things i adored in april

a.k.a. the month all i did was listen to noah kahan

Spring is finally here, and it finally feels that way, too! It has been so nice to quite literally stop and smell the roses this month. Overall, I am really trying to slow down and be present, and April always feels like one of the best months to truly try to do that.

See below for some of the things I adored this April <3

miscellaneous favorites:

• randomly meeting Lorde (yes, Lorde) on a Thursday night in the West Village

• Italian charm bracelets

• stretching when I wake up

• daffodils

• celebrating everything with an ice cream cake

• wearing scarves in the spring

• browsing stationary stores

• Muji pens (still)

• potato chips

products I am loving:

• BAGGU Bowler Bag: I unfortunately bought a new BAGGU this month. It quite literally caught my eye in the windowsill, and I gasped when I saw it. Yellow is my absolute favorite color and the size was perfect for an everyday bag. I have been using it every day this month and it truly brings me so much joy to wear it on my arm.

• Nespresso Iced Tumbler: I have to admit I am not much of a coffee drinker, but my best friend found out about the Nespresso + Milk Bar pop up, so we headed to SoHo at 6am before work to get a coffee in one of these new tumblers. It was genuinely a great purchase (it’s spill-proof!) and I would definitely recommend this cup for anyone who takes their drinks on the go.

music I am listening to on repeat:

April must be when all the greatest songwriters decide to release music because the last few weeks have been excellent in terms of new releases and song lyrics that have stopped me in my tracks when I heard them for the first time (example 1: everything you see out here will die, it’s only a matter of time)…

• The Great Divide: The Last Of The Bugs by Noah Kahan. I knew I would love this album — I would have been shocked if I didn’t. This album exceeded my already high expectations, somehow. Noah is such an amazing lyricist, and his words just strike a chord. This album is a special one. Some of my favorites include: “End Of August,” “23,” and “All Them Horses.”

• Cruel World - Holly Humberstone: I have been a huge Holly fan for years, and this album is everything I could have hoped for. Holly feels like girlhood to me. A few of the songs on repeat for me have been: “Red Chevy,” “Make It All Better,” and “Blue Dream.” Definitely give this one a listen if you are an Olivia Rodrigo fan — for some reason, they have similar vibes to me!

• “drop dead” - Olivia Rodrigo: She’s back! I couldn’t be more stoked — April truly has been an excellent month for music. Regardless of what people may think about this song, I adore it; I think it perfectly encapsulates what it feels like to be developing a crush. It’s a scary feeling you want to bottle. I love this song and I love Olivia and this album release is going to be just as iconic as we think it is.

• “Often, Lately” - Dermot Kennedy: Dermot may have one of the prettiest voices I have ever heard, and he is another amazing lyricist. His whole album, The Weight of the Woods, is worth checking out, but this song in particular has been stuck in my head.

• “Your Friend” - Jensen McRae: This song stopped me in my tracks the first time I heard Jensen sing it on TikTok. I immediately saved it, and was over the moon to discover it was finally being released. The emotion is palpable and I feel giddy and 17 in the best way every time Jensen releases music. I feel like she always just gets it.

• “I Would Hate You If I Could” - Turnover: This song was recommended to me by one of my best friends and it just scratches an itch in my brain.

TV & movie favorites:

• The Drama: This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year, and it did not disappoint! It kept me on the edge of my seat and at no point in time was I able to correctly guess what was about to happen next. Also, I’m glad the entirety of the internet agrees that Rachel was a horrible friend.

• You, Me & Tuscany: More romcoms in theaters, please! Oh man, I had a great time watching this on the big screen. I giggled and kicked my feet and it was just so refreshing to watch.

• Forbidden Fruits: I don’t typically do well with horror movies, but this one was more of a campy horror dramedy? I loved the cast so I knew I had no choice but to see it. I did have to turn my face away during a few very gory scenes, but I had a great time watching this one as well.

• Mile End Kicks: A coming of age film set in the early 2010s, this movie genuinely made me nostalgic for Tumblr quite a few times. It was messy in all the accurate ways, and the main character was unlikeable and immature in a way that felt authentic, too.

• Down with Love: An early 2000s romcom that I had somehow never seen? This was so fun — I especially loved the outfits! Definitely put this one on your list if you haven’t seen it, either.

• Million Dollar Secret: I have been watching this show on Netflix with my family, and it is filling the Traitors-sized hole in my heart. I just love a game show where people have to be strategic.

books of the month:

• “Project Hail Mary” - Andy Weir: This was one of the only times ever where I watched the movie first before reading the book. I truly enjoyed the movie so much that I just had to see what all the book fuss was about. I don’t usually read science fiction, so this was a nice change of pace. I honestly think I appreciated the movie just because it was easier to follow all the space-related things, but like the random man who I spoke to on the subway about the book said, “Andy Weir writes books that are meant to be movies.”

• “Grape Juice” - Eliza Dumais: I feel like I include a 831 Stories novella in my favorites every month, and that’s truly because I love them all so much! This one had me envisioning myself in France from the very first page, and I couldn’t get enough. I devour all their books in one sitting and I think about them for days to come.

favorite eats/drinks:

I have to be honest — I ate a lot of ice cream this month. I think there was one week where I tried a different ice cream shop 4/7 days of the week. There is something about the weather finally warming up that makes the urge to eat ice cream while standing outside on the curb irresistible.

• Mimi’s Frozen Yogurt: I once went on a date with a guy who said “lines don’t lie,” and unfortunately he was very correct. The line for Mimi’s took around 40 minutes, but it was worth the hype — definitely some of the best frozen yogurt I have had in the city.

• Caffe Panna: Another shop that famously has a line, but I will wait every time. Caffe Panna has different flavors weekly, and they are always amazing. I recommend going early since they will sell out of flavors — I sadly am speaking from personal experience. One of my favorites in New York!

• Mixue: It will cost you $2 for one of the best soft serve cones you have had in your life. I won’t say anything else — just that you should try it for yourself.

• Skirt Steak: Located in Chelsea, this place has steak frites and unlimited fries for a really affordable price. I have been a few times and just genuinely love the food and experience!

• Blank Street Iced Daydream matcha: This has been one of my favorites for a long time, so I am finally including it in one of my monthly lists! I have tried so many matchas in the city, and this one is consistently one of my favorites. You can tell it’s good because the matcha is always the perfect shade of green.

pictures of the month:

some moments from april <3

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Until next time! <3

XO, Daelyn