New Year, New You: Articles to Start Your New Year.

Here we go again, turning the page on another year! For us over here at the Montecito Journal, 2025 marks 30 years of publication in this Village of the Charmed. By our quick and approximate reckoning, that’s ~ 62,400 pages (gulp) and several warm decades of neighborly “gossip” over the back fence, public announcements, hometown reportage, and the camaraderie only an actual Village can amplify. Let’s wave goodbye to the milestone year 2025 the way people in old Super8 movies used to do it – with broad smiles and exaggerated arm movements. We look back with gratitude, and more than a little awe, at the Buckley family’s earnest idea that became the Town Crier for three decades (and counting) of stories that have shaped, challenged, and connected our one-in-a-million community.

With Gwyn Lurie, steadfast at the helm, we move into 2026 with a look back (accompanied by fondness and curiosity) and grab hold of a few stories that may just help you launch into your next solar revolution. From all of us at the MJ, we wish you a Happy New Year! And we thank you with all our hearts…

Finding New Solace at Home

This year, let the resolutions begin where your day actually begins: at home – that wildly sentimental space where clutter collects, worries gather, and yet, potential quietly waits. If Jean Marie Driskel of TOPE has taught us anything, it’s that a house becomes functional magic when every shelf, hook, and routine is intentional. Her Montessori-rooted philosophy transforms “cleaning up” into something closer to self-care. A resolution worth stealing: design spaces that support the person you want to be, not just the life you’re trying to keep up with. 

Of course, a home isn’t truly at ease unless it can withstand what nature may send its way. Architect Chris Dentzel’s wildfire-hardening journey shows how peace of mind grows with each practical improvement – steel skirts, gravel perimeters, tempered windows. The takeaway for January: resolve to tackle one structural upgrade that future-proofs your home (and your sleep). It’s not glamorous, but neither is rebuilding. 

And finally, breathe easier – literally. Mold whisperer Sid Zagri reminds us that unseen issues can shape how we feel day to day. His scientific, non-dramatic approach to indoor air quality underscores a smart resolution: address what you’ve been ignoring. That odd smell? The damp corner? A little investigative energy now saves headaches (and actual head aches) later. Consider it the home-maintenance equivalent of drinking more water. 

Read More

1. “The Organized Prepared Environment” by Jean Marie Driskel, originally published August 26, 2025: https://tinyurl.com/MJTopeOrganize

2. “Local Architect Rests Easy Thanks to Wildfire-Resistant Retrofits” by Christina Atchison, originally published on July 8, 2025: https://tinyurl.com/MJWildfireRetrofit

3. “Breathing Easy: How One Local Expert is Changing the Mold Game in Homes” by Zach Rosen, originally published on July 8, 2025: https://tinyurl.com/MJBreathingEasy

New Mind, New Body

If resolutions tend to wilt by Valentine’s Day, maybe it’s because we treat wellness like a punishment rather than an invitation. Groove Pilates flips that script beautifully. Under Jessica Ballonoff’s joyful vision, movement becomes communal, creative, and – dare we say – fun. Whether you’re a teen, a retiree, or someone who hasn’t seen a reformer since the Clinton administration, the message is simple: find a practice that makes you feel more you. That’s a resolution with staying power. 

For the mind, tapping (EFT) offers a refreshingly low-tech upgrade to everyday coping. Certified practitioner Ginny Kuhn’s step-by-step method proves that emotional regulation doesn’t require a retreat, a subscription, or a Himalayan singing bowl. It just asks for honesty, presence, and a willingness to tap along your cheekbones for a minute. A resolution here: replace one habitual spiral with one deliberate pause. Small shift, big return. 

And then there’s the growing wave of “sober by choice.” Not abstinence born of crisis – just clarity. Many are skipping the nightly pour for reasons as varied as longevity science, sleep quality, or simply wanting to feel sharper in the morning. The resolution isn’t necessarily “never drink again,” but rather be intentional about what you consume and why. A mindful mindset, whether applied to wine, sugar, or microdosed chocolate mushrooms (we see you, Santa Barbara), is a wellness trend worth embracing. 

Read More

“Finding Your Groove: Inside the Joyful World of Groove Pilates” by Zach Rosen, originally published on August 12, 2025: https://tinyurl.com/MJGroovePilates

“Tapping: Clearing the Way to Positive Thinking” by Ann Brode, originally published on May 20, 2025: https://tinyurl.com/MJTapping

“Sober By Choice: The New Sobriety” by Deann Zampelli, originally published on February 25, 2025: https://tinyurl.com/MJSoberChoice

Living the Montecito Lifestyle

Lifestyle resolutions are often the most fun – and the first abandoned. But Montecito’s stories from the past year suggest goals that feel refreshingly doable.

Take Organic Oren: an entire business built on nourishment, creativity, and meals that don’t repeat for five years running. Oren Giladi’s “salad walks” alone are resolution material. Maybe the aim this year is to eat with curiosity again – to choose food that energizes instead of depletes and to support local makers who emphasize quality without snobbery. 

Then there’s Nelly’s Tailoring, a reminder that craftsmanship – real craftsmanship – still matters. Her decades-deep devotion to stitch, fit, and patience reframes the idea of “refreshing your wardrobe.” Instead of buying everything new, why not refine what you already own? A nip here, a restyled hem there, and suddenly the clothes you forgot you loved feel like keepsakes again. 

And for a dash of pure seasonal delight, fall fashion serves as an encouraging nudge to play more. Whether it’s a new belt, a scarf, or simply rotating pieces you haven’t worn in ages, small shifts can change the way you move through the world. Add a coffee at the newly opened Dart’s in Carpinteria, a gallery stroll, or a community event, and lifestyle becomes less about consumption and more about participation.  

Read More

“Organic Growth of a Local Meal Service” by Tiana Molony, originally published October 7, 2025: https://tinyurl.com/MJOrganicOren

“A Stitch in Time is Sublime” by Jeff Wing, originally published April 8, 2025: https://tinyurl.com/MJStitchTime

“Fall Fashion” by Joanne A Calitri, originally published September 9, 2025: https://tinyurl.com/MJFallFashion