Happy New Year, everyone! As the clock struck midnight, I found myself reflecting on the past year—what I’ve learned, how I’ve grown, and the new possibilities I’d like to embrace. A few days ago, I shared my initial intentions for 2025, but my thoughts kept expanding, and I realized there’s so much more I want to explore to make my life even better. So here I am, sharing the next wave of resolutions that will guide me this year.

This post is accompanied by two scrapbooking pieces I worked on yesterday, during New Year’s Eve. I had so much fun making them while watching some TV show. 😊✨ They’re the first creations I made with some amazing new tools I received for Christmas, which have unlocked a new level of inspiration. I’m more motivated than ever to keep scrapbooking and pouring my creative energy into this passion. So, without further ado, here are some more resolutions for 2025, filled with hope, creativity, and determination.

Thrifted Finds and Holiday Vibes ✨🎅

I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas and is still soaking up the peaceful holiday vibes as we countdown to the New Year! This in-between time is perfect for reflecting, relaxing, and enjoying the magical coziness of winter. Are you planning a getaway for New Year’s? Maybe heading to the mountains for some winter sports, or keeping it low-key with family and friends? Whatever your plans, I hope they’re filled with warmth and joy. Speaking of warmth, let’s talk winter outfits. Recently, I styled a look that perfectly matched the enchanting winter wonderland around me. Picture this: trees covered in a frozen mist, their branches sparkling like crystal in the minus-degree weather. The vibe was pure magic. ❄️

I wore a cozy cable-knit cream sweater with buttons that give it a subtle vintage charm. Paired with black tights, knee-high boots to keep me warm, and my favorite thrifted vintage coat, the outfit struck the ideal balance of style and functionality. To top it off, I added a pair of uniquely shaped gifted earrings and cute black earmuffs—because, let’s face it, not everyone loves hats, but nobody wants cold ears!

At the start of 2024, I remember attempting to create a mood board. I even went old-school, cutting images out of actual magazines with scissors. But, as it often happens, I tucked it away in a drawer—and you know what they say: "What goes in the drawer, stays in the drawer." Life got busy, and other distractions took over. For 2025, though, I’m determined to take a different approach. I want to truly create and visualize the year I’m manifesting. And let me tell you—I’m manifesting the best year ever! They say if you can dream it and visualize it, you can make it happen. There’s no reason why the things we desire can’t come to us in this lifetime. Right? As for my mood board, it doesn’t need much explanation. Honestly, I’d like to keep most of the details to myself. But I’ll share this: the vibe for 2025 is all about abundance, independence, growth, and true personal fulfillment, and I can already feel it starting to unfold for me. ⭐

Here comes the new year. I thought 2022 was going to be my year. Then 2023 rolled around, and I thought, Okay, maybe this is it!? When that didn’t quite pan out, I convinced myself that 2024 had to be my year. Well, it’s safe to say that things haven’t exactly gone as I imagined—but you know what? I’m on the best track I’ve ever been. I can feel it in my bones.

Change is coming in 2025! ✨

Watch it happen with me while I keep a few key things in mind and in my heart:

1. Let Go and Let Them

Let people do whatever they want. Seriously. It’s the only way to see who they truly are. And when they show you, you get to decide whether they belong in your life. Let them. Really, just let them. Let them hang out with people you don’t like. Let them make choices you disagree with. Let them be themselves. And you, my dear, do the same for yourself. When you fully align with who you are, you’ll attract the right people—the ones who truly belong in your life. Trying to control others is exhausting. Which brings me to my next point:

2. Stop Trying to Control Everything

Most arguments and inner turmoil stem from this obsessive need to have everything go exactly how we want it. But let’s be real: only a tiny fraction of those things are even within your reach. People have their own ways of seeing and doing things, and that doesn’t always synchronize with your perspective. When you focus too much on what others are doing, criticizing their choices or lifestyles, you’re pouring your energy into something beyond your control. You can share your opinion, but that’s all you can do. The rest is up to them. And even if they take your advice, trust me, you haven’t really “won.” Pushed decisions often backfire.

3. Try to See Things Through Someone Else’s Lens

What you think is best for someone may not actually match with what they want. This was a hard lesson I learned in therapy. For years, I thought I knew what was best for the people in my life—friends, partners, everyone. But I was only seeing them through my own perspective. People come from different realities, shaped by their environments, cultures, and experiences. You can’t dictate how someone should live. You can offer your opinion and see if they take it to heart. If they don’t, that’s their choice. Therapy also taught me how much damage it can do when someone imposes their “best intentions” on you. I lost my sense of self because my mom always “knew what was best” for me. Now, at 34, I’m learning to reclaim my identity. You don’t know what’s best for anyone else—only yourself.

4. Be the Energy You Want to Attract

If you want kindness, patience, and respect, you’ve got to give those things, too. It’s not fair to act crazy and then expect others to treat you like royalty. People are mirrors. What you see in them often reflects something in yourself. Sometimes, the things you dislike most about others are the very things you struggle with. So, when someone annoys or triggers you, take a step back and ask, What is this teaching me about myself? Often, those “difficult” people are our greatest teachers. Even the jerks. Maybe especially the jerks. Also, live by this rule: Don’t do to others what you wouldn’t want done to you.

5. Let People Come and Go

People drift in and out of our lives. It’s just how it goes, even after many years. Let it happen. If your circle is smaller for now, that’s okay. Protecting your inner peace is what matters most. When you heal, you’ll either reconnect with people on the same level or find new ones who align with who you’ve become. This year, I lost a longtime friend. She began therapy and chose to blame me for the things I had confided to her about my troubled relationships and family. When I asked why she hadn’t told me how she felt sooner, she admitted she didn’t know how to communicate. Then she started giving me “friendship rules.” I’ve done enough work to know that true relationships—especially friendships—are unconditional. You don’t force people to do anything. So, I had to let her go. Right now, I don't have the capacity for anyone who blames me for being vulnerable.

6. Stop Arguing Your Truth

Not everyone will understand or agree with you, and that’s okay. You don’t have to explain yourself to anyone. It’s enough to know that you’re being true to yourself. I used to spend so much energy trying to get people to see my side, to like me, to understand where I was coming from. Not anymore. People are entitled to their own opinions, just like you are. Stop trying to prove your truth to everyone. It’s not your job.

7. Embrace Elegance and Grace

Turning 35 in February 2025 feels like stepping into my power. Adulthood is a privilege, and I want to honor it. I’m exploring more feminine, classy styles—what some might call “old money” vibes. It’s not about copying someone else but about discovering me in the process. Elegant clothes, refined hairstyles, thoughtful manners—I want to embody grace, not just in how I look but in how I carry myself.

8. Tackle Work Like a Challenge

If something’s hard, good. That’s where growth happens. After years of freelancing and procrastinating, I realized I need structure to thrive. So, I got a full-time job that pushes me daily, and I love it. Routine and discipline are non-negotiables for me. I’m leaning into challenges and making 2025 the year I level up my career.

9. Prioritize Independence

Co-dependency has been my Achilles’ heel, especially in relationships. I used to make boyfriends the center of my world—a huge mistake. Now, I’m building my world around myself. Traveling solo, pursuing my hobbies (jewelry-making, anyone?), and focusing on my own growth. The gym is, of course, part of the plan—just not until the second week of January when the crowd thins out. 😂 2025 is my year. Because no one else is going to make it happen for me. Expecting someone to complete you? That’s a recipe for disappointment. Make yourself whole.

10. Delving Deeper into Therapy

It’s hard to believe, but I’ve been in therapy for nearly two years now—wow, time really does fly. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to see my therapist every two weeks, and I can honestly say it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Since starting, I’ve been able to identify and work on so many issues I’ve carried with me for years, many stemming all the way back to childhood. Therapy has also helped me unpack more recent traumas, which, in reality, were just extensions of unresolved wounds from my past. I still get triggered often, and there’s so much more to work on. I know this is, in many ways, a lifelong journey, but I’m fully committed to making progress. In the coming years, I want to go even deeper—to understand the core reasons behind my behaviors, my patterns, and the parts of me that still feel stuck. I want to figure out what I can do to create a life that feels lighter, more fulfilling, and truly aligned with my happiness and purpose.

XO, Zuzi ❤️ 

So... Everything is almost ready at home. ✨ I’ve baked some traditional cookies, decorated the house, and I’m currently watching Some Like It Hot. The holiday spirit is in full swing, and I’m so excited to have a peaceful Christmas this year—hopefully. It’s on my terms, somewhat, without the family gatherings that often stress me out, so it should be nice and cozy. I won’t lie; sometimes I feel sad that I don’t want to spend the holidays with my family. But I can’t help it. If you know, you know. If you don’t truly want something from the bottom of your heart, you shouldn’t force it because, in the end, it will always backfire. I feel like the progress I've made in therapy could easily be undermined, and I would end up feeling like I'm back at square one when I'm at my parents' house. If that makes sense. 

But I’m fine; I really am. 🥂 I’m definitely not crying in the corner, reminiscing about what could have been. I’m creating my own reality, and this year, I baked Christmas cookies with such ease. I ordered all my gifts online and simply picked them up at the local post office. Easy! I also treated myself to some cute clothes for the season. Although I still have to watch my diet after experiencing food poisoning at the beginning of December, I’m focused on buying healthy foods and taking plenty of vitamins. I’m slowly becoming the person I want to be—the person I needed as a friend while growing up and learning to adult. I’m starting to be okay with myself and my needs and routines. And that, my friends, is the greatest gift I could give myself this Christmas.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned this year, it’s definitely the power of manifestation—how much of what happens in our lives stems from the energy we put out into the world. One day, while riding a tram in Prague, I came across some photos of Marilyn Monroe. I remember thinking, Wow, what a beauty. That iconic look! I wish I could embody even a fraction of her elegance and femininity. Maybe I should try curls? Maybe I should embrace a more classic, glamorous style? Her timeless allure was simply captivating. Fast forward to the next day: I was sitting in a job interview, and I got the position. A few weeks later, an email landed in my inbox with an invitation to a company party. The theme? Hollywood Stars. 🌟 It felt like the universe was nudging me to step into that energy I’d admired so much. This was my chance to channel Marilyn, to shine, and I wasn’t about to let it pass me by. I took it seriously—and I embraced the moment fully. 💃

Hello, friends. ✨ I've been wanting to write about Christmas nostalgia and what it means to me so many times before... I’ve loved Christmas ever since I was a child, but over the years, certain experiences have deeply altered my view of this cherished holiday. As the leaves start to turn in October, I know that my most favorite time of the year is approaching. Yet, for the past few years, I’ve found myself unsure of how I feel about it.

When I lived in the United States (it honestly feels like another lifetime at this point, but I miss my second home every day), I decorated the house however I wanted, and A LOT. I still embraced some Czech traditions, which meant, for instance, opening gifts on Christmas Eve, the 24th of December—completely normal in the Czech Republic. In the U.S., as many might know not just from watching Home Alone (lol), gifts are usually opened the following morning, after Christmas Eve.

Christmas in the U.S. felt magical, albeit in its way. What I found most different, now that I think about it, was the shopping culture and the abundance of options. Everything was so accessible and, comparatively, affordable when earning dollars. Even in Florida, where snow was a distant dream, people went all out with decorating their homes, creating an electric, festive atmosphere. We would just drive around the neighborhood to watch the Christmas lights weeks before the holidays.

But then my life took an unexpected turn, and I returned to my hometown of Prague. That first Christmas back was, honestly, a shock. If I can even call it "home" anymore—after spending four years in the U.S., I felt more American than Czech. Returning to family after years away, everything felt different. It wasn’t just me and my brother with our parents around the Christmas table anymore. My brother now had two kids and a wife also living in my parents’ house.