April 2025
Hi Friend,
Well, it's official—Adam and I are married! We celebrated with our immediate family at the courthouse and popped a bottle of champagne together. A new beginning for us.
Spring carries a certain pressure with its connotations of newness: fresh starts, intriguing revelations, and blossoming into someone different. That first spring day when you're tempted to wear open-toe shoes and a t-shirt can spark the mindset that things are about to change.
It's always felt a bit odd that the New Year doesn't align with spring—when everything seems to be reborn. Baby animals, fresh blossoms on trees, and warm air infiltrating our lungs. Shedding winter layers, both physically and mentally, as we turn back our clocks resets the body, making us feel newer, fresher.
April holds a special place in my heart. Between birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays, the month bursts with colors, smells, and sounds. Hopefully, you can stop and take in all that is around you this time of year.
The past few Aprils have been times of wonderful embraces and new lifestyles for us. April 2021, we took a trip to Chicago and decided we did not want to live there, and solidified our decision to move to NYC. April 202,2 Adam was diagnosed as a Type 1 Diabetic, and our lives will forever be changed. April 2023, we got Maggie, our mini golden doodle, who is the love of our lives. I had also decided to leave the corporate workforce with no real plan. April 2024 I finally understood the feeling of seasonal depression lifting.
It's a month of sensory overload (and pollen), so remind yourself of the bleak winter days when you were wishing for a leaf to appear on a tree to indicate life was still existent. (Dramatic, but seasonal depression was in full swing this year.)
So, what now? If you're feeling like this symbolic "new year" is already overwhelming with the idea of starting something new—don't. It's more about embracing a fresh mindset. You're allowed to change your mind any time you want—there aren't any rules against it. Here are a few things I'd like to encourage you to revisit this month. You know me; I love a list.
Mindset on food: If you like it, keep eating it. That's it. That's the rule. (Below are images of my latest food indulgences)
Exercise: You don't have to go all-out just to feel guilty when you miss a day. Movement is movement.
Calling instead of texting: We're all mildly conversation-averse, but hearing a real voice might actually be nice. Maybe.
Keeping up with the Joneses: What if we just... didn't? Imagine living your day exactly how you want to.
Mint chocolate chip ice cream: No offense (I eat it too), but is it really indulgent if it just reminds you to brush your teeth?
Screen time reminders: Maybe I don't need my phone guilting me about how much I scrolled. Can we deactivate that?
Taking up a new skill: What if we just didn't and instead gave some love to the skills we already have?
Hats as a lifestyle choice: If winter had you living under beanies, your hair may need a transition period. Baseball caps are a valid springtime solution.
This Month's Mini
This month, I painted bunnies—each one different, each one just as cute—in a field of new blooms. Each bunny was sketched out and watercolored. The eyes, nose, tail, and whiskers were detailed with acrylic paint, and the background was completed solely in watercolors. This month, I took a different approach by doing each element individually instead of completing one at a time. The verdict is still pending on whether I liked this method better.
I also included an oversized carrot, intended to be used as a bookmark. Each one was hand-drawn and watercolored, with details done in acrylic paint, and then individually cut out. I hope this inspires you to pick up a book or at least think about reading a new one—because, frankly, the stems creeping out of the top are too cute to pass up. (Book recommendations in the comments below, please!)
I hope this month is filled with plenty of short-sleeve days, colorful cocktails, and a higher intake of fruit. May baby animals be spotted on your walks and new petals be relished because they are working hard too. Try a new recipe, read a new book, call an old friend, indulge in a sweet treat.
It's a seasonal fresh start—but try not to put too much thought into that. You can change your mind tomorrow if you want.
Change is a polarizing idea and thought pattern. We speak of change theoretically all the time. The phrase "easier said than done" is so often applicable when we talk about changing our lives. I grew up in a state of change—moving every five years, I've lived in eight different cities, attended 11 different schools, and had over a dozen different jobs. Adaptation is not for the weak, and being in a state of change is incredibly uncomfortable.
But not all change is bad. We shuffle around our lives when we subconsciously feel like we need growth. We add and remove people from our lives; new routines fade into everyday tasks; what once felt odd and foreign is now regular and benign. Fearing change is okay. But eventually, the scariness fades, and it's actually just your life now.
I've resisted change before—which is actually a lot harder on your body than you think. Sometimes we move, we break up, we quit our jobs, we stop doing things, we put ourselves out there, we start a business, we learn a new skill, we shake up our routine. The earth spins, life grows, and we change. Ride the wave, babe.
It's only with time and perspective that we can discern whether something, someone, or a situation is a timeless classic or merely a passing trend. Moving forward allows us to see what truly endures and what was fleeting.
When in doubt, remember that some bunny loves you in Florida!
Xx Jessie
Below are some images of last month’s mini from March. Be sure to send me images so we can share with the rest of the community!
