Hi, hi. I hope anyone reading this had a good holiday in whatever way you celebrate. I also hope you have a lovely 2026. I'm doing what I can to make this year a better year for my mental health.
I have not written anything and have no immediate plans to write, so if you're looking for that kind of update then I'll save you the time and tell you to stop reading. Any future writing update will be posted here when I have something underway.
If you want to hear about random shit in my head, then read on...
I made myself a promise that I'll be mindful of not overindulging in food that is inflammatory to my body (sugar, dairy) this year. I also promised myself I would read (or write if not reading) for at least 30 minutes every day. And, finally, I want to listen more than I speak.
Work is great, but it has tested my ability to maintain work/life balance. I'm a financial advisor which means I often have to be available to my clients for decisions or concerns related to their money even if I'm supposed to be disconnected to recharge. Sometimes things can't wait. I'm still trying to find ways to carve out time for me.
Last year, I started volunteering my time for pro bono work with a non profit who connects financial professionals to women who need advice or education. I think I logged about 20 hours over the last 4 months of the year. There were a couple convos I had where my pro bono client and I ended up crying together once they realized things were going to be okay. I can't tell you how many women have said some version of, "This is a conversation I've been wanting to have, but I didn't know who to talk to or I dont have enough money to afford a financial advisor." Volunteering has really done my heart good. My goal this year is to get a professional designation (CDFA) that will help me assist women going through a divorce. I already know most of the material, so it shouldn't take me more than a month once I buckle down and work on it.
I've spent the past week listening to playlists of songs people have created for the Heated Rivalry show and crying over Shane and Ilya. I haven't read the books, but the show did such an amazing job of telling their delicious, yearning love story. My sweet babes.
I devoured Ashley Poston's Sounds Like Love in one day. A love story centered around music is my weakness.
I took my dog to the vet to have her teeth cleaned. She's my little drama queen, still doped up and feeling crappy. Picture evidence below.
The weather has been terrorizing me this winter. One day it will be rainy and 50 degrees, the next it will be freezing rain, and then about 8 inches of snow will get dropped on us. I just want warmer weather and a couple days of sunshine a week. Alas, I've got 3 more months of this winter weather cycle. Picture evidence below of a foggy evening drive home from work taken before Christmas.
I'm a few episodes into season 5 of Gilmore Girls. Can we all just have a Luke in our lives? That man...
I finally picked up The Atlas Paradox by Olivie Blake after reading the first book in the trilogy a few months ago. I love the way she builds these smart, flawed, morally gray characters who I start out hating and end up loving.
I track my expenses each month in a spreadsheet in an effort to stay within a budget. Last year I was almost $10,000 over budget, mostly on food (groceries, restaurants), gas/electric, and gifts. I adjusted the budget for 2026 since there is only so much I can do when prices for groceries and energy are higher. Here's hoping I can get things more under control in the coming year.
We're drinking green tea and ginger tea over oat milk lattes this year, baby. Or at least that's what I'm telling myself.
For the past two years I've been going for facials every 5-7 weeks. It's one of my self care rituals. My esthetician suggested IPL, which is a laser treatment, to remove redness and uneven skin tone. I popped into her salon on the last day of the year to have her zap me. It wasn't as painful as I thought it would be. I didn't anticipate the swelling, which was a bit over the top the day or two afterward. I'm almost all healed up, and the sunspots are mostly gone. I go back for my usual facial in a couple days so she can check up on me. I'll give it one more go before I decide if this is something I'd want to continue. For those who are curious, it took about 20 minutes, the pain was between a 2 to 4 out of 10, and it cost about $500.
I likely look like a crazy person when I'm ready to sleep nowadays. Weighted eye mask over my eyes, mouth tape to keep my mouth shut, and wireless earbuds to play ASMR videos. Obviously, I just need to shut out the world to get some rest.
Love you all. Tell me how you've been.