A Last Look at 2025 (Plus a Few Questions for You)
& Fine-Whatever Link-Up

While shopping for holiday gifts a week or so ago, I came across a pair of 2026 earrings that caught me off guard. I paused longer than expected, not because I wanted them, but because I wasn’t sure I was ready for the year to end.

Or that I was even looking forward to a new year. Apparently, my brain still has some unfinished business with the last of this one. So before jumping ahead, I wanted to sit with 2025 for a moment and gather up what this year has been.

Looking Back on 2025

When I reflect back on this past year, a few big things stand out, though none of them are especially poignant.

The most important change for me personally was finally getting serious about my gut health. After completing a series of tests that ruled out typical causes and consulting with a nutritionist, I went gluten-free in early June. It has made a remarkable difference in how I feel day to day. Along with that, I returned to resistance training, which has been challenging, invigorating, and exactly what I needed to feel better in my own skin. Those two shifts alone shaped and reshaped a huge portion of my year.

On the blog side of things, 2025 was… complicated. At the beginning of the year, I set out with my ambitious 2025–25 goals list, and if I’m being honest, I didn’t come anywhere close to completing most of it. Some of that was life getting in the way, and some of it was simply being overly optimistic about what I could juggle at one time. I don’t see it as a failure so much as a reality check, but as more of a reminder that plans are only useful if they leave room for flexibility.

Several weeks later, I began an unplanned six-month break from blogging, something I never imagined I’d do. In all honesty, there were moments when I thought I might be done for good. Stepping away gave me some perspective and rekindled my blogging spark. It also made it clear that while I still care deeply about this space, I needed to change how I was showing up for it: fewer self-imposed rules, less pressure, and a lot more flexibility.

Coming back wasn’t only about chasing numbers or rebuilding momentum. It was about deciding what this space still means to me, and what I actually want it to look like going forward. Technical challenges had been a stumbling block, so I finally moved to a new host, and that has made a world of difference. And I wouldn’t be completely truthful if I didn’t also say that seeing my traffic and subscriber stats grow has been very satisfying. It feels good to see my efforts rewarded in that way. As an unmonetized blog, reader engagement is the only meaningful measure of the success of my efforts.

Looking Ahead

As I think about what’s next for the upcoming year, I have a pretty clear sense of what I want this space to hold.

On the personal side, I’m staying committed to the wellness changes I made this year — continuing with my gluten-free lifestyle, staying consistent with resistance training (and pushing my limits even farther), and generally doing a better job of taking care of myself in ways that actually feel sustainable.

There’s also a lot of travel on the horizon. My husband and I are planning a few trips in the coming year, and there’s a very real chance that my first trip to Europe will finally happen. I’m looking forward to sharing those adventures as they unfold, from the planning to the packing to the outfits and experiences along the way.

On the blog, I’ll continue with the mix that feels most natural to me — style and fashion, paired with timely topics and the occasional deeper dive when something warrants further exploration. While a lot of the focus will be on outfits and personal style, I don’t want to lose the flexibility to write about whatever else happens to be shaping my life at the moment.

A Few Questions for You

Before we close out this year and head into the new one, I’d really love your input. I’ve put together a short reader survey to get a better sense of what you enjoy here, what you’d like to see more of (or less of), and how you typically interact with the blog. It won’t take long, and you’ll see how your responses compare to others in real time. Also, just so everything is completely transparent:

The sole purpose of this and any other survey on my blog is to satisfy my personal curiosity (and perhaps yours). Responses are provided anonymously, and I won’t be sharing or selling the answers to anyone else. They will only be used as summary data in a follow-up post. I have no intention of developing any type of marketing tool, online course, or selling you anything based on your answers. As a mostly left-brained, stats-nerd kind of person, I simply enjoy being able to include my own researched information — limited as it may be — in the posts I write. Your participation is truly appreciated.

Thanks for being here, and for taking a moment to share your thoughts.

My outfit of the moment

This look felt like the right way to close out the year. The floral sweater is from my Winter Collection, but it’s actually a carryover piece from the Fall Collection. It was the one item that didn’t get much wear, yet was too fabulous not to deserve a second chance to shine. The skirt was also part of the Fall Collection, and this is a pairing I had envisioned months ago but never quite found the right moment to wear.

That moment finally came for a post-holiday brunch hosted at our friends’ home. It was a relaxed and festive gathering, without being over-the-top, and exactly the kind of occasion this outfit was meant for. I loved finally getting to see the combination come together the way I’d pictured it: colorful, comfortable, and just a little special, without trying too hard. It was satisfying to finally get some wear out of a combination I’d been planning for months.

However 2025 looked for you, I hope it treated you reasonably well. I’m grateful for the time you spend here, the comments, the conversations, and the support — it’s what keeps this space going. And if you haven’t yet, I’d really love for you to take a few minutes to share your thoughts in the reader survey.

Stay well and let’s keep in touch! Subscribe, follow, friend, pin … all options are available. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

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Photo credit: MMPerez

Note: This is an unsponsored post; however, some or all of the links to clothing items are associated with an affiliate program, where I earn a small commission for each click at no additional cost to you.

Now, onto the Fine-Whatever link-up. The featured post from last week’s link-up, Denim Layers and Neutral Tones, was contributed by Jennifer, who pens Curated By Jennifer. Her look is a fabulous example of how layering denim with soft neutrals creates a look that feels both relaxed and pulled together.