2024 in Review: A Fun Family Recap

Take a moment to reflect on the year with your family—because even the busiest years deserve a little celebration:

• Memory Collage: Grab some photos from the year and create a collage or scrapbook together. It’s a fun project and a keepsake.
• Highs and Lows: Over dinner or dessert, go around and share the best and most challenging moments of 2024. (Spoiler: The lows will probably make you laugh in hindsight.)
• Family Awards Night: Hand out silly awards like “Best Snack Picker” or “Most Likely to Lose a Shoe.”

Why it matters: Reflecting on the good, the bad, and the hilarious makes space for gratitude and growth.

Simple Ways to Refresh Your Space for 2025

A little home TLC can make the New Year feel brand new. Start with these easy updates:

• Switch Up Your Scents: Trade holiday candles for fresh, energizing scents like citrus or eucalyptus.
• Tidy One Small Area: Organize a single drawer, closet, or corner. It’s quick, satisfying, and snowballs into more motivation.
• Add Greenery: Bring in a new houseplant or two to add a touch of life to your space (and purify the air).

Hack: Don’t try to redo your whole house—focus on one or two areas to keep it manageable.

Toast the New Year with These Easy Cocktails & Mocktails

Raise your glass to 2025 with these festive, family-friendly drink ideas:

Cocktails

• Sparkling Citrus Spritz: Combine orange juice, prosecco, and a splash of cranberry juice. Garnish with an orange slice and a sprig of rosemary.
• Maple Bourbon Fizz: Mix 1 oz bourbon, ½ oz maple syrup, and soda water. Add a squeeze of lemon for a bright finish.
• Blackberry Gin Smash: Muddle blackberries, mint, and a touch of sugar in a glass. Add gin, ice, and top with tonic water.

Mocktails

• Glitter Lemonade: Add edible glitter to sparkling lemonade for a show-stopping drink.
• Pineapple Mojito: Mix pineapple juice, lime juice, soda water, and mint leaves for a tropical twist.
• Cherry Sparkler: Combine cherry juice, ginger ale, and a splash of lime. Serve in a sugar-rimmed glass for extra flair.

 See the Recipes

Pro tip: Serve in fancy glasses and garnish with fresh fruit, herbs, or even fun drink stirrers to take your sips up a notch.

Set Resolutions That Actually Stick

Resolutions don’t have to feel like chores. Try these fun approaches instead:

• Word of the Year: Choose a single word that captures what you want in 2025—like “balance,” “adventure,” or “joy.”
• Family Bucket List: Create a list of activities or goals you want to tackle together, from visiting a new park to hosting a family game night every month.
• Habit Pairing: Link a new habit to an existing one. For example, do 5 squats while brushing your teeth or write a gratitude note with your morning coffee.

Why it works: Small, meaningful changes beat big, overwhelming goals every time.

Here’s to closing out 2024 with gratitude and stepping into 2025 with a little extra sparkle. Next week, we’ll share tips for easing back into routines, setting up simple systems for success, and making January a month you actually enjoy.

Until then, grab a drink (cocktail or mocktail), stay cozy, and soak up the New Year’s magic. You’ve got this.