Welcome to Sending Smiles. I am delighted that you are taking time out of your day to be here.
I’m writing to you today from Phoenix, Arizona. It’s no secret that summer is approaching, with afternoon temperatures slowly reaching triple digits. In other parts of the northern hemisphere, people are making plans to soak up the sunshine. Meanwhile, I am making plans to hibernate. I survive the extreme heat the same way bears survive the extreme cold. I signed up for a gym membership so that I can reach my step count with air conditioning. I queued any and every show and movie that caught my eye on Hulu, Max, and Netflix. I dedicated a shelf to my TBR (to be read). I am ready to spend the foreseeable future indoors. How do you cope with the heat?
You remember that old adage “April showers bring May flowers”? My younger sister, Susanna, proved that to be true! She spent April learning to ride a bike and applying to every rental home in her budget. This month, she can ride her bike far, moved into a house with her two best friends, AND turned 23. I could not be more proud of her!
I started writing for Substack so that I could hold myself accountable for writing consistently. I did not have any particular theme in mind, so I named the blog Steph’s Stack. Through writing consistently, I have gotten more in touch with myself. A theme in my writing is optimism, which is why I renamed the blog to Sending Smiles, Steph. I want to use this platform to spread positivity by sending a smile to you.
I want to take this moment to thank you again for being here. Whether you just happened to stumble across this post, or you subscribe and read every article religiously, you are spending time engaging with my thoughts. That means a lot.
I would also like to take this time to remind you that there is the option to become a paid subscriber. In addition to the Monthly Newsletters and weekly Little Love Stories included in the free membership, paid subscribers can participate in the Subscriber Chat, and have access to my new and archived poems, stories, and essays. I strongly believe that people should be paid for the work they do. Your subscription compensates me for the work that I do. Thank you!
Always remember, you are whole and worthy of unconditional love.
Binge Listens
A playlist of songs I listened to on repeat this month.
Binge Watches
Television shows and movies I watched this month.
Pretty Woman
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Streaming Service: Hulu, Apple TV
Quote: “Old Lady at Opera: Did you enjoy the opera, dear?
Vivian: Oh, it was so good, I almost peed my pants.
Old Lady at Opera: What?
Edward Lewis: She said she liked it better than Pirates of Penzance.”
I somehow managed to survive 27 years on this Earth without seeing this movie… can you believe that? Julia Roberts looks stunning as Vivian. The fashion after Vivian’s makeover is classy and timeless. I took inspiration from a few of her looks. On top of the casting and wardrobe, I love the soundtrack. It transports me to the 80’s, with Go West, Roxette, and David Bowie. Needless to say, I will not go 27 years without rewatching this one.
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Genre: Biography, Drama
Streaming Service: Hulu
Quote: “I don’t think you were broken. I know you are a man of conviction. The person who knows the difference between what is wrong and what is right. Try to remember that your relationship with your father also helped to shape those parts. He helped you become what you are. Would you do something with me Lloyd? It’s an exercise I like to do sometimes. We’ll just take a minute and think about all the people who loved us into being.”
It was refreshing to watch a movie about a real person who exuded kindness. I love Tom Hanks, so watching him play beloved Mister Rogers was an a treat. There was a moment where Mister Rogers tells journalist Lloyd that he most important thing in the world to him was the conversation they were having in that moment. The way Mister Rogers treated people has inspired me to be more present in my life.
Binge Reads
Books I read this month.
Thicker than Water by Kerry Washington
Genre: Memoir
Quote: “When I woke the next morning, I could feel that something within me had changed. There were new rules in place now. They had been carved out by the decision I had made about who and what mattered most. It was not me. I was not as important as the frozen boy. I was not as important as my parents, either. I was not as important as my family, as my larger community. I was somehow, in the mind of my child self, both not as important as these people and yet wholly responsible for maintaining their goodness.”
Kerry Washington’s voice is simultaneously empathetic and reflective. Thicker than Water has one of the most profound descriptions of a child watching their parent struggle with substance abuse. Through Washington’s writing, I was able to understand how a child in that situation learns to navigate the world.
This book contains descriptions of childhood sexual abuse. Please take care of yourself while watching and visit RAINN for more resources.
Joy Journal
Ordinary moments that made me smile.
Writing the outline for my personal statement. It’s exciting to plan for the future.
Watching Real Housewives of Beverly Hills with Mom while Susanna told us about her day.
Running with Erin, Rebecca, Larissa, and her dog, Rose. This was my first time meeting Larissa and Rose.
Thalia Toha’s comment on my March 2024 Newsletter.
My cat, Apollo, jumping from his window seat to my bed when he noticed that I was awake.
Finishing the Blogilates ABC Abs 2.0 workout. It took more motivation than usual to start the workout, but the feeling of accomplishment at the end was worth it.
Waking up refreshed after 9 + hours of sleep.
Apollo running in the room to see if I was okay after he heard me sneeze.
My Month in Photos
