books of the month: inspiring reads for moms

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If you checked out my post about goal setting for the year, you know that one of my main aims was to take care of myself, and for me, part of that included finding a way to read more. In case you didn't know, finding spare minutes to read with a toddler running around is not exactly easy, BUT I carved out the space and read FOUR WHOLE BOOKS last month. That's literally more than I read in the whole last year!

Miles likes for me to stay in the room as he settles down in his crib for a nap, so I decided to use that time to quietly sit in a chair by the window and peruse the pages. I thought it'd be fun to do a little book review with my own little 4-star scale, so here are my thoughts...

Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting

* * * * This book has been recommended to me so many times, and to be honest, I've put off reading it for two years. I was pretty against reading any parenting books while I was pregnant and during Miles's first year for fear of developing pre-conceived notions of the way things were gonna be (and because what new parent has time for that?!), but this book really is worth the time. It reads less like a "this is how you should raise your kids or else" and more like a memoir of an American raising children in France. Plus, it really does provide some good insight into parenting and reveal how crazy the American way can be at times. I've already implemented the French idea of feeding Miles in courses and not letting him snack all the live long day, and it has been life changing!

Grace, Not Perfection: Embracing Simplicity, Celebrating Joy

* * * I had actually started this a few months ago, but in the midst of travel and toddlerhood, I didn't make it past the first section. I've followed Emily Ley for years (since attending Making Things Happen back in 2012), and it was so fun to see her story in the pages of this GORGEOUS book. Very lighthearted yet inspiring without being overly self-helpy. <--- That's totally a word. If you're feeling overwhelmed by the pressures of parenting, work, or the need to live a Pinterest perfect life, this one will lift you up and give you some simple tools to get back to what matters. A beautiful, meaningful gift item for a mama, friend, or teacher.

The Magnolia Story

* * My dad had sent this over with my mom when she visited, and since I'm a fan of Fixer Upper, I was looking forward to reading it. At first, I didn't love the way the book was written with the back and forth dialogue between Chip and Jo, but after awhile, I got used to it. This one is a quick and easy read, but it didn't change my life or anything and was only mildly entertaining (thus the two stars). That said, it is inspiring to see their whole story from humble beginnings to a TV show.

Hands Free Mama: A Guide to Putting Down the Phone, Burning the To-Do List, and Letting Go of Perfection to Grasp What Really Matters!

* * * * This was by far my favorite book that I read last month. Another of my goals for this year is to be more present with my family. I find it so easy to get sucked in to my iPhone or the computer, and avoiding them some days can seem like breaking an addiction. I've been trying to break out of the habit of spending time on #allthethings when he's around, and this book was just the kick in the seat I needed. The author's own experience reiterates what we miss out on when we go through life distracted and "busy" and drives home the whole "live in the now" mantra. A great read for any parent in this "go go go" world we're living in now.

So there you have it... more to come at the end of this month as I'm already halfway through book two for February!

What are you reading right now? I'd love to hear your recommendations!

goal setting for the new year

Happy New Year! I hope 2017 is treating you well so far. Obviously, Miles's year is off to a great start... we've had snow days, afternoons in the park, and he's officially decided that walking (errr... running) is a better mode of transit than crawling.

Last week, I finally got around to setting goals for 2017. Even though I know there's nothing special about a new year, it sure does feel like a fresh start. I always follow along with Lara Casey's Goal Setting series on her blog, but this year, I also got to use her PowerSheets! I'll be honest... I hadn't bought these in the past because I really didn't know how useful I'd find them. After all, I've been to the Making Things Happen conference, participated in a monthly accountability group for the past couple of years, and read the book, but these are such a powerful tool! After seeing how seamless they make this process and how helpful they are in gaining my focus, I'm definitely a believer. (They're sold out on their website, but you can still get to work on your goals using the blog series.)

I'm not gonna lie, this process takes work. Don't be fooled... this isn't just making arbitrary resolutions... it's about digging deep, evaluating, and setting meaningful goals with reasons behind them that motivate you to achieve them. After this process, I already feel a sense of balance restored that had been lacking for a very long time. (Let's be honest... I'm sure that sense will be upended at any moment, because I'm a parent, but for now, it's working.)

I'm not typically one to share my goals on the www, but for the sake of truly wanting to be held accountable (and maybe even inspiring you to join in), here we go...

1. Prioritize self-care. One big lesson for me this year, especially with a growing and increasingly active toddler, was that I have to start taking care of myself first. I was tending to everyone and everything else, and it made me constantly impatient and exhausted. There's a reason, on airplanes, that they tell you to put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others. If I prioritize me, I'm better for everyone around me.

2. Fuel my spirit daily. Even if you aren't religious, there's something about taking the time to just be quiet, meditate, and reflect that does the soul good. For me, this means spending time in prayer, scripture, and overall just filling my heart and mind with good things and relinquishing my own control. Man, do I feel free when I do this!

3. Love my tribe well. When you're busy with life, it's so easy to lose touch with those around you. This year, I want to be intentional about making my people (Josh and Miles, but also dear friends and family) know how loved and appreciated they are. I seriously don't know how I would have made it through this past year without the support of family and friends, and it's important that I take the time to encourage them, listen to them, and love them well.

4. Nurture my marriage. This is a big one for me. Having been together for over a decade before having Miles, Josh and I pretty much had things figured out. We rarely had petty arguments, could recognize when the other needed a break, and had plenty of time for each other. Living overseas and having a kid have been such grand adventures, but they've definitely taken their toll. With limited access (read: none) to child care, sleep deprivation, and the exhaustion that comes with an active toddler and a busy workload, we haven't made time to really connect with one another this past year. This is definitely worth the effort it takes to find our new groove as a family of three.

5. Be present and intentional in my time with Miles. I think part of it has to do with being so far away from all of our people, but I found myself slipping back into a constant reliance on my phone and social media. While there are times that I need to be on my computer while Miles is around, I want to make sure I'm taking time each day to be fully present with him and get to know who he is becoming. It can seem monotonous at times, but I know this time with him is so short, and soon enough, he won't want his mama's attention anymore. I need to soak it up!

6. Plan and forge a purposeful career path. With all of the changes that have happened in the past two years, it's clear to me that my business also needs to evolve. I want a career that serves my clients and my family well. I know this is not will not be a very easy or clearly defined process, but with our impending move back to North Carolina coming up, I want to figure out what work life looks like moving forward. I look forward to exploring this more!

My word for this year is NURTURE. Throughout this whole process, the theme that kept reappearing was the idea of nurturing. According to Dictionary.com, this means "to support and encourage, as during the period of training or development; foster." I can think of no better wish for the year ahead than to care for myself, my family, and those I love in a way that both supports and encourages.

Cheers to a new year, friends!

So tell me, are you setting goals for the year ahead? If so, what are some of your big ones? I want to know!