Weekender #225

(Even when I make almost everything from scratch)

Every February, I find myself wanting to mark the season; not with heart balloons or forced romance, but with something quieter and deeper. A gathering. A table. A moment of pause with the women who make life feel less chaotic and more meaningful.

Galentine’s, for me, is that moment.

But let me be clear: I’m not planning a full-blown soirée with a Pinterest board and a stress migraine. I like to make most of the food from scratch, yes. I like things to look nice. But at its heart, this isn’t about perfection. It’s about creating warmth in a season that’s still cold. Something personal. Something ours.

Here’s how I make it happen without making it a thing.

I make most of the food from scratch because it fills me up, too.

Cooking for people I love is one of my favorite forms of care. I pick one dish that feels special but grounded like mushroom galettes with a soft herby salad, or homemade ravioli (store-bought pasta dough, I’m not a martyr) filled with lemon ricotta and topped with browned butter and crispy sage.

It’s about intention. I want the meal to feel like I thought about it, like I crafted it, not just fed people.

I also keep the flow loose; people serve themselves, seconds are encouraged, and nothing’s too precious.

Dessert is my favorite place to play.

This is where I let myself go a little extra. I’ve made tiny strawberry shortcakes in jars, heart-shaped shortbread with edible flowers, and mini chocolate lava cakes served with cold cream.

This year I’m thinking rose and pistachio pavlovas with whipped cardamom cream. Light, beautiful, a little whimsical. The kind of thing you don’t make for just anyone.

Dessert is often what people remember, and honestly, I like giving them something to talk about.

Invites go out early and with care.

A couple weeks ahead, I send a message (usually text or email) that reads something like:

“I’m hosting a Galentine’s dinner on February 10th at mine. I’ll be cooking, and the only ask is that you bring whatever’s weighing on you or lighting you up. Come hungry. Let me know about any allergies or dietary needs 💕”

It’s casual, but there’s care in it. That’s the tone I want to set from the start.

I always ask about food needs, and I always accommodate.

Because nothing kills the mood like realizing someone can’t eat 80% of what you’ve made. I ask early and I build the menu around it. Dairy-free mousse? Gluten-free galettes? Vegan sides? Easy. I want everyone to feel fully included, not like an afterthought.

The decor is simple.

Trader Joe’s flowers in old jam jars. Taper candles. Linen napkins and a table runner I’ve used for the last three years. Maybe a handwritten note or compliment card at each seat if I have time.

It doesn’t have to be fancy. It just has to say: I thought of you.

Music matters.

I keep a playlist that feels like a warm bath: Sade, Norah Jones, Maggie Rogers, a little early 2000s Brandi Carlile, Leon Bridges. Soft but steady. The kind of soundtrack that fills the room without stealing it.

Music is the mood setter. It tells people it’s okay to relax.

I don’t plan games, but I do plan for connection.

I never force it. But I like having a few thoughtful prompts nearby, just in case:

• “What’s something you’re quietly proud of right now?”
• “What are you calling in, or letting go of, this season?”
• “What’s something you’d love to do more of, if time/money/kids weren’t a thing?”

Sometimes we go there. Sometimes we don’t. But having a few conversation-starters in your back pocket never hurts.

Little gifts? Sometimes, but not always.

If I have the energy, I’ll do something small: a homemade cookie wrapped in parchment, a mini candle, a sticky note with a personalized affirmation. But I never pressure myself.

The real gift is the space we’ve created. The rest is just a cherry on top.

The whole point is: softness over spectacle.

Galentine’s, to me, is a gentle rebellion against the burnout of always having to do and be so much. It’s a reminder that beauty doesn’t have to be big. It just has to be felt.

So yes, I cook. Yes, I decorate. But mostly, I hold space for joy, for nourishment, for women showing up exactly as they are.

And that’s more than enough.

Kristel (TA Marketing)

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🐶 Pet of the Week: Meet Heather

Want this personalized to your actual birth chart? We built Eume for exactly that. Free for your current week.

♈️ ARIES Mars in Aquarius pushes you toward team projects over solo missions. Your best wins this week come from collaboration, not competition.

♉️ TAURUS Venus shifts into Pisces on Tuesday, softening your approach. That tense coworker situation resolves easier with empathy than logic.

♊️ GEMINI Mercury in Pisces makes your communication more intuitive but less precise. Double-check emails before sending, especially Monday and Tuesday.

♋️ CANCER Jupiter retrograde in your sign is asking you to stop chasing external validation. The career move you’re considering works better if you wait until late February.

♌️ LEO The Moon in Sagittarius Tuesday through Thursday lights up your creative sector. Use those days to pitch ideas or present work.

♍️ VIRGO Saturn in Pisces keeps the pressure on deadlines. Ship something imperfect rather than missing the window entirely.

♎️ LIBRA Venus moving into Pisces on Tuesday helps you smooth over any office friction. Lean into diplomatic conversations mid-week.

♏️ SCORPIO Moon in your sign on Monday gives you strong instincts about a work situation. Trust your gut early, then take action by Friday when Moon is in practical Capricorn.

♐️ SAGITTARIUS Moon in your sign Tuesday through Thursday gives you a confidence boost. Schedule important calls or presentations for those days.

♑️ CAPRICORN The week ends with Moon in your sign on Friday, perfect for wrapping up projects and planning next week. Your productivity peaks at the end of the week.

♒️ AQUARIUS Sun, Mars, and Pluto all in your sign means you’re in your power zone. Start new initiatives now, but keep your ego in check with so much planetary firepower behind you.

♓️ PISCES Mercury, Saturn, and now Venus are all in your sign. You’re processing a lot internally. Take time to journal or reflect before making any big career announcements.

Prepared by Julia (Head of TA Partnerships)

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