Happy 2025! I hope you all had a nice holiday! We had a great Christmas and then spent the following week in Maui. It was gorgeous and we didn’t want to leave! Home again now and we’re settling into a routine with school for Kole starting today. My girls are home the rest of this week so I’m soaking up as much time with them as I can before they head back to college!
I usually schedule some activities ahead of time when we visit Hawaii, but this year I made 3 dinner reservations for the week and that was it! Ha. I knew we all just needed some down time. Kenny has had a crazy busy year at work, the girls had a stressful month with finals and December is always nonstop for moms.. we were tired! It was a perfect week. The best kind of vacation when you can’t remember what day or time it is and nobody really cares. :)
Not a bad view from Kole’s couch bed!
We had so much fun with this game and played it almost every night after dinner.
These are some of the cards my lovely family thinks are me. Gets totally lost but has a great time? My friends would agree. Will alphabetize spice rack in free time? Best way to party. Has a guy for that? What do you need done. Trapped by revolving door? Happens every time. Revelations about life that lead to bouts of crying? Maybe a few. It is ALWAYS LIKE REALLY COLD.
A little embarrassed to admit to some of these but apparently I’ll “do it for the insta.” Ha. The best part about the cards is they bring up all sorts of funny family jokes/stories you reminder when you’re trying to decide who gets each card so you just end up laughing through the game.
We spent most of the trip snorkeling/swimming in the ocean, lounging by the pool, playing games, watching movies..
and chilling with the turtles. :)
I could watch them for hours. This little guy was so persistent.
We watched him for 20 minutes making his way to the water. When the wave finally took him in and his little head popped up out of the water before he really took off we all cheered. A little like life right? Don’t give up. Slow and steady wins the race. :)
I don’t really set New Years Goals much anymore. I gave that up years ago when I kept repeatedly writing “cook 3 times a week” and realized no matter how many times I wrote it down it just wasn’t going to happen. But I do love taking some time to think about things I want to keep prioritizing and working on with another beautiful new year in front of me! Determined to keep my closet clean! This is the year. :)
These are the things I’m trying to do without this year. Clutter is always out for me but the other things are areas I definitely could improve! I was typing these last night while I was watching a movie with Ad and I showed them to her and said “are these dumb? do I dare share them? Wait.. I have more in the In column than the Out column and they aren’t lining up right..I need to re-type these..” Ad said “hello overthinking and perfectionism..”
Apparently I have some work to do in 2025 so those goal don’t end up just being tossed out with the cooking ones.
If you like to think about areas of life to grow and improve each year like I do this is a favorite January printable! You can download it free HERE. I’m going to fill it out too because it helps me really think about how I want to grow in each of these categories that are important to me.
This is another printable I love when I’m working on one or two habits I want to change! There is something about checking off each day you can maintain it that is so motivating for me!
{Drawer Dividers/ALL OF MY FAVORITES FOR ORGANIZING}
Who is ready to organize with me this month? And all the other months? :) I am SO excited to tackle my house this year! I know I say that I’m excited to organize every year, but this year I’m really feeling ready to donate so many thing in my home. Now that my girls have moved out and Kole is so much older I feel like I need to re-do a lot of our spaces. There is a lot in my home that I’m holding on to that we just don’t need anymore. Needs have changed and it’s time! I was a little too emotional to do this type of a clean out right after my girls moved out, but now I’m feeling ready. LESS is MORE and I am looking forward not back! It’s going to be a party. :)
If you are feeling like I am and ready to tackle ALL of your spaces I started a folder of ALL of my favorites for organizing HERE. But definitely do the de-cluttering first before you start ordering cute bins! Rookie mistake to order the bins first. ;)
If it helps you to write down exactly what needs to be done and focus on one area each week these Get Organized printables are so helpful!
My 15 minute organizing printable is my most used!
15 minutes a day really adds up and I’m always amazed at how much I can get done each week by just a little here and there.
I also have a lot I want to do to update my home this year. I haven’t even started taking down Christmas yet.. waiting to start when my girls go back! But I already have some fun ideas of how I can warm things up this winter and there are a few things I want to change/update around here. I’m excited to get started!
This is a fun printable I’m going to fill out to keep me focused with home projects!
And this is my go-to list for any and all projects I use over and over again! You can download all of my printables HERE. I hope they help you stay focused like they always help me!
Signing off with a few more pics on my phone from Maui..
Love these 4 so much.
I didn’t get a good photo with just Kenny this trip! But my girls snapped this.. they always take pics of us from behind when we are holding hands. I love that they know that their parents love each other.
Good-bye for now Maui! Thanks for the memories.
Love this and couldn’t agree more. Cheers to a new year ahead! With lots of fun things in store.
And hopefully less revelations about life that lead to bouts of crying.
;)
Happy New Year, Erin! Yay for getting away and chillin’ with the turtles. So happy for you all to be able to do that! It looks beautiful. I soaked in this Christmas break myself because I realized it’s the last Christmas break with my girls. Next year they will both hold full time jobs! They may be home for Christmas, but not necessarily for an extended time. (sniff, sniff) so I enjoyed every minute with them. Thanks for sharing your goals and printables. Let’s do this!
Oh I’m so happy you were able to enjoy the time with them this year Jeanne! Our girls are all growing up too fast! Sniff sniff is right. Happy 2025 to you and your beautiful family! xo
I am with you! I am in the middle of a big utility/storage room clean-out! As usual, the mess gets worse before it gets better, but I have already taken a van load of stuff to the donation center. With my youngest now 11 years old (almost 12), I am letting go of more toys I’ve been storing. I am limiting myself on what I can save for future grandchildren to play with- a total of 2 bins. What I can’t decide on is what to do with a bunch of wooden toys my father-in-law made over the years. The kids hardly played with any of them but I feel like I need to save them since he made them.
You are motivating me Libbe! And 100% the mess gets worse before it gets better.. ha. Hang in there! The wooden toys is such a hard one! I think if it were me I would save one or two to pass down to my kids (maybe save one for each of them?) and donate the rest. Sentimental items are the hardest to part with! But I always remind myself that other kids/people might truly enjoy and use the items which is so much better than having them sit in a box in storage. I love your 2 bin limit on toys to save. That’s a smart way to do it! xo
Hi Erin, Heading to Maui in early June. Would love the restaurant recommendations.
Thank you,
Jo
Hi Jo! Have the best time! I have lots for you! I’m going to try to get a post up in Jan/Feb with some Maui tips and include them. If I don’t, email me in February and I’ll send them to you! xo
The second to the last picture-it’s very close to where my daughter got engaged last month! Thanks for continuing to visit Maui ❤️
Oh what a beautiful spot to get engaged! Love that Emily! Thank you for sharing that with me. We love Maui so much! Always our favorite spot to escape to. :)
Loved the post, Erin! Would enjoy hearing where you stayed in Maui? Looked like a beautiful and relaxing vacation! That game looks fun, I will have to check it out! Can’t wait to hear about the fun changes to your house you have up your sleeve! Have a great weekend :)
Thank you so much Lisa! I need to write a post on where we stay and fun thing to do in Maui.. on my Jan/Feb list this year for sure! Enjoy your weekend and happiest 2025 to you and your family! xo
Happy New Year. Maui looks like paradise. I was actually concerned re the fires, looked up how far San Diego is from LA (I’m in Australia).
Oh you are so sweet to think of us Rita! The fires are about 2 hours away from us. So devastating aren’t they!? I can’t quit watching the news. Heartbreaking! Thank you again for thinking of us.. we have friends who have been affected and are doing what we can do help. Wishing you and your family a beautiful new year! xo
Erin,
I love that you were in Maui! Your pictures are amazing! My oldest daughter’s fav place! She cried when the fires happened. Speaking of fires, are you getting the smoke? Such an awful situation. I watched some of the rescue of animals last night. Horses are so afraid of fire, it showed, and I was scared for them :(
So, as you know, we have had both the bad, sickness X2 (DARN Covid!) plus terrible pet loss combined with the VERY, VERY good here. Nothing like a combo of the bad and the VERY good to totally disrupt routine! My kids are all over w/different families (spouses) at Christmas so I either plan an early Dutch themed Christmas dinner (St. Nick Day, Dec. 6) or I do a 12th night (Wisemen themed) dinner the weekend of Jan 5-7. 12th night always seems to work best and keep the holiday spirit going just that much longer, so I decorate right up to the last min. It may be past New Years but I’m still bringing out a red bin or two! HA! This year, not to be. Between the sickness and our pet loss :( (Almost 16 years is a long time to love♥ something warm and furry) and our most♥ Blessed event happening early, many things did not get done SO- yup, Erin, my angels will join yours (without laryngitis) NEXT year!
Honestly, Erin, your blog and your optimism carries me thru! Such a pick me up when I see it in my IN box! Move on, find a way to turn the stress into action(organizing/decorating!) and PLAN to do it BETTER next year! Aug. is only 7 mos. away! We ARE beginning our holiday planning in Aug. This year, right Erin!? :D (Emoji twin!)
Happy New Year my friend!
Sherri! I’m so sorry to hear you lost a pet! Heartbreaking. So are these fires.. we are devastated about them! We aren’t getting any smoke yet but wondering if that will change. We know a lot of people who have been affected and are doing what we can to help. I just can’t imagine. :( I cried when Maui had their fires too! This is the first time we’ve been back since the fires and it was hard to see what was gone, but also made me happy to see they are re-building where they can. Maui is still just as beautiful as ever! You have no doubt had a CRAZY end of year with everything going on! You have my full permission to not even think about organizing this year! In August we plan Christmas and then you can hit it hard with me next year.. ha. ;) Hang in there and rest as much as you can! Sending a new year hug! xo
I LOVE your blog so much and have been a faithful reader since you lived in your other home. :) Please please share your best podcasts, books, shows, movies, etc. And I love love your organizational blogs. :) Happy New Year.
Kelly! You have been with me a LONG time! That honestly means so much to me and completely made my day. Thank you! I’ll definitely share as many favorites as I can this year! And lots of organizing for sure. Always. :) Thanks again! Happy 2025 to you and your family! xo
Hi Erin,
Long time follower here and I love reading your blog.
Every time you post a Maui blog I remember reading that special one you wrote years ago when your kids were little about enjoying them even when the days are hard. You had a hard time writing the post because you were crying and I remember stumbling across that post during a particularly difficult time with my two little ones. Reading your encouragement could not have come at a more perfect time that day. I needed to see that. Throughout the years I have often thought of your words of wisdom and really have tried to slow down and make an effort to be present and enjoy my sweet babies. They are 10 and 8 now and we are definitely in another season of our lives but nevertheless you spoke truth in that moment and I appreciate you more than you know.
I don’t know you personally but I can see what a great job you have done raising your family. I know your kids will do great things and make you so proud.
Anyway! Love your blog and your home and keep up the good work 😊
Carmen! Oh my word.. your comment made me tear up! That means so much to me and I’m trying to remember which Maui post you’re talking about! I’ll have to find it. I’m so touched and grateful that post was what you needed to hear that day. You made my week and I so appreciate you taking the time to tell me that. Thank you! It’s what I needed to hear today. :) Enjoy your beautiful family.. your kids are at such fun ages! XO