The Everyday Edit: January 2026

Little things getting me through the “Monday” of months

January in Canada is a bit of a menace. If months were people, January would be the one who shows up at your house uninvited, turns off all the lights, breaks your humidifier, and asks why you’re still wearing pajamas at noon. Rude.

The twinkle lights are packed away (okay, fine, they’re shoved in a bin in a tangled ball I will hate myself for next November), and my skin currently looks like a cross between a dry parchment scroll and a very flaky pastry. Since I can’t hibernate until April, I’ve been leaning hard on a few specific comforts to get me through the month.

These aren’t ‘viral’ TikTok finds, or fancy new product launches. They’re just three small comforts making January feel a bit more “okay, I can do this”.

1. The “Unsexy” Lotion I Will Never Quit

Nivea Nourishing 72hr Hydrating Body Lotion with Almond Oil (this specific dark blue bottle pictured above, the others are different!)

This lotion is the sensible beige cardigan of body care. No one is posting ‘shelfies’ of it, and it will never be the star of a ‘favourites video’. And yet, I am “ride-or-die” loyal.

I’m pretty sure I was influenced to buy this years ago by a beauty YouTuber – possibly Tati – back in the era when I believed I was going to master a cut-crease eyeshadow (spoiler: I absolutely did not), but this lotion sure stuck!

Here’s why it keeps its prime spot in my bathroom:

• The Texture: I do not have the will in January to wrestle a thick body butter across my shins like I’m spreading cold margarine on toast. This one is a lotion; she’s fluid, glides on, and sinks in.
• The “72-Hour” Claim: Nivea promotes that this lotion will keep your skin hydrated for 72 hours. Now, I’m not skipping showers for three days in the name of science, but I can tell you that when I put this on after a morning shower, my arms and legs are still looking/feeling hydrated at bedtime.
• The Glow: There is no shimmer, sparkle, or pearly stuff in it, but somehow it leaves this beautiful, healthy sheen that says, “I drink a lot of water and make good dietary choices” (even though we both know I’ve probably had three coffees and a banana today). This is probably my favourite thing about this lotion – the way it makes my skin look.

The Nostalgia Factor: I usually don’t like scented body products; most of them scream “tropical cupcake vacation” and I am simply trying to moisturize my arms. This one has that classic Nivea smell. Not beachy, not perfume, just… Nivea. It smells like a 1980s bathroom, in the best way: a bit of soapy-clean, a bit of cream, and a lot of “someone’s mom is about to tell you to put your coat on!”.

Bonus: It is a pump bottle, which means I will actually use it!

2. The “Grown-Up” Chocolate Ritual

Camino Extra Dark 80% Chocolate

Fun fact: when I was 17, I worked in a very fancy Swiss chocolate shop. We’re talking the real deal – chocolates literally flown in from Europe every two weeks, and arranged in glass cases like jewellery. So yes, I’ve always known what good chocolate tastes like.

Did I appreciate dark chocolate back then? Absolutely not.
I respected it the way you respect a serious art film, but I was firmly Team Milk Chocolate. My teenage palate was not interested in “complex flavour profiles”; it wanted sugar.

Now that I’m in my 50s, though? I fully get the dark chocolate thing. And it’s become my current obsession; rich, smooth, and just fruity enough to feel like a treat. I’ve made it a ritual: one square, a quiet moment, and a double espresso. It’s the kind of small, high-quality luxury that actually makes the afternoon slump feel… well, less of a slump.

And then there’s the brand behind it. Camino is Canadian🍁 (love that for us), and they’re also a fair-trade, employee-owned co-op. I love supporting companies that treat people well and actually care about where their ingredients come from.

That said, full honesty, even if it were run by grumpy gnomes working out of a hollow tree, I would probably still buy it; because it’s just that good.

If you’re curious, I highly recommend checking out their website. They make all kinds of other chocolatey treats, and you can order online and they’ll ship it anywhere Canada Post delivers. To my international readers: sorry ’bout your luck!

3. The Appliance That Has Become My Personality

Nespresso Vertuo Next + Aeroccino Frother

My Nespresso Machine is now the main character of my kitchen. I wish I were the kind of person who wakes up thinking “Carpe diem!”, but no. My first conscious thought most mornings is simply “Vanilla latte!”.

I’ve basically perfected my “Everyday Tracy” latte, and it goes like this:

1. One 230ml “Sweet Vanilla” pod, hit the button
2. Half-cup milk + a half-teaspoon of vanilla extract, in the frother
3. Pour that cloud of warm, foamy vanilla milk over the coffee 🥰

It tastes like something that should cost $7 and come in a cup with your name mis-spelled and a smiley face, but I get to drink it in my bathrobe while I ask ChatGPT to help me meal plan, and pretend to be an organized adult.

Now, a quick Public Service Announcement for anyone considering a Vertuo Next:

The machine has a used-pod container built-in, that slides out so you can empty it. Cute, right? Here’s the catch: it’s actually two pieces. There’s an inner piece that lifts out of the outer shell. If you are even slightly on autopilot while emptying it, it is shockingly easy to dump the inner piece straight into the Nespresso recycling bag, and send it off.

I would love to tell you I learned this from a friend. I did not. I learned it from standing at my counter going, “Huh. That seems weird. Something is missing….”.

Fun fact: there is a thriving Etsy market for 3D-printed replacement containers in bright neon colours, clearly designed for people like me who have already thrown out the original.

The January Wrap-Up

It’s a low-bar survival strategy, I know, but at 55 I’ve decided that being well-moisturized, pleasantly caffeinated, and armed with good chocolate is a perfectly acceptable goal for January.

None of these things are fancy or life-changing on their own (ok, maybe the Nespresso is a little fancy), but together they’ve made the grey, slushy days feel just a little more ‘elevated’… a tiny upgrade to the everyday, which is what I’m all about.

If you end up trying any of these (or have your own winter MVPs), I’d love to hear what’s getting you through the month. Comment below.

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