Y U GOTTA B SO CRZY FEBRUARY? Seriously. It’s been a bit of a roller coaster for me. I’ve had a lot of big events and plans (between Reese’s Birthday, Valentine’s Day, writing and planning a Harry Potter Mystery Tea Party… yeah it’s as nerdy and awesome as it sounds) so I have made an effort to take it much, MUCH easier during the week and limiting the amount of plans I make. It’s weird. Normal people just say “no” or “I’m busy” but I’m over here just signing up for everything and even coming up with more crap to throw into my life. So February has been a few big things, and then me trying to stay at home and just do normal stuff and relax more in between. It’s been a strange learning curve and it’s made this month just DISAPPEAR. I told someone yesterday that Reese turned one last week. Nope. IT IS LITERALLY MARCH NEXT WEEK WTF. Anyway. Enough about how weird February has been. Time to drop the GBOMB.

Good

• The Provo City Center Temple Open House was everything that everyone else has said about it. I don’t need to add anything – just agreeing that it was beautiful.
• I went to a bookstore on Tuesday and I swear it GAVE ME LIFE.
• Watching lots of YouTube tutorials and doing my makeup! I especially like the “Get Ready With Me” type videos . It’s fun to see what other people do and use, and motivating for me to get ready more frequently. I watched this one today.
• Reese finally has a tooth! Well, to be exact – Reese has the very top of a tooth barely breaking through her gums lol. It’s exciting and also a relief after a very, VERY sad weekend of cuddling and fussing.
• I felt more myself this week and got back into hanging with people! Bon’s Book Club met Tuesday night to discuss “A Man Called Ove” which I LOVED. My review is coming next week, but you can check out Bon’s & Sierra’s recaps on their blogs. I also took advantage of the free day at Hogle Zoo! Can’t wait to go back this summer.
• I have been SO PRODUCTIVE this week! And it’s because I’ve found the key. Timers! And airplane mode. Whenever I’ve got a particular task to do I get everything ready (Reese napping or eating or jumping happily in her jumper/swing, fresh Diet Coke, all necessary tools and resources at the ready), and then I switch my phone into airplane mode and hit a timer for 15 minutes. It makes it like a game to me! I try to finish the task or reach a certain benchmark, so I’m not tempted to make another list or check that latest Twitter notification (because it’s not turned on!). At the end of each work session I check back in with Reese (unless she’s napping), respond to texts or emails, check social media, update my To-Do list, or queue up an episode of The Office. It has been so helpful for my freelance writing, blogging, cleaning, even getting ready in the morning. I’ve been getting way more done and it’s actually enjoyable.
• I got a Pass of All Passes! I know they sell wayyyy too many of them and Seven Peaks is always crowded, but I’m still excited to go and take Reester.
• We are getting a Splash Pad in Vineyard! I am all kinds of stoked on it.
• I was invited to a “Mommy Group” this week and it was SO FUN. It’s so weird to think that I’m now a peer with these amazing and role model moms I’ve seen in my ward and neighborhood. Like I still forget to drink water or wash my face most days, but they invited me to mommy group.

Bad

• This week marks the first time since having Reese that I GAINED weight at my weekly weigh-in. It wasn’t a lot and I’m trying not to beat myself up about it. But it’s still not a great way to start off a week where you’re planning to be in a swimsuit poolside.
• I’m on some new medication with a recent diagnosis of hypothyroidism and so far I am not super jazzed about it. I feel like it’s making me more tired, more irritable, and giving me CRAZY FREAKING DREAMS EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. No lie. Every single night I have a vivid, ludicrous dream. Sometimes it even makes me feel like I haven’t slept at all. Bizarre.
• I am still trying to rapidly finish the Harry Potter Tea Party Mystery script I’m writing, and yes, it is tonight. Nice one, Danica!!!!
• Because of Glen Coco I rarely sweep or mop my floors and I hate doing it, but now that Reese is crawling/walking/all over the place I have to do it and I’m such a bad domestic mom.

On My Brain

• My friend Brooke wrote/compiled this awesome post of advice for moms pregnant with their second children. As baby hungry as I have been this past year I think we’re still a little ways away from another baby Holdy but that doesn’t stop me from compulsively reading every post like this that I can find. It helps me notice and appreciate the unique and precious things about Reese and this time we get together. It also has me wondering if I’ll know WHEN it’s time for another baby Holdy. Do you know? Or do you just go for it?
• I’ve been studying the General Conference talks from last April and this one just made me feel so comforted and amazing. I’ve screwed up a lot this month, had a lot of doubts, and really felt pretty worthless at times. “No failure ever need be final.” – Thomas S. Monson. I’m the type that can spiral pretty quickly once I stumble. But amazingly this talk helped me bounce back faster than I usually do. We’re SUPPOSED to mess up, but we’re SUPPOSED to learn from it and move on, not let it derail us. Keep going Danica. You’re an idiot but Jesus loves you anyway. Keep going.
• I haven’t paid a ton of attention to this election. My vote for it doesn’t matter, and nothing I post is going to change anyone’s mind. I am going to try to get more involved and knowledgeable in local elections, though, because that does actually matter. But this article about unpaid interns for presidential campaigns was very interesting to me.  There are things I like about each individual candidate but also a lot of things I dislike too. It’s gonna be a messy election, for sure. It already is!
• I’m listening to the book “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking” and I just have so many thoughts about it. I feel a little attacked, as a pretty solid extrovert. I also think she glossed over the public school issues a lot, making them seem like they’re headed in the wrong direction with collaborative learning even though most studies show that it’s much MUCH more effective than solo lecture teaching. But I also really like the idea of embracing and welcoming introverts, and letting them be themselves. I think we communicate that there’s something wrong with them, when there isn’t! It’s a fascinating read – grab it and join us next month for Bon’s Book Club
• 
• Have you seen the ProvoGirlsAmIRight instagram account? I am so torn about it. The feminist in me wants to slap all these dudes in the face and scream “SHE IS NOT OBLIGATED TO GO OUT WITH YOU AND SHE’S TRYING TO DO IT IN A NICE WAY BECAUSE BOYS ARE MEAN YOU IDIOT AND YOU’RE PROVING THAT BY POSTING IT HERE!” But as a girl who went to BYU and met a lot of girls who definitely wanted these guys to be interested and waiting patiently on the bench ready to come into the game whenever SHE felt ready? I also want to slap some of these girls in the face and say “DATE HIM OR DON’T JUST BE STRAIGHT ABOUT IT!” Just lots of anger mostly. I had to unfollow.

February I can’t say I won’t be glad to see you go, even if you had some really great days. I can’t wait to get out of here and enjoy some St. George sunshine. I’m even gonna give myself a pass on this upcoming Monday’s post to just enjoy vacation and family! Just gonna Leap right over that day. Lord beer me strength with March.