What started off as a personal exercise in my Notes app that I was going to transfer to my journal eventually turned into this newsletter. While the entire point of this Substack has been to share small joys, there are lots of things that I haven’t gotten a chance to write about. As I reflect on 2025, here are the small and big things that made the year what it was.
Colouring my hair at the beginning of the year after more than a decade and feeling like a brand new person
Updating the entryway closet in my home (we outsourced this to a professional) and painting it a really a lovely blue colour (done by me!)
Traveling to Singapore again, one of my favourite places to visit, and eating at places both old and new. I still think about the Sri Lankan beef danish from Mother Dough Bakery and the coconut shake from The Coconut Club
Taking myself on my first solo movie date to see Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy in a plush, fancy theatre
Sunrise yoga on the beach, zumba in the pool, massage by the ocean and dinner under the stars in Indonesia. It was one of the most relaxing vacations ever
A perfect birthday dinner with my husband at Hexagon
Book launch celebration for author Carley Fortune courtesy of Joe Fresh. Books, fashion, friends = a terrific combo
Building my little Lego typewriter
Q2 work trip where I received and really connected with this Live Your Values deck
Making small kitchen updates like adding new scalloped-edged curtains and a pendant lamp since we couldn’t tackle a full reno this year
Lots of library visits with my son (what a joy to be able to share one of my favourite pastimes with him)
Catch-ups with friends over afternoon tea
Drinking tea exclusively in cute mugs at home (I’m afraid it does make the tea taste better)
Traveling for an out-of-town family wedding and having a lovely time
Picking cherries in my own backyard
Getting curtain bangs after years and years of sporting side bangs (I didn’t think my bangs were even capable of parting in a different direction)
Planting more flowers in my garden
Watching the flowers I planted a few years ago bloom and grow
Hosting friends and family at home—I didn’t do this as often as I would’ve liked to this year and I was felled by the flu before hosting my last of the year but I cherish the gatherings I did have
Completing a big bookish project at work I was immensely proud of and passionate about
Being a small part of another work project that has been a career high for me
Spending the summer outdoors: at farmer’s markets and strawberry farms and eating ice cream and watching my son’s soccer games
Walking more and running again after a very long time
Musical theatre! I forgot how much I missed it and how much it inspires and energizes me
My son starting Junior Kindergarten. Time really does fly!
Putting my freelance writer hat back on with an assignment for ELLE Canada on a topic I love
Attending book-related events! Like live theatre, I forgot how much I enjoy listening to authors talk about their books and being surrounded by a bookish audience who’s equally passionate about books. I want to do more of this next year!
Keeping my annual tradition of watching films at the Toronto International Film Festival. This year, I saw Homebound, which was recently shortlisted for an Oscar
Traveling to Mexico City for work and visiting some of the best shops and eating some of the most amazing food (highlights include Rosetta and Maizajo)
Going to a concert! Yes, a concert because I’m a one-concert-a-year kind of person. Last year, it was the Eras tour and this year, it was Laufey. Next year, it’ll be Olivia Dean (and maybe more?)
Celebrating five years of Small Joys! Yes, that’s how long I’ve been on Substack. Here is the first ever newsletter I sent. I wish I could have shown up more but I’ve shown up in a way that feels true and authentic to me. I’ve also loved building this small community in this corner of the Internet (whether you’re a recent reader or a longtime subscriber, thank you so much for being here!)
Taking a week off and finally, finally finishing the writing project that I’ve been trying to finish for a long time
Finding my way back to journaling
Building a work desk with built-in shelves and choosing a paint colour that wasn’t white (I’m on a mission to add more colour in our home, one home reno project at a time)
Seeing my son perform on a stage for the first time at his school Christmas concert
Interviewing people whose work brings me joy like Ochuko Akpovbovbo, Noor Murad, Jenna O'Brien and Joss Richard
Decorating the Christmas tree with a new theme and putting up the tree earlier
Creating new holiday traditions with my almost four-year-old son
Every bit of time I get to spend with my parents and knowing how precious that is
Having much more clarity heading into next year about the person I am and how I’d like to show up in the world, for myself and others
There’s so much great content and press coverage around Heated Rivalry so here’s one about Heated Rivalry and the art of the truly joyful press tour.
14 short reads you can binge while you’re OOO this week.
Jonathan Bailey and David Corenswet on Variety’s Actors on Actors. That’s all.
I love the idea of having a list of favourite movies that get stuck in your heart.
The joy of a book-filled living room.
Microhabits to help boost your joyspan.
How Ralph Lauren stole Christmas (and won 2025).
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