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Friends, hello \u2013 how are we? Cold? Exactly.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not that I\u2019m here to wish away February but I just can\u2019t seem to get warm this week.\u00a0 Here is a short list of things I\u2019m looking forward to in March because that\u2019s where I want to be, mentally \u2013<\/p>\n
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- The sun setting at a reasonable hour so I no longer feel like I should be in pajamas by 5:30 PM.<\/li>\n
- Grocery store tulips\u2014specifically Trader Joe\u2019s tulips that I\u2019ll mix with their chamomile flowers.<\/li>\n
- A good excuse to make corned beef and cabbage and pretend I know what I\u2019m doing.<\/li>\n
- The first warm day that tricks me into wearing sandals (or at least shoes without socks?), immediately followed by regret.<\/li>\n
- King Cake<\/strong><\/a> season winding down, but not before I squeeze in one more<\/em> slice.<\/li>\n
- An early spring but still very cozy dinner party \u2013 I decided that if\u00a0 I want to go to more parties, I need to start thowing them myself.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
There has been some news this week that has absolutely wrecked me, but we\u2019re blessed with this Sunday together to recalibrate.\u00a0 Here\u2019s a list of links that are keeping me warm, mentally and spiritually \u2013 and now I\u2019m off to see how many sweatshirts I can layer onto my body.<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0 Let\u2019s kick things off with my favorite read of the week: 16 Things Our Mom Told Us That Turned Out To Be So, So True<\/strong><\/a>. When I was little, my mom would send us off to school or Girl Scouts with a simple but solid reminder: \u201cBe the best of you that you can be.\u201d<\/em> And if I ever got worked up over life not being fair? Patty would hit me with a straight-faced \u201cWho said life was fair?\u201d<\/em> \u2026and honestly, she had a point. No one. Ever. Grateful to have learned those lessons early. (Substack)<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0<\/strong> There\u2019s always something new and beautiful to learn about New Orleans: The Black Composers of New Orleans Opera are Finally Getting Their Due<\/strong><\/a> (Atlas Obscura)<\/p>\n
\u2022<\/strong>\u00a0 I did not expect to have tears well up over a rare deep sea angler fish seen for the first time in daylight<\/strong><\/a>, but then this song<\/strong><\/a> came across my desk and destroyed me.\u00a0 \u00a0(Oceanographic Magazine, TikTok)<\/p>\n
\u2022<\/strong> \u00a0Why we can\u2019t stand feeling bored<\/strong><\/a>. Honestly, I\u2019m having a hard time believing that boredom even exists anymore. I haven\u2019t been bored since 1998. Wait\u2026 is that the problem? (The Guardian)<\/p>\n
\u2022<\/strong>\u00a0 Have you heard of \u201clemonading\u201d<\/strong><\/a> aka looking at the dang bright side? It\u2019s more that just delusional positivity because honestly, that\u2019s just creepy these days.\u00a0 Once you give this a read, please let me know your go-mantra.\u00a0 Mine is a Mel Robbins style countdown:\u00a0 5,4,3,2,1 and GO<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/a> Weirdly, it works every time.\u00a0 (Self, YouTube)<\/p>\n
\u2022<\/strong>\u00a0 Making a case for store-bought croissants because this Chocolate Croissant Overnight Breakfast Bake<\/strong><\/a> is absolutely more than the sum of its parts.\u00a0 I now keep HEB croissants in the freezer.\u00a0 (Joy the Baker)<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0<\/strong> I am thiiiiiis close to buying a Ninja Creami<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 Do you have one? Have you ever heard of one? Are we all whipping up our own on-demand ice cream this spring and summer?\u00a0 (Amazon)<\/p>\n
\u2022<\/strong> \u00a0Here\u2019s What You Can Learn From An 8-Year-Old Who Climbs Way Harder Than You<\/strong><\/a>, and my hats off to this entire adventure family.\u00a0 \u00a0(Outside Magazine)<\/p>\n
\u2022<\/strong>\u00a0 Every dog person I have in my life will be receiving one of these\u00a0 Tell Your Dog I Said Hi totes<\/strong><\/a> for any upcoming birthday or random accomplishment.\u00a0 A cotton zipper tote that also saves dogs<\/strong><\/a>? Say less.\u00a0 (We Rate Dogs)<\/p>\n
\u2022<\/strong>\u00a0 Amy mentions how she\u2019s \u201csolar powered\u201d and after just a week of late-winter grey and freezing temperatures in Texas I am in full agreement.\u00a0 It\u2019s just that Texas gave of a taste of spring the last two weeks and then snatched it away for temps in the 20\u2019s that feel like the single digits. I did not consent.\u00a0 But I did splurge on a very colorful spring craft to gift all my girlfriends when we all once again emerge in sundresses: custom bag charm kit from Bauble Bar<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 Seriously, how cute, right!? (Bauble Bar)<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0<\/strong> Raise your hand if Words of Affirmation are your love language. Ok, now that all of our hands are raised, here\u2019s 14 Things To Say Besides \u201cI Love You\u201d<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 (Time)<\/p>\n
\u2022<\/strong>\u00a0 Speaking of love languages, we need to add a sixth: Meatballs.\u00a0 From my saved recipe folder on Instagram: Ricotta Meatball Skillet Bake<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0 (Instagram)<\/p>\n
\u2022<\/strong>\u00a0 I do not carry the gene that makes me good at making playlists. I can set a table beautifully. I can load a dishwasher immaculately. I cannot make a cohesive playlist. There is an essence to that skill that inherently alludes me.\u00a0 I did, however, settle on my favorite playlist creator: The Weisest Band.<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0 She makes playlists based on color (currently listening to Lavender<\/strong><\/a>), astrology (the Gemini<\/strong><\/a> playlist is wild), mood (put on Light<\/strong><\/a> to sleep), and nearly every song is new to me and so well fashioned.<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0<\/strong> Quick question: does the process know\u2026?<\/strong><\/a> (Instagram)<\/p>\n
My love to you, friends!<\/p>\n
xo Joy<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
- An early spring but still very cozy dinner party \u2013 I decided that if\u00a0 I want to go to more parties, I need to start thowing them myself.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n