hello, spring & yay, i’ve been published!

YAY! It’s officially the first day of spring! Although it’s feeling a lot more like summer – it’s been in the mid-20s here the last few days, and it’ll be hot till Friday. How crazy is it to be wearing a T-shirt and shorts outside when it’s still technically winter!? Well, OK, I guess it’s normal if you’re lucky enough to live somewhere that’s always warm and sunny ;-) But here in Ottawa, wearing summer clothes outside when there’s still snow on the ground is just WAY too weird!

And equally exciting as the warm & balmy weather is that I’ve been published in the Spring 2012 issue of Our Home Ottawa! YAY! It’s just a small half-page article about Extreme Makeover: Kindness Edition, but better small than not at all! Plus when you’ve been writing your whole life and have always dreamed of being published, it’s a pretty major thing :-) Click here to read the Spring 2012 issue online. My article is on page 67.

Five easy ways to say hello, spring!

1. Fresh flowers

The tulips are just starting to poke through the soil, but it’ll still be a month or so before they’re in full bloom. Get a head start on spring flowers with fresh flowers in your home. You can pick up an inexpensive bouquet at your local grocery store and either display it as one big bouquet, or break it up in to smaller arrangements to scatter throughout your home. {I shared this flower decorating tip on the Style At Home blog here.}

Image via beahcomber simply living

2. Freshen up your front door

Have you been thinking about sprucing up the front of your house, but you’re not sure how? A couple of coats of paint on your front door will freshen things up. Just make sure the temps are 10C or above before you get going. If you’re feeling daring, why not go with a not-so-typical front door colour {just make sure it works with the style and colours of your house}. My front door is CIL Peacock’s Plume – it makes me happy every time I come home :-)

Although I camethisclose to painting my door bright green, just like this awesome door:

Image via Shelterness

Hmmmm, maybe a project for this spring…

3. Fresh air

open up your doors & windows and enjoy the fresh spring air blowing through your house. Extra-sweet if it’s oceany spring air!

 
Image via House of Turquoise, deign by Donna Elle Interior Design

4. Spring-cessorize

You don’t have to do a lot or spend a lot to spring-cessorize your home. Change up the cushions on your sofa, put away the cozy throws, rearrange your accessories. Cushions like these in a bold floral fabric will instantly bring spring into your home. {These babies aren’t cheap, but you could probably find similar cushions at HomeSense/HomeGoods, or even sew a few of your own.}

 
Poppy from Bluebellgray

 
Secret Garden from Bluebellgray

Sea floral cushion from Kristy Lee Interiors

5. Clean up the patio & deck

Hose down the deck boards, clean & set up the patio furniture, and get ready for lots of al fresco dining from spring till fall.

How do you welcome spring into your home? Leave a comment and let us know :-)

 

Photograph of pink blossoms via GPS.