The Good Things List: April Edition – Your Guide to Comfort, Reads & Resilience

A monthly list of delightful discoveries, essential buys, captivating reads, compelling watches, and much more.

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Oh, dear friends, what a spring it has been! As April unfolds, we can finally embrace the promise of warmer weather, brighter skies, and the renewed energy that comes with the season. After a long winter, and especially considering the unique circumstances we all find ourselves in, a bit of sunshine and hope feels more essential than ever.

Indeed, who could have predicted how profoundly our world would shift since I shared last month’s Good Things List? The global pandemic has undeniably presented us with challenges and situations previously unimaginable – akin to something plucked from a movie script or a dystopian novel. Rather than dwelling on the broad strokes of current events, I want to share a more personal reflection: what I’m doing, and striving to do, to navigate this new reality, finding pockets of good amidst the uncertainty.

In these unprecedented times, I’m focusing on practices that nurture well-being and maintain a sense of purpose. Here’s how I’m coping:

• Mindful News Consumption: I’ve learned the importance of limiting my news intake. I stick to checking updates only in the morning and evening, and sometimes just once a day if that feels right. Excessive exposure to news can heighten anxiety, and knowing every detail doesn’t ultimately help me or anyone else.
• Starting the Day with Intention: Before diving into current events, I prioritize my morning routine. This includes spending time with my She Reads Truth devotional, prayer, and occasionally journaling. This spiritual grounding provides a calm and centered start to my day.
• Embracing Music: Throughout the day, I find solace in listening to worship music or instrumental pieces. It creates a peaceful atmosphere and helps to shift my focus away from worry.
• Culinary Comforts: Cooking has become a significant therapeutic outlet. I’m currently experimenting with sourdough recipes, a process that’s both rewarding and delicious (and hopefully keeps our flour stash well-supplied!). Planning menus that utilize pantry ingredients has also been key. For inspiration, check out my full dinner menu for April, or visit AOC’s menu planning page for tips on how to plan meals efficiently and save money.
• Gardening for Growth: Tending to my garden offers a wonderful connection to nature and a sense of accomplishment. I’ve already planted onion sets, lettuce, spinach, and pea seeds, and my indoor seedlings (tomatoes, peppers, flowers) are thriving. If you’re looking to get started, here’s how to garden the easy way, and a comprehensive vegetable gardening 101 series.
• Creative Crafting: I’m currently engrossed in a large cable-knitted sweater project, but I also recently discovered this lovely pattern for crochet dishcloths. It’s a perfect way to use up my yarn stash. My hope is that these handmade dishcloths will eventually replace the European dishcloths I’ve been buying to minimize paper towel use, as the store-bought ones wear out quickly and aren’t particularly cheap (though I recently found this 10-pack which offers excellent value).

I’ve been heartened to hear from so many of you who are also leveraging this enforced slowdown. You’re learning new skills, reconnecting with family, and dedicating time to your homes and gardens. The surge in views on AOC’s sourdough recipes and gardening articles tells me we’re all moving along similar, comforting paths.

Rest assured, I will continue to be here, offering inspiration, encouragement, and practical ideas for embracing a simple, homemade life, no matter what circumstances we face.

Good Things: Our Latest Discoveries & Recommendations

An Unforgettable Trip to Australia!

Whew! If you’re subscribed to my newsletter, you’ve already been treated to the epic tale of our international travel adventure. But let me preface this by saying: despite all the unexpected twists and turns, it was an incredibly rewarding experience.

We embarked on our journey to Australia on March 10th, just two days before our home state of Oregon began implementing widespread restrictions. After diligently reviewing all travel advisories, Australia remained low on the risk list (and thankfully, still maintains relatively low case counts). So, with a mixture of excitement and caution, we proceeded with our trip to visit our daughter, who has been living there since last August.

For the initial week of our visit, life seemed largely normal. There were minor reports of cases in the news, and the government had banned gatherings of 500 or more people, but the general atmosphere was calm. We explored the vibrant city of downtown Sydney, marveling at the iconic Opera House. We then flew to Melbourne to reunite with friends and ventured along the stunning southern coast, where we had the delightful experience of seeing a koala casually hanging out in a tree! We also cherished precious time with our daughter in her Sydney neighborhood.

However, our stay in our beautiful Sydney Airbnb, conveniently located near the lively Newtown area, was cut short. After only a couple of days, we received unsettling news: the airline with which we had booked our return flight for March 31st had ceased all flights as of March 17th. (You can see the listing for this Airbnb here – it was a beautifully refurbished Victorian apartment with stunning walls uncovered from beneath old wallpaper. The location was fantastic, and our host was wonderful. I truly wish we could have spent more time there!)

Thankfully, with the invaluable help of my parents stateside, we managed to secure new flights: first to Melbourne on the 19th, and then onward home on the 20th, effectively shortening our trip by a week and a half. As we headed to the airport for the first leg of our revised journey, our Uber driver informed us that Australia had just announced a ban on all international flights entering the country by 9 pm on the 20th. This news underscored how incredibly blessed we were to have secured those tickets when we did, narrowly avoiding being stranded!

Seeing our daughter was, of course, the primary motivation and absolutely worth every moment. But beyond that, we reconnected with cherished friends, explored new landscapes, and witnessed God’s guiding hand throughout our unexpected journey. Now, at the tail end of our mandatory 14-day self-quarantine for international travelers, we feel incredibly blessed once again by family and friends who have provided us with homemade meals, done our grocery shopping, and consistently checked in on our well-being.

These experiences, both challenging and heartwarming, have truly been very good things.

Inexpensive & Comfortable White Sneakers

For months, I’d been seeing fashion blogs and travel guides rave about the incredible versatility of white sneakers, suitable for both travel and everyday wear. Countless women were pairing them effortlessly with pants, jeans, leggings, and even casual dresses and skirts. While many popular options are from well-known brands like Adidas (Stan Smiths), Keds, Pumas, or Nikes, I also knew that more affordable alternatives existed.

Unsure if the trend would suit me, I opted for an inexpensive “fake leather” pair from Amazon that boasted excellent comfort ratings. The label inside the shoe simply states “fashion,” which always gives me a chuckle!

To my pleasant surprise, they were incredibly comfortable right out of the box – no need for additional insoles or a breaking-in period. Their comfort level was so impressive that I wore them extensively during our long journey to Australia and for most of our sightseeing walks. I highly recommend these if you’re looking to try a simple white sneaker without a significant investment. I chose the “PU Leather” version over canvas for easier cleaning, and I’ve heard a magic eraser is the secret to keeping them pristine white, which I plan to put to the test.

How to Significantly Minimize Jet Lag

Oh, how I wish more international travel was happening right now so you could experience the magic of these homeopathic No Jet Lag pills! I first stumbled upon these in a Facebook travel group, and the numerous positive reviews on Amazon (despite a few mixed experiences) convinced me they were worth the relatively small investment. They’re marketed as a “Homeopathic Remedy + Fatigue Reducer for Airplane Travel Across Time Zones,” and they truly delivered.

I am absolutely thrilled I gave them a try! On our 18-hour flight to Australia, which crossed the date line and numerous time zones, we experienced virtually NO jet lag. Our daughter, who had traveled earlier, recalled feeling jet-lagged for a week or more upon her arrival, highlighting the stark contrast in our experiences.

Our outbound flight was a red-eye, which seemed to naturally align with our body clocks. However, the return journey, departing mid-morning and heading east (which is typically harder on the body), made me apprehensive. Yet, even then, we experienced MINIMAL jet lag for only 1-2 days after returning home! It was truly remarkable. The worst I felt was a slight sleepiness around 1 PM the next afternoon, which I remedied by simply heading out to the garden – and it passed quickly. I was able to maintain our regular sleeping and waking hours from day one. Brian mentioned waking up early for a couple of days, but nothing compared to the debilitating jet lag stories we’ve all heard.

The pills are straightforward to take: you chew one at takeoff, one at landing, and then every two hours during the flight (allowing for longer intervals if you’re sleeping, of course). I managed to stick pretty closely to the two-hour schedule, occasionally stretching to four, as I generally don’t sleep much on planes. I wonder if people who sleep for 5-6 hours straight on a flight might not feel as much of a difference? Regardless, I cannot recommend this product enough; it made an enormous difference for us! Bookmark this page, or better yet, purchase a pack now so you’re prepared for your next international adventure when travel resumes.

An Affordable Shampoo Bar for Eco-Conscious Travelers

I’ve been curious about shampoo bars for some time, primarily for their eco-friendly benefits and travel convenience. However, I was hesitant to invest $15-20 in a product I wasn’t sure would work well with my hair type.

Many people are adopting solid shampoo and conditioner bars at home as a way to significantly reduce plastic waste from traditional bottles. My personal interest, however, was particularly piqued by the prospect of having one less liquid item to worry about when going through airport security during travel.

When I discovered this Love Beauty And Planet Volume and Bounty 2 in 1 Shampoo and Conditioner Bar on Amazon, and saw how comparatively inexpensive it was, I decided to take the plunge. I tested it at home before confidently packing it for our trip to Australia.

Here’s a breakdown of my experience, highlighting the pros and cons:

• Drying Effect: As noted in many reviews, it can be a bit drying. However, since it’s formulated for volume, which my fine hair desperately needs, this actually worked out quite well for me. If dryness is a concern, the brand likely offers other formulations that aren’t volume-specific.
• “2-in-1” Claim: Despite being advertised as a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner, it doesn’t quite live up to the conditioner half of the claim, primarily due to its drying nature. I found it worked best when paired with a separate conditioner applied to the ends of my hair.
• Lathering: It lathers very effectively, but you’ll get the best results by rubbing the bar directly onto your wet hair rather than trying to create lather in your hands first. I simply wet my hair thoroughly, rub the bar all over until I feel a good amount of suds, then put the bar down and massage the suds through my hair just as I would with liquid shampoo.
• Size and Travel: The bar is quite large, which is fantastic value for money. However, its original size is far too bulky for travel. My solution was to carefully cut it into two more manageable pieces with a sharp knife. I actually found that the flat, cut side made it even easier to apply to my hair.
• Storage: It doesn’t come with a dedicated travel container. I repurposed a small plastic container with a lid that I already had, which worked perfectly for keeping it secure and mess-free in my toiletry bag, both during travel and in the shower at home.
• Scent: The bar has a pleasant scent, but it can sometimes be quite strong. This is another reason why a lidded container is essential, even for everyday use in your own shower, to prevent the scent from overpowering your bathroom!

If you’ve been contemplating trying a bar shampoo, this affordable option could be an excellent starting point! (Though I’ve noticed it’s currently sold out on Amazon, which isn’t entirely surprising given its popularity and value.)

March Reads: Six Diverse Books to Escape With

I had initially hoped to devour more books during my travels, but sleep often proved to be the more practical and restorative option, especially with time zone changes. And of course, the main purpose of our trip was spending quality time with our daughter, which we did wholeheartedly.

Nevertheless, here are six books I managed to read or listen to recently. As I list them, I realize they’re quite a diverse collection: one marks the conclusion of a beloved trilogy, another is a poignant short story told through letters, an intriguing historical biography, a thought-provoking futuristic novel, and a couple of lighter reads. There’s hopefully something here to capture your imagination and offer a welcome escape from the day’s worries!

The Rosie Result, Graeme Simsion. This is the third installment in the delightful Don Tillman trilogy, which began with the charming The Rosie Project. It’s a quick, enjoyable read that continues the story of Don Tillman’s family approximately a decade after the events of the first book.

For those unfamiliar with the series, these books follow Don, a character likely on the autism spectrum though he doesn’t explicitly acknowledge it, as he navigates friendships, love, and life’s complexities. They are generally fun, heartwarming reads with likable characters and an interesting premise. While they contain a few swear words, they are relatively clean otherwise.

That being said, this particular book was my least favorite of the three. It felt somewhat heavy-handed in its discussions on the politicization of autism, to the point where it occasionally bordered on didactic. However, I did enjoy following the journey of Don’s son and reconnecting with familiar characters.

The Evidence of the Affair, Taylor Jenkins Reid. This is a short story by the acclaimed author of Daisy Jones and The Six, a book I thoroughly enjoyed. When Audible offered this as one of their monthly free listens, I quickly downloaded it (TIP: you can get a free book + 2 originals with an Audible Trial).

The entire narrative unfolds through a series of letters, much like the unique format of the Daisy Jones book. It tells the story of a woman who discovers undeniable proof of her husband’s infidelity and subsequently writes to the other woman’s husband, seeking to uncover if he, too, is aware of the affair. As they bond over their shared heartbreak, their epistolary exchange deepens over the course of a year.

While the premise was intriguing, I struggled to truly connect with the characters. The ending, unfortunately, left a sour taste. I found myself questioning their motivations and choices, and without insight into their internal thoughts (given the letter-only format), their actions felt somewhat illogical and unsatisfying.

A Boy and His Dog at The End of the World, C.A. Fletcher. This novel transports readers to a future world, long after an apocalyptic event has drastically reduced the human population and eradicated modern conveniences. It’s a stark, every-person-for-themselves kind of existence.

The story centers on a young boy whose beloved dog is stolen. He then embarks on a perilous journey across a vast sea, determined to retrieve his loyal companion. The narrative is presented as a journal, addressed to a boy and his dog depicted in an old photograph the writer discovers, giving it a very personal, first-person perspective.

For me, this book was just okay. While I didn’t foresee the couple of twists that emerged in the final quarter of the story, and the world-building was undeniably interesting to ponder, the characters themselves felt somewhat underdeveloped. Perhaps the journal format contributed to this lack of depth. Nonetheless, it did offer a satisfying ending, which is always a plus!

An American Princess: The Many Lives of Allene Tew, by Annejet van der Zijl – translated by Michele Hutchison. This was my chosen “book in translation” for the Modern Mrs Darcy 2020 Reading Challenge, and with this, I’m halfway through the challenge! It’s quite interesting that a biography about an American figure was penned by a Dutch writer, a detail that initially surprised me.

The book chronicles the fascinating life of Allene Tew, a name I had never encountered before. Born into poverty, she ascended to immense wealth through a series of marriages during the late 19th and early 20th centuries – an era defined by the rise of new millionaires in railroads, manufacturing, and a landscape of low or non-existent taxes.

As a history enthusiast, I found much of this narrative to be fresh and utterly captivating. It shed light on aspects of that period I hadn’t fully appreciated, including the sheer frequency of transatlantic travel despite journeys taking a month or more by ocean. The sheer concentration of wealth among a relatively small group of New Yorkers and their extravagant spending habits was truly staggering. It certainly prompted reflections on how, in some ways, we seem to be returning to a similar “have and have-not” era with today’s widening wealth gap.

The Likely Resolutions of Oliver Clock, Jane Riley. I picked this up as a free read through Amazon Prime, hoping for something light, fun, and uplifting. While it was certainly light and contained some amusing moments, and was indeed a clean read, it also proved to be a bit boring. I found myself skimming through the latter part of the book. Moreover, I kept questioning whether a man would truly speak or think in the manner depicted; it felt somewhat like a woman attempting to inhabit a male perspective, which often detracts from a book’s credibility. When you’re constantly thinking about the author’s voice rather than believing the character, it’s a sign something isn’t quite right.

I also wished for a more definitive ending. As a lover of happy endings, this might be my bias, but for a book aiming for lightheartedness, a clear and satisfying resolution almost feels expected, doesn’t it?

Tidelands, Philippa Gregory. Oh my goodness, reviewing these books, it seems like problematic endings are a recurring theme in this batch, but they all pale in comparison to the TERRIBLE ending of this novel. Honestly, one of the worst I’ve ever encountered. I waited for months for this audiobook from the library, by a well-known author whose previous work I’d enjoyed (like The Other Boleyn Girl). However, with a lackluster story and a confusing, truly depressing ending, I absolutely should not have bothered.

The depiction of life in the Middle Ages was interesting, if frustrating, revealing the pervasive superstition and grinding poverty that dictated people’s lives (and how the wealthy often worked to keep those without power suppressed). But the story itself – I struggled to believe much of it, and I genuinely couldn’t fathom why the author would choose such an ending. Only now do I realize it’s the first in a two-book series. However, after reading the synopsis of the second book, set years later, I have absolutely no desire whatsoever to delve further into the lives of these characters.

It’s rare for me to dislike a book so intensely, especially historical fiction, which usually offers some element to keep me entertained. But this one, if ever there was one, earns a solid 1-star rating. If you’ve read and enjoyed it, please tell me why – perhaps you can offer a perspective that might change my mind!

Watching: Documentaries, Comedy & Fantasy

TV:

One Child Nation Documentary, Amazon Prime. This documentary offers a deeply interesting and often heartbreaking look at China’s one-child policy during the late 1970s and 1980s. It’s presented through the lens of a woman who grew up during that era and returns to interview her own family members, as well as those directly involved in enforcing the policy. It’s a powerful and eye-opening film.

Tiger King Documentary, Netflix. Yes, we couldn’t resist after seeing so much buzz about this truly wild documentary. And “wild” is an understatement! It’s like a car wreck you simply cannot tear your eyes away from. Be forewarned, it contains a significant amount of swearing and some disturbing scenes, but it’s all from real footage, making it incredibly hard to believe yet utterly captivating.

Schitt’s Creek, Netflix & Hulu. This is our go-to for fun and laughter when we need a break from reality. We’ve always been fans of Catherine O’Hara and Eugene Levy from their previous movie roles. It took us a couple of tries to fully get into the story of a fabulously wealthy family who suddenly loses everything, except for ownership of a small, forgotten town the dad once bought as a joke. It’s a classic “fish-out-of-water” premise that typically works well in comedies, but this show also possesses a surprising amount of heart and character development. Just a warning, it does contain plenty of innuendos and some strong language.

Movie:

Annihilation, Amazon Prime. Brian was particularly keen to see this movie, having caught trailers for it in theaters last year. It was… an experience. The story follows a team of women who venture into an enigmatic alien “shimmer” that is slowly consuming land, attempting to disarm it or uncover its secrets. The focus is primarily on one woman whose husband was the sole survivor of a previous expedition into the anomaly. The film blends elements of sci-fi and horror as strange occurrences befall the team within the bubble, but it functions most effectively as a psychological thriller, leaving you constantly questioning what’s truly happening to the lead woman, her husband, and the others.

Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows Part 1, and Part 2, Amazon. I finally completed my marathon of watching all the Harry Potter movies after having listened to every single audiobook! The movies were enjoyable enough, and it’s always a delight to see the beloved HP world brought to life on screen. However, a significant caveat: the movies simply do not measure up to the books. So much is omitted – not just characters, but crucial motivations, nuanced underlying thoughts, and significant plot details are either glossed over or cut entirely.

So, if you’ve only ever seen the movies and wondered what all the fervent excitement was about, I wholeheartedly urge you to read the books. You won’t regret it! 🙂

That concludes another edition of The Good Things List! If you’re interested in exploring more of my favorite discoveries and recommendations, you can find all the previous Good Things Lists here. I’d genuinely love to hear your thoughts – whether you’ve tried any of these recommendations or have some wonderful suggestions of your own. Please share your insights in the comments section below!

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