Happy 2026! I hope your new year is off to a good start! I love the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.. it’s always a bubble of family time with no concept of schedules and time. I could live in that week quite happily for much longer if allowed. :)
This snack/meal was on repeat.
Christmas decorations are still up with no plans to take them down yet. (Full Christmas house tour is here if you missed it!)
And we snuck in a quick trip to Kauai. The south side of the island this time! I loved it and will definitely write a Kauai tips post at some point because we have been there enough that I feel like I have some good suggestions for you if a Kauai trip is in your future!
More than anything I just loved having uninterrupted time with these 3 all together again!
And some down time with this one.
It was so nice to take a break from day to day life and to just be together. Nothing like being on island time where everything moves at a slower pace and the biggest decision to make is beach or pool? Shaved Ice or Gelato?
Both and both. :)
I felt a lot like these seals (ha) and it was much needed after such a busy holiday season!
We found ALL the turtles of course.
mesh beach tote / slim flip flops
And it wouldn’t be a vacation without my favorite beach bag and flip flops.
Love them.
Love Kauai!
Now I’m home and I’m feeling a surge of energy and excitement for the new year! I am so ready to get my home organized! Have you started!? The wheels definitely came off the bus in my house a bit these last few months and I have so many messy spots I want to tackle. Honestly I feel like every cupboard and drawer in every room in my house needs an edit! There are so many things we aren’t using anymore.. especially with the kids getting older. January will definitely be a month of organizing and I can’t wait. I’m also excited to update some things in our home.. it’s time! I hope you’ll join me! Get out a bag for trash and a bag to donate and LET’S GO! Kicking things off in my next post. We’ve got this. :)
Below are your Amazon favorites from 2025 along with some fun new Target home arrivals! Oh my word.. I ordered too much from Target. So many cute things coming in for spring! I’ll share how I’m using everything in my home as soon as I get Christmas down. But that might take a while because I want to enjoy the lights a little longer. :)
This was crazy my mascara was such a favorite because I don’t know if I’ve even shared it here on my blog before. I shared it in IG stories and the responses have been wild.. so many of you are loving it too! I usually use my go-to Maybelline mascara but I tried this on a whim and WOW.. my lashes have never been longer! It costs a little more but well worth it! Let me know if you try it and agree!
You all loved the pocket hug this year as much as we did!
Such a fun family game we play often and it came along with us on this trip too!
You all know my love for these towels runs deep! They keep my skin soft/clean AND are perfect to clean off my bathroom counter each night. So happy many of you feel the same!
Another favorite I’m happy you are using and loving too!
Clearly you all love a simple to-do list daily planner like I do and you can’t beat this one for the price! Nothing beats kicking off January with an organizing to-do list. :)
Target Spring home favorites are below.. have a great start to your week!
Happy New Year, Erin! My husband and I just got back from Maui and Kauai. It was our first time visiting HI and we loved it. We stayed in Princeville, but wished we had stayed on the south end for better weather. Weather in general was pretty good though (someone told me a few weeks before we arrived it rained all day, every day :( We got to see all of the island, so it was definitely a great trip. The monk seals and turtles were a favorite! Maybe we were there at the same time! We were in Kauai from 12/25 – 1/1. Glad you had a great trip and feel rejuvenated! :)
I’m so happy you and your husband were able to get away Julie! Aren’t the seals and turtles the best!? I could watch them for hours! We usually stay in Princeville too but stayed on the south side this time and you definitely get more sun. But we still had rain a couple of days. I love Kauai but Maui is my favorite just because it’s more predictable with weather! :) I love that you loved it! What a fun holiday. Happiest new year to you and your family! xo
I loved Kauai too! I think we stayed next door to where you stayed because I remember that path where the swing chair is and it was just so relaxing looking out into the ocean sitting there. We saw the turtles too on that exact beach.
Love that Debbie! Such a fun trip! I agree.. so relaxing!
Just love Hawaii! We went to Kauai end of Sept/early Oct and stayed on the south side too! I recognize a lot of your beaches, the ‘porch’ swing, etc – We did not get to see a turtle, but lots of monk seals. We’re a go-go-go family, so we did a Na Pali coast catamaran, a kayaking tour, luau, and a Waimea Canyon drive/hiking day along with lots of snorkeling/boogie boarding. Glad you had a great time!
Love that Stacey! I’m so glad you went and enjoyed it too! Such a beautiful island. We’ve done all of the things you mentioned too on past trips! (Except we did the hike to see the Na Pali Coast!). We need to try the catamaran and you need to see some turtles so sounds like we both need another trip. ;) Happiest 2026!