I can’t believe it’s already time to write April’s Little Things. This month flew by. Between events, client work, and just normal life with the kids, the days feel like they’re over in a blink. I’ve also gotten very spoiled having Mike home every day. When he eventually goes back to work, I’m probably going to feel a little lost, not going to lie.

This month’s list is a little random, but I guess they always are. One new thing, I finally set up an Amazon Storefront so you can find all the products I’ve shared in these over time in one place. If you ever need a recommendation, that’s the easiest spot to check. It’s all things I actually use and love in real life.

Now on to this month’s Little Things!

1. Brightening Eye Masks by DRMTLGY

It took me a long time to get on board with under eye masks. I was skeptical they did anything at all and weren’t just another way to get me to spend money.

But, as usual, I got influenced on TikTok and decided to try the Brightening Eye Masks from DRMTLGY, mostly because the skin under my eyes has been the most annoying part of my face lately. It’s constantly dry, and I cannot figure out why. I’m guessing it’s something else I’m using, but I haven’t been able to pinpoint it.

Since using these, that issue has pretty much gone away. They make me look more awake, and my makeup goes on so much better because that area feels smoother and a little more taut. I hate to admit it, but they actually work…which is mildly annoying because it’s now another step in the routine. But I guess that’s just part of taking care of your skin as you get older.

2. Blow Dryer Brush by L’ange Hair

This is another one I didn’t want to work…because if it did, it meant I’d actually have to do my hair. But I finally got sick of it looking a little unhinged all the time just because I refuse to blow dry. I hate juggling a brush and a dryer, it takes forever, makes me hot and sweaty, and I truly don’t know what I’m doing. I’ve been wanting this dryer brush for a while, and after getting a blowout at the salon that looked so good, I finally pulled the trigger.

I already love this brand, I have their straightener/curling iron too, and this did not disappoint. It actually works, and it’s way easier than I expected. It takes me maybe 5-7 minutes to run it through my hair, and everything looks more voluminous, smooth, and shiny. I got the larger barrel, which I like, but I do think a smaller one might give a bit more wave. I’ve been using it after I wash my hair, or the next morning to fix whatever sleeping on wet hair did, and even after workouts so I don’t have to throw it up right away. It just makes everything look better with very little effort, which is exactly what I need.

3. Feeding My Inner Twilight Fan Girl

This season of life feels a little…mixed. On one hand, there’s some stress with Mike not working right now. On the other, it’s this really rare window where he’s going to be home and available for the summer. The boys are at such fun ages (8 and 10), so we’ve been going back and forth between playing it super safe and leaning into a little bit of a “you only live once” mindset.

We ended up choosing the latter and just booked a trip to the Pacific Northwest, specifically out near Forks and the Olympic National Park. We’re heading there the first week of summer and planning to explore the forests, beaches, hot springs…all of it. Basically living out my high school dream of visiting where the Cullens “lived”. If we happen to run into a sparkly vampire, I won’t be mad about it.

My inner teenager is unreasonably excited about this (thank you, Twilight), but honestly, I think it’s going to be such a good trip for all of us. The boys do really well with outdoorsy adventures like this, so I’m hoping it’s just as magical as I’m picturing it in my head.

4. Sous Vide

We bought a sous vide years ago and then promptly forgot we owned it. But I grabbed some pork loin chops from Costco recently that were way too thick to grill, so we dusted it off…and now I remember why we bought it in the first place.

If you’re not familiar, a sous vide is basically a tool that circulates water at a very specific temperature while your food cooks in a sealed bag. It sounds a little weird, but it cooks meat perfectly from edge to edge at the same temperature, so you don’t end up with that overcooked outside and undercooked middle situation.

It’s especially good for lean cuts like pork. You just let it cook in the water bath, then finish it with a quick sear so you still get that crispy exterior. So good.

The one I linked is the one we have and it’s definitely on the pricier side, but honestly I don’t think it needs to be fancy. It’s just circulating water. If you’ve been wanting a fun kitchen tool that actually makes cooking easier (and kind of fun), I highly recommend it.

5. Monarch Money

Ironically, right before Mike got laid off, we had already started having some hard conversations about our finances. Mainly, that we were not doing a great job tracking where our money was actually going. We used to be really good at this. When we first got married, I used Mint.com and loved how easy it was to categorize everything and actually see our spending. Somewhere along the way, we just stopped paying attention.

A couple months ago, I went looking for something similar and found Monarch Money, and it has been so helpful. We connected all of our accounts, and now I have a recurring time on my calendar each week to go in and review everything and make sure it’s categorized correctly. It’s helped us catch random subscriptions we forgot about and also realize we are spending a shocking amount on groceries each week.

The timing of all of this, starting to get a handle on things right before Mike got laid off, is not lost on me. The universe is weird like that. But having this in place has made everything feel a little more manageable. If you’ve been wanting a simple, affordable way to track your spending, this is a really good option.

---

And that’s April. A little bit of everything this month, which feels very on brand for this season of life. Some helpful things, some fun things, and a few things that are just making everyday life feel a little easier. As always, if you try anything from this list, let me know. I love hearing what ends up being your version of “little things”.