April Favorites
A few things I enjoyed this month.
April is the first month in a long while that I’m looking around thinking wow, that was fast. Time flies when you’re having fun, eh? And April was fun! I haven’t spent this much time outside with the sun on my face since last October and boy, did I enjoy it!
I’ve been in a reading slump lately. Not that I haven’t had good reads, I’ve just had zero attention span for them. I recently picked up a few big coffee table books to page through and I’ve been finding my rhythm coming back. Sometimes you just have to do it, ya know? Furthermore, if I can tell myself to read five pages before bed, I’ll usually find myself quickly consumed and ten pages later, still reading. Taking those small wins and running with them!
I’m getting so antsy and excited for spring/summer. The weather is looking good for the foreseeable future and I think we’re finally done with the snow up in Northern Michigan. I should probably knock on wood, but it feels like the Thursday of the year. The weekend is soooooo close! My family did a little drive over to Lake Michigan last weekend and I mean obviously it’s not like perfect beach weather, but just walking through the sand with the sun shining bright, it felt so good. I sometimes forget that the beach is still a very good hangout spot even when it’s not swimsuit season. Bring a coat and some snacks and lay out a blanket and it feels just a nice to be there.
So this is a good omen, right? April was great, May can only go up. We made it friends!
Now let’s talk April favorites -
1 - Spring break in Chicago // Technically this was the end of March, and like April 1st, but whatever. I’m counting it. We spent 4 days in Chicago doing all of the tourist things. We walked a zillion miles with kids who were luckily into it, and didn’t even complain. The Bean was their favorite part. Mine was the top of the Hancock building and ALL the food options at Navy Pier. I had some killer shaved ice that I’m still thinking about. Of course, we hit all the museums, which I don’t know why I am surprised, but are all museums basically children’s museums? Maybe! This is not a criticism! I just think of museums as a classically adult interest and found the Field and Science and Industry museums really geared towards kids.
2 - White Lotus finale // Satisfying? No. Riveting? Yes. I can’t believe the girlfriends just hopped on a boat like they didn’t just have the most freaking traumatic event of their lives hours earlier. Now they’re really bonded, ya know? I also can’t believe after literally almost poisoning his entire family, Timothy just hopped on a boat headed towards home. No biggie - except the entire season was about him being absolutely the least chill about it. Mostly I thought it was so bizarrely unrealistic at the end. I mean, I know TV in general isn’t realistic, but imagine a handful of people die in a shootout at your $7000/night hotel and everyone’s like “okay, well bye-bye then!”. Nobody has PTSD like, immediately?!
3 - “What’s more important?” // A refrain I’ve mentally tattooed on the back of my eyelids. Whenever my kids interrupt what I’m doing, demanding immediate attention, instead of reacting, I try to ask myself “what’s more important?”. Honestly, sometimes it’s work. Actually, between 9-5 when I’m contractually obligated, it is the work and my kids need to wait. But when it’s 8pm and I’m mindlessly scrolling while they want to show me their latest lego build, it’s obviously them. I just need to remind myself!
4 - The Crown in Vogue // A book I absolutely inhaled in just a few days. It’s oversize and filled with photos like a coffee table book, but has the content of a novel. Starting roughly around 1900, it catalogs the British Royal family as they appeared in the pages of Vogue. Historical and delightful!
5 - New-to-me Beauty // Recently collected either via new product launches or the dang Sephora sale that dangles the most subpar discount in front of me, and still, they got me! Still test driving, but recent additions to my arsenal include Versed serum concealer, Tower28 mascara, Rare Beauty contour and Kosas translucent candy setting powder. I’ll report back!
6 - Weighted Vest Walks // I got this 10lb one and the way I huff and puff when I’m wearing it is enough proof for me that it’s doing the job. I started walking pretty consistently again and plan to resume my summer running routine again next week. I wear it while doing chores at home too and it’s just enough resistance to make me feeling like I’m doing something vaguely good for my health.
7 - My Favorite Murder Podcast // I’ve been deep in a fixation, listening to back-to-back episodes while I walk, which makes me side-eye all my neighbors but look, you will not catch me by surprise, sir!
8 - Dead Silent Driving // In opposition to my podcast walks, I’ve been making an effort to do the work commute without any distractions. My head was racing with thoughts the first few times, but I’m two weeks into the groove and I feel myself quieting down. It just feels good to remove the constant noise and give myself that 30 minutes to quietly process the day. No word yet on how long I’ll keep this up.
9 - Bestsellers // Surprised, but delighted to find the Wit&Delight glass straws high on the bestseller list this month! We all like a little whimsy in our day-to-day activities, I guess. Fun straws in the water glass absolutely qualifies. Furthermore, I offered proof just earlier this week that when I talk about the Flamingo body lotion, I walk the talk. I’m so glad you guys are enjoying this as much as I am - maybe it’ll come back to Target! Oh and I cannot even tell you how happy I was to see this beautiful puzzle on my bestseller list this month too! It’s such a good one! Finally, bestselling beauty (and also some of my daily drivers) included the Olive & June press-ons (so so so good!), the Maybelline tattoo eyeliner (literally better than any high end eyeliner I’ve ever tried) and Saltair exotic pulp body wash. Guys, we have excellent taste.