11 spring discoveries

Books, furniture, a microtrend, and recipes that are on my radar right now.

Suddenly it’s spring. I was feeling down last week. Not only had our country gone to war, but I’d gotten news that my uncle had died. But then I flew to California earlier this week, and the jolt of real spring lifted my spirits. I’d left behind gritty, grey New York City and landed in a world where everything was green—red buds and California poppies were all in bloom. It was a reminder that in spite of everything that is going wrong these days, there are many spots of joy. So, this week I’m sharing 11 things that have delighted me:

1. Taking a “workcation”

I just wrapped up a “workcation” with my friend Shira Gill and I want to recommend this idea to any solopreneurs. Shira and I are long-distance friends/colleagues who don’t see each other as much as we’d like. This week, I flew out to California to visit her. We rented a house in the woods for a couple days and blended focused work time with the kind of hanging out that you do on vacation. The time away left me feeling connected and accomplished.

2. Colorblocked open shelving

Recently, I spotted two different kitchens using colorful paint to highlight simple open shelves. Above at left is a house in Sea Ranch that we considered renting and above at right is the London kitchen of interior architect Emily Pun. I love this colorblock effect and how easy it would be to copy if you have some shelves of your own. Has anyone seen this done elsewhere? I’m calling it a microtrend.

3-7. All the spring garden books

As a contributor to Gardenista, I keep an eye on the latest gardening books, and this spring has a bumper crop of great titles. Below are a few I’m eyeing for my own library and the publishers’ descriptions of the books. (Pssst… these would all make excellent Mother’s Day gifts.)

The Kitchen Garden by Toby Musgrave (April 2)
“A beautifully illustrated survey of the world’s most inspiring kitchen gardens, from potagers and historic estates to rooftop urban farms.”

A Year of Cut Flowers by Sarah Raven (April 7)
“In this latest book from gardening expert Sarah Raven, you’ll learn what to grow when (sow calendula in September!), how best to harvest (cut lower for a longer stem!), tips on combining color for a successful display, and much, much more.”

Gardens that Can Save The World by Lottie Delamain (April 14)
“Celebrating both the garden and gardener as integral players in a healthier future, Gardens Can Save the World presents a series of strategies that will help the reader imagine the potential that lies in the garden through 65 projects that showcase how gardens are working to repair, heal, empower, nourish, and reimagine”

The Gardener’s Mindset, by Stephen Orr (May 5)
“From Stephen Orr, the former editor-in-chief of Better Homes and Gardens, comes a collection of essays and photographs that examines the restorative power of gardening, while revealing his own challenges in the garden and offering advice on growing plants and vegetables at home.”

Stephen also has a new newsletter, also called the Gardener’s Mindset, that you should definitely check out.

The Coastal Garden (May 6)
“The Coastal Garden invites readers to explore 48 extraordinary private gardens set along the world’s most iconic coastlines.”

8. A practically perfect outdoor furniture collection

Outdoor furniture is notoriously expensive (and often ugly), so Jasper Morrison’s new collection for HAY is a real breath of fresh air. The collection is billed as “30 portable objects for outdoor living” and everything stylish and relatively affordable. I particularly love all the canvas pieces, including camp chairs, stools, and a beach tent; the collections is only available through the Museum of Modern Art until May 26, so get it now, if you see something you love!

9. Really good weeknight noodles

I loved this recipe from How Sweet Eats.

I’ve made this peanut noodles with roasted broccoli recipe twice now and it’s a keeper. I serve it with some pan-fried tofu for more filling meal, but it’s great all on its own. One tip: Slice the peppers razor thin, since they don’t get cooked.

10 & 11. Two simple recipes

Cashew creamer: After trying every plant-based milk in my coffee and hating them all, I started making my own cashew creamer. My first attempt watered my coffee down too much, but when I swapped the water for coffee, I hit on a winning recipe. Here’s how I make it: Soak 1 cup raw cashews in water overnight. Then, drain and blend with 2 teaspoons maple syrup, a pinch of salt, 1 cup coffee, and 1/4 cup water (more if I only soaked cashews for an hour or so).

Raspberry chia jam: Every week I make a batch of homemade chia raspberry jam that’s less sweet and more flavorful than store-bought preserves. I put a 10 oz. bag of frozen raspberries in a saucepan and let it reduce to mush (about 10 minutes), then I stir in a tablespoon of honey and 2 tablespoons chia seeds. PB&Js get a major taste upgrade, especially paired with Trader Joe’s salted crunch almond butter.

Plus, celebrating a mini milestone

My three-year anniversary of sending out this newsletter slipped quietly by without my notice. It’s a little belated, but I wanted to acknowledge I am feeling grateful for three whole years of this community.

Thank you for being here! What do you want to see more of in Year Four of Living Small? Please tell me in the comments.

And if you haven’t upgraded to paid yet, I’d love to remind you that an annual subscription works out to less than $4/month (that’s less than a cup of coffee!).