Oho’s Monthly Favorites - January 2023

One of my goals for 2023 is to finally get my act together and utilize this blog more than we did in 2022. Based on the frequency of the blog posts of last year (I’ll do the hard math for you; there’s exactly one), we’re already on track to surpass that goal by a large margin which is, I believe, what they call “setting yourself up for success”. Win number one of 2023 for Team Oho.

All joking aside, one of the series we’ve long wanted to start on this blog was a monthly collection of things that we are loving that week. It could be anything - a design trend we are loving, a forever favorite that we were reminded of, a spectacular recipe, a home decor product that we can’t wait to share, a playlist that hits all the marks, a new favorite piece of clothing that makes us feel great, a new-to-us find on instagram that needs sharing or possibly, a super niche solution to a problem we’ve had forever…anything that is striking our fancy this week. So, we’re starting January 2023 fresh and filled with hope that this little series will jump-start our blog goal in a big way. Let’s dig in.

Oho Monthly Favorite No. 1 - Wintertime Playlist on Spotify

I don’t know about you guys but we always have music playing in our home. Whether it’s a Saturday morning cleaning session where our playlist needs to meet (or bolster) our enthusiasm for cleaning or whether it’s a Wednesday evening relaxing after a busy day of site visits & decision making where you need nothing and no one talking to you, music is playing and meeting the mood of the moment. For me, especially, my music preferences change with the seasons and right now I am very much in a season of quiet, slowness and contemplation. As it turns out, I have a favorite playlist that I keep going back to over and over, year after year, to set that vibe.

I’m going to set that mood for you. It’s early January, the sun set 4 hours ago, the kids are in bed. The fire is going and you have a glass of wine (or mug of tea - Dry January, I see you) at hand and you are sitting down to do absolutely nothing for the first time all day.

THIS is your playlist.

Oho Monthly Favorite No. 2 - M.A. Hadley Stoneware

At a client presentation recently, we were proposing hanging some of their china & tableware and they pulled out a few of their favorites for us to envision on the wall. This led to my first introduction with M.A. Hadley Stoneware and their whimsical & fanciful yet casual, a little bit country/cottage but a whole lot classic, heritage-level pottery collection and after an internet deep dive on Mary Hadley and her pottery studio immediately after that meeting, it’s safe to say, I’ve fallen head over heels.

I’ve always had a deep love for handmade pottery & ceramics, making periodic purchases whenever I stumbled upon something special but admittedly, those were mostly home decor pieces - that are still, so special, however mostly styled on shelves & surfaces, rather than everyday, in and out of the dishwasher, level of use. To have something so whimsical, loved and handmade that we can experience everyday and share with our friends and family as we host and entertain? A dream. (Architectural Digest agrees.)

I’m already working (very slowly) to build our own collection of pieces, and will continue to do so over the years to come (heads-up to my mom & mother-in-law that birthdays and Christmases will be easier than ever) and even though it will make my eBay finds a little more competitive, I’m so happy to share this love of mine with you as well.

Oho Monthly Favorite No. 3 - Winter Skincare Essentials

If you haven’t looked outside recently, it is winter and Mother Nature has made that quite clear to the majority of us across the country this last month. Linking a few of our tried and true Winter Skin & Body Care Essentials that are tough enough to aide in the skincare survival of a 6-month Minnesota winter but transitional enough to contribute to the life of you sweet folks in the southern half of the United States who might have parched skin in these winter months.

Saint Jane Beauty Oil for the days when the skin on your face feels tight and unhappy. (PS, a little goes a long way.)

I have had a decade long love affair with Caudalie products (their face masks are some of my all-time favorites!). The Caudalie Hand & Nail Cream is in every handbag & workbag I own as well as stashed in my nightstand and is one of my essentials, year round.

I currently use the Olaplex line for shampoo & conditioner but was recently introduced to the Moisture Mask and I am telling you - game changer for my dry winter hair.

This Osea Body Oil is a product I’ve now convinced even Matty O of the holy grail aspects of. I slather it on post-shower (before even stepping a foot off the shower tile itself) and enjoy soft, moisturized skin without the excess grease of other body oils I’ve tried in the past.

I reach for Sunday Riley’s CEO Glow literally every morning and not just for the name of the product (though that helps). It does the work, keeps my skin feeling moisturized daily and since someone is turning 40 this year, those Vitamin C anti-aging properties are hard at work. Trust me.

You don’t need me to wax on poetically about the benefits of Burts Bees Chapstick. You know it, you love it. Linking to this 4-pack because if you’re like me - having a stash for when your current Burts Bees runs out is crucial to the circle of life.

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