The month of February is bittersweet. There is so much to celebrate — Galentine’s Day on February 13th at Jasper Row, my parents celebrating 50 years of marriage, and getting to see Wiz at the Paramount Theater.
And then there is the quiet weight February carries too. Valentine’s Day marks 11 years since my nana passed away. The hole in my world and in my heart has never been filled, and the emptiness our family carries is still devastating to this day.
I’m also heading into a minor surgery this month. And yet, even with all of this, there are still many things to celebrate, to savor, and to enjoy.
This February, I’m choosing to hold space for it all — the joy and the grief, the love and the longing. I’ll be relishing the small moments, leaning into self-care, and celebrating deeper connections with wonderful women along the way.
25 Ways I’m Choosing Joy, Love & Care This February
1) Have a night fully dedicated to family, play a boardgames, make dinner together, set the table as if you have guests coming, and watch a movie to end the night.
2) Go get a mani-pedi that’s girly and Valentine’s-themed.
3) Bake a special treat to share — I’ll be making copycat Crumbl cookies and sharing the recipe next week.
4) Buy myself cute and cozy Valentine’s pajamas.
5) Start a romantic book — and share a list from my book girlie Molly Barr, who will also be doing a guest post. I’ll share local bookstore recommendations too.
9) Have a rom-com movie night with a twist: best-friend love stories like Thelma & Louise, Beaches, and Steel Magnolias — because the best love story of my life is the one with my best friend.
12) Plan a Galentine’s Day event — join us at Jasper Row!
15) Add tiny little Valentine’s Day touches around the house.
16) Buy myself flowers.
17) Take myself to dinner or plan a night out with my best girls at a place none of us have been. Dress up and enjoy it.
18) Go thrifting.
19) Have a craft day
.20) Relish the small things — choosing joy, love, self-care, and deeper connections with incredible women.
21) Write handwritten notes — to my boys, my future self, or someone who changed my life.
22) Make a February playlist filled with songs about love, healing, friendship, and dancing in the kitchen.
23) Take a long, indulgent everything shower or bath — candles, music, fancy soap, full main-character energy.
24) Start a simple “February moments” list — one small good thing each day, no pressure, just noticing.
25) Do one thing this month that my nana would have loved — a recipe, a place, a tradition, or telling one of her stories out loud.
