April Favorites

This month has flown by! I’ve been in love with spring as its really started showing its colors here in Chicago (though it was like a blizzard on one random day…whyyy).

There’s a lot to look forward to in May, but for now feel free to browse through the things I’ve been loving in April!

April 2019 Favorites

Fougasse Decorative Bread – I mentioned in my February Favorites that I’m working my way through the Bread Baking for Beginners cookbook by Bonnie Ohara. This “fougasse” was my last recipe to make in the 1st section about no-knead breads, so I saved it for Easter weekend to make for family. I was surprised how much I enjoyed making it and how well it turned out!

Binging with Babish – A friend turned me onto this YouTube channel, and I immediately went from video to video and couldn’t stop. Andrew Rea recreates recipes from shows (like the trifle from Friends below). I encourage you to browse through his channel and look at all the things he’s made!

New Plants – Before we moved, we gave most of our plants away, so I’ve been trying to restock our collection since they add so much to a space. I refuse to keep any real succulents or orchids at this point (RIP all those that were killed by my lack of a green thumb), but I’m really loving this Dracaena (Dragon) plant and the pot I bought for it. Here’s hoping it stays alive!

Workout Videos on YouTube – Ever since I did my 30 days of yoga, I’ve been mostly just looking up yoga videos on YouTube, but after seeing another blogger talk about barre videos, I felt inspire to dig a little deeper. I’ve really enjoyed trying barre videos online lately (something I’ve never done before). Below is one of them I’ve done. It’s not really the same as taking a class in-person, but it’s still so challenging. Next up? I think I’ll explore pilates videos. If you have any recommendations, please share in the comments!

&Run by Sir Sly – Not sure how I first heard about Sir Sly, but this is one of their songs I’ve been listening to a lot over the past few months.

Here Brand Lemon, Garlic, and Basil Salad Dressing – After we moved into our new apartment, I had to replace SO many kitchen items that we couldn’t move. While I love making homemade salad dressings, I didn’t have much time or patience as I was trying to unpack and organize our house. I spontaneously bought this locally made dressing from an Illinois-based company. If you live in the area, it’s legit (hence why my bottle’s almost gone).

Stasher Silicone Bags – I’ve been trying to cut down on our plastic use and waste. Resealable plastic bags are probably my most-used item that I really want to stop (or at least reduce). My sister got me a Stasher bag for Christmas because she knew I wanted one. Then recently I shelled out for this bigger one. They’re food-grade silicone (and resealable). Although expensive (I got mine on Amazon), I know they’ll last a long time. Plus, they’re safe for the dishwasher, freezer, microwave, and in boiling water.