January In Review

JAN: Books I read, food I ate, workouts I tried, beauty products I loved, hobbies I started, music I listened to, outfits I wore, and shows I watched.

Sorry for the delay, January was exhausting, disappointing, emotional, cold, gray, enlightening, the longest year ever something. Nevertheless, the only way out, is through. Not to say that I won’t be partaking in my fair share of complaining, but life isn’t going to change while I wallow in bed, so I might as well live! Here are some more exciting happenings from January x

ON THE MENU

I can eat the same thing for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for days on end, and these were my meal hyper-fixations.

Breakfast

• Scrambled eggs on sourdough

  • Maybe not the best time to hyper-fixate on eggs, but you’ll have to pry the rosemary sourdough out of my hands.

• Greek yogurt bowl

  • The highlight here is the granola. Magic Spoon recently launched protein granola and I like it! I would pick another granola if I were eating it plain or with milk, but a fab protein addition to my morning bowl. When I run out of that, I’ll opt for Hudson Henry granola, and my favorite (especially with milk) chocolate chip cookie granola from Purely Elizabeth. P.S. they just released a new flavor!

Lunch

• I keep it as simple as possible, because why is it the most annoying meal to think of during the week? I made the Erewhon kale and white bean salad (still trying to understand the hype behind it) and repurposed ingredients for a kale and white bean skillet. Choose your protein, add some crushed tomato, half & half, seasonings, pair with the rosemary focaccia and call it a day.

Dinner

• When in doubt, bowl. Hot honey marinated chicken, a grain, a vegetable, a topping, a sauce, and a low decision fatigue night.

Sweetish

• Chocolate covered frozen banana bites

  • I know trü frü makes these, but do they make them with Oat Haus vanilla granola butter? Didn’t think so! Back to my kitchen!

• Mid-day Squares

  • Another item I’ve seen circulating social media, and I am now one of those people yappin’ about them. The cookie-dough is my favorite.

• Skinny Dipped

  • They are known for their almonds, but I flew through the dark chocolate salted caramel bites, and all of their chocolate peanut butter cups.

• One Trick Pony

  • I’ve loved their PB for years, and they are the reason I am a crunchy PB convert. They recently released a maple crunch peanut butter with white chocolate crunchies and it’s so delish.

Did I mention my goal in life is to have a personal chef because I strongly dislike cooking/thinking of meals every week? Simultaneously I also want to make more from scratch/with my hands including food, crafts, media, etc. Two things can be true at once!

Technically reading and listening because I love an audiobook, but I promised myself to get back into actively reading at least one physical book per month.

Read:

• Four Weekends and a Funeral: Not to be confused with the movie Four Weddings and a Funeral. I loved this book! You should also know I love rom-coms. It reminded me a lot of how my friends and I would just, chat? The girls get it!

• Big Fan: This book was sent to me (thank you Lit Girl) and it was a quick and enjoyable read! Will definitely be reading Hardly Strangers.

To Be Read:

• The Husbands: This is my February read and although I am excited, I am a hater of hardcover books. The paperback version has not released yet, and I’m cramping from all of the awkward positions of holding the hardcover.

On My List

• Reel (Kennedy Ryan)

• The God of the Woods (Liz Moore)

ICYMI I reviewed my first go at the FORM strength and pilates program here. I completed the program a for a second time and hold the same sentiment.

I started one of their lifting programs last week and I just don’t think I’ll get the most out of it with my current home gym, so I may pivot to the weekly strength and pilates workouts. I believe they change them weekly and only release them at the top of the week? No idea, but I will keep you posted.

You can find items from the workout moodboard above, plus my usual workout favs here.

OOTD

One thing I did not do often in the month of January was get dressed. Girl this is your job! I’ll act right in February.

I will say I closed out the month with one of my favorite outfits (bottom right corner), so that makes up for it? Outfits are always saved to my LTK, and if some items cannot be linked I’ll add it to ShopMy!

BEAUTY + SKINCARE

Beauty and skincare products I am loving!

Rhode Barrier Butter: I started with the little size just to try and will now be purchasing the big size.

R.E.M. Glossy Balm: Ariana?? What did you put in this? I really love this gloss. Lip combo here.

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer: When it comes to makeup I am a simple mascara, blush, and gloss girl. If I want light coverage I’ve been reaching for this tinted moisturizer. With SPF! Wearing it here.

Ilia Base Face Milk: I talked about this product in my October recap, and can confirm I still love it!

REFY Lash Sculpt: I have been using this mascara for one full year now and haven’t looked back! It has a unique brush, but I really do think it helps my lashes look longer. When I want a fuller look I pair it with another mascara.

MISCELLANEOUS

A rapid fire round to finish.

Watching:

Night Agent S2: Personally I liked season one better.

Paradise: You had me at Sterling K. Brown, but I need the the rest of the episodes to drop immediately. I thought we were going in a Scandalish direction, but now I can’t stop thinking about the Truman Show.

Listening:

Bad Bunny’s album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS makes me want to re-learn Spanish (for the 100th time) and create more physical media (photo albums and books, journals, etc).

Doing:

Hobbies! I Started taking ballet classes and it has been nothing short of a challenge. I cannot remember the last time I learned an activity or skill (that’s more physical) at an older age? I grew up playing sports, continued through college, and honestly being new to something is frustrating. I just want to have a perfect pirouette! I’ve also started ice skating again (I started taking lessons last year in London but fell off), which has not been as much of a learning curve. Thank GAWD.

Get out there! Take a break from your usual and try something new! Enjoy it!

That’s it for this month, here’s to a hopeful February.