This month was the sweetest I have felt in a while. A testament to the fact that everything buried must bloom. My spine is healing with a lot of physical therapy, my gallbladder comes out in about two weeks, the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, everything is green and I’m noticing it all (That’s the whole point, really.)
Blog cover photo is from the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens :)
I had my monthly Facetime with Haley! She showed me her mom’s new kitten, a fluffy fellow named Hamilton, or Hammy for short :’) I would die for him
I met up with
for the tried and true plan of coffee and thrifting! We met up at a place in Greenwich village called Kerber’s Farm, which was part cafe, part storefront that sold goods made at the farm’s location, which was somewhere upstate. It actually reminded me of a lot of cafes in Indiana that I had been to. Many of them worked with local farmers directly to bring fresh ingredients to the food and drinks that they made. In my opinion, they definitely taste better! I had a hot chai and Kelsey had tea. I also had to try one of their cheddar biscuits, which tasted even fresher than the version they make at Red Lobsters. After we ate, we braved the wind and the cold rain to go to two different thrift stores within the area. I was complimented on my outfit by several different people at these stores, so that’s how you know the fit was fire ;) I ended up buying a gold crescent moon dish, a butterfly paperclip that I put in my hair and this little Totoro lamp that I put on my desk :) Both his tummy and his umbrella light up. Overall 10/10 day <3
As part of my recovery, my physical therapist recommended that I walk more to build up my stamina and endurance, and it’s been hugely helpful for not only my physical, but also my mental health. I didn’t realize how much going to the gym helped manage my stress until I wasn’t going anymore. I still miss the gym, but the list of things I can’t do right now is longer than the list of things of things I can, so I might hold off on going back until I can safely lift weights again.
I did so much walking when I first moved to NYC because 1) I was unemployed, had nothing better to do and this was free, and 2) wanted to explore the city and the immediate area around me. I walked for hours and had the best time just wandering and listening to music. I was still writing my first book at the time, and it was also a great way to imagine scenes and brainstorm my way out of plot holes while also getting fresh air and sunshine. This past month, I’ve been dreaming up scenes for my new book I’m working on and taking pictures of anything that I like :)
see photos featuring my hot girl walks and random city/park pictures and central park easter escapade
This month also featured lots of cat cuddles <3
I was invited to a coachtopia pop-up (okay Kristen was invited but couldn’t go so they bequeathed me their invitation)! Kristen did some work for this jewelry brand named mo.na, and all their charms are made from potato starch and are 100% biodegradable. When you’re done, you can bury them in the ground, but I don’t see myself ever getting rid of mine :) It was a collaboration between the jewelry brand and coachtopia, a sub-brand of coach purses. I’m not really a purse girlie but thought it was cool that they make their purses out of recycled fabrics and repurpose their material waste.
Since this was somewhat of a fashion event, I knew I should show up looking like an off-duty model. I wore my large green suit coat as a dress, cinched with a belt over my fleece leggings that look like sheer tights (because that day was so rainy and cold :’( ) I paired it with gold accents and Kristen was so kind to lend me their dark green doc martens for an overall monochromatic look. Final touches were my green leather trench coat and green graphic eyeliner. I’m slowly morphing into the green lady and I’m not mad about it. Me and my outfit were even featured on coachtopia’s insta story, soooooo that’s kinda cool :)
As I was waiting in line, I met this girl named Marina and we started chit-chatting and found out we had a lot in common! Before I left, we exchanged instagrams and said that we should hang out, and we did later in the month!
I had some time to kill before I met Jess for dinner, so I went to the Smithsonian sister location of the Museum of the American Indian, the original location being in DC. I had just seen a tiktok of it recently and knew I NEEDED to go. It was all the way down in the financial district near wall street and battery park. It was all so cool and I loved that they had a wing dedicated to the Native Americans of New York. The Lenape people lived on the island of Manhattan, and were essentially tricked into selling their land to the Dutch people. There were many displays of artifacts, tools and clothing from tribes all over the Americas, and I recognized the tribes in the books I had read recently, like the Ojibwe people in The Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley, and the Ganeogaono people of Picture Maker by Penina Keen Spinka, also featuring the Naskapi people, the Algonquin people, the Inuit, and finally, Norse settlers in Greenland. I also appreciated that some of the artifacts had been given back to the tribes and had little signs that said so. As much as I love museums, I can’t help but wondering how many of the artifacts were donated or stolen, or “donated” in that case. That being said, this museum was super cool and the next time I am in DC, I definitely plan on going to the original museum in the National Mall.
Later I met
at the Red Bamboo restaurant in Greenwich village! It was a completely vegan spot that had a wide array of options, including pulled pork, other barbecue, plenty of Asian dishes, and eggplant Parmesan. I ordered the beef curry and we split steamed dumplings and caribbean jerk seitan pieces. Later we went to a board game cafe (which was the coolest thing I had ever seen), had the best hot chocolate of my life, and Jess bought a few magic the gathering packs for Jesse.As we were walking to one location, we passed a church’s sign that said, “If Empathy is a sin, sin boldly.” (picture below) and we probably stared at it for a good five minutes. That’s a poem if I’ve ever heard one. A fantastic poetry prompt, as well.
Later in the month, my coworkers Alicia, Lian and I ate street tacos and then watched Revenge of the Sith! I did warn them that I was going to be thirsting for Anakin the whole time, and I was right. That man is FIINNNNEEEE. I was blushing and giggling the whole time
The next weekend were my plans with Marina! Firstly, we had tea and finger foods at Brooklyn High Low, and it was so cool in there. The place looked like it could also pass off as an antique store, and there were teapots and cups everywhere! The tea was delicious, and I know for a fact I could eat cucumber sandwiches every single
The chance of rain that day was originally supposed to be high, so we planned to thrift afterwards, but the chance of rain kept getting lower, so we took a chance and went to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, which was a thousand times worth it! It stayed overcast the whole day, but that did not dampen the beauty! The cherry blossoms were all in bloom, everything was such a vibrant green, the tulips were unfurling, and there was so much color and nature to soak up. The gardens also held a rose garden, a Japanese koi pond with a red gate and a tea house replica, a little hiking trail, a small food court, places where kids came on field trips, and these EPIC greenhouses. Each one represented a different environment, including a rain forest, a desert, a bonsai room and a temperate climate. I think the rain forest had to have been my favorite :)
After the gardens, we grabbed refreshments (smoothie for me, chai for Marina) at a place nearby called Coffee Land and then we parted ways. I had some time to kill before I met up with Elecia, so I visited a bookstore in Brooklyn that I’ve wanted to visit FOR EVER and finally made it happen this time! It’s called The Ripped Bodice and sells only romance books! They have many sub genres to pick from, like fantasy, contemporary, sports, erotica, and the list goes on. I went there to only get Emily Hnery’s new book Great Big Beautiful Life, and ended up getting two stickers as well. You know I can’t resist a sticker
Pretty soon after that, I headed to Navy Yard in Brooklyn to assist
with her birthday shoot! I made sure she looked photo ready and fixed her hair, shot BTS content for her, and then helped her make her birthday tiktok/reel at the end, based on the iconic Thirteen Going on Thirty. The shoot was so fun and I felt like I was on set all over again :’)
Later I went with Kristen to see our friends Charlie and Harrison in their new apartment! They won it in the NYC housing lottery and it was SO NICE. I mean, look at the view!!! I also pet their two kitties, Sampson and Dax, watched Gamechanger’s You-lympics, and had the best Parisian tea blend of my life with oat milk (shout-out to Charlie: you have impeccable taste in mugs)
To finish off the month, I got drinks with Kristen and their work friends, Maggie and James at Local 42! It was a dive bar for theatre people, and what an excellent combination. I had two shirley temples on the rocks- because alcohol beefs with my gallbladder at the moment- and was (surprisingly) able to smash a vegan cheese pizza, but I think mopping off the grease helped. I’m so ready to eat greasy dollar slices again :’) And of course, I had to take pictures of the words I approved of on the bathroom’s walls
MEME OF THE MONTH: (and new category!)
The way that “bring me my tap shoes, I feel a song coming on” has been added to my permanent lexicon
WHAT I’M WRITING
I hit my goal of fifty agents queried by the end of June (so way ahead of schedule haha)! One of them was a press and not an agent, but I’m still counting it. I’ll hear back from this last batch in 6-8 weeks.
While most responses from agents I’ve received rejections from are impersonal (not for a lack of kindness, but a lack of time), this response I received was so touching :’)
This agent was incredible honest, which I appreciated, and said that she believed she didn’t have the experience to break out this project in the way that it really deserved. That was so kind to say, and it really gives me motivation to hear a third-party not associated with me say that this project is good. I mean, I think it’s good and my arc readers have said it’s good, but they’re biased because they love me ;) Thais Alfonso, if you happen to read this blog one day, I just want to say thank you :D
Something else that inspired me out of nowhere:
And another meme that actually put a lot of it into perspective for me
So I took a short writing break this month, but my next project is really calling my name. It’s a supernatural romance between two well-known characters in a well-known mythology. iykyk ;) it’s calling to be written and I don’t think I can ignore it any longer. So I most DEFINTELY will be starting that one again soon
And when I got tired of my writing break, I did a little thing and redesigned my whole website. Check it out here and let me know what you think :) <3
WHAT I’M READING
First off, I took this quiz I randomly found on tumblr and I guess I’m a purple reader?
Finished:
Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood. HOLY SHIT. the tone of this one was different than what Ali usually writes, but I loved the shift! I don’t see how Ali churns out as much as she does and have it all be excellent. I need to be on her level frfr
Circe by Madeline Miller. Madeline Miller, you could write a grocery list and I would pay money to read it. Circe was so gorgeous in ways different than The Song of Achilles, but I still loved it. I related to Circe so much. There was plenty that I highlighted in the book, but these two stuck out particularly to me:
Deep End by Ali Hazelwood. Was told it was it was very spicy, and it was, but honestly, it was a little underwhelming and didn’t have as much as I expected, or at least not to the level I expected. But, I’m getting more into sports romances, so this one was still good
The Gone World by Tom Sweterlitsch. This is typically not the genre I read, as it is scifi-horror. Even though I greatly enjoy the genre, it’s not what I’ve been drawn to recently. This one was written INCREDIBLY well. It combined philosophy with physics, and the concept was so well done. I don’t want to spoil it for you, but it involves a secret sanction of the government that time travels and uses it to solve crimes and anticipate problems of the future. This book explores identity, hidden paths, and possibilities so horrific, I couldn’t read this before bed.
like… tell me something that goes harder than this quote
Currently Reading:
Picture Maker by Penina Keen Spinka. (As of today’s date, I actually finished this). I don’t usually read historical fiction, but this one caught my eye at a library sale a few years ago, and was in my TBR pile forever before I finally got to it. Telling the story of a girl from the Ganeogaono people of upstate New York, it follows her journey as she is abducted by Algonquin warriors, sold into slavery and escapes her captor, finds refuge with the Naskapi people, and eventually travels all the way north to be adopted by the Inuit people and marry a Norse man from Greenland. The story covered some 20-30 years of her life, and it was incredible. I love to learn history in the style of a story and not from a textbook. It makes me want to seek out other historical fiction
Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao. (As of today’s date, I’m 85% through!) This one had a learning curve to it because the world is so elaborate, and the concept is incredible. Once I wrapped my head around it, I was able to lose myself in the story and it just keeps getting cooler!
Up Next:
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (as of today’s date, I’ve started this lol)
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao
and maybe a wild card, like Ice Planet Barbarians
WHAT I’M WATCHING
Love on the Spectrum. This one is so effing cute, it has me crying each episode. I know that season three is currently trending, but I started with the first season even though I knew could watch them out of order
Love Next Door. This k-drama was way more dramatic than I expected, but sooooo cute. I love a childhood-best-friend-turned-lover story. They’re always so wholesome :”)
King the Land. This one was also cute! What can I say, I love to see a man down so bad he takes care of her grandma before they’re even officially dating
All caught up on The White Lotus! There is no more entertaining thing than to watch rich people go through it lol
Common Side Effects. An adult swim animated show about a man who discovers a mushroom in the mountains of Peru that can heal any disease and even bring someone back to life. He’s chased by the government and big pharma, but is helped by his high school lab partner, who also works for big pharma and eventually sees the error of her ways. This one was really well-written and visually stunning!
The Last of Us as season two premieres. Please respect my privacy through my time of grieving
Companion. A proud addition to the “good for her” cinematic universe
Revenge of the Sith at its release in theaters, kicking my feet and blushing and giggling anytime Anakin was on screen
One of Them Days, with Keke Palmer and SZA. This was hilarious and so well done!
(new category!) WHAT I’VE BEEN COOKING/BAKING
WHAT I’M LISTENING TO
Rostam’s entire discography. I had heard Bike Dream before but randomly decided to listen to all of his albums one day and I was NOT disappointed
Lorde’s new single! LORDE SUMMER 2025 IS LOADING
Jon Bellion new singles! Wash has stuck out to me the most so far. I can’t wait to hear the whole album ;’)
gradually breaking out my summer vibes playlist
WHAT I’M PLAYING
nothing. lol. I haven’t played much recently because I’ve been on a bigger reading kick than normal
Inspo: (in case you needed the reminder like I did)
This is what May is going to feel like for all the cool cats who read this blog:
“4Runner” by Rostam
With love,
Holly
(peep the new author headshot)
