Best of 2017 + My Personal 2018 Resolutions January 1, 2018 | I truly cannot believe that I’m writing this post recapping 2017, it feels like I was just writing my 2016 recap! It was a whirlwind of a year. A year that brought some of the sweetest blessings, along with many sleepless nights and lots of life lessons. I am thankful for each and every one of the 365 days from this past year, even if they are mostly a blur. Admittedly, I’ve been really enjoying this past week off, but this post is always so important to me personally to write, so I made myself sit down and take a look back at everything from 2017 and also make some real life resolutions and goals for 2018! Here we go: Top 5 Posts of 2017: ONE | Fall Capsule Wardrobe 2017 | The best post of the year, by far! Many pieces are still in stock if you are still looking for some good staples! Two | Maternity Essentials on Amazon | This was wildly popular with all of you pregnant mama’s. Lots of essentials that you can add to your Prime order…win win! Three | The Ultimate Whole30 Survival Guide | It’s already been a year since our first Whole30! If you’re doing it this January, make sure to check out this post…it was a true labor of love! Four | How to Style Spanx Leggings | Showed you guys how versatile and flattering the Spanx Faux Leather Leggings were! Five | Athleisure Capsule Wardrobe | Cute and comfy staples that will keep you chic, even in carpool line! Other popular posts: Crockpost Mississippi Roast Lawson’s Nursery Reveal DIY Ikea Dresser Hack What to Pack for Disney Girl’s Shared Bathroom Reveal Healthy Chocolate Banana Smoothie Top 5 Personal Favorites: One | Lawson’s Birth Story | I’m so glad that I documented these details 🙂 Two | Nordstrom Anniversary Sale! | This is always my favorite post of the year! It’s the most intense, fun and fulfilling time and when I have the opportunity to connect with SO many of you! Three | On Modern Motherhood | A look at what modern Motherhood means to so many of us Four | More About Us | Dan joined me on the blog for a Q+A and more about our relationship… Five | On Enjoying the Simple Things During the Holidays | Took a step back this Holiday season to enjoy my babies… Top Instagrams: Dress This $58 dress/pool cover up was a huge hit! Size down and go for the darker color if you’re wearing as a dress! Knot front sweater | Similar Mules This knot front sweater continues to be a big hit on Instagram and in my closet! It’s so soft, yet lightweight and cozy! It comes in a ton of colors and is under $50. I now have grey and blush. Swing Dress This mini dress was so fun to style this fall! I actually did an entire post on how to style it 3 completely different ways HERE. I also found it on sale for 60% off in green HERE. 2-1 Wrap Cardigan | Favorite Leggings For two straight years, this convertible cardigan continues to rule Instagram! See how to wear it in THIS post and shop the updated style HERE. Bringing home baby Lawson! This door mat was hella helpful! Just a few hours old!!! My sweet baby girl…. This personalized blanket was how we shared her name with the world! Most Shopped Items: #1. THE Jeans were definitely #1, but they are since totally sold out. THESE are a good, similar style. #2. I remember feeling SO confident in THIS DRESS…and that says a lot at 30+ weeks pregnant! #3. Twist Front Fleece Pullover | Told you guys this one was popular! #4. Wedge Bootie | Another favorite for everyday, casual wear! These are a great way to feel a touch more put together and they even add some height which is a total win in my book! #5. Convertible Neckline Tunic | A versatile piece that’s SO functional to dress up or down and was a major favorite amongst you guys! 2017 in Review: This marks my second year of blogging full time and wow what a year 2017 has been. It’s been a year of being consistent, trusting in my gut and really allowing myself to be “me” on all platforms. I focused on less on the styled and more on the relatable. I used Instastories to really get to know you guys and let you in to my life and my personality. I tried to add more beef to my posts and really give you content with each post and not just a few sentences about an outfit. I’ve worked harder than I ever thought possible and have been rewarded with the most amazing group of women who follow along and bless me beyond words. Regarding blogging, I’ve learned that you have to let people in enough to be absolutely repulsed by you, in order for them to actually truly like you. Sure, I won’t (and don’t) please everyone, but the genuine relationships are formed within the messy, the funny and the real sides of life…and that’s what I want out of this blog. I’ve also learned to take myself more seriously regarding what I “do.” If you’d asked me two years ago what I did, I would have said I’m a stay at home mom, even though I was really working FT on the blog too. I was embarrassed to tell people about the blog because it seemed fluffy and insignificant…after all, I’m not saving lives here…just talking about clothes and decor, right?! The more I connect with you guys and the more I question my own purpose and my “WHY” for this blog, I know that it was given to me with purpose. Nope, I’ll never save a life, but my genuine hope is that I can pass along some confidence to a someone who needs it. Confidence is way more powerful than we know and it’s often paid forward, which is where the magic is. With all of the amazing highs, God also throttled my business right when I needed him to. My impatience always gets the best of me, but He was faithful to my phase of life right when I needed Him to be. He took things off of my plate when I had Lawson, and put people in my life right when I needed Him to. This year, He’s taught me that this blog with grow at a pace that I can handle, and sure that may not be as fast as someone else’s, but for my phase of life, I will enjoy this pace and be thankful for every step. On the personal front, our obvious high was welcoming sweet Lawson Grace in to the world! Wow, what an amazing blessing! Being a mom to two has been so incredible and taught me so much about myeslf….pushing harder than I ever have, sleeping less than I thought was humanly possible and loving more than I ever thought that I was capable of. To see the bond of sisters forming and to feel strong knowing that I kept two small humans (three, including Dan) alive for nearly a year is a huge accomplishment for me 😉 Motherhood is the most beautifully messy, joyfully fun and painstakingly hard journey and I am so blessed that God chose me for it. This year we’ve also struggled with really wanting to be closer to our family. It’s hard feeling so isolated and far away, especially with young children. I’m impatient and discontent by nature…always on to the next thing and moving and shaking along the way. God is using these weaknesses to bring me closer to Him each and every day. He’s teaching me to have a content heart, even though not everything is playing out like I want it to and he’s teaching me that patience and trusting in his plan is truly a virtue. I do firmly believe that God creates us imperfect and then uses those imperfections as a way to draw us closer to Him when we need Him most. Here are my personal goals for 2018: -Find a Bible study that I like. This has been on my list for a few years and I’m checking it off this year! So excited to dive in! -Stick to a devotional. I’m starting with THIS one and would love for you to join me! -Find more baby sitters and plan regular date nights, both with friends and solo. I’m so bad at trusting others with my kids, but I know that Dan and I need time alone to reconnect with each other and with friends. -Run another half marathon! My body is craving the feeling of running again and I am dying to complete another half as my last one was 4 years ago! I’m thinking this Summer or Fall and in a fun location! -Be a better friend. Gosh it’s so so hard in this phase of my life, but I’ve really slacked at fostering my friendships and I need to plug back in and make time to catch up and reconnect. -Outsource things. This year I finally bit the bullet and found a house cleaner and it’s been one of the biggest reliefs ever and I’ve never regretted it! This year, I plan to hire someone to help me behind the scenes with the blog so that I can really focus on content, which is where my passion lies. -Declutter. I feel like my 20’s were a time of “collecting” things and hoarding them…probably because I finally had more than two pennies to rub together and these “things” held value to me,. Now, in my 30’s, I just want clean spaces. Might be time to call in the professionals here, too! -Pay it forward. I want to find a charity that I’m passionate about and pour my heart and resources in to it. -Enjoy my babies. I want to continue to fine tune my self-awareness and know when it’s time to step back, let go, and just enjoy the messiness that is motherhood. As I close out 2017 and am filled with excitement to tackle a New Year, I cannot help but feeling SO grateful for each and every one of you. The fact that you take time our of your busy lives to come here each day humbles me to my core. I am so blessed by you guys and I really really appreciate your support! Excited to see where 2018 takes us! Cheers! If you want to read my 2016 Year in Review, you can find it HERE.
Shannon says January 1, 2018 at 8:05 AM Wonderful recap and enjoyed reading about your reflection and goals, Mallory! I wish you all the best for the New Year and look forward to following along!
Jen says January 1, 2018 at 8:43 AM Mallory, I just wanted to say that I LOVE your blog and instastories!! You are SO relatable- and I feel like I “know” you. I even stopped you at a store once to say hi and you were the exact same in person!! So kind and easy to talk to! Your content is great, and I love all your suggestions for things to wear!! Please keep up the great work and happy new year!!
Martha says January 1, 2018 at 9:21 AM I very much enjoy your blog. Keep up the great work and Haapy New Year!
Ashley Hannah says January 1, 2018 at 10:52 AM I love following you! You are such an inspiration! I too live in Charlotte, I moved here almost 3 years ago and left my family and friends. I can totally relate to feeling anxious and sad sometimes about being so far away from friends and family! You are amazing and I love following you!
Ava says January 1, 2018 at 10:57 AM You are so relatable and the real deal, that’s why I love reading and following so much! ❤️ I have so much to say, lol (coffee in full effect!) I think I bought something from every one of the top posts, lol! I also called in for help with cleaning my house after my second child was born. It was the best decision I ever made, and my hubby would agree! And I also de cluttered, purged, and sought for a more “minimalistic” home style this year. And although I still finding myself designing and dreaming of “the perfect piece” or item for a certain space, letting go of so much “stuff” has definitely relieved a lot of stress!!! (Especially kid toys and stuff around the holidays ????????) I love reading! Keep up the good work ???? Happy New Year.
Nicole Charles says January 1, 2018 at 11:10 AM Mallory, You were the first blog I ever followed and still remain to be my absolute favorite. Instagram makes it so easy to just use social media and never go to people’s posts, but your blog is truly the one I most consistently read. You amaze me with all that you are able to accomplish. I appreciate so much you being more relatable with your content. Thank you for all of the hard work you put it! And shout out to Dan too (I know from my own personal experience the stress blogging can put on our poor men), so thanks Dan for sharing your fabulous wife with us! Happy New Year!!! Xo
Erika says January 1, 2018 at 1:12 PM Loved this post, and you! Thank you for sharing so many great tips, and shopping help! I’ve purchased many items on your suggestion, and they are my favs. Happy New Year!! ~ Erika http://www.chroniclesofpinkchaos.com
Channing says January 1, 2018 at 1:41 PM I’m so glad that I found your blog and Instagram Stories in 2017!! They are true gems and I really enjoying following along! I also love your sense of style! Can’t wait to see whats in store for 2018! 🙂
elizabeth raska says January 1, 2018 at 4:11 PM I just recently started reading your blog and LOVE it. Your posts are so very real and you are someone I can easy relate to. Thanks for all your tips and inspiration. Happy New Year!
Meghan Davis says January 1, 2018 at 9:33 PM Mallory, You are my soul sister! Everything you said here in this post has resonated with me. I, too, am a small business owner. I work from home and juggle my two little ones (4 and 22 months) and never give myself enough credit! I am super impatient and always wanting to know what’s next and what more I can do. I really want to focus on the present and enjoying the gift of each moment (so hard!????????♀️). On another note, OMG your blog and insta account have saved me so much this year. Your style is on point and you keep me looking fresh alll year long!!! Thank you for all that you do!!!???? xoxo
Alex says January 1, 2018 at 10:11 PM Love this post! We just hired a house cleaner and it had saved me! Totally worth it! Thanks for all your honesty and realness! Happy 2018
Sonja says January 1, 2018 at 10:12 PM Great post! I’m sure I’ll refer back to it because there weee several things I’m interested in that you wrote about. Good idea putting it all in one recap! I feel like when they got rid of Google Reader, I lost all ability to keep up with my bloggers. Why did they do that? I’m definitely going to try to read your blog more in 2018. Lots of great information and you do such a great job at being relatable! Best wishes in the new year!
Karleen says January 1, 2018 at 11:35 PM I Found your blog in early 2017 and I too was pregnant. I found your posts sooo relatable and have purchased a handful of clothing items based off of what you’ve posted and I LOVE them! Thank you for doing what you do. It takes hard work to be consistent with blogging and posting and I very much appreciate it!
Lauren @ Funky Monkey Children says January 2, 2018 at 3:01 PM These are great goals! My husband and I sat down on New Years Eve and mapped out our goals for the coming year. I’m a list maker by nature, so I love to do goal setting, but I think it is so important to do it so that you live intentionally instead of just letting things happen as they happen. Good luck on reaching your goals for the coming year! I’m sure you’ll be amazed by all that you accomplish.
Kristy / Seven Graces says January 4, 2018 at 9:40 PM Oh my goodness, we have so many similarities and goals! I so want to run another half marathon, make a point of date nights, and find a new Bible study (I just might finally write one). I’ve loved following you, and you have definitely given me confidence this past year! Cheers to all the best in 2018!