What inspired me in April
Vacation costumes, freezer cookies, joyful internet corners, lunching and learning
As I embark on my eighth(!) month of weekly sharing here on Substack, I'm still in experimentation mode. Last month, I dipped my toes into podcast-style audio posts. You can catch those episodes here and here.
For this month’s free post, I’m sharing something light and fun, and if you enjoy it, please let me know because I’d love to write more like it!
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Let's dive into what inspired me in April:
Vacation Costumes
I have three trips planned for this summer and it got me thinking that when we go on vacation, we’re not the same people we are when we’re home. We stay up later, we eat more ice cream, we explore new places.
When I’m traveling, I don’t want to dress like the me who unloads the dishwasher; I want to embody vacation versions of myself: Cape Cod Michelle, Las Vegas Michelle, Los Angeles Michelle.
There was a time when I was younger when I thought I might want to be a costume designer. I’m not the most fashionable person, but I love putting together looks that are based on personality traits.
And so that’s what I decided to do this summer. I’m not packing for vacations. I’m a costume designer. 🌟
Here’s a peek at some of the looks I saved for my first trip (if I did my job right, you should be able to guess which one):
Freezer Cookies
For as many cookies as I’ve consumed in my lifetime, it's a wonder why it took me this long to adopt this practice—making chocolate chip cookie dough, rolling them into balls, and stashing a bunch in the freezer.
I recently whipped up a batch of internet-famous Chocolate Chip Cookies from Sally’s Baking Addiction and stowed away the majority in the freezer. Throughout the month, I've been treating myself to freshly baked cookies straight out of the oven, paired with a nice cup of tea. It's made me feel both cozy and smugly efficient, though I still staunchly refuse to entertain the idea of meal prepping.
Joyful Internet Corners
Two internet segments have brought me immense joy this month, both courtesy of podcaster and writer,
. First, her Instagram series, “a look and a book,” where she ingeniously pairs her outfit with a book cover. As a wannabe costume designer, I adore the concept. Plus, her outfits are always adorable, and she introduces us to new books!You can also find her other segment here on Substack, a series called Desk Tours, where she interviews creative individuals from the perspective of their workspace. As someone who regularly watches Homeworthy, never misses a celeb home tour on AD’s YouTube channel, and has been tirelessly perfecting my own workspace since we moved into our house eight years ago, I simply can't get enough.
Revisiting Old Music
I know this month is all about Queen Taylor, but lately, I’ve been plugged into... Weezer.
After listening to a great episode of Too Much Information about Weezer’s Blue Album, I found myself falling down a rabbit hole, revisiting their earliest songs. I adore how certain music acts as a timestamp for your life; listening to Weezer transported me directly back to my late college years.
There's an unparalleled joy in rediscovering something so familiar after a long absence—a perfect blend of novelty and comfort.
Lunch and Learn
They say eating at your desk isn’t healthy, but it's become somewhat of a habit for me. It's not that I'm overworking; I just want to enjoy a meal without one of my cats vying for my attention (my office is a kitty-free zone).
Anyway, I’ve had a Masterclass subscription for a while now, but I hadn’t quite figured out the best time to utilize it. During the workday, it feels too much like I’m relaxing, and at night, it feels too much like work.
But I think I’ve finally struck the perfect balance—watching lessons while I drink my coffee or savor my lunch. This month, I’ve been particularly loving Bobbi Brown’s makeup and beauty class, Tell a Great Story with Michael Lewis, and The Art of Storytelling with Neil Gaiman.
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✍️ Creative Exercises/Journal Prompts
You don’t need to go on vacation or wait until Halloween to put together a fun costume. Dress like one of the people you want to be, even for a day.
What’s something you’ve been wanting to learn? Plan an educational lunch date with yourself!
Revisit an old favorite song or an album you haven’t heard in the last decade.
☀️ Five good things
When we can recognize the things that bring us the most joy, we invite more of them into our lives. Here are five things that made me happy this week. Share yours below!
Five good things that happened this week:
1. I whipped up my first pasta salad of the season. Summer isn’t quite here yet, but it's starting to feel like it.
My sister-in-law and I attended a yoga class at a local brewery, and the instructor was phenomenal—one of the best classes I’ve ever experienced. It struck the perfect balance between silliness and strength-building.
I snagged a few pairs of my favorite Uniqlo leggings, and they were unexpectedly on sale! Now I just need to muster up the motivation to clean out my dresser to make room for them.
We've finalized our hotel and dining reservations for our upcoming trip back to Nantucket in late May.
I reached out to a couple of experts—a lobster-boat owner and someone who works at a historical society—to help fact-check a few plot lines in my book, and they responded enthusiastically! Their willingness to assist, even though I’m an unpublished author, means the world to me.
💬 Share your intention
Whether it’s a giant leap, a tiny to-do list item, a habit change, or something else, there is power in accountability, and this is a safe space to share your aim. Some weeks, we’ll fail, others we’ll soar, but with support, we’ll always keep going together.
✨ Question of the week: What’s a joyful corner of the internet you think more people should know about?
Until next week, get out there and make something beautiful.
Michelle
Love the idea of Materclass time during lunch, brilliant! Also a devout cookie dough balls in the freezer person myself, it's one of the best life hacks!
Thank you so much for featuring me here, Michelle!! And honestly very relieved someone other than me is into my 'look and a book' videos, ha. Have a great week!