Have we really made it to the end of January already? While January typically feels like the longest month out of the year given the frigid temperatures in places like here at home in New England, people participating in “Dry January” and everyone doing their best to not give up on their resolutions before February 1st – this past month feels like it went by a little quicker than expected – and I have to give it a proper send-off before we jump into February next week!
I had started this month – and 2026 in general – in beautiful, picturesque Portland, Maine with my boyfriend where we had an extended stay to ring in the New Year. When we weren’t staying warm and cozy in the comfort of our incredible hotel room, we were off checking out a famous lighthouse during a surprise snowstorm, taking in some art, and eating a lot of really great food – including sushi from a restaurant that was dubbed my first “Local Loves” of the year!
I had a lot to be grateful for this month, which I was mindful to acknowledge – and I stayed busy with post-holiday get-togethers and a milestone birthday for one of my best friends.
I shared my usual January traditions on ‘Coffee & Chiffon’ this month, like my current Winter makeup collection and my take on Pantone’s “Color of The Year” – but given I was celebrating my own milestone birthday just last week, I had some new things to talk about, too!
As I prepared to turn the big 4-0 this month, I wrote about ten things I’d learned in my thirties before it was time for the actual birthday celebrations to begin, with trips to both New Hampshire and Maine planned by friends and family. This past weekend, however, right before a huge snowstorm blanketed the Northeast – involved my girlfriends taking me to Salem for an overnight stay to celebrate me being an older, wiser witch!
And now here I am, getting ready to zip through a quick work day before I start my weekend a little early and gear up for the things I have planned for next month!
I am still so, so grateful for all the love, kindness and generosity I experienced this month. I have wonderful friends, a loving family, an incredible partner – and I appreciate them in ways that I can’t even put into words. They made this past month, and the beginning of this year and new era of my life – one I will cherish forever and will never forget.
As we look forward to February – I’ve got some local travel planned, including a couple of “Galentines Day” events and mini-trips I’ll be celebrating with people like my mom and my girlfriends, and am getting ready to share some Super Bowl-inspired recipes and some more local places I love to visit this time of year.
So here’s to January 2026 – one of the best! – and to even better, brighter (and warmer, please!) days ahead!
xo
Coffee & Chiffon 