April Recap + Favorites
Let’s kick off the April recap with what I know everyone is dying to know most of all – no, we still haven’t sold our house.
We’re currently experiencing a really slow and challenging real estate market – homes in our area are sitting on the market an average of 75ish days (compared to about 50 last year), and there is a ton of competition. We’re also surrounded by new construction homes, which many people prefer and also offer some really great perks and interest rates. So, it’s a challenge, to say the least.
I’m still confident that our home will sell – eventually. We’re beginning the discussion of if and when we put things on hold and stay put for a while, but I think we have a few months before we really need to seriously consider that.
So, I guess the update is that there is no update. We’re having sporadic showings and holding occasional open houses, but beyond that we’re just in a period of waiting. It’s been hard and painful but it’s been a good exercise in learning patience for me.
This month, I did a (slightly) better job of just enjoying myself and not focusing too much on my house stress! Spring is in full bloom around here, and I’m enjoying every second of the beautiful weather…and also starting to get excited about summer. It’s just around the corner!
A Few Highlights from April
- Jackson has really gotten into theater, and this month he had his performance for his spring play, Winnie the Pooh. He was Rabbit and it was one of the sweetest things I’ve ever seen.
- We had t-ball every Saturday morning and it was such a fun little routine. I enjoy watching the t-ball games so much more than I enjoyed watching soccer when the kids played that, so I’m hopeful we’ll keep going for a little while! Grant wants to do a baseball summer camp, so this may end up being a thing for us.
- I spent a ton of time grilling and eating outside and just enjoying the weather and all of my plants in bloom. The magnolia trees are full of flowers and it’s bringing me so much joy!
- I planted a ton of plants (tomatoes and carrots and lettuce and flowers galore!) and have been having so much fun watching them sloowwwwly start to grow. We’ve even eaten a couple of strawberries already!
- Jackson and I have been reading the Hunger Games series and it’s been SO MUCH FUN. We’re on book two and reading a chapter with him before bed is truly my favorite part of the evening.
- Corey and I watched Black Mirror (so good!), and are watching The Last of Us (heartbreaking but incredible, of course). I’m also midway through the final season of You and enjoying every second of it!
- I shared the best books I’ve read so far this year over on Substack, if you’re looking for recommendations!
- And, speaking of Substack – I officially launched my paid newsletter. I often get questions about how you can support me in a tangible way, and this is absolutely the most direct way to do it. Blogs have been really affected by some changes to Google, Pinterest, etc. over the last year and it’s been a hard transition. I’m hopeful that this paid newsletter will not only be a great place for us to connect a little more personally, but also be a way to help me continue doing this as my job, because it really brings me so much joy! It’s only $5 a month to subscribe, so for the price of a coffee a month you can help me keep sharing aaaaaall the other free content!
April Favorite Things
- Grant has always loved the Elephant and Piggie Books, but this month he discovered it’s even more fun if we each read for one of the main characters. He’s not much of a reader, so it’s been really sweet to watch him actually get excited to read aloud with me every night.
- I’ve kept these Crystal Light Energy Boost packets in the pantry for a couple of months now, and I love them so much. They help me make sure to get at least one Stanley’s worth of water in my body, and they give a nice caffeine boost (which is often necessary for this non-coffee-drinker).
- I saw a lot of people on Instagram wearing these comfy slip-on sandals, so I ordered them for myself. I love that they feel a little more dressy but they’re still so easy to wear. I think they’ll be a staple in my closet this summer!
- I tried on a bunch of different tennis dresses to find some new favorites and this athletic dress (the shorts are separate!) was the one I ended up keeping. It’s so comfortable, I love the simple and classic lines, and the color options are great, too!
- After months (maybe even a year) of regular annoyance with the laundry bag in the hamper in our closet, I finally ordered new laundry hamper and OH MAN, what a difference. Two separate bags, two separate lids…it’s a game changer. It’s not as cute as my last one was but what an upgrade.
- Everyone on Instagram is regularly asking me about these gorgeous faux flowers I added to the pergola planters. They’re so realistic, come in tons of colors, and are the perfect way to ensure pretty blooms all the time even if you’re not great with outside plants (raising both hands over here).
- I tucked the Life Goals card game into Jackson’s Easter basket, and we played it multiple times on Easter. It’s a really quick and simple-to-learn game that gives a little taste of the classic Life game with a tinnnnny bit more strategy. It’s nothing earth-shattering, but it’s fun and a great game for younger players!
- This set of three blue and white planters is one of my favorite things on my back patio right now. The pattern is so pretty and classic and they feel really special (while actually being totally affordable). I wish they were a little bit bigger, but I guess it’s just a good excuse to buy new plants when my current ones outgrow them!
- Phase 10 was one of my very favorite games when I was a kid, and we introduced Jackson to it over Easter weekend. It’s one of those games that you kind of regret playing about 3/4 of the way through (because it lasts for all of eternity), but I always want to go back. We played a second round of it “Yahtzee style” last weekend, where we got to choose which phase we completed based on the hand we were dealt, and it was a really fun twist on the original game!
- As we head into the warmer months, I find myself pulling out my favorite running leggings again. I bought my first pair in 2020, so they’ve been a staple in my running wardrobe for 5 years now and they’re still going strong!
- It’s been a while since I refreshed the framed puzzle in my living room art ledge, so I grabbed a new spring puzzle and I’m so excited to put it together. Right now I can’t make any big changes to the house, so the little things like a fresh piece of art feel like an inordinately big deal!
- I’ve been wearing this necklace nonstop since I got it – this brand sent me a few of their pieces to try out, and I’m truly in love. They’re really beautiful and classic, and I’ve found myself reaching for this necklace on repeat a ton lately.