april things!
what I read, tried, loved, and added to my wishlist last month!
Slightly belated… But,April was a really good month. For the first time in what feels like… maybe ever (?), I spent every single weekend here in San Francisco. Not one trip. And honestly? It felt so good. I love being on the go and traveling is one of my greatest joys, but sitting still for a little while was so necessary- especially with the month I have coming up. Somehow every single weekend is already booked and I can feel the busyness creeping in. All good things, of course! But it has me feeling extra appreciative for that time spent at home, completely plan-free.
Okay, getting into why we’re really here: April favorites! Plus, the books I read and my very brief reviews of them.
what I loved
These are mostly items I have been wearing on repeat, but also had to include my newest home decor purchase because I couldn’t be more obsessed.
This Etsy Mirror - SO excited about this find!! We just hung it up and I am in love. I swapped it in where this mirror used to live in my entry way, and it looks amazing.
The J. Crew rebrand has been really hitting for me recently. I have been living in my rollneck sweater and the cosmo pants have become my new go when I just need to throw on an outfit to run an errand or grab a coffee. I have been trying to stay away from leggings when I am not actively going to be working out, and these are so versatile and comfortable. They go with everything!
These Akila sunglasses are my every day go to. The quality is so good for the price, and the shape is super versatile. Overall I love this brand and highly recommend for mid-priced (but high quality!!!), unisex sunnies.
I think I wore this Leset Margo tee at least 2 times a week in April. The fit is great, not too slim fitting, and it’s perfect for layering. Great on it’s own too, of course!
This Quince belt, looks just like this one from Khaite (but 90% less)!
I wear this bezel tennis necklace from Madewell nearly every day. It instantly elevated any simple outfit, and it’s great price ( & currently on sale for 25% off!)
Arket polo sweater - I love shopping at Arket when I am in Europe (because they don’t currently ship directly to the US), and I recently discovered you can buy their products at ASOS! Love this sweater and the pop of yellow in the stripe, and it’s 100% wool.
what I tried (& recommend!)
I got the Wonderskin lip stain at the Sephora sale last month based on recommendations from my friends, and it’s safe to say I am obsessed. I love that it lasts all day, literally, even if you’re eating/drinking/working out. I ordered in another color today, but I am currently using the shade “whimsical” and it’s perfect for my skin tone.
Venetian Flats from Viani Milano, they are SO comfy and lightweight and the quality is incredible! Also love these sneakers, for a less feminine option. All of the products from the brand are handmade by artisans in Italy, and they are female-founded and run (which we love).
The Saie setting spray was also a part of my Sephora sale haul last month and I have been loving it! It leaves my skin dewey in the most natural way, and keeps my makeup in place all day. In my opinion, 10x better than the Milk one.
Perelel cellular hydration - I got sent this a few weeks ago and have been drinking almost daily! It’s very refreshing and doesn’t have that overly salty taste that a lot of hydration drinks do. Sometimes you just need a fun drink with dinner, and this hits the mark for me.
I recently acquired the green goddess candle from Flamingo Estate and let me tell you, it is so fragrent. It smells spicy and fresh in the best way. The Jasmine Rose scent is also incredible and has been a favorite of mine for a while. If you haven’t tried using a candle warmer, I LOVE mine! It helps me to not burn through my expensive candles so quickly. This one is really cool or if you’re more into gold, this one is similar!
Jack & Rose Steamer - I was recently influenced to buy this steamer on TikTok, and let me tell you it works SO well. I didn’t know I needed to steam my sheets and pillow cases, but it makes going to bed feel just a little more luxurious, and this makes it so easy to do.
what I added to my wishlist
Alohas Sandals - how sick are these? I am obsessed. I love pretty much everything Alohas has to offer. And while I dislike having to preorder things, I know it’s ultimately for a good reason (to forecast demand and not over produce causing waste) and sometimes it’s worth it.
Dorsey earrings - I love the drop style earrings, and was thinking about the pear version until I came across this cushion cut! Trying to decide between the petite and the medium… Also love this asscher cut version, specifically in the honey moissanite.
Ganni twill jacket - I got the leopard print one last year and wear it so much more than I would have thought. I love the tonal version! Also love this one from Tanya Taylor, so so good.
I love Boxer Shorts as the foundation of an easy summer outfit, and I think these silk ones would so chic with a white button-down and a pair of ballet flats. I may or may not have bought already….. I wore this red pair all the time last summer.
Has anyone else been getting ads for this Realisation Par dress on Instagram? I haven’t been influenced yet (and it’s out of stock sadly) but I think this would be so fun for a summer wedding or even a vacation.
I have been seeing the cotton poplin style pants pretty much everywhere recently. There are so many options out there right now, and truthfully they all look very similar. I ordered these from J. Crew and these from Gap to see which ones I like more. Also love this pair from DISSH, and of course the kyoto pants from Leset (potentially the pants that started this whole trend).
Alohas red ballet flats - I mentioned the butter yellow version of these in my last post, but how fun is this red! Adding color via shoes & accessories is an easy way to elevate any simple outfit, especially in the summer.
CLUTCHES!! Love this magazine clutch from etsy, and this kiss lock purse from ASOS (a good alternative to the Coach version!). On the dressier end, I have been loving everything from Liffner, but especially this clutch. So many colors! Love this one from Destree too, the color is gorge.
Paracord has been kind of everywhere the past year, and I have been loving the idea of incorporating them into sandals. Obsessed with this 2 tone pair from Revolve, and also love these ones from Madewell (on sale rn too…), these ones from Old Navy are nearly identical and are only $17.99! And of course, Freda Salvador does them so well too.
Maria de la Orden coat - this pattern is SO fun (I love anything red and blue rn), and I love the frog button closure. I will be lusting after this one for a while I think….
what I read
I set a goal to read 75 books this year and I have… fallen significantly off pace (whoops). So I’m adding what I’ve been reading to the list in hopes that a little public accountability will light a fire under me. I have a lot of books I’m really looking forward to — hopefully tackling some of them this month, Libby availability permitting. 🤞
Loved One - I will admit that I chose this book based on the cover alone (I am a sucker for good cover art) but I did really enjoy this book. I thought it was a unique story of bringing two people together who are grieving over the same person in different ways. I also liked the ending and how everything turned out. Overall an easy read!
Night Road - I love Kristin Hannah, but this one fell a little flat for me. I felt it was a little cheesy and predictable. I did love that it took place just outside of Seattle, and I felt I could really picture the landscape she was describing based on my familiarity with the area, and I didn’t hate the characters. Just OK! I would recommend her other books 100x more, though (The Women, The Nightingale, The Great Alone).
Us Against You - This is the second book in a 3 part series. I LOVE Fredrik Backman’s style of writing and love how he is able to tell a story and develop characters.
Sirens & Muses - I saw a review on Goodreads that said, “I would have loved this book if there were no men,” and I really agree… the male characters didn’t do a ton for me in this book, and I would have liked it a lot more if they remained side characters instead. Overall, I thought it was a good story and I thought it was well written!
That’s a round up of everything I read, tried, loved, and added to my wishlist! Subscribe for next month’s lists <3
xx,
Kaela