Life Lately: February 2026

In general, I always feel like February goes by really fast (could be due to the number of days in it). But, this one has felt just as long as Januaries tend to feel. Luckily, I had a week off and was able to spend time with Jake and really rest and recharge. We have really been trying to spend more time outdoors and make the best of any good weather day we can get! It is such a fabulous way to spend quality time together and get some fresh air and exercise! I’m excited to share with you what we got up to this past month!

Superbowl Party

Our team, the Seattle Seahawks, played in the Superbowl this year, and our friends Calvin and Vicki invited us over for a party to watch the game and eat delicious food! I loved the Bad Bunny Halftime show; it was so artistic and theatrical, and I loved the cameos by Ricky Martin and Lady Gaga! The Seahawks won, and it was such a fun afternoon!

Friend catch-ups

Last year, my friends Nicole, Kristine, and I made it a point to catch up regularly with video calls and get together in person at least once every month or so. We are continuing the trend this year and we had an in-person hangout at the beginning of the month and a video call last week! I also had a lovely video call with my friends from college, Emily, who lives in Bremerton, and Bri, who lives in Toulouse, France!

Live music in Tacoma

Jake and I headed down to Tacoma to see a few bands play at this venue called Jazzbones. We have seen two of the acts play before, and the third was a pleasant addition! We really enjoyed all the bands and then went and had a drink and sang a karaoke song at another bar before heading home!

Spending time outdoors

When I was off last week, we decided to go on a hike up at Tiger Mountain off of Highway 18. It was the perfect day for it, there was snow up there, but only on the foliage, and the trail was a bit muddy but clear! Later in the week, we also went for a walk around Seward Park and then made a trip over to this place called Chuck’s Hop Shop that’s attached to a bookstore called Third Place Books. We shared some wine and had wings for dinner. It was a great walk followed by a really nice evening together!

Emo Night Tour at El Corazón

I have loved Emo music since I was in high school. Jake asked me if I wanted to go to the Emo Night Tour at El Corazón in Seattle! It was the best night I have had out in a long time. We didn’t get home until almost 2 am. We spent the whole night dancing and singing our lungs out. I am so happy to have that experience with Jake!

Clamming trip

On Sunday, Jake and I took a road trip over to the Shine Tidelands to go clamming! What was supposed to be a rainy day actually turned into lovely sunny weather, albeit cold and windy for most of the time we were on the beach. We each got 40 clams (per person limit) and were heading back to the car when it started raining. Afterward, we decided to drive into Port Gamble for a drink and a snack before heading home.

In the Garden…

February is the month when I start my first seeds for the upcoming growing season! It’s always an exciting time for me in anticipation of the gardening season. Jake and I also went and picked up bags of compost and steer manure to top off the raised beds. It was a beautiful afternoon to get out into the garden, and I always love how neat everything looks when I get done! Although I would encourage you to do some stretching before doing your first day of garden work for the season, my back was messed up for a few days after!

Seeds I have started so far: