Hi friends.
For being the shortest month of the year, February sure feels like the longest. I made it to the other side, mostly unscathed. A true miracle considering something terrible has happened the last few years. A concussion one year, severe insomnia the next, and last year our neighbor shot someone. So. It felt like it was escalating. On top of impending doom, I always feel like I’m practically clawing my way through the soggy soil beds of winter to get to spring and its blooms. Bad luck just feels inevitable in the only month that starts with the letter F. The other day, my neighbor said, “It’s almost as if the inventors of the calendar knew to cut the month a few days short.”
I guess there was an upside. The gloom motivated me to be extra productive out of my desperation to prepare my future self for abundance in the sunnier season. I finished a 3,500-word story about mental health that is slated for next month. I started a new copywriting contract with a brand I really love. I caught a cold and fought it with rest. I resumed my morning/evening yoga routine. I booked accommodations for London and campground reservations for Oregon. I went snowboarding. I bought concert tickets. I recorded an interview with Steve in celebration of eight years of creativity. I sewed some pretty things for spring.
In the coming weeks, I have a super exciting update for all readers! You don’t want to miss it!
With love,
Amelia
Latest Stories
10 Spring Waterfall Hikes in the West (Via Magazine)
The Ultimate Winter Running Gear Guide (Men’s Journal)
I have a story about mindset training in the inaugural issue of Trails, a magazine for people who sleep in the dirt. Every story is print-only, and I promise the $60 subscription is worth every cent. Ryan Wichelns, the editor, put a lot of thought into it. Look for my long-form piece in the next edition…
Monthly Favorites
Reading: I picked up The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath for the first time and her dark humor resonates so much right now. I also bought Worn: A People’s History of Clothing, which features five stories focusing on different fabrics. It feels especially relevant now that I’ve been working more with textiles.
Watching: I returned to TV for comfort this month. The Last Of Us makes me bawl every episode, and then I follow it up with a Ted Lasso palate cleanser. I want to know: What’s your perfect serious-lighthearted TV combo?
Subscribing: I’ve been discovering new decaf coffee every other week through Trade Coffee. Get a free bag if you sign up with my refer-a-friend link! ☕️
Printing: Show your friends how much you care and send them these adorable love puns from
Eating: Coco Donuts for post-dog-park human treats; Zaap on MLK for fast and delicious Thai food; and Cafe Olli for a pizza with lemon zing
Drinking: Muri Nuala NA red wine is earthy, sweet, and getting closer to the real deal but it’s not quite there. My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Quoting: “Whether you succeed or not is irrelevant, there is no such thing. Making your unknown known is the most important thing, and keeping the unknown always beyond you.” —Georgia O’Keeffe
Making: I finally finished this matching summer set (for my fellow sewists, I used the Gilbert Top and Pomona Shorts patterns) out of a secondhand blue and white striped cotton. Desperately ready for beach hangs!
Want more to read? Explore the archive for more updates like this one. And to connect with me directly, shoot me an email, comment on this post, and/or follow me on Instagram and Twitter (though I’m showing up on those two platforms much less these days).