6 recs & 13 reads from April!
You know the rules: these are all things I have read, used or loved this month, straight from the horse’s mouth. Nothing unloved, unread, or untested!
Welcome back to my monthly wrap-up, a retrospective of book reviews and my favorite things I’ve tried and loved through the month. Looking for more book reviews and recommendations from past months? You can find ‘em all here. This is A LONG ONE (in a good way— lots of stuff to recommend for your TBR!) so click here to view in browser.
Happy May! I’m getting MARRIED this month, can you believe? Aaaaah! I’m hoping April consolidated most of my wedding stress and now I just get to enjoy. Former brides, what do you think? Am I being delusional? (If I am, maybe just let me be delusional so I can survive.)
I have a LOT I’ve been saving to share with you— book recs, new beauty favorites, something I’ve been wearing every damn day in April— so this is a long one. I hope you have a coffee or iced tea in hand! ICYMI, here are a few things I published in April that are worth a perusal:
4 years into First Rodeo, and 2 years since adding a “paid subscription” tier— here’s what it’s actually been like to monetize my writing
11 vintage, thrifted, or big sale wedding guest looks! I’ve got a second installment coming for you soon, but I add more wedding guest fit options here on the daily.
I have SO many new favorites from last month! I felt like with some of winter’s thaw, I actually became a person out in the world again— which brought me all sorts of new routines and discoveries. You know the rules: these are all things I have used and loved this month, straight from the horse’s mouth. Nothing unloved or untested!
I have a new favorite eyeshadow, this liquid formula in “Chamomile Matte”— blends out perfectly with a pinky finger. I don’t wear much makeup these days, this is the perfect “nude” eye base. Another makeup rec: this “maracuja juicy balm gloss” (funny string of words) is the only lip product with color that I’m using these days. The applicator is fun and makes me feel 13 again (positive, not pejorative).
The Soft Services x Vacation Inc Buffing Bar became an instant favorite this month. The Buffing Bar was already a holy grail product for me and a consistent re-order, but the new scent is by far the best that Soft Services has ever dropped!
I told you a while back that this would be the necklace of the summer, and though the weather isn’t really cooperating out here, I’ve managed to wear it a few times already. It’s 20% off this weekend, so I’d say you wouldn’t have a better window than this to snag it before everyone else does. (And I predict they will!!)
A few weeks ago I joyfully announced it was vest weather and showed you the white, cloud-like FP Movement vest I had my eye on. Proud to report that I have worn it every day since it arrived and it was objectively my most beloved purchase in April! It takes me from dog walks, to the gym, to beach walks, to errands, to even just the right light layer I reach for when I’m reading on my roof deck.
Random little thing, but my friend Emily put me onto a new floss at the beginning of April, assuring me the coconut fibers in the floss itself were extra good at picking up what “glide” floss does not. She was 100% correct, the difference is noticeable and I am flossing more than ever!
Damn, I read A LOT of good books in April. Hallelujah! There are at least five books I’d recommend with my whole chest this month— one of them is a debut that’s not getting a lot love (probably because the publisher absolutely dogged this author with the cover they gave her…), some you might have heard of, and one or two that should shoot to the top of your TBR, like, yesterday.
Let’s get into it! At the end of today’s book recs & reviews from April, I’ll show you what’s on the docket for my May TBR.