All The Things | January 2026

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It’s the first all the things for 2026!

 

Welcome to my version of a monthly recap post that lands here on the final Friday of each month. Going forward, I’ll include the previous post(s) so you’ll always be able to catch up easily!

 

I’ve revamped this format a bit for the new year, and I really hope you’ll enjoy it. Speaking of the new year, I am still in amazement we are in 2026! I’m doing my best to hit the ground running on my goals and paying attention to where my time and energy is going. I hope things are starting off wonderfully for you!

 

Now’s the time to grab your coffee (or fave beverage!) and let’s dive into all the things from January!

 

Life Lately

This section is always a mix of personal life, blog life, and everything in between — the real behind-the-scenes of the month.

 

New Year’s Fun

 

On New Year’s Day, Kyle made a special breakfast for us – oats and toast! It’s something really sentimental because his dad, who passed back in 2018, used to make when he was growing up. We also had it on Christmas Eve!

 

Kyle surprised me with a little day date on the 2nd with lunch at Rocas, a delicious Mexican restaurant, and then a trip to our new 7 Brew! I was starving so I didn’t take a photo of my taco salad, but it was SO good. Also, they give you this creamy dip along with fresh salsa and chips with your meal and it is just the best stuff!

 

I had been meaning to get to 7 Brew sooner, they opened a month-ish prior but every single time I went near that area (it’s 25ish min away), something came up to where I didn’t get to try it. So I was really happy when I noticed that’s where we were going after lunch! Both lines were wrapped around the building, but it was moving pretty quickly. I got the Sweet and Salty and Kyle got the Blondie. Honestly, they both tasted pretty similar and I couldn’t really taste the salted caramel in mine, but they were still good!

 

Cataract Surgery

 

My dad had his second cataract surgery earlier this month (his first one was in December) and that means my parents were stuck with me as their designated driver. He did really well this time compared to December, but the doctor hit a blood vessel during the first surgery, so I think that made things worse for him. We also got a big prayer answered! Originally, his eye doctor felt his retina was starting to detach and we’d have to go to a specialist, but after both cataract surgeries, there are no issues at all with his retina! So thankful for answered prayers.

 

Surviving Winter Storm Fern

 

This has been the craziest winter weather we’ve had in southern Ohio in a very long time. While we didn’t get the 15-20″ they originally called for (thank you Lord!), we got around 10″ along with some sleet. We stayed busy trying to keep the driveway shoveled and there’s just so much snow everywhere else piled up. I cannot wait until springtime! Were you in the path of this storm too?

 

Little Joys

Small moments that made this month feel warm, cozy, or meaningful.

 

I had the smallest hope that Tampa Bay would make the NFL playoffs and that was a little joy for this month! Football in itself could be considered a small joy for this month really, can you believe I got into football late last year? I’m definitely carrying it into this new year. Ohio State somehow lost to Miami, so we didn’t make it to the championship game.

 

I’m happy for Indiana that they won it though, they fought hard all year, and Miami played so dirty between our OSU game and the national championship game with Indy, it was ridiculous. Mendoza definitely deserved the Heisman!

 

I am beyond grateful our sweet Draino is still here with us after quite the scare! She struggled for months with throwing up off and on, and then it got to the place where she wasn’t eating but maybe a few bites per day. So we made the decision to take her to the vet, which was hard because she has extreme anxiety at the vet – to the point that they have to automatically sedate her when we arrive. It’s a last resort always because she is an elderly cat and it’s extra hard on her.

 

It turned out she had a bad tooth and they pulled it, but she has had such a tough time coming back from that. The anesthesia was holding in her kidneys and we were able to get some fluids to flush that out at the vet. Right now, our struggle is that she’s having such a hard time going #2 and we are just praying her medicine will work quickly to help give her some relief!

 

Cultivate Corner

Think intentions, small habits, new collabs, and routines.

 

Firmoo Collab

 

I had just one blog collab this month, but truly that ended up being such a blessing with our sweet Draino cat needing us big time for a good chunk of it. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that these glasses Firmoo sent me to share with you are adorable!! I posted a few more photos over on my Instagram that you can check out. I really love the frames, they aren’t overly chunky but still give a cute, vintage flare. If you’re needing some new frames, you can use my code MARVELOUS50 at checkout for a discount!

 

Also, take a look at the coffee above – I think I found my favorite 7 Brew drink my second time around during a Sam’s Club restock! I got a large, iced cookie butter, extra sweet, with whipped cream and caramel drizzle.

 

Writing Down ALL The Goals

 

I put together my sticky note board after some inspiration from many years ago when I first started this blog! I’m sorry I don’t have an updated photo of it altogether here, but I just basically wrote down goals on each of those sticky notes and put them on the board you see in the middle photo. It’s hanging right beside me the wall here in my office. It’s just nice to keep goals in the forefront where I can see them each day! I’m using my Laurel Denise Scout Planner for habit tracking and keeping my sanity with all the appointments this month and beyond, haha, and just some daily to-do’s. I also use my Erin Condren Dashboard Planner, though I’ve been slacking in it a bit this month.

 

I finally decided on my word for year though – I’m choosing realign. My idea is that I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel this year, but rather zone in on what’s working and progress those things and ditch what’s not working or taking too much of my energy.

 

Trying New Recipes!

 

Over the past couple of years, I’ve really enjoyed making my grocery lists (but never enjoy grocery shopping, haha!), meal planning and prepping, and making some new things. It’s always fun when one is a hit and becomes a regular part of our meal rotation. I highly recommend keeping a little list somewhere of recipes you love. Pro tip: don’t include titles of the recipes only, be sure to save that exact written recipe along with it. Can you tell I’ve messed up and forgot how I made something my husband asked for? Haha!

 

I made a semi-homemade chicken pot pie that we absolutely love with refrigerated pie crust, and it is so comforting and filling! Cheesy potato soup, rainbow veggies and chicken sausage, pepper steak and onions (definitely added to the meal rotation, Kyle said this tasted just like from a restaurant!), a fruity breakfast crumble, and our new favorite dip is this crockpot King Ranch Chicken Dip (I call it Zippy Zap dip because that’s one of the guy’s sauces that he sells, it’s a great hot sauce!).

 

Have you made anything new this month? I’d love to hear about it!

 

Currently Reading, Watching & Loving

Things I’ve been loving, watching, reading, or reaching for lately.

 

Tell Me Lies, Beverly Hills Housewives, & Gold Rush

 

If you haven’t watched Tell Me Lies, start today! The third season just started this month, and I have been obsessed with it. I even rewatched all the season three episodes again. It’s one of those shows where a lot is going on, so you can kind of go back and catch things you missed the first time around. It is such a messy, toxic friend group whose lives get intertwined in ways no one could even imagine. I do have to skip some of the spicy scenes in it, so just a heads up on that note!

 

Kyle and I love to watch Gold Rush. Rick is our favorite miner on the show and he always seems to struggle to make a profit, so hopefully this is his year to make it big with gold prices at a record high and still climbing. Sometimes we like to think we could just go start a construction company in the Yukon and hunt for gold, ha ha!

 

I’m catching up on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills right now, but it is so interesting have a couple of new ladies this season – Rachel Zoe (who I love and remember from old Bravo tv show days!) and Amanda Frances. If you watch the show, I’d love to hear your thoughts on how the season is going so far!

 

4 Books Down & Counting!

 

I’ve been on a reading (or listening!) train lately, it’s wild! It’s especially crazy since I barely picked up a book at all last year. I read The Let Them Theory, Gone Before Goodbye, The 12 Week Year, The Lazy Genius Way and am currently reading Great, Big Beautiful Life! I’m already through nearly 5 books of my 12-book goal for 2026. Isn’t that fun? You can follow along with me if you’d like over on my Goodreads account.

 

By far, Gone Before Goodbye was my favorite! Reese Witherspoon is not only a co-author of this book, but she also narrates the audiobook. It was an incredible thriller that had me guessing until the literal end and I was stunned, mouth open and everything! Easily 5 stars!

 

That’s a wrap on this month’s all the things, sweet friends! I worked on this post throughout the month to be sure I’d get back on track with sharing these recap posts with you. I’ll admit, I’m typing this last paragraph at 9:34 am this morning, just before I’m going to publish this. 🙂 I’m trying to teach myself that done always beats perfect – just in case you needed that reminder today too. Thanks so much for spending a little time with me today and as always, I can’t wait to hear your comments down below!