Loving . . .

AMERICAN EAGLE JEANS.  I shared (here) about my new favorite jeans a few weeks ago and I loved them so much I bought another pair.  These aren't quite the same cut, and are a lot lighter, but I love them just as much.  They are so comfortable and fit so well.  This top and cardigan are also from American Eagle.  It's become one of my favorite stores!

MY BULLET JOURNAL.  I know I just wrote about it but I love it so much.  I use it every day and love filling things out and making new pages.  I am determined to read way more than I have done in the past and am already one and half books into the new year.  Which is WAY better than last year. What books should I add to my list?

ADDILYN.  I knew Isaac would be excited about a love Rosie, but I wasn't sure how Addi would do. I think she was happily surprised at how tiny and cute she was.  She has been so wonderful and sweet with her.  She doesn't want to leave her when we go out, and is so excited when we come home. Plays with her and snuggles her and is just really good with her.  It makes me so happy!

ISAAC'S HAIRCUT.  Isaac and I went to get his hair cut on Saturday and then went to Starbucks. It was fun to go on a little "date" with just him, even though he did not like getting his hair cut. I can't believe how old he looks, and that in less than one month he will be TWO!

WISHLIST.  These clothes/shoes are all so cute and everything is $15 and under!  (The pink top and camo top are on there way to me now!)

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five // six

BURN BOOT CAMP.  I need to write a post about it soon, but I can't tell you how much I love working out at Burn Boot Camp.  It is one of my favorite things that I get to do during the week and makes me so happy, and I'm feeling stronger and stronger!  

I hope you have a great start to your week!

Meet Rosetta

Meet the newest member of the Vale family!  Rosetta (Rosie) our new golden doodle puppy.  We brought her home on Saturday, after Chris and I drove to get her from Indiana.  She is 8 weeks old and the sweetest little thing.  I can't believe how tiny and soft and adorable she is! It's been over 10 years since we've had a puppy and I can hardly remember Molly as a puppy! Our kids knew we were bringing her home and were SO excited.  

 We have been so missing having a dog in our house since losing Molly, but thought we'd wait till the Spring to get a puppy.  But once we started looking we couldn't wait!  We found this sweet puppy and were messaging the owner back and forth, pretty certain we wanted her.  I had sent her a picture of Molly and the kids, and she messaged back that Rosie's mom's name is Molly and sent us a picture of her.  She looked exactly like our Molly.  We were sold and knew she was meant to be ours!

She has been so sweet.  Our kids love her and are really gentle and sweet with her.  Of course we are cleaning up lots of pee and talking her outside in the snow every 20 minutes it feels like.  And I feel just a little overwhelmed and tired!  I know it'll be a lot of work for awhile but so so worth it.  I couldn't be more excited to add Rosie to our family and pray for lots and lots of years with our new girl! 

High Five

top: c/o  shein   sweater: shein    pants: old navy    boots: just fab
ONE. This top (technically a dress I believe) is so pretty.  I love the drop waist and the floral pattern.
TWO.  These jeans from Old Navy are one of my favorites.  They're stretchy and feel like leggings, but pass for real jeans.  Double win. (They aren't on sale and I would wait to buy them once they are! I think I got them for under $20.)

THREE.  We got a lot of snow this week and it was fun to play outside.  Although Isaac did not love it and only lasted ten minutes both times we tried.  Addi would've stayed out there forever I think! 
FOUR. One of my goals for 2018 is to read more books.  I just finished the book Never Unfriended by Lisa-Jo Baker, and just started reading Dance, Stand, Run by Jess Connolly.  Tell me what books are on your list to read! 

FIVE. We have an exciting weekend ahead and I can't wait to share next week! 
Hope you guys have a great weekend!

A new year

I feel like the last two years (perhaps maybe most moms could relate?) that I was mostly just surviving in terms of my personal self.  Adjusting to two kids, moving, keeping our house put together as possible, little sleep, forever changing routines and patterns and schedules and everything else of adulthood.  I have not had the motivation and desire to make resolutions and have failed to work on growth in myself in this season.  But I am feeling motivated and determined and excited about 2018 and know that God is going to work in my heart and I'm wanting to do the work.  
I recently got a bullet journal and I can't tell you how much I love it. (I got this journal and these pens and love them.)  It's relaxing, enjoyable and I think will help me stay organized and motivated. I wrote out my resolutions for the year . . . . . 
Put my phone away after 9:30.  I want to spend less time on my phone throughout the day, and may put some other limits at some point, but for now I'm plugging my phone in and putting it away by 9:30 so I stop wasting time before I go to bed. 
Pray for my kids more. I want to work more on my prayer life, and specifically want to pray for my kids more - their relationship with each other, their future and most importantly ways that I can show them how much God loves them and that they chase after Him. 
Bring a friend a meal or flowers once a month. I want to show acts of kindness more, so this is one of my goals!
Be in a small group.  It's been way to long since I've been in a small group (since right before Isaac was born) and I'm longing for connection and spiritual growth with other woman. 
Bake more things from scratch.  I have always loved to bake and still do with the kids, but almost always use things from a box.  I'd love to go back to making home made muffins and donuts and whatever else!
Read more books, watch less Netflix.  It's embarrassing the amount of time I've spent (or not spent) reading books the last two years.  It's so much easier for me to watch tv when I have any down time, but I want to change that this year.  
Care less about how much I weigh and more about how strong I feel.  I wish the number on the scale wouldn't even matter to me, and I determined to work on that this year.  I'm feeling really strong and I want to focus more on that and reaching different goals than on weight. 
Get Isaac in the gym childcare and nursery.  Anytime we've tried either he just cries so so hard and gets really worked up and then we don't try for awhile.  I would LOVE to be able to sit in the service with Chris, or go to the gym whenever I wanted and use their childcare.
Make healthier food for my kids.  I know kids are picky and many don't eat great, but I want to try to make different options and at least offer my kids healthier options. 
Play more games with Chris.  Again, we watch a lot of tv and I want to spend our time playing games like we used to more often. 
Do an unassisted pullup.  I am determined to be able to do one unassisted pullup at the gym. I am much stronger now then when I started but still can't even move an inch when I hang from the bar.  It will happen some day!
Go on a girls' trip and go on a trip with Chris.  I have plans to go away with my high school girls friends for a long weekend and I can not wait.   I also want to go on a few day trip with Chris, as we've never been gone for more than 24 hours in four and a half years!  
I am really excited for 2018 and a lot of self growth.  So cheers to a new year and a whole lot of goals to be accomplished!  

Ready but not even close

top: c/o shein   jeans: american eagle   shoes: dsw
This outfit makes me overly, but very prematurely, ready for Spring.  Holey jeans, a comfy light weight sweater and sneakers.  I wouldn't stand a chance outside in this for any length of time.  Although we did have one day last week where the temperatures hit 50 and it was raining.  I even played outside with the kids for a very brief time, and it felt so good to just be outside.  Spring time, I am trying to hold off in my longing for you, but it is drawing nearer.  May I patiently wait another two months at least.