Downtime Diaries: February 2026

February is one of my favorite months of the year, considering it's the month I finalize another cycle around the sun. The month is usually spent celebrating and settling into the beginning of what feels like a fresh start. This year was a little different, as I recovered from a terrible cold I caught in Malaysia, battled (and lost to) jet lag, and braved the final weeks of winter.

Needless to say, I had plenty of downtime as I hibernated during the awful bout of cold that overstayed its welcome. I am happy to report that I finally feel human again and can sleep through the night without coughing my lungs out or walking outside without my nose leaking like a faucet. Being sick in the winter is a whole other form of torment that I don't wish on anyone.

📚 Reading: But Not Too Bold by Hache Pueyo

After finishing a couple of books, I wanted a novella that I could fly through. This sapphic fantasy novella was a nice palette cleanser to get me back into a reading habit. But Not Too Bold centers around the Capricious House, where humans serve an ancient being that resembles a giant spider named Anatema.

When something is stolen from Anatema, Dália, as the new keeper of the keys, has to figure out who did it before Anatema unleashes her fury on the house. It was an entertaining read, although it did take me a while to situate myself in this world with the existence of ancient beings. I would have enjoyed a longer version of this story to really go in-depth into the world and understand why Anatema devours her brides. It would also have been nice to see the romance blossom in a way that was a little more organic, with some yearning thrown into the mix. I do think that this served the purpose of what I was looking for, so I was satisfied nonetheless.

📺 Watching: The 'Burbs

During our tour at Universal Studios Hollywood last summer, we drove past Wisteria Lane, where the guide mentioned Keke Palmer was currently filming a new TV series titled The 'Burbs. Since then, my interest was piqued to watch the show to see if I could identify the set we saw in person. Before watching the remake, I watched the original movie, which had a certain charm with Tom Hanks as the main character in a role that involved a lot of physical comedy.

The remake is definitely more relevant for a contemporary audience, as it explores racial discrimination in suburbia. Samira, played by Keke Palmer, and her husband, Rob, move into Rob's family home in the suburbs of Hinkley Hills. With Samira on maternity leave, she starts investigating the creepy Victorian house next door and the new mysterious neighbor who moves in. I love how she bonds with her neighbors over this newcomer, which reminded me a little of Only Murders in the Building. Everyone has a secret, a la Desperate Housewives, which makes it very bingeable if you have a weekend (or day) to be a couch potato. It's distinctly different from the original, which makes for a suspenseful watch.

Honorable mentions: Hacks Season 4 and Bridgerton Season 4

• I'm so grateful I downloaded the fourth season of Hacks on my flight to Malaysia. It was one of the few things that kept me entertained during the 24-hour journey, so I had to shout it out. Hacks follows a young comedy writer who forges a friendship with a seasoned comedian. There are so many themes in this show, but the characters and the ruthlessness of show business keep me engaged.
• During a particularly rough night of jet lag, where I went to bed at 9 pm only to be wide awake at 2 am, I finished the first part of Bridgerton Season 4. Benedict is my least favorite Bridgerton, but I am absolutely obsessed with Yerin Ha as Sophie Baek. I want to know her full story so badly, and I only wish her the best. I'm excited to binge part 2.

🎨 Doing: Taking 1 Second Videos every day

This year, I decided to embark on the journey of daily documentation. Since the pandemic, time has moved in a way that I can't fully grasp anymore. I find myself struggling to remember what I did the week before, so I'm looking to be a little more intentional this year by taking a video clip every day as a way of memory keeping. So far, I've been able to keep up with this project every day, even if it is the mundane aspects of life, such as doing a home workout or going to the laundromat.

I believe that the small moments of life are some of the most memorable and beautiful, so I'm not looking to capture the highlights. Instead, I'm looking to capture the little things that I do every day. It would be nice to see how different life would look a year from now.

🎧 Listening: Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party by Hayley Williams

When I heard about the unusual release of Hayley Williams' latest album, I knew I had to give it a listen. February was the month that I couldn't stop listening to specific tracks off the album, most notably:

• Ice In My OJ
• I Won't Quit On You
• Good Ol' Days
• Parachute
• Glum

These are the few songs that held my attention upon my initial listen of the album. The songs have the same angst from the Paramore days, but also the emotional depth that comes with age. Also, let's be real, the album title alone should be enough of a reason to give this album a listen. Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party? Give me the tea!

I would pair this album with this YouTube essay just for funsies:

Despite my poor physical health this month, the brightside was all the amazing content I got to consume. If you know any juicy bridesmaid-to-friend breakup stories, please send them my way. I can't get enough.