🌟 Episode Length: 10 minutes, 34 seconds

💬 In This Episode

If the new year feels like a fresh start, I want you to hear this first… you don’t have to have everything figured out yet.

In this episode, I’m sharing a grounded “back to basics” reset for creative business owners. Whether you’re starting for the first time, or you’ve been building for a while and you want a fresh, steady start, this is about creating a clean foundation that feels supportive… not overwhelming.

I’m also sharing real reflections from Pretty Pineapple Bead. How survival mode impacted my creativity. How inventory and pressure buried my “why.” And how reconnecting with simplicity helped me show up in a way that’s actually sustainable.

🔍 What You’ll Hear

✨ Why a fresh start doesn’t require a perfect plan🧠 How survival mode can make even the things you love feel heavy🌈 What it looks like when your “why” gets buried… and how it comes back💛 Why clarity comes from being specific, not trying to speak to everyone📓 How lighter structure can create more consistency than rigid plans🌿 Why simplicity isn’t smaller… it’s sustainable

💬 Quote to Remember

“The path forward doesn’t have to be dramatic. It just has to be honest.”

💛 Let’s Connect

If you’re starting this year feeling unsure, overwhelmed, or quietly hopeful… you’re not doing it wrong.

You don’t need perfection. You don’t need pressure. You don’t need to rush.

And if this episode helped you, I’d love it if you shared it with a biz bestie, left a quick review, or reposted it on social. Every share helps Sparkle & Shine reach more creative women who need a steadier start 💛

🌟 Episode Length: 14 minutes, 22 seconds

Before you open a brand-new planner or start setting goals for the new year, this episode invites you to pause and get honest.

If 2025 felt messy, heavy, inconsistent, or like survival mode, you are not behind. You are not doing it wrong. And you are definitely not alone.

In this episode, I walk you through a practical, grounded framework for planning 2026 from reality instead of pressure. I share real examples from my own business, Pretty Pineapple Bead, and explain why planning from energy, alignment, and capacity matters more than pushing harder or dreaming bigger.

This episode is not about fixing yourself. It is about learning from what actually happened and using that awareness to plan your next year with clarity and compassion.

✨ Why planning from survival mode requires a different approach🧠 How the start of 2025 shaped the rest of my year in unexpected ways⚡ What it really means to plan around energy, not ambition🎨 How creative burnout, overplanning, and perfectionism showed up for me🌈 Which parts of my business felt aligned and which ones felt forced📉 Why visibility felt heavier online and easier in person📅 How to think about structure and systems without rigidity📓 Reflection questions to help you plan 2026 with clarity and compassion

“You cannot plan a growth year if you’re still judging yourself for a survival year.”

You do not need to plan your entire year today.

Sometime this week, set aside a few quiet minutes and journal through these questions:

• What season was I actually in this year?

• What drained my energy?

• What gave me energy?

• What do I want more of in 2026?

• What do I want less of?

Those answers are your starting point.

I will also be sharing a planning worksheet on Substack to help guide you through this process step by step. But even without it, the framework in this episode is enough to begin.

✨ If this episode resonated with you, please share it with a biz bestie, leave a review, or repost it to your stories. Every single share helps Sparkle & Shine grow and helps more women feel supported in their business journey.

Until next time,keep showing up with heart,keep trusting yourself,and keep shining ✨

🌟 Episode Length: 9 minutes, 28 seconds

Before you jump into planning for a new year, this episode invites you to pause.

If 2025 felt heavier, messier, or different than you expected, you’re not behind — and you’re not alone. In this short but powerful guided reflection, Cassandra walks you through how to look back on the year without judgment, notice what actually happened in your business, and create clarity before moving forward.

This episode is not about hustling harder or fixing everything. It’s about awareness, honesty, and giving yourself permission to reflect before you plan.

✨ Why rushing into planning without reflection often leads to burnout🧠 How to look back on 2025 without labeling it as “good” or “bad”🎯 Real examples from Pretty Pineapple Bead — including inconsistent sales, mindset shifts, and letting go of misaligned ideas💬 Reflection questions to help you notice patterns, growth, and energy changes🌱 Why progress doesn’t always show up as revenue or milestones📓 A simple journaling challenge to help you prepare for intentional planning in 2026

“If things aren’t working, that’s not proof you’re bad at business — it’s proof that you’re learning.”

🎯 This week’s reflection challenge:Set aside 15 quiet minutes over the next few days.Grab your journal, open your notes app, or record a voice memo, and journal through the reflection questions shared in this episode. No pressure. No perfect answers. Just notice what comes up.

✨ Coming next:In the next episode, we’ll take what you uncovered during this reflection and turn it into a grounded, intentional plan for 2026. That episode drops Friday, December 26.

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with a biz bestie, leave a quick review, or repost it on social. Every share helps Sparkle & Shine grow 💛