Lovin' Lately no. 26

Welcoming 2025 with ease, joy, and intention 🪩✨

Imagine we’re catching up over coffee and I’m gushing over what I’ve been Lovin’ Lately…

“I promise, some years will be glorious, and not just the younger ones. Youth and beauty aren’t everything.” —Oona Out of Order

Happy 2025!!

Was it just me, or was this holiday season exceptionally zippy? Whether it felt like a whirlwind (🙋‍♀️) or a slow, restful stretch— I hope it brought you joy. For us, the season was made extra magical by a blanket of snow leading up to Christmas (and even a little snowfall on Christmas Day!) and the lively energy of a house full of kids at Christmastime.

Unfortunately, I spent a chunk of the season battling a particularly nasty cold that lasted two weeks, leaving me utterly drained by Christmas. Sleepless, cough-filled nights were a reality check I couldn’t ignore. Looking back, I realize that the cold was exacerbated by my tendency to overcommit as the year wound down. It was a tough but valuable reminder to reassess how I manage my time. In 2025, I’m determined to embrace honesty with myself and prioritize more thoughtfully (thank you, Christmas cold of 2024—you were both a curse and a guide). And while I didn’t get through all my holiday projects, I’m discovering that some traditions and treats can still be savored in the quieter days after the holidays.

For New Year’s Eve, we made homemade dumplings (wrappers and all!), sipped fizzy drinks, made wishes for the year ahead, cozied up in PJs to watch The Super Mario Bros. Movie with the kids, and took an abundance of pictures on the instant camera to capture mementos of our 2024 selves. My husband and I played games after the kids were in bed, trying our best to stay awake until midnight. We welcomed 2025 with brunch at The Friendly Toast in our PJs and loungewear, continuing our New Year’s Day breakfast tradition.

As much as I eat up the wave of end-of-year reflections and fresh-start energy, I’m still sticking to my gentle start to the new year. I see January as a time to reflect, ease into the year, and ponder what I want it to mean. Here’s a glimpse of that mindset alongside what I’ve been lovin’ lately…

Little Luxuries
When the Christmas decorations come down and winter settles in, things can feel a bit drab. I find that infusing life with small pleasures brings a touch of magic to these dark, cold days.

One of my favorite rituals is lighting a fresh, uplifting candle after the house is reset. This year, the candle I received in my stocking has been a perfect pick-me-up. Each time I catch a whiff of it I take a moment to reflect on the gratitude of a warm home full of my favorite people. Another winter indulgence is a luxurious shower gel to lather up with at the end of a long day. This feels particularly special as I otherwise use bar soap to curb plastic consumption. I get a bottle of Lush’s Rose Jam shower gel in my stocking each year and the delicious rose-scented lather transforms a simple shower into a treat.

Quick Wins
As the decorations are stored away and new gifts find homes, my mind starts buzzing with to-dos and clutter to tackle. But instead of diving headfirst into all the tasks, I take a more relaxed approach: a quick five-minute brain dump into a notebook. Scanning each room in my mind, I jot down everything I want to address later and feel a sense of peace knowing I have a game plan when I’m ready to address it.

For an immediate refresh, I declutter and reorganize my tote bag/purse. It’s a simple, satisfying way to feel productive without taking on a big project.

Music to My Ears
After a steady diet of Christmas music, I love returning to non-holiday playlists. My husband gifted me an older Noah Kahan vinyl, and I’ve been rotating through that with Taylor Swift’s Midnights and Speak Now (Taylor’s Version). Dancing around the living room with the kids has been pure joy. Other favorites lately include Gracie Abrams, Waxahatchee, Caamp’s By and By (a winter staple!), and cozy winter instrumentals. And a fun twist—our 19-month-old received a Spice Girls Greatest Hits Yoto card in her stocking, so we’ve been enjoying her mini DJ sets too!

Currently Reading
I got a new cute little Kindle in my stocking, and I’m loving how portable and easy it is. My first read of the year was Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore, which I devoured in a couple of days. It’s a fascinating exploration of time (each year, on Oona’s birthday, which is January 1st, she jumps into a new year of her life at random), with pop culture references woven throughout.

I’m also revisiting one of my all-time favorite books, Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman. It’s such a grounding, thought-provoking read, and January feels like the perfect time to soak in its wisdom again. If you haven’t picked this one up yet— do it!

Playing
Our family’s shared gift this year was a Nintendo Switch, and my husband and I are already hooked on the game Overcooked! It’s a collaborative cooking game and it’s addictive and surprisingly challenging.

On a quieter note, I’ve been enjoying physical (not on a digital device) Sudoku daily. My goal is three puzzles a day, and the kids love chiming in to help.

Positivity Project
This year, I’m focusing less on adding new goals and more on nurturing existing commitments, like focusing on my Positivity Project that lost a bit of steam as the business of the holiday season ramped up. One specific intention: revisiting online recipes I’ve loved and leaving appreciative reviews for the recipe developers who pour into creating them.

Just for Me
Most days, I go makeup-free, but I’ve added clear brow gel to my minimal routine, and I love the subtle lift it gives my brows. It feels good to add a little something extra to my morning routine, just for fun. I’m also sticking to my Pilates routine (three times a week!) and have finally found a protein powder I love—it even sneaks greens and enzymes and the unflavored option is awesome for baked goods like banana bread and pizza crust.

Making
Though my cold delayed some holiday crafts, I eventually finished my 2024 mini-book ornament, which captures the year’s reads. I love taking the time to do this each year and create something tangible as I reflect back on the books that I spent the year with.

Another project I’m proud of: renovating a tiny wooden crib for my daughter. We found it discarded on the side of the road (here is what it looked like before) so my husband sanded and painted it, and I sewed a mattress and pillow for it with fabric and batting I had on hand. Paired with a baby doll, it became one of my favorite gifts I’ve ever given. I’m noting this for next year— I’d love to refurbish something for each of my children.

This month I’ll be sharing more about approaching 2025 with intention, my favorite books from 2024, and other good stuff. It’s going to be a fun month! As always, if you have anything you’d like me to share here, never hesitate to ask.

🗓 I’m still parsing out what I want to be intentional about in 2025 but this article about focusing on loved ones was refreshing, as was this article about a case for resolutions from The New York Times.

🍀 But also this 2025 resolution inspo from

Adam Grant

hits the nail on the head. And is a little nod to the book I gushed about above.

😄 Compose your very own ode to joy— here’s to more joy in 2025!

📓 As much as I’d love to, I don’t have the margin to maintain a reading journal in this season of life (I’ve tried, trust me 😂) but I still loved this video and maybe it will inspire one of you? Share if you create one!!

🍊 Is organic produce worth the higher price? This deep dive was really helpful.

✂️ 99 crafts that don’t require special tools or skills— queue up the cozy winter hobbies!!

🗞 I enjoyed revisiting some NYT articles from this past year, the 7 keys to longevity is still a fave.

🥟 Our neighborhood friends invite us over for Christmas Eve dinner every year and make chile crisp dumplings. We love them so much we made a batch on New Year’s Eve and made the wrappers from scratch too (which was surprisingly easy!). Fun thing I learned— Dumplings eaten during Lunar New Year (January 29th) are a symbol of good fortune.

🐰 I know Christmas is over but this is still so adorable and cozy.

🔪 Meal prep videos always inspire me, I loved how approachable this was for an easy weekday lunch.

✏️ 40 end of year journaling prompts to inspire reflection

📳 After getting a new Kindle I turned to this Kindle settings and tips video for a few helpful upgrades to my device— I love having the time visible.

🍪 These sourdough discard chocolate chip cookies are our new favorite, and my kids think it’s hilarious they are “sourdough” (they taste nothing like sourdough!). Don’t forget my favorite hack— make a double batch and freeze the dough in balls, pop a few in the oven for cookies anytime.

🧠 Brain tips for a healthier, happier life.

🧦 Preparing for a slow winter—

Molly Ella

always sets the perfect tone for a new season.

It was such a joy to gather with a handful of readers for a cozy, bookish craft night! I know it was a busy time of year for many, and we missed those who couldn’t join us 🥲. But for those who made it, I absolutely loved chatting, creating bookmarks together, and hearing about the thoughtful ways you planned to share them with others.

I want to take a moment to celebrate someone truly special in this space:

Kuleigh Baker

. She was one of the first to welcome me to Substack with open arms last February, and her warmth and generosity have shone brightly ever since. If you follow her, you already know how effortlessly she elevates others—always spotlighting creators, cheering people on, and spreading encouragement.

Kuleigh, you are a treasured part of this community, and your thoughtful comments and contributions consistently brighten this space in countless ways. You embody the saying, “A rising tide lifts all ships,” and I am endlessly grateful for your presence here. Shine on!!

Here’s to a thoughtful, joy-filled 2025. What are you easing into this year?