Phew. We made it through April. I had a whirlwind of a month. I’d planned to stay in Florida until May but at the very end of March, I found out that I couldn’t get vaccinated there since I’m not a state resident. On a whim, I checked the vaccination availability in my home state of South Carolina and was shocked that I landed a last-minute appointment for Easter Sunday. What ensued was a lot of driving to make it to my appointment in time and then the familiar feeling of unsettledness that came with yet another location change.

I’ve alluded to this previously, but the living out of a suitcase (okay, a few suitcases) and changing locations every six weeks for the past year has worn on me. Don’t get me wrong, I am incredibly thankful that I’ve been able to spend significant time with Max—something we weren’t sure would be possible when he moved to Miami at the beginning of the pandemic. I also recognize how fortunate I am to have loved ones who have taken me in and provided an escape from the isolation of living and working in my tiny studio apartment in Washington. However, I am beyond ready to have a sense of home again. A sense of normalcy. To store away the suitcases and be reacquainted with my dresser drawers.

That’s what’s on my heart as we turn the page to a new month. Of course, before I fully shift my focus to what’s ahead, I like to reflect on the previous month. In that spirit, today’s post recaps the best of April, including everything I read, watched, bought, and loved.

Read, Watched, Loved

Read: I’m almost done with The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. I’ve enjoyed the book but because it’s quite dense, the progress is slow-going. My next read is going to be something light and fun, I think. I’ve heard good things about People We Meet on Vacation and may pre-order it.

Watched: I finally finished Schitt’s Creek! The ending ticked all the boxes for me, although I was rooting for Ted to make an appearance in the finale. Since then, Modern Family has been my binge-watch. I never saw the show when it was originally on the air, but now it has me laughing non-stop.

Loved: Max and I dog-sat a couple of weeks ago and loved every second of it. Having a dog around made my puppy fever worse than it already was (which is saying a lot!).

Bought

For weeks on end, I had the most random desire to play croquet. I ended up finding a vintage set on Facebook Marketplace but was very tempted by this colorful travel croquet set from Anthropologie.

I found the girly spring dress of my dreams. Between the pink gingham print and the puffy sleeves, I can’t get enough. My exact dress is still available in black gingham, and this pink maxi dress is extremely similar.

I replaced an old set of pajamas with this Katie Kime sleep shirt, which is currently 50% off and incredibly comfortable.

Jonathan Adler home decor is 25% off at Neiman Marcus right now. This never happens, especially with free shipping, too, so I scooped up—no pun intended—the ice cream match strike that I’ve been eyeing forever.

Best of the Internet

The real reason why young adults seem slow to grow up.

Is it better to rent or buy? This tool helps you decide, taking into account the various costs associated with buying a house.

Sticky notes for grown-ass ladies.

A beautiful op-ed about the life of Prince Philip.

The end of an era: Gate 35X at Reagan Airport is no more! 🙌🏻

One man’s quest to park in every space at his local grocery store.

This Month’s Gratitudes

I slacked on keeping my gratitude journal during the craziness of this past month. Nonetheless, there was plenty to be thankful for in April. To name a few:

• Getting my first COVID-19 vaccination
• Taking a nature walk on Earth Day
• Puppy snuggles
• Friendly baristas that brightened my day

On the Blog This Month

How to Land Your First Job (Part I)

How to Land Your First Job (Part II)

The Best Products for Light Sleepers

What to Pack for Everglades National Park

Shop the Post

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase one of the products I linked, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the blog!