Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a season that is meant to slow us down and bring us back to what actually matters. It is not about being perfect or proving anything. It is about remembering who we are, why we are here, and how easily we drift away from both.

Lent is a time for reflection, repentance, and realignment. It is forty days set aside to examine our lives and our hearts and to intentionally walk closer with God.

What Is Ash Wednesday?

Ash Wednesday is observed by Christians as the first day of Lent. On this day, ashes are placed on the forehead in the shape of a cross. The ashes are a symbol of humility, mortality, and repentance.

They remind us that life is fragile and temporary. They remind us that we are human. They remind us that we need God more than we care to admit.

Ash Wednesday is not about shame. It is about honesty.

The Meaning of Lent

Lent lasts for forty days, leading up to Easter. The number forty is significant throughout the Bible. Jesus fasted for forty days in the wilderness. Moses spent forty days on Mount Sinai. It is a number connected to testing, preparation, and spiritual growth.

Lent is meant to be a season of intention. It is about stepping back from distractions and stepping into awareness. It is about making room for God instead of filling every quiet moment with noise.

Related: What Is Fat Tuesday? Meaning, History, and Why It Still Matters

What Do People Give Up for Lent?

Many people choose to give something up during Lent. Social media, sugar, television, shopping, complaining, or habits that no longer serve them.

The point is not suffering for the sake of suffering. The point is awareness. When something is removed, it creates space. That space can be filled with prayer, reading the Bible, journaling, or simply being still.

Some people choose to add something instead of giving something up. Daily prayer. Scripture reading. Gratitude. Acts of kindness.

Both approaches are valid. What matters is intention.

A Simple Way to Observe Lent

Lent does not need to be complicated.

Read your Bible every day, even if it is only for ten minutes.
Pray honestly, not perfectly.
Pay attention to your thoughts and your reactions.
Practice restraint, not just in food or habits, but in words and judgment.

Lent is not about changing your image. It is about changing your direction.

Related: Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, and Lent: From Celebration to Reflection

Why Lent Still Matters

In a world that encourages constant distraction, Lent invites stillness. In a culture obsessed with comfort, Lent asks for reflection. In a time where everything is loud, Lent is quiet.

It is a season that reminds us to slow down, to take responsibility for our lives, and to reconnect with God in a way that feels real and personal.

Ash Wednesday is not just the start of a tradition. It is an invitation.

An invitation to begin again.

Some weekends feel long. This one felt full. The good kind of full. The kind where a whole lot happens but somehow it all just flows.

Between Friday the 13th, Valentine’s Day, NBA All-Star Weekend, and the Daytona 500 kicking off NASCAR season, there was a lot in the air. Add in President’s Day tomorrow, Fat Tuesday coming up, and Lent starting Wednesday, and it really did feel like one of those rare weekends where everything lands at once.

Not gonna lie, we do not exactly celebrate President’s Day, but Santiago taking the day off makes it feel like a little bonus holiday anyway.

Valentine’s Day Our Way

Our Valentine’s Day was simple and perfect. We had lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant up the street, the kind of place where they know your order and never rush you.

After that, we hit Hobby Lobby for what might be the most on-brand date possible for me. I grabbed some new Easter decorations and a handful of random craft supplies that I definitely did not need but absolutely wanted.

We were in bed by nine, which honestly felt romantic in a middle-aged, tired but happy kind of way.

Related: Easy At-Home Valentine’s Day Meals for a Romantic Night In

Sunday Reset and Race Day

We saved our real energy for Sunday since we don’t have to be up at five in the morning tomorrow.

We got up early, picked up groceries, knocked out the usual Sunday chores, packed up all the Valentine’s decorations, and pulled out the St. Patrick’s Day stuff. I also did a little meal prep since I will be fasting for Lent and figured I might as well try to be halfway responsible with food.

To kick off race season, we fired up the grill and did burgers, hot dogs, and links. Nothing fancy, just good comfort food and good vibes.

Between all that, we packed orders, organized the craft room, cut some vinyl, and made ourselves somecool t-shirts because why not.

Now we are just waiting for the All-Star Game to be over so the weekend can officially wind down.

Related: Why I Don’t Celebrate Galentine’s Day (But Wish I Did)

A Full Weekend and a Short Week Ahead

It really was one of those weekends where you do a lot, but none of it feels stressful. Just productive, cozy, and very us.

Love, crafts, sports, food, and a short week coming up. I will take that kind of weekend every single time.

Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a true crime junkie and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and Southern Bred True Crime Junkie. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and fifteen grandchildren.

I’m going to be real with you about something that feels a little vulnerable to admit.

When Galentine’s Day rolls around every February 13, that fun, Leslie Knope-invented holiday celebrating female friendship, I feel a little pang. Not jealousy exactly. More like… wistfulness. Because while everyone else is posting their brunch photos and “love my girls” captions, I’m over here thinking, “That looks really nice. I wonder what that’s like.”

Here’s the truth: I don’t really have close girlfriends. And I haven’t for a while.

The Codependent Confession

My husband and I? We’re pretty codependent. There, I said it. We’re each other’s person. Our best friend. Our go-to for everything. We don’t really do the “girls’ night” or “guys’ night” thing. We don’t have a tight-knit friend group. We’re kind of our own little island, and honestly? Most of the time, that works for us.

We like our quiet life. We like our craft room projects and our Netflix binges and our inside jokes that no one else would understand. We’re homebodies who found another homebody, and we’re perfectly content in our little bubble.

But then Galentine’s Day comes around, and I see all these posts about women celebrating each other—the group chats, the decades-long friendships, the “we finish each other’s sentences” bonds—and I feel it. That little “huh, that must be nice” feeling.

Related: How to Celebrate Galentine’s Day with Your Friends

What Happened to My Friendships?

I used to have girlfriends. Not a ton, but a few good ones scattered across different seasons of life. High school friends who knew me before I knew myself. Work friends who got the professional struggles. Mom friends from when the kids were little who understood the exhaustion.

But life happens, you know? People move. Priorities shift. Careers change. Kids grow up. And somewhere along the way, those friendships faded into “we should get together sometime” and then just… silence.

Part of it is me. I’m an introvert who recharges alone (or with my husband). Maintaining friendships takes energy I don’t always have. It requires reaching out, making plans, and showing up even when you’re tired. And honestly? I’m not great at it.

Part of it is just how life works. Everyone’s busy. Everyone’s dealing with their own stuff. The effort required to maintain deep friendships feels like one more thing on an already overwhelming list.

And part of it is that I just… stopped trying as hard.

Why Female Friendships Still Matter (Even When You Don’t Have Them)

Here’s the thing, though, even though I don’t have that girl gang, I still believe female friendships are incredibly important. I see their value even if I’m not currently experiencing it.

Women understand other women in ways that are hard to explain. There’s a shared language, a knowing glance, an unspoken understanding of what it’s like to navigate the world as a woman. The pressures, the expectations, the invisible labor, the constant juggling act.

Female friends celebrate your wins without competition. They hold space for your struggles without trying to fix everything. They remember the small details about your life that matter. They see you… really see you… in ways that feel sacred.

They’re also the safety net for parts of yourself that don’t fit neatly into other relationships. The parts that need to vent about things your partner might not fully get. The parts that need encouragement from someone who’s walked a similar path. The parts that just need someone to say, “Yeah, me too. You’re not crazy.”

And I think that’s what I miss most, being fully known by someone outside my marriage.

The Loneliness I Don’t Talk About

Can I be honest about something? Sometimes the codependent thing feels less like a choice and more like… well, loneliness with company. But only at times like this.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my husband deeply. He’s my partner in every sense of the word. But there’s something about female friendship that fills a different space. A space that feels a little empty right now.

When I’m struggling with something, I talk to him. When I need advice, I ask him. When I want to celebrate something, I tell him. And he’s wonderful and supportive and everything I could ask for. But sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have that other voice. That girlfriend who gets it from a different angle.

I see women my age with their tight friend groups, and I wonder how they did it. How they maintained those bonds through busy seasons. How they prioritized those relationships when everything else demanded their attention. How they made it look so easy.

My main issue is I don’t really click with females. I’ve always hung out with the guys.

Why Galentine’s Day Makes Me Wistful

So when Galentine’s Day comes around, it’s a reminder of what I don’t have. Not in a bitter way, more in a “that looks really lovely and I wish I had that” way.

I wish I had a group chat that blew up my phone with memes and inside jokes. I wish I had someone to call when I needed to talk through something without judgment. I wish I had that standing lunch date or girls’ trip or someone who just got me in that specific female friendship way.

I wish I had women in my life who showed up year-round, not because they had to, but because they wanted to. Who remembered my birthday without Facebook reminding them. Who checked in just because. Who made me feel seen and valued and celebrated.

I wish I was celebrating Galentine’s Day instead of writing about why I’m not.

Maybe It’s Not Too Late

Here’s what I’m thinking as I write this… maybe it’s not too late. Maybe friendships can be built at any age, in any season. Maybe it just looks different than it did in our twenties.

Maybe it starts small. A text to someone I haven’t talked to in years. Saying yes to an invitation instead of defaulting to “I’m too tired.” Putting myself out there even when it feels awkward and forced.

Maybe it means being vulnerable enough to admit I want friendships, even though that feels like admitting I’m lonely. Even though it feels easier to just stay in my comfortable bubble.

Maybe Galentine’s Day doesn’t have to be about celebrating the friendships I have; maybe it can be about honoring the ones I want. The ones I’m hoping to build. The ones I’m opening myself up to, even if it’s scary.

Related: How to Celebrate Galentine’s Day with Your Friends

The Bottom Line

So no, I’m not celebrating Galentine’s Day this year with mimosas and brunch and a group of beloved girlfriends. But I’m celebrating the idea of it. The beautiful concept that female friendships deserve recognition and honor and a whole dang holiday.

And maybe I’m using this as a little wake-up call to myself. A reminder that isolation isn’t the same as contentment. That being codependent with my husband doesn’t mean I can’t also have meaningful friendships. That it’s okay to want both.

To all the women out there celebrating Galentine’s Day with your ride-or-dies: I’m happy for you. Genuinely. Celebrate those friendships hard. They matter more than you know.

And to the women who are like me, scrolling through the Galentine’s posts feeling a little left out, a little wistful, a little lonely, you’re not alone in feeling alone. Maybe this year is the year we do something about it. Maybe we reach out. Maybe we try.

Or maybe we just sit with the wistfulness for a bit and let ourselves feel it. That’s okay too.

Happy Galentine’s Day to the friendships we have, the ones we’ve lost, and the ones we’re hoping to find.

Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a true crime junkie and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and Southern Bred True Crime Junkie. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and fifteen grandchildren.

Groundhog Day has become a quirky and beloved tradition each February 2, when folks across the U.S. and Canada look to a furry prognosticator to predict the rest of winter. This year, Punxsutawney Phil did see his shadow, signaling six more weeks of winter according to folklore.

Whether you’re a believer or just along for the fun, Groundhog Day is a moment to celebrate seasonal traditions and connect with friends and family.

The History of Groundhog Day

The origins of Groundhog Day go back hundreds of years to ancient European weather lore, where a badger or other animal was looked to for weather predictions. When German settlers came to Pennsylvania, they brought the tradition with them — and the groundhog became the star of the show. In Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, the ceremonies have been carried out since the late 1800s, attracting crowds and media attention every February 2.

What It Means When Phil Sees His Shadow

According to tradition, if Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, he gets spooked by the sun and retreats back into his burrow — which means six more weeks of winter weather. This year, that’s exactly what happened. Snow lovers might cheer, while spring lovers might groan, but it’s all in good fun.

Related: Fun Ways to Celebrate Groundhog Day with Kids

Do I Think Phil Can Really Predict the Weather?

Let’s be honest: do I believe ol’ Phil can predict the weather? No. But it’s a fun tradition that brings people together and sparks conversation every year. Whether winter truly sticks around longer or not, Groundhog Day gives us a reason to smile and celebrate a piece of American folklore.

Groundhog Day Around the Country

While Punxsutawney Phil is the most famous groundhog predictor, many towns across the U.S. and Canada hold their own festivities. People of all ages enjoy parades, breakfast events, and local gatherings where the groundhog takes center stage. Groundhog Day isn’t just about weather — it’s about community and tradition.

Final Thoughts on Groundhog Day 2026

Groundhog Day reminds us that even in the gray of winter, we can find joy in tradition. Shadow or no shadow, it’s a moment to reflect on the changing seasons and look forward to warmer days ahead — whether they come in six weeks or sooner.

Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a true crime junkie and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and Southern Bred True Crime Junkie. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and fifteen grandchildren.

Martin Luther King Jr. is often remembered through a handful of famous quotes and a single historic speech, but reducing his legacy to soundbites misses the depth of who he was and what he endured. MLK Day is not just about remembrance — it’s about understanding the full scope of his work, his sacrifices, and the physical and emotional miles he walked in pursuit of justice.

The Side of MLK We Rarely Talk About

Dr. King was only 39 years old when he was assassinated, yet by that age he had already been arrested nearly 30 times. He was not universally loved during his lifetime — in fact, public opinion polls near the end of his life showed him viewed unfavorably by much of the country.

He struggled deeply with stress, exhaustion, and depression, often sleeping only a few hours a night while constantly moving from city to city. Despite this, he continued pushing forward, even when his life was repeatedly threatened and his family was placed in danger.

One lesser-known fact: the FBI monitored King relentlessly, wiretapping his phone, following his movements, and attempting to discredit him publicly. This constant surveillance didn’t stop him — it strengthened his resolve.

Walking the Road of Protest: The March Routes That Changed History

When we think of the civil rights movement, we picture massive crowds — but those crowds had to walk somewhere.

One of the most powerful examples is the Selma to Montgomery march in 1965. Protesters walked roughly 54 miles over five days, facing violence, intimidation, and exhaustion. The route crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where peaceful demonstrators were brutally attacked in what became known as “Bloody Sunday.”

Walking that route today offers a sobering reminder: change didn’t come from speeches alone. It came from blistered feet, fear, and determination.

Across the country, communities now organize remembrance walks, retracing civil rights paths or symbolically marching through neighborhoods that still face inequality. These walks turn history into something physical — something felt, not just read.

Related: Black History Month: Highlighting Unsung Heroes

MLK’s Message Was Bigger Than One Day

Dr. King didn’t fight only for racial equality. He spoke openly about poverty, workers’ rights, housing injustice, and the dangers of silence. Near the end of his life, his focus expanded to economic inequality, including the Poor People’s Campaign — a movement that made many of his allies uncomfortable.

He believed justice required action, not comfort.

“True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.”

That message remains just as relevant today.

How to Honor MLK Day Beyond Quotes and Social Posts

Remembering Martin Luther King Jr. doesn’t require grand gestures. It requires intention.

• Visit a local civil rights landmark or historic route
• Attend a community walk or service event
• Read one of King’s lesser-known speeches or letters
• Support local organizations working toward equality
• Have honest conversations about injustice, even when uncomfortable

MLK Day was designed as a day of service, not a day off.

Carrying the Legacy Forward

Martin Luther King Jr. didn’t believe the work would end in his lifetime — and it didn’t. His legacy lives not in monuments or holiday posts, but in the choices made every day to stand up, speak out, and walk forward even when it’s hard.

Remembering him means continuing the journey.

Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a true crime junkie and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and Southern Bred True Crime Junkie. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and fifteen grandchildren.

King Cake traces its roots back to Europe, long before it became a Southern staple. The tradition began in France and Spain as part of Epiphany celebrations, marking the arrival of the Three Kings to visit baby Jesus. Families baked a simple cake and hid a bean or coin inside. Whoever found it was crowned “king” for the day.

When French settlers brought their customs to Louisiana, King Cake came with them. Over time, the recipe evolved, the symbolism stayed, and the cake became deeply tied to Carnival season. What started as a religious observance slowly turned into a cultural tradition that blended faith, food, and community.

How King Cake Became a Mardi Gras Tradition

In Louisiana, King Cake found its permanent home alongside Mardi Gras. Carnival season officially begins on January 6, also known as King’s Day, and runs until Fat Tuesday. From that day forward, King Cakes appear in bakeries, offices, churches, and kitchens across the region.

The cake became a way to gather people together throughout the season, not just on Mardi Gras day itself. Sharing King Cake turned into a social ritual. If you got the baby, you bought the next cake or hosted the next gathering. It kept the celebration rolling week after week, building anticipation until the final blowout on Fat Tuesday.

The Meaning Behind the Baby and the Colors

The tiny plastic baby hidden inside the cake is one of its most recognizable features. Traditionally, it symbolizes luck, prosperity, and responsibility. Finding it means good fortune, but it also means you’re on the hook for the next celebration.

The classic purple, green, and gold colors are more than decoration. Purple represents justice, green stands for faith, and gold symbolizes power. These colors became official Mardi Gras symbols in the late 1800s and remain tied to both the cake and the celebration today.

Related: Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, and Lent: From Celebration to Reflection

What King Cake Represents Today

Today, King Cake is less about strict tradition and more about shared joy. While the symbolism is still there, the real significance lies in gathering people together. It shows up at work break rooms, family dinners, school parties, and neighborhood get-togethers.

Modern King Cakes come in endless varieties, from traditional cinnamon-filled rings to cream cheese, fruit, and even savory versions. No matter the flavor, the purpose stays the same. It’s about indulgence before Lent, community before solitude, and celebration before restraint.

A Taste of Mardi Gras Culture

Mardi Gras itself isn’t just a single day. It’s a season filled with parades, music, food, and long-standing traditions. While beads and masks grab the spotlight, food has always been at the heart of it all. King Cake is one of the few traditions that stretches across the entire Carnival season, making it a constant reminder that Mardi Gras is as much about togetherness as it is about spectacle.

King Cake captures the spirit of Mardi Gras perfectly. It’s colorful, indulgent, a little messy, and meant to be shared. Every slice carries history, symbolism, and the promise that the party isn’t over yet.

Lisa Crow contributed to this article. She is a true crime junkie and lifestyle blogger based in Waco, Texas. Lisa is the Head of Content at Gigi’s Ramblings and Southern Bred True Crime Junkie. She spends her free time traveling when she can and making memories with her large family which consists of six children and fifteen grandchildren.