The January Edit
Modern hibernation, extra lemony chicken soup, a hypnotic read, and golden days ahead.
The Monthly Edits are a casual curation of my consumptions from the past few weeks including: books I read, delicious eats, fun finds, and personal meanderings. Buon appetito!
Is it too late to say Happy New Year? I hope January has brought much delight and restoration to each of you. After taking a break from posting—and prioritizing things like baking cookies and catching the sunset—I’m very happy to be back and sharing all the goods from the past few weeks!
If you’ve been around here a while, you might remember that I like to choose a word for the year. Last year was ease—playing with the concept that less force can offer better results. For this next trip around the sun, I’ve chosen the word golden. Channelling a year of small joyous victories, finding value in my work, savouring life’s riches, and defining what my own version of success looks like. A year of trusting that the odds are in my favour, the truth is inside, and these are the good days!
In case you’re looking to channel a golden era for yourself, here are a few songs to spark that flame…
Neumann has been following patches of sunlight as they move around the house to meet his vitamin D quota. A cat after my own heart.
I’ve noticed several people craving more rest lately—myself included. Winter has traditionally been a time for quiet restoration, but our lives don’t always support that nowadays. We obviously can’t turn ourselves off for the season due to jobs, households, and responsibilities—but I’d still like to think of taking some sort of modern hibernation that allows us to collectively exhale and ground. Maybe a month off social media? An earlier bedtime? Cosier social events? What do you think—what would modern hibernation look like to you?
On that note… this yoga for nourishment video has been the perfect 25 minute reset lately. As someone who works from home, I’ve been using this as my “commute” after work to leave the office behind and enter my evening feeling more clear and open.
Love all the funky tilework in this Brooklyn townhouse.
Why interior designers love framed textiles.
An Icelandic town saves the baby puffins.
Eight magic words to say to a friend.
The best natural deodorant ever!
This company makes me want to collect rubber stamps.
Are there microplastics in your tea bags?
This textile designer has rented her space for 48 years.
Great essay: It is seldom wise to tell all.
Visit the Royal Ballet’s pointe shoe room (via Ali).
Wet winter days inspired a purchase of rubber clogs.
January’s Bookshelf:
Pure Colour by Sheila Heti. A very unique reading experience where the words almost seemed to welcome me into a light state of hypnosis. This philosophical wonder has been referred to as the “contemporary bible, an atlas of feeling, and an absurdly funny guide to the great (and terrible) things about being alive.” For anyone like me, who has lost a parent, I recommend wholeheartedly. Take the words with a grain of salt, and let the deeper meanings rise to the surface.
Conversations With Friends by Sally Rooney. This was a re-read for me. I wanted another go with Rooney after finishing the much anticipated Intermezzo and I’m glad I did. I really enjoy the way she realistically portrays the pains and flaws of human nature. “A sharply intelligent novel about two college students and the strange, unexpected connection they forge with a married couple.” Oh to be young…
Stoner by John Williams. I’m so grateful to have started the year with this poignant gem. A classic American tale of a man who comes from a dirt-poor Missouri family and falls in love with English literature. I was worried this might be too sad or heavy for me, but even through his succession of disappointments, our main character continues to do his best. Williams so gracefully captures the beauty of an ordinary life—the intense averageness our modern world is so afraid of. Brilliant!
Anita De Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez. Novels with settings in the art world always pique my interest, so this one was inevitable. “A mesmerizing story about a first-generation Ivy League student who uncovers the genius work of a female artist decades after her suspicious death.” It was an enjoyable enough read about justice, legacy, and power—but not one that will make the top of my charts.
Extra Lemony + Herby Chicken Noodle Soup
Although we’ve been getting some gorgeous sunshine, the temperature outside is still hovering just above zero. January called for homemade comfort foods in the form of soup and bread, so I’ve made a couple batches of my favourite lemon chicken noodle. This dish is full of herbs, bright with citrus, and offers the feel-good nourishment of a classic chicken noodle. It’s been a go-to each winter and still leaves me excited for another bowl.
I’ve included the recipe for you below in a PDF that you can download or print. I’ve also been using these single serving silicone trays for freezing my leftover soup for work lunches and highly recommend!
After looking for the perfect inexpensive tealight holders for longer than I care to admit—I finally found them. The other weekend, our friends hosted a classy little games night and had tealights in these simple fluted glass holders. Turns out they are $0.49 from IKEA—so I bought ten of them and couldn’t be happier with the purchase.
I really enjoyed Silo season 2 this month—the finale was a jaw dropper. We also went to see A Complete Unknown and thought it was really well done. I’ll probably hop on the Severance train next—maybe check out Baby Girl and The Brutalist—but open to recommendations. Are you watching anything good right now?
Aliza & Aja invited me to contribute to their article: 27 Little Things That Make Our Lives Better. It’s a charming list of feel-good items, simple rituals, and acts of kindness. I shared my MVP of winter—pop on over for a fun read!
I hope you’ve had a wholesome January. Thank you so much for reading and as always, I would love to hear from you!
Do you slow down at all during winter?
Did you pick a word for the year?
Ciao ciao,
No affiliate links or sponsored content here! YGL is fully reader supported—keeping all my recommendations personal and genuine.
Welcome back, Lauren! Loving the visual coordination of your publication colours, hat, and the dusk light! Your word of the year is great and one of my friends picked this theme, too. Maybe the Kacey Musgraves Golden Hour is a vibe for you? My word this year is Fidelity -- to living from my values, to sticking with my goals, and having integrity and presence every day. Here's to a beautiful year 💖
Lovely post Lauren, love your word/intention for the year! I went to the cinema to see A Real Pain by Jesse Eisenberg last week, highly recommend it. x