Lattes, Life & Luggage Guide to Spring
Happy 1st day of spring! Most people everywhere are rejoicing in the promise of warmer weather. Even me, the winter loving, fall sweater obsessed fanatic is looking forward to the change in seasons. But let’s get real for a second. I live in Chicago. If you’re in the northern hemisphere, while it’s certainly not winter anymore, spring is still about a month away. That is, the stereotypical flowers blooming everywhere and warm sunny day kind of spring. It’s nice to dream though, right? To be honest, I’m content holding on to my sweater weather a little longer and enjoying some 50 and 60 degree days before the bugs come out to play. It’s just nice to feel the sun warm your skin again. It’s also nice to have a few extra hours of sunlight for photography! All you fellow bloggers and creatives feel my pain on that one. Anyway, as much as I treasure my beloved fall and winter seasons, spring is here to stay and I’m not mad about not having to wear a coat all the time.
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THINGS TO DO…
- Stock up on some immune boosting tea. You may think I’m joking making this my first thing to do but hear me out. The change of seasons, especially here in Chicago, is very unstable. The weather bounces around and we get a second wave of the cold and flu. Keep the sniffles at bay, prep your body for those pesky allergies that are bound to act up, and just stay healthy. I love (and this is not sponsored in any way) the Immune Support Tea by Yogi or similarly, the Echinacea Plus Tea from Traditional Medicinals. Echinacea has immune boosting properties which is helpful when the weather doesn’t know what it wants to do and wreaks havoc on your body.
- Go shopping! I just got my latest Stitch Fix box (my personal way of adding to my wardrobe) and I love the transitional pieces my stylist included. Sweaters are still very much a part every day life with the cooler temps but I love the lighter tops you can pair with them on warmer days.
- Plan a long weekend trip and drive. Saving money for a long summer vacation but still want to getaway? Now is the perfect time to plan a mini road trip and take a long weekend somewhere. What’s one or two days off of work going to do? Give yourself a spring break. We got them in school! Look for a cute small town within a few hours driving distance or visit a nearby city. Whatever floats your boat!
- If you can, visit a local farmer’s market. The more we get into spring, the more that will become available. Fresh produce should be popping up soon and now is the best time to cook with all those colorful fruits and veggies. A few things in season include: asparagus, fava beans, peas, ramps, rhubarb, artichokes, mangoes, spring onions and strawberries. If there is one season I might love more than fall produce, it’s berry season and we’re coming up on it soon!
LISTEN TO…
You guys know I love a good playlist! One of the things I love doing as the weather gets a little warmer is have friends and family over for dinner. This is definitely a year-round activity but there’s something about the weather warming up that makes it a little more exciting. It also most likely has to do with the fact that I finally have new ingredients to work with after six months of winter produce. The second playlist is very much spring-focused with a completely acoustic soundtrack. It’s lighter, just like spring, but still happy.
GET IN THE KITCHEN…
Other than fall, spring is my favorite time of year to get in the kitchen. There’s a ton of fresh produce waiting to be turned into a meal. Everything is so bright and colorful and because it’s in season, it tastes amazing. Unfortunately, the farmer’s market in my hometown doesn’t begin until the end of April but there are plenty of markets in the city that offer seasonal and local produce. It’s a great way to cook seasonally, sustainably, and also support local small businesses while you’re at it. Here are some of my favorite spring-inspired recipes we’ve shared on the blog so far…
