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Hello, hi and happy 2006. Can we still say that on the 10th of January? probably not but here we are. It’s been an interesting start to the year to say the very least. To sum it up: My Samsung oven decided to “die” a mere 2 days before Christmas (despite only being 14 months old, 1 day after the warranty had expired), Christmas was chaotic (think family drama) induced by an intoxicated sibling. And then there’s the sad part of Christmas. Witnessing your grandparents aging and confusing your family’s old English Sheepdog for a human. I don’t share this to shame, but more to self regulate and cope with the heaviness of the holidays.
In typical Mercedes fashion, I have never sent out holiday greeting cards with family photos or updates, mainly because I felt like a puzzle piece was still missing or maybe multiple puzzle pieces. I didn’t have the traditional family to post on a greeting card like the one in the nail salon. A friend once said to me many years ago that instead of thinking in a place of lack, I need to think from a place of abundance. Focusing on everything that I do have instead of the few things that I don’t. So although my family isn’t traditional, it’s still perfect, and worthy of a holiday card.
With all of that said we now have a full year to improve ourselves mentally and physically. Of course (like many others) I downloaded self improvement apps, dedicated myself to a daily workout schedule and promised myself that I absolutely wouldn’t’ eat a pint of ice cream in one sitting ever, ever again. When that all went down the drain by day 4 (shocking) I decided to then delete the apps and unrealistic expectations of myself and continue on what I could control. This includes daily meditation, self improvement podcasts, and daily movement (of some sort).
So let’s get into the good stuff, because I don’t believe in gatekeeping:
- Meditation: If you’re anything like me, you’ve tried meditation multiple times but never been able to stay consistent. The most uncomfortable thing about meditation is being silent with yourself, listening to any thoughts that come up and taking action. When I heard about SHIFT with Jamie on Molly Sims podcast, I knew it was time to take action. Mainly because Jamie’s name and app kept appearing. She currently has a free 7 day trial and I instantly knew it was time for me to take action and dive in. I’m starting with her 21 day Manifestation Challenge and will report back.
- Pilates By Izzy: When I tell you that these are the hardest workouts I have EVER done, in 40 minutes or less (mainly), it’s absolutely insane. I wish I could tell you exactly how I came across Izzy’s workouts but instead I wondered how I hadn’t started sooner. Then with much investigation I found out that Izzy only started her Youtube last year which is diabolical given she has 1.8 Million subscribers.
- Reading: This includes Substack (yes I pay for some of my favorites!), Fiction (currently reading: The Wedding People), and self help books (Just finished Manifest by Roxie Nafousi). Not only does reading advance your intellect, but it’s also a wonderful way to increase your vocabulary and have a little bit of escapism. I’d love to also join a book club in an attempt to meet new people and make more friends.
- Sleep: We all know how important sleep is but wow, 2026 has been a game changer for me. I heard on a podcast about the 4-7-8 breathing technique. This technique is a simple, calming practice designed to help your body transition into sleep by soothing the nervous system. To do it, you inhale quietly through your nose for 4 seconds, hold the breath for 7 seconds, then exhale slowly through your mouth for 8 seconds, allowing the body to fully release tension. This extended exhale signals safety to the brain, slows the heart rate, and reduces racing thoughts, making it especially helpful for nighttime anxiety or restlessness. I’m adamant on tracking my sleep through my Oura ring (one of my top purchases from 2025). The data is worth in itself, but every time I get above an 87 sleep score-wow do I feel amazing the morning after.
- Intuitive eating: We’ve all heard about intuitive eating, but this year I’m really working on listening to my body and cravings. This means cycle synching (a big trend in 2025), supplements (think digestive enzymes-here are the ones I swear by), and eating a pint of ice cream when necessary. It’s less about perfection and more about trust—learning when my body needs nourishment, balance, or simply comfort.
Abundance isn’t about what’s missing—it’s about honoring what’s already here. So instead of chasing unrealistic resets or overnight transformations, I’m committing to small, sustainable shifts. Nothing extreme or performative: just micro habits that support my nervous system and body.
What I’m Eating:
When I say I get hyper fixated on meals, I mean it. Most recently I’ve been loving really warm and wholesome foods. Think mushrooms, tomatoes, scrambled eggs- all of it. Breakfast usually consists of 2 eggs scrambled (with egg whites and cottage cheese), an English muffin, and veggies. If I’m really hungry I will also add in fruit. I actually love a big breakfast to keep my blood sugar stable throughout the day and switching from a sweet to savory breakfast has been a game changer. Incase you’re wondering about my plate set-you can find it here.
What I’m Listening to:
I listen to 3-4 podcasts every single day. A few of my current favorites include: Diary of a CEO, Aspire by Emma Grede, and The Wellness Process by Elizabeth Endres Orrigo. My most recent download was Mel Robbins on Aspire. Some of the main themes & insights:
Behind “overnight success”: Mel emphasizes that her “overnight success” wasn’t overnight at all — it came after 16 years of unseen work plus relentless consistency and clarity of purpose.
What success really comes from: Timing, mission, and consistency are the ingredients behind success. She talks about working when no one is watching — the hard, unglamorous effort that lays the foundation for later results.
Purpose & identity: Mel discusses how important it is to stay grounded in your purpose, especially when things get noisy or distracting. She urges listeners to find meaning beyond just going viral or chasing external validation.
Mindset practices: She opens up about specific mindset tools she uses daily to stay focused, resist distraction, and avoid getting bogged down by others’ opinions.
Jealousy as a tool: Rather than seeing jealousy as something negative, Mel reframes it as a directional signal — indicating what you actually care about or want to pursue.
Real talk about entrepreneurship: Mel talks candidly about money, debt, rebuilding from zero, and what it takes to build something lasting rather than chasing quick wins.
Overall Tone & Purpose
This episode blends honest personal storytelling with practical life and business strategies. Mel’s goal is to help listeners understand that real success isn’t instantaneous — it’s about showing up consistently, tracking what actually matters, and building from a place of deep purpose and grounded self-belief. You can find her best selling book“The Let Them theory” here.
This Weeks MN Curated Finds:
- Matcha: As an avid coffee drinker who drinks 2 double espresso shots every single morning (often within the same 30 minutes) I was shocked when my body was craving Matcha. I first started drinking this matcha in 2023 and haven’t looked back. I make a latte with 1 tsp of Matcha and frothed 2% milk. 10/10 recommend, especially if you’re semi new to Matcha.
- DJI Mic Mini & Receiver: As a content creator I really want to level up in 2026. This means better visual and audio content. You know those cute little microphones with the fluffy windscreen? that’s probably a DJI microphone. Yes they have cheaper options out there (and dupes), but I’ve learnt that quality over quantity is the way to go.
- Victoria Beckham foundation drops: Much like the Shift by Jamie and how that kept popping up, well so did the Victoria Beckham foundation drops. I must have heard about them at least 5 times in 5 different media outlets this week alone. I finally took the plunge and let me tell you they are worth the price tag (just use them sparingly and make the investment worth it).
- Mackenzie Childs Set: Having a son meant eating dinner on plastic Mickey Mouse plates more times than not, but now that he’s getting older (hello teenage years) and more mature, I wanted to invest in a nice set of plates and chose this rosy check set.
- Huggie Hoop Earrings: As a non hoop girlie I was shocked at how much I loved these earrings when I first spotted them on Amazon. Perfect for if you’re going on holiday or a trip and don’t want to bring your fine jewelry.
- Confidence: This is Roxie Nafousi’s second book. I was absolutely shocked yet comforted when I heard how Roxie struggled with self confidence on Jay Shetty’s podcast. I can’t wait to read it once it arrives and share my thoughts.
- Depuffing wand: Honestly they had me at wand, but given my body is in a constant state of inflammation this wand has been an absolute skin care must have. I was definitely skeptical but it’s cold, refreshing and rejuvenating. Say goodbye to those spoons in the fridge and hello to your new best friend.
- Crocodile Tote: No one loves a tote more than me and when I fell in love with a designer one with an $850 price tag, I knew I could find something similar for a lower price point. I love a good designer bag but I want something that I can throw my sunglasses, laptop and keys into without skipping a breath on if it gets damaged. This tote is perfect for exactly that.
Well that’s it for now and as always, it was lovely to finally catch up and write my first blog post of 2026.
Xo M
