Happy New Year everyone!!  I haven’t been spending much time blogging lately, because to be honest, I just haven’t been feeling it.  It’s been really hard to keep up with my blog and social media the last few months and I started feeling like I needed to take a break.  I don’t like to post things when my heart is not into it.  That’s why I have just been only posting when I feel like it, instead of forcing myself to write up a blog post or post on Instagram just because I feel like I have to. 

Today I just wanted to take a minute and look back on 2018.  2018 was a challenging year for me personally, but I am proud of my successes from the year too!  It’s been hard for me to balance my family life, work-life and keep up with my blog that I truly love having for myself.  Even though I’ve been disappointed with my growth lately, I really have to take a moment and appreciate how far my little blog has come this year.  I’ve put out tons of new outfit posts, joined rewards style, worked with some really great brands and met some new blogging friends.  It’s been so much fun to connect with other women who share the same interests as me and collaborate with them!  I am also extremely grateful to all of you who follow along with me through my blog, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook or however you found me.  THANK YOU!!  I use to be afraid to share my blog thinking I wasn’t good enough or no one would want to read it.  Now not only do I write this blog for me, I write it to share it and inspire all of you!

Here is a little round-up of some of my personal favorite outfit posts from my Instagram this year, plus my favorite mommy and me picture with Jack!

2019 is going to be a big year for me and my family.  We are going to be making some big changes, that I can’t really share yet, but you can stay tuned for that at a later time. (No it’s not baby news.)  With all these things happening, life can get really overwhelming.  When I get overwhelmed, I tend to get stressed out and depressed.  That’s why this year I want to take it one step at a time.  I need to slow it down.  My first step is to get through January.  I’m going to be solo for most of January because my husband is going to be in Florida for his upgrade training at work.  I’m going to be feeling like a single mom for most of the month.  It’s not the first time I’ve had my husband gone at training for a long period of time, but it will be the first time he’s been away that long since Jack was born.  Luckily, he’s going to fly home on the weekends to be with us.  I’m hoping to keep myself busy with the potty training Jack (or at least starting it) and I’m hoping to focus on my health and fitness routine as well.  

As for blogging goals, I have a lot this year, but I’m going to have to start small.  I really am lacking in time.  Balancing motherhood, being a wife, working full time and having a blogging hobby has gotten to be too much this last year.  That’s why I am hoping that this year will be my last year teaching.  I’m not sure when and it’s not official yet, but I’m planning on quitting my job and focusing on my family more.  This will also allow me to have more time to work on Thrifty Wife Happy Life.  I’ve always said that I don’t want to blog as an income because that would make blogging a job.  But if I can focus more on blogging and make a small income from it, I would love it.

 I’m really looking forward to this year and seeing everything pan out over the next few months.  I guess I can say that overall this year my main goals are to stress less and focus more on my family.

What are your 2019 goals?

Below are some of my favorite purchases from 2018!