January Recap, Look Ahead to February -

This post may contain affiliate links.

And just like that, the first month of the new year has come to a close! Work is generally slower the first month of the year, that rang true this year too. It’s always nice to ease into the year. Last year was a major transition year for me, both professionally and personally. After 2+ years of enduring the pandemic, having a baby, and moving (a few times!), I’m finally feeling like I’m getting back into a groove in all aspects of my life.

I’m looking forward to what’s to come this year here on Cobalt Chronicles! I have some fun ideas that I’m excited to implement. I was inspired by my blogging friend Jessica at An Indigo Day to incorporate this mantra into my year, Create More. Consume Less. It’s applicable in so many ways, not just as it applies to my blogging business. Looking back at January, I’ve done a pretty good job at implementing this into my daily routines. Hoping to keep it top of mind as we move into February! Now I’m thinking I might need to dedicate a more in depth blog post to this topic … stay tuned!

Before I get too far ahead, let’s take a look back at January and chat about the posts you loved, the items you clicked on the most, and more!

Items You’re Loving the Most: Best Sellers This Month

I love seeing what you’re shopping! As a little behind the scenes, on the backend, I can see the most clicked on items out of the items I share. I love seeing what’s catching your eye!

Long Sequin Gown. Y’all loved this dress as much as I did! It’s under $100. Seen wearing here. For sizing reference, I’m wearing XS.
Mango Collar Check Sweater. Seen wearing here. Wearing size XS.
Mango Leather Pants. I shared an entire blog post on how to style these exact leather pants! They’re so good and under $70. They run a tad big. I sized down one size to a size 2.
Lululemon Turtleneck. Obsessed with this cozy Lululemon piece. It fits TTS.
Lululemon Bra. I grabbed this bra on sale. It’s still on sale, although sizes are limited. I always scope out Lululemon’s sale page –> We Made Too Much!

Recs & Reviews

Michael and I watched two Golden Globe nominated movies this month, The Menu and Elvis. The Menu is very strange, but it almost has a White Lotus vibe to it. The plot centers around a specific guest list of diners who visit a secluded restaurant run by a famed chef. The entire movie is set during dinner service. It’s full of dark humor and shocking twists. While I’m not mad I watched it, I wouldn’t sit through it again. On the other hand, I loved Elvis! It’s a long movie, but it’s really good. It shines a light on the relationship between Elvis and his manager while following Elvis throughout his career. Definitely worth a watch!

On the TV front, we jumped on a couple of band wagons this month. I couldn’t resist watching the Harry and Meghan docu-series on Netflix. I wouldn’t say royal obsessed, but I LOVE the Crown and I find the history of the royal family and the inner workings of the firm fascinating. I enjoyed the series. After that, we moved onto White Lotus. We binged both seasons over the course of the month! I’m a fan! I love the setup of the show – showing the ending of the season during the first episode – it makes watching the series fun in a “who done it” kind of way! Already looking forward to and hoping for another season!

In books, I caved and started listening to the audiobook version of Spare, Prince Harry’s book. I don’t typically listen to audiobooks, but I do enjoy autobiographical audiobooks narrated by the author. It’s LONG. I’ve barely scratched the surface. Honestly, it’s more of a filler for when I run out of my weekly podcast episodes – something else to listen to during the week. You can listen to it for free when you sign up for an Audible trial. I’ve been reading the actual book, Book Lovers by Emily Henry. It’s a cute, easy read. Perfect for my bedtime reading!

Wellness this Month

January is obviously the month where everyone heads back to the gym, subscribes to Dry January, and vows to eat healthier. Right before the holidays, after a two+ year hiatus, I started going to group fitness classes again. I’ve been LOVING them. I thrive in a group class. Specifically, I’ve been loving hot yoga and spin (no surprise there). I’ve found a few fitness studios I’m really loving in New Orleans (City Surf, Romney, and SWOOT). In addition to weekly neighborhood walks with Weldon, I’ve been squeezing in 3ish workouts a week since the start of the new year, and it has felt really great. If you’re in a season of “new” motherhood, just know that it took me two years to get back to my pre-baby workout routine. It’s a process.

In addition to adding back in group fitness classes, I’ve also been waking up earlier. I’ve been an early riser for most of my adult life. Even before implementing this new routine, I was getting up between 6-6:30. I’ve been setting my alarm for 5:30 this month, and it’s been a game changer for me. Weldon gets up around 7:30 so this new wake time, even though it’s not that much earlier than I’m used to waking up, gives me enough additional time to ease into my morning. It has even allowed me to incorporate a quick 5-10 minute daily meditation after finishing my morning journaling. I’ve been using the Peloton app for my meditations.

A couple of recent wellness-related posts:

A Look Ahead to February

February is a BUSY month here in New Orleans as Mardi Gras day falls on February 21st this year. The two weeks leading up to Fat Tuesday are always a full-on party in NOLA, especially in our neighborhood as we’re close to the parade routes. The joy and excitement in the air is palpable during this time. I’m looking forward to the parades plus a fun family vacation the week of Mardi Gras as well! The schools close in New Orleans for a week+ so we’re taking advantage and heading to the Bahamas!

I’m also looking forward to adding some early spring pieces to my wardrobe, which of course I’ll share with you as well, and hitting publish on a few personal posts this month too! I’m also working on a New Orleans Guide post that I’m hoping to get live this month so stay tuned!

Cheers to a new month!