Year in reviews have never been my strong suit. I rarely look back and recognize failures or celebrate specific successes, instead I sort of consider everything to be a really good chapter in my book. 2025 was no exception! Was it my most successful year financially? I think it was a close tie to 2020. That matters less to me than the fact that I felt infinitely more balanced and at peace in my endless pursuit of trying to do it all well (and by well I mean without sending myself into a complete panic). 

I rarely set yearly goals for myself or my business. Sometimes I fear that doesn’t push me to do or be more in life but resolutions don’t always encourage me to be or do my best. I don’t like to put myself in a box of expectations and instead do better reflecting and growing. Reflections > resolutions for me and here is what 2025 taught me. 

Reflections

This year brought me more patience with myself, my kids, my life. I believed in myself more and in turn good things came my way. I let go of the mentality that I could do it all, or that I wanted to be everything for everyone. Instead I trusted that I could do what I was capable of doing well and I did it! I let myself find more balance, I admitted that my job isn’t my only job and I was a better mom because of it. I believed in myself more. I basically just gave everyone in my life a break, including myself, and it felt really good. 

Releasing this pressure trickled down to every part of my life. My home, my expectations of others, my routine, my job, my relationships. Sharing your life on social media can be endless. We are constantly exposed to people performing at every hour of the day and there were years where the pressure really got to me. It caused me to create content for the sake of creating, it encouraged a sense of panic in how I operated on the day-to-day and ultimately made me feel like nothing I did was good enough. Releasing the pressure to perform, to have the perfect home, to meet expectations that I couldn’t, to please everyone…has been so freeing. This has been years in the making and has completely changed the way I share with you. It’s allowed me to be more confident in sharing life as it is and in turn has grown this community in ways I could never fathom. A reminder that relationships are built on honesty, transparency and trust! This year proved this even more. 

Dave and I talked more. We discussed hard things and were more honest about what each other and our kids needed. We felt happier and in turn our home felt happy and free and silly and messy and fun. It is interesting to realize the puzzle pieces to a happy life. Obviously it is different for everyone but I feel like we really figured out the pieces this year and made a lot of progress. 

This year I was more focused on my own experience than others. I think the reflections above are proof of this, too. I didn’t feel envy for anyone else’s audiences or content or life. I leaned in to friendships that felt easy and fulfilling. I never felt like I was missing out on anything and instead felt completely content. I am a big believer in the energy you give is the energy you get and I think my relationships, my opportunities and my mindset are a big reflection of that. 

I hired an assistant who feels completely aligned with the accounts I’ve worked for years to create. I feel motivated and inspired and proud. I have really leaned into the idea of fewer, better to maintain my mental health/peace. I’m really proud of what 2025 did more me, the opportunities it created for me professionally and the clarity it gave me personally. I feel more at peace than ever before and I know that will only lead to good things in the new year. 

Resolutions, for good measure.

Grow this community in a physical way. I really admire those whose communities exist offline. Whether it is through cooking recipes in their kitchen, merchandise, community gatherings or just more conversation. I don’t know what that looks like yet but I know that it is definitely a part of this job that brings me the most joy. 

Show up more. I say this every year and always struggle to know exactly how this looks. I feel the pull to share more while also maintaining privacy and being inclusive. It is something that is always at the top of my mind. 

Dedicate more time to focus on the things I want to do. Whether that is cooking, finding a hobby, creating content I’m proud of, reading or literally anything. Thinking of my time as a currency and being more protective of it. 

I want to be better about writing things down! Even if it’s nothing! Especially if it’s nothing! Just for me. Maybe one day it is a to-do list, maybe one day it is a brain dump. I want to remember little things that often go missing in my mind. 

Presence. I want to be more intentional with everything. More present when I’m home and more present when I’m working. More present with myself and not feeling guilty for acknowledging and knowing when this is important. 

I hope 2026 is a continuation of the foundations I put in place this year. I hope the year ahead brings us closer together as a community. I hope you start a new year trusting that you are worthy of everything good, as long as you believe!

Thank you for a wonderful year, friend. xoxo