april recap
— rory wins the masters, post-peak bloom at the cherry blossoms, and creative networking galore
I am really going to try and post these monthly recaps in a more timely manner moving forward — I really enjoy writing them, but have found myself balancing a lot of different priorities lately.
I once took a personality test at work, and it flagged a potential “watch out” — I tend to have so many ideas that I struggle to focus on just one. At first, I took issue with it — on a quick read-through, I interpreted it as saying I don’t follow through, and I do get things done (eventually, lol). But after some reflection, I realized it was actually pretty spot on. My to-do list is always packed, yet I still find myself coming up with new ideas I want to pursue. The result? Lots of creative energy — and lots of ideas splitting my focus and free time. I have to frequently remind myself that a lot of people who can give time to multiple creative projects consistently — TikTok, Instagram, Substack, a blog, a podcast, insert other endeavor here — are doing it full time, whereas this is a side hustle for me.
That all said, overall, April was a great month for me — once the weather holds steady above 60 degrees, my happiness follows suit. I also felt very balanced in April — I was in a great daily routine, and had a nice mix of fun things to look forward to and ample down time. (This is a balance that, thus far, has been harder to strike in May — more on that in my May recap, which I hope to post in very early June!)
One of the highlights of my month was watching the Masters — and keeping up with the associated running commentary in my family group texts. My dad is a huge golf fan, and growing up, if there was a golf tournament on, it was playing on a TV in our house somewhere. I rarely paid attention to much of it, but one tournament I do always remember watching was the Masters — especially if Tiger was there wearing his signature red shirt on Sunday. (The 18th hole usually coincided with our 6pm sharp family dinner time, so we were all locked in at that point.)
By the time I was in college, my sister and I were invested in the next generation of players — Rory, Justin Thomas, Spieth, Brooks, Scottie, the like. We especially paid attention to Rory, given his first Major was won in 2011 at a hometown course, Congressional Country Club, and because of his friendship with One Direction star Niall Horan.
Like much of the internet, my sister’s and my dedication to watching the Masters has only skyrocketed in recent years. We love the golf wives’ TikToks, the merch hauls, and, of course, the game itself. We watched all four days, soaking in as many angles of Augusta National as we could on the Masters app — which is incredible, btw. Because of the aforementioned soft spot for Rory, we were rooting for him to overcome his 2011 Masters meltdown at Amen Corner and be rewarded with the green jacket. When he missed the putt on the 18th that sent him and Justin Rose into a playoff, my Oura ring asked me to log a workout because my heart rate was so high! Whew. It was such a thrill to see him win it and complete a career Grand Slam — and share it with my sister via a crazy series of audio messages!
One of the things I think makes Rory so human is that he wears his emotions on his sleeve. Unlike Scottie — who I also love watching, for the record — who always seems chill, Rory shows big emotion — whether it’s frustration or the joy of achieving a lifelong goal — and is often ruled by those emotions. That’s something I think so many of us can relate to.
While I was thrilled for Rory — and excited to see Poppy after his big win as she is so cute! — I won’t lie, I was sad the Masters was over. While there are many other golf tournaments, none are quite like the Masters. It's played at Augusta National every year, so you really get to know the course, unlike other tournaments that rotate between venues. I’ve always been a sucker for an institution that offers tradition!
Needless to say, it’s on my bucket list to go to the Masters one day — fingers crossed that 2026 is the year.
Matt and I went to the Cherry Blossoms last year for a weeknight date, and had so much fun walking around and playing tourists in our own city that we decided to do the same this year. Peak bloom was on a Friday, and due to work and personal schedules, we couldn’t make it down to the Tidal Basin until the following Thursday. We quickly learned a lesson — the Cherry Blossoms do not keep, especially following a rainy forecast. Most of the blooms were gone, but there was one section of trees closer to the MLK Memorial that were still in bloom we were able to enjoy. We capped off date night with dinner at The Hamilton, and I enjoyed my first glass of crisp, dry sauvy b of the season — perfection.
Even though I’ve seen the Cherry Blossoms close to a dozen times, I rarely get down to the Tidal Basin or Monuments any other time of year, and it’s always a great reminder of what a beautiful city I am lucky to call home. People come from all over the world to see the blooms, and they are right in my backyard!
On a very rainy Friday night, I headed down to the Navy Yard for a really fun event: the unveiling of a new Jackie Kennedy at the restaurant Jackie, named in her honor. I have long admired Jackie Kennedy, so when this invite came across my inbox, it was an immediate yes from me.
I was given a +1 to the event, and since my sisters no longer live in town and many of my original blogger friends are busy with their families now, I decided it was a sign to expand my network. So I invited a new friend in the creative space, Aysan of My Darling DC, who I became friendly with on TikTok, to join me! We met up prior to the event for happy hour at Salt Line next door, and then enjoyed the cocktail reception and mural unveiling. It was so fun to meet Aysan in person, talk about our content creation journeys, and put a face to a social handle. We both agreed Anna U Davis did an amazing job on the mural — the symbolism and attention to detail and the way she covers Jackie’s life before, during, and after JFK’s presidency are unparalleled. You can see the mural and more from the event over on my Instagram!
Speaking of networking with fellow creatives, I was able to meet Alex Lewis, the founder of jewelry company Shop Lottie Lew over breakfast. She gifted me some of her beautiful, gold-filled bracelets earlier this year — I barely take them off, they are such great quality — so it was nice to meet her in person! (And she was kind enough to let me add to my stack at breakfast!)
We went to Simona Cafe and enjoyed breakfast sandwiches outside on their cute patio. Simona is located in my neighborhood and had been on my “to try” list for months — it’s always fun to enjoy new spots near you. I am excited to go back again soon, and want to try out their later-in-the-day menu, which includes wine and cheese. Sign me up!
april five-star reads —
The Agency for Scandal Series by Laura Wood — Laura Wood is one of my favorite authors. I loved Under Your Spell when I read it earlier this year, and I loved, loved Under a Dancing Star and A Sky Painted Gold when I read them about five years ago. I don’t normally gravitate towards YA novels, but this series was so good and I spent a few late nights up reading because I just couldn’t put it down. (I love when that happens — one of the small, simple joys in life!) Set in a glittering yet dangerous version of Victorian London, the stories follow the adventures of The Aviary, an all-female detective agency righting wrongs at the end of the nineteenth century, infiltrating a scandalous upper class world straight out of Bridgerton and using their wit and bravery to unmask a villain.
Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews — I have been making my way through Mary Kay Andrews’ back catalog this year; I love her books and am surprised I haven’t read more of them over the years. I loved this one as well — it kind of reminded me of Cancel the Wedding by Carolyn T. Dingman that I read over a decade ago and still love. After losing her job in a DC PR firm scandal, Dempsey Jo Killebrew reluctantly agrees to fix up her father’s crumbling inherited mansion in Guthrie, Georgia. Expecting a quick flip, she instead finds a dilapidated eyesore, a hostile elderly squatter, nosy locals, and unexpected visits from the FBI. But as she rolls up her sleeves, Dempsey discovers that what began as a last resort may just lead her to a fresh start—and a place to finally call home.
As long as Abby Jimenez is writing, I will be reading — so I was excited to pick up her latest title Say You’ll Remember Me. I’m giving it an honorable mention here since I gave it four stars on Goodreads, but love her as an author. The story follows Xavier Rush, who seems almost too good to be true — handsome, charming, and a veterinarian with a kitten in hand — until he opens his mouth and ruins it. Samantha has no patience for arrogant men, but one unforgettable date changes everything. When family crisis forces her to walk away, she begs Xavier to treat their night as just a perfect memory. But some connections are too strong to forget — and maybe the only thing better than one perfect moment is building a love that lasts.
of particular note —
I am obsessed with this gold seashell clutch I found at Target — it’s only $30 and I have a feeling it is going to be on repeat for me this summer.
There’s never been a Hillstone restaurant I’ve walked into that I didn’t love. In fact, in April, my boyfriend and I went to Woodmont Grill in Bethesda with his brother and sister-in-law — so when this article about The Hillstoning of New York came out a few days after our meal, it was an instant read for me. A fascinating look at how the chain has stayed so successful over the years.
I grabbed these affordable sunglasses for summer and love how they frame my face — I currently have them in my work bag for my walks to and from the metro, but I know these will also be making the rounds at my social events this summer.
After seeing it in action at the Jackie event, I went home and immediately bought this tripod for content creation. The tripod I was using before had a big ring light on it — which I was rarely using, so it was quite cumbersome. This one is great — your phone attaches via a magnet and it folds up so compactly. I’ve also found it to be steady overall.
How fun are these 4” matches that come in different colors? I recently ordered some pink ones to display in a thrifted glass bowl on my sideboard. I also recently added the cutest pearl cocktail picks to the bar tray on my sideboard — they’re practical and add a lot of visual interest!