Spring Things

Daisy-chains, a vibey moodboard, the Norwegian postal service, and lots of other goodies.

Apr 22, 2026

“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.” — Rainer Maria Rilke

These past few weeks have come together like a daisy-chain… sweet little moments plucked from a vast meadow and woven into something beautiful. We had a bonfire under the stars in the backyard, I finished my first quilting project, put together a vibey mood board, and spent lots of time with friends and family. Plus, you know, the sun actually came out!

Over the equinox weekend, I let go of a lot of things that were no longer inspiring me. Books that have been sitting on my TBR pile forever but I continue to neglect—gone. Clothes I never reach for—bye bye! Pantry items I bought long ago but never feel like cooking—see ya. I packed up a bag for the food bank, a few more for Value Village, and sold a surprising amount on Marketplace. With my spring cleaning cash, I was able to replace a few pieces in my closet, have a few items tailored, and upgrade some basics. Everything feels lighter—both in my space and my mind.

Here’s how the past few months went…starting with the song I have on repeat. Cannot wait for the rest of her album to drop in May!

Square by square…with my loyal companion.

I hosted a baby shower for a dear friend, which finally gave me the motivation to finish my first quilt! Since baby quilts are significantly smaller than bed-sized ones, it was the perfect starting point for me. I started with four sheets of super-soft organic cottons—cut those up into 189 pieces—then sewed them back together into one cosy blanket. What a bizarre and wonderful thing to do. It might have been easier if I followed a pattern, but I decided to make my own. I hand drew my design on paper and had Scott draft up the design and measurements on AutoCAD at work. I have to say, I’m really proud of the outcome.
We went to see Project Hail Mary in theatres for date night. I laughed, cried, and swooned over Ryan Gosling—it was wonderful. I’m also loving Margo’s Got Money Troubles (as someone who read the book). What have you been into watching lately?

Lauren’s List Vol. 32

House of my dreams.
Always love fun word facts.
Replacing meditation with vagus nerve stimulation sounds cool.
Got a new lip gloss for the season and love it.
Listened to this audiobook—quirky and enjoyable, but glad I didn’t buy the hardcover.
Enjoyed this essay on community.
Actual footage of me listening to Celine on my lunch break…lol.
Also this and this gave me chills.
These poplin pants and this sweet top are in my cart…
Fun animal memory game.
A lovely cotton pool towel, this charm, and the coolest lamps.
Finally bought this car holder for my wide water bottle—should have done this years ago!

Recent Reads:

Long Live the Post Horn! by Vigdis Hjorth (2020, Translated from Norwegian). This was a cool one to read—and one I will likely return to. The story follows a Norwegian woman working in public relations who becomes unexpectedly involved in a campaign to save the postal service, slowly pulling her out of isolation and emotional detachment. “What do we do with our despair if our lives are too small to contain it? Deny our despair and ignore our beating hearts, remain at odds with ourselves and fight ourselves, or…teach our brains to illuminate our hearts and help us live with contradictions that can't be cancelled out and become open to the idea that being a mere mortal is enough, more than enough in most respects, and once we're alive, try to live with gratitude and passion rather than shame and paralysis.” I’ve already picked up a few other novels by this author—recommend.
The Hours by Michael Cunningham (1998). This Pulitzer Prize–winning novel is closely tied to Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. I had every intention of reading them both, but after several attempts, I had to DNF Mrs. Dalloway. I was, however, able to enjoy Cunningham’s rendition. The story follows three interconnected women across different timelines—a day in the life of Virginia Woolf writing her novel, a 1950s housewife as she reads Woolf’s novel, and a present-day woman planning a party in a way that closely echoes the main character in Woolf’s novel. It’s a subtle reflection on inner life, loneliness, and the tension between the lives we live and the ones we imagine for ourselves. It took a bit of context for me to fully appreciate, but I’m really glad I stuck with it.
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (2026). I’m only halfway through this one, but it’s been an easy, engaging read. The story follows a social media “tradwife” influencer whose perfectly curated life unravels when she suddenly wakes up in the 1800s—forced to confront the reality of the lifestyle she’s been romanticizing online. The reviews are hit or miss, and I’m trying not to pick up too many buzzy new releases, but I simply couldn’t resist this premise. I’ll report back once I’m done.

Of course, with the change in seasons came a brand new mood board. Can you tell where we’re headed for our holiday in a few weeks!? This one feels especially fresh and vibey—I love the way these boards shift the atmosphere of my office. This time around I’m channeling art galleries, Scandiavian cafes, soft lighting, pilates, and fresh air.
I’ve been making this ginger-lime chicken with shiitake mushrooms and cilantro rice on repeat. It’s warming, but still light enough for the season. I’ve also been making simple salads with local greens, mini cucumbers and snap peas—topped with blueberries, pumpkin seeds, and a quick champagne vinegar/evoo dressing. This simple pasta has also been great, and a classic avocado toast (with flaky salt, sesame seeds, and chili flakes) has found its way back into my routine.

You may remember me mentioning the video game my husband has been working on—a dinosaur-themed time-travel cooperative mission. Well, we were invited to a birthday party for one of his co-founders, which turned out to be a private tour through Dino Lab. It was far more educational and impressive than I expected—I got to see one of the world's largest and most complete T. rex skeletons (and hold one of the bones!). A fun experience if you have kiddos and find yourself in the area (Victoria, Canada).
Hurra! I hit the 100-day streak on Duolingo learning Swedish. 🇸🇪 Apparently it’s one of the easiest languages to learn for English speaking people. I personally find it much easier than my attempts at Italian.
And lastly, some art I’ve been loving lately:

‘The Telephone’ (1996) - Oil on canvas by **Isabel Quintanilla**.

‘Bauerngarten’ (1907) - Oil on canvas by **Gustav Klimt**.

She Sells Seashells (2024) - Oil on canvas by **Alli Conrad**.

I hope you’ve had a daisy-chain start to spring. Thank you so much for reading and as always, I would love to hear from you!

Please send me your top recommendations for Copenhagen, Stockholm, & Oslo. We’ll be there the first two weeks of June.
What’s one thing you’ve reset or let go of this spring?