Simple Joys of the Month: March, 2025

And then it was April.

Welp, March has come and gone. I know a lot of people don’t love March (and I understand why) but it was a really exciting month for me career-wise because my book finally came out (as if you could have missed this news here on my Substack, ha!).

The highlights/biggest simple joys related to my book?

• Launching it into the world! Everyone says that publishing a book is like giving birth and I agree—except for the fact that there’s no pain or bodily fluids or misery or ripping flesh or episiotomies or thinking you’re dying or postpartum padsicles! So really, it’s nothing like giving birth! Yay!

• Meeting so many of you at my IRL book events (I am still riding high from these events. You can see a few snapshots from them here)

• Seeing my book featured on CBS Mornings, WGN Chicago, and chosen as a “March Editors Pick” on Amazon (ekkkk to all of these things!)

• Seeing my book listed as an Amazon bestseller in Comics (#1 in “Contemporary Women Graphic Novels”—ha!), Motherhood (#6) and Parenting (#19)

• Reading the review on goodreads that said, “Stopped reading halfway through…too much talk about laundry.” HAHA LOL JK I HATED READING THAT ONE

• Seeing people actually buying/reading my book (and signing books for some of them!)

• Receiving messages like this:

[Insert tons of crying emojis here]

Thank you for making my launch month so special; it made all of the years of work TOTALLY worth it.

And now that I’ve gotten all of that out of my system, here are some of my non-book-related(ISH) simple joys of the month from March…

New to SJOTM? Read the backstory here.

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I made the “Momlife_comics Official Playlist” a few years ago (and have periodically added to it) and it’s still one of my faves; I like to listen to it when I’m in need of some female empowerment vibes, so naturally I listened to it on the way to my pub day event earlier this month. You can enjoy it here :)

[And if you have any recommendations on songs to add, please share them to comments!]

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There’s a reason everyone is talking about The White Lotus again and that’s because, as usual, the new season is insane. Ben and I started watching it a few weeks late, but we’re almost caught up now and I’d forgotten how exciting/nerve-wracking/awkward it is. Also, it’s one of the few shows Ben will actually stay awake for these days (ha!) so it’s great to have a special show to watch together again. Oh, and the 3 friends on their girls’ trip? Aghhh!!!!!

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Okay, forgive me for including one more book-related thing here but I had to because it’s really special—and here’s why (the short version, I promise):

When I lived in DC and was doing my yoga teacher training, all of us trainees fell in love with these cookies called “Salty Oats” that were only sold at a local cafe called Teaism. We ate them the entire training. Fast forward 3+ years: I’m living on Cape Cod and I’m at my first local festival and what do I come across? Salty Oat Cookies (made by Kayak Cookies)—the very same ones I ate in DC—and I learn that they’re made HERE, on Cape Cod!!! I chatted with the owner, Terri (a fabulous female entrepreneur) and the rest is history.

Thus, when it came time to get refreshments for my book events, I knew I HAD to have Salty Oats. They’re the best. (You can order them to be shipped if you want to try them!)

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Remember last month when I told you that my hair felt SUPER blah lately (and recommended a texturizing spray?). Well, my stylist and friend, Kate Scott, recently recommended I use this “Awapuhi Wild Ginger HydroCream Whip Mousse” and it’s been working! Or at least I think it has? Or maybe it’s the fact that I’ve actually “styled” my hair multiple times this month—a first ever for me post-motherhood? Who knows?!? (And who even am I?)

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I wanted some fun, colorful heels for my book events (preferably some that matched my book cover bc I love a good color scheme), and when I came across these Rothy’s I knew I’d found my match. I got them in “Tulip” and am such a fan. I hate almost all heels but these are actually comfortable.

Here’s what they look like IRL (from my event at The Silver Unicorn):

Fun, right? I wore them to my Boston event (at Porter Square Books), too!

(Look at my Cape Cod friends who came all of the way to Boston for their second event in one week! I am so lucky + grateful!!!)

Okay so a lot of my #SJOTM were still book-adjacent but what can I say? This month was simply ALL about Mama Needs a Minute! for me.

Speaking of which…

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THIS IS WHERE I ASK YOU [AGAIN] TO KINDLY ORDER MY BOOK:

Have you ordered my book yet? No? That’s okay! You don’t have to! But also it’s never too late to treat yourself (#eatthedamnpeach!)—or buy it for a friend or family member! Or buy one and leave it in a Little Free Library or on a new mom’s doorstep or even in a public restroom! WHATEVER!

Amazingly supportive PTA moms/friends at my Cape Cod launch event!

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And that’s it for now! Thank you SO MUCH for your support last month + always.

Happy April, friends.

xoxo,
Mary Catherine