JANUARY 2026: An Elegant Month in Review
This post contains affiliate links and ads. Affiliate links and ads support my work at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your ongoing support!JANUARY — The promise of a new year is always exciting. The turn of the calendar offers a special opportunity to start fresh while the extremely cold (where I am) and snowy days offer the perfect excuse to cozy up at home with a hot cup of tea while dreaming about the future and plotting out goals to makes those dreams come to life.
In this journey to craft a more elegant life, I’ve found that it’s helpful to plan out out different activities, events and hobbies I want to try or experience. I strive to plan something that will bring beauty, joy, art and connection — whether that’s a nature walk with my family, meeting a friend for lunch, traveling, or taking a class. So while our days may be busy with growing children, there’s still (a little) time for me to connect, create and continue to build a life I’m proud of.
If the idea of crafting a more elegant life sounds interesting to you, I encourage you to revisit this space often. You may also be intrigued by The Courtney Opalko Etiquette Method for a More Elegant Life and my signature 9 step method to make it happen.
What is that? It’s the exact guide I use each year to plan an elegant life that actually happens and you can access the free workbook, too!
This method has been tried and tested by wonderful likeminded women from around the world during my annual Elevate Your Everyday 31 Day Challenge — it’s a special time I look forward to each year. Together, we define our personal values, set smart goals toward accomplishing our dreams and identify small, ingenious habits we can add to our day to create what we all strive for: a more elegant life.
If that sounds interesting to you, send me a quick note to join the waitlist for next year.
This year, I want to take you along on my journey to create my most elegant year yet, and I hope the things I share inspire you to create an elegant life you love, too. In fact, if you are using my method this year (and even if you’re not!) please leave a comment to share your most memorable moments of the month!
Join me and take a moment to reflect on JANUARY: An Elegant Month in Review.
Each January, The Elevate Your Everyday Challenge gives me the opportunity to reset and refine the habits that help me create a more elegant life while building a vision for the year to come. At the beginning of the month, I took time to map out my big goals for 2026, but I know reaching those goals will not be possible without a solid foundation in place. From reflecting on my personal values to creating an analog activity bag, I used this month to set myself up for success!
As cold and quiet as January can be, it was also full of celebration and new experiences. We began the month celebrating the new year, my Dad’s birthday and Alice’s birthday! We hosted a gaggle of girls for a KPop Demon Hunters movie party which was a huge hit and so much fun to plan!
We also celebrated the Epiphany as a family with a Raclette party. Our children loved sharing Raclette with our family in France and we were all excited when Santa delivered our own Raclette party machine for Christmas! You can read more about our Raclette night and how to host your own Raclette party right here.
Over the course of the month, we experienced extreme cold and snow, which led to a few snow days for the kids and even a power outage. It was a good reminder to reference The Preppy Power Outage Preparedness Kit which remains one of my most pinned Pins of all time!
One highlight of the month? I joined the local Stitch Club! The first two meetings I attended where an absolute blast. The women were all welcoming, kind and so talented. I’m looking forward to adding the Stitch Club meetings to my monthly calendar and learning along the way.
This month, I also taught myself how to knit and began knitting scarves for my three children. I love the relaxing rhythm and repetition of the simple stitches and it’s been a great new addition to my analog activity bag.
Last year, I tried a new hobby almost every month. This year, I’m focusing on a few of my favorites: needlepoint, gardening and knitting!
Overall, January was a wonderful month filled with elegant events and joyful time spent with friends and family. There were opportunities to dress up and time to enjoy the comforts of home, lost in the reverie of what’s to come this year.
As you look toward the year ahead, remember that elegance is a state of mind; a simple and ingenious approach to a charmed life. If you desire it, you can create a life filled with beauty, elegance and connection. It simply requires a bit of intention, effort and a willingness to try something new.
REVERIE (n.) : a state of being pleasantly lost in one's thoughts; a daydream
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REVERIE (n.) : a state of being pleasantly lost in one's thoughts; a daydream |
Take time to plan out a few things just for you to enjoy next month. Maybe lunch at a new restaurant, meeting a friend for coffee, or trying a new hobby. Whatever it may be, an elegant life is yours to create!
What was your favorite thing about January? Did you experience something new? Take time to plan out your year? I’d love to know! Leave a comment and share your most elegant moment this month.
