February 2026 // A List

1. My goodness, February was certainly a month. In January, I had high hopes for February, and although the month was great for the most part, there were some really rough days sprinkled throughout. For being the shortest month of the year, February certainly felt like the longest at times.

2. The beginning of February was honestly not so great. My eye was injured while I was cooking, and I ended up having to see my optometrist after hours. I'm so grateful that my doctor offers after-hours emergency visits because I would have had to go to urgent care or the ER. Thankfully, everything is ok now, and the medicine and some much-needed rest helped.

3. I rarely watch the Super Bowl, but I was so excited for the Benito Bowl. Bad Bunny's performance was truly a love letter to everyday people.

4. I loved seeing the Black History Month displays throughout my job. We even had playlists that were made by employees, and we listened to the songs throughout the day.

5. Valentine's Day was very low-key, and I loved it. John and the boys gave me such sweet gifts. 

6. I read so many great books in February. Some of my favorites: Begin Again, and Again, and Again by Alessandra Olanow, A Year Without Home by V.T. Bidania, and Is This A Cry for Help? by Emily R. Austin. I will definitely be purchasing a physical copy of Alessandra Olanow's book, and I am so grateful to have received an eARC from NetGalley.

7. I was in my candle and tulip era. I lit a candle every single day and enjoyed walking into the dining room to see my tulips still thriving. 

8. Winter Break was not at all what I was expecting. I was expecting to get lots of rest, and I did, but I was not expecting to be sick with a terrible cold. It was really bad, and I ended up having to see the doctor because nothing I did to get better worked. 

9. I was so grateful for Mami because while I was sick, she made me a huge batch of her homemade soup. It was such a comfort, and I was hit with a wave of nostalgia. 

10. After I started to feel better, I went on several walks throughout the week. Those three-mile walks were everything and helped make me feel even better.

11. Another really low point of the month was that we had a big leak in our living room, dining room, and kitchen. Thankfully, it was fixed, but we had to replace our carpet. Even though we wanted to get new flooring, we just weren't expecting to have this issue and having to change everything so quickly. Anyway, the new hardwood flooring was installed, and I really love it. 

12. February was a month for trying new things. I went to the grand opening of a new-to-me bakery called Paris Baguette. I was impressed with the bakery and its treats. I plan to visit that bakery in the next week or so. 10/10 highly recommend their cheesecake. So good!

13. My little sister came to town, and I was able to see my nephew and niece. They have gotten so big. Mami was delighted to have all the kids together and spend time with them.

14. The state of the country and the world is still a bit frightening. Every single day, something happens. And it's just exhausting. I don't want to look at the news anymore, and I'm considering muting some news sources. It would probably also help that it's not the first thing I see when I open my phone in the morning, after starting my day.

14. February's ending was a bit of a mad dash. Since we were getting the flooring put down on the last two days of the month, it really pushed back a lot of stuff I was supposed to do during the week. Thankfully, I was able to get everything done and cross everything off my to-do list. 

15. February was a whirlwind of a month that just did not stop. However, it was a very eye-opening month, and I'm grateful for all the lessons I learned. 

16. Goodbye February. You were a chaotic month, keeping me on my toes. Hello March. I'm nervous, but cautiously optimistic. Here's to welcoming new beginnings, protecting our peace, and finding joy in the little things. 

Photo by Anastasia Judt on Unsplash

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

Happy Sunday! It's been two weeks since my last happy and grateful list post. Last week, I didn't get to share my weekly list because it was pretty busy. I was hoping to post it over the weekend, but unfortunately, I came down with an awful cold... and I was still battling it. For the past week, I've been resting in bed and have consumed so many bowls of soup, popsicles, and water. I'm only just now starting to really feel better.

1. We had a low-key Valentine's Day, and it was wonderful. John and the boys gifted me beautiful tulips, treats, and a candle I've had my eye on for a while.

2. I saw the first jonquils this week in my city, and it made my heart happy. Spring is almost here. The pink tulips on my dining room table are still alive, and they bring me such joy when I walk into our dining room.

3. Despite being sick, this winter break did have some productive moments. I did some more research related to my career goals and feel so much better. I also got some major things on my to-do list done.

4. A song on repeat: Black Clouds by Andrew Belle

5. A random fact I just learned: Katherine Applegate wrote the Animorphs series with her husband. I have no idea how I didn't know this. I remember reading that series when I was a kid. 

6. On the wishlist: Swig Life's Loopi Tote Bag. I love the Busy Bee design, and it would be perfect for all my trips to the farmers' market. I also love the Funky Chicken and Teacher/Educator designs. 

7. I'm so grateful for modern healthcare. The medicine I was prescribed has been helping a lot, and I'm starting to feel better.

8. After checking a couple of emails on Friday morning and running a quick errand, I went for a three-mile walk, and it was the perfect workout. The weather was fantastic, and it was so great to finally feel well enough to go for a long walk and be outdoors.

9. We will be getting new flooring downstairs, and I'm really excited. I'm not looking forward to clearing the entire downstairs of our home, but I can't wait to see the end result. 

10. I've been really into various versions of still life. Sarah van Dongen shared some wonderful still-life sketches and pieces from her sketchbook, which really inspired me. I love that she used collage for her work. 

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time... 

Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash

The Impromptu Trip of 2021

It was early June 2021. The last day of school ended just the week prior, and summer break was officially in full force. We didn't really have any plans for the summer...at least not to go out of town. For the most part, we planned to follow our usual summer routine. Go to the pool, visit some new-to-us parks, go to some local festivals, eat copious amounts of ice cream, and watch some movies here and there. But we hadn't made any plans to go on a trip, not even a staycation. 

One afternoon, John let me know that his work schedule had changed and that he would be able to take some vacation days earlier than we anticipated, in addition to his scheduled days off. We wondered what to do since the boys weren't in school, I was still a stay-at-home mom and wife at the time, and now he had some extra days off from work. 

I had been dreaming of going on a vacation for months at that point, and it seems like John had the same idea because he said, "What do you think about going to the mountains?"

He saw the hesitation on my face. I'm a planner, especially when it comes to trips. I like to plan trips well in advance, even if it's only a couple of hours away. There's just too much to do, especially with three small children. We have to pack clothes, shoes, toiletries, electronics (chargers, etc.), and snacks. So many things. So many lists to go over. The thought of making a last-minute trip made me anxious.

"We don't have to go," John says. "We can still do a lot of stuff here."

"I'll think about it," I said.

Later that afternoon, or maybe early evening, I grabbed my laptop and began looking up events in the mountains and places to stay. I had been dying to finally visit Helen, Georgia, for a while now. It looked like the perfect place to go for the summer and escape the heat for a few days. While the boys were playing, John came upstairs and saw that I was looking up cabins and Airbnbs. I smiled at him.

"What do you think? A cabin or a hotel room?" I asked.

"Cabin!", we both said at the same time.

"If we're going to the mountains, we might as well go for the cabin. Make it somewhat authentic," I said.

"Authentic would be more of a tent," John said.

"Um, no. We are not sleeping in a tent," I laughed.

That evening, we booked the cabin for a few days. The kicker: the first available day they had for the cabin, for the number of days we planned to stay, was the next day. It was either book that night and leave tomorrow for Helen, or we wouldn't be able to go at all. Cue the stress of packing late into the night. After packing and double-checking everything, we were as ready as we could be.

The next morning, after we all had breakfast, packed everything into our car, and locked up, I called Mami right as we were about to head out.

"Mami, if you try to get in touch with me and I don't answer...don't panic. We are ok. We're going to be out of town for a few days," I said.

"What?" she asked, surprised.

"We're going to the mountains, so we may not have the best cell reception, especially when we go out on the trails and in the parks," I said.

"When did you plan this?" she asked.

"It was a last-minute trip," I answered.

"You never make last-minute trips," she replied, still surprised. 

"I know," I smiled. 

"Ok. Well, have fun and be safe. Let me know when you guys get there," she says.

The trip was amazing, and we had a blast. It was fun to go off script and not have an itinerary on our trip. We simply went where we wanted to go and experienced a new place without a schedule. To this day, Helen is still one of my favorite places to visit.

That impromptu trip really taught me a lot. It made me realize that it's ok to just wing it sometimes. I don't need to have a rigid plan for everything. It's ok to step out of my comfort zone. Honestly, being able to surprise the boys with this random trip to the mountains was probably the highlight of the trip. Have I detoured from my routine and gone off script since then? Yes, and honestly, it's been worth it. The initial hit of anxiety and stress quickly moves away when I think of all the possible memories we can make. It makes me think of my siblings, who are always carefree and all about spontaneity. Although I wouldn't say I will always be spontaneous, I admit I am now more confident about going off script and letting loose. We only have one life to live, and as the kids say, "YOLO" (or do they not say that anymore?). Here's to embracing more unscripted days. 

This post is part of a blog hop with Exhale —an online community of women pursuing creativity alongside motherhood led by the writing team behind Coffee + Crumbs. Click here to view the next post in the series "Unscripted".

If You And I Had Coffee

If you and I had coffee...

We'd have to meet via Zoom or something similar, unfortunately, because I'm feeling under the weather. I have an incredibly awful cold and have been stuck at home for days now. I'd be in my pajamas, with something warm to drink (possibly some terrible tea and a delicious coffee) and a massive bottle of water on the side. No pastries this time, but there will be a big bowl of chicken noodle soup.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you this isn't how I expected my winter break to turn out. I fully expected to have some rest and relaxation...just minus the sickness. I did go to the doctor and now have a couple of prescriptions to help me get better. I've gotten plenty of rest and have read quite a few books.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you another unexpected thing that's happened during our winter break is that we will have to get new flooring throughout the downstairs. We have had a few leaks get on our carpet, and honestly, it's just time to get new flooring. I'm both excited and a bit anxious. We are going to get vinyl flooring instead of carpet. John and I are so excited, especially John, as he's been wanting to change the flooring for a while now. It's going to be annoying to move everything out of downstairs, but it's going to be worth it.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you, although I'm under the weather, it's been a productive week. I am still working on the next steps for my career and have even considered pursuing a master's degree. There are a couple of programs I'm interested in, but I'm definitely going to take some time to do thorough research before I decide. However, I will say I'm so excited because I feel like I'm really getting close to making a decision.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you I'm dreaming of spring. I really can't wait for farmers' market season. I'm already looking forward to spring break. I'm also looking forward to March and am hoping for a calmer month. February has been full of unexpected events, and I'm hoping to get back to a regular routine.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm glad we were able to catch up again. I thought we wouldn't be able to catch up due to how busy this month has been. I also just realized that next week is the last week of February, which is wild to me. This month has truly felt like it's flown by. Here's to good health and peaceful days. I hope you enjoy the rest of February. See you next month!

What would you tell me?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Adrian Swancar on Unsplash

Just Five Things

 

1. I recently finished reading A Year Without Home by V.T. Bidania and loved it. This is a children's novel in verse about an eleven-year-old girl named Gao Sheng who lives in Laos. When the communist government takes over after American troops pull out from the Vietnam War, the government begins to search for American allies. One of those allies is Gao's father. Gao's family is forced to flee their home and homeland to survive. It was amazing to see how Gao copes with these changes and how she navigates the expectations placed on her.

2. This is the last week before winter break, and I'm so excited. I love that this Friday is Friday the 13th. I plan to watch a scary movie or two. Maybe even watch a spooky series. We'll have a low-key Valentine's Day, and I'll probably try to bake something. I'm really looking forward to working on my Project Life album and playing in my sketchbook. I might also go to the movies and watch Dracula. Of course, I plan to do a lot of resting and relaxing. 

3. I had no idea who was playing at the Super Bowl until just a few hours before the game. I was incredibly excited for Bad Bunny's performance, and the show did not disappoint. I was hit with a massive wave of nostalgia. The highlights and various scenes of moments were incredible. Bad Bunny truly highlighted the everyday Latino life. The performance made me wish I were back in New York. It made me think about my childhood. The scenes of family gatherings, the celebrations, the bodega, the culture...all the little Easter eggs sprinkled throughout the performance were everything. Bad Bunny's performance was truly a love letter. 

4. I went down a rabbit hole after reading a post on social media about the Tarim mummies. It was interesting to read about how people in that time might have lived. The way the mummies were buried was also interesting. I was surprised to learn that the coffins were shaped like boats. One of the mummies even appeared to have undergone surgery. His abdomen was stitched with sutures made of horsehair. 

5. I'm excited for spring. I love that stores are starting to sell their new spring collections. I think I may want to buy a new dining set for spring. Maybe something colorful that can also be used during summer. Of course, I'm looking forward to all the spring seasonal treats as well. I'm looking forward to buying the first bag of Cadbury eggs for the season.

What have you been up to?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

Happy Saturday! This week was an eventful one. Only one unexpected thing happened, which was absolutely not fun (see #3 on the list), but thankfully everything is ok. This work also went by quickly. This weekend, I plan to get a couple of errands done and watch Bad Bunny's halftime show performance. I also plan to start a new book or two. I can't wait.

1. When the world feels heavy and is a bit too loud, the venerable monks and their walk for peace continue to restore my hope in humanity. 

2. Ryan Goff's beautiful short about winter

3. My optometrist. I had to see my doctor after hours, after injuring my eye (don't worry, I'm fine) while trying to prep and cook some shrimp. While panicking and sobbing, I called my optometrist and left a voicemail. John and I were going to head to the urgent care, but my optometrist called just minutes after I left the voicemail, saying he could meet us at the office. Long story short, I got my eye flushed, examined, and was prescribed some medicine. My eye looked significantly better the next day, and now it's basically fine. I'm so grateful for our insurance, and most importantly, our doctor(s). 

4. Finished reading: Is This a Cry for Help? by Emily R. Austin. This was such a great book! The story follows Darcy, a librarian, who returns to work after suffering from a mental health crisis upon learning about the death of her ex, Ben. After returning to work, Darcy must navigate protests about censorship and book bans. The story also touches on Darcy's struggle with her sexuality and her family life. 

*Thank you to NetGalley for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.*

5. A song on repeat: SHYNE by Travis Scott feat. GloRilla

6. I was so excited when I found out RYZE has mocha coffee latte sticks in stores. I tried it this week, and it's so good. John even loves it too. I do wish that it came in a bigger box or maybe in a bag, but I can see that this flavor is going to be one of our long-time favorites. I also bought the caramel coffee latte sticks, but haven't tried them yet. If you're interested in trying RYZE, use my code THEEMITIMES15, and get 15% off your next order by clicking here.

*Please know that I don't share affiliate links unless I absolutely love the products.*

7. It's still really cold, but at least it's not below freezing. I'm also happy it's supposed to be even warmer next week (lows in the 40s, highs in the mid-50s and 60s). 

8. Nina Cosford's sketchbook snippets are so cool. 

9. I bought the boys' and John's Valentine's Day gifts. We also got Raphael's teachers a little gift and his classmates some Valentine's Day cards and treats. John and I tend to be really low-key on Valentine's Day, but we'll still get each other a gift. I think I'm going to bake a Valentine's Day treat as well. Honestly, I love that Valentine's Day is on a Saturday. 

10. This upcoming week is the week before our winter break starts, and I'm so excited to have a week off. I plan to work on lots of crafty projects and catch up on some shows. I'm also hoping to get in a few winter walks. 

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time... 

Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash

February 2026 Goals

Happy Wednesday! Can you believe we're already a few days into February? Per usual, January felt like the longest yet shortest month ever. The first few days of January, leading up to my birthday, were amazing. I spent those days preparing for the month and the new year. Of course, I also spent those days celebrating my birthday, since it fell on a weekday. 

In January, John and I went on a date and tried Roxy's for the first time. The food was pretty great, and we plan to go back soon. We also wandered around the Marietta Square and explored some shops. I got some new art supplies, a gorgeous vase, a new mug, and a few fun other things as gifts. John and I also went to First Watch and ordered some of their seasonal menu items. Their B.E.C. was delicious! 10/10 highly recommend. I also had jury duty for the first time, and it was interesting. I know a lot of people usually get annoyed when they have to report for jury duty. I was annoyed at first, but quickly changed my mind. Raphael and I played Mario Kart, and it was so much fun. We also had some winter weather that forced schools and workplaces to shut down. It was so nice to rest at home. Unfortunately, we didn't get snow, but we definitely got some on the first day of February.

This month, I'm looking forward to a slower(ish) month. I'm looking forward to celebrating Valentine's Day. I'm especially looking forward to winter break. I'm hoping to catch up on a couple of shows and (maybe) watch a movie.

Recap of January 2026 Goals

• Read 2 books I borrowed from the library: Raphael and I have been on a Jory John kick and enjoyed reading several of his books in the The Food Group series. We still have a few more books from the series to read, and I plan to place a few more holds soon.

• Read 1 book I received from NetGalley: I read How to Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay by Jenny Lawson. This was a really great read. This book read like a mix of self-help and memoir, which I loved. It was interesting to read Jenny Lawson's take on anxiety, depression, and ADHD.

• Participate in Exhale's January blog hop: I didn't participate in the actual blog hop, but I did make a piece using the prompt after the blog hop's date. You can check out my piece here.

• Make 1 scrapbook/Project Life layout: I worked in my Project Life album, but didn't complete the layouts. I am waiting for my photos to arrive, but I have already worked out the placement for my cards and photos. Next, I plan to work on the journaling.

• Work in my sketchbook/journal: I haven't worked in my sketchbook. January was extremely busy, and I did a lot more organizing of craft and art supplies. I do know which sketchbook I plan to use, so I'm really hoping that this creative block is finally gone for good. I just need to set aside some time to play with my art supplies.

• Drink more water: I've been drinking a lot more water, and even more so once I was under the weather. I hope to continue to keep this good habit.

February Goals

• Read 1 book I borrowed from the library
• Read 1 book I received from NetGalley
• Make 1 scrapbook/Project Life layout
• Work in my sketchbook/journal
• Try 1 new recipe

What are your goals for February? How did you do in January?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by micheile henderson on Unsplash