February 2025 // A List

1. Oh February. The shortest month of the year but a good one overall. A month full of love, adventure, good books, good days (and a couple bad), and learning new things.

2. John and I went on a date in early February and tried a new-to-us restaurant, Taqueria Tsunami. The food was excellent. I highly recommend the garden shrimp quesadilla. I tried their mango sangrita, which was good, but a bit strong. After dinner, we went for a walk around the Marietta Square.

3. I made sure to early vote in my local election. Please make sure to make your voice heard and vote during elections.

4. I am still in my floral era and hope it never ends. John bought me some beautiful flowers on Valentine's Day, and they're still alive. 

5. Speaking of Valentine's Day, you may know that John and I always tell each other that we won't buy gifts, but then we do. I was so excited to give John and the boys their gifts. They all loved their gifts. 

6. The weather gave me whiplash this month. We randomly had spring-like weather for about a week, and then the cold weather returned. Thankfully, it's been getting warmer again. I can't wait for spring to officially arrive. 

7. I watched two films on Netflix: Fallen and La Ciguapa Siempre. The first is a movie based on Kate Lauren's book, and the second is a 12-minute horror short. 

8. In February, I tried a few new things: Sugarfina's champagne gummies, YumEarth Sour Littles, Pretty Tasty Tea, and Copper Cow Pour Over Coffee (I highly recommend the churro coffee).

9. February was a good reading month. I read 17 books. Raphael and I have been on a Jonathan Stutzman kick. We love his Tiny T. Rex series. I'm still enjoying short stories and short story collections. I look forward to reading even more novellas and short story collections this year.

10. I shared my piece for Exhale's blog hop. I look forward to participating in future blog hops. 

11. The state of this country is both worrying and angering me. 

12. As the month comes to an end, I hope that March is easy on me. I'm dreading the month already, especially since it's my baby brother's death anniversary. I'm currently going through waves of grief. It still seems odd (and almost wrong?) to be happy about things in March while also dealing with grief. I find myself still going through waves of grief throughout the year, but it really hits me during March. 

13. Goodbye February. You were a month full of love and excitement. Hello March. Please, please, please be easy on me. 

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

Happy Sunday! Today, I'm linking up with Charlotte, Lindsay, and Beth for their weekly happy and grateful list link-up.

1. I read and absolutely loved Alice Hoffman's short story "The Bookstore Sisters." This is the first short story in the Once Upon a Time Bookshop series. I actually read the second short story first (don't ask me why; I honestly don't know). I highly recommend reading the stories in order. I can't wait to read the third short story, which was published last Tuesday.

2. More r.h. Sin mood boards. Here's Mood Board #11, Mood Board #12, Mood Board #13, Mood Board #14, and Mood Board #15. 

3. When Your Only Job is to Cuddle. Thank you to Joanna from Cup of Jo for sharing this article on her blog.

4. A song on repeat: Love Me by Adrian Daniel

5. "She's ferocious, you know? I hope she takes that with her, too."

6. A current favorite: YumEarth Sour Littles. These little sour candies are so good. They're allergy-friendly, organic, vegan, non-GMO, have no artificial dyes, and no high fructose corn syrup. This was an impulse buy that was worth it.

7. Words by Amy Turn Sharp

8. Victoria's Secret has a fantastic new perfume collection called Bare. I bought the Bare Rose Eau de Parfum and the lotion. I absolutely love it. 

9. Being on winter break was the best ever. We all got some much-needed rest. I read some good books, listened to good music, decluttered a few areas around our home, and was able to put together some bags to donate. I may have mentioned it before, but I am absolutely terrified of going to the dentist. I had a dentist appointment this week, and thankfully, it went well. 

10. Early afternoon naps, especially on Sundays.

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Love Is...

Love is...

Complex, but also simple. Beautiful and messy. Exciting and scary. Breathtaking. Showing up and caring. Knowing your person. Setting up the Keurig the night before so it's ready first thing in the morning. Switching the load of laundry. Listening to their needs. Giving them your undivided attention. Surprise flowers (even grocery store flowers). Spending time together. When you say, "You're my person." Remembering the little things. Exploring new places. Visiting favorite places together. Running errands together. Going to Costco on a Saturday morning (yes, on Saturday morning). Filling up their gas when you notice they forgot. Making new traditions and sticking with old ones, too. Being reliable and keeping your word. Admitting your mistakes. Apologizing and accepting their apologies. Not going to bed angry at each other. Setting boundaries and respecting boundaries. Practicing trust. Sharing the last slice of cheesecake. Laughing so hard at jokes that you feel like you can't breathe. Silent communication (i.e., you don't need to say anything at the moment; just being near each other is enough). Sharing the blanket. Reminding your love that you're proud of them (no matter how big or small the win is). Knowing when to give space. Having a go-to restaurant. Sharing your favorite things. Asking how their day went. Holding hands. Big hugs and kisses. When you (still) get "butterflies" in your stomach. When you still blush no matter how long you've been together. Learning how to compromise. Knowing when to let go. Knowing when to stay. Being honest with each other...always. One of the greatest, most incredible gifts. 

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 "Love."

Photo by micheile henderson on Unsplash

Just Five Things

1. It's winter break, so the boys do not have school, and I'm off work for the week. It has been glorious. My main goal for this week is to declutter my closet and donate a bunch of clothes that no longer fit or I no longer wear. I also plan to make a couple of layouts in my Project Life album and work on my One Little Word album. 

2. I'm not a fan of tea, but I recently tried Pretty Tasty Raspberry Collagen Tea, which was surprisingly good! It's a black tea blend that has collagen protein peptides. The taste was refreshing. I could tell it was definitely tea, but the taste was not really strong. I'm actually surprised I enjoyed the raspberry flavor because I'm also not a fan of raspberry. I plan on trying the rest of the flavors (peach, lemon, and original black tea). I'm hesitant about the original black tea flavor, but I have high hopes since I enjoyed the raspberry tea.

3. Raphael and I have been enjoying Jonathan Stutzman's Tiny T-Rex series. It's such a cute series. I found out about this book a few weeks before Valentine's Day and put several of Stutzman's books on hold at our library. I'm happy that Raphael loves going to the library and is starting to show more interest in reading. 

4. I'm reading 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff. This is an epistolary memoir of letters between Hanff and Frank Doel, the chief buyer for Marks & Co Booksellers. I love that you can tell their personalities by the letters. The book had me laughing within the first few pages of the book. You could probably finish this book in a couple of hours. So far, the book is so good. I'll have to share a full review when I'm done.  

5. A reminder:

1. Whatever the work is, do it well—not for the boss but for yourself.

2. You make the job; it doesn't make you.

3. Your real life is with us, your family.

4. You are not the work you do; you are the person you are.

From Toni Morrison's "The Work You Do, the Person You Are"

What have you been up to lately?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

Happy Saturday! Today, I'm linking up with Charlotte, Lindsay, and Beth for their weekly happy and grateful list link-up.

1. I started reading Murder Ballads by Katy Moran. It's a book about different murder ballads and the history of them. So far, I'm enjoying this book and have even looked up some of the names and places mentioned in the ballads. 

*I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I'll share a full review soon.

2. r.h. Sin has been on a roll with his mood boards. Here's Mood Board #6, Mood Board #7, Mood Board #8, Mood Board #9: Part 1, Mood Board #9: Part 2, and Mood Board #10.

3. Wise words by Brianna Wiest

4. A new favorite: Sugarfina's Champagne Gummy Bears

5. How To Love Better

6. I absolutely love running errands on weekend mornings. Fewer people are in the stores, and I can get stuff done much faster. I was even able to browse a little and get in some me-time before heading back home.

7. Super Bowl memes. Although I'm not a football fan, the memes and random video clips of the games and celebrations have been entertaining. Also, I seem to learn something new every year about football during (or shortly after) the Super Bowl.

8. The New York Times readers sharing their "The One Who Got Away" stories.

9. I was so excited to give John and the boys their Valentine's Day gifts. 

10. Valentine's Day, winter break has begun, and it's finally the weekend!

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

If You and I Had Coffee

If you and I had coffee...

We'd meet up at the new little coffee shop that's about ten minutes away from the downtown area. We'd order something close to our usual drinks but try some seasonal treats. We'd stay indoors because the weather has not been great.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I finished watching La Ciguapa Siempre, a 12-minute thriller/horror. I loved the premise of the story, especially since it is based on folklore from the Dominican Republic. I vaguely remember hearing stories about ciguapas as a child. This was an odd film and an interesting take on the myth. However, the film did not do justice to the myth of ciguapas.  

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm really excited for Valentine's Day, and I can't wait to give John and the boys their gifts. All week long, I plan to wear something pink or red to help celebrate Valentine's Day. I'm usually not really into this holiday, but I am this year for some reason.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm looking forward to so many things in the upcoming days and weeks. I'm looking forward to winter break. No school and no work sounds great. I'm looking forward to some much-needed rest. I'm looking forward to catching up on a few shows. I'm looking forward to some pre-spring cleaning (I guess winter cleaning). I'm hoping to get started on that, maybe over the weekend. I'm looking forward to reading some good books.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I've been having a hard time creating. I have so much to say and so many things I want to make that I just don't know where to begin. I keep grabbing a new sketchbook and worrying about messing up the pages. It's incredibly frustrating, and I hope to get out of this creative rut soon.

If you and I had coffee...

I'd tell you that I'm so glad we were able to meet. January was a crazy month, and so far, this month has been a bit quieter. And for that, I'm grateful. I hope you have a great day, and may the rest of this month be a good one for you. I hope to see you next month.

What would you tell me?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Aliaksandra Abramovich on Unsplash

Atlanta Mom

Happy Monday! I'm over at Atlanta Mom with a new post. I'm sharing a list of 10 winter drink recipes. Feel free to check out my post and tell me what you think. You can check out my previous posts here.

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

10 Things That Made Me Happy This Week

Happy Saturday! Today, I'm linking up with Charlotte, Lindsay, and Beth for their weekly happy and grateful list link-up.

1. My coworker and friend surprised me with Starbucks' Blackberry Sage Lemonade Refresher. It was the perfect start to the morning. The blackberry sage lemonade refresher is absolutely amazing. I was pleasantly surprised by the taste. The sage is not overpowering.

2. r.h. Sin's mood boards (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5)

3. Spring-like weather. I'm pretty sure this is "false spring," but I am here for the warmer weather. 

4. John took me on a date to Taqueria Tsunami. We had a great time and enjoyed some delicious food and drinks. I highly recommend the Shrimp Tempura Taco, the Baja Taco, and the Garden Shrimp Quesadilla. I also had a mango sangrita, which was tasty but a little strong. After dinner, we went for a walk on the Marietta Square.

5. I found out the movie Fallen was finally available on Netflix. It is based on Lauren Kate's novel, which I absolutely loved, as well as the other books in the series. 

6. Nothing Bundt Cakes' latest pop-up flavor is Chocolate-Covered Strawberry with Ghirardelli Chocolate. Oh my goodness, this cake is absolutely delicious. When I first tried it, I thought the cake was supposed to be vanilla with strawberry, but it's actually strawberry cake. It was a pleasant surprise and is now one of my favorite pop-up flavors.

7. Little Treats.

8. I wore my new sweater on my date with John and absolutely loved it. I bought it for Valentine's Day, but it's perfect for any day. It's so soft, and I love that it's oversized.

9. I ensured my voice was heard and took advantage of early voting. There's a special election going on in my area. I think it's so important for everyone to know that they should vote in every election, including this one for the Board of Commissioners.

10. I have been drawn to really colorful pieces of jewelry, clothing, and decor. I absolutely love it, and it's been inspiring me to create. 

What made you happy this week?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Target Finds

Happy Wednesday! It's time for another Target Finds! As usual, I found a lot of great things at Target over the past few weeks. A few were impulse buys, some were needed, and a few were gifts. This month's Target Finds is an interesting mix of those three things.

Lay's Potato Chips - All Dressed

This is my new favorite snack. It has three flavors, all on one chip. It's a good combination of sweet, savory, and tangy. The three classic Lay's flavors are Barbeque, Salt & Vinegar, and Sour Cream & Onion. For some weird reason, the flavors work well. I'm not a big fan of salt and vinegar, but the taste wasn't overpowering and still worked well with the other two flavors. I honestly wonder who came up with this idea because whoever it was deserves a raise.

MAGNA-TILES microMAGS Travel Set

I bought Raphael this travel set for Valentine's Day. We have been interested in STEM toys, and one of Raphael's current favorites is Magna-Tiles. This little travel set will be perfect for when we're on the go.

Tony's Chocolate Sampler Pack

I first learned about these chocolates from Brooke Barker's interview over at Cup of Jo's Big Salad substack newsletter. I completely forgot about these chocolates until I went to the candy aisle at Target. I decided to get the sampler pack to try a bunch of the flavors. My favorites are hazelnut and milk chocolate nougat.

Allerease Waterproof Mattress Protector

We had to replace a mattress protector after it got destroyed after being washed. I'm not even sure how it got damaged, but it did. So far, it seems ok. It doesn't make any noise when you lie on the bed, and it fits the bed.

What are some of your favorite Target Finds?

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

February 2025 Goals

Happy Monday! It's finally February! January felt like the longest month ever! I absolutely love my birthday month, but January arrived fast and furious. There were so many joyful moments in January. I celebrated my 34th birthday all month long. I did my usual birthday rituals and traditions. John and I went on a date and watched The Damned. I tried a new-to-me Red Velvet ice cream cake for my birthday. School and work got shut down because we got snow (we actually got snow!). We also had a delayed start due to the weather. I indulged in seasonal treats and birthday rewards. I read a lot of good books and newsletters. I found new-to-me artists and listened to good music.

Despite all the good things this month, my heart repeatedly broke for so many people. January was a heavy month. I hope everyone made sure to take care of themselves. I hope this month is much softer, gentler, and kinder. The world needs it. 

One of my goals this month is ensuring I care for myself. I think self-care will be the theme for this month. Since I've mentioned goals, let's quickly recap my goals for January and then check out my new goals for February.

Recap of January Goals

• Read 5 books: I read 12 books in January. My favorite read of the month was So Late in the Day by Claire Keegan. I plan on buying a copy of the book (or adding it to my wishlist). 

• Read 1 book that I received from NetGalley: I finished reading Mama Needs a Minute by Mary Catherine Starr. This took me a bit longer to read, but it was due to me starting this book during November (the holiday season).

• Participate in Exhale's January blog hop: I did participate in the blog hop. You can check out my piece here.

• Work on my One Little Word: I didn't work on the actual project but kept reflecting on my word for the year. Unfortunately, my One Little Word supplies didn't get delivered until closer to the end of the month. Then, a bunch of stuff kept me from working on several projects, including One Little Word.

• Try 1 new recipe: I tried a lemon pepper shrimp recipe, which came out great. With some white rice on the side, it was the perfect meal. I'm definitely keeping this recipe in my arsenal.

• Make time to play with my scrapbook/memory-keeping supplies: I didn't make time to use my supplies because the supplies I wanted to use didn't arrive on time.

February Goals

• Read 5 books
• Read 2 books I received from NetGalley
• Participate in Exhale's February blog hop
• Work on my One Little Word project
• Try 2 new recipes
• Make time to play with my scrapbook/memory-keeping supplies
• Complete the latest round of Five Things

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

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time...

Photo by Ella Jardim on Unsplash