Wow. It’s been a wild couple of years, huh? So much has happened, and I figured it’s time for a little catch-up sesh. Buckle up!

Let’s start with the big one—I lost my job in February 2023 after nearly 18 years with the same company. To say I was heartbroken is an understatement. It hit hard. For months, I felt completely lost, questioning my worth and struggling to find direction. But by spring, I landed a marketing and social media role at an interior design studio. It was an exciting opportunity, but unfortunately, it wasn’t the right fit, and just before Christmas, we parted ways. Losing two jobs in one year? That was rough. I had never been without work before, and suddenly, I felt like I was in free fall.

But when one door closes, another one opens (or at least, you find a way to build your own). I’d been casually reselling items online since 2019, and we decided that 2024 was the year to take it seriously. Around the same time, I landed a part-time graphic design gig for a toy company in Wisconsin, which has been such a fun change of pace.

Meanwhile, life kept moving at full speed. Isaac was wrapping up pre-K, and we knew we had to find a better school before he started kindergarten. After a lot of back and forth, we decided on private school for a year while we searched for a home in a better district. And thus began our house hunt—months of touring, packing, cleaning, and saying goodbye to our townhouse of 13 years (which I LOVED). Side note: it’s mind-blowing how much stuff you accumulate over time. I am officially embracing minimalism now. The silver lining? Not having a full-time office job gave me the flexibility to tackle this massive transition. I can’t imagine juggling all that house stuff on top of a 40+ hour workweek. (I mean, I would have, because I had to, but I would not have been fun to be around...)

By early September, we sold our townhouse (cue the tears) and, just a week later, started the process of building a new home even further out in the suburbs. October rolled around, and we moved into a rental house—aka, life in limbo. We are basically living out of boxes, and I swear, if I have to pack and unpack one more time, I might lose it. Poor Isaac hasn’t seen most of his toys in nearly a year. At this point, I feel like he’ll outgrow them before we finally move!

But here’s the exciting part—our new house should be ready this spring (fingers crossed!). And the thing I’m most thrilled about? A BACKYARD! With an actual, honest-to-goodness garden! I cannot wait to get my hands in the dirt and bring it to life. The thought of it makes me giddy.

So, here’s to new beginnings, unexpected opportunities, and making the best of the chaos. 2025, I’m ready for you!