March at a glance...

Outfit details: dress sold out (similar here, here, here, here, and here); sunglasses here; pearl choker here; watch here; Sarah Flint Natalie slingback shoes here (save 15% on your 1st purchase with code SARAHFLINT-CCMARINA1).

March felt like a short, yet somewhat packed month over here. We’ve been settling nicely at home, while also making time for evening walks, and trying to escape our day-to-day.

What we did

We finally got WiFi this month and were able to get caught up on some shows we’ve been wanting to watch. We still opted to go without a TV, and honestly, I never want to go back to having one — I find it liberating and just less distracting. Not having a TV is great, seriously!

Other things we did: we went out a few times, discovered Sweetgreen (I know we’re late to the party but I think they only recently opened here), and Qwench Juice Bar, got a bit more familiarized with our new area and I’m really liking it so far. I also started a small balcony garden, and baked a lot… basically, we stayed busy.

What I/we bought

Looking back, I kind of forgot about shopping this month, at least for myself — funny, right? Of course, I still have my eyes on several pieces but I was waiting on sales, and then it just slipped my mind as we got busy. The purchases we made this month were still mostly home-focused. Among them:

We got this tablet holder for when we watch stuff, and I love it. When we’re not using it for the tablet, I use it as a stand for a painting (I’m also loving this one for displaying cookbooks, for example, and regret not buying it yet).

A solid off-white rug for our bedroom. I didn’t think it would be so difficult finding a low-pile, solid, off-white rug but… it has been. Eventually, I found one that will do for a while, haha.

As I went with my husband to pick up eyeglasses, I tried on these Dolce & Gabbana butterfly sunglasses and fell in love. As I don’t plan on spending that much on sunglasses when I have a tendency of losing them without a trace, I scoured Amazon for look-alikes. That led me to find several, even if not similar-looking pairs, and I might have indulged myself. Currently also waiting on these to arrive. These sunglasses are next on my list — I find them to be so chic!

What We Watched

Doc Martin. We wrapped up this show and I am genuinely sad that it’s over. I loved it and it remains one of my very top-favorite: the actors/characters, the storylines, and the humor — sometimes subtle and sometimes just laugh-out-loud are what made it great for me. And how can I forget our ever-clueless, emotionless main guy— or is he?

The Goldbergs. We caught up on this old favorite. Some episodes are better than others but it’s still entertaining enough.

You. I have been seeing online some people hating this season, but we enjoyed the unexpected plot and all the new characters… until we got to episode 8, that is. Then we joined the other voices… It’s been announced that YOU was renewed for season 5, its final one, and honestly, I hope Joe gets what he deserves in the end.

The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy. This is not the first travel-based show we’ve watched, and we definitely enjoyed the comedic and out-of-comfort-zone scenarios our hero was “forced” into. Plus, we discovered new places and experiences (and most were pretty incredible), so what’s not to love?

What I read

This was a good month for reading as I have been inspired and just “focused” enough to finish book after book. Needless to say that I’m pretty happy with the number of books I’ve gone through. And I read some good ones:

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. “A tale of gods, kings, immortal fame, and the human heart, The Song of Achilles is a dazzling literary feat that brilliantly reimagines Homer’s enduring masterwork, The Iliad.”.

OK, this is a great story, told very well. I recommend it if you have an interest in Greek Mythology.

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner. “A forgotten history. A secret network of women. A legacy of poison and revenge. Welcome to The Lost Apothecary…”.

Another book I enjoyed reading and recommend. A story weaved in the past and present day, it tells of a heartbroken and forgotten apothecary that vows to help women and a modern-day history-lover that uncovers it while going through her own tribulations.

The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro. An inheritance from a mysterious stranger... An abandoned perfume shop on the Left Bank of Paris... And three exquisite perfumes that hold a memory...and a secret.”.

Riveting, I couldn’t put this book down. It reminded me a bit of “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” in terms of the story slowly revealing itself though the plot is different.

The Record Keeper by Charles Martin. “Because you’re worth rescue.” The unrelenting third installment in the Murphy Shepherd series from New York Times bestselling author Charles Martin.”.

Sometime during the pandemic, I picked up this book without reading its description — this was the beginning of this “habit” of mine that’s led me to some… unexpected discoveries (yes, I’m still doing this). I don’t think it was announced as a series at the time — or I wasn’t aware of it, however, the first book sucked me in so bad that when I found out that another, and then another book was coming out, I couldn’t wait to read them all. I was left speechless and in pain, frankly… In pain at some parts because they portray reality… I can’t recommend these books enough (even if books 2 and 3 start slowly). *Note: these are not lighthearted reads by any means… and I should include the warning that they’re about human trafficking, self-forgiveness, love, and redemption. I won’t lie… this trilogy made me cry and left me in a state I can’t quite describe. *Since discovering this author, I’ve read several of his books and they have been great.

The Forgotten Sister by Nicola Cornick. “In the tradition of the spellbinding historical novels of Philippa Gregory and Kate Morton comes a stunning story based on a real-life Tudor mystery, of a curse that echoes through the centuries and shapes two women’s destinies...”.

Ultimately, I enjoyed this book, however, I have to admit that it lost me at times. It felt slow-building and monotone though I definitely enjoyed the ending.

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley. “From the New York Times best-selling author of The Guest List comes a new locked-room mystery, set in a Paris apartment building in which every resident has something to hide...”.

A mystery that slowly unravels (too slow for my liking, honestly). While the ending is good and unexpected, I felt like the story dragged way too much — I pushed on finishing it just to see how it ends.