2025 Notes
I came into 2025 extremely ambitious. I believed I could do anything if I would just try, because trying has always been the biggest obstacle. I’m a champion at starting things, only to give up midway through and I’m guilty of scattering half done projects all over the place. I thought if I could just stay consistent this year, I’d achieve anything. Everything probably.
Lol okay, so the lesson learned is that consistency is important, but the pot needs more than one ingredient to make a soup. Time in heavy doses, because wheels turn slowly, and also some luck, which we just cannot control. So I didn’t hit every goal I made for myself, but I did get close enough to be motivated to stay the course. And so there it is, the true takeaway from this year - stay the course.
Just keep at it and let’s see what we can make happen with another year of hard work.
And I’m excited for 2026. I still feel wildly ambitious. Going into the new year, I am staying the course in important things and totally frivolous things. I’ll keep writing and hitting publish. I’ll keep showing up to work. I’ll keep signing up to make brownies for my kid’s classroom bake sale even though I always forget until the night before. I’ll stay the course on growing out my hair even though I have to live through a length that I hate and I’ll stay the course on applying a coat of no-bite nail polish to my nails every week so I don’t chew them.
I’m grateful for the year I had. It was a good one. I try to write a sentence in a notebook every day or at least a few times a week. Low barometer for success right, just a sentence, but it adds up! This year is full of goodies, like hitting metric goals at work, and staying up late with my friends, or meeting my sisters at a waterpark after work on a whim. Actually, let’s just get into some of those notes. Here’s a few things that delighted me this year.
Words I lived by -
“To fall asleep, you must first pretend to be asleep.”
Lightly akin to “what happens if you just try?" and “stay the course.” The manifesting girlies already know - if you want something, start living like you already have it.
I felt so freaking good in this outfit, which is almost embarrassing because of how simple it is. In the picture above, I was about to go for a walk by myself in Chicago and I felt like one cute gal. My husband and I were away for a long weekend in Chicago without kids, and I just got this idea in my head that I wanted to be a “hot wife” which basically just meant taking a shower everyday and not wearing pajamas. So basic, but I felt really put together in this outfit.
Chambray button down // J Crew White Denim Shorts // Kate Spade Phone Purse // Coach Sunnies
A couple other things I enjoyed prancing around in - this old Zesica wrap dress that I sometimes see on Poshmark. We love a whole outfit made from a single piece. I also trotted out stripes all summer long at the beach. An old Boden purse that is my summer go-to, and the soft-sided cooler that I picked up at TJ Maxx on a whim. The beach blanket is at least 10 years old, but the plastic beach flip-flops were from GAP this year. When I took this picture, I realized I have a specific taste. Not “taste” perhaps, I don’t want to inflate what I’m saying here, it’s more that all these parts were acquired over years of shopping and seeing that I revert to the same colors over and over again reminded me to trust my gut. I know what I like! Cheers to leaning into that!
Actually we were in Chicago twice in 2025. The first was for a spring break trip with our family in late March. We are northern Michigan folks, so while it was literally snowing at home, we got our first taste of 70º weather while in the big city. That alone - hallelujah. We bopped around to all the museums and ate really great pizza and ramen, and put some miles on our sneakers.
Look, I was still wearing skinny jeans. Cute!
Reading
I found Amor Towles and read all of his books. A Gentleman in Moscow was and is my favorite, but The Lincoln Highway was right up there too.
A few more books I loved this year:
Ninety-Nine Glimpses of Princess Margaret by Craig Brown.
James by Percival Everett
Secrets of the Presidents by Corman O’Brien
Say Yes.
Another major takeaway occurred when a friend’s mother suddenly passed away in late summer. All my high school friends came to the funeral and as we stood together for the first time in years, I thought we cannot possibly wait for another tragedy to be the thing that brings us together. I decided to go on a binge of saying yes to as many fun opportunities as I could without worrying about the logistics. So for the last half of the year, I said yes to every plan presented to me and I kept them, too. Even though it was inconvenient sometimes. Even though we live 2.5 hours apart and I want to lay on the couch at home most weekends. I made impulsive reservations. Stayed up late and got up early. I saw my friends and family more than ever and had a lot of fun. It was worth it. I’ll be keeping this on my mind all of next year too.
Things I Bought With No Regrets -
No Bite Nail Polish. Look, it’s gross but I want to chew my nails. This keeps my fingers out of my mouth because it truly is disgusting.
These toner pads. They’re the real deal. They just make my face look bright and clean.
Drift Air Freshener for my car. Longtime stan. I give them to people for Christmas because I’m such a gospel sharing missionary for this product.
Fleece high-waisted pants + wide leg leggings from Old Navy. I have a couple pairs of each and I do not exaggerate when I say I rotate between them exclusively. Exhibit 1 and 2 below.
Listening
I was obsessed with Lily Allen’s West End Girl from the minute it dropped.
Most days, I listened to the 2-minute This Day in History podcast on my way into work.
Speaking of podcasts, the gals of A Beautiful Mess, My Favorite Murder, and Bad on Paper narrated every walk I took. The Murder gals made me very suspicious of anyone who drove by me while I marched on. Should I get some pepper spray?
More recently, I got myself this bluetooth speaker/radio for an early Christmas present and have loved it so far. Aesthetically very pleasing and it’s so nice to have a regular old radio in the kitchen!
Some good follows -
IG
sundayscaries
onlyninetieskidsknow
smarterinasec
Substack
Midnight Crumbs
Hot Tip
Notes On
I Have Great Taste
Influencers I enjoy and trust:
whatelsedidibuy
my.sister.made.me.buy.it
thingsiboughtandliked
Let me show you my one single hero recipe. I found this Pumpkin Bread Trifle with Pepita Streusal in the Real Simple magazine and it is flawless. I made it for Thanksgiving and my family gave me the cooking praise I’ve been craving my entire life. If you are extremely mid at cooking, like I am, this is THEE recipe to stun your family.
I also consumed so much grocery store sushi. Just to temper any thoughts you might had about me being a fancy cook or eater. $12 sushi alllllll day for this girl.
