February 2020: Diary No. 2

Take a look behind the scenes of Hello Little Home in my February 2020 Diary!

Standing under a giant cactus in Saguaro National Park.

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February 2020 Diary

Welcome back to my monthly Diary!

Many of my early blog posts read like journal entries ... it’s fun (for me at least!) to go back and read these posts. Over time, things got a little more focused and less personal around here. Most people don’t want to read my life story after all, and I totally get it!

I miss those more personal posts though, so I decided to start a new series called Diary. These monthly posts give you a peek behind the scenes. I’m sharing things that don’t make it on the blog, and hopefully, we'll get to know one another better in the process.

This month was all about travel. I was actually gone more than I was home ... and now I need a long nap (ha). Keep reading to see what I was up to this month!

An International Space Station exhibit at the Johnson Space Center.

Sister Visit

My sister Kristin signed up for a 50K (!) race in Hunstville, Texas, so she and my niece Savanna hung out with us for a week in the beginning of the month. We spent a few days in Dallas before driving down to Huntsville for the race.

The weather was really cold during their trip, so we passed the days eating (I made these amazing Pretzel Twists to go with my Instant Pot Vegetable Soup ... yum!), visiting the Farmers Market, and watching movies. We attempted to go to the zoo, but even the animals didn't like the weather. So we went to the Children's Aquarium at Fair Park instead, and it ended up being really fun.

We stayed in the in Huntville. Our small cabin was located on a lake surrounded by petting zoo with a camel, alpacas, donkeys, goats, friendly dogs, and more! My niece begged to go out on the lake the entire time, and she ended up getting her way a couple times!

Kris did an amazing job during her race, and we all had fun cheering her on. The next day, we headed down to Houston to visit the NASA's Johnson Space Center. It's definitely worth a trip if you're ever in the area, especially if you're space geeks, like us.

Needless to say, after that adventure, the drive back to Dallas was long and tiring. By the time we made it home, my sister's hair had somehow transformed into a mullet. I couldn't stop laughing when she said she looked like Joe Dirt ... she really did!

Watching the Krewe of Barkus parade in the French Quarter.

Mardi Gras Fun

Our next trip was to New Orleans! My husband had a work trip there, so we tacked on a couple extra days to hang out with friends during Mardi Gras.

This was my second Mardi Gras, and I like to think we're easing our way in. Last year, we saw smaller parades, like Krewe du Vieux, krewedelusion, and 'tit Rəx. This year, we got to see a few of the bigger krewes parading. As well some really unique ones, like Krewe of Barkus which was all dogs (in creative costumes, of course)!

There were throws galore, and I definitely found myself screaming for beads more than once! It's impossible not to get caught up in the Mardi Gras spirit. We also went to a couple parties, and I'd definitely recommend making New Orleans friends for a more authentic experience.

Unfortunately, our visit ended on a down note after that exciting weekend. On Wednesday, someone (who undoubtedly had way too much to drink) was killed by a float. Then the next day, the parades were cancelled due to bad weather. The amount of trash left behind following the parades is also staggering. So needless to say, I have mixed feelings about Mardi Gras.

Those things aside, it was definitely a super fun and unique experience. We're hoping to go back next year for the full Fat Tuesday extravaganza.

Check out my New Orleans Travel Guide if you heading there soon ... or just dreaming of trip! And if you can't make it Mardi Gras, you can always visit Mardi Gras World where many of the floats are built.

One of the many amazing dance groups in the Mardi Gras parades.

Annual Spring Training Trip

After returning home from NOLA, we turned around and headed to Phoenix, Arizona for Spring Training. We've gone to Spring Training for the past three years, so I think that counts as an annual trip, right?

Opening day was rained out, which is super rare for Phoenix at this time of year. We ended up taking a last minute trip to Saguaro National Park instead, so I'm not complaining. It was absolutely beautiful, and the weather ended up cooperating for the most part.

We spent the next three days watching baseball (go Brewers!), checking out local sights like Hole-in-the-Rock (cool, but crowded), and eating tons of delicious food ... Maria's Frybread, Postino Annex, and Cocina Madrigal were my faves this year. All in all, a very fun, relaxing trip!

Make sure to check out my Spring Training Guide if you're thinking about planning your own trip! It's the perfect getaway for couples, families, or groups of friends.

I couldn't resist this mustache-shaped pretzel at Hohokam Stadium.

Ending the Month in San Francisco

I'm rounding out the month with one final trip ... San Francisco!

My love for San Francisco runs very deep. I actually lived there for quite a few years (longer than NYC and Dallas combined), and I've visited many times as well. Sometimes I think I'll live in the Bay Area again one day, but with the astronomical real estate / rent prices, it might take a miracle!

My husband booked this trip on a whim to see a screening of Bullitt, but we'll be hitting up our favorite spots (and some new ones), as well. I think it's going to be the perfect way to wind up this busy month.

Watching a Brewers game during Spring Training.

What I'm Watching / Listening To

I didn't have time to watch much TV this month, apart from some classic Disney movies, Inspector Gadget I & II (ugh, the original TV show is so much better), and lots of Boss Baby during my niece's visit.

One show I did binge was Virgin River on Netflix ... have you seen it? I absolutely loved it, and stayed up waaay too late finishing it one night!

With all my travel, I did listen to lots of podcasts. My fave this month was Boomtown, which is about the record breaking oil production in Texas' Permian Basin ... so good and lots of food for thought.

I also enjoyed listening to The Practical Wanderlust podcast (travel stories from two accident-prone bloggers), caught up on the Office Ladies (recap of the TV show), got sucked into The Baron of Botox (fascinating story about the plastic surgeon Dr. Brandt), and listened to the Happy Mum, Happy Baby interview with Kate Middleton. What can I say, I'm a sucker for anything royal!

A streetcar in Fishermans Wharf.

What's Coming Up Next Month

March should be a little more chill than February, although I do have some exciting travel plans.

I'm taking a quick trip to Austin early in the month to catch up with a friend and see a live show from a favorite podcast. Then, I'll be spending 10 days in Mexico City toward the end of the month. My husband will be joining me for half that time, and I honestly can not wait!

In between, I'll be trying to get as much work done as possible. Hopefully, March is a little more productive work-wise than February was (cross your fingers for me)!

A path in San Francisco's Presidio.

I hope you enjoyed reading my February Diary. Before you go, check out my January Diary to see what I was up to last month!

And now it’s your turn … what have you been up to this month?