Tag Archives: springtime

Hello Spring! It’s time to come out of hibernation.

There’s just something about spring that lifts our spirits as we say goodbye to gray winter days and hello to blooms, blossoms, and all things green. With longer days, warmer weather, and increased activity all around, our moods naturally improve and we look forward to what’s ahead.

While Mother Nature is doing her thing outside, it’s the perfect time for us to get a jump-start on the season and think about how we can also refresh. Here are some things you can do now to spring into spring.

Spring cleaning. On warmer days, open your windows and air out the house to get rid of that winter stuffiness. And once you have that old air out it’s time for a deep clean including behind the furniture and into all those cracks and crevices. It’s a lot of work but the outcome will give you that satisfying feeling of freshness and renewal.

Refresh yourself. Winter can be harsh on our skin and hair so consider getting a facial and a deep conditioning hair treatment. Spring is also the perfect time to try a new hairstyle. If all these things aren’t in your budget, give yourself a spa day at home. There are plenty of products you can purchase for much lower prices than what professionals charge that will give you close to the same results.

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Switch out your wardrobe. Put away those bulky sweaters, winter coats, hats, scarves, and mittens. It’s time to get out the fun florals and lightweight clothing and it’s always nice to add a few new items to your wardrobe. And don’t forget you need new spring pajamas too!

Car Detail

Get your car detailed. All the salt, sand, dirt, and other icky things that come with winter have taken up residence inside your car. Find a local business that does detailing on vehicles and give your car a little love. There’s nothing better than getting into a freshly detailed vehicle.

Don’t forget the pets. Your furry friend had a long winter as well and they would love a little pampering. A bath and a haircut (for long-haired animals) give them that spring in their step and they will be oh so thankful as the warm weather comes around.

Butterfly

Clean up outside. Your yard is likely full of things that weren’t there in the fall. Get the whole family together and make a game of cleaning it up. Try contests like whoever fills a bucket 1st, picks up the most sticks, or spots the 1st butterfly wins a prize. If you make yard clean-up fun, it will get done a lot faster.

Spring Walk

Take walks. When the weather is crummy we tend to just stay indoors and hide. With warmer days here, you have no excuses. Get out and walk. Enjoy the sun on your face, the fresh air in your lungs, and take in the transformations going on around you.

lawnmower

Prep outdoor needs. This is the best time to get a tune-up on your lawnmower, make sure your batteries are charged, the patio furniture is clean, and your barbecue grill is ready to go. It won’t be long till the weather is consistently beautiful so prepare in advance and you won’t be rushing around when you want to enjoy your backyard.

Plan Summer

Think ahead to summer. Even though we’re barely into spring, summer will be here before you know it so think about planning your vacations, kid’s activities, and other details for when school gets out now.
Do you have a routine that you follow when spring arrives? Share it with us below or tell our community on our Facebook page!

7 ways to get ready for spring

It’s almost time to put another winter behind us. Every day we’re seeing a little bit more daylight, the temperatures are starting to rise, and signs of spring are starting to pop up everywhere.  There’s something about the fresh start spring brings that just makes us feel so great!

When that first perfect day hits, you’re going to want to spend time outdoors enjoying the nice weather. With a little prep, you can ensure that you’ll need less time for work and more time for fun!banner daphne

Rotate clothing– We won’t need heavy sweaters or winter wear for much longer so start washing and storing the really wintry stuff now. At the same time, start pulling out your spring clothes so you don’t have to sift through your wardrobe to find the right outfit on that first 70-degree day. Don’t forget about your spring pajamas… lighter fabrics with floral prints are perfect for setting that spring mood.

January Seeds

Start thinking about your garden. Do you grow vegetables? Do you love having a yard full of flowers? With more people spending time at home, gardening has become a hot new hobby. This caused many greenhouses and nurseries to run out of stock early last spring and many people were unable to purchase plants. To make sure, that you have everything you want to grow this year, why not start seeds indoors? Empty cardboard eggshell cartons are a great way to keep your seeds separate and nurture them until you can plant them outside.

Skincare products

Springtime skin and hair care. Cold dry air in the winter requires a different skincare routine. We typically use heavier moisturizers, and a lot of people don’t use as much sunscreen during the winter months. As the humidity and UV levels rise, you’ll want something lighter with sunscreen. The same thing applies to your hair care routine. In the warmer months, you may not need a super-moisturizing shampoo or thick conditioner. Pick up what you’re going to need now so you’re not in the checkout line when you should be enjoying yourself.

Cleaning Blinds

Start thinking spring cleaning. De-cluttering and refreshing your home feels great! There’s nothing like opening your windows on a beautiful spring day and kicking the winter dust and stale air to the curb. Even if we’re not quite there yet, you can start the cleaning part now.  Go through closets & cupboards and start throwing things away. Pull out that furniture in low traffic rooms to vacuum and dust.  Then when that perfect window opening day comes, you can tackle the main parts of your home.

Furry Friend

Don’t forget about your Furry Friends. If you have pets, chances are they’ve got a full, thick winter coat right now. As the weather warms, they will start to lose that hair. You can be proactive now and make sure to brush and comb them regularly to start thinning that hair out, or you can wait and clean it up daily from your furniture, clothes, and floors. We recommend option A.

Pedi

Get a pedicure. It’s almost flip-flop season! Need we say more? Make sure those little piggies are ready to come out of hibernation by getting a pedicure now!

Exercise

Start exercising now. If your new year’s resolution to start exercising fell by the wayside in week 2, now’s the time for a resolution reboot. Short and tank top weather is knocking on the door and you want to look your best. Start exercising to shed that quarantine AND winter weight.

You’ll find this to be a great start. Happy spring! Bring on birds, blossoms, and tree buds.

Gardening: The Hottest Hobby Around

As many continue to follow stay at home orders, nurseries and greenhouses are reporting a huge uptick in sales. It seems that gardening has become a very popular hobby.

Aside from enjoying beautiful blooms, or the satisfaction that comes from growing your own veggies and fruits, gardening also has both physical and mental health benefits for people of all ages.

The process of planning, creating, and planting gardens gives your brain stimulation and helps you forget about the stress you may have in your life. Gardening connects us to nature and allows us to focus on the entire process. Your finished product then continues to give back two-fold: It provides an ongoing outlet for stress relief as you maintain it, and the end result is a soothing environment that you can enjoy and decompress in for the entire season.

The physical aspects you gain from gardening have tremendous health benefits. To begin with, gardening releases serotonin and dopamine in our brains, otherwise known as the “feel good” chemicals.  A 2007 study showed that working with soil just makes us happier. A bacterium in soil called Mycobacterium vaccae triggers serotonin release, which in turn lifts mood and reduces anxiety. The human body also benefits from the vitamin D we get from the sun and the fresh air we inhale. These elements give you energy, build immunity, cleanse your senses, and help you sleep better.  Plus… you’ll find that you eat more fruits and vegetables because you have them right on hand. It’s surprising how much more delicious they really are when picked fresh!

The best thing about gardening is that you can have one regardless of where you live. Here are some popular methods for creating your very own garden getaway.

Apartment or Condo Living: You don’t have to have a huge back yard or acres of farmland to surround yourself with nature. Urban patio gardens, for instance, come to life with hanging planters, raised beds, and oversized pots. You can grow just about anything from flowers to vegetables in these receptacles so don’t be afraid to experiment

Small City Lots: If space is an issue, consider a leveled garden and using window boxes to maximize your growing area. You’d be surprised at how many varieties of botanicals, vegetables, and herbs don’t need a lot of room to flourish. Did you know you can turn an old dresser into a beautiful vertical garden? It’s the perfect way to repurpose an unwanted piece of furniture.

Subdivision Spaces: If you live in a subdivision, there is a good chance you have a Home Owners Association that has some guidelines you’ll have to follow. Find out what those are before you start planting because it’s common for HOA’s to limit gardening spaces to side or back yards only. With a little creativity however, that’s plenty of room to grow your garden paradise.

Wide Open Spaces: If you’re fortunate enough to have a larger property where the sky’s the limit you’ve got yourself a gardener’s paradise. Containers, levels, flower beds, hanging baskets, and more can all be worked into your creation. The possibilities are endless so use your imagination. Let both ideas you find online and your local garden center provide inspiration and don’t be afraid to try different things.

The weather is getting warmer so get out your gloves, shovels, and fertilizer and join the growing population of home gardeners. Your new space will be the perfect place to have your morning coffee or evening cocktail, spend family time, and eventually start entertaining again! It’s also the ideal place to just lounge in your pajamas!

 

Happy gardening!

 

We want to see your garden creations! Post your pictures here or visit our Facebook page and let’s see how you enjoy paradise!