Dear Friends,
For me, January always feels like a fresh page 🗒️. After the hurried pace of December 👟, this quieter month is a time to slow down, clear some space (physically and mentally), and settle into more relaxed and familiar routines.
I am starting 2026 with a little reset -- cleaning out my office and closet (still a work in progress🚪). In the process of going through my main (and very disorganized) desk drawer, I rediscovered a handful of old pens just beautifully sitting there in the midst of all the clutter that "was" my desk drawer. Getting them back in working order was a small but satisfying reminder that sometimes the things we love most are already right in front of us, just waiting to be used again.
I also find the new year as a time to clear the clutter and noise that dilutes me from fulfilling my priorites so I also like to delete the emails I don't need, clean my drawers, cancel unused subscriptions, clear out my closet of things I no longer wear and remove the many apps I don't use. Bonus: I listed over 25 new items in my Posmark closet and made 3 sales!
This month is all about slowing down, reading, writing, and easing gently into the new year.
Three Things I'm Loving This Month:
✍️ Pens
Old favorites, newly rediscovered. There’s something comforting about reaching for a pen that feels just right and letting the ink flow without rushing. I've been a certified pen snob for most of my life so this one is real for me, 😂. My favorite every day pens still remain the Pilot G-2 Roller pen 0.7 and the Sharpie S-Gel pen 0.7. But these oldies but goodies (see image below) are back up and running and ready to roll!
📚 The Book “The Correspondent”
While I read this last year, I loved this book by Virginia Evans so much as it was a beautiful reminder of the intimacy and timelessness of handwritten letters — and why putting pen to paper still matters. If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend it!!
Hoping for more reading in 2026!
🎙️ “The Nerve” Podcast with Maureen Callahan
"The Nerve" with Maureen Callahan is one of my favorite guilty pleasures...home for everything from not-regularly-promoted takes on pop culture to true crime, Maureen masterfully dissects everything with whip smart analysis, humor, and skepticism. Is anyone else a fan?
❤️ With Love,
Jill
P.S. Your thoughts are appreciated! With the positive response I received from my first Love Note in December, I have decided to make this a regular monthly email and blog post. I hope you find it of interest Happy New Year!
And, for anyone interested in some before and after office photos 🫠..
