2025 year in review
1/7/26
business, Personal
2025 year in review
a year of brands, babies, growth (in more ways than one), and diet coke.
Studio stats
52 projects completed
1,135 fonts downloaded (no regrets)
Most used font: GT Alpina (ugh it’s so good)
Most used pattern: Stripes — you all asked, I delivered
New employees hired: One (and she’s a gem)
Number of lil sis sub-brands: 1 million (kidding, but there’s been A LOT)
The highs
Breaking ground on the home we’ll raise our babies in and the future HQ of Brighten Made
Finding out I’m pregnant with baby #2 and getting to make Navy a big sissy
Taking our first solo trip as mom & dad (rare but needed)
Successfully baking a loaf of sourdough from scratch (!!)
Laughing, singing, dancing, and starting new traditions with Navy now that she gets it — motherhood has been so fun.
Successfully rebranding Brighten Made
Starting therapy for the first time ever
The lows
A difficult first trimester that forced my body and my work to slow way down
A dark stretch of not feeling like myself and wishing time away
Unexpected hospital stays during pregnancy
Traveling less than usual as my body and priorities shifted
Finally feeling like myself again… and then feeling like I’m starting over again
Carrying the weight of being a founder, a mom, a breadwinner, and a leader all at once
Standout design moments from this year
Logo that stopped me mid-design: Jovia
Secondary logo I couldn’t stop tweaking: Feather & Coco
Coolest brand mark that didn’t make the cut: The Mac
Illustration that brought the brand to life: Little Maison
Texture that added instant depth: Copper & Sun
Pattern that made everything click: Loomwell
Color palette that carried the whole system: Saint Tattoos
Coolest web feature: The Sunday Belle Custom App
The site doing the most: The Reconnected
Packaging out of this world: Easton Candle Co.
