Best Things To Do In January
There are so many things to do in January! January is a month ripe with possibilities and fun and savvy things to do! Here is a list of some of the great things to do this month.
My inner clock works with the seasons and the holidays in a year. I ebb and flow and wax and wane along with the calendar. It’s because I was a first-grade teacher, and we lived by the joys of each month and learned from holiday to holiday.
Wonderful January
There are so many things to do in January!
January is the month of new beginnings. I love the idea of a new year and a brand new clean slate. In first grade, we had many do-overs. If you needed to start over, it was okay. Actually, it was encouraged with a hug and a bit of cheering on. There was always grace to give life another go!
That is how I look at the month of January. It’s time to forget the failures and hurts and bad things that hold us back and be free to move forward.
As much as I love the let’s start over-ness of January, I really can’t stand resolutions. They are mostly fake tries. Lip service! A vain promise that is never kept. Resolutions are almost always broken before the month is out. And how can that be a good thing?
Instead of resolutions, I like to think of positive and doable things I am motivated to let into my life every January.
What Is Your Word Of The Year?
I know many people choose a word that motivates them in a positive direction. I am not one of those people either. Until this year. I had no intention of choosing a word that would guide my life until God stepped in. God pressed into me for days and left me with the word KINDNESS.
God has been pressing into me lately about being kind and that He source of all kindness.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness… Gal 5:22.
And Jesus said, But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Luke 6:35.
I think God wants to refresh and restore the joy that seems elusive some days. The world could use a big godly dose of kindness right now, don’t you think?
If January holds the promise of a clean slate or a do-over for you, mark it in some positive and productive way! Make your life better and others in your sphere of influence by the blessing of January!
January Holidays And Celebrations
As if New Year’s Day was not enough of a celebration, here are some things worth celebrating in January!
The month of January is National Soup Month, National Hot Tea Month, National Oatmeal Month, National Train Your Dog Month, And National Blood Donor Month.
And here are more observances to celebrate and honor every day in January…
1st–New Year’s Day, National Hangover Day, 2nd-National Thank God It’s Monday, Apple Gifting Day: 3rd-J.R.R. Tolkien Day, Fruitcake Toss Day, National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day: 4th–National Spaghetti Day, World Braille Day: 5th-National Bird Day, Twelfth Night/Epiphany Eve: 6th–Epiphany/Three Kings Day, National Take Down the Christmas Tree Day: 7th–Orthodox Christmas Day, No Pants Subway Ride Day: 8th-Bubble Bath Day, National English Toffee Day, National Clean Your Desk Day: 9th-Word Nerd Day, National Apricot Day:10th–National Peculiar People Day, Bittersweet Chocolate Day, Save the Eagles Day:
11th-Hot Toddy Day, International Thank-You Day: 12th–Kiss a Ginger Day, Stick to Your New Year’s Resolution Day: 13th–Rubber Ducky Day, National Sticker Day: 14th-International Kite Day, Organize Your Home Day: 15th–Martin Luther King Jr. Day: 16th-National Fig Newton Day, International Hot & Spicy Food Day: 17th-Benjamin Franklin Day, Hot-Buttered Rum Day, Popeye Day: 18th-National Gourmet Coffee Day, Winnie the Pooh Day: 19th-National Popcorn Day, New Friends Day: 20th-National Coffee Break Day, National Penguin Day, Take a Walk Outdoors Day:
21s–National Hugging Day, World Snow Day, New England Clam Chowder Day: 22nd– National Blonde Brownie Day, National Hot Sauce Day: 23rd-National Pie Day, National Handwriting Day (which coincides with John Hancock’s Birthday): 24th–International Day of Education, National Peanut Butter Day: 25th-National Irish Coffee Day, Observe the Weather Day, Clashing Clothes Day: 26th-National Fun at Work Day, Spouse’s Day: 27th–Holocaust Memorial Day, National Geographic Day, National Chocolate Cake Day: 28th-Daisy Day, National LEGO Day: 29th–Curmudgeons Day, National Carnation Day: 30th-National Croissant Day, National Plan for Vacation Day:
31st– Scotch Tape Day, Gorilla Suit Day, Brandy Alexander Day
Put Away Christmas
We just said goodbye to our Capital Hill children. My daughter, son-in-law, and my three little grandsons stayed with us for 11 days of Christmas and New Year’s fun! They left our home in wonderful order and the cupboards bare.
But today is all about starting to take down Christmas 2023 and get my home into winter 2024 mode. If I didn’t blog and needed to get on to winter decorating, I would probably leave Christmas decorations up in our home until after the Epiphany.
Putting away Christmas is probably on your list, too!
I don’t rush putting away Christmas. Putting away Christmas with next year in mind is the way to go. I work the same process every January as I clean up Christmas so I am ahead of the game the following Holiday season.
You might like to read this helpful post Putting Away Christmas With Next Year In Mind. It’s full of smart ideas!
Decluttering And Cleaning Up
Way before blogs, Pinterest and, Instagram I read woman’s magazines. And you know, if you read them too, that January is all about getting our homes in shape!
Declutter, organize, and clean up are the buzzwords of January! No wonder! After the holidays that are all about the abundance of decorations and gatherings and celebrations and feeding people and lots of guests and family, our homes (or MY home) could use a bit of spit and polish!
Every January, I read THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO A CLEAN AND ORGANIZED HOME. It is my home bible of sorts! This post came about as a result of many posts I’d written about decluttering and cleaning our home over the years.
And these posts came from decades of finding the best practices for maintaining a clean and tidy home.
Here are just a few tidbits of fabulously helpful info you will find…
January Is For Decorating For Winter
Winter is a beautiful, often snowy month here in Lancaster County. So decorating for winter is easy. I like to add lots of cozy layers of pillows and throws and keep my decor rather stripped down and minimal. It feels good after the abundance of Christmas.
Whatever your winter decorating style is, change things up a bit to celebrate the season in your area.
Add Life To Your Winter Home
One of the things I look forward to most in January is my yearly ritual of heading to our local Amish nursery to pick out a few herb plants. And when I get home, I pot them and put them on our kitchen counter where they will get lots of light. These little pots of life bring so much joy to me when it is cold and snowy outside. I love to tend them and use them when I cook, and in the spring plant them in my herb garden.
You might like to read The Ultimate Guide To Planting Herbs Indoors. This post will help you with everything you need to know about choosing, planting, and caring for indoor herbs.
If herbs are not your thing, why not buy a hardy little houseplant or two to enjoy during the winter months.
Make Plans For Any Home Decor Changes
Every January, I like to take stock of our home and begin to plan for any new decor changes. It’s good to refresh some of the things in your home.
I like to go to every room in our home and sit for a while, looking at everything in that room with fresh eyes. I make a list of the things I might want to change, move around, or get rid of.
Last year, I sat in our living room with a pen and paper and decided that the clock above the white buffet needed to be retired. I found this clock a decade ago at Kohl’s on a super sale. It had a brown face that I painted and has lived above the buffet ever since we moved here.
The clock no longer worked, and the paper face was yellowed. So it was time to replace it. So Bobby and I did find a large, iron grid antiqued mirror and it now has a home above the white buffet in our living room.
I love January for moving around our furnishing and refreshing our home with a few new things.
Plan Home Projects
Although we have a running list of projects big and small to do around our home, January is a great month to solidify all those hopes, dreams, and plans!
Last year, our “big” project was to paint the golden oak staircase and add a runner to the stairs! Also, we wanted to hang pictures of our six grandchildren above the stairs’ landing. It was a big job! But, so satisfying when it was done!
This year, we are finally installing hardwood floors in our foyer and powder room. This is a project I’ve wanted to do since we moved in four years ago. And I also would like to do a small remodel of our upstairs bathroom. We will see about that one!
January is a great month to make plans for the year.
January Sales
You can find lots of bargains in January! It’s smart to hold off and buy what is on sale!
This month, your best buys will be…
This year flooring is at the top of our list!
Make Soup
When the weather gets cold, soup is on our menu! We eat it for dinner and the leftovers for lunches.
Click the little dots under the image below to see a few soups we enjoy.
Plan A Trip
January is a great month to start planning a trip for the coming year. A weekend getaway, a cruise, or a trip to far-flung places. It’s fun to experience new places and see new things!
I love to travel by train! It’s so romantic! So I’m hoping Bobby will say yes to a trip out west by rail!
Start A New Hobby Or Pick Up An Old One
I’m looking forward to spending some evenings painting this year. Time got away from me in 2023. I did not pick up a paintbrush! I said that last year as well.
Do you have a hobby that brings you joy? Or is there something you always wanted to do? Schedule it and spend time developing your skills.
Start A Club With Friends
Instead of sitting around the house, start a club with a few friends!
I remember my parents were in a card club for years and years, and as the kids got older and so did they the club morphed into a ski club (although no one skied) and then a game club.
I’m been part of a book club for a decade and now my friends hoped to morph it into a game club. Again, life got away from us, and we did not start our game club last year. But this new year might be the year!
I would also like to start a gourmet club, which is may be not so gourmet! This year is ripe with club possibilities!
Friends, I could go on and on about all the fun, interesting, and savvy things to do in January! Whatever you do, make it positive and happy!
Happy New Year!
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Happy January, Friends
I never comment, but read your posts often. I love this one because the inner Yvonne—so positive, so transparent, so faith filled comes forth. God has given you such a beautiful heart to love life and TRUST Him for how it unfolds as you share your own longings and lessons. I so appreciate your wisdom and giftedness, but really love who you are on the inside. Blessed 2023!
Sweet Sabra, thank you so much! God bless you!
Happy New Year! I’ve so enjoyed your past posts, so am really looking forward to 2023’s. But I do love that clock you are retiring. It looks so perfect in its spot. I get the need for a change, however, so can’t wait to see the new one!
Happy New Year! This was a long post but a good one. Especially liked the organized cleaning bucket. Some of your things remind me of FlyLady and are very helpful. One thing I have to say is that when your house is beige and shade of white, dust and dirt show up so fast you see it to tackle it fast!
I am an old fly lady disciple! Her tips are smart and easy!
Great post!
You have me an idea. My book club (together since 2008) has decided to not be a book club (some no longer have the time or inkling to read the designated book) but we enjoy each others company. We decided to meet every other month for lunch out or coffee at someone’s home. I might suggest we morph into another club such as a game’s club. Any other suggestions that I could throw out there would be appreciated.
Love your blog and look forward to another year of decorating and recipes.
Think about what you all enjoy and then make a club around it.
Wow Yvonne I wish I had read this post earlier today. The busyness of a non holiday got in the way. I cannot believe your suggestions are so in sync with mine. I have been praying for guidance in how to stay more positive in 2023. When you shared your word of the year being TRUST I sat here in disbelief. That’s it what I have been soul searching for TRUST. 2021 and 2022 led me through a multitude of medical tests and procedures
not counting a botched kidney stone surgery last August. I almost died a week later when I was re-hospitalized. Needless to say my TRUST in the medical arena dwindled but I kept pushing for answers. Changed a few physicians and tapped into a few amazing PA’s and I am feeling more confident with my care. One thing I have learned if something in my gut doesn’t seem right it probably isn’t. My goal this year is to focus on TRUST and ease up on feeling guarded.
I also have been more intentional with packing away holiday knowing that a some point this year we hope to find that perfect downsized home. I love keeping winter decorating items up at least through March…love the coziness although I am not enjoying the snow storm going on here in Minnesota right now. Making soup, planning a trip and creating a list of home projects it’s as if you have been a mouse in the corner of my home.
Looking forward to more great posts this year.
So glad you are through your medical issues! Happy New Year, June.
Your posts are special.……I read them daily and have learned SO much. Today you mentioned teaching 1st grade. I too am a retired teacher but I taught 2nd grade! I skim through other decorating posts but always return to yours as my favorite. Your decorating communication skills are outstanding but then again, that’s what teachers naturally do! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Oh, my Mary! Thank you! I’m so glad you are part of the StoneGable family of readers.
My hubby and I did a “bucket list” trip in September on the Rocky Mountaineer train from Vancouver to Banff! It was fabulous! You and Bobby would love it!! Do it! You won’t regret it! Cheers to a great 2023!
Oh, thank you so so much! That trip would be amazing!
Hi,Yvonne,
I so enjoyed reading some of your articles this am. My word for the last few years has been “grace”.
I have been looking for a bag like you have in your foyer that has Lancaster in it. Would you mind telling me where you found it? I am local. I just love it.
Appreciatively,
Claudia
AWWW! Thank you Claudia! You can find the bag here:https://rstyle.me/+lX32LtJMwHhH_KRod8O-pw
Hi my friend! When I read that you have been in your home for 4 years I gasped! Time just flies by! I can’t believe I haven’t been there yet! Right now I am nursing a pinched nerve in my back between L3 and L4. It causes PAIN in my right hip, thigh and knew. UGH! I am going to PT for it but don’t see much change. Anyway I am planning to have Joe bring the Xmas tubs up and I will fill them but “dechristmasing” will be a SLOW process this year! That is wonderful that you had the family there for 11 days!!! Our family went through a BIG change in Dec. that I will tell you when I see you. Or call me! Happy new year, Yvonne!!! I miss you.
Let’s get togeter in the spring
Would love to see some ideas for decorative Valentine trays. Thanks!
Hi Jan, a couple of my friends who shared their Valentine’s Day ideas have some decorated trays. Did you see them?