Happy New Year, friends! Here we are, standing at the doorway of January, taking our first tentative steps into 2025. If I may offer one little piece of advice for this moment: let’s take it slow. Like, watch-the-sunrise-through-the-window-with-your-hands-wrapped-around-a-warm-mug slow.
January, in all its quiet and stillness, is asking us to rest, despite all this talk of New Year, New Us. I think January invites us to take a breath before the sprint of the year really begins. Our friend Karlee has aptly named this Gentle January, and I’m leaning all the way in. That’s why this month on the blog is all about The Magic of Small Joys.
So, what are these small joys? They’re the little things that anchor us to the moment and remind us of the beauty and bounty in our everyday lives. It’s the satisfying crackle of a loaf of bread as it cools on the counter. It’s how to steam rises from two bowls of carrot soup as they sit on the kitchen table in front of the window. It’s a small-batch recipe that doesn’t feel like a chore but a gift—to yourself or someone you love.
The January mindset has me reflecting on my home here in Texas. It’s been just over a year since I bought the Bakehouse Texas, and I’ve tackled some of the big, loud projects—you know, the ones that involve lots of dust and contractor coffee cups scattered around. Now, it’s time for the quiet work: nesting. This first quarter of the year, I’m focused on settling in, creating a space where Will and I can feel rooted and home. Most specifically, I need to make room for Will in the closet. Pray for us.
One of the coziest spaces I ever created was my tiny apartment in New Orleans’ Irish Channel neighborhood. It was 800 square feet of pure home—a haven I built during a messy, uncertain time of my life (it’s hard to make the right friends in New Orleans). Somehow, that space managed to hold me together. I dug up a picture of a corner of that space, above. It’s funny how those lessons stick with you. The energy we put into a space really comes round tenfold. Now, as I nest here in Texas, I’m channeling that same energy: finding small joys in creating a big home.
You’ll see this reflected in the recipes I share with you this month. We’re focusing on those little joys: a cup of rich hot cocoa for a slow afternoon, cozy slices of warm cinnamon swirl bread, and a catalogue of birthday cakes to look forward to making. I’ll also share small ways to bring joy into your kitchen and home, whether it’s a fresh jar of homemade granola or opening the window just a crack to let in the crisp morning air as the aroma of banana bread wafts through the kitchen.
Let’s ease into this year together, savoring the stillness of winter and finding comfort in the simple, beautiful act of baking for ourselves and maybe even leaving the dishes in the sink overnight. There’s magic in the small joys—I hope you’ll join me in uncovering them for ourselves, slowly – we’re taking it all very easy.
Do you have a word you’re focusing on to start the year? If so, please please share it in the comments below. I think, as on the nose as it might be, I choose JOY.
Here’s to a gentle start, cozy mornings, and plenty of small moments that make a big impact.
