Is it painted toenail season yet? Asking for Spring Me 🦩

How to get ready for the seasonal changeover.

I always have hope that March 1 is the beginning of the end of Winter.

Don’t get me wrong, I love winter. I love everything about it. Turtleneck sweaters, puffy coats, stocking caps, fluffy socks, and corduroy.

I’m even good with snow, although I understand how controversial that is.

You will say that I don’t know about snow because I live in Portugal now, but I will remind you that I grew up in Indiana and have actual memories of the Blizzard of ‘78 and they are really good memories. And you will say that’s because I was a child in 1978 and didn’t have to slog to the office through 10 foot snow drifts wearing high heels. And you are not wrong.

Me and my sister standing in front of our house, which you can’t see because the snow has covered it up. That’s my gramps, who just dug a tunnel through the snow to our front door, standing in the street looking at us and admiring our snowsuits, which undoubtedly were the height of fashion.

Perhaps you are also filled with the hope of the beginning of the end of Winter? When the light stretches a little longer, the sun shines a little warmer, and the wind doesn’t feel like it’s trying to rip all the hairs out of your head when you exit the building.

This in-between is when I start to remember that Winter Me is not the same person as Spring Me.

Winter Me is cozy and bundled and black turtlenecked all the way up to my chin. Spring Me wants to breathe fresh air and feel the sunshine on my face and paint streaks of Essie’s “Bizarre You Ready” all over my toenails.

Winter Me hunkers and hibernates. Spring Me stretches and starts new things.

Winter Me craves dark chocolate cake with rich, sugary frosting. Spring Me longs for lightness.

March 1 has me thinking about who I’ll be this Spring. Or to be more accurate: The kind of person I want to be this Spring. And how I can get my home set up to support and inspire her.

Which means I’m making lists. Because who doesn’t love a good list.

Here are the lists I’m making:

• Things I can’t wait to do when the sun shines.

• Things I’d love to do on a rainy day.

• People I want to hang out with.

• Things I want to learn how to do. Like cake decorating and tap dancing and some other stuff that is not nearly as ridiculous. Or cool.

• Food I want to eat. Which is basically a list of things that are not soup. And strawberries I want to buy the minute big, red, juicy ones hit the market.

• Clothes and outfits I want to wear. Because I love me a turtleneck, but I am yearning for the day I can slip into my lavender satin skirt and white tank top and get some sun on my shoulders while browsing the antiques market on Saturday.

• Things around the house I’d like to get done. Note: I did not say chores I will do. This is more of a wish list than a to-do list. And it includes things like rearrange the living room and maybe get a couple of those really nice looking moroccan-style poufs so I can invite more than 2 people over for Martini Thursdays.

• Things I’d like to accomplish in my business. (Because if I’m gonna buy some poufs …)

• Books I’d like to read. Fun books! Educational books! All the books!

• Places I’d like to go. Near and far.

Why am I making these lists?

Because the seasonal changeover is coming.

The day we get to put away our flannels and our heavy coats and our big, bulky, blankets. The day we take the fluffy socks out of the drawer to make space for our summer pajamas. The day all of our skirts and dresses get brought to the front of our closet where they can breathe and we can see them. The day the lasagna pan goes in the back of the cupboard and the salad spinner goes on the counter. (Just kidding. We’re not making that many salads or giving up on lasagna just because it’s warm outside.)

Some people think the seasonal changeover is just about being tidy. Or practical. Or decorative with the pastel door wreath.

But it’s not.

This isn’t just swapping sweaters for sundresses. It’s about something bigger.

It’s about showing up for yourself and creating an environment for the most glimmering version of your life to thrive in whatever season you’re currently in.

It’s about making sure that you have what you need to succeed in that season.

It’s about having a home that reflects you. Because you are living there. In this season of your life.

This is why I’m making lists.

Because my lists tell me what Spring Me wants to do. Which tells me who she wants to be. Which is what I need to know at seasonal changeover time. So I can create a home for her to begin and end every day feeling like the kind of woman whose pedicure screams Bizarre You Ready.

I’m not ready yet, Essie. But I will be. It’s only the beginning of the end of Winter.

Your friend who will only choose nail polish with a cool name,
Winter Vivian (but hopefully only for another month?)