Starting with this post, I’m rounding up the little things that made life extra fun each month. Cozy, quirky, weird, wonderful. Because we should celebrate the good stuff—big or small—more often.
January brought a whole lot of comfort. Crime novels and series, fluffy pajamas, café vibes. Plus a few surprises, like making wishes on food (yes, really) and one seriously stinky fruit. Oof.
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In This Post:
1. Winter Blooms
Kicking off my January delights with the joy of spotting snowdrops and catching the scent of hyacinths. Honestly, having these little blooms around makes the dead of winter feel a whole lot less... well, dead.
To me, January always feels like it’s stuck in between—one foot still in last year, the other not quite settled into the new. Stuck in no man’s land. Thank you, little flowers, for brightening things up.
2. The Joy of Stinky Fruits
From sweet-smelling flowers to… stinky fruits. Yep, we’re talking about durian. Have you tried it?
In Romania, there’s this fun little superstition: if you eat something for the first time ever—or for the first time in a new year—you get to make a wish. But watch out, you can’t spill the wish unless it actually comes true, haha.
So, I picked up a small pack of fresh durian at the Asian supermarket for my parents, my husband, and me. I mean, none of us had ever tried it before. Or, uh, smelled it. WHOA. It stinks in a way I didn’t expect, but stink it does. Kinda like rotten onions? The taste is weird but okay. Still, no flavor can redeem that smell (we had to air out our kitchen AND the fridge with incense sticks).
Sooo—no need for a repeat (even though my secret wish came true later that day!).
BUT: there’s so much joy in trying new (even questionable) flavors and celebrating harmless little superstitions with family.
3. Cozy Dinner With Friends
In mid-January, we invited good friends over for dinner. Totally out of character for us, since after all the holiday feasting (Christmas, New Year’s, and a couple of December birthdays), my husband and I usually aren’t in the mood for socializing, decorating, or setting a lavish table.
But surprise, surprise—we loved the preparations and the cozy evening with just the four of us! It felt a little like we’d stretched the holidays out longer and beat the gloom of January. GEEZ, the fun and laughs we had! belly-holding laughter
4. Veganuary
January is Veganuary, and I am HERE for it! Every year, I get so excited to see what new vegan products are showing up at the store—and to find out which brands or organizations are supporting the cause.
This year, I was pleasantly surprised to see that TK, one of Germany’s largest public health insurance providers, jumped on the Veganuary bandwagon, promoting vegan recipes.
At the store, I treated myself to some old-school comfort foods I haven’t had in YEARS—since going vegan over 13 years ago, in fact.
None of these are things I usually make at home (or would regularly eat), but Veganuary is the perfect excuse for a little indulgence. All three snacks in the photo were totally delicious, but those crunchy jalapeños and cheese poppers by Food for Future? Absolutely addictive. You can get them at Penny in Germany.
5. Diving Into New Cookbooks
I mentioned before that I made sure there was space on my cookbook shelf for Santa’s gifts—and, of course, Santa did not disappoint!
My new morning ritual: flipping through one of these three cookbooks (Japan Vegan, Osteuropa vegan, Oh She Glows!). To me, there’s just something utterly satisfying about diving into cookbooks that take you into different cultures, family histories, and food traditions. It’s like I get to go on a little (culinary) adventure, and I always walk away with fresh inspiration for my own cooking.
Of course, I’m already eyeing the next cookbook I got to have: The Official Veganuary Cookbook.
6. Posting on HappyCow
The HappyCow app has been my travel companion for years, it's guided me to vegan-friendly spots in cafes, restaurants, hotels, and supermarkets. Seriously, I can’t rave enough about how awesome this app is. If it didn’t exist, we’d all be lost. And: It’s totally FREE!
When I was in Japan a few months ago—a place surprisingly lacking in vegan options—I realized just how life-saving HappyCow truly is. I’m beyond grateful—for the creators, for the community, for the fresh tips that keep it alive.
So, I thought, it's time to give back. No more just scrolling and consuming. I’m posting, sharing, adding my finds. Feels so gooood to be part of this kind community.
7. Cozy Café
Obviously, I had to do a little HappyCow search for vegan spots in my hometown, Schwetzingen. Whaaaat?!!? I didn’t even know all of them!
One spot that called my name was Café Klein Wohlig. Naturally, I had to check it out. Their vegan shakshuka is spicy and SO good. And their rainbow lattes? Extra special (I had the blue latte with lavender). It felt like a little mini-vacation right in the middle of an ordinary week. Loved it!
8. Cozy Crime
Since the latest seasons of Father Brown aren’t available in Germany yet (WHY?!), I was overjoyed to have discovered Sister Boniface. It’s kind of a sequel to Father Brown, but sharper, more modern, and more feminist. Still has that same warm, small-town charm, though.
And in the book department: The Lady Hardcastle Mysteries are my current bedtime read. Brilliant British humor, witty dialogues (definitely Jane Austen vibes here, though written by a man), and a modern lady-and-maid dynamic that’s heartwarming.
9. Cozy Pajamas
You know it by now, right? I live for all things cozy. Cozy cafes? Yes. Cozy crime? Absolutely. Cozy pajamas? Well, of course!
I mean, is there a better feeling in the world than slipping into a freshly made bed in a freshly washed pair of pajamas? Wait, there is: make that a brand-new freshly washed pajama (plus beginning to read a fresh case from Lady Hardcastle).
A little guilty pleasure luxury I treat myself to every January—a new pajama (hello, winter sales!). For years, Calida has been my go-to brand. No other brand makes PJs quite as soft, long-lasting, and perfectly snug. Pretty, of course, too, I mean, just look at the peacock pattern details! And now they even have a sustainable, eco-friendly line, yeay! Literally no reason not to indulge.
10. California Wildfires
Not exactly a delight, but definitely something that’s been heavy on my heart this month. A close friend of mine lives near Los Angeles, so my thoughts have been with her and her family a lot. Thankfully, they’re all safe and sound.
But what really hit me was what she said about the animals. So many were injured - both in the forests and around the evacuated homes. I can’t even imagine how terrifying it must have been for them.
My friend told me about the Pasadena Humane Society, and it’s incredibly moving to see how dedicated these people are to helping the injured animals. I donated a little, and they can still use all the support they can get. If you’d like to help, here’s their website:
11. Life Without Instagram
Over the holidays and during my winter break, I spent so many hours scrolling through Instagram that I knew something had to change.
Ever heard of "brain rot"? It was named Oxford Word of the Year 2024. It’s that feeling when your brain starts to feel mushy from endlessly watching those ridiculously short videos (TikTok or Instagram alike). They are all tailored to your interests by an algorithm—designed to make you keep scrolling, and scrolling, and scrolling for that sweet dopamine rush.
I needed to escape that brain-rot feeling. I wanted my brain to feel free and light again. Three weeks of hardcore Instagram detox later the vicious cycle was broken! I finally dared to go online for a few minutes—but this time, with a time limit. Interestingly, I realized I hadn’t missed a thing. Closed the app, felt lighter (and so proud of myself, yeah!).
12. What I Loved Reading Online
- Because of soaring egg prices ...
“Restaurants and Bakeries Are Rethinking Their Most Basic Ingredient: Eggs”
And on that note (even though it’s a few years old):
„No eggs? Here's your guide for substituting“
- Wahahaha, animals are amazing!
“Beavers build dam that would otherwise have cost 1.2 million euros”
(Originally in German on Spiegel.de – automatically translated via Google Translate)
- This is huuuge for women’s health (and long overdue):
“Ten years to ten days: French startup revolutionizes early diagnosis of endometriosis with a saliva test”
- For anyone interested in coffee and business talk:
“Why the Bialetti buyout means more than just business”
So, how was your January? Cozy or a little stinky?
Wishing you planty of delights in February,
Ramona
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