January Report: Month in review
A roundup of my favorites from this past month.
I’m working to be more intentional about acknowledging and appreciating the little joys that make up my days. The ones that happen in between all of those Big Special Notable Things that are remembered and celebrated at the end of each year, decade, or lifetime.
For instance, I look back on 2018 and my first thought is, “That’s the year we got married.” But that was just one day—surely a few of the other 364 that year were worth remembering, too?
Social media Memories show me myself at 18, 21, or 25 and I wonder, how did I spend my mornings back then? What kept me up at night? What was I savoring? What couldn’t I stand? Where and with whom did I feel most myself? How was I showing myself love?
I can already list most of the Big Special Notable Things about 2024: I’m 30 years old, living abroad in Amsterdam, writing my first book. This year will mark six years of marriage and 12 years with my partner overall. We’ll both turn 31, and our dog will turn three. I’m beyond grateful for all of these precious moments and milestones in store for us (and the ones that are happening in real time).
But I hope that this new monthly series will reflect my intention to remain mindful of all of the other little joys that will make up this year—a look back on what I’ve been reading, eating, playing, obsessing over, recommending, and treating myself to each month of 2024.
Reading: THRILLERS
As my Storygraph will tell you, I read eight books in January. I’m pretty sure the only reason that number is so high is because I’ve been on a thriller kick, and those are the books I tear through the fastest simply because I need to know what happens.
The top three thrillers I read in January:
I’ll be honest: I’m quick to judge a poorly written thriller. If I sense that a narrator isn’t trustworthy, I’ll be bored until the truth is revealed. If I can see a “surprise ending” coming, I’ll be disappointed once it does.
But the twists and turns in these three thrillers? I did not see them coming, and they kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.
Eating: GUMMY BEARS
It’s that gross time of year when everyone is sick, including me—so naturally, I’ve been eating lots of gummy bears. Because like Alicia Keys, I like to think that something about the gelatin in gummy bears could help to soothe my sore throat (at least temporarily).
My partner made me a cup of my fellow Alicia’s viral gummy bear tea this week for precisely that reason. While I can’t be certain it wasn’t a placebo effect, it felt a lot less like I had swallowed a bouquet of burning steak knives after I drank it.
Playing: NYT GAMES
Every morning, I make my way to the couch with a cup of coffee and open the New York Times app on my phone to play Connections, Wordle, and the Mini. In that order.
I am not exaggerating when I tell you that this is the best way I’ve found to start my day. It’s the only morning routine I have ever been able to stick to.
On days when I have more time to spare—especially on lazy weekend mornings—I’ll play the full Crossword, too. I used to think I hated crossword puzzles, but my good friend Ali (a crossword connoisseur) recently spent several hours talking me through the secret language of crossword puzzle clues and now I’m pretty much hooked.
Obsessing over: DRAG RACE S16
My latest obsession, of course, has been season 16 of RuPaul's Drag Race. Not because this season’s queens are particularly dripping with charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent (although I have loved every look Nymphia and Q have served so far) but because of the ritual I’ve created around it.
RPDR airs on Fridays at 8 p.m. ET aka 2 a.m. here in Amsterdam, which is later than I’m willing to (or possibly able to?) stay up to watch. And while my friend Victoria in Virginia could totally watch it live on her own, she waits until Saturday at 12 p.m. ET aka 6 p.m. my time so she and I can watch “together” and live text throughout each episode.
While I miss watching IRL with her every week, it’s something we’re able to do to stay connected with each other despite the distance between us, so I like to make it a whole ~experience~ by ordering pizza, pouring myself something sparkling in a fancy glass, lighting candles, and snuggling up under my favorite cozy blanket. It’s a ritual I look forward to every week!
Recommending: LIGHTS ON TIMERS
I got this close to ordering a Lumie sunrise alarm clock ($100) before I realized we could just add a “fade-in” timer to the Philips Hue light strip ($14) we already have behind our headboard using the Hue app.
Now the light in our bedroom slowly fades out from 9:30 p.m. to total darkness at 10 p.m. to tell our brains it’s time to go to sleep, then fades in from 7 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. to mimic the sunrise.
It took less than 15 minutes (and $15) to set up, and I simply cannot stop recommending the same to everyone I know. It’s just so inexpensive and effective! The impact-effort matrix charts itself!!!
Treating myself to: LUSH BATHS
I am nothing if not a bath girlie (because I’m a Taurus, yes, but also because chronic pain), and my partner recently made the big mistake sweet gesture of surprising me with a gift set of bubble bars, bath bombs, etc. from LUSH.
The moment I sank into my first LUSH-assisted soak in several years, I realized that I had (intentionally) forgotten how infinitely superior LUSH products are to my usual drugstore bath salts and oils—not just in terms of scent and aesthetic, but in the effects they have on my skin. And now, in devastating news for my bank account, I will be back on my LUSH bullshit for the foreseeable future.
What’s in your January report?
Even if you’re not someone who enjoys “journaling” per se, this kind of guided reflection is a fun way to think about how you’ve been spending your time and energy lately. So, what have you been reading, eating, playing, obsessing over, recommending, and treating yourself to in the past month? I’d love to know!
Love these book recs! Definitely adding all three to my TBR pile. Also - highly recommend adding Letter Boxed to your NYT games routine, it’s a great one too!