April at a glance...

These month-at-a-glance posts have been putting things into perspective and made me realize just how fast time really flies. It’s like I just put together the March edit, and I’m already closing April. Read on for what I read, watched, bought, etc. this past month.

What I/we did

This was another pretty low-key month as we’ve been fairly busy with life. We did manage to escape the city a few times, catch up on some TV shows and movies that had been on our “to-watch” list for months, drove around new areas, and found a “Tampa beach”. I won’t name or recommend the said beach as there are far better ones just a few miles away in the Saint Petersburg/Clearwater area. Tampa just isn’t a beach town, in case you thought otherwise.

A highlight of the month

The designer and innovator Dalia MacPhee sending me this beautiful dress. I’ve long loved her dresses so this was definitely a happy moment.

What I bought

This blue and white scarf. As a blue-and-white lover, no additional explanation is needed here.

This face ice roller. I’ve heard great things about using one, and I’m not sure what took me so long to get it. It sure is needed with this Florida heat, and the benefits don’t stop there. Apart from rejuvenating it, it can also be used to calm irritated skin and ease discomfort/redness (for example, after hair removal), as well, as remove fatigue and even headaches. Really, this device has so many uses!

This fragrance-free Olay Regenerist Hyaluronic Acid Face Moisturizer with SPF 30 and this Olay Regenerist Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Face Moisturizer for everyday use.

This secret tape, aka fashion tape for dresses and/or tops that need more securing (deep V-necklines, straps, etc.).

This Dalia MacPhee dress that is selling fast (pictured above) — fingers crossed for another restock because you guys obviously love it, too. For reference, if you are in between sizes, go up — while the actual fabric has some stretch to it, the lining doesn’t so keep that in mind. Note that the fabric isn’t soft and has a delicate shimmer to it (visible in bright light/sun) — I think this dress would be perfect for many occasions, including for wearing as a wedding guest.

What I read

The Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd. “In this incredible story of ambition, betrayal, and sacrifice, an extraordinary sixteen-year-old girl in Colonial South Carolina defies all expectations to achieve her dream.”

This immediately took the spot of one of the best books I’ve ever read. Based on true historical facts and records, this book tells of the life of Eliza Lucas in the early stages of colony life in the Carolinas. This woman influenced the course of US history by frankly, defying society’s expectations and forging her own path… Something that needs to be mentioned and few people know is that Eliza was the mother of one of the American founding fathers — Charles Pinckney.

Truly a fascinating read, I found myself deeply admiring and rooting for Eliza every step of the way. I 1000% recommend this book!

The Queen of Paris: A Novel of Coco Chanel by Pamela Binnings Ewen. “Legendary fashion designer Coco Chanel is revered for her sophisticated style—the iconic little black dress—and famed for her intoxicating perfume Chanel No. 5. Yet behind the public persona is a complicated woman of intrigue, shadowed by mysterious rumors. The Queen of Paris, the new novel from award-winning author Pamela Binnings Ewen, is fiction based on facts, some uncovered only within the past few years, and vividly imagines the hidden life of Chanel during the four years of Nazi occupation in Paris in the midst of WWII.”

This book was a bit of a shock, to be honest. I haven’t really been that interested in learning about Coco Chanel before, but since I have been into historical fiction lately, I decided to read this book. Well, it brought out quite a revelation about the fashion icon and designer and I’m sure I’m not the only one blissfully unaware of her life and beliefs. Aren’t books marvelous and oh, so eye-opening?

The Curious Life of Elizabeth Blackwell by Pamela Holmes. “An engrossing historical saga based on the life of the eighteenth-century woman who endured loss and betrayal—and dared to pursue her dreams.”

I have to admit — I felt rage for the majority of the time that I read this book. Elizabeth was a real person at some point in history (the 1700s to be exact), and you can actually view her work which is absolutely incredible (and apparently buy a copy of her book). The rage I felt was towards her husband’s manipulative and sketchy behavior and her unwavering loyalty to him in spite of it all. Overall, I recommend this book, and if interested, you can read more about Elizabeth here.

Rare Objects by Kathleen Tessaro. “Maeve Fanning is a first-generation Irish immigrant born and raised among the poor, industrious Italian families of Boston's North End by her widowed mother. Clever, capable, and as headstrong as her red hair suggests, she's determined to better herself despite the overwhelming hardships of the Great Depression.”

What a fantastic book! It started a bit slow but soon pulled me in completely. Full of twists and turns, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this book as much as I have — no reticence whatsoever recommending it.

What we watched

We’re still catching up with our list of things to watch and adding some new shows as we hear about them:

Shrinking. “A grieving therapist starts to tell his clients exactly what he thinks. Ignoring his training and ethics, he finds himself making huge changes to people's lives - including his own.”

It took me two episodes to start enjoying this show. Overall, we liked it though I’d do with less or fully without the explicit content/references.

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. “World-famous detective Benoit Blanc heads to Greece to peel back the layers of a mystery surrounding a tech billionaire and his eclectic crew of friends.”

Pretty entertaining; if you haven’t watched it already, give it a go.

Ticket to Paradise. “A divorced couple teams up and travels to Bali to stop their daughter from making the same mistake they think they made 25 years ago.”

Overall, I enjoyed this movie though I felt like it dragged getting to the obvious ending.

Wednesday. “Smart, sarcastic, and a little dead inside, Wednesday Addams investigates a murder spree while making new friends — and foes — at Nevermore Academy.”

It probably needs no introduction and no surprise here — we loved it! Jenna Ortega is brilliant (and so is the rest of the cast), and we are so eager for season 2. Sadly, that’s not happening anytime soon, in case you’re wondering...

The White Lotus. “The exploits of various guests and employees of a tropical resort over the span of a week.”

I really don’t know why we keep watching this one. Just like Google searches ask “What is the point of the show White Lotus?” I ask the same. Obviously, the last episode was the best one, the rest was just, meh... Why do people rave about it?

I guess the answer is “HBO's The White Lotus, created by Mike White, hooked us all—thanks to its roasting of exorbitant wealth, killer opening theme, neverending drama, and knack for making rich people suffer in the most comedic ways.” 🤪

The Menu. “Shocking surprises await a couple when they travel to a coastal island to sample a chef's lavish menu at an exclusive restaurant.”

Twisted, stomach-turning, and shocking, this is not a movie we really enjoyed, to be honest. Sure, we laughed a bit as, technically, it’s a dark comedy, but overall, it’s not a movie I’d want to watch again. Have you watched it?