Create a Year-Long Thematic Reading Calendar, Letter Writing Month & Cake Picnics
Weekly Literate Love: April 4, 2025
Happy Friday!
Something REALLY bothered me this week and signaled something I did not like in my life: I completely forgot about April Fools’ Day.
As a kid, I loved switching the salt with the sugar to watch the coffee drinkers pucker with surprise. As a mom, the kids and I would attempt to prank each other in small ways, ways I can’t even remember now, but know they were funny (that’s why I started a 5-year journal, by the way: I wanted to remember those small moments more).
But this year, at the end of the day, I realized I completely missed it. So did they. No funny jokes, no unexpected laughs, nothing. It was just another day.
And having just another day with my family is something to be grateful for, but I was disappointed in myself for the missed day and for the trend of not having enough fun in the little moments.
I hate to say it, but I am the kind of person who now needs to plan her fun. Ugh.
So, that’s what I’m doing. Thinking of ways to add a bit of fun to my days so I enjoy them more AND figuring out how not to miss things in the calendar that mean something to me. I have to pay more attention or it all slips by so quickly.
How do YOU make sure to add fun to your days? I need help, so drop your ideas in the comments. =)
Keep reading for your weekly dose of literate love and click the button below to share with a bookish friend!
Happy reading & writing!
Stephanie
P.S: I’m leading a special workshop with Jennifer Kreatsoulas that blends reading, writing and yoga for caregivers supporting loved ones through eating disorders. You can learn more about it here!
What I'm Reading:
The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to Be Calm in a Busy World by Haemin Sunim
I may or may not be reading a book from the bibliotherapy book calendar I have curated for the month of April and this may or may not be that book. =) Inside, readers find guideposts to well-being and happiness in eight areas—including relationships, love, and spirituality. It embraces forging a deeper connection with others and being compassionate and forgiving toward ourselves. I’m loving every page.
The Bookstore Sisters by Alice Hoffman
Isabel left the small Maine town of her childhood as soon as possible to leave the painful memories behind. But when a note arrives in the mail with a single word written on it, help, she knows she has to return to reunite with the sister she hasn’t spoken to in almost ten years. As she heads back to Maine, back to her sister and back to the family bookstore, her feelings start to change and this might be the fresh start she needs. I devoured this short story and INSTANTLY purchased the next in the series. More about that below.
The Bookstore Wedding by Alice Hoffman
This is the next book in The Bookstore Sisters series and yup, there is a wedding….or is there?! I dove into this second book and finished it in one sitting, just like the firs. It’s only 34 pages and if you have Prime, it’s FREE. In this book, the sisters team together to face a new challenge together with their loved ones, the bookstore and their mother’s recipes by their side. Oh, the ending.
The Bookstore Keepers by Alice Hoffman
Yes, I am moving onto book #3 in the series and in this book, Isabel and Johnny face a bit of upheaval. I can’t wait to see what it is and how books, recipes and the town around them manages it all .
What I'm Writing:
April is letter writing month! You know I adore sending snail mail, especially when I am sending personalized book postcards (GET YOUR FREE CARD HERE!), and I’ve been thinking about how I want to celebrate this year.
Last year, I purchased a beautiful kit from Tiny and Snail and even chatted with Leah on the podcast about the importance of a letter writing habit. This month, I think I’m buying this adorable kit because it has a special feature I have never seen: It provides a card for you to send to a loved one AND includes a card for them to write you back so you get DOUBLE the love.
It has me thinking of my own idea: What if I sent TWO book postcards to those that requested one….one for YOU and one for ME! Once your book postcard arrives, you could write a book recommendation for me and pop it into the mail (since the stamp will already be on it). I could even include bookish stickers and bling.
Anyone up for something like this?
What I'm Learning:
I hate to admit this, but I’ve spent the better part of the week researching the fascinating and exciting world of metabolism. And yes, I am being sarcastic. Things used to be easy: eat what I want, when I want and wake up the next morning feeling just fine and fitting into my clothes with no problem. Fast forward to my 40’s and that is not happening quite so effortlessly. =)
There is SO MUCH contradicting information out there, but a deep dive into a few books, a handful of podcasts and YouTube videos left me feeling a bit clearer. Here’s what I learned:
Women are not little men. We have different needs for EVERYTHING, including how we eat, exercise and fast.
Women need to have a small, balanced breakfast BEFORE they exercise in the morning or they burn muscle instead of fat. No fasted workouts for us.
Fasting does not work for everyone and women have special needs for fasting that must be taken into consideration or it all backfires.
As we age, we need more explosive cardio, but thankfully, it’s not much. Interval sprints (30 second bursts with 2 minutes of rest x5) added to a weekly routine two times per week can whip a metabolism back into shape.
We must lift heavier weights if we want to keep our muscle as we age. And we do.
Sleep is essential. We can do all of the above, but if we are not sleeping, it doesn’t matter.
This last one was the nugget that made me take notice because I have terrible sleeping habits. You can bet this is what I’ll explore as we head into next week!
How do YOU make sense of it all? Send your tips!
What I'm Loving:
I have blue eyes. Do you have blue eyes? If so, then we’re related! Read this and see what I’m talking about.
Over 1000 people came together for a cake picnic in San Francisco. Oh, how I would love to participate in one of these!
This is the most adorable thing we could do with a book tossed in the trash. Love it.
Keep scrolling for my latest podcast posts and updates!
Podcast Highlights From the Last Week:
Create a Year-Long Thematic Reading Calendar
Back in 2020, I started a reading adventure that has sustained me through the best of times and the worst of times and I’m inviting you to do the same.
In this episode, I’m diving into the power of creating a year-long calendar for thematic reading all year long: curating monthly themes for yourself that inspire creativity, reflection, growth and whatever else you can dream up.
Whether you want to explore renewal in spring, adventure in summer, or deep work in fall, I’ll share why you need to create a year-long personalized reading plan and how you can do it in the most joyful way possible.
From My Private Substack Community…
Every Sunday, I post additional content for my private Substack community to bring even more literate love to our lives. Here’s what I shared this week:
April 2025 Bibliotherapy Book Calendar: RENEWAL
April 2025 Book Club Reveal: The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick
Be sure to subscribe and add them to your TBR stack. Click the button below to subscribe. It’s just $5 per month!
Let’s Work Together!
I love to connect with others around our shared love of reading and writing.
Here are some ways we can work together to create a life you love where restorative reading and writing is at the center of it all:
🩷 Join my private Substack community for themed book calendars, bonus posts, book clubs and events each month!
📚 Connect 1:1 for personalized coaching to unlock the transformative power of your reading and writing life.
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🩷 Like and comment on this post so we can connect!
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I love to handwriting snail mail and would Love to do a postcard exchange with you! 🤩 How fun!
I LOVE your 2-for-1 postcard idea! I am a joyful snail-mailer and would absolutely send you a postcard