2013 Year in Review

What a year it’s been! 2013 was filled with personal and professional highs, from becoming an aunt and getting pregnant to attending Alt Summit and forging partnerships with favorite brands. Of course, there were some lows, too, including intense pregnancy hormones and perpetual self-doubt.

Through it all, though, you’ve stuck with me. In fact, readership more than doubled in 2013! Wowza! To commemorate such a memorable year, here’s a look at the year in review (plus a slew of never-before-seen photos), if you’d like to see…

In January… We flew to New Jersey for my sister’s two baby showers, the first hosted by her in-laws and the second hosted by me. I spent much of the month preparing for Alt Summit, which included learning how to network and giving myself a much-needed pep talk. JB and I also decided to enroll Levi in Montessori, and I wondered if I was going to cry on his first day.

In February… Levi discovered Elmo, had his first day of school, and began exhibiting some terrible twos behavior. Uh-oh! I launched a new desktop wallpaper series in collaboration with Mariah from Oh, What Love Studios, and at the end of the month, I became an aunt for the first time!  

In March… We flew to New York City to meet itty-bitty baby Max! I shared my secrets to a long-lasting manicure, and explained why we decided to let Levi wear an amber teething necklace. On my 33rd birthday, I wrote a confessional post about regret, and while we were out celebrating, I had the opportunity to meet my childhood idol and accidentally grabbed her ass. Oops!

In April… I cut my hair, joined The Neighborhood, and daydreamed about a cabin getaway to disconnect from the stresses of everyday life — such as dealing with a sick child. In disbelief, I watched the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings and searched for ways to help. I wrote openly about my frustrations with blogging and was relieved to learn that many of you felt similarly.

In May… I researched ways for my wannabe chef to safely help in the kitchen, created a newsletter, and launched another short-lived blog series. I also revealed my thoughts on Botox and part one of our basement makeover project. My whole family also vacationed in Hilton Head, but for some reason I never wrote about our trip!

In June… We traveled back East again to attend a friend’s wedding in Maine, and I stayed with family for a couple of extra days for Alt Summit NYC. Back in Omaha, we checked out an amazing exhibit featuring larger-than-life LEGO sculptures. On the blog, I launched two new series (one about pregnancy, the other about motherhood) that I’m happy to report are still going strong.

In July… My big boy turned two years old, and I wondered if there was an ideal age difference between children. We made the tough decision to pull Levi out of his Montessori school, and I shared some of Levi’s favorite books (perfect for other two-year-old boys). I also showed you what I carry inside my bag.

In August… I took some unplanned personal time, so the blog was quieter than usual. After a rough July, I decided to share my strategies for coping with sadness alongside a motivational desktop wallpaper. On a happier note, Levi was thriving at his new Montessori school, and my family came to Omaha for a road trip to the Iowa State Fair (although I wasn’t motivated to write about our experience until late September).

In September… I made a big announcement! Levi made us laugh, and JB and I ordered new iPhones. In mid-September I attended the BHG Stylemaker Event in New York City, which I credit for helping to recharge my blogging mojo. We went apple picking in Nebraska City, and I finally posted about the personalized crayons we gave out as favors at Levi’s second birthday party.

In October… Life (and the blog) began to pick up speed. I had my 20-week ultrasound and revealed my gender preference. I showcased the season’s best maternity jackets, pondered my own personal style, and shared the drip paint pumpkins we made for Halloween.

In November… We kicked off the month with a week of giveaways in celebration of the blog’s third anniversary, and I was featured on Jacques Levine’s blog! On Veterans Day, I talked about being a milspouse, and later explained how a weekend getaway went awry. I decorated for Thanksgivukkah and discovered the easiest way to clean the floor.

In December… JB and I went on a long-awaited babymoon in St. Thomas (photos to come)! While we were away, I revealed the gender of baby #2 — and how we decided what to wear for the family photos. Before the holidays I posted three gift guides and talked about impulse purchases and my love of eggnog. Finally, I shared the sparkly and glittery items I’d wear to celebrate New Year’s Eve… if I were doing anything more exciting than sitting on the couch!

I’m so incredibly grateful to have you all as readers. Your blog, Facebook, and Instagram comments, your Twitter retweets, and your personal emails are what help me battle the voice in my head that laughs at me for wanting to be a professional blogger. Every day that I don’t give up brings me one step closer to my goal, and I wish I could thank you each personally for your motivation and support.

Happy New Year! See you in 2014!

PS - A look back at 2012. 

(top photo taken in September when I was 16 weeks pregnant)