The beginning of the week found us finishing out a long work stretch but early mid week we were at the most magical place on Earth.
We took our nephew. His sister got to go one time when Em was with us. We had a wonderful time but most things were not enough thrill for him.
We did magically get a free cupcake. We also scored a Rise of the Resistance boarding group and road mid day. No spoilers but it was good…it didn’t top my fav at Disney but it was really cool.
We also scored two fastpasses for Smugglers Run because Ryan makes the fast pass magic happen. Emory was excited to be pilot. He improved the second time.
Definitely excited about our own beds.
I am trying to get a handle on this meal planning deal. I found some good resources like these lunch ideas. And these pantry meal ideas.
We stayed in a different place this time, a condo. More on that in my upcoming Disney update.
I am in love with Cinderella’s Castle royal makeover. I can’t wait to see it.
Hoping my daffodils and ranunculus survived the cold snap while we were gone.
This week we finished up our Disney trip. We had a buffer day before going back to work and it was incredibly nice. As opposed to our normal stay gone as much as possible. Come back to immediately work the next day.
The fog really has been in and out this week. So mysterious and beautiful.
I obviously was still exhausted because I literally slept most of Tuesday, like maybe awake for 8 hours out of 24.
I did manage to get one of the closets organized and checked it off my to do list.
Sand renourishment on Hunting Island has begun. I can’t wait to see the completed project.
I am loving this song lately. This version by Skylar Grey is beautiful.
Hi, ho, hi, ho it was off to work we go so off to Disney we can play. This past weekend I questioned why I chose to work so many days in a row but then moments like this make it worth it. Got to work to play. Got to play to live.
My family is real nickname-y and I have many roles in life that have a label. But my top three favorites, in no particular order: Katecake to my wonderful cousins beginning when we were little. Tate to precious Emilee. It’s hard to describe what a Em and Tate are but basically God gave us each other by non biological means and it’s the best ever. Cupcake to my friend’s babies. They are the sweetest and I hope they always know Cupcake is there for them and with them, to help raise them up into the amazing women they will become.
We had fun with the sweetest girls. What a joy it is for my friends to allow me to participate in their beautiful babies lives. I hope I can be the best Cupcake and bonus mom for all your lives.
If I ever get to chose my last meal, three items will come from Disney. Raspberry lime macaron, Ohana noodles and Ohana potstickers with peanuts sauce. The other portion would be Sharks fried fresh shrimp.
I find the Enneagram so interesting. This is a fun article about Valentine’s plans according to your number.
Beautycounter had been making waves this week in the beauty industry and news. If you want more information on Beautycounter feel free to message me.
One month of 2020 is gone and a fresh set of 29 days is upon us. Have you made any resolution progress? If not remember there is nothing magical about January 1st. And in the words of Voltaire don’t let best or perfection get in be way of good progress. Don’t not make good because you are worried you ant do great. I have some things I am proud of and some things still left to experiment with.
January To Das:
I was able to read 3 books and part of two others.
Organized the pantry.
Sent two snail mails.
Simplified the clothing in my dresser.
Went to the chiropractor.
Tracked my exercise and finished the month consistently tracking food.
Bought a door organizer for my clothes. I put my work tank, undies, socks or yoga clothes in it. Because if I don’t go to work then I go to yoga (usually).
I mostly stuck to the Clean Mama routine. I did sometimes if I had an off day did the sweeping and mopping all in one day. I’ve also started a cleaning note in Evernote to track the last day I washed the sheets in each bedroom, towels, shower curtain, cleaned other things, etc.
Journaled on a most consistent bases.
Printed all of our yearly photo and trip albums minus 2019 and Iceland/Norway.
Logged 1013 exercise minutes.
February To Experiment:
Simplify closet #1
Simplify closet #2
Read three books
Prep and enjoy trip #1
Prep and enjoy trip #2
Send Valentine snail mail
Do the thing (unsure if I am ready to share)
Find a wellness accountability partner
Move my body 4/ week
Weekly financial checkin
Unplug on a weekly basis
Journal most days
Meditate for three minutes per day
Document wellness
Develop and practice good sleep routine in order to prepare for working nights
Clean Mama routine daily
No spend month. I so easily grab a shirt for Em or something for the house etc. The graphic about want to waste $10,000.00 then mindlessly spend $27.40 daily. Phew that is crazy isn’t it!?! Dining out, teas, wasted food, a shirt for Em or a toy. It all adds up.
Happy February! 💕💖
Comment with your January wins! Id love to celebrate with you.
Did January seem like the longest ever and yet also 2020 is marching along?
There is a new aerial yoga place kinda ish close to Beaufort and I am excited. I took my first class there and can’t wait to get back.
At the end of last week Ryan’s parents came to visit. We tried some new places to eat, went to the beach, looked at land (and learned we can’t afford to build a house).
I roped my FIL into us making s’mores which was more than just building a fire they went to buy all the stuff while I was at the Visitor Center event. But s’mores are so fun especially when you can hear the ocean. We have a fire pit in our yard and really need to do this more.
I attended the Hunting Island State Park Visitor Center opening. It was a lovely night and such an incredible transformation. The artist, park staff and FOHI board did an amazing job.
We walked to the waterfront Sunday for exercise and a picnic. In the words of Lilo my fish tacos feel like somewhat of an abomination right in front of our fish friends, but delicious and a very scenic abomination.
I spent the beginning of this week in Birmingham with my baby Em. Gosh she will be ten this year. Such a sweet, loving angel.
Where are the self driving, fast Jetson cars. I need to be able to get to and from Alabama while car napping even if Ryan isn’t with me. Driving is so hard. Also why can’t America have an amazing train system like Europe. Wouldn’t that be grand!
I gave my monstera a new, bigger home. He is looking a little worse for the wear. Hope he perks up. I also got this cute crystal plant stake online.
Krispy Kreme has new mini doughnuts and everything is cuter in mini sized. Kittens, puppies, babies, doughnuts.
How yummy is this fry board. Wouldn’t a loaded fry bar be cute too? I’ve got all kinds of dreams about that. Now I need an excuse to have one!
Trying some cupping for my tight muscles. We will see. I figured if Michael Phelps did it then surely it worked. Ha! Bought this set off Amazon. It comes with an extension tube and it is easy to use on yourself.
Ryan and I are catching up on season 4 of Outlander. I have to say it seems to be a few things off from the book or maybe I just don’t remember. I find the tension between Bri and Jamie to be weird.
This little Cosmo popped up this week. The weather has been crazy which has making the flowers crazy. But what a little magic and joy to see this in the middle of January.
We added a new meal to our rotation, breakfast croissants. Ryan also found and tried the parchment paper bacon method. It was delicious. I told him now he can be my bacon cooker.
I attended a Friends of Hunting Island board meeting last Sunday, this was the pier. So stunning. This is a colored no filter photo.
Of course with the fog I had to stop on the beach to grab some photos. I found some treasures while there.
#doitforthegram
Our work days took it out of both of us this week so we have done not much of anything on our days off.
We did go check out some land and do a little dreaming. No solid plans though, just in the dreaming stage.
This week Glennon Doyle posted on Instagram how her dad walks the beach every morning picking up shells, he then glues pearls to them and returns them to the edge of the surf during the day for kids to find. She went on to say how the world was magic but someone has to make it magical. What truth. Have you made magic for someone today? Have you looked for the magic that the universe already has offered to us?
Finally caught up on our yearly photo albums and travel albums. I meant to get started the year we got married but got behind but finally I have caught up. I do have to do 2019 and Iceland/Norway. Feel free to look at them when you visit.
We had a cheese plate picnic this week. So yummy!
I straightened/cleaned our party this week. Always such a calming effect.
Know your beauty products and maybe not purchase outside of the US unless it’s Canada or the EU which has stricter laws that the US! Hopefully one day we will live in a world in which all beauty products are safe.
While in Charleston we stocked up on some goodies. I am excited about work lunch tomorrow.
Feeling lucky to live in a beautiful, historic city in between two other beautiful, historic cities.
We went to the drive-in this week to see Frozen 2 and Star Wars. Unfortunately the car died into Star Wars so we left. But Frozen 2 was still great!
Happy first Friday of the new decade. Have you lost some of your goals already or maybe not started yet? No worries there’s nothing magical about January 1. Just do those little steps.
We got home from the Christmas rounds last weekend. Worn out, with a cluttered house, and work in the too close future. I am desperately working on battling this. You would think as much as we travel I would have a great routine by now. I think a big road block is working typically the day before and after we leave to maximize that travel. Any tips?
Luckily I has three days off mid week, finally making some progress. I took Christmas down sadly and probably the earliest I ever have. Cleaned and straightened. We had the great purge of 2019 to move here and I feel the purge of 2020 coming. The less stuff you have the less crap there is to clean, right?
Wednesday we watched the annual Pelican Plunge. It was fun to see. I do say my family wouldn’t count most of the plunging as plunging since really your head needs to go under. I plunged in July 2019 in the Arctic Circle. We will count that.
Watched some Bama football. 246 days til Gameday. The countdown is on.
I took myself on a library and walk date at the waterfront. Soaked up some vitamin D and Sea before this soaking rain arrives. Also found some new good books.
My sweet friend Lauren had heart surgery today. It went well. But please keep her family in your prayers. She has two littles and a long recovery ahead.
I’ve been trying to follow the Clean Mama routine to keep our house in order. It’s do hard to be motivated to clean after a 13 hour work day, especially when you return the next day.
Happy Weekend! We both work so not feeling too much like the weekend here.
This morning I watched the first sunrise of 2020 standing on the literal foundation of so much of my life, the beach house. What a gift. I’ve been reflecting this last few days and looking a head. I’ve thought about what legacy I hope to leave when I die and what I hope people will say about me at my funeral (hint it’s not those Southern-isms such as sweet, kind, a good heart, blah). To know which direction you want to go in you need to know where you want to go.
The Roaring 20s are here! I am excited to see what they have in store.
I have six main themes. My phrase for 2020 is Root to Rise a yoga-ism from.one of my yoga teachers, Megan. In yoga it means a firm, grounded foundation so you can rise tall and strong. Basically going for the same thing in 2020 life. Planting deep roots to rise in life.
Below are my goal themes. The goals written out as if they have already been completed.
Physical Wellness
I am the healthiest version of myself. My body is operating in it’s tip top optimal condition. I am energetic, have excellent lab levels, well-rested, strong, clearer skin, accomplished, and flexible.
Spiritual Light
I deeply connected to God, myself, the people I love, the earth, and the universe. Thus my inner light radiated to those around me.
Mental Health
My mind is peaceful and my heart is full of joy. My light and physical body ground my emotions and mental space. I have a more peace, a quieter mind, therefore I have a deeper connection with myself.
Finances
We are financially secure and I have peace about money. We are able to give generously to bless others.
Life-giving Home
Our house is a place of refuge, belonging and love. Our space provides us with clarity, rest, energy, joy and rejuvenation. It houses celebrations, love, laughter, miracles and warmth.
Rooted Connections
I have rooted, deep connections with my tribe. We have become rooted in our community. Our marriage is anchored and thriving.
In January I am planning to read three books, simplify my clothes, organize the pantry, exercise four days a week, send some snail mail, follow the Clean Mama calendar, document my food and exercise, eat lower (ish) carb, and review spending weekly.
We moved to Beaufort, SC essentially into a semi tiny house. Had the great purge of 2019. Did A LOT of work on our house in Homewood. Sold our house. Paid down some of Ryan’s student loans. Took a Summer Sabbatical and learned the art of resting. Became a turtle volunteer for Hunting Island SC, a life long dream of mine. Began practicing yoga and exercising on a regular basis. Adventured in Iceland and Norway, where we snorkeled in the Arctic Circle. Went to Disney. Visited friends in Laurel and Hamilton. Cruised on a Stalker family vacay. Watched the Blue Angels from our backyard. Each started a new job. Attended Mumford and Sons, Needtobreathe and Hootie and the Blowfish concerts. Magically happened upon affordable Hamilton tickets in Dallas. Made new friends. Spent quality time with my younger cousins. Traveled to Cape Cod. Built a dollbed. Magically saw an orca in the ocean in Norway. Spent a cousin weekend reminiscent of Camp Amy at Uncle Steve and Aunt Molly’s in Maine. Started our own version of Camp Amy with Camp Tate with Em and Emory as attendees. Celebrated graduations and Match Days and birthdays and our 6th wedding anniversary. Met Ryan’s besties baby and got all the snuggles. Increased my blogging. Caught up on our yearly photo albums. Continued to clear some clutter and simplify. Read 39 books. Did the 25 days of Riley Kate’s Lovies during December. Had Chocolate Tree chocolate covered strawberries. Went to the Bama vs SC game.
This is the list I read this year. All are good because if I start a book and don’t enjoy it I typically do not finish it. The stars are the extra good ones, two stars the best.
Intuitive Eating
Fire Along the Sky⭐
Queen of Swords⭐
Becoming
Love you Smore
The Endless Forest⭐
The Power of Vulnerability
Where the Crawdads Sing
Beach House Reunion⭐
Glory Road
The High Tide Club
Miranda’s Big Mistake
Maybe This Time
By Invitation Only
Sunset Beach
The Summer Guests ⭐
I’m Fine and Neither are You
The Royal We
Forever is the Worst Long Time
Life and other Near Death Experiences
Brunch at the Bittersweet Cafe
The Stationary Shop⭐⭐
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
Where’d You Go Bernadette
Little Fires Everywhere
Next Year in Havana ⭐⭐
The Island House
The Guest Cottage
When We Left Cuba ⭐
Nantucket Sisters
Make Your Bed
The Alice Network ⭐⭐
Looking for Lovely (reread) ⭐
The Over Due Life of Amy Byler
When Less Becomes More
One Day in December ⭐
Make It Happen
Cultivate
The Tattooist of Auschwitz ⭐⭐
I can’t wait to see what 2020 and the next decade bring. I will be posting my Powersheet goals this week too. So encourage me and hold me accountable.
Welcome to the Roaring 20s! I can’t wait to see what is in store.
Happy New Year! Best wishes for a Roaring new decade.
The Barefoot Mermaid 