As my 27th birthday approaches I took some time to reflect on the past year and everything it entailed. This past year has hands down been one of the best years of my life! It’s been full of new friendships, business adventures, passions, a marriage and moreee!
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Each year comes with its own trials and tribulations, but also welcomes many celebrations and beauty! This year has been nothing short of beautiful and challenging- and I wouldn’t have it any other way. 26 was a year of learning, evolving, making big lifestyle and career changes… now at 27, I can rejoice and enjoy all that will blossom! Plus, take into account everything I learned this past year (and well, all the years leading up to today) and implement them in a way that’s more wise than I ever have. I’m so very grateful for this past year and everything it entailed!
I’m so excited to share all of my favorites from this past year!
After a beautiful and enlightening year 26, I wanted to give a summary of some of my favorite things from this past year. I will be sharing all of my favorites of year 26, everything from products, to verses, to friends, to my favorite lessons of this past year. Let’s dig in!
Favorites Of 26
Quotes
Each of these quotes mean so much to me They have helped me thrive through many different challenges of this past year and stay motivated and feel lifted. If you want the inside scoop on the deeper message behind each of these quotes listen to my podcast on my favorites of 26!
- Failures are just brilliant ideas that needed some adjustments.
- You cannot choose your circumstances, but you can choose your thoughts.
- I will see it when I believe it.
- If you live by others approval, you will die by their rejection.
- AGAINST THE HUSTLE.
Lessons: 2 Thorns & A Rose (but all have positives)
You grow through what you go through! I’m so thankful for all of the challenges life threw at me this year, I grew so much as a person due to them and am made much stronger. Every year comes with new lessons and shifts in perspective, here are a couple of the super important lesson I learned and favorites of year 26.
- I learned this year to stop being so hard on myself! This was one of my biggest struggles of 26 — cutting myself down and letting the inner critic win daily. Sometimes, it’s so easy to beat ourselves up in such a gross way. I learned to push the voice out of my head continuously telling me I’m not good enough, not doing enough, not being enough and replace it with God’s truths. Keeping your thoughts in check is so important!! The thoughts of our lives become not only the habits but patterns of our lives.
- I learned that the quality of our health is so much more than just nutrition and workouts! I dealt with hormonal imbalances/birth control/chemicals in home leading to feeling like a different person. Before this lesson I didn’t care about harmful-chemical free products… now I do. Not that it’s a magic pill to feeling great — but it definitely is the #1 key piece of the puzzle!
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorns have rose bushes.” -Alphonse Karr
Always remember it’s all about the perspective we have on our challenges. They usually make us stronger in the end!
- Another “thorn” of 26 — was going through a very hard season after trialing birth control! If you want to know more I talk about all of the lessons mentioned in more detail on my podcast about my favorites of 26!
- Marriage is so so beautiful! It is the best feeling to come home at the end of every day and just knowing my best friend will be there. But marriage also challenges you and refines you more than anything else. It requires constant work, as well as for you to be constantly working on yourself! I have learned so much within this past year about myself and relationships. The three biggest killers of marriage are: pride, complacency, and selfishness. As a busy entrepreneur I’ve also had to learn how to juggle my business and taking time for my partner. It’s easy to live with someone yet not spend intentional, quality time with them. Being intentional and continuing to “date your spouse” is so important- definitely a favorite of year 26!
Life/Career Changes
This year came with a lot of big life and career changes. It’s not every year that you get married and move into a completely new life. Life and career changes have definitely been a favorite of year 26, and I’m so excited for the blossoming of these changes that I’ve been seeing! Some of my life and career favorites 26 are…
- Marriage! Living with a man 😉 and not just any man, but the man I love the most in this life and my best friend!
- Starting my oily journey to support my body & home more naturally ++ being given a community that has been such a blessing. I started an instagram showing my journey @naturallysarahgrace!!
- Empowering/Coaching Dietitians & Nutrition Entrepreneurs along with my Nutrition Coaching services [something NEW coming out in November!!]
Verses
I’ve always been pretty good about reading the word of God…but sometimes when reading the versus you’ve heard several times, they just feel different. It’s like… you understand them a little deeper. Some of my favorite verses this year have been:
- Corinthians 6:19-20 — “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
- 2 Timothy 1:7 — “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
- Proverbs 3 [engraved on the inside of my ring]
- Just a few of the verses:
- 3-6) “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
- 13-18) “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.”
- Just a few of the verses:
Friendships Made
- I joined a business group this year and MAN, have created some great friendships out of it: just to name a few — Audrey Roloff (& her husband), Stephanie Jolly (& her husband), The Bethkes, and the Busbys!
- Other friends online: Julie A Ledbetter + Casey Weigand + Tanner Hobbs
My favorite products of this past year!!!!
- Bluelight glasses click here to check them out
- NowFoods protein powders + single bullet – smoothies every day. click here to check it out!
- My canon camera – took on honeymoon!
- One bundle option: click here to find out more
- Other bundle option: click here to find out more
- Oils! Especially the ones you can start your journey with right here.
- Registry items: alexa speaker, our griddler, our gold bar cart
- My loopy phone case: 10% off with code fit10 right here
- House items: Roomba, our steamer we did tons of research on, diffusers replacing candles.
My Favorite Go To Meals
At Home
- Taco Night
- Pizza Night
- Chicken Caesar Spaghetti Squash Casserole
Eating Out:
- Sushi
- Skinny Margs
- Froyo
Favorite Snacks/Dessert
- DIY protein bites and bars
- Apples & nowfoods flavored cashew butters
- “Light” popcorn + some laughing cow cheeses
- DIY lattes with some protein stirred in
Favorite Workouts
I’ve had seasons of ALL kinds of workouts from running to crossfit to others.. But this year I’ve been really loving:
- Long Walks
- Cycling
Registry Favorites:
- Alexia Speaker
- Gold Bar Cart: click here
- Yonanas: click here
- Henckels Knife Set: click here
- Cheeseboard with pull out knives: click here
- Salt and pepper shakers: click here
- Griddler: click here
- Keurig: click here
- Steamer: click here
- French Press: click here
- Stemmed Wine Glasses: click here
- Stemless Wine Glasses: click here
- Stainless Steel Slim Trash Can: click here
- Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls: click here
- 12-bottle wine cooler: click here
- Bali Wine Rack, Wood: click here
- 2 in 1 oven and toaster: click here
- Fur Throw, chocolate: click here
- Granite Mortar and pestle: click here
- 4-piece buffet station: click here
- Measuring Spoons and Cups: click here
- Stainless Steel Flatware Set: click here