SPRING IS FINALLY UPON US, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! We are officially two days into my favorite season, and I am welcoming it with open arms! Though the Carolina weather is still temperamental, warm days have been playing us close lately. All that's left to anticipate is the blooming flowers and the dreaded pollen that seems to cover everything.
Experiencing nature do its thing reminds me of all the things I admire about Spring-- flowers in bloom, birds chirping in the early morning, brighter colors in the wardrobe, and the longer-lasting sunny horizon. The weather is warm and beautiful, but not overwhelmingly so. Everything just feels so right about the Spring season, and perhaps that's why it's always been my favorite. Spring starts to feel like I'm in bloom, too.
While updating upcoming posts about beauty, fashion, reading, music and upcoming events, I thought it would be cool to once again share a list of the things I'm most looking forward to this season. Read after the jump to check out the 15 things I'm most hype about.
2. Park Hangs- One of my favorite things about warm weather is being able to hang out at various parks. I have a few favorites that I like to visit simply to enjoy the nature around me. Whether I'm walking down the nature trail, swinging as high as I can on the swing set, or enjoying my packed picnic lunch, hanging out at the park brings me so much peace. I look forward to being out there more often this season.
3. Beach Visits- While we're on the topic of the good outdoors, spending time outside most often translates to me going to the beach. If you've been here for a while or know me personally, you already know the beach is my favorite place to be. Hopefully I'll be spending lots of evenings watching the sunset out there for the next few months.
4. Bookstore Hopping & Crate-Digging- So many books by my favorite authors are being published in the Spring and I am so looking forward to book shopping! With Bibliotherapy in The Bronx by Emely Rumble, LCSW dropping in April, and both This Could Be Forever by Ebony Ladelle and Can't Get Enough by Kennedy Ryan dropping in May, I can't wait to add these beautiful books to my shelves! And of course, as I'm out shopping for books, I must also go crate-digging. My vinyl collection is steadily growing and I hope in these warmer months I can visit the record store more often.
5. Outdoor Concerts- As much as I love music, it's been quite a while since I've been to a concert. I've been looking up concerts for the upcoming season and a few have caught my eye. I'm purchasing my tickets now and look forward to seeing some of my favorite performers live! I've also been shopping for music festival attire so that I look and feel beautiful while I'm enjoying these outdoor concert series! I am thinking of hairstyles and accessories as I type!
5. Outdoor Concerts- As much as I love music, it's been quite a while since I've been to a concert. I've been looking up concerts for the upcoming season and a few have caught my eye. I'm purchasing my tickets now and look forward to seeing some of my favorite performers live! I've also been shopping for music festival attire so that I look and feel beautiful while I'm enjoying these outdoor concert series! I am thinking of hairstyles and accessories as I type!
6. Flowers in Bloom - There's nothing like watching flowers bloom all around the neighborhood and the country highways in the Spring. It reminds me that all that was dormant in the Winter can emerge anew. Admiring these flowers in bloom makes me want to go to my local nurseries and adorn my home with various flowers! I'll try not to go too overboard with the flowers, as I already have so many houseplants. But seeing all the color and life in flowers, reminds me that I'm still in bloom as well.
7. Trips to Public Gardens- For all the flowers that I cannot bring home, I can always visit the public gardens across the state to admire the beauty of Spring in bloom. I recently found one I love about 4 hours away and I can't wait to go back now that everything is starting to blossom and grow! I have to remember to bring my camera along with me this time to capture all the beauty through my lens.
8. Hanging With the Girls- When it starts getting warm, the ladies are always ready to be OUTSIDE! It doesn't matter if we're catching lunch with outdoor seating, attending a special event, or checking out any of the places above. I'm just looking forward to spending time bonding with my friends while the weather is nice out.
9. Spring Scents- The changing seasons usually inspires me to switch my go-to fragrances as well. While fall and winter calls for deep gourmands and spicy aromatics, spring makes me reach for light, fresh scents. This is when I wear floral, citrusy, and fruity scents. Nature is in bloom, bursting with fragrances that remind me of sunshine. So I love wrapping myself up in the likes of my beloved NEST Wild Poppy, Good Girl Blush, and (my tried and true) Chloe, among others.
10. Trips to the Drive-In Movie Theatre- So y'all. I have grown up seeing so many movies where people enjoyed drive-in movies throughout the seasons at their leisure. Being a girl from a small town, that's something I never thought I would be able to experience. As far as I knew, drive-in movie theaters only existed when my parents were teenagers. But recently, I found out there is, in fact, a drive-in movie theater about an hour away from me! I can't wait to check it out next month to see what the hype is all about!
11. Sundress and Short-Shorts Weather- Spring fashion is everything! One can dress in nice, flowy garments without having to cover up every inch of skin for warmth. I'm looking forward to pulling out the sundresses, flowy blouses, shorts, skirts, and sandals. And, of course, I'll be keeping my caps and cowboy hats in rotation when the sun gets to be a bit overwhelming.
12. Spring Beauty- This wouldn't be a genuine Drea post if I did not bring up beauty, now would it? I have been braking for bold lippies for as long as I had lunch money, so ain't nothing changed! I've started swapping out those muted, deep shades of lipstick for bold, vibrant ones. I might even pull out my neglected Juvia's Place eyeshadow palettes for those fun eyeshadow looks I've been wanting to do lately. Bright highlighters and vivid blush tones are making a comeback in my makeup bag, so be on the lookout for the details here and on my social media channels!
13. Making Beautiful Things With My Hands- Lately, I've been falling back in love with crafting. I love making beautiful things with my hands, so this Spring I look forward to more painting, jewelry making, and writing, per usual. Maybe I'll even try creating with a new medium. Stay tuned!
14. Getting Back into Baking- Since watching Megan Markle (thanks, Tia!) and Patty Brown bake on Netflix and social media, respectively, I've been itching to get back into baking. There was a time when I always wanted to bake a cake or decadent dessert for the kids. Nowadays, I just bake cheesecakes for the holidays and I barely enjoy them before they're gone! As a part of the slow-living I'm easing into, I'd like to get back into baking more regularly. I love taking my time in the kitchen making things with love for my family to enjoy. I know everyone around my way will appreciate this new sweet tooth I've rediscovered.
15. Celebrating My Birthday- Last, but most certainly not least, I will be celebrating my 40th birthday this Spring. And unlike previous years, I'm pretty excited about celebrating! 40 is a huge milestone birthday, so I want to make sure I am celebrating exactly as I see fit, surrounded by people who genuinely love me and care about my overall wellbeing. I don't have any official plans yet, but I do have a few ideas. While part of me loves to plan things down to a T, another part of me wants to go with the flow and feel the vibe of it all. How do you celebrate milestone birthdays? Do you celebrate alone or celebrate with those closest to you?
There is so much fun to be had during spring and I am excited about it all. Whether you enjoy park hangs, walks in nature, or spending times with your loved ones while the weather is nice out, Spring always has something magical to offer. So, as the flowers bloom and the sun sets later in the evenings, I will be more intentional about basking in it all. I'll also remember to bring my camera along to share all the fun with you guys here and on my socials.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS SPRING?
