Fall Refresh: My 25 for 2025 List Update
What I’ve checked off, what’s still in progress, and what I’ve learned along the way.
You may have noticed I’m a big list girl. There’s something so satisfying about checking things off and seeing how far I’ve come, even if some boxes stay empty a little longer than I planned. You can catch up on my previous related posts here 👇🏼
It’s been almost a year since I made my “25 for 2025” list, and with fall in full swing, it felt like the perfect time to pause, reflect, and see what’s changed. Lets clap for all I’ve completed and reconsider any I haven’t given further thought.
✔️ goals completed
#4 Build up 4 month emergency fund — We did it! We aim to be more intentional with our finances and I’m proud of how we’re doing. Going down to one income when we decided for me to leave my job in November 2023 was scary, but so far it’s working out.
#5. Explore Substack — hi, you’re here and proof I did this
#6. Register Charlotte for kindergarten — She’s loving kindergarten! It’s so fun to see how she’s growing and learning.
#8. Celebrate wedding anniversary with a trip — We took a little beach trip in June that felt like a couple’s celebration, but I’d like to do this one better next year.
#9. Do Contentment Reset in February — I wrote about that in my Winter Recap here
#10. Girls beach trip — Three girlfriends and I did this in February. So good for the soul! Planning our trip for 2026!
#11. Spend summer holidays at the beach — I’m so happy we did this! Labor Day weekend marked our completion of this goal. While it was chillier than expected we still had a great time.
#13. Complete 75 Hard with Eric — Tough, but done.
#14. Try hand embroidery — Checked this one off thanks to a kit from Target. Potentially losing interest, but it’s also possible I’ve just been focused on other things.
#22. Garden — We kept plants alive, successfully (and some unsuccessfully) grew plants from seeds, and switched out seasonal planters.
#25. Open space — This has been replaced by “take a trip up north to visit my extended family.” We visited Indiana in September and it was such a lovely family trip!
〰️ goals in progress
#2. Read 75 books — As of today (October 15th) I’ve read 67/75
#20. Embrace girlhood/fandoms — I’m back on board with this one. Very heavily leaning into the Swiftie fandom and lovingggg TLOAS! Going to jump back into the Wicked one soon enough 😉
#23. Essentialize our home — We’ve made good progress in this one and still doing a bit here and there. Some places are easier to tackle than others. I’m also trying to be more mindful about the items we bring in to reduce the need to declutter later on.
➕ goals that need attention
#1. Update our will! Giving myself a demerit for this one to encourage myself to make progress. At the beginning of the year this ball was in Eric’s court because he was going to reach out to someone he knows. Instead I’m going to take it over and I need to do that.
#7. Achieve and maintain milestone weight — I’ve had literal ups and downs with this one. I’m feeling the strongest I ever have thanks to Burn Boot Camp and can see my body changing in a positive way. I’m working on getting my eating habits in alignment with my goals (I’m guilty of eating my kids’ leftovers even though I don’t want them to avoid throwing out food. “I’m not my kids’ trash can”)
♾️ goals that are more like habits
**likely won’t mark complete until the end of the year**
#3. Utilize my 5 Minute Journal — I’ve really fallen off this. I actually just saw it hanging out in my closet today and remembered about it, whoops
#12. Continue sober curiosity — I’m much more aware of my relationship with alcohol and how much (or little) I want in my life.
#17. Write each day — This is considered “done” by journaling, brain dumping, Substacking. Getting words out of my head and somewhere in space (whether paper or computer) is therapeutic for me.
#18. Practice self care daily — I’ve gotten SO much better in this area. I’m better able to anticipate what I need and make the time/space to deliver.
#19. Be present with my people — There are so many distractions and unfortunately this is harder than I’d like to admit. Quality time is needed and deserved.
✖️ goals I’ve changed my mind about
#15. Engage in new brand collab/affiliation quarterly — Still not forcing this one, but I’m in the middle of one I’m excited to share about.
#16. Thrift/shop secondhand as much as possible — I do my best here, but I have yet to go to an actual thrift store. I’m intimidated. But I do love utilizing my local “Give Freely” Facebook group to search for things we want/need or pass along items we no longer use.
#21. Host a dinner party — I’m not sure I want to spend my energy on this. I honestly forgot it was even on the list. We’re hosting friends and neighbors for Halloween which feels fun and exciting, but not feeling a dinner party in the craziness of the holidays.
#24. Take a creative class — Another I’m not sure I want to give my energy to. I’ve been creative in other ways at home and with friends. Our family painted pumpkins, some girlfriends and I are going to do a Halloween craft this weekend, I often color and paint with my kids. I’ll likely move this to next year’s list.
This list is really about attention. Paying attention to what matters, what changes, and what continues to bring joy. That feels like the best kind of progress to me.
Did you set any goals or intentions for 2025? How are they going?
If you made goals for 2025 too, maybe this is your reminder to check in. Not to judge your progress, but to notice how much life has happened in between.
Growth doesn’t always look the way we expect it to, and that’s what makes it worth celebrating.
I feel like I say this so often about the passing of time, but I cannot believe we’re already at this point in the year! Halfway through October with Halloween right around the corner. Our girls are ecstatic about trick-or-treating. They’re at such a fun age and I’m feeling some of that spooky holiday magic. We’re continuing and creating traditions that I hope they look forward to year after year.
Up until this point both girls wanted to repeat what they were last year. Exact same costumes and everything. Kinda boring, but totally fine by me. Now Charlotte is thinking about being something else (girl, what!?), but Olivia is still locked in. We shall see, but I have a feeling the only thing they truly care about is running around with friends and getting lots of candy.
Fall is in full swing. The weather is cooling off, yet still pretty warm in the afternoon. The NC State Fair is in town and it’ll be the first year we’ve taken the kids. (Hopefully) core memories to come. Have a wonderful week with your people.
I appreciate you being here. See you soon! 💖