Hello Spring!
Spring is one of my favorite seasons for many reasons. The sun comes back out of hiding, the days are longer and new signs of life can be seen everywhere! Living in the great state of Michigan, the winters are long and so all of these are welcomed experiences. This year, we experienced a pretty mild winter with very minimal snow but if you know the mid-west, the grey skies can really do a number to your physical and mental health. No matter how the winter treats us, I am always eager to get a head start on preparing for the official switch of the seasons and so I want to share with you 3 easy ways you can welcome the spring season!
Out with the old and in with the new!
Growing up, I remember being a little girl and knowing it was officially spring by my mom's massive declutter session. It was something we dreaded as kids!! Waking up on one of the first warm Saturday mornings of the season with my mom's cleaning music booming from the living room, we just knew we were in for a long day of decluttering. Our blended family had 5 kids and if you know what it's like to come from a big family, this is no small task and more than likely a task that is a whole weekend long project.
A lot of times, we knew neighbors were doing the same because as soon as the warm weather peeked it's head in, it was yard sale season and all of the decluttered objects essentially went from one man's trash to another man's treasure. As I've gotten older, I have learned to fully appreciate taking the time to see what no longer fits, what is no longer in style and what simply no longer has a home in my house. It almost feels like a rebirth or cleanse and leaves me feeling extremely accomplished. Now with four kids of my own, it's a constant game of "who can wear what" and if we don't have an answer, we donate. Spring is the perfect time to make what can be a daunting task of reevaluating your things become a way to welcoming growth in the new season.
Let's get fresh!
The most natural thing to do after a good ole fashioned declutter session is to freshen up the house with a big cleaning sesh! I know what you're thinking, cleaning is a chore most of us loathe (or maybe just me?) but there is something about a deep clean after having made space in my home. One of the first things I do to freshen up the house when the warm weather approaches is turn off the heat and open up a window. As soon as it clears 50 degrees, the sound of spring becomes the soundtrack of our home inside and you'll find all of the windows propped open.
Aside from my normal cleaning routine, I find Spring to be the perfect time to switch out my candle scents and multi-purpose cleaning scents from cozy to fresh themes. While I love me a good cozy scent, I get so excited for the florals, linens and citrus scents to make their debut. The fresh scents along with a cool spring breeze from the open windows can make any house feel ready to take on the new season.
A taste of spring!
Now I'm a foody girlie and I don't discriminate a good recipe regardless of the season. There is nothing like a delicious bowl of chili on a cold winter day to warm my soul. But as the weather gets warmer, I do find myself craving fresh ingredients to make lighter recipes. I'm not sure if it's because I become more active as the weather warms up but being outside more definitely changes my tastebuds. When I think of spring, I really enjoy recipes infused with strawberries, lemons and limes and pairing them a good light cheese like feta.
Where I live, one of my favorite places to go to take advantage of these new recipes is the local farmer's market. We have a few that are seasonal but the bigger ones like in Grand Rapids are all year round. Making a stop at the start of spring, you are sure to find something special like a delicious lemon tart or chicken salad that really makes you feel like the warm weather is here to stay.
These are just a few ways that I like to welcome spring. What are some of your favorite ways to welcome in spring?
