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Hey there! Once again, life has been moving at full speed, and somehow, another month has come and gone. We’re just about a month and a half away from summer break, and I have to admit—I’m really looking forward to a little pause in the chaos.
March was full of sweet moments: a girls’ weekend, a beautiful Holi celebration at Cheekwood, lots of puppy snuggles, some gardening, and even my first-ever sourdough bread. So let’s get into it.
Girls’ Weekend – Mother-Daughter Edition
If you’ve been following along, you already know about my new tradition—mother-daughter weekends inspired by the ones I used to do with my girlfriends in Europe. In March, it was my oldest daughter’s turn. And since she’s done this once before, she came into the weekend fully prepared.
She picked all her favorite foods—Chipotle, Starbucks, nachos, crepes, and yes, even McDonald’s made the list again. Since I’m currently taking a break from gluten and dairy, we skipped our usual sugar cookie baking and made a delicious gluten-free vanilla bread instead (paired with ice cream, of course—dairy-free for me!).
Our movie picks leaned into rom-coms this time around—He’s All That, Holidate, The Perfect Date, and a few more. In between movie marathons and food breaks, we had some serious game time: Uno, Memory, Battleship, Guess Who?, and a fun Shut The Box dice game we got for Christmas. We played for hours and laughed a ton.
One of her favorite parts (again) was our spa session. We did face masks, nose strips, eye gel pads, and even added the classic cucumber-on-the-eyes moment. Then we painted each other’s nails to complete the experience.
These weekends provide a valuable bonding opportunity, and she’s already asking when the next one is happening.
Puppy Fun
My mother-in-law has been fostering puppies for years—I’ve mentioned it before, but it deserves repeating. She works with Humane World for Animals (previously known as the Humane Society) and takes in mamas and their pups from local shelters until the puppies are old enough to be transported and adopted out.
It’s a ton of work—feeding, cleaning, giving meds, vet visits, and all the mess that comes with a litter of puppies—but she’s incredible at it. And the girls absolutely love visiting. They play with the puppies, help name them, and get their fill of puppy snuggles. It’s always hard to say goodbye when we’re leaving, but it’s also so rewarding to know they’re going to loving homes.
If fostering is something you’re interested in, or even if you just want to support the cause, check out humaneworld.org. There are so many ways to help—donating, adopting, volunteering, or fostering—and every bit makes a difference.
Holi at Cheekwood
We attended Holi at Cheekwood for the second year in a row, and it was just as magical as the first. If you’ve never seen photos of Holi, stop reading and go Google it—it’s absolutely beautiful.
Holi is an Indian festival that celebrates the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil. But it’s best known as the Festival of Colors, where people throw bright, colorful powders in celebration. At Cheekwood, it’s a full experience: live performances, henna tattoos, hands-on art activities, food vendors, and of course, the joyful chaos of color throwing.
We were surrounded by thousands of blooming tulips and daffodils, Bollywood music pumping through the gardens, kids laughing, people dancing, and so much color in the air. It’s just one of those events that fills your soul with joy.
It’s truly one of my favorite spring events—and we’ll definitely be back next year.
Baking My First Sourdough Bread
March was also the month I baked my first-ever sourdough bread. And yes—I’ve made more since then!
I’ll be honest—I used to not like sourdough bread. That tangy flavor just didn’t sit right with me. I didn’t grow up eating it, so my brain basically said, “Bread isn’t supposed to taste like this.” Same thing happened with sweet potatoes. I didn’t try them until my 20s, and when I did, I was like, “Um…why is this potato sweet?!” Took me a while, but now I love both.
Back to the sourdough: my mother-in-law has been baking it for over a decade, but it wasn’t until recently that I really started appreciating it. Once I started learning more about the health benefits of sourdough, I was totally on board. Sourdough is naturally leavened, meaning it doesn’t use commercial yeast but rather a live fermented starter full of wild yeast and beneficial bacteria. That fermentation process breaks down gluten and phytic acid, making the bread easier to digest, more nutritious, and better for your gut health.
My friend gave me the starter, I followed the steps, and to my surprise—My first loaf turned out golden, crusty, and soft on the inside, and I was seriously proud.
Thinking about trying it yourself? You can find a great sourdough starter and sourdough starter kit right here. It’s easier than you think—and kind of addictive in the best way.
Back in the Garden
Spring is here, and that means it’s garden time!
When I was a kid in Slovakia, I absolutely hated gardening. My mom grew everything—onions, carrots, parsnips, kohlrabi, zucchini—you name it. And weeding? Felt like it took forever. But somewhere along the way, that all changed. I find it oddly peaceful.
A couple of years ago, my parents came to visit, and I asked my dad (who’s super handy) to build me two raised garden beds. He did an amazing job, and I couldn’t wait to start planting. The first year was definitely a learning experience—I battled squirrels who seemed to think my tomatoes were theirs.
This year, I’m coming prepared: I’ve got a fence around the beds and even added a fake owl—Izzy—to stand guard. Fingers crossed that the squirrels find a new snack this year, and I get to enjoy more of the veggies myself!
If you don’t have a handy dad to build you custom beds, no worries! I found a simple raised garden bed planter that’s perfect for beginners. It’s a great option whether you’ve got a big backyard or just a sunny corner that needs a little love.
Until next time…
That’s it for our March adventures! From quality girl time and colorful celebrations to baking bread and digging in the dirt—it’s been a full, fun month. Thanks for reading!
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