Footnotes: Focaccia French Toast, a Twisty Garden Club Series, and Other Things I Loved In March

Quarter one wasn't perfect (but it might be).

Hey, sometimes a girl wants to talk about more than just books! So, welcome to Footnotes, a monthly rundown of all my off-the-page side quests—places I went, the shows I binge-watched, things I bought, and more.

• I went on my first run in like 14 years! Who am I? Still processing. After about five years of working remotely, I realized that I was in desperate need of outdoor time, and running felt like the right move (literally). Right now, I’m not worrying about pace or speed, just taking it step by step. I may even give audiobooks another try. More on my new running journey coming soon.

• Meeting up with a writer friend, aka

  Michelle Hickey
  . Few things are better than catching up with people who just get it. “It” meaning the utter chaos that comes with writing a novel. The overthinking, the endless rewrites (of opening scenes in my case). I’ll never turn down an opportunity to chat about the process, especially at a cute coffee shop like Highly Likely (where I had an amazing focaccia French toast).

• Meghan Markle Sussex’s one-pot pasta recipe. Speaking of food…Most viral recipes don’t phase me at all, but this one somehow grabbed my attention. I guess I’m a sucker for a plate of carbs. Instant favorite.

• Reading to a group of kindergarteners. I'm so happy that I got to do a little volunteering this month. Being back in an elementary school library was a lovely reminder that stories are magic, and sharing them with little listeners is even better. 🧡

• Late-night ice cream runs. Salt & Straw always has interesting flavor combinations, but the best yet has been their limited edition cereal flavors. The cornflake cookies with marionberry jam was *chef’s kiss.*

Didn’t write many newsletters this month, but did finally get to write about and rank one of my favorite authors’ books. Hoping to do more posts like this in the future.

Chapter #60: The Jasmine Guillory Book Universe, Explained

Funemployment = a big TV-watching month! In addition to the shows and movies below, I’ve also started rewatching True Jackson, VP on Paramount Plus, which is just as fun as I remember it being. Keke Palmer, I stan.

It’s like Desperate Housewives and Big Little Lies had a baby…

• Grosse Pointe Garden Society (NBC/Peacock): Who knew garden clubs were full of drama? This show follows four members of a local club in a wealthy suburb who become mixed up in a murder. It’s campy and over the top, but an incredibly fun whodunnit nonetheless. Messy socialite Birdie (played by Melissa Fumero) is my favorite character.

• Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy (NBC/Peacock): I admit, I never watched any of the Bridget Jones sequels. But in a moment of boredom, I decided to rewatch the first movie, followed by every one of them, including the newest addition, and let me just tell you, I was sore from belly laughing and crying by the end! The last movie is a bittersweet, emotional rollercoaster with the best leading song, which I gush about down below.

• Running Point (Netflix): I’ll watch anything Kate Hudson is in, especially when she’s playing a reformed party girl who becomes president of a professional basketball team. Ready for season two!

• Deli Boys (Hulu): In this comedy, two Pakistani American brothers realize their family's deli empire is a front for their father’s criminal enterprise. I went into this show completely clueless and was delightfully surprised. Poorna Jagannathan (Devi’s mom, for my Never Have I Ever fans!) shines (!!!) as a murderous drug-boss auntie, Lucky.

• The Pitt (Max): Yeah, Grey’s Anatomy. I love you, but it might be time to hang up your scrubs. The Pitt is seemingly the most realistic medical drama I’ve ever seen. I’m talking graphic birth scenes and everything that made me pause and call my mom immediately LOL. It’s heavy and emotional, but so well done that you don’t mind binge-watching the episodes even if you are screaming/crying/wanting to throw up a time or two.

More icon juice glasses from Anthropologie (because you can never have too many cute glasses), a fun and pretty affordable pair of running sunglasses (because I’m a runner now. Still so weird saying that), and this super-cute Abbott Elementary children’s book (because I’m a big kid at heart.)

Ava is the best, even in book form!

I’ve listened to this song pretty much every day since watching Mad About The Boy! It’s the perfect track for letting go, ushering in a new chapter, and trusting that things just might work out in the end.

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