December Delights and the New Year Ahead

We've been soaking up our final precious days of parental leave/vacation. Mr. Fleece returns to work this week and I'll go back next week. Spending fifteen days in Connecticut with family for Christmas was splendid, here are some of our New England highlights:

- Family time!

- Going to the Aqaurium and eating delicious noodles with my sister
- Finally meeting my college roommate's boyfriend

- Finishing a season of The Great British Baking Show

- Coffee date at Roost

- Going to the local library twice, including a free showing of A Simple Favor

- Hot tubbing multiple times

- Walks at Cove Park

- Playing Pirate's Dice

- Cooking meals

- Completing three puzzles

- Photoshoots with NLW

Now it's time to re-engage with the real world and set some new rhythms. Here are some of my stop-start-continue goals for the New Year:

STOP

1. Scrolling so much on social media...this has been an easy go-to with so much time at home/nursing. I'm looking into getting an App that will shut off Instagram after a certain time limit each day (5 minutes) or going back to my boundary of just posting/looking on the weekends. As NLW gets older, I want to be on my phone less and less!

2. Buying chips and other empty-nutrition snacks...I honestly don't do too much of this, but would really like to replace snacking with healthier options like veggies, fruits, and nuts. More dark leafy greens too!

3. On a similar note, I'd like to restrict my sweet tooth to only eating home-baked or special occasion treats and not falling into the trap of unplanned dessert eating (i.e. cookies if they're available in the break room).

START

1. Cooking more with friends...I think this is a great way to spend time together and try new things!

2. Daily habits again like working out and reading scripture. These have both been pretty non-existent since NLW was born. I'm going to use The Well Balanced Life Pilates routines and the Seamless Bible Study.

3. Writing more. Journaling thoughts, ideas, plans, memories, and fears. Also more snail mail to family & friends!

CONTINUE

1. Optimizing storage, layout, and decor in our little home...I've been re-inspired by The Tiny Canal Cottage and will implement tips from her book, Small Space Style.

2. Listening to NPR. Reading library books. Seeking out free or artsy/performance/show things to do in Seattle. Cooking Blue Apron meals. Going on walks. Playing games. Planning weekend trips. Playing with NLW. This sums up my life :)

3. Building friendships...This year I felt lonely at various times and mourned not having a set close group of friends to consistently hang out with. Post-college community has been different and challenging at times - often feeling piece-meal through a variety of individual friends rather than one close-knit single group. Rather than being so tied up in an ideal hope or unrealistic expectations, I want to keep pursuing genuine friendships with people I enjoy. Sounds simple enough :)

Overall, I want to cultivate gratitude for all that I have - the people I love, the city I live in, and the beautiful things I get to experience, learn, read, do, and see! Clean water, safe lodging, kind husband, sweet son, fun job...These are all wonderful things to cherish and I don't want an untidy house, tiring day, or restless heart to overshadow all that God has entrusted to me. 

 Here's to a year of knowing and delighting in Him more than I do today,

Happy New Year!

- SJW  

Books on Books on Books

2018 was another year full of reading. I joined a book club with friends, tore through several classics, used the Public Library's "Peak Picks" program, and revisited some childhood staples. Here are my top picks that I'd recommend to everyone:

Classics
Rebecca by Daphe du Maurier

Fiction
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Non-Fiction
The Library Book by Susan Orlean

Coffee Table
Am I There Yet? The Loop-de-loop Zigzagged Journey to Adulthood by Mari Andrew

Memoir
Educated by Tara Westover

Cookbook
Healthyish by Lindsay Hunt

Children's
Alphabet of Alphabets by Mike Jolly

The titles I want to explore this year are a mixture of ones that have been on my reading list for quite some time and others that have recently caught my eye. Here are the non-fiction reads I'm most looking forward to trying out. Let me know if you want to read along with me!

Reading guru,

SJW

Namesake

My grandfather was born on December 12, 1919. "Twelve twelve nineteen nineteen." Which means today he would have been 99 years old! And though I always called him "Papa" his first name was Norman :)

When choosing a name for our son, I really liked the idea of incorporating a family name and Norman just happened to meet my other criteria as well (a name people recognize but isn't super common, easy to pronounce and easy to spell). But more than that, I really love that he's named after a man who was humble, hard-working, faithful, family-oriented, and kind. I hope Norman reflects these same characteristics as he grows up!

In honor of Norman,

-SJW

Nifty Gifty Under $50

Yesterday I ventured over to Seattle's annual Urban Craft Uprising winter show, taking in the many delightful handmade goods. Knitwear, sweet treats, unique jewelry, ceramics, paper goods - they've got it all! I didn't have my wallet on me which freed me up to simply admire the colors, creativity, chomps, and cheer of the event. Here's the unique brands that make up my holiday gift guide this year.

SAKUtea | wellness latte blends
Organic, vegan, and gluten-free, these powders are delicious. We already own a milk frother, so these flavorful lattes would be easy to make.

p.o.p. candy co | fresh butter crunch
This stuff is absolutely no-doubt-about-it addictive. Rum y vanilla is where it's at.

Bow Hill Blueberries | organic heirloom blueberry juice
Blueberries aren't even my go-to fruit, but I really liked this juice. Perfect as a shot, in a smoothie, or acai bowl.

Persist | card game

This feminist-inspired, unique, relevant, and interactive game would make the next evening with friends more interesting!

Here are my honorable mentions in four different categories:

Cactus Club | paper goods
I'm a sucker for stationary, art prints, greeting cards, and funky whimsical designs. This was my favorite vendor in the paper goods category!

Going Stag | woodwork

This artwork is eye-catching, happy, and gives off strong PNW vibes! The ornaments are so cute :) 

M Creative J | hand embroidery

Embroidery kits and wall hangings are really in right now. This artist had my favorite styles and even some DIY kits. 

Steady Ceramics | ceramics 

A nice blend of design options - from colorful to black & white and intricate to simple, I like them all. 

Supporting small businesses,  

-SJW

Life Wright Now | November 2018

November has been a great month of laid back afternoons, midnight mayhem with NLW, and quite a few outings! We celebrated two separate Thanksgiving meals with friends, went to the Woodland Park Zoo to see Zeya and Ila, and enjoyed our first PEPS meeting; plus I experienced a dueling piano bar for a friend's birthday, soaked up Seattle Rep's hit show In The Heights, and made it to my book club! We're still figuring out infant days and every time I leave the house I think "this could be a complete disaster or this could be fine." A new normal for sure!

Here's some other things I've enjoyed lately:

Watching | Two Netflix documentaries: "Trump: An American Dream" and "Bobby Kennedy for President." Viewing these back to back was actually quite interesting and only highlighted the opposing values and motivations behind their political careers and what they considered "success". I didn't actually know much about RFK going into it and had so much respect and admiration for him after finishing the series. I cannot say the same for Donald Trump.

On a different note, we also started the "Dogs" documentary on Netflix - we were in tears almost the entire first episode.

Eating | Friends have been so kind to bring meals to us as we adjust to life as a family of three. We're also getting by on frozen soups our moms made while they were in town, making batch meals, Blue Apron, and getting take out, including Dick's Burgers and Teriyaki Bowl :)

Reading | I'm still working on my classics list, currently exploring Prince Edward Island through the eyes of a young red-headed girl. Right now I also have "Parenting" by Paul David Tripp open and "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng checked out per a friend's recommendation.

Listening | Need to smile? Check out "Emotional Robot" by Casper Babypants. So clever and witty!

Drawing by MaresEatOatsArt

December is always a fun-filled time of year with family, Christmas celebrations, and sweet treats. I'm looking forward to the Urban Craft Uprising this weekend and our two week stint in Connecticut with family!

Merry and bright,

-SJW

Besides the Obvious

At a recent "Misfits Thanksgiving" celebration we were each asked to share one thing that we are thankful for. The rules being you couldn't name family, friends, or good health. So besides the obvious, here are a list of things I'm feeling grateful for right now:

- olive oil 

- washi tape

- chapstick

- the National Park Service

- burp cloths

- the Seattle Public Library

- Spotify

- the US Postal Service

- pillows

- happy hour pricing

- vacuum cleaners

- dog parks

- National Public Radio

- parental leave

- heating pads

- a grocery store within walking distance

- candlelight

- garage sales

- the ability to imagine, remember, dream, and plan

What are you thankful for today? 

-SJW

Another Reason to Love October

On October 21st just across the Ballard bridge at Swedish Hospital, we welcomed a tiny boy into our family - Norman Lewis was born at 3:48am weighing 7 pounds 11 ounces. Since then, life has quickly morphed into a cycle of nursing, diapering, swaddling, burping, crying, and intermittent sleeping. Thankfully, both of our moms came to town to be adoring grandmas and an extra set of helping hands around the house!

It still amazes me that we've been entrusted with this little human and how much I already love him! Everyone says "they grow up so fast" so I'm taking mental snapshots of the sweet cuddles, newborn hair, & tiny fingers, and reminding myself that the milky spit-up, poopy diapers, and sore nipples won't last forever. 

Here are some of my favorite day-two-of-life photos of our precious little babe:

Embracing a little more love in the world,

SJW

Happy Due Date | Trivia

In honor of Norman's due date, I'm sharing some fun "Norman" themed trivia that I created! Take a stab and look for answers at the bottom of the page, below the picture. 

1.  Norman, Oklahoma is home to the largest university in the state whose mascot is pulled by what two animals that are part of the even-toed ungulate family? You can earn two extra points if you list the two animal’s names, hint it’s the same timely rally cry that the university students yell out. 

2.  In 1964 Norman Rockwell painted “The Problem We All Live With”, an iconic image of a black girl during the Civil Rights movement. From July to October 2011 the painting was temporarily installed in this  location of privilege. You can earn one extra point if you write the name of the little girl.

3.  Norman Bates is the fictional character portrayed by Anthony Perkins in the 1960 film directed by this person known as “The Master of Suspense”.

4.  Norman Wright will be named after his sober-minded great-grandfather who was born in 1919, the same year the 18th amendment was ratified. What did the 18th amendment say? You can earn an extra point if you name the amendment that repealed the 18th amendment.

5.  If Norman is born on his due date, he’ll share a birthday with this great showman who’s no longer singing in high school musicals.

6.  The novelist Norman Mailer has won this outstanding achievement award in two of the twenty-one possible categories. Earn up to two extra point if you can name the two categories, common in any library.

7.  Norman Island is at the southern tip of the British Virgin Islands and known to be part of the inspiration for this pirate novel, a tale of “buccaneers and buried gold”.

8.  Norman Reedus is still alive and plays Daryl Dixon on this hit television show that’s entering its 9th season this October.

9.  Known for its culinary reputation, art, and monuments - not to mention its infamous coastline, this is the second most popular tourist destination in France.

10. Tie breaker: Propose the best nickname for Norman Wright.


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Answers:

1. Horse, Boomer, Sooner (3 points possible)

2. White House/outside the Oval Office, Ruby Bridges (2)

3. Alfred Hitchcock (1)

4. Banned the manufacturing, sale, and drinking of alcohol. Repealed by the 21st amendment. (2)

5. Zac Effron (1)

6. Pulitzer Prize, Fiction and Non-fiction (3)

7. Treasure Island (1)

8. The Walking Dead (1)

9. Normandy (1) 

10. Post in comments below :) 

O Silent Night | Nursery Tour

Tonight feels a little like Christmas Eve as it's the night before NW's due date. I doubt he will actually arrive tomorrow, but the possibility still lingers. Each night from here on out will hold some of that same Yuletide magical anticipation, falling asleep with childlike excitement for a celebration ahead! And while there's no cozy armchair by a spruced up tree or halls decked in red, green, and white, I happily find myself in a rocking chair in a nursery trimmed in grey, white, brown, and blue. Visions of diapers and onesies dance in my head : ) Just as Mary and Joseph welcomed baby Jesus on that first Christmas, we'll be welcoming our own little son soon enough!

DIY "PLAY" screen print poster from SLU Block Party

Curtains and paintings originally from Target, purchased at Goodwill.

Rocking chair from Offer Up, lamp from friend.

Dresser purchased from old neighbors

Rug from Offer Up. Borrowed mini crib from friends.

Side table from old neighbors with DIY fabric added.

Family heirloom dresser. Prints from She Reads Truth.  

Trading Christmas carols for lullabies,

SJW

Just the Two of Us

This Sunday, Mr. Fleece and I drove an hour east to Snoqualmie and took in the early morning sights of Gold Creek Pond. Recommended by a friend, we decided to walk the paved one mile hike around the pond for ourselves. Great for wheelchairs, non-hikers, strollers, and women almost 40 weeks pregnant :) the views you get are well worth the drive. We took two laps and spent some time making Ebony run back and forth in a grassy field.

While I love the urban feel (and convenience!) of Greenlake - there's nothing like getting out of the house around sunrise and driving toward the mountains. While temperatures were frigid at 29 degrees, in October no less, I loved the peaceful fog rolling across the surface of the water and the salmon swimming about. The feeling of the sun's rays when the beams finally made it over the top of the crest was pretty magical too!

Making it back into the city for our 11am church gathering was just the cherry on top - we felt quite accomplished having already enjoyed so much of the day! From there we walked to lunch in Pike Place Market at a Bolivian restaurant called Copacobana, sitting on the outdoor patio, overlooking the hustle and bustle. 

I love experiencing both the wild and the city all in one day!

Living like locals,

- SJW