Patti’s New Year’s Resolutions: 2024

Yay for my third Resolution post! My planner and I live for this.

Last year was a bit crazy in our household. While some amazing things happened (our student loans and cars got paid off!), some out-of-the-blue things happened as well (emergency home repairs, deaths in the family, job insecurity).

TBH, it was a season of life and a change that was due to come. So now instead of a clear, long-term view, I can’t really see past the next couple months. But we keep going and make changes as needed.

So with a renewed flexibility, here are my 2024 Resolutions:

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Patti’s Favorite Posts: 2023

My favorite 2023 post was our Treetop Quest playdate review

I was so excited to find this activity and overjoyed at the mental and physical determination our kids displayed. Mary and I could only help or talk to our kids from a distance. We also couldn’t exactly show or model how to do the courses ourselves. They had to assess the situation, work their equipment, motor plan, and overcome a bit of reluctance. Our kids showed true teamwork, were cheerleaders for each other, and it was impressive. Such a proud mom moment. 

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Child(ish) Reads: MORE + Being Seen

This post is actually part Child(ish) Read review and part Coffee Chat. I finally finished More: Life on the Edge of Adventure and Motherhood by Majka Burhardt. Burhardt is a Princeton graduate, a professional rock and ice climber, and a twin mom. The book spans her pregnancy through her kids’ fourth birthday, compiled from audio and journal entries over five years. The book started out as letters to her twins and morphed into book-form when she could see the overall message not only to her children, but to all moms.

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Coffee Chat: Patti’s Thanksgiving Story

When Mary and I started talking about the holidays, I shared with her one of my particularly meh Thanksgivings. My parents divorced earlier than I can remember and I’ve been in a number of blended families growing up, making for some very awkward holidays to the say the least.

I had a Thanksgiving with my dad and grandmother where I was completely silent. I once spent the holiday with my mom and her friend who ended up being a hoarder. In 2008, I said I was thankful that Barack Obama was going to be president and an entire table of Boomer adults became unhinged. But in the story I’m sharing today, I am 20 and a junior at UF.

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Holiday Gift Guide 2023: Things We (Would) Love

To close out our gift guides for the season, we’re sharing the things we would love to receive because moms like gifties, too. In this whole holiday magic season, moms are at the helm. We’re driving this boat. So whether you need a link to forward to your partner or want to add these to your own shopping list to treat yourself, here are the things Mary and I would love.

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