Happy January ~ Letter From The Editor

It's 2019! Let's do this! While 2018 wasn't a particularly great year, it wasn't the worst either. So when the clock struck midnight, I was ready to put 2018 behind me and move on.

Whether you are starting over, fine tuning what you've already got, or staying with the status quo, a new year is a chance for all of us to do some reflecting and re-prioritizing. This month on the blog, I'll be doing a lot of that with posts that focus on setting you up for a successful year. We'll also focus on positive changes in the new year including exercise, clean eating, and focusing on yourself and what you love to do and want to do more of in 2019.

I love how a new year brings a clean slate and a fresh start. I've been thinking a lot about the direction of Pieces of a Mom, and part of that involves taking a look at my most popular content in the history of the blog. I'll give you a little hint. Fashion, fitness, and food are big hits around here, and you can expect to be seeing more of that in the coming months. I'll be sharing my word of the year, my reading challenge for 2019, and how I stick to my exercise goals within the next week.

In the meantime, enjoy these popular stories from December that you may have missed in all the chaos of the holiday season.

1. I love plaid, especially this time of year. I shared my favorite plaid picks in this post.

2. I shared some tips for practicing mindfulness during the holiday season, but honestly, they apply any time of the year.

3. My top posts of 2018 was a big hit and a fun way for me to take a walk down memory lane.

4. You loved seeing my holiday wish list. As an update, I received 5 of the 6 items on my list. I ended up taking the knit hat off the list.

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The podcast I couldn't stop listening to in December: Cover Up

I've always been fascinated by the Kennedys. On my first trip to Martha's Vineyard in 1999, I took a ferry over to Chappaquiddick, the famous scene of Teddy Kennedy's car accident in 1968. I was sort of obsessed with that story at the time and wanted to be closer to it. But after that trip, I never really gave it much thought. And then I watched the movie Chappaquiddick on Netflix, and the obsession began all over again. When I found this podcast, the first by People Magazine, I binged, and it truly is an unbelievable story of how the investigation was botched and the way authorities covered up to save Ted Kennedy's reputation.

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JANUARY MUST-HAVES

Baby, it's cold outside! Stay inside and snuggle up with this soft and cozy faux fur throw. I love this rich burgundy color. It's perfect for winter.

I've never been a big fan of oversized, bulky sweaters in winter. But I do love a sweater that offers enough coverage to keep me warm, and if it's cute, well, bonus! When I found this slouchy v-neck pointelle sweater from aerie, I was thrilled. I bought one for Emma and one for me, and we've been sharing them non-stop since Christmas.

Most of your body heat escapes through your head, so it makes perfect sense to wear a hat. I'm a sucker for a cute beanie. This ribbed beanie with a faux fur pom-pom is one that I own and I happen to love it. It comes in 8 fabulous colors, but this deep navy one is my fave.

My feet seem to be in a perpetual state of cold for the entire winter. But it's hard to find a cute pair of warm boots. Most of them are too bulky and clunky and ugly. But these fluffy faux-fur trimmed boots are actually super cute and functional. The lining will keep your toes toasty, and the style is chic rather than woodsy.

Don't forget to follow along on Instagram!

And Pinterest too!

Make it a fabulous January!