Y’all, we actually made it, ha. HAPPY NEW YEAR!! It’s 2026!!! We still aren’t quite back, but don’t worry, we’ll be at our computers tomorrow morning:) We have a lot of hope (the kind that usually comes with the beginning of a new year) that 2026 will likely not be easy, but will come with us demanding positive change, with more love and acceptance. Isn’t that ultimately what we all want? Today, we have a slight January “wellness” theme with our links, since we are all feeling ready to start the year off right. Here they are!

This week’s house tour is so joyful and colorful! The perfect way to start a new year, no? It’s modern but collected and filled with so much inspiration. Go check it out!

From Emily: I went to a “favorite things” holiday party a couple of weeks ago, and one of my best friends, who has a massive job and has to stay healthy, brought SaladPower, which is a pouch full of vegetables (like a smoothie). She said she hasn’t gotten sick in 2 years and gives this pouch the credit. It has 16 spinach leaves, 12 kale leaves, 5 carrots, 4 broccoli heads, and 1/2 lemon and apple. That’s it. I know a lot of people who enjoy making smoothies, but I’m not one of them, and I mostly just want the nutrition from the vegetables (including the fiber that is hardest to get). Does it taste good? Nope. But it’s fine, and if it’s cold, it’s over pretty fast.

From Mallory: I don’t talk about it a ton on here, but over the last 5-6 years, I’ve really dialled in a wellness routine that works wonders for me. My whole life, I never really had a great fitness routine – I danced for hours every day in high school, but once I went to college, I had no idea how to be active anymore. I had never set foot in a gym (we literally didn’t have one at my arts high school), and so I just didn’t know how to get started. Then post-college, the pandemic hit, and I got super into these 30-minute shadow boxing classes that my friend did on Instagram live, which helped me build consistency and made me really motivated to start working out. Once gyms opened up again, I started going to the one in my apartment complex for 30 minutes each day and did the exercises that Whitney Simmons would post. She posts a ton of great workout ideas (go to her YouTube where she talks you through them!) like these dumbbell-only workouts, which are basically workouts that are super effective without having to use any barbells or machines – so that’s a great place to start. If you’ve already been strength training for a while, she also has workout split videos and more intermediate/advanced workout videos (I used to follow almost her exact split, but I recently modified it even more to work better for me and to include pilates once a week!). I love following her because she promotes being strong over being skinny, is super body positive, and keeps it real. If you’re looking for somewhere to start or just some new workout inspo – check her out!

From Marlee: Okay, I’ve been doing so much crafting, which has been so so fun – but since I have roommates, I don’t really have a designated crafting area OR good crafting storage. Which means that relocating my projects from my bedroom desk to the dining room and vice versa gets really messy and unorganized. I just got this craft storage bin, which is essentially a plastic tacklebox, haha. It’s been a game-changer for all my smaller crafting objects – scissors, threads, needles, pins, paint brushes, etc. Eventually, I would love to have a designated area and storage system, but for now, this makes it really easy to throw all my stuff in one bin (in an organized way) and also transport everything if I want to watch a movie in the living room while I work on stuff. Also, I was looking at the reviews and saw someone call it their “snacklebox,” which they use to transport on-the-go charcuterie!

From Gretchen: I don’t know about you, but in this time after the holidays, I really just feel like hunkering down. Right now, I’m spending my time with a book that so far has me hooked, Project Hail Mary (the Ryan Gosling movie adaptation comes out in March!), and a really cool YouTube series I can’t stop watching. I’m not far enough into the book yet to give you my take, but I CAN tell you that I am absolutely OBSESSED with this family and their 110-year-old Schoolhouse to Homestead transformation. There’s a solid chance you’ve seen their project floating around the internet over the last few years (I had seen some clips when they first bought it, but had totally forgotten to check up on their progress. There’s since been a TON!) Stacie (homeowner/remodeler) is SUCH a great storyteller, and I just find her videos to be totally captivating. She and her husband moved from NYC to a small town in Indiana (where they both grew up) and made the crazy (but totally rewarding) decision to fix up the old schoolhouse to be their forever home. The amount of blood, sweat, and LOVE that they’ve both put into this special space clearly shows, and I love how much care and time Stacie puts into honouring the school and its history as she furnishes the space. It’s an honest series filled with so many fun anecdotes, project process, and unbelievable transformation. I’m really enjoying working my way back through her older videos and cannot wait to see what’s next!

From Arlyn: Finding a sports bra when you have a very large chest is not for the faint of heart. For high-impact workouts, I typically end up wearing TWO bras for support, but I was pounding with ads by the brand Shefit for months on end. All the reviews made me confident in believing their “Ultimate” sports bra might just be enough to keep the girls in place during combo moves, etc., and it didn’t disappoint. I had to get used to putting it on (the front zip wasn’t easy for me), and it felt a bit like a cage at first, but wearing it a few times made it fit more comfortably. I can jump, run, and dance in this thing, and there isn’t anything flopping around or plopping out. Their on-site quiz led me a bit astray (it said I was a 2Luxe for my 38H chest, but I ended up needing one size up from that to fully accommodate everything, FYI).

From Jess: Last month, I lost one of my AirPod Pros in a parking lot. I was SO bummed, but if I’m honest, it was just a matter of time. They just never stayed in my ears well, and it was a constant struggle. One of my best friends said how much they loved their Beats Powerbeats Fit – Wireless Noise Cancelling Workout Earbuds with Secure-Fit Wingtips because that never happened to them. I decided to slightly let go of Apple AirPod loyalty and give these new ones a go, and man, am I glad. They are great because it’s not the full wrap around the ear, but a little extra arm that fits on the inside of your ear. They aren’t cheap, but they are going to make walks, working out, cleaning the house, etc, so much better.

We’re so excited to get to spend another year with all of you, so cheers to that and see you tomorrow for our annual kitchen trends post!!

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: River House Primary Bathroom Reveal