Friday Five {February 2026}

Happy February, Friends!
We are ALMOST out of winter!! I couldn’t be happier! I’m ready for some warmer runs, Spring decor and seeing the Spring buds emerge. But, until then… we are still stuck in February… I would be so happy if the snow stays away for good!

One – Valentine’s Day Recap!

Brian surprised me with the most gorgeous roses for Valentine’s Day! The soft, pale purple blooms are my absolute favorite, but every single one is stunning. I’ve been carrying the vase from room to room so I can enjoy them wherever I am — they make the whole house feel extra special and full of love.

I’ve been on such a tea kick lately — I’ve pretty much traded in my daily coffee for it (now I only have coffee about once a week). I love keeping my tea warm in a Yeti, so Brian totally nailed it when he surprised me with a custom Yeti mug that he printed on his UV printer with my name and the sweetest bow design. It’s absolutely perfect and something I know I’ll be using every single day!

I had three outfits on Valentine’s Day — ha!! First was my running gear for our 7:00 a.m. group run, then I showered and changed into a cozy, casual Valentine’s look for a rainy day of errands getting Autumn ready for her V-Day dance,, and finally I slipped into my dressy outfit with my brand-new winter dress for the evening. It felt like a full day of festive outfit changes and I loved every minute of it!

Since Autumn had her dance — and we met up at a friend’s house to take photos of her and her date — we ended up doing a late dinner at a new-to-me spot, Napoli II. They’re known for their homemade pasta and it absolutely lived up to the hype! I started with an espresso martini, and for dinner I ordered the Valentine’s special: tagliatelle in a red cream sauce with jumbo shrimp and scallops. SO, so good — every bite was amazing!

Here’s a photo of Autumn and me before her dance. Valentine’s Day brought the yuckiest weather — it rained ALL day — so we had to move her photos indoors. I’ll take the rain for now, but I’m officially putting in a request for the most gorgeous, sunny day when it’s time for her junior prom pictures!

Earlier in the week we had a Valentine’s Day breakfast at Bible study. The table they set up was so cute!

Two – I Made Bread & Should I Get Into Sourdough??!

I decided to bake a loaf of white bread to go with our pasta dinner last week and it was SO good — one of those “why don’t I do this more often?” moments. That said… it really is a labor of love. Flour everywhere, lots of start-and-stop steps, and a sink full of dishes later — but totally worth it.

This is only the second time I’ve made the white loaf from my trusty Betty Crocker cookbook and now I’m thinking I might be ready for a new challenge… sourdough! I feel like it could be such a fun little spring hobby. I’ve been following a handful of sourdough accounts on Instagram for inspiration, but I’d love to hear from you — are any of you into sourdough? Have you had success with it? Tell me all your tips in the comments!

We had a bruncheon at Bible study and it’s always one of my favorite days — I love getting to sample all the delicious recipes everyone brings! My core group leader made the BEST egg casserole and I’m already planning to make it myself very soon. HERE is the recipe.

I also made ambrosia salad for the first time and it turned out so good — such a fun, classic dish! Here’s the recipe I used.

Three – ChatGPT Photo Fun

It seems like everyone is doing the ChatGPT photo challenge — where you upload a picture and have it add in all your favorite hobbies — and I’ve been loving seeing them all over Facebook! I was so impressed with how mine turned out that I had to share it here too. And honestly, how fun will it be to look back at this in five years? I’m sure ChatGPT will be even more advanced by then. Mine included my ragdoll kitties, coffee, my running shoes, and a Bible (plus a stack of books) — which feels so perfectly me.

I also made one using my favorite photo of Brian and me, and I love the hobbies it chose for him!

Four – Books and Shows

So I’m still making my way through Gossip Girl — I’m getting close to the end! — and it has been SO fun revisiting all the fashion. When I spotted Serena wearing a bold floral statement necklace, I immediately thought, wait… I’ve styled something just like that before. Sure enough, I dug through my archives and found the post — from 2014 — and it was one of my very first fashion blog posts ever (see post HERE). How crazy (and fun!) is that?

And a little fun fact: Gossip Girl was filmed on location in New York City between 2007 and 2012, which makes all those iconic outfits feel even more nostalgic.

Shop This Book:

 

One Good Thing by Georgia Hunter
One Good Thing by Georgia Hunter was such a beautiful and deeply moving read. I’ve read many WWII historical fiction novels, but this one felt truly unique.

The story follows two young women who become best friends in Italy as the war slowly tightens its grip around them. What struck me most was how gently the book shows freedom being taken away — little by little — until the war is no longer something happening outside, but something woven into every part of their daily lives.

At the heart of the story is an incredibly emotional act of love and trust: Esti, critically wounded, entrusts her young son Theo to her best friend Lilli and asks her to protect him. From there, Lilli embarks on a dangerous journey, facing countless obstacles as she tries to keep Theo safe and find shelter amid the chaos of war.

This novel is heartbreaking, yet profoundly beautiful. The strength of the friendship between these two women — their loyalty, sacrifice, and love — shines through even the darkest moments. One Good Thing is a powerful reminder of resilience, courage, and the quiet heroism found in human connection during unimaginable times.

 

Five – Latest Finds

Shop Pixi:

Pixi sent me TWO boxes this month. The first box had their Clarity products in it:

Clarity Cleanser – a gentle yet powerful daily detoxifying cleansing gel to refresh your skin
Clarity Tonic – pore minimizing and balancing, for immediate and lasting results
Clarity Mist – instantly refreshes your complexion and boosts your mental clarity anytime, anywhere
Clarity Blemish Stickers – fast, discreet skincare support to tackle blemishes and boost your confidence on-the-go

These products will simplify your skincare routine and amplify your self-care. This box is your invitation to experience visible clarity, both for your complexion and your mindset.

Shop Pixi:

The second box they sent me, was SUCH a good one!!! They sent me every color of their Liptone product. These are really neat, because you glide them on and the gloss reacts to your natural pH to reveal a color that is uniquely yours. I have found these to be very moisturizing, I feel like a lot of lip glosses dry your lips out, but these last several hours and my lips feel like pillows! They are infused with Rosehip Seed Oil to smooth, Shea Butter to nourish and Mango.

I’ve been an ambassador for Erin Condren for awhile and they are great to work with. They sent me over a surprise package of some cute cards and I had to share, because they are all so colorful! I love fun mail!

I got my bimonthly running subscription box from Fuel Goods and it was another GREAT box! It is so fun to try new products and this is a great way to do it. Get $10 off your first box HERE.

 

Hope you all have a great weekend!