2016

“I Choose You” – a One Little Word Theme Song

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I like to have theme songs.  Music has always been a huge part of my life, and right now, Sara Bareilles is a huge part of my life.  (I’ve written about her here and here and here and here and here).

This song keeps popping up on my Pandora and Spotify stations, and it is spot on for my One Little Word – CHOOSE.  I mean, “I Choose You” is a love song, but I’m listening to it as a love song to my self.  There are some lyrics that are particularly perfect for how I’m feeling about CHOOSE for 2016:

And I believe in something again
My whole heart
Will be yours forever
This is a beautiful start
To a lifelong love letter

Tell the world that we finally got it all right
I choose you
I will become yours and you will become mine
I choose you

I’m choosing, this year, to write a lifelong love letter to myself.  To make choices that are good for my body and soul.  I’m choosing to do things that will affect and impact my life for more than just 2016.  That’s the magic of these Little Words.  You never know where they will take you, or what they have in store for you.

We are not perfect
We’ll learn from our mistakes
And as long as it takes
I will prove my love to you
I am not scared of the elements
I am under-prepared, but I am willing
And even better


Let the bough break, let it come down crashing
Let the sun fade out to a dark sky
I can’t say I’d even notice it was absent
Cause I could live by the light in your eyes
I’ll unfold before you
Would have strung together
The very first words
Of a lifelong love letter

Tell the world that we finally got it all right
I choose you
I will become yours and you will become mine
I choose you

There was a time when I would have believed them
If they told me you could not come true
Just love’s illusion
But then you found me and everything changed
And I believe in something again
My whole heart
Will be yours forever
This is a beautiful start
To a lifelong love letter

Tell the world that we finally got it all right
I choose you
I will become yours and you will become mine
I choose you

We are not perfect
We’ll learn from our mistakes
And as long as it takes
I will prove my love to you
I am not scared of the elements
I am under-prepared, but I am willing
And even better
I get to be the other half of you

Tell the world that we finally got it all right
I choose you
I will become yours and you will become mine
I choose you

Best of 2016

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Originally, I was thinking about writing a post about the best things we did in 2015, but that seems like so last year.  I’m ready to move on.  2016 is a beautiful, fresh, new year and I’m so excited to get into it.  So here’s what I’m planning on being the best of 2016:

  • A kid-free trip to San Diego later this month.  Jesse has a conference, and I’m tagging along to enjoy the hotel pool, wifi, and quiet.
  • A big family camping trip this summer with my mom’s family.
  • Hopefully another trip to Coronado.
  • Making good choices all year long.
  • Summer vacation with my two big girls who will be more capable and fun this year.
  • A long term sub job working with some of my favorite kids in the world.
  • A creative weekend in Bend this spring.
  • Growing an amazing garden and eating all of it.
  • A mom’s weekend at the beach.
  • A women’s retreat with my church.
  • Directing the Christmas play again next year, but with the knowledge and experience I gained in 2015.
  • Four more Day In The Life posts.
  • Canning lots of food.
  • 30daysofgratitude in November
  • Turning 35 years old.
  • Finding out where Dan and Nina will move after Nina’s graduation (hopefully west coast, best coast?).
  • Seeing plays, concerts, ballets.
  • Going to museums with the kids.
  • Creating lots of things.
  • Doing a month of creating.
  • Finding a rhythm.
  • Reading lots of books.

I know that there will be many things that we will do this year that aren’t on this list, because I haven’t even dreamt them up yet.  I know that I won’t get to everything on this list.  I know that some of the things on this list might be horrible and I would never actually include them on a best-of list.  But here it is – 2016.

CHOOSE – Making it Public with Goal Trackers

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Like last year, I bought these goal trackers from Elise.  I printed out seven of them and posted them by my front door.

I wanted to think of a few things that I can try to do during the year that will help me show that I’m making good choices.  Some are the same as last year – Wrist Party, Clean Room, Daily Chores, Sending Letters.  I also added Savour, Whole 30 and CHOOSE.

Some of these things I did really well last year and want to continue them, others I didn’t quite get, so I’m trying again.  Progress is greater than perfection!

Sorry these photos are potato quality… I’m not getting good light by my front door these days with all the fog.

JANUARY 2016: CURRENTLY

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reading 10% Happier for my book club, and Game of Thrones for myself.

listening to my Audra McDonald Pandora station.

eating no breads or sugars, back on Whole30.

choosing all the right things all the time.

making mistakes with choices, but really thinking about them.

thinking about choice and words.

waiting for an extended weekend away later this month.

planning what I’ll do with all my time alone on that trip.

wondering how I have a 4 year old.

using my new Get to Work Book.

loving it.

enjoying a quiet moment while the girls are back at school.

taking a deep breath because we all survived winter break.

drinking lots of tea and water, but not enough.

sleeping in bursts because both girls have become very needy at night.

wearing a fitbit again.

feeling motivated to get my wrist party everyday.

contemplating cutting bangs.  On me and on Harriet.

watching the second season of Broadchurch.

pondering why everyone on that show makes such dumb choices.

One Little Word 2016 – CHOOSE

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This will be my fourth One Little Word.  FOCUS from 2009, GRATITUDE in 2014, STRONG from 2015 all still speak to me in one way or another.  I love how these words carry through from one year to the next.

During December, I have been thinking about what word is speaking to me right now.  What word will help me focus in on what I need in 2016?  Where do I need something?

The word that kept popping up in my mind was CHOOSE.  Right now, and this could change, it means that I need to stop and make good choices.

There are too many days when I sit down during naptime and end up wasting the entire time doing stupid things like watching stupid shows.  I need to make different choices that will positively impact myself and my family.  Like clean the kitchen.  Or create something.  Or write for a while.  Or do laundry.  Or work on my license classes.  Or exercise.  There are always better options.

But, sometimes the best option is to sit down and waste time.  Sometimes that’s the choice that should be made.  But, I want to be more aware of those choices and aware of why I’m doing the things I do.

Those are the little choices, the daily choices that can change how I spend a day.  But, I know that these Little Words seep into more than just the days.  They don’t seem to be making a difference, then, poof I realize the huge impact they have made.  These little days, these little choices all add up to something much more important.

So, I choose CHOOSE as my word for 2016.  Here we go!

Winter To Do List, 2016

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Here’s my list of things to do this winter.  Many of the things on this list are from my 35 Things To Do Before 35 list, since there are still a lot of things on that list that aren’t checked off.

Anyone want to play along?

Here are some photos from last winter to get you in the mood!

  1. Go to the gym at least 30 times.
  2. Create a New Years signature cocktail.
  3. Sew new spring dresses for the girls.
  4. Go to an art opening.
  5. Work on my Tula Pink quilt.
  6. See The Last Five Years with Evynne in the lead role.
  7. See The Book of Mormon on tour.  Already have tickets!
  8. Get a massage.
  9. Do another Whole30.
  10. Try acupuncture.
  11. Try some new recipes from my Azerbaijani cookbook.
  12. Have a creative retreat.
  13. Get back on my daily chore schedule.
  14. Go on some hikes.
  15. Sew cushion for the hearth.
  16. Get paint estimates.
  17. Take a class.
  18. Finish at least one of my classes to renew my teaching license.
  19. Plant an amazing garden.
  20. Create some concrete, tangible ways to interact with my One Little Word for 2016 (to be announced soon!).