2025 Accomplishments & Wins, 2026 Goals, & A Weight Loss Update

In terms of weight loss, here’s what the physical progress looks like today.

Skirt | Sweater | Fleece Lined Tights | Boots | Sunglasses | Chunky Link Bracelet | Earrings

What’s crazy — and I’ve heard this from others who have experienced major weight loss — is that I don’t see a different person in the mirror. It takes looking at a photo for me to realize how different I look. I also will likely continue to use the same original photos when I reference prior years, because it’s hard finding many full photos of myself. I was never comfortable with photos and the person I see in those earlier photos is not the person I saw in the mirror then. It’s all hard to explain, there’s a lot of adjusting, and I’m still working to reconcile it all and likely will for a while to come. It’s been a lifelong struggle and the psychology of it all doesn’t heal overnight.

Skirt | Sweater | Fleece Lined Tights | Boots | Sunglasses | Earrings

This is the first time in my life where I’ve felt any sense of comfort in my own skin and I didn’t even know. I. Didn’t. Even. Know.

Pull On Wide Leg Jeans | Cardigan Sweater | Suede Sling-backs | Sunglasses | Chunky Link Bracelet | Earrings

Some of the non-scale wins have been the most exciting victories and I would love to talk more about those soon, too. This is all a new level of vulnerability but the response to my first post was so overwhelmingly positive.

Dress | Fleece Lined Tights | Boots | Clutch | Chunky Link Bracelet | Earrings | Necklace

2025 Highlight 2: I Journeyed through the Entire Bible in One Year for the Second Time

And, I’m going for my third time this year. I learn SO much every day and continue to use The Bible Recap program. This is the first year I’m using their new all-in-one written Bible/Summary combo guide, and I love it. It’s in order and labeled by day. I also got THIS devotional which is a one-page/day format and am enjoying that, also.

Bible Recap Bible | No-Bleed Highlighters

2025 Highlight 3: I Enjoyed 166 Books

You can see my 19 5-star reads in THIS post! And, you can see what I’m reading in real time via Goodreads HERE. There’s plenty of people who read more than me (I read a good bit more last year than I did this year), but inevitably, there’s always people that ask how I can “read so much”. Along with a chunk being audiobooks that I get to enjoy while doing other life things, and being able to read with my eyes on the treadmill, the time it takes to read the volume of books I did this past year requires less time than the average person watches TV. Add scrolling social media and there’s a ton of time that could be reallocated to a hobby/passion 😉

Blue Light Blocking Readers | Kindle Remote Control | No-Bleed Highlighters | Kindle Paperwhite Signature

2025 Highlight 4: I Embraced New Hobbies

“Embraced” is putting it mildly. When it comes to some of my collections — like Taylor Swift merch and unique vinyl pressings, I went all in. I have a post dedicated to hobbies that I’ll be sharing soon! These were new avenues of joy and things to fuel my efforts toward, but, I will have to try to curb my addictions a bit in 2026. More on that in a bit.

Record Player | Speakers

2025 Highlight 5: Our Family Prioritized Travel & Experiences

Not every trip was big but we focused on being active, experiencing new things together, and shorter (long-weekend) road trips. Collecting memories and experiences is invaluable and the places and the experiences don’t have to be exotic, far afield, or expensive. A few places we ventured…

• Glacier National Park & Whitefish, Montana — our main family vacay… 10/10. See that trip recap HERE.
• Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, & the Smokies (twice — once in the summer and once to start the holiday season!)
• Santa Rosa Beach, FL — twice with family friends <3
• Rosemary Beach, FL — Eliza and I took a girls trip to visit my friend, Sarah
• San Antonio, TX — Dave’s home town to visit family and we got to experience the hill country for the first time!
• Lutz/Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL — Visited family for Thanksgiving and fell in love with St. Petersburg, all ready for the holidays!
• Short Mountain Drives & Day Trips — Blue Ridge; Bryson City, NC, etc.
• Nashville, TN — Dave and I took a trip for the two of us

Lightweight Down Packable Jacket | Sunglasses

I was more eager and motivated to try new things this year than ever before. I’m cautious by nature and do have an aversion to potentially dangerous (in my mind) activities or failure, but there are plenty of physical feats I didn’t even consider I was being held back from because of my weight. And not just because of the fear I wouldn’t be able to physically do them, though that was true sometimes, but the fear of humiliation if I was be told I exceeded the limit of being able to do something. I’ve realized while I’m still cautious, I’m not quite as risk adverse as I’d always believed, but I had unknowingly committed to a lifetime of turning down experiences for fear of embarrassment or being forced to face a potential reality about myself. Not all experiences and first-times this year were physical (plenty were), but the attitude toward trying new things and seeking out new things to try led to a year of having more fun. A few firsts/new experiences from the past year that come to mind…

• Rode mountain coasters
• Ice skated
• Climbed a rock wall
• Eliza completed a ropes course
• Dave and I laughed our butts off through our first comedy show
• Learned to throw axes
• First rafting trip
• First family motorboat rental
• First Daddy/Daughter dance
• First time getting to sled at home

Italian Wool Top Coat | Sweater | Jeans | Gloves

2026 goals, Objectives, & Focuses

While health was the primary focus in 2025, I still want to prioritize my wellness goals this year. I am hoping this year will be more about getting stronger. I actually want 2026 to share a good bit of what we found joy in in 2025. But, as with any season, there are plenty of other focuses and objectives I’m planning to tackle this year.

Without going into too much detail, here are a few…

• Develop a budget: Our income has changed, our spending habits have changed, and our family priorities have changed. I want to find something feasible that still gives us some freedom while still helping us work towards financial goals.
• Adapt to a changing online landscape: No surprise, A.I., economics, and social media purpose, algorithms, and user habits have changed KN in all formats. I’m committed to working my way through it all to try to best gauge what will best serve audience, creator, and business goals moving forward. While some of the online challenges are new, industries shifting and evolving are not.
• Sell on facebook marketplace: We donate all throughout the year, but I frequently hold onto more coveted/precious items with the intention of listing and selling them. I am terrible at it and as such, have amassed quite a bit that needs to be cleared out — even with ultimately donating items originally intended for listing over the past few years. Since we have some financial and savings goals this year, I am committed to finally, actually taking the time to go through the process. I also have a goal of getting donations out of the house more quickly, as they amass, to help cull the clutter.
• Elfa the pantry: I have a few organization projects in mind this year and while some are larger and more time consuming — and not really visually sexy except to maybe the people who live in this house — I’m planning to give our pantry a little organization glow-up. It’s been a few years since I’ve implemented a new system in a full closet/room so I’m excited for a fresh project.
• Reclaim some joy and creativity in the kitchen: While continuing to support our health goals, that is. Because I’m not constantly thinking about food and I’m far less emotional about it now, honestly, I don’t spend much time preparing food, sticking to simple, basic, and proven. AND, I don’t hate it for me. But, I want to deliver more for my family and while I can now look at food more often as fuel, I want to bring a little enjoyment back and start establishing healthier meal habits. And, I want my family to feel my love through meals I prepare.
• Funnel my addictions into “healthy” vices/activities: While I overcame my nicotine addiction a few years ago and have been able to (finally) work through food addiction with the help of a GLP-1, my nature remains. And when I go all in, I GO ALL IN. I’m hoping to curb my shopping — justified by my wardrobe updates and hobby expansion — into enjoyment that doesn’t sabotage my monetary, physical, mental, or emotional health 😉
• Create and print photo books: I think the last time I printed a photo book was almost 15 years ago for our honeymoon. I have been saying for years, since Eliza was born, that I was going to print photos and this year, I’m doing it. We’ll see if I go by year or if some events get their own book but I’m hoping to come up with a consistent way/time to continue to do it.
• Prioritize family adventures, memories, and experiences: I want more one on one time with my husband, and I want more traditions with my daughter. I want to have the flexibility, temperament, and bandwidth to have impromptu mini escapes, even for a day. I want to discover new places we love, together and consistently.
• Handle Eliza’s playroom: Just handle it.

There are plenty of other personal goals I’m putting at the forefront, from continuing to work on my patience, judgements, and caring what others think, to specific family objectives. I am more refreshed and eager at the start of this year than I can ever remember, and for that, I’m grateful. Do you have any hopes for this year you’d like to share? Any wins from the past year you’re celebrating? Thank you for being here and for choosing another year with me. Here’s to all the good things in store in 2026.