10 of my favorite things this spring
including a fun new TV show, a clothes trading app, Michelin-starred granola, and other goodies
Hi, lovely people! I haven’t been sharing as much here lately because I’ve been devoting most of my creative energy to a new side project, which I’ll absolutely share more about when the time is right. But in the meantime, I wanted to share some things I’ve been loving this spring.
Ranked, for fun (but they’re all winners).
10. Renegade Nell on Disney+
When Freddy and I saw that there was a new fantasy series on Disney+ starring our favorite Derry Girl, we were intrigued. Then we started watching it and couldn’t stop. We finished it in a weekend and did little else. In other words, it is excellent and I’m begging you to watch it!
9. Jojoba oil
Do you read The Review of Beauty by Jessica DeFino? She takes down the beauty industry one post at a time, and it’s glorious. Reading her newsletter has significantly reduced my urges to buy new beauty and skincare products I don’t need. The one product Jessica swears by? Jojoba oil. I now use it as a face cleanser, makeup remover, and moisturizer (all at the same time). It maybe feels counterintuitive to clean your face with oil, and that took some getting used to, but now I love it and my face is happy.
8. CreativeMornings
I’ve neglected to mention here that starting last November, I joined the volunteer team for our local chapter of CreativeMornings! CreativeMornings is a global creative community with monthly free events featuring inspiring local speakers. It’s a delight. Oh, and there’s food. I’m biased, but I think you should find the chapter near you and check it out. You might just meet some rad people like I have.
7. Recognizing birdsongs
In January, I wrote about my goal to get into birdwatching. My progress so far has mostly looked like listening for birds on our daily walks and using the Merlin app to identify them. Only now, guess what! I don’t always need the app to identify them! It helps that most of the birds around us are robins, but still. I can recognize when the more unique blue jay and cardinal are around too, or a bird I haven’t yet heard. Look at me go!
6. The Lucky Sweater app
Over the past few years, I’ve worked on becoming a more sustainable and ethical shopper. I’m not perfect at it, but I try! Last year I found the Lucky Sweater app, which is for trading slow fashion, me-made, and vintage clothing (with thrift fashion to come) and connecting with like-minded consumers. I honestly don’t have many clothes to trade in the current categories, but I love the app for finding inspiration and discovering new-to-me brands. It’s free to use, and the community is so lovely and kind! I even made some new local friends because of it.
5. Eleven Madison Park granola recipe
In case you’re not married to a big-time foodie like I am or you’re not a big-time foodie yourself, Eleven Madison Park is a three-Michelin-starred restaurant that was once named the best restaurant in the world. So when I saw a nod to their GRANOLA (!) recipe in the comments of this Cup of Jo post, I took note. And I think I’ve made the recipe four times since. I wasn’t previously a granola person — it’s usually too sweet for me — but this granola is on another level.
4. The chore jacket of my dreams
For about three years or so, I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect chore jacket. What’s a chore jacket, you say? Basically it’s a boxy, oversized jacket with lots of pockets that someone who does physical labor might wear only now it’s a fashion thing (I’m sure
could write an amazing think piece about the rise of workwear in fashion). I finally found the perfect chore jacket for me and I snatched up the last one before it sold out. Serendipity! Oh, and it has now become synonymous with my personality and if you see me out of the house, I’m probably wearing it.3. Needlepoint
As I shared in my last post, Freddy and I got into needlepointing and it has been the most relaxing, easy hobby. Well, after two months and probably ~30 hours of my life later, I finished my first canvas! I’m so proud! It’s imperfect and I love it! I quickly ordered my next one because now I might be a little dependent on needlepointing to regulate my nervous system. Eventually I want to try designing my own canvas!
2. This quote
On repeat in my head lately, and something I’m continuously working on. @thecreativeindependent is such a great follow.
1. My mullet
Along with going pink in February (which has now faded), I also decided to let my hair grow out a little and give a pixie mullet a try. I have officially reached mullet status and I’m not sure if I’ve ever gotten more hair compliments! This style just feels right — I didn’t know my inner mullet was waiting for me all this time. To anyone secretly or not-so secretly considering a pixie mullet: I say GO FOR IT.
do tell
What have been some of your favorite (or least favorite) things this spring?
Love,
Such serendipity! Creative Mornings invited me to speak and I had no idea what it was. 😂 Have also opened tabs for the granola recipe and clothing swap app. I didn’t realize chore jackets were trendy, but that explains how I finally found my dream Monty Don gardening jacket without paying millions of dollars to ship from across the pond. 🥰
My favorite thing this spring has been playing with a digital compost heap using Obsidian. It’s brought me back to the basics and helped me find the connective tissue between my art process, my research, and this thing we’re all doing where we share things to find connection online. I’d been really overthinking it after going low key viral last year, but I’m finding ease and joy in it all again. 🌱
Love your favorite things lists and YAY for the CreativeMornings RVA mention!!