Notes from April
Things I loved in my home, around my table, in my closet, and more this month
On my calendar: Dave and I celebrated 11 years of marriage this weekend! The words to express how thankful I am for this milestone (every year) truly fail me. Being his wife, calling him mine, raising our precious babies, building this beautiful life together…it is the wildest, most generous blessing of blessings. All glory to God.
The kids all wrap up school this month and I am not quite ready. We have so many fun summer plans, but the winter weather/sickness/days off of the spring semester have made me feel like I’ve been living in summer’s signature weekly re-invention of the wheel for months already. Thankfully, we’re beach-bound the day after everyone is out of school. I can think of no better way to set the tone for the season ahead!
In my kitchen: These crispy black bean tacos were the hit of the kitchen help line this month, to the tune of “oh my gosh, my whole family is devouring the tacos with zero complaints…I’m in shock!!!” All three of us give this recipe our stamps of approval.
In my home: We are having wallpaper installed in our dining room this month! We’ve moved every few years since we got married, so putting money into something that wouldn’t be able to “come with us” feels more significant and special than I had anticipated. I have had this wallpaper (in Sky Blue) saved for years and can hardly wait to see it in the backdrop of our daily lives.
In my closet: Over the last few years, I have gradually built up my workout wardrobe to match the number of times a week I go to barre class/my laundry schedule. My go-to set is this top + these leggings, which are comfortable, supportive enough for a medium-impact workout without being too compressive, lightweight, and much less expensive than most workout brands—wins all around. Lots of fun colors available right now!
On my nightstand: I pulled my fifth-grade copy of Number the Stars off of the shelf the other day for my first re-read in probably 25 years. I remembered far less of it than I thought I did, so it felt almost like reading it for the first time. I’ve been revisiting a handful of my childhood books lately (wanting them fresh in my mind when I share them with Charlie and Azelie!), and have been taken aback in almost every story how different it feels to experience the plots and characters through the mother’s eyes instead of the child’s. Such was certainly the case with Annemarie and Inge Johansen. I don’t give much thought to my Danish heritage (a minority compared to my Polish roots), but this story makes me deeply proud of it. So much courage and hope in this tiny nation’s history.
Jen Shoop’s book came out in April and was truly a joy to read. I look up to her immensely as a writer and as someone who holds creative callings and motherhood with such grace and thoughtfulness. Highly recommend Small Wonders as a starting place to encounter her writing, or as a welcomingly analog companion if you, like me, are one of her daily readers.
In my headphones: Ella Langley, on repeat!
