April Wrap Up: New Car, Little Gardens, A New Niece!

This spring and summer are going to be the best, I just know it. While I only have a few travel plans this year, I’ve decided to stay close to home and soak up as much Pacific Northwest sunshine as I can. Ever since moving out of the city and into the suburbs, I’ve been driving a lot more. Like, 98 percent more than I ever did in Seattle.

Table of Contents

New-to-Me Subaru

Driving has actually been a joy lately, thanks to my new-to-me SUV. Getting that all sorted out quickly was such a relief after months of stress. So, what did I get? Thank you for asking!

I’ve had my eye on a Subaru Forester for years. I rented one in Hawaii back in 2018 and haven’t stopped thinking about it. After test driving two, the third one was the charm. It’s a color I didn’t expect to love, has a good amount of miles on it, but I’m obsessed and hope to have it for the next 15 years. Your girl loathes car shopping, so this feels like a major win.

Tiny Garden Dreams Coming True

Last year all I wanted was my own little garden space. This year, I have it! I’m growing lemon balm, basil, and soon oregano and sage in large pots. I wish I had space for chamomile, but we’ll see.

In another pot, I planted three types of strawberries that probably won’t fruit this year but will come back again next season, which makes me so happy. I also grew calendula from seed (three of them survived) and are thriving. Add to that chocolate mint (for tea!), lavender, rosemary, and soon roma tomatoes. My patio garden is going to be the perfect hosting area once I get some seating!

Welcoming My Niece

I still can’t believe my sweet little niece is finally here. She’s so perfectly herself and surprisingly different from her big brother. We expected them to look alike, but nope! She’s already smiley and easygoing, and I cannot wait to watch her grow.

A Family Wedding & A Thrifted Dress

My cousin got married this month and although we had to miss my niece’s birth because we were all in Arizona, we soaked up the time together as a family. I found the perfect dress at the thrift store for just eight dollars. Turns out, it was a limited edition BHLDN dress from Anthropologie that originally cost two hundred fifty dollars. It was a tinsy bit tight and would probably look better on someone taller, but I felt good in it, and that’s what matters.

Healthy Eating Update

The healthy eating journey continues and I promise to write a separate post all about it. I’ll go back and add recipes for those who’ve asked, including one I made up that I’ll need to properly write out. Stay tuned!

My Latest TV Obsessions

As part of my low buy year, I’ve been more mindful about what I spend on and who I support. One excellent deal? I bought all seven seasons of The West Wing for next to nothing (thrift store) and have been loving every second of it. I hadn’t seen the full series before but it’s quickly become one of my favorite shows. Bonus: you can borrow it for free at your local library.

I also started watching The Good Wife and I am completely obsessed with Christine Baranski. She is sensational. Witty, sharp, and her wardrobe is to die for. I accidentally started on Season 6 (oops) and only just realized, so I’ve gone back to the beginning and everything makes a lot more sense now.

Back to Books

Book reviews are back on the blog, just on a gentler schedule. After a reading slump in February and March, I flew through 10 books in April. Four of them were solid four-star reads or higher, and I even discovered a new favorite author who may become my entire personality for the next few months.

Right now I’m in the middle of three series and hoping to finish them all by June. It feels so good to have my reading rhythm back.

That’s it for now. I rarely do monthly wrap-ups, but it’s been a full and happy season and I’m glad we could catch up.