EARLY SPRING SELECTIONS
A late monthly round-up on all things April
Spring has finally crept in here in the North West. It is now the season for sun-speckled hope. For small indulgences, for remembering who you are beneath the winter layers and half-kept resolutions.
Here are a few soul-nourishing things I’ve loved lately, from velvet-lined nostalgia to white linen simplicity.
MOVIE: Pride & Prejudice (2005)
It’s back in theaters. What a lovely way to experience this gorgeous film. While I’ve always been more of a Brontë girl (give me ghosts in the attic, wild moors, and the ache of emotional repression), Austen can feel too “sensible” for me.
But this version of Pride & Prejudice? It’s luminous. The chemistry between Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen is electric. The cinematography is beyond. Golden light, muddy hems, breath held in ballrooms. It’s a love letter to longing. And sometimes, during this era of instant gratification, it’s exactly what we need.
MUSIC: BON IVER - SABLE, fABLE
People have told me for years, “You’d love Bon Iver.” I’d nod, vaguely agreeing, while never really diving in past the Spotify-famous tracks. But when I accidentally logged out of my Spotify one day, and couldn’t remember the password, I realized that my car had a never-utilized CD player! I purchased Bon Iver’s latest on a whim in Target as I thought it might make for some nice background music. I was wrong. This is definitely not the white noise folk I was expecting.
This album is wistful and layered but also very bold. Part Springsteen-inspired Americana, part electro-funk via Prince, mixed with heavy experimental sounds like something Peter Gabriel might’ve conjured. It’s heady and expansive. A sonic mood board for rainy day dreamers.
TV: THE FOUR SEASONS
I started Tina Fey’s modern reboot of The Four Seasons on Netflix and found it smart but maybe a bit too midlife-in-a-hotel-robe for me, at least for now. It’s hard watching the foibles of 50-somethings when you are not quite there yet, but not too far away either.
It did remind me how much better the original was, though. Yes, it’s dated—in the best possible way. Alan Alda, Carol Burnett, Rita Moreno, and Sandy Dennis. The long conversations feel deeper. The passive-aggressive tone seems funnier. And I don’t know if it’s just the early 80s setting, the extended classical music segments, or the cinematography, but it just feels warmer than the glossier streaming show.
YOUTUBE: TRAVEL HACKING AND DAYDREAMING
I’ve been in a bit of a rut lately, and I realized it’s travel I’m craving. My family is at our best when exploring together. I do the planning, my husband sets the tone. But with business growth and an upcoming move back to California, we’ve put travel on pause.
Then one night, I saw my cousin’s Gen Z kid posting from Japan, and a new obsession was born: points hacking. Younger travelers are especially adept at unlocking luxury with credit card alchemy. I stumbled onto Instagram influencers and the O.G. Points Guy, and suddenly I’m deep in the rewards rabbit hole. I’ve been doing it all wrong. Stay tuned. I’m mapping our next family adventure, hopefully sooner than expected.
STYLE: LINEN AND BURBERRY
With the sun finally making regular appearances, I’ve brought out my white linen pants and Rainbow sandals. A touch of intention with the splash of San Clemente charm.
But my favorite style moment this month? A vintage Burberry purse I found for $25 at a local consignment store. It’s technically a winter pattern, but I’ve been pairing it with spring basics and pretending I’m in the English countryside. I know this paring exposes my ADD but that’s okay with me.
FOOD: HOMEMADE VANILLA ICE CREAM
We made this simple vanilla ice cream with this ice cream maker, and now I can’t go back. It’s easy. It’s nostalgic. I top mine off with fresh strawberries while my husband and 6-year-old like chocolate syrup, and my 10-year-old prefers anything with caramel.
While it may be a hassle, it always brings the family together and slows us down, and we know what we’re eating is pure.
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