it’s a 2025 yard sale, people: big feelings, outfits & things i love
5-4-3-2-1: lessons, outfits, favorites, analog life & my ’26 vision!
It’s a 2025 yard sale, people!
My college lacrosse coach used to jokingly refer to my teammates and me as a “yard sale” when we would fall—sticks flying, goggles off, everything scattered across the turf. In simple terms, a messy, clumsy, awkward moment.
At the ripe age of 37 (for a few more days), I’ve come to terms with the fact that my life is truly a yard sale—all 365 days of the year.
It always makes me giggle because, to the interweb, I am sure I come across as quite put together(ish?), but anyone who knows me IRL gets a good kick out of the facade.
A few months ago, I hung out with some Substack friends in NYC. In conversation, we somehow got on the topic of niches. In that moment, I had no answer. I really didn’t know what my niche was.
I was operating under the tagline, “I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I AM DOING” (Katelyn Cnossen can attest, I DM’d her that very line over the summer).
I haven’t stopped thinking about that moment.
And since starting this publication, I’ve realized what my niche really is.
I love expressing myself through getting dressed.
I love sharing things I learn, normalizing Type-B behavior, celebrating others, and laughing at myself.
Most importantly, I love reminding people that weird, unpolished, quirky, and imperfect are absolutely rad.
My niche is that friend who reminds you that life ain’t that serious sometimes (but then again it low-key is, so take this with a grain of salt - I’ve definitely been caught laughing at inappropriate times more than once).
Life’s a yard sale, and I’m here to show all the good, weird, and unexpected parts. That’s my niche, and I’m owning it.
If it makes you laugh… perfect.
If it helps you understand a loved one who’s equally bizarre… fantastic.
If it makes you feel seen… mission accomplished!
And if you’re questioning my honesty… let me direct you to my Four-Shirted-Husband™ who will 1000% vouch for this.
If your yard is perfectly green with a white picket fence, a perfect playground, picnic tables, and an Ina Garten–worthy tablescape, I love and appreciate you.
If your yard has yellow patches from the dog, a faded Fisher-Price basketball hoop, and a folding table, I love and appreciate you just as much.
Let’s make 2026 the year to celebrate different yards, appreciate someone else’s, and still make room for the weird, wonderful, and imperfect things that make each yard and each of us uniquely ours.
And above all, let’s remember that no matter how messy your yard is, you’re never truly alone in it.
P.S. - This may be too long for your inbox. Click “View entire message” at the bottom of this e-mail or read the entire post here! 🔗
What’s Inside: Here’s our gameplan for today - a 5-4-3-2-1 countdown, you know the drill!
✨5 lessons from ‘25
👗4 recent outfits
🕯️3 analog swaps
👕2 outfits styled
🗨️1 vision board
1. boundaries aren’t b*tchy — set ’em & forget ’em
If other people aren’t happy with your boundaries that isn’t your problem. You don’t have to defend yourself, explain your life, or justify your choices to anyone.
2. no one is thinking about you (& that’s liberating)
megan callahan wrote in a recent post,
“One of the lessons I’ve learned throughout 2025 is that it’s really not about you. Nobody is actually thinking about you. This isn’t depressing in the slightest. It’s freeing.”
3. speak your truth - even when it’s hard
Don’t let fear of conflict keep you silent. Say what you need, apologize when you’re wrong, and take responsibility. Clear communication avoids unnecessary drama.
4. the body will always keep score
My autoimmune flare in June reminded me: self-care isn’t selfish. Pay attention to what your body needs before it forces you to slow down.
5. solitude is self-respect
I spent much of my early 20s being part of a team. I was often responsible for others and focused on doing everything together, which made it hard to prioritize myself. Now, I see solitude not as failure, but as reclaiming the peace and self-respect I couldn’t embrace in my younger years. ⋆˖ ࣪⭑ meredith ⋆˖ ࣪⭑ explained it perfectly here,
“So no, I’m not the girl with no friends. I’m the girl learning how to hold people softly, without losing myself in the process — and that, I think, might be the bravest thing I’ve ever done.”
1. CHRISTMAS EVE LOOK!
Went all white for the holiday like our favorite mom-of-four fashionista, Libby McCurrach! Velvet bow for festive flair, statement earrings, and rugged western boots for contrast. Side tuck c/o Fanny Adams.
2. CHRISTMAS DAY!
Copper organza top + pajama-feel trousers = holiday magic. Dad didn’t notice I was missing half my shirt, so that’s a win.
3. WORN TO WORK
Added a little festive glam to the classroom last week. These flats were the least worn item in my closet, a damn shame. Time to stop waiting for the moment and be the moment.
4. WORN TO WORK
When I walked into my office, someone lovingly said, “Oh, good morning, Beyoncé,” and that moment is now added to my life highlight reel.
My Substack feed is all about everyone wanting to get the F offline and live a more analog life.
I was reading an article that asked, “Is being constantly online cringe?” I don’t usually care what the world decides is cringe or not. I think husbands were considered cringe at one point, lol.
And maybe it is, and maybe I’m a little guilty of it myself. One of my 2026 goals is to live a more analog life, which has been reigniting so much nostalgia in the process.
1. CARRY A BOOK OR JOURNAL EVERYWHERE
The book can fill my idle time while the journal can allow me to jot down my thoughts.
2. FIND A HOBBY TO CREATE
I’m not sure what this is quite yet but here are some things I’ve been enjoying:
Holiday Card Books - Toxic trait: I can’t throw out photos of anyone (unless they’ve wronged me, lol). I take our holiday photos, hole-punch each one in the corner, tie a ribbon through it, and turn them into a little book.1
Simmer Pots - Throwing random things into a boiling pot of water feels like creating (or potion making)!
Stephanie Johnson posted this note of her “junk journal”2 and sent me down a research rabbit hole. It feels like type-B scrapbooking and I like it.
3. CHALLENGE
Turn your analog activity into a challenge! Then turn that challenge into a “timed challenge.” Ex: challenge: bake a new recipe every Saturday - time: for three months & document the recipes!
Reality is, we’re all burnt out. We’re tired. We’re exhausted from being accessible all day. I’ve been thinking a lot about this in relation to my kids and as a teacher of YOUR kids! They’re on their computers… a lot.
Do you know when my students are happiest? When we create and color. High schoolers choosing posters and coloring as their top assignment! We’ve gone so digital, and now we’re craving community, realism, and connection.
Brown leggings are having a moment. Here are two easy ways to style them.
LOOK 1: brown leggings styled
LOOK 2: brown leggings styled
I love low-stakes dreaming, and creating a 2026 vision board is my way of doing that.
To create my collage I used this post by 𝓳𝓮𝓷𝓷𝓪 𝓶𝓲𝓵𝓵𝓲𝓸𝓷 ♡⋆｡°✩ and followed her method below:
Get clear on what you want across key areas of your life (home, work, money, health, relationships, lifestyle).
Understand the why by identifying how you want each area to feel and emotionally anchoring those desires.
Choose intentional imagery you can see yourself living inside—not just aspirational aesthetics
Build the board as a story, combining images and feelings in a format you’ll revisit and embody.
And here’s my final product! Manifesting a year of sustainability, analog living, moving at my own speed, exploring my city, traveling west, bricking my phone, re-designing my home, writing my heart out, time at the lake, firm boundaries, a simplified wardrobe & really good music on my new record player!
My biggest lesson is always giving myself permission to not accomplish everything. if I stay exactly the same as I was in ’25, it’s cool.
A vision board is a dream. It’s not a requirement. Do I think I’m getting to Yellowstone this year? Probably not. My kids can’t walk 100 feet without complaining, let alone backpack through Montana.
🗨️YOUR TURN! What was your favorite 2025 moment, and what are you carrying into 2026?
As always, thank you for taking the time to read my work, your support means the world to me.
Stay messy, stay wonderful, stay YOU! Happy New Year!
If this made you smile, hit the heart 💗, re-stack it 🔁, or share it 📤—those tiny taps make a HUGE difference.
Feeling generous? You can also buy me a coffee to say thanks! ☕
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
I learned about this idea years ago from Brooke Christen!
More on Junk Journaling in this post by Claudia Kollschen
Substack reminds me of old timey blogs - it’s like the presentation (images and text) has gone full circle.
You've found your niche, and let me just say that I am here for all of it! Your voice has truly shone this year, and I am so excited to see what the "Yard Sale" has in store for 2026 and beyond.