Hello hello! What a freakin year that was?! Cautiously planning my year ahead while also ultimately keeping in mind that it may not go even remotely close to what I plan, haha! Last year the house flooded in April and forced us to move out for 6 months while repairs and renovations were made. While this was a huge headache and extremely stressful, we also know how incredibly lucky we are to have had good insurance coverage and plans in place for what renovations we were wanting to make. Now that we are settled back in and made it through the holidays I am ready to tackle this blog again and get things up to date. 

Update. The. Blog! A lot has happened over the past couple years that definitely should have earned a permanent story. We have had several trips that need documentation. We have renovated and updated the house post flood. We have tried new recipes. We have eczema flair ups that are so infuriating that all you can do is laugh. Hopefully I can stay focused and start going through all these and share life along the way. That is the plan!

For now though I will just share two things that I have started the year with and are going well that are “new” to me. First, I am a planner girl. Not plan all the things type girl and have life all together, no I mean a physical planner. Because I have ADD and must have things written down or they will simply not get done or remembered. The year after I graduated nursing school I did not buy planner. Since I was no longer a student I felt I would not have a need. Then midway through the year I had a complete “I suck at life” meltdown because I kept forgetting to do all kinds of things and I thought there was something seriously wrong with me. So I bought a crap planner to get me through while I figured out what was going on with me. Two weeks later and life is coasting much more smoothly. Turns out the physical planner is a must for me so I have stuck with it ever since. I typically use Erin Condren planners. I love them. I have technically tried a couple other but always end up buying an Erin Condren a week after the year starts since the others just aren’t cutting it. I love having all the spaces to write and keep the kids schedule in check. However, I did some research mid year and found a new one I was desperate to try. I have “lists” in a couple places to keep me on task for chores for me and the kiddos. They’re laminated so we can dry erase as things get accomplished and erase to reuse. The new planner has lists already in it that align well with our lives! This one is from the Passionate Penny Pincher. There is a budget section and seasonal cleaning.  So far I LOVE it! Yes it is only the beginning of January but I started following along with it in November but just didn’t mark things off. So check out this planner! She has other things that she sells too. I have not tried any other products. I bought C the student planner but I don’t think she uses it. They have no clue who I am. I’m not sponsored or whatever it is called. Just a mom with ADD and desperate to keep life as organized as I can.

On to my second share of the new year. My eczema has been insane. My hands are cracked and bleeding. I have it on my eyelids sporadically this past month?! It has been horrible. I think it might be milk but not 100% sure. There is a possibility it is the dish soap I switched to. I find if avoid cows milk it gets better fairly quickly though so I am currently avoiding both. I am trying to use almond milk more but don’t love it in breakfast cereal. Enter baked oatmeal and overnight oats! I have made baked pumpkin pie oatmeal forever. I love it. I have made overnight oats off and on for the past year. But I tried this blueberry baked oatmeal and I am in love! I use almond milk instead of cows milk and don’t have any issues. I did have to use light brown sugar since it was all I had and then I added a tiny amount of clove and nutmeg but otherwise followed the recipe. My hands have been looking so much better and I get to eat a very yummy breakfast!

🎶 Song stuck in my head today is Ceilings by Lizzy McAlpine