It has somehow been both the longest and shortest month. Was March like that for anyone else? Please tell me I’m not alone.
Books + Reading
I tend to flip-flop between months that are filled with books and months that are a little lighter. I still read plenty, but prioritized rest and television in March. I’ll post my March Reading Recap soon.
Progress report: I read 2 The Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels and a chunk of Ender’s Game towards my rereading project goal.
TV + Movies
Like the rest of the Internet, I was completely crushed by the ending of One Day (Netflix). I finished One Day earlier this month in the middle of cooking dinner and found myself crying ugly tears while hunched over the kitchen island. I have a picture as proof — sent only to my younger sister with the caption “no caption needed”. She knew.
wrote about how much she loved the soundtrack in a recent newsletter. Like Kate, the soundtrack of One Day also resonated with me so much. It brought up feelings of nostalgia and memories I’d pushed aside for years. I was immediately transported to a specific period of time in my life and thought it overdue to reach out to a dear friend who moved back home to England years ago. Like Dex and Em at the beginning of their story, we’re not often in touch. It soothed my soul to hear her voice via a few voice note exchanges and to hear her good news. All this to say… put on a good soundtrack and reach out to a friend you haven’t talked to recently this week.I’ve recommended this murder mystery series a few times in my Weekly R.E.P.O.R.T. by Death and Other Details (Hulu) was fantastic. It’s what I imagine the brainchild of Wes Anderson and Agatha Christie would be like. If you enjoyed the quirky cast of characters and over-the-top settings in The Grand Budapest Hotel, Knives Out, The Kingsman, or Only Murders in the Building, I think you should add this one to your watch list immediately!
Masters of the Air is my new go-to recommendation for everyone.
I am not typically someone who enjoys musicals but I have to admit that Wonka (HBO Max) wasn’t that bad! I imagine that anyone who saw it in theaters initially was completely caught off guard by the opening song. It’s so strange to me that they didn’t market it as a musical. It was fun seeing Wonka’s origin story.
Unpopular opinion but I think the trailer for The Idea of You looks awful. Have we learned nothing from the disaster that was the last two After movies? I’m still going to attempt to read the book before the premiere.
I feel like I’m in an era of slow/sad movies and All of Us Strangers was just like a weird fever dream. If you’ve seen it— who do you think was actually alive?
Irish Wish, the latest Netflix movie from Lindsay Lohan, was so cute and cheesy! Honestly, it was the perfect rom-com for St. Paddy’s week. I’m refusing to read the criticism. Sometimes a movie gives you exactly what you expect and need in the moment.
My husband had some great commentary on The Eras Tour that I have to agree with. He doesn’t understand the appeal to Gen Alpha because it is a very, very millennial production. Taylor’s performance is melodramatic. The sets are over the top. She’s not a cool girl (and she knows it), which makes her very cool in my book.
Tunes
I’ve saved so many playlists on Apple Music this month. I’m still getting adjusted to the platform and figuring out how to best use it to fit my listening habits. Some favorites: Alternative Rewind, catching feelings, Heartbreak Pop, In My Room, and Unwind.
I’m enjoying the new album from the Atlanta singer-songwriter Faye Webster called Underdressed at the Symphony. It’s a great quiet album for my quick commute to work.
Calling it a little early but I think BLUE LIPS by ScHoolboy Q is going to be one of the best hip-hop/rap albums we hear in 2024.
Other albums on repeat: Kacey Musgraves’ Deeper Well and Bleachers.
Purchases + Wish List
I messaged
that I’m struggling with my personal style. I haven’t figured out a way to portray who I am inside my head in a business casual setting. With that being said, I did buy a few blouses from Old Navy to get me through the spring and into summer at work. I’m lucky enough to have a corner office with lots of windows that I’ve nicknamed “the greenhouse” because it is always so hot. I recently had to bring my tower fan to keep me from burning up while I wait for the system to consistently switch over to cool. Short sleeves are a must for me. I also blacked out and ordered a bunch of vacation wardrobe options from Target. TBD if I keep any of them once I try it on.Both kids got a new pair of Crocs (in sale colors) for the season. If no one has told you before, children require an entirely new wardrobe every 6 months while they’re growing. We typically shop secondhand at a local consignment shop for clothes but I like to make sure they have good new shoes that will last since they only wear a couple of pairs regularly.
Other things I purchased: gardening supplies, Gazelle bolds, new Elate eyeshadow from Field Botanicals, a new The Babysitters Club graphic novel, and The Frame-Up by Gwenda Bond.
Organization + Cleaning
Whew! Our City is finally offering weekly recycling pickup and I feel like have our entryway back under control. I LOVE to recycle and I’m so grateful for the pickup service. We always have more recycling than trash… which honestly probably says more about the current state of acceptable packaging standards than our consumer habits. (Does everything have to come in layers of cardboard and plastic?)
I finally got my sh*t together and scheduled a dental cleaning for myself and my husband this month. This is the year of making the calls and scheduling all of the appointments and services we’ve been putting off. Can we start a petition to make online scheduling a thing for every service provider? Please!
Yummy Bites
If you’ve never struggled with food allergies and sensitivities, consider yourself lucky. Getting super organized with my meal planning this month was the key to navigating a modified elimination diet. Even though I had to cut out lots of food categories that I love to eat, I feel like I still came up with some meals that were tasty and filling.
My daughter said this recipe was the best dinner I’ve ever cooked. To my surprise, she ate a lot of it even though it was “spicy”.
Highs + Lows
Getting approved for The Hive! I can’t tell you how I was excited to see an email from NetGalley that said “Congratulations, you have been auto-approved by Harlequin Trade Publishing!” come through my inbox. My first pick? Magical Meet Cute by Jean Meltzer, obviously! I adored The Matzah Ball and Kissing Kosher so I just know this new book will be equally cute. I love the way Jean deals with chronic illness in her books and it’s so important to have that representation in romances.
The beginning of this month brought more sickness in the form of colds for my kids. After being out several days over the last week of February with the stomach bug, it felt like we couldn’t catch a break. I feel like I never make the right call when it comes to having them checked out by the doctor. I struggled with a lot of mom guilt. On one hand, I’d love to have my kids at school and compliant with truancy laws and on the other, some days they’re just sick and need to be home to rest and avoid spreading germs.
My daughter won’t let us skip a holiday so of course we had to set up a fancy trap to try to catch a Leprechaun. We weren’t able to trick him this year.
This is probably something I need to unpack in therapy but without oversharing, I had some tough conversations this month that stretched me.. in a good way. I’m in a season of growth and part of improving myself and my life involves getting uncomfortable at times. A few weepy days helped me move past something that was holding me back so that I could push forward in a more productive way.
We had one of the rainiest winters that I can remember but one day the sun came out, the grass was green, and giant bumblebees were buzzing in the yard. The older I get the more I appreciate the little signs that the seasons are indeed changing. I was hopeful that we’d be able to spend some time outdoors and enjoy our patio before everything was covered in thick layers of buttery yellow pollen but it came quickly and with a vengeance this year.
Like the rest of the world, I got wrapped up in the conspiracy theories about Kate Middleton. Knowing that she has Crohn’s disease, I assumed from the beginning it was something related to that and eventually she’d make a statement. As a fellow tummy issue girly, those types of issues can be embarrassing to disclose. I understand her need for privacy and feel so bad that the institution made a complete nightmare of the P.R. I think we can all agree it was not handled well (but then again, how do you handle that sort of diagnosis “well” with a young family and real feelings involved?) and hopefully she can get some rest and the treatment she needs in peace now.
I started taking some evening walks with a friend and it has done wonders for my mental health to get some movement and enjoy adult conversation at the same time. I’m always surprised at how quickly the time passes.
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I love these little glimpses into your month. It makes me feel like we’re pen pals! I am also recommending Masters of Air to everyone. Also, those kicks are 🤩. What’s next in your reread project after Ender’s Game?
You have inspired me to better utilize my Apple Music! I pay for it monthly but never use it beyond a playlist I've had (and barely added anything to) since 2016 and my kid playlist that is almost exclusively Cocomelon and Bluey 😵💫 Currently listening to Sway by Kacey Musgraves! I love that you intentionally seek out new music and it's something I need to do better about! (Also check in on me in 17 days when I will only be listening to TTPD)
Also, I do not understand the under-marketing of musicals lately! I had no idea Wonka was a musical. It seems like Mean Girls just had the same thing happen! I'd rather know I'm getting a musical than be surprised by one. I'm also in the population that loves musicals, so please tell me about them so I can support them!