spring is here and i hate it
Unpopular opinion: Spring is my least favorite season. For many, it symbolizes new beginnings. The mornings are crisp and dewy, the afternoons sunny, and just enough rainy days sprinkled in to feel cozy. It’s the season for picnics with friends, taking your coffee outside, and fresh-picked flowers on the kitchen table. Oh, how I wish I could live in this version of spring, but here in Oklahoma, spring means tornadoes and allergies. The weather’s already climbed above 80°, which worries me for the summer ahead, and the bradford pears are in full bloom. If you’re lucky enough to live in an area that’s not plagued by these bastard trees, their potent aroma is most often compared to the scent of fish and cum.
Despite my (completely justified) prejudice for this season, I’m still trying to make the most of it and appreciate its beauty when I can. Even when the horrors persist, I will always try to curate a vibe.
to read:
My spring TBR is full of nostalgia. I’m channeling kid lit, classics, fairies, and cozy illustrations.
Brambly Hedge by Jill Barklem- Oh, to be a little mouse living in the forest.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett- A childhood classic.
The Doll in the Garden by Mary Downing Hahn - A dark and magical ghost story.
Phoebe Wahl books - These are the most beautifully illustrated picture books you’ll ever lay eyes on. Sonya’s Chickens, Backyard Fairies, and Little Witch Hazel are all perfect for spring.
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - Spring in the English countryside.
The Complete Fairy Tales of Oscar Wilde - Fantastical and melancholic.
Rainbow Magic series - My theme this spring is fairies.
to watch:
Bambi (1942)
Tinkerbell (2008)
The Princess Bride (1987)
Pride and Prejudice (2005)
Notting Hill (1999)
Ratatouille (2007)
Ghibli movies - They all have such a springy vibe to them with beautiful drawings of fields and flowers, but I think the most fitting Ghibli movies for spring are My Neighbor Totoro (1988), The Secret World of Arrietty (2010), and The Wind Rises (2013). I would also argue that Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989) is well-suited for both autumn and spring. A cute, cozy story about a witch and her black cat is perfect for halloween, of course, but the film is also full of springtime greenery with its ivy-covered buildings and an overgrown cottage in the woods.
to eat:
Spring really shines in its flavors. It always has me craving fresh, light, and local foods, especially breakfast foods. I want iced coffees, fruit tarts, pastries, and french toast with berries and whipped cream.
Seasonal fruits and veg - Apricots, arugula, asparagus, blackberries, broccoli, cherries, fennel, garlic, lemons, mushrooms, plantains, scallions, spinach, strawberries.
Iced matcha - With vanilla, lavender, or strawberry. <3
Iced lavender lattes - Anyone who says it tastes like grandma perfume is severely misguided.
Lemonade with raspberry jam - My favorite warm weather treat.
Blueberry scones - Best enjoyed with a white chocolate mocha, hot or cold.
Strawberry spinach salad - Pair this with a club sandwich for the ultimate spring/summer lunch.
Lemon bars - I’m usually more attracted to a chocolatey treat than a citrus one, but I’ve had such an intense craving for lemon bars lately.
Spaghetti carbonara - Paired with an arugula salad for a quick and easy dinner.
Lemon poppyseed pancakes - Would go so well with blueberry compote.
Omelet with fresh herbs - I do love my springtime breakfast.
White fish with lemon - Spring is seafood season, in my book.
Mushroom risotto - Wouldn’t this make the perfect date night dinner?
Homemade pizza - With fresh basil.
Fruit with orange vanilla drizzle - I wish I had a recipe, but this comes from a local cafe.
to do:
Wander the botanical gardens.
Visit a tulip field.
Wear breezy, flowing dresses—no pants!
Eat breakfast (actually, all your meals) outside.
Take off your shoes and socks and wade in the creek.
Make a playlist! I’ve been enjoying spring has spronk from fellow Substack creator Stella Bloom aka lesbian gwyneth paltrow.
Press flowers between books—bonus points if you make a collage with them afterwards.
Visit your local farmer’s market.
Display fresh flowers on your kitchen table (preferably from said farmer’s market).
Do some natural dyeing! My friend Jenifer and I recently experimented with dyeing kitchen towels using acorns, avocado pits, black beans, and onion skins. Some turned out better than others, but it was the perfect way to spend our drizzly weekend.
Make a Pinterest board.
Brighten up boring empty lots in your city with seed bombs, but make sure you use wildflower seeds that are native to your area!
Have quiet movie nights during thunderstorms.
Cast spells on yourself to turn you into a fairy.
Fun fact about my lore, when I was around nine years old I got really into fairies and mermaids and magic potions, as you do when you’re a whimsical kid, and I would use our family iPad to google spells to turn myself into a fairy or mermaid. Alas, they never quite worked, and I got in sooooo much trouble once my super-Christian mother discovered that I was dabbling in witchcraft.
Well, wish me luck surviving the spring! As long as I don’t get swept up by a tornado, we’ll call it a win.
You can find more of me on Instagram, Pinterest, Spotify, and Goodreads. Please consider supporting my work by becoming a paid subscriber, or leaving a tip. <3
