Kate's Monthly Take

It’s hard to believe another year has come and gone. I’m not one to make grandiose resolutions as I find I don’t keep them but 2017 was a stark reminder of how short life is and how fleeting good health can be so in 2018 I want to try and focus on being more present.

So what does being more present mean? How will I accomplish this? To me, being more present means cutting out the noise. Simplifying my life as much as possible and just trying to enjoy the time I have with friends and family.  This is not an easy task for me as I have an incredibly hard time focusing long enough to have a simple conversation. I'm convinced my mind often resembles my Chrome browser with 30 tabs open at once...so let's take this resolution one step at a time.

Tomorrow, I'll take my first step thanks to a six hour car ride. I’m going to take one hour and unsubscribe to countless marketing emails! It's going to feel liberating and I hope that this one hour of time will save me numerous hours in 2018. Hours I would have spent pouring over the latest products on sale that could have instead be spent with my family. Fingers crossed that both my bank account and family members thank me in the new year!

Whatever your resolution may or may not be I wish you luck and Happy New Year! Enjoy my first Monthly Take of 2018!

Kate's Monthly Take - January 2018

Mood

  • Can I make like a bear and hibernate until Spring? This weather is brutal and getting my kids out the door in all their winter apparel glory is exhausting!

Currently Coveting

  • I used to really want a Chloe saddle bag but with three kids I'm hopeful I'm becoming a bit more practical. I still love handbags but this adorable Herieth bag from Clare V is much more reasonably priced.

Favorite Product(s)

  • The weather has been frightful the past week and my lips have taken a beating but I’m loving the HONEST Beauty magic balm.

  • Our youngest got this highly rated toy Explore & More Follow Bee toy from Skip Hop for Christmas and I’m kind of obsessed. She’s infatuated by it and it’s supposed to help her learn to crawl - not that I want her crawling anytime soon!

Design Pick

  • I love the embroidery artwork designs of Rachel Castle. Her creations sell out fast on her site but custom orders are available. I definitely have one on my wish list!

What I'm Reading

  • Thanks to a recommendation from a friend I’m reading, "A Million Junes" by Emily Henry and it's incredibly addictive. I love an addictive book!

What We're Reading the Kids

  • After our epic Christmas Book Advent Calendar we are back to our regular nightly schedule learning all about Bugs and Beasts! The Big Book of Bugs and The Big Book of Beasts by Yuval Zommer are both beautifully illustrated, thoughtfully organized and contain the most fun tidbits of information about their subject matter.

Instagram Handle

  • So a couple years ago I discovered @gunnerandlux and the fabulous (Little Lux) jewelry designs created by 8 year old Riley. Her jewelry is adorable (big fan of the "Girl Gang" necklace) and her personality effortlessly shines through the Instagram account she shares with her dad. It is without a doubt one of my favorite feeds!

Guilty Pleasure

  • I can't get enough of The Crown on Netflix! I watched Season 2 so fast thanks to a sick baby sleeping on my chest but I may need to re-watch for another dose of all the costume and set grandeur.

I Need A Vacation

  • Temperatures in the Midwest have been just awful. Mexico and specifically the Rosewood Mayakoba resort is calling my name.

Shit My Kids Will Eat

  • Kid Tested & Approved - I’m not sure they really need anymore energy but I like the healthy ingredients in these and the kids devour these No-Bake Energy Bites from the blog Gimme Some Oven.