Defrosting Season 🍀
Collected Interiors, Overlooked Luxuries, & Other Essential Life Hacks
Hello friend!
You know that moment when you're almost in the clear, convinced you've dodged whatever flu is going around, only for it to catch you when you least expect it? Yeah. The flu won. It stole my voice, my energy, and any hope of being productive this weekend.
In my weakened state, I almost made some questionable choices:
I considered cutting bangs. Because what better time to make a life-altering hair decision than when you're feverish and existential?
I started a patio project… for about 20 minutes before deciding it was a future me/husband problem.
Note. If you’re significant other needs any more anxiety, simply walk around the house with power tools…
My dad sent me a recipe for dried milk parmesan steak. I was horrified. And then I made it. And yet?? It was actually amazing. I know, I know. I, too, have trust issues, but hear me out.
My son stole my brown eyeliner. Because apparently, creamy pencils are perfect for shading his latest art piece. I respect the commitment to the craft, but now I have to MacGyver my makeup routine.
I slept maybe three hours all weekend. Half because my six-year-old was deep into leprechaun lore (and wanting to catch one), and half because I willingly trapped myself in a ‘90s movie marathon with zero regrets.
Also, I found my new snack obsession: strawberries, mint, chile pepper, lime, and honey. It's as if fruit salad went to a rooftop bar and got an upgrade. I need you to try it immediately!
ically, my life is chaos, but at least it's seasonally appropriate chaos. Spring is creeping in, and with it comes the urge to refresh everything but in a way that actually makes life better, not just busier.
So today's newsletter is all about tiny, high-impact upgrades the ones that make your home feel effortlessly pulled together without the stress (or the price tag).
Small Shifts, Big Impact
There’s something about mid-March that feels like standing barefoot on a cold tile floor, knowing the sun is out but not quite trusting it yet. Winter is technically over, but spring isn’t fully here. It’s the seasonal equivalent of hitting snooze, almost awake, but not quite.
And honestly? This in-between moment is when the smallest shifts make the biggest difference.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about how my most transformative design choices this year weren’t about buying more things but about seeing what I already have, differently.
That’s the real trick to making a space feel fresh. Less adding, more refining.
🌷 The Overlooked Luxury Effect
Not to be dramatic, but I've become obsessed with what I'm calling "overlooked luxuries," things that feel expensive but aren't, experiences that feel special but take minimal effort.
Hand-carved wooden spoons: They get better with age, feel heirloom-worthy, and make cooking feel more intentional.
A Small Velvet Jewelry Pouch in Your Handbag: Stash them in a tiny velvet pouch instead of throwing earrings and rings loose into your purse.
A Vintage Silver Tray: Use it for everything: morning coffee, evening cocktails, or corralling odds and ends.
A Miniature Silver Spoon for Your Coffee: It makes stirring in cream or honey feels like a morning ritual instead of a routine.
Oil Paintings in Unexpected Places: A tiny landscape leaning on a kitchen shelf? Makes your space feel collected, not decorated.
☕ The Unexpected Kitchen Item That Changed My Mornings
I didn’t think I was a tea tray person. And yet… here we are.
The move: Keeping a tiny tray with my morning essentials not just for the aesthetic, but because it actually makes mornings feel calmer.
A tiny honey jar (because why is squeezing from the bottle so forceful?)
A vintage sugar spoon (small joy, big impact)
My favorite mug (because we all have the mug)
Best places to find trays that don’t feel too precious?
Thrift stores (check the wooden section)
eBay (search “vintage wood tray”)
Zara Home (surprisingly good ones)
📦 The Vintage eBay Search That’s My Current Obsession
I’m deep in an antique desk accessories phase, and let me tell you, old-school office items are the move.
✨ Current search terms bringing me joy:
“Brass pen tray” – Makes your desk feel instantly more intentional.
“Vintage letter opener” – Because why not romanticize opening the mail?
“Antique silver match striker” – If you’re a candle person, this is the flex.
🔥 Where to start: Search “vintage brass desk set” and sort by “ending soonest.” You’ll thank me later.
Listen, I’m just saying…
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