Can you believe it’s the end of April? I’d love it if you took some time to reflect on the past thirty days and share what the highlights of April were for you. I’ll share my top ten things tomorrow.

I had a really great day on Monday. It seems that the end of April always brings out strong emotions in me. A few years ago around this time I decided to stop hanging out with people that felt like carbon copies, last year I had to figure out how to be a single person, and this year I feel like I’ve truly found myself. I was sitting in a parking lot by a Boston Market, listening to The Head And The Heart and watching the rain fall on my windshield while I opened the mail I just picked up from my PO Box.

I received some truly marvelous things, including fan mail from lovely readers and a package from Jaclyn declaring my membership to the Monster Cookie Heart Squad. I may never remember the name of this group without having to look it up, but the meaning behind it is beautiful. I put the shirt on over my dress and ran over to the bush pictured below to tell it how beautiful it looked. So green and full of life. Remember to embrace your instincts, you beautiful people. This life is fucking gorgeous.

Here are some of the things that made me happy over the past week. I’d love to read your list. And don’t forget, it’s gonna be May.

+ feeling an emotional connection to this bush
+ belatedly celebrating Earth Day with kites, bubbles, and ribbon wands
+ the way my grandmother labeled absolutely everything
+ cheek kisses as greetings

+ these giant chipmunk statues outside a house a few minutes from me
+ being able to tell my psychiatrist that I’m doing great
+ having a literal Throwback Thursday with my best friend from high school
+ bedazzling a leotard

+ getting a container of nacho cheese in the mail from Janice that weighs more than I did when I was born
+ a warm brownie with ice cream
+ listening only to music from the early 2000’s with a group of girls
+ the experience of seeing the “Turn Down For What” music video for the first time

+ nights out with friends, even if Fatboy Slim doesn’t come on the jukebox
+ dollar drinks at the Phoenix
+ figuring out the secret messages on the inside of Natty Boh bottle caps
+ the beauty that is the show Broad City

+ evidence of Spring on Baltimore’s streets
+ Miranda Lambert’s “Body Love” video
+ being obsessed with Patrick Walsh‘s existence
+ getting my first spray tan

+ the best burlesque show I’ve ever been to
+ getting tears in my eyes after seeing Trixie Little and The Evil Hate Monkey’s performance to “Total Eclipse Of The Heart”
+ touching a snake and alligator for the first time
+ Relient K and Rilo Kiley

+ purchasing three pounds of lollipops
+ doing Richard’s dishes like a domesticated diva
+ noticing things for the first time that I’ve driven by hundreds of times
+ homemade parfait

+ the inevitable fun that will always be had in April’s basement (photo credit: Ashley)
+ the Jimmy Fallon themed birthday party
+ having green and pink hair dye gel poured on my head for an audience
+ seeing a seven foot dragon made of balloons battle a reincarnated Dio

What’s on your happy list this week?