December ‘23

Well friends, we did it. We made it another 365 days. Maybe barely, but here we are!

There is this really cool trend going around on the internet right now — Ins & Outs for 2024, and i thought i would go through a compiled list of things i’d love to challenge myself with this coming year. My list is pretty tangible, and they are things my heart has been tugged towards throughout 2023 & a new year really just does make it seem like a clean slate & makes these things seem so much less daunting to implement.

firstly, i wanted to recap December a little bit because it deserves to be recognized!

A DECEMBER PHOTO DUMP

December 1st we found out what baby is & that has made this entire pregnancy so much lighter. I am for sure someone who likes to plan when it comes to littles, so i feel like after finding out what baby is, it’s been easier to mentally prepare(names are always so hard with two people who have completely different tastes), and physically as well.

the rest of December was honestly a very exhausting time physically. I was sick since before December began & as i type this i am coming back to life very slowly from a stomach bug that took Jake and i both out the weekend of Christmas, so i am ready to heal and eat like a normal human again!

we are almost done with our main bedroom refresh - we slept on our memory foam mattress on the floor of our guest room for a week & i am very thankful to be back on our bed frame!

Jake got to take the last 2 weeks of December off - while most of that has been working on our bedroom refresh, it’s been so nice having him home. His brother has been in town as well the entire time, and i love that he gets to see him since he no longer lives around here and we only get to see him a couple of times a year. He has also graciously helped with the bedroom things & i’m so grateful for that!

i turned 29 this month too. that was special :)

idk about you but this year Christmas didn’t really feel like Christmas? Maybe I’m just so preoccupied with being pregnant & with the house projects that Christmas just wasn’t my main focus? Maybe it was overstimulation from social media & constant consuming of Christmas content making it not feel so magical and special? idk, but i know i’m not the only one who had this feeling in my inner circle so i’m not sure what it was about this year, but we’ve already started taking everything down to start a fresh and clean slate come January 1st.

IN

2024 ...

IN 2024 ...

here is my list of what i would like to see take place in 2024

◦ buy less bread - make more

this seems pretty silly, but in 2024 i really want to strive to spend less money overall, and bread is something i’m already familiar with enough to where i know i am capable of making other things. I’ve made bagels and loaves, so why not learn other things? Some things i’d really love to master are — pizza dough, tortilla shells/naan, rolls, sandwich bread, and focaccia! I need to start a new sourdough starter too… not everything has to be sourdough although i’d love for it to be my most used bread starter!

◦ pray & read the bible more consistently — go to church as often as possible

2020 created this stagnancy and complacency in my heart and attitude towards physically going to church & i am determined to fight those natural instincts and make it as often as i can. i go to a woman’s bible study every season, but i am really bad at going every week & Sundays are hit or miss as well. That is going to be a priority!! prayer and Bible reading are also something i want to be super intentional about. i always know when God has been placed on the back burner in my life & i want a solid foundation in Him.

◦ skincare = makeup

something i’ve seen a lot on social media in the last year is skincare acting as your makeup! i think that is really cool, and since i don’t really wear makeup that much & when i do it’s typically very light, i’d love to try out this whole concept.

◦ no impulse buying — be more intentional about what i’m bringing into my home and life — find my style postpartum

this has more parts to it as well — i’d love to switch Rehn and my shoes over to barefoot shoes this year and be minimal about how many pairs we own. it’s silly, but something i’ve become passionate about since Rehn was born & i’d like to finally make the switch! another part to this is finding my style postpartum. this is something i’d love to do without the influence of social media, or at least as little influence as possible. i remember with Rehn i was fully submerged in specific influencers who would link and i would buy & almost always hate how i looked in it; which is honestly a hard mental space to live in at all, let alone postpartum. i’d like to buy less and be intentional about brands i’m purchasing from, as well as being mindful about MY body, and MY comfort level! Lastly,

◦ no spend months

this goes along with my intention to spend less this year. to practice self-control & contentment with the things we are already blessed with. to make intentional lists of needs/wants for when we do spend again & just have a duration of time to sit on those desires and figure out if they’re worth our money or not.

◦ learn a new skill

this is broad because i am allowing myself to be inspired to learn what sounds interesting and happy to me :)

◦ create boundaries

again, broad, but there are multiple parts to this one as well. i’d like to create boundaries with my phone, social media as a whole, and relationships as well. something i have known am learning a lot about lately is that i am very much affected by both of these things. i allow them to dictate my happiness, my worth, my status as a friend, and it can uninspire my heart when i feel like i don’t hold up to whatever standard i’m setting for myself in these things — so i would love to be more intentional about who and what i allow myself to consume and be a part of my daily life.

◦ tiptoe into the world of homeschooling

i would love to slowly incorporate some daily tid-bits of homeschooling. i have a couple of curriculums i’d love to really dive into and incorporate and i’m excited about it!

◦ unfollow people on social media who don’t serve me during this season of my life

it’s easy to blame the influencer for your impulsive habits, but we need to acknowledge our own downfalls when it comes to feeling defeated, discontent, and impulsive on social media. I will be unfollowing anyone who leaves me feeling discontent with any part of my life - not because THEY are making me feel that way, but because i have healing and weaknesses that I need to take accountability for & i know my triggers and need to be actionable. this also goes beyond people i don’t know as well. I am a firm believer in seasonal relationships & it’s okay to say “they no longer serve me or my life anymore” and it doesn’t have to be this bitter/hateful departing. It’s okay to move on from relationships if that’s what you need to do to heal or live life at peace.

◦ heal my gut / learn more about my body & nutrition

self-explanatory i think! i love following healthyhoney(audrey) on instagram and tiktok for all the fun facts and interesting recs in this area.

◦ go on walks more often

for my mental and physical health. especially postpartum

◦ be still in what is

in a society that pushes more & “bests” and a “go - go” mentality, i want to truly find rest and peace in MY life as is. to grow as needed, and bring in as i choose; not to make my decisions based on others agendas or opinions, but to be wise about even the little things in my life. to reflect Christ in the waiting & hopefully inspire my children to have faith in the Lord & not lean on the worlds selfish and temporary desires.