Birthday Month Hallelujah | Jin’s April 2026

Before I get into everything that April looked like, I just want to say this month felt like a mix of movement, celebration, and a lot of saying yes to life as it came. It was full in the best way, with plans that kept me busy, little moments that made me pause, and experiences that added up to something really memorable. More than anything, it felt like a month of gratitude and presence, where I could really appreciate the people, places, and moments around me. Everything Hallelujah feels like the best way to describe it haha a month that felt full, joyful, and worth being thankful for. I’m excited to walk through it all and share what this month ended up looking like.

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Lifestyle: Travel & Relationships

Fun Activities

Coachella

The fun month of April kicked off with Coachella. Our annual Coachella trip was back after taking a break last year since I had to go to my friend’s wedding in Bali and Singapore, so it felt really good to return. This year, everything felt like we never left. We had a solid plan going in, from grocery shopping to prepping masks, vitamins, electrolytes, and all the essentials. It definitely paid off because none of us got sick or ended up with the dreaded Coachella cough.

The only thing we did not plan for was the traffic. The last couple of years had been pretty chill, especially since it did not fully sell out, so this year caught us off guard. We ended up sitting in traffic for nearly three hours each day, which sadly meant missing some sets. Still, it gave us some funny memories, like Mishy trying to hold in her pee until she finally had to run out to find a porta potty.

Despite that, Coachella was so much fun. Highlights included KATSEYE, Sabrina Carpenter, BIGBANG, and Major Lazer (if you know, you know). But I have to give the biggest shoutout to Justin Bieber. My childhood self was screaming. The moment he played “Beauty and a Beat” made the entire weekend worth it. EVERYTHING HALLELUJAH FR.

Stephanie in LA

It felt like the birthday activities officially kicked off once Stephanie was in town. We ate so well and packed in so many fun things, including me fully making her adopt my lifestyle for the week. I took her to yoga with me, brought her to the office, and we made fun coffees and drinks together like it was our little routine.

The highlight, and definitely the most memorable moment, was when I forced Stephanie to take a dance class with me because it was on my bingo list. We signed up for an open-level afrobeats class, thinking it would truly be beginner-friendly. Even my friend who had attended as well as the owner had mentioned there would be people of all skill levels. That ended up not being the case at all. Everyone there was clearly advanced for this class, and to make it even worse, we joined right in the middle of the choreography. It was honestly a little painful since we are definitely not dancers. I felt shy, out of place, and slightly embarrassed trying to keep up. But by the end of it, I actually felt really proud of us for just showing up and sticking it through. It was one of those moments that was uncomfortable in the moment but funny and rewarding looking back. Cheers to checking things off the bingo list.

Birthday

Party

For my birthday, I decided to do pottery painting at Color Me Mine and even booked out the outdoor space for the party. I set up a little DIY photobooth, and overall it was such a fun and special way to celebrate. I will say, I did feel pretty overwhelmed and overstimulated at times, which tends to happen to me when I host, but looking back, I still had such a great time. Now I have this cute bowl that I painted, which feels like such a sweet little memory to keep from the day. More than anything, moments like this always leave me feeling both overwhelmed and incredibly grateful for all the people who show up for me.

Birthday Meals

I had so many yummy meals throughout this month, but a few really stood out. We started with dim sum before my birthday party, where I surprised everyone with those squishy dumpling blind boxes I kept seeing on TikTok, which felt very on theme. The food was so good, and I’ll always love a good dim sum moment.

Another favorite was trying a new Korean American restaurant on Sawtelle called Mulberry. I’m not usually the biggest fan of Korean American fusion, but this one completely changed my mind. Everything was so good, and shoutout to Stephanie for the amazing meal.

Lastly, one of the most memorable meals was the yakitori omakase my boyfriend booked for us at Gokigen Tori. It was such a fun experience because it combined sushi and yakitori, and overall it just felt like a really elevated, luxe night out.

Freebie Day

On my actual birthday, I decided to take the day off, especially since we got an extra PTO day this year specifically for birthdays. I figured there was no better way to spend it than to go on a little freebie food tour. I started the day by sleeping in, which I rarely ever do, and it already felt like a luxury in itself.

From there, we went to Boiling Point for a free birthday hot pot and drink, then stopped by Airoma for a free matcha. After that, we headed to Topgolf for a discounted hour-long game, and we even got free fries because they were testing their app, which felt like a fun little bonus. For dinner, we went to Habit Burger for another birthday freebie, and we ended the night with Yogurtland for dessert at a discounted price. It ended up being such a fun day filled with food, little wins, and so much joy, and honestly one of the best ways to spend a birthday.

Spa Day

Ever since going to a Korean spa during my birthday month last year, I knew I wanted to turn it into a tradition. So of course, I went again this year, and it was everything I needed. It was so relaxing to just spend hours unwinding, getting scrubbed and cleaned, eating good food, reading, and even playing games. We always end up playing Bananagrams, which has somehow become part of the experience, and of course, you have to get sikhye and roasted eggs as snacks. It felt like the perfect reset in the middle of such a busy and fun month. I love that this has become a new little tradition for me, and something I can look forward to every year.

Work

Work has been crazy as usual this month, but it felt a little sweeter than normal because I got my bonus. Moments like that always make me pause and reflect on everything I’ve accomplished. It still feels surreal that I’m making “big girl money” and able to do things I once dreamed about. Even though I know I still have a long way to go with my goals, I really love seeing the progress and taking time to appreciate how far I’ve come.

One of my favorite parts of that is being able to treat the people I love to good meals. I got to take my family out for Korean sashimi, which I feel like is so underrated. If you like sushi, you would absolutely love hwareo-hoe. It’s moments like that that make all the hard work feel worth it.

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Lows & Lessons:

For my lows and lessons this month, turning 29 has made me reflect on so many things. The older I get, the more I realize how much I have to be thankful for. I’m constantly reminded how important the people in my life are, because life truly would not be the same without them. I feel especially grateful for my family and friends who show up for me in such real ways, including Stephanie, who has come to LA to celebrate my birthday with me for the past five years. Honestly, it probably would have been six if it were not for COVID.

I’ve also been learning that life is tough, and it probably will always be tough, but you just have to face it and try to stay positive through it all. When it comes to my career, I’ve realized that as I continue to grow, even though I still feel like I’m just getting started, I can’t rely on external validation to define me. As much as I value being ambitious and hardworking, I don’t want what I do to become my entire personality.

I’m also learning to trust that things happen for a reason and to lean more into my faith, believing that God has a plan for my life even when I don’t fully understand it. I think I’ve always struggled with questioning whether I’m doing enough or if I’m a good person, and I’m starting to accept that maybe that’s not something I’ll ever fully have an answer to. Life isn’t about having everything figured out. It’s about what you learn along the way.

More than anything, I’m learning to feel more comfortable in who I am and to grow into a stronger sense of confidence within myself. For 29, I want it to be about truly cherishing my time and intentionally doing the things I’ve always wanted to do, without holding myself back.

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Songs on Repeat:

drop dead - Olivia Rodrigo

PINKY UP - KATSEYE

EVERYTHING HALLELUJAH - Justin Bieber 

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My Pick of the Month: Camp Snap Digi Film Camera

My pick of the month has to be this digital film camera I was gifted. I used to be such a film girly, and while I tried to pivot to digital, it never fully stuck. This feels like the perfect in-between, and I’ve been loving carrying it with me everywhere and capturing little moments again.

Also, a bonus pick of the month has to go to the mini cake from Haru Cake. It was lowkey so good and definitely deserves a shoutout too haha.

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Looking back, April really felt like a reminder of how full life can be when you lean into it. Between the birthdays, the food, the little adventures, and the time spent with people I love, it all came together in a way that felt grounding and joyful. Nothing about it needed to be perfect for it to feel meaningful. Everything Hallelujah feels like the right way to close it out haha a month that I can look back on with gratitude for the memories, the people, and the simple moments that made it all so special. Cheers to 29!

Talk to you next month,

-- Jin