The 2019 Spring Bucket List

Dear spring, is that you? Here in England spring’s arrival is more of a hot and cold confusion than a grand entrance, but nonetheless; signs of a new season are appearing everywhere you look. This might just be my favourite time of year, if only for the sheer gratitude I feel to be done with a long, cold norther hemisphere winter (I never really appreciate spring until I moved from Australia to England 10 years ago) – so I don’t want to waste a moment of this beautiful season. Consider this your field guide to an especially lovely spring:

1. Go blossom hunting // Without a doubt, my favourite thing about spring is the sheer abundance of flowers – cherry blossoms, wisteria, lilac, honeysuckle – that line the streets. Because the season for each one is so fleeting, my friend Brenda (the only person I know who loves flowers as much as me) and I are making a fun tradition of meeting for blossom walks every couple of weeks to see each variety at its best. It’s such a fun way to make the most of the beauty of this season, whilst also seeing a friend and getting your daily steps in.

2. Host a spring brunch for your girlfriends // Dinner parties can be intimidating to host, but brunch is so much easier. Find a weekend when your friends are all around, dress up your table with spring flowers, make a batch of mimosas and a favourite dish – I like something like French toast or shakshuka (this is my favourite) that you can make the night before and that can then just put in the oven when everyone arrives. You’ll feel like Martha Stewart with minimal effort.

3. Spring clean your entire house // Whether you’re an organised clean freak like me, or completely mess prone, there are few things more satisfying than the ‘after’ results of a really good spring cleaning season. Block out an entire day or an hour every evening for a week to clean your house from top to bottom – focusing on those hidden spots you never clean, as well as being ruthless about clearing clutter as you go. Throw the windows open, make a cup of tea, put on your favourite music, and do just one task or area at a time to make it feel as painless as possible.

4. Find the best ice coffee in town // I love coffee more than it loves me, but I am powerless against the joy of a really good iced latte (I’d drink 7 a day if my body would let me). I’m grateful that thanks to the prevalence of Australian cafes and American tourists, it’s finally a ‘thing’ in London, so I’m on a hunt to find the best one in town. Whatever it is you love – iced tea, green juice, easter buns – make it a fun challenge to sample all the best ones in town and find your favourite.

5. Plan a long weekend somewhere // I’ve just booked a long weekend trip to Paris to visit a friend (it’s one of my happy places in the spring), but I’m also hoping to visit Rome with my husband. Why not plan a trip somewhere you’ve never been or someone you just love returning to. It can be two countries over or two towns over, but sometimes a brief getaway from your daily life is as good as a real vacation.

6. Buy yourself a new dress that makes you feel amazing // If there’s one thing spring cleaning taught me, it’s that I don’t need any more clothes. I don’t think a new season ever warrants an entirely new wardrobe, but there is something about buying one or two beautiful new pieces that transform your existing wardrobe. Whatever it is that makes your heart flutter (for me it’s feminine midi dresses), treat yourself to one really great version that makes you feel good the moment you put it on.

7. Exercise outdoors // I don’t know about you but it takes all my mental strength to force myself to walk to the gym when it’s cold and rainy outside, so I find it so much easier to get into the swing of a good workout routine in spring. Think beyond the gym and make the most of the nice weather by skipping the subway to walk to your destination, going for a bike ride, or taking a lunchtime walk in the park instead.

8. Visit a new exhibition or museum // When was the last time you visited a museum? If you’re feeling a bit stuck or creatively uninspired after winter, an uplifting visit to a beautiful show is bound to help you feel reinvigorated again. I’m seeing Dior at the V&A next weekend, but I wish I could see the new Frida Kahlo exhibit in Brooklyn, too!

9. Try a new perfume for spring // I’m sure I don’t need to repeat how much I love perfume, but there is something so lovely about changing your fragrance with the seasons. Treat yourself to a new scent that makes you feel like the best version of you. These are my favourites right now.

10. Pick up some fresh produce at the market // I love visiting the farmers market at this time of year; the stalls are heaving with local rhubarb (just waiting to be paired with strawberries and baked into a tart), greens, and huge bunches of spring flowers for less than the price of a coffee.

11. Have Easter buns for breakfast // Every year my mum and I would make hot cross buns, and there was one hilarious year where we forgot how much the dough would rise and accidentally made about 70. I still can’t get enough of them and have been pushing packets of Marks & Spencer’s finest onto all my American friends (who I learned – to my horror – didn’t know what they were). Whether you celebrate Easter or not, they are so delicious toasted and buttered or turned into French toast and I can’t wait to break Lent and eat them all this weekend!

12. Evaluate your 2019 goals // How is your 2019 so far? A lot of people I know (myself included) have been feeling a bit stuck and at a loss this year. But spring ushers with it a beautiful new energy, and it is the perfect time to reassess your goals for the year. Is there something you really want to improve or focus on but have let slip? Commit to practising it again with renewed vigour.

13. Plant a herb garden // I dream of one day owning a house with a big sprawling English garden. But until then, I get such pleasure out of tending to my houseplants and little balcony garden. Whether you have a huge plot of land or a tiny studio apartment, try planting a few herbs on your windowsill. They’re easy to keep, good for the air, pretty to look at, and delicious to have on hand to perk up any dish.

14. Do something really lovely for selfless reasons // Everyone is nicer when the sun is shining. Amplify those feelings of happiness and do something to make someone else’s day better purely to spread a little extra love. Send a friend a virtual voucher for their favourite coffee shop, tell a stranger in the street how much you love their outfit, really thank someone who did something you appreciated, donate to a charity you care about, make a batch of cookies for your colleagues, or give your pet all the attention and play they could possibly want that day.

15. Take a day trip // Sometimes life is so hectic that unless we’re taking time off to travel further afield, we forget to explore our own region (something I am definitely guilty of). Block out a Saturday, find somewhere you can reach within a day and go and play tourist. I am hoping to visit more of the tiny towns and villages around Cambridgeshire, see the bluebells at a National Trust property or two, and take a trip to Oxford with a friend.

Wearing: See by Chloe dress (inexpensive style here + here) // Strathberry bag c/- (inexpensive style here) // Ferragamo shoes (also in black + inexpensive style here) // Celine sunglasses (inexpensive style here) // J.Crew earrings // Charlotte Tilbury ‘Pillow Talk’ blush + lipstick // Essie ‘Muchi Muchi’ nail polish. 

How are you celebrating the new season? Let me know if you’re trying any of these things. Happy spring everyone!

Love, Briony xx

Photos by Joe Galvin