Letter from the Editors: Spring Edition

Grace Scheller and Vanessa Martocci
February 24, 2021

As Valentine’s Day comes to a close, and the first half of the second semester is almost over, one thing can be sure— Spring is apron us! While the sun shines and the flowers bloom, your day to day life may also look a little different, especially for us second semester seniors. So, in light of this seasonal change, your favorite editors have a few recommendations full of spring vibes that can help keep you grounded. Not only can these tips be used if you’re trying to enjoy the last month or so spent inside due to the winter weather, but they can also be used in preparation for Spring:

 

Below we have listed some of our favorite techniques and products to practice self-care:

  1. Essential Oils: Not only can these be used year-round in your home, but essential oils set the perfect easeful ambiance. Use your favorite citrus oil (such as lemon or grapefruit) during the day for a reviving feel, and switch to lavender or spearmint in order to relax nerves later at night. Our favorite diffusers and oils can be found on Amazon, of course.
  2. Weighted Blankets: Seriously, the comfort a weighted blanket will bring is way too good to be true. Be sure, however, to follow the weight chart, meaning purchase a blanket that includes a weight compatible with your personal weight. These are perfect for keeping your home cozy and feel just like a hug!
  3. Blackout Curtains: These provide the perfect barrier from any sunlight that attempts to wake you up during your beauty sleep, as well as keep the heat in against the rest of the cold winter days that remain. Plenty of varieties and patterns can be found in Target, Amazon, and other home goods stores.

 

We also have a few indoor AND outdoor activities that are perfect for Spring or in preparation for Spring:

  1. Meditation: This is something that you can do indoors or outside on a nice day. We know it can be difficult to sit there and focus on your breathing and what you feel so that’s why there are so many free apps out there that provide guided meditations. A couple of our favorites are Headspace and Calm. Once you become more comfortable meditating you can delete the app and just do it yourself. It is a great way to keep your mind clear and calm any anxieties you may be having. 
  2. Walking: Embrace the world around you! Go for a walk and take your dog! Look around at the landscape and just take it all in. Getting fresh air can really improve your mood. We highly recommend it!
  3. Get Into New Music: Music has so many benefits for your mental health! So, pull up your favorite feel-good album on Spotify, turn the volume all the way up, and dance around your room! We all need a break and this can ease stress, build some confidence, and burn some calories. 

 

Here are some our favorite feel-good, ‘springy’ series, movies, and books:

    1. Bridgerton (Netflix series): Although this series was originally composed as a number of novels, in which young Daphne Bridgerton finds love in the England Regency era, the Netflix series provides a beautiful and refreshing palette full of pastel color and pop songs reinvented with a classical kick, showcased only by the magic of film. 
    2. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass (novel): Sure, Walt Disney’s Alice in Wonderland (both the 1951 and 2010 versions) are notable works in themselves, but the original Lewis Carrol novel is the original vision in which they have stemmed from. Within this Wonderland, Alice finds herself surrounded by a campy group of interesting characters and scenery that makes this classic novel worth revisiting this spring-time classic.
  • The Sound of Music (movie): How could we forget one of the most memorable spring films of all time! As Julie Andrews’ character, Maria, enters the Von Trappe household in order to take care of the seven children who reside there, she loses herself in song and in the beautiful hills of Austria. 
    1. New Girl (series, currently on Netflix): Maybe it’s got something to do with Jess’s buoyant attitude and wardrobe or the lighthearted and belly-aching humor that weaves its way throughout the series, but whatever it is, New Girl is filled to the brim with sun-shiny traces of Spring. Jesica Day just got cheated on and dumped, and while these opening scenes may not sound promising, the events that occur after she moves in with three oddly hilarious strangers will not disappoint.
  • Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood (poem): Although this poem may seem long and not worth the read, I can assure you that William Wordsworth’s brilliant thoughts are worth deciphering. As he delves into his own troubles throughout the cold months of winter (AKA seasonal depression. Relatable, right?), he revisits all the joy that comes with the warm months that follow— a perfect read for this time of year.
  • Schitt’s Creek    (series, currently on Netflix): This Canadian television series focuses on the Rose family, who recently lost their family fortune. They had bought the town of Schitt’s Creek as a joke but ended up moving there and living in the local motel. This is a series that is guaranteed to make you laugh when you need it the most while giving off some spring/summer vibes.
  • Gilmore Girls (series, currently on Netflix): Although this tends to be a fall go-to, it is perfect for any time of the year. (Especially the newer Netflix series Gilmore Girls: A Year In the Life which is broken into four episodes, “Winter”, “Spring”, “Summer”, and “Fall”.) This dramedy is set in a small Connecticut town and centers around Lorelai Gilmore, a thirty-something single mother, and her teenage daughter Rory. Gilmore Girls follows the ups-and-downs of the tight-knit relationship between Rory and Lorelai throughout a few years.
  • Eat Pray Love (movie, currently on Netflix): Julia Roberts stars in this film following Liz, a recently divorced writer who is in search of rebuilding her life. She travels to Italy, India, and Indonesia, in search of food, self-discovery, and love. This feel-good film will definitely prepare you for summer and make you want to hop on a plane right away!
  • 10 Things I Hate About You (movie, currently on Disney+): If we’re being honest, any classic rom-com puts us in a good mood! 10 Things I Hate About You is about sisters, Bianca and Kat Straford. Bianca is not allowed to date until her older sister Kat has a boyfriend of her own. The movie takes place in the spring of Kat’s senior year and is definitely a spring go-to.