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Spring is Around the Corner – Time for a Refresh
We’re having a little sunny snap in Minnesota and everyone is ditching their coats because it’s a balmy 37 degrees. Everything is relative, right? Trust me, after a week of subzero temps, it’s like a breath of fresh air to see the sunshine, the snow melt and the animals playing in the yard.
I thought it would be fun to share some of my Spring Refresh ideas to help everyone get through the last bit of winter and welcome spring.
Redecorate a sunny room. I put away my red and plaid winter pillows and blankets and pulled lighter colored pillows and blankets from around the house for our South facing front porch. Now when we get a sunny afternoon I have a cozy spot to drink a cup of tea and read a book.
Buy fresh flowers. You don’t need to spend a lot on flowers – I love posting my grocery store flower arrangements on Instagram. It’s also a great time of year to force paper white bulbs, buy a flowering plant like Jasmin or pick up a bunch of forsythia branches that will bloom with beautiful yellow flowers. Don’t forget a small vase of flowers on your nightstand. Every time I do this it makes me smile… so, why don’t I do it more often?
Find a new book set in a fun location for a little virtual travel. I love reading fictional books set in a location I would like to visit. I recently read many books by T.A. Williams set in Italy or France. (Guess where I want to travel now?) Lucy Coleman has light fictional books set in great locations as well. Check my previous blog post for more Book (and Cocktail) Recommendations.
Plan your summer garden – flowers and / or vegetable. This is a great time to look at Pinterest or online for new garden ideas. Even if you just plant flowers in a pot, it’s always fun to plan for a new color scheme or to try plants or planter groupings you haven’t used in the past. Just do a little pre-planning to make sure they’ll get the right amount of sun, shade, water, drainage, etc.
What are you doing to celebrate spring?
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Things I Love – #22
Every January there are a few items I find myself purchasing, usually related to refreshing or organizing my home for the remaining winter months. Click on the photos below or any blue words for more information.
Nest Bamboo Candle Candles – To replace the Christmas scents I’ve been burning since Thanksgiving, two of the scents I purchase every January are Orange Blossom and Bamboo from Nest Home Fragrances.
Brother Label Maker Brother Label Maker – I asked for a label maker for Christmas and I’ve really enjoyed making labels for all of my storage containers. Next Christmas, I’ll know exactly what’s in each storage container.
Nesco Food Dehydrator Food Dehydrator & Jerky Maker – Citrus is in season. So, for all my cocktail making friends, this is the time to dehydrate commonly used citrus like oranges, lemons and limes. Look at your grocery store for unusual citrus like pink lemons and blood oranges.
Glass Jars Glass Storage Jars – I love these borosilicate glass jars with airtight locking bamboo lids. They seal tight so your dehydrated citrus, coffee beans or whatever else you are storing will stay fresh. And, they look great on your counter.
Dog and Cat Collars with bowtie Dog Collars – The dogs needed fresh non-Christmas collars. I love the price point and the removable bows on these collars.
Cool Mist Humidifier Humidifier – I have this countertop humidifier in my kitchen. Our house is really dry in the winter and when I fill this in the morning, it will run the entire day.
Porcelain Ramekins Ramekin cups – We’ve been making a lot of charcuterie boards lately, and while I love using these silicone baking cups for nuts, fig jams, cornichons, etc., I decided to pick up a set of these white porcelain ramekins to switch it up.
What household items do you like to refresh in January?
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