Letter from the Editor: Embracing the Holiday Time Glow (aka, holiday time for moms)
Dear Friends,
I thought it would be fun to start a seasonal letter. Blogging has become so sporadic for me that when I actually find the time, I really need to embrace that work energy. And today’s one of those days.
As the air cools, fall into winter feels like a bridge—it’s that transition when Thanksgiving, holiday travel, and all the seasonal chaos start rolling in. There’s a chill in the air, and even the smallest things feel cozy.
It’s also prime time for comfort food! Bean stews, pumpkin pie, frothy lattes with vegan marshmallows, sautéed winter greens, and pasta drenched in olive oil—yes, please. You can find all those goodies in my recipes section.
Here in LA, we don’t get hardcore chill or snow, but we still get some seasonal flair: cool mornings, moody sunsets, and that undeniable urge to cozy up with a Starbucks red cup in hand (soy milk is finally free, guys!). And those giant, brightly decorated community Christmas trees—love them! LA may not have snow, but it makes up for it with festive energy. We’ll definitely be heading to The Grove for their "snow" nights. It’s actually cool—they blow real snow from the store rooftops.
But I digress…
Rosalie (now four!) is diving headfirst into the holiday magic. We watched The Santa Clause last weekend, and for the first time, she sat through the whole thing. She cracked up at all the silly parts, and I giggled at the ridiculous '90s jokes. (Yep, that movie came out in 1994. Whoa.) My other fave Tim Allen holiday movie? Christmas with the Kranks. Why do I love that movie so much?
For all the holiday movie inspo: check out my Holiday Movies + Recipe Pairings post on the blog.
Life lately has been about juggling the chaos while finding those quiet moments. Between school events, holiday prep, and creative projects (hello, gift guides and new recipes!), I’m carving out space for the stuff that really matters. For me, that’s focusing on wellness in ways that feel doable—bubble baths, catching up with fellow moms, rambling through a therapy session, grabbing a facial at Face Gym, or treating myself to an amazing lunch (shoutout to the Sprout Sandwich at Urth).
This past year has also been about embracing a creative shift. I’ve got so many ideas simmering—courses, a podcast, all the things—but I’m learning to say yes to what lights me up and let go of what doesn’t. Balance, yet zero balance at all. Moms are all in - all the time. So work/life balance is a pretty silly phrase.
Balance doesn’t really exist in motherhood, but it’s something I’m always trying to harness. Like magic. I can’t see it, but I know it’s there—ha. Maybe it’s in tiny little bits and broken pieces. Shattered snow and ice. Chaos and energy. Energy is a good thing! And somewhere, there’s always the quiet eye of a storm.
Motherhood is a happy storm, a wintery crystal, sparkly flurry of feelings. Elsa in her castle, with Olaf rolling around at her sparkly shoe feet. Wait... am I Elsa or Olaf in this story? Hmm.
Fall with a preschooler means finding joy in the little things. Like last night, when we went out hunting for Christmas lights. Every new sparkle was a major deal for Rosalie. She even put on her “spotting eyes” to make sure she didn’t miss a single one.
Thanks for being here, for cooking with me, and for being part of this community. I hope you find inspiration in the recipes, stories, and ideas shared this season. Here’s to a fall full of cozy vibes, good food, and a little everyday magic.
~ Kathy
Don't miss my recent posts: HOLIDAY RECIPE QUICKLIST + HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE
