Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Well, it’s the last day of 2025 and I’m here with Joyce for Hodgepodge. Joyce comes up with great questions that are both thought provoking and fun!
1. Did you make resolutions or set goals for the year we’re waving goodbye? How did that work out for you? Will you set any goals for this new year, new season, or new month? Share one or two if you’d like to share.
So, here is the thing… I have always lived my life on school year calendars and not traditional calendars! So, I generally set goals in August. I guess since I am no longer living by a school calendar that I could adapt. I do have a winter bucket list coming and I believe in making seasonal lists. I find it easier to look at smaller chunks of time.
2. When did you have the most fun this year?
Well, this is a hard one. This year has been difficult. I found ways to make fun during the hard, for sure. Isn’t that life for you? There is always the beautiful in the ugly and the good among the bad.
My sisters and I laughed and cried while clearing out my parents’ house. We had so many laughs finding our videos!
That only scratches the surface! Boat outings, pool days, breakfasts, lunches, happy hours, and dinners with friends were so much fun this year!
3. What’s a song or song lyric you’ll associate with 2025? Tell us why.
“Take this Job and Shove It” – bahahahahaha – self-explanatory!
4. Best (or a favorite) bite of something delicious you tasted this year?
This queso with chorizo!
This salmon salad!
This goat cheese with strawberry jam!
5. What do you want to do more of in the new year? Less of?
I want to say YES more if it’s a “heck yes”. I want to spend less time worrying, overanalyzing, and expending mental energy on stupid things and people that don’t exert that energy on me.
I had two big things happen this year – my mother’s death and my retirement and when big things happen you kind of see things clearly. I have let go of the fake work friendships and I also see my circle getting smaller in my real life. I am open to meeting new friends and hope to in 2026!
6. Insert your own random thought here.
I want to slow down and take more careful and thoughtful photos in 2026. There’s a resolution! I love looking at my camera roll as a way to reflect and savor experiences and memories.
My sister has a newer iphone and took this beautiful photo out of our Airbnb window.
Look at the beams in the Airbnb!
I look naked, but I had on a tank top and shorts and got hot in my sweatshirt. Playing this game was so fun and one of the best memories I will keep. The youngest boy got so giggly when he picked a funny card. The oldest boy laughed a lot during this game.
My parents created this. How cool is that?
What would you say to any of the questions?
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
I thought these were some pretty hard questions! I don’t set yearly goals/resolutions either. I think I’d associate the songs from the 21 Pilots concert we attended with this year. I have lots of great memories though and do have a “favorite moments” of 2025 post coming up on Monday.
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I don’t want to jinx anything so I don’t like to set too many goals. I will look forward to to that post!
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Quasi naked card playing- I love it, lol!! You´ve had some great intentional time with family (and friends, too). I think sometimes deaths will do that to family members- be more intentional with each other? Maybe you would have gotten together as much as you did if you hadn´t suffered the loss of your mom (and for you cousins, their aunt). You seem like someone who lives life to the fullest and I think a death in the family also reinforces that way to live. Your year has just been so full of monumental change! I hope 2026 is a great one for you!
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I wasn’t naked at all! Just overheated and used my sweatshirt as a blanket! Lol! Thank you and I agree. I’m hoping so!
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Great post! I like the hodgepodge posts. Losing your mom and retiring in the same year is quite the life change. It is good though that you have your circle, that will definitely help! And I absolutely love the airbnb idea. That place is gorgeous! Enjoy your New Years!
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They are fun posts! For sure but I also know I’m lucky to get to retire. We really loved the airbnb!
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2025 was a year of big changes for you and you navigated these well. Thank you for sharing those experiences here with us and helping us grow in our challenges as well. I am so thankful to have finally met you this year! You are a dear friend and I hope to see you in 2026. Cheers to Biscuit Belly! 🙂
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You too! Ha – Biscuit Belly! Thank you for your kind words. We are both strong women! May we be them and know them!
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I’m glad you explained : ) Looks like fun family time! Your song choice is a good one. I’m looking at that salmon salad and would like to recreate-what’s the cheese? I think some people are in our lives for always and some for a season. Perhaps our paths will cross in real life in 2026…would be fun! Happy new year!
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Thank you!
That cheese is a big ol’ hunk of feta but the beets make the salad really good, too. They are sweet. That would be so cool! Happy New Year to you!
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I think having seasonal goals and bucket lists is a great way to break it into smaller chunks, and I get what you mean about thinking in school calendar mode. I got in that habit during all the years I was homeschooling and it took awhile to get over it. Not that it’s a bad thing! LOL
What great memories from the airbnb and it’s a beautiful place! Looks like the kind of place we need for our family vacation spot.
Praying you have a great 2026!
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I agree! I like the clean slate of a new school year and you can’t avoid it in the stores and when you see those yellow school buses start moving, so it’s not a bad idea for many people.
Thank you! You too!
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The AirBnB looks delightful! I can relate to the song; I retired after working in the schools for 37 years as a Speech Pathologist. I can also relate to making your circle smaller. So much drama in the schools (maybe because of all those women? Ha!). It will definitely bring more joy into your life!
Happy New Year!
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It was perfect for our needs! Wow – 37 has me beat! I know, right? It’s refreshing not to be around it.
You too!
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Your song? Dying- ha ha!!! You are the best. Hope you have a wonderful New Year Amy XO
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It was the most appropriate! Lol! Happy NY!
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I think about things in school years too…that might be a hard habit to break. Haha
Your song lyric -hilarious!
Loved your sentiment in the family photo…what a legacy…& it’s so wonderful you all have each other.
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I used to be very goal-oriented and like you my new year began in September. Once a teacher, always a teacher! I retired from Special Ed PreK in June 2023 and you are so right about “fake” work friends. I’ve kept in touch with a couple whom I view as true friends but most of my close friendships are through my church, book group, and hiking group. My hubby and I have some goals for the new year but they’re very generalized for the most part. And way less than when I was younger. My big goal for 2025 was to finish up the Adirondack 102 Challenge which I successfully did in August!! Took me 11 years to do it!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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I agree, it is easier to make lists and look at smaller chunks of time instead of planning a whole year.
It sounds like you have had so much fun with your sisters even in the saddest of times.
I am with you on saying heck yes to things and not spending my mental energy on things that don’t deserve it!
Happy New Year! Wishing you all the best for 2026!
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I retired from teaching in 2015. Hub and I planned on traveling. In 2017 Hub was diagnosed with colon cancer and passed away in 2018. My oldest daughter, who had three open heart surgeries, passed away in 2020. I went back part time to teaching. I hated being alone with nothing to do. There are some days I sing your song choice!
Praying 2026 will be a happier year.
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