Cupcakes & Tea with Elizabeth

Tag: intentional living

  • How to Start a Gratitude Practice This New Year (With My Published Journals!)

    How to Start a Gratitude Practice This New Year (With My Published Journals!)

    There’s something magical about opening a brand-new journal in January. A fresh start, blank pages, and that hopeful energy you can practically feel in your fingers. New year, new me, new intentions — and I’m one of those people who truly believe that putting pen to paper can change your life in the softest, most unexpected ways.

    Over the years, journaling has been one of the quiet habits that’s carried me through busy seasons, big transitions, and the ordinary days in between.

    Whether you call it manifestation, “the secret” (and if you haven’t watched the documentary or read the book, it’s such an interesting take on mindset!), or simply practicing appreciation… gratitude has a way of shifting your perspective. It brings you back to what’s good, what’s present, and what’s already supporting you right now.

    And in a season that often feels busy, loud, and full of pressure, gratitude feels like a gentle exhale — a reminder that you are already enough.

    In this post, I’m sharing simple ways to begin a gratitude practice this new year — small habits you can start today, gentle journaling ideas, and a peek at the gratitude journals I recently published.

    ⭐ Why Gratitude Works

    A gratitude practice doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, the simplest practices are usually the most powerful. Writing down even three things you’re thankful for can:

    • Help reduce stress
    • Improve sleep (yes, really!)
    • Strengthen emotional resilience
    • Shift your mindset toward positivity
    • Make everyday moments feel more meaningful

    It’s one of those tiny habits that adds up in a big way. When you begin to notice the good, you start finding more of it.

    ✍️ How to Start a Gratitude Practice This New Year

    If journaling has ever felt intimidating or “not for you,” this is your permission slip to start small and keep it simple. If you’re ready to begin, here are some gentle, beginner-friendly ways to ease into it:

    1. Start Small

    Don’t pressure yourself to write pages every day. A simple list of three things — a warm cup of tea, soft blankets, the way your child laughs — is enough.

    2. Choose a Time That Feels Good

    Some people journal in the mornings with coffee to set the tone for the day. Others prefer evenings as a way to wind down. There’s no wrong choice — just pick what feels sustainable.

    3. Let It Be Imperfect

    Messy handwriting? Half the page scribbled out? A skipped day or two? It’s okay. Gratitude is a practice, not a performance.

    4. Use Tools That Inspire You

    A beautiful journal can make the practice feel more intentional… which is exactly why I started publishing my own.

    Simple Gratitude Prompts to Get You Started

    Sometimes the hardest part is staring at a blank page, so here are a few gentle prompts to ease you in:

    • Three small things that made me smile today
    • One moment of peace or comfort I noticed
    • Something I often take for granted, but appreciate today
    • A person who makes life a little brighter (and why)
    • A challenge I learned something from recently
    • A cozy sensory detail I enjoyed — warm socks, a good meal, soft lighting
    • One thing I’m looking forward to

    You don’t have to write full sentences if you don’t want to — quick bullet-style reflections count as gratitude, too.

    I made a cozy one-page gratitude journaling sheet you can print and use right away. Just write one prompt a day, or fill the page slowly with small moments of joy. There’s no right way to use this — print it once or a dozen times, jot a few words, or fill the page.

    👉 Click here to download the printable
    (A little gift from me to you — happy journaling.)

    🌿 My Published Gratitude Journals (Now on Amazon!)

    Creating journals has become one of my favorite creative outlets — a mix of culture, cozy design, and meaningful prompts. I’ve designed several styles, including culturally inspired editions that reflect my love for Swedish and Irish traditions.

    If you’re looking for a journal to start with, here are a few of my favorites that I poured my heart into.

    Each one was created with softness, simplicity, and daily reflection in mind — perfect for beginners or seasoned journalers who want a fresh start this new year.

    💛 A New Year Filled With Intention

    However you decide to begin your gratitude practice, I hope this new year brings you clarity, calm, and many small joys that fill your heart.

    If you pick up one of my journals, please let me know — it truly means the world to me.

    I’d love to hear — do you journal already, or are you hoping to begin this year? What’s something you’re grateful for today?

    And before you go — don’t forget to grab your free printable journaling page. It’s perfect to tuck inside your planner or tape to your fridge as a reminder to slow down.

    Wherever this new year finds you, I hope you find moments of calm, comfort, and gratitude along the way.

    Let’s stay in touch 💛

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  • Bring a Little Irish Magic Into Your Year: My New Gaeilge & English 2026 Planner

    Bring a Little Irish Magic Into Your Year: My New Gaeilge & English 2026 Planner

    🌿✨ Planning with Irish Magic: Why I Created a Bilingual Irish & English Planner for 2026

    There are certain places in the world that stay with you long after you’ve packed your bags and returned home. For me, Ireland is one of those places — full of windswept coasts, warm cups of tea and coffee, music drifting from pubs, and a spirit that’s hard to put into words. It’s a place that feels alive with stories, heritage, and culture… my heritage, and it inspired something new that I’ve been so excited to share.

    This year, I created something that brings a little piece of Ireland into everyday life: a 2026 Irish & English Monthly Planner, written in both Gaeilge and English, for anyone who loves culture, slow living, and intentional planning. 🍀📅
    And because I’ve always felt that planning and reflection go hand-in-hand, I also created a matching Irish & English Journal to complement the planner. It’s perfect for notes, gratitude lists, travel memories, or practicing a little Gaeilge each day.

    But before I get to the planner, let me tell you how it came to be.

    Three women standing together and smiling along the grassy coastline in Ireland, with waves crashing against rocky cliffs in the background under a cloudy sky.
    My family and I exploring Ireland! A favorite from the trip.

    🍃 Ireland Has a Way of Staying With You

    My connection to Ireland began with heritage — stories passed down, family roots, and that quiet pride many of us with Irish ancestry carry. But when I visited Ireland? It transformed from a family story into something deeply personal.

    I still remember the first time Ireland truly clicked for me — not just as a beautiful country, but as a feeling. There’s an ease to the way people live. A spark in the music. A deep sense of history layered into the land. Even simple things like hearing the soft melody of Gaeilge woven into conversations made me want to hold onto that magic a little longer. That connection never leaves.

    And if you’ve followed my blog for a while, you know I’m a planner girl at heart. 🧁🫖

    I love intentional routines, cozy planning sessions, and any excuse to add beauty to everyday life.

    So naturally, one day it hit me:

    Why not bring my love for planning and my Irish roots together?

    ✨ The Inspiration Behind the Planner

    When I sat down to design this planner, I wanted it to be more than a calendar. I wanted it to feel like Ireland — gentle, warm, cultural, and full of little sparks of joy.

    I imagined a planner that could be:

    • A celebration of Irish culture
    • A gentle companion for planning your year
    • A bridge between Irish heritage and modern life
    • A tool for Gaeilge learners
    • A keepsake that feels soft, meaningful, and cozy

    So, I create done where every month includes headings in both Irish & English — a lovely way to be surrounded by the language, even if you’re only beginning to learn it. I also included:

    • A year-at-a-glance
    • Monthly calendars
    • Select daily planning pages
    • A vacation itinerary
    • A budgeting section
    • Irish cultural dates + celebrations
    • And that soft, intentional vibe I love

    It’s simple. Beautiful. Practical. And wrapped in Irish charm.

    📘 A Planner for Travelers, Heritage Lovers, and Learners

    This planner is for anyone who wants their year to feel more intentional — with a touch of culture woven through each page.

    It’s perfect for:

    • The traveler dreaming of Ireland
    • The Irish-American reconnecting with family roots
    • The language learner practicing Gaeilge
    • The busy mom who loves a pretty, functional planner
    • The heritage lover who wants something meaningful
    • The student or teacher who loves multicultural resources
    • And honestly… anyone who loves cozy, beautifully designed planners (hi, same 💛)

    Pair it with the matching Irish & English Journal for notes, gratitude, reflections, or even practicing phrases in Gaeilge each day.

    🌈 A Tiny Daily Dose of Culture

    One of my favorite features?
    The cultural dates sprinkled throughout the planner — everything from Lá Fhéile Pádraig to Lá Bealtaine.

    These little notes feel like tiny reminders of connection, tradition, and heritage.
    Almost like Ireland tapping you on the shoulder as you move through your year.

    🍀 Want to Bring a Touch of Ireland into Your 2026?

    If this speaks to your heart the way it did to mine, you can explore the planner here:

    👉 https://a.co/d/4Y1estw

    It comes in two formats:

    📗 Hardcover 8×10 – a beautiful, spacious desk planner
    📘 Paperback 6×9 – lightweight and perfect for travel, bags, and everyday life

    I’ve loved watching this project come to life, and I hope it brings you as much joy as it brought me to create it.

    ☕ Final Thoughts

    Designing this planner and journal set has been such a meaningful experience — a blend of travel memories, Irish heritage, and the cozy creativity I love sharing with you here.

    And honestly? I think that’s the heart of planning itself.
    Not just lists and dates, but little rituals that keep us rooted in who we are.

    If you pick up the planner or journal, I’d love to see how you use it — your flat lays, your favorite spreads, your travel notes, your Irish-inspired moments. 💛✨

    Here’s to a beautiful, intentional, culturally rich 2026.

    Sláinte!

    ,

    © 2025 Elizabeth Settles — cozy stories, modern life, & honest reflections.