Gifts, goodies, and favorite things

Sharing a few things I'm loving, plus links to download your writing annual review and word of the year guides.

It’s raining hard today. I’m sipping green tea, looking out the window, and taking a big deep breath because, well, I made it. We made it.

This is my last newsletter of the year, and as always, I want to encourage you to consider embracing a slow January. There’s no need to feel behind as soon as the first week of the new year rolls around. (If you have children, you may not be able to truly sink into winter until they’re back to school, anyway.)

I always try to remember that a sense of urgency often comes from the outside, making us think we need to move faster or finish something or push harder. Don’t rush. I share it often, but my podcast episode about the necessity of winter is a good one to revisit, as well as the essential book Wintering by Katherine May.

Speaking of the podcast, I’m hoping to revive it sometime in the new year, but don’t have any formal plans. I’m nearly done with some memoir revisions that have taken longer than I anticipated (isn’t that always how it goes?) and will continue prioritizing that project first. I do miss it though, and hope to be back at the mic again when the time is right.

Below I’m sharing a few favorite things, in part because I’ve been meaning to tell you about them for a while now, and also because I enjoy reading these kinds of lists from others.

In no particular order, a few of my favorite reads from 2024:

• The Editor: How Publishing Legend Judith Jones Shaped Culture in America by Sara B. Franklin

• Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang

• You Are Here: Poetry in the Natural World edited by Ada Limón

• See: Loss. See Also: Love. by Yukiko Tominaga

• Separation Anxiety by Laura Zigman

• On Our Best Behavior: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Price Women Pay to Be Good by Erin Loehnen

After years of using all sorts of planners in different stages of life, I might have found The One. Earlier this year I came across Monk Manual, a brand built on monk-inspired principles like presence, simplicity, and reflection. Yes, there’s support to track what helps you stay organized and be productive, but not at the expense of bypassing your inner world. Alongside pages for calendars and to-do lists, the planners also incorporate reflection questions, plus weekly and monthly check-in’s.

This spring I tried out their 90-Day Planner. I loved the size (not too big, not too small) and the gratitude practice and weekly reflections incorporated into the design. To kick-off 2025, I recently ordered the Weekly Planner instead. A few reasons why, for the curious: I don’t have that many appointments or days so full that I require a daily to-do list. I also realized I prefer a weekly layout since I tend to do a ritual on Sunday night where I fill things in for the week ahead. (You can still do this with the daily planner, but it requires turning a lot of pages.) And even though it’s larger, I also wanted a planner that could last the entire year versus having to replace it every few months.

For sipping, I’ve already told you about this chai mix, which I’m still loving with a bit of honey and foamed almond milk. My favorite teas from August Uncommon at the moment are Nightfall (an herbal blend with strawberry, ginger, and lemon) and Neon Forest (a fragrant chamomile green tea).

For keeping the house cozy, I often have a candle from Brooklyn Candle Studio burning.

For calming breaks, alternate nostril breathing only takes a few minutes and can be especially effective.

For feeling put together, I can’t live without Merit’s 1980 brow gel.

For protecting my eyes from strain, Gabriel Simone makes very stylish blue blockers.

For tending to your writing life, be sure to download my Winter Rituals Bundle, which includes the annual review workbook, plus a word of the year worksheet and meditation. It’s my gift to you!

Wishing you a season of peace, calm, and restoration.

Until 2025,
Nicole

P.S. After a year filled with heaps of rejection, I’m delighted to share that a poem of mine was a semifinalist in Naugatuck River Review’s annual contest for narrative poetry. You’ll be able to read it in their Winter 2025 issue—I’ll be sure to let you know when it’s available!

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