Conley and Friends: Happy 2015!

It's been way too long since I posted last, so I thought I'd start off 2015 with a few thoughts on the year ahead and a recap of the end of 2014 to make up for all that I missed.

In 2015 I find that I have a lot of the same goals and resolutions as in years past, so at least I'm consistent! While I feel like all of these things can always be improved on, I think it's also a good reminder at the beginning of every year to reset my intentions for the year ahead. So here goes:

Start slow: Our mornings are a little more hectic now that Conley is in preschool and we're trying to get everyone up and out the door in time. And now we're making smoothies every morning as well - which Conley loves - so we've got even less time to get ready. I want to be able to take a deep breath and just go with it - and treasure these morning no matter how hectic. Time is gong by way too fast and one day soon I'll look back at these days and miss them.

Learn more: start up my Spanish lessons again (on my own), add in some French as well (start up Duolingo again), work on possible side business ideas, revisit graduate degree programs for post-kid days, find jobs opportunities in travel, wellness and history, help reinforce Conley's French

Read more: from classics to history and wellness to travel magazines - go to bed earlier so I can get at least 30 minutes in every night, find more travel and French-related books for Conley

Help more: start to volunteer with APA again (try to find things I can do from home), find a way to help locally with healthy living and the label GMOs movement, decide on a charitable memorial idea for Dad

Experience our city more: find more cultural events on the weekends, visit a museum or park at least once a month, try two new restaurants a month

Stay healthy: start the day with a glass of lemon water and a green smoothie (for the whole family), keep experimenting with new healthy recipes, try to incorporate a bigger variety of grains/legumes along with veggies (especially leafy green) into every meal, drink more green tea and eat less chocolate, meditate, do yoga at least one time per week, keep walking every day, see a wellness coach, go to bed earlier (need at least 7 hours per night), get a massage every month, get back on a consistent chiropractor visit schedule

Travel the world: so far on the plan for this year are Portland and Seattle, France, maybe Greece, and Boston/Cape Cod...and always open to more!

And as for 2014, there were so many firsts for baby Kate - who is not such a little baby anymore - and some firsts as a big brother for Conley too, who has turned into such a talkative (and still smiley!) little man and such a sweet and loving big brother. These two amaze me everyday and I am so lucky to be their mom. Our fall was full of fun memories of UT football games, sibling reading sessions, lots of smiles from Kate (and Conley!), yoga classes, morning walks, a trip to Sun Valley, Idaho (and Kate's first plane trip), our annual pumpkin patch visit, Election Day and Halloween.

I'm ready to look forward to 2015 and all it has to offer - and give thanks for my sweet little family and health and happiness. Happy New Year!