One morning last week, the first pilgrim crocus lining our driveway opened her petals to the sun. Her sisters followed suit, and now her daffodil cousins are making giddy promises, their stalks that electric, fecund shade of green that portends bloom. Magic, really, the haphazardness of this sequencing, the way the spring flower’s transformation flows from not only the weather and the amount of shade and sun and water each stem receives, but also something else: some imprecise incantation by which yesterday, she was bud and now, she is blossom. Mother Nature is the original magician. She’s forever casting her spells and ventriloquizing through her everyday movements. And she is always waiting, patiently, for us to notice her charms at work. I have been looking for them, copying them into my own grimoire as I go, marveling at this gorgeous set of everyday enchantments:
The clarion call of the Carolina Wren – a big song for a small body
The feeling of warm pavement on bare feet at twilight: the sun’s vanishing act
A break in the rain
The unpinnability of the rainbow (where does it start and end?) – it is the sky’s sleight of hand!
Moss: looks like decoration, has no roots, but it is also one of the first plants to grow in the deadlands abandoned by fire and deforestation
Shinshin (the soundlessness of falling snow)
Clouds in the shapes of stories or wishes
The bowl of the sky at sunset
The constancy of the North Star and the rising sun
The dandelion, those plucky weeds that grow in sidewalk cracks and in-betweens, and spread themselves cleverly against our plans – and that also carry the daydreams of children the world over (“make a wish–”)
What other small acts of magic have you noticed this week?
Post-Scripts.
+Related: everything happens in its own perfect time. From this piece: “I was thinking about later-season harvests, the tomatoes still-now-green on the vine: these are not the harbinger peas or brave crocuses, but they have their own time. They arrive at the right moment in the peak-then-wane of summer, and they, too, are correct.”
Shopping Break.
+Tuckernuck opened a new store in Georgetown this week and it is spectacular (designed by THE CeCe Barfield). I’m sharing more thoughts on this new boutique and an edit of their fab spring collection later this week but had to flag that I tried on a few pieces and brought home this and this — even better IRL! The first one reads a little lighter and springier IRL and you notice the covered buttons a bit more. This would be a really good option for an Easter dress if you’re somewhere a little chillier thanks to the long sleeves.
+Nordstrom is offering 15% off a wide range of prestige beauty products I rarely see discounted, including my beloved Gucci bronzer, Westman’s foundation stick, Cle de Peau’s best-selling concealer, Dr. Metacine’s plasma. I use the Dr. Metacine product daily in conjunction with an all-purpose serum — either Vintner’s Daughter or Clarins. I’ve never seen Vintner’s Daughter on sale…ever? I wonder if that was a mistake!
+Rhoback just released men’s swim trunks — these in the melon are so cute! Love the striped detail on the back pocket.
+Love these suede slides for this in-between time, with slightly warmer weather afoot, but still a little too early for full sandal?
+Gorgeous area rugs for your outdoor patio / dining area: this and this.
+A few seasons ago, Agua Bendita released a dress with a dandelion motif on it. I knew when I saw it I should have snagged it, but I let it go and just tracked one down on Poshmark in my size! I think I’m going to wear it to one of my Small Wonders events, seeing as the first musing in the book is dedicated to dandelions! So special. Anyway, in my hunt, I discovered that The Outnet has a nice little trove of pieces from this brand, including this (the exact silhouette of my dandelion dress) and this.
+A few other Outnet gems I “hearted” while there: these Mansur flats, this Simkhai one-piece, this butter yellow Cabas bag, and this Zimmermann blouse.
SHOP THEM SPRING OUTNET EDIT HERE
+Excuse me, GAP! I love this Staud-inspired striped skirt and top situation!
+Final few days to get the BEST straightening, hydrating, gloss-effect shampoo for 25% off (and free ship).
+We sold through all of SoldOut’s limited edition pastel blue tee, but I’m telling you, the white/cream will be in HEAVY rotation. I can’t speak highly enough about these as a base layer for spring cardigans. I also really love their tanks — a gorgeous heavy-duty, stretchy cotton. I have a few styles but really love these.
+I just rediscovered the British handbag company Mulberry (known for their Bayswater bag – I wanted one so badly when I was in grad school!) and I’m loving this peony pink bucket style!
+Fun marbleized phone case for spring. Also love the wristlets from Ossa — such a fun little spot of whimsy in an outfit. I have a fruit one like this. Landon absolutely hates it — LOL — and will hold my phone like it’s housing a disease when I use it. But that’s OK; sometimes men misunderstand the whimsy we need to protect.
+The beaded wristlet I mentioned reminded me of my favorite Jennifer Behr necklace. I wore it twice this week. It’s a splurge but it really does double (triple) duty since you can style it a few ways. I have it in the pink but love this multi-colored variation. I also found a really chic pair of their earrings on super sale at The Outnet! Pair with all your spring colors!
+You know I love anything with birds on it…
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