Notes from February 2023

This essay originally appeared in the Monday morning newsletter on 3/20/23.

Even though we’re almost through March, I still wanted to recap February because it’s one of my favorite ways to remember what happens throughout the year.

If you are looking for an activity to pep up your Monday, give this a try. Scroll through your photos or reference your calendar from the past couple weeks and make a quick list of memories and ordinary moments. A lot can happen over the course of a month!

Notes from February: 

• Highlight of February by-far was visiting Charleston. It was my first time visiting the city and I loved it. My mission was to take a quick, lowkey trip with Matt and Charleston was perfect for us. A vacation filled with good food, lots of walking and beautiful city filled with history? Yes please. We stayed at Hotel Bennett, which was wonderful, and loved the food (and drinks!) at 167 Raw Oyster Bar. Can’t wait to go back to Charleston!
• I didn’t shop much before my trip to Charleston (no-shop January was still going strong in Feb!), but I did treat myself to a haircut and some new makeup before we left. Winter can be tough in the self-confidence department, but a quick trim and/or changing up my makeup routine are easy ways to lift the spirit – I know they did for me. Jones Road Beauty is the new makeup I bought (the foundation and the miracle balm). Big fan!
• While I didn’t shop much, one clothing purchase I did make for Charleston was this $15 neck scarf(color: G-30 Grace Pink). I bought it right before the trip and am so glad I did! I’ve worn it a couple of times since – perfect way to dress up an otherwise plain outfit.   
• I also went to my first Butler basketball game in February! Matt went to Butler for undergrad and is a lifelong avid fan, so it was really special to see it all in person. Plus, the fact that they won didn’t hurt 
• Really enjoyed the books I read in February:The Reunion, Someone Else’s Shoes, Book Lovers, Workday Warrior and Fair Play. The fiction books in particular is what stood out to me – quick thoughts on the below:
  • Book Lovers: I’ve read a few of this author’s (Emily Henry) books and this one is by far her favorite. It’s my favorite fiction book I’ve read this year! Loved the characters and the storyline – not your typical rom-com book.
  • Someone Else’s Shoes: I was very excited to see a new book from JoJo Moyes hit the shelves! Like Emily Henry, I think I could read anything she writes. I liked this one and really fell for a few characters in particular. It was a pretty long book though, and at a few points felt almost like Moyes was trying to get everything she could to fit in the plot. Still enjoyed it though!
  • The Reunion: I thought this was a cute premise – as the description reads, “two former teen stars reconnect at the reunion for their hit TV show and discover their feelings for one another were not merely scripted.” Yes, it was cheesy at times, but also very easy to read and enjoyable.  
• In February, Matt and I started watching a show called The Food That Built America on History Channel. I know – so random. I don’t really know how this started, but the episodes are somehow informative, surprising, and even a bit charming. I now know a lot more about corporate food history than I ever expected to.  
• One of my February intentions was to start a Thursday afternoon ritual. I wrote about this in January, but after coming across the reminder that Wednesday is not the middle of the week, Thursday afternoon is, I wanted to find some way to help me register that I’m only halfway through the week on Thursday. Now, I have a reminder that pops up on my phone at noon on Thursday. I use it as a prompt to think about how the week is going and what else I have to have look forward it. Really liking the mindset shift!