts, so it’s not surprising that these have been so popular.
NUMBER FIVE.
I love this bag so much! And I this post was a crowd favorite. I always love seeing how and what people use to organize their bags, so I’m happy you all loved it, too.
NUMBER FOUR.
This was one of my very first travel blog posts (before I was ever taking pictures with my big DSLR), and it still brings in a ton of views. So many people have let me know they’ve gone to some of these places thanks to this post, and that makes me so incredibly happy to hear.
NUMBER THREE.
Favorites of the Week: Hash Brown Casserole & Contemporary Christian Music
I’m pretty sure this is a fan favorite because of the casserole. Thank you, Paula Deen!
NUMBER TWO.
Currently Confessing | Spring Chopped Salad Recipe, Fashion, and Organization
And this colorful chopped vegetable salad is the most eye-catching yet amazingly delicious chopped salad you ever will eat. Thanks, Martha Stewart!
NUMBER ONE.
And then this one: my heart. I was 7 months pregnant with Colin when I wrote this, and every time I re-read it, every single time, I cry. I know 100,000 of you have probably done the same. Thanks for keeping this one number one. It’s definitely a cornerstone piece for this blog.
Thanks a million for reading, liking, clicking through to read, and coming back for more. You all are the greatest of the great!
GOALS IN 2018
Now let’s talk about GOALS. I feel like goals are interchangeable with dreams. Anyone else ever feel that way? Ha! But if I’m being honest, I feel like if I write them out, they’re more likely to come true. I’ll be more inclined to pray about them and work hard to make them come to fruition. So here they are…
- Get Charlotte to sleep in her bed ALL NIGHT LONG without having her end up sleeping in my bed.
- Rebuild muscle that I’ve lost since becoming a mom, meaning time to work out and get serious. BBG coming right up! (And to lose 10 more pounds.)
- Use my planner to stay more organized with dates and appointments.
- Come up with a CONSISTENT routine for cleaning the house.
- Plan out blog posts for the month like I used to and not have sponsored posts be my only content on the blog.
- Come up with a better schedule for WRITING said blog posts.
- Finish decorating the playroom and office in my house.
- Pray more and continue to share more about my faith.
- Attend mass every Sunday.
- Finally write my book/bible study/devotional.
- Go on a date night at least once a month if not more.
- Go to bed the same time Michael does and wake up the same time he does.
I think those are some lofty goals, don’t you? Yet all of them are possible. Time to pull up my sleeves and get busy. Cheers to the new year, friends! With God by our sides, we are pretty much ready to conquer it all.
Happy New Year! You’ve accomplished so much in the past year, you should be proud. Good luck with all of your goals. I love BBG, I was just getting into it when I got pregnant again. I can’t wait to start over later.
Great goals!!! I am excited for your book- you can do it!!!