I started this post intending to solicit everyday winter lunch ideas (what are we eating around noon on a random Tuesday this January?), but my curiosity widened as soon as I put pen to paper. What are our creature comforts, “go-tos,” and routines more generally in this cold season? When we look back on this particular winter in, say, a decade, what will mark it? What are its key punctuations? This can take any number of forms, by the way. Our annotations might look like “barely surviving the nights with newborn twins” or “reading the entire Outlander series; very into Swedish gummy candy and Olivia Dean.” What are yours for this particular winter, I wonder? Please share!
For me:
Rao’s soup*
Soup in general
My “support your local birds” mug full to the brim of “accidentally too-blond” coffee in the morning
Grief sobs at the end of The Correspondent
Bangs and the fresh slate energy they’re bringing to January
Champagne**
Peloton rides with Emma Lovewell or Ally Love***
Faye Webster + Olivia Dean
“Wuthering Heights” hype
Forgrave tea and a square of chocolate after lunch
Pointelle base layers and wide-leg, sweatpant-level comfortable jeans
Mid-week lunch and errand dates with Landon
Gentle start Mondays
Pre-heating the car (bonus points for the heated steering wheel — another RWI in my book)
Negative whipped loungewear
Reaching for the limber and the gentle wherever possible
OK, some notes:
*Do you know about Rao’s soup? It’s the best canned/jarred soup we’ve ever had. Reddit agrees (Landon first caught wind of this over there) and they’re a pretty discerning bunch. We’ve been buying it in vast quantities because it’s marked down significantly at both Whole Foods and Safeway right now, and we believe this is because Rao’s was recently bought out and changes will soon be made that will likely imperil the quality of the product. Look — it’s not homemade soup. It doesn’t have that silky mouth-feel that a from-scratch broth will. There’s still that hint of shelf-stable gumminess. But. The flavor is shockingly good, and you can really polish it up to a high shine if you add a few toppings: a drizzle of good olive oil, a few grounds of black pepper, some shavings of high-quality parm, a fistful of fresh parsley. We especially like the Italian Wedding Soup and Chicken and Orzo. The best part of all this is that lunch is in the pantry, waiting, and takes five minutes to heat on the stove! More generally, soup is, in my opinion, the best lunch food. All year round probably, but especially in the cold, gray months: a way to assuage winter’s hard corners and clipping chill. And for less than $5! Hard to beat. We have gotten into the habit of buying some good bread from Organic Butcher every few visits, and therefore have something good to dunk into the soup on hand — a sourdough boule will keep well in a plastic baggie for a few days, and then you just re-warm it in the oven or toast it up and slather with good butter. Perfect, poetic winter lunch.
**I do not consider myself “a wine person.” I mean, I love wine and prefer it to most other forms of alcohol (never drink beer, do enjoy cocktails, but on a random outing, I’m most likely to order a glass of wine), but for as much red wine as I enjoy, you’d think I’d have cultivated more discernment. Alas, I am an easy customer with a forgiving palate and only the most basic understanding of its art and magic. If I have my druthers, I’ll pick an old world red (specifically Langhe region nebbiolo), but I’m easy to please. If you’re pouring, I’ll try! That said. Something changed over this holiday season and I tragically have started to heavily prefer true French champagne versus other forms of sparkling. I know there are fabulous cavas and proseccos (actually I do enjoy Raventos i Blanc cava if you can find it) but the last few trips to the wine shop, I’ve found myself splurging more regularly on champagne. What is this!? I don’t know, but it’s definitely a Champagne January.
***Finally getting around to coordinating something I’ve been intending to do for weeks. Does anyone want to join me for a Magpie ride? Ally Love just released a 30-minute “Feel Good” ride with a fun playlist. Anyone up for next Tuesday, 1/27, at 8:35 A.M.? Weirdly specific time is so that my sister can join — that’s usually the exact minute after her kids are out the door and she can hop on. You can join my ride at that time here. Let me know if this is a really bad time in general for most of you and we can try something else at a earlier time soon.
Alright, share your January signatures! What is this month for?
Post-Scripts.
+The happy corners in our homes.
+What do you love about this life stage?
+The only marg recipe you’ll ever need.
Shopping Break.
+Big sale happening at lounge/basics brand PerfectWhiteTee. People love these sweats, but I’m obsessed with the look of this oversized sweatshirt.
+Pretty dress finds in case you’re shopping for a special occasion: this, this, this, this, this. More sizes of that last dress here! She’s spectacular. And this taffeta petal pink wonder! Wow!
+Guest in Residence, further discounted (now 60% off). Don’t miss this sweater, now under $200.
+This launched Sunday and items are nearly sold out by now, but Sezane x Sea!!! A few items still well-stocked that I love: this easy dress, which I somehow feel like the bangs version of myself will wear, this gorgeous peach blouse (which reminds me of you, Mom), and this embroidered midi (ignore the styling – this will look stunning with a little leather sandal).
+Cold weather dry skin heroes: this foot cream, this lip mask. And I really find it helpful to exfoliate with this bar and then hydrate deeply with this in-shower oil followed by this beyond-fab $29 body cream.
+Our favorite Brooks Glycerins on sale!
+Drawn to this color right now.
+ME+EM magic: this knit tee, this wool-cashmere jacket, this lace trim blouse.
+One of my friends was just raving about this lip oil. I had completely lost track of a tube and it was buried in the bottom of one of my tote bags. I’m so glad I recovered it. The prettiest colors!
+For those of us visiting with warm weather soon: THIS, THIS.
+Also loving this smart blouse from Ulla.
+This embroidered nightgown is beyond charming. Also love their little jewelry and cosmetics bags.
+Did a big shop for Landon over the weekend — a few things from AYR (these jeans, this top), Sezane (this button-down, this sweater), and Shopbop (this sweater and this one). If you’re also in the market for your husband, I linked all the best finds I found in that pursuit here. Good fodder for Valentine’s Day if you’re gifting.
Magpie promo codes here + my recommended products here. You can preorder my book, Small Wonders, here!
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
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My “luxe solo lunch” is a serving of sushi grade salmon sliced into sashimi, gluten free ponzu, and wasabi-sesame mayo with a pack of seaweed snacks. Dip the salmon in the ponzu, add a dab of mayo, wrap in the seaweed, repeat. I sometimes add an avocado.
My soup of choice is bone broth with ginger, miso, scallions, and mushrooms stirred in. Maybe some tiny cubes of silken tofu. Or French onion soup. Or a white bean soup with pesto, clearing out the fridge.
My “Bonjour” mug of milky coffee.
Candles everywhere, real and fake.
Using my cashmere duster coat as a robe to sit on the porch in the morning.
White Negronis with my girlfriends, at the corner bar that turns on all the lights and shoes us out at 9 on the weeknights.
Irish music and splitting a gluten free stout from Dutch Bargain (we’re watching House of Guinness).
Toasted poppy seed bagels with cream cheese. Oat porridge with golden syrup. French toast. Sandwiches at the playground after school pickup. These are the things my kids ask for.
Heating pad in the bed before I get in, something to look forward to while I put the kiddos down.
This crowd-pleaser fish that fills the kitchen with fragrant steam: https://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/recipe/cod-with-fish-sauce-chillies-ginger-and-basil
Thrifted Sezane. Tights and turtlenecks with miniskirts. A low pony. Soft pants only.
My mom’s pantry has a shelf dedicated to her collection of Rao’s soup. When I’m visiting the US in winter, she makes it constantly. She customizes it by adding additional seasoning and various fresh herbs. Thank you for making me think of her and reminding me to call my mother!
My husband and I decided to escape the tundra of Northern Europe for the month of January. As a tea person who never, ever drinks coffee, I have upped my matcha consumption to try to increase my energy. I am alternating copious amounts of locally sourced camomile, mint, lemon balm and oliveira infusions at night. Since winter is peak season for citrus, I am especially enjoying plucking fresh oranges and lemons off the trees in the garden. Lastly, I am watching Outrageous, a British show about the famous (or infamous) Mitford sisters. My great aunt, a literature professor, gave me Hons and Rebels, Jessica Mitford’s much loved autobiography in my early teens. Since you are a fashion maximalist, I know you would love the 1930s glamour. The clothes, the hair, the makeup. It’s a complete visual feast.