The holidays are officially over and we have returned from our vacation in dreamy California. It was a lovely holiday season that, as always, went way too quickly. But we are back at home, and happy to settle back in our routine and into the new year. 

Typically I'm not one for New Year's Resolutions. But I do try to take the start of a new year to refocus on what makes me feel good- inside and out. Sometimes its just a simple tweak that can make all the difference. And because I'm a big believer in writing down what we need and want, here are a few things I'm committing to in 2017:

And just like that: it's 2017. A new year. A fresh  start. A clean slate.

And while I see many abundantly happy to say goodbye to 2016, that really has never been my style. Not even when it comes to the really trying years. Because while some are happier than others, each year- it's triumphs and challenges- give us great opportunity to grow; to become  better versions of ourselves. To identify our strengths and improve on our weaknesses. 

Brrr. It was a cold one this week, folks. Bringing our first several dustings of snow and high hopes for a White Christmas here in Connecticut. This weekend will bring our third official holiday party. The hubs and I threw our first one the first year we lived together; then the second the following year, after we were married. A great start to what we thought would be our annual holiday shindig.

For as long as I can remember, I've had this thing for planners.

Even in elementary school, I would look forward to the start of each school year- when I could happily invest in a crisp, brand new one. To this day there are few things that get me as pumped as meticulously writing a to-do list, then proudly crossing items off as I complete them. Pair that with my favorite pen, and it's pure bliss. I know. Nerd alert. 

Motherhood. You're a tricky one, for sure. Madeline turns eighteen-months next week; and in those months I've learned a lot. So, so much. And most days, I feel like I've gotten pretty good at this job. But I've also learned that there will be days when I feel like I've learned nothing at all. And I'll feel like I've failed. And objectively, on those days, I might have; at certain things. But I'm OK with these tiny "failures." Because they come with the territory. And if you look at the scheme of things, they're not really failures at all, but are just part of the ride; and the beauty outweighs the ugly. By a mile.

A few months before Madeline was born I shared the start of what I referred to as her Neutral Nursery - the beginnings of a room for a baby girl, free of pinks and frills and anything too girly. I put my heart and soul into creating that room- artfully choosing pieces for every nook and cranny; envisioning our girl someday enjoying all of them. 

In the nearly eighteen months since I had our little girl I've been able to sneak out of the house a whopping three times to get my hair cut and colored. To be fair, I've never been the kind of girl that goes for a regular cut and color; but since Madeline's been around, spa-pampering and trips to the salon have have become sporadic, at best. Nowadays, a cut and color either means hours away from home, or {eek} bringing her along. Which I only did once with the help of my sister, when Madeline was itty-bitty and slept right through most of it. 

If you're going to be cooped up in the house due to days on days of rain, it may as well be the first week of December- giving us loads of time to delve into some of our most beloved holiday traditions. And because we picked up our tree over Thanksgiving Weekend- as is tree-dition- we were all set to unwrap ornaments, trim the tree, and enjoy lazy morning and afternoons amongst our decorations. Yes, the holidays are in full swing- and not even a few days of rain can bring us down.

Oh, hello, December.

I spend all year waiting for you; my excitement for what December brings- all things sugar and spice; magical music, festive gatherings with family and friends- trumping the other eleven months of the year. Beautiful as they may be. And this year, while I'm beyond happy to greet this month with open arms, as usual; I will admit that, in terms of November's, this one was one of my favorites.

The holidays are officially upon us. Giving us all plenty excuses to clank our glasses together while we spread that holiday cheer. While this season is perfect for a variety of libations, as an admitted wino I'm partial to a nice glass of red this time of year.  And seeing as my mommy-time is often comprised of a delicious glass of wine {or two} and a whole lot of Bravo, I figured no time better than to share some of my tried and true favorites. And I can assure you, a lot of research went into this guide. A Lot. So whether you're celebrating with family and friends, picking up a hostess or holiday gift, or family functions are getting the best of you- here is my guide to the perfect bottle of red wine for any budget this holiday season. 

As I mentioned before, this will be the first Thanksgiving I'm officially hosting myself- with my mother, as well as much of our family, scattered throughout the country this year. And while the gathering will be decidedly small, I've naturally spent the last few weeks pinning recipes and festive decor.

After my intimate birthday dinner party a few weeks ago, I'm feeling more inspired than ever to make this celebration extra beautiful.

A few months ago I was perusing Pinterest {as I often do} and stumbled upon the most gorgeous photo of a woodsy outdoor dinner party. The photo was moody in the most charming way- a lone rustic farm table in the woods; lit by candlelight, set with mismatched tableware, and accented with assorted blankets to fight any chill. I showed the image to my husband in passing, mentioning that I would love to recreate the scene one cozy fall night.

And just like that: it's November. Meaning yours truly will turn a year older in just a few short days. It's amazing how quickly this year has flown by; and our October was no exception. But it was sweet as it was short; and we made the most out of one of our favorites: visiting pumpkin patches, decorating, mulling spices and dressing up for MM's second Halloween.

A few weeks ago I shared a few tips from the pros to the make the most out of your family holiday photo shoot {here}.

As I mentioned, our session with Candy Shop Photography took place in our local park- in the very spot I grew up taking my family photos. Maddie had a blast, as usual- laughing, running, and being her usual goofy self. And dad and Henry were total troopers {and dreamboats, to boot}. As you may have noticed from my distinct absence from most of my frames here and on Instagram, I'm a little camera shy- so I definitely had a few butterflies in my stomach over this year's shoot. Especially because it was at 8am, making it wholly inappropriate to have a helpful mimosa or two. To be honest, last year's was a hair before sunset, so it was a totally different story.

If your babe is anything like mine, mealtime can be messy. Since Maddie was itty bitty, bibs became a daily staple; and between the drool, formula, and food, there were times when she may have worn them all day long. While recently she's gotten much better at getting that avocado in her mouth rather than her newly laundered top, there are certain times when a bib is still a must. And there's nothing worse than scrambling for one at the very last minute. So in order to keep one close by for those messy meals, I've used this mom hack to always have one on hand.

Three years ago I walked down the aisle and said "I do" to this man of mine. A leap of faith for both of us by many's standards, being that we knew each other just a hair over a year on that beautiful day in October. Yes, it's true, my husband and I became engaged after just six months, and made it official five months later. Two kids in love that knew from the moment we met that we wanted a life together. Some people may have thought it was crazy; few believed it perhaps a bit hasty; some, hopefully, fancied it romantic. And it's quite possible it was a little bit of all of the above.