2025 Thoughts, Resolutions, Re-caps, Bests

Here's the annual blog of thoughts regarding the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026 that I write each year! I hope that this fresh new year is everything that you dream for it to be! 2025 was a big year with lots of aspects to reflect upon!

BEST ALBUM: And the Adjacent Possible by OK Go

(Released: April 11, 2025)

Honourable mentions (in order of release) go to: Honeybee by BØRNS (Released: January 17, 2025)

Pity Party by Hotel Mira (Released: March 14, 2025)

A6 by Lights (Released: May 2, 2025) After Party - EP by Hotel Mira (Released: November 6, 2025)

SONGS OF THE YEAR: These songs were my soundtrack in 2025. 'Making Progress' by Hotel Mira 'Goodbye Stranger' by Supertramp 'Pink Pony Club' by Chappell Roan 'Love' by OK Go 'Sally, When The Wine Runs Out' by ROLE MODEL 'Don't Dream It's Over' by Crowded House 'Golden' by HUNTR/X 'Cartoon Heroes' by Aqua 'Some Protector' by ROLE MODEL

BEST MOVIE: The Wedding Banquet

(Released: April 18, 2025)

Honourable mentions (in order of release) go to: Nonnas (Released: May 9, 2025) The Phoenician Scheme (Released: May 29, 2025) Happy Gilmore 2 (Released: July 25, 2025) Good Fortune (Released: September 6, 2025) One Battle After Another (Released: September 26, 2025) BEST TV SERIES: The Bear (Season 4) (Released: June 25, 2025)

Honourable mentions (in order of release) go to: Severance (Season 2) (Released: January 17, 2025) The Studio (Season 1) (Released: March 26, 2025)

The Last of Us (Season 2) (Released: April 13, 2025) Too Much (Season 1) (Released: July 10, 2025) Dexter: Resurrection (Season 1) (Released: July 11, 2025)

BEST (new to me) EDMONTON RESTAURANT THAT I TRIED: MS|SM

(Edomae style omakase ~ 10111 104th Avenue)

Honourable mentions (in alphabetical order) go to: Libérta Coffee Lab (Incredible Korean cafe ~ 6547 99th Street) Mai Mai Vietnamese Street Kitchen (Bangin' Vietnamese street food ~ 14221 23rd Avenue) Olia (Elevated and inviting Italian ~ 12016 Jasper Avenue) Riverbank Bistro (Modern Canadian food ~ 8 Mission Avenue, St. Albert) VA! Caffe (Stylish Italian cafe ~ 12024 Jasper Avenue)

BOOKS THAT I READ IN 2025:

To Love and Let Go by Rachel Brathen

Scarborough by Catherine Hernandez

Raising Boys to be Good Men by Aaron Gouveia

Sailor Moon Eternal Edition 3 by Naoko Takeuchi

Sacred Cow by Diana Rodgers & Robb Wolf

My favourite book of the year!

I hope that if you give any of my picks a try that you'll love them as much as I do!!

IN 2025 I TRAVELED TO THESE PLACES:

Regina, Saskatchewan X 3

Jasper, Alberta X 3

Golden, British Columbia

Banff, Alberta

Auckland, New Zealand

Wellington, New Zealand

Sydney, Australia

Brisbane, Australia

Sigatoka, Fiji

Savusavu, Fiji

London, Ontario X 3

Stettler, Alberta

Drumheller, Alberta

Canmore, Alberta

Calgary, Alberta

Toronto, Ontario X 2

Montreal, Quebec

My favourite destination of the year was Auckland, New Zealand (but just our entire epic vacation to the South Pacific in general!). What a dream come true!! We had been planning this trip for over a decade and getting to bring my parents along with us was very special.

IN 2025 I SAW THESE BANDS PLAY LIVE:

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World The Movie: The Soundtrack: The Tribute Concert

Stars

Bush

USS

Bleachers

Hotel Mira X 4

Bran Van 3000

Aqua

The Royal Foundry

My favourite concert of the year was Bleachers in Calgary! We were right front row center and it was just the most incredible show with one of our favourite bands! Plus it was Archie's first time right up at the front and he got a setlist too!

WEDDINGS THAT WE ATTENDED IN 2025: None! But I do want to give a shout out to:

Krystie & Jason got married on March 26, 2025 in Chilliwack!

FAMILY/FRIENDS WHO HAD BABIES IN 2025:

None! And of course... RESOLUTIONS... First let's see how I did with my 2025 resolutions:

~ Continued abundance, ease, and prosperity. ~ Renovate the main floor bathroom for real this time! ~ But actually read at least five books or more!! You've got this! ~ Get to a good place with my HRT, feel my healthiest and best, and get strong. ~ Plan and execute the most epic and amazing vacation to the South Pacific! ~ A rebirth in my body in this new phase of my life. Understanding. Vitality. The wisdom of patient manifestation. Fully commit to living this life, right now.

Almost everything on this list was a resounding success! We have reached a really beautiful flow in life that fills me with endless amounts of gratitude. I did manage to read five books! I feel that I am finally in the best place with my HRT and menopause journey that I have ever been since it all began - I feel good and like myself again. We did get to take the most wonderful month-long vacation to the South Pacific and it was the most incredible adventure that I'll never forget. I am living my life to its fullest and am so excited for what the future holds. The one failed item is that, yet again, we did not end up renovating the bathroom. This leads me to... 2026 MANIFESTATIONS/GOALS: ~ Actually renovate the main floor bathroom for real this time!! ~ Read at least six books or more. ~ Continue getting strong and lifting heavy shit! Can I lift 140lbs?! ~ Take a Broadway jazz class and learn to dance!! ~ Run a 5k in September even if it's super hard and I hate it. ~ I want to feel sacred and beautiful moments that are filled with elation and euphoria that remind me that I am exactly where I'm meant to be.

I'm wishing everyone a wonderful 2026! Don't dream it, be it!