Swoon Worthy

I'm not sure how it's already the last weekend of January, but for a woman in her third trimester of pregnancy, I am ready to welcome February with open arms.

It's been a rough and crazy last couple of weeks for me, so I'm thrilled that Saturday is finally here and I can pawn some of the parental duties off on my husband, and hopefully kick my feet up and relax a little.

As always, this week's list of items that I am swooning over, is a random mix of "stuff"... recipes, good reads,  and fun fashion finds.

Here we go...

1.  I've been starting to feel like I'm in a bit of a dinner recipe rut lately...this little pasta dish might be just the thing to pull me out!

2.  I am dying to get Ella into dancing classes.  Tiny ballerinas top my list of cutest things ever... in the meantime, this dress... I die!

3.  My favorite pajama/lounge pants are now available in stripes.  Most comfortable pants ever!!!

4.  Seeing as my biggest pregnancy craving right now is anything topped with sprinkles (hence the funfetti cake you see pictured above), these are on my must-make-for-Valentine's-Day-list!

5.  If you don't already know, I swoon hard over faux fur throws!

6.  I am currently off of my Netflix binge, and back on my read-all-the-books kick.  This one is my latest read!

7.  I'm trying to restrain myself from buying one of everything for my kids from this awesome shop!

8.  In need of a good dip recipe your Superbowl party?  This one is a goody.

9.  I will always adore a cardigan that pairs well with anything and is long enough to cover my backside if I choose to wear it with leggings,

10.  When I'm not carrying my massive suitcase/favorite tote, I love a good crossbody bag.  I'm currently crushing on this one!

Have a great weekend!

30 Week Bumpdate | 3rd Pregnancy Woes

So I stumbled upon this post the other day, entitled 10 Reasons the Third Pregnancy is the Best, and I had to laugh a little bit.  While there were actually many points in the post that I could relate too and identify with, I have a confession to make... I DO NOT think that my third pregnancy has been my best.

Please don't misunderstand, or take what I am saying out of context.  As someone who has suffered a pregnancy loss and watched numerous friends suffer through pregnancy struggles, I can say with certainty, that I have treasured every flutter, karate kick, and hiccup over the last several months.  I am fully aware that I am blessed beyond words to be carrying yet another healthy baby, and I totally agree that the female body is amazing, in what it can do and what it is capable of... but here's the thing, my third pregnancy has without a doubt, been the hardest for me.

I had my 30 week check up yesterday, and was shocked when the doctor told me that I have only gained 19 pounds during this pregnancy.  If my memory serves me correctly, so far, this is significantly less than I gained during both of my previous pregnancies, yet this time around, I feel huge.  So huge in fact, that the other night I had what I will refer to, as a total hormonal breakdown... like sobbing, ugly cry, mascara-running-down-my-face, scaring-my-husband, breakdown.

I don't know what it is, but this time I just feel so uncomfortable.  EVERYTHING seems hard to me lately... putting on socks, picking up my kids, cleaning up toys, all of it.

My apologies for the pity party, but I am literally struggling to accept how I will make it through the next 10 weeks or so.  I mean deep down, I know that I will, not that I really have a choice.  I am wise enough now to understand that every pregnancy is different and that this time will pass, and I will likely look back on it and not remember how awful I feel in this moment, in the same way that women often forget about the pain of labor and go on to put themselves through it over and over again... it's just that right now, I am struggling.

I generally like to keep things pretty lighthearted around here, but I really appreciate it when people write about how they are honestly feeling, so if I sat here and tried to pretend that everything was rainbows and butterflies, I would not only be lying to myself, but to all of you.

Pregnancy is tough... it's beautiful and wonderful, and the reward in the end is worth every struggle, but that doesn't mean it comes without hardships.

I'm yearning so badly to meet our little guy, but I'm also yearning to have my body back to myself, to sleep comfortably, to wear normal clothes again, and to be able to tie my shoes.

So... for my "30 week bumpdate", I will share the following stats...

1.  I have been pregnant for 211 days.... It feels like 211 years.

2.  Baby is supposedly the size of 4 naval oranges... Baby feels like he is the size of 4 watermelons.

3.  Baby weighs around 3.3 pounds... It feels like baby weighs 33.3 pounds.

4.  I should be craving apples, carrot sticks, and quinoa... I'm actually craving cupcakes, donuts, and pretty much anything covered in sprinkles.

5.  Is my belly button in or out?... I don't know, I can't see it.

6.  The overall truth... This baby is so deeply and truly loved already, so the rest of this really doesn't matter.

And there you have it.  Truthfully though, I just felt the need to get that off of my chest, and wanted any of you who are, or have felt the same way, to know, that you are not alone.  Now I'm off to slip into my yoga pants, and my feet are freezing because I can't put my own socks on... but happiest of Fridays to all of you!

Baby Registry Favorites | Health and Hygiene

The next installment of our family's baby registry favorites features the products that we love most when it comes to health and hygiene. 

A few are items that I registered for the first time around, with baby number one, and some are items I have grown to love from experience over the past few years as a mother of 2.

Nose Frida-  You guys, if you can get over the initial grossness that is involved in using this nasal aspirator, I promise you, that it is hands down one of the greatest inventions ever.  Nothing will clear your babe's stuffy nose like this bad boy!

Little Remedies Saline Drops-  Used along with the Nose Frida, these are a great and safe way to help clear up a stuffy nose.

Crane Humidifier- If your babe is suffering from a cold, you're going to want a humidifier, and a cool mist one is the way to go.  This is the one we have, and it has always worked well for us.

Forehead and Ear Thermometer- When your little one has a fever, you're going to want to get their temperature without a lot of fuss.  I prefer this type of thermometer because it offers both an ear and forehead option.

Circo Bath Towels-  We're big fans of these super cute bath towels around here.  They're inexpensive, and my kids love wearing the different animal hoods.

Angelcare Bath-  I initially owned a different style baby bath, but switched to this one after baby number 2 because I liked that I could bathe both of my babes at the same time with this style.  It's just what works for us.

Spout Cover/Bath Thermometer-  4moms makes the coolest stuff.  I love that this bath water thermometer pulls double duty and also works as a spout cover.

Honest Company Bath Products- There are a billion different baby bath products out there, we tried a few, but once we tried these, this is the line we stuck with.  I love the light scent and natural organic ingredients.

Pampers Swaddlers-  Everyone has their brand... we have used Pampers Swaddlers since day one with the first baby, and don't plan on changing anything anytime soon.

Desitin Maximum Strength-  We've been really fortunate and have dealt with very few diaper rashes over the years, but when they have happened, this stuff has cleared them up almost instantly.

Infant Motrin-  I try very hard to only give my kids medicine when it is an absolute necessity.  This is what our pediatrician has always recommended, so it is our go to, when our kids need relief.

Keep an eye out for my next "Baby Registry Favorites" post later this week!

Swoon Worthy

Happy snowy Saturday to so many of you.  Can I just say how jealous I am if you are getting buried in snow right now?  I know you probably think I sound like I've lost my mind, but it's super cold here, so I figure that being forced to cozy up and watch movies, while snuggling by the fire, as the snow falls outside just sounds like fun... at least for a little while.

Everything here is brown and frozen, and just yucky... a little fresh snow would be easier on the eyes for sure.

Oh well, I hope this morning has found you with a hot cup of coffee in hand, ready to read about what I'm loving lately, before taking on the day.

Let's get to it...

1.  It's been hard lately to find cute clothing items to share with you guys that fit my bump, but still totally work for those of you who are not with child... I think this super soft dress might be the answer.

2.  In my quest to simplify in 2016, I've been on the hunt for good inspiration.  You guys, this book.  SO good.

3.  Maybe it's laziness, maybe it's pregnancy brain, but I am constantly forgetting to moisturize after I get out of the shower, and thanks to the frigid winter air, it was becoming a problem.  I picked up some of this stuff recently... problem solved.

4.  We are sweet potato fry lovers to an extreme in this house.  This recent recipe discovery is one you must try if you feel the same way!

5.  Just doing my duty and sharing the fact that Anthro is having a HUGE sale right now... as in an extra 40% off of clearance items.  I scored some great kitchen items for around $5.

6.  Latest candle obsession.

7.  For my fellow expectant friends... I had to share this find with you.  These maternity leggings are awesome, and you can't beat the price!!!

8.  It's a little ridiculous how excited I get these days about the throw pillows and area rugs... but I am totally in love with this little rug I picked up to go in front of our kitchen sink the other day.

9.  I know I'm a little late to the game on this one, but my eyebrows have been a work-in-progress for awhile now, and they're most definitely in need of a good waxing, but this little kit has been keeping them in check recently.

10.  And... because I can't stop looking at baby boy things lately, I'm thinking our babe will totally be up for all those April showers in this adorable set!

Have a great weekend, and if you're getting snow, stay warm and safe!

Lightened Up Copycat Crock Pot Zuppa Toscana

Two recipe posts in one week... what is going on here???  Recipe writing is still not one of strongest skills as a blogger, but it has been FREEZING around here lately, so soup is what this pregnant lady has been craving!

While many of you gear up for an epic blizzard, I'm just sitting here in upstate New York, where everyone assured us, winter would be "unbearable", wishing for so much as a flurry.  I know it sounds crazy, but I am desperate for a good snow storm!

Anyhow, if you're looking to cook something up this weekend that will make you feel all warm and cozy inside, look no further.  This crock pot copycat version of Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana is pretty easy to throw together.  It's hearty, and it pairs great with crusty bread and butter... or salad and bread sticks!

I didn't do much to change the original recipe, that I found on Pinterest, but I wanted to share my lightened up version of this old favorite.

Lightened Up Crock Pot Zuppa Toscana 

adapted from recipes that crock

Ingredients

1 pound of hot italian turkey sausage

3/4 cup sweet onion, diced

6 slices of turkey bacon, diced

2 cloves of garlic, minced

4 cups of chicken broth

1 cup of Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into bite sized pieces

2 cups of kale, chopped

3/4 cup half and half

Instructions

Cook sausage in a skillet until brown, over medium heat. Drain any fat and set aside.

Add onion and bacon to skillet and saute over medium heat until bacon is crisp and onion is translucent.

Add sausage, bacon, onions, garlic, potatoes, and chicken broth to crock pot.

Cook on low for 4-6 hours.

Add kale and half and half shortly before serving.

Enjoy!

Strawberry "Pop Tarts"

I think you all know by now, that I am NOT a food blogger, but every once in awhile I like to share a recipe that we love and use often.

The other day I posted a photo of our homemade strawberry "pop tarts", on Instagram (@kozyandco), and so many people asked me for the recipe, that I thought I would share.

***Worth noting:  There are 2 other "pop tart" recipes under the "FOOD" page at the top of this blog.

These ones were super simple to throw together, as they used a combination of store bought ingredients, and stuff we had on hand.

Strawberry "Pop Tarts"

(makes 8 tarts)

Ingredients

Store bought pie crust

Strawberry jam

Confectioners sugar

Milk

Sprinkles (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Cut each pie crust into 8, fairly equal sized rectangles.

Lay half(8) of your rectangles on a greased or parchment lined baking sheet.

Top each rectangle with about a Tablespoon of strawberry jam (leaving a perimeter of about a half an inch all the way around).

Lay the other halves of the rectangles on top of the 8 that you topped with jam, and using the tines of a fork, seal each "pop tart".

Bake for approximately 10 minutes, or until crust is golden brown.

Remove from oven, and let cool.

For the Icing

In the meantime, mix a half a cup of confectioners sugar with a Tablespoon of milk (consistency is key here, if your icing is runny, add a bit more sugar.  Too thick, add a bit more milk.  You want it spreadable.)

Spread some icing on top of each "pop tart" and top with sprinkles, if desired.

Enjoy!

Baby Registry Favorites | Feeding

Over the past several months, I have had multiple soon-to-be-mom friends ask me what my go-to baby registry items are.  While you'll never catch me trying to claim that I am an expert on things when it comes to babies, I am about to become a mom to 3, so I have, what I like to think, is a little experience, and felt that this would be a great opportunity to share all of the things that have worked for us, and talk about the products that WE love.

This post will kick off a series of posts, where I break down MY Baby Registry Favorites.  I decided the best way to do this was to separate everything into categories, so that I didn't overwhelm anyone too much, because let's be honest, becoming a parent is overwhelming enough.  I'm hopeful that I can get a post (or 2) published per week, and I will link them all under the "mamas + littles" page at the top of this blog, so they will be easy to access.

With all of that said, there are a few important "words of wisdom" that I want to share... In terms of registering, I always felt guilty registering for big ticket items.  Some stuff that we really wanted was on the pricey side, and I feared that adding these types of items to our registry would give people the wrong idea... I want to tell you... DON'T THINK THIS WAY!  Here's why... many stores offer a percentage off items that weren't purchased off of your registry, and a lot of people will gift you with gift cards.  If there is something that you really want for your baby, then go right ahead and add it to that registry.  If people don't pool together and buy it for you, at least you can purchase it at a discounted price in the end!

Secondly, baby items are like technology items.  There is constantly newer/cooler/better stuff making its way on to the market.  So, I fully disclaim, that some of the items I will be linking in this series are items that we have upgraded to before baby number 2, or while we await baby number 3's arrival.  It's just the way of the world.

Okay, let's get down to our favorites in terms of feeding....

Comotomo bottles-  Neither of my children so far have been big on the bottle.  They have loved to nurse straight from the breast, and when I say we have tested almost every bottle on the market, with the hopes that someone else might be able to occasionally feed them, it is not an understatement.  These bottles, that come in both pink and green, closely resemble the real thing (when it comes to the boob), and if we have had any luck with a bottle in the past, this is the one that worked!

Re-play Recycled No-spill Cups- These cups are obviously for when your baby is a little older, but I swear by them.  They really and truly don't spill!  Plus they come in a ton of fun colors, and they're made from recycled milk jugs!  You can read more about them here.

Boon Drying Rack-  I love this thing.  Not only does it look cool, it comes with some super cute accessories to dry all of the pieces of your babe's bottles/cups, and it's great for air drying pump parts too.

Re-play Recycled Plates-  Just like their sippy cups, these are super durable, and come in every color of the rainbow.  As mentioned above, you can read my review of these products here.

Aden and Anais Burp Cloths-  These are a favorite for a number of reasons.  They come in some great prints, they're super soft, they're lightweight, and they work as both a bib that snaps in the back or as a traditional burp cloth that you drape over your shoulder.

Zoe Organics Nipple Cream-  I'm going to be honest... if you've never nursed before, the first few weeks can be tough.  New babies like to nurse... A LOT... at least mine did.  You are going to want something to soothe your girls, and this stuff is awesome.  It's 100% organic, so it's great for you and safe for your babe.

Medela Quick Clean Steam Bags-  I can't say enough about how great these sterilizing bags are and how easy they make it to clean all of the parts of your breast pump.  Bonus points for the fact that you get a few uses out of each bag.

Medela Pump and Save Bags-  If you plan on going back to work, or giving your baby bottles of pumped milk, you're going to need a way to store your supply.  These bags are compatible with the pump that I use and love, and they're great for storing milk to freeze.

Lansinoh Disposable Nursing Pads-  After your little one arrives, your milk supply will likely be all over the place for awhile.  Trust me when I say that I know from experience, that you do not want to be caught in public without wearing these!!!  Some people prefer reusable nursing pads, but I already have a ton of laundry to do, so these have always worked great for me!

Medela Pump In Style-  As a stay at home mom, I haven't had to use a pump a ton, but when I do pump, this is the one I use.  I love that it comes in a discrete black bag, and for me it has always worked really well.  I highly recommend checking to see if your health insurance covers the cost of a pump, mine did, and it obviously saved us a ton.

Stay tuned for my next Baby Registry Favorites post, that will feature all of my favorites when it comes to hygiene.

Swoon Worthy

Happy Saturday!  I'm keeping things short and sweet this weekend, because my BFF is in town, and I want to soak up every single second with her, so lets get right down to what I'm loving this week...

1.  I swoon hard every time this lady comes out with a new line for Target, but this line of goods for babes really takes the cake.

2.  Dessert + Dip = one very happy pregnant lady.

3.  I'm pretty sure I'm going to have taste test some of these secret Valentine's Day recipes.

4.  This mug says it all...

5.  Tiny humans in holiday themed pajamas will always be one of my most favorite things.

6.  Pregnant and nursing mama friends, or honestly any of you who are looking for an awesome tasting, super healthy snack... these are my new obsession.

7.  My friend, Misty, really nailed it with this soup recipe!

8.  Unfortunately, this style doesn't exactly work for me at the moment... HUGE belly and all, but I absolutely love this shirt.

9.  You all know I love a good free printable.  This one found a home on our mantle!

10.  These lip balms are an old favorite, especially during the cold winter months, I always keep one within reach.

That about wraps it up.  I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

Valentine's Day | Target Style

I Love You Garland

Love Pillow | Heart Marquis Light | Felt Heart Wreath

Heart Jars | Love Doormat | XO Marquis Light

You guys all know that my love for Target runs deep, like borderline obsession deep.  You have also probably figured out by now that I am a total holiday fanatic.

My post-Christmas blues were cured pretty much instantly when I set foot in Target and laid eyes on their Dollar Spot Valentine's Day collection.  I wish that I could link all of the super cheap adorable finds that I snagged from there, but I could only find a few online.  We snagged one of those heart topped jars, and filled it with conversation hearts immediately, and the "I Love You" garland was the perfect addition to our mantle.

I wanted to share some more of my favorite discoveries, in terms of Valentine's Day decor, from everyone's favorite store!

Love is in the air my friends!

Ella's Dollhouse

Over the holidays, I shared a photo of Ella's big Christmas present, a dollhouse, on my Instagram feed (@kozyandco).  So many of you were interested in the details, that I thought it was due time for a little post on how this semi DIY project came together.

A few months ago, I settled on the idea that I wanted to gift our girl with a dollhouse this year.  She's taken a real interest in dolls, and babies in particular, so I knew it was something she would enjoy and play with for years to come.

Originally I loved the idea of having Mike build one for her... I loved this plan from Young House Love, and this one by Ana White... but on the end, I decided that I wanted a house with a more classic feel.  It needed to look like an actual house on the outside.  I wanted doors, and windows... something that was pretty to look at from both the front and the back sides... so I set out looking for just that.

I adored this dollhouse from Pottery Barn Kids, but the price tag was a little high for my liking, so the search continued.

Finally, I stumbled upon this house by Melissa and Doug, and the wheels began to turn!

I loved the shape and style of this house, and the layout inside was nice too.  It came with the furniture, which was also wooden, so that was a plus too.  I liked that it was constructed of mostly wood, and not plastic or particle board... it had good bones, and I just knew that it was the perfect house to put a little DIY spin on, and make our own.

It was a bit of a pain to put together... think IKEA furniture... pieces everywhere, but I did manage to do it myself without Mike's help, so I can't say that it required too much skill.

Next up, it was on to some fresh paint.  I like pink and purple, but Ella's room is decorated in peach, pink, mint, pale yellow, gold and gray... so the colors kind of clashed, and I am totally OCD about matching.

I used a black chalk paint to do the roof, a white high gloss paint by Martha Stewart to paint the trim, and "Beach Glass" paint from the same line, in a satin finish, to paint the actual exterior of the house.  I opted to leave the doors the original pink color, because I liked the way it looked with the aqua, and to be honest, they would have been a huge pain to paint.

The interior is still a work in progress at this point.  I didn't want to finish it all at once, so that I would have time to decide if I wanted to do some painting on the inside, or add flooring... it's sort of become an addiction... almost like renovating your own home.  Big decisions to be made!

For now, I wallpapered a few rooms, and some of the furniture, using beautiful floral paper from Rifle Paper Co.  and mod podge, and used some super cute Project Life cards that I found on clearance at Michael's to hang as artwork throughout the house.

The dolls are also by Melissa and Doug, and both Ella and Max have been having a lot of fun playing with them in the house.

I fully intend to update this post as we continue to make "renovations" and changes, but for now I just wanted to share the details on the materials that we used.

This was a lot of fun to work on, and I'm really happy with the way it is coming together so far!

Swoon Worthy

It's the first official Swoon Worthy post of 2016 my friends.

I took a little break from posting while we were traveling and celebrating the holidays, but now I'm back and so excited to dive back into these posts, because they are some of my favorite (and the most fun) to write.

I think we might be some of the last people to take down our Christmas decor, with our tree making its way out the front door today, but this past week was hectic, and I slacked a little on digging the rubbermaid totes back out. Although I usually feel totally depressed once the house is stripped of its twinkling lights and pine trimmings, I have to admit, that this year, it actually feels kind of good to see the house so bare and clean post Christmas.  It helps to perpetuate the fresh-start feeling I've been experiencing since ringing in the new year.

As you can probably imagine, this week's Swoon Worthy list is made up of healthy recipes, a little organizational inspiration, and as always, some of my favorite recent finds.  Let's get down to it...

1.  We tested out this lightened up version of one of our dinner favorites the other night, and it did not disappoint.  The sauce was delicious!

2.  My love affair with all things plaid continues into the new year.  This dress is the cutest!

3.  So, I finished watching Parenthood on Netflix last night (insert Kim Kardashian ugly cry face here)... if you haven't already subjected yourself to binge watching it, I highly recommend it.  Then you'll have to have this print, like I did, that found its home on our playroom gallery wall.

4.  You all know full well by now how much I adore my holiday decor, so naturally I couldn't take down Christmas and not move right along to Valentine's Day.  I'm not going too crazy yet, but for the time being, it makes me incredibly happy to see this garland hanging from our mantle!

5.  These are definitely a repeat here on Swoon Worthy, but I made a batch this past week, and was instantly reminded of how much I love this recipe.

6.  I always enjoy a good cuff bracelet, especially when I find one at an amazing sale price!

7.  If you happened to catch this recent post about my goal to simplify in 2016, you'll understand that this 30 Day Simplicity Challenge is right up my ally.

8.  Target, between my throw pillow addiction, and the fact that you guys put cute stuff like this on your shelves, I'll never be able to quit you!!!

9.  One of my favorite clothing lines for littles re-launched last night.  I'm sure a ton will be sold out, but I feel like I'd be doing you guys a disservice if I didn't share the news with you!

10.  As always, the new year kicked off my quest to get back on track and eating healthy again.  This cookbook is full of so many light, but still incredibly tasty, recipes! It;s a great one to add to your library.

Hoping you all have an amazing weekend, thanks for reading!

27 Week Bumpdate

True to form, I am WAY behind on documenting this pregnancy (#thirdbabyproblems).  It has been quite awhile since my last "bumpdate", and though not much has changed since then, I was feeling like a little documentation was long overdue.

We have officially hit the 27 week mark, which according to my baby tracking app, means our little mister is about the size of a head of cauliflower and weighs approximately 2 pounds.

The reality that I will soon be a mom of three is starting to hit me, hard.  To say that I'm beginning to feel a little bit anxious about how the heck I am going to wrangle all of these tiny humans on a day to day basis, would be the understatement of the century... I am freaking out!!!  Deep down, I know that I can, and will manage, but the fear of the unknown is always a little scary.

This little guy loves to kickbox me from the inside, and seems to have the hiccups on the regular.

I'm hoping that he can hear, and already knows, just how much he is loved and adored by his big brother and sister, as they are constantly asking about him.  Ella likes to pull up my shirt, say "hi baby!", and give him kisses.  Max asks me, almost daily, when his "baby bruder" will be done growing or cooking so that he can sit with him and hold him.  The excitement I feel about seeing the 3 of them together for the first time is mounting daily.

As expected, I am feeling HUGE this time around.  My weight gain has actually been pretty in check, but as previously mentioned, I began this pregnancy heavier than I would have liked, so daily tasks, such as putting on socks and shoes, have become a full blown Olympic sport leaving me out of breath and exhausted.  I can no longer paint/trim my own toes nails... so I guess a pedicure is in order.

As far as cravings go, my two go-to meals lately have been a multi-grain waffle topped with peanut butter, banana, and honey... I could pretty much eat PB on everything right now... and Caprese sandwiches.  Something about the combination of fresh mozzarella, basil, tomatoes, and balsamic vinegar on a baguette, just makes me really, really happy.

I have my next doctor's appointment next week, where I will have to endure the dreaded glucose test, but otherwise, I am feeling really good.  Thankfully I am still able to sleep at night, and have only experienced a few of those absolutely horrible middle-of-the-night leg cramps that pregnant women are prone to, thus far.  My goodness do those hurt!

The weeks seem to be flying by, and though in many ways, that is good... I don't think I will be upset if the last trimester drags a little.  I really want to enjoy these finally months as a family of four, before we jump headfirst into the wonderful world of newborn-dome again.  Still, it goes without saying, that I can't wait to meet this little man for the first time!

Simplifying in 2016

After taking a little bit of a break from blogging to celebrate the new year, I'm excited to jump back into writing in 2016 with a fresh outlook, a billion ideas for future posts, and a motivation I haven't had in quite some time.

For the past couple of years now, this space has served me creatively in so many ways.  It has become my place to candidly share pieces of myself, and I intend to continue to use this platform to share my thoughts, ideas, and inspiration with all of you.

It seems the current trend for the new year is to have a word... one word that sums up all of ones goals, wishes, and hopes for the coming year.  2015 was a year full of big changes for our family... a big move, the news that our family was growing, and so much more... chaos in the best way possible.

Naturally, all of this got me to thinking about my one word...

If I could sum up my aspirations for the coming year in just a few letters, what would be most fitting? The word I finally settled on was SIMPLIFY.

In 2016, I hope to slow down, scale down, purge, and simplify.

I know this sounds a bit crazy, seeing as I am about to become a mom of 3, but the reality is, I have come to realize that simplifying is the answer to a lot of my stress and anxiety.  We live in a world where there is just so much stuff.  So many thoughts, opinions, ideas on how and why... sometimes things can feel so rushed, so forced, so pushed on us.

I'm learning quickly that this time with my children is fleeting, they are going to be little for such a short while, and I want to enjoy every second of it.  I want to slow down and take it all in.  I want to live in the moment.

I don't want to feel forced or pushed to do things.  I want to do what feels best for us, for me, for my family.

I want to simplify our daily routine.  I want to organize our home.  I want to go at our own pace.

I want my kids to play, and laugh, and grow.

I want to continue to grow this blog and the relationships that have formed because of it.

I want to continue to create and make, I want my Etsy shop to thrive.

I want to continue to grow as a person, a wife, a mother, a friend, a sister.

Scaled down and simplified, I want to do it all!!!

Will I? Who knows?  The motivation is there at the moment... but of course, that's the thing about kicking off a new year.  It's a fresh start and it leaves you feeling ready to take on the world... here's to hoping that the feeling continues.

I hope that 2016 has found you all feeling refreshed and motivated, ready to take on your dreams, and ready to set out and do it, whatever "it" may be, once and for all.

I want to thank you for taking the time to follow along here on Kozy & Co. The fact that anyone takes the time to read what I have to say means the world to me... you guys play a huge part in the motivation I'm feeling to keep plugging on and sharing.  Your support and kind words are the drive that keeps me feeling inspired.  I love hearing your opinions, your thoughts, literally everything you all have to say. So, thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Happy 2016!!!