Now working a 40 hour weekly schedule for my day job, my writing took a backseat. While I lived in Hawai’i and worked 40+ hours a week, I did not work a standard 9-5. My schedule varied, sometimes not starting my work day until 1 pm, and that variety helped me block out bigger chunks of time to write.

But now, I’m at a 9-5 temp job and not totally sure how to fit my writing in well without getting stuck writing until midnight every evening. After April, I feel more settled in other areas of life - morning routine, meal prepping, seeing friends, catching up with those who live in other areas of the world, but my writing groove?

Not there yet.

My goal for May is to figure it out. Working 9-5 for my day job is going to be my reality so the sooner I create a writing schedule that works for me, the happier I will be. I noticed in April that I spent too much time on my phone, any time I wrote felt off, and I did not exercise my creativity muscle. At all. And I am feeling it.

I felt myself missing my writing and all the positives it brings to my life. I felt more anxious, stressed, and tended to numb out in front of the tv too often. In May, I intend to change all of that. It’s time to fold the writing and creativity back into my life. April was necessary to focus on other things, but I’m looking forward to this change.

To sum up April:

• What I learned: Creating your village and caring for it requires intention and attention. The only way I was able to have a housewarming party was because I kept in touch with friends and family over the years. If I hadn’t done that, then half of my guests would not have been there. Not only that, but now that I’m in town again, I feel a responsibility to ensure my relationships stay solid with everyone. That means scheduling hang outs, getting events on the calendar, and checking in. I was worried it would feel daunting, but honestly? It feels exciting, which tells me I have the right people in my village. None of it would happen though if I wasn’t thoughtful and making an effort.

• What I am grateful for: The fact that the weather is still mild in the mornings and evenings! I love that there are times of the day when we can still have our windows open and we aren’t drenched in sweat while walking our dog. I know it will get hot soon, but before moving back here I kept imagining it would be 90 degrees and miserable all of the time and that isn’t true. Enjoying morning weather is one of my favorite things to do and over the last few months, it’s been perfect.

• What I finished reading: April was a good month for romance books. I didn’t realize that all three I read fell into that genre. Maybe I’ll mix it up for May. Maybe I won’t, we’ll see. 🤷‍♀️

  If you want more reading recommendations, check out my recent article about my reading habits. 🫶

  • Almost Life by Kiran Millwood Hargrave - Okay, so the writing was beautiful in this book, something to be studied it was so lovely. The story itself fell short with me though. I didn’t understand the couple’s chemistry or why they had this longing for each other. I felt like I needed more of a connection from them in the beginning but I know it’s highly rated on Goodreads so maybe it was something I missed. I still recommend it though because the writing was that good!

  • The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez - Another romance masterpiece. I loved the characters in this one and could not put it down. The yearning was so strong, their chemistry was undeniable - I was on the edge of my seat. I liked it better than the first book in this series, but I’m not sure what to expect of the next book. It’s a redemption story for one of the characters in this book and I’m not all that interested in his redemption arc but I do have faith that Abby Jimenez would never steer us wrong.

  • The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller - I now understand why people love this book. It was fantastic. I love a retelling of a myth and this one was so well-done. The characters were interesting and the story was entertaining with her writing feeling perfect for the time and yet not difficult to understand. You know how sometimes period pieces lean too heavily into the language and you get so lost that the book isn’t even enjoyable anymore? That was not this at all. . I highly recommend it if you enjoy myth retellings or if you like a romance that isn’t typical or modern.

• What I cooked: So many things! I developed a poached cod recipe coming soon and I’ve been working on my own granola recipe. I need to take a few more swipes at the granola and work on the ratios of each ingredient. The challenge I ran into was that I couldn’t get large chunks to stick together so I think I needed more oil and maple syrup to get it to stick together. We’ll see how the next batch comes out, but so far, it tastes really yummy and is perfect as a cereal substitute!

• What I loved: Seeing two of my disney college program roommates for a concert. I feel so lucky that nearly ten years later, I’m still friends with my roommates. I also love that Orlando is a popular destination for the ones who don’t live in Florida, so getting to see them for a quick weekend makes a huge difference compared to living on the west coast (and in the middle of the Pacific). I don’t go to concerts often, but being there reminded me how much I love that kind of atmosphere and having fun dancing to music. I also left the concert with some new favorite bands - Moody Joody and Grayscale.

• What I did for my health: Well, I have started training for a half marathon! I signed up for one in December. It’s my first half marathon in 8 years and first major race after my knee surgery. I haven’t been in a running groove since before my surgery so the training is kicking my butt and my body is aching. I’m focusing on stretching as much as I can and trying to listen to my body and opt for walks when it makes sense. One of my surgeons in Hawai’i told me I won’t be able to do another half marathon, so when a friend asked me if I wanted to do it, there was no hesitation. Because screw anyone who tells you you can’t do anything.

• What I kept reaching for: My watering can! I bought new plants for the home and received some as gifts from our party as well. My goal is to fill out our front porch with plants and greenery so it looks pretty and feels like a nice writing space for me. Then I want to move on to the backyard. I’m ready to embrace the time honored tradition of being an Italian American with a vegetable garden. I remember my grandparents having one growing up and I want to be that person who gives you a bunch of vegetables when you come over for a visit. So far, I have basil, tomatoes, scallions, dill, and parsley, but I have plans for more. On top of that, I want the backyard to have beautiful flowers and palms, creating a sanctuary and a fun space for us to spend time outside. I can’t wait to see how it all comes together.

• What I am looking forward to next month: My social calendar! I have so many get-togethers planned with friends and family that I am so excited for. Lunches, dinners, pool days, dog walks, and I am thrilled. To live somewhere with an already established community feels like such a gift and I’m leaning into it as much as I can.

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March was a tricky one - finding our routines, organizing our place, I have been on a crazy job hunt, overall lots happening. I found out in January that my job was most likely coming to an end by April so I have been job searching for a couple of months now and it has been tough. A few opportunities came up, but nothing really stuck.

Fortunately, I started an HR temp position with Hilton Grand Vacations. It only lasts 7 weeks, but it at least buys me more time as I find something more permanent. Looking for a job takes a toll in so many ways and I’m trying to focus on staying positive, networking, and posting often on LinkedIn.

But I’ll get there! I know I will. My goal is to find something in HR or talent acquisition, so this temp job should position me well for that next step.

Everything is unpacked in the house and we even started some new projects! I also cooked like crazy - my kitchen is cozy and the lighting is so great, I spend way too much time in there. We got together with friends and family, and despite some of the sticky parts, there was a lot of joy sprinkled in.

To sum up March:

• What I learned: Resilience is everything. That doesn’t mean life doesn’t get hard or that we have our moments, but as long as we can bounce back and stay strong mentally, we can get through anything. March really taught me that resilience is a must whenever I’m trudging through big life changes. 💪

• What I am grateful for: All of the connections I’ve made and meet and greets I’ve gone on. Putting yourself out there isn’t easy, but I got the temp job with HGV because I asked friends to connect me with people they know in HR and one of them connected me with my current manager! I’m glad I was bold enough to ask others for help and I hope that good things keep coming my way as a result. 🤝

• What I finished reading: This month was pretty good for my reading! I’m only two books behind my reading challenge. Two books feels doable!

  • A Curse Carved in Bone by Danielle Jensen - this was a sequel to A Fate Inked in Blood. I wasn’t as big of a fan of the sequel as I was of the first book. I felt the main female character was a little unreasonable in this one and that was hard for me to get past. It felt like we could get past some angst and anger kind of easily with just one conversation.

  • Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles - this was worth the read! It gave me a lot to think about when it comes to living a long life, but I was hoping it would help a little more to figure out what my ikigai is. Instead it focuses on why having your ikigai is important. It’s pretty short though so it’s great for some quick inspiration.

  • And Now Back to You by B.K. Borison - absolutely loved this! It’s a sequel to First Time Caller, which I also loved. This book was fun, the characters were so lovable, I want more of them, and I devoured it.

  • The Myth of Making it: A Workplace Reckoning by Samhita Mukhopadhyay - this one took me a long time to finish but I really enjoyed it! The book had a great perspective about women in the workplace, especially women of color, that made me view the lives of women differently. It’s no secret that we face different challenges in the workplace, but I really liked how this book broke them down, Mukhopadhyay’s own career story, and how it all weaves into our everyday lives.

  • We Solve Murders by Richard Osman - This wasn’t my favorite. I think mysteries are a tough category for me because at some point I say every character is the person who “did it” and that’s kind of cheating. I also don’t love that the entire book actively works towards the ending. I know that sounds silly, but in other novels, scenes and conversations help progress the book but you don’t always know how. With a mystery, every conversation focuses on solving who did it. The whole time. I get kind of bored versus sucked in.

• What I cooked: French baked eggs! They’re not that hard to make, but feel so elevated. I love having a Sunday morning that feels like it has all the time in the world. On those days, I go all out and make something fancy for breakfast. These baked eggs are my go-to since I almost always have cream on hand. Recipe coming soon! 🍳

• What I loved: Visiting a romance only bookstore with a friend of mine. There is a place in Orlando called The New Romantics and it is adorable. They carry romance books only and such a great variety of girly book gifts. I love seeing these niche places appear in the book scene. It shows how much love people have for books and reading, and why they’re so important. I remember years ago at one of my old jobs someone telling me that book merchandise wasn’t worth making and bookstores were dwindling. Happy to say in 2026 that isn’t true - bookstores are growing and there is so much fun book merchandise out there. It warms my heart.

• What I did for my health: Went for a run! It was only once, but it felt amazing. I can’t wait to start folding it back into my life. My knee handled it well and I didn’t feel much pain at all while running or after - just typical soreness. 🏃‍♀️

• What I kept reaching for: My books! I read more than usual in March and it was so refreshing. Now that I’m working full time again, I’m trying to figure out how to spend my free time so I make sure I do enough reading, writing, and other types of relaxing along with all the necessary things to do in life. 📚

• What I am looking forward to next month: Our housewarming party! We’re finally having people over to celebrate that we moved back to Orlando and we’re making it an old school Americana barbecue theme. I can’t wait to write a whole post about the prep, hosting adventures, and how it goes. 🏡

👉 What was the highlight of your March?

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We’ll it’s finally here. The recap where I can say WE HAVE MOVED INTO OUR NEW PLACE AND HAVE ALL OF OUR STUFF AGAIN.

On February first, we moved into our rental and on February 3rd, our things arrived. I’m happy to report only two things broke - a coupe class and our four cup measuring cup from Great Jones. Other than that, we are golden.

I’m thrilled with the area we moved into and the house in general feels very cozy. We’re still organizing things and buying storage and decor, but for the most part, we’re feeling a lot better finally being in our new home. Now that we’re settled, I have seen so many friends this month and reconnected with lots of people; which has been great for the soul.

February felt a giant breath of relief for the first time in several months. Now, I’m just waiting for the day when I stop doing the quick math of a time difference in my head when I text or call somebody. Even though I’m in a different state than friends and family back home, I go on autopilot as if I am in a different time zone like I’ve been the last 6 years.

To sum up February:

• What I learned: Staying in touch with people as you move is more important than you think. Coming back to Orlando and hearing from so many people who want to see me has been an incredible feeling. I believe part of that is because I stayed in touch with a lot of people, and I’m so glad I did.👯‍♀️

• What I am grateful for: The price of life in Florida. Prior to living in Hawai’i, we lived in San Diego - two very expensive places in the US. When we fill up our gas tanks or go grocery shopping, Christian and I are experiencing a reverse sticker shock - we can’t believe how much cheaper things are in comparison. I knew that it would be, but actually experiencing it for ourselves is a whole other story. 💰

• What I finished reading: I finally finished some books! I think I need to go back to my Reading Recap article and remind myself what I truly want to read each time I pick out a book. I lost that plot a little bit with my third read in February.

  • A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams - okay, I loved this as I read it. It does have a magical realism element to it that some people did not enjoy, but based on the back of the book you already know that going in, so I’m not sure why some people were so outraged. I loved the history and culture in this book, I felt like I could picture it all. 😍

  • The Land of Sweet Forever by Harper Lee - this is a collection of essays and short stories by Harper Lee. It was and it wasn’t an easy read. Easy in the sense that they’re short pieces you can flip through, not easy in the sense that it is an older style of writing. I loved going back into her world though, and really want to know more about her. She’s such a great writer, and yet only published To Kill a Mockingbird (Go Set a Watchman was an old manuscript of hers and came out when she was much older. I believe there was controversy around publishing it too). So I’m curious why only that book and why not more? 🌿

  • Daydream by Hannah Grace - This was my first hockey romance and I have not read the other books in this series. The book was okay. I can’t remember the last time I read about college students and I feel like the book would have been a better read for me years ago instead. It was still good, but not making a top 5 list for me any time soon.🏒

• What I cooked: Pigs in a Blanket! But not the kind you’re thinking of. Growing up, that’s what my family called stuffed cabbage (halupki to those of Eastern European descent in PA). My grandmother’s birthday was last month and I wanted to honor her in a special way so I made the only recipe of hers that I know. It’s labor intensive for sure but making it was so therapeutic. I also wrote it down so it actually lives somewhere for me and other family members to reference. 👩‍🍳

• What I loved: Being able to walk to so many places! We moved to a pretty walkable area and I’m thrilled. After living in Hawai’i, we learned that we don’t do well in the suburbs where we have to drive everywhere. Now we can walk to plenty of restaurants, some cute boutiques, a grocery store, a pharmacy, and more. It makes such a difference for us and was a nonnegotiable when looking for a new place to live. ✅

• What I did for my health: Lots of walking! I know it sounds redundant, but it’s true. Cookie has been doing great and loving her walks, so some days we walk for at least a mile in the morning. For a senior dog, one mile is damn good. Plus walking to different places for food and shopping also helps. I’m back to hitting 10K+ steps a day and I feel so much better. I love how we are able to create a lifestyle that not only makes us happy, but helps our health too. 🚶‍♀️

• What I kept reaching for: My first thought was Instagram, even though I hate saying that. Right now, my algorithm is flooded with home thrifting, decorating, and home projects in general. I really want to make our home feel special and I’m tired of constantly buying new, new, new. So now I’m reaching for all kinds of inspiration through thrifting, antiquing, and facebook marketplacing (i just made that word up). It’s been fun so far! We bought my new dresser from a thrift store nearby for a great price. I am in the process of replacing the hardware but it needs to be properly refinished. Eventually I want to learn how to refinish furniture, but I think I need to start smaller than a dresser first. I walked away from so many beautiful decor items at this antique mall last week, but I got some amazing decor inspiration. I can’t wait until we have everything in it’s place and I can start focusing on decor. ✨

• What I am looking forward to next month: Finding a place for everything in our home and donating all of the things we no longer need! Storage is a challenge in our new place so my goal is to have our guest room actually look like a guest room by the end of March and not some giant storage closet. As a side note, if you haven’t gone through your things recently, designate a weekend to do so. I guarantee you have stuff you no longer need and the decluttering feels incredible. 🤩

👉 How did you spend your February?

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Not really.

But kinda.

In January we finally learned where we would be moving to for my husband’s job; which turned out to be Orlando! Funny enough, we used to live in Orlando and that’s where we were when he joined the Navy so coming back here feels like another full circle moment for us. We have friends and family in Florida already and so many people we know from the Northeast vacation here often as well.

The beauty of this move is that we already know this area, and even though it’s changed, we don’t feel like we’re completely starting over this time. I didn’t realize how much of a relief that would be until we started planning the move, it feels like the Universe cut us a break during this new transition.

But because of the move, that also means January was hectic. Once we found out we were going to Orlando, it was a quick turnaround time and we spent half the month in a hotel trying to find a place. Fortunately we start fresh in February with a new home that we’re excited about.

After 2+ months of feeling displaced, I can’t wait to have our stuff back. (and brace myself for what broke)

To sum up January:

• What I learned: As cliche as it sounds - life is full of surprises. We really never know what’s coming next, and there is no way to predict the paths we’ll take, but what we can do is build up our resilience and our mental strength. Being flexible in my adult life has truly helped me survive all of the twists and turns, and with this curveball of moving back to Orlando I’m grateful for my adaptability because without it, I’m not sure I would have gotten this far. 💪

• What I am grateful for: The time we had with friends and family up North, especially the people who went out of their way to make the time for us. I know it wasn’t easy on everyone’s schedules, but a lot of people made an effort to see us and that meant a lot. I saw cousins I hadn’t seen in years, got together with girlfriends multiple times, and spent quality time with family. It was so much fun. 💞

• What I finished reading: Another slow reading month for me and apparently I am two books behind my reading goal so I have a little catching up to do. 🥴

  • Three Shattered Souls by Mai Corland - this is the final installment in the Five Broken Blades trilogy. It’s a fantasy series with Korean mythology influences. The series is told from multiple points of view, so it can be a lot to follow, but it felt like a unique story to me. (which is important for my reading in 2026, you can read why here). I loved the character development and the storyline. I highly recommend checking it out!

• What I cooked: Some pretty bland meat sauce for pasta. Thankfully our hotel has a kitchenette, so we can cook on the small stovetop, but we don’t have our usual spices, so nothing we make tastes all that great. I’m loading up the sauce with fresh onions and garlic, but that only goes so far. I can’t wait to have a real kitchen again with all of my supplies back. Just a few more days… 👩‍🍳

• What I loved: Being able to go on a girls trip with one of my friends from Orlando! I arrived in Florida on a Saturday and then that Thursday hopped on a plane with her and some other friends to Napa, CA for a weekend. That week felt like I was moving nonstop, but it was a nice reminder of the people I already have here and the fun things I’ll get to do.👯‍♀️

• What I did for my health: Honestly, not that much. Some months you hit those health goals, and sometimes you don’t. January was all over the place for me - sometimes I worked out, sometimes I didn’t. We’ve been eating out a lot while stuck in the hotel, but my breakfasts have been decent. I did sleep pretty well in the hotel though, so maybe that counts? Something about hotel curtains hit different than the blackout curtains we buy in the store. So I didn’t do the greatest job at prioritizing my health in January, but truthfully, I just needed to get through the month. 🫠

• What I kept reaching for: Cookie girl! I’m so happy we’re in Florida and that road trip is behind us. She’s been a tough girl over the last few months with all of the traveling she’s done and I want to make sure she’s enjoying life as much as we are. Fortunately, our hotel has a lake nearby, so our walks have been nice and she’s enjoying them. She’s missing her backyard though and sometimes she stands by the windows to look outside of the hotel room like she used to when she’d tell us she wanted to lay outside. I can’t wait for us to get out of here so she has that again. We’ve been loving on her as much as possible.🐾

• What I am looking forward to next month: Moving into our new place and finally feeling settled again! 🏡

👉 How did you spend your January?

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December was a whirlwind for us, we finished our cross country road trip and made it back to the east coast. The trip took an extra day because of some weather in Wyoming, but other than that, it went smoothly.

I feel like the first week back in the Northeast consisted of us acclimating to the big change. Going from our own home in a very different part of the country to living with parents in our home town again (for now) shakes you up in ways you don’t expect. My husband and I are trying to figure out our own routine while juggling family visits, get-togethers with friends, the holidays, work, our dog, and everything else.

There is something about being back in your home town after years of being away that brings up a lot of emotions.

We moved away nearly a decade ago and have visited over the years, but have not been back for a significant amount of time until now. I feel like we’re operating with feelings of nostalgia, confusion about roads changing, and hoping we don’t run into certain people when we go out to the store. 😆

Besides that, being home for Christmas for the first time in over 8 years was a nice feeling and something I never realized how much I needed.

To sum up December:

• What I learned: Being present is no joke. Right now, it’s easy to fall into the trap of only looking ahead and waiting for our next thing, but I don’t want to look back on our time here and wish we enjoyed it more instead of wishing it away. I’m actively reminding myself (and my husband) that we need to be in the moment and feel more present right now, but it is easier said than done. 🫠

• What I am grateful for: Being in the same time zone as friends and family again! Not having to do the mental math of figuring out if everyone is still awake or not is so nice. It makes a huge difference staying connected with everybody and I don’t feel the need to hop on my phone first thing to see what I’ve “missed.” because chances are, I’m up before anyone else anyway. 📲

• What I finished reading: I swore I read more, but when I looked back at my Goodreads, I really didn’t. Hoping that changes in January. 📚

  • Fake It Till you Bake It by Jamie Wesley - eh this one was okay. It’s definitely the definition of a light and fluffy romance without much substance. There are other books in the series, but I may leave it at this first installment and move on to something else.

  • Good Spirits by B.K. Borison - I gobbled this book up! B.K. Borison is quickly becoming one of my favorite romance authors. I wasn’t sure how this one would wrap up considering the male lead is a ghost, but it worked out well and I cannot wait for the next one in the series! This was perfect for the wintry holiday season.

  • Awakening Fertility by Heng Ou - I’ve started to consider what it would look like to prepare my body and health if I were to have kids, so I’ve started reading some books about fertility. I must say this book was incredible, insightful, and makes me want to connect with my health as a woman so much more, whether I have kids or not!

• What I cooked: So many random things, I was desperate to get back in the kitchen again after being on the road for so long. Funny enough, the one consistent thing I have done in the kitchen though, was make tea. I have been drinking all kinds of tea lately, maybe it has to do with how cold it is outside. In particular I’ve been enjoying an Earl Grey de la creme tea from one of my favorite tea rooms in Denver - Babe’s Tea Room. ☕️

• What I loved: Successfully throwing a surprise dinner for my husband with our friends and family! The dinner celebrated my husband getting out of the Navy and he was completely surprised. After nearly 7 years in, it felt fitting to celebrate in style, especially while everyone was in town. 🥰

• What I did for my health: I started working out again. I pulled out my yoga mat at home, used the free weights my in-laws’ have, and have gone to the gym with my father-in-law a few times. When I’m at home, I’ve been following this woman’s workouts! I love her instagram page, she focuses on mobility for women in their 30s; which I have found so helpful, and workouts that aren’t overwhelming. Definitely check her out. 💪

• What I kept reaching for: Traditional Medicinals immune tea and Beekeeper’s Naturals propolis spray. I usually go with the lemon ginger flavor tea because I feel like it’s good for my stomach too. Whenever I travel, I lean on these two things religiously and I never get sick. After all of our driving, changing multiple time zones, and little sleep, my tea and spray helped me stay nice and healthy. I try to drink a few cups of immune tea a week (more if I’m traveling or not sleeping well) and I use the propolis spray almost everyday, multiple times. 🐝

• What I am looking forward to next month: Hopefully moving to somewhere new! We’re still not sure what this looks like yet, but I’m excited to find out. 📦

👉 How did you spend your December?

🍵 Support my work by buying me a matcha! I have some lofty goals and dreams for my writing and I appreciate any support my readers offer me 🫶

📘 Want your first Book of the Month book for $5? Click here to start your new favorite subscription.

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