The Highlights of January

And what I’m looking forward to this month!

I don’t know about you, but for me, January was slow—slow in a good way, and slow in the sense that I was really able to focus on projects that I ended up putting on the back burner for months.

I worked on some personal things that I’ve been putting in my journal and calendar, which I wanted to be intentional about and make time for.

So what were they?

I wanted to go back to writing in my journal and freewriting, which I really love doing—especially in the mornings. It helps me to release the thoughts I have a million times a day and get them onto paper. For me, being able to physically write—having that actual action of writing things out—helps me release stress and the things I’ve been really worried about.

Meditation, meditation, and more meditation. I’ve been using Insight Timer, and I really love the meditations, affirmations, and courses. It has such a wonderful variety of things that, if I ever need something for stress, sadness, or whatever, I can find something that aligns with what I’m feeling at that moment. Also, I made more time to meet with friends and have deeper conversations about how they’re doing, what they’re working on in their lives, and what is important for them at this moment. I’ve really enjoyed doing that

Some super fun things I did in January included having snow days and going up to the mountains. I love snow; it is one of my favorite things. Letting my inner child free and feeling that sense of just being able to play is golden!

Having date nights with the Hubby has been really nice. We felt we needed to really connect, especially with February here now, and things starting to shift and get a little busier for us. We really wanted to make time to just connect and spend some quality time together.

As for the work side of things, I’ve been working with a great group of ladies to build a retreat we are launching now. It is a passion project and something we are all really excited about: the Italian Reset, which I have been thoroughly enjoying. I’ve really come into my own in my role as a co-founder and fractional COO. I love operational work and the strategy behind it—getting things together and creating a framework. It has been truly enriching work.

Working with my hubby on his catering and home restaurant business, HORTi, and doing fractional COO work with him. This has been a two-year project that has had its challenges for sure, but it has been quite a lovely experience. For a long time, we have had really separate things we have been doing, and we’ve never really had anything we’ve been working on together.

You know those projects where you’re going full steam ahead, and you’re really into it, and then for some reason or other, you have to take a step back and put it on hold?

That was my YouTube channel, launched in 2023. I had put it on hold, but now I’m slowly working on getting episodes out this month!

I’m doing some more editing and getting back into it because next week the channel is focusing on what immigrants and expats are doing in Italy. Eventually, I’d like to take this further to travel across Europe and other continents.

February Happenings

Carnival season is happening! I love getting dressed up and putting on a costume. It’s one of my favorite holiday events in Veneto. Of course, it happens all around Italy and across the world, but especially up here, there are parades every weekend and parties. It’s just a really great time to get into a festive season, especially in January when it’s super dreamy and quiet. Next weekend I’m going to head to Venice. There is a super cool brunch happening at this beautiful hotel, and I am so looking forward to it!

February is also the time to really start to kick things into gear. I will be doing more work on the Italian Reset, helping Ale streamline it.

A major project I’ll be working on throughout the rest of the year is finding a place to live. Yes, we’re moving, and we have until November to find something affordable, not too far from the center and more space.

We’re looking for a house and may buy, but we’re not sure yet. Italy has a very intense housing purchase process. So we may be doing things in a non-linear way, trying to find something economical. I’m keeping everything open on this, willful idealism about finding something, but I am also staying level-headed and very flexible.

Lovely humans, I hope you have a wonderful start to the week. I’d love to hear how your January went.

What are you looking forward to in February? Are there any exciting or joyful things that you’re working on at the moment?

Hugs and love.