MONTH AHEAD // FEBRUARY 2024

A SMALL TASTE OF WHAT'S COMING UP THIS MONTH

EDITOR’S NOTE //

January felt like it both flew by in a flash and simaltaneously dragged on forever. But all in all it was a good month.

It started on a slow (but high) note with a desert retreat in Joshua Tree to plan and sort out the year, got bogged down somewhere in the middle with a case of the cold that’s been getting everyone, and ended on another high note, a whirlwind trip back home to celebrate my grandma’s 105th birthday!!! It was a (too) short trip, but grateful for time back east, getting snow (it was the first big storm of the season there…we got 6+ inches!!), seeing friends, spending a hot second in NYC, grabbing food at some of our favorite spots and spending precious time with family (it was the first time that that much family had been together since before Dave and I’s wedding, over 11 1/2 years ago!).

I’m always in awe of the life Nan has led, and her strength and spirit that continues to carry her on. Whenever we ask her for any secrets or advice on living long life, she never really offers much outside of “be kind”, “love one another” and that so-and-so says to “eat a banana a day” as she simultaneously tells us, with a slight chuckle, that she herself does not, in fact, eat a banana a day. However, when I reflect on her life, I realize how much she is the epitome of the definition of the blue zone (I swear if you looked up the definition of the “blue zone” in the dictionary her picture would be there, even though she probably doesn’t have the slightest clue what the blue zone actually is). Leading a simple life, walking every day, being active in every day life (she was still going up and down stairs, cleaning, etc. until just a couple years ago), cooking almost every meal from scratch with fresh local foos (and with much of the produce grown by my grandfather while he was still alive), gardening, daily naps, going to church every day, a dedicated morning and evening prayer routine, laundry hung outside to dry, balanced meals that focus on whole ingredients and the biggest meal of the day being at noon, with breakfast (eggs and toast) and supper (soup and sandwiches) being lighter, having minimal sugar or snacks, drinking reserved for special occasions, living in a good community and caring for her family…she’s living proof that what they say about the blue zone really does work, but also a testament that living a slow and simple life full of only the things that really matter is truly what matters most. Here’s to being more like Nan in this month and beyond…

x

HAPPENINGS //

WHAT I’M PINNING //

Check out my FEBRUARY INSPO BOARD for winter neutrals, pops of Valentine’s day red and cozy vibes

WHAT I’M COOKING //

Soup season is still going strong over here, everything from a simple tortellini en brodo (my cold weather favorite) to things like coconut curry sweet potato and lentil stew (Should I share my recipe for this here on the site?!) but I’m also enjoying things like this perfect radicchio winter salad and this citrusy crispy chicken that’s sure to brighten any dreary winter day (honestly it’s one of my favorite recipes I think I’ve ever developed and if you haven’t made it yet, you’re missing out).

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO //

Loving the chill, calm vibes of this playlist; makes for perfect background noise from morning to night

WHAT I’M WATCHING //

We watched “Saltburn” recently and I still feel unwell from it (LOLZ) so to help me recover I’ve been re-watching favorite old chick flicks like “My Best Friends Wedding” and “The Wedding Planner”.

WHAT I’M WORKING ON //

I announced on my Instagram stories last week that this is the year that…*drumroll please *…I am writing my first cookbook!!! Gah! It feels weird/nerve-racking/exciting to put it out here, officially, in a place where it doesn’t disappear 24 hours later. But here we are. So, uh, yeah, that’s what I’ll be really diving into this month outside of my regular blog work.

Also on the agenda- planning my bday trip (because somehow that’s only a month away??!), cleaning out my closet + working on some spring gardening (whenever the rainstorms let up).

WORDS TO LIVE BY //

“If you see beauty in something, don’t wait for others to agree.”- Sherihan Gamal