It's been a f-u-l-l few weeks and I didn't even get a chance to get this Saturday post up until now! I'm headed out to Colorado Springs for a radio taping on Wednesday and Thursday and then I'm done with book launch and business travel for 2015.
And I am so, so, so grateful that 2016 is going to be a much calmer year… or at least that's the plan! 
I'm going to be speaking a lot less, am not writing any books, have cut way back on my online responsibilities, and cannot wait to just stay home more and focus more on my home and family and just a few select business things.
The past few years of speaking and traveling and book-writing have stretched me and forever changed me in good ways as a writer, speaker, and person, but I'm excited about a new, much quieter season. In fact, my word for 2016 is REST. And that's actually my biggest goal for the new year.
Stay tuned for more on my 2016 goals and plans next week! For now, here are 5 Things I'm Loving:
#1. A Whirlwind Trip to NYC
Jesse and I got to go to NYC for 24 hours to hang out with our dear friends from South Africa who were in the states for meetings and it was absolutely amazing!
The weather was gorgeous (we didn't even need coats!) and we packed so much into our trip: a nice dinner out at a wonderful restaurant, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, riding the subway, good coffee, the Staten Island Ferry, the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bride, Wall Street, the World Trade Center Memorial, laughter and conversation with our friends from South Africa, trying to not get lost, good conversations as a couple, and a Broadway show!
After a hard few months with lots of heavy and emotionally and physically exhausting challenges, this getaway (our first as a couple in a few years!) was such a gift! And we used points and credit earned over this past year, so the trip cost us very little out of pocket, too.
#2) Getting to See My Favorite Broadway Show
I got to see Wicked last year when I went to NYC, so it was so fun to take Jesse to see it. He really loved it… though probably not quite at the fangirl level as me, but what can I say? I'm kind of into it.
I've only been to this one Broadway production, so I can't speak for the others, but the production quality is just incredible. So well done and the quality of the performers is top notch! It's expensive, but so worth it for a very, very special treat!
#3) My Fringe Hours Book
Jessica Turner sent me her new book, My Fringe Hours, and I went through it on the trip to NYC and found so much valuable information and encouragement in it. If you read and liked her first book, The Fringe Hours, I think you'll really enjoy this as a companion guide.
I already shared this picture earlier this week, but I love it so much that I have to share it again. This is my Coffee Cozy from Julie who runs the adorable Etsy shop called Tokyo Blossom.
This Coffee Cozy has gone with me multiple places this week because I just love it so much!
We are so proud of this girl. She had her Christmas program last Friday evening and it was her first "big" program. She was a nervous wreck all week about it, but when her performance came, she went out and completely rocked it. You can watch the whole video of her performance here. She's put in so many hours on the ice this last year and we are so excited to see how it's paying off - not only in her figure skating, but also in her character development.
What are YOU loving right now? Tell us in the comments!
