Monday, January 30, 2017

My Break From Social Media

This year I've been making a lot of really great changes and I've been coming into my own in a way. I've been becoming more confident I've been loving myself more and I've been all around more grateful. However this past week I've been noticing something a little off. Like my life just needs a little more fine tuning. I've always been a very social person and in being social I have cared a great deal about what others think and feel. That in it's self and in little doses is a good thing. You have empathy for people and you can better understand other point of views. I have taken this to an extreme though where I see what others are doing or saying and it stifles me. I see that someone is doing something different than me and I feel like I should be doing the same. I see someone has a different clothing style or home decor style and I feel like I should change to like those preferences. It seems as if I have lost myself. I don't really know what my preferences or opinions are. I don't really know how I like my hair or what kind of hobbies I like. And while I'm writing this I know it sounds so weird that I could not even know those things but it is true. I feel like I'm an expert on what the Internet and people that I follow on social media like but not on myself! So the solution for me is to take a break from social media. I've deleted the Instagram and Twitter apps off my phone. I've logged out of Facebook on my laptop and I've unfollowed a lot of channels on YouTube.
My goal is, is to treat social media as a tool instead of entertainment. I found that whenever I was bored I went for the path of least resistance and entertained myself with my social media sights. When there is always all of this other stuff that I want to do and learn but I just put it on the back burner.
After I deleted all of my access to social media I made a list of all of the things that I think I would like as a hobby, skills that I want to get better at, and just simple entertaining interests. I also downloaded a few apps that had to do with my interests.
After a few days of doing this it's been pretty great. I've instinctively reached for my phone a few times forgetting Instagram isn't there but I don't really miss them. I've been able to start learning Spanish and I've been practicing piano. I've also been a ton less distracted when playing with the girls and talking to Tyler. I don't feel bombarded with others opinions and preferences so I've been able to find things that I really like and enjoy. I think this was one more door that needed to be unlocked before completely becoming myself. My creativity is flowing and I'm excited for more learning and growing.
I won't be deleting my accounts but I will be using them differently. I only want to use them to keep in contact with people and to keep my friends and family updated with our life. I really like the Internet and I am really grateful for it! I just want to use it for so much more than comparing myself to others.

xoxo Dani

Saturday, January 7, 2017

Snow Week & Happy 2017!

Hey Friends!

This week/year has been pretty good so far! I am actually really excited for 2017 for a lot of reasons:

1. My favorite number is 17
2. My birthday is 02/17 so it'll be 02/17/2017 this year. Which just looks cool!
3. I've learned a ton about myself in 2016 and I'm excited to put all of that knowledge to use this year!

I've got lots of goals but let's be honest those are kind of boring ;)

This first week of the year we have had snow upon snow upon snow!!! This past Wednesday we had a full on blizzard! We have huge snow drifts right outside our big front window and our roof has at least a foot of snow on it! The plows that come into our little town don't come down our road so we've had some really kind neighbors dig our car out and plow our road for us 3 times this week! These people are such amazing christlike humans I feel really lucky to live here. We've played in the snow a lot this week and I'm definately in need of some snow pants, waterproof gloves, and boots! 
We also finally got the trampoline we got from Santa set up outside! (He had it set up for us in our living room Christmas morning) 

It's been a good start to a good year :) 






they love eating the snow


violet's new thing is playing in the sink

she'll bring over her little stool and splash in the water 


she loves to tell me "no" contantly

playing in the snow wore her out







house hugs!



xoxo, 
Dani