Simple Joys of the Year, 2017 Edition

Well...here we are: 2017's final edition of SJOTW. In this special year-end installment of this beloved weekly post, I'm going to try my best to choose a favorite overarching, Simple Joy of the Year for each of the five senses. 

This is really hard for me, because I feel like every single one of these simple joys could be Charlie Mae-related, so I'm going to try my best to limit myself to just one CM-centered experience, and broaden my horizons for the others. 

When you look back on your own year, which sensory experiences stick out to you the most? Which simple pleasures were a big part of your year + brought you joy multiple times over the past 12 months?  Some of my favorite simple pleasures of 2017 are below...

HEAR: Charlie Mae's sweet little voice + all of her words
In just 1 year, Charlie Mae went from not talking at all (well, baby sounds) to knowing + saying what feels like every word in the English language. To say that the girl likes to talk is an understatement (the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, I guess...) and her little voice is my favorite sound I've ever heard. I could sit and listen to her talk all day long and it's been so fun getting to know her personality as her language blossoms. What an adventure!

SEE: A sleeping baby
The hardest thing about this past year has been dealing with the sleep deprivation and sleep struggles of new parenthood. So, on the flip side, one of the best things about this year has been the times when Charlie Mae falls asleep and stays asleep soundly and thus, I get sleep and/or work done. Seeing a sleeping baby on the baby monitor has been a HUGE joy of the past year. Phew. I'm getting exhausted/anxiety just writing about this topic...

TASTE: French toast + eggs
We've really made an effort to spend more time together as a family this year, and although it's been hard with our schedules, our new favorite tradition (when we can swing it) has been having a delicious breakfast of French toast + eggs at home together. It's so delicious and has become very symbolic of downtime as a family, so it's extra-special. Also, scrambled eggs are one of Charlie Mae's very favorite foods ("eeeeeegs!") so we've made and eaten A LOT of eggs this year. 

SMELL: Clean laundry
The amount of laundry that I've done this year is obscene. People weren't kidding when they said that as a parent, the laundry never-ending. That being said, I love the feeling that comes with a clean load of laundry, and even more than that, I love the clean scent. I don't like folding said laundry, but there is something simple and satisfying about putting those fresh, clean clothes back into drawers. 

TOUCH: Home workouts with Momma Strong
If there is one physical activity that has been a huge life-saver for me over the past year of craziness, it has been Momma Strong. I know I've given it tons of shout-outs in 2017 so I won't go on and on about it again here, but I will say that having access to a 15-minute, daily, high-intensity workout that I can do at home has been a game-changer in keeping me sane on the days that I can't squeeze-in an actual class or something longer. It's amazing how much better I feel after just 15 minutes of movement--especially on days when I don't think I can make room for anything extra. 

...And with that, I'm closing the book on 2017 here on the blog. If you're looking for some Starr Struck extras to enjoy over the next week while I'm taking a break from blogging, here are a few places to catch up:

• My latest audio yoga class (it's a fun + challenging one, I promise!)
• My latest podcast episode (#MOMFAILS...even if you aren't a mom I think you'll get a kick out of these crazy stories from our listeners and friends)
• This list of Starr Struck's most popular posts of 2017
• Follow me on Instagram where I'll be posting holiday pics ;) 

Have an INCREDIBLE holiday season, everyone, and thank you again for being such a wonderful part of my world in 2017. I'll see you back here on January 3rd! 

So much love, peace, and gratitude from me to you + yours...