Welcome to April! Flora and fauna have finally begun blooming, and we're welcoming all the seasonal excitement that comes along with it. With Easter, Passover, and Opening Day all on the horizon, there's so much to welcome this month, especially in the first week alone. From Spring pantry supplies to Earth Day-friendly products, here are a few things we can't live without this month.
Instead of putting together a list of April must haves for you to spend your hard-earned cash on, I've put together a laundry list of things you should do this month to Spring clean your finances. Checking all of these off your list will take less time than your normal Spring cleaning, and help you prepare for smooth sailing come Summer. Get a fresh start this month with these must-do savvy moves.
As the pace of the New Year picks up and your amount of free time dwindles down, get ready to bust out that panini maker for the best fast and easy food ever: grilled cheese! From blackberries and brie to figs and fontina, it's all about the filling. Check out some of our grilled cheese recipes for inspiration — and don't forget to read up on best grilled cheese tips and pairing ideas, too.
 Escarole Taleggio Sandwich |
 Ultimate Grilled Cheese |
 Blackberry-Brie Panini |
 Mozzarella Prosciutto-Wich |
 Logan County Hamburgers |
 Brie and Pear Grilled Cheese |
We're officially in the throes of Spring and have nothing but warmer weather to look forward to in the weeks ahead. Oh, that and a little April Fools' Day, Earth Day, and Easter fun! Add in a royal wedding, and there's lots to get excited about in the next 30 days. To check out what we can't stop coveting, keep reading.
We've got you covered for April, including a happy Marc by Marc umbrella for the showers, a striped and floral tee for the flowers, and a killer metallic shopping bag for those first days at the farmers market. Our must haves this month are chic enough to go from music festivals like this month's Coachella to your best friend's wedding. Click through to see our editor must haves.
The Spring defrost has begun! While April showers may be upon us, nothing will damper our sunny moods after such a long, dark Winter! Once mama has cleared her head from the season's necessary deep cleaning, we've got a few fun finds to launch her into the warmer weather.
The royal couple has set their wedding date for April 29 in London's Westminster Abbey. While I'm sure lots of factors went into choosing the date, probably few had anything to do with the superstitions our ancestors loved so much. But for fun, let's look at what marrying in April says about a marriage.
A wedding rampage at the end of April is actually nothing new to British vicars, because of an old saying that dates back to pagan times. "Marry in the month of May, and you'll rue the day," but "Marry in April when you can, joy for maiden and for a man."
Despite May being a merry old month, it's an ominous time to tie the knot. Associated with the pagan festival of Beltane, which was basically one big orgy, and the Roman Feast of the Dead and Festival of the Goddess of Chastity, nothing about May and marriage mix. Superstitions ran high until the 19th century, when it's rumored Queen Victoria banned her children from marrying in the unlucky month.
I tried to find a happy couple who married on April 29 for Kate and Will to admire, but a quick search returned only one famous couple: Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun. I guess April does have its showers!
April may bring the Spring, but it also brings the stress of postmarking (or virtually signing) your taxes and Spring cleaning your life. On the first of the month I asked you to share your goals for the month. Here are some of your best intentions.
These are all lofty and inspirational goals! I hope you all achieve them! What about the rest of you? Have you made your list for this rainy month?
April showers may bring May flowers, but they also bring the stress of postmarking (or virtually signing) your taxes and Spring cleaning your life. It's the fourth month of the year, which means one third of 2010 lies in our wake and we just have eight short months left of the year. No, I'm not trying to induce a heart attack — just remind you today is as good a day as any to make a commitment to yourself and jump right in. Want to go back to school? Look for a new job? Cut your utilities costs? Now is the time.
What is your main objective for the month?
We're not fooling around when it comes to our April must haves! This month we've included a great toy for children who want to get going, but are still too young to move on their own, a timely book for Earth Day and a CD to get your tot's toes tapping! Check out our favorite finds!
