My Word of the Year: Celebrate

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word of the year celebrate

 

As the new year begins, many of us reflect on the previous year and set intentions for the coming year. For me, this reflection takes the form of choosing a Word of the Year—a single guiding concept that will shape my personal and professional decisions and perspectives. For 2025, my word is Celebrate.

Of course, “celebrate” might bring images of confetti, balloons, and people hugging together. While those images are part of my real-life and imagined celebrations, this word runs deeper. It’s about intentionally recognizing the victories, and milestones that fill our everyday lives.

Why “Celebrate”?

In the business of daily routines, it’s easy to overlook achievements or take life’s little joys for granted. Choosing “celebrate” is my commitment to pause and savor these moments. It’s a way to recognize and infuse gratitude into my year.

This word also challenges me to broaden my perspective. Celebration isn’t just about things going perfectly which rarely happens. It is about finding joy in moments of imperfection. It’s about acknowledging progress and process, and embracing life as it unfolds.

How I Plan to Celebrate in 2025

Here are some ways I’m weaving celebration into my life this year:

  1. Honoring Wins, Big and Small
    • Whether it’s a significant milestone like completing a project or something as simple as sticking to my morning routine, I’ll take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate.
  2. Creating Moments of Connection
    • Celebration often involves people. I want to intentionally connect with loved ones to share their joys and invite them to share mine with me.
  3. Practicing Daily Gratitude
    • Each evening, I’ll write down one thing I’m celebrating from the day.
  4. Embracing Festivity in the Everyday
    • From lighting a candle at dinner to playing uplifting music during chores, I’ll find small ways to make ordinary moments special.
  5. Sharing Joy with Others
    • Whether through kind words, thoughtful gifts, or simply being present, I aim to celebrate others and their accomplishments.

Challenges and Growth

Choosing “celebrate” doesn’t mean every day will be easy or joyful. Life is complicated, and challenges are inevitable each day. But this word reminds me to seek out positivity and to celebrate resilience and the lessons learned along the way.

An Invitation

If you’ve never chosen a Word of the Year, I encourage you to try it. What word could guide you through the next 12 months? And if you already have your word, I’d love to hear about it. Let’s inspire one another to embrace intentional living.

Here’s to a year of celebration—to finding joy, honoring progress, and creating moments worth remembering. Let’s make 2025 a year to truly celebrate.

 

How Downsizing Simplifies Your Life and Maximizes Your Space

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There are times that your stuff overwhelms you and you are ready to have less. Downsizing isn’t only about moving to a smaller home. Choosing to downsize is about creating a life with fewer distractions, time for what matters most,  and focus on priorities. This might mean preparing for a move, reclaiming your living space, or simply having less to take care of in your home.  Here are some practical strategies to help you downsize with intention and ease.

Define Your Goals

Before you begin, clarify your why about downsizing. Are you looking to save money, reduce maintenance, or embrace a minimalist lifestyle? Having a clear vision will guide your decisions and keep you motivated throughout the process. Start a journal or notes about the reasons behind and the vision ahead.

Start Early

Downsizing is best approached as a marathon, not a sprint. Start well in advance to avoid feeling rushed. Starting early gives you the opportunity to work in mindful time segments. Begin by tackling one room or category at a time, such as clothing, books, or kitchenware.

Take Inventory

Empower your downsizing by creating an inventory of your belongings to assess what you own and what you truly need. This strategy keeps “just in case” out of the equation. Writing this out and seeing this on paper can be eye-opening and help you identify items that no longer serve a purpose. You will keep less as a result of this exercise.

Adopt a Space-First Mindset

Maybe you already know where you are headed next. Think about the size and layout of your future living space. Create a space guide to determine what will fit and what might need to be let go. Determine your move management plan in accordance with your downsizing.

 

If you are not sure, visualizing your new home can make the decision-making process easier. Keep notes about the spaces that will comprise your new dwelling and what each space will function as.  You might be dreaming of an art or hobby space and this visualization will make that a reality.

 

Focus on Quality Over Quantity

Prioritize keeping items that are high-quality, multifunctional, or deeply meaningful. Let go of duplicates and things that have outlived their usefulness. Prioritizing is the key to having less.

 

Digitize Sentimental Items

For keepsakes that take up a lot of space, consider digitizing them. Scan photos, letters, and documents to preserve memories without the physical bulk. Take photos of physical items such as trophies and kid art to create a new keepsake that takes up less space and requires less storage.

 

Embrace the Emotional Journey

Downsizing can bring up emotions, especially when parting with sentimental items. Take time to reflect, honor the memories, and remind yourself of the benefits of simplifying. Remember that downsizing is about creating a life that aligns with your values and priorities.

7 Ways to Declutter Your Stuff and Your Life

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7 ways to declutter your stuff and life

 

If all the fa la la la la ended up with add to cart, January is the antidote to over consumption. Freshening up your space and clearing out are what everyone feels as the new year begins. Check out these 7 ways to declutter your stuff and life.

 

Always start small

Make it easy to start with a small start. That means setting a timer for 15 minutes and filling a donation bag. Go room to room to find easy to donate items that have been ready to go for a while. Or start in a small space like your make up drawer or top dresser drawer to sort, categorize and let go of what you have stuffed in there when you needed to clear a counter.

 

Go for the low hanging fruit

You have moved stuff all year long that has no place in your home. It is time for it to go out into the universe. Fill a bag with those things that has frustrated you all year long. Instantly you will feel the difference.

 

Go KonMari

Likely you did not know how many (fill in the blank) you had because these were all over. Marie Kondo suggests gathering all the items together and then organizing. Categorize items that have been spread out, evaluate how many you need and let go of your over abundance.

 

Host a paper purge

Maybe your paper and mail have been stuffed away for a while. Grab it and head to a big table to sort and purge. Create recycle, shred, and keep piles. Paper sorting may be your most hated activity so put on a happy playlist to keep you moving.

 

Overview your over-commitment

The holidays may have been a little too busy. Maybe you are overwhelmed by looking at your January calendar and all your over-commitment. January is a great time to winnow down and prioritize your time. Look over your volunteering and other commitments and determine which are meaningful and purposeful for you. Having less on your calendar and more white space gives you opportunity to think.

 

Join a challenge

Join an online decluttering challenge for connecting and accountability. Each day you are assigned an area to work on. There is lots of fun connecting to others who are also decluttering and lots of accountability to act on your intentions.

 

Systemize it

Make your decluttering last all year with a system to declutter. Whether that is a chart for each space in your home, an appointment with a certified professional organizer or coach, or a game with rewards, you are making your decluttering a part of your daily life with a system that reinforces letting go.

 

Check in each week for a new perspective on decluttering this January. Next up! Thinking about downsizing and how to be ready when the time comes!

 

 

In Honor of Get Organized Month: Simplify Your Space

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In honor of get organized month

 

Each year getting organized is one of the top three resolutions for the new year. Organizing, decluttering and maintenance are important for doing your best at home and work. There are many ways to focus your organizing for maximum impact. This focus often comes from a change happening in your home.

 

Decluttering

Decluttering is always a good idea, whether a change is coming or not. Decluttering is a favorite topic everyone shares because letting go of stuff empowers you. Those feelings of being overwhelmed are lessened by decluttering, seeing clear counters and feeling the energy of less to take care of.

 

Family Transitions

Family living is changing with the economy and the need for support. More families are creating a community within their four walls.These transitions happen when a family member loses a job, a medical situation occurs, a divorce happens or two families blend into one. Your home can be transformed to hold more people and less stuff. You may need to accomplish this change quickly and there are strategies to do this.

 

Downsizing

With the aging population, decluttering could be downsizing to move to a new space. You may choose a smaller home or an independent living arrangement. Downsizing can be unsettling in having to let go of so much in order to accomplish this change.

Thriving at home with your family

Most especially, with everyone being time pressured, the goals of maintaining your home are critical. Hacks and shortcuts to keep your home tidy always include having less stuff. Knowing how to equalize all the incoming items and letting go can be easier with simple strategies.

 

Over the next month, Ellen’s Blog will focus on each of these types of decluttering goals to help you overcome the challenges you face.

 

 

Reflecting on the Year of 2024

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reflections on the year

 

The end of the year is a natural time to pause and reflect. This year has gone by quickly and the end of the year offers you the opportunity to set aside intentional time to look back.  An end-of-the-year reflection offers growth from learning experiences, celebrations of successes, and goals for the next year. Celebrate your year with a time to pause and look back.

 

Celebrate Your Wins

Start your reflection by celebrating the moments of joy, success, and achievement. What brought you joy? What goals did you accomplish this year? Did you connect with new people? Take time to write down what mattered most this year, no matter how big or small. Seeing your successes in black and white fuels your confidence and gratitude. It is the time to acknowledge the hard things you did, and how you persevered and succeeded.

Take time to write these wins down. Seeing them in black and white can transform fleeting memories into milestones that fuel your confidence and gratitude. It’s a chance to savor the hard work and perseverance that went into each success.

Acknowledge the Challenges

Every year has its share of challenges. There are always experiences that test our resilience. Take time to reflect on what you learned from these moments and how they shaped you. What did these experiences teach you? Ask yourself questions about the challenges you faced. Find ways to bring that learning forward in a way that reminds you of how far you have come and how much you have learned.

Express Gratitude

Gratitude is the bridge between the past and the future. As you reflect, take time to recognize the people, opportunities, and moments that brought light into your year. Did a friend’s advice help you through a tough decision? Did a seemingly small moment of kindness make a big impact? Did you make a difference for someone else? Write a gratitude list or send a quick thank-you text to someone who made your year brighter. Gratitude deepens connections and sets a positive tone for the year to come.

 

Assess Your Priorities

The end of the year is also a time to assess our priorities. Did you invest your time and energy where you planned? Did an important pivot happen? Did your actions align with your values and goals? Through this assessment, you can just your priorities and change your priorities for the coming year.  Reflection helps illuminate what truly matters, empowering you to make intentional decisions.

One way I further assess my year is to reflect on my Word of the Year. For many years I have used a guide word as a prompt for my work and life. Each year I review these as well to see how well my priorities aligned with my goals.

Set the Stage for a Fresh Start

Use what you learned this year as a foundation for the next. How will you build on the momentum you’ve gained? Are there re-imagined goals you have? Take this time to write down specific goals and actions that relate to your next steps. Be as specific as you can to ensure your success.

Reflection is more than an end-of-year ritual. You are honoring your journey and equipping yourself for the future. By celebrating your wins, embracing your challenges, and focusing on gratitude and priorities, you can step into the new year with clarity and purpose.

 

My gift to you! A Reflections on the Year planning page here!

 

Revisiting Word of the Year 2024 Re-Imagine

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Each year I choose a Word of the Year as a guide to prompt thoughtful action for my business.  This year I chose Re-Imagine as my word. I chose this because I have been thinking of how to re-imagine my business as I enter my 25th year of business.  Here is how this year played out with my word.

New directions

I used my Word of the Year to propel me in different ways. It especially reinforced taking leaps in new directions. This was true for joining Alan Brown’s Crusher Back to School Event.  This opportunity stretched me to create new materials and broaden my offerings in a new area. Shout out to Alan for this amazing opportunity.

 

Broader perspectives

At times we need to broaden our perspectives on existing systems.  My Word of the Year made me go wide and deep on areas that I already do well. This reinforced that family ADHD, organizing and productivity are where I will deepen relationships and connections. This is where I shine!

 

Keeping options

I love that my Word of the Year did not bog me down. I was able to keep options open for work in a variety of ways which included options and choices.

 

What I always love about my Word of the Year is truly the opportunity to reflect on my work with respect to this word. It empowers me rather than defines me.

 

 

Coming soon! Word of the year 2025!

Add Yourself to Your Holiday List with the Gift of Self-Care

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The holiday season is filled with family and friends. Would it be possible for you give yourself a gift this season by putting yourself on your holiday list with self-care?  It might be difficult to think about putting yourself first, but here are a few strategies that can make your holiday season easier and more joyful.

 

Set healthy boundaries first

The holiday season is a season of “yes” with holiday parties, gift giving, and family activities. Knowing when to say “enough” is your first step toward setting healthy boundaries. Make a list of all that is included in the holiday season and plan ahead on what will be most important to attend. By pre-planning your boundary, it is easier to say no when needed.  Happy boundaries are what empower us to do our best.

 

Abide by your foundations of self-care

Heathy habits are important to maintain during the holidays. Always prioritize a good night’s sleep so that you are ready to wrangle what’s coming at you. Grocery shop to keep healthy nutritious options ready to go. Add in a few extra steps to keep your mood jolly and your waistline trim

 

Routines rock

Maintain your and your kiddos’ schedules for everyone’s benefit. Routines help everyone feel in control and less anxious. Prepare for travel and company with a family meeting focusing on expectations. Reset routines as the holiday progresses to include extra rest and time to recuperate.

 

Self-care includes self-focus

Take time for the things that bring you joy. Have one joyful activity just for you once a day.  That could be a hot bath, a cup of hot cocoa, a brisk walk, or downtime to read. Alone time provides you time to regroup and re-energize.

 

Another aspect of self-focus is to concentrate on what makes YOU happy. How many times do you put others first? How important is it to make other’s happy? Asking yourself how to put yourself first is a work in progress and worthy of thought at this time of year.

 

Find joy in supporting others

So many around us are experiencing so much. Recently, Adam Grant wrote about “sonder,” the realization that everyone has a life as full and complex as your own. In realizing how much is going on around us, we can support others in many ways. Support of others brings joy to our souls in knowing that are helping and making a difference.

 

Embrace the season through your own self-care this holiday.

Fun and Easy Holiday Projects to Make or Purchase for Family Holiday Traditions

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holiday homemade projects and traditions

 

DIY, homemade projects are precious keepsakes and create holiday memories. For years I have created a few precious holiday gifts for my family. With a combination of time and resources, it has been a joyful way to bring meaningful gifting to our family.  Here are the gifts that our family has cherished throughout the year. Now is the time for you to start creating your treasures.

 

Annual family photo album

A highlight of the holiday gifts is our annual family photo album. I ask my kiddos to contribute photos throughout the year to Shutterfly.  Photos are uploaded by everyone to create a compilation of photos of travel, birthdays and events from the year. I share a deadline so that everyone is finished by the time I start creating the photo album. I design in Shutterfly and then wait for a coupon. The photo book arrives in early December to be wrapped.

 

Family ornaments

Each year I order one ornament for each of my grandkids. The ornament celebrates a milestone of that year. Over the years, these are cherished as a remarkable way to commemorate events.  One of our family friends also has given ornaments. One of my grand’s favorites is a taco shaped ornament. These are keepsakes that will go on to our grand kids’ families as they celebrate in years to come.

 

Family Calendar

My husband’s favorite gift of the year is from our kiddos. They create a family calendar filled with family photos. We use the calendar all year long and love seeing the precious photos each month. They also populate the calendar with all the birthdays, anniversaries, and special occasions so we have this as a reference as well.

 

Holiday traditions + gifts

I reached out on my social media to learn more about what other families do for their family presents.  Here are several ideas that were shared.

  • We are very creative in our family, so we have been doing a holiday craft each year for over 24 years. Each year, we do a different type of craft project. Making gingerbread houses was done for many years when the kids were little. As they got older, I changed it a bit. One year, we made unique paper snowflakes. Another year, we did rock painting, and I have them displayed in my herb garden.
  • I used to get a “safety gift” for the adults in my family. Fire extinguisher, car safety kit, weather radio, tool to cut through seat belt and break window. I did it for about 8 years but then I ran out of safety gift ideas. I think I will restart it now that my kids are adults.
  • Each year I purchase matching Christmas pajamas that our family wears on Christmas Eve. We take photos and share them on our holiday cards.
  • I make a holiday ornament online with a family photo taken during the year. I gift it to each of my kids.
  • My family makes holiday cookie jars. We layer ingredients for cookies, brownies, or hot chocolate mix in mason jars, and decorate with ribbons. The kids decorate tags with the recipe and bring these to friends and teachers.

 

Now is the time to start your projects to be ready for this holiday season.

 

 

Creating Joyful Family Holiday Traditions and Meaningful Celebrations

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The holiday season is a time of joy, family togetherness, and creating lasting memories. Planning meaningful family traditions is one of the best ways to ensure that joy is at the heart of your celebrations. Whether you’re looking to start new traditions or refresh beloved ones, these ideas will help you create joyful holiday moments that everyone in the family will cherish. I have included our family traditions and those shared by my social media friends.

 

Holiday light scavenger hunts

Thank you to my daughter for our newest annual event – the holiday light scavenger hunt! Our family loves to look at holiday lights. The scavenger hunt (either paper or digital) brings a lot of joy to our evenings together.

 

Gingerbread House decorating party

Each year, we host a gingerbread house decorating party with pre-made houses and tea party treats. There are oodles of decorations, from candy to frosting. Treats include homemade and store-bought holiday-themed snacks. My grandkids especially appreciate this time together.

 

Ladies Gathering

A friend gathers the ladies in her family together every Christmas Eve. When they started the tradition, everyone lived in the same city and they took turns hosting. Now that they are spread out, they have our brunch on Zoom

 

Special Family Outing

Every year a friend’s family goes to dinner in Houston, then goes see the Christmas show at Second Baptist Woodway campus. On the trip, they hit up Starbucks and Sprinkles Cupcakes in Highland Village, open the sunroof, and turn up the Christmas music while they drive through River Oaks looking at the Christmas lights and beautifully decorated homes.

 

Family Movie Binging

Every family has their favorite holiday movies to watch throughout the season. Families gather to watch a favorite Christmas movie like Elf, Home Alone, The Polar Express, or A Christmas Carol. Families watch Hallmark holiday movies throughout the season.

 

Christmas Eve Traditions

  • On Christmas Eve everyone gets one gift, which is family matching pajamas. The family fixes gumbo and crawfish etouffee for dinner and watches movies together.
  • Families gather together to read the Bible and share the story of the birth of Jesus.
  • Our family attends the Christmas Eve service. We gather early for a big feast of everything Italian, ending with cream puffs made each year by Gigi.

 

Chanukah Traditions

  • Families light the menorah and sing the Hebrew prayers each evening of Chanukah.
  • Preparing a dinner of fried foods, including latkes. Fried in oil, latkes symbolize the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days. These are typically served with applesauce or sour cream.
  • Our family had the tradition of one gift each night of Chanukah, brought to us by the Chanukah Fairy.

 

Family stay-cation ideas

Maybe this holiday season you will be staying in town and want some fun family activities. I especially love seeing Zoo Lights and spending time at the zoo. There are lots of activities for all your family in the local Houston area.

 

I would love to hear your family traditions create the magic of the season and bring joy and connection to your home.

Happy Thanksgiving from Ellen!

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Thanksgiving