Monthly Diary - April 2026

My monthly diary, a compilation of my meaningful experiences from the past month, will be published on my blog on the first day of each month. Occasionally, due to unforeseen circumstances, the monthly diary may be delayed by a day or two. Let’s delve into my new monthly diary of April 2026, which was set in Florida, where I currently live seasonally. 

Wednesday, April 1st - April Fools Day 

April Fools Day is an annual observance for fun and harmless pranks and jokes. I would tell people I love fake news by sending them a text message. I jokingly told my mom and my best friend via text that "I accepted the position of creative director for the adaptive womenswear company and I am moving to the city where my best friend lives."  - APRIL FOOLS!! 😂 They loved the way I joked to them lol 😂  

Friday, April 3rd - Good Friday & Easter Eggs Coloring 

Good Friday is a Christian observance commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and His death at Calvary. It occurs during Holy Week on the Friday before Easter Sunday and is a solemn day of reflection, prayer, and remembrance for believers worldwide. I would fast and abstain from eating meat that day - “Through the cross, we find hope.” 

I colored Easter eggs with my mom, my caregiver Amanda and her niece. It's a tradition- I have been coloring Easter Easter eggs with my mom every year since I was a little girl. We made some ways to dye eggs- solid dye, marble dye, and 2-color dye (dye color on the half of egg and another color on the other half of egg). I colored my eggs- Pink Fashionista, Pink Barbie, Green CP Warrior, marble, and 2-color. It was a fun and creative Easter activity. One day, hopefully, I will keep the tradition alive so I will color Easter eggs with my friends and their children at my future home or their home. 

Saturday, April 4th - Home Day with My Parents 

I stayed home all day with my parents. We enjoyed ourselves at home. My parents and I tried a new pizzeria called Burnt via carryout for dinner. During dinner time, my dad tried his new pizza but he didn't like it because it looked and tasted unappetizing. So, He taped up the pizza box and threw it away in our garbage can in the garage.- my mom and I were laughing lol 😂.  When my mom finished eating her first slice of pizza and she wanted one more slice, she opened the pizza box. She noticed her pizza was gone and that it was my dad's pizza in the box- she realized that my dad blindly threw away her pizza 😂 😂 My dad grabbed my mom's pizza box out of the garbage can then gave it to her! 😂 My dad taped up and threw away his actual pizza box. I had Sicilian rice ball - it tasted delicious and a chicken marsala with penne pasta - it was great. I also tried a piece of my mom's pizza - it tasted okay but the crust looked not crunchy.  

Sunday, April 5th - Easter Sunday 

Easter Sunday is a joyful Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, symbolizing hope, renewal, and new life. Families often gather for festive meals, attend church services, and participate in traditions like finding Easter baskets, reflecting both faith and togetherness.

I celebrated Easter with my parents. I DoorDashed First Watch for brunch with my mom. So I got a Strawberry French Toast and scrambled eggs- delicious! My mom and I watched a live mass together on YouTube. I found 4 Easter baskets around the house- 2 stored ottoman stools, kitchen sink, and lounge chair table. 

My parents and I went to Turtle Club for dinner with my caregiver. At the restaurant, we sat indoors cause it had been raining some time. I had a Frosè cocktail, a Jumbo Crab Cocktail, a Mixed Greens and Gorgonzola Salad, and a Filet Mignon & Spinach Stuffed Shrimp with Mashed Potatoes and Broccolini. I also got a slice of orange cake to-go. What a fantastic dinner!  

We got home from dinner. I opened Easter baskets and Easter gifts from my parents. I got some new clothes that match my style and my personality including two Lilly Pulitzer Disney pieces- a sundress and a top, and three new Lilly pieces, a Naples Soap Company body cream, and a new pair of tropical floral palm leaf statement earrings plus some goodies and candies!  I also opened Easter cards from my parents. I thanked them for giving me Easter gifts and cards. I know how much they spoil me and I appreciate their kindness. 💕 💗 

Easter Day

Saturday, April 11th - Spring Dinner Date @ Seasons 52

I had a spring dinner date at Seasons 52 with my caregiver, Sara. Seasons 52 is one of my favorite restaurants - They offer seasonal delicious and fresh dishes and handcrafted cocktails served in a casual and sophisticated atmosphere. I go to the restaurant every season. We sit in the patio outside. The weather was so beautiful. I got a Blueberry Lemon Smash cocktail, a grilled artichoke flatbread shared with Sara, a Tuscan White Bean Soup, a Grilled Tenderloin Salad, and a peanut butter chocolate mini dessert - what a magnificent meal! 

Me with a Blueberry Lemon Smash Cocktail @ Seasons 52

Sunday, April 12th - Fun Day At the Mall & Cinema 

My caregiver, Sara and I walked around the mall before we went to the cinema bistro. We had a great dinner and saw "You, Me, and Tuscany" movie at CMX CineBistro. I got a strawberry mango lemon drop martini, chicken souvikaki with Mediterranean orzo pasta, and ricotta stuffed mushrooms- yummy, delicious! The movie is about a spirited female cook exploring Tuscany and falling in love with her crush's cousin. It was an excellent romantic movie. I loved the movie so much because of my love for Italy and romance movies. 

Me with my caregiver, Sara @ CMX Cinema Bistro 

Tuesday, April 14th - Beach Day 🏝️ 

This day marked my fourth beach day of the season. My caregiver, Danielle and I spent the day at the beach. Before arriving on the beach, we parked on the 15th Avenue South next to the beach - it was a perfect parking spot! We pushed my beach wheelchair onto the beach safely. 

At the beach, we ate wrap lunch. We enjoyed ourselves. We were relaxing under the umbrella. We went into the water twice- it was chilly and no big waves! 

"The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings eternal joy to the soul." – Robert Wyland

Saturday, April 18th to Friday, April 24th - Spending Time with My Aunt and Cousin 

4/18 - My Aunt Elaine and her daughter Kate arrived down here around 7:30pm and they were staying with me and my parents for a week. I shared a heartwarming hug with my aunt and cousin. We all had Lebanese feast for dinner. I talked to my aunt and cousin about my career journey, ups, and downs. 

4/19- We had quiche and fruit salad for brunch. I had a quick talk with my aunt Elaine about my bestie and her family. She was delighted to hear about it. She read my CommunicationFirst article and said it was a powerful and inspiring article. I started packing my stuff for my upcoming trip to Disney World with my caregiver, Sara. Sara and I headed to The Dock at the Crayton Cove for dinner before my family came to us. We got a parking spot. At the restaurant, we saved a table for 6 people and were waiting for my family to come and order our dinner. I got a Watermelon Docksicle Cocktail, Cornbread with honey butter and some chicken wings as appetizers, and a lobster pasta. I really enjoyed the meal!   

Me with my Aunt Elaine and cousin Kate @ The Dock at the Crayton Cove 

4/20- I had a virtual meeting with my AAC workgroup in my room. During the meeting, we discussed the social media campaigns for the National AAC Peer Support Network. I shared my social media and graphic design experience with the group. I told them that I want to create a social media graphic for the network and they loved my ideas. I feel so confident about it. 

I went to Trattoria Mangia with my family and my caregiver for dinner. I had a glass of Chardonnay, a side Caesar salad, and a stuffed pork loin with fettuccine- it was a delicious dinner. 

4/21 - I spent all day at home with my family. We all relaxed outside in our pool. My mom made a special Lebanese dinner- roasted chicken, okra in a tomato sauce, wild rice, meat pie, and hummus with pita bread. I also drank a bourbon slush. When I finished eating dinner, I gave my mom a positive feedback on her cooking and thanked her for cooking dinner- "I really enjoyed the meal. It was delicious. Lebanese okra tasted really delicious delicious. It is the best thing I’ve ever tasted. Mama, thank you for making this meal, you are a great cook."

4/22 - We all headed to the country club for pasta night dinner. We sat in the table next to the buffet- it was a perfect spot to sit and eat. I absolutely enjoyed it. I had a glass of French martini, a cup of Italian wedding soup, caprese salad, a plate of bow tie pasta Alfredo, and a dessert of peanut butter gelato and tiramisu- what a wonderful meal! 

4/23 - This day marked the 20th anniversary of my paternal grandmother's passing - "Today, it’s hard to believe that it is been 20 years since my Grandma Mary (my dad’s mother) passed away. She frequently spent time with me throughout my first 9 years of life. I remember when I hung out with her at her house. We created arts and crafts and played games together. I drew words and elements in a construction paper with her. She shared vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry Ice cream with me. She was such a wonderful grandma. I loved her so much. She loved me so much. The memory reminded me of who I am.  I grew up into a self taught creative and fashion expert. My Grandma Mary would be proud of me." 

We all had a Lebanese omelet brunch and a surf n' turf dinner at home. I was enjoying both meals - yummy! 

4/24 - Before I left for Disney World, I spoke an appreciation message to my aunt Elaine and cousin Kate and hugged them. They were so blessed to spend time with me.

Disney World Trip - Friday, April 24th to Sunday, April 26th 

4/24 - I left home at 12:30pm. My two caregivers, Danielle and Sara joined me for a magical trip to Disney World. This was my 6th visit to the destination. We arrived in Disney Springs around 4:30pm. At Disney Springs, we went shopping and sightseeing. I bought a new Disney World pink T-shirt for myself. We went to the dockside bar lounge and watched the singer perform with his guitar. I got a glass of watermelon margarita there. Then we headed to The Cake Bake Shop @ Disney's Boardwalk for dinner. Danielle's cousin Marilyn joined us for dinner. This was my 1st time visiting Disney’s Boardwalk - a quarter-mile promenade of exquisite dining, unique shops and exciting nightlife. Stroll along the water’s edge, play afternoon midway games and discover evening street performers. Evoking turn-of-the-century boardwalks in such coastal cities as Coney Island and Atlantic City, Disney’s BoardWalk is a short stroll to Epcot and a breezy boat ride to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. - how beautiful. This was my 3rd time visiting the Cake Bake Shop and this was my 1st time visiting the new location. I visited the place in Indianapolis, Indiana two times before visiting another location. The place consists of a restaurant and a bakery. It’s like a fairytale town! 🧚‍♀️ 🦋 They offer delicious meal options and signature cakes. My favorite cake flavor is Raspberry Champagne - it is amazingly delicious and sweet! The cake slice is huge but it’s enough to share the cake! 🍰 Dining at the Cake Bake Shop makes me feel like a special princess! 👑  

At the end of the day, we arrived in Marilyn's condo, 30 minutes away from Disney World where we stayed for 2 nights - the condo is nice and accessible. Unfortunately, the curb of the parking spot is not accessible but it's challenging so we can pop up my foldable wheelchair into the curb safely. 

4/25 - We spent the whole day at Epcot and its International Flower and Garden Festival. This was my fourth time visiting Epcot and this was my first time attending the International Flower and Garden Festival. Epcot is one of Disney World's four theme parks that consists of space, nature, and world showcase. It's my favorite theme park. The festival features various garden tropiaries of Disney Characters, outdoor kitchens, and themed gardens. What a Beautiful Day! 💐🌷🌺💖✨

Here's many things we did at Epcot:

• Rides and Attractions we visited 
• Project Tomorrow - a sci-fiction islow ride that features history and future, 
• Journey of the Water, Inspired by Moana - a beautiful walkable exhibition that features water elements and landscape. 
• Soarin Around the World - a flight-style ride that features various immersive views of famous destinations around the world 
• Nemo Ride
• Guardians of Galaxy indoor roller coaster ride -  Although I am not a fan of the franchise, I enjoyed the ride but it made me feel slightly dizzy 😵 😝 
• Frozen Ever After - one of my favorite rides 
• Ratatouille - one of my favorite rides 
• Reflections of China - a watchable attraction 
• We had a buffet lunch @ Royal Princess Storybook dining room 
• Princesses Belle, Aurora, Snow White, Tiana, and Ariel came to our table. We took a picture of me with each of them. 
• I had a frozen raspberry daiquiri.
• Buffet Food items including salmon, chicken, Mac and cheese, and carrots, and assorted desserts. 
• We did a meet and greet with Anna and Elsa from Frozen. 
• I got a raspberry swirl cheesecake from outdoor kitchen - yummy 😋 
• The rain came unexpectedly through the evening so we were drenched from head to toe. The rain started around 4:30pm and lasted until 7:30pm.  
• We had a very good dinner at the Italian restaurant- I had a glass of Pinot noir wine, margherita pizza, and Italian doughnut. 

4/26 - Before going home from Disney, I spoke an appreciation message to Marilyn, thanking her for letting me stay in her condo for two nights. I hugged her. She said it was her pleasure to have me there.  My caregivers and I left around 8am and got home around Noon. I wrote thank you emails to Danielle and Sara. We all had an AMAZING blast!

Me with my three girlfriends @ Epcot 

 

            See the latest post about Disney trip on my Facebook, Instagram and, TikTok pages @marisaconnersofficial 

At home, I received some compliments from my bestie Laura, thanking me for my chosen niece, Anastasia's baptism gift. Anastasia got baptized while I was at Disney. They made my heart so joyful. I video chatted with Laura and Anastasia, 8 months old at the night and it was a great video call. They are expecting to come to Naples next month! 

I mailed my chosen niece, Anastasia’s baptism gift to her! 💖✝️🙏

Tuesday, April 28th - My First Virtual Meeting with Another Marisa 

I had my first virtual meeting with another Marisa who will work with me on the blog post about fashion and accessibility for United Cerebral Palsy. It's Marisa Krause. She has CP and she lives in South Carolina. She works as a marketing professional for her church. I was blown away to discover that we share our first name and September birthdays, we both have Cerebral Palsy but our types of CP are different. My type of CP is Spastic Quadriplegia, very mild whereas hers is Spastic Hemiplegia, left side of her body mild. Unlike me, she can speak, walk unassisted, and drive.  She is 3 years older than me. She is so awesome! I told her "You are the most wonderful woman with CP I ever met!". I am so full of gratitude to have found a new friend who has CP! And we have something in common. One day, Two Marisa's will meet each other in person  😂❤️  - hopefully, it'll be an unforgettable and meaningful moment. I can't wait to work with Another Marisa on the blog post and get to know her more! 

The past month has been great for me. It was filled with excitement, relaxation, fun, joy, laughter, positivity, emotion, and well-being. I am grateful for what I did during the past month. 😁🥰  

Thank you for reading my monthly diary. I hope you enjoy reading it. Let me know how you react to my monthly diary in the comments below.

🩷 Marisa