It’s been a hot minute since my last Monday Motivation blog post, and I’m so excited to be back at it again! You can count on a new Monday Motivation post every Monday from now on 🙂 Today I wanted to share my New Year’s Resolutions for this year (just the ones that deal with health and wellness). 2020 really feels like a fresh start since it’s also the start of a new decade, and I have a lot of goals I want to work towards this year. So here we go!
Drink More Water
In my early twenties, I really hated drinking water. I thought I “didn’t like the taste” of it (probably because I drank a lot of soda and water tasted plain in comparison). In college, I even got a kidney stone from not drinking enough water! Fast forward ten years, and it is crazy how things have changed. Water is pretty much the only thing I drink (and I actually like the taste of it!), but I really want to get better about drinking more of it. Your body uses water in all its cells, organs and tissues to help regulate temperature and maintain other bodily functions. Drinking a lot of water can help clear toxins from your body, balance your blood sugar, relieve headaches and even help your skin – I swear that my skin looks better when I consistently drink water throughout the day. I have this water filter and this giant Yeti and I plan to keep it by my side all day long in 2020 – I aim to drink three of them per day! I also want to play around with creating water infusions and adding lemon, cucumber, and other fruits and veggies to my water to change up the taste and get some added nutrients.
Use Less Plastic
This is a huge goal of mine for 2020. No more plastic Starbucks cups, plastic straws, grocery bags or water bottles. In 2019 I really began taking note of my plastic use and trying to reduce it, but there is definitely room for improvement. There are a few things that you can do in preparation to make it easier for yourself: always keep a clean reusable cup in your car for when you decide to buy coffee out, and keep reusable grocery bags in your car (they obviously won’t do you any good if you leave them at home). It’s also a great idea to go ahead and invest in some glass straws, glass food storage containers and reusable storage bags since it’s the start of a new year. Small steps make a difference, you guys!
Try Out One New Recipe Per Week
My husband and I LOVE to cook – it’s how we bond at night when we’re both done with work! It’s really easy for us to get in a pattern of recycling the same recipes every week and getting into a cooking “rut,” so this year we want to branch out and try some different recipes in the kitchen. I definitely want to put my Vitamix to work, try out some new crock pot recipes, some one-pan meals, and loads more. And OF COURSE I will share the recipes with you guys (but only if they’re good!!!).
Find Sustainable Clothing Brands that I Like
I sometimes feel really guilty that my career (fashion blogging) can have such terrible environmental impacts (for example, the industry often promotes fast fashion, with it’s own set of environmental concerns, and overconsumption, which can lead to a lot of waste). Unfortunately, a huge portion of my audience still wants to see affordable clothes, and I strive to bring that to you guys. However, I would also really love to find some sustainable clothing brands that I really like in 2020. If you have a favorite, please let me know! I’ve really struggled with finding sustainable clothing brands that won’t break the bank and are really cute.
Eat Greens Every Day
In 2020, I aim to eat greens every single day, specifically dark, leafy greens! Whether it’s a big kale salad or a handful of spinach in my green smoothie, even a little can go a long way. There are a billion reasons that leafy greens are good for you – in my favorite book, Dr. Greger writes: “Eating greens nearly every day may be one of the most powerful steps you can take to prolong your life.” Greens are associated with the strongest protection against major chronic diseases, including up to a 20% reduction in risk for both heart attacks and strokes for every additional daily serving. I’ve grown to really like the taste of greens (have you guys tried kale chips? mmmm!) – it’s all about preparing them the right way and incorporating them into your meals in small ways.
Revamp my Beauty Cabinet
Thanks to you guys, I discovered the app Think Dirty, which rates all of the products in your bathroom cabinet based on how “clean” they are. I learned that a lot of the products I thought were clean, actually aren’t – and it’s been extremely helpful in finding new products to try (for example, I ditched my old toothpaste and found this one that is my new favorite – and it has amazing ingredients!). I think plant-based and “natural” skincare can be a bit tricky – I’ve found that my skin has stronger reactions to some natural products versus your typical drugstore skincare products (maybe because plants are super powerful!), so I’m still working on finding an exact regimen that works for me. But I will be sure to share with y’all when I do!
Have a Baby!
Yep, you read that last one right! I’m not pregnant right now, but Chris and I would love to start a family sometime in the year 2020. It fills me with EXTREME joy to write those words, since I feel like I’ve been waiting 29 years to say them 🙂 I believe God put me on this Earth to be a momma one day, and it makes me tear up every time I think about bringing a little one into the world with Chris. I have already started on the research and preconception phase of preparing both my body and our home for pregnancy. I’m happy to do a more in-depth post later on if you guys want, but right now I’ll give you the short version: so far we’ve been getting our home ready by switching to all-natural cleaning products and eliminating toxins as much as we can. For my body, I try to eat as organic as possible and really make sure I’m optimizing my nutrient stores, especially nutrients that will be important for the baby later on. And on that note, I do have one big update: I have switched up my diet a little bit to include more animal products. Although I truly feel amazing on a plant-based diet, there’s a lot of research out there about how some nutrients (that are really important for the baby) are only found in significant amounts in animal products. Choline, for example, is a key nutrient that is especially important for the baby’s brain development, and is especially concentrated in egg yolks, but is only found in small amounts in plant sources. This podcast was really helpful for me when trying to decide if I should incorporate more animal products into my diet (fast forward to 37:10 for more information on vegan/vegetarian diets during pregnancy). I went a step further and bought this book that contains all of the latest research on nutrition for pregnancy, and am even more convinced that I’ve made the right decision. I would say my diet is still around 85% plant-based, but I’ve been incorporating lots of eggs and organic bone broth into my diet, as well as organic, grass-fed milk and occasionally some high-quality, organic chicken. Oh and cheese, but I never really stopped eating that 🙂 I’ll still share some plant-based recipes on the blog this year, but I’m sure there will be some with meat and fish, too. Anyway, we are SO EXCITED about the possibility of getting pregnant this year, and I can’t wait to keep you guys informed along every step of the way as we prepare.
As always, these are just my opinions and you guys are definitely entitled to your own opinions, too. 🙂 I’d love to hear your New Year’s Resolutions this year! And CHEERS to a happy and heathy 2020, I am so thankful for all of you and am wishing you all the very best year ahead. Together, we can make it the best one yet!
xoxo
Happy New Year!
I know you’re currently really happy with the Fabletics gear you’ve got (it’s gorgeous!) but if you’re on the lookout for sustainable workout gear, TALA is amazing. It’s beautiful and versatile and they worked really hard to make it 92% upcycled (you can even plant their clothing tags!). It’s based out of the UK and ships globally. The prices reflect their sustainability but they’re not bonkers pricey. https://www.wearetala.com/
It’s hard to find sustainable clothing that doesn’t also use a ton of resources in their production, but I hope you get a bunch of suggestions that you can share with us.
xoxo – Jill
Love your blog! My one year anniversary is coming up this year and we too are thinking of starting to try for a baby =) I’ve been pescatarian for about 18 years now and eat mostly plant based 95% of the time ( I too have a weakness for cheese haha). I heard that a vegan diet is actually totally healthy for pregnancy and a baby? I will definitely do more research on that but I have to say having read many books on the animal industry I am a little sad that you are back to eating meat.
This is my first time commenting but had to tell you that your post made me cry! I am so incredibly happy for you! Know you are going to be a fantastic mom and can’t wait to watch your journey 🙂 much love to you and Chris
I can’t tell you how much I LOVE that you want to look into sustainable clothing! Part of the Instagram madness to me is consume consume consume and people don’t think of the environmental consequences! Thank you for bringing that up!
I love the brand – Hernest Project for pajamas. Women owned and operated from Canada!
HIGHLY RECOMMEND – Tempdrop device for charting your cycles. It’s amazing, way easier than BBT oral temp (at same wakeup time) daily and works even if you change time zones or get only a total of 3 hours of sleep. Here is the website: https://www.temp-drop.com/?variant=767520619
It’s like the “set it and forget it” for charting.
TCOYF newest version is also great. I already think you aren’t on oral contraceptives but if you were transitioning off BCP pls wait 3 months minimum to make sure all artificial hormones are out of your body before conceiving. They don’t have a lot of info on the impact of them in early development and a ton of gynos recommend not conceiving till at least 1 month off of them.
Also hope you will be asking your healthcare team what their C section rate is before choosing your provider (US has the highest one in the world).
Tempdrop is a lot more accurate than the wrist bracelets, or a Bluetooth enabled thermometer (you know the brands that partner w a bunch of IG people).
Also prefer a paid for app like Groove for charting over free Kindara (they sell your data in exchange for being free).
C Section births are a life saving procedure. You don’t know about individuals medical situation so you shouldn’t give advice online about medical choices.
I don’t think she was advising against C section, but rather recommending to research for providers with high success rates….
Yeah I wasn’t claiming that C sections are bad—- just suggesting to research what the provider’s rate is and ask them why it is such when talking with them, including a hospital wide rate. Asking “why” and being able to say “no” when it’s rational and logical to do so is a part of being your own advocate (again, not suggesting to go directly against medical advice!). Sometimes they are medically necessary and sometimes they are performed when they aren’t as well, about half fall into this category according to research. I’m not going to change your mind regardless ;)))
Here are some articles—
https://utswmed.org/medblog/c-section-rates/
https://www.consumerreports.org/c-section/biggest-c-section-risk-may-be-your-hospital
Something that’s important to know is where the highest level of NICU is located related to your location as well because the minutes matter for a newborn if they need intensive care.
Oh wow, I am SO excited to hear that you might be having a baby this year!! I am in the EXACT same boat – 2020 is the year I would like to have a baby or at least become pregnant, and I have been researching nutrition, hormones, cleaning products, and everything in between to be as prepared as possible. I am SO excited to be hear about your journey!!
Oh my goodness! The greatest resolutions ever! When the time does come to welcome a little one into your lives, your Mom will be the best grandma! You are kind at the same stage in life as my daughters, so we love following you together!
Hi Caitlin!
I am so glad you brought up the plant-based diet with pregnancy topic, as I am in the exact same boat as you are right now! After reading How Not To Die, The China Study, and Whole, I have been completely plant-based for about two years now. However, my husband and I have recently been talking about starting a family as well and I have also heard that certain animal foods might help in the development of the baby, so I am super glad that you are researching it as well, as I am still unsure what exactly I want to eat to still stay relatively plant-based. Keep me posted on how you’re doing with it! 🙂
Wasn’t “how not to die” the best book? I got it after seeing it in the background of Cait’s photos lol I am on the same boat about pregnancy! I would definitely not eat animals but maybe incorporate some eggs into my diet? Will just have to make sure they come from happy hens 😉
I wish you nothing but happiness on your journey of having a baby!! My resolution is to read more, at least one a month. So, I will definitely look at your book reviews for suggestions!
Happy New Year!
Erika Marie | https://imerikamarie.com
Thank you for once again using your blog & platform for such wonderful and positive ideas and goals for ourselves & planet! Cheers to inspiring new starts & a new year!
i’ve been following you for yeaaaarrrsssss and let me just say: i cannot wait to watch you go through pregnancy! you’ll be the cutest for sure. i had my first baby in september and its been SO FUN. i’ll be praying for you and chris!
Hello! I heard from a doctor about some research that if a mother eats only plants, her daughter will have less egg cells and will have lower fertility. This was observed both when the women were vegan all the time and when they switched to eating some meat after they found out they were pregnant. So be aware, ladies! It is better to be prepared before getting pregnant.
I follow your blog daily and think you are precious! I am thrilled that you are thinking about starting a family.
I am a mom of three and former Winston Salem resident. My hubby and I lived there for 5 years while my husband was completing a surgery residency at Wake Forest. Our oldest daughter was born there. We have so many happy memories of living there, and I love to see familar spots in the background of your photos!
You are going to get so much advice…but I can’t help but add a a little. I am sure you have an established OB-GYN, but I highly recommend Lewis and Valaorus. They delivered our oldest daughter and are both absolutely fabulous.
Secondly, I know you eat so healthy, but I recommend taking a great prenatal vitamin prior to conception. My cousin has Spina Bifida because his mother had a lack of folic acid in her system at the time of conception. The spinal cord begins forming before most women realize they are pregnant, so it is so important to have all of necessary vitamins in your system.
The third piece of advice is don’t stress about getting pregnant, being pregnant, delivery, raising your child etc. Just pray about it all…God works everything out as it should be for your good.
Blessings to you and your family in the new year!!!
Hey Andrea, thanks so much for all of this great advice! I am already taking a prenatal vitamin, and this is SO CRAZY, but Dr. Lewis is actually my doctor! I started seeing him several years ago when I moved to Winston and he’s the best – so glad to hear that you had such a great experience with him. I feel like he’s my second dad 🙂 Thank you so much for following my blog!
I am so happy to hear this!!! I saw him throughout my first pregnancy, but Dr. V actually delivered her. They are both amazing, encouraging, and trustworthy. So much so that when I got pregnant the second time, we traveled to see them for my initial appointment. You are in great hands!!!
What prenatal vitamin do you take ??
I’m taking the Vitamin Code Raw Prenatal! https://rstyle.me/+A_w4YaGJUULHrQnBfPueaQ
I’m so happy for you guys! You’ll be an amazing mom!
Thank you for being so open and transparent from the start, it really means so much. Looking forward to read about this journey you guys are about to embark on <3
I love Beautycounter (foundation, blush, concealer, brow gel, lip sheers, and skincare), RMS beauty (Living luminizer and burati bronzer), Honest beauty mascara, isle of paradise (self tanning drops), biossance (skin care)
I’m excited to get sustainable clothing recommendations! I like to look for B corps when I’m looking for clothing to buy because they are mindful of how they treat their employees and the environment. Patagonia, athleta, Bomba socks, etc.
For cleaning products I love force of nature, branch basics, young living thieves cleaning concentrate, and then good ol baking soda, vinegar, and Castile soap to make my own cleaners.
I wish you luck with conception. I second the book taking charge of your fertility as well for the science behind tracking your cycle. Happy 2020!
Beautycounter for all your skincare, makeup and bath/body products! It’s B Corp and EWG certified. Retinol alternative in our best selling & EWG verified Countertime anti-aging line. Safe for baby too!
I quite like this post–It felt a little more real life than you sometimes get with fashion blogging. Thanks for sharing. Wishing you the best of luck on your journey to grow your family!
Baby Dorsch will be the cutest little peanut! My husband and I are currently on month 4 of trying!! I would love to hear your journey! Also, good for you for doing what you feel is right for YOU! 🙂
Baby dust to you!
Happy NY. Good luck with your plans for 2020. Wishing you all the best with your plans for a baby, but a word of advice. There will always be people out there ready to judge you, disagree with you, tell you you’re wrong, that another way is better…. Do what is right for you, feels right for you because your journey is your own.
Lots of good wishes xx
Lynda, UK
All about that greens resolution! Need to join in on that with you. And yayyyy baby!!! We are planning to start trying this year as well. Will be thinking of y’all and hope things happen quickly for you two!
xo Laura Leigh
http://www.louellareese.com
Yay! So exciting! If you are looking for a great Fertility Test, yah know to help your planning Modern Fertility is a fantastic company that has a community you can be apart of to discuss all things woman.
Definitely start taking a prenatal vitamin now since you’re planning to get pregnant. Otherwise do what’s right for you. GREAT POST. This type of content is needed more in social media.
Congratulations on deciding to start a family!! So exciting! Love all your content. Keep up the great work. Thank you.
Violet
@violeta11h
Try basically brave leggings! @basicallybrave on Instagram or https://basicallybrave.com/
Leggings made from recycled plastic bottles and up-cycled ocean waste.
Congratulations on trying to start a family!! I’m not sure if you’ve heard of it or not, but you might really like cycle syncing. It’s been a game changer for women’s health and can help boost fertility. Basically you match your food, fitness, and lifestyle habits to where you’re at in your cycle (we have 4 different phases and our hormones are doing something different each week). You can then naturally balance hormones, in particular your sex hormones, which are needed for reproduction. I have a free Hormones 101 class on my website if you’re ever interested in learning more. I’ve been following your blog for a few years now and love the approachable style you share, and am excited for you to share more about health and wellness! I think you’d like cycle syncing for post baby too. I’ve used it to get so much done for work and it even changed how my husband and I communicate. Our hormones are truly fascinating and it’s fun to know we can use them to our advantage.
We are the same age Caitlin! I will be turning 30 this July! I will have my first year anniversary this March, and we are also planning to become parents maybe this year! I tried to be ovo-lactó vegetarian. It only lasted for about 3 months. I really do admire you, I’ve followed you for few years now! I can tell you are super excited on becoming a mom. And I can’t wait to see your new journey through Instagram!
Oh I am so excited to hear about sustainable clothing options!! Please share even if they are not the most cheap options – I would rather have high quality pieces that are better for our planet than a ton of fast fashion. You are the only blogger I follow talking about plant-based diets and earth friendly fashion and I am so happy that I follow you as I am a mother to young children and want to take care of our earth for them!
How does that work when you say to keep a clean cup for buying coffee out? Do you mean when the coffee is in a self serve urn? Because shops won’t use your cup, will they? I’m sorry if this is a dumb question!
At Starbucks, if you bring in your own cup, they will put their coffee in it and also give you a small discount! I’m sure you could bring in your own cup to other coffee shops as well! Not a dumb question at all!
Check out Norte Women! Noteworthy brand with sustainable, timeless looks. The Canelas skirt is one of my favorites and would be a great piece on you!!
This post fills me with so much joy for you!! I have loved reading your Monday Motivation posts, and you’ve inspired me to make so many changes in my own life! Recently switched my cleaning products to be more clean, and trying hard to incorporate more greens! I’m also hoping to start a family this year so I would love to hear more about your journey as you go. Thank you for sharing!! 💕
I DOUBT you’ll see this! BUT you have to try Vetta for a sustainable clothing brand! Omg it’s such an amazing company and you can encourage your followers to invest in their clothing – in order to make a difference in both their lives and others!
Please let us know about your ideas for getting more greens into your diet!
Have you looked into bioClarity. I got a sample size in my stocking and I will say I was very impressed with the results and I feel better putting that on my body
These are great resolutions, Caitlin!!! I just got the giant Yeti for my birthday this past fall and I can attest that it’s helped me drink more water! In case you didn’t know, you can still get Starbucks by bringing your reusable cup! They also give you about 10 cents off too! I need to eat more greens this year and protein too. I have your book recommendation on my Amazon wishlist when you first recommended it. Thanks for reminding me about the Think Dirty app. It’s been years since I last used it so I’m going to download it again this week. They hardly had products on it back in the day so I’m excited to see how much they’ve advanced. By the way, thank you for making an effort to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle. It means a lot that you’re using your platform to bring awareness to this important topic.
If you want, I have a monthly blog post series called The Cut where I share sustainable living content including fashion brands! I hope you’ll give it a read.
Ahhh! I’m so excited for you and Chris! You’re going to be a great mom! I’m excited to follow along on your journey.
Much love to you both, Caitlin! Happy 2020!!!
She Sweats Diamonds
Congrats on your decision to want to start a family this year!! I’m currently 4 months pregnant and I LOVED learning about prenatal nutrition from Real Food For Pregnancy. The moment you said you were including more meat I was wondering if you had read that book! I find so much comfort that it’s all evidence based. I also changed a lot of things in my life after reading it. It’s the cream of the crop for updated prenatal nutrition. So happy for you guys! Enjoy the minerals and micronutrients !!!!
Reformation (my favorite), Everlane, Levi’s are all great sustainable brands! I love that you’re talking about the effect that influencers have on consumerism. I’ve messaged with one of my favorite fashion bloggers about this topic – she basically told me she can only prioritize so many things and this isn’t on the top of her list. Understandable but still disappointing.
I love this post – thank you so much for sharing!! I’m in shock because my first two resolutions are ALSO to drink more water and use less plastic! I bought reusable silicone bags (which I LOVE), I have been buying more used clothing (reducing and reusing!!), and I got a reusable coffee/tea mug and water bottle! I would LOVE to follow along your journey to see what other sustainable products you are able to find. It is so important, and I am thrilled you are taking this step and being such a positive influence <3
OMGGG!!! I absolutely love this post and your resolutions for 2020!!
Whenever I’m older (& married) I hope that I can be like you. From following you on IG for some time now…you seem like SUCH a cool, genuine, and fun person overall.
Also, I believe that you would be an A M A Z I N G and beautiful mama ! ❤️
Downloaded the think dirty app thanks to you ! Didnt know something like this existed ! I am a skin student and this is a game changer when it comes to finding a better product, glad I read the post !
Reading your goals really inspired me to be little more creative with mine and really follow them to the end. I don’t know you personally, but I smiled the whole time reading the 2020 baby goal . ♡
What an exciting next couple years your going to have.
Thank you so much for sharing all of this Caitlin! Love following you & especially excited about this year – I’ll definitely follow along as you try to find new sustainable ways to live in this age & western world, whether that’s clothing brands or eliminating toxins in your home. Please keep sharing & oh my goodness, ALL THE BEST for trying to get pregnant and becoming a mama!!! Cheering you on!!!
This post made me so so happy, especially that very last resolution! I was so so surprised to read that, so exciting Caitlin!
Also, thanks for making a conscious effort to feature more sustainable fashion brands, as I find that highly interesting.
Xx Janine
https://walkinmysneaks.blogspot.com
Loved this post! I wish you all the best with trying to get pregnant!
maybe this is the brand you are looking for https://www.peopletree.co.uk
and i recommend to watch The True Cost movie, here is trailer: https://youtu.be/NDx711ibD1M
Wish you all the best Caitlin!
Happy New Year! I am also planning on (hopefully) getting pregnant this year and would love to hear all that you are doing to prepare your body and home!
So very excited for you! My resolutions are to drink more water (bought a tumbler with words of encouragement), gratitude journal, and continue fitness by trying new classes. I also vow to sleep more. I feel like I always need to be doing something, so I feel guilty napping. I just need to take that time out if needed.
I’m so excited to think of you starting a family. Blessings!
AHHH! I looooove your last resolution! Congratulations on being open to a baby and I hope it happens for you 🙂
Happy New Year. I know you are going to be a sweet mom. As far as sustainability goes, the hard truth is we all need to buy fewer, better quality items. I know readers want instant affordability, but buying a nice cashmere sweater will last them a decade as opposed to cheaper, trendy, synthetic items that will end up in the landfill by the end of the ear. I’d challenge your readers to buy fewer, higher quality items and style them in as many ways as possible. Your readers are growing up with you and can handle an upgrade in lifestyle. In the long run they will save money! I watched The True Cost documentary and it changed the way I shop. I won’t buy anything unless I know I can get 30 wears out of it. That’s not going to happen with trendy, fast fashion. Best of luck with all your 2020 goals. Keep up the good work. We can’t wait to see what the new year brings!
100% agree, Mary!!! Quality over quantity. That documentary is on my list to watch too!
She Sweats Diamonds
Happy New Year! Elegance Restored does a great job at offering ethical and sustainable clothing and accessory options that are SO REASONABLE!
https://www.elegancerestored.com/
I love that you are working on reducing plastics. So many influencers always have their starbucks in pictures but rarely have reuseable cups. I think if someone like you that people look up to start to reduce plastics, it may help get the word out. Thank you!
Everlane, Patagonia, Levi’s, LA Apparel, Reformation, People Tree. Good luck on the baby-making. Don’t stress it, it will happen in God’s perfect timing.
AHH, a babyyyy!! How exciting! Can’t wait to stay up to date on your baby news for 2020!
XO Amanda || Affordable by Amanda
This just about brought tears of happiness to my eyes! You are going to be the sweetest mom in the world. I’ll be honest, I was worried about you as you’ve gone more plant based & wanting to start a family, and I’m overjoyed to hear you’re making sure to get those nutrients from animal foods. Check out the benefits of deep sea fish & grassfed butter! And I believe passionately in the earth-healing power of sustainable animal agriculture, you might look into that so you can eat your eggs with a light heart. 😉 The work of Joel Salatin is a good place to start.
I know I’m not the only one who thinks of you as a sweet friend from afar, so excuse me putting in my two cents to recommend the book “Nutrition & Physical Degeneration” by Weston Price. It is a fascinating study of super-healthy people groups around the world. I’m no nutritionist but I have been blessed with two absurdly healthy boys after more or less following the recommendations of that book for most of my married life, so I think that says something! (They’re 3.5 and 1.5 with a total of zero ear infections, tummy bugs or allergies so far.)
I am super inspired now to resolve on eating leafy greens everyday too! I have actually surprisingly gotten my whole family to love kale salad – the key is just using a good creamy dressing like Caesar (breadcrumbs and cheese help too!). Now if I could only get them to eat spinach in their eggs…
As far as sustainable fashion, the one place that it really crosses paths with affordable fashion (that I know of!) is ThredUp.(http://www.thredup.com/r/NB309C) It’s a used clothing website with tons of stunning pieces including designer. (You can also send clothes in for credit!) They’re running 50% off your first order right now.
Sorry to write such a book but this was SUCH a good post! I hope to see more like it! Try and make a few freezer meals & smoothie packs in case you have morning/all-the-time sickness. Hugs from Texas!
Congrats on trying to have a baby! I have 4 and love being a mom! Don’t listen to any of the criticism about your diet. Every woman has to do what is right for their body and their baby.
I’ll be praying for you and Chris to have a baby! That’s such an amazing journey (and selfishly I would love to see adorable baby photos) 😊
Hi, Caitlin! I enjoyed reading through your resolutions. I highly recommend looking into the Organic Bunny on Instagram and her makeup store OrganicBunny.com. She sells the best of the best clean beautywise as she does a ton of research on products before she puts them in her store. She also runs a dog rescue which is an added bonus for supporting her store.
How exciting! I wish you all the luck in the world when starting your family – I hope to be around 29 when I start mine, too – so a few years yet 🙂
K A T E L A T E L Y
http://www.katelately.co
Thank you so much for sharing your goals this year! All of these topics have been on my mind as well and I love following how thoughtful you are in your intentions.
Yes please share more about your journey to get pregnant/when you are pregnant! Looking for some great information myself. 🙂
Commenting bc of the giveaway! It’s so exciting you two want to try for a baby!! You’re obviously going to be such a good mother. You’ve done so much research on just trying to conceive, it’s very selfless of you to want to change your diet in Hope’s of becoming pregnant!
Grace and Lace is an amazing ethical clothing brand. Cute clothes and an amazing owner.
There are a couple of stores in the Triangle (the Flourish Market and Rose & Lee Co) that sell sustainable fashion. Also, Molly Stillman’s blog (still being molly) has amazing resources regarding ethical, is based, and sustainable fashion brands.
Skinny Bitch Bun in the Oven was an awesome read when we were trying for our first, if you’re looking for another resource! So excited for you guys!!
Happy New Year! Congratulations on the big decision!! I would love to hear more about your journey. My husband and I have been trying for a bit as well so I’d love to hear any research that you find along your way. Thank you in advance! 😉
Yay! You will make a great mama! I hope you get your 2020 baby!
I have been following you for years and I am so excited to watch your momma journey unfold and get some great mom style ideas! I am a mom to 3 young children (6 and under) and it is the wildest, most fulfilling ride! Best of luck to you! xo
This post makes me so happy!!!! I have been a long time fan and I am so excited to read about your resolutions and journey to becoming parents. I love your transparency and accessible style and I was thrilled when you started your Monday Motivation posts and had a hunch you might be considering a baby soon. My husband and I are hoping to start trying this year as well and I was pleased to find your book recommendation on “Real Food for Preganancy” matches much of the advice by my Holistic doctor and fertility acupuncturist. I have been a ovo-pescatarian vegetarian for 20 years but several years back I decided to add back in sustainable poultry. I found the information interesting on the importance of Glycine and am hopeful I can find a ethical compromise I will feel good about for the health of my future baby.
Wishing you all the best and look forward to future posts!!!
Love that you are using your platform to set the example of reducing plastic waste. It is so
doable, we just need to make a few habits, like brining a yeti to Sbux instead of using their plastic cups. THANK YOU 🙏🏻
So excited to see that you’re starting to look into more sustainable fashion options this year! I made the switch a few years back and it’s a total game changer! I’ve learned that it’s helpful to balance supporting more expensive sustainable brands for big investment pieces you’ll love and wear for years to come (so many great small shops continue to pop up, many of which are run by incredible women) and shopping secondhand for more affordable options. You can find some amazing stuff at thrift stores, as well as online platforms like Poshmark, ThredUp, and even curated vintage and secondhand shops on Instagram 🙂
Great list and really exciting times for you and your hubby! When it’s time, I found Mama Natural’s pregnancy week by week book to be super helpful in regards to making educated decisions during pregnancy and birth. Also, has great recipes. Every birth is different and I found that book really helped me understand interventions and how to choose what was best for me and my baby. There are definitely reasons to want non-medicated, vagina births and there are definitely medical reasons why people need cesareans. No judgement, healthy mama, healthy baby! Good luck to you!!!
Really interested in your sustainable and green finds for fashion, even if they aren’t necessarily the cheapest. Echoing another comment, I’d rather spend more on an item that’s sustainably produced and going to last than another fast fashion item.