During this time of year, life is so fun not only because of all the hearts, roses, and Valentines, but because it’s also high school formal season. I loved helping my oldest daughter get ready for her formal dances with elegant dresses, makeup, flowers, photos, and all that goes along with this milestone. When my two boys’ turn for these dances came along, I thought I would have less to do, but you really don’t. I have thoroughly enjoyed helping them with their tuxedo fittings, haircuts, flowers, and photos. Recently, I took my son and a friend to pick out their tuxedos, and trust me when I say, there are a lot of options when looking for the right fit. It’s not just black tuxedos, white shirts, and black ties.

For the Liberty High School formal, my son’s date is wearing royal blue, so we looked at black, dark gray, light gray, and royal blue tuxedos. With the help of a very knowledge tailor, he chose a royal blue, velvet tuxedo with a white shirt and black bow tie. His friend’s date is wearing pink, but pink is not just pink, there are many varieties of this color from mauve to rose to light pink. He ended up choosing a dark gray tuxedo with a mauve tie. Then, the tailor asked if they wanted vests under their jackets, which sparked a whole new debate. After that, they had to decide on the length of their pants:  cropped, no break, slight break, medium break, or full break. Next came the shoes:  brown, black, matte, shiny, loafers, etc. Who knew there were so many decisions for this special day?

My daughter and middle son always wanted to eat fancy dinners for their dances like Kan Pai or the Belvedere Room at the Padre Hotel. As for my youngest son, he and his friends decided to have it catered by Chick-fil-A. I love that they are breaking with tradition and just eating what they love. I do know this though, no matter what these friends end up wearing or eating, they are going to have a night to remember.

Someone else who is a fan of Chick-fil-A is Julie Willis’ daughter. In the article, “Samantha’s Love Affair with Chick-fil-A Not Quite Love at First Sight,” on page 22, she writes about how her daughter was a picky eater and the first time they went to the restaurant, she was disinterested in both the food and the play area. As she grew older, the tides turned and it became one of her favorite places. Now, even at age 12, she still loves the grilled chicken nuggets and fries and her mom becomes nostalgic at all the fun they use to have playing there.

Love is in the air this month, but it’s also National Plant the Seeds of Greatness Month. In the article, “11 Ways to Plant the Seeds of Greatness in 2023,” Callie Collins writes about 11 ways you can improve your quality of life. She says, if you plant the seeds early in the year, you can watch them grow all year long.  Some of her suggestions include being mindful and analytical about your life while setting commitments along the way. To see all 11 ways, check out page 14.

February is also Heart Health Awareness month, and the article, “Hello, Happy (Tenacious) Mama:  Katherine Wolf Shares her Story as a Stroke Survivor,” on page 12, Callie Collins features an inspirational woman who is a fighter. Katherine has survived multiple strokes and the rehabilitation process and now works at Encompass Health Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital. She recently moved to Bakersfield with her husband and two children to be closer to family. Through her experiences, she has learned that her family motivates her and gives her a reason to fight. She encourages her patients to find their “WHY?”

With all the red, pink, and white décor everywhere, and high school formal season in full swing, it’s easy to think about hearts and relationships. No matter what you wear, what you eat, or where you go, you can always find time to be appreciative of those who are special to you in your life.