15 Ways to Make the Most of February

February doesn’t always get much love. It’s short, usually pretty cold (at least where I live), and by this point most of us are a little tired of winter. But honestly? It can be a really good month—especially in midlife.

This is the perfect month for saying yes to the small joys. Whether you’re in the mood for something cozy, something creative, or something that gets you out of the house just enough to feel refreshed - you can find that in February. Consider this list a collection of gentle ideas. Nothing overwhelming or requiring a lot of elaborate planning. Just inspiration to help you enjoy this month in a way that feels right for you

Get Out of the House

1) Take a winter walk through a nearby park, botanical garden, nature preserve, or your own neighborhood.

2) Visit a local restaurant or coffee shop. .

3) Visit a museum or art gallery

Celebrate Valentine’s Day 

4) Schedule a romantic date night with your partner in honor of Valentine’s Day. It doesn't have to be fancy, do takeout at home or make a meal together.

5) Plan a Galentine’s dinner or party with your bestie(s)

6) Have a self love day. (Get your head out of the gutter!) Turn off your notifications. Pour your favorite warm beverage, snuggle under a blanket and read a book or binge your favorite series. Treat yourself to your favorite meal or snack. Have a nice bath. Go to bed early. Treat yourself like the goddess you are!

Observe Black History Month 

7) Visit a local African-American history museum, exhibit, or landmark  

8) Shop at a black-owned business

9) Read a book by a black author

Hibernate at Home

10) At home movie night

11) Take up a hobby, or dedicate time to an existing one - reading, knitting or crochet, drawing or painting, puzzles are perfect for cold February evenings.

Enjoy A Lesser-Known February "Holiday" 

12) Make something with Nutella (National Nutella day is Feb 5)

13) Make a homemade pizza (February 9 is National Pizza Day)

14) Treat yourself (or someone else) to some donuts on Pączki Day ( Tlusty Czwartek February 12)

15) Make a big pot of homemade chili (National Chili Day is February 27)

You don’t need to do all the things on this list. Pick what sounds fun, skip what doesn’t, and let the rest go. This month has a way of rewarding small efforts and gentle intentions, so however you choose to spend it, trust that it counts.

Sunday Inspiration: Opportunities

 

*

Thankful Thursday: January 29, 2026

 

I Am Thankful For: 

Joining a new craft group

Clean laundry

A couple of mild days before the winter storm

Homemade potato soup

British panel shows

A warm home

The power stayed on

A gorgeous sunset at the end of the storm

A sunny, but frigid day

Sunshine making the ice covered grass sparkle 

The "drip drip drip" of melting ice

A little bit of a warm-up

Getting out of the house for a little while

The Frozen Weekend

How is everyone affected by the weekend storm managing? I have seen some pictures involving crazy amounts of snow!

We didn't have any snow accumulation here. It was an all ice event for us. 

Fortunately, our power remained in the entire time. We had several flickers throughout the day.  A few that had us convinced that the electricity was going out at any moment. 

There are lots and lots of people in the area who weren't so fortunate. I'm hoping they have a source for heat or have electricity restored before tonight when it is supposed to get even more dangerously cold.

Today is windy and bitter cold. Keeping our fingers crossed that the wind doesn't start bringing down trees weakened by the layers of ice.  

Stay safe and warm out there!  And be sure to check on family and neighbors who are elderly or otherwise vulnerable to the cold. 

Sunday Inspiration: Learn, Live, Hope

 

There’s such wisdom in those words, especially for those of us in midlife. We’ve lived enough life to understand the value of looking back.  Not to dwell, but to gather the lessons that shaped us. We know the importance of being present, savoring the moments that are right in front of us instead of rushing through them. And perhaps most beautifully, we’ve learned that hope isn’t naïve; it’s necessary. No matter our age or stage, tomorrow still holds possibility, growth, and joy.

Thankful Thursday: January

 

I Am Thankful For:

Sunlight reflecting off the falling snowflakes

Coming in out of the cold

Pink clouds at sunset

Texts from my daughter that make me laugh

Reading before I fall asleep

Remote start

A pot of homemade gumbo

Completing a craft project 

Crisp Winter mornings

A fresh batch of books from the library

Feeling pretty

A shrimp po' boy

New pens

Being prepared for the coming storm

Sipping Tea in the Silence

For years, mornings meant rushing through preparations. Thinking about what needed to be done. Making sure everyone was up, dressed and ready for school. Remembering who needed to be where. All that activity somehow felt like proof I was doing life right. If I was resting, something must be forgotten or going undone.

Midlife has had a way of changing that.

Now, I have time to wait while the water boils and the tea steeps. To sit in the morning quiet, savoring the warmth of the cup in my hands and that first sip.  This slowness isn’t laziness—it’s self care.

Not every morning looks like this. Some days are still busy. But when it does, it helps me remember what's important. It reminds me to be present here, in this moment. And that starting slowly is still starting.

Sunday Inspiration: More

 

Midlife has a way of  reminding us what truly matters, and this quote from the incomparable Dolly Parton is a beautiful reminder to keep expanding rather than shrinking. We’re never too old to dream bigger, to stay curious, to love deeper, or to step into a fuller version of ourselves. If anything, this chapter gives us the clarity and courage to do exactly that. 

Wishing Ms. Dolly a very Happy Birthday tomorrow! Thank you for lighting the way with your heart, humor, and unstoppable sparkle.

Thankful Thursday: January 15, 2026

 

I Am Thankful For:

A productive week

Getting outside my comfort zone

Learning something new 

Kind, welcoming people

A nice cup of London Fog

Slow mornings

Sunday breakfast

Book Club day

Pineapple

My ridiculous dogs

Morning meditation 

Seeing deer as I leave the house

Waking up late

Diet Dr Pepper

Reruns of my favorite shows

Sunday Inspiration: Beginning

There’s something incredibly freeing about remembering that every single day offers a fresh beginning. We don’t have to wait for January, a birthday, or some big life milestone to start again. Midlife teaches us that renewal often happens in the small, quiet choices—the moment we decide to speak to ourselves with more kindness, to let go of something that’s been weighing us down, or to take one tiny step toward a life that feels more aligned. Each morning is an invitation to reset, recalibrate, and choose differently if we want to. 

Thankful Thursday: January 8, 2025

 

I Am Thankful For:

Going back to sleep

Simple, but delicious, meals

Beginnings

Morning routines

Panthers are going to the playoffs

Reading to my grandson

My son trimming the dogs' nails for me

Good news/Bad news situations

Lip balm

A yummy pasta dish

Feeling motivated 

When my daughter calls because my grandson wants to talk to me on the phone 

Seeing progress

My cute pups

Finding Joy in Midlife

As you journey through the season of Midlife, do you ever find yourself feeling as if you're clinging to old expectations or a  version of that no longer fits. Do you feel like you've lost your sparkle? It doesn't have to be thay way!  Midlife can be a season of rediscovery, growth, and joy. 

After decades spent focusing on raising a family, having a career, and all the other responsibilities you managed - this is your chance to rediscover what lights you up and to create space for joy.  In this post, I’m sharing six simple ways to help you live a joy-filled midlife that is true to who you are today.

Stop chasing who you think you're supposed to be:  Let go of old expectations and rewrite what a meaningful, joyful life looks like for you today.

Do what feeds your spirit: Whether it’s hobbies you left behind or new passions calling your name. Dance. Sing. Paint, draw, or write. Make the art. Do the crafts. Pull out those roller skates. What ever makes you smile, laugh, relax, or feel like a kid again.  Do that.

Surround yourself with the right people: Find the people who make you feel seen, appreciated, and supported. The ones that let you be fully yourself. Spend less time with the draining folks. The ones that cause you to guard what you say or how you act. 

Get comfortable with saying "No":   Let go of any people-pleasing tendencies you have. Stop going places or doing things out of obligation or because you think you should.  Create space for more joy, rest, and clarity.

Stay curious: Never stop learning.  That might look like reading about subjects that interest you, taking a class of some sort, visiting museums or historical sites, or traveling. 

Practice gratitude: That could mean keeping a gratitude journal, spending a few moments when you first wake up or just before you go to sleep thinking about what you are thankful for, or being more present and aware of the joys and blessings in each day.

It doesn't have to be complicated. Start small. Pick one thing that makes you smile, create one boundary that brings peace, one moment to savor gratitude. Over time, these choices add up to a life that feels vibrant and joyful. You deserve that. So go ahead - dance, laugh, learn, and live fully. Your best chapters are still ahead!

Sunday Inspiration: January

In midlife, the New Year can hit a little differently.  For many of us, big resolutions are a thing of the past. This stage of life brings an understanding that younger versions of us didn’t always have. We know what truly matters, what drains us, and what we’re no longer willing to carry. So January becomes less about pressure and more about possibility as we step into the new year and the next version of ourselves.