Bookworm Cottage Style

We are roughly halfway through 2026. Now seems as good a time as ever to check-in on our goals. In some goals I am on track for success, but in other areas I’ve hardly made a dent. 

I underestimated just how brutal our first winter with a baby would be. He was seemingly sick constantly and I felt like I emerged from the first 2 months of the year with nothing to show for. But then the days warmed up and our little guy’s immune system got a little more resilient and I was able to establish some semblance of a routine.

Let’s start with the positive.

ON TRACK FOR SUCCESS

Media/Entertainment: One of my goals was to see at least 5 movies in theaters and to watch at least 50 movies this year. Because goals should be fun, not just strictly for self-improvement! I am right on track, having seen 3 in theaters and having watched 28 so far. I’m also pretty much on track to meet my reading goal of 75 books, having read 36 books so far this year.

Parenting: We’ve enjoyed so many milestones over the past six months. Our first overnight trip and first airplane ride with a baby. Introducing him to his cousin and extended family. Taking him into Boston on the T to ride the swan boats. Strawberry picking. First time on a bucket swing at the playground. Visiting the library children’s room. Plus lots and lots of books.

Monthly Dates: This is a hard one to pull off with a new baby and limited childcare options, so we figured out a nice workaround. Each month, my husband and I pick a Friday and have a pre-work breakfast date at a different diner in the area after dropping our baby off at daycare. It’s affordable, it’s easy to pull off without needing a babysitter, and we are still able to be home and online before 9:30. At the beginning of the year, I also made a list of 5 new-to-me restaurants that I want to try for dinner. So far we’ve hit 2/5. 

Fashion and Beauty: The biggest change is that after the winter doldrums passed, I started making an effort to put on a real outfit and do my makeup more often than not. This simple change has led me to get more creative with the clothes I do have, and highlight wardrobe holes. Feeling put together has also made me more motivated to get out of the house. I’ve invested in a few jeans, shorts, and pants in on-trend silhouettes that I’m really pleased with. I’ve mastered how to blow my hair out straight with the Shark FlexStyle, though I only find the energy to do so a couple nights per week. 

Home Updates: The backyard project is one I’ve been scheming for years and I’m happy to report that I’ve made huge headway in transforming it. What used to be an unusable thicket of weeds, hostas, dirt, and mulch is now roughly 200 square feet of pristine, toddler-friendly faux turf. A new solo stove (for dad), a new water table (for baby), and new outdoor table linens (for mom) have transformed our postage stamp yard into a family friendly retreat. We are still trying to see if there’s room in the budget to add a couple of finishing touches (specifically, Polywood Adirondack chairs and perhaps a kids picnic table) but this was a huge win for 2026. I can’t wait to share photos with you soon (sneak peek at the top of this post). Our other major update was hiring an electrician to install sconces on either side of our garage and a ceiling fan on our front porch. 

Garden: The garden priority for this year was to remove all of the remaining hostas and finish my hydrangea border. Done! But we didn’t stop there. We also brought in new coneflowers, peonies, dahlias, and roses. I will share a 2026 garden tour later this summer.

AREAS TO DOUBLE DOWN ON

Exercise: I have not been able to find the time to take nearly as many studio exercise classes as I would like. This is the first thing that falls off when our baby is sick or when I need that extra time to make dinner or when it is finally beautiful and we want to spend all evening outdoors as a family.  I had hoped to take 100 classes this year but thus far I’m only at 31. Still averaging at least once per week, but I’d really like to prioritize increasing the frequency. It’s not so much a problem of willpower as it is a problem of logistics.

500 Hours Outside: Wow, this is a tough one! I think I underestimated just how hard it is to get more than an hour on a weekday in a household that utilizes fulltime daycare. We frankly just don’t have that much time together on weekdays. So far we are at 132 hours. I keep telling myself that even if we “fail,” any time outdoors is a win for our family.

Other Home Updates: I’ve been daydreaming about custom millwork (cased openings and wainscoting) since the day we moved in and am still hoping that this is the year that we can make it happen. The project got pushed back a few months, so fingers crossed that things don’t fall through. I had tentatively put a stair runner and a new dresser on my list for this year, but if the carpentry project works out there likely won’t be additional room in the budget. We shall see.

Hair: I’ve only had one haircut so far this year so I think it’s unlikely to meet my goal of getting quarterly cuts. I want to figure out an air dry routine that works with my postpartum hair texture and am very curious about the Crown Affair towel and air dry cream.  I also want to find time to master the curling barrels on my Shark FlexStyle. I’ve tried it twice and realized I need hairspray and a misting bottle, which I just purchased. I am excited to give it another try now that I think I have the products I need.

Fall Planting: I’m determined to get some fall bulbs in the ground this year. Perhaps tulips, perhaps daffodils, perhaps both. 

Other Goals: I really want to host more parties and be proactive about making plans with friends. I also want to work on my posture by doing this stretch daily. Looking ahead, we have our first overnight trip without baby on the books, as well as an upcoming beach day with him. I also want to muster up the courage to take him to a restaurant this summer.