Stuff We’re Into February 2026

The East Coast decided to remind us what winter actually means this year.

There’s a part of me that loves a proper old-fashioned winter. The kind that forces you into sweaters and slow evenings. But somewhere around the third stretch of icy roads and housebound days, I did find myself wondering: how many days have I not left this house?

When the cold keeps you still, you either spiral or you stitch. I stitched.

I spent most of February wrapping up my first project of 2026: an heirloom Christmas tablecloth. Two months of work, countless tiny stitches, and finished only minutes before writing this. It deserves its own moment here soon, and I cannot wait to share it.

In the meantime, here’s what caught my eye, my brain, and occasionally my credit card this month.

Slide One: Heritage, Whimsy & a Little Southwest

Frances Valentine Turns 10

Frances Valentine, founded by the late Kate Spade and her best friend Elyce Arons, is celebrating ten years. For a small company that endured such a heartbreaking loss, this milestone feels especially meaningful.

I still remember starting at Gap and spotting a pair of Frances Valentine sandals across the office. The geometric heel stopped me in my tracks. I asked the wearer if they were Frances Valentine and I swear she was stunned I recognized them. That heel, originally inspired by Buckminster Fuller’s geodesic dome, is unmistakable.

Their first shoe, the Beatrix, remains a classic. I own a variation and rarely wear them because they feel too precious. They elevate an occasion simply by existing.

Their new Babs blanket stitch cardigan has me smitten. And their scrapbook-style Instagram celebrating each year? So them. So thoughtful. That blend of vintage, wit, and emotional storytelling is something I will always admire.

Here’s to another decade of color, craft, and unapologetic charm.

J. Alexander Rustic Silver

Then came an Instagram ad that felt personally curated by the algorithm gods.

J. Alexander Rustic Silver stopped me mid-scroll. Their stamped silver frames and turquoise-accented boxes transported me straight back to Arizona. They echo the jewelry I inherited from my Grannie Eve and Aunt Dell.

The small stamped turquoise box and the 5x7 stamped frame are both beautifully priced and giftable. Their entire site is a Southwestern dreamscape. Consider this your official warning: I will absolutely be gifting these.

And if you gift one to me, you clearly understand me.

ROZ Haircare

Instagram also decided February was Haircare Month.

I tested a few brands and ended up falling hard for ROZ. The packaging alone is stunning enough to justify the experiment. Thankfully, the products perform just as beautifully as they look.

I’ve been using the Milk Hair Serum, Santa Lucia Styling Oil, Scrunch Air Thinking Spray and the Evergreen Styling Cream alongside a few tried-and-true staples. My soft wave situation is improving. Ten out of ten. Will repurchase.

Slide Two: Objects & Obsessions

OBA Soap by Matias Moellenbach

I saw a photo of this sculptural soap and audibly said, “Well that’s beautiful.”

OBA is inspired by pure geometry, sphere and cube, and somehow transforms soap into an art object. It feels less like a toiletry and more like a quiet design statement.

I’m deeply contemplating which translucent color belongs in our downstairs half bath. If anyone has ordered one, I need a full report immediately.

Stars & Honey Protein Bars

If your algorithm also decided you need more protein, we’re in this together.

Stars & Honey bars have 15g of protein, 2g of sugar, plus collagen. If they taste as good as the reviews claim, they may join my Ballerina Farm favorite protein as another daily staple. I’m most excited for peanut butter blackberry. Elevated PB&J energy.

Bode

Bode continues to test my self-restraint.

The Fuchsia Cherry Coat is breathtaking. The price point is high, which still feels foreign after years in retail and discount culture. But I’m in a season of thinning the closet, investing in fewer, better pieces.

Emily Adams Bode Aujla’s storytelling, her heritage-driven design language, the personal woven into the brand DNA. It resonates deeply.

Someday soon I may pull that trigger.

Home Projects

March begins with a flooring upgrade in our downstairs den library. Goodbye flat carpet. Hello herringbone wood. I’m thrilled.

We chose the Kaya Floral hooked rug from Garnet Hill in blue to anchor the space. Rug shopping is strangely overwhelming. So many options. So many questionable patterns. Why are beautiful rugs so rare?

We’re also starting to reimagine the living room. The previous owner’s grasscloth wallpaper is faded, the curtains are very 1980s, and the lighting situation needs help.

We’ll be ordering shell sconces inspired by ones we saw in England. Wallpaper swatches are arriving. Potential paint colors choices were matched using my beloved Benjamin Moore color matching tool at Colonial Williamsburg, which I keep in my purse like a design detective.

I may take you along for this renovation ride.

Punch the Monkey

Not something you can purchase, but absolutely something we are into.

Punch the Monkey has captured hearts everywhere. Watching him cling to his stuffed animal after being abandoned by his mother was equal parts devastating and tender. Seeing him now slowly bonding with other monkeys has been deeply emotional.

The memes alone secured his spot here.

A true hero of February.

Slide Three: Looking Toward Spring

Winter may still be lingering, but my brain is already dressing for spring.

I’ve discovered marAvic, a Spanish brand with early Kate Spade charm and just enough quirk to feel fresh. The Noma trench and coordinating pieces are the most delicious blue and red pairing. The Azahar dress feels like if Doen, Rebecca Taylor, and J.Crew collaborated on something slightly unexpected.

La Veste continues to impress me with their artistic, outsider spirit. Their ethos celebrates individuality and craftsmanship. Why blend in when you can delightfully stand out? I’m loving these shorts and definitely would use that as an excuse to also buy that green gingham blouse as well to coordinate.

With my birthday next week, I may gift myself one of these pieces. The only challenge is choosing.

February felt long and short all at once. Cold but productive. Quiet but creatively full.

If you’re also on the East Coast, here’s to the promise of warmer days ahead.

Let me know what resonated.

XX,
Brynn