SPRING BUCKET LIST

---

Happy first day of Spring my friends!!! The weather in our neck of the woods has warmed up quite a bit and I am SOOOO HAPPY. This time last year, I was 12 weeks pregnant and gearing up to go back to work so I didn't have too many things on the bucket list but this time around, I'm NOT PREGNANT and not working, which means I'm SO excited to enjoy the warm weather with my kiddos!

Here's what's on our Spring Bucket List...

• Visit the petting zoo. We have gone once already but London was sleeping so this time around I want to go with both kids awake...Luca just loved the baby goats and I was so thankful that the goats are soo good with children. If you live in Victoria, it's a must, no matter what your age is!!
• Build a sandbox in the back yard.  I'm happy to report that this one is already done! Luca just loves it and it makes our backyard time much more enjoyable!
• Build a garden box and plant veggies.  So this is the next project on the honey-do list! Right now I'm studying to see when we get the best light. If you are a gardener, I'd love your tips!! Our backyard gets a lot of shade but there are some spots that get sun in the morning and different spots that get it in the afternoon. Is morning or evening sun better for gardens?
• Tackle Spring Cleaning.  See my list in this post!
• Visit NYC!!!!!  Our flight is booked and we cannot wait to visit my brother and sister in law in May!!!
• Enjoy an outdoor picnic.  James has a very busy April lined up so I imagine we'd do this in May when it's much warmer and much lighter at night.
• Run 5KM. This is a personal goal for me, but I want to get to 5km! 

So that's on our Spring Bucket List. Not too much, because I just really want to enjoy the season without putting crazy expectations on it. My maternity leave is absolutely flying by so I want to enjoy as much time just being with my babies as possible.

I'd love to hear what's on your Spring Bucket List! Let me know in the comments!!

XO,
laura

WHAT'S ON OUR SPRING CLEANING CHECKLIST

---

You guys...SPRING IS ALMOST HERE!!!! We've had a late-ish winter for us up here as our daffodils are just starting to bloom (they usually start blooming in early February!)

With Spring just around the corner, I started to make a Spring Bucket List (which I'll share in a couple weeks) and believe it, or not, SPRING CLEANING is on that list.

I don't think I've ever in my life done Spring cleaning but this year I'm not pregnant or working so I have lots of energy AND my new favourite cleaning tool.

We picked up The Libman Company's Microfiber Wet + Dry Mop. I'm loving this mop because I can use it wet or dry. I ran it through our house and it picked up waaaay too much of my hair #postpartumproblems ha. Another reason I love it is because it's machine washable...less waste yaaaay! We got ours at our local Canadian Tire.

We also love the The Tornado Mop! Mopping all floors is a MUST for Spring Cleaning!

And ps. if you sign up for The Libman Company's email list, you'll get a coupon to save you $3!

pss. can we talk about how amazing Luca's expression is :D

As mentioned before, I really want to organize my house this Spring. I'm on maternity leave until October so I want to get on top of everything before I go back to work. I'm talking about implementing systems...systems people! I may be setting myself up with too high of expectations but here is our spring cleaning list...

OUR SPRING CLEANING CHECKLIST

• Clean + organize toys (Need to put away some small things that London could choke on as she's getting mobile!!!)
• Organize built in cabinets (also shoot our built ins finally now that the sun is coming out!!)
• Clean and organize kitchen food cupboards 
• Finish London's room (decals up, closet organized)
• Clean and organize linen closet
• Wash all windows and window ledges (probably my least favourite thing ever)
• Wash all floors and baseboards
• Order prints + frames for our bedroom and organize dresser
• Clean out gutters (James' job, ha)
• Plan out vegetable garden

I'm also trying to give myself grace too and finding ways to get Luca involved on the cleaning. He likes to be a part of everrrrrything I do. So I'm on a mission to get him involved instead of me being annoyed with him getting into what I'm doing. Parents, send me your tips!

I'd love to know if you do Spring Cleaning in your household and if so, what projects do you tackle? Let me know in the comments!

XO,

Laura

TIPS TO NOT LET SOCIAL MEDIA TAKE OVER YOUR LIFE

---

This is a hard post for me to write. 

See I have a love/hate relationship with social media (as I'm sure 99% of people do!) 

I love, love, love being connected to people. I'm verrry extroverted...so much, that not being around people above the age of 1.5 has been the hardest part of both of my maternity leaves. Honestly, I think that's why I have become so obsessed with social media...I feel lonely so I go to instagram to see what people are up to. 

And don't get me wrong, I adore the community on instagram. I have encountered so many amazing people and have been inspired by so many people's lives. It's a beautiful mechanism to connect people.

But it's not so beautiful when it takes you away from what's in front of you...not to mention making yourself feel bad about yourself because you're comparing your life to someone's highlight reel (which is another post for another time!)

And that's exactly what I've been letting social media do the past few months...I've allowed it to take my attention away from my hubby, my children, my friends, my quiet time...my hubby has been noticing and calling me out on it. It's not ok.

So I decided to make some changes.

I polled people on my instagram (of course, using social media to combat social media lols) to find out what they're doing to protect themselves from letting social media take over their lives and you guys, they had the bessst advice.

So below I've summed up the advice I've been given along with what I've been doing to protect myself from letting social media take over.

TIPS ON NOT LETTING SOCIAL MEDIA TAKE OVER YOUR LIFE

• Use the moments app to track how much you use social media. 
  I haven't done this yet because honestly, I'm a little frightened to do but I know it will give me a scary reality.
• Have set times you use your phone for social media/set time you do not use your phone.
  I think this one is brilliant! I haven't figured out making set times for social media BUT we've attempted to make no phones from 5-8pm. It's been hard but it's been really good for our family.
• Take time off social media (a week, a day a week, whatever works for you.)
  If you're finding social media causing you more harm than good, I highly recommend taking a long break to refocus and enjoy your life! I took a week off when I was in Mexico and it was very refreshing. I found my son benefitted from me being completely present with him. 
  When I got back, I found myself consumed again, so I have decided to take all of Sundays off instagram, so we'll see how that goes!
• Plug your phone in another room overnight (or across the room if you need it for emergencies.) 
  James and I have been doing this for a few years now and it is so refreshing to not read a screen right before you go to sleep. We either chat or I read before bed and it has definitely helped us have better sleeps and be more connected.
• Put your phone away at meal times and while hanging with friends/social events. 
  We've been doing this at meal times and it has only been good for our family. I've also been trying really hard to keep my phone in my pocket on when I'm hanging with friends. I know that is probably very normal for you but I have been such a bad friend in the past and have found myself scrolling...or in social situations when I don't know who to talk to.
• Plug your phone in another room during the day.
  When James goes back to work and I'm with the kids all day, I know this will be hard for me but so so good. I want to be a mom who isn't always on her phone.

And if you're a mother, check out these tips from Old Joy. My friend sent me her rules on her story the other day and they are GOLD.

So those are my findings. I'd love to hear your thoughts on how you're not letting social media take over your life!!

XO,
laura
 

GOALS FOR 2018 + READER SURVEY

---

I've always loved the New Year. New starts, blank calendar.... a whole new year before us! The past number of years I have prayed for a word for the year. I did that this year and can't wait to share it with you but before that I want to share some goals of mine.

Are you a goal setter? I am but I suck at follow through. This year I want to get waaaaay better at following through. I'm re-reading this post I wrote last year on goal setting tips and actually putting these tips into motion.

A huge thank you to everyone who gave me your tips on instagram!
Here were a few of them:

• write them down + keep them visible
• make a strategy for each goal
• be specific
• make them fun! (love that tip from my friend Jbakes)
• do a one month goal and check in half way
• set weekly goals

This year I went with the Day Designer and I LOVE it. There is a super thorough goals section which really helps you break down your goals and how you should achieve them (monthly actions, weekly routine, daily habit, what progress looks like).

Here are my 10 goals for the year...I'm telling them to you because you can help keep me accountable right? ;)

1. Grow in Prayer Life
2. Build a Stronger Marriage
3. Make Memories with the Kids
4. Get to 140lbs (my pre-Luca weight)
5. Build GT's Young Adult Female Small Groups
6. Take Better Care of Self
7. Blog consistently throughout the year
8. Grow in Social Media
9. Grow Beautycounter Biz
10. Further Educate + use Essential Oils

 So there are my 10 goals for the year! 10 seems a little insane so I have to see what is manageable. We're going to Mexico on Saturday so I'm excited to be unplugged and start planning/executing the first steps to some of these.

I'm also very excited to consistently blog this year! I would love to hear what you want to see on the blog this year...please take a minute to answer the survey below...it means a lot!

Happy 2018 everybody. Would love to hear what your goals for the year are so we can slay it together!
 

XO,
laura

2017 IN REVIEW

---

Well hello there 2018! It seems so surreal that we're at the very start of a new year, but I feel like that every...single...year. I have a lot of plans for this year but before we start talking about all that, I want to take the time to look back on the year.

2017 seemed like three years to me. It was a year that so so so so many things happened. 

January- I started the year with all the plans. Luca was 7 months and I had half a year of maternity leave yet. I felt like I finally had a handle on being a mama and I was excited to do allll the things in 2017...little did I know that London would be conceived 10 days into the year, ha. I tested positive at the end of January and it definitely rattled me. I like to say that I had my plans and God wanted to teach me that His plans are always better.
In January I also got to see my all time hero...BETH FREAKING MOORE! That was amazing!

February- Even though I was on mat leave, I still ran our church's teen girl conference, Illuminate! It's a lot of work but there is a great team I have the privilege of serving with. The weekend was so so fun and it's such an honour to be able to be a part of seeing girl's lives impacted. Can't wait for this years!
Also in February, my friend Rachael shot these photos of Luca and I. I still treasure them so much.

March- In March we started planning our living room reno. We decided to do built ins and a new fireplace. James did such an amazing job and I need to get my butt in gear and shoot the room because I can't wait to show you.

April- Early in April, we made it public that we were having another baby! I took a couple trips that month...We got to check out my in-laws cabin on Pender and I went to Whistler to celebrate my besties 30th! 

May- I went back to work in May. It was bittersweet. I love my job and was excited to be around adults but it was hard to leave sweet Luca. It all worked out though. We had great care for him and I realized I loved being back at work. 
In May we also had our gender reveal! That day was definitely one of the highlights of my year....especially Luca's face..lols

June- Luca turned ONE and we celebrated lumberjack style!!! I can't believe how much a baby grows in their first year....my little lion entered toddlerhood. He started taking his first steps just before his birthday and started fully walking near the end of the month...such a milestone.

July- We took a mini vaycay to Pender again in July. On that getaway we realized that getaways with toddlers are not relaxing at all..ha. Still had fun though. James also turned 28!

August- In August we went to Vancouver for a couple days to visit my bestie and her hubs. We headed down to the states for a quick Target trip, visited Cultus Lake, shopped and watched some amazing fireworks. It was such a lovely vaycay. I also turned 31 in August and had some maternity photos shot.

September- My friend's threw me an amazing baby shower and I finished up work. I thought that maybe London would come early (as I was due on October 7th).

October- BABY MONTH! I was off work and I waited and waited and waited and London finally came (12 days late) on October 19th. I said goodbye to my incredible grandma, Nanny Rosa. I miss her so much. October was a surreal month as our family saw death and life in a few short weeks.

November- James started working again in November and God showed me that I could do the whole two under two thing! James also went away on a Christmas album tour and I survived three nights on my own...we all caught colds and it was HELL but we made it through. Oh and we had these family photos done..heart melting.

December- Christmas came and went. Lots of family time and way too many sweets. We celebrated NYE watching one of my dear friend marry the love of her life. It was a beautiful way to end the year.

So that's 2017 for you. SOOOO many things happened and it feels like a blur. I'm hoping time will slow down a wee bit in 2018 because I want to soak in allllll the time I have with my baby girl and little lion.

Hope you had an amazing 2018 and praying that your best is still to come this year!

XO, 
laura

Most photos (all the good ones, ha) done by Rachael Alexandra Co.