3 Mini Resolutions I’m Making This Year to Embrace My Inner Ina Garten
One of my favorite reads of 2024 was Ina Garten’s memoir, Be Ready When The Luck Happens. I devoured it in just a few days, and instantly fell in love with Ina and her story. I was familiar with who she was before reading, of course, but didn’t consider myself a fan. I knew her from the Food Network and her cookbooks, but had no idea it all started with her taking a chance and responding to an ad for a specialty food store in the Hamptons. Her story is so inspiring that as I finished the book, I couldn’t help but think, “Wow, I want to be more like Ina!”
When it came to make my list of New Year’s resolutions for 2025, I realized so many of them are inspired by Ina Garten and embracing her sense of joie de vivre, especially at home. She has a knack for not taking life too seriously, and I’m excited to enter a new year with plans for feeling more connected to friends, family, and loved ones. Not to mention, fun! If you’re looking for Ina-inspired resolutions too, read on for three things I’m focusing on in 2025.
Have a Sit Down Dinner at Least Once a Week
As someone who isn’t particularly confident in the kitchen, dinner is always casual in my house. My husband and I have varying schedules, and we don’t normally sit down to eat together. Our style is more like catching up and grazing in the kitchen after work. While that time is nice, I’d like to make a little more of an effort to sit down at our kitchen table and have a meal together at least once a week. I know it will feel more relaxed and intentional, not to mention romantic.
Ina loves cooking for her husband Jeffrey, and I’d love to cultivate more of that with my partner. I’m going to aim for weekend dinners with place settings and a bouquet of flowers for the center of our table. And of course, I’m excited to try my hand at some of Ina’s recipes. Roast chicken, anyone?
Host Friends Once a Month
I truly aspire to be a host like Ina. Having friends over can be a lot of effort, and I get anxious sometimes about my home not being large or “perfect” enough. I know the key to hosting isn’t about having the fanciest things, it’s about gathering together, having a good time, and making everyone comfortable. Instead of continuing my self sabotage (my home is, of course, not too small and is wonderful actually!), my goal is to host friends in my home once a month.
I’m putting together a book club with some friends, and while fun dinner parties are definitely on the agenda, I also want to have more casual gatherings that don’t require a ton of prep work. It’s clear to see that Ina loves inviting people over to her home, and it’s fun to visualize friends hanging out in my own home more often. I’m excited to put together thoughtful gatherings that will hopefully help everyone feel more connected to each other.
Turn Cooking into Self-Care
I’ve always thought of cooking like a chore. If I can get away with no-cook meals and snacks, I absolutely will. At the same time, I aspire to be someone who enjoys their time in the kitchen. Ina turned her love of food into her business and her legacy, but more importantly, she seems to love spending time in the kitchen. I’d like to cultivate just an ounce of her joy, so I’m hoping my weekly sit-down dinners and hosting goals will spark something special in 2025.
Ina is the queen of low-stress cooking, all while having fun, so I’m looking forward to turning my time in the kitchen into something that feels nourishing and cozy. I also appreciate that many of her recipes aren’t ultra complicated, and I already hear her in my head saying, “How easy is that?”
Further Reading
We Tested (and Rated!) Every Sofa at West Elm — Here Are the Best for Every Type of Need
See How a Stager Used Paint to Transform a 1950s Living Room
