POSTCARD TRADITION

I told Matthew on our honeymoon that I wanted to start a small tradition in our marriage, where every time we go on a trip together I want to pick up a postcard or two and save them all to look back on over the years. I'm not a big fan of buying t-shirts or other souvenir items that cost a fortune and will soon be forgotten, so a .50 or $1 postcard was it. I have to give full credit to my parent's because this idea came from them. They didn't always pick up a postcard on their trip, but they did pick up travel/hotel pamphlets and documented things on them. I have LOVED looking at these over the years. 

On the back of the postcards I document the following, in bullet point style so it's not 4 paragraphs long or messy....

• The dates of our trip
  
• The reason or occasion of our trip
  
• Where all we went (landmarks, shows, etc.)
  
• Most memorable moments (ex. me packing over 50lbs in my suitcase for our California trip that caused Matthew to almost crumble with embarrassment in the airport when I had to put some of my clothes & shoes in his bag LOL.)
  
• If I can remember (most of the time I forget this and have to go back and add it later), the price of bigger things (ex. cruise ticket, plane ticket, excursion ticket, the cost of the hotel per night, etc.). My parents did this and I love seeing how much things cost back when they went on trips compared to things now- very interesting to me! 

Our honeymoon to Mexico!

Our cozy fall trip to Gatlinburg! If you have been a long time reader then you remember my post on the BEARS!

Our first cruise to celebrate our 1 year anniversary (a little late)!

Our Charleston trip to celebrate our second anniversary....that we planned a few days before we left!!

Our quick 48 hours in St. Louis!

and our latest trip, California! I haven't been able to blog about it yet, but I am hoping to soon!

How do you remember/document your trips?

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

POSTCARD TRADITION

WELCOMING OUR NEPHEW

A week ago today my BIL and SIL welcomed their first baby (& the first grandchild in the family! He was born at 9:51pm. We are so happy for them and beyond thrilled that he is HERE and HEALTHY! 

and from one of my favorite children's books....

On the night you were born the moon smiled with such wonder that the stars peeked in to see you and the night wind whispered....”life will never be the same” because there had never been anyone like you ever in the world....Heaven blew every trumpet and played every horn on the wonderful, marvelous night your were born 💙🌙

I drove to the hospital bright and early Wednesday morning and met my in-laws in the waiting room when I arrived. Matthew planned on coming as soon as he finished up at a client that afternoon. They induced my SIL at 4:00am and it was a really long day for both her and my BIL, but they pushed through and were absolute CHAMPS the whole day. Since he wasn't born until 9:51pm, Matthew was able to be there and meet him soon after he was born. 

We decided that I would stay at my BIL and SIL's house to hangout and take care of their dog, Darcy, while they were in the hospital. Thankfully I am able to work from just about anywhere, so I worked at their house Thursday and Friday. I went up to the hospital both afternoons thought to get in all the baby cuddles I could though. They gave me one of his swaddles for Darcy to pick up on his scent and I laid it out on the couch when I got back to their house one night and Darcy took a nap on it....so sweet.

Darcy's face when I explained to him they were bringing him home the next day....

and when I told him he couldn't play with his new brother's toys...

Matthew came back to town on Friday after he wrapped up his work week and we got in even more baby lovin' that night and Saturday morning.

so squishy...love him!

We are smitten and so excited to be uncle Matthew and aunt Shelby to our first nephew!

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

WELCOMING OUR NEPHEW

2019 GOALS

2018, just wasn't my blogging year and that is okay, but I'm back and hoping that 2019 will be a good year of blogging (among many other things)!

I used to blog my yearly/monthly goals, but decided not to do so last year. I missed it and the feeling accountability that blogging my goals brought, so I am hoping to do that again this year. 

Matthew and I made some family goals as well as personal goals at the beginning of December and I am excited for a new year and to start working towards those goals! I'll share my 2019 goals below.

1. Organize and print pictures. What I really want to do it organize our pictures first, then create yearly photo books. I created one for 2016, our first year of marriage, but then totally forgot after that.

Action steps: Schedule some time to organize photos on Google Drive.

2. Read the Bible from start to finish. I have never tried this, but I am excited for this goal. Our church is actually doing this and there is a workbook to go along with the study, so I am thrilled to be doing this with others.

Action steps: Set a reminder on my Bible app on my phone so that I do not miss a daily reading. 

3. Read 12 books this year. I am hoping to break it down to one book a month. I miss reading! I am going to use the Hoopla app to listen to some books and actually read some.

Action steps: Plan ahead and find 12 books (or more) that I am interested in. 

4. Punctuality. One of our family goals is to work on punctuality this year. I am also making it a personal goal because I want to really work on this and discipline myself. I want to be on time (or early) to events/places and be prepared. If I am running late then I am usually frazzled and frustrated. 

Action steps: Set alarms on my phone, schedule and prepare ahead of time so I am not throwing things in the car at the last minute when I should have left 10 minutes earlier. 

5. Meal prep and meal plan. I feel like this is one goal I can always improve in and with each season of life I know meal prepping and planning will change. My best friend shared a new way to meal plan with me a couple of months ago and I loved it. I am almost finished with it and I am excited to share with you all soon.

Action steps: Finish up and finalize new meal planner I am creating.

6. Healthier lifestyle. Can you really have yearly goals without a fitness/healthy lifestyle goal? ;) One of family goals is to be more disciplined in 2019. Disciplined in a lot of things (faith, finances, food, fitness, etc.) We don't want to join a gym or run 12 races this year, but we want to eat out less, eat healthier and live a more active lifestyle. 

Action steps: Do something active for at least 30 minutes a day (walk/run on the treadmill, take Reagan on a walk, etc.) 

Here is to a happy and healthy 2019! 

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

2019 GOALS