As a big wrap up, I thought I would blog some of my favorite things from the year. Favorite memory, kitchen item, book, make up, food, candle, vacation - just all across the board new favorites from my 2017. I love reading these kinds of blog posts. So in no particular order, here are my 2017 favorites.
Music: Audrey Assad
This was the year of Audrey for my husband and I. We took countless road trips to and from Louisville and Chicago and she was a regular on every trip. If you're looking for someone to listen to during your Bible reading time or just some new worship tunes, go listen to her Inheritance album right now. I listened to these three over and over this year and I linked them to Youtube for you: Abide With Me, Good to Me, and Holy, Holy, Holy.
Vacation: Gatlinburg, Tennessee
In May the three of us traveled from Louisville to Gatlinburg for a family vacation with my husband's whole family. We had just accepted the job at Crossway so it was such a relief to go on this trip and relax with family before coming home and preparing to move. This place has such a special spot in my heart. We stayed in a huge cabin on the same street as the Apple Barn (if you've never been to GB or The Apple Barn, seriously GO). Needless to say, it was a great location!
Charlie's 1st Birthday
On August 4th our baby boy turned ONE. We had already moved to Illinois by that time, so we traveled back to Kentucky for the weekend to celebrate with almost 40 people for his birthday party! It was so special to get to see so many of our family and friends to praise the Lord with us for the first year of Charlie's life. You can read my post about the whole party here. He took his first steps the same weekend as his first birthday, and he's been nonstop ever since.
Kitchen Tool: Immersion Blender(and Homemade Mayo)
I bought myself a Kitchen Aid Immersion Blender with a birthday gift card and it's becoming my favorite kitchen thing! I really got it to attempt a recipe for Whole 30 Mayo and let me tell y'all - it's the BEST mayo you will ever taste and so much healthier. I'll drop my recipe below. So far this mayo is all I've used the stick blender for, so if you have other recipes you like to use an immersion blender with send them my way!
Podcasts: Risen Motherhood
This year I finally got on the Podcast train. The first one I listened to was Serial (I know, I'm only like years late but whatever). Serial was interesting but I was a little disappointed with the ending to be honest. My favorite podcast is definitely Risen Motherhood! Two sister-in-laws talk about a Christ-centered view of motherhood and daily life and often invite guest speakers on. I usually listen to a podcast while doing dishes, cooking, or in the car on road trips. What are your favorite podcasts of the year??
Concert: Ellie Holcomb(and getting to meet her!!)
This is one of my most favorite little memories of 2017. So, on August 17th (the day after my birthday), I was just scrolling through Instagram stories while I was waiting for dinner to come out of the oven, when Ellie's came up. She said she was in Naperville for a free concert for women starting at 7 p.m. at a local church. My Naperville, IL? Free? In 45 minutes? I flipped out - could I make it in time!? No worries that I had to scarf some food down (I didn't even have time to wait for the hot dinner I had cooking!). I rang up my new neighbor friend and she sweetly came along to the concert with me! It was one of those once in a lifetime, last minute, super fun things. And I got to meet her, hug her, and thank her for her music after the concert!
Book: Wonder by R. J. Palacio
When I was in college, I had several friends read and recommend this book (especially since we were becoming teachers), but I just never got around to it. Yall - it's amazing! It's a quick and easy read that every student, teacher, and parent needs to read. So glad I finally did!
Make Up: Tarte Shape Tape
This is the BEST concealer. And it smells weridly good too (like licorice!). It retails for $27 at Ulta which I know is more expensive than what you would find at Target, but it lasts for a long time and is worth every penny if you need some coverage and eye brightening.
Candle: Target Sun Kissed Soy Candle
Before this year I had exclusively bought Bath and Body Works candles for yearssss. I got this candle for a friend and then went back and got one for myself because when I smelled it burning in her house I had to have it! It's a soy candle (Bath and Body are not soy), and it burned so pleasantly and not super loudly (unlike Bath and Body, also). My only complaint was that it didn't burn evenly at all, but I was able to continue using it with a candle warmer.
Day Trip to Chicago
About a month after we moved to Illinois we took our first train ride into Chicago! The train was a super fun experience but the hour long ride was about Charlie's limit. We walked around downtown, visited Millennium Park, ate Potbelly, and just enjoyed the great weather! Definitely want to go again when it warms up with a list of places to visit in mind. There are some amazing donut shops that I'm dying to try. Hopefully will do that in 2018 ;)
LUSH Sleepy Lotion
This is the most wonderful lavender vanilla lotion EVER. It's also a really pretty purple. I love to put this all over my hands, arms, and legs before bed. The smell really does soothe and make you sleepy. I just ran out and I've been missing it at night so I need to stock up on that again soon!
& being a momma!
Are one-year-olds not the most fun thing in the world?? GOSH. It really is true that becoming a parent opens up a whole new part of your heart that you didn't even know was there and could love another person. Next month Charlie will officially be one and a half. He talks ALL the time. He loves any kind of ball or cooking thing. Some days I feel like we already have a two-year-old on our hands (the independence and the tantrums!!!). Since his first birthday he has cut all 4 pre-molars and now 3 canine teeth, but he's such a good sport about life even though I can tell his gums hurt him A LOT. He's a little trooper.
2017 was the first full year of being a parent, and boy am I happy to be called Mom. :)
I wish you all the best 2018!
Emily
