Happy New Year Friends! I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday Season with your loved ones. I hope you’re feeling rested . . . or maybe, like me, you’re going to take this upcoming weekend for some major downtime to recharge your battery before regularly scheduled life kicks in next week.

We had a wonderful but bittersweet White Christmas in Rhode Island. My Aunt Nikki (my mom’s sister) passed away on the 23rd after a long, slow decline in Memory Care. I know she is now exactly where she would want to be – with her devoted husband, my Uncle Ray. She had lost her connection to this world a few years ago, and as sad as it is to know she’s gone, it was time, and I am happy that she is at peace.

All of my people are rarely under one roof, and I did my best to savor three days of having my nearest and dearest all together. We enjoyed plenty of game time, puzzle time, movie time, and so many good conversations! We were all together . . . warm, cozy, healthy and happy . . . sharing our memories and traditions, with plenty of delicious food, in a place that means so much to our family. All was right with our little world, and for that I am so so grateful.

We had my cousin, Dan, and his family here for a very chill New Year’s. They are some of my favorite people, and I loved the opportunity to unwind and hang out with them. We ignored the two-hour time difference and rang in 2025 when the ball dropped in New York. Is it wrong that my favorite way to celebrate a new year is being sound asleep at midnight?? 🥳😴

I have been working hard to be intentional in my efforts to be Present. The Planner in me has a habit of planning a wonderful event or experience, getting to said event, and while I’m there, I start mentally planning the next big thing, instead of soaking up the experience that I worked so hard to plan. Thankfully, I’ve come to realize that this unintentional pattern of behavior has robbed me of moments I want to savor. So, my new strategy is to recognize when I am in the midst of something special, whether it’s family time or a peaceful moment alone, I pause to take it all in. I focus on absorbing all that I’m experiencing – the sights, sounds, smells, and, most of all, the intangible feelings. By allowing myself to fully be in the moment, I feel like I’m experiencing special times on a new level.

I’m not big on New Year’s Resolutions, but I love a clean slate.

This fall, I found a quote on Pinterest that really resonated with me . . .

Although I’m not big on Resolutions, I love a new Mantra! There are so many aspects of this life that we can’t control, AND we have so many opportunities to make little tweaks in our routine to make the ordinary extraordinary.

So, my goal for 2025 is to say this mantra to myself when I’m making choices about how I spend my time and where I put my energy.

You can expect that theme to carry over into a lot of my writing for Elevated Nesting this year. “Creating a life you can’t wait to wake up to” absolutely aligns with my mission of practicing Intentional Wellness as we Redefine Aging!

• You’ll continue to see articles that focus specifically on Women’s Health, Peri, and Menopause. Please continue to ask me questions and have conversations with me. You give me so many ideas, and I love the opportunity to do the research and thoroughly answer your questions. We still have so much to unpack here!
• You can expect to see more Nourish and Nosh Recipe Content. I definitely have a bit of “Holiday Fluffiness” I need to get a handle on, and I’m excited to share some great clean-eating recipes that are satisfying, nourishing, and packed with protein.
• I’m excited to share more content on My Nest and how we can create a space that we can’t wait to wake up in! Let’s learn how to turn our homes into havens that give us all the cozy vibes while fueling our energy and creativity.
• We’re going to go more in-depth into all the ways we can Move our Bodies to support our healthy aging goals. I have received so many awesome ideas from you ladies via social media comments, DM’s, and notes!! I want to explore tips and habit changes we can make to sneak in our extra steps, strengthen our musculoskeletal systems, and enhance our flexibility.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. I’ll see you back here on Monday!

2025 – Let’s Do This!!