Love the skin you're in. | February 2020 Love Note

February is a good month. It’s the reset after the reset. The tail end of the winter season, and the definitive end of the holiday season. Even those of us who put the “pro” in procrastination should have our tree down by now. Sidenote: If you haven't done this yet, do it. You’ll feel better. Clean up and get into this fresh start, sis.

It's so meaningful and appropriate that I’m drafting this Love Note from the Dream Village Headquarters in Hyattsville, MD -- a super dope Black space full of dreamers, doers, and historymakers annnd the unofficial Love, Maaden corporate office.  Living in the DMV and working out of the village, it's clear to me that [every day of] every month is Black History Month, but I’m still doing it big in February. Too many people have sacrificed too much for me not to. 

February is also the month when aisles are brimming with candy hearts, flowers, and chocolates. And as much as we all say that Valentine’s Day is a made-up holiday (I mean aren't they all?), it's also a time set aside to celebrate things that are lovely, and sweet, and cute. So why not lean into it? Reminisce on feelings of first date butterflies, cook dinner for our sweethearts, toast and turn up with galentines, and shower the littles with sweet memories! 

Expressing love and celebrating blackness represent huge parts of my identity, so I am talking about both all month long on The Love, Maaden Podcast featuring Tennille Daniels launching this Monday, February 3, 2020. Be on the look out for the links in your inbox and on social. Listen in, share it with friends, and join the conversation at your gatherings this month!

As always, I'm sharing a recipe from my kitchen to yours and a few table talk topics for your next gathering below. Cheers to more love, celebrating being Black, deepening community, and healing through hospitality! 

Love, Maaden