As we begin to wind down 2025, I wanted to spread out my 25 for 2025 goal check-ins and address five at a time in five different posts, ahead of late December when I’ll turn my attention to new inspiration for a new year.

Here are updates on five of my goals:

Practice Styling My Existing Wardrobe

Status: Ongoing

The overall spirit of this goal was to continue refining what I like and what fits within my values of seasonal capsule wardrobe dressing, quality over quantity, dressing for my age and my season (weather and colors), and shopping secondhand when possible. Overall, I am ending the year feeling like I lived out my values for this despite not being able to “complete” many items on the graphic above.

25 Items or Less:

Shoes:

I purchased black strappy sandals for a formal event, Birkenstock chelsea boots (NWT) purchased from Poshmark, Asics purchased locally from a small business, Quince off-white bow loafers for my Hawaii trip, J Crew slides with pearls to replace a similar pair that I practically wore out from four years ago, a pair of white Birkenstocks (on vacation), and a recent pair of brown suede boots. All of these have been worn a lot and as I buy something I usually try to trash or donate at a rate of one in and one out.

Bags:

I treated myself to a new Madewell bag ahead of my Hawaii work trip. I wanted something leather, navy– a color of bag I do not own– and something that could serve as my plane personal item and my professional bag for the trip to carry purse and work items. No regrets on this one.

Clothes:

I kept a note in my phone of purchases of new items and it looks like I bought a pink cropped sweater from J Crew and a sequin dress at Banana Republic for the local Night to Shine event in January; barrel and flare jeans from Old Navy in February; three work shirts from Goodwill and a 2 dresses and a pair of work pants from Another Debut in March; three pairs of Gap denim shorts in white, dark, and light wash in May; three shirts from Gap in June; a dress and short sleeve sweater from Banana Republic and a dress from Gap in July; a pair of overalls from Goodwill in August, two dresses from Another Debut in September; two blazers from Goodwill and a dress and two shirts from Old Navy in October.

So I was well over 25 items, but not by much and I do think that trying to track this metric helped me to curb mindless, dopamine-chasing shopping. I am selective on what I bring in and will return anything I don’t absolutely love. When possible, I did shop first at our local upscale consignment store, Another Debut or check Goodwill, especially for things like work pants and blazers for a work conference.

25 Items Decluttered:

This was easy. I have gone through my workout clothes and each of my four “seasons” micro-wardrobes and pull out 8-10 things each season to donate to Goodwill. I did take one small clean out to consign at Another Debut out of curiosity. It was mostly a few shirts and athleisure items, but I did take one dress that I paid around $80 for new. My “cut” from the sale of that dress was exactly $5.20, thus confirming my standing view that things like clothes are “sunk cost” items and it is better to buy less, buy better, and then just donate when you’re ready to get rid of an item.

25 Days of Getting Dressed Each Month and Documenting It:

I’d say I get fully dressed most every day. There may be an occasional Saturday “gross” day where I just stay in pjs or lounge clothes, but overall, this isn’t even something I notice any more. I change into exercise clothes almost daily to go outside and walk. And I try to put on real clothes/hard pants/and a decent shirt to feel focused, look presentable, and embrace the whole “enclothed cognition” thing. I did NOT document or photograph this.

Creatively Style One Star Piece Each Month:

I did this only in January and only with a cute little green suede Loft skirt. I just didn’t find the opportunity or motivation to follow through on this item.

Follow Age Appropriate Style Accounts on IG:

I did this. I love @stylethislife, @ap_styled, @lesleywgraham, and @graziaheartsgiorgio (all of whom share a similar ethos of secondhand and/or capsule and rewearing basics).

Assemble a Seasonal Baked Goods List

Status: Completed and Ongoing

The only thing on this list I haven’t done is make NYT’s croissants. It’s something I write on nearly every month’s “Intentions” list and yet, I have not devoted the time to this. I think I am afraid that there aren’t enough people here at my house to help me eat these and I know I will devour them, so I keep pushing this off.

I have been working steadily to replace a lot of store bought sweets with homemade replacements. A few times a month I have been making something sweet and I have been focused on baking with the seasons.

A few months ago, I just went with a nice canvas three ring binder and put several printed recipes into clear sheet protectors and thus began my “system” for tracking and keeping up with these seasonal favorites. I went with something simple and easy to maintain instead of letting perfect become the enemy of good enough.

Discover New Kitchen Rhythms

Status: Mostly Complete

I have tried probably 8-1o new recipes. I got two new and one second hand cookbook this year and I love reading up on new things, watching Youtube chefs and bakers, but I wouldn’t say that I have necessarily added new things to the rotation. I’d say instead, I continue to be a conscious shopper, a zero-food-waste attempter, and a daily provider of nourishment to my family.

Hosting? Maybe we have had 8-10 meals here with others not including immediate family. Ryan has been gone a lot this year and I’ve traveled a fair amount and there just haven’t been many opportunities beyond me hosting girlfriends for daytime things. We hosted a new in town chaplain family in January, my mom and friend Barb in February, and Ryan’s parents and brother’s family in September.

This is something I hope to revisit again in the coming year.

I did attend and enjoy Chef Darin’s knife skills class in downtown Savannah. It was super fun and I learned a lot.

I do wear my apron frequently.

And other than a new Dutch oven for our cabin, I can’t think of any new kitchen items I purchased. I continue to feel like cooking and feeding people is one way I show love. Therefore, I do invest a lot of thought and effort into preparing good food at home.

Learn More About the Local Area

Status: Somewhat Complete

Google Reviews: none

Live Ticketed Events: knife skills class, John Crist, MJ Broadway show, Savannah Book Festival, Luke Bryan (but ended up sending Kate with friends), Dwight Yoakam, and UGA game (November).

Community Volunteering: Night to Shine, taught small group and financial literacy “one day” event at my church, monthly meals at teen center, and a few @lasagnalove meal deliveries.

Shop Small and Buy Local: other than textbooks, I am at 22 items purchased from Amazon for the year. Go back through your purchase history…it adds up so much more quickly than you realize.

I frequently shop at our local secondhand store, Another Debut, our local home store R. Hill Home, Ace Hardware instead of Lowe’s or Home Depot, and a few other local boutiques for birthday and Mother’s Day gifts for my mom and mother-in-law. I bought my tennis shoes at Game Changers, take Maggie to Pawparazzi instead of the big box pet stores, and only visit Waystation and Three Lemons for coffee– never Dunkin or Starbucks. Trips to Savannah or Pooler are planned but infrequent. I’ve actually enjoyed sticking a little closer to home and supporting real people in my community with my dollars.

Richmond Hill Self Guided History Tour: I sort of did this when we kept our niece. We drove all around and saw several of the Henry Ford cars, drove by all of the local historical buildings, read signs, etc.

Visit 5 Downtown Savannah Museums: I sort of did this. I’ve spent a decent amount of time downtown this year. I have been to St. John’s Basillica, the SCAD theater and gift shop, drove by the Girl Scout Headquarters, and have visited many of the local squares.

*Not a goal, but I have completed FOUR (of six planned) days to local beach areas where I immerse myself in the culture of that little area with local coffee, a book store, some shopping, a historical stop, and something outdoors in nature or a park.

Prepare for a Return Visit to NYC

Status: Sadly, Incomplete

Unfortunately, this just didn’t happen this year. It was one of those goals that I new likely would only be possible in the fall. I was hopeful that some version of this trip would happen with at least one group of people here.

Allison: needing knee surgery in October (but I am now intimately familiar with the Hospitality House as a lodging option)

Mom and siblings: sister couldn’t travel then, and it never materialized with mom and sister-in-law; we have pushed off until spring

Ryan: yeah, right. He’s been gone so much for work that this was not even a serious option

The closest I’ll get to NYC this year is following several YouTube creators and IG accounts from people who live in NYC. I go there weekly with Lu & Chan, Elle Garenne, and Homeworthy on YouTube. And @tidydad, @sniequist, @nytcooking, @sweet_domicle make me feel like I’m there.

The only Broadway shows I saw were the Amazon Prime rental of Waitress and the off Broadway MJ show we saw in Jacksonville.

I will get back to NYC someday!