March has come and gone and with it, the vibes! March has been good to me. I’ve gone through a lot of major changes this month, which I usually struggle with, but I have to say I’ve been really happy! I moved, I tried new places around my city, and I spent plenty of time with people I loved. I never much liked March, or spring time as I was growing up. It was always just COLD and seemed to drag on. But in my adulthood (and being in Orlando), I’ve learned to love it, even without the excitement that comes from holiday season, the good vibes of summer, or the coziness of fall. Below is a recap of some of my monthly highlights 🙂
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Things I Loved:
Moving and Decorating:
Starting with the obvious, I moved into a house with my boyfriend this month. It has been a massive change going from his one bedroom apartment into a three bedroom house. It’s also a switch from living right in downtown to being on the outskirts of downtown. Terrified of losing the lifestyle of living in the city, we searched for a place as close to the center of downtown as we could, but ended up in the Milk District of Orlando. I couldn’t be happier with it. We’re within walking distance of a lot of hip new areas AND within walking distance of all of the downtown spots I love.
I’ve been stepping out of my comfort zone with decor as well. I never thought I’d be a “color” girl, tending to opt for whites, grays, and the occasional light blue in my home decor. But we have had too much fun picking out colors and putting up photos everywhere and I am loving it! I think I’ll always be a minimalist at heart but something feels so luxurious about bright colors and bold pieces in my living space.
Health and Wellness
Health and fitness have been important to me my whole life. Movement always makes me feel better and I really like feeling fit and strong. I grew up doing gymnastics, cheerleading, dance, and pole vaulting so my active lifestyle has stuck in my adulthood. This month, I FINALLY discovered pilates and oh my gosh you guys I am absolutely hooked. I attend HILI Pilates at a local studio and am addicted. I love the atmosphere and the music and the challenge. My body feels amazing and also kills at the same time when we finish.
Something else I’ve been loving to stay active is my mini trampoline. We have a real yard now so I bought a mini trampoline. I’ve heard it’s great for lymph node drainage but honestly it is just such a good mood booster. When I feel like I’ve been sitting down at work too long, I hop on to bounce for a couple minutes to get my blood flowing. Last bit of physical health, let’s talk about the underrated YMCA. The YMCA is so low key as a gym and I highly recommend joining your local Y if you need a gym that is completely not intimidating. It’s a wholesome environment with every piece of equipment you need. Since moving, we no longer have the free gym that comes with the apartment life so my boyfriend and I both joined the Y. An affordable $28 / month and the unpretentious atmosphere is perfect for us both.
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Things I Read:
Reading will always be my favorite hobby, always. However, I’m human and I’m just a girl! I go through slumps and I firmly believe that you do not have to be obsessed or an expert on something to call it your favorite hobby. I’ve been really into mystery/thrillers (which is crazy because I’m in a house now and alone in the evenings LOL). I’m not a professional book reviewer, like those famous people on Goodreads, but below are my March reads with my rating:
Never Lie by Freida McFadden: 4 stars – This one was suspenseful, scary, and had me guessing until almost the end. It was easy to read and I’m a big fan of Freida McFadden in general.
The Stillwater Girls by Minka Kent: 4 stars – This was a great read, really unique! The story felt slightly unbelievable to me, but it also had me guessing until the end.
I Will Find You by Harlan Coben: 5 stars – So good! I got into Harlan Coben after my boyfriend introduced me to the Netflix series he now has. I loved the first Netflix story I saw by Harlan Coben and we all know books are better than TV so it was no surprise this was a great book. It was action packed on every page.
The Last Sinner by Lisa Jackson: 5 stars – A murder mystery taking place in New Orleans. I had just been to this city in December so I enjoyed picking up on the places mentioned that I’d been. This thriller novel was creative and suspenseful!
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New Things I Tried:
A Sound Bath in Winter Park, FL
I went to my very first sound bath in March. In Winter Park, Florida, there is an amazing Crystal Bowl Sound Meditation hosted on Monday evenings. The event is hosted by a certified meditation instructor named Camille Sacco and she provides an amazing experience. I didn’t expect much, as I’ve tried yoga and meditation before and I locked myself in the belief it’s simply not for me. I’m sure many of you can relate but it is so hard to quiet my mind and stop from making lists or thinking of the productive things I could or should be doing. But this ceremony was so relaxing for me. It was almost an hour and I’m proud to say I truly “meditated” for almost half of it. The thoughts crept in after 20 minutes or so but before that, with the help of Camille’s voice and the crystal bowls, I was completely at ease.
Brunch at Summer House on the Lake at Disney Springs
Girl brunch! What is it about brunch with girl friends that simply heals the soul? We went to the new-ish spot in Disney Springs called Summer House on the Lake. It looked how it sounds – bright, summery, fresh. It brought me back to being on vacation in tropical destinations as a child. The dinners always seemed so special and extravagant. I would never guess I was in Disney Springs while sitting in this restaurant. We had delicious food, brunch cocktails, and were able to catch up. I ended up getting waffles, which were delicious. I absolutely recommend this spot, if only for the atmosphere!
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I’ll remember March 2024 fondly as a month filled with change, growth, and the strengthening of relationships. Though March was so special, I’m looking forward to an amazing April ahead (I do realize I’m behind the ball a bit here)!
