I wanted to do kind of pin-point everything that was the best within this year. In the moment, I found it kind of difficult to get it started and even had to look back over my calendar to even remember everything that happened! I think that’s why I love recaps so much. They force you to go back to take tangible stock of everything you experienced. So that’s why I wanted to take part in the best of 2019 blog post. Today is all in good fun with a healthy dose of inspiration sprinkled into it. So shall we dive into it?
Best Adventure/Travel/Trip
I think that I have a tie this year because we took two trips to celebrate both sides of the family. And they were only two weeks apart. On August 18th we spent time with my husband‘s family with a trip to Six Flags! We often spend a lot of time together (at least every Sunday). But this was a special day. The kids got to ride rollercoasters, eat sugar, and even get matching superhero capes. And then from August 24th to the 29th was my side of the family’s annual trip to Tahoe and the rib cookoff. Every year my family gets together for few days in Tahoe to soak in the sun and then head on back to Reno to pig out at the rib cook-off. Since my family doesn’t get together more than a couple times a year, it is the perfect time to see the kids run around together and just enjoy each other’s company.
Best Book
The Whisper Man by Alex North. This year I found love again in thriller books. I was stuck in the romantic/sci-fi fiction books for a good amount of years until I was turned onto this book. And it was great. Had me hooked from the very beginning with the fantastic writing, well-developed plot, and great characters. It had a creepy, twisty, and unsettling undertone throughout, and was definitely heavy in the psychological thriller department, but it had some added horror to it that definitely fit well in into the book. Definitely leaving you wanting more and more.
Best Movie
We actually didn’t get around to see a lot of movies this year. Most of them that I watched were actually children’s ones with my son. But I did really enjoy the most recent one we went to, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. I’ve been a Star Wars fan from as early as I can remember. So I’ve seen every movie, and I wasn’t going to miss this one either. The characters have never been more engaging. The action sequences were good enough to even hold my two year olds excitement. Overall, it tied up the saga powerfully and sometimes beautifully. And for those inclined to learn and teach some lessons through the magic of film, this one has plenty to choose from: how love triumphs over hatred, courage trumps fear, ow our choices over our backgrounds define who we are, and it’s worth fighting for what’s good and right, even when the odds against triumph seem so very long.
Best Album/Song
Oh! I have so many. I love pretty much everything country music, and actually found my love again in my classic country. But from the new ones this year, I loved Good as You, Like a Rodeo, One Thing Right, and For My Daughter by Kane Brown, 10,000 Hours by Dan + Shay, and Fourteen Gears by Midland.
Best Podcast
I actually am fairly new to listening to podcasts. I rotate through about five with no particular order. For some mommy advice I listen to Whine Down with Jana Kramer or Work and Play with Nancy Ray. For some laughs and parental/adult humor I listen to Wife of the Party with LeeAnn Kreischer. Then for some weird information and bonding with my husband, we enjoy The Joe Rohan Experience with Joe Rogan. And finally, I can’t leave out my girl Dolly Parton telling her story through Dolly Parton’s America.
Best Follow on Social Media
I love the Facebook page Cray at Home Mama. If you don’t follow her, trust me you need to! She shares the funniest, most relatable things that I either never even realized or can’t get enough of. I just love it!
Best Date
If you have been following the blog, then you know taht my husband and I have been dedicated this year to spending one day a month just for one night out with us two. But I think my all time favorite this year was the Bert Kreischer show. I have not laughed that damn hard in so long and I have not seen my husband laugh that hard ever! I was literally in tears before his opening acts were even done. It was great. And we’re definitely going to next year‘s comedy show.
Best Kid Milestone
I have two for my two kids. They both have done so much this year. First off, Christopher has learned so much this year and needs credit for it AL! Not only has he learned his abc‘s but also his numbers in English and Spanish. And all of it he can now recognize written down! He also is speaking so damn fluently. It Amazes me how clear his words are now and the sentences that he is able to put out into the world. And let’s not forget his amazing potty training abilities. He went full blown no diapers at just over two years old! Even at night. As far as AnnaLynne, I am so proud of our Breastfeeding journey. We are about to hit 7 months! With Christopher I was only able to go 4 months, and I was in all honesty, disappointed. So now I am so grateful for every week I get to produce more milk for my little girl. And I might add that she said her first word this week, “mama” - the best Christmas gift!
Best Faith Grower
Two kids only two years apart. That’s it. Period. Talk about crying out for Jesus’ help every day. It took a lot this year to learn how to listen through the noise, have the most patience in the world, and mange being stretched in now three directions (because husband needs love too). Learning how to enjoy the grace in the times that felt the hardest. Talk about a reset of my life and identity. Realizing how beautiful my life and family are and just how much it is all worth fighting for every day, even if it begins at 3 am after falling asleep at 1.
Best Trend Tried
I’m really not that cool. I mean, what even are the trends these days? If you really know me, you know that I basically live under a rock when it comes to this stuff. I don’t really pay attention, or care that much, about all of these trends. But I guess starting this blog has been kind of one. So that’s, that I guess. Well, if it counts.
Best Family Memory
Hands-down the best memory of this year has been completing my family. Nothing has measured up to the day that my son and daughter. In that moment I knew instantly that our family was whole, my heart was whole, and my whole world was no just filled with so much joy and love.
Best Habit Created
My morning routine. This year I finally established a nice and stable routine that has been the most amazing self-care. Every morning I get up at 5 am, making my husband his lunch and on-the-go breakfast, enjoy a HOT cup of coffee, read part of a book, and if I still have time before the kids get up, I either catch up on my shows, take a long hot individual shower, or dance my heart out. Because it is so good for my soul. It has become the perfect set up for my days, setting the tone amazingly. And has actually been the best thing for me as a person, mom, and wife.
Best New Recipe
I’ve spent this year mostly perfecting my recipes than trying any new ones. I have been trying to get my in-law recipe’s of caldo de pollo, salsas, pupusas, pasole, and much more to their level. But my favorite new one this year has to be my salted caramel crunch cookies. The perfect deliciousness of toffee bits, walnuts, and caramel all smashed into a cookie!
Best Life/Mom Hack
Definitely embracing the chaos. At first it was easier said than done, but when you can find joy in the imperfect and beauty in the mess, it all seems to be a little easier. Here’s an example: Embracing taht my child loses way too many one socks in a pair or has way to many shirts to the ratio of his pants so now we buy kids clothes with a specific color scheme, so more tops match more bottoms.
Phew! What fun it was to take a walk down this year‘s memory lane. I am so thankful for this year - all that it has taught me, challenged me with, and gifted me. What are some of your best 2019 things on this list? I’d love to know!
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