The January Issue
The monthly dispatch on romanticizing your life, including a seasonal to-do list, new book releases, journal prompts, recipes, and more.
Dear Friend,
I don’t feel dramatic in saying that 2025 was one of the worst years of my life thus far. It began last January with the shock revelation that my father-in-law had an advanced form of pancreatic cancer, and wrapped up with a double whammy – the sudden death of my grandfather the first week of December, followed by finding out that after a year of hesitant optimism, my FIL’s cancer treatments had stopped working and the cancer had metastasized, taking with it the possibility of a surgery that would have added 5+ years to his prognosis.
So yeah. It’s all kind of shit, to be honest. And yet, in between the heartbreak, there is always room for joy. Some highlights from this year:
Fell back in love with reading after a looooong dry spell.
Re-focused on my Substack to much avail.
Took a girls’ trip with my two best friends.
Spent a lot of quality time with family.
Visited New York City for the second time, and fell in love with it.
Focused on eating better and moving my body in ways that feel goods (thank you Yoga with Adrienne).
So the darkness may have eclipsed the light a lot of times this year, but there were always cracks for the light to get in. That’s truly all we can hope for, in the grand scheme of things. I’m wishing you all a soft and gentle start to 2026, and I can’t wait to see where it goes.
Housekeeping
Starting January 2nd, I’m kicking off our year-long Well-Designed Life series for paid subscribers. Short version:
The Well-Designed Life is a 12-month framework for designing a life that actually fits YOU – not the person you think you should be, not someone else’s aesthetic, but the life that makes you feel most like yourself.
Each month builds on the last with weekly posts and comprehensive workbooks, moving from foundation (defining what you want) to cultivation (building your aesthetic and intellectual life) to integration (creating rhythms and practices) to sustainability (maintaining what you’ve built). This isn’t about perfection – it’s about knowing yourself well enough to make choices that actually fit.
My current paid subscription is $5/month or $50/year. But starting January 1st, I’m adjusting pricing for new subscribers to $6.50/month or $65/year to reflect the added value of this year-long program (it’s gonna be good – I promise).
If you subscribe before December 31st, you’ll be grandfathered in at the current $5/month rate forever. Even as I add more value and resources, you’ll always pay what you’re paying now.
To Do List
Get a new journal. Will it change your life? No, probably not. But having a cute spot you can write whatever comes to mind can be a powerful thing. Plus who doesn’t love nice stationery?
Take a whole day off. Do not do anything you normally would have to do, including but not limited to: emptying the dishwasher, putting away laundry, going to work, waking up on time, going to the grocery store, doing your makeup, or washing your hair. Only do things that spark joy, whether it be laying in bed reading all day or having a fun solo date in your favorite part of town.
Set some fun goals for 2026. Goals don’t have to be life-altering or even that serious. Fun goals could be something like “try one new restaurant every month” or “color code my bookshelf” or “visit every coffee shop in my city.”
Make a moodboard. Pinterest works in a pinch, but nothing beats a good old fashioned “cutting pictures out of old magazines” session imo. I don’t necessarily buy into the whole manifestation thing, but I do think surrounding yourself with images of things you find beautiful, inspirational, or simply amusing can be a good step toward creating the type of environment you’ll truly thrive in.
Try something new. Could be as small as a new recipe or a new coffee order, or as big as a hair color change or a new living situation, but dammit, January is for new beginnings!!!
Bookshelf
Reading updates, new releases, and more news from the stacks.
2025 Reading Recap
This is a wee bit premature, as I’m still hoping to read one or two more books this year, but also… I just got a Switch 2 and will likely end up spending the week between Christmas and New Years re-decorating my Animal Crossing island for the fifth time. We have to be realistic with ourselves, no? So here’s a recap and some stats of what I read this year.
Reading goal: 25 books
Actual books read: 32 (I’m really proud of myself for this!)
Some fun stats from Storygraph:
My 2025 Five-Star Reads
The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Heart the Lover by Lily King
Katabasis by R.F. Kuang
A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna
Mayra by Nicky Gonzalez
Hungerstone by Kat Dunn
The Lamb by Lucy Rose
January New Releases
Lots of exciting new books coming out this month! Want an overview of all the new releases I’m anticipating from January to June 2026? Check out this post where I rounded up 70+ new titles.
January 13th
Sheer by Vanessa Lawrence
I Could Be Famous by Sydney Rende
Is This a Cry for Help? by Emily Austin
Dandelion Is Dead by Rosie Storey
January 20th
The Infamous Gilberts by Angela Tomaski
Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy
Fruit of the Flesh by I.V. Ophelia
The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead
Just Watch Me by Lior Torenberg
January 27th
Loon Point by Carrie Classon
The Unwritten Rules of Magic by Harper Ross
Notes on Heartbreak by Annie Lord
Burn Down Master’s House by Clay Cane
Paper Cut by Rachel Taff
Vigil by George Saunders
Women of a Promiscuous Nature by Donna Everhart
Menu
Everything on my TBE (To Be Eaten) list this month.
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Snacks & Sweets
Drinks
Journal Prompts
A taste test of our Well-Designed Life curriculum to kick off the new year. Light a candle, grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, and take some time to reflect on these with a journal (or a blank Google doc).
What am I doing because I genuinely want to, versus what I’m doing because I think I “should”? Notice the difference between authentic desire and borrowed obligation. Where does the “should” come from?
When do I feel most like myself? Not “best” or “most productive” – just most authentically you. What are you doing? Where are you? Who are you with (or not with)?
What parts of my current life am I actually happy with? We often overlook what’s already working while chasing what’s missing. What’s already right?
What keeps showing up in my life, even when I’m not consciously choosing it? Colors, textures, activities, types of books, conversation topics. These recurring elements reveal your actual preferences.
What do I return to when I’m stressed or need comfort? Not what you think you should do to relax – what you actually do. These comfort patterns are data.
Looking at the past year: what energized me versus what drained me? Be specific. Not “work” as one category, but which parts of work? Which social situations? Which activities?
If no one would ever see it or know about it, would I still want it? Apply this to aesthetic choices, lifestyle decisions, goals. What survives when performance is removed?
What am I envying right now – and what specifically about it? The thing itself? The feeling it represents? The permission it implies? Usually it’s not the thing, it’s the feeling.
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