WOW. We are somehow down to only two months in 2016. I am looking forward to cooler weather, upcoming holidays, and re-centering. This month I want to start focusing on cultivating the habits and values I hope to bring into 2017 and our growing family. I started cultivating some great routines last spring and then got majorly sidetracked after being so sick for so long and I am looking forward to trying to get back on top of them, while still knowing that I am going to be tired as I head into my third trimester and then probably even more tired the beginning of next year (though hopefully feeling better!!)

I am looking forward to continuing cultivating my cooking and the ability to balance cooking new exciting things with healthy things while maintaining a budget. I am looking forward to cultivating more friendships and relationships before the sleepy tunnel of newborn days takes over and social time takes a considerable backseat. And in the spirit of November, I am planning to intentionally cultivate an attitude of gratitude once more because I have been having a hard time finding the positive this year.

Interestingly enough, this word is central to two of my current favorite companies. The first is one I’ve been mentioning all year long as I work on chronicling and memory keeping- Project Life by Becky Higgins. Their slogan is “cultivate a good life and record it” and I love it. It has helped me and motivated me to undertake huge organization projects and to fall into a routine of recording our favorite memories from this year as well as the honest, difficult memories. I’m excited that just as people helped me fall in love with this simplified, streamlined memory keeping I have been able to help other people take some action steps in recording their life for their family and other loved ones to look back on and cherish!

Aside from being a great tool, all of the products in this shop are also GORGEOUS!

The other product I have been falling in love with this summer is the 2017 PowerSheets Collection Power Sheets were created by Lara Casey who I first heard of when I was planning my wedding back in 2011- she created the Southern Weddings Magazine which definitely inspired and influenced my planning and this summer I happened to stumble across her Facebook page and blog and was so moved by her thoughts and Facebook live sessions that I couldn’t wait to learn more about Power Sheets. These are basically a guided goal setting tool that help you plan out how you want to achieve the things that matter most to you and keep you focused on the big picture while making small, actionable steps more clear. The company that produces these sheets has cultivate right int their name! Cultivate What Matters. I told my husband this is my #1 Christmas wish list item and the 2017 products just went on pre-sale yesterday, so I am getting antsy/excited about getting them soon! I know with the new baby coming it is SO easy to lose sight of the big picture and especially as a mom who is at home most of the time priorities can start to go fuzzy and I just know this is going to be an amazing tool for next year. I definitely plan to post more about my work with Power Sheets (maybe a hint for the first “D” I plan to focus on next year?!)

What I love about both of these companies, and about the very definition of the word cultivate, is that they are all so intentional. They focus on what is important to the individual and expect that to be different for everyone and they do NOT focus on doing things because it will keep up with the rat race or look the best on social media. They also happen to be companies founded by and full of women taking the lead and passionate about what they are doing which is very inspiring! These women are customer oriented but also balancing families and their faith lives, and although I am not the same religion as either of them, their genuine striving after God and their humility is an inspiration to me! (Win one for ecumenical sensibilities.)

Amidst all the insanity of this year I have been forced to look at the most basic things that are really important to me, and I am looking forward to holding onto those priorities next year while hopefully moving out of survival mode. Hoping to blog about some holiday traditions and celebrations in the next few months as well as reveal what my focuses will be in 2017 as we move into the year of “D”s. I hope you are cultivating some key things in your life too ❤

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