A Fresh Start: Organizing and Planning for the Year Ahead

Welcome to this week’s edition of Saltwater Sounds, a collection of ideas, tips, and inspiration. This is where I share everything happening in the world of Shiplap and Shells, what to look forward to on the blog, and the inspiration I’ve found throughout the week.

HAPPY 2025!

I hope your holiday season was filled with joy and magical moments with your loved ones.

As we ease into January, I’m having so much fun continuing to plan this year’s garden. Sweet pea and snapdragon seed sowing in the greenhouse starts the last week of the month. As for our beach cottage, the transition from Christmas to winter decor is mainly done, with a few decor accessories needed to make the place less bare.

What does January look like for you? Do you have big projects you’re working on?

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The start of a new year feels like a fresh breath of air, doesn’t it? It’s the perfect time to hit the reset button and dream about all the exciting possibilities.

And what better way to embrace the new year than by looking forward to what’s in store for our gardens?

Seed Sowing Starts This Month

Stay tuned…seed sowing starts at the end of the month, and I’ll take you along with me.

Are you sowing seeds this year? Here are some posts that may be helpful to get you started…

Gardening eBooks to Make Life Easier

Check out our three eBook series on ‘Growing a Cut Flower Garden for Beginners.’ Learn how to plan, grow, and maintain a cutting garden.

Better yet, purchase the value bundle and save $7 off!

Gardening Made Simple – Your Guide to Growing a Cut Flower Garden

Garden Planning for a New Year

I’m finalizing my cut flower garden plan this week. I can’t wait to finish it up.

I’ll decide on the vegetables and flower varieties I want to grow in the garden this year and where I want to plant them.

Having a journal or planner to refer to and keep track of important notes is crucial for planning next year’s garden. Have you seen our 35 printable page garden planner for only $4.99? It has everything you need to keep track of your gardening tasks, plans, and more.

“The magic in new beginnings is truly the most powerful of them all.” — Josiyah Martin

This Week’s Gardening Posts

How to Start and Keep a Gardening Journal for Your Garden Success

Do you keep a gardening journal to track your garden’s progress? If you don’t, keeping a detailed record of your gardening activities makes it easy to note successes and failures and plan for future garden adjustments…CONTINUE READING.

January Gardening Tips and To-Dos for the Pacific Northwest

You would be surprised by how many January gardening to-dos need to be worked on in your Pacific Northwest garden. It may be a cold and rainy month but it’s time to get back in the garden again…CONTINUE READING.

My friend brought over the first forsythia branches of the season to force bloom.

The Christmas decor has been taken down and packed away. The transition to winter is always hard for me. It’s the hardest season for me to decorate our home.

I still have some sprucing to do, but eucalyptus from Trader Joe’s is always a strong start. I found a new rug at HomeGoods the other day.

My sweet friend brought me a dried flower bouquet before Christmas. I love how the blooms look in the basket for winter.

Ollie loves the new window seat in my office.

This Week’s Posts for the Home

Warm Winter Home Décor Ideas With a Touch of Coastal Styling

Are you looking for creative ideas for decorating your home during the winter months? I’ll show you some simple ideas for adding a coastal look to your seasonal decor while keeping the cozy warmth of a traditional winter space… CONTINUE READING.

How to Transition Your Home From Christmas to Winter Decor

Looking for tips for storing and organizing your holiday decorations and refreshing your home now that the winter holidays are over? Here are some ideas and inspiration to transition your home from Christmas to the cozy winter season…CONTINUE READING.

9 Ways to be Prepared For Next Year’s Christmas Season

Want to be ahead of the game for next Christmas? In this blog post, I’ll share nine practical ways to guide you in preparing in advance for the upcoming Christmas season…CONTINUE READING.

My Favorite Inspiration Around the Web This Week

I’ve started the ‘52 weeks to a Simplified & Organized Home’ challenge.

Here’s a favorite from the portfolio of Ashley Montgomery Design, The Crawford.

If you’re looking for a yummy soup recipe, this salsa verde tortilla soup is a winner!

Do you indulge in armchair gardening?

‘Melody Lake House‘ offers the perfect home inspiration.

This English muffin bread looks delicious!

Here are 5 ways to welcome a season of wintering at home.

You’ll love this amazing family home in a former Dutch train station.

Thank you for being here.

Until next time,

Wishing a wonderful week ahead,

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