We've been in the Purple House for almost a year now! Can you believe it?! In this year, we've learned so much about what it means to be intentional with our neighborhood, health, finances, faith, and time. I do not typically do "favorites" posts, but I personally love hearing from my friends what is working for them.

For that reason, enjoy this list of my favorites from the past year. These are products, people, places, websites, etc that have helped us stick with our intentions, find purpose, and pursue a deeper faith. 

1. Moving (it):

Victoria Yates Nutrition I know Victoria from college, but have been obsessed lately with her instagram & intuitive eating website. She's a Registered Nurse, Holistic Health Coach, and Intuitive Eating Counselor. What I love is that she has such a great perspective on positive food choices & eating. As William and I have began to make more intentional health decisions, her recipes & advice has proved so beneficial to reshape our understanding of food & exercise. Find her here. 

POPSUGAR Fitness Videos Last summer, I drank the Koolaid and joined a gym which was great. Then, I started having to pay every gym visit for parking & fight rush hour traffic to get there. Naturally, I stopped going and didn't have another solution for exercise. I was about to chug more Koolaid and pay for videos online, when my life coach suggested I look online for free workout videos. That's when I found Popsugar. It is a sight to see, but I truly love it! The instructions are clear, there's many options for routines, and the moves are challenging--totally what I need right now. Find the videos here. 

2. Following:

Candace Cameron Bure @candacecbure  Like me, you probably know Candace as the big sister from Full & Fuller House. However, she has recently come out with a new book (Staying Stylish) and has a really great Instagram presence. I love all the things she endorses--Hallmark movies, great devotionals/ study bibles, fitness, and cute home decor. She's quirky,  a Christian, & seems like she could be a good friend. I don't know, I just like her. 

Heather Avis @macymakesmyday It is true, Macy and her siblings, Truly & August, make my day every day! Their instagram is a continual flow of joy, dancing, and laughter. If we have talked in the past 3 months, there is a 97% chance I've made you follow Macy Makes My Day. I first heard Heather on Shauna Neiquist's podcast and immediately started sobbing at her beautiful story of adoption. She's an advocate for adoption & down syndrome, a writer (The Lucky Few), and the world's most stylish mom. If you get nothing else from today's post, you should follow them. 

3. Reading:

100 Days to Brave by Annie F Downs If you follow me on the Cultivate Life Coaching blog, you know that my word for 2018 is BRAVE, largely inspired by this devotional. Each day, I am reminded that bravery is interlaced throughout our daily decision to trust in God's love & follow the Spirit's prompting in our lives. This devotional has shown me ways I already am brave and has given me daily actions to take bolder, braver steps towards life, relationships, and faith. 

Of Mess and Moxie It's Jen Hatmaker, y'all, so you know it is good. As always, Jen is full of hilarity and stop-you-in-your-tracks-capital-T-R-U-T-H. It is like she is writing directly to my soul and breathing words of life over me. She's honest about the Church, about our own responsibilities, about grace that surpasses our guilt, and about food. What more could you possibly want? 

4. Gifting:

Scentsy Bath Bombs My sister-in-law gifted us two bath bombs (Luna & Jammy Time) for Christmas and I've already used them both! I neglected self care for too long in 2017 and like it does, everything suffered. If you're anything like me, a nice hot bath, lovely scents, and a good book can pull me straight out of a funk. I've used lots of bath bombs in my life, but especially love these scents. Also, we are just in awe of my SIL & the hard work she puts into her business. You can find my supplier here.

Athletic pants I have a hard time finding athletic pants that I like that also don't break the bank. That's where these Souteam Yoga Leggings come in. They fit true to size, come in fun colors, and are inexpensive! 

5. Puppy-ing:

Kong Chew Toy You've all met Moxie & Magnolia, so you know that we have a lot of canine energy in this house. As Moxie discovers her own inner puppy, we were desperate to teach the two kids, I mean puppies, to play together without adult interaction, so we could binge watch The Crown in peace. This Kong Chew & Pull Toy  did the trick! If we want them to last, fully rubber toys are our only option, so this one is gold. They can tug & pull to their hearts content & the humans can join the fun if we want! The link above is cheaper than what we paid at the pets store, so you're welcome. 

6. Eating

Walmart Grocery Pick Up Say what you want about Walmart, but I'm sold. Y'all, I can order groceries from my couch, drive to the store, and have the kindest women place my bags in the car.  On Halloween weekend, they came to our car and let us trick-or-treat! Seriously, what could be better? Here's a code for $10 your first order. Trust me, you'll never go to the grocery store again.  Quick note: they have not figured out a system to use reusable bags yet, but as we discovered, Walmart has recycling bins for your plastic bags! 

Carver's Market Gosh, I'm reluctant to put this one on here because I don't want anyone else to know about this gem. Then again, it is awesome and I want everyone to know! Carver's Market is an answer to prayers as our neighborhood is a food desert. The author of Toxic Charity opened it and it is a great source for food & coffee in our hood. The coffee is affordable & delicious. The market serves as a great quick stop (with no crowds!) 

7. Residing

Johunna Redmond Our realtor was such a crucial part of our move to the Purple House. As soon as we told her our vision for our house and why we loved this community so much, she was on it and totally invested. Everything we ever needed (or needed explained) was taken care of. She even went with us to Home Depot after the closing to help us with immediate renovations and brought us her momma's homemade jam for Christmas. 10/10, for sure. If you're house hunting in the ATL, call Johunna. 

Abode In all honesty, a security system was one of my top concerns when we moved. Our Abode syncs with our other smart home devices (Alexa & the Nest thermostat) and it has been a game changer. Is it weird to be in love with a security system? Maybe, but I have no shame. Find more information here. 

This year has been a whirlwind to say the least. I'm going to write a post soon about all the things we've learned in the first year of homeownership & marriage, but for now, enjoy the list above! Everything has the Purple House seal of approve.

Now for the important part. If you have any favorites in the following categories, let me know! What I'm interested in:

• House plants that need little attention. 

• Rugs that can stand up against puppers.

• More environmentally safe option for our Swiffer Wet Jet This is not a drill. We have a mop, vacuum, & broom, but nothing seems to end the mess. Does anyone use/love their Roomba sweeper/mop combo? 
• Foundation What's the best foundation/makeup that covers & lasts but is inexpensive? 
• A graphic designer for Cultivate Life Coaching logo
• Books to read