2021 FAVORITES

This has been one of my favorite posts to write every year. Here are my favorites from 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.

I do find it interesting that while the past couple of years have been some of the most challenging, they have also been the most rewarding. Truly the highest of highs mixed with some pretty low lows. It’s been a good reminder for me to just be in the moment– the bad things don’t last forever, but the same can be said for the good ones, too. You never know what’s right around the corner.

Here are my 2021 favorites:

ONE // JACK

How could I possibly sum up 2021 without including JACK at the very top of the list. So much of “Jack” consumed my 2021. I’d say it was the defining moment! I was just barely pregnant at the beginning of the year and spent January-August adjusting and readjusting to pregnancy. It wasn’t the easiest pregnancy (I was sick through most of it), but it certainly wasn’t the worse. More than anything it just caught me off guard. But then…. Jack entered the world and everything as I knew it changed forever and for the better. In a lot of ways, his birthday feels like the beginning of the year to me. He is an absolute joy and I feel immense privilege to be his mom.

TWO // MOTHERHOOD

I kind of feel like this deserves its own category. I’ve always wanted to be a mom, but actually becoming one has been completely different than I expected. Better, really. It’s, without a doubt, the hardest job I’ve ever had and it’s been a challenge in many ways. But also the best thing to ever happen to me. It feels like such a calling– like I’m doing what I was born to do. I felt a seismic shift in “me” the day Jack was born. The privilege, the responsibility. It’s all so great and consuming.

I also feel the most… myself, right now as a mom.

THREE // BUSINESS MINDED

I also wrote a book and had it published in 2021?! My mind is still kind of blown over this one. It was a whirlwind and happened so much faster than I ever expected it to. Even with multiple COVID-related delays, it still ended up getting published just about a year after I started writing it. I wrote the majority of it during the first third of the year, coincidentally while I was at my sickest pregnancy-wise. The whole process feels like a blur to me now that I’m looking back and I can’t believe I actually did it and that it actually happened.

It’s definitely one of the most terrifying things I’ve done. There was no turning back and I felt quite vulnerable leading up to the publishing date. It was so conceptual for a while and then the reality that people would be reading it started to set in! I was pretty sick to my stomach the week leading up to it, but it was exciting to see you guys getting your copies in the mail and seeing it in bookstores!

FOUR // NANTUCKET

Ugh, we got so lucky with two amazing Nantucket trips this year. It’s always my favorite place to go and this year felt extra special as we went there for a little baby moon in June/July and then back for the month of October for Mike’s paternity leave.

The baby moon was fun because it felt like we were out of the woods COVID-wise (lol how naive we were) and we just relished the last trip as a family of two. Going back in October with the dogs and a BABY?! It felt like a dream. Since we were there for four weeks, we could really settle into a routine. The whole thing was perfect. In addition to bonding as a family– we also got to spend one on one time with friends and family who came to visit.

FIVE // BIRD WATCH

SIX // MY BABY SHOWER

SEVEN // TIKTOK

EIGHT // LAVENDER VANILLA LATTES & CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Needed to include these two things. I went through food cravings throughout my pregnancy (sour candy, cucumbers, green apples, English muffins). But two of my absolute favorite treats throughout the year? Lavender vanilla lattes and chocolate chip cookies. Both were from our Nantucket trip in October. Maybe it was just that it was such a happy trip? But both tasted extra delicious. The lavender vanilla latte was from Lemon Press– and I created my own at home. And we had SO MANY chocolate chip cookies from Something Natural. We had a whole routine every night after dinner…. loved it. Miss it.

NINE // NAP DRESS + TARGET SWEATSHIRT + LULULEMON ALIGN LEGGINGS

TEN // FRIENDS

Going to end on a little bit of a sappy note. This was such a brilliantly wonderful year in so many ways, and also a trying one. I have never been so grateful for my support system of friends. I don’t even have the proper words to say how thankful I am for them! It was such a hard and amazing year… and I couldn’t have done it without them. Near and far!