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An insane year for everyone, don’t you think? I went back and forth on whether or not I wanted to even write this blog post because of all the heartache and hardships that came with the year (and that it’s 3 months PAST 2020!), but I know how much I love looking back on my 2019 year in review and in the end, I know I will love looking back on this one too.
2019 was a bittersweet year, so I was hoping for a really simple & relaxed 2020. All I can to say to that is: LOL. 2020 was anything but! And I know it wasn’t just me feeling this way, many of you did too. So let’s just dive right in, shall we?
January:
Things to remember:
* January started the year off extremely crummy. We lost my grandpa hoffman, my dad’s dad, at the beginning of the month. My grandpa hoffman was such a gentleman, extremely intelligent and just a really wonderful guy. He was such a tall man too compared to the rest of us in the family and L is on the taller side for his age and I really think that’s where he gets that from!
* We started potty training in January and it was something I was so nervous and anxious for! But if anything in 2020 could have gone right – this would be it for us and I’ll take it! Ha! L was potty trained in less than a week and was a pro before we even knew it! With no candy or treat incentives! Woo hoo!
* I taught L some dance moves and they are his go to now and the cutest thing ever to watch! 🙂
February:
Things to remember:
* I got to see all of my grandma and grandpa hoffman’s wedding portraits and oh my word, love. Looking through old portraits is one of my favorite things to do so I decided to make it a little series on my instagram stories and it’s something I treasure so much!
* Also, after looking through my grandparent’s wedding portraits, I noticed the wallpaper behind them is all magnolias! I have always been inspired by all my grandparents, my parents and my family in my why, ideas, inspiration and more in my business. Between all of my grandparents that helped raise me and my parents, that’s 63 (my memaw & pa), 64 (my grandma & grandpa hoffman), 53 (my grammy & grampy) & 30 years (my mom & dad) : 210 years worth of marriage advice and guidance! When I say they are all the backbone of my business inspiration, they are truly the backbone. SO seeing those magnolias was just the sign I needed! 🙂
* We had a lot of playing with our cousins this month and outside play which is so nice for February in Ohio!
* Mom, L & I celebrated mardi gras with jumbalya, mooflata and hurricane mocktails! We love celebrating this at home and I hope one day me and mom can go to LA and celebrate there!
March:
Things to remember:
* The month the world went crazy. Yikes. Covid-19 was running through the US and cases were beginning to pop up in every state. We went into lockdown on March 13th. But right before this was announced, me and mom went out to eat with L at a restaurant where it was eerily quiet because no one knew what to say or if it was safe to talk! Ha! Who would have known that would be the last time we’d get to go out to eat for a long time! At least it was yummy!
* L made leprachuan traps and yummy treats for St. Patty’s Day!
* Thankfully, March was pleasantly warm and we spent many days outside enjoying the sunshine and getting “out of the house” while we could!
* I also discovered TikTok and lost way too many hours of my life since! HA!
April:
Things to remember:
* Easter was spent at home with just me, Nick and L! It was sad to be without our families but also really special getting to spend the day together just us three!
* L ate wings by himself for the first time and while this isn’t a big milestone, LOL, it was the funniest thing ever and now it’s one of his favorite things to order when we get food to go!
* L’s bedroom got another big boy makeover! What started off as a I’m just going to patch some holes and paint them up, ended in painting the holes the wrong color and deciding to do a last minute room makeover!
May:
Things to remember:
* I celebrated my 27th birthday at home, snuggled up on the couch and it was A DREAM!
* Lockdown ended and I finally got to photograph for the first time again and took one of my top 5 absolute favorite pictures to date!
* I started to get into watercoloring and discovered that I love to paint watercolor houses! I am still a NEWBIE for sure and will not show the world just yet anything but my friends and family are all getting pictures of their houses in the near future! 😉
* Painted our front door blue after finishing L’s little room makeover! I can not just do one thing in our house I suppose!
* We started to get back to work on finishing our basement! Nick and his dad are finishing our basement together and they took a 2 year break so I literally started crying when they said they were going to start back at it because this means I get to have my pantry!! Oh the things we get excited for when we become adults!
* And finally, it’s warm enough to be at the beach again, mine and L’s happy place!
June:
Things to remember:
* I started to babysit my favorite four little girls again! I love getting to come back to them in the summer time and see them grow year after year and L just adores them too!
* Mom and I visited a new to us place in Lakewood that made the most insane, beautiful and yummy milkshake ever!
* I built a firepit for outside and did some DIY landscaping with some plants from my Grampy’s yard! I’m just crossing my fingers they show back up next spring! Yikes!
* Nick and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary! The time has flown! We celebrated it just like we have for the past 4 years, at The Strip with our favorite steak dinner!
* L also discovered this month how to play with the TikTok filters and I found a wide selection of videos on my TikTok feed because he doesn’t know how to go back so he just uploads them all until the main screen comes back! That was a great laugh!
July:
Things to remember:
* Nick celebrated his 31st birthday and we had a great 4th of July at home in our backyard with seriously the greatest front seat to an amazing fireworks show! (I’m not kidding when I think that will be a good selling feature when we move one day! LOL!)
* L jumped into the deep end of the pool without me holding onto him and he must get this from his dad, no fear! Very proud of him! 🙂
* My cousin passed away at the end of the month and just days later, my grammy went into the hospital and had to have immediate brain surgery. It was a very difficult and hard time for our family. It’s not something I want to remember and think on when I think of 2020, but they were big moments that shaped the rest of the year and life really. Just extremely thankful that at this point, we were able to gather minimally with family to be there to support one another.
* Days after that, I got my wisdom teeth pulled. I swear it had to happen this year because I was poking fun at the dentist office that my brother was getting his pulled that day and they gave me the news that I really needed to as well. Let’s just say, a few infections and tons of cries later, I’m still hurting! Ouch!
August:
Things to remember:
* Lot of time was spent at home, recovering from my wisdom teeth. I’m telling ya, I had a heck of a time!
* Spent as much time as I was able at the rehab center with my grammy. Her surgery and time spent at the hospital was very scary, especially during a pandemic with extremely limited contact.
September:
Things to remember:
* L turned four this month! His birthday was spent at home eating his favorite foods and favorite cake!
* L also started preschool! Cue ALL. THE. TEARS! He was just being homeschooled this year for preschool, me being his teacher! It has worked out ok so far but I definitely was never cut out to be a teacher!
October:
Things to remember:
* Our favorite month! It didn’t feel too much like Halloween but we made the best of what we could and went to pumpkin patches, Halloween decorating, spooky car drives and wearing a Halloween costume (as in, me! HA!) out on Halloween just to make my boy happy! 🙂
* We got to attend a wedding as a family, L’s first wedding ever! My cousin Kathy, and her now hubby, Michael got married this month and it was a beautiful wedding day! We all got to get dressed up and I loved getting to be a guest and watch from the other’s perspective this time! 🙂
November:
Things to remember:
* We visited Santa at a store and it was just the strangest thing seeing Santa wear a mask and sit behind a plexiglass wall! L was extremely frightened by this and made quite a memorable photo!
* Nick’s grandmother passed away this month. It has been such a difficult year for both of our families and especially during the middle of the pandemic, has made it even that much more difficult.
* Mom and I hopped on the hot cocoa bomb trend and made tons of hot cocoa bombs! It wasn’t easy at first but once we started getting the hang of it, we had a good system going!
December:
Things to remember:
* December was a long, heartache of a month. The day after Christmas, my grammy was moved to in-home hospice. After a prognosis of possibly only 3 days left with her, we were given the gift of 6 beautiful weeks where we visited every day, held her hand, loved on her and she even became well enough to be awake more and have great conversations and laughs. As I am writing this, my grammy isn’t here with us anymore and life hasn’t been the same since. But I hold those 6 weeks in my heart so tight. My grammy and I were very close. I miss her so much but I hear her in my head telling me to keep going for that baby. She was such a light in my life and I’m the luckiest that I got to call her my grandma.
What a year. It was not one that was simple, that we could breeze on through. It had many valleys, but there were many mountains in there too. Yes, 2020 was a tough year with everything that took place around the world and around the US. But I don’t want the year to make me bitter. I want to take with me everything this year has taught me and grow from it, learn from it and find the brighter days ahead. Spending more time at home showed me what a gift my home can be to me and my family. Being away from family and friends a good portion of the year taught me how much I value those friendships and relationships, that life truly was never meant to be done alone. I have learned many things this year that I was so uneducated about, that I can only hope I teach L how to be a kind, compassionate and understanding human to all. And when life gets flipped upside and you’re not sure which way is up anymore, God will meet you there and help you back up. I know January 1st isn’t a magical number and the sorrows and worries of 2020 won’t just go away, but I pray that we are all stronger going into 2021 and come out better than we did coming in.
XX, Britt
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I saved my favorite part to this series for last: my entire personal year in review! And I tried to keep it short and sweet as much as I could! 😉
So let’s start from the beginning, hello January!
2019 didn’t start off on the right foot – L broke three bones in his arm falling off the couch on the 3rd! But after many tears (from the both of us!) and a second emergency room trip from the first cast cutting his circulation off multiple days…we began to see the light at the end of the tunnel and bought many 5T clothes just to fit that cast in any kind of clothing! He handled it much better than I did!
I started a business course – the KJ Business Journey this month too and had NO IDEA I just invested into something that was going to change the game entirely for me, in the best way!!
February:
Three casts and the best Valentine’s Day present, the cast is off and his bones are healed! As soon as we got home, back to playing on the couch he tried to go! That’ll be a NO! LOL!
Wedding season began in February this year! I had an awesome couple kick my season off right and at a venue I’d been dying to photograph at! Mainly because my grandparents had their wedding there years and years ago!
I also started using essential oils this month! It seems silly to acknowledge this for a year in review, but for those who faithfully use oils, you know how life changing they are!
March:
We took L bowling for the first time and he loved it! We went to Main Event and it was a perfect chilly day activity with family!
Then Nick came home from work one evening and told me he won another trip to Vegas! I surely didn’t believe him until we were on the plane headed out for the second time!!
We explored areas that we didn’t our last trip and ate some really yummy food! We love the food in Vegas!! 😆 We are just big foodies! But we missed our boy so much, we couldn’t wait to come home!
April:
Spring finally came! I actually scheduled a work day to go photograph things I love for myself! I don’t remember the last time I did this and I needed it!!
We visited Ikea, which is my favorite! It’s a two hour drive to the nearest one and it feels like a mini vacation which is why it was a big moment in our year!! LOL! It’s probably a good thing it’s not closer!
May:
I celebrated my 26th birthday! (Yes I did just have to count to make sure that was correct, I can never remember my age! I’m too young for that right?!) I celebrated by installing my landscaping in my front yard (so therapeutic to me!) with my dad and finished the night with the worst restaurant service at a local BBQ place! LOL! From now on, I’m no longer allowed to choose the restaurants we go to!!
Mother’s Day and Memorial Day were relaxing and low key, which is my favorite!
June:
L and I enjoyed some really great, spontaneous mama and me days together! We found my new favorite spot to go where we live!! I love finding new beautiful locations!!
I started to babysitting a few days a week again for my favorite four little girls! I have been babysitting them for the past six years and this was my first year not babysitting the entire year! I was SO happy to be able to spend two days a week with them! I hope to forever get to be a part of their lives and watch them grow into beautiful young ladies!!
We made a trip to Rodger’s Flea Market!
Nick and I celebrated our four year anniversary! We spent it at The Strip like we do every year and ate until we were sick, also like we do every year! 😉
July:
Fourth of July was great! My bub let off fireworks and L decided this year he DOES NOT like fireworks. So we spent a lot of time inside watching them and leaving early! Poor guy! Hopefully that changes soon!!
Nick’s surprise 30th birthday party happened! While he wasn’t as surprised as I’d hoped, I was SO proud of myself for not spilling my secret! I’m NOT a good secret keeper! Ha!
We finally got to visit Cedar Point and L LOVES the sky ride! It’s his favorite one and the antique cars! Those are also the only two rides he will ride! LOL!
My mom, bub, L and I went to Winston-Salem, North Carolina for a day to take an All She Wrote Notes Class! It was AMAZING! The car ride, not so much! Bub said he doesn’t want to go anywhere with us for the foreseeable future! LOL! Then we spent a day in Amish country on the ride back to get some shopping in!
Ended the month with the Summer Market which I look forward to all year!!
August:
My bub went away to college this month! We spent many days traveling to Kent State and back and thankfully it’s just an hour and half away! I feel like we spent just as much time there as he did! LOL!
September:
We celebrated L turning three this month! I chose not to do a big party this year and instead went out for pizza and back home for cake!
We also got L sleeping in his own bed finally after three years! Yikes! My back needed him in his own bed and he has since been GREAT sleeping in there! Praise the Lord!
We visited the pumpkin patch with our buddies and visited Halloweekends for our final Cedar Point trip of the year!
Also, L discovered how to turn on the hose outside and that was an adventure trying to get him to come inside without getting wet – NOT SUCCESSFUL but was a great laugh!
October:
We had a clam bake with my God parents like we do every year and this year we got to host!
My good pals and I had a Hocus Pocus party and it was too cute!!
Halloween resulted in going to three houses at my grandma’s since ours was cancelled and being done because it was just so cold, L didn’t care to have anything to do with it! It was just so windy!! But he went as Batman!!
November:
We have visited the puppy store many times this year and L has told many people that he has a dog but it’s still at the pet store! LOL!
My mama had her 20th annual ornament exchange!! I made a dessert charcuterie board this year!
Oh and L made an appearance to one of my mini shoots and I was just a tad bit worried about him being too cold? LOL!
December:
Mom and I went to two plays this month, White Christmas and Mean Girls!
Mom also packed up with me and L and headed to Virginia for the ending to my KJ Business Journey! Also, a one day trip because that’s our jam apparently this year! LOL! It was a life changing event for sure and I was SO fan girling meeting Katelyn whom I’ve admired for SOOO many years!! Getting to hug the gal who made my business successful was, well, priceless!!
I had a mug exchange this year! I really loved the idea of this swap because my mug collection is the one thing I can not simplify. I’m just too attached to every mug that makes its way into my hands! LOL!
Another honorable mention for the year: L officially has gotten rid of the binky. Planning a celebration for myself in the new year on this! HA!
One evening, my Grampy came back home with a surprise and L has been OVER THE MOON! However, Mama’s not ready just yet so we love her only at Grammy + Grampy’s!
We finally got snow! And that was the cherry on top to the year!
Christmas was good for us this year! We have a total of 7 Christmas gatherings this year and as I’m writing this, we have three remaining to go to. We are pooped for sure but so thankful that we have sooo much family we get to spend our holidays with!
See y’all in the new year!! 🎉
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This year has proven to be full of mini vacations for me! From three days in Vegas with my hubby, to a spontaneous trip to North Carolina with my mama, brother and L and then, we are going somewhere again in December! (I’ll spill more details on this later!) This is not the norm for me! It’s usually one long vacation somewhere in the summer and then that’s that! But I like these mini vacations scattered throughout the year!! I might start making this a priority!!
A little less than a month ago, my mama and I were texting back and forth about how much we love Maghon Taylor and her handwriting and how we cannot wait for her book to arrive to our homes in August!! We talked about how we wished so much she had classes near us and quickly I got a phone from my mom saying, “Want to attend a class in NC?!” and obviously I couldn’t turn that down!!
He certainly gave us a run for our money this trip!
A 7.5 hour drive didn’t sound so bad and we are pro road trippers after our 18+ hour drive to Waco, TX two years ago!! 🙂 Now I must say, road trips with a toddler and a 9 month old are very different, both good and bad! LOL! But L is a pro by now and thank goodness my brother also went with us! Between the three of us, L stayed mostly entertained and just a few meltdowns took place, from all of us! 😉
Living in northern Ohio – it is as flat as can be! So it’s nice to see something out of the norm during our drive!
These two are so alike in so many ways! LOL!
After our hand lettering class, we grabbed a quick bite at Chick Fil A, which is everywhere down south (not so much for us! The nearest one to me is 35 minutes away!) so we filled up, went to sleep and then hit the road to head home! People have called us crazy for driving down for just a few hours and then to head back home but the class was worth the long drive!!
We made it! Finally! And yes, that is chocolate brownie leftover on his face!
If you are not familiar with Maghon Taylor (and if so, you are totally missing out!!), she is the “she” behind All She Wrote Notes!! And y’all, we had an absolute blast learning from her!! She was so genuine, kind, funny and just full of happiness!! We loved her to pieces!! If you are in the area of one of her classes or are up for an adventure to get to her – do it!! You will NOT regret it!! I could have listened to her all day!! We are hoping she comes up with an all day workshop!! She is just so inspiring!! ❤️
The hand lettering class took place at the WinMock in Winston-Salem! Oh my – it was Soo beautiful and I could only imagine what it would be like to photograph a wedding here!
Maghon was so amazing! We loved learning from her in person!! I know we will be back for another class in the future!! And I also didn’t get the memo on wearing white pants! 😉
Framing this! 😉 I love how happy her hand lettering is!!
Once we got some rest, we woke up and turned right back home and headed to Amish Country!! Amish country is like a second home to us! We filled our bellies with comfort food & swam and all slept like babies!! Once we got up, we headed out to shop until we couldn’t stand the heat anymore! (It’s been realllll hot here lately!)
I brought my camera with me and between the heat, pure exhaustion and a two year old ready to jump out of the car : didn’t leave me much time to pull it out! But I hope to come back in the future to advantage of all these beautiful trees in NC!! I could photograph in front of these all day long!!
Back on the road and surprised at how much I love mountain views especially being a pure beach view lover!!
Wished we weren’t all just so ready to get out of the car so I could have photographed these mountains with my camera!! Such a sight!!
It was a short and sweet trip! Perfect for a road trip with a toddler! 😉 My bubba said he doesn’t want to travel farther than a twenty minute drive to my grandma’s with us anywhere in the near future! LOL! 😉
I didn’t take any pictures in Amish Country aside from this here and it doesn’t even depict the beauty of Amish Country!! I’ll have to do another post one day of all my favorite things about Amish Country!!
I joked with my mama before we left, I bet we will come up with another business idea on our way back home and sure enough, it happened! This happens every time we are together! We just have a lot of ideas and not enough time! 🙂 Such a great trip but now it’s time to enjoy the last few weeks of summer before it comes to an end!
