March is one of my favorite times of the year, simply because it’s when daylight saving time begins. I can’t wait for the sun to set later and daylight to stretch into the evening hours. Coupled with the warm weather here in Miami, I know I’ll enjoy frequent strolls before sundown in the weeks ahead.
Before I let myself get fully swept away by the marvels of March, let me reflect on February. I spent the first half of the month in South Carolina and then traveled to Florida before Valentine’s Day. The Sunshine State greeted me with its namesake beautiful weather and, during a day trip to Everglades National Park, an abundance of alligators. I could go on and on about the trip (and I do in the Shark Valley travel guide), but for now, I’ll stick to recapping everything I read, watched, bought, and loved in February.
Read, Watched, Loved
Read: I’ve been off my reading game lately, but I did finish I Will Teach You to Be Rich in February. The book, which is a practical guide to banking, saving, budgeting, and investing, was extremely helpful in setting up my retirement savings accounts. Of the personal finance books I’ve read, this one is by far my favorite. I highly recommend it for any college student or twenty-something.
Watched: It was a light TV month, but Max and I did make some progress on Schitt’s Creek. We’re now halfway through the series and still loving it. The other thing I watched was The Swamp, a documentary about the repeated efforts to tame—and then ultimately preserve—the wild swampland of the Everglades. If you have any interest in Florida, national parks, or American history, the documentary is worth a watch.
Loved: One of the highlights of the last few weeks has been taking Skillshare classes. I’ve wanted to learn more about photography, and since there are not a ton of options for in-person classes right now, doing online courses has been the next best thing. Two of my favorite Skillshare classes I’ve taken so far are Fundamentals of DSLR Photography and Product Photography: Creating Images that Sell.
Another high point of February was my brother’s reaction to my Valentine’s Day “gift” to him. I named a Madagascar Hissing Cockroach after him at the zoo in our hometown, one-upping the many times he named his zits Abby in my honor when we were younger. The reveal is saved to my 2021 highlight on Instagram if you need a good laugh!
Bought
After a year of having them on my wishlist, I finally purchased a pair of chunky white sneakers. I’ve been wearing them non-stop ever since. At under $50, they’re the perfect casual, stylish shoe that can be worn with shorts, sundresses—you name it.
This tortoise mask chain was polarizing! I shared it during one of my Walk & Talk Wednesday Instagram stories, and people either loved the practicality, or they thought the accessory was completely over the top. Personally, I love the convenience of the mask chain, particularly when I’m going for a walk and don’t want to hold my mask the entire time I’m not wearing it.
On my wishlist: these rainbow gingham pajamas (currently on sale) from J. Crew’s spring new arrivals.
Best of the Internet
Kate’s crowd-sourced podcast episodes (part I, part II) on the ridiculous things we girls did to get boys’ attention in the early- and mid-2000s cracked me up. They also made me nostalgic for the days of putting obscure song lyrics as your Facebook status/AIM away message.
Jess’ post on stepping back from Instagram and focusing on her blog resonated with me. Like Jess, I love blogging but often find Instagram draining.
If you’ve ever watched a yoga video on YouTube, you’ve likely encountered Adriene Mishler. She makes millions of dollars a year from her YouTube channel Yoga With Adriene, but her background and career trajectory may surprise you.
In honor of Black History Month, Rep. Jim Cylburn (D-SC) gave a wonderful history lesson on the Black representatives from South Carolina that served in Congress before him.
The reasons why too many kids show worrying signs of fragility from a very young age.
This Month’s Gratitudes
As part of the 365 Days of Gratitude Challenge I launched in February, I promised to share some of the items I wrote in my own gratitude journal each month. My hope is that sharing the things I’m thankful for will hold me accountable in maintaining my gratitude practice and will inspire you to keep a gratitude journal of your own.
- More people I know getting the COVID-19 vaccine
- Having multiple things to look forward to in my calendar
- Safely arriving in Florida
- A little outdoor time on the balcony after work
- A rejuvenating vacation day
On the Blog This Month
Valentine’s & Galentine’s Day Gift Guide
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