April round up💃🏼

a collection of what i did, learned, cooked, read, and how i survived it all

May 08, 2026

This month was a weird one - both flying by and crawling along at the same time.

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.