Notes from April
Favorite things I read, watched, listened to, made, bought, and did this month.
Hello, hi! April came in a flurry and has been a whirlwind. The first quarter of the year was deeply depressing and exhausting, but much like the spring that is voraciously blooming – I’ve learned a lot about how to pull myself out of a rut because the show must go on. More on that in a later post.
This year one of my goals is to notice more. To notice the times when I’m enjoying myself and what I like. And I’m focusing on noticing the good things because fuck the bad things, our negativity-biased-brains are already wired to remember those all too well.
So this new monthly “Notes from” column is going to help me remember and highlight all my favorite things that happened. Here are my notes from April.
📚 READING
April was a good month for reading.
My favorite read of the month was The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control by Katherine Morgan Schafler. There were so many illuminating passages that I highlighted in my Kindle that I’m now getting the physical book (space is a hot commodity as our bookshelves are STACKED). This is the kind of book that stays with you for the rest of your life.
I’m also dipping a toe back into fiction after spending last month deep in a 4-book romantasy series. That often leaves me with a fantasy hangover, and I need nonfiction to cleanse my palette for awhile. Now that I’m fresh and ready, I’m in the mood for solo novels again. I just read Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito, a quick dark fiction about a murderous Victorian governess.
Finally, I started The Favorites by Layne Fargo, an absolute banger that I know will be one of my favorite reads of the year. It’s part Daisy Jones and the Six and part fanfic of ice skating world darlings Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir (iykyk); I consumed 30% in one night and will probably finish tonight.
Circling back to buying physical books, do you know about Biblio? You can shop for books through independent booksellers, with price comparisons that help you find the best price on the internet for the book you want. I just purchased We Need Your Art by Amie McNee on it – and of course, you can always shop on Bookshop.org to support your local independent bookstore too!
📺 WATCHING
So many good things have finally come back to our screens!
You season 5. I finished this finale season in a weekend, savoring every last minute to a satisfying conclusion. All I really want now these days is a good story with a good ending.
The Studio. Smart, funny, incredible cast. Seth Rogan, Kathryn Hanh, Catherine O’Hara. I learned a one-shot long scene is called a one-er. Makes me fall in love with living in this ridiculous town called Los Angeles all over again.
Hacks season 4 is back. My favorite show on right now! It’s so hilarious and smart, tender and stunning. Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder kill as the leads – and I also absolutely adore Megan Stalter and Robby Hoffman in the supporting cast.
Companion: such a good, smart, funny horror film that explores the future with AI companions. A refreshing take that doesn’t end in murder bot (though I do love M3GAN). Scaredy cat meter: 2/5. There’s blood gore, but no jump scares.
Sinners: go see it. Speaking of good stories with good endings, this Black vampire horror (though not too scary for me) is one of the best films I’ve seen in years. You get TWO Michael B. Jordan’s doing incredible acting (he plays twins). A spectacular cast. An original script and film by brilliant director Ryan Coogler; Sinners is a FUN movie that reminds me how good it is to see real artists being creative. It’s so rare to see an original film these days, and it’s so good to see and support something fresh instead of another sequel or reboot. I screamed, I laughed, I cheered, and I cried. GO SEE IT, especially in theaters. Scaredy cat meter: 2.5/5. There’s blood gore and a couple jump scares but not as scary as the trailers make it seem.
🎧 LISTENING
Amy Poehler interviewing Kathryn Hanh on her new podcast Good Hang is a delight. I love Kathryn’s laugh so much, and learning from women in their 50s.
Speaking of Good Hang, another episode I’d highly recommend is Poehler’s interview with Rashida Jones. I’m listening to high frequency music at the end of the night and giving my best 25% now.
This podcast episode on the science of happiness and all the things our happiness hormones (dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins) do blew my mind open about how to care for my own brain better.
From TJ Power’s Instagram.
🥖 MAKING
I had a craving for linguine vongole, which is surprisingly hard to find in most places now, so I found this great recipe and made it at home. It was wonderfully easy and delightful, while making dinner at home feel fancy.
Ryan requests an angel food cake every year for his birthday, so I make this one – my favorite recipe for it. Homemade angel food cake is next level if you haven’t made one before, though a bit fussy so I’d highly recommend it for a special occasion! With a dozen egg whites in it, this cake says both luxury and protein goals.
I jumped on the Dense Bean Salad wagon and I’m not getting off. I made this chimichurri influenced one and it was great for lunch all week. I’m very excited to see Violet Witchel has a Substack.
My focaccia journey peaked with this one I made earlier with edible organic violas from my garden, and I’ve had to cool it because one can only eat so much focaccia weekly.
My latest focaccia featuring organic violas and rosemary from the garden.
🛍️ BUYING
I’m being more mindful with my spending these days, using what I already have and splurging only on fun little treats by independent artists at the Magic Market and LA Times Book Festival this month.
I did purchase this fabulous skirt that I’m excited to wear whenever I want to be fancier but also comfy. It’s a good dupe for a Free People one I was also eyeing (but is out of stock). Plus this one has pockets.
I’ve got my eye on these ballet flats, even though I’m not technically supposed to wear flats because I get heel pain. But they’re so cute and the reviews rave about their comfort! Someone de-influence me, please.
🌸 DOING
Note to self, and to you dear reader, that April is the perfect time to visit your local botanical gardens. We went to Descanso Gardens and the lilacs were in full bloom! We also saw cherry blossoms, camellias, irises, roses, and more. I took a ton of photos for reference on my Fujifilm x100VI, sketched studies in my sketchbook, and cooked up a new idea I’m excited about!
Taking this Sketchbook Filler’s Club class by Dylan Mierzwinski on Skillshare! (P.S. You can take the class with me too for free, if you’re new to Skillshare! That link gives you one month free access to this and 1000’s of classes on there, including my newest one about drawing too!)
I’ve long been an inconsistent sketchbook artist, but I feel moved this year to spend more time exploring, playing, and experimenting in my sketchbook. I like looking back at it as a reference, as an easier visual journal of my time, and as a time capsule full of gems for myself. I want to be one of those artists with beautiful sketchbooks, and this class is helping inspire me to do just that. Below is a peak at one of the exercises – and I did a really ugly job on the quilt but I learned a lot. So there’s that. Here’s to sharing ugly work!
Wow that turned out to be a lot looking back on April! I’m happy to be taking time to enjoy life while being busy with work that I love – that’s really what it’s all about, isn’t it?
What are your Notes from April? What did you read / watch / love this month? Tell me in the comments.
Love the joy & freedom of Amy & Rashida, Michelle Obama, Kathryn - such a refreshing listen!
Also, SO GLAD you forgot quilts are supposed to have a pattern - your sketch makes a beautiful counter-case!