A Case for a Merry January
It's bad enough that I left my future self a long list of “January problems...” let me eat cake on my son’s birthday, and have some wine if I feel like it while getting through this month.
About two years ago I gave up on making high promises for January and instead launched a personal campaign I call “January Can Also Be Merry.” Out went the cleanse, the “dry”, and the idea that, for some reason, I needed to punish myself for how much I enjoyed Christmas. It is tough enough to follow the merriment, coziness, and delight that comes with the holiday season… add the news for this month and we have our joy work cut out for us.
Instead of making it worse, let January feel like a very big exhale and spend time doing your favorite, simple, every day things. At home, Christmas decor goes away, and the refresh gives my house Scandinavian minimalist vibes (but, of course, colorful). I love this process and how it all starts to feel like an opportunity for new beginnings. January is for walks, stews, puzzles, and moments that allow for dreaming, strategizing, and planning the year and life ahead.
If you didn’t start 2025 strong, know that neither did I. I started it feeling depleted, bloated, and very behind on my to-do list. If you’ve been reading a while, you know how much I love leaving gifts to my future self… and in December I left my future self a long list of “January problems.” But, the bleak social calendar in January allows space to gracefully ease back into my routine and tackle these things. And while doing so, I will eat cake on my son’s birthday, and have some wine if I feel like it.
With love,
Camille
I’ve shared a few recipes since the last newsletter for you to check out:
Getting dressed up in winter is hard… I just want to be warm (in how many ways can a season be such a thief of joy? LOL). My style inspo for this month comes in the form of this board of lacy and leathery things which the romantic in me loves for that rare outing during hibernating season.
For this month in the shop I created two bundles that I use to kick off my January. The first is a Merry January bundle with sunshine-yellow objects to brighten the mood and add some joy to a post-holiday home. The second is a January Reset Bundle which includes our food planner to kickstart new goals in the kitchen, a Palo Santo stick to clear some energy in your home, a wax paper set that I love as a sustainable alternative in lunch boxes and for leftovers, and a bottle of Scarlett Fire Hot Sauce, for when you might need some (mild) spice in your life.
To the dismay of all who know me, somewhere in 2023, I became sober curious. A result of that journey was my own version of balance and ending all ultimatums, including Dry January. But I know many people take this month for a break from alcohol, and I fully support that if it works for you. Here are some resources and tips that may help you close the gap between now and the end of the month or if you would like to go down your own “sober curious” path:
This book by Annie Grace which invites you to read one chapter a day and examine different cultural and personal behaviors around alcohol. It is about curiosity and doesn’t necessarily demand that you go dry while reading. Some good food for thought in here.
Glassware: I discovered that I like a drink in hand but that this drink doesn’t really have to be alcohol. Your stemware doesn’t need to accumulate dust while you go dry.
Sub Drinks: My personal swaps were kombucha and NA beer. Health Aid Passion Fruit Kombucha is my fave, and I also love the Rowdy Mermaid brand. NA beer fills a void for me, it’s weird, but hey, it’s not cheating.
A Winter Mocktail: Sparkling Water, a splash of Pomegranate juice (or cranberry juice), and these cardamom bitters in a lowball glass feels like a fancy happy hour.
I will expand on this topic in the next Wellness Newsletter.
I am still sifting through all the photos and memories we made on our Rio visit in November. This trip was incredibly special. Not only did I bring my kids to Brazil for the first time, it was the first holiday I spent with my Brazilian relatives in decades. This trip, the fifth in a two-year reconnecting journey, was the one where Rio no longer felt like a foreign place, it just felt like home. In my heart, after decades of avoiding the “in between,” I am learning to replace the “saudade” with deep gratitude for having two magical places that feel like home.
A few Rio posts you may have missed:
This visit to Qui Qui Rio and the wonders of beachside Kiosk culture.
Cooking my first octopus with Juliana Gueiros in her new teaching kitchen.
Visiting Absurda Confeitaria and meeting Nutri Chef Carla Faedo for the first time.
Taking my husband to one of my favorite spots, Zaza Bistro.
A Rio Rewind 2024 post and looking back at so many wonderful people I connected with there this year.
