The April Collection

The daffodils are blooming. I repeat, the daffodils are BLOOMING. A foliage report and fun things from April 2025.

This month was full to the brim! Now that it’s sunny and 60 degrees, it feels as if cold, early April was so “far away ago” (as my three-year-old would say). We packed our days with library books, outdoor playtime, minor breakdowns (all sleep deprivation-related), Easter brunch, flower watching, and a visit to Chicago.

My husband’s big 35th birthday request was to see The Thrilling Adventure Hour podcast live show in Chicago, so we made a weekend trip out of it. The show was fun, but the real treat was having 48 hours away from our responsibilities. We slept through the night for the first time in seven months! We roamed the city and ate dinner without teaching anyone table manners. We talked and talked and talked and also enjoyed companionable silence. We eavesdropped on the “L” then dished the hot gossip to each other when we made our stop.

Cities have always made me feel capable, cultured, and creative. I’ve been fortunate to grow up in the middle of a Midwestern city hub: Milwaukee, Madison, Chicago, Minneapolis. I need to prioritize city activities this summer (by myself and with the boys): visiting the art museum, walking the lakefront, catching a live show. Thanks to my local library, most of these activities are free with museum passes and special offers. Our weekend away was an essential reminder for me to take advantage of all the opportunities our new location provides, not just the comforts of our new house and backyard.

The April Collection

• Speaking of our yard, I hope you like foliage updates! April welcomed daffodils and crocuses all over our property, and the sunny pop of color makes me so happy. Within the last week, I’ve noticed leafy bushes and more mystery bulbs poking out of the ground. The most exciting development is peonies in the back garden! Their red shoots sprouted up, and I expect to see blooms in another few weeks. Stay tuned.

• Our favorite librarian, Miss Victoria, recommended And Then It’s Spring by Julie Fogliano, and it perfectly matched our April transition from brown, rainy days to green, sunny spring. We also loved Have You Ever Seen a Flower? by Shawn Harris, Papilio by Ben Clanton, Corey R. Tabor, and Andy Chou Musser, and Tomorrow’s Lily by Chris Raschka for seasonal reading.

• Now that warm weather is officially here, do you have your spring uniform ready? I’m all set to rock bike shorts, colorful sneakers, and breezy button downs for the third spring/summer in a row.

• While walking around Chicago, we stopped in Atlas Stationers for the first time. I resisted buying a fountain pen but walked out with a brand new set of Blackwing pencils for sketching and annotating. We didn’t make much time for bookstore hopping, but we did find paperbacks in Unabridged Bookstore (I got Hellions by Julia Elliot).

• After some light shopping and a hotel stay in the city, we’re back to budget basics over here, so I’m making my matcha lattes at home. I’ve come to love the ritual of making myself a drink every morning. The keys to delicious at-home matchas:

  • a matcha whisk

  • a steamer/frother (with hot or cold settings)

  • pistachio creamer

  • Naoki matcha

• We hosted Easter brunch, and I splurged on a big spiral ham at Costco, knowing the leftovers would feed us for awhile. I made a scrumptious ham and cheese croissant bake then froze enough ham to bake two more. The recipe would be just as yummy with sausage or bacon, if you’re not flush with ham leftovers like me.

• For someone who’s hosted, produced, and worked on three different podcasts, I listen to very few these days. I downloaded Amy Poehler’s new show Good Hang to keep me entertained while cleaning one Saturday. It’s fun! So far, my favorite episodes feature Quinta Brunson and Jack Black. I usually listen to conversational podcasts about a specific topic, like books, pop culture, or politics. The interview hangout, while super popular, isn’t usually my jam, but I’ll keep Good Hang in rotation.

April Substack Saves

• Glazed Donut Bundt Cake // (

  Have a Little Something
  )

• How to Study Shakespeare’s Plays in Performance // (

  Books & Culture
  )

• Creating Bluey: Tales from the Art Director // (

  goodsniff
  )

• Pickle Chip Salmon with Snap Peas // (

  The New Family Table
  )

• Inside My Pen Bag // (

  The Handwriting Club
  )

• How Do You Teach Creativity? // (

  Art is Play
  )

• American Girl Magazine Summer // (

  Media on the Menu
  )

• Making Every Monday Mabel // (

  Jashar Awan
  )

• In Defense of Arousal // (

  Regina Black
  )

Anticipated May 2025 Reads

• The Names by Florence Knapp (5/6)

• What Happens in Amsterdam by Rachel Lynn Solomon (5/6)

• Audre & Bash Are Just Friends by Tia Williams (5/6)

• Mark Twain by Ron Chernov (5/13)

• Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein (5/13)

• Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson (5/13)

• Rules for Ruin by Mimi Matthews (5/20)

Some of the links in this newsletter are affiliate links. If you shop these links, I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work in this way.