In Review // December

The new year is right around the corner and I am so excited! If you’ve been following my blog throughout the year, you probably won’t be surprised to hear that 2015 was a mixed year. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t the best. It was a year of learning as I finished settling into a new job and there was a dark point in the middle as a family member had a major health scare. But there was a lot of good too, between traveling to Montana, Little One (love her!), my niece and nephews, and publishing a short story in an anthology/attending the release party. There were a lot of great things about the year, but it wasn’t the easiest one to get through.

As I said in my letter, I’m glad I experienced 2015, but I’m also ready to say goodbye and move on. I’m really looking forward to 2016 and am ready for a productive and creative year! I will be setting goals quite differently, though. More of that will come on Friday, when I share my goals and word for 2016.

Until then, here is my last “In Review” post! I have loved recapping the month this year and plan to continue to do so in 2016, but I’ll be switching it up a bit. I’ve also really loved having a decreased posting schedule, so it’s going to stay. It has been so good for my mental well-being not to have the pressure of posting every day. It’s allowed me to do other things that I like to do, like spend more time reading and giving Little One tummy rubs. And I’ve been able to sleep, which has been nice. 🙂 So, the Monday-Wednesday-Friday posting schedule will stay. That doesn’t mean that you won’t see posts pop up on Tuesdays and Thursdays sometimes (in fact, I think you’ll see a few in January and definitely in March.), but the decreased schedule gives me some flexibility that I really needed.

And now, it really is time for my last “In Review” post. 🙂

// WATCHING

Christmas movies! The cheesy ones are my faves.

// READING

A lot this month. I’m really into mysteries/thrillers lately and have a feeling that I’ll be reading more than usual in 2016.

// LOVING

A new face powder that I picked up from MAC the other day.

// LISTENING

Christmas music and Harry Connick Jr.

// DOING

A lot of organizing and cleaning this last week. Is there such a thing as a Christmas cleaning? Like spring cleaning, only at Christmastime… I just want to start the new year with everything in place and with the break from work I have time to do it now.

// LEARNING

I’m going to copy last months, because it’s still true: How to take a step back and rest and breathe.

// MOVING

Furniture around. I think every space that I have will end the year looking a little different than at the beginning. Except for the bathroom… unfortunately I can’t move things around in the bathroom.

Although, it looks different than at the beginning of the year too. It’s been painted, there’s a new sink and a temporary new floor. So, I guess it still applies. 🙂

// YOUR FAVES

>> 4 Books I Want to Read or Finish in 2015

We’re almost at the end of the year, which means it’s time to finish out our reading goals (if you set one)! My biggest goal (I probably had others, but I can’t remember them) was to read 70 books this year and I am on track. Since we’re down to our final weeks of reading in 2015, I started to think of books that I’d really like to read or finish reading this year.

>> Christmas Playlist // 2015

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! And the most wonderful time of the year comes with some of the best music. As I do every year, I like to share some of the music that I’ve been listening to throughout the season. If you’ve been reading my blog for awhile you’ll recognize some of the faves that pop up year after year, but you’ll also see some new songs on this list.

>> Dear 2015

Dear 2015,

You were…

You were.

Okay, let’s try this again.

>> A Day in Photos // December 2015

And I think I picked the most uninteresting day to take photos this month. I thought it would be a good day to do so–it was the first day Christmas break, so I thought I’d be able to share some pictures of something other than my coffee cup on my desk. And then I spent the day writing a newsletter and brainstorming and planning for my other job and the blog. There are some errands and TV watching mixed in.

I also wanted to say thank you to everyone for being part of my life in 2015. I have so enjoyed connecting with you on and off the blog. I feel like I’ve become closer friends with some of you throughout the year and I really value our friendships. I’ve really enjoyed reading your comments to my posts–especially this month! It put a smile on my face that so many of you enjoyed and played my Christmas music playlist throughout the month and some of your comments to my letter to 2015 brought (good) tears to my eyes.

If I’m able to put a post together in time I’ll have some book reviews for you tomorrow, but in case I don’t get that up (today’s a busy day) I want to wish you all a very happy New Year! I hope you all have a wonderful end to 2015 and I’ll see you next year!