Hello and Happy New Year! I hope your holidays were restful and filled with moments that warmed your heart—whether quiet or lively, planned or spontaneous.
Our own holiday break was a patchwork of cozy days between New York City and California, with family and a few special rituals that made this season feel uniquely ours. Since the boys spent Christmas week with their dad this year, we marked the occasion with a small gift exchange the night before they left. Picture this: pineapple-and-green-pepper pizza (a bold choice but beloved by the boys), Ruth Chan’s graphic memoir, and a silent basketball that quickly became the reigning favorite toy. It’s funny how gifts that seem small can spark such big joy.
Once the boys were off, my boyfriend Freddie and I settled into a slower pace. One highlight was finally snagging a coveted lunch reservation at I Sodi in Manhattan—a place I’m convinced serves some of the best Italian food in all of New York City (a bold statement, I know). The restaurant is famed for its eight different takes on the classic Negroni cocktail and their legendary 20-layer lasagna. Let me just say, the lasagna lived up to every bit of the hype—rich, comforting, and perfectly indulgent.
Speaking of Freddie—if you’ve read my musings on Big Salad, you might know a little about him. But now, on Cup of Jo, I’m excited to share more. He’s a high school history teacher and a devoted dad of two boys. He’s the kind of person who loves The Sopranos, long neighborhood walks, bookstores with cozy sofas, and cooking cheesy eggs for breakfast—the small pleasures that tell you a lot about someone’s heart.
After a leisurely day of sleeping in and strolling around town, we headed uptown for dinner at the apartment of Jenny Rosenstrach and her husband Andy. They served a green salad alongside a luscious lasagna recipe from Smitten Kitchen, which had a deeper, richer bolognese flavor with less tomato tang. For dessert, Freddie and I brought an Italian pandoro—imagine a tall, snow-capped mountain of milky bread dusted with powdered sugar. If you haven’t tried pandoro, it’s a delightfully sweet way to end any meal.
Another evening brought a different kind of magic. We joined some of Freddie’s relatives, and for the first time, I met his parents—a moment I won’t soon forget. His dad shared stories of his firefighting career, while his mom welcomed me with slippers. Nervous as I was, it felt like the beginning of something lovely, and thankfully, it went well!
Then Freddie left to visit his kids, and I found myself flying solo for a bit. I had braced myself for a possibly lonely Christmas Eve and morning, but instead, I was embraced by friends who warmly invited me into their celebrations. At a church service on Christmas Eve, the carols floated through the sanctuary and gardens, wrapping me in a peaceful glow.
The second half of the break brought a joyful reunion as the boys and I flew to San Francisco to visit my sister, niece, dad, and other relatives. Seeing my boys again felt like the purest happiness—I ran to them at the airport, feeling a bit like a real-life Diana welcoming her princes aboard. It’s such a universal, tender feeling, isn’t it?
We caught a Warriors basketball game with the cousins—although the night ended with a tough loss, the energy and laughter more than made up for it. We also explored a sports exhibit at SF MoMA, complete with a four-way ping-pong table and iconic sports photographs, including the unforgettable Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan.
On New Year’s Eve, we honored a deeply personal family tradition: visiting the grave of my sister’s late husband, Paul. The younger kids ran freely around the cemetery grounds while the adults toasted with Champagne, reflecting on the year past and the memories we hold dear. Later, at my sister’s home, I noticed a printout on her fridge with a quote from C.S. Lewis that resonated deeply: it reminded me of her time with Paul and stirred thoughts about the vulnerability of falling in love. How do we open our hearts fully? How do we trust again?
To end the night, we played Herd Mentality, a raucous game that brought out plenty of laughter—and a surprising revelation that Toby is now taller than nearly all the grandparents, except for Opa, the last one standing.
As we headed home, I marveled at how much my boys are growing—tall, kind, and thoughtful young men (especially compared to baby photos I keep tucked away). Of course, there are still things to teach them—like how to fold socks into neat little balls, a life skill Anton tried with a smile and a “Not gonna lie, that’s pretty tuff.”
So, how was your holiday break? Any surprises, small disasters, or moments of magic? I’d love to hear all about it. As we step into 2025, I’m sending you warm wishes for a year filled with connection, joy, and plenty of cozy, unforgettable moments.
