Happy New Year!
The last couple of months of 2025 has been extremely hectic for me. I'm still in the middle of moving and things have been crazy to say the least. I'm a little behind on my Best of 2025 post and that is still coming. On top of that, I'm starting 2026 sick with a cold. At least I hope it's just a cold.
I just want to say how grateful I am for those of you that have stuck around my little blog all these years. It makes me smile whenever I see a familiar name leave a comment on a post. Quick shout out to Andrea, AC, LZ, Lola, Karen, Cindy, Stacy, Jean L, and Janessa! You guys are my regulars and I appreciate all your comments you've left over the years. 😊
Before I started writing this post, I went back to look at my 2025 goals. I hit two out of my four goals. I wanted to have an average of 10K steps a day and I actually did it. The last month has been pretty hard with the move, but my average still held up. I'm pretty happy with that.
I also made it to 1,000 subscribers on my YouTube channel. I actually hit the goal in November. As of today I have 1,147 subscribers. If you are one of those subscribers, I appreciate your support! If you're not, what are you waiting for? 😅 You get to see me in action. 😂
Now that I've hit 1,000 subscribers and have over 4,000 hours of watch time, I'm finally monetizing my channel. It doesn't make me much money, but it is interesting to see which videos get views and which ones don't get attention at all. My first payment from YouTube was a whopping $110.64. It took me a couple of years of effort to get this first payment. It's really wild to think about. I am impressed that I made it this far and that I didn't give up.
Now for the goals I didn't accomplish. I still failed at taking my supplements. It hasn't stuck at all. I would be okay for a few weeks and then I would forget to take them. I have to figure out another way. It's back on my list for 2026 goals, but I'm not going to list it.
2026 Goals!
#1 - Build strength. Now that I have 10K steps under my belt and it's become a habit. When I've settled into the new home it has a dedicated gym room and I will be working on building muscle again. I'm really looking forward to it actually! Also, my new treadmill is being delivered as I wrote this post!
(My old closet in 2017! Trust me, you don't want to see what it looks like now.)
#2 - Mindful Shopping. Now that I have a new home, and new closet, it's like being able to start over. New beginning. I don't want to clutter my brand new closet. Things that I no longer use, I will re-home or donate or sell. I'm also going to limit myself to 24 purchases in 2026. This only includes clothing and shoes. Bags are not going to be capped to this extent, since I am always re-homing bags I no longer use, or fallen out of love with. Bags are my passion so this category gets a little more leeway. Plus it's the whole point of my YouTube channel. To start, I'm going on a strict No Buy January. I tend to do this every year anyway, so it's always good to reset my spending after the holidays. I honestly haven't been buying much clothing, it's all been about the new house we're moving into. Since I only want to bring in 24 new items to my closet for 2026, it averages 2 items a month. But since I'm starting a No Buy January, the 24 items will start between February 1st to end of the year. Does anyone want to join me in this challenge/goal for 2026? It's going to be a hard one.
#3 - Drink more water. I don't know why I find this so difficult. I definitely do not drink enough water. I think it might stem from having to find a restroom if I'm out in public. When I was in school- from junior high through high school, I would avoid using the bathroom all day. So I would just hold everything in from the moment I left the house until I got home from school. Which meant I really didn't drink anything all day long. Definitely a terrible thing to do. Now that I'm WAY older, I still have this anxiety about public bathrooms. When I'm at the office it's fine, it's mainly when I'm out doing errands or at restaurants. That said, I still don't drink enough water either way. So it is on my list to make this a habit.
#4 - Stay off social media. Last year I had the same goal. I deleted Facebook app from my phone. I'm debating about deleting Instagram off my phone this year. Except I still need it for my PetiteImpact account. 😐 I may just take a full month off social media to detox and see how I feel after one month. I might just go in a post a photo for my PetiteImpact account, but that may be it. I'm so tired of doom scrolling and wondering if what I'm seeing is real or AI. Plus all these ads and reels that I just don't have any interest in, but they just keep sending me crap instead of what I really want to see, which are the people I follow. It's really such a mess! That's all I have for now. Wishing you all have a happy and healthy 2026!
What's on your list for 2026?
Happy New Year! I like your goals for 2026 - they're very logical and attainable. I'm not going to go on a no-buy for January (too many good sales!), but I will probably do one in February. I like your idea of only 24 new things for the year too; I might give that a go with you!
ReplyDeleteI'm happy to hear your YouTube channel is gainin momentum! I like your videos a lot :)
I can't wait to see more photos of your new place, once you're settled. I'm jealous of your gym room!
Hi Lola! I'm doing my best not to look at the January sales. I usually do Frugal February but I am always said because it's also my birthday month. 😅 I'll keep track of my 24 purchases on my blog so you all can see my progress!
DeleteI have to say the gym room was really one of the main reasons why we went with this house. That and the bathroom. LOL!
Happy New Year, Leslie!
ReplyDeleteI hope you will settle in your new home soon, and can’t wait to see pictures of your walk-in closet. ;)
This year I want to stay creative and active, and be kind to myself. I plan to declutter my closet and in the meantime cut down on new purchases. It is, however, challenging cos I often see something I like on your posts. :D
I love your blog and this is the only blog that I visit regularly. It’s like a small community and it also makes me smile seeing familiar names leaving comments on your posts. :)
Thank you for introducing us to new brands from time to time, Leslie, and your fit reviews have definitely helped a lot of us make the right purchases. I particularly like your in store fit reviews on new products cos we can get them before they are gone. I truly appreciate your hard work and look forward to your new posts in 2026.
Wishing everyone a new year blessed with love, joy and good health!
Andrea
Hi Andrea! The closet is getting there! Still a bit more to go but I'm hoping sooner than later I'll be able to show some photos!
DeleteI think I'm going to have to declutter more with my move. So I am with you on there. Definitely hard to let go of some items. I keep telling myself I can't bring it all with. me.
I'm definitely going to have more store fit reviews coming this year! Thank you Andrea for sticking around! Here's to a great 2026!
All the best to you and all your readers into 2026! Get well soon and hope the move goes smoothly!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on attaining your goal on YouTube and being monetized. It’s definitely rewarding to see it bring some results with an added bonus.
It has definitely been a real pleasure checking into this blog regularly and seeing the comments and posts on this interest.
I thought organizing my vitamins in those weekly organizers would help me take them on a regular basis so I don’t have to think about which one I took for the day already, but it didn’t work for me. I do need to get back into it.
Thank you for sharing your interests on this outlet!
Hi AC! Thank you, I am starting to feel a little better today. It definitely set the move back some more though.
DeleteI haven't tried the weekly organizers for the vitamins either. But once I move I'll try and figure out another way to get it to stick. Everything is a little too crazy at the moment to form a new habit lol. If you happen to find something that works, let me know!
Thanks again for sticking around my blog. Your support means a lot to me!
Happy new year Leslie! Felt the love in the shoutout. Hope the rest of your move goes well and that your health is on the up & up. If anything, there's another restart (if necessary) for lunar new year. (At least that's how I tell myself when things aren't moving in the right direction of a new year, haha). I'm also trying to declutter and mindful shopping, so hard. My bf and I got into big arguments recently about that, will see how I'm able to keep my word on 1 thing in, 2 things out. Looking forward to your 2026 posts.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Jean L! Feeling a little better today but your comment about a restart on Lunar New Year made me laugh, that's a good one and I'm likely to use that as my starting point haha. Shopping is definitely a struggle. I haven't even considered the 1 in and 2 out method. That should also apply to me this year as well too. I'm always trying to declutter all year long, and that helps some. But I always seem to be bringing in more than I let go.
DeleteI'm impressed with your goal to limit purchases to 24 items including shoes. I don't think I could do that! lol
ReplyDeleteThanks! It's definitely going to be a challenge!
DeleteI love your idea of buying only 24 items this year. I think I will try that too. I already bought one thing on January 1st.
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of travel planned for this year, three trips to be exact, so that’s where my money is going. But whenever I travel, I seem to need to buy something for that trip. Thus the purchase I already made this month.
This is going to be challenging.
Hi! Thanks for joining me on the challenge of 24 items this year! I would just keep in mind and budget an item for when your next trip will be. It's going to be hard but I'm interested to see how I will do for this challenge. And I will keep the number updated throughout the year. You guys will keep me accountable, right?! 😅
DeleteHappy new year, Leslie! I hope the renovations at your new home will go smoothly! I look forward to seeing it!
ReplyDeleteI need to take iron supplements daily. I leave the bottle on the dining table, so I see it every morning and take it when I eat breakfast. That way, I never forget.
It's a great idea to limit new purchases to 24 in a year. I'm not sure if I can do it because that requires keeping track of all my orders! I will join you for no-buy in January!
Wishing you and this community all the best in 2026!
DeleteHappy New Year Karen! I have to build the habit back up. I used to be pretty good about it, but I can't figure out when I will be able to remember to take the supplements everyday at the same time and to make sure I have the vitamins with me. That seems to be the key issue I think.
DeleteI have been keeping track of my orders for years, so I'm used to it. I'll have an update on how much I spent last year too! Always an eye opener! But I am happy that you'll join me on No- Buy January!