I’ve been blogging for several years now — even thought it certainly doesn’t feel like it’s been that long — and I was curious as to just how much my style has changed over those years. It’s always interesting to go back through the blog to see my outfits and the way I’ve evolved from year to year.
One of my favorite things about this time of year is snow. I love snow! Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve looked forward to those big, fluffy flakes falling each winter. I remember the mornings of a fresh snow fall, racing to put on as many layers of clothing as I could to stay as warm as possible and running outside with my brother with our makeshift sleds and we would play for hours, feet and noses happily frozen. One time I decided to explore the snowy woods around my house. It was the most peaceful I’d ever felt, just walking around and looking at trees that were blanketed in soft white, the quiet stillness of the forest filling me with calm. It’s one of my favorite memories. And that’s why I’m always thankful for – and looking forward to – those sunny winter days.
Last week a snow storm dropped 8+ inches on our town and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy every minute of it! Even though I only went outside twice, I spent most of the first evening watching it quietly fall and most of the second evening cooking in my kitchen where I could watch it from the window. I did bundle Sebastian up so that he could experience his first snow. He didn’t seem to share my enthusiasm for the cold white stuff but we did manage to get a cute little smile out of him. I’m sure that as he gets older he will like the snow just as much as I do. But, if he doesn’t, that’s okay, too. He can sit inside, drinking hot cocoa with his dad while I’m outside enjoying the flakes.
Sunny winter days are perfect for bundling up in cute hats, scarves, and coats when venturing out into the snow snow; drinking hot cocoa in your mittens; and watching the bright, winter sun glitter. I really do love the bright sunshine cutting through the chill in the air. It’s alsoincredibly beautiful. The white snow provides the perfect backdrop for making the colors on anything pop. The blue sky is bluer, the evergreens are greener, the cardinals are redder. It’s absolutely stunning. And the snowy winter nights are made for wrapping up in soft blankets and drinking warm beverages by the fireplace, a good book in hand. These are the days I look forward to all summer long.
How do you feel about snow?
In last week’s Giving Thanks post, I talked about how grateful I am for all of the caregivers I have in my ‘village’ who help care for Sebastian. This week I was going to expound that view to talk about the reasons I’m thankful for my community as a whole. But to be completely honest, time got the better of me so I’ve decided to save that topic for another time. Today, I’m taking a break to focus on family and food, for which I am extremely grateful.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I hope you’re all enjoying good food and quality time with family.
You’ve no doubt heard the saying, “it takes a village to raise a child.” I heard it often and believed it, but I never fully appreciated it until I had my own kid. Sure, I was part of others’ villages as I babysat for friends and encouraged my young nephew to say ‘excuse me’ after he burped, but I didn’t realize how helpful your village is when caring for your kid, yourself, and your family. When my son was born, I was lucky to have my mother stay with us for a few weeks to help take care of us. She’s pretty amazing, and the fierce love she has for her family can’t be beat. Then I had to go back to work, which meant I had to rely on someone else to take care of my sweet baby boy. I think this is one of the feelings that is hardest to resolve as a working mother. I often felt like I was abandoning Sebastian, and watching him grow up in photos, and leaving him for someone else to raise. I still haven’t quite reconciled these feelings completely but I’m working on it, especially as I let go and know that I really don’t have to do it alone.
With all of that said, the point of this post is that I’m so thankful for the caregivers in Sebastian’s life. From his father to his grandparents and aunts and uncles, our friends, and his daycare teachers, I’ve learned that it truly does take a village.
In the beginning we were lucky to have found a great daycare for Sebastian. His teachers were considerate, attentive, and seemed to really care about his well being. When we switched to the new daycare, I expected more of the same and was a little disappointed when the teachers didn’t go “above and beyond.” In the grand scheme of things, however, they’re doing a great job. Sebastian is never hungry, he hasn’t had any injuries, and he always has a smile on his face when I pick him up in the evenings. Oh, and one morning when I walked in the door to drop him off, the 3- to 4-year-old kids saw us and starting yelling, “Good morning, Sebastian!” It was adorably sweet and made me feel better about leaving him there because I knew he was surrounded by folks who cared about him.
So, I’m really grateful that there will always be someone there if I need them to take care of Sebastian. And not just take care OF him but really care FOR him. It speaks volumes to the people I have chosen to be in my community. But more on that next week 😉
While I try to practice gratitude every day of my life, I like to spend the month of November reflecting on and giving thanks for all the wonderful things in my life. In the past, I’ve highlighted tangible things like handwritten mail and flowers, as well as more abstract concepts like laughter and family traditions.
This year, I struggled a bit to figure out what I wanted to highlight. Not because I’m ungrateful for the wonderful blessings in my life, but because I feel like I’m always thankful for the same things – family, friends, food, etc. – and I don’t want to repeat all of those things to my readers, even though I truly am grateful for those things every single day.
I decided that for this year’s gratitude posts, I would highlight some more specific examples of what I’m thankful for. And when it comes to family, I’ll start with my husband, Nick.
I feel like I could write a book about all of the reasons that Nick is awesome. He truly deserves all the praise he gets and then some. One thing I really admire about him is that he works really hard to create a fulfilling career for himself and to take care of our family. Luckily, this doesn’t mean long hours away at some job, but rather putting forth his best effort both at the office and at home. Sometimes he’s recognized for it, and often times he isn’t, but he always gets the job done.
I’m also extremely grateful that he keeps me going when my anxiety starts to get the best of me. Getting enough sleep and not having a ton of things to worry about really helps keep the anxiety away. Nick knows this so he does a lot to let me keep my much-needed routines. Little things, like preparing Sebastian’s bottles so that I can go to sleep early if that’s what I need that day, really do go a long way. He takes care of the budgeting and the finances, making sure we’re on track to meet our goals and keeping me from blowing all of our money on food. And I never hear him complain.
Finally, I’m incredibly thankful that he’s so good at making me laugh, even when I don’t always feel like it. If you’ve read any of our conversations, you’re already familiar with his dry sense of humor. It’s completely opposite of mine, and I think that’s why he gets me giggling so often. Laughing is one of my favorite things in the world so having someone by my side every day that can crack me up with just one look is a real blessing.
Look, it’s not always rainbows and butterflies with us but we have it pretty darn good. We love each other very much, we agree on (and even dislike) the same things, and we want the best for each other, no matter what. I’m super lucky to wake up next to him and our awesome little guy every day.
And for that, I am super thankful!
About Me
Hi, I’m Nikki. This is where I blog about my life and personal style. I’m a wife and mom, public health professional, sushi lover, wine enthusiast, and coffee snob. Welcome to my little corner of the world where I try to lead by example!