Year in Review: Tiny Steps, Deep Roots, and a Whole Lot of Intention

This is a bonus year-end reflection. A chance to step back, take a breath, and look at how the year unfolded. Not through a list of accomplishments, but through the way I moved through it. The choices I made. The meals I cooked. The pace I honored. The tiny steps that stacked quietly into something strong and steady.

This year was about alignment. About building a life and a business that feel nourishing, grounded, and sustainable. Not just for my clients, but for me too.

From the very beginning of the year, I leaned into intention over pressure. January reminded me that meaningful change doesn’t come from a full overhaul. It comes from consistency. One better choice. One thoughtful meal. One more vegetable on the plate. That philosophy carried me throughout the year and became the throughline of everything I did.

Food continued to be my entry point, but never just for the sake of food. This year deepened my connection to culture, history, and community. From celebrating Black American foodways and Indigenous cooking traditions to honoring global holidays, heritage, and rituals, I was reminded again and again that cooking is storytelling. It’s memory. It’s care. It's identity.

Learning stayed at the center of my work. I traveled with purpose, invested in experiences over things, and placed myself in rooms that reflected where I’m headed. Climate Week, Blue Hill, Food Tank, the Welcome Conference, and conversations led by people I deeply admire all reinforced the same truth. Food has a role to play in climate action, health, hospitality, and healing. Being in those spaces didn’t just inspire me, it sharpened my vision and strengthened my resolve.

On the client side, this year was full and deeply rewarding. Meal prep clients continued to show up with trust and curiosity, leaning into seasonal shifts, smarter swaps, and balanced routines. Dinner parties returned with momentum and joy, bringing people back around the table again and again. Cooking classes, date nights, ladies’ nights, and junior chef sessions reminded me how powerful food can be as a connector across ages, stages, and stories.

Working with kids remains one of the most meaningful parts of what I do. Watching confidence build through chopping, stirring, and plating never gets old. It’s a reminder that the kitchen is not just a place to cook. It’s a place to grow.

At Duke Farms, this year felt like a true stride. From multi-day conferences to Climate Week programming, Bee Wild, and mission-driven menus, the work continued to evolve into something both creative and impactful. Feeding people well while honoring local sourcing, seasonality, and sustainability is always the goal, and this year reaffirmed that it’s possible to do that at scale without losing intention.

Personally, this year was also about tending to myself. I paid closer attention to my health, my energy, and my rhythms. I approached wellness with curiosity instead of extremes, grounding my days in real, food-first nourishment supported by thoughtful, science-backed layers. I moved more. I got outside. I slowed down when I needed to. I let data and intuition exist together.

August marked a personal new year for me. A birthday reset that reminded me how far I’ve come and how much joy there is in building slowly. Eight years into entrepreneurship, I feel more grounded than ever. Not rushed. Not chasing. Just steady, curious, and committed to doing work that feels honest and nourishing.

Creatively, this year brought The Peel Back into clearer focus. Writing became another way to connect, reflect, and share what’s behind the scenes of this work. Food, hormone health, creativity, cooking with kids, and the intersection of work and life all found space on the page. With a longtime dream of writing a book beginning to feel more real, I’m excited to see where that thread continues to lead.

There were also small but meaningful milestones. Tiny Onion merch coming to life. Gardens planted and tended. Seeds gifted. Books listened to on long walks. Music that soundtracked the seasons. Joy chosen on purpose.

As the year closes, I feel grateful. Grateful for clients who trust me with their nourishment. For families who invite me into their homes. For kids who show up eager to learn. For collaborators, mentors, and friends who inspire me. And for everyone who continues to read along.

This year wasn’t about doing more. It was about doing what matters, with care.

Here’s to the tiny steps that built something beautiful.

Here’s to food that nourishes more than just the body.

Here’s to continuing to grow, learn, and gather.