The Sunday Letter: Edition 1
what's on my mind: literary musings, seasonal finds, and cozy recipes.
Hi, lovely readers —
Welcome to the very first edition of The Sunday Letter. I’m so excited to reconnect with this space and with you. After a few years of experimentation and quiet pauses, this feels like the right moment to return and build something steady, intentional, and full of inspiration.
At its heart, The Sunday Letter is a weekly reflection—part scrapbook, part letter, part curated gallery of the things that make life feel textured and meaningful. Every Sunday, I’ll share my top finds of the week, weaving together objects, words, and moments that have sparked joy, curiosity, or thought.
Here’s what you can expect:
Objects of Desire: Beautiful, functional, or simply delightful things I’ve come across, recently acquired, or is in my cart.
Words to Hold: A passage, quote, or excerpt—something to linger over and carry into your week.
A Recipe for the Week: Nourishing recipes or kitchen tip to take one item off your mental load for the week.
What’s Inspiring Me: Art, books, events, or anything else I feel compelled to share.
And sometimes, a few other bits and pieces that feel important to share—a memory, a quiet thought, or even a question I’m sitting with.
This is my way of bringing together the things I love in a way that feels personal but also communal, like sitting down with a friend to exchange small treasures and ideas.
As we kick off 2025, I hope this space becomes something we can both look forward to every Sunday morning—a quiet moment in the margins of a busy world.
Let me know what you think, and if there’s anything you’d love to see here, and enjoy!
Objects of Desire:
I am fully obsessed with this tomato candle. If you’ve seen any of my gift guides, you already know—it’s everywhere. But now, I’m eyeing its perfect match: an oregano-scented candle. I need to know what they smell like together!
There’s nothing I love more than a trinket box or a catchall tray. I’ve got at least one in every room, and they’re perfect for corralling all the little things.
If you’re into consistent daily rituals like me, a paper planner can be life-changing. There’s something cathartic about putting pen to paper that no digital list can replicate. And if you’re a few days (or weeks) into 2025 before you start, don’t sweat it. Just use the first few blank pages for a vision board, a TBR list, a list of your favorite words, or even a little junk journal. Starting late is still starting.
My husband has this perfectly minimalist Japanese daily wall calendar in his office, while I’m smitten with this gorgeous fine art monthly calendar by Carleigh Correy. Both add a little extra joy & beauty to our days.
Words to Hold:
Alain de Botton reflects on the art of cultivating a mind capable of facing the immense challenge of living without turning it into a personal hell in A Therapeutic Journey: Lessons from The School of Life and this is my favorite takeaway:
“A healthy mind knows how to hope; it identifies and then hangs on tenaciously to a few reasons to keep going. Grounds for despair, anger, and sadness are, of course, all around. But the healthy mind knows how to bracket negativity in the name of endurance. It clings to evidence of what is still good and kind. It remembers to appreciate; it can — despite everything — still look forward to a hot bath, some dried fruit or dark chocolate, a chat with a friend, or a satisfying day of work. It refuses to let itself be silenced by all the many sensible arguments in favor of rage and despondency.”
And, one excerpt with no context from John Berger:
“Much of what happens to us in life is nameless because our vocabulary is too poor. Most stories get told out loud because the storyteller hopes that the telling of the story can transform a nameless event into a familiar or intimate one.
We tend to associate intimacy with closeness and closeness with a certain sum of shared experiences. Yet in reality total strangers, who will never say a single word to each other, can share an intimacy — an intimacy contained in the exchange of a glance, a nod of the head, a smile, a shrug of a shoulder. A closeness that lasts for minutes or for the duration of a song that is being listened to together. An agreement about life. An agreement without clauses. A conclusion spontaneously shared between the untold stories gathered around the song.”
A Recipe for the Week:
The Roasted Honeynut Squash & Coconut Soup with Spiced Oil Topping is from
, whose books, content, and overall presence are just so delightful. I genuinely enjoy everything she shares across platforms. Her focus on ultra-seasonal produce really resonates with me, and while I love all her recipes, this soup has been a lifesaver in the freezing cold lately.What’s Inspiring Me:
Two Pinterest alternatives I rely on for endless inspiration: Same Energy & Cosmos—both are treasure troves of ideas and visuals.
From January Prompts for Inventing a Life from
": A question that’s been lingering with me (without any rush to answer) is, “PHANTOM LIMB: Name something you miss but—if offered—you don’t actually want back.”John Derian’s Picture Book always.
Finally, a book recommendation for the week: Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar. It’s such a wildly original novel—unlike anything I’ve ever read. Knowing Akbar’s poetry, I thought I had an idea of what to expect, but I stand corrected. I would add this to any must-read list without hesitation!
I’m also loving another gorgeous book right now, shared in this Instagram post—it’s been perfect after the chaos of the holidays.
Thank you all for reading and for sticking with me through the years of sporadic posts. You can now expect this letter every Sunday, a little something to accompany your quiet morning moments. If there’s anything you’d love to see here or any recommendations you’d like to share, feel free to leave a comment or just reply to this email—I’d love to hear from you.
Until next time!
All my love,
-D