General Highlights:
In February, I visited my brother in Indiana; attended a fabulous Galentine party at a friend’s downtown loft; celebrated a few friend and family birthdays (February is awfully birthday-heavy for such a short month!); witnessed a fantastic Tiger win; filed my taxes and already received my refund (woo!); watched a lot of Olympics; took my flute for a sorely needed tune-up; and bought a bluebird house for my yard. We also had a tiny snow that melted within hours.
Read and Reading:
I tore through the entire Divergent trilogy (plus supplemental materials) in under a week. I had decided to wait until the final book came out to start reading, and I’m so glad I did. The story and Tris’s distinctive voice sucked me right in. I understand all the fan objections to Allegiant and have a few of my own, but I don’t regret emotionally investing in these books. They raise a lot of worthwhile questions and food for thought. Actually, I could probably write a compare-and-contrast paper just on Tris and other YA heroines of the last ten years.
TV/Movies:
I’m working my way through a curated list of the most important Buffy The Vampire Slayer episodes in preparation for an upcoming blog series, Lessons From Buffy. Get excited! I kind of forgot how good the show was, and it’s getting tough to accomplish much at home. Especially since my cat Peach likes to watch it with (and on) me. I think she’s appreciating the positive female role model.
Rented and liked: The Spectacular Now (pretty depressing, though). Went to and liked: The Monuments Men, though the bad reviews I’ve seen had valid points. I think there was just too much story there to make a super-tight movie.
Music:
The hip but classically soulful Aloe Blacc is really growing on me. This month I learned that he also sang “I Need A Dollar,” which is (inexplicably) my family’s unofficial party song with some longtime family friends. So yeah, I’m a fan.
Beauty:
♥ In February I took a few steps toward a more organic beauty routine. After seeing a good review on a curly-hair website, I ordered Giovanni Tea Tree Treat shampoo and conditioner from Vitacost. My scalp is loving it! This was my first Vitacost order and I’m already a convert. I loaded up an online cart, then printed it out and took it to Whole Foods for comparison. Everything cost twice as much at Whole Foods. No contest.
♥ One unexpected side effect of wearing an eye mask at night is that my eyelashes are breaking and falling off. I’m a little freaked out about it, so I ordered supplies for this natural lash serum. Hopefully I’ll be ready for a mascara commercial by this time next month.
♥ Instead of buying more Biore Ice Cleanser for my face, I’m trying Yes to Tomatoes. Very few cleansers are a match for my super-oily skin, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by this one!
Celebrating:
As you already know if you follow me on any other social media, I’m going to be an aunt again in October! :) I’m so excited to have a second niece or nephew to love.
Travel:
As I mentioned, my parents and I visited my brother in Indiana over President’s Day weekend. It was my first experience of a place in deep winter. I kept wanting to pull over and take pictures! We went to Owensboro, Kentucky on Saturday and had lunch at the famous Moonlite Bar-B-Q. It was a meal I’ll remember for a long time!
On The Blog:
This month I talked about being, not doing; why my Phoebe Buffay-level guitar skills make me feel more alive; and my struggle to convince myself that I don’t have to be pretty all the time.
Posts I Loved:
♥ LOL of the month: Lindsay Ferrier, When Pinterest Attacks.
♥ Donald Miller: Why I Don’t Go To Church Very Often. Whether you agree with him or not, he makes several excellent points here.
♥ My hero, Kelle Hampton: The Can’t Also Crisis and Sorting Out Identity Issues At 35 Years Old
♥ Paul Heggie: Come On Over Anyway
♥ Abby Norman: Put Down Your Sword, Sister, Your Seat Is Right Here
♥ Debby Hudson: When We Don’t Want Real
♥ Jimmy Cornfoot: Lessons From The Bike
♥ Proud of this post from one of my best friends: Faculty Devotion: Hope
When Pinterest Attacks made me laugh and laugh. Thanks for that!
I think I need to rewatch all of Buffy in preparation for reading your series. Excellent idea. I look forward to it.
I just don’t even know how we’re at the end of February. I feel so behind. :)
By the way, your hair looks amazing! I might have to try that kind of shampoo. I use Shikai now and I like it pretty well but my hair is only nice on the day I wash it. After that it loses its body.
Congrats on being an aunt again! That is fabulous. <3
Thank you!!
I loved the Pinterest post! And thanks for the shout-out! You know how hard it is for me to write personal stuff and your constant encouragement means the world to me – love you!
Oh my goodness, that “When Pinterest Attacks” article cracked me up! And I’ve made those pizza rolls for Jill, but I make them in my muffin tin so they stay contained. :)
Wow, the “tough guy” article really resonated with me. I like people to see me as okay and happy and that everything is just fine, even if I’m hurting or lonely or sad.
Also, your hair is beautiful in that top picture where the light is shining through it.
Thanks! :)
That’s an adorable birth announcement. Congrats on soon becoming an aunt x 2! Looking forward to checking out the links here – they sound very interesting.
I LOVE that you are doing a Buffy series! That is my all-time favorite show, hands down. Brilliant is not a strong enough word for it.
I’ve never heard of Aloe Blacc, but you’ve got me intrigued. I’m checking him out!
I’m obsessed with Once More With Feeling, but had forgotten specifics of the other episodes I’ve seen, so I’m getting a refresher. :)
Oooh, I’m intrigued by a Buffy series! I’ve only watched the first season, though, so I’m not sure I’d get every reference. Perhaps I should add the other seasons to my to-watch list!