cynthiagraceLIVING

A Little Reset for Real Life✨

Author

Kimberly Mooney
January 10, 2026

“What the new year brings to you will depend a great
deal on what you bring to the new year.”
 — Vern McLellan

Your January Highlights

✨ Coffee Talk: Waking Up For Real!
✨ Spin Time: And The Winner Is…
✨ Life Class: Making 2025 Our Greatest Teacher with Tracey Brioux
✨ Pretty Plates: Wrap + Glow Recipes
✨ Dry-ish Living: Dry-ish January?
✨ Leaf Lessons: If Plants Could Talk
✨ Brain Basics: Future Proof Your Mind
✨ Energy Edit: Go Feng Shui Yourself
✨ Talk Nice: 7-Day Challenge. You in?
✨ Believe It or Not: So much more…

Coffee Talk

So here we are again. A new year.

Which usually means a fresh list of promises we make to ourselves—some hopeful, some exhausting, most recycled.

Add more joy.
Stress less.
Shrink the waistline, tone the arms, quit sugar and wine (again).
Be more present, more grateful, more disciplined.
Journal daily. Hit the gym. Do better. Be better.

You know the drill.

But this year, my goal isn’t to improve myself, well I should say ‘only’ to improve myself.

My goal is to wake from the dead.

Dark? Maybe.
Honest? Completely.

I read something recently that described our lives as living deaths confined to our cemetery of choice.

“Cemetery of choice”!!!!??

Merciful God, I can’t be the only one that was hit in the face with that sentence.

So, I sat with this for a bit, visualized my ‘cemetery’ (Hear my out, that sounds wrong and completely whack, I know) but with an open mind and a minute to think, I could see clearly all the crap that was in there. It’s the place we have ‘settled’ in every area of our lives.

So maybe this year isn’t only about adding more goals. (Because baby, I’m adding goals.)


Maybe it’s also about climbing out of the cemetery—and living a little louder, unapologetically right where we are.

If that’s waking up from the dead, I’m in.

Spin Time on PEI!

PEI will be celebrating the outstanding achievements of Prince Edward Island’s vibrant music industry. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Music PEI Awards. To mark the occasion, the awards gala will return to the Harbourfront Theater in Summerside, back to where it all began in 2001.

The awards highlight the incredible talent and dedication of PEI’s artists and industry professionals, showcasing a wide range of genre and contributions to the Island’s music industry.

I am keeping a close eye on a few categories for my own personal reasons….namely my kiddos(Absolute Losers and Lawrence Maxwell) and a couple more who feel like my kiddos.

SRL Solutions Album of the Year Nominations:

Dairy Farmers of PEI Country Recording of the Year Nominations:

Maritime Electric Single of the Year:

Podtime

This episode explores a powerful start to 2026 shaped by multiple Cazimi alignments, exalted planetary energy, and major turning points that bring clarity, momentum and decisive forward movement. In other words, don’t get me started. (Inside joke and throw back to previous post).

You’ll hear sign by sign insights and guidance for working consciously for this months’ elevated energy—so effort meets opportunity and clarity becomes visible.

Y

Making 2025 Our Loudest Teacher.

Meet Tracey Brioux, founder of RESET:breath

“I started RESET:breathe in 2017 with a one-year-old who hated sleep and three other kids who needed me in a thousand different ways. I was exhausted, stretched thin, and looking for a way to feel like myself again.

Your health isn’t something you get to “when things calm down.” It’s the foundation everything else is built on. And you don’t have to earn the right to take care of it.”

Movement has always been my reset button, but these days RESET:breathe is about something bigger: building a community where women can be honest about how hard things are, where slowing down isn’t seen as giving up, and where taking care of yourself doesn’t require an apology.

I’m not here to fix you or transform you. You’re not broken. I’m here to remind you that you’re worth the effort, that rest is productive, and that showing up for yourself with a little more compassion might be the most radical thing you do today.

You are powerful.

30 minute guided workouts for all fitness levels.

A reset moment with Tracey:

For whatever reason, the state of the world, the position of the planets in the sky, the energy in the air or individual personal challenges- 2025 just seemed like an ‘off’ year for a lot of people.

I have found the universe is going to keep throwing the same lessons at you until you learn them.  So to save ourselves from future unnecessary grief, let’s review…What did the last year teach you? If nothing comes to mind right away it’s likely because you have been operating at such a high speed you haven’t had a chance to think…..but sit with this.

What did you learn (big or small) in 2025?

Here are a few lessons that came to mind for me in no particular order of impact. 

*All perceived perfection is scripted. There is no such thing as having it all together. Remember that every time you compare. 

*Teenagers can be really mean to their parents. Sometimes my teens look at me as if they are trying to burn a hole through my soul. Five minutes later or anytime we are in the vicinity of Starbucks, they might love me again. Like what?! There was no chapter about this in “What to expect when you’re expecting.” By the way, thank you to my friend who recommended the book “Get Out of My Life, But First Could You Drive me and Cheryl to the Mall.” I have it on audible and often just listen to a few minutes here and there and it makes me feel less like I’m raising psychopaths. I highly recommend it if you have teens. 

*You can only ignore your body's signals for so long until it catches up to you. First- let me point out this is a systemic problem and it’s not your fault if your body is currently screaming at you. We have been taught to carry the mental load of 25 men (no offence men) while working, parenting, being a friend, aunt, sister, wife, mother, pet owner, other thing, other thing, other thing and also take care of ourselves. It’s not possible. The only thing we can do to fix this is start talking about it more, start saying no 876,087 more times a year and delegating. That is the only thing women truly suck at - delegation. Let’s work on this together. 

*Chronic stress can do wild things to you and that also will compound if you don’t pay attention. Some stress is healthy, too much stress will take you out. I had always thought of stress as just difficult things you deal with or being too busy - (which it is) but it’s also:

Physical stressors- too much or not enough exercise, not fueling enough, not enough sleep, not staying hydrated

Environmental stressors- allergy seasons, extreme weather, the people you live with, the people you work with

Emotional stressors- the mental load, how you speak to yourself, how others treat you. It’s a mixed bag of alot. 

Caring about your heart and soul is something we need to teach our kids but it’s also something we need to model. It’s not easy to just wake up one day and ‘love yourself’ if you went a lifetime of having a built in mean girl…. 

*Sleep is everything. 

It's when our immune system is strengthened, our mitochondria regenerate, how our body repairs. Most of us don’t get enough of it. 

*Truly valuing your peace has to come before you will ever be able to prioritize it. We prioritize what really matters to us, so unless we KNOW we damn well should be on the list, that's always going to be the first thing to come off the list. It makes me so mad that we live in a society that has devalued women  for so long. I can feel in the air that this is changing and I am excited to be a part of this revolution of women saying ‘that's enough.’ I’m not ready to burn my bra because I have really comfortable ones, but I am not afraid of my voice anymore and I’m so proud to say that out loud. 

Someone told me once that as you get older you either get bitter or you get better. I love the concept of coming to that fork in the road and getting to choose which path to take but I do think we need context around this. Getting ‘better’ really should say ‘getting wiser’ it just doesn't rhyme. Suggesting that at some stage in your life you are going to hit the ‘easy’ highway is getting yourself up for disappointment. Life is always going to have challenges. Each year will have them. Each day will have them. Where the wisdom comes in handy is when we make reflection and ‘adjusting accordingly’ a practice. Get rid of the things that only take from you (not your kids haha, but extra demands).  Fine tuning your skills of listening to your body, valuing your peace and strengthening your voice is a beautiful way to live and evolve

I hope this coming year brings you good health, vitality, many golden moments and a whole lot of “better.”

Thanks for listening! :)

For more information on RESET:breathe membership and to access on line workouts or to start a 7-day free trial— Check it out here❤️

Winter Antioxidant Glow Salad

The perfect salad to prep ahead for the week - crunchy, colourful, and packed with skin-loving nutrients. Thank you Lauren Nicole, Healthy Living & Lifestyle

Glow Salad:
3 cups purple cabbage
2 cups carrots
1 1/2 cups diced bell peppers
½ cup finely chopped red onion
1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
¼ cup fresh herbs (mint&parsley)
1/3 cup pomegranate seeds

Lemon Dijon dressing: 
¼ cup fresh lemon juice
2 Tbsp dijon mustard
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp maple syrup or honey
1 small grated garlic clove
½ tsp sea salt
¼ tsp black pepper
* whisk all ingredients, let stand for 15 minutes and/or overnight.

Breakfast Lettuce Wrap✨

A creamy, refreshing, keto friendly breakfast that keeps you full without slowing you down. Perfect for busy mornings and for those who are bored of the same old eggs.

Breakfast Lettuce Wrap

1-2 large lettuce leafs
1-2 tbsp greek yogurt (or cream cheese)
2 scrambled eggs in a little olive oil
½ sliced avocado
tomato slices

*add feta & spinach if desired

*layer, wrap, enjoy❤️

And if this is too much work: scramble eggs with cottage cheese, add spinach and mushrooms. Top with Salsa, wrap it up. Boom!

Dry January?

I’M ALL IN!! (Mostly!)

Girls, I love my wine.

There was a time in my life when I thought wine tasted like turpentine.
Gee Whiz, that was a while ago.

If I may be honest every single January I say I’m going DRY for January. One ONE ONE year I almost succeeded. 🎉 🍾.

The ‘a glass of wine with dinner’ habit sneaks up on a girl ya know.

My 2026 goal to be 1% better:  
Maintain a healthy relationship with wine not only for January but moving forward in general.

❤️ Self Care is my focus, every day.

I have replaced my ‘wine with dinner’ with ‘Kombucha while cooking.’

If Plants Could Talk 🪴

Oh but they do.

3 Habits to Combat Future Dementia

Neuroscientist Dr. Wendy Suzuki is clear about this: protecting your brain doesn’t require complicated routines or expensive tools. According to her research, three daily habits matter most — and they’re all within reach.

1. Move Your Body

Aerobic movement increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain, strengthening memory, focus, and mood. Even 10 minutes of walking, dancing, or purposeful housework can spark positive brain changes.

Consistency matters more than intensity.

2. Get 8 Hours of Sleep

Sleep is when the brain clears toxins, consolidates memory, and repairs itself. Chronic sleep deprivation is linked to faster cognitive decline — making quality sleep non-negotiable for long-term brain health.

Think of sleep as overnight brain maintenance.

3. Meditate

Meditation reduces stress, improves attention, and strengthens areas of the brain linked to emotional regulation and memory. Just a few minutes a day helps calm the nervous system and support neuroplasticity.

Stillness trains the brain, too.

The Takeaway

Brain health isn’t about doing more — it’s about doing what matters most, consistently.

“Move your body, protect your sleep, and make space for stillness — your future brain will thank you.”

Insight Timer offers over 245,000 meditations both guided and music only.

Go Feng Shui Yourself.

Sorry. I couldn’t resist, but you really should.

Designing Energy That Works for You

Feng Shui isn’t just about moving furniture—it’s about how energy moves through you.

Your body, habits, thoughts, and home are one living system. When one feels stuck, everything slows. When they align, life feels lighter and oddly cooperative.

Think about how you feel when your bedroom is a disaster verses when it is tidy, sparkling clean and in order! It’s a world of difference isn’t it? That’s Feng Shui baby.

We can achieve that sense of space and clarity in our bodies too.

Invisible Clutter

Start by clearing invisible clutter. Release routines, conversations, and digital noise that drain you out of habit. Stagnant energy isn’t always physical —it often hides in what you tolerate.

Intentional Transitions

Create intentional transitions. Small acts—changing clothes when you get home, washing your hands slowly, lighting a candle before work—reset your nervous system and signal a shift in energy.

Who You’re Becoming

Let your space reflect who you are becoming, not who you were. Place one meaningful object where your eyes naturally land that represents growth, curiosity, or expansion. Energy follows attention.

Finally, treat your body as a space that needs movement and renewal. Change where you sit, think, eat, or write. Fresh energy doesn’t come from doing more—it comes from doing things differently.

Amazon Haul!

Say Hello to crazy low prices!!

Have you discovered Amazon Haul? A budget- friendly shopping section within the amazon app offering ultra affordable items in fashion, beauty, home and electronics. Amazon Haul is similar to Temu or Wish but minus the risk of identity theft or compromised credit card.

Check it out on your phones. This is a mobile app only.

Open amazon app, you’ll see a tab on the top that says amazon haul…..you’ll find all kinds of goodies there.

Changing The Narrative

The next time you’re dragging your a** because you don’t want to do something—or you’re procrastinating on that dreadful task—remind yourself how lucky you are that you get to, not have to.

It’s a little wake-up slap that actually works. You know how the Let Them theory took the world by storm? Well, this should be the next one: “I don’t have to, I get to.”

The next time something needs to be done—whether it’s grocery shopping, cleaning your room, doing that workout, or running errands—tell yourself: you don’t have to… you get to.

What an honour ❤️

7 Day Challenge

Honestly, I think I’ll take this challenge one day at at time, perhaps even one hour at a time.

Rob Dial, host of podcast, Mindset Mentor is challenging us to one week of no negative talk, no negative self talk, no self-criticism, no gossip.

The goal of this challenge is to rewire your mind, rewire your life.

Can you do it?

Vision Board

Are you a vision board-er?

Can’t say that I am, but maybe I could be 🤷‍♀️

You don’t have to believe in vision boards for them to work. 

You just have to look. Something about seeing what you’re drawn to—colors, places, words—tells the truth before your brain jumps in with opinions.

It’s low effort, no commitment. More like window-shopping for your future self. No promises, no pressure. Just a soft reminder that you’re allowed to want things, even quietly.

Very chill. Very optional. Still kind of powerful.

Did You Burp Your House Today?

🪟 Burp Your House

Yes it’s a thing—and your home will thank you.

Ever walk into your home and feel… meh?
Not messy. Not bad. Just a little heavy?

That’s your house asking for a breath.

I’ve started “burping” my home—throwing open a couple windows for just a few minutes—and it’s wild how fast everything shifts. The air feels lighter. My mood lifts. Even my coffee tastes better ☕️ (I swear.)

✨ Try this today:
Open two windows on opposite sides of your home for 5–10 minutes.
Cold air, fresh energy, instant reset.

💭 Think of it as a deep breath for your space—because a happy home feels lighter the moment you let the outside in.

Once you do it, you’ll wonder why you ever didn’t.

Affirmation

I enter this year gently, trusting that small intentional choices
will lead me exactly where I need to go.

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