Less Proving, More Being: My 2025 Recap & Word for 2026

Each year I like to look back on the past year of my business (and personal life, too!). It’s fun to see what posts you liked most and what happened during the year. 2025 was a big year so let’s look at some highlights.

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2025 In Review:

Most Viewed Blog Post: Arbonne 30 Day Review (over 1,300 views!)

My Favorite Post: Becoming the Bride

Favorites:

New Hair Product: IGK Frizz and Flyaway Lightweight Gel Hair Taming Wand 

New Beauty Product: Arbonne Skin Tint

Addition to my Makeup Bag: DIBS Jam Jam Lip

Wellness Product: Arbonne Morning Matcha

Books Read: 22 (see the books I read on Goodreads)

Big Business Events:

Pivoted my business – closed my program for hairstylists and focused on building up my mindset coaching business.

Reopened my private coaching.

Again, I was a part of some great mentorship programs that helped me as a business owner and coach.

Continued working on my mindset.

Got new branding photos with the salon.

Celebrated 10 years of this blog! This was such a fun milestone. I even wrote a blog post about it.

Prioritized growing my hairstylist business towards the end of the year and joined a new

coaching program to help with that.

Life:

Got engaged in March. We booked our venue right away and have been planning since. I’m starting to feel a little panicked now that it’s the wedding year, but we have so much done already and it will all work out. Right?

See more about my bridal journey in my post – Becoming the Bride.

My mental health had a lot of ups and downs. It made me sad because I felt like I wasn’t enjoying things enough. But, I got support (and new meds) and did my best to work through it.

(If you’re in the midst of struggle – please know there is hope. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Persevere and keep your faith. What you’re going through won’t be for nothing.)

Towards the middle of the year I started having acne and skin issues I haven’t had before. I couldn’t clear it up myself, so at the end of the year I started the Clear Skin Program through Face Reality with a local esthetician that I’ve been wanting to try for awhile. I’m excited to get rid of those issues!

For 2026:

My word of the year is embodiment. Someone I follow on Instagram asked what our theme for the year is. And honestly, I like that. It really is a more than just a word.

According to Oxford Languages and Google, Embodiment means a tangible or visible form of an idea, quality, or feeling.

My 2026 mantra will be “I don’t chase – what’s meant for me responds to who I am being.”

If 2025 was Momentum, 2026 is when that momentum turns into identity-level success.

Did you choose a word of the year? Share it below if you did! Not sure what to choose? Grab my guide to help you pick.

Of course, I have a lot of big plans for Caitlin Emily Anne in 2026:

• Grow my private community. I have one on Instagram now. Join us (it’s free!).
• Build my hairstylist business behind the chair.
• Add clients to my coaching program and offers. If you aren’t familiar with my offers – see how to work with me here.
• Continue to fight the stigma against mental health and help women see their potential.
• Be a part of mentorships and training to help me be the best coach, mentor, and business owner I can be.

My personal goals:

• Enjoy the rest of wedding planning as much as I can.
• Have an amazing wedding.
• Clear my skin.
• Get back into a fitness routine.
• Stay supported with my mental health.
• Be present and put less pressure on myself

I’d love to hear your goals for this year – share them in the comments!

I have such a good feeling about 2026. As I write this I feel really unprepared for the year to start, but I’m actually excited and looking forward to all that is coming. Not just my wedding and starting my marriage but with my business and all the opportunities that holds, too. I just have to get through this checklist, haha.

Thank you so much for your love and support in 2025. It truly means the world to me. Here’s to 2026!