Hello my friends, Happy New Year!
As many of you are, I am met in this season by a lot of reflection on 2024 coupled with thinking about the year ahead. I’m still working to digest all that 2024 taught me, finding my way to actually SEE what happened now that it’s in my rearview mirror. There’s a lot to learn from it. More to come on this soon.
RIGHT NOW: I'm feeling impatient.
2024 definitely was a year to plant seeds for the coming iteration of Rebekah J. This is the hardest part for me currently. The seeds are still germinating, and I can’t see their flowers yet. I am (really) impatient, and this impatience is clouding the progress that is truly happening. I’m excited about 2025, and I know good things are in the works, but I’m seriously impatient.
So, as a way to welcome the year and create space for myself to listen, slow down, and be cool with where I am right now, I offer up these things that bring me space to reflect and enjoy this slower season. I hope they give you space to listen too.
WINTER WARMER: The best soup
I began a Sunday ritual in 2024 of meal planning. It’s never been my thing, but I have fallen in love with the process of finding the yummiest things to eat with my family, rating the recipes, and anticipating the good things we’re going to eat throughout the week.
Bonus: Going to the store 1x a week instead of every night.
Extra bonus: No looking in the fridge trying to figure out what's for dinner.
If you need a winter warmer full of things you’ve got in your pantry, this recipe for COCONUT CURRY LENTIL SOUP has been on my regular rotation for years. It’s SO Good!
WHILE WE'RE IN THE KITCHEN: Mocktails
My husband and I often participate in "Dry-uary," where we abstain from drinking. We’re very much the social kind of drinkers, and Dry-uary pairs nicely with my January theme of "Turning Inward."
However, I do enjoy pouring myself a little Friday-made-it-through-the-week cocktail, and this aperitif from Ghia that I found at Fruitsuper has been amazing!
My FAVE:
- 2 oz Ghia
- 2 oz ginger beer
- Splash of sparkling water
- 1 lime wedge
- Grated lime zest
Pour 2 oz Ghia and mix with 2 oz ginger beer. Stir gently add a splash of sparkling water.
Serve in highball glass on the rocks and garnish with a fresh squeezed lime wedge. Finish with dusting of grated lime zest.
ON REPEAT: Listen to this.
I heard this song at the end of a TV show the other day (The Penguin. Recommend!) and I had to Shazam it to find the artist. I can't stop listening to Floor Cry now, especially this unique cover. Think moody, dreamy, with a side of pop.
GOOD SMELLS: make it cozy
My family knows my greatest wish is that any gift for me should be from a small business. And this Christmas, they found the most heavenly scented candle for me at Renegade Craft.
Good Olfactory's "Good Cabin" - part of their winter candle release (hurries to buy another before they’re gone...). It smells of orange peel, cypress, and Frasier fir, and I’m pretty sure I could burn it year-round. It also burns really slowly, which I LOVE.
LA Fire Relief + Resources
As I share these comforts of my home I am flooded with emotion for the people of Altadena who have lost their homes, their people, their pets and livelihoods. I cannot fathom what they are going though. Our family has made several donations to the private gofundme accounts above. I will be thinking of them from afar and I look forward to watching their resilience as they rebuild. This is by no means a complete list. They are just ones that resonated with me.
Here are some incredible resources for how you can help or get help if you need it.
- DISPLACED BLACK FAMILIES GOFUNDME'S
- DISPLACED LATINE FAMILIES GOFUNDME'S
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I LOVE LA TOTE By Big Bud Press
Sales of this sweet bag will be donated to @pasadenajobcenter to help aide their efforts in assisting residents and clean up Altadena. *NOTE* This is currently sold out but they are working on more. -
ASHER BINGHAM, an LA illustrator is offering to sketch the home of anyone who’s lost their home to the LA fires for free.
She’s been so overwhelmed by the response that she’s added several other sketch artists to help her. JUST INCREDIBLE
Happy 2025, friends. I know it's wild out there. I hope these little morsels offer you a moment of time to welcome the slow and banish our impatience. (Speaking to myself here for sure!)
Cheers,
Rebekah
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