The January Edit
What we're reading, watching, cooking, and loving this month. Plus, where Big Salad readers live and why they chose those places.
Hi! How are you doing? January has been a big month on Big Salad. We published a beautiful house tour, an essay about growing up in poverty, and a podcast on crushes. We’re excited to share our monthly review…
We asked the Big Salad team and friends to share what they’ve enjoyed recently (and we’d love to hear your recs in the comments, too)…
Watching: “I’m excited about a new Irish comedy from the Normal People producers but haven’t watched yet: The Dry. Have you guys heard of it? It just premiered in the U.S.” — Joanna Goddard, founder
Wearing: “The Uniqlo U T-shirt is the perfect weight and feels like a deliberate choice (not just something you happened to throw on), and Uniqlo socks are warm and tall and $5. Those are my two best fashion staples under $50! — Nikki Ogunnaike, editor in chief of Marie Claire
Swiping: “Blush is the quickest pick-me-up. My current fave is Ami Colé Desert Date Multistick in Spice — you need only a tiny bit, and it blends beautifully. Another approach is to smear your favorite lipstick on the back of your hand, smudge it with two fingers from the other hand, tap it lightly on your cheek bulges, and skip off into your future.” — Gemma Burgess, showrunner
Baking: “I swear by this no-nut granola recipe and have baked a big weekly batch for years. It’s great as a snack and is delicious for breakfast with tart raspberries and yogurt.” — Maureen Heffernan, partnerships director
Serving: “Our everyday dishes are all from Ikea, so I never realized how delightful a beautiful plate could be until I treated myself to these dinner plates by Helen Levi. No two plates are the same, and each one feels like a piece of artwork in my kitchen.” — Erin Jang, designer and illustrator
Reading: “I tore through Kiley Reid’s debut novel Such A Fun Age and can’t wait to read her latest, Come & Get It, out today.” — Kaitlyn Teer, newsletter editor
This month, Big Salad readers clicked on:
The travel uniform that Ashley C. Ford swears by.
A funny sweatshirt Joanna wants to wear on dates (maybe).
The pair of gardening overalls that Anne Helen Petersen wears everywhere.
Elissa Suh’s first pair of designer shades.
January is a great month for quitting something, anything! Here, a few friends offer their suggestions…
Hair straightening: “I’ll always remember Prada’s Fall/Winter 2009 ad campaign, where the models had huge frizzy curls. It was the first time I saw my hair texture celebrated in fashion. I ripped out all the magazine ads and taped them to the walls of my apartment. I haven’t straightened my hair since.” —
, culture writerDrinking: “The only mocktail that makes me feel like I’m drinking when I’m not is Parch’s spiced piñarita. It tastes pineapple-y, smoky, and strange — like being kissed by someone who’s just been swimming in cold salty water and also maybe is wearing chili-flavored lip gloss?” —
, novelistPerfectionism: “The best thing I’ve ever quit is trying to be the best. Consider, instead, the life-changing magic of mediocrity. I’m leaning into being ‘okay’ at stuff, which makes it easier to live a life of pleasure, ease, and community.” —
, writer and podcaster
Q: I enjoy posts about where readers live and what they love about it, but I am always so curious about the factors behind their decisions. Now that more jobs are remote and you don’t necessarily need to live where you work, what did each family prioritize? Proximity to relatives? Nature? Affordability? My husband and I are struggling with our decision, so I’d love to hear how others chose where to live. — Susan
A: Such a great question! We put out a call for readers to share their stories, in hopes of crowd-sourcing some collective wisdom. Here goes…
On living near family:
“I never thought I’d move back to my hometown in northern California, but after having kids, I realized that proximity to my parents had become so important. I love that my children get to grow up in the 19th-century Victorian where my mom spent her teenage years and that they can run to the hardware store with my dad. Sometimes I get an urge to live somewhere more bustling, but I remind myself that we’re living a life with our family at the center.” — Markie
On choosing an affordable city:
“My husband and I moved from L.A. to Cincinnati, Ohio, after years of contemplating the move. We’re so, so happy we made the decision. The city has an incredible art scene and park program — 88% of Cincinnati residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. As a self-employed artist, I can't say enough about how my daily life has shifted in the absence of financial stress — like, the freedom to turn down bad jobs, so I can focus on my own work and my life outside of work.” — Hallie
On taking big leaps:
“My husband and I lived in Berlin for more than a decade. But after having two kids, we decided to move to Vancouver Island, where he grew up. It was one of the hardest things either of us has done — like breaking up with someone you still love. But walks under the trees and swimming in the clear, cold ocean have helped. Now, our girls spend so much time outside that half the things I pick up in their room are sticks and rocks and bits of moss. We’re so grateful to live here.” — Anja
“Two years ago, I made the big decision (after MONTHS of therapy) to move from London back to Sydney. I am loving the regular ocean swims, the food, and being around the landscapes of my childhood. I went through a period of intense uncertainty before this huge move, but it’s been a game-changer.” — Emma
On staying put:
“When I moved out of my mom’s apartment in my mid-thirties, I realized that staying in Chicago was a no-brainer. Why did I solidify Chicago as my home base? The food scene here is unmatched and I’ll fight you about that. Plus, the fun nightlife and nice, honest people. Simply put, I have never found another city where I can be myself without apology. Chicago feels like home.” — Abby Mallett
On accepting uncertainty:
“To say that I can’t decide where to live is an understatement: I’ve moved 19 times in 16 years! (Spoiler alert: wherever you go, there you are.) Since I work remotely, I’ve decided to spend summers in Montreal and winters in Buenos Aires. I love both cities equally and have friends in each place. I don't know how long I can sustain a ‘dual’ life — right now, I work remotely, sublet my place in Montreal, and do a short-term rental in Buenos Aires — but for now I’m filled with gratitude.” — Coralie
On finding the perfect floor plan:
“My husband and I got married when we were young and broke. We took the first jobs offered to us, which happened to be in Rochester, New York. When we were ready to buy a home, I wanted a very specific layout: a loop, so our sons could run in circles through the house. When we first toured our now-home, I declared it ‘the ugliest house I’ve ever seen.’ But my husband pointed out that it had a loop! So, we made an offer the very next day, even though our realtor thought we were bananas. I bet my sons have run around our beloved little loop a million times in the past decade. So, basically, best decision ever!” — Sarah
What would you add? Where do you live and how did you end up there?
“I was at a hipster bakery a few weeks ago,” wrote Lauren in response to Ashley Ford’s awkward small-talk story. “I actually said to the gal selling me my Funfetti cookies: ‘I bet your clothes must smell great when you go home after being here all day.’ I creep myself out just thinking about it.”
Says Abbey on 15 Genius Dating Tips: “Maybe it’s true that someone is only as attractive as they are in their worst profile picture BUT it’s also true that if you look at their best picture, and increase their attractiveness by a magnitude of at least 10, you will get a nice idea of how dreamy they’ll look to you if you happen to fall in love.”
Steph replied to Elissa Suh’s most anticipated films: “I saw a sneak peak of The Taste of Things at the Telluride Film Festival, and I think it will live up to Elissa’s prediction that it will be the ultimate food movie. It’s beautiful on so many levels.”
Now, we’d love to hear from you, what films are you looking forward to watching this year?
(Opening photo by Kevin Butz/Unsplash. Photo of dog sleeping by Eldad Carin/Stocksy. Note: If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission or have a sponsored relationship with the brand, at no cost to you. We recommend only products we genuinely like. Thank you so much.)
Four Fun Things. Including a new rom-com series and a pasta tattoo.
Three CoJ Readers Get Hair Makeovers! “With bangs, just an inch or two can change everything,” says hair stylist Reagan Baker.
The One Question I Ask My Kids After School. It actually works.
Four Trader Joe’s Meal Hacks. Four friends share their easy recipes.
This 350-Square-Foot Studio Is a DIY Dream. “Many people think of studios as transitional spots, but I really love this life.”
Wise Words. The other day, we got a reader comment that made me think.
Thank you so much for reading Big Salad. We’re so grateful you’re here. Coming up this Friday: two magical (and hyper specific) Paris itineraries, and an interview with a good friend. Lots of love. xoxo
How awkward am I if I don't find that bakery comment that awkward? 😆
Omg Abbey’s comment on dating profile pics?! I clutched my heart!