things I read and cooked and liked in January
I've had a hard time accessing my creative self. I haven't felt inspired to write. So I'm trying to flex this muscle again in a way that feels more attainable in hopes of awakening more creativity.
In December, a friend that I don’t see very often asked me if I was still writing. Misunderstanding her question, I replied, “yes! I am still riding. I make it out to the barn about 3 or 4 days a week.”
She looked confused. I paused. “Oh!” I said, “WRITing, not RIDing. No. No, not really. I can’t find the time right now.”
The conversation moved on. But her question stuck. Six weeks later, it’s still with me.
It’s been hard for me to write.
Lack of time is a factor, sure. I’m spread thin across work and motherhood and marriage and riding and friendships. But it isn’t that, not totally.
It’s the fact that I feel like I’ve finally hit my stride in life. It’s as though, for the first time in nearly twenty years, I am where I am supposed to be. My days are exhausting, but more, they’re fulfilling. I am happy. I am comfortable.
Comfort, unfortunately, is the antidote to my creativity.
I’m not sure how to have both. How to find inspiration in the good instead of the challenging. In the regular instead of the extraordinary. All I know is that I miss creating.
Which is what brings us here today.
I’m trying to ease back into it. I’ve been writing sentences in my head lately, which is a good sign (if not a sign of insanity?). Now I just need to get them out. I need to practice reaching that register of my voice. Flex the muscle, if you will.
I’m going to start with simple monthly posts, looking back at things I read and cooked and liked over a 30-day period. These are not meant to be influential. I will not use affiliate links.
This is for me, really, and not you.
But maybe you’ll come across something you’ll like, too.
Let’s start with things I read and liked in January.
How to Stop Time by Matt Haig - This was the first book I started, and finished, in 2025. I liked it, didn’t love it. It’s about a man who ages very slowly; he’s been around for centuries but looks like he’s only about 40. The modern British government has just snatched him out of the 1700s so they can study him. There’s a dystopian element that is interesting but not quite my bag. But I liked the characters, the London setting, and the overall story. Matt Haig is a wonderful writer and I think all of this books are worth reading.
City of Night Birds by Juhea Kim - I loved this Reese’s Book Club December ‘24 pick. In short, it’s about a Russian ballerina’s rise to fame. More, it’s a poignant story about the sacrifices one makes in the name of creating art. I recommend it to anyone who is intrigued by the ballet world or ever dreamed of being a ballerina!
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros - I consumed this book (and the second in its series) about a year ago and needed a refresher before the third volume was published on January 21, so decided to listen to the audiobook version. I’m so glad I did! The recordings are long (20-30 hours per book), but the perfect companion for long drives or getting through my dreaded end-of-day cleaning and night routine. This is a fantasy romance book, so probably not everybody’s cup of tea (usually not mine, to be honest), but I really enjoyed reading and listening to it.
Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book by Dr. Seuss - My husband and I take turns reading this to our toddler before bed. It’s silly and creative and all about sleep, which is perfect for her nighttime routine! We were gifted an old, 1962 copy of this book, by a friend before she moved back to France, so it’s extra special to us.
And now, moving onto things I cooked and liked in January.
My husband attempted the Whole30 this year. I did not. But, I did take on the challenge of sourcing and cooking Whole30-approved meals for us, figuring the extra boost of a nutritious dinner would do no harm.
Going into the month, I bought The Defined Dish: Whole30 Endorsed, Healthy and Wholesome Weeknight Recipes. It’s been a game changer for healthy cooking. And I’ve really been enjoying cooking from physical cookbooks rather than online recipes — after working on a laptop all day, it’s nice to get a break from a screen.
Favorite meals from this cookbook have been:
A non-Whole30 meal that brought us joy on 1/1, before Garrett started the diet, was Modern Proper’s Shepherd’s Pie. Shepherd’s pie was a staple in my house growing up and it was fun to bring this cozy meal back to the table on a cold January evening. It also made for a great meal train dinner for a friend who just had a baby!
And then, lastly, my favorite cooking memory from the month was baking oatmeal cookies from my friend Michelle’s Weeknight Baking cookbook. She’s the culinary genius behind the blog and Instagram account, Hummingbird High. I can’t find the exact recipe for those cookies online (you’ll just have to get the book!) but My Best Chewy And Crispy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe looks pretty similar and delicious (I trust all of Michelle’s recipes). I bake her oatmeal cookies pretty frequently, and this month, made them on a sunny afternoon with my sister and niece when my dad was visiting with his wife. It made me happy to have so much family in town, and it felt right to celebrate with cookies.
If you made it this far, thank you for reading. Thank you for being here. I hope that there’s more to come—just stick with me!
It's good to see you back!
I remember the days of work, marriage, kids - I loved that time of my life, but agree that it's hard to find time for creativity. Now that I'm retired, I almost have too much time for creating. So I have multiple creative outlets. Mostly quilting, gardening, photography (especially while traveling) and cooking.