My Favorite Things: Spring 2013

While the weather in New York can't seem to decide whether it's cooperating with the change of seasons or not, the Gregorian calendar dictates that it's already spring. Warmer weather and longer days are nigh, I've already lost and forgotten my hour of spring-forward sleep, and my allergies are going through their requisite seasonal upheaval. It's ok, spring, I forgive you. You're too damn cute not to.

I love the transitional seasons - spring and fall - because they represent new beginnings. While that can mean starting new healthy habits like eating better and working out (I'm trying!), it can also mean buying lots of delightful new items for a spring and summer wardrobe. In the springtime, it mostly means drinking outside with friends - new patios are new beginnings too.

I'd love to share with you some of the things I'm loving right now in the spirit of spring!

The first is a pair of cherry-red canvas sneakers (from Target, of course). They add a pop of color at the bottom of dark jeans and bare legs alike and make me feel like a modern-day Dorothy. I'm excited to pair them with a mini skirt and some chambray once it gets a bit warmer. For now, they're absolutely perfect for a jaunt on my bike or walking to yoga!

This one might be cheating because cupcakes are good all year round, but there's something spring-y to me about fluffy, freshly-whipped vanilla buttercream frosting. Plus making cupcakes in a sunny kitchen is just the best! My biggest secret: Sometimes, I eat the frosting off the top and leave the cupcake. Don't tell!

My absolute favorite candy of all time is only available this time of year, and it makes me SO happy. It also makes me happy that I have a mom and sweet friends who were kind enough to completely bankroll my fiendish Cadbury Egg habit this year. I promise I won't eat them all at once.

I adore all things yellow, so when there was a sale on the Klean Kanteen website on their discontinued bright yellow water bottles, I had to get one. By perfect coincidence, it matches the color of my bike helmet (by Nutcase) almost exactly. Maybe if I just keep buying bright yellow things I'll create some sick camouflage effect, for those times that you really need to hide in a school bus parking lot. You never know.

Floral EVERYTHING! I've always loved floral prints - maybe a residual effect from all the Laura Ashley my mom dressed me in when I was young - but the springtime really brings out my floral fever. Nearly all my recent purchases have been floral! From bottom to top, we have some printed denim from Uniqlo, a Liberty floral print Perfect Shirt from J.Crew, a floral chiffon shirtdress from Brooklyn Industries, an oldie-but-goodie sun dress by Kimchi & Blue, and a botanical tee, also from Brooklyn Industries.

It doesn't just extend to clothes - even my sunglasses are floral! These are Warby Parker Thatchers, in a limited edition print by SUNO. Additionally, I've fallen back in springtime love with Ernest Hemingway after reading A Moveable Feast, which I picked up in the Strand's used paperback section for $1.99.

So there you have it! My spring favorites. What have you fallen in love with this spring?