JANUARY 2025: An Elegant Month in Review
This post contains affiliate links and ads. Affiliate links and ads support my work at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your ongoing support!JANUARY — the first month of the year. A time to rest, to dream, and to plan for the year ahead. There’s an enticing sense of possibility and excitement for what’s to come.
For the last few years, I’ve begun the year with The Elevate Your Everyday Challenge. What is that? It’s my signature 31 day challenge focused on creating a vision for the most elegant year yet. I am fortunate to share this time with wonderful likeminded women from around the world. Together, we define our personal values, set smart goals toward accomplishing our dreams and identify small, ingenious habits we can add to our day to create what we all strive for: a more elegant life.
If that sounds interesting to you, send me a quick note to join the waitlist for next year.
One thing that helps me in this journey to create a more elegant life is to plan out different activities, events and hobbies I want to try or experience. I strive to plan something that will bring beauty, joy, art and connection — whether that’s a nature walk with my family, afternoon tea at a new or favored venue, travel or taking a class.
This year, I want to take you on my journey to create my most elegant year yet, and I hope the things I share inspire you to create an elegant life you love!
Each year, The Elevate Your Everyday Challenge gives me the opportunity to reset and refine the habits that help me to create a more elegant life while building a vision for the year to come. I have set some big goals for 2025, but I know reaching those goals will not be possible without a solid foundation in place. From reflecting on my personal values to refreshing my stationery suite, I used this month to set myself up for success.
With my smart goals set and a clear vision for the year, I’m looking forward to a new year of opportunity and adventure for Courtney Opalko Etiquette. I am always so grateful to begin the year connecting with the women in the Elevate Your Everyday Challenge group. These women inspire me as much as I hope to inspire them in our shared goal to create a more elegant life.
ELEGANCE (n.): the quality of being pleasingly ingenious and simple |
ELEGANCE (n.): the quality of being pleasingly ingenious and simple |
My first in-person class of the year was with a sweet group of third grade Girl Scouts. Through my signature “Modern Manners for Kind & Confident Girls” program, the girls learned the difference between etiquette and manners, and practiced new skills they can use everyday to shine from the inside out with confidence.
A cute story I must share — at the end of the class as I was packing up my belongings, one of the girls motioned for me to come over. She said, “My friend thinks you look like Snow White.” The sweet girl sitting next to her nodded her head. “You look like Snow White. I thought that was the surprise, that you were really Snow White, but it was just pizza.”
When I tell you my heart melted!
One might think the holidays are over come January, but for our family, the celebrations continued all through the month!
We celebrated my Dad’s 70th Birthday with dinner and drinks at The Whitney in Detroit. It was a wonderful evening shared with my husband and in-laws. We enjoyed a three course meal in the music room, and after a tour of the mansion, enjoyed drinks at the Ghost Bar. The Whitney Mansion is an incredible example of late 19th century Romanesque Revival architecture and maintains many original elements, including a priceless piece of Tiffany stained glass art along with stunning rare woods and a hand-laid mosaic tile floor that took two years to complete.
Alice turned 6 and celebrated with her first friends birthday party. She invited 7 of her closest friends and it was the perfect afternoon. With a Hello Kitty theme, the girls painted Hello Kitty figurines, played “pin the bow on Hello Kitty” and enjoyed pizza and homemade ice cream cake.
The weekend after Alice’s party, Henry was Baptized! We are so blessed to have wonderful friends and family who make an effort to show up for our children in the most special ways. It was a beautiful, private baptism ceremony followed by a simple reception at home that allowed us cherished time to connect with some of our nearest and dearest.
At the end of the month, I attended a “Favorite Things Brunch” hosted by one of my oldest friends — I’ll be sharing more about that event soon!
Alice’s sweet thank you note for a friend.
January in Michigan in synonymous with frigid temps, grey skies and snow. It’s easy to detest this time of year, but I’ve learned that life moves too fast to write off a month due to weather. Over the years, I’ve learned to make my own sunshine during the winter months and embrace January for all the wonderful things it does have to offer. From cozy nights spent reading a good book or needlepointing with a hot cup of tea, to adventuring out in the snow with the kids, joy and excitement can be found even on the coldest of days.
This month I read (and loved!) Murder in Season by Mary Winters. If you love Bridgerton, etiquette and a good cozy murder mystery, you’ll love this Lady of Letters mystery series. I picked it off the “New” shelf at the library and didn’t realize until after that it’s the third of three books in the series, so I’m eager to read the remaining books in the series. It was a fun, light read with a quick moving and twisty plot. Perfect for a slow winter day!
The tea I’ve been drinking is Yogi Immunity + Stress Support and Bedtime to help combat illness and relax before bed and I’m currently working on my first needlepoint project!
I am also excited about the launch of a new podcast: The Royal Dress Code hosted by Afua Hagan and Christine Ross. I met Christine via Instagram years ago and we connected over our shared love for all things royal. New episodes drop every Friday and are a manageable 20 minutes filled with insider info and analysis on royal events and, of course, all of the style and outfit IDs.
In November, I planted my first Amaryllis bulb. It grew so effortlessly and produced the most magnificent and cheerful blooms at the start of the year.
I mentioned embracing the weather by adventuring out with the kids, and one standout experience this month encompassed just that! We went snow tubing at Hawk Island County Park and my goodness, what a thrill!
We had so much fun tubing down the hill together and I enjoyed it so much I went down the hill several times on my own. It was exhilarating; just pure winter fun and much needed time in the cold, fresh air.
An important part of creating an elegant life is to really be in the present moment. It’s easy to sit on the sidelines while the kids play, but I’m always happiest when I take the opportunity to experience new things alongside them.
Overall, January was a wonderful month filled with elegant events and joyful time spent with friends and family. There were opportunities to dress up and time to unwind, adventures in the snow and days spent grateful for a warm, cozy home. The kids had an extra long weekend following MLK Jr. Day and we spent the extra time together playing games (Rummikub is a current favorite) and baking desserts using recipes from a cookbook Alice received for Christmas: In the French Kitchen with Kids.
As you look toward the year ahead, remember that elegance is a state of mind; a simple and ingenious approach to a charmed life. If you desire it, you can create a life filled with beauty, elegance and connection. It simply requires a bit of intention, effort and a willingness to try something new.
Take time to plan out a few things just for you to enjoy next month. Maybe lunch at a new restaurant, meeting a friend for coffee, or trying a new hobby. Whatever it may be, an elegant life is yours to create!
What was your favorite thing about January? Did you experience something new? Take time to plan out your year? I’d love to know! Leave a comment and share your most elegant moment this month.
