Happy New Year
I'm already late!
I am absolutely past the deadline to wish you all a Happy New Year without being annoying! But truly, this is the sentiment of this whole newsletter, Happy New Year. Some iteration of this gets thrown around the internet with each new year, but I really do feel a different, much more optimistic energy going into 2024. Coming off of a 365 days that were seemingly universally grueling, I’m sure we can all agree that a fresh start is welcome.
My 2024 has started off with a bang, moving from the whirlwind of the holidays and gift-giving season, straight into “Dry January”. Hours before the clock hit 1/1, I was frantically re-merchandising our website ahead of resolution season. This time of year is all-gas-no-breaks, as we have a unique window to introduce Ghia to new people. I had been tossing and turning over whether this Dry January would live up to the hype; our January performance is usually the strongest indicator for us of the year ahead. It turns out customers quite literally broke the warehouse, to the point the corporate team and I have been there all week packing orders. A great way to keep spirits high, pun intended.
I live by the rule “How you spend your days is how you spend your life” so I choose not to inflict any buzzy but short-lived brutalities to my routine and focus on small habits that last (and I can begin any day of the year). My reflective time will start soonish, when most people give up on their vow to stop drinking and I catch my breath for a brief second. Grace VV, on my team, said that goals are dreams with a plan and I’m going to hold myself accountable to this mindset. I also would like to make more of a point to step back from my daily grind to think, reflect and for lack of a better word, “manifest”. Sweetgreen put it best: “Evolution over Resolutions”.
I did jot a few intentions and ramblings in my notes app the past few weeks, but my main goal for 2024 is to take a really big chill pill. Sadly, this doesn’t mean I’m retiring to my dream ‘House By The Sea’ to make my own olive oil [yet]. I’m walking away with one lesson from 2023, it’s that worrying about hard things is often more traumatic than going through them.
On a lighter note, for the 4th year in a row, I’m migrating South for part of the winter - this year to Costa Rica. Four weeks to reset my system back to a (less) chaotic state, my only objective being to surf before and after work. I packed up Grace Clarke’s now viral 2024 Personal Planning Guide in my suitcase - how did you all like it?
That’s all from me! I wish you all a year more gentle than the last - full of adventures. May all your dreams come true!
Melanie
Some January Recommendations
Saying No to Single Use Plastic!
I really wish everyone in my life this year goes plastic-free! Some things that help:
A great water bottle - I know the world is going cuckoo over the Stanley Cup but I strongly prefer to drink out of a clear container. This Comme Si one is my daily.
Mason Jar tops that don’t suck: wooden ones, silicone ones.
Ghia
It is “Dry January after all and I’d be damned if I didn’t try to sell you more of the good stuff. Specifically, have you tried Ghia Berry? I made it for wine lovers who love a tannic, tart mouthfeel. Heavy pour of 1 part Ghia, 1 part sparkling water, here you go! If you want to try them all our Dry Jan Pack ($99 for all the goodies) is our best-selling bundle ever and will be leaving our site in 2 weeks sharp.
Winter Whites
Finding denim that fits my oddly shaped body is a huge issue for me, and I’ve been in the market for white jeans for what feels like years. My Theresa is having a 30% on top of their sale for last pieces, so since I love the thrill of a last piece, a good discount, and winter whites, I’m taking a bet on these Victoria Beckham jeans and this Jacquemus shirt, in the hopes I won’t have to dish $380 for these not on sale Toteme the twisted seams seem like of course the pair would fall perfectly.
A sparkly bag to make the holidays last longer
Yes I did see every influencer get a silver Miu Miu Wander hand delivered to wherever in the Alps they were vacationing. What a life. This 50% off Proenza is just what the doctor ordered (especially to “elevate” my favorite Everlane sweater, which I own in beige and chocolate in XS, I haven’t taken it off for weeks). Good for all seasons.
French pharmacy hand cream
It is a big goal of mine to stop biting the skin around my nails (thinking of doing hypnosis, has anyone tried?). I do it when I’m stressed, but since my hands get super dry and are damaged from all the abuse, I now also do it when I’m not stressed. This cream is my holy grail french pharmacy hand cream - it has a little oil in it which your cuticles need to soften, but it’s not sticky, and very affordable.
Quality news
I’ve decided it’s cool to pay for quality content in your 30s (and very uncool to get your news from instagram). I’m a proud paying subscriber of Airmail, Lauren Sherman’s Puck, Emily Sundberg’s very fun Feed Me, Rachel Karten’s Link in Bio, Dan Frommer’s The New Consumer, Kitchen Projects and Bon Appetit + The Economist (print). And counting!
K18
May 2024 be the year I figure out my hair. For 30+ years I’ve been hating and pulling on my naturally wavy to curly hair, it’s fine but I have so much of it. I did Magic Sleek a couple of years ago (a not super well known natural straightener) and I loved having straight hair for a bit. But I want to conquer this mission, and it sadly for me will involve using hair masks. But what the hell am I supposed to do while my hair gets its hydration boost, stand shivering cold like a wet noodle for 20 minutes? This is why I love K18 - it’s clean, and all you have to do is shampoo-and-not condition your hair, then apply it after you are bundled in a warm robe. It makes my hair so silky all the way down to the ends. Highly recommend!!
Health Nut
If you loved Salad Freak, my friend Jess Damuck’s first cookbook, then you too shall be excited for the upcoming launch of Health Nut, her second child. I’ve recently learned that pre-ordering cookbooks before they launch really help the authors get on all the lists-that-matter and make sure bookstores order enough of their books to have strong visibility in the shops.I shall be pre-ordering cookbooks from now on to do my part! Can’t wait for this one to come out.
A winter coat!
When I moved to LA, I dramatically sold all my coats. Psychotic, I know. I get by in the LA winter and on cold flights with the slim Uniqlo puffer liner thingy hidden under light jackets. Probably because I hate the cold, I also hate winter coats, except the ones that have a hood. I’m not sure what the psychology is for loving hoods but I love hoods like most of my girlfriends love dresses with pockets. Of course I do fall in love with the occasional coat-I-cant-afford (cue this Prada duffle) but this one from Sandro is that same elegant length, feels super heavy and sturdy, and was quite on sale so I bought it and now I have a coat again
Cleaning out your closet!
I just did this ahead of my trip. It feels so nice to have less things and for them to fit perfectly on my shelves. I dropped a bunch of things on Depop, including my sparkly Khaite shoes and a pair of HighSport pants (long story - after hunting for the first iteration of the purple forever, I found them and bought them, but they are too cropped for my taste. The newer version are a couple inches longer, albeit a little thicker and maybe less flattering on my winter thighs, so I will have to pay full price for these lilac ones).
That’s all! Have a nice long weekend!
Melanie
I’ve tried hypnosis and it really works! What I did is that I started testing it out via https://getgrace.com/app/ and see how I felt in the initial, free ones. I am also all about paying for a great content diet, which also means supporting people doing great things and Grace Smith is really about stopping self-sabotage at scale with her app. Test it out first and take it up from there if you find your pesky habits decreasing 🙏❤️✨