Writer’s Notes, 22.02
“I’d like to start my notes to you as if we’re already in the middle of a conversation. I pretend that we’re the oldest and dearest of friends…”
February brought winter’s final hurrah in Southern Greece with freshly snowed mountain tops, rainy mornings and cold evenings allowing us to indulge a while longer in the last bit of the season’s comforts. For as long as I can remember, the first two months of the year always felt endless to me! It wasn’t until I read Katherine May’s book Wintering last year that shifted my frame of mind. Rather than dwelling on the limitations of the winter season, I’ve learnt to embrace its humble delights—the cosiness of a lit candle, warm soups, the comfort of a warm blanket, a good book. Inserting small joys into the daily help to savour the season for the slowness it imposes before life starts to feel different again.
Kathleen Kelly’s words came to mind this morning as I was making my coffee. Her words echo my sentiments when I begin to write. Writing has always been my expressive outlet. Its purpose has served as a way to create meaning in the different facets of life. When I began my blog, I initially wrote for me. In the middle of sharing thoughts, passions and creativity with the world, a sense of community emerged. Whether it’s a place we visited, a trip we loved, a creative moodboard or a good recipe—it’s the values we bring into the world that connects us with one another. These sentiments have rooted my mantra for 2025—share more and have fun with it!
Lately
I’ve been away from the socials more than usual. Parenting a teenager has demanded all my energy and my utmost attention! This phase is no easy feat! It feels like a whirlwind of things happening simultaneously! I’m sure other parents will agree with me when I say, this has got to be the most challenging parts of being a parent! I found this article on the approach of positive parenting quite helpful as it aligns with our family’s dynamics as we navigate through this part of life. Gently, compassionately and with a lot of understanding are key words! We’re fortunate to have supportive friends who are also in the thick of adolescence and it’s reassuring knowing that we’re not the only ones with heightened tensions. Opening up and talking about it really helps!
When I feel overwhelmed, I discard the importance of a self-care routine. Now more than ever, I’m focusing on moving my body more, eating good food and rest. Planning my day ahead has helped me to better manage my time without feeling swamp. Little daily changes have such a great impact.
Food is my love language. The act of cooking and sharing meals gives me great joy—but so does baking! We are currently obsessed with this banana bread! I make this recipe at least once I week! Teenage boys are eating machines! I finally got my copy of Ambitious Kitchen’s cookbook this week I’m going to make her Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies—they look so good! I’m also going to attempt her no-knead pizza dough. Need to master my pizza skills! I love diving into cookbooks for meal ideas—especially for those Sunday meals. I look forward to the moment when everything is mis en place and I’m over my cutting board with a glass of wine in hand, jazz music in the background, breathing in all the aromas—I live for the things that bring joy to my life!
On the agenda
February brings the first of all garden things. Pruning our rose bushes and gathering the last of our oranges are in the works as we speak. I’m on the fence whether or not to put in a vegetable garden again this year. Our flowers and garden took a big hit last summer with soaring temperatures—maybe it’s a question of finding the right spot or the right seeds? Who knows? I did come across this page of seeds which looks quite promising and then I ask myself, do I dare? My optimistic persona says, let’s wing it and see how it goes!
It’s officially carnival season in Greece and our town has so many events planned out! It’s such a fun time! People masquarade and parade with floats, streets are filled with colourful confetti and streamers. It’s a time of many festivities as people enjoy themselves, organise parties, dance, drink and eat a lot of meat! The carnival period is then followed by ‘Kathara Deftera’—Clean Monday which is the first day of Lent in Greece. The day is celebrated with leisurely escapes in the outdoors where picnics of vegetable and seafood dishes are enjoyed and traditional folk music is played. Kite flying is also apart of this holiday as people try to fly their kites as high as possible. It’s one of our most favourite greek tradition!
I’m excited to get back to sharing with you all! Lots of plans are in the works come spring. Updates coming up on the blog, LTK and ShopMy pages. I’ve created a newsletter on Substack that I’ll be diving more into come March—I’m excited to take on this new endeavour! Click here to subscribe to the ‘The Sunday Newsletter’.
Things I’m loving
Let Them by Mel Robbins (I’m listening to the audio book by Mel) | Mc Gee & Co. Stoneware Bowl | Refy Sculpt Mascara | Caudalie Cream | my new Xiaomi G20 vacuum cleaner (I’m obsessed!) | Surface on AppleTV | A splash of maple syrup in my morning coffee | days feeling a little longer
Chat soon!
Demi xxx