Emily Bode 12/31/19 Emily Bode 12/31/19

2019 Year in Review

Celebrations in living, style, & career in 2019.

It’s ironic I claimed 2019 a ghost year after all that has happened. I feel more whole than any other year thus far. All the plans in the world can’t guarantee you the certainty you seek. Chasing certainty is a fool’s game but it’s the one I often default to. Except in 2019, I didn’t. I didn’t set goals as I have in the past. I wasn’t intentionally trying to be present either. I just…was I guess. Here’s my 2019 recap in living, style, & career.

Past yearly reviews: 2018 | 2017 | 2016

Living

Ran a half marathon

I was adamant about getting my health in a better place this year. I’d gone too long ignoring ailments completely in my control. The Root Cause Reset program with nutritionist Diane Teall Evans was a game-changer. I started kickboxing & training for a half-marathon soon after the program. My body was ready to handle the kind of exercise I hadn’t done since high school basketball.

Joel & I spent the summer training for the Sleeping Bear Dunes Half Marathon. He made a training schedule that synced with our calendars to ping us on miles for the week. He included hard hill & trail days I tried to get out of. I thanked him every mile for his rigorous schedule when it came to race day though. We supported one another at our different paces, changed eating habits, & talked about the race all summer. He even gifted me with an Apple Watch to track my miles! I don’t know what was better; finishing the race or doing it all with him. It was such a special time.

Paid off 50% of student loans

I can’t believe I’m even writing we paid off 50% of our debt this year! We wanted to pay off 33% so this was a huge accomplishment. Especially since it felt impossible in January – I was hourly at a print shop part-time & teaching one class as an adjunct professor (read: making very little money). When you commit to a dream, regardless of how illogical it seems with your current circumstances, a Higher Power helps you out. Not always, but often. If you don’t speak it, how does anyone know what you want?

I stumbled into a lucrative gig soon after (see Career below) that allowed us to pay off debt while maintaining our monthly overhead. It’s been eye-opening to talk through how we each see money & find a common plan that works for our differing spending habits. We had hard conversations that we discovered had little to do with money. Money is emotional.

We started loosely with Financial Peace University. I keep track of our wins on a private Instagram account & Joel keeps track of numbers on a spreadsheet. It’s important we each bring our personality to this challenge. Otherwise, it’s easy to feel resentful & unheard.

Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca, Morocco | 2019 Year in Review | Emily Bode

Travel

It was a big year of travel. I visited Austin, Seattle, & Atlanta for work. I needed to prove to myself I can be a savvy solo traveler. The perks weren’t bad either; immaculate hotel rooms with stunning city views, business class, everything at my fingertips.

We also went to Morocco & Spain for two weeks this Spring. It was our first time abroad made obvious with plenty of logistical mishaps. We had friends guide us & I’m forever grateful for their help. The trip was romantic. Being lost in the mountains of Spain with Joel was a dream. I will be inspired for years to come from all we experienced & observed.

Style

Capsule wardrobe-ish

I started 2019 with 150 pieces for 4 seasons, about 38 pieces/season. Soon after this accomplishment, I was bored as hell with capsule wardrobes. Especially after visiting Morocco & Spain where I was inundated with beautiful styles from a myriad of cultures. The style was vibrant, expressive, & hodgepodge. I adored it. It felt like LIFE. ENERGY.

Taking outfit photos & writing style posts takes a lot of time. Always looking put together & documenting it was good for my ego, & popular on social media, but I wanted to spend time elsewhere — like making money to pay off loans & travel more. My approach to blogging doesn’t make me money. haha.

Job transitions required different styles too. 2019 was back to the drawing board to discover a style more me. I’m still trying to figure it out which involves trying new things vs. a rigid structure. I want to bring personality into my wardrobe, not water it down. Getting dressed should be fun. Or overlooked to make room for something new. While also finding a balance with fast fashion. Such basic white bitch problems. lol.

Career

2019 Year in Review | Emily Bode | Photo by Leigh Ann Cobb

Design Professor at Grand Valley

It was my second year teaching design at GVSU this year. Spring semester I created an unorthodox exam for my students that they loved. The fall semester was a breeze as I had a lot of my systems in place from the prior year. I was in a groove. I loved seeing my students discover they were capable of pushing themselves to greater heights. Seeing them build confidence in their work & present projects eloquently remains one of my greatest joys.

Design lead on million-dollar+ tech startup events

In February I joined a San Francisco-based events team to aid in their design builds all over the world. I suppose million-dollar events don’t mean much at the corporate level but as a solo freelancer used to event budgets 30 times less than that, it was a big deal to me. Especially when it came to leading print orders totaling $70k+. You know those milestones when you’re like, “I’ve made it”? This was one of them for me. I was traveling to some of the newest & swankiest hotels to plan, curate, & create experiences for the tech industry. It was a wild ride with a kickass team of women who don’t take shit from anyone. It was an honor to work alongside each of them.

All I kept thinking was, if I never left the safe haven of the path everyone told me I should take 6 years ago, this would’ve never been possible. Take the chance, take the chance, take the chance.

Last year was about contentment. This year was about boundaries. I talk about it in detail here. Basically, it was high time I have an open dialogue with myself; why is this bothering me, how does this person or scenario make me feel, how can I heal from hurt to find joy again? Once I started prioritizing healthy internal conversations, I was able to have honest ones with others. It isn’t easy or fun, but it’s necessary for your well-being. To be able to look around at your life, be proud of it, & grateful for the support group who’s in it. I’m closer to that because of 2019. Not a goal I would’ve made for myself but one I must’ve needed.

Word of the year: 2018 Contentment | 2017 Growth | 2016 Celebration

2020 Outlook

I’d love to travel to Ireland or Maine, pay off more debt, get my dream Jeep, & be outdoors more than I am indoors next year. I hope you've had a wonderful 2019. Best wishes for 2020! Let's all honor what we need within in order to give graciously to others. xo, Em

Emily Bode 12/30/18 Emily Bode 12/30/18

2018 Year in Review

2018 Year in Review: A recap of celebrations and goals met in my personal and professional life.

Last year was about growth. This year was about contentment. The thing is, I like fireworks, surprises, the way seemingly disconnected things align through pure life magic. I like opportunities that only come once in a lifetime, the buzzing energy of What if I just went for it? My confidence is in those moments. I feel secure in hyped-up spaces.

2018 was none of these things.

This year was a different challenge. What happens when I'm not on the edge of my seat in anticipation? Who am I when I'm hurt and downtrodden? When I acknowledge that yes, what happened was shitty and I'm angry about that. How do I release then bounce back? How do I find renewed strength? Can I let those closest to me know I need help? That I can't always be the pillar holding everyone else up, sometimes I'm the one who needs holding. How do I handle calm moments when I thrive off of chaos and pressure? Can I be happy when it isn't about my individual pursuits? Can I keep those to myself and be there for the collective that needs more listeners fewer talkers?

It was a year where roaring like a lion wasn't needed of me but rather a quiet showing up. Just doing the work and then being done with it. Pursuit is my nature. 2018 showed me patience can be too, albeit not my first choice. I just needed things to happen that would bring that side of me to the forefront.

Here are my top highlights of 2018:

Personal

Moved (back) to the Lakeshore

We decided to move back to our little cottage by the lake after a year in the city. It was a time we'll never regret. It shifted our perspective and made us more grateful for the life we have here by the lake. Read more about it [here].

Celebrated our 2-year wedding anniversary

I hope the memory of our wedding always feels like it just happened. It still does 2 years later as we continue to grow and learn more about each other. This year we celebrated with an unplugged weekend on Mackinac Island. Just the 2 of us and a ghost (more on that below). It's as if the Great Creator is doing everything in its power to show me marriage is anything but boring.

Kayak Sunday's

Joel and I started going for kayak rides to a bayou near our place most Sundays in the summer. It became our church. Spiritual by nature and a time we could always count on together before the week would get away from us. It allowed us conversation and rest that one can only find on the water. Joel only lost his paddle one time.

International Women's Day

Ashley, on the far left, and I came up with a plan to celebrate International Women's Day with a photoshoot very last minute and I'm so glad we went through with it. Each of these ladies is impacting our creative community in powerful ways. It was an honor to stand by their side last winter. This was right before we were kicked out of the parking garage but I made sure to give the employee a piece of my mind as we left. Something about having 5 women backing you up that gives a girl a little extra oomph.

Travel

Nashville, Tennessee (x2)

I loved Nashville so much the first time I had to go back a month later! The first time was for my friend's bachelorette party and the second time was with Joel and another couple. We stayed in East Nashville both times. My favorite places were Bar Taco in 12 South and Bourbon Street Blues. I don't need to hear Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy, or Wagon Wheel again in my life but the vibes, live music, and the food are so good! We're already trying to find time to go back soon.

Recommendations: Imogene + Willie / Acme Feed + Seed / The Nash Collection Ball Cap

Lake Michigan, Michigan

I took a staycation for a week this summer and didn't tell anyone. The Lake Michigan lakeshore in West Michigan is buzzing with tourists from Memorial Day to Labor Day so I joined in on the fun as a tourist in my own town for a few days. It was wonderful to view my town from a vacationer’s perspective. I went to antique shops, had a glass of rosé overlooking the channel, and sunbathed on the beach for hours. It was the perfect mid-year pick-me-up.

Recommendations: Saugatuck Antique Pavilion / Snug Harbor / Rosy Mound Natural Area

Mackinac Island, Michigan

We went to Mackinac Island in September for our anniversary. It was my first time ever which is crazy considering I've been a Michigander my entire life! We stayed at Pine Cottage. We didn't know until our last night it's the most haunted bed & breakfast on the island! Those who know Joel and I know we're chickens with that stuff so we had a good laugh on the ferry home. We will definitely be going back. The charm and natural beauty of the island is one you have to see more than once.

Recommendations: Anne's Tablet / The Woods Lounge / Fort Holmes

Hocking Hills, Ohio

Our girl's trip has become an annual fall getaway. This year we went hiking in Hocking Hills, a state forest in Southern Ohio. We added miles to our hikes, took naps in our super cozy cabin, and watched old movies. We didn't have WIFI and only a landline (remember those?!) to call anyone. It was the perfect way to start the holiday season and have downtime with my closest friends. I wonder where we'll go next year!

Recommendations: Eagle Ridge Cabin Airbnb / Kindred Spirits Restaurant / Cantwell Cliffs

Professional

Brave Girl featured in Bella Grace magazine, Spring Issue 2018 | Brave Girl Design + Blog

Published in Bella Grace Magazine

I've had a goal to be published in print for the last couple of years so when Bella Grace accepted my submission of what grace means to me, I was ecstatic! They even added a story I wrote about hustling as the center spread with Tiger's big mug on it. I couldn't believe it. The feeling to see my words in print, and on the shelves at Barnes & Noble! It can keep a girl going on her toughest days that's for sure. More details [here].

Design professor at Grand Valley!

I continue to be amazed at the way life works. It was only a year ago I wrote in my 2017 Year in Review that I'd like to teach a design class one day and 8 months later here I am teaching a design class. You just never know and it makes me believe so much in the power of believing and faith. There were challenges and it was exhausting but I loved every minute of it.

Screen-Shot-2018-12-29-at-7.36.14-PM.png

Spacial design for furniture conference & apartment building brand

I was brought on the creative team at Full Circle last Spring to create a conference booth design for a German furniture company. It is my favorite kind of design to do and I'm super happy with the results. I also created the logo and brand elements for a new apartment building in Grand Rapids in the Monroe neighborhood, 601 Bond. I can't wait to see how it all comes together when the building is ready for tenants.

Top 100 Women Blogs to Follow by Feedspot

My, my. This look of pure joy and I can't believe it shows how I feel about this best. This is a top recognition I'm just so proud of for this little space of mine. It is because of all you who keep coming back to read. Thank you, it means so very much to me. More on being a Top 100 blog [here].

Walked in the Lee & Birch Holiday Fashion Show

This was another goal I didn't think I'd ever had the guts to follow through on. But I did it. It was very symbolic to walk in a fashion show this year for very personal reasons. Every time I remember I was a model for a day I will know I am worthy of feeling feminine, beautiful, and taking care of myself just the way I am. More details [here].

Nominated for 20 on the Rise by Honeybook

I was a 20 on the Rise nominee by Honeybook for my work as a freelance designer and writer this year. There are so many people who have created services and opportunities for others by leading with their hearts and not following the status quo. It's made the landscape of career so much more interesting than I could've ever imagined growing up with my limited ideas of what a career can be. To be a small part of this bigger message is an honor. See 20 On the Rise Winners

2018 brought so many blessings and magic. I became more self-aware and read my emotions better since I wasn't hyper-focused on goals for once. It's hard work to change a mindset & habit! I'm a little more goal-oriented for 2019 and feeling a bit stir crazy and excited for the possibilities this next year.

I hope you've had a wonderful 2018. Best wishes for 2019! Let's all be kind and not make excuses for doing rude phone things in public. xo, Em

Emily Bode 1/1/18 Emily Bode 1/1/18

2017 Year in Review

2017 Year in Review: A recap of celebrations and goals met in my personal and professional life.

Last year was about celebration. This year was about growth. A recap of personal, professional, and travel highlights of the year. Recaps remind me of the magical, often ordinary, moments that I overlook too easily throughout the year. Although it looks clean and organized here, it doesn't feel that way as you're going along living your life so I enjoy taking the time to reflect and celebrate.

Also, see my 2017 Intentions.

Personal

Moved to Grand Rapids

I've talked about this a lot last year (here and here) and plan to more this year. We surprised ourselves by moving to the city because I don't think either of us believed we'd actually go through with it. Things were good where we were and it was tempting to settle into that but no, we had to go and mix it up a bit.

Celebrated our 1-year wedding anniversary

I'm still not ready for our wedding to be over! It was such an amazing weekend I want to relive over and over again. In a way we relived parts of it for our first anniversary; sunbathing at the beach where Joel proposed, dancing to our playlist in the living room while looking at wedding pictures, and grabbing free beers at a local brewery (thanks Kate & Mike!).

Belle passed away

My 18-year old kitty, Belle, passed away last Fall. Admittedly, I'm very much still grieving. We've lost a family member and my first best friend (I got her when I was 9 years old!). I remember the day I got her. My Mom decided on a whim I could pick out a little kitten from the litter (and not tell Dad until we got home). Belle was sleeping on top of the food bowl – she didn't want the food but she didn't want her siblings to have it either – and I knew she was the one for me. I miss her sass, attitude, and tough love cuddles every day, to say the very least.

Attended 4 weddings

I've been extremely sensitive and sappy during weddings since ours. It's truly life-altering and such a celebration of genuine Love, especially at the weddings we went to last year. We celebrated Love of old friends, new friends, my cousin, and one of my best friends where I was her Matron of Honor. I'm looking forward to more Love this year with my other best friend's wedding and some close friends in town!

Made new friends through blogging

One of the reasons I started Brave Girl 4 years ago was for connection with my tribe. I was about to graduate college and was really worked up one day when my favorite instructor told me, "Don't worry, Emily. You haven't found your tribe yet but you will. I promise you will."

She was right. I've met so many thoughtful and full-hearted people like these ladies because of Brave Girl. I'm so grateful for the old and new friendships that have blossomed over this last year. Without friendship and human connection, it's just writing in a black hole to me.

Travel

Austin, Texas

We traveled to Texas last Spring to celebrate my brother-in-law's 30th birthday and have a long weekend away. We flew out the same day we moved into our apartment...a big scheduling error! It was worth it once we got there though. Joel's brother took us to local hot spots and we hiked a trail on the outskirts of the city. We also saw the Texas State Capitol on a day people were protesting Trump which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Recommendations: Bat Bridge / West Sixth Street / Texas State Capitol / Rainey Street

Red River Gorge, Kentucky

Last Fall I went hiking with 3 of my best girlfriends in Kentucky. We stayed in a container cabin, hiked the Natural Bridge Trail, and sipped mulled wine while watching cheesy Christmas movies each night. It was the perfect road trip before the holiday season started. Full of laughter, deep conversations, and only minor worrying about ax murderers on my part.

Recommendations (thanks Dre!): Red River Gorge / Natural Bridge Park / Container cabin Airbnb

Ft. Myers Beach and Cape Coral, Florida

Joel and I spent the last 2 weeks of the year in Florida! We mixed work with play the first week and went mostly unplugged during Christmas break. After a challenging year trying our best to navigate the changes, we were grateful for days of sunshine and water. Most days started with coffee & dolphins and ended watching the sunset and the moon rise in clear skies...truly a dream!

Recommendations: Lovers Key Beach/ Quickie Bike Rentals / Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille/ Pelican Bay Boathouse Airbnb

Professional

No Man Left Behind Has Heart Design at Starbucks

The design I created in partnership with a Vietnam Veteran as part of Has Heart was made into sweaters, tees, and posters for a pop-up shop at Starbucks Reserve in Seattle. When Has Heart co-founder, Tyler Way, contacted me to tell me the news I was so excited! Their mission to aid United States Veterans is making this world a better place and I love how far they've spread the message so far.

Became a full-time freelance designer

Started freelancing full-time the day of the Solar Eclipse. Felt like a good omen. Some of you might not know but I was full-time freelance a few years ago. I picked up where I left off with added experience, knowledge, and chutzpah thanks to my time as an in-house designer and continuing personal projects throughout.

brave-girl_WIP-portfolio-review_02 2.jpg — photo c/o Studio Us

Design Chat at Grand Valley State University

Each year I try to do at least one speaking event around design. I'd like to do more eventually and maybe even teach a design class one day. Last year I had an informal discussion about design after college with junior and senior design students at Grand Valley. I loved hearing where they're at on their design journey and sharing mine in hopes it could help them.

Related: Creative Business Chats

Opened Brave Girl Print Shop

I finally started selling my handlettered prints last year! I was spending time with my mom one weekend last summer and she was like, "By the time you get home, I want to see your prints on Etsy".

It was the kick in the butt I needed to simply begin. Joel was my first sale, Mom was my second, and a handful of you have purchased them throughout the year, thank you! I'm now in 5 shops around town and excited to share the new Spring/Summer collection that I'm working on right now!

Woowee! Definitely not one for brevity these days. I'm grateful for the challenges and celebrations that 2017 brought and I'm looking forward to what 2018 will bring. Another year with not many plans ahead of time. There's a blessing in not forcing things, yes? Intuition and gut decisions work best at the very last second. I hope you've had a wonderful 2017 and take the time you need if you're the reflecting kind like me. Best wishes for 2018 and stay warm! xo, Em

Emily Bode 12/30/17 Emily Bode 12/30/17

2017 Intentions

Brave Girl 2016 Year in Review: A recap of celebrations and goals met in my personal and professional life.

I had three intentions for 2017 that came to fruition throughout the year. I like focusing on intentions rather than goals because intentions include the why behind what you're doing. The Desire Planner by Danielle LaPorte has been the catalyst to my approach. It's a planner that prompts scheduling each month/week/day based upon desires you have vs. ticking things off a list without rhyme or reason. I'm frustratingly deep that way. So, here are three intentions I had in 2017 and the ways I met them:

1 | Dedication to writing

I rebranded my website last January and got serious about sharing my design work, handlettering, and being consistent on topics that not only light me up but are beneficial to you as a reader of Brave Girl. I also started writing 30 minutes stream of consciousness most mornings to converse with myself before I let others' tasks take priority. Maybe this sounds selfish but it ended up helping immensely to have clarity around what I want, what's bothering me, and allowed me to heal through a lot of difficult things last year.

2 | Emotional Wellness

Emotional wellness became my top priority last year. Writing each morning helped a lot with this. It seems trying to act like everything is ok only creates bigger issues down the road in a person's life...who knew? It's a pretty layered topic but all in all, I started listening within more for what my body, mind, and soul were telling me they needed (found out booze and sugar weren't things they wanted).

Hot yoga and WERQ dance class helped immensely. A simple walk with Tiger to break up the day and shutting down screens by 10pm (most nights) worked wonders as well. I hope to continue this and grow even more in listening to what I need in 2018.

photo c/o Sincerely Ashley

3 | Budget and Purge

Moving to Grand Rapids and going freelance really forced our hand with this. The people closest to me know how finicky I can be with items I allow into our home. Life with a designer, I suppose. Joel should have a separate blog where he talks about that, don't you think?! Either way, the move to a smaller space prompted us to keep only the essentials. The items we loved but weren't practical right now (like these glass vases from our wedding) found other homes meant for them now.

Budgeting was also a big challenge this year as we both got new jobs and since marriage realized how different our perspectives around money could be. We grew a lot! I'm excited for what the next couple of years may bring now that we're working together on this and have communicated our needs and perspectives better.

I'm looking forward to sharing more monthly updates, creative business chats, and capsule wardrobe posts with you in 2018. Thank you for reading Brave Girl last year and for your continued support in the comments, direct messages, and emails. I read every one and each means so much to me! xo, Em

Emily Bode 1/21/17 Emily Bode 1/21/17

2016 Year in Review

2016 Year in Review: A recap of celebrations and goals met in my personal and professional life.

2016 was an amazing year for many reasons and challenging for other reasons. Today, I want to focus on the good!

Personal

Joel & I got married! A life-changing moment to say the very least. I have multiple posts planned to share all the magic and details.

My brother came home from California. He was stationed there for 4 years as a Marine. He lived with us for a few months when he got back and it was awesome to see him every day and have him home again.

My two best friends got engaged within months of each other! I was lucky enough to be with one of my friends when she was proposed to under the Chicago skyline. We celebrated double engagements with champagne and manicures the entire weekend!

Learned of my Irish heritage. It was a wedding gift from my Grandma. To know where I come from was one of the most special gifts I've ever received.

Travel

Aruba My first time out of the country. We watched the sunset behind the Caribbean Sea each night, palm trees and relaxation were our silhouettes for an entire week. We took a Jeep around the island and explored the heritage. I made 7 wishes out of 7 stones piled high and dove into a natural pool, surrounded by vibrant fish and sea urchins.

Biba Dushi, Living the Sweet Life.

Asheville We road-tripped to Asheville for our Honeymoon. Live music, breweries, and hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains was THE BEST way to unwind from the whirlwind of planning our wedding for the past year. I got to see Black Mountain College and Joel got to climb Mt. Mitchell, the highest peak East of the Mississippi.

To Be Rather Than to Seem, the North Carolina motto I brought home with me.

Beaver Island It was our 4th trip to the little Michigan island 50 miles west of Charlevoix, this time on the tiniest plane I've ever seen (my mom was co-pilot, that's how tiny). We helped my Dad with a basketball clinic during the day and roamed our favorite hangouts the rest of the time. There is only one of everything on the tiny island so we saw it all. It's charming and always a nice reminder that slow and simple things are always most important.

If once you have slept on an island, you'll never be quite the same, from a poem on the wall of my favorite BI bar, Donegal Danny's.

Professional

Promoted to senior-level designer at work. I had been at Nucraft for 9 months when I was promoted. This was a big deal to me because it's something I've always wanted to achieve since my days in design school. A lot of sweat and tears and lessons to get here and a role I really enjoy!

Attended The Yellow Conference in L.A. I was honored to attend this creative woman conference and listen to 2 of my favorite designers and artists, Elle Luna and Jessica Hische. I've always admired their approach and beliefs as women in design. Seeing them IRL was a real magic moment. I was in a room full of entrepreneurs, creatives, leaders, and go-getters. The energy and the feminine power were uplifting and unforgettable.

Creative Mornings event with Mayor Rosalynn Bliss of Grand Rapids. Another uplifting event closer to home where our mayor talked openly about the challenges she has in our city to create positive change, what she's doing about it, and urging us as creatives in the community to be more involved with local politics. I left feeling like I can make a difference and that we can all make a difference together.

Was a professional reviewer at the AIGA Student Portfolio Review Years ago I was a student being reviewed at this event. To be able to give back as a reviewer this year was so much fun. The projects by students soon entering the workforce were thoughtful, intimate, and inclusive. I haven't seen a better example of designing for a bigger purpose, and in such quantities, as I did at this event.

I also had 3 goals for the year and am happy to report I met each of them in some sort of way:

1 | Openness to fellow creatives

I can get very protective about my work and don't share much about the challenges I have with others so I actively wanted to meet more creatives and be a good listener to their experiences and not be so guarded to share mine. My promotion helped give me confidence with my work and to network more. I attended some great events where I met amazing people in the Grand Rapids creative community doing great things.

2 | Less Debt

I have a lot of student loans and before this year, was sinking in them. I went to Financial Peace University by Dave Ramsey and learned how to make a budget, how to stick to it, and how to use the "snowball" method to reduce my debt faster. It was quite the learning curve but I paid off one loan in 6 months! I also set a budget for our wedding that we stuck to and had some leftover that we used to tackle a house item debt!

3 | Removing the nonessential

Although I'm far from being a minimalist, I try to keep only essential objects in our home. The Moon Lodge is modest in space and I don't like clutter. I started with my closet last year – I have 180 clothes total in my closet for 4 seasons, including shoes and accessories! Any non-joy items were donated once a month and I got really intentional about being a conscious consumer when I did shop. A free capsule wardrobe workbook from Caroline of Unfancy got me started on this goal a few years ago and it's truly changed my outlook.

Woo, what a year! Of course, there were challenges and improvements I'd like to make but the celebrations are more fun to remember during the most difficult months of the year in moody and cold Michigan. I know we have our work cut out for us in 2017 due to the state of our nation's politics but I'm also looking forward to both of my best friends' weddings, a few trips we're planning, and focusing on my health and wellness in the next year. Cheers and Happy New Year!