Happy New Year!

As I type the words “New Year,” my mind is flooded with so many moments from this past year. Have you ever heard the phrase, “The weeks feel long, but the years feel short”? That’s exactly how I feel right now! In the middle of an average week, time doesn’t seem to jump out at me, but all of a sudden, I’m reminiscing about the year gone by.

I’ve never been one to cleanly and neatly wrap up a year before beginning the next. Life and work tend to flow together for me, interweaving in a way that makes it hard to pinpoint where one year ends and another begins. But as I age, I’m realizing that I actually like to pause to look back, especially through the lens of excitement about what’s to come.

Two words stick in my mind when I think about what was and what’s ahead: celebrating and enjoying.

Let’s start with celebrating. This year brought many firsts for me, ones I used to dream about and hope for but never knew were truly possible. My first cookbook was published on March 4 and even landed on The New York Times Bestseller list. When I started Wyse Guide, a cookbook was just a goal and an idea. This year, with a lot of work and your support, it became a reality! I met so many of you at book signings, and the thread running through those conversations was how Wyse Guide feels like being part of my family. That means more to me than you know.

We also published the fourth annual Holiday Guide, which feels like its own little tradition now.

I’m not naturally good at stopping to celebrate accomplishments, but looking back at 2025 reminds me that I need to pause and celebrate when a goal comes to fruition, rather than quickly moving on to the next one.

Then there’s enjoying. What a loaded word! It sounds simple, but I’m not always good at it. Just like with celebrating, I often find myself forgetting to enjoy not only the big moments, but also the small everyday ones. The years go fast, so why do we struggle to enjoy them more?

Celebration and enjoyment are my big takeaways from 2025 and the things I want to lean into even more in 2026. I’m not making a long list of New Year’s resolutions. Instead, I’m holding on to these two simple goals that I think many of us need.

Celebrate the morning with a good cup of coffee. Enjoy the evening with a warm blanket and a good book. Celebrate a family meal at the table, no matter how simple the food. I’m going into 2026 ready to celebrate and enjoy what’s to come, and I hope you will too.

Let’s talk about food.

After so much cooking over the holidays, everything feels a bit like a blur, in the best way, of course. This year, I made a Christmas Eve meal that will serve as inspiration for the 2026 Holiday Guide, which will mark the fifth anniversary edition. I love using the time when my family is gathered to try something new, get a little creative, and see what everyone thinks.

My sister and her family were here for a week, and I leaned heavily on Wyse Guide recipes to feed us all. Here’s a little peek at what was on our menu:

• ​Chicken zucchini meatballs​
• ​Slow cooker chili​
• ​Sausage meatball kale soup​
• ​Classic taco salad​
• ​Ham and beans soup (perfect if you have leftover ham)
• ​Cornbread for both the chili and the ham and beans soup
• One-layer birthday cake from my cookbook to celebrate Karcyn’s birthday

It was one of those weeks that reminded me why I love sharing recipes with you. Food is how I show love, and it’s often where my best ideas begin.

I’ve seen other food creators rounding up their 10 most-loved recipes of the year, and it felt like the perfect time to do the same for Wyse Guide. Tell me if you made any (and which one was your favorite)!

Easy Homemade Goulash A cozy one-skillet dinner with beef, noodles, and rich tomato flavor. Get the recipe → ​

Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuits Creamy chicken filling topped with tender, golden biscuits. Get the recipe → ​

Pumpkin Bars Moist pumpkin bars with smooth cream cheese frosting. Get the recipe → ​

Grandma's Homemade Baked Beans Saucy baked beans with smoky bacon, molasses, and bold flavor. Get the recipe → ​

Grandma's Peanut Brittle Classic peanut brittle with sweet crunch and roasted peanuts. Get the recipe → ​

Cherry Cobbler A simple celebration of one of the best fruits that summer has to offer! Get the recipe → ​

Loaded Baked Potato Soup Creamy soup with bacon, cheddar, and lots of comforting flavors. Get the recipe → ​

Saltine Toffee Sweet–salty saltine toffee made quickly with simple ingredients. Get the recipe → ​

Raspberry Cobbler Easy summertime dessert with a simple batter and tons of flavor. Get the recipe → ​

Easy Macaroni Salad Creamy salad with herbs, cheese, and dressing that's perfect for summer. Get the recipe → ​

Let’s talk about Kip.

Recently, Kip had a bout of sickness. About a year and a half ago, he was hospitalized with pancreatitis or possible IBD. After a week in the ICU, he pulled through and eventually rebounded better than before. A diet change ended up being the best medicine at that time, but the doctors told us he could have flare-ups in the future.

Right before Christmas, he had one of those flare-ups. Nothing is harder than seeing your beloved furry family member not feeling well and acting noticeably uncomfortable. After some doctor-monitored fasting, close watching, and lots of attempts to keep him comfortable, Kip is feeling very good again and is back to his energetic self.

Ever since he was paralyzed in 2021, we know it can be harder for Kip to recover from any illness, so each one is scary for us. But he’s resilient and proves his strength time and again. He also received a new Christmas toy from Grandma, and it’s been by his side all week. Watching him play again feels like its own small celebration.

I cannot say it enough: thank you for being here this past year. For cooking my recipes, watching my videos, coming to book signings, and caring about the garden, the farmhouse, and even Kip’s story, thank you. I’m so excited to begin 2026 with you, ready to celebrate and enjoy all that’s ahead.