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Balancing Today

Learning To Balance It All

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in Everyday Life, Goal Setting

2017 End of Year Reflections

A year ago, I closed out 2016 by opening up about my past. Talking about the rape and the experiences I went through soon after was difficult, but so incredibly freeing.  Sharing my story gave me room to breathe, making my ultimate goal of moving on achievable.

path
As I think back on 2017 I have so many mixed emotions. It was an incredibly joyous year as we welcomed our sweet baby boy into our lives and watched our beautiful Magnolia turn 3.  2017 was also filled with some incredibly painful and stressful moments, but the older I get the more I realize that every year will be filled with those extremes.  It’s so important to remember everything in between the highs and the lows! If not, you’ll miss all of the little joys and triumphs.

Ashley
I started 2017 with 6 overarching goals: Invest in family, build a community, prioritize personal wellness, focus on our finances, grow as a professional, and learn to balance this beautiful, crazy life. I really enjoyed creating these broad goals as they gave me room to develop mini goals throughout the year.  Each month I created a new set of goals that fell into my 6 overarching goals.  Creating monthly goals is something I really enjoy doing and this year’s goals helped me to stay focused on my overarching goals for 2017.

Tips for Transitioning to Toddler Bed
Here’s a summary of the steps I took this year to reach the goals I established last new years!

1. Investing in family – While I won’t deny bringing work home and wasting far too much time swiping through Instagram, this year I made it a top priority to make my family a top priority.  I blogged less, watched less TV, and cherished the little moments with my family.  Whether starting a new Saturday morning doughnut outing with Magnolia, making the most of our season pass to the Baltimore aquarium, or going to long walks most nights, I am really grateful for the time spent and memories created this year.  I also wanted to get closer to Neal’s family and I’m very grateful for how our relationships grew this year.  Ending the year in Nashville with everyone was the perfect end to 2017!

2. Building a community – Joining our local Methodist church was such a blessing and I’m so thankful for the community we’re a part of.  The women I’ve gotten to know are really amazing and I’m so thankful for how they took care of my family after Kinnick arrived.  I also moved all of our doctors to Maryland and worked hard to really make Maryland home after years in Virginia.

3. Prioritizing personal wellness – This year, my pregnancy and breastfeeding were my top priorities.  I am so thankful for my body and for the blessing of having another baby.  I’ve also had a MUCH better breastfeeding experience this time around and I’m grateful to still be going strong at 6 months postpartum.  It was a really stressful year for various reasons however and I didn’t always do the best job of managing my stress and emotions.  Those moments made it hard to focus on my wellness, but I learned a lot from this year.

4. Focusing on finances – This year Neal and I completed Dave Ramsay’s Financial Peace University and we’ve followed his budget plan ever since.  We have zero credit card debt and are plugging away at our student loan.  All in all, I’m really proud of how we’ve saved and spent this year!  I’m slightly terrified as we move into 2018 and have 2 children in daycare, BUT I am really glad we made budgeting a priority in 2017!

5. Growing in my professional career – Each semester stretches me more and more!  This year I hit 10 years at American University, which is wild, but I am very grateful for my years at AU. I’ve worked with so many amazing students over the years and am very grateful for all they’ve taught me!  I was actually Studio DIY and Jeff’s academic advisor years ago (small world)!  I don’t know what the future holds for me professionally, but I did learn a lot this past year.

6. Balancing this beautiful, crazy life – Balance is something I strive for each and every day.  I am actually extremely proud of all Neal and I balanced this year.  It was a tough year and I’m really proud of how we supported one another!

Magnolia
Favorite Moments from 2017

  • Announcing our pregnancy
  • The baby’s gender reveal
  • Introducing Balancing Today
  • Kinnick’s arrival and birth story
  • Sharing this season of life 
  • My 33rd birthday and goals

My favorite posts from 2017

  • To the Mom Who Feels Like She is Failing
  • Easy Homemade Floor Cleaner
  • Things I Haven’t Done to Prepare for Baby 2
  • Postpartum Supplies You’ll Need to Have
  • Post Delivery Hospital Tips
  • Say Hello To My New Body
  • Quinoa Taco Bowls
  • Creating Shared Lists with Wunderlist

Here’s to 2018!

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  • Moving On and Into 2018Moving On and Into 2018
  • My Intentions and Goals for 2016My Intentions and Goals for 2016
  • How to Keep Your ResolutionsHow to Keep Your Resolutions
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I'm Ashley, a full-time working mom who lives in the Washington, DC area. Balancing Today is all about learning to balance family, work, wellness, and most of all, life's simple joys! Read More!

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1 year ago I was severely depressed, lonely, and l 1 year ago I was severely depressed, lonely, and lacking purpose! Finding CBD and Green Compass changed everything. I am filled with joy and peace, I have become friends with women who really care about me, my life, and my goals, and I have a crystal clear purpose! 

Today is the Green Compass Play Big Conference and I’m so excited! New products are launching today!! 

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I’m so thankful for this little girl and getting I’m so thankful for this little girl and getting to be home with her. I will never take this time for granted. My eyes have been opened to how much I’ve missed along the way and I don’t ever want to go back to a lifestyle where work was before my family. I am treasuring each day and soaking up the little moments. Today was a good day.
I need to be honest... -It’s terrifying seeing I need to be honest...

-It’s terrifying seeing DC shut down and filled with troops. I am scared for my friends and colleagues in the District. 
-I’m anxious about tomorrow’s inauguration 
-I’m stressed out by my to do list 
-I’m nervous about the days ahead 
-I miss my parents and brothers 
-I wish my kids could just go back to school and spend time with their friends 
-I want to just lay down and binge watch Bridgerton again 

This is my reality this morning. This is how I’m really feeling. So I took my CBD, put both Focus and Calm on, ate a filling breakfast, spent time with my kids, cleaned up my to do list, sat outside for a few minutes, and cleaned my desk before starting the work day. 

Do what you can. Take care of yourself. You’re not alone!
One thing on my heart this year is to start each w One thing on my heart this year is to start each week with a reading. To take a few moments to sit, to take weight off my shoulders, and to focus on my root, heart, and crown. 

Crown Card (top) represents the part of me that wants to reach beyond myself. It can give you an idea of how to serve others✨The Orphan - We are in a time of universal orphanage - of nature, of each other, of our own hearts. The Orphan is to study the deep challenging energy of our time. 

Heart Card (middle) represents what is currently residing in my heart and tells of deep longing, calling, or conflict✨The Tear - Droplets of letting go! Appears when there is grieving yet to do, and once acknowledged, will bring a shimmer of clarity to our dewy eyes.

Root Card (bottom) represents my grounding and current state✨The Pilgrim - Seeks wisdom, experience, and meaning. The outward journey is always an inward journey.
Some of my goals for this year included saving mon Some of my goals for this year included saving money, planning out dinners for the week ahead, and getting back to the simple things that spark joy. Tonight’s dinner was the perfect culmination of all 3 goals.  I loved BLTs growing up, they’re easy on our budget, and my family loved them! What’s a dinner from your childhood you remember fondly?
Has my life changed since I started using CBD??? 1 Has my life changed since I started using CBD??? 10000%! CBD gave me the head space, freedom from anxiety, and control back to be able to focus on ME!! Did taking CBD cause weight loss, no!, but with the absence of stress, anxiety, and pain from using CBD I could focus on my body, health, wellness, and fitness. CBD has been a big piece of my puzzle these past 10 months. This time last year I was miserable and now, I’m thriving!
The past month has been one of the most fulfilling The past month has been one of the most fulfilling months for me personally in who knows how long! On December 1, I took a leap and decided to start a business selling Green Compass CBD after 9 months of using CBD to reduce my anxiety, lessen feelings of panic, and to manage my stress and body aches/pain (and boy has it changed my days!!). 

Over the past 46 days I have made incredible new friends, have helped men and women start using an organic CBD they can trust, made enough money to pay for an Airbnb getaway for my family, and have seen first hand how many people out there just need help! 

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I hope that all of my friends and followers here on IG know I’m an open book and love helping people reach their goals! If you’re even just a little curious about CBD or Green Compass, I’m here for you!
Start a side business for YOU! Start a side busin Start a side business for YOU! Start a side  business to invest in YOURSELF! Start a side business to make YOUR own money! Start a side business because YOU want the joy that comes from helping others! 

Investing in yourself and joining Green Compass could truly be the best decision you ever make for yourself. Is it normal to be scared, nervous, and even insecure before starting a side business? 100%! What I can reassure you is that I’m going to help you every step of the way! You will have a mentor, a friend, a business partner, and a cheerleader from the moment you message me! 

If additional income would help you, let’s talk. If a community of friends would help you, let’s talk. 

Take a leap! I’m here for YOU!!
One thing on my heart is to start each week with a One thing on my heart is to start each week with a reading. To take a few moments to sit, to take weight off my shoulders, and to focus on my root, heart, and crown. 

Crown Card (top) represents the part of me that wants to reach beyond myself. It can give you an idea of how to serve others✨The Stone - “The stone tethers us to Earth, helping to ground and connect us to stillness, quiet, and peace. 

Heart Card (middle) represents what is currently residing in my heart and tells of deep longing, calling, or conflict✨The Prayer - “Prayer leads us beyond our ego. We are in a state of prayer any time we are not the center of our own thoughts.”

Root Card (bottom) represents my grounding and current state✨The Shaman - “This card reminds us that the force of healing is ultimately not our own. We must shape it and share it with the world.”
Starting the week off with some fresh flowers. The Starting the week off with some fresh flowers. They bring me joy, make me happy, and bring life to my desk. Is there something you do for your work space/home environment that brings you joy each week?

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