In partnership with
The New Year Ritual That Sets the Tone for Energy and Glow ✨
January calls for rituals that actually make you feel amazing—and Pique’s Sun Goddess Matcha is mine. It delivers clean, focused energy with zero jitters, supports glowing skin and gentle detox, and feels deeply grounding. Smooth, ceremonial-grade, and crave-worthy, it’s the easiest way to start your day clear, energized, and glowing from the inside out.
Top of Mind
What's the flu's super power this year?
The power of being the third wheel. This season is being driven by the emergence of an unexpected (and unwanted) strain of the H3N2 flu, named subclade K. Unfortunately, this season's flu vaccine, which was developed back in February of last year, does not offer full protection for this particular strain.
According to recent data, flu activity is high or very high in over 30 states. That number is expected to go up once data from the holidays is released, which has experts extremely concerned.
Why? Because the numbers are already record breaking. Two weeks ago, New York health officials reported experiencing the largest weekly surge in flu cases in modern history.
The good news is that there's no indication that this new strain is more severe than previous years, according to virologist Florian Krammer. So, while it might infect more people, it shouldn't cause an unusually high amount of severe cases.
Be prepared. Not scared! Here are some everyday tips to avoid all illnesses.
Did You Hear
👨💻 Change your family's digital habits
We're officially in the new year, and now's the time for radical change, right? Well, experts say you should start with screen addiction. Of course, that's easier said than done, so here are 7 expert ways to change your family's digital habits. And once you've read that, you can check out this mom's essay detailing why every parent should delete their Instagram account.
📱 "Hi, I'm Timmy. My favorite food is iPad."
According to a new study, children exposed to high levels of screen time before age two showed changes in brain development that were linked to slower decision-making and increased anxiety by their teenage years. Read all about it here.
💸 Your children don't need to know you're poor
Telling your kid, "Sorry, we can't afford that," could be setting them up for a life of financial anxiety. Experts say you should instead use this phrase.
🎄 Speaking of money…
The average parent dropped $520 (per kid) on Christmas gifts this year. That's up 13% from last year. Parents in New York spent the most on average, spending an insane $730 per child. How did they do this? By going into debt, of course.
🍼 Moms are harvesting nipple goo
There's a new trend spreading on TikTok, and it centers around pregnant women extracting colostrum from their nipples. For those who don't know, colostrum is the "nutrient-rich liquid gold" that precedes breastmilk. Moms are stocking up, freezing vials of the liquid, in case their baby needs it after birth. Read about its health benefits here.
😠 The most hated modern parenting trends
...according to modern parents.
Things You Need (to get it together)
It’s 2026, and we want you to know this: you’re doing better than you think. There’s no pressure to reinvent yourself, but if you’re looking to make some small changes, here are some ideas…
To start, Atomic Habits is a helpful book that’s all about making tiny shifts that can actually stick.
Some days, just getting dressed feels like an accomplishment. A stylish matching lounge set can help to feel a little more “put together” while you’re busy doing all the things you have no desire to get dressed for.
A 2026 planner might be nice to have if your thoughts tend to pile up. Multiple studies have shown actually writing down notes (as opposed to typing) helps you process and remember them better.
And because rest is productive too: letting a robot vacuum handle the floors is one less task following you around all day.
Finally, yes, a water bottle. But one that you’ll genuinely love: the Owala FreeSip!
Bites with Kiyah
My kids head back to school this week, which means we are desperately trying to get back into some kind of an early morning routine. The only way I can think to fit breakfast into this reestablished morning routine is by having muffins ready.
Enter Mark Bittman, whose How To Cook Everything cookbook was largely responsible for my early days of learning to enjoy cooking. This is a loose recipe that provides space for your creativity to shine. Don’t be afraid by the whole wheat, you can adjust all the other flavors to your liking so they don’t taste too healthy.
Yield: 12 muffins
Ingredients:
½ cup melted unsalted butter, more for greasing tins
2½ cups whole wheat flour, preferably pastry flour
¾ to 1 cup sugar, depending on sweetness of fruit
2 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed or puréed banana, sweet potato, apple, zucchini, cooked or canned pumpkin, or other fruits or vegetables
1 egg, beaten
½ cup buttermilk or plain yogurt
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees and grease two 6-cup muffin tins or fill with liners.
In a large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
In another bowl, whisk together the melted butter, banana, egg and buttermilk. Fold wet mixture into dry mixture and stir until just combined.
Fill muffin tins or liners; bake for about 25 to 30 minutes, or until muffins are puffed and turning golden brown on top. Serve warm if possible.
Quick Tip: For a little extra deliciousness, sprinkle the top of the muffins with turbinado sugar or a cinnamon and sugar mix before baking. You can also adjust the flavor by adding spices of your choice. Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom work nicely with sweet potato and pumpkin. Cinnamon or even lemon zest would work nicely with bananas or other berries.
Dose of Good
@isakaete doomed him with social anxiety 🤣 it’s a core memory now #ihop #birthday @IHOP
Here’s a Question
Did your family get flu shots this year, and have you gotten the flu?
Last week, we asked you what your favorite "lucky food" was for the New Year, and in a surprising upset, black-eyed peas won with a little over 50% of the vote. Grapes and donuts tied in second place.
