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Happy New Year's Eve! I can't tell you how much I love the week between Christmas and New Years. It is my favorite! It's been my favorite for as long as I can remember, surely the whole of my adult life, but I think this love affair began long before that. Growing up, this was a week off from school, enjoying all the new things I'd opened on Christmas morning, a week of lazy days and no bed time. In my twenties, this week off from work was all about getting things done… reflecting, remembering, filling out my Powersheets and eventually my own goal guide and getting ready for the new year ahead. As I've gotten older, I've discovered some new beauty in this week, the beauty of resting, recovering from the rush of the holidays, lingering in the slowness of week, and taking a more gentle, unhurried approach to the new year. January will come and there will be plenty of time to look back and look ahead, so instead of trying to cram it all in over the last seven days, I've had the BEST time resting, visiting with old friends, eating good food, and going slow. 

 

Many of you have asked if I'm bringing back my Mark the Moment Goal Guide this year and the answer is no. Mainly because that's not my process anymore. Intentional refection and planning at the turn of the year still matters to me, I think it always will, it has just looked different over the last few years. Because of that, it doesn't feel right to offer something I no longer use. Instead of the Goal Guide, I am excited to share a little bit more about my slower, gentler process of preparing for the New Year in a January email series that I am calling Slow Start January. I plan to send a weekly email on Mondays in January with a short devotional thought and a practice, prayer, and prompt to help ready you for 2023. If that something that sounds exciting or helpful to you, you can opt in here! And if you have already done all of your reflecting and goal setting, get it girl! (or guy! There are only a few men subscribed to this newsletter and don't think for one second that I have forgotten you. I'm thankful for each of you!) 

 

Before we put on our sequins or sweatpants on tonight, I couldn't miss the chance to share a round up of all my favorite things from 2022!

 

Best of Books: Fiction: Norah Goes off Script, Meet Me Under the Mistletoe // Nonfiction/Memoir: I Guess I haven't Learned that Yet, Save Me the Plums // Christian Formation: Secular Creed // Bible Commentary: Creation and Blessing // Best on Audible: From Hollywood With Love  // Fave Cookbook: Comfortable Kitchen, The Modern Proper

 

Best of TV: 1886 (The show that confirmed that I am, in fact, NOT cut out for pioneer life), Jack Ryan (did the new season come out less than 10 days ago? Yes. Did I finish just in time to add it to this list, YES! Woah. Season 3 was the best yet.), Harry and Meghan (say what you want, but I am so proud of them!), Survivor 43 (I've been a Survivor fan from day 1 and still going strong, but this season was one of the best that I can remember. If you are looking to dip your toe into the survivor pool, this would be a great entry point)

 

Best on the Big Screen: Top Gun: Maverick (It had been a LONG time since I left the theater with that magic movie feeling, you know the one - for a few hours, time and responsibility are suspended as you enter another story; endeared to it's characters, cheering for the good guys, and invested in the outcome. The new Top Gun brought the magic back!), She Said (A really interesting and personal look at the two female reporters that broke the Harvey Weinstein case)

 

 Closet Heros (the things I reached for again and again): My Lululemon Belt Bag (it really is so practical!), Kut from the Kloth Ankle Flare Jeans (KFTK is a totally underrated brand for every body, but if you're a plus gal and haven't tried KRTK you don't know what you are missing and they are on sale!!), Amazon woven leather purse (it looks expensive, you guys), Old Navy Easy Vintage T Shirt (I wore these all summer long), Frye White Sneakers (they are a splurge, but I've gotten 2 good years out of them)

 

Face/Makeup/Hair MVPS - Merit Minimalist Stick (For my birthday I got a Sephora Gift Card and this concealer/color corrector/magic-in-a-bottle stick is amazing. I'm loving everything I've tried from Merit), Intellishade (this tinted moisturizer is the MVP of my makeup routine, it's not cheap but I find that one bottle lasts me 2-3 months) , Pebble Beach Dry Texture Spray (I was 100% influenced to buy this on instagram and it's been great to bring my hair back to life between washes), Triple Repair Moisturizing Cream (this has been a game-changer for my eczema this year)

 

Best of Podcasts - Both Rise and Fall of Mars Hill and All There Is with Anderson Cooper were fascinating listens this year. I also listened to a lot of the Family Discipleship Podcast this year because my friends are so great and they are producing great content over there! 

 

Best in Food - Breakfast at Carte Blanche (Dallas) , the fish tacos at Lola Valentina (Isla Mujeres, Mexico), and the fried chicken at Roots Southern Table (Farmers Branch) are meals I'll be thinking about again and again! 

 

There are so many other categories I want to share, but it's time to ring in the New Year! No matter what your year looked like, I hope you are more aquatinted with the goodness of God than ever before. Happy New Year, friend! I hope you'll join me for Slow Start January. 

 

Catch you in 2023!

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