How was your Christmas, friend? Dave and I switch off spending Christmas in New York with his family or in Texas with mine, and this is a Texas year. The last time we were here for Christmas, Charlie was three months old, so needless to say, it has been wildly different! He has loved every moment, from the bells as we entered church on Christmas Eve, to the dairy-free sugar cookies he got to help decorate, to the piles of presents under the tree on Christmas morning. I honestly think this has been one of my favorite Christmases ever because of him, and I already can hardly wait to see what he is like next year! We’ve been enjoying lots of great family time (minus my sister who has been visiting her fiancé, who is deployed in Germany–we miss you, Dana and Ian!), multiple Torchy’s Tacos trips, and some fun adventures around my parents’ town to see what’s new (like the adorable coffee shop where we took the photos for this post). I’m also doing my last few half-marathon training runs–I strained a muscle in my leg last week, which is making me a little nervous, so I’d definitely appreciate a prayer as January 1 approaches!

Speaking of January 1…even though we’re still celebrating Christmas over here (liturgical living for the win!), I’ve also started thinking about goals for 2019. After the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I always appreciate an extra dose of simplicity, a clean slate, and the chance to reflect in order to craft a clear vision for the year ahead. Looking back, I think one of the most fruitful things I did in 2018 was attack my closet ruthlessly–donating or selling anything that didn’t fit into my loose capsule wardrobe lifestyle. I’ve been a lot more thoughtful about my purchases, both regarding where they come from (I’ve LOVED supporting ethical brands like Amour Vert, Sezane, and Everlane) and about how specific items fit into my life. As part of the Amazon fashion program (you can find my curated picks anytime here!), I’ve also had the opportunity to explore what they have to offer, one of my best discoveries being that they stock pieces from J. Crew Mercantile! JCM pieces with Prime shipping? Enter the ultimate solution for those rare, but inevitable moments, when I need something new or something needs to be replaced ASAP and on a budget, and I can’t fit in a trip to the J. Crew outlet an hour away. Dave and I ordered a few comfortable, but polished, pieces before our Texas trip and have been living in them for the past week.