February 2021

By now most of us have experienced a “pandemic birthday” of some sort. Some people have silently done backflips knowing they didn’t have to be the center of celebrating another year older. Others were saddened their party planning was rerouted to drive-by parades and blowing out candles via Zoom. #2020

Our sweet Charlea girl turned 1 on Feb 12. In Covid-friendly style, we only had immediate family over to watch her dig her fingers into cake she turned her nose up at and shower her with all the presents she cared nothing about opening. More cake for me. 🎂😋 I secretly have loved not having to plan big shindigs or feel obligated to meet some birthday party standard.🤭 If that is lazy parenting, I’m here for it. 🙋🏼‍♀️🤪

I feel like this year has already been filled with several historical moments—good, bad, or indifferent. February 2021 will now be remembered as the time when the snowpocalypse bombarded something like 70% of the United States. Being from the south, we rarely get that cold, white stuff those Northerners call snow.

I made the mistake of going to the grocery store before the snow made it’s way in, and that had to be my most regrettable decision of this year yet. My M&M stash was low.🤷🏼‍♀️ I waited in line to check out for almost an hour. It was terrible yet I found myself laughing out loud. Damn M&Ms.

As fun as the snow can be, we southerners are not prepared for days of sub zero temperatures—resulting in frozen pipes, power outages, and many stranded vehicles along the streets. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the Texas power grid failure and the devastation the entire state has encountered. Coming from a business and economics background, the lack of planning seems unfathomable. I know, I know…definitely easy for me to say. Since schools were closed and people were working from home (normalities), the streets were covered with sleds and any functioning device that could somewhat safely soar down any icy-laden hill. Rubbermaid lids’ greatest asset. As I spent most of the snow days curled up on the couch with a laptop on one leg and a baby on the other, I did manage venture out and make a snowball or two.

Being snowed in for over a week resulted in lots of 👶🏻 snuggles and 📺 binging. If you haven’t watched Firefly Lane yet, go ahead and add it to your Netflix queue. Every episode ended with a cliffhanger which always left me wanting to start the next one–in which we did. It ended with 2 huge cliffhangers, definitely setting it up for another season (assuming the ratings allow it). Dear Netflix…Don’t make us wait a year. I’m rooting for Season 1 1/2. I give it a solid 8/10. It’s not as much of a “chick flick” as I presumed it to be, so guys….oblige the ladies.

In 2019, Little Debbie released their snack cake ranking. Whereas the Generation Zers might predominantly snack on freeze-dried broccoli and whatever organic, sugar-free novelty they can find, us 80s babies (and generations before) couldn’t wait to sink our teeth into the oatmeal cookie sandwich filled with sweet creme that was made for its best shelf life. 🤩

Another favorite (and probably my #1) were the Nutty Buddy bars. There is a reason why the said oatmeal creme pies and nutty buddy bars made it into Little Debbie’s “Legends” category. I recently came across the Reese’s Sticks. This little stick of heaven was seriously the best thing I put in my mouth during quarantine round 2, Snowmageddon. It’s like Kit Kat, Nutty Buddy, and Reese’s Cup had a baby. Threesome approved.

Side Notes:

• So many people have asked me what gratitude journal I use, so I thought I would share it here. You can really use anything from a regular notebook to the notes section in your phone. For the last year, I have used this one. The proceeds go toward education in Haiti, and it has fun stickers. I have always been a big believer that everyone should be afforded the opportunity to learn, so the cause is more than worth the price to me. Did I mention it has fun stickers?
• I’m still mourning Dustin Diamond. Saved By The Bell and TGIF were the Netflix of the 90s, and the thought of Samuel Powers no longer here to win the next Miss Bayside pageant or possibly making his grand appearance in the SBTB Reboot Season 2 is completely saddening. R.I.P. Screech.

Big hugs. Lots of love.

Pardon My Thoughts.