January has been a very long month. It's slowly gotten colder and colder, with temperatures dropping to -21 yesterday! In honor of the longest moth of the year ending, I'm bringing back my "What I'm Loving" series. The last time I shared my monthly loves was back in September, so it's long overdue!

Below are the five things I've been loving this January.

This year, I've decided to get into candles. My family is obsessed with them, but for some reason, I've never jumped on the candle-loving train. That's going to change this year! In the winter, burning a candle can really create a warm and comforting home. I reached out to my candle-burning friends for their recommendations. Below are twelve of the most popular scents for the season, according to my favorite people.

I spent the last week in Northern California and it was perfect. I still had 2.5 days of vacation to use up by the end of January, so I decided to take a last-minute trip to California. I told myself if I could find a cheap flight out there that I would go. I hadn't seen my friends since they visited in May, so a visit was long overdue. I was able to spend quality time with each of my girls, both one-on-one and together. Eleven cities over seven days - it was busy, but so fun. Read all about it below!

Winter is a magical time, but can also be quite gloomy. With less daylight hours and more overcast days, it can be easy to catch the winter blues. Being born in Canada and now living in Chicago, I've had my fair share of winters. Throughout the years, I've discovered some tried-and-true strategies to survive the chillier months. Chicago was just hit with a huge snowstorm, so I thought what better day to share my tips for getting through these snowy days? Below are 12 of my favorite ways to beat the winter gloom and find joy in this season.

Yesterday, it snowed all day long here in Chicago. It was beautiful. I love winter because it means cozying up in sweaters. There are so many different takes on the classic sweater and today, I'm sharing my favorites. From necklines to fabric details, there are so many options - and so many ways to mix-and-match. See below for 16 of my favorite ways to wear sweaters, as well as some great ways to shop each style.

In yesterday's recap of our trip to Charleston, I mentioned staying in a beautiful Airbnb while in Knoxville, TN. Today, I'm giving you a tour! This SoKno River View Craftsman was perfect. As soon as we walked in, all the details jumped out at us. The home had clearly been renovated, but with added charm. The house itself is a three bedroom, two bathroom home with a lake view. The master has an ensuite, complete with a walk-in shower; the other two bedrooms share the common bathroom. The kitchen has open shelving, subway tile, and wooden accents. There was also cute decor - like a "Lavender" sign - adding a real HGTV vibe. Plus, it was crazy clean, which I appreciate more than anything. I would highly recommend staying here if you're ever visiting the Knoxville area. 

FRONT DOOR & FRONT ENTRYWAY

FAMILY ROOM & DINING ROOM

THE KITCHEN

BEDROOM #1 & MASTER BEDROOM

MASTER BATHROOM

BEDROOM #3 AND BATHROOM

CUTE SIGNS

I love Airbnb because you get to stay in great little places like this.

This past week, my family moved my sister and her fiancé to Charleston. After spending New Years' Eve together, we set out on our road trip from Naperville, IL to Charleston, SC. We took three cars and one U-Haul trailer through six states, driving 948 miles over two days. It was a lot of time spent in the car, but so fun. We brought three walkie-talkies so each car was able to communicate with the other two. For anyone going on a road trip - highly recommend bringing them along! We had a wonderful week spending time as a family, while also exploring my sister's new home.

COMING UP THIS MONTH

January 1 Start our road trip to Charleston
January 2-6 Visit Charleston, SC (and move my sister there)
January 11 Friends' night out
January 12 Celebrate Kat's birthday
January 18 Celebrate my Dad's birthday
January 19-22 Visit friends in California

"I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Psalm 139:14

A couple of years ago, I decided that rather than make "resolutions," I'd prefer to have a word that defines my year. For 2017, I chose the word JOY, and for 2018, INTENTION. This year, the word that's been on my heart is ENOUGH. I've realized over the past few months that I'm starting to compare a lot. Compare my experiences, what kind of events I'm attending, how my photos compare to other bloggers, etc. I'm confident in who I am, but every now and again, I have these moments, and that's when the comparison creeps in. This year, I want to be remember that I am enough.