The A La Carte

or what some would call the I’m Back post.

I’ve never been a go big or go home kind of goal-setter.

Sure, I love a good fresh start. I love a clean notebook, a new year, a blank calendar begging for color-coded plans. But I’ve learned the hard way that sprinting into January usually means limping into March wondering where all my energy went.

So for 2026, I’m doing something different.

My word for the year (at least for now) is balance.

Not in a perfect, Instagram-worthy, everything-is-effortless kind of way.
But in a real, lived-in, sometimes messy, constantly adjusted kind of way.

Balance Looks Like…

Balance this year means:

• Work vs. home life
• Ambition vs. rest
• Showing up vs. knowing when to stop
• Building momentum without burning out

It means letting seasons be seasons instead of forcing everything to bloom at once.

And honestly? Balance also means giving myself permission to not do everything all the time, even when I technically could.

A Softer Blogging Goal (on Purpose)

One of my main goals for 2026 is writing one blog post per week.

Not three.
Not daily.
Not “every time inspiration strikes at 11:47pm.”

One.

I know myself well enough to know that starting strong and then quietly disappearing isn’t a failure of discipline, it’s a failure of pacing. I’d rather under-promise and over-deliver than set myself up for a cycle of pressure and guilt.

One blog a week feels:

• Manageable
• Sustainable
• Built for the long game

And if some weeks that post is shorter, more reflective, or less polished? That’s okay too. This space gets to breathe.

Current Life Update: Settling, Slowly

On the life front, things are very much in a reset and regroup phase. Yes I disappeared exactly ALL of December that included some big agenda items that time could not wait for. And that is ok.

I’m officially moved in at my sister’s place, which has brought a mix of comfort, chaos, and the kind of deep exhale that only comes after a big transition. With upcoming surgeries for my brother-in-law, the house has shifted into preparation mode. And not that I’m “settled” that also includes a slow but steady wave of cleaning and organizing.

The start was in the bathroom I share with my niece. One room. One space. One small win.
And from there, it’ll spread.

No overhaul overnight. Just progress.

Family, Sleepovers, and Finding Our Rhythm

In my personal ❤ life, we crossed a pretty big milestone around Christmas: our first sleepovers with the kids.

And honestly? They were fun.

Not perfect. Not seamless. But good. The kind of good that comes from figuring things out together. Learning routines, adjusting expectations, and finding our rhythm as a blended family. Watching how everyone fits together, where we naturally click, and where we need a little more patience.

Buck included, of course. 🐾

There’s something really grounding about settling into that groove, about realizing that “family” doesn’t have to look one specific way to feel right.

Carrying This Energy Forward

If there’s one thing I want to carry into 2026, it’s this:

I don’t need to rush to prove anything.

I can build, slowly.
I can choose consistency over intensity.
I can let balance be a practice, not a destination.

This year isn’t about doing more.
It’s about doing what matters, and doing it well.

One week at a time.

Here’s to balance.
Here’s to steady progress.
And here’s to a year that leaves room to actually live in it.

Do you have a word of the year? I’d love to hear it!