As 2025 comes to an end, I find myself reflecting on a year that was far rougher than I ever expected. Finding my place as a creative in the ever-shifting, often overwhelming entertainment industry has been exhausting. After being let go in April of 2024, I held onto a lot of hope—hope that the next role would come quickly, that the right opportunity was just around the corner. Instead, I’ve been met with a sea of silence, rejections, and unanswered applications.

It’s been humbling and, at times, deeply discouraging. But through it all, I’m endlessly grateful for my husband, who has stood beside me with patience and encouragement—even while navigating his own brief stretches of unemployment. In a season marked by uncertainty and limited income, we’ve had to cut corners where we can. Still, I never saw that as a reason to stop making meaningful things, especially for the people I love.

One of the ways I’ve held onto that belief is through handmade gifts. These slate coasters, for example, are simple but intentional—each one elevated with hand-painted flowers representing my family’s birth months. They didn’t require a big budget, just time, care, and the skills I’ve spent years building.

The end of the year means presents, reflection, and gratitude. Even when I don’t have the money to buy something special, I have the ability to make something meaningful. And right now, that feels like enough—a reminder that creativity isn’t just a career path, but a lifeline.

Here’s to closing out 2025 with resilience, handmade joy, and hope for what’s still to come.