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Happy first week of February! I’m sitting here listening to a 1940s jazz channel that I found on YouTube with a steamy cup of chai on the coffee table and three sleeping kitties beside me on the couch. I couldn’t ask for more.
These vibes are honestly what I’ve been enjoying every day since 2026 appeared on the calendar. I’ve intentionally been taking things slow and am resisting the urge to give into the somehow-trendy idea of seasonal depression.
I don’t mean to make light of a very real thing, but I sometimes feel like people say they’re suffering from clinical winter blues just because everyone else is incessantly bringing it up these days. I’ve certainly fallen into that trap in the past, but this year I’ve been pretty successful in mentally waving goodbye to those negative thoughts as soon as they whisper across my mind, and, instead, have been embracing the coziness of wintertime—sweaters, fuzzy socks, homemade soup, fresh-out-of-the dryer toasty blankets…
There truly is so much to love about this time of year if you think about it! Consider this your challenge to focus on the good winter brings. Keep scrolling for a brief breakdown of what’s been going on here at our house this past month, and what I’m most looking forward to this spring.
Sweaters, fuzzy socks, homemade soup, fresh-out-of-the dryer blankets…There truly is so much to love about this time of year if you think about it! Consider this your challenge to focus on the good winter brings.
Our sweet rescue pup had to have surgery on her teeth and eyelid last week, so we’ve been cuddling her extra close ever since. The hardest part about being a pet parent is not being able to communicate with your “kids.” I wish I could tell her that her discomfort will fade with time, but maybe she intuitively knows thanks to all of our soothing words and the treats we’ve been giving her. She’s a trooper!
Now that I’ve been dedicating more time to the pottery side of my creative brand, I want to get some professional photos taken in my studio. I put a call out on social media to see if any local photographers were interested in teaming up, and managed to book a session with Veronique Ione Photo. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with, and look forward to updating my ceramics website and portfolio with her images.
In the past I’ve had a lot of fun putting together an official To Be Read (TBR) list/stack of books, but I’ve lately found that my plan is usually derailed by library books. When a hold comes through randomly, I need to set everything else aside to prioritize that deadline, so I only managed to get through three of the seven books on my fall reading list. The good news is that I managed to read nearly twice as many books as I had planned to thanks to library books, so it was a fruitful reading season! Maybe instead of sharing my reading plan here on the newsletter and/or my blog, I’ll just share an after-the-fact recap. Scroll down to the “Things worth mentioning this week…” section of today’s newsletter for a preview of what I’m currently reading.
The next house project on my list for winter is a paint update in our tiny primary bathroom, and then I’m going to focus on possible paint and furniture updates in our sunroom and dining room. Subscribe to get to-the-minute updates on those makeovers!
Can you even handle that sweet hand/paw sandwich pictured above! I was cuddling with Chessie and Gladys Jean after bringing Chess home from her surgery, and they suddenly each stretched out their paws to my hand. I’m looking forward to lots more of these moments come spring.
Speaking of the new season, I’m also looking forward to my 40th birthday in April, getting to break out my spring clothes from storage, and much more time spent on our DIY backyard patio. My favorite day of the year is when you can finally no longer see through the trees because of the fresh new green leaves. That usually falls around late April or early May. I can hardly wait…
Comment and tell me what you’re most looking forward to this spring! Do you have big plans already, or are you letting things flow naturally? Maybe a little bit of both? Let me know below!
New On The Blog: Click here to see a linked list of the mod home décor that I got asked about most often online in 2025, including our favorite rugs, wallpaper, furniture, and lighting.
What I’m Watching: I loved this episode of Simple Dwelling on YouTube. The headline “What Does An ‘Enough’ House Look Like” caught my attention. The concept of a home being just right—nothing more and nothing less—really resonated with me in this season of my life where I’m planning on slowing down on the constant redecorating here at our house.
What I’m Reading: I received the first half of the 6-book Red Rising series for Christmas, and just finished book number one. It was amazing, and I immediately jumped into the second book, which already has me hooked. If you’re into SciFi space plots and Hunger Games, you’ve got to give this series a try.
Favorite Recent Purchase: This rug is still one of my all-time favorites since purchasing it for our old house six (!) years ago. I just ordered it in a smaller size for my home pottery studio. It’s super cushy under-foot, and I love the range of poppy colors. It really helps liven up my basement studio. I plan on repurposing it at pottery markets later this year, too, so it was a great value—especially at just $40 for the small size I ordered.
Looking Forward To: Hosting the Super Bowl this weekend at our house. My favorite team didn’t make it all the way this time, so I’m feeling super chill about watching this game. May the best team win! Who are you cheering for?
A few favorite posts from the Dream Green DIY archives:
🛒 This newsletter contains affiliate links. This enables me to earn a small commission from the things you buy at $0 cost to you. Thanks for your support and for trusting my recommendations—rest assured that I take a lot of time to research so I’m only sharing the best of the best with you.
💻 For more of my life, home renovation, and DIY design business, follow along on Instagram, and check out my blog, Dream Green DIY.
🧡 And last but not least, I think you’re absolutely amazing! Don’t forget to treat yourself this week because you undoubtedly deserve it.
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