Here’s a recap of February, March, and April 2025. Captivations is a monthly post with links, stories, and news that captivated me.
April 2025
First, thank goodness for spring, warmer weather, greener nature, and an overall awakening that comes with the season!
After my Guatemala trip at the end of February, I wrote four posts recapping my trip. Did you catch them?
- Guatemala Travel Guide + 1-Week Itinerary
- 9 Best Things to Do in Guatemala
- Eating and Drinking in Guatemala + Favorite Restaurants
- Guide to the Acatenango Volcano Hike in Guatemala
The Austin Food Bloggers Alliance published its 2025 City Guide! This annual guide shares our favorite eats and drinks around the city. Here are a few of my contributions:
March and April were about continuing the building. I say this a lot – often we see the end result, and big announcements, but we miss the day-to-day hustle that gets us there. The person who looks fit? She goes to the gym even when she doesn’t feel like it. The person who has a vibrant community? She shows up and invests time in others. That person is me. 🙂 The building includes going to dinner parties with friends, hosting mahjong meet-ups, volunteering, and going to the gym.
Now Watching
There have been a lot of good shows recently, and we might watch a lot more TV than others. Here are some recommendations.
- Shrinking (AppleTV) – There are 2 seasons of this feel-good show out, and you’ll be laughing along. It reminds me of Ted Lasso but more family and less soccer. This comedy-drama is about therapists and their real lives.
- Severance (AppleTV) – Season 2 of this thriller came out recently, and it will give you a lot of questions. What would you do if you could have two lives, independently thinking of each other?
- White Lotus (Max) – Season 3 was a doozy for this satirical drama. It will simultaneously make you cringe and feel thankful. This one features people on vacation, and sometimes, they are our worst qualities exemplified.
- The Pitt (Max) – The first season debuted, and it is already one of the best shows available right now. Watch if you like medical dramas and can handle watching the stress of an ER.
- Paradise (Hulu) – This new sci-fi drama is a bit predictable but interesting.
- Hacks (Max) – Season 4 of this comedy-drama is now playing, and it’s a fun watch.
- Poker Face (Peacock) – Just started this series (2 seasons out now) and am very intrigued. It’s a mystery-of-the-week series.
- The Last of Us (Max) – Season 2 of this show is now releasing, but I haven’t started it.
- The Four Seasons (Netflix) – Binged this comedy-drama series in a weekend. Stars Tina Fey, Colman Domingo, and Steve Carell.
World’s Oldest Person
She was 117 before she passed last year. Her secret to long life was her genes! They started studying them before she passed and found a very healthy microbiome. The healthy habits that probably contributed to her health: Mediterranean diet including 3 yogurts daily, no alcohol and smoking, walking, and surrounding herself with loving family and friends.
My Hero Rick
Back before travel bloggers (and even now), there was Rick Steves. We joked that he was the 5th traveler in our group when we went to Spain. Based on his thoughtful and sometimes vulnerable content and interviews like this, he seems like a kind and generous person. I’m looking forward to reading his newest book!
The Overbearing Mom
Did you have (or do you have) an overbearing mom? One who was tough and controlling? Joining the club! While the intention was love, the result is the opposite – stress and low self-esteem. This article has some solutions.
Romanticizing Your Life
Another secret to happiness: romanticize your life. This is in the same vein as finding gratitude. If we can find ways to fall in love with our life and see it differently, we’ll find happiness where we weren’t expecting it.
Making Life Tolerable
Look, romanticizing your life is whimsical, but sometimes you need tips to make your life tolerable. Especially when you turn on the news and count the times you have to say WTF. This list of 8 things gives you actionable items.
Journaling
This 100-year-old woman has been journaling every day for 90 years! It looks like many entries are a few sentences. Did you know journaling reduces stress?
Relationship Expectations
Here’s a quick 8:30-minute TED talk by a couples therapist. She reminds us that the stresses and issues of our relationships could be because we are seeing them through the lens of others. You have the permission to do things your own way!
Where to Buy Books
Read your favorite books and support me by purchasing books through my Bookshop! While my first recommendation is borrowing from your local library, I know firsthand that waitlists can extend months, which isn’t ideal when you want a certain book. So, if you need to purchase a book, check out Bookshop, an online platform that supports independent booksellers.
Salaries to Live Comfortably
This list of 10 major U.S. cities and how much you need to make to live comfortably is eye-opening. The number calculates basic expenditures plus money for leisure, savings, and investing. At #73, Austin’s numbers look like this:
- Salary needed to live comfortably: $113,852
- Median household income: $91,461
- Average monthly cost of living: $4,744
Making Money
Personal finance is extra hot right now, thanks to information being dispersed on social media. It can be summarized in two points: spend less than you earn and invest early.
Here are some of my favorite financial learning resources. I’m linking their Instagram accounts, but they have various platforms, like books, podcasts, and websites:
5 Things I Love Lately
- Great smelling, non-toxic candles (like the ones from Hanna House and this candle class I took)
- Reminder to go touch grass or pet a dog
- Music of Gracie Abrams (I’m in deep!)
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Specialty ice cream from Bésame
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