February is supposed to be a short month, but in all honesty? It felt like 47 business days.

Let’s unpack.

📚 WHAT I READ

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

This book held me hostage. Not in a bad way. In a “you WILL sit here and contemplate art, survival, and the fragility of humanity” way.

I hit a reading slump because I needed to finish it. You know when you don’t want to start anything else because you’re basically leased to one book? That was me. Faithful. Locked in. Mildly suffering.

A Picture of Freedom by Patricia McKissack

Reread this entry in the Dear America series for the first time since childhood and Clotee still eats. The ingenuity. The determination. The “I’m going to teach myself to read because you can’t stop me” energy. Despite the hardships she faced as a slave, she was still resilient and brave.

The White Guy Dies First edited by Terry J. Benton-Walker

This anthology understood the assignment. Horror. Social commentary. Catharsis.

Favorites:

• “The Golden Dragon” by Kendare Blake
• “Gray Grove” by Alexis Henderson

Usually, I find anthologies can be either hit or miss. This one? Hit.

📺WHAT I WATCHED

Bridgerton Season 4 is the best season.

Benedict has always been my favorite Bridgerton brother. Artistic. Slightly chaotic. Hot. Also, I’m a weak woman for a Cinderella storyline.

I think his love story with Sophie is the best of all 4 seasons.

Also, I cried more this season than any of the others. I’ll try not to delve into spoilers but…

Any scene with Queen Charlotte and Lady Danbury? I sobbed.

Benedict’s confession? I became a human waterfall.

The scene with Violet and Francesca?

I don’t even think I was saying words at that point. Just constant 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Meanwhile, I just started Scandal for the first time. I’m only on Season 1 and I’m already stressed. Every five minutes I’m yelling, “Ma’am, that is the PRESIDENT.” The tension. The audacity. The eye contact. I’m know I’m in for seven seasons of chaos and I am READY.

🎮 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH

Video Games

I beat Assassin’s Creed Odyssey again because apparently I enjoy emotional damage in ancient Greece.

Then I started Assassin’s Creed Origins and for an ancient Egypt girly? This is divine alignment. We meet Cleopatra. Yes, THAT Cleopatra. My problematic fave historical icon.

Fun fact: In 5th grade, I chose Cleo for our school’s Multicultural Museum living history project. I wore the snake crown. The snake bracelets. A wig that was roasting my brain. I committed to the bit.

So getting to climb the pyramids and exist in her era in-game? Inner child healed.

Creative Life

I’m deep in worldbuilding for Accidentally Ascendant. Six friends. A car accident. Thrown into a fantasy world. Quarter-life crises. I already have 4 books planned and a spin-off series.

Also, I wrote my first death scene. And yes, I cried while writing it. No, not just cried. Sobbed.

I am one of those authors who knows who dies before I even start writing. Mind you, I could just be like, “Ashley, you could just not kill them…?” But nope, I’m in it for the drama.

Additionally I:

• Am halfway done my first diamond painting
• Went into depth about my 5 year plan
• Designed a 90 day glow up challenge

February was all about soft chaos. March is looking like boss-up energy.

🌸 Final Sip

February was a mix of reading slumps, tears, presidential scandals, ancient Egypt nostalgia, and me emotionally damaging myself with my own writing.

I cried. I gamed. I outlined fictional deaths. I made a five year plan. Growth looks chaotic but productive.

March is loading with boss energy and a planner in hand.

Tell me what you read, watched, or obsessed over this month. I’m always ready to spiral responsibly.