I recently turned 34 and started thinking about some of my take aways from the year. I try to share some thoughts, lessons, or reflections and not overlap with previous years which you can find here: Yearly Take Away 33, Yearly Take Away 31, What I Leaned In My Twenties. I am so grateful for another year and am looking forward to what this year has in store.

1.Health is one of your greatest gifts

2.Collecting memories will always be more valuable than items

3.Your home life is your foundation

4.Live in community, we are not meant to do things completely alone

5.Trust your intuition

6.You don’t have to explain yourself for saying no

7.Creating healthy boundaries isn’t mean when it protects your peace

8. Be the hype friend, the one who wants the best and will cheer, praise, encourage, support

9.Tell people how you feel and be open to having uncomfortable, vulnerable and productive conversations

10.Social media is the projected image people choose to share or want you to see. Real life is much better

11.Aging is normal. It’s okay to look your age and embrace the process

12.Check in with your people, even your happy ones

13.Find the time to pray and invite God into your life over and over

14.There is no rule book to parenting or certain ways you “should” be doing things

15.Be open with your children with information, feelings, etc so you become the safe space for future conversations

17.Be intentional with family time

18.Make time for your friends

19.It’s okay to let go

20. Take care of your mind, body, and spirit

21.Be vocal when you need help or support

22.Lift up your spouse

23.Be smart with your money and diversify as well as have long term goals

24.Fostering a safe and loving home is priceless

25.Staying home with your children is a full time job

26.Have fun, we only get one chance

As always, sending light and love.

Blessings,

Jac

I have shared general products we use and my thoughts on them here, however I don’t think I have shared products that are repeat purchases. I thought I would share ten items I consistently buy and replenish with some quick thoughts for various categories. I would love to know some of your staples!

1.Elf Brow Pencil and Gel

I have tried many different brands for brows, and I keep going back to these two products. You honestly can’t beat the price and as I have gotten older I have decided to pay more for my face/skin care products as opposed to other makeup items. I purchase both in Taupe!

2.Lash Paradise Mascara

This is another great priced product that has become a staple. I feel like it gives good volume without being clumpy, which I like!

3.Wet n Wild Primer

I am typically not a big fan of primers, but I do enjoy using this as a base. I feel like it brightens my complexion and just makes my foundation look nice.

4.Covergirl Outlast

I typically do not gravitate towards Covergirl products, however this foundation is an exception. It has great coverage that you can build, as well as additional SPF. I purchase the shade classic ivory.

5.Elta MD Sunscreen

I absolutely love this sunscreen, and even enjoy the tinted version. It feels good on the skin and does not cause any breakouts for me. My makeup also applies nicely with it.

6.Laneige Lip Mask

This is a great night time staple and extremely hydrating. A little goes a long way so you can definitely get your money’s worth!

7.Bum Bum Cream

This is a very luxurious feeling moisturizer and also can last a long time. It does have a pretty strong scent, so if you are sensitive to smells it may not be your favorite.

8.Dr. Teal’s Deodorant

This has been my favorite aluminum free brand (and I have tried many) that doesn’t feel sticky or make me smell weird.

9.Cerave Facial Cleanser

I feel like this is a great, everyday, gentle cleanser for all skin types!

10.Aquaphor

I honestly use Aquaphor for everything, including anything with my kids. I feel like it is such a good staple item for so many things.

Stay tuned for some of our home, kid, and food staples!

As always, sending light and love.

Blessings,

Jac

I hope everyone has had a great start to the year! It is hard to believe we are already a month in. We had a wonderful break and have been full speed since getting back into our routine.

I had my first MOPs (mothers of preschoolers) meeting of the semester and our speaker talked to us about peaceful homes and what that can mean or look like. She talked about something that really resonated with me and validated my own mindset when it comes to our home and belongings.

She proposed the concept of a close to “zero” home and how that can help maintain peace and allow you to focus on your true priorities/values. Essentially, your home could be at “zero” or a base level of tidy/organized in 10ish minutes at any given time. This means things in your home have their own “home” and there are systems in place to continuously maintain. As a mom we are constantly doing a million different things, so having your home close to zero gives you the space to place your focus where you truly want it to be.

I loved the close to “zero” phrase because it gave me an easy way to explain how I naturally like to keep our home. I thought I would share what has worked for me to able to maintain this concept!

1.Go Through Every Space

This can be over an extended time, however actually taking the time to go through each space in your home will allow you to decide what you want to keep, trash or donate. I like to go through our entire home 1-2 times a year because things can quickly accumulate!

I shared on a similar concept here: Maintaining A Tidy Home + 3 Tips To Declutter Your Space

2.Everything Has A Home

I feel like this is the most important aspect, because it takes out any decision making on where to put things. It also helps with kids because they can be responsible for their own things and take ownership in cleaning up.

3.Systems/Routines

Create systems that work for your unique family. What works great for one family may not be the best for yours. Try different things until you find easy routines to maintain!

Additional Ideas: Family Systems + Zone Cleaning (monthly)

As always, sending light and love.

Blessings,

Jac