Properly, first issues first… Completely happy New Yr mates!!! Hope you all had an exquisite night ringing in 2025 with a giant bang. As for me, I used to be cuddled up in our lodge room at Disney listening to fireworks within the distance after an extended day at Hollywood Studios = mama can’t cling like she used to, however the previous few days of enjoyable + household was simply what the physician ordered. Extra of our journey to come back subsequent week, however now that we’re all getting our new 12 months’s resolutions and gameplan so as, I believed it will be enjoyable to take just a little journey down my reminiscence lane.
Plenty of classes realized in 2024= each personally and professionally and I’m right here to hopefully share a few of that knowledge with every of you and possibly spark one thing in you to make a change this 12 months as nicely. One other means I’m attempting to pay it ahead this 12 months with this on-line group I’m so grateful for… so right here we go:
one. my household will all the time come first
I’ve repeated this sentiment so many instances this previous 12 months, however I’m saying it once more now… actually, I’m hoping it stands out to a minimum of somebody in order that they understand TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY IS PRECIOUS. Whether or not it’s along with your growing older grandparents, your teenagers earlier than they head off to school, catching up with a cousin throughout the holidays or whatnot = you’ll NEVER look again and say ‘I want I had spent much less time with them’. Let that set in and savor that high quality time along with your infants, your husband, your mother or anybody that pops in your thoughts = put the cellphone away and have that non-public one-on-one time collectively. I’ve completely relished within the reward of time I’ve had right here as of late.
When my Gran collapsed in mid-October and I halted my complete life to be together with her daily, I didn’t take one single second of that point as a right. I stepped away from work and private obligations and I used to be grateful I had the chance to do it. I sat by her mattress within the hospital after which hospice day in and day trip and it’s a few of the most joyous moments I’ve had in my grownup life. I acquired to say what I needed her to know, I acquired to carry her palms and sing her favourite songs to her and when she left us for her particular seat in heaven, my coronary heart was full in realizing I had virtually two weeks of attending to see my favourite particular person just some extra instances. Take the time, y’all… life is brief, however goodness it’s nice and NOTHING issues greater than household. By no means has, by no means will.
two. studying + writing is so therapeutic
This life lesson has two elements… the primary is all issues studying: I didn’t verify off certainly one of my best targets this 12 months… studying a ebook a month. Positive, which will sound easy and one which’s pretty straightforward, however alas I failed and that’s OK. I did nice my first half of 2024 after which I undoubtedly fell off the wagon the second six months. I discover that I sleep SO significantly better after I learn earlier than mattress. I flip the expertise off, I get cozy snuggled in my mattress [with Tucker of course] after which I get to step outdoors my stress and day by day to-do’s for some old skool leisure. I’ve missed my studying routine so very a lot, so that’s completely one thing I need to treatment in 2025. Particularly relating to morning devotionals and a bit extra quiet time earlier than hitting “go” on loopy, hectic mornings. So when you’ve got any nice [short/5 minute] devotionals to ship my means, please do!
Now onto the second half: writing. It’s the rationale I began this weblog means again when in April 2008 = it was my love of writing. It’s loopy to assume for these of you who’ve been there from the start how a lot you’ve seen of my life. From my wedding ceremony to the start of my infants, to profession shifts, journey, residence renovations and a lot life + type, I can not thanks sufficient for selecting to share a little bit of your days with me… I all the time inform my women I could not have accomplished their child books to 100%, however they’ve a darn good play-by-play right here on the weblog of all their milestones, birthdays, celebrations and extra photos than you may ever think about. I don’t see myself stopping this anytime quickly, so don’t have any concern, you’re caught with me for good. I simply hope I’m in a position to proceed this remedy for so long as you’ll have me.
Similar to studying, writing has change into one other type of my remedy—and actually, it’s the right escape. It’s my probability to replicate on the little moments that make life candy, like the ladies’ newest adventures or a brand new assortment that’s acquired me excited for the season forward. There’s simply one thing about placing phrases on a web page [or screen 😉].
Running a blog offers me that non-public area to unload, get artistic, and, most significantly, really feel related to all of you!! It’s not nearly sharing type ideas—it’s about sharing items of life that make all of it come collectively and it actually helps me by means of the nice AND unhealthy days in addition to every part in between.
three. be true to your self, it doesn’t matter what
The older I get, the wiser I get… nicely, possibly not, however that’s what I’m telling myself. At 41, I’ve actually discovered peace in being precisely who God made me to be. I really feel like I’ve turned a nook lately, as I worth much more solo time than ever earlier than and I additionally discover myself realizing that it’s OK to not have my days stuffed to max capability. I’ve additionally stopped caring a lot about what individuals assume and continually wanting the approval of others which has been SO DAMN refreshing!
I’ve stayed true to who I’m = strolling away from poisonous individuals, saying NO so I can say YES to different extra necessary issues… you are feeling me?? It’s been a very tough lesson to study belief me, however one of the necessary by far. I’ve come to comprehend my intestine has fairly good instinct, even when it’s uncomfortable… Whether or not it’s working by means of a tricky choice, setting a boundary [not barrier as Mimi would say], or simply saying “no” to one thing that doesn’t really feel proper = I’ve realized that staying true to who I’m is all the time the most suitable choice and God hasn’t steered me flawed but.
So for this subsequent 12 months: let’s all make a pact to cease worrying about pleasing everybody else and begin specializing in what makes us comfortable and fulfilled. As a result of while you reside authentically, every part else begins to fall into place!
4. figuring out does a physique AND thoughts good
As a result of you already know I’m ALWAYS engaged on my health child!!!! At 41, I’m palms down probably the most bodily match I’ve been in my complete life = now let’s preface that to say that goodness gracious, it comes with plenty of motivation + dedication + willpower packed in there as nicely = however exhausting work certain does repay and it feels good. In 2024, I discovered myself craving time within the gymnasium… weirdo proper??? It’s way more than only a solution to keep wholesome for me—it’s a complete temper booster. There’s one thing about getting energetic that clears my thoughts, lifts my spirits and provides me way more positivity, and leaves me feeling energized. Each. single. time… so long as I can will myself away from bed to make it occur!
For me, it’s extra than simply an arm/leg/full physique/cardio exercise: it’s an opportunity to unplug and give attention to me for a bit! Whether or not it’s a fast cardio stroll or a full-on 1 hour coaching session with my coach Avery… getting that sweat on does wonders for each the physique + the thoughts. AND I’ve seen that taking good care of myself is essential to exhibiting up as the most effective model of myself in all areas of life = particularly relating to my household and mates. So placed on some tunes… your favourite old skool rap, just a little traditional rock ‘n roll = no judgment right here pretty much as good music all the time will get me motivated to go above and past after I’m within the gymnasium.
5. touring brings me a lot pleasure
Touring has formally change into my official love language = who wants presents when you will get a ticket to jet set someplace fabulous?!! There’s simply one thing magical about packing up the household and hitting the skies [or the road] collectively. Each journey, large or small, is a brand new alternative for cherished recollections we will make collectively and replay for years and years to come back. As of now, I’ve visited 42 of the 50 states and I’m hoping so as to add a minimum of 1 new state this subsequent 12 months = possibly Montana, Oregon or Utah???
The most effective a part of touring? It’s the standard time with my household, away from the hustle of day by day life and seeing new cultures, new vacation spot and naturally diverse methods of how individuals do life. We get to chuckle, discover, and simply be collectively with out life’s loopy distractions. It’s like hitting the reset button = I’m all in for extra of that, each personally and professionally [and yes, I’ve got two work trips coming up later this month… one to Cabo, Mexico, and one to Sea Island, Georgia. Here’s to making more memories and adding to the list of my personal travel highlights! After all, my motto is to work hard and play harder.
six. done is better than perfect…. perfectionism is overrated
This one hit home for me this year. I’ve always been the type to tweak, refine and ABSOLUTELY overthink things to death, but 2024 showed me that chasing perfection can be exhausting—and honestly, it’s not worth it. Sometimes, just getting something done is the real victory. … case in point: our first house flip down on 30a. It proved to take months longer than expected due to setbacks and lots of challenges when it came to renovation woes, but the end result was great AND we got it sold within a super short timeframe. Not to mention, Jeff and I had fun doing a project like this together.
Another example: filming reels. To be 100% honest, I am not a huge fan of reels and never have been. I think some people are crazy talented and have a vision to create a super inspiring, well thought out short-form video, but that’s just not me. I prefer pretty pics taken by my photographer… call me old fashioned, but it’s true. I do need to remind myself I don’t have to spend hours on a reel to make something I am proud of. Done is better than perfect!
In summation, perfectionism keeps us stuck. It holds us back from celebrating progress, from taking leaps AND from enjoying the process itself!! This year, I let go of the idea that everything had to look flawless or be exactly as I imagined—and guess what? The world didn’t end! So here’s to embracing imperfection, letting go of the pressure, and finding freedom in just showing up and being my authentic self every single day.
seven. working smarter, not harder pays off
In 2024, I shifted my focus to working smarter = prioritizing what matters, setting boundaries and streamlining processes when + where I could… and let me tell you, it’s been a game-changer to my overall productivity!!
Whether it’s simply saying “no,” delegating when possible, or simply recognizing when it’s time to step away and recharge, I’ve seen how much more I can accomplish without running myself into the ground day in and day out. I don’t need to reinvent the wheel all the time = if something works, don’t change it. I am always trying to evolve and create and change my work + brand and sometimes I think I might do that too much. For instance, I need to stick to my newsletter templates that I worked hard to create = I don’t have to constantly change their look + feel = keep it simple and concise so I can spend time working on new content, etc.
Spoiler: it also leaves more time for the things that truly bring me joy. Efficiency isn’t just about productivity—it’s about creating a life that feels balanced and purposeful. Working smarter is the gift that keeps on giving! And yes, this is a topic you’re going to hear more of when my 2025 word of the year blog post debuts next Monday so stay tuned for that announcement as well…
eight. find your work tribe and love them hard
Social media can be a REALLY lonely place. Let’s face it… you’re sitting behind a computer screen most days or you’re on your phone talking to a screen. Sure, it has lots of perks, but with that comes a lot of challenges—especially for a very social person like myself.
I’ve found it SO helpful in recent years having a tightknit group of social media friends. It’s a gamechanger… one because we all know what this career is like and two, it’s so helpful bouncing ideas off one another, sharing insights as to what works and what doesn’t and honestly having a safe space of people to work through this career with because it can be a very lonely space to be in.
Gone are the days when I was in corporate marketing and had friends to eat lunch out with… or drink coffee with and talk about life to. Sure, that may sound small but I am so thankful to have found real life friends I can reach out to, complain to about Instagram’s latest algorithm changes, or honestly just vent with. So my work circle may be virtual most times, but sometimes we get the opportunity to come together and have fun, go on a trip to take you along with us for a new adventure, etc.
Case in point: these ladies above. Some of them I have known for years and years and others are recent friendships I’ve formed over the past year. But I am thankful we have come together—through Shop Avara no less— and found some really great women who champion each other, talk strategy when necessary, but also love to have a good time and are open, honest and totally inspiring all at the same time. Most of us are headed to Cabo in a few weeks and I am counting down the days until I get to squeeze them and see them in the tropics for some much needed sunshine and laughs.
nine. color is my favorite neutral
This might not come as much of a shock, but for more recent readers… I’ve fully embraced the idea that color can be a neutral. Gone are the days of defaulting to black, white, and beige for everything— I haven’t done that in years personally, but I am divulging some very important information in the hopes that YOU can step outside of your comfort zone and say no to beige and boring as much as possible. I’ve seen thousands and thousands of reels + videos where every single piece of decor and home furnishings are neutrals and I’m the first one to tell you it’s too vanilla = it lacks personality in my opinion and it’s too cookie cutter for me.
There is SO much more fun to be hard when you own you love color and don’t spiral down some random trend just because everyone else is doing it. I assure you it’s a lot more fun when you wear a bright pop of cool coral or if you take a chance and paint a room in your home a deep shade of blue.
Not only does color have this amazing way of instantly lifting your mood, but it makes even the simplest things feel special! This past year, I have certainly leaned into more color AND pattern into my wardrobe. Not only in clothing and apparel, but in even more fun accents and decorative details throughout our home as well. And it’s refreshing to see it all come to life. Life is WAY too short for a grayscale palette in your persona… trust me. Try it and you just might like it, too!
ten. my biggest pet peeve is a copycat
There I said it… this is the biggest revelation for me from 2024 and it’s a hard one. It’s really hard when people you know in real life copy your every move and honestly it’s exhausting to watch it unfold right in front of your eyes. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but for me, it’s downright disappointing and I want to scream it out loud “get your own ideas”!
I’ve seen it play out over and over again this past year and it was exhausting = I know I can’t change someone, so I made a point to change what I could to redirect my focus. It’s really weird when you have people on the internet reaching out to you talking about how much they see people doing the exact same thing as you and using it as their own work… that’s when I knew I had to change some things to make sure my ideas stay my own.
I did my best not to let it get to me… but as the frequency + boldness of copycats seemed to get stronger and stronger, and it became much harder for me to simply ignore it or laugh it off as flattery. The truth of the matter is that I spend hours and hours creating content, writing blog posts, shopping sales to share with you, etc and it’s exhausting to see copycats using it as their own [and honestly kinda creepy as well]. On some days, it doesn’t hassle me, however on others, I discovered myself getting actually upset by it so I’ve gone to nice lengths to create tons extra unique concepts that hopefully gained’t be replicated… and if they’re, nicely then I assume extra direct conversations must be had. Nevertheless it’s a giant lesson I realized in 2024 and a worthwhile one at that. In brief, be who you might be… higher to be beloved to your genuine self than a reproduction of another person!
So there you could have it… 10 classes I realized in 2024. Extra classes to be realized this 12 months I’m sure of it and I hope this has been useful and possibly a little bit of reflecting you are able to do to see simply how a lot YOU achieved these previous twelve months as nicely. It’s been SO a lot enjoyable doing just a little deep dive into all issues from the previous 12 months: for those who missed my different recaps, you’ll be able to learn them right here:
