Meaningful Consumption

My January in review.

As I begin to write this, it’s January 28th, but it feels like January 39th. I have had the most wonderful 28 days and counting.

For many, January is considered a depressing month. When the Christmas tree in Washington Square Park is no longer casting its glowy light beneath the arch, it feels like it’s So Over and there’s nothing to look forward to. In college, Valerie and I came up with the term “filler hours,” which are the hours in between your daytime activities and your nighttime plans. It may seem there’s not much to do and you might feel a little anxious during this time. That said, January is a filler month.

This year, however, I rebranded my January. I went into the month knowing I would love it—as I mentioned in my last Substack, 2024 feels good. There hasn’t been any particular reason or event that made January so spectacular, but rather, I have a clear head. I feel like I’ve been reset to my factory settings. This was my third year participating in Dry January, which is many consumers’ popular yet often polarizing effort to sustain a month without drinking. Dry January is very easy for me because I don’t drink that much when I go out, but I must admit this is the first year I’ve made it through the entire month without having one cheat day. In January 2022, the most magical New York City snow day plus peer pressure from Jack led to my caving in at McSorley’s. (Totally worth it.) In January 2023, I was at The River with an old friend and decided to order a drink 15 minutes before close because a $16 cocktail just sounded sooo good. (Totally not worth it.) Either way, I think it’s important to take a step back from substance consumption every now and then. You learn a lot about yourself and the people, places, and things that surround you. You pay more attention to your conversations at parties. That part is my favorite.

One of the things I learned this month is that apparently your dreams become more vivid after eliminating alcohol for a while. For 2 weeks straight, I had dreams about HATING PEOPLE. (See also: Going Sober For a Month Gave Me Nightmares) Those who know me know that I am NOT a hateful or violent person, but my dreams of the last month were an A24 film. Waking up every morning in January was a harrowing experience.

Although I haven’t consumed alcohol this month, I have consumed many other things that I’d love to share with you, even though I think gatekeeping is So Back. I finished 5 books and watched 20 movies. I baked 2 birthday cakes and tried 6 new restaurants and 2 new bakeries. I had friends come over to eat pancakes and drink coffee and gossip in my living room. I enjoyed the most delicious salted chocolate milkshake from Morganstern’s. I did NOT buy any new clothes, but I did purchase my first Dutch oven from Great Jones. (I need to make beef bourguignon for my girls.)

Here are a few of my favorites from this month:

• The Daytrippers (1996)

• Anatomy of a Fall (2023)

• sticky toffee pudding from Cafe Cluny

• Girlhood by Melissa Febos (not at all what I was expecting and SO important)

• Meredith’s Swamp Soup (which Sam thought was scary-looking)

• all the baked goods that Pippa and I tried from Radio Bakery

• Madonna’s entire Like a Virgin album, which I listened to on vinyl (passed down from my Aunt Madonna) (yes I have an Aunt Madonna) after watching the Madonna Glee episode on Elise’s birthday

Happy February and Happy Friday <3

February is for lovers and for the girls.

Here’s some music for your weekend xoxoxox