Hi, & welcome back to The Newsletter! I’m writing to you on a sunny Saturday afternoon. It’s frigid, but the wind’s not whipping AND the sun’s out, so I’m a happy camper. We spent the morning running errands (coffee, Eataly, POSH, etc.) and we are cozied up for the rest of the day. I’m prepping beef bourguignon for dinner and granola bars and sourdough for the week ahead. This week has honestly felt like one longgg weekend, which has been a nice way to start the year but also makes me very excited for the week ahead. The slow start to the year has given me a lot of time to be intentional about how I want to show up this year. I’m sensing that this is a year of opportunity, of connection, of abundance — I have a great feeling and for that I am excited!
The weekend started with a deep clean on Friday, as always. I love having a fresh and clean space to start out the weekend. Crisp sheets, shiny floors, clean bathrooms & kitchen. To finish my deep clean, I always open all of the windows (no matter how cold) and light Piñon, my favorite incense from Santa Fe, to really reset our space. After a great clean, I hopped on the treadmill with my bala bangles to get my steps in, sweat it out in the sauna, and got ready to head out for some errands. One thing about me — I love running errands. More so in the suburbs than in the city, but I won’t say no to an errands afternoon even in the city. I had a couple appointments, bopped to one of my favorite stores — Kismet Table and then went to Costco (which was crazy as always but that’s Costco in Chicago for you!) Once I got home, I prepped a classic dinner for us — more on that later. We also ordered the Brussels sprouts from Gilt bar because they are my favorite. We watched our show and headed to bed early! Tomorrow, we plan to grab pastries at Loba, relax and have friends over for an early dinner. A great weekend at home!
Now, let’s get into some housekeeping! I’ve been reflecting on how I’d like to structure my Substack in 2025, and I’ve landed on an approach that’s been on my mind for ages but never fully implemented—until now.
Every other week, you’ll find The Five Senses in your inbox. This series will explore what’s captivating my senses lately:
Taste: Delicious recipes to savor
Sight: Beautiful things to admire
Touch: Luxurious comforts to indulge in
Smell: Invigorating aromatics
Hear: Audio experiences that inspire
This format captures my favorite things—what’s helping me live beautifully and how I bring intention to everyday moments. It’s all about embracing the details to create a life filled with beauty.
Without further ado, let’s get started!
PS— this newsletter will be all about repeats. Because if you really love something, why not share it more than once? I’m over the over-influencing culture, where content creators serve us one-and-done. If I like something, I want you to know it!
TASTE
I’ve mentioned that I’m reading Ina Garten’s autobiography, but I haven’t fully shared how much she’s inspired me. There’s something mesmerizing about the way she elevates everyday meals with such intention. At the Barefoot Contessa (which sounds like my dream store), they took something as simple as roast chicken and turned it into the best thing you’ve ever tasted.
Reading her story made me realize that’s exactly what I aspire to as a home cook. I want people to sit at my table, eat something familiar, and leave saying, “I never knew [insert dish] could taste this good.”
With that in mind, I bring you my cinnamon rolls—a hit over Christmas with my family. Because yes, cinnamon rolls are already good, but I didn’t know they could be this good.
Sourdough Cinnamon Buns Done Right
For the Dough:
2 1/2 cups (312 g) AP flour
2 tbsp (25 g) sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup (115 g, 1/2 stick) salted butter, cold
1 tbsp vanilla bean paste
1 cup (240 g) milk
1/2 cup (100 g) sourdough discard
For the Filling:
1/2 cup (115 g, 1 stick) salted butter, melted
1/2 cup (100 g) sugar
1/2 cup (110 g) brown sugar
2 tbsp cinnamon
For the Pan:
Cold butter & flour, to grease
A generous glug of heavy cream, to pour over the rolls before they bake
1/2 package of cream cheese
2 tsp vanilla bean paste
2-3 tbsp of maple syrup (more if you like a sweeter frosting)
A splash of milk, added slowly until you reach your desired consistency
What You’ll do:
Lightly mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut in butter and mix with hands until crumbly.
Mix milk, vanilla & discard, slowly fold into dry ingredients. Knead until it’s a cohesive dough. Cover and rest on the counter for 4 hours.
After this, I like to pop the dough in the fridge overnight, but you don’t have to. I just like to prep mine in the afternoon and bake fresh the next morning!
Flour your counter and roll out your dough to about 1/4-1/2 inch thick, your preference. Allow it to rest for a few minutes while you melt your butter for the filling & mix in sugars and cinnamon. Once combined, spread your filling out (be generous, there should be more than enough to go around) and roll your dough. Use floss (my preference) or kitchen twine to cut your rolls. Start at the middle, and cut each section in half until you have 8 rolls, about 2 inches thick each.
Butter and flour your pan, and pop your rolls in, spacing evenly. In the spaces between your rolls, pour about 1 cm heavy cream into the base of the pan (THIS is what makes the rolls!)
Bake at 350 (top shelf) until golden (about 30-35 mins), checking occasionally. While they bake, whip up your frosting by whisking the ingredients.
Allow your buns to cool for 10-15 minutes before lathering them in frosting. Enjoy while they are warm with a cup of tea or coffee by the fire!
SIGHT (& FEEL)
I’m loving the look of an all white bed — from frame to sheets, to duvet. I recently removed our decorative pillows and throw blanket and replaced our oh-so-cozy Cozy Earth duvet (which I still adore after years and years) with this one by Boll and Branch (another staple — my dad got me into this line when I was in college). The result? A marshmallow of a bed, perfect for these chilly January nights.
TOUCH
On these blustery January days and nights, I cannot get enough of layering a creamy cotton long sleeve with a thick knit sweater (honestly, lately I prefer cotton for around the house) and paring it with my cozy pointelles and slippers. This keeps me oh-so-comfy but also feeling semi-put together. One of my mottos in life is being cozy doesn’t mean feeling… lazy. All about the elevated cozy looks all year around, but particularly during this time of year.
SMELL
As we refresh for the New Year, one of the nuances of my home that I swap out to make all the difference in a fresh space is scents. The Another Life candle is a longtime favorite that is the perfect compliment to January’s energy. It’s such an aromatic candle that you can smell it throughout your space even when it’s not lit. I’ve recently swapped our hand soaps out from Tatine’s Pine Orange (perfect for Christmastime) to their Garden Mint, which is a refreshing luxury in the kitchen.
HEAR
2025 Dinners playlist, a WIP of romantic, slow tunes to enjoy while you prep & eat dinner. All about date night every night in this phase of life!
& that’s it! I’d love your feedback on this format — DM me! In the meantime, enjoy a relaxing & grounding Sunday, from our home to yours. Xx, MG
Yes to the format! Yes to the repeats over one and done recs!
LOVE the new format!