Best of April 2021
It’s that time again when I recount for you all the random things that made me happy this month. Last month’s list was a struggle for me but April has been packed with lovely and delightful things. No need for more chatter, here are my best of April 2021!
BEST NATURAL PHENOMENON OF APRIL 2021
April brings all the cherry blossoms to Vancouver! Oh my heart, there is nothing more lovely than a light spring breeze blowing down cherry blossom petals like pink snow! It is almost impossible to feel glum when everywhere around you flowers are blooming. It may seem a silly thing to do but if you can sit in a park and just enjoy the cherry blossom trees.
BEST ART EXPERIENCE OF APRIL 2021
I’d seen all these pictures online of this Van Gogh exhibit from around the world and wanted to cry that’s how badly I wanted to see it. But with covid and no travel, I gave up hope on getting to experience this. BUT IT ACTUALLY CAME TO VANCOUVER! Believe me when I tell you I was on the mailing list for advanced tickets in seconds! I already knew I loved Van Gogh but getting this unique viewing experience was magical. There was something wonderful about seeing his brush strokes and line drawings blown up across an entire room. 500/10 definitely recommend.
BEST FLORAL FESTIVAL OF APRIL 2021
There aren’t many things I will happily drive out to Chilliwack for but the Tulip Festival is definitely one! I have never been before and didn’t plan on going this year but my mom bought us all tickets. Can’t thank her enough. My favourite part may be a little controversial but it was the field of hyacinths! They smell as wonderful as you could ever imagine. I didn’t know a field of flowers could make me as happy as it did.
BEST SURPRISE OF APRIL 2021
Speaking of deriving out to Chilliwack, I drove back out all that way again a couple of days later to pick up these two little guys. We’d talked about adopting a cat for a while now but nothing even came close to working out. That was until I found a posting for Bruce a black cat on the BCSPCA website.
I guess they’d been around for a long time since they were young and energetic but very scared of people and not cuddly. Also, surprise! They came as a pair. So I drove out to meet with them and see how things went. I left with two cats! They were rescued from a hoarder house and are very under-socialized. So far they are making a lot of progress but are still shy and don’t like being pet. Yet.
BEST EASTER EGG HUNT OF APRIL 2021
As an adult woman, it’s been a fair few years since I got to participate in an Easter Egg Hunt. This year the absolutely fabulous Sylvia Tennent who owns ZALESKA JEWELRY organized an Easter egg hunt around the lower mainland. She dropped off several gift bags at small businesses. My sister and I were lucky enough to find one each! I won’t lie to you I was in a pretty dark place and getting to go on a LITERAL TREASURE HUNT made me feel like things could be good and exciting and worth being around for.
BEST FOOD OF APRIL 2021
Sometimes the things that make you happy aren’t deep or meaningful they’re just fun. Like this tiny toast.
BEST YOUTUBE ACCOUNT OF APRIL 2021
Really Shelby Sherrit should be on every single list I’ve ever made this year! Her Instagram account shelby.sherritt.art is how I first came across her content. She is a ceramic artist who ended up buying a ton of molds and she does a mystery reveal each week. It’s entertaining enough just to tune in and see what each mold reveals but her account offers so much more. Shelby’s account is so positive and uplifting. If you need a pick me up give her a follow!
BEST VASE OF APRIL 2021
Add these to the absolute top of the list of things I need in my life! Beautiful ceramic vases that look like plastic bottles! HOW CUTE. There is a really intriguing story behind Foekje Fleur’s work that you can read more about here: BTTR Stories – Foekje Fleur. Or you can just appreciate the juxtaposition of a mass-produced piece of pollution being the inspiration for these beautiful crafter pieces.
BEST OBSCURE NEVER TALKED ABOUT CHILDHOOD DREAM
COMING TRUE OF APRIL 2021
Ok, so I never told anyone about this but since I was a small child I have always wanted a caricature picture of myself! It’s weird, I know but it’s my dream and I will not be shamed for it. Lucky for me someone I went to University with years ago took up caricature drawing as a covid activity. He’s super talented and you can see his other work here: Zander Cartoons. At some point, he also started drawing people he knew, and lucky me I was one of them! This makes me stupidly happy.
BEST ARTICLE OF APRIL 2021
This is maybe misleading since this article was written in 2014 but I didn’t read it until now. I always enjoy learning new things so I branched out in my podcast listening and gave Dressed: The History of Fashion a listen. Must confess to you of judging a book by its cover. I assumed a fashion podcast would be elitist and excluding anyone, not on the ‘in’ with the latest trends. I was so wrong it’s embarrassing. Dressed is excellent and delves into the unifying aspects of clothing while digging into its history.
One early episode covers clothing designer Elizabeth Hawes. I recommend listening to that episode and it’s safe to assume, like me, you’ll want to know so much more about her after listening. This article by the New York Times is exactly what I wanted to find. She is a truly fascinating person with powerful and ahead-of-her-times views on fashion and clothing. Hawes has some of the greatest quotes about fashion, one of my favourites is this:
“I don’t know when the word fashion came into being, but it was an evil day. For thousands of years people got along with something called style and maybe, in another thousand, we’ll go back to it.”
IN SUMMARY
It’s been a really good month and I think I’m finally truly appreciating this process of documenting my highlights. It’s been encouraging to say the least. Looking forward to everything in store for May! Hope you’ve enjoyed this list.
-Hannah
p.s. You can read my Best of March here: BEST OF MARCH 2021
