February felt like finally exhaling.
After a month of traveling for the holidays in Kansas City, LA, and then Norway for birthday celebrations (the kind of trip that blew my mind and grounded me at the same time, by the way, but we'll get there!) I came home, unpacked my bags, and slowly, slowly settled back into my cozy office and routines. Back to Daphne curled up nearby, a homemade coffee in hand, the soft background hum of Denver traffic through the window. Back to having all my junk journaling supplies within reach: the paper, the stickers, the photos and the pages.
Back to me.
February Junk Journal Spreads
January and February gave me a lot of material to work with: emotionally, creatively, and literally.
January was my birthday month, and since I was traveling, I got to celebrate with all of my friends and family when I got back! My friend Laura has been getting into watercolors for the past year or so, and I LOVED this cute birthday card she made for me! It had to go in the junk journal ❤︎
Many of my spreads this month were inspired by my trip to the Arctic. The colors up there (the deep navy of the water, the silver-white of ice, the almost impossible pinks and blues caused by the polar night) have been living in my head since I got back and slowly making their way onto the page. And did I mention, I SWAM WITH ORCAS!? I'm documenting the full Arctic journey over on Substack if you want the deep dive: orcas, treacherous ferries, northern lights—the whole thing.
This one came from a quieter moment after the post-trip crash and a need to ground myself after so much movement. Affirmations, intentions, a little melancholy. A spread that asked: what do I actually want to call in?
Shop & Business Updates
I started a Substack! This has been a long time coming and it's where I'll be going deeper: personal essays, travel journals, creative musings, and behind-the-scenes thoughts that don't quite fit anywhere else. If you want more of the unfiltered stuff, come find me there.
Maternity & Newborn Season is in full swing. My calendar has been full of the most beautiful families, and I am so grateful. If you've been thinking about booking a session, now is a great time. Reach out here.
New Sticker Sheets are here and this one has a story I love telling. The Rocky Mountain High sticker set started with my friend Kristin's cannabis plants, a Colorado backyard, and a 30th birthday that deserved to be celebrated properly. We did a whole photoshoot with the plants before harvest, then I pressed and scanned the actual leaves to capture every texture and detail. Every leaf on that sheet came from her garden. I'd love for them to find their way into your pages.
Other Junk (The Real Stuff)
February was a lot. And I don't just mean personally.
I attended an ICE protest in Denver this month. I stood in a crowd of people who were scared and angry and also so full of love. That's what struck me most. There was so much love there. So much shared humanity. People who don't know each other, standing together because they believe in something bigger than themselves.
The world feels like a lot right now. Systems are straining. Things feel uncertain. And I think we're all carrying that, even when we don't name it.
But here's what I keep coming back to: I look around and I see people rising. I see art and protest and creativity being used as mechanisms for love. From the signs at the protest to Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl halftime show. If you know, you know. That moment was a masterclass in using your platform, your pain, your craft to say: love is the answer. To refuse to meet hate with hate.
I think about that a lot. About how each of us (with whatever skills, whatever creative outlet, whatever voice we have) can channel our experiences into something that moves the world forward. Not by ignoring the hard things, but by refusing to let them be the last word. By responding with a greater vision.
That's what junk journaling is to me, honestly. It's taking what I find (what's here, what's present), and crafting it into a vision (the page, the future) that is both imperfect and beautiful.
It's not pretending things aren't broken. It's saying: even still, we'll make something from this.
Here's to making things. Here's to each other.
Find my Arctic journey (and a lot more) over on Substack. New sticker sheets are live in the shop. And if you want photos, you know where to find me.
💛