april envelope
slow days, good finds
dear reader,
this year i started a new monthly series called the envelope.
it’s my way of slowing down and looking back on the past few weeks, sharing a short reflection on how life has been feeling, along with the things i’ve been loving: photos from my fujifilm, shows or movies that caught my attention, songs on repeat, and food that brought joy to my family.
welcome to the april envelope.
life lately
i’m on the train home from work, trying to figure out what to write. somehow i’ve given myself an imaginary deadline on top of everything else life already asks of me.
i started this series because i wanted to create more, to put my thoughts somewhere outside of my own head. maybe it resonates with someone. maybe it’s a small reminder that life isn’t as isolating as it sometimes feels.
this month, we spent two weeks in spain, and it was a different kind of trip for me.
i’m usually the type to pack an itinerary, moving from one place to the next, trying everything, seeing as much as possible but this time we were with family and four toddlers, so everything naturally slowed down. days were built around nap schedules, easy meals, and whatever felt doable in the moment and it was actually really nice.
i found myself letting go of the need to maximize and do everything. the days felt easy, less rushed, more open to whatever came up. just being there, moving at a slower pace, started to feel like the right way to travel, at least for this season of my life.
this month, i’m archiving…
📸 some shots from my fujifilm
every wednesday and saturday, santanyí town in mallorca hosts a farmers market with 100+ stalls. we went the day after we landed and it was a nice way to see what the island has to offer. there are ceramics, textiles, fresh produce, you name it. it got pretty crowded as the day went on, and i'd assume most of the crowd were tourists. i also learned that tourism is the main source of income in mallorca, though they also produce olives and almonds.
we had an easter sunday gathering at home, enjoyed the warmth of a bonfire, and went easter egg hunting. we kept the food simple: hot dogs, burgers, s’mores, and a bunch of junk food.
everyone had a basket filled with eggs and chocolates to hunt, and when i say everyone, i mean it wasn’t just for the kids, even my father-in-law had one. it was so much fun, and we had such a nice time with family.
this easter tradition started when my father-in-law was a kid. they would go to a conservation area and his mom would hide baskets for them to find.
the photo above was taken when they were teenagers, which i find really cool and a bit retro.
it’s nice to keep the tradition alive, and now i get to do it with my son.
🎬 waiting for new episodes every friday: your friends & neighbours
i love this show. i sometimes wonder how wealthy families live, and it gives a glimpse of that. it’s obviously fiction, but the twists are fun. i also love the little details they slip in, like scenes featuring expensive watches, vintage books, or paintings.
🎧 april song stuck in my head
🍽️ good food
ensaimada! this is a different kind of pastry from the filipino ensaymada i’m used to. i loved this one from horno sto. cristo which we had in mallorca. it was flaky, dusted with powdered sugar on top, and with chocolate filling inside. if i were still a kid, i’d probably eat a lot of these after school.
sealing it all
april reminded me that some of the best moments aren't the ones you plan. they're the ones that happen between nap times, around a bonfire with people you love, or at a small shop in the airport where you stumble upon one of the most comforting pastries of your life.
thanks for being here. see you in may.
until the next envelope,
💌 Chelsea