Blogging, Favorite Things, Humor, Life, Music, Pets, Soul Homework, Uncategorized, Universe, What I Kept, Writing

What I Kept | February 2023

Writer McWriterson

These are the things I kept on my phone in the month of February.

Click here to read previous What I Kept posts.

Support animal
Bird butts
“How many of you have a place to take your grief?”
From this book.
Support human
@elysemyers

for anyone that’s been made to feel like you are too much…you are just the right amount. #gofindless

♬ go find less – Elyse Myers
Go. Find. Less.
From this book
@tinydicebuddies

Let’s just not today… 😊 #fridaymood #dice #cutedice #cuteanimation #cuteanimations #diceaddict #2danimations #2danimationart #giphyart #giphyarts #cuteart #diceart #cuteartwork #tinydicebuddies #animatorsoftiktok #artanimation #animationart #fridayfeeling

♬ original sound – Aymie and Family
This song is incredibly beautiful and should be listened to with headphones.
My high school colors. Unplanned. 🖤
Speaking of which, a friend sent this to me a few weeks ago. I was a junior in high school at the time. That hair is the result of too many spiral perms.
@rickandmortos

We’re not liking Patrick today #fypシ #cutedogs #puppy #ricknmorty #beautiful #patrick

♬ original sound – Rick and Morty
Kitty on our neighbors shed

I have an announcement to make. I asked Anna if I could share this on the blog, and she said of course! So it is with great pleasure that I inform you that… I am a grandma!

To this beautiful boy:

Meet Luigi. He is the best grandkitty ever. 🖤
Selfie a day is going swimmingly. I wear a lot of black clothing. This is not a surprise.
@indivisibletn

#fyp #tennessee #standup

♬ Imagine – Ultimate Mix – John Lennon
This is lovely…

Oh Roger?
@beatriceharrods

My favorite thing: women supporting women #cinematography #sisterhood #feminism #girlpower

♬ these videos are adorable – 🪶starling
Snow storm and weighted blanket
“Now we’re finally aligning. More than maybe I can choose.”
@jackktherippper

Only in Lake Elsinore #magesticaf #lakeelsinore #fyp #foryoupage

♬ Dreams (2004 Remaster) – Fleetwood Mac
I repurposed these jars from Costco that held my chocolate mousse. You’re welcome for saving the planet.

I haven’t been sharing bird footage because the camera faces the front of my house and our neighbor’s house. I can only crop it so much for privacy purposes, and we’re not putting it in the backyard because of skunks. I understand that these are first-world problems; just know that we are thouroughly enjoying the bird camera and if you are thinking of getting one, do it. 

From this book
@the.dad.vibes

We need to model what we want to see ❤️ #parenting #fatherhood #parenting101 #attachmentparenting #attachmentparenting #gentleparentinghacks #naturalparenting #fyp #foryoupage #gentleparenting #newbornbaby #parenthood #parenthood @Institute of Child Psychology

♬ original sound – Tom Piccirilli | The Dad Vibes
Thank you to this blogger for this article.
I took French for three years in high school and don’t remember much of it, but this hit me right in the feels. I’m questioning if I’ll ever get to France. I’m curious if I’ll ever travel outside of the United States. I sincerely hope so.
Tug of war.
@lilou_ma_vie6

Me 😺 when i watch the movie flashdance 👀Maniac effect is here🤍🐾😺🐾🖤 #pourtoi #fyp #catsoftiktok #catdance #flashdance #maniac #catmoves

♬ Maniac (Flashdance Version) (Re-Recorded / Remastered) – Michael Sembello
A French cat doing dances to 80s songs? I love the internet.
My parents were coming over for dinner one night, and I happened to notice how lovely our dining room looked with all of the lights on. I am so grateful for our home. Our house has shielded us from the elements and supported us during some difficult times. I’m so appreciative of it.
@isabellalalonde

when you’re seated next to a row of grandmas🥹🤍 #fyp #plane #smallgestures

♬ Stuff We Did (from ‘Up’) – Piano Version – your movie soundtrack
Throughout February, the show Dance Moms has been a guilty pleasure. So has candlelight while doing anything. And cozy blankets. 
Quote by Rachel Naomi Remen from the foreward of this book
The two top images of teenage me were created using a TikTok filter.

There’s a TikTok filter going around that shows people as teenagers. The top photo shows me as a teenager in comparison to my current appearance

I didn’t resemble the girl in the top photos as a teen. Naturally, I didn’t have brown hair as a teenager, but I also didn’t have that face or mouth. As an adult, I did get braces, so perhaps that had some bearing.

Then, a few hours later, I told my husband, OMG. I think I know who that teenager is! 

It’s the girl I’d be if I’d healed myself back then; after doing my soul homework. The girl who believes in herself. The girl who is in love with herself. The girl who is in love with others. The girl who believes in magic.

Or it could also just be a silly TikTok trend that didn’t match my face.

Finally, this made me laugh so hard that I thought I’d share it with you all. Moments of humanity that make me feel less alone are my favorites and speak to me. I hope it speaks to you as well.

Trigger warning: there is swearing. LOTS of it. 😊

@karynlynnm

My mother dropped her Tim Horton’s coffee and she spazzed OUT… lolololllllllllll #hilarious #TimHortonscoffee #coffee #allthecursewords

♬ original sound – Karyn Morton

This post was born out of grief and continues to sustain me each month. Thank you for taking the time to read my words (and others). It is a privilege to share them with you. ❤️

42 thoughts on “What I Kept | February 2023”

  4. Excellent keepers, Kari!

    Your dog is soooooooooooooooo CUTE! Reminds me of a family dog we have many years ago. His name was Keno. And he was a Yorkipoo. Adorable!

    LOVE that sculpture! I also love the Buddha quote!

    “This song is incredibly beautiful and should be listened to with headphones.” You’re right, it is. And I bookmarked it so that I can listen to it with my headphones later today.

    That photo of you is FAB-U-LOUS! I played the clarinet too. However, I was never in our schools’ band.

    I am both a dog and cat person, so I loved the beautiful boy photo. And CONGRATS!

    I truly believe that what is for me will find me. And exactly at the right moment.

    Enjoyable read, my friend. Inspiring and humorous. Thank you!

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    1. We’re not sure what he is because he was a rescue, but he could be a Yorkipoo! 🤣

      I’ve been listening to that song a lot over the last month. That was the song I mentioned being grateful for in last week’s post. I am happy to be able to share it with you all.

      I absolutely love the fact that we both played the clarinet. ❤️

      I never thought I’d be a cat person as well as a dog person, but here I am! I’m already in love with Luigi. He is absolutely adorable.

      That is something I believe in as well, Ron. Without a doubt.

      Thank you, friend. I hope you have a wonderful week. 😘

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  5. I just want to say that I think your posts are wonderful. I have a big lump in my throat that I think is about wanting to cry…not out of sadness but from being touched deeply. I am sorry to hear that you are grieving and I missed the details of that (if you wrote about it.) I love your take on life and the way you capture funny, spot-on day-to-day features of it. It makes me feel more connected to humanity. I imagine it is helping you through your grief, too. Thank you.

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    1. Oh, Donna! What a lovely thing to say! Thank you so much. This means a lot to me. I am extremely happy that you feel this way because that is exactly what I intend with each of these posts. It has greatly helped me work through my grief. Thank you for your words today. Xoxo 😘

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  6. The video of the older women on the plane with the baby made me cry. As did your words about the teenage Kari that TikTok can see. (So, yeah…that’s how I am today.) This post is like a collage, and I feel like looking at it as a whole gives me a whole picture of you. I am so glad you have such a warm, comforting place (and beings!) to support you in the hard work of becoming your full, true self. She’s pretty awesome.

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    1. Rita, it made me cry as well!

      I cried as well when I saw teenage me. What we’d look like if we’d all healed ourselves back then. Alas…

      I love that you feel that way after reading these posts because that is exactly what I intended them to be. Little scrapbooks of what I’ve kept over the last month to share with you all. The world seems so dismal. I want this space to feel the total opposite.

      Xoxo

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  7. I like bird butts and I cannot lie!

    I love love love the selfie with you and your puppers. What a great photo. Also, am here for the spiral perm photos. I have many of those myself. Remember what would happen if you brushed out the perm? Lololol I looked like Marge Simpson’s sisters half the time.
    I follow Gary Janetti on IG and he cracks me up.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Same, girl.

      Nicole, I once had to get a re-perm because the first one didn’t take. Can you imagine the hair damage??

      I learned about him thanks to Ally Bean. I love discovering interesting people through blogging. Icing on the cake. (Not pie) 😉

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  8. I’m listening to Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow on audiobook right now and am really enjoy it so I recognized that quote right off the bat! Those tulips are gorgeous. I took French in high school and did go on a trip to France with my French teacher and some friends.. but I hardly retained any of the language. It is coming back to me rather quickly as I am teaching my youngest French and hear his Duolingo program each day.

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  9. I love that Elyse Myers person. She is the best. I really enjoyed that part about WHY DO YOU THINK I DON’T LIKE YOU? I DON’T BUT WHAT GAVE ME AWAY. ~ awesomely funny. The spilled coffee. Priceless. I may have given up some of those words for lent, but I’m glad she didn’t. That was pure hilarity. Your dining room does look lovely, BTW.

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  11. WTH? I think you look young in ALL your selfies!!! The marching band photo is classic. Love it! I can relate to my head exploding when someone tries to teach me card games or even chess. Too.much.info.

    I always keep decorative jars and try to find new uses for them. I’m going to have to try the battery operated candles in them.

    I loved French class. I took it from 7th grade until graduation and then a year of advanced in college. I still remember some of my names in class . . . Cheri and Sylvie. I was jealous of my friend who got the name Chantal. It’s funny how I remember some of my other classmates’ name as well. It was just a fun class to me. Fun fact: My blogger name is the French equivalent to my real life nickname. Not many people know that.

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    1. I love how everyone in the comments can’t understand board and card game instructions. 😂

      Yes, please to candles in small jars! It has made winter feel less winter.

      I love that fun fact! I love it so very much.  ❤️

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  12. Your reaction to card game rules mirrors my reaction to board game rules. I. Just. Can’t. Comprehend. Them.

    I can comprehend Fleet Foxes, though. Saw them at an outdoor concert in Portland once; they put on a helluva show. Their first album is SO damn good!

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  14. Love all your snippets…fun, moving, entertaining, thought-provoking.

    Card game rules and board game rules…no comprende! Especially if someone is trying to explain the rules out loud. I have to actually play the game while it’s being taught to me. A practice round or two!

    Your grandkitty is beautiful. 🙂

    xoxo

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  15. I’m here for all the support animals and support humans!
    LUIGI! So lovely!
    I saved the Marriage of friends quote; brought me to tears and it resonates so much because of my closest friends.
    I thought the teen Kari was one of your lovely girls!! XO

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  16. Your band photo is classic. I had your hair style naturally, no perm needed. I do better with card game rules than board game rules, but fortunately I have a patient husband who really wants me to play these games with him. How do you find these things on TikTok? I’ve been trying to get into it, but all that comes up for me is pets pretending to talk. Cute, but so what?

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    1. It took some digging to find these TikToks. It wasn’t great when I first joined. But the algorithm is much better now that I’ve wasted, ahem, spent more time on it. By clicking on the ones in this post, you should be able to improve your For You Page as well. To do so, after watching the Tiktok here, click on it to go to the actual site. Then hopefully you’ll see more than just talking pets. 😊

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  18. So much good stuff here! I’m not usually a visual person but all the photos were great, too! I also like and appreciate what seems to be a “new” blurb about writing you’re using. At least I think it changed from one before by Anne Patchett, if I recall correctly. Keep those coming, too.
    PS I also like your selfie a day. If I did something similar I’d be in my jammies a lot!

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