✝️ What I want more of in my Jesus Year
Eight things I want to learn, find, and do this year.
Today is my 33rd birthday! It’s my Jesus Year—the year Jesus (allegedly) died. I’m not a Christian anymore, but I like the drama. Plus, the alliteration of 33 is chic AF.
I’m a big resolutions person, and I’m slowly working my way through my 2025 list of goals. However, today I thought I’d share my quota-less goals for my Jesus Year. I want more creativity, more learning, and more art.
(1) Knitting and other fiber crafts
I always thought I had minimal interest in the fiber arts—I associated crochet and knitting with the kitschy, acrylic yarn granny squares of the early 2010s. I run hot, too, and would feel claustrophobic in knitwear. This has changed as I’ve grown colder and older, and after taking up knitting (and knitting my first pair of socks), I’ve become a hobbyist knitter. My next project is Petite Knit’s Cumulus top (about $8) using Tussah Tweed silk from BC Garn in the brown/rose shade “38” ($30/50g).
I want to take a weaving class at Cleo’s, too, and even started thinking about learning to crochet after seeing these interesting structured bag patterns on Etsy ($6).
(2) Finding my everyday earrings
I’ve become a silver jewelry enthusiast, and I want to get a pair of simple, everyday sterling silver earrings. I have these elegant hoops ($32) in my cart, but the collage below is the vibe I’m going for. Please let me know if you have a recommendation!
(3) Doing The Artist’s Way
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron is the stereotypical rite of passage for the frustrated artist. The book provides a framework for elevating creativity, including Morning Pages (which you may have heard of) and Artist Dates. I have my copy of The Artist’s Way ($9) from eBay, ready to go, and I want to start the 12-week project sometime this summer. You can get it new on Bookshop ($19) or find a used copy online.
I plan to write about my experience in the Substack chat for paid Saltine subscribers. Come and do it with me!
(4) Baking with freshly ground flour
As I’ve learned more about the food system and baking in general, I’ve been wanting to switch to baking with freshly ground flour using a countertop grain mill. Freshly ground flour is healthier than store-bought flour, and if unsifted, it keeps its whole-grain status.
You can buy freshly ground flour from local mills, but I want the flexibility of my own mill. I am eyeing the KoMo Classic ($579). I’ll certainly write more about this experience on Home Food.
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(5) Walking, walking, and more walking
One of my favorite parts of living in a city is how easy it is to walk everywhere. With working from home, even a quick walk around the block feels like a lifeline for staying human. I usually wear Nikes for long walks, and these pastel yellow Field General Nike sneakers ($140) have been on my wishlist for some time now.
(6) Reading the classics
I’ve had Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina on my bookshelf for a few years, and I’d like to move it and the books below from TBR to Read.
(7) Elevating my bean game
I’ll skip the details of my current bean cooking drama, but I am searching for an enamel or clay bean pot. I think I’ve finally chosen the Lourdes pot from Rancho Gordo ($84). The lid is a bowl designed to be used for boiling water while the beans cook, in case you need to add more hot cooking water. I usually refill a separate kettle a few times during cooking, so I love this clever design.
(8) Learning more about wine
I plan to take a sommelier certification course sometime in the next few years, but in the meantime, I’ll be taking some casual classes here in NYC. I’ve been looking at the courses from Leon & Son and Flatiron Wines. Let me know if you have a recommendation!
Happy belated birthday Kara!
Your list of goals is very inspiring and I’m copying a few to mine 😛 I also have exactly those 4 classics on my bookshelf to read… honestly I don’t know when I will get to them but I’ll try!
Happy birthday! Mine is also 26 June, fellow cancerian 🦀 I turned 35 this year!