An Earthy Little Hint of Spring

This week I made the simplest little flower arrangement, and I love it more than I expected. It was inspired by something I saw on Instagram. You may follow her too! She has three best-selling books. The Money-Saving Gardener Containers: How to Create a Year-round Container Garden for Less @anya_thegarden_fairy

It’s just a piece of bark from a log, a clear glass jar filled with water, and a few hellebores. These are from a plant I bought at Trader Joe’s. With all the snow, it’s going to be a while before we see hellebores popping up in the garden.

I drilled three small holes into each piece of bark and rested it right on top of the jar. I did use a little hot glue on the rim of the jar, just on one side, to make sure the wood stayed in place. The bark acts like a natural floral frog, holding each stem in place so they sit upright but still feel loose and organic. You can see the stems through the clear glass, which I think only adds to the look. The contrast is what makes it special: the rough, peeling bark against the soft, almost translucent hellebore petals. That pale green feels like the very first whisper of spring.

What You’ll Need

A piece of bark (flat enough to rest on a jar)
A clear glass jar
A drill
Fresh hellebores (or any sturdy early-spring stems)

It takes about ten minutes, and there’s something so satisfying about using what you already have — a jar, a piece of bark from a log, and a few grocery-store flowers. Simple ideas are always my favorite!

More Sunday Favorites

Outfit of the Week

AYR Reversible Jacket

I’ve been going through my closets and purging anything that I haven’t worn in a year. There are a few items I am still considering, but if I have not touched them in a year, I think it’s safe to say goodbye to them. One item is a quilted jacket. It’s in perfect shape, but it’s not cozy. Spring is the perfect time for a quilted jacket, and this reversible one from AYR (All Year Round) checks all the boxes. The fact that it’s reversible is really like having two jackets in one. This is the kind of decision-making I need as we prepare to move into the city.

City Bandanas + The Perfect Cotton Herringbone Everyday Pant from Alex Mill

The Neil Pant from Alex Mill is my go-to pant in every season. In summer, I wear them with a t-shirt, and in winter, with a cashmere sweater. They run a little short on me (I’m 5’10”) so wearing the right shoe is key.

The City Bandanas from Alex Mill are new and made in Italy. They would be beautiful framed, but also add something fun to an outfit.

Larroude Sneakers & Boat Shoes

A sneaker or a boat shoe works well with pants that are a little on the short side. The Stella sneaker from Larroude is currently 40% off, only this week. The Stella comes in 21 color combinations. And I just love the adorable boat shoes too!

Warby Parker Eyewear

Warby Parker eyeglasses and sunglasses. If you’ve never tried Warby Parker, they have stores everywhere now. When we first started wearing them, they had only a few stores, and we ordered a home try-on. But now, they have almost 300 stores with plans of expansion. This means you can get your glasses adjusted easily by just stopping into a store.

I wear progressive lenses and have struggled with getting them right in the past, but my experience with Warby Parker has been great. I didn’t even feel like I needed an adjustment period. I have the Putnam frame for my regular glasses and the Tal in Rosemary Crystal for sunglasses.

Coach Tote & Striped Tees

I have my eye on this gorgeous leather tote. I use my fabric Merci totes daily, but this leather Coach tote with some structure would be nice.

And striped tees never get old. I have a few from KULE that I wear on repeat. The short-sleeve tee with blue trim at the neck is from COS.

Snail Mail Clubs

Have you joined a monthly snail mail club yet? There are so many talented writers/artists who have these monthly clubs that you can join once, for a few months, or for an annual membership. They would make a nice gift!

And then every month, you receive a beautiful envelope with a few items that are based on a theme. It seems there is a snail mail club for every type of interest you can imagine. Here are a few that I found that seem to be growing and really catching on.

Myth Bridgers is a thoughtfully curated snail mail club based in Cambridge, UK, that brings the joy of beautifully designed, story-filled letters and paper goods straight to your mailbox each month. @mythbridge
Joshua Cooks Then Draws is a charming snail mail club created by chef and illustrator Joshua McFadden that pairs seasonal recipes with his whimsical hand-drawn illustrations, delivered as a collectible letter each month. @joshuacooksthendraws
Arts by Trinity is a delightful creative club for architecture lovers that sends thoughtfully designed art projects—like the charming Café de Flore tablescape craft. @artsbytrinity