AM Coffee Talk #08 - Community, Bloggers I Love + More!

Dec 30, 2017

Wow, Y'all. Here we are, the last Saturday of 2017! How crazy is it that 6 months ago I sat down and started writing out a mission for this blog on a total whim and yet here we are. The last Saturday of the year is always a weird one for me. You're in that weird place of wanting to jump on into the new year and celebrate and crush your goals but at the same time, you're not quite there... not quite ready to jump in. Some sort of magic happens when that calendar flips to January 1st and you can breathe because you can begin again.

I saw this phrase on a quote on Pinterest and it really resonated with me. Maybe it's because of all that 2018 will bring for my life but Begin Again just really simplifies the meaning of a New Year. A new planner, new goals to accomplish, a clean slate. 2017 is a chapter that is closing and 2018 is the promise of newness. That anticipation is why I think I have such a hard time with the last Saturday of the year.

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So don't be like me. Take this day to pause and reflect on all that 2017 had to offer. While most of us were just waiting for 2017 to be over the moment it started, there were still incredible moments. Incredible LIFE moments happened in 2017, regardless of whether or not they were ups or downs, highs or lows. I went to a retreat with my coworkers the week before Christmas and we were asked to share one high point for the year and one low point for the year. Sure, there were a lot of crazy things happening in the world, but I struggled to find one low point for the year. I don't ever remember that happening before... like ever.

I'm pretty sure at this point I've lost you all because, if we're being honest, I've lost myself trying to find the point in this. I guess what I'm trying to say is, on this last Saturday of the month, relish in the newness of 2018 but also take some time to reflect on and cherish all that 2017 was and gave you. Now let's get into what Y'all really came here for the Saturday Morning Coffee roundup is as follows:

ONE | The Mrs. Ball

As a West Point girlfriend, I've had the privilege of meeting so many amazing women. One of those women, who I am so honored to call a friend is Brittany. Brittany just rebranded her blog and launched this week! I'm cheering her on all the way across the country. If you're looking for a seriously down-to-earth girl to follow, she's it. Oh, she also takes the most amazing pictures, lives in Hawaii, and has a cute baby. Goals, right?

TWO | Becoming an Emerald Coach

My journey to becoming a health and fitness coach has kind of been rocky. Before I even started the 21 Day Fix, I knew that I would be asked to become a coach and really was so against it. I didn't want to be constantly hounding people, feel like I needed to reach a certain quota every month, etc. But when I met my Coach, my view of the whole system changed. Becoming a coach really opened the doors for me to help others who were feeling the same way I had been feeling when I started this lifestyle change three months ago. Last week, I hit a huge milestone and became an Emerald Level Coach which means that I get the opportunity to help even more incredible people. It also means that I'm part of an incredible team who not only motivates me to make this coaching thing into a legit business but to also keep working towards my own health and fitness goals. I'm creating an email list just of people interested in health and fitness content so if that sounds like you, click here and sign up! I'll be sharing exclusive free content with the people on this list so if getting fit and healthy is on your list for 2018 you're definitely going to want in!

THREE | The Pinterest Lab

If you read last week's Saturday Morning Coffee post then you already know that I am on a Jenna Kutcher kick. This woman is a totally marketing genius and I just love her personality but all of that is beside the point. I bought my first course EVER the other day after watching one of her free workshops on Pinterest and I'm diving right into the modules already. My Pinterest strategy is okay and it brings the blog a lot of traffic but I just love all of the knowledge Jenna is dropping in this class. I'm excited to start implementing some of her strategies and seeing just how much I can grow our little neck of the internet woods in 2018!

FOUR | The 5 Love Languages: Military Edition

Justin and I aren't doing any sort of formal premarital counseling before the wedding but we knew that we wanted to set ourselves up for success in the best way possible on our own. The 5 Love Languages was recommended to us SO many times and when I saw that they had a Military Edition I knew it would be the perfect place for us to start. We are about halfway through and have honestly been so suprised at how much the book has taught us already. I highly recommend it for every military couple!

FIVE | Our Community

Things are about to get real sappy up in here so hold on to your hats. I cannot begin to describe the amount of love I have for each and every one of you who comes back and visits this blog on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Those of you who read every post, leave comments, reach out to me on Instagram... even those of you who are silent but still reading! As I sit here typing this, we are so close to hitting 20,000 page views. That may not seem like a lot (or maybe it does to you) but accomplishing that much in six months is not something I ever thought possible when I started writing back in June. My mission was simple: to foster a community focused on helping ladies to live life without fear and to the fullest extent possible. With all of YOU, yes you, we have succeeded in beginning that spark of community. There are going to be BIG things coming in 2018 and I can't wait to share those with you all. So thank you from the very bottom of my heart because I wouldn't be here without each and every one of you!

I'm not crying, you're crying. Anyways, this is the last post for 2017, crazy right? I will be taking off the first week in January to recharge and get started on the amazing things coming in 2018 so if you want to know what's happening, follow me on Instagram to stay updated. Until the next post, Happy New Year! I'll see you in 2018!