Just like that it’s 2026! Happy new year and welcome to the January 2026 Ultimate Coffee Date with me and Coco. If we were having coffee, I would love to share and listen over a big cup of Aruban coffee. It’s our last day on this beautiful, friendly island. Let’s jump right in!
January 2026 Ultimate Coffee Date
If we were having coffee today, I would tell you…
I feel very blessed to have had the privilege of spending the last 2 weeks on the beautiful island of Aruba. We cherish this time together as a family every December. We love having both of our kids (and their significant others) join us. It’s hard when one or all of your children lives far from you and these vacations together are so important to us.
If we were having coffee, I would tell you…
Having grown up at a time where every magazine and tv show showcased thin celebrities and put a tremendous amount of “weight” on tricks to become thin, I thought we were past all of that. It’s pretty upsetting to now see so many celebs and influencers appear to be shells of their previous selves. Some look so emaciated and odd. I don’t like to comment on other people’s weight, but really its shocking.
I have no problem with people who have medical conditions and or significant weight to lose taking GLPs.These medications can help so many medical conditions as well. Let’s hope that this does not lead to chasing that super skinny ideal again. For me, I struggled with these issues in my teens and twenties. I’m now happy to be chasing being strong over being skinny.
That’s about all I’ve got to share today! If we were having coffee, what would you tell me?
I love that family photo on the beach! I’m so happy that you get to do this with your kids and their partners, too!
It’s shocking how the “super skinny” ideal keeps creeping back, even when we thought we were past it. I totally agree, chasing strength over being skinny feels so much healthier, both mentally and physically.
It does feel good to feel strong and I hope the super skinny ideal fades away fast.
Your annual family trip to Aruba is such a wonderful tradition! What a fabulous picture of the six of you!
It’s surprising the number of people who use (or want to use) GLPs for weight loss. Sadly, it’s a conversation that comes up a lot in my line of business.
It is definitely appropriate for many people for health issues etc but not just to be super skinny in my humble opinion. I’ve heard people tell me they are taking it so they don’t “have” to exercise which kind of defeats the purpose of being “healthier”
What a gorgeous family photo! Spending family time in Aruba every year is such a great tradition. I couldn’t agree more about the current emaciated look of many in Hollywood. It further reinforces my opinion that so much of what we see in the media is fake or heavily manipulated. It’s sad that so many are influenced by this. I’m all for fit and strong.
I knew you would be! And thanks we have loved our time here this year
A big yes to fit & strong vs skinny! I couldn’t agree more.
What a lovely family photo – so nice that this vacation has become a tradition for you all!
yes it sure does make me happy!
It looks like you had an amazing time in Aruba! I’ll have to pick your brain since we’re planning a big trip there for my birthday. I totally agree with hoping the skinny era doesn’t come back…I was a teen in the early 2000s and it’s crazy how warped body image was back then.
yes please reach out and I can give you lots of restaurants and ideas
No- really? Super skinny is back? UGH. I’ve been loving the emphasis on “strong”. Let’s create a backlash!!!
I’m so glad you enjoyed your vacation! Family time on a beautiful island has to be the best. Happy New Year!
A backlash it is!
Your annual Aruba trip is wonderful! It’s a great tradition you’ve established 😉 The family pic is beautiful…what a great keepsake! I also agree with you and everyone else…strong is a much better alternative to the skinny images we’re still seeing everywhere.
Let’s just keep doing strong!
Deborah, I’m so glad you have this time with your family every year. It’s so important. We didn’t have set times (though usually ended up being May and/or October ) when Ron and I would meet my parents in Spain and now that my dad is gone, we have decided we absolutely must carry on even without him. It was a bittersweet first trip back in October but my time with my stepmom is even more precious now. We will go on our first cruise, the three of us, in May. Dad always wanted us to join them and we just didn’t manage. Again bittersweet that he won’t be there this spring but there will be lots of enjoyment and laughter on his behalf I’m sure.
I totally agree with you on what’s happening currently with celebrities and how it seems we are going back in time with body image. It’s very sad. To be frank, I have been using medication now for a while thanks to my GP and internist who finally decided to take me seriously. I don’t talk about it much publicly because I also don’t want to be judged nor do I want people to think I take these things lightly. It is not my goal to look like a twig. Ever.
I’ve made a commitment to blogging again this year and really missed you all! look forward to many catchups!
Yes for people (and I have a few close friends and family) who have greatly improved their health with GLPs that’s fantastic. But seeing some of these celebrities look so emaciated is upsetting. Glad you are coming back to blogging and look forward to connecting
Happy New Year! I’m with you on the family vacations although we haven’t been able to align with our son and daughter at the same time. Having time with each of them is good too. 😉
There’s so munch money in the weight loss industry, I don’t think we will ever be free of it. There’s even new companies popping up around GLP-1s, with off-brand, non-FDA-approved versions and so-called GLP-1 friendly meal kits. At the same time our junk food industry is off the charts so it’s a constant tug-of-war.
Yes there is a lot going on! Let’s just keep doing what we do! I definitely cherish the family times together
I feel exactly the same way about the celebrities. A few of the “real looking” female celebs that I really admired are now pretty much unrecognizable. It is nice to see strong athletes still winning the day and my hopes are that the strong in sport trend will continue.
Aruba looked lovely – especially from rainy Los Angeles and frigid Chicago!
Happy New Year!
Yes let’s keep embracing the strong ideal over skinny!
Strong is so much more useful and healthy especially in the long term. It’s ridiculous especially with what we already know about muscle mass, bone density and aging.
Love your photos.
yes I agree and thanks!
I’m so glad you had a wonderful time.
We are definitely back to scary times, in appearances, as well as mindsets. Hopefully, we move through this phase quickly and with minimal damage.
yes me too