February Coffee Chat

This essay appeared in the Monday morning newsletter on 3/2/26. Subscribe here! 

Three Steps to a Happier Monday

Before we dive into a new week, let’s pause and ask ourselves some simple questions to reflect on where we’ve been, get excited about something today and set an intention for the week ahead.

GRATITUDE: What are three things I appreciated from the weekend? 

TODAY: What’s one thing I can be excited about today?

INTENTION: What is my intention for this week? 

For me, I’m thankful for having my mom in town, good conversations and discovering a great walking trail Saturday. Today, I’m most excited to have a little weekly planning session with myself this morning. And my intention for the week is to write down three things I’m thankful for every morning.

Okay, your turn! And if you want to share, I am all ears. 🙂

Monday Musings: February Coffee Chat

How was your February? I hope this short (and perfectly symmetrical!) month treated you well.

I’m writing this on an early weekday morning – before work and before Ben wakes up. It’s part of my new back-to-work rhythm: coffee, a candle lit, some quiet solo time. I love it.

So, let’s catch up!

Festive Tablescapes

One of my favorite things lately has been using our dining room table as a place to decorate seasonally. We mostly eat at our kitchen table, but even though we don’t use the dining room every day, I see it constantly – we pass through it all the time and it’s the first room you notice when you walk in the front door.

Because of that, I’ve found it’s one of the easiest places to decorate. I don’t have to clear it for dinner every night or reset it after every meal. It can simply sit there looking lovely, bringing a little seasonal charm to the whole house.

For February, I added a new tablecloth, tied pink velvet bows around a few bud vases and set out an adorable plant I received as a gift. I meant to add flowers to the vases too, but… such is life.

My Morning Basket 

Speaking of small tweaks that make a difference… allow me to introduce my latest obsession: the morning basket.

In the mornings, I love a little quiet time to flip between journaling, reading and planning the day. But that often meant books, notebooks and pens scattered everywhere – or getting cozy on the couch with my coffee only to realize I’d forgotten something and had to get up.

Then I remembered a tip Gretchen Rubin shared in her book Outer Order, Inner Calm: “Use trays to gather items that would otherwise look scattered.”

I realized the same idea could apply here, just with a basket instead of a tray. I repurposed one I already owned and corralled all my morning essentials inside. Now everything is at my fingertips, and when my quiet time is over, it all goes neatly away. Love it!!

Planning in Weeks, Not Days

This month I read I Know How She Does It by Laura Vanderkam (in part to get excited about going back to work). There’s something about her writing that I’m always drawn to. Every time I read one of her books – 168 Hours, Off the Clock – I’m reminded: I do have time for the things that matter to me. But I have to be intentional.

One of her seminal teachings? Plan in weeks, not days. Any 24 hours might not feel balanced – but 168 hours (24 x 7) can be.

In February, I printed a weekly template and mapped out my “ideal week” for this new season. I filled in the fixed pieces first: work, sleep, Ben’s schedule, other commitments. Then I layered in the things I want to prioritize like reading, workouts, writing this newsletter, time with Matt.

This was especially helpful for something like exercise. I realized I can aim for short workouts on Monday, Tuesday and Friday mornings, plus a longer one on Saturday. I love that the decision is already made. On Sunday, I choose my workout videos and lay out my clothes. Without that plan, I’d be tempted to stay wrapped up in a book or linger in my quiet time on any given morning. But because I know this is one of the mornings that works, I don’t have to re-decide. I simply follow the plan.

At a glance, I might say, “I don’t have time to work out.” And that’s true if I mean every single morning. But over the course of a week? I can make it happen often – not always, but often. Planning this way makes things more manageable and more realistic. It replaces all-or-nothing thinking with something steadier.

That shift – from always to often – feels both freeing and sustainable.

Getting Ready to Start Solids

Ben is sitting independently and bringing his hands to his mouth, which means… we think it’s time to start solids! Woo so exciting! 

Like everything in parenting, there are a lot of opinions about the “best” way to do this. I’m so grateful for our pediatrician, who reassured us there isn’t one perfect approach – just start, introduce allergens early and pay attention to baby’s cues.

We’re planning to do a mix of spoon-fed purées and baby-led weaning, probably starting with purées. Matt will take the lead while he’s home with Ben in March, and I love that this can be a bonding activity for them.

Revisiting February Goals

• Register at the local library – ugh, no! Did not get there this month. 
• Do an “ideal week” exercise – yes, and as mentioned above, it was a great exercise!
• Start a new workday morning ritual – yes! Time with Ben, then a handoff and a fresh cup of coffee to help me mentally shift into work mode.
• Lock in our meal-planning systems – yes!
• Plan a family Valentine’s Day celebration – as featured, the table was festive, but Matt really did the heavy lifting here. I was treated to two bouquets (one from each of my boys), plus a card and a surprise gift. Thank you, Matt!
• Host a game night – also didn’t get this one done, but that’s okay! There’s always next month. 
• Gather tax admin items – done.

What were your February highlights? I’d love to hear.