Moments 12.2025

Posted Jan 03, 2026

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We ended 2025 with an incredible month – going on a bucket list trip to NYC and enjoying the holiday season!

“I can’t remember all the times I tried to tell myself to hold on to these moments as they pass.”

Welcome to “Moments” here on JoyFoodSunshine. This is when I pause my usual recipe content, and take time to share our family’s favorite moments from the month!

My Favorite Things – December

Especially check out all my foodie gift suggestions and my Shopmy kitchen favorites.

Favorite water bottle. I use this for traveling because it’s easy to fill (with ice) and closes! Also find it on Amazon.
Portable Phone Charger. I carry this around in my purse on busy days out, travel days, and it saved me in Disneyland with my daughter in September. It really has become something I don’t leave home without!
The softest blankets. The kids got me one of these for my birthday. I didn’t ask for it and never would have but we all love it so much that every one of my kids – from my 14 year old down to my 4 year old – asked for their own blanket for Christmas!
Girls sweatsuit. all four of my girls asked for comfy sweatsuits this year. Such a cute request. I got them these sweatshirts and sweatpants.
Men’s slippers. my son and husband both asked for slippers. Love these.
Carry on Suitcase and Bag. I have been traveling quite a bit lately, and I felt like it was time to upgrade my carry on situation. I bought this carry on as well as the bag that goes with it and I love it so much I’ll probably get the darker one for my husband.

Recipes I’m Making on Repeat

Here are some recipes I made this month – mostly all of our favorite Christmas/Holiday eats – perfect for NYE too! Click on the photo or title to go to the recipe!

Instagram Highlight

This month I did a 12 days of Christmas cookies series on Instagram and it was so much fun. I struggle loving being on social media – but this series really gave me a new appreciation for showing up there and sharing recipes in a more personal way. Hop over there to check out some of the recipes like chocolate peanut butter bars and chocolate chip cookie bars!

NEW December Recipes!

Here are all the new recipes I shared with you in December! I hope you love them!

Kitchen Sink Cookies. Insanely good, you have to try them.
Strawberry Banana Smoothie. an old favorite got a nice makeover!
Peanut Butter Chip Chocolate Cookies. A rich chocolatey peanut butter cookie loaded with peanut butter chips.
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars. think lunch lady bars but better.
Cranberry oatmeal cookies. Perfect winter cookie!
Chocolate mint cookies. great for Christmas, but also St. Patty’s Day!
Brown Butter Oatmeal Cookies. Elevated and delicious.
Stuffed Manicotti. Perfect for New Year’s!
Homemade Shirley Temple. I recreated my kids’ favorite special restaurant drink at home for a fraction of the cost!

NYC Trip

We took the kids to NYC the first week of December and it’s a trip we will never forget. We absolutely packed out each and every day with fun and walked the city from early morning until late at night. I shared a video recap of our favorite moments on Instagram, but here are a few in photo form from the activities we’d absolutely do again with our kids!

📍Ice Skate @ Wollman rink ⛸️– also in central park, rent ice skating aids for your littles, game changer. I did this with Bethany when the two of is went a few years ago. This was a highlight for everyone 11/10 recommend.

📍FOOD –bagels every day (Liberty Bagels). 🥯Unpopular opinion – we did NOT love NY Pizza 🍕🚫 (Chicago pizza forever xoxo).

📍Top of the Rock – do the Beam and Skylift experiences, worth it. Go *early* to avoid any lines. We went at 9:30 AM and it was perfect.

📍Trees & Lights – see as many as you can. Lotte place, Dyker heights, etc. 🎄

📍Stores – Macy’s Santaland, the Lego store, FAO Schwartz (get in line *before* the store opens).

📍Central Park – walk (or Phoebe run) through the park, go to the zoo.

📍Time’s Square – watch their faces as they look up.

2025 Recap

I posted a 2025 recap reel on IG – we had so many sweet moments this year. But honestly, 2025 was the year of redemption. Beauty from ashes, healing from pain, breaking cycles and growing in grace.

We laughed, we cried, we shook our heads, we went on adventures and embraced a new season of life –imperfectly of course, but with lots of faith. It was the year I fully internalized that other people’s actions are a reflection of them, period. God always brings justice. And I live in peace and walk in freedom because of it.

I can’t believe how much changes in one year –the years are short – way too short.
We’re grateful for 2025 and ready for an amazing 2026. Here are the first and last Sunday selfies we took this year – some kids changed more than others for sure! 🙂

Snapshots

We had quite the time getting to NYC – long delay but getting to sit with these cuties was the best.

The Met was also a total NYC highlight for us. The kids absolutely loved it. Keilah now wants to go to Egypt and see the pyramids in real life. Although she was freezing walking there. haha!

Z rode in style everywhere we went – on Ritch’s shoulders of course. I had an epiphany on this trip too. I no longer carry a diaper bag with me, so I asked Ritch to bring HIS backpack to carry all our water bottles and of course he happily obliged. Now, I will never carry another water bottle again when he’s around! 😉