2014: Simplify/Travel/Cook

anyone know this image's source?

If you've been reading my blog for awhile you know how much I love making little goals. My pal Elsie summed it up perfectly in her resolutions post: "I love making goals and I can honestly say having big goals is one of my personal keys to productivity, success and happiness." I am that same way, and I find myself making goals on the regular- monthly, weekly, and through all of the little lists I find myself making- daily. So of course New Year's is one of my most favorite times of the year.

There are so many things I could work on or work towards but I somehow managed to pare it down to three:

1. Simplify. I've already started to do this, but I want to simplify every area of our life. My closet, my online life, our home, even the way I handle things. This is something I've been working on for the past few months and it's wonderful. Focusing on less things and more experiences; quality over quantity.

2. And that leads me to number two and focusing on experiences and traveling. This year we'd really love to spread our wings a bit and visit some new places. And now...to figure out where we want to go.

3. Food. So here's the deal with food and me. I love to cook and I love to eat, but most of the time I find myself eating the same things over and over, and cooking the same things for my family, over and over. I'm bored, and I'm sure Hank and Henry are bored too, even though I know neither would admit it. I feel lazy when I half-ass meal planning and cooking and I hate feeling that way, so instead of being annoyed at myself I'm going to really focus on this area. I ordered a few cookbooks and I'm truly looking forward to trying some new things. And of course I'll be sure to share here.

It's neat to look back over the past year and take stock of growth, and evaluate what worked and what didn't work. 2013 was definitely a year of change and evolution. It was also a year full of a lot of sadness as I lost both my Grandma and a handful of friends (including our dear Andrew) in the same week. When things like that happen, it's a powerful reminder of our own mortality, and if I took anything from those experiences it's the very cliché but very true "life is so short." And it really, really is. In the same year I lost my beloved Nanny, Charlie was born. One of the saddest things right alongside one of the happiest. Death and life all happening at once. It's been a wild, wild ride and although I thought 2012 was a transformative one for me, I'd have to say that this past year topped it by far. It feels good to look back and feel like I really made some strides.

Most of all though, 2013 made me a mom of two with the birth of our sweet Charlie boy, and for that, I will always hold it dear.

So incredibly excited for this new year, and for the all the possibility it holds.

Are you setting any goals, intentions or resolutions for the year? Share below or link me to your post. I'd love to see.

Happy New Year's Eve!

Christmas 2013

The best part of every part of my life is family. And since becoming parents, the best part of every holiday are the children. In our family we now have three little ones between my little family and my sister's, and really, nothing is better. It was Charlie's first Christmas and it was a good one. We spent Christmas Eve with part of Hank's side, then came home to do our own traditions. Growing up my Dad would read The Night Before Christmas every Christmas Eve to my sister and me, and once Hank became a father he gifted him a new copy with the sweetest inscription. And that's one of the neatest things about being a parent; getting relive your own childhood once again with fresh eyes and the foresight to really take it all in.

Christmas Day was full to the brim with family, good food and presents. Hank and I don't actually exchange gifts with each other outside of doing stockings and instead focus on traveling throughout the year. The boys though, got some really wonderful books, puzzles, and a few new toys. Henry's "big" gift this year was the kid's kitchen from IKEA, and he was really excited. We got my Dad a telescope and my Mom a gift card to her favorite spa, and there were smiles all around...between the little talks we had to have with Henry about why every present isn't for him, and why it's so nice to give presents to other people, too. It's tough being three...

It's hard to convey the feeling I get when I look around a room full of my family, all smiling and happy and healthy, together in one place. I feel peaceful. And so, so lucky. I know things never stay the same, but this year, right there in my living room surrounded by the people I love the very most, I had to stop and whisper a little "thank you" into the air, for all of the goodness. Because even though we were opening presents and getting "things," it still reminded me that the best things in life aren't those things, they are these people. Lucky. Happy. Healthy. Wishing for the same over the next year and beyond.

Happy holidays, from our family to yours!

Little Bits of Christmas

Growing up Christmas was always such a special, magical time. I have vivid memories of my Dad climbing up into the attic to get the big brown boxes, little pieces of glitter falling down like snow as he climbed down the ladder with our decorations in his arms. There were ornaments and banners, a huge stuffed Rudolph bust for the wall, snowglobes, photos, and garland. My sister and I would always sit for hours looking through all of it, new to us yet again after being put away for the past year.

And in my home I want to bring that same kind of excitement. I love the holiday season, and I love making our house feel warm and cozy, especially during these cold winter months. Nothing's better than seeing Henry's face light up when he looks up at the tree, full of ornaments from different times in our life or the smile he gets when he's shaking up a snowglobe and asking me "how does this WORK, Mommy?!" Have I mentioned how much I love being a parent during Christmas? I mean it's always so much fun, but this time of the year is the MOST fun.

Here are some little bits of Christmas around our home-

Cloud ornaments- Baby Jives
Merry & Bright banner- Steph Loves Ben
Holiday hoops (boys' names and "Silent Night")- Sara December Rose

Last Minute Me...and 7 Gift Ideas

last year on Christmas morning

So I'm usually the type to have all of the shopping done early, like before December 1st. And to have my presents wrapped and in the closet within those first couple of weeks. But this year, blame it on a new baby and our new normal, or blame on the holidays coming faster than ever (seriously, they did!), I found myself doing some last minute shopping. And of course, this can be a problem living in a small town with not a lot of stores to choose from. So a great option? Subscriptions!

Here are some of my favorites:

1. Tonx

I've talked about this numerous times because Hank is a huge fan of the service, and since signing up a year or so ago we've gotten a ton of friends hooked too. In a nutshell, Tonx is a biweekly coffee subscription service that brings excellent beans right to your door. They roast their own beans, and work hand in hand with the growers they feature. This is the PERFECT gift for the coffee lover in your life, and it's insanely affordable for what you get. Although I don't drink coffee, all of the coffee lovers in my life are fans, so I definitely feel comfortable recommending it to all of you. And psst, you can try it for free too.

2. Glossybox

Glossybox has been sending me their awesome little boxes for over a half a year now and I'm so hooked. It's a beauty subscription service that goes out every month, and only costs $21. You get five luxury items per box, and they are often full size products. Through it I've been able to try so many products I never would have bought for myself, and even found some of my favorite items through the service, like this volumizing gel. The whole package is super cute, and it's always fun to get one in the mail every month. This would make a great gift for any girl in your life- sister, friend, etc.

3. Kindle Magazine Subscriptions

Print mag subscriptions are awesome too, but I especially love giving Kindle subscriptions to friends because they're so portable, and they're not left with a heaping pile of paper at the end of the year. Some of my favorites: Real Simple, Martha Stewart Living and for a good "beach read," US Weekly.

4. Just The Right Book

And for those who love PRINT books, this is a site that sends the perfect book to your gift recipient. You can choose the frequency of the subscription, and all you have to do is list your loved one's reading tastes, interests, etc. and the experts at Just The Right Book send over a personalized selection (gift wrapped), as often as you would like (monthly, quarterly, etc.). And if they don't like it, they can send it back for a different selection. This is a gift my Mom would LOVE- she's such a reader (and collector of books), and I know she'd enjoy getting a gift from me each month. Such a neat idea. You can also choose any age from baby to adult- this would be a fun Christmas gift for a new baby in your life, to build up their library.

5. Little Pnuts

This is the neatest subscription service for kids. Every three months Little Pnuts sends out a box full of 3-5 toys to engage and entertain your child, at whatever developmental level they're at. And best of all? The toys are made of natural materials and are battery free so playtime is all about expanding imaginations. I only just discovered this site, but love how you can choose the exact age your child is at; it's all broken down month by month in each section, be it infant, toddler, or preschool.

6. The Carnivore Club

The name says it all. For $50 a month your recipient gets 4 to 6 different selections of cured and smoked meats, charcuterie and jerky from around the world. I love what the site says too- "a box of meat perfect for the man who has everything." I can think of a few guys who would love this, and I'd imagine it would be a big hit.

7.  Conscious Box

One last fabulous subscription box service that arrives monthly. For $19.95 per month you get 10-15 natural products (snacks, body care, cleaning products, etc.) sent right to your gift recipient's door. I really love this idea, and especially love that it makes it easy for someone who is just starting to become interested in conscious, natural and healthy living to have the best of the best to try. It can be pretty overwhelming otherwise, and I think it's great that this company simplifies it. And even for those who are already on the healthy track, this would be a great way to discover new products and try some things you may not otherwise pick up on your own.

So there you go, SEVEN last-minute gifts for the wonderful people in your life: the coffee lover, the beauty product fan, the magazine browser, the reader, the child, the meat-eater, and the health nut (or the want-to-be-healthier person!). You can sign up today, then print out a confirmation and give it to them in a card. I think anyone would be happy to receive a gift like that, and how wonderful to be able to keep on giving it a few more times over the next year or more.

Enjoy, and happy (last-minute) shopping!
xoxo

I used Amazon Affiliate linking in this post, along with Hank's Tonx referral site. If you'd like to visit either without the affiliate link or Hank's friend referral, click here and here. Glossybox is a c/o product, but as always my opinion is all my own- of course! ;)

Weekend Links

I just shared this on IG but had to share it here too- a little Flashback Friday: Henry at my sister's wedding, right around the age Charlie is now. Can you see the resemblance? My friend Erin and I were just joking about what a little old man he looks like.

Happy Friday, friends! I wanted to start off with a little review of some pajamas that PJ Salvage sent over for me to try out. Have you worn their clothing before? They sent me the absolute softest pj set ever (hello, cotton/poly-french terry blend from heaven), and since receiving it I've gotten a few of the sets for family members' Christmas gifts too. I love that there's something for everyone- flannel, thermal, you name it and like I mentioned- they're SO comfy. You can find them at retailers like Nordstrom, or check out their website. Here is the set I received, but I also love this one.

Next, have you read this article about Facebook? The author says it's fundamentally broken and collapsing in on itself. I thought it was fascinating- it's always crazy to think "what's next?" as far as social media, etc.

You've Got Mail's Guide to NY. Yes!

Have you checked out Heart Yourself yet? It's my friend Jenny's new charity jewelry company.  

Why Beyoncé Kept Her New Album Secret. An interesting read. 

I always love space photos. 

Just ordered these ankle boots on sale! Can't wait to get them.

Your kid's sad...and that's okay.

Wishlist: this necklace, this walker for Charlie, this sweater, and this book.

14 amazing YA books with inspirational heroines. 

Important life lessons from Pinterest's top pins of 2013. "Be aggressively bland." So good.  

Etsy wishlist: this pillow, this banner, this ornament, and this tassel garland.

The 22 most embarrassing pages of the 1990 J.C. Penney Christmas Catalog. Amazing.

We have nothing left to say offline.

 "I've only got $60, and I need six shirts and four pairs of pants."

For the gluten-free friend (or any friend really): Lemon Christmas cookies. 

Some fun posts from around the web: this hair tutorial, these beautiful vacation photos, and this cute outfit.

Love this: Before the Web, Hearts Grew Silent.

Why having a female president matters...as explained by Hillary Clinton.

My mission. And maybe yours too.

The BEST last-minute gift for the coffee lover in your life (Hank-approved).  

And finally, Suck and Blow: The Oral History of the Clueless Party Scene.

Have a wonderful weekend! xoxo

 

The Instagram Trap & An Update

You guys, I've fallen into the Instagram trap.  I think it's a pretty easy trap to fall into, when you're a blogger or writer- maybe some of you can relate? Every single day I post over there, and even though I'm not writing epically long captions or sharing updates, I still feel like I'm getting it all out and writing it all down. But I'm not.

So here's a real update.

Right now life is good. Earlier this week I went through a weird sad few days but then yesterday starting feeling much better. I'm at this place right now where I'm beginning to realize that I was totally wrong about a second child, and how I thought Charlie's newborn and baby stages would go by so slow, because I knew to savor them even more this time around. They are absolutely soaring by and it's equal parts exhilarating and depressing. I cringe to even use the word depressing when talking about my children, but I'm someone who has a hard time letting go of things, and isn't parenting really just an exercise in letting go, a little more everyday? For someone like me that can be hard. I think too much, and I especially think too much about the passage of time, so when I woke up on Monday and realized Charlie babe was already four months old I felt panicked. Only two months until he can try solids? He's already wanting to sit up and is rolling- will he be crawling soon? Without sounding like a cliched version of even myself, I am in true shock that he isn't still a tiny newborn sleeping all day long in my arms.

Henry is three now and three is so sweet, and so challenging. When he's good he's amazing, but when he feels like being difficult it can be challenging. He's the sweetest boy I know, but also the smartest, so when you pair a hot temper with these things it can be an up and down kind of ride. We're both learning though- me, how to be a parent of a three year old, and him, how to be a three year old. Preschool discussions are on the table and I think that is happening soon...which brings me back to the earlier paragraph as I ask HOW did we get here so fast?

Life in the Hampton house right now is all about Christmas. We've got holidays on the brain, and I'm not complaining. I do feel a little frazzled, a little behind in getting things done, but I really feel like this has to do with social media playing the biggest role its ever played and seeing so (!) much (!) holiday stuff shared every second, from the moment December arrived. Or maybe even the moment November arrived.

Some random update-y things: I started doing hot yoga again this week and I don't think I've ever appreciated 90 minutes in a quiet room so much in my life. It kind of zapped my sad feelings right away and I want to go everyday, even though I know just once or twice a week is what will really happen. I've been working on just going with the flow more, especially during the holidays. Going with the flow is not something I specialize in, so I'm really trying to let go and not feel a responsibility to overplan everything. Hmm, what else? I feel annoyed at this post because when I started to write it I felt like I had all of these things to share but now I feel like I just went on and on about things I didn't even intend to write about (who knows what those were anyway). The main thing is that I just feel very lucky lately. Healthy, happy babies and Hank to make me laugh and love harder every day. That's the main point of this update. Lucky. Happy. Healthy. And I hope 2014 is more of the same.

Happy almost-Thursday. I've stayed up far too late (again).

xoxo

Book Review: Delia Ephron's Sister Mother Husband Dog: Etc.

I've been meaning to do an actual post about Sister Mother Husband Dog: Etc. forever, and today's the day. I've talked about it a couple of times since beginning it, but I wanted to finally finish it before I even shared my opinion just in case there was a part or two I ended up not liking. But spoiler alert- there wasn't.  And to delay the process even more, once I was a couple of chapters in I decided to read and reread it as slowly as possible, so I could savor every bit...I loved it that much.

I thought long and hard about what I could say about this book because it's so many things; it's a books of essays, one, but it's also a book about love, family, friendship, sisterhood, food, dogs, I mean I could go on. So on one very simple level I connected with it. I have all of those things in my life and felt, even in the beginning of the book, that this would be a favorite because I was perpetually nodding my head as I read along. But if you go deeper, a million little "ding, ding, dings" went off in my brain as I felt connected to each little bit she shared. In some ways I feel I could have written parts of it myself, which is always the very coolest sensation when reading a book.

There's so much to say about the various essays- some of them I loved, some of them I liked a lot, and a couple I want to print out and hang up so I am continually inspired to be as open and vulnerable in my own writing. The stories themselves range from light-hearted to more serious, and that's kind of the way you feel throughout it. You'll be reading an essay on banks or bakeries or Jewish book festivals and out of the very ordinariness of it all, you'll feel that deep pull inside of you when you know the author's hit the nail of an emotion right on the head.

Sister Mother Husband Dog: Etc. is simple and serious, funny and bittersweet, all in one. I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a great memoir full of well-written stories about one woman's everyday, ordinary stuff- her sister, mother, husband, dog...etc.- that becomes truly extraordinary in the telling.

Happy reading!

 p.s. I'm currently reading this book and loving it- more on it later.

and p.p.s. I used Amazon Affiliate linking in this post. To visit Amazon without it, please click here.

Family Photos and Late Holiday Cards

A couple of weeks ago my friend Emily snapped some family photos for us (Arizona people, contact her via her website- she's the best!). It was a super rainy morning so I was unsure of how they would turn out, but as always, she managed to somehow, someway capture beautiful images. She always takes the best pictures of Henry too and captures the happy, fun spirit he has, even when I go into the session unsure of how she'll even get one good one. He wasn't in the best mood that morning, and if you know anything about three year olds, you know that family pictures and a bad mood do NOT mix. But yet again, Emily worked her magic and took some photographs we will cherish forever.

I was VERY late on ordering our holiday cards- does anyone else feel like this month is going by way too quickly? So I took advantage of Tiny Prints' express shipping. And even though I ordered on Friday, our cards are due to arrive today! Right now Tiny Prints is offering 25% your entire order (use code SW1217), which is the best deal ever. Add in rush or super rush delivery and you can have your cards tomorrow or the next day. I chose this Christmas card, but I also love these two.

I'm always the kind of person who has their cards stamped and ready to go by December 1st, but at least with Tiny Prints I can be a bit of a slacker and still get the job done. Thanks a million, Tiny Prints!

Photos c/o Emily Snitzer

Cards c/o Tiny Prints