fftf: a January reset & some news 🐣

a personal note for today 😊

Hi friends! Happy Friday and Happy 2024!

I hope you had a relaxing end to 2023 and wonderful holidays if you were celebrating. We had a very fun Christmas with my family, and especially with Jazzy - she got her first little play kitchen and is LOVING it so far, which is pretty fun to see. Her favorite items from the kitchen are currently the pretend soap dispenser and dishcloth (she hugs them and carries them around the house, lol) so… I’m hoping that means I’ll have a new dishwasher helper around here soon 🤣.

Today’s update is two-fold, and a personal one. First, some happy news - I’m pregnant! Jazzy has a sister on the way, due to arrive in mid-May, and we are very excited about that. I never had a sister and always wanted one, so I’m eager to witness this new arena.

I must admit that being pregnant feels much more tiring the second time around. Though I’m out of it finally, I was extremely nauseous for all of October and November¹, basically had to force myself to eat, and leftovers majorly grossed me out. Throw in the fact that Jazzy has learned she can reject food and thus become somewhat picky… let’s just say cooking has felt like MUCH more of a lift for the past few months.

As I was reflecting on 2023 and thinking about what I want more/less of in 2024… I’ve decided to take a break from writing this newsletter for the next 5 weeks - a “January reset” if you will. I need some time to a) cook more new & interesting items - truly, I am fresh out of content right now, b) think about my longer-term plans for this newsletter when the new baby is born, and c) I just need a break, to see what happens with some space away from this weekly rhythm.

I want to sincerely thank you all from the bottom of my heart for reading every week. My open rates for this newsletter have been amazingly high ever since I came back last May from my maternity-leave break. That and your responses/notes/comments have kept me writing and creating in the midst of caring for my daughter, and I am oh so grateful.

I’ll be back with an update on February 9. Until then, I’ll leave you with a few favorite winter recipes from the archives!

Minestrone Soup - so easy and SO delicious

Lemony Leek Coconut Soup - light and scrumptious

3 things to do with the glorious winter oranges right now!

winter salad guide

Happy new year and see you in a few weeks!

love,
Jess

Photo by john vargues on Unsplash

1. TMI warning, but - I threw up every morning for that entire two months - YUCK!