Time at home, slow and screen-free, soft sweaters and big blankets, tea kettles and crossword puzzles and hugs in the kitchen. Afternoon rounds of board games and cards. Post-meal strolls through the neighborhood. Loose and light plans for dinner. Cocktails at 5; bedtime at 9. A cheeseboard put out at 4 and cleared sometime later that evening. A day where a trip to the coffee shop or the market are the only outside excursions. We had planned to go skiing over the Christmas break but there was virtually no snow at our local slopes and so we just stayed put and did a lot of this and it was wonderful. It felt like a deep exhale.
Low-key entertaining, where the point is presence, not production — just my closest friends and family if we’re doing a big meal, and easy, small things for a crowd. Why not just some fun orange wine and cocktail snacks? Why not only one appetizer and a tray of cocktails? Or a breakfast spread of great bread and delicious jams (none of which I’ve made), or an afternoon tea date with a tea cake from the local bakery and some fresh fruit? The idea of fractionality works here: fractional entertaining.
Reading, in big draughts, and in the most comfortable ways possible: by an open window while it rains; by the hearth beneath a mound of blankets; with a cup of tea and my daughter next to me; early-to-bed, with freshly-laundered sheets and freshly-washed hair.
One-on-one time with my husband — we are good about prioritizing each other, but I told him the other day one goal of mine in 2026 is to take advantage of the fact that we have flexible work schedules and can treat ourselves to a lunch date on a Tuesday or arrange to pick out funky orange wines at a new wine shop together on a Thursday afternoon or go for a post-lunch walk around the neighborhood any day of the week. Also: martinis and burgers while watching a movie at home; a local staycation for no reason.
Finally: legato mornings. Slow-rise, multi-step baking. Watching anything out the window: the wind, the rain, the birds, the children. Slow breakfast eaten on proper china. Overnight oats. “Bonus coffee.” Lighting an incense stick and watching it burn all the way down. No-meeting mornings. Going analog until 9.
What about you?
Shopping Break.
+One small way I’m living out this general energy, which I sort of match with the “no skips” vibe I was writing about here: I’m trying to use only my favorite things in my daily life. So when I measure out the coffee beans every morning, I used to use a plain ramekin. Now I use this charming little bowl, which makes me feel like a French woman in a country cottage. It brings me joy, and I can’t explain why. (I also own and love the matching petite platter and it looks vintage and is the perfect little shape for a tray of muffins or a cooked vegetables.). I love hunting on Etsy for similar and legitimately vintage finds along these lines, like this and these plates. Don’t you want to eat your morning toast on those plates?
+Comfortable, cozy favorites that meet this energy: a perfect desk sweater (currently wearing); my favorite loose and boxy sweatshirt; Negative’s new waffle knit pieces; Leset pointelle (discounted even further).
+Soft lighting everywhere. Currently eyeing this or this for my studio. And fresh flowers in vases like this and this.
+Gracious bowls holding lots of fresh fruit; Laguiole butter knives.
+Fresh, crisp sheets laundered in this detergent.
+Crossword puzzles, left out on the coffee table.
+Letting hair air dry with this.
+Our favorite incense sticks. I actually splurged and bought the Byredo ones but I prefer the Aesop!
+The best pasta cookbook. Make one of the fresh pasta recipes and roll it out using this hand-crank contraption — we own and love it. I also got Landon these wood pasta-rolling tools (from Nonna’s Wood Shop — charming!!!)
+Best kettle for tea, and tea from a Magpie reader’s company! She has this cool steeping tool so you don’t need to use disposable bags.
+Warm milk or butter in this tiny copper pot. One of our most prized possessions.
+We have these nick and nora-type glasses that we use for martinis and daiquiris. I find them so charming! And I really love to drink wine out of a juice glass like this. Small pours!
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This post felt just like the exhale I needed after this “first official” week. This is a special month for me but this one’s been a bit of a melting face emoji.
Nevertheless!
Two things that stood out:
1. With the incense, you reminded me of the episode of Shōgun called A Stick of Time. The poeticism and significance of truly being present is deeply profound. And this is my favourite incense EVER — a portal back to my honeymoon: https://nipponkodostore.com/collections/hinoki/products/ka-fuh-hinoki-japanese-cypress-120-sticks
2. Loved the mention of my word of the year for 2026: Hearth. I’m SO excited for this word and my year of it.
Happy new year! xx
Wishing you calmer seas this week — the start of the year always feels a little fidgety and fritzy for me, too, because getting the kids out of holiday mode and back into school mode can be…a task. Anyway, sending love and all things legato your way! And thank you for that note on incense! I completely agree. Landon and I have turned into complete nuts about incense. We have friends who come by who Really Don’t Get It (capitals warranted) and think we’ve wandered into lala land when we talk about it. But it really does focus you in a unique way, and it’s this multi-sensory experience that invites you there. Just love it.
xx
I am so obsessed with this list and this energy!
Aw, thank you! I actually thought of you while writing it. You always have such good and specific suggestions along the lines here!
I love all the ideas here, this is my idea of a perfect day!
Right?! Felt like a deep exhale just writing this out. I have been thinking all day about the notion that “pressure is a choice.” How can I slowwww down. Take my time. Etc.
Your post on Legato practices has reminded me of something my husband and I used to do years ago. We would build a fire and spread a picnic blanket out on the floor right next to the hearth. Our picnic always included a chilled bottle of Champagne, bucket on the blanket so we wouldn’t have to get up and down, and always an array of delectable nibbles. I think we might have to revive this practice during winter 2026!
This is SO gorgeous! Going to steal this idea! Very legato –
xx