It is time for my monthly wrap-up. April flew by quickly, and I was swamped. I had the busiest month of the year, and this will probably be the shortest wrap-up of the year. I spent the month doing those necessary adult things but had a productive month. March was a strong content month, but April fell flat.  It’s hard to balance everything simultaneously, so I take my wins when I can get them.

My meals were basic. It’s best to keep things simple when it’s busy. Most of my meals were chicken sausage and veggies, ground turkey pasta and veggies, or a taco bowl with a low-carb tortilla. I’ve gotten in the habit of eating a sandwich for breakfast because I can make it quickly and eat it on the way to school drop-off.  

I did manage to find a loaf of good bread, an HEB, which is supposed to be a Dave’s Killer Bread equivalent. I love Dave’s Killer Bread, but buying Dave’s Killer Bread weekly kills my wallet. It’s nice to have an alternative.  

I did find a new favorite in the Qui by Yoplait yogurts.

Running and fitness

I stuck with my workouts throughout the month with a good mix of running and my Hotworx cross-training classes. I decided not to run any races in April because I was so busy and didn’t want to stretch myself too thin during this time. I wanted to spend some time at home instead of worrying about running off to race.  

I managed to run consistently and got in a LONG run every other week. Sadly, I decided the Hoka’s I purchased in March were not the best fit for running. The Hoka’s seemed too heavy, but this shoe is perfect if I know I’ll do more walking during my run/walk session. I invested in another pair of Brooks Adrenaline GTS for my running shoes. Now I have three different types of shoes for my running rotation, and for the first time in my running “career,” I am the most balanced I’ve ever been.

My IT Band issue started to nag me again, but I know it’s an overuse issue. The older I get, the more aware of what will aggravate it. Having this awareness might mean I don’t get to long run every week, and I will have to adjust my training accordingly.

I also tried a new Hotworx class: Hot Core. Anything with the word core in it is something I shy away from, but I decided to give it a try. So I’ve tried all the Hotworx classes except Hot Warrior and Hot Buns. Technically, I tried Hot Barre but walked out of it, so I might need to try it again.

Reading this month:

I’ll do a whole post on my reading blog. I had a great reading month, and I wasn’t expecting that to happen because March was a strong reading month. I desperately searched for a five star thriller for the month, and after reading a few books, I finally found it.

The best book I read this month:

I couldn’t pick just one, but my hearts belong to the Daisys.  Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney and Daisy Haites by Jessa Hastings topped my reading this month because I can’t stop thinking about those books.

1. Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo 4.5 ★
2. Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson 3 ★
3. The Last Party by Claire Mackintosh 2 ★
4. The Housemaid by Freida McFadden 3.5 ★
5. Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney 5 ★
6. Daisy Haites by Jessa Hastings 4.25 ★
7. The Friend Zone by Abby Jimenez 3.75 ★
8. The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez 4.25 ★

Honorable mentions:

• I had to replace my TV because all of a sudden, I had dead pixels in my TV. I’ve never had that happen before. Thank goodness I purchased Asurion Home Plus insurance. I pay $25 a month, and the warranty covers most of the electronics in my home. I placed my claim, and 24 hrs later, I had a brand new tv, bigger than my previous television.
• Tot won the bike at the Easter egg hunt this year. Last year she lost and threw a fit, so I prepped her hard on her not winning the bike this year. She was convinced she wouldn’t win this year, so it was a pleasant surprise when she won.  
• April was Taylor Swift’s month. I had the privilege of seeing Taylor Swift in Houston on the first night. The concert was terrific. Taylor sang from 7:45 pm to 10:55 pm and put on a masterful show. Her concert was like watching a Broadway production. Every moment was fantastic and memorable, especially the expensive drinks. I paid $42 for Crown and Coke in a mirror ball. I didn’t know that’s how much it was until it rang up, and at that point, I was stuck. After a good cleaning, the mirror ball is a nice cup for Tot. Most importantly, I had a great time with my best friend and goddaughter. I’m happy to make these memories with them, and next time Tot can come.
• Unfortunately, after the concert a few blocks away, my best friend’s car broke down, and we were stranded in Houston for a bit because we couldn’t get a tow truck. Thank goodness for AAA. Towing is expensive, but AAA towed us 10 miles for free. If you don’t have roadside assistance, here’s your sign to get it. I got it almost a decade ago for discounts on my rental cars.  
• Tot had her first dance recital. A few months ago, she did anything she could to avoid going to dance. All of a sudden, Tot changed her mind and started loving it. She enjoyed being on stage and having a chance to wear all the costumes. The whole recital experience was exhausting, with tech rehearsals, dress rehearsals, and two nights of a dance recital, but it was worth it to see her having a great time.

I chose to be present this month because I was swamped. I was forced to live life and didn’t have much time to create content. I hate that I slacked on that part of my life, but I’ve quickly learned you can have it all, just not at the same time.

That was my month. Thanks for hanging in there and reading the ups and downs and all around.  

What was the most exciting thing that happened to you in April?