Grab a Cup and Let's Chat

 "Trust your own instinct. Your mistakes might as well be your own instead of someone else's." (Billy Wilder)

Hello, my lovely friends!

 

    It feels like absolute ages since we just sat down for a proper chat. I know I’ve been a bit quiet, but life decided to throw a few curveballs my way lately. I’m learning to navigate the chaos—sometimes with grace, and other times by just making sure I don’t trip over my own feet.

As we all know by now, some days are definitely better than others, but I suppose that’s just the price of admission for this stage of the journey. I’m hanging in there, finding the humor in the madness, and missing our usual banter. I'd love to hear how you're all holding up.

    Well, life certainly has a way of giggling at our plans, doesn't it? My birthday didn’t exactly roll out the red carpet I was expecting. We had those lovely Art Museum tickets all lined up, but instead of a day of culture, they turned into a spontaneous donation. My poor mom woke up in so much pain she could barely move, which promptly put the kibosh on our big downtown adventure.

Honestly, though? The universe might have been onto something. We traded the crowded galleries for the couch, some classic "Moulin Rouge," and a pile of Chinese takeout. There was cheesecake involved (the true mark of a successful trip around the sun), and Mike sent over a few gifts that were a total bright spot. It was quiet, simple, and exactly the kind of "plan B" that reminds you what really matters.

    Can we just talk about the Olympics for a second? I don’t know about you, but we’ve been glued to the screen every chance we get. There is just something about watching people at the absolute peak of their game that makes my morning coffee feel a lot more intense. And here’s the thing—while we certainly love our home team, we’ve found ourselves cheering for, well, everyone.


And here is a fun little bit of trivia for your next pub quiz: did you know I was actually born on the day of the opening ceremony? Talk about being born for the spotlight! I may not be able to do a backflip on a balance beam (my knees sent a formal protest just thinking about it), but I’ve definitely got that Olympic-level spirit.

    Well, we survived the whirlwind that was the first week of February, and honestly, I needed a minute to catch my breath! But no sooner had the dust settled than Valentine’s Day came knocking. Now, if I’m being totally candid with you all, this has never exactly been my favorite holiday. It usually feels like a lot of pressure for one calendar square, doesn’t it? However, this year I decided to toss my cynicism aside. I was determined to make the day feel special for my mom, regardless of how I felt about the "Hallmark" of it all.

I went straight to the source and asked her what she wanted for our big Valentine’s dinner. To the surprise of absolutely no one, she immediately requested coconut shrimp. I headed to the store to gather the goods, but I couldn't just stop at shrimp. I ended up grabbing flowers for both of us—because why not?—and, of course, a healthy supply of chocolate. I’ve also spent my evenings tucked away watching all my favorite romantic movies. There’s just something about those classic love stories that hits different when you’ve got a bowl of treats and zero distractions.

I had everything perfectly staged for her when she wandered downstairs on the big day, but the universe apparently had a few more surprises up its sleeve. Not only did I get a beautiful bouquet from Mike, but he went ahead and got my mom flowers, too! I mean, come on. Just when I thought I couldn't be more impressed, he pulls a move like that. It’s official, everyone: he is a keeper for sure.

How’s everything been going with you all? I hope it’s all been good. 

It was a treat having you stop by! Whatever the clock says where you are, I hope your morning, afternoon, or evening is a total win. Until our next digital rendezvous... stay wonderful!