5th season of the current version of 'ACG&S' Some of us are old enough to remember the original back in the early 1980s. My neighbour went to vet school with James Herriot's son in Glasgow.
My birthday is in January and having mostly lived in 4-season states, it often is extremely crappy weather on the 22nd. This year, in Wisconsin, we had a calling for “a dusting” of snow - 4” later …
I’m a pro at coming home after my day and immediately changing into my “lounge wear” (which, um, I also sleep in). I’m trying to cut back on how often that also includes a glass of red wine, but it really is such a lovely routine.
This year and for all future years we took a week off and traveled to Grand Cayman mid Jan. It was the most perfect antidote to January with its disappointing lack of lights, gifts and good food.
In the same vein as After Fives: I recently visited a friend’s house for dinner and discovered that she keeps almost no artificial lights on after dark. Just soft string lights in the living room, a red light in the kitchen to provide visibility without circadian disruption, and candles. I loved the vibe so much I immediately started doing research when I got home.
I now have motion-sensing red lights in my kitchen, votives under an adorable candle spinner I’m obsessed with (https://www.etsy.com/listing/1261688357) and some absurdly expensive but delightful flameless candles (https://luminara.com). One thing I love about the Luminara candles is they have a timer setting, so they light magically at 5 and then douse themselves at 10 (helping convince me to go to bed). I also got myself amber glasses so I can watch TV without the harsh blue light.
There is pretty convincing science about the value of all this, but more than that I just love the vibe. Yes, a 4:30 sunset is a real bummer. But leaning into it by embracing a dim, cozy night at home feels really good to me.
Wow! That just sounds so cozy and romantic and lovely - at any time of year after dark! String lights in the living room is magical! Thank you for sharing - this is inspiring!
Definitely need to get to Australia in January or Feb in the future! We were watching the Aussie Open last night and marveling at how hot is it and that everyone's still on vaca! I hope I'm known for something as wholesome and adorable as After Fives long after I'm gone! ❤️❤️
“I gave up skiing years ago due to my lack of talent and enjoyment, however, I do love everything Après Ski” 😂😂😂 I’ve never had any interest in skiing until I heard they greet you with warm chocolate chip cookies at the bottom of some resorts. I was all in after that!!
Grandy sounds like my kind of woman!!! After Fives?! GENIUS! Best part of the day is putting on soft clothes and removing my bra.
I teared up at the All Creatures Great and Small trailer so now I have to watch it. 🥹
I tried really hard at skiing for years and just couldn't do it well, or safely! People are still telling me I should try again but I know it's not for me! After Fives are a winter necessity! 😉
After Fives!! I love that so much. In our house as soon as we walk in the door we yell, “Time for soft clothes!” No hard pants allowed after we cross the threshold!
ha ha! a friend's husband does something they call "Donald Ducking" after the disney character, where he takes off his "hard" pants when he gets home and walks around in his boxer shorts!
I have no problems with January! I live in Austin, Texas. Weather is typically quite lovely. But I do all the things…cozy lighting, and I also have Pajama Time! My pajama game is strong.
I am ashamed to say that I have $80 slippers…Vionic. I love them.
So much good stuff here despite your love/hate relationship with January! I am about to use your cherry tomato sauce recipe with some leftover salmon. We chuckled at your cleverness in this post but it makes me wonder where I (maybe we?) would be without January to force me to slow down, look inward, and cherish the time to reorganize our home after the holiday decorations are down. My husband, the artist and family historian, has a tendency to cover every inch of the house with some Cmas treasure, which we love and appreciate, but also enjoy the process of an internal domestic realignment. And, I ordering the OOFOS because I have foot issues but was delighted to see purchases go to breast cancer research! Thank you, Amelia, for making me feel pretty good about January! ❤️
I took all the ornaments off my (artificial) flocked tree, but I’ve left the lights on it and it is not coming down till the sunset is at least 5pm! I love winter, but also love some extra lights! ✨
I love your letter and your survival tips.i am about to force myself out in the sun. It's cold, but I am gonna do it. And I feel like After 5's are Everything.
I've also been stepping outside each morning to see the moon as it's still so bright when I get up, and that's a lovely, wintery thing to do, too! Thank you for reading!
does your version have a name?! when I was very little, and my grandma would say it was time for her After Fives, I didn't know what she was talking about! it sounded so much fancier than just putting on her PJs and having a drink!!
It doesn't have a name but I agree, this ritual needs a fancy name - I pick up my kid from aftercare and we both love to take a shower (for my daughter is a bubble bath), wear our PJs, dinner and tea (and homework for her, sadly lol) - It's a restorative way to end the day for creatures of habit like myself
5th season of the current version of 'ACG&S' Some of us are old enough to remember the original back in the early 1980s. My neighbour went to vet school with James Herriot's son in Glasgow.
Wow, what a cool connection! I vaguely remember the 80s version! The books the shows are based on are lovely, too!
My birthday is in January and having mostly lived in 4-season states, it often is extremely crappy weather on the 22nd. This year, in Wisconsin, we had a calling for “a dusting” of snow - 4” later …
I’m a pro at coming home after my day and immediately changing into my “lounge wear” (which, um, I also sleep in). I’m trying to cut back on how often that also includes a glass of red wine, but it really is such a lovely routine.
nothing better than getting into your comfy clothes at the end of the day - and bonus points for sleeping in them!
This year and for all future years we took a week off and traveled to Grand Cayman mid Jan. It was the most perfect antidote to January with its disappointing lack of lights, gifts and good food.
oh wow, that sounds simply wonderful! January is truly a disappointing month - I feel slightly sorry for it!
In the same vein as After Fives: I recently visited a friend’s house for dinner and discovered that she keeps almost no artificial lights on after dark. Just soft string lights in the living room, a red light in the kitchen to provide visibility without circadian disruption, and candles. I loved the vibe so much I immediately started doing research when I got home.
I now have motion-sensing red lights in my kitchen, votives under an adorable candle spinner I’m obsessed with (https://www.etsy.com/listing/1261688357) and some absurdly expensive but delightful flameless candles (https://luminara.com). One thing I love about the Luminara candles is they have a timer setting, so they light magically at 5 and then douse themselves at 10 (helping convince me to go to bed). I also got myself amber glasses so I can watch TV without the harsh blue light.
There is pretty convincing science about the value of all this, but more than that I just love the vibe. Yes, a 4:30 sunset is a real bummer. But leaning into it by embracing a dim, cozy night at home feels really good to me.
Wow! That just sounds so cozy and romantic and lovely - at any time of year after dark! String lights in the living room is magical! Thank you for sharing - this is inspiring!
You need to holiday in Australia in January! I like to do after 5s all year round. Granny Trott was a visionary.
Definitely need to get to Australia in January or Feb in the future! We were watching the Aussie Open last night and marveling at how hot is it and that everyone's still on vaca! I hope I'm known for something as wholesome and adorable as After Fives long after I'm gone! ❤️❤️
“I gave up skiing years ago due to my lack of talent and enjoyment, however, I do love everything Après Ski” 😂😂😂 I’ve never had any interest in skiing until I heard they greet you with warm chocolate chip cookies at the bottom of some resorts. I was all in after that!!
Grandy sounds like my kind of woman!!! After Fives?! GENIUS! Best part of the day is putting on soft clothes and removing my bra.
I teared up at the All Creatures Great and Small trailer so now I have to watch it. 🥹
Best 5 minutes of the day is when the wired bra comes off. You best believe I’m not leaving the house for anything after that.
I gave up wearing wired bras years ago! Mwah ha ha ha ha!!!!!!
It’s the only New Years Resolution I’d ever been willing to make 😂
Yesssss!!!! 😂🎯💗
Btw your post this week inspired me to listen to Sade! It's been too long!
I love that!!! 😍
I tried really hard at skiing for years and just couldn't do it well, or safely! People are still telling me I should try again but I know it's not for me! After Fives are a winter necessity! 😉
After Fives!! I love that so much. In our house as soon as we walk in the door we yell, “Time for soft clothes!” No hard pants allowed after we cross the threshold!
😂😂😂😂
ha ha! a friend's husband does something they call "Donald Ducking" after the disney character, where he takes off his "hard" pants when he gets home and walks around in his boxer shorts!
All Creatures is back? How did I not know that?!? Brb off to Darrowby 🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️
such a January highlight when All Creatures returns!
I'm right there with you about how tough January is, and I love a list of things to brighten the dark winter days. Also, that lunch sounds delicious!
I'm so glad I shared the lunch "recipe" - I was hesitant because I'm not a chef!
The Ministry of Time was one of the best books I read last year!! Hard recommend!
I feel like I need to read it again for all the detail - I went through it so quickly wanting to know what was going to happen!
That lunch!!!!
I hope you try it!
I have no problems with January! I live in Austin, Texas. Weather is typically quite lovely. But I do all the things…cozy lighting, and I also have Pajama Time! My pajama game is strong.
I am ashamed to say that I have $80 slippers…Vionic. I love them.
Everyone needs fancy slippers! Mine are comfortable and seriously great for feet but not fancy looking! I envy you your lovely Austin winter weather!
So much good stuff here despite your love/hate relationship with January! I am about to use your cherry tomato sauce recipe with some leftover salmon. We chuckled at your cleverness in this post but it makes me wonder where I (maybe we?) would be without January to force me to slow down, look inward, and cherish the time to reorganize our home after the holiday decorations are down. My husband, the artist and family historian, has a tendency to cover every inch of the house with some Cmas treasure, which we love and appreciate, but also enjoy the process of an internal domestic realignment. And, I ordering the OOFOS because I have foot issues but was delighted to see purchases go to breast cancer research! Thank you, Amelia, for making me feel pretty good about January! ❤️
I can't wait to hear how your lunch turns out! And so glad about the Oofos, they're really good for feet and so comfortable. ❤️
I took all the ornaments off my (artificial) flocked tree, but I’ve left the lights on it and it is not coming down till the sunset is at least 5pm! I love winter, but also love some extra lights! ✨
How much longer til sunset at 5 pm there? It's 4:45 here right now...
It sets at 4:47pm today, I think at least another week, I’ll check!
We're slowly making progress toward more daylight!
☀️
I love your letter and your survival tips.i am about to force myself out in the sun. It's cold, but I am gonna do it. And I feel like After 5's are Everything.
I've also been stepping outside each morning to see the moon as it's still so bright when I get up, and that's a lovely, wintery thing to do, too! Thank you for reading!
I do a version of the after fives and I wouldn't change it for the world.
does your version have a name?! when I was very little, and my grandma would say it was time for her After Fives, I didn't know what she was talking about! it sounded so much fancier than just putting on her PJs and having a drink!!
It doesn't have a name but I agree, this ritual needs a fancy name - I pick up my kid from aftercare and we both love to take a shower (for my daughter is a bubble bath), wear our PJs, dinner and tea (and homework for her, sadly lol) - It's a restorative way to end the day for creatures of habit like myself
Ooh! My kids are 8 and 9 and I like the idea of a pre dinner cooking shower routine!
It's just so nice to get into pjs early!