I’ve been blessed with some pretty amazing years in my life, but I can say with great confidence that 2025 was my best year yet. So many of my wildest dreams came true across that I imagine it’ll be next to impossible to top. Miss Stephanie did predict in early January that 2025 would be my best year yet and suffice it to say, oops!…she did it again! Can’t wait to see what my 2026 tarot reading brings! Until then though, let’s look back on the incredible highlights from last year…
Started off the year right with a trip to Walt Disney World in January. This is Erin, Nancy, and I in front of the now defunct Dinoland U.S.A. gate. This land in Disney’s Animal Kingdom has gone extinct to make way for the Tropical Americas expansion, which I for one cannot wait for! Dinoland U.S.A. was neat and all, but didn’t do many favors for me. This picture felt relevant though as it is now one that we can never take again.
Our French Prince, Baptiste. He was our server at Chefs De France in EPCOT and I can say with great confidence that it was the single greatest dining experience of our lives. Baptiste was truly second to none and gave us an evening that we have reflected upon all year long. He was simply the best and personified that Disney magic that we’ve come to love so deeply. He truly deserves nothing less than to live his best life every single day.
Another photo that can never be captured again. Cortni and I at Olga’s in Alton Square Mall during the early stages of planning our once-in-a-lifetime joint birthday party, twentyFINE. Olga’s sadly closed up shop in late December. We did enjoy one last supper there then, but it’s heartbreaking to know that we can never enjoy another without going to Michigan. Which isn’t the worst because Michigan is beautiful, but it sucks that a place we frequented regularly is now gone.
I GOT TO MEET A SPICE GIRL! Geri Halliwell-Horner, Ginger Spice, came to St. Louis as part of her book tour for her young adult series, Rosie Frost! This was truly a dream come true for me because I’ve loved her for nearly thirty years now! Plus, Geri’s solo music is my favorite amongst the five girls. It was certainly another night I’ll never forget and one I’ll be eternally grateful for. Despite an incredible event in December… I think prior to meeting her was the most nervous I’d ever been.
Planning twentyFINE was honestly every bit as fun as the event itself. The JCPenney’s photoshoot that Cortni and I did was honestly THE BEST! Would highly recommend this experience to all!
Celebrated a week of Saint Louis fun with some of my California favorites, including California Melissa as seen above.
…and Kamber, who is sandwiched between me and Nancy making it a Bancy sandwich! This photo is from twentyFINE, which again, was THE BEST! The Speakeasy here in Cutesville truly made it the perfect place for our perfect event. Loved turning 29 with my wonderful cousin, Cortni. Couldn’t have asked for a more special evening. It was a blessing having so many loved ones from around the country come celebrate my 29th with me. Kamber is definitely a Day One and the four of us have shared some of life’s greatest moments together.
Attended my first No King’s Protest in Alton, Illinois with Erin and my bonus aunt, Leslie! It felt wonderful protesting the tyranny of the fascist Trump regime with a thousand other patriots. Also got to attend the second No King’s Rally in October, but that one so happened to be in Seattle, Washington. Always here to do my part to standup for our democracy.
This snippet showcases one of my absolute favorite moments from the entire year. This is Precious Jackson playing his trumpet for all of us who closed on this late June evening. After months of asking him to please bring his instrument in and entertain us with his artistry, he finally did. As you can clearly see from this very special video, it was well worth the wait. Holding his phone with one hand and playing the trumpet with his other was pure brilliance. I was as blown away then as I am reflecting on this video now! I’m always proud of this boy and was especially so here. I’ve since had the privilege of seeing him and the Edwardsville High School band perform on two other occasions. Needless to say, both experiences were second to none.
This photo comes from my LONG DELAYED BLOG of the Campbell House Museum in midtown Saint Louis. I’d been dying to go for YEARS, BUT I couldn’t go without my near and dear friend, Cody. He so happens to be a Campbell, so I couldn’t fathom visiting without him. As you will all see one day from this future blog, it was well worth the wait. We loved the place! It was a wonderfully guided tour that showcase life in Saint Louis in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Thankful such a place still exists in all its former glory here in our great city. Also, Cody is simply THE BEST, so any time I get to spend with him is always wonderful.
This is us with our girl, Treniece. She’s the helper mouse from Cinderella and we always begin a Disneyland trip by having breakfast with our #1 girl. We love her with every beat of our hearts. #girls4life
A dream came true when I got to be in Disneyland on July 17, 2025. Walt’s original park’s 70th birthday. Melissa went Disney Bounded as Donald, Erin as Mickey, Nancy as Pluto, and I as Goofy. Running into Goofy that day was a must and this picture brings me so much joy and happiness. Disneyland really is The Happiest Place on Earth and I cannot wait to celebrate many more years alongside it.
California Melissa and I had THE BEST day EVER on Coronado Island. From parking lot car swaps, walks with views, delicious foods, and so much more it really was one of the happiest and most carefree days of my entire life. Simply put, there was nothing to not love that day. It truly was simply the best.
My California Brother, Logan, recently graduated from University, so as my gift to him, I got him a brand new suit with everything needed to go with it: dress shirts, under shirts, ties, socks, shoes, belt, and most importantly of all, cologne. I love this kid with every beat of my heart and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him, which obviously includes setting him up for future success. Looking good for an interview is half the battle, so I left California this summer knowing good and well he was in great shape. Soon thereafter Logan landed a position with the Carlsbad Library District and I couldn’t be more excited and proud of him for this accomplishment, especially since I myself am now a member of the Cutesville Library Board. Kindred Spirits indeed.
Lord, have mercy. This was an unbelievable time in my life. I was awake for 27 straight hours and spent 21 of those in airports or airplanes! It was hellish, but let me tell you what, my Snap Story was poppin’ off! I’d never had so many views, likes, and comments as I did over that time. I was supposed to fly from San Diego to Denver to Saint Louis. Eventually I did end up doing just that, but it wasn’t without a several hour delay in San Diego, an overnight stay in Denver, and a rerouting of my luggage through who even knows where all before arriving home in STL. It was a nightmare I’ll never let myself forget.
Two years ago we got to see Diana Ross at the Fabulous Fox Theatre and I thought there was no way with her being 80 then I’d ever get to see her again. Well, she came back to Saint Louis to perform at The Muny in Forest Park and let me tell you what, it was another dream come true. I LOVE MOTOWN, but especially The Supremes! Been listening and loving them since birth and Diana’s solo material is just as jammin’! She’s always one of my top artists each year and truly feel blessed that I’ve got to now see this living legend twice.
I wasn’t the only one who wrote a book this year! My life long friend, Jamie, self published her own book as well! Check it out on Amazon! Jamie is a teacher and Mindfulness Instructor and that’s what her book specializes in: mindfulness. I’ve been blessed to learn many of her exercises prior to reading her book and I can absolutely assure you, THEY WORK! It was a real joy getting to share this self publishing journey alongside her. We both learned so much and were in constant contact on ensuring that each of our respective books turned out exactly as we wanted them to be. I couldn’t be more proud of her! Jamie is not slowing down anytime soon and is working on TWO more books as we speak! It was honestly a real highlight and joy getting to share this incredibly rewarding experience with someone who I’ve known and loved for over three decades now. It too was another blessing from 2025 that I’ll never forget.
I’d been dreaming of going to Disney’s Aulani Resort and Spa in Hawaii since it opened years ago and let me tell you all what, getting to go this October was yet another dream come true. It was the most perfect and welcoming atmosphere I think I’ve ever encountered. There was nothing to not love there and I can absolutely assure you all, we will return…
…because we are now Disney Vacation Club Members! Yet another dream come true for us! We had flirted with this idea forever and when the deal was as good as it was, there was no way we were saying no. Why would we do ourselves dirty like that? Now we can entertain ourselves and our loved ones in all Disney’s best resorts year after year – for forty eight of them because that’s how long our contract is. *laughs out loud each time I say that last bit*
“Bleeding Love” has been my #1 favorite song since 2007. Each year it is in my Top Three most listened to songs and I cannot foresee a year where it doesn’t make the cut. I’m still as obsessed with this song today as I was back in 2008 when it was the #1 biggest song in the world. Getting to see Leona perform this hymn live was life changing for me, but of course so was getting to join her on stage.
Given the success I’ve experienced with “Shithead,” I felt like I had to end my year end roundup with a family photo of my parents, brother, my book, and myself. I’d dreamt of publishing “Shithead” forever, so making it happen this year was again, a dream come true. No other way to say it, I feel so incredibly blessed by all the support and love that “Shithead” has received. If you haven’t already, GET YOU A COPY! Some people wait a lifetime for a moment like that and let me tell you all what, it was well worth the wait.
So as you’ve just seen, 2025 was full of dreams coming true and moments where I got to celebrate and be proud of so many that I love so dearly. I feel so incredibly privileged to live the life I do and am beyond thankful that this past year was truly second to none. Thank you to EVERYONE who made 2025 THE BEST year of my life and I cannot wait to see what lies ahead in 2026!
As always, THANK YOU for viewing! Please feel free to leave a comment below as I LOVE reading and responding to them! I’ll return soon with another all new post, but until then, I wish you all, all the best!
Working hard everyday towards achieving my goal of becoming an international best-selling author. Wrote the book, just need the agent and publisher. Received the ultimate endorsement when Britney Spears wrote me saying she'd be one of the first in line to buy my book! #FreeBritney
