2014 was a whirlwind of fun. Here are some highlights. 

By far the biggest thing that happened this year was that my sister got married. This event monopolized a good chunk of my summer with supporting her through it all. I wrote an emotional post that was probably the hardest thing I've ever published for several reasons. Mainly because I never want my words to hurt anyone, but sometimes you need to stand up and let your voice be heard, no matter the cost. Because not saying anything hurts more. This was one of those times. 

It's funny where a year starts, where it goes and how it ends. When 2014 started I was still doing some "fashion" posts...mainly centered around my accessories. Those posts have organically shifted to being on Instagram or my Stella & Dot Facebook page and this blog has become more about my experiences in motherhood, random thoughts and my adventures in general. However, here are a few times that I wrote about fashion: New Year's Eve; dressing up jeans and a white t (holy bushy eyebrows & bright red lips in this post--2 things I really don't do often); adding a pop of sunshine to grey; messy side braid fun; showing off the versatility of a favorite earring; a favorite statement necklace; my #selfie obsession; another statement necklace obsession; and having fun with personalized jewelry (doesn't everyone need a necklace that says #selfie?). 

2014 was the year I came to terms with my real age. I stopped joking that it was my 29th birthday. For a good reason...my daughter. Around that time I also treated myself to a big haircut--one that I loved--and need to do so again. Also, it would be nice to do this more than once a year. (Note to self: spoil yourself once in awhile!)

I finally organized my jewels. Like a real organizational system. It is beautiful. It's my favorite part of our bedroom. I also organized my thoughts and words into a blog I truly love. This blog (my third? try) launched in March and I haven't looked back since.

Oh, the lessons my kids have taught me this year. There have been so many--I truly believe at times more than I could ever hope to teach them. They've taught me to embrace the mess, actually to enjoy the mess, to look outside my tunnel vision, to celebrate the noise--because it means my kids are healthy and happy, to encourage imagination, to see the beautiful in the ugly, to know that I am enough for my kids and that I NEED to be in the picture with them, to celebrate the fact that girls like more than princesses and sometimes boys love princesses just as much as their sisters, to stop the reflex of saying no, to pause and watch what the kids are doing instead of assuming they are just making noise for the sake of being loud, and to appreciate the question why. Actually no. The question 'why' and I are not friends. That is a lesson I reject.

One theme I saw repeated in my posts is my coming to terms with their growing up. I'm slowly learning to let go of my daughter as she finds her own place in the world; I won't (and can't) always be there with her. In fact, we are quickly approaching a time where we will go whole days without being with each other. And B. My baby that's not a baby anymore--especially since we got rid of his crib. Now if we could just get rid of that diaper...

Lest you think I only write about my kids...I covered many other topics on this little blog of mine. I got personal at times (and can not thank you all for the amount of love and support I felt when I did) including when I wrote about my love/hate/love relationship with Spring in a tribute to my late father, how I faced fear and went to a conference where I knew no one, and why nurturing old friendships is just as important as making new friends. I also kept things light with a couple of "random" posts were I either answered questions, detailed what I was currently up to, or just wrote a list. 

My relationship with my spouse had a staring role here at times--probably more than the mister wants (the perils of having a writer for a wife). I wrote about the importance of working at our relationship and unplugging for a date night in, the blues of returning from vacation and missing him terribly, learning to communicate with each other post-kids (trust me, it changes), and how it was only with him at my side that I was able to get through the first few months of my daughter's life--especially after our lovely hospital stay. 

This year also brought a couple of new features. I did my first ever series on Twitter, which makes sense considering how much I love social media. Like really love social media. I also began doing monthly recaps and a weekly series: Friday favorites. Those favorites have included my love of civic duty; being nominated for fun blog awards; the vibrant theatre scene in Minneapolis; my love of all things Christmas including the music, Santa visits, and cookie decorating; and children who are healing from sicknesses. I also did a couple of Top Ten Lists--a fun post that I'm sure will be repeated soon. Plus, I reached a huge "bloggy" milestone: 100 posts! I can't wait to see where the next 100 posts take me. 

Finally, I took on the goal of completing a book a week for a complete year (I started in March) and have written a couple updates on this journey. One of my biggest lessons in this quest is even though reading is something I love and want to do, I need to make an effort. Because too often other things (ie: my DVR) get in the way of quality reading time.

Whew! What a year. I spent 2014 doing so many things I love--spending time with my husband, playing with my kids, going out with my friends, making new friends, drinking coffee, drinking wine, watching bad reality tv, reading and writing. Thank you for being a part of my year...I can't wait to see what 2015 brings. See you then!

Our "holiday" card since I can never get my act together for an actual Christmas one, we always do a New Year card. This past summer we celebrated our 10 year anniversary and on that date we went back to the site of our wedding to document our life, 10 years later.

xo Sara

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