Sundaze 269: Reader survey results, homebody life and all the TV

Happy Sunday, my loves!

I feel like I have a thousand and one things to catch you up on – what a fortnight. First, you may already spot that I finally moved my newsletter and Ko-Fi content over to Substack. As with many things that I do, I did it on a whim and it’s one of my greatest decisions yet. The platform is easy to use and full of fun features, like a chat for the community, and I’m excited to use it for all of my more personal content. I decided to include a paid tier, so that the really personal stuff is behind a paywall and I hope you won’t mind. The blogging landscape has changed so much, and it does afford me money and time to ‘run’ Daisybutter. I’ve provided free content for more than 14 years, and I hope even a few people might support future content.

The 2023 Reader Survey results are in

I took a little time to reflect on my 2023 Reader Survey results this fortnight. I’ve shared one of these for many years now, and I find it a useful way to really deep-dive into what you’re all enjoying and not enjoying, along with what you’d like to see. As a content girlie in my day job, I rarely struggle to come up with blog post ideas, so this is pretty much the only time I actively ask for content suggestions!

Thankfully, all of us are in tune with each other for 2024. Some of the highlights include:

More personal essays
Talking about new habits and routines
My sustainable clothes and lifestyle recommendations
Things that are actually worth buying
Navigating life
Commentary on life changes and milestones
Personal style/fashion
Books!
Recipes
Managing finances and saving.

Many of these align with what I’d already started planning in for 2024, but the results gave me plenty of food for thought. I hadn’t realised how few personal essays I’ve shared lately, for instance! The thoughts are all here – sometimes the words are too – yet I haven’t been sharing them for fear of oversharing and feeling vulnerable. Perhaps I’ll publish edited versions of what I’ve been ruminating in my personal notebook. And, 2024 is the year that I finally diversify my content schedule into Substack…! Perhaps that’s where some of my more vulnerable conversations lie.

What are you most excited to read in 2024?

January homebody life

For more reasons than one, I’ve been maximising homebody life this month.

I mean, aren’t we all? January is notoriously the month of staying at home and attempting to even out all of the over-everything we did in December. From resetting my bedroom to meticulously planning out how to achieve my big goals, I’ve really enjoyed pottering at home lately. We’ve been busy squirrelling away at some fun new products and launches for & Chai, and busier getting all of your Lunar New Year orders out. Aaaahh I’ve just really loved being at home.

All the TV!

With all of that home time comes lots of TV time. I feel like British broadcasting networks totally get the winter slump vibe and fill the calendar up with all the best things. Mum, Louise and I are still invested in EastEnders, we finished Single’s Inferno, and I flew through Fool Me Once. I wanted to tone down my reading a little this year, and I’m happy to back doing other things in the evenings. We’re also obsessed with The Traitors, and I’m continuing my new Harlan Coben affinity with Stay Close on Netflix. Whew!

Links I’ve Loved

Subscribe to my new Substack! I’ve decided to let go of my old newsletter and open up a new space for my most personal content. You’ll be able to access a free edition with weekly newsletters and essays, and I’m also opening up a paid tier too.
God bless this stuff, which has been working wonders for my skin’s brightness and hyperpigmentation.
Finished reading Penance by Eliza Clark, and I must recommend it to you all!
Lots of people were asking me about my gym trainers on Instagram, so I thought I’d share them here too – they’re flat-soled and perfect for weightlifting.
This article on Cup of Jo about ‘feeling Black enough’ broke my heart. A brilliant read.
My friend Ghenet wrote a post all about how she’s hoping to get out of her reading rut.
Rustled this up for dinner on Monday night and it is delicious! Perfect if you’re doing Veganuary, too.