15 Things I’m Doing on the Nicest Days This Year!
when Spring motivates you to move forward … in the kitchen 🥳
No matter where you are on earth, the first days of spring are exhilarating.
I was in Mexico for 15 days earlier this month, and LOVED the daily 85 degrees. No shivering for 15 days! I was in heaven.
But then, back to the rain, back to 37-degree nights, back to putting on a vest, then a coat, to walk outside. 😔
Of course, that doesn’t last this time of year. Spring is about glorious warm days, followed by rain and cool weather. Over and over again as we inch toward summer.
And I love it. I do. Because:
Oh, the springs in the Pacific Northwest! I never had this color explosion living in Denver. Every plant is coming to life. Every tree is in bloom, with all the colors of the rainbow on display. Even the fields are GREEN! It’s gorgeous! (Even if I have to wear a coat.)
But I’m still dreaming of nicer days, days where my coat is permanently in the closet. Where summer rules, my garden is producing, and I’m spending most of my time outside. But for now, I’m finding ways to let the spring remind me of all that is to come.
Want to play along?
Bring in fresh flowers
I have fresh flowers in my house every day of the year. Yet springtime seems extraordinary to me, as you find local flowers are more available, and in some cases, you might have them growing in your own garden. Tulips and daffodils are everywhere right now. I love buying bouquets and placing them throughout the house to remind me - Spring is here! Choose motivating colors - your favorites!
Peek into all corners of the produce section
Rhubarb! I was so excited to find it at my local store the other day. I brought it home, and made my first rhubarb, mint cornbread of the season! Just another reason to LOVE the changing seasons.
Cleaning …
I see so many links to different ways to spring clean this time of year. And I’ll admit it, I’m in the mood, especially in my kitchen. Because … ants. They always make their appearance this time of year. And I DON’T LIKE THEM in my kitchen. This year, it’s one here, one there, and we can’t figure out where they’re coming from. I don’t like using chemicals, so we’ve been experimenting with more natural cleaning methods. Vinegar and water are supposed to get rid of their trails, so I’ve wiped down the cupboards and floors. Coffee grounds are good to use at entry points and in garden areas as they confuse their sense of direction. And a peppermint oil spray with 10-20 drops of peppermint essential oil with water in a spray bottle is good for windowsills, backsplashes, even inside cupboards.
Go for a walk
This morning, on my daily walk, I said hello to five people. Five! I was blown away that only five people were out enjoying a gorgeous morning. Gorgeous trillium were on full display - a rare treat here in the Pacific Northwest. The eagles were soaring, being chased by crows. The geese were LOUD, claiming their territory. Trees were budding everywhere - white, pink, and yellow flowers on full display. Breathing all that in can’t help but turn your day around.
Mandalas
Speaking of going for a walk, years ago, a coach led us on a discovery of getting more in tune with nature. While out on your walk, carefully select meaningful pieces of nature to build a mandala with. Mandalas are circular designs or patterns filled with ancient traditions, used as an instrument of meditation. While you build, you can find your own inner nature, and build your connection with Mother Earth. You may see these placed carefully in the sand on a beach, or tucked between trees in the forest. I love doing this, even with just a few token items I find on my walks, carefully placed along the way to get in tune with my place in the world.
Upgrade my chocolate chips
Here’s my secret: I keep chocolate chips in my cupboard for baking and to sneak a few here and there. (Because … chocolate.) Have you looked at the ingredients of the brand you buy? I consistently turn the bag around and study the list. Natural flavors are a NO for me. So is anything I can’t read or understand. (You’d be surprised at how many ingredients some chocolate chips have.)
Are chocolate chips great? No. They’re dessert. But living in our modern society means we can have occasional treats and enjoy them. I believe you just need to make them the best they can be. Upgrade your ingredients. Pick something you don’t want to purge from your kitchen. (Life isn’t fun without chocolate chips, right?) Find something “healthier,” and be happy with your decision. Mine currently have cacao, unrefined coconut sugar, and cocoa butter. Organic, of course.
Buy herbs
Yes, I’m lining my window sills with herb plants. I’ll eventually fill pots outside with them, but for now, they look so pretty sitting in my windows. They also motivate me to snip a few leaves here and there and use fresh herbs in my cooking. Or pop them into a drink for a refreshing taste. (I love growing my own mint for that purpose!)
Visit a nursery or garden center
Want a mood lifter? Step into a nursery or garden center. It’s filled with life, and I dare you not to bring something home.
Change out your tea
I love pumpkin spice in the fall, and gingerbread tea in December. But now is the time to move into a lighter, herbal tea.
Bring in lighter meals - hello, salads
While it might not be salad season yet, I do enjoy pulling out my favorite summertime recipes and using them for the first time on the nicest days. It’s a great way to get rid of the winter blues, and feel like nicer days are ahead.
Dig out your pretty dishes
I have a few pretty dishes, the ones I use out on the patio. They’ve been tucked away since last fall, since the final days of eating outside. It’s time to bring them back out, front and center in my cabinet, and get them ready for picnics and lingering meals we eat out on the patio.
Find new recipes
You have invested in some of the cookbooks I talk about in The Cookbook Club, haven’t you? If not, now is the time to review them and make your selections. I LOVE cookbooks, the process of pulling them off the shelf and turning to my favorite dishes. Like Healthy Made Simple by Ella Mills. It’s filled with 30-minute meals that are easy to cook, taste great, and are good for you too. It’s perfect for when you want to spend more time outside, enjoying the Gorgeous weather!
Pick new scents
I once read an article about a woman who changes her scent every few years. A whiff of a favorite scent can bring her back to particular points in her life, a way of associating scents with time periods. I love that idea. I’ve found Lotuswei, flower essences in usable form. Take the quiz and see what flowers motivate you today. You can buy aura mists, or elixirs to take directly. I love using them throughout my days - just a whiff can release any bad vibes, and turn my day around.
Remove one thing from your kitchen
You read about it all the time. Use water filters. Eliminate plastic from your storage containers. Buy knives that actually cut. Remove plastic cutting boards. Right now, focus on one thing. What’s your hot button for your kitchen? Do you really want better-tasting (and healthier) water? Are you ready to get rid of microplastic once and for all? Choose one thing. Just one. And commit to accomplishing it this spring. Just think how good you’ll feel the rest of the year!
Make a favorite recipe … Better!
Quick, what’s one recipe you wish you had? One you’ve fallen in love with at a restaurant? Or one you remember from your latest vacation? I challenge you to recreate it. I started doing this years ago when I first eliminated meat from my diet. We went to PF Chang’s, and I ordered the tofu lettuce wraps. They were Yum! So I went on a quest to duplicate it at home, and came up with a pretty good rendition. One my family loved. I’ve had fun replicating my favorites ever since. HINT: They don’t have to be perfect. You just have to find something that you enjoy cooking and eating! It’s a Gorgeous way to fall in love with a meal, and add a new one to your plant-based LOVE list!
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What a beautiful list to get ready for the spring? Made me feel light and springy immediately.
I’d love to know what the chocolate chips you found are that have simple ingredients.