The Sunday Collection 1.25.26
A word of the year, our new family TV show, the best chocolate chip cookies, and February book releases.
I hope these reflections, glimmers, and links grant you a few minutes of respite today. I hope you visit Stand With Minnesota to find a mutual aid organization or send a love note to those fighting for their neighbors. Call your representatives and leave a message or write a script for daytime calls during the week (when you have a better chance of reaching a staffer). Take care of your people and send that care across the country.
Kaitlyn Elizabeth of Dialoguing recently asked a bunch of writers, “what was the best thing you did for yourself in 2025?” I loved reading the answers and turning the question on myself—what was the best thing I did for ME in 2025? The answer was obvious.
Plant zinnias.
In the thick of postpartum, feeling totally adrift after a huge move, my zinnias gave me a reason to go outside every single day, a meditative activity to regulate my nervous system, and an easy way to spread joy to my friends and neighbors. They also gave me COLOR, which came to me a few weeks ago as the perfect 2026 word.
I was literally coloring and found myself in a flow state, not from the physical act of filling the page, but from playing with a palette. It reminded me of walking through the garden and making zinnia bouquets, and then it clicked. Color inspires me, fuels me, and fills my cup (in a way that gardening vegetables or herbs does not). My word of the year followed from there, and I’m thinking about how color might influence my clothing choices, my garden, how I fill my journal, and how I fill my days.
To start, I’m adding color to my basement office, a windowless white room with little to offer in terms of design choices. I filled green shelves with colorful books, I'm browsing floral wallpaper, and I’m hunting for vintage treasures to complete a cozy cottage-like atmosphere for podcast recording, writing, and crafting.
I’m eyeing a beautiful yellow paint color for my kitchen, saving up for handmade watercolor paints, and pulling out my colored pencils for quick sketches during nap time. I can’t wait to see how color surprises me this year.
The Sunday Collection
An unexpected perk of raising a reader: books as motivation to try new foods. After inhaling all the animal nonfiction he can get his hands on, my four-year-old asked if he could try shrimp, like the otters eat. I gleefully declared a takeout night and added shrimp to my order. He tried it, he loved it, he’s asking for more shrimp! (He dipped it in ketchup, but let’s just take the win.)
We’ve turned our Dancing With The Stars obsession toward The Masked Singer. It’s silly and campy and not always great, but the kids enjoy the costumes and songs, and I enjoy watching something other than Zoboomafoo.
I volunteered dessert duty for our monthly dinner group but didn’t have enough time to chill my usual sourdough chocolate chip cookies. My back-up plan earned tons of compliments, so I’m filing away the Broma Bakery browned butter chocolate chip cookie recipe for future events.
Looking for more indie press books to read this year? I was thrilled to discover this new feature from the American Booksellers Association featuring the top 40 indie press bestsellers, to be updated every Wednesday.
Also worth checking out: The University of Iowa Press forthcoming titles.
I love cabbage, and this time of year calls for comforting dinners—so this one-pot cheesy orecchiette with cabbage is going on next weekend’s dinner plan.
ICYMI
Substack Saves
Delicious, sexy, ridiculous, and fun V-day gifts // Rel's Recs
An Elegy for My Neighbor, Renee Nicole Good // Harper's Bazaar's A Closer Read
Sixteen of my most anticipated winter 2026 romances // Natalie
Anticipated February Book Releases
The Astral Library by Kate Quinn
The Glowing Hours by Leila Siddiqui
Kin by Tayari Jones
Crown City by Naomi Hirahara
Only Friends by Lydia San Andres
Starry and Restless by Julia Cooke
Good People by Patmeena Sabit
The Reservation by Rebecca Kaufman
Heap Earth Upon It by Chloe Michelle Howarth
Brawler by Lauren Groff
One & Only by Maurene Goo
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I feel so honored that question offered this answer. I really love that way of looking at color and what it can bring out in us. 🌼 🌺 I now have *lots* of links saved.
Omg COLOR is one of my words for 2026 too!! And WHIMSY. Says the girl who only wears black 😅😅😅