February 2026 | Issue 2
The Edit
For centuries Valentine’s Day has become synonymous with romance + love but it didn’t start out that way. It’s origin is unclear but is said to be a blend of many moments throughout history. In the time of ancient Rome, the Pagan festival of Lupercalia was held to welcome spring and promote fertility and purification. It’s traditions were pretty brutal though, if you ask me. Thankfully, we left them in the past.
The holiday is also linked to legends of martyred saints who performed acts they believed were in the name of love, like secretly marrying couples during an active ban on marriage. Another myth told the story of a prisoner who was in love with his jailer’s blind daughter. Before his execution, he wrote letters to her miraculously restoring her sight, signing them “your valentine.” Near 1382, the poet Geoffrey Chaucer wrote “Parlement of Foules,” establishing the day as a day for lovers and linking it with birds finding their mates on the day as well. And by the 18th century in England, handwritten cards called “valentines” grew in popularity, hence the tradition of gifting notes, flowers + sweets to someone to express your love.
I don’t know about you but I’m pretty sick of the idea of reserving this holiday for mushy gushy romance. Tell the ones you love, you love them everyday and take yourself on dates as often as you like. Lately, I’ve been thinking more about how I can be romantic with life and notice that there is no life without love. It’s in the way you live + feel about your most cherished things - beloved routines, spontaneous moments or in the simplest things - fresh flowers, sweet morning air, the way the sunlight paints the walls of your home, the first bite of dessert, your favorite verse in your favorite poem - whatever those things are for you. There’s no need to wait for someone else to sweep you off your feet, find the things that light you up and you can do that all on your own.
Design Inspiration
Design Tip 1:
Benjamin Moore’s Batik - AF 610 - caught my eye recently and I’ve been dreaming of it ever since. Like creamy crushed velvet, I melted right into it’s rosy violet hue. Without being overly feminine, it gives a timeless antique feel and pairs beautifully with golds, whites and grays, as seen here. While romantic + calming, it also strikes the perfect balance of nostalgic and modern.
Design Tip 2:
“Cottagecore” has become a buzz term on the internet to describe a subculture that romanticizes simple + slow living. A lifestyle practiced for centuries encouraging pastimes that center around self-sufficiency and being close to nature. We’ve seen this style showcased in interior design so many times but perhaps now it’s being revived as an escape to modern, fast-paced living. Imagine what the inside of a cottage in the English countryside would look like and run with it - muted colors, rustic wooden furniture, handcrafted pieces, floral wallpaper, patterned window treatments - all things whimsical and cozy. Thrifting and repurposing antique items is a large element of this style. Collect whatever speaks to you, vintage books + knick knacks abound, don’t worry, clutter is very much welcome here.
Tunes in the Office
Mind
If you want to change your life, change the way you treat it. I came across this sentence recently and it really stuck with me. As someone who craves change + excitement but also needs a lot of rest time, I am reminded often how important it is to balance getting ample rest with presenting myself with opportunities to test my limits.
As I have challenged myself to get out there more, I have been rewarded in ways I never would have thought - gaining clarity in the direction I want to take next, growing my love for where I live and proving to myself that I am still capable of doing hard things. Instead of getting frustrated in the tough moments, I lean into the adventure. Lovingly opening myself up to positive possibilities, rather than closing myself off because of fear.
This sentiment can be looked at from infinite angles that apply individually to you and your life. Show love to your life, nurture it, however that feels right to you and watch it blossom in return.
Currently Reading
Written by best-selling author, Tayari Jones, “Kin,” is set to release later this month and follows two lifelong friends living in the south in the 1950’s and 60’s during the civil rights movement. Vernice + Annie both lose their mothers early on and are raised by close relatives, leading them down different paths but the two women are deeply bonded for life. It is a novel about racism, friendship, sisterhood and family, chosen or blood-related, and how they have a profound impact on your life.
Good Eats
A fitting choice for this month, Italian wedding soup gets it’s name from the Italian phrase, “minestra maritata,” which means “married broth” or “married soup,” proclaiming it a perfect marriage of flavors. This meal was always a staple in my house growing up. With carrots, spinach, parsley and onion all in season this month, it’s a dish you can take your time with, allowing each element to come together in harmony.
“Sending so much love to you all this month + always.
Thanks for following along!”
-Cass ♡