3 Things I'm grateful for in April
Hey guys! I feel like it was literally last week that I was writing my grateful for in March post! This month was full of fun activities, and finally, some warm weather. I'm literally writing this in my backyard as I'm tanning. Life seriously doesn't get better than this. Enough chit chat, let's get onto the actual post!
Cherry Blossom Festival
Last weekend I went to New York City. This was the first time I was heading there since January, I believe. I messaged my friend, and we both decided to head to Brooklyn. I always feel like Brooklyn is so out of the way, and so I honestly haven't been there in almost a year. I've gone to a few key places there, but I honestly never have taken the time to get to know the area.
Last weekend, I looked up a few cool places to go there, and one of them just so happened to be the Cherry Blossom Festival at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. Once I got there, I realized what a big thing it actually was. I originally thought it was just going to be an area where people can look/sit/take pictures by the trees, but boy was I wrong. There were people dressed up as popular anime characters, some people dressed up in traditional Japanese clothing, there was a Japanese rock band preforming, there were tea ceremonies, and there was even food!
Me and my friend could have spent the entire day there, but since we didn't know it was such a big thing, we didn't even get to do half of the things on the schedule. I am definitely going back next year, but I was so happy that I finally saw the beautiful botanical gardens.
Catching up with Old Friends
I actually wrote a post about it, which you can read here (shameless plug). Everyone knows that life gets busy, and you lose touch with people, it happens. This month I reached out to two very close friends of mine. It was so nice seeing and talking with them, because it almost felt like no time has passed. While there was loads of new things to tell each other about our lives, the easiness of our friendship never left.
One of them, Jamie, has actually become a super important part of my life since we met up. I actually see her on almost a weekly basis now!
I figured out my charity
This was a big one for me. I see underprivileged people everywhere. On TV, on the sidewalks, etc. It gets me thinking. I want to help people. I want to donate money to charities where I know it's actually going straight to the people, and is going to make a difference.
I don't know if any of you have noticed or not, but I have actually added a picture on my sidebar with the charity. It took loads of research, and there were a good amount of charities that do good deeds, but I had to figure out which one was a right match for me. I finally decided that I was going to be donating monthly to Charity Water. I am so proud of myself for not putting it off any longer, and just doing it.
So, I hope you guys liked reading about how my month was, what were you grateful for in the month of April? I would love to know in the comments below! As always, thank you for reading. Have a wonderful day/night. Sending you love, strength, and positivity.
-Melina xx
I really need to make more of an effort to catch up with old friends! Even just seeing friends in general, I need to find more time for that.
Julia // The Sunday Mode
It's sometimes so tough, and the older we get, the more difficult it becomes. Our schedules are so hectic, and on top of that their schedules are hectic too, but when we do find the time for each other it makes it so worth it. Thanks for reading and commenting! 🙂 xx
Is your hair pink or is that just the reflection of the cherry blossoms? I can't get over how pretty they are, I wish we had cherry blossoms here!
That's awesome you're supporting charity water, every little bit makes a difference xx
lmfaoo, I actually re-dyed my hair pink! and I completely agree, if people could even part with $20 it would make a huge difference to our world! Thanks for reading and commenting Cleia 🙂 xx
Lol I thought it could be either, you match the cherry blossoms! I love it! I will look into it! We're finally in a place where we're saving every month and can start thinking about donating 🙂
Omg, let me know which charity you end up donating to if you do! xx
I will! xx
I didn't even know there was such thing as the Cherry Blossom Festival!! Lovely picture <3
Caterina | caterinasosso.com
They have a few in the United States! They have one in NYC (which is the one I went to), one in Philly, PA and one in Washington DC! Thanks for reading and commenting 🙂 xx
Lovely post Melina ☺️
Thanks so much Fafa! xx
You’re welcome ❤️
I love the way the cherry blossoms seem to be the same color as your hair. Very cool.
Lmfaoo, the hair was definitely a coincidence, but the shirt and the trees was on purpose! Thanks for reading and commenting 🙂 xx
Girl you look AMAZING in those photos! Your hair and skin are just glowing and the sheer top suits you perfectly. The Cherry Blossom festival looks like a great event to attend and likewise it looks like a good charity. I really want to help out a soup kitchen or give back more. So, you've inspired me to put plans into action xxx
lmfaoo, I think I put on too much highlight on that night, and the flash from the cameras made me look extra shiny!
I can't wait to see what kind of charitable events you end up doing. Thanks for reading and commenting 🙂 xx
I would say glowy and not shiny. Shiny tends to be a really specific area of the face that stands out from the rest - like an oil patch. But you had an all over glow thing going on!
A few years back I worked with a charity called Look Good Feel Better. I showed women how to put on makeup to reverse the signs of chemo treatment. The women would always brighten up, connect with each other and feel like themselves again. So I like the idea of something like that xx
I'm glad you think so! I didn't want to put it on instagram, because i thought I looked shiny. I know it was highlight, but I thought I put wayyy too much, lmfaoo.
You should definitely look into doing something like that. That sounds so cool, and you create such an impact on those women !
I just love the way you always are grateful about things, every month, Melina, it's so inspiring and I should really do that as well. The Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and these cherry trees look soo beautiful, it needs to go on my to-go-to- list, whenever I can go to New York again, hopefully someday! <3 I'm so proud of you for choosing and donating to a charity, such a wonderful thing to do. <3
I hope that you will have an incredible month, sending you all the love! <3 <3
You HAVE to let me know when you make it to nyc! I would love to get to know you and maybe grab a cup of coffee! and Omg, tell me about it, it was actually a super stressing moment in my life, but I'm so glad I got it over with and figured out who I wanted to donate to. Thanks so much for reading and commenting love 🙂 xx
I would LOVE to, I wish it wasn't so far away and so expensive, I'd be on the next plane SO fast if I could 😂
You're welcome, thank you for always sharing these positive things, always brighten-up my day to read about these 🙂
I am frigging LOVING that sheer top on you!! Looking fab boo xxx
Thank you so much! I got it from Urban Outfitters in the Clearance section! 🙂 xx
Ou that makes it oh so much better 🙂 Love a good bargin! xx
You and me both! I've been so obsessed with this type of floral print, and I got one of the shirts from Urban and one from Shein clothing!
I know UO but I havent heard of Shein clothing, is that a US brand? Im UK based, we have a shop called New Look that is stellar for these type of things that I love!! And Primark, oh lord thats my shopping achillies heel for sure!! It's kinda like your Old Navy I've heard! xx
Shein clothing is an online Chinese store, where the quality would compare to forever 21. I have some pieces that are super high quality, but you definitely have to read the reviews before purchasing.
I have a primark near me, and I wouldn't compare it to Old Navy. Old Navy is a, inexpensive clothing store, but the clothes aren't particularly trendy, they're good for basics? They're known for having the best inexpensive flip flops lmfaoo
Thanks for the tip, I'll be sure to check it out!!
Primark in the US?? No way!!!! Ah I see, I'm not the best with US stores, I've been to NYC once and thats it! Need to cover more ground 🙂 At least I know now where to get my flip flops!!
xxx
Yeah, there's one! It's a bit far for me, but I have one like 45 minutes away! And yes, girl the 2 for $5 is a steal you can't beat. I literally get 2 new ones every year 🙂 xx
Awwww such a great post as always hun! I love posts like these, it’s nice to know that these things have made you happy this month. I had no idea that NY had a cherry blossom 🌸 festival, it’s sounds pretty cool and makes for gorgeous pics like yours 😍 you’re right catching up with pals you haven’t heard in a bit is great especially the convo flows like you hear each other everyday! Omg I’m so happy you found a charity, this is such a wonderful thing you’re doing! Keep up being the darling that you are. Sending loads of love 💗
xx Lena | https://lenadeexo.com
I didn't know until last week that they had a cherry blossom festival here either! I thought it was only in D.C. Now I know that NYC has one, and so does Philly! Thank you so much for reading and commenting 🙂 xx
I love this idea! I usually do a recap of my month but this is a neat idea to focus on gratitude as well! I saw Lokai recently made a bracelet for Charity: Water I think? It's actually the next Lokai bracelet I'm picking up some time this week!
omg, definitely do! I don't know how much of the proceeds go to them, I hope most if not all, but I actually love them! Thanks for letting me know about their collab with Lokai!
Such a lovely post - those are definitely things to be grateful for... We all ought to be grateful for what we have more often!
Kate x
I have a spread on my bullet journal so I can have a daily gratitude moment, but I like to share with you guys the monthly highlights of my month. Things that make me grateful to be me. Moments that I am so blessed to have. I think it helps other people remember to stop and realize how good their month was too! Thanks for reading and commenting Kate 🙂 xx