Welcome to April’s Ultimate Coffee Date! While I’d very much love for our country to not be a international embarrassment on the daily, this is apparently too much to ask for, so I’m going to try to focus on happier things.
Ultimate Coffee Date: April 2025
If we were having coffee/tea today, I’d tell you that…I ate at IKEA for the first time earlier this month! I’m back to working on redecorating my home office/hobby room so I needed to get another pegboard + some accessories.
Muffin is slowly putting weight back on! She’s at about 4.7 lb right now, which I realize is still tiny, but given that she was at 3.8 last month, this is progress! <3
If we were having coffee/tea today, I’d tell you that…I feel like I talk about starting/restarting a new hobby every month, but I’m just gonna go with it — this month’s is salsa dancing!
This all started last month when I was going to go with a friend, but mistakenly thought we were going to a studio rather than a club and did not bring my ID. Since the club had a bar, they didn’t let me in. (“If you looked at least a little older, we could probably make an exception, but you really don’t… I’m really sorry.”) I decided to take that as a compliment, haha.
I last stepped foot here back in 2011! :o
If we were having coffee/tea today, I’d tell you that…spring is upon us! I’ve been inspired by all the blooming flowers lately so I finally found some time to weed the front yard + planted a bunch of multicolored poppies! The optimal time was back in the fall, I guess, but we’ll see if anything decides to sprout. (I’ve had a lot more success with my houseplants than anything outdoors, but fingers crossed!)
This was at one of the plant nurseries we went to. If the flowers sprout, I wanna get some cute mushrooms to hang out with the flowers, hehe.
Wisteria blooming! <3
At some point, I hope to tackle the backyard. My dream is to have a bunch of fruit trees in the back (avocados, figs, persimmons, and citrus would be coo!), but I definitely have a lotttt to learn before that can become a reality.
See past ultimate coffee dates here!
(Link-up with Coco @ Running with Perseverance & Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner! Also linking up with Darlene, Michelle, Renee, Jenn and Zenaida, for Fit Five Friday.)
- Do you have a garden? Team green thumbs or black thumbs? (I like to think I’m a greener thumb than I used to be now… At the very least, I’m good at keeping inchplants alive!)
- Come back on Monday for this month’s My Month Is Booked! :]
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![One of my childhood dreams was to get to take horseback riding lessons, but as that was/is quiteeee expensive, I had to keep my dreams in check. While I was at UCD, I got to volunteer at the equestrian center each week (something I’d have happily done for free) in exchange for riding lessons. ❤️ That summer’s memories remain as some of the happiest ones in my life. 🥰
After I finished residency, @successlifegoals (my super cool brother!) helped me to refinance my monstrous student loans into something way more feasible and I’ve been super aggressively paying them off ever since. As of the end of this month, I will be doneeeeeee!!! So naturally, my treat to self = horseback riding lessons! 😊🤩✨
I had my introductory lesson over the weekend and I miraculously have not forgotten absolutely everything. :]
This is Phoenix! He is a cute lazy boi who likes naps + pretending his feet are cement and that he cannot possibly move them, but thankfully he still listens. 🤣❤️](https://scontent-den2-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.75761-15/476694544_18488587333037109_3120136633828890588_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=18de74&_nc_ohc=Xjx8P8Qpie0Q7kNvwHQqeZT&_nc_oc=Adl_o7QOPXy82rJvVrSnNqynlCji_Yqa3pP9b31MaLAv2mZtedeNM_C8zzk5eFMeKVs&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-den2-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=AM6HXa8EAAAA&_nc_gid=yc9NYdVg3veRNdCDYjTfFA&oh=00_AfED3ew8oXN8P-1rDkzT1GFCH2opw6dQoqDTNs8EKnjiLA&oe=67FCA1D0)
but yay!
#aerialhoop 
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Er, I guess I would have to put myself on team black thumb. I’ve had gardens and houseplants in the past, but it didn’t end well. That photo from the nursery is very cute though- you should definitely get some of those mushrooms!
Your cat Muffin and mine are very different. Let’s just say that we’re not trying to get our Muffin to GAIN any weight. Your Muffin is so cute though- I love the fluffiness!
The multicolored mushrooms made me so happy, hehe.
I feel like I killed a number of houseplants because I gave them too much attention (e.g. watered them too much), so I’ve been having a lot more success with the ones that thrive on neglect, hehe. :D
Aww, haha. My Muffin has always been pretty small but this is def the tiniest she’s ever been. She’s always had a ginormous appetite though — I have no idea where it all goes!
Hey, enjoy still being cared! That does not last forever. I had no idea that IKEA had restaurants-interesting
Haha, for sure. That’s why I figured I’d just take the compliment and go (other than the fact that it was entirely my fault for forgetting my ID, haha).
Their smoked salmon salad is super tasty! (Also very much enjoyed their meatballs + mashed potatoes. :D )
The wonderful thing about gardening is that you can keep adding/moving plants as your vision for the space changes. I love adding little whimsical things to my gardens. I have little hummingbird stakes that I just love. I’m mostly a green thumb both with houseplants and outside plants.
It would have been funny if the person who turned you away at the club for looking too young came into your office as a patient the following day.
I love that aspect of it too! That’s awesome that you’re able to keep both alive — I hope to graduate to that level at some point, hehe. :]
I would’ve laughed so hard if that were the case! :P
I had a small raised garden at my other house…I called it my salsa garden because it was mainly tomatoes and peppers. I love flowers and am hoping to get some landscaping started this summer at my new place. Like Deb said, it’s fun to keep adding and modifying as your vision evolves ;-)
Ooo, that’s awesome! I’ve been toying with the idea of getting raised garden beds. Sometimes I see em’ on facebook marketplace and start dreaming, hehe.
I love all the different activities you do!
I am not a fan of gardening. I can keep things alive if I have to, but it doesn’t bring me joy — except the Aerogarden that makes it super easy. ;-)
All those flowers are so pretty!
hehe, thanks! It definitely keeps life interesting. :]
I’ve been so intrigued by your Aerogarden! I haven’t had much success with keeping herbs alive so far but am wondering if I’d have some hope on that if I got one o’ those? Who knows, hehe.
They were! *-*
Salsa dancing is fun!! I love it. I am no expert but I can get away with it as long as I have a good dance partner. That is great news about Muffin!
Ahh, gotta love a good lead! They always make me look so much cooler/better than I am! :P
All my limbs are crossed! <3
Sounds like you and I are opposites – I have much better luck with my gardens than with house plants LOL
Great to hear that Muffin’s gaining weight!
haha, that’s awesome! I am def completely team black thumb (however unwillingly) with any outdoor plants but I keep on hoping…
Thank you! <3 I hope she keeps chuggin' along/gains enough to get back to her previous weight!
Farrah recently posted…My Month Is Booked: April 2025
Good news on Muffin. She is beautiful.
I think I am team Black thumb but I continue to try each year. I do love flowers and gardens.
I am jelly that spring has sprung there while we still have snow in the forecast. I got my Master Gardener certification years ago so I guess I’m on team green thumb. I love to putter in the garden and wish I could do more of it. I’ve definitely expanded my knowledge of houseplants and orchids over the past couple of years but I can’t wait to get back outside. I love that you have so many hobbies and interests! Hooray for Muffin!