I vomit a little in my mouth even typing the words President Trump, but today was the day, the day in which he took office and we said goodbye to easily the best President of my lifetime, Barack Obama. And yet as the page turns on President Obama, I've been reflecting a lot on today, Trump's horrific downtrodden speech, and what the next four years look like. And although I know Trump isn't a reader, these are three books that I think could arguably help deter him from making a mockery of his title over the next four years. 

Last year was the first time I had ever posted my goals for the year. I know there’s a lot of cynics when it comes to New Year’s resolutions, but I see these more as guiding goals for the year rather than wanting to change myself. In 2017 I want to continue focusing on a lot of the same areas that I did in 2016, but continue to push myself to improve in all facets in my life.

Sitting down to write this year in review remains one of the most daunting things I write all year. It's incredibly difficult to encapsulate 365 days into a single post without making it as long as a George R. R. Martin novel. I have this constant fear that I'll miss something, or mis-represent something. And yet just like I have for the past eight years here I am to try and put a bow on what was one of the best years of my life. 

Welcome to our sixth annual favorite things. Its an opportunity to look back on all of our favorite things we've watched, ate, and experienced in the year that was. Each year you can see our tastes begin to change, our bodies grow older, and our hearts younger. It was a great year and I'm excited to share with you our favorite things from 2016. 

Each year I put together a list of a handful of goals for the upcoming year. I try to make the goals realistic but also things to better me as a person whether physically or mentally. For goals I've found that looking back on how I did, not only at setting goals, but also achieving them can be just as important as actually accomplishing them. So how did I do?

There's something magical each year when Jenn and I bring the multitude of Christmas boxes out of storage and into our home. This year we decorated (like we have for many years) the Saturday following Thanksgiving. After renting out the freight elevator and taking up our boxes of Christmas trees and decorations Jenn went to work on making our home beautiful. I helped where possible (building the trees and lugging boxes up and down from storage) but for the most part I stepped back and let Jenn work her magic.