
Long before Valentine’s Day became the holiday of choice in February, the Romans honored Lupercalia — a wild festival of purification, fertility, and ritual. Though long outlawed, its strange history still lingers in our modern celebrations.

Imbolc, also known as Brigid’s Day, marks the halfway point between winter and spring—a time for renewal, cleansing, and gentle preparation for the season ahead. In this post, I share the history of the holiday, its ties to Celtic tradition and the goddess Brigid, and how I’m bringing the spirit of Imbolc into my own life through spring cleaning, intentional letting go, and a few cozy kitchen rituals.

This year, I’m focusing my reading on POC and LGBTQIA+ voices, building on a successful 2022 where I exceeded both my book and page goals. From Michelle Obama to Octavia Butler, I’ve curated a list of authors and stories that will challenge, inspire, and expand my perspective. Follow along as I dive into this year of diverse, meaningful reads.

In 2023, I decided it was time to step away from Goodreads. While it’s a free and widely used platform, its Amazon-owned structure offers little more than basic tracking and poorly timed, impersonal recommendations. Even emails about my progress were outdated and inaccurate. After years of frustration with its limited features, I’m leaving Goodreads behind and moving forward with platforms that actually give me meaningful insights into my reading life.

After years of settling for cheap, easily torn tights, I finally gave Snag Tights a try—and I’m completely converted. From fun designs like “Potions” stripes to deep burgundy and celestial blue, every pair has impressed me with their durability and comfort. They even survived my unfiled pinky nail, which usually ruins tights instantly. Beautifully packaged, comfortable to wear, and built to last—Snag Tights have officially won me over.