spring has (kinda) sprung
what i’m looking forward to, ins/outs, moodboard, and spring reading list
We are only three months in, and the newness of the new year has already lost its magic. It’s time to chase the next big thing on the calendar. Let me introduce you to the new girl in town: Spring. She feels like a breath of fresh air, a mix of a flower market bouquet and freshly baked lemon madeleines. Her personality is vibrant, like a crisp morning, yet she will make you swoon with her easy smile. She doesn’t ask for much. She wants to braid your hair and help you get your sourdough starter ready. She’s the type of girl who doesn’t have a curfew, lingers past 6 p.m. thanks to daylight saving, and invites you for wine on the terrace or a reading session in the park while catching the sunset. She will slowly peel away the heavy layers on your back and wrap you in lighter fabrics and soft tones, making sure you stay warm with a touch of flair.
But don’t be fooled — Spring is a bit of a flirt, here one moment and gone the next. She’ll kiss you with golden sunlight in the morning, only to leave you shivering under an overcast sky by noon. She can be warm and affectionate but also has a moody side. Just when you think you can trust her, she changes her mind, trading blue skies for an unexpected drizzle. She is full of hope but sometimes also full of bullshit. One day, she’ll have you believing summer is just around the corner; the next, she’ll remind you that winter isn’t quite ready to let go. Still, even the gloomy days serve their purpose. After all, no rain, no flowers.
Over the years, I’ve learned that spring doesn’t always look the way I used to know it. When I lived in Toronto, spring was rather short-lived. April could still feel like winter, and then there would be a sudden shift in mid-May, coming out of nowhere. People would shed their long puffers for shorts and flip-flops overnight. It always amazed me how we could go from -10 to 10 to 20 degrees in the same month.
In London, spring felt a bit more familiar. I always looked forward to the magnolia trees in Victoria Park. To me, London is at its peak in spring, just as Edinburgh is in autumn. Speaking of Edinburgh, I’m unsure about spring’s authenticity here. Jacket weather is a year-round reality. There isn’t much of a surprise whether you visit in spring, summer, autumn, or winter. The temperature is rather consistent, and so is my wardrobe.
In the end, spring is more about what you make of it than what the season itself offers. It reminds me of when I visited Los Angeles in December 2017, shopping at The Grove with artificial snow falling on my shoulders. Christmas in LA is far from the traditional holiday picture, but you can still romanticise it — and that’s exactly what I’m planning to do this spring in Edinburgh.
I love to celebrate the seasons, pause to reflect on the months ahead, and write down a handful of things I’m looking forward to, ins/outs, inspirations, and all the usual :)
THINGS I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO
☐ the fresh scent of flowers on my dining table at all times
☐ sipping iced coffee while basking in the sun with a great book in hand
☐ the reopening of terraces – a glass of wine or beer in good company
☐ welcoming spring by keeping the windows open all-day
☐ the sun casting beautiful shadows inside my home
☐ seeing Edinburgh burst back into colour and visiting the Botanic Gardens
☐ catching the cherry blossoms in The Meadows and along Princes Street
☐ clear, starry skies at night and sunsets from the hills
☐ planning a trip, obsessing over a city for months in advance
☐ catching Tyler, the Creator in concert for the third time
✿ ins:
longer walks & reading outside – basking in the sun, losing track of time
slow, dreamy spring mornings – thank you, daylight saving <3
light layers & flowy fabrics – thin jackets, soft cardigans, skinny scarfs, and the return of skirts
bright & fresh flavours – all the berries, lemon & poppy seed cake, colourful salads (always taking inspiration from Love and Lemons recipes) & flemish-style asparagus (steamed asparagus with mashed boiled eggs and butter, what’s not to love?)
iced drinks – adding hibiscus to my grocery list and desperately looking for a matcha recommendation (thank you in advance!)
pink ballerina nails
refreshing my space – decluttering & switching up my wardrobe
growing a herb garden – for the aforementioned salads and asparagus
spontaneous day trips – a train ride to a nearby town, just to wander
trying new things just because – a new hobby, a new café, a new recipe
❀ outs:
letting the days blur into one – making small plans to break the routine
heavy layers lingering by the door – time for lighter fabrics & storing the chunky scarfs
wearing only neutrals – add a little spring colour (says the wearing-black-all-year-round gal!)
winter hibernation mode – longer days are here, I say no to burnout energy & rotting in bed
hot water bottle – thank you for all our wonderful winter nights together
positive procrastination – carving more time for creativity instead of finding proactive distractions (doing chores as distractions isn’t cutting it anymore)
rushing through meals – slowing down and truly enjoying every bite
comforting soups – don’t worry, I’ll still get my veggies in
porridge bowls – love you but we need a break as I experiment with new breakfast plates
MOODBOARD
With my moodboard, I’m manifesting a walk in the park, sitting on the grass or a bench with my takeaway coffee, reading a book while listening to the birds and basking in the sun. I want to eat colourful plates and bring back iced drinks.
Every season, I go through my usual seasonal reset and a slight wardrobe shift. As mentioned, in Edinburgh, you can easily wear the same wardrobe all year round due to the relatively stable climate. But spring is marked by putting the big coats away in favour of light jackets. Green is still very much on my mind, as we saw in my post the final stretch. My ideal palette is matcha green, baby blue, white, and denim, even though I’m still an all-year-round black outfit kind of gal. I’m also craving a pair of Mary Janes. This craving hasn’t left me for years, but I’ve never found The One until my eyes landed on the Sézane Violette Babies. I might need them.
I’m also thinking about a light home refresh, or more specifically, a bedroom refresh, with new bedding in baby blue or buttery yellow and light, flowy white curtains to invite the sun to join me at any time of the day.
What’s inspiring you this spring?
SPRING READING LIST
Lately, I’ve been craving inspiration - reading, learning, and watching things that make me think, ask questions, teach me something, and invite me to put pen to paper and let it flow. So, once again, I’m turning to my shelves, randomly picking books, looking for that spark.
dd's Umbrella by Hwang Jungeun (tr. Emily Yae Won)
Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen
La Papeterie Tsubaki by Ito Ogawa (tr. Myriam Dartois-Ako)
Les Années by Annie Ernaux (en: The Years)
Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura (tr. Philip Gabriel)
Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma by Claire Dederer
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson
Symposium by Muriel Spark
Under the Eye of the Big Bird by Hiromi Kawakami (tr. Asa Yoneda)
We Do Not Part by Han Kang (tr. E. Yaewon & Paige Aniyah Morris)
In the spirit of inspiration, I’ll let books guide me this season. Mood reading will remain my go-to, with library picks coming and going, but I love keeping a pile of possibilities within arm’s reach.
Spring always feels like a fresh start - a time to reset, romanticise the small things and ease into lighter, brighter days. What are you looking forward to this season? Any rituals, small joys, or spring reads on your list?
Until next time,
Amandine
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gorgeous words and gorgeous photos!!
Your pictures add such a breath of life in me!!! I loved this along with your writing <3