when you’re stuck in a slump {+ a semi-important announcement}

hi friends, and welcome back to the fairy hollow!

lately, i’ve been kind of in a slump. not a creativity slump, but just a slump in general. i haven’t had much motivation, i’ve been unable to enjoy things that i typically enjoy, and doing anything — especially the things i love — has felt akin to a chore.

being stuck in a slump has to be one of the worst feelings on earth, right up there with burnout and restlessness. today, i thought i’d share some things that i’ve found have helped me be productive in a slump. hopefully these tips help you, too!

1. find something to look forward to

this is what’s helped pull me out of my present slump. i focused on the exciting things coming this summer and, the more i realized that these exciting things are on their way, the easier it was for me to get started on projects and get things done! after all, i’d much rather have all this work out of the way before exciting things come along. that way, i can live in the moment on the day(s) of fun and form memories that i can enjoy looking back on.

2. relocate

are you having trouble focusing on a project or finding the motivation to get started? try moving elsewhere and working on it. come out of your room and sit on the couch to write that essay. your family won’t bite, i promise. (or maybe they will. but don’t blame me if your parents turn out to be werewolves and try and eat you — that’s not exactly my fault.) write your letter outside. reverse gravity and sit on the ceiling. sometimes fresh scenery is all you need to feel inspired and motivated again.

3. listen to calming music and//or nature sounds

if you’re the kind of person that listens to hard and heavy rock while you’re working on something, maybe your ears just need a change of pace. try listening to some lo-fi music or nature sounds to refresh your pallet. and if that doesn’t work, just unplug your ears and find your rhythm in the natural sounds of your house.

4. do something you wouldn’t normally do

if you’re struggling to write a blog post (and you don’t have a strict deadline), maybe take a second to read a book. peck out a song on the piano. take up whittling. build an apartment complex. (okay, maybe not that last one. but you could try it if you’re desperate enough.) whenever i’m at home, i’m almost always on my laptop, writing something or watching something or listening to music. but it was a huge help for me when i started reading at home. i found myself more inspired and more excited to go about my day.

5. when all else fails. . . . step away from it entirely

it’s okay to take a break. it’s okay if you miss a deadline. (usually. . . . maybe email your professor before you decide you’re not going to write your eight-page essay.) it’s better to put out something great that’s just a little late, than to meet your deadline with a subpar result. step away from your project for a few hours, or a few days, however long you need. play a board game with your siblings. toss a ball for your puppy. go on a drive with your friends. dance in the rain. breathe. take some time to live in the moment and you’ll find the moments that follow are easier to live in.

what do you think?

well, those are my tips for surviving a slump. please note, i am NOT giving you permission to slack on your responsibilities. but if you really are struggling to find motivation, ask your parents, teachers, bosses, etc. if you can have a few days to yourself to take a breather. it’ll do wonders, trust me.

and now for that announcement i mentioned! in light of my life suddenly getting busier and more stressful, i have decided that i am going to shift my posting schedule from every Tuesday to every other Tuesday. i’m sure i could keep posting every week if i wanted to, but posts for this blog take a good bit of time and energy to write and i am running a bit low on both of those things more often as of late. but thank y’all for taking the time out of your day to read my posts and reply to my emails! your interaction makes my day (:

what are some things that help you push through a slump?

have a lovely day, friends (:

a lovely spring photoshoot

with summer just around the corner and some of the flowers wilting away or blooming into fruit, i decided that it was the perfect time to go around and take pictures of all the lovely nature around my house. so, the other day, i went on an adventure hunting for pretty photo subjects. i found plenty and i can’t wait to share all the lovely flowers, trees, birds, and bees that i found with you all!

without further ado, let’s jump into it!

i believe these are potato plants. there was one singular flower blooming from one singular plant so i obviously took some pictures of it.

i love the way the magnolia leaves look. when i was younger, i used to play shopping games with my cousins and we always used magnolia leaves as money. look at how beautiful and blue the sky is!

i don’t remember what kind of flowers these are but i love how vibrant they are, especially against the dirt.

the sun was very bright when i took all these pictures. i just love the way the light filters through the leaves in the second picture. i also love the way the roses surround the bell. it’s just so lovely. it seems like something you would find in an enchanted garden.

Lily does not look happy 😂

i actually had no idea there were dandelions in our yard so i obviously had to pick one and blow it away. i tried getting a picture of the fluff in the wind but it didn’t turn out well *sadness*

a giant leaf with my giant hand for comparison.

i love the way the entrance to the woods looks. no matter how much time passes, it never gets overgrown enough to be impassible. it’s so lovely and green this year.

i think this is an oak tree? there aren’t that many oaks around here so i can’t remember. it’s either oak or sycamore. the branches spread out in such a picture-perfect way. it’s like she knew i was going to take a picture of her.

this was just a random sprig of yellow wildflowers i found out in the field. it’s so cheerful!

i don’t know why my camera made the flower petals look layered but it’s interesting. this was just a cute little yellow blossom i found and i thought it was brave for blooming all on its lonesome. i tucked it into my hair after i took this picture.

my mom’s elderberry trees are starting to bloom and they’re so unique. the leaves are curly and the blooms look like snowflakes and not flowers.

this picture makes me smile. i love the tiny little white flower peeking through the leaves. and soon, that little flower will turn into a strawberry!

three little clover flowers against the world 🥰

of course i had to get some pics of the critters. . . . aren’t they precious?

the garden is coming along nicely! look at how massive the broccoli is! if you look closely at the second picture, you can see a few tiny flowers holding their own.

this bell in my grandmother’s yard is very lovely. it looks as if it has a story to tell.

and we shall end with this little flower peeking out of the leaves of its bush. it’s so small in all those leaves.

what do you think?

i hope you all enjoyed seeing some lovely springy pictures! spring is mostly gone now — it’s warm enough out to be summer — but i had a wonderful time hunting around for some pretty camera subjects!

i shall leave you with a picture of my new ducklings.

have a lovely day, friends (:

aesthetic picnic ideas {a guest post by Liesl Brunner}

hello friends, and welcome back to the fairy hollow!

you might remember my spring bucket list post from a couple of weeks ago, in which i listed some of my favorite spring activities. one of the things on that list was “go on a picnic,” which caught the attention of my dear friend Liesl from Quote, Unquote. she is a lover of picnics and was kind enough to write a guest post on the topic of picnics! i hope you all enjoy her excellent picnic themes, food selections, and aesthetics!

who doesn’t love a good picnic? i know i do. picnics combine the best of both worlds—somehow food just tastes better outside. and with the weather warming and the world waking up, what better time to enjoy a good picnic but now?

here are some ideas for themed picnics for you and your friends. they all have suggestions for when and where to do it, who to bring, and what to pack, but feel free to adjust each individual picnic to your liking. after all, you’re in charge!

plus, if you read all the way to the end, there’s a special treat…

essentials for all picnics

whenever possible, use reusable dishes and silverware. my family has plastic plates for occasions like these, so we don’t damage our daily dinnerware. bring a bag to pack all the dirty dishes in and wash them at home.

bring a garbage bag. there might not always be a trash can nearby, and if you litter, i will personally emerge out of the woods to yell at you. and then i’ll eat all the picnic food you brought. it will be fun for me—not so much for you.

and of course, the quintessential checkered picnic blanket. bring something to sit on. you could always sit at a picnic table, but still bring the blanket for a fun little tablecloth. you’ll feel fancier that way.

sunrise picnic

who: just yourself, or bring one or two close friends
when: in the early morning before the sun has risen
where: the highest spot you can find, or anywhere you can watch the sun rise

this picnic is perfect for when you’re camping on a mountaintop. or you can just get up early in the morning and drive to your nearest available large hill, your choice. to make getting up easier, food prep the night before—cut up your fruit, potatoes, and tomatoes, mix up your pancake batter, and lay out your thermoses. make sure everything’s ready the night before so you can just roll out of bed and go enjoy the sunrise. 

the key word for this picnic is rustic. you’ll need to have a grill or campfire with grate available for this one. bring a cast-iron skillet (a small one—they get heavy!) and wood or plastic cooking utensils to cook your potatoes, pancakes, and tomatoes. don’t use metal on your cast-iron pans—it may damage the coating, and you don’t want cast-iron flakes in your food.

• coffee
• hot cocoa
• orange juice
• sausage 
• bacon
• home fries
• seasonal fruit
• fried eggs
• pancakes
• grilled tomatoes

tea party picnic

who: lots of friends
when: in the late morning to early afternoon
where: an open field, a clearing in a park, a table in a garden

this picnic is a lighthearted retreat. though making the sweet treats is probably going to be the most time-consuming thing you’ll ever do, it’ll all be worth it when your friends are exclaiming over how light and delicious your scones are. and you should bring friends—lots of them! this picnic would make an excellent, cozy bachelorette party. 

it’s worth the extra effort to get to your picnic site a little early to set up. candles and flowers are a nice touch. but if you’re worn out from making all those pastries, just bring a nice white tablecloth and maybe some pink cloth napkins.

• herbal or fruit tea (bring sugar lumps and/or honey)
• pink lemonade
• scones 
• tea sandwiches (cucumber and curried mayonnaise is a classic)
• chocolate-dipped strawberries
• mini tarts
• bonbons, fancy chocolates
• mini cream puffs
• soft honey cookies
• seasonal fruit

beachside picnic

who: five or six close friends or your family
when: late afternoon after a long day of swimming
where: anywhere there’s sand and water

when the weather gets warm, the water calls. after you spend the whole day mercilessly splashing your siblings or friends, anything will taste good, but this picnic will hit different. try not to get too much sand on the blanket as you gobble everything up. 

• lemonade
• pasta salad
• cold paprika-grilled chicken
• pickles
• deviled eggs
• seasonal fruit
• veggies with ranch dip
• strawberry torte

liesl’s lemonade recipe

this is my own original recipe, crafted after several attempts. i searched the internet for the so-called “best” lemonade recipes and decided that for it to be the ultimate lemonade recipe, i would simply have to make my own. i have never shared this recipe with anyone other than my family before. now it is on the internet for all to see…but i hope you enjoy it. drink a cup for me!

ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• zest of 1 lemon 
• 2 zested half lemon rinds
• 1 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice
• 2 1/2 cups water

directions

1. Put the water, sugar, zest, and rinds into a medium saucepan. Simmer until sugar dissolves. Let cool, sieve out rinds and zest. 

2. Add the simple syrup to the pitcher, along with the lemon juice and water. Leave the pulp in—it will add flavor. Ice will naturally dilute the lemonade, so add less water than you think you should.

3. Serve cold with ice.

what do you think?

i hope you all enjoyed that post by Liesl! i know that i’m definitely going to have to try each of these picnics out myself.

have you ever had a picnic? what was it like? what did you bring?

have a lovely day, my friend (:

how to dry flowers + ideas for dried flowers

for the past several years, i’ve been pressing flowers and using them for so many things, ranging from decorating my space to garnishing my penpal letters. i’ve pressed so many leaves and flowers, in fact, i have two little boxes and an Altoids tin that i keep all my extra flowers and leaves in. i may or may not have way too many.

last month, i decided to try drying flowers. i came up with a system that i like and also several ideas for what to do with my dried flowers, so i thought i’d share all of that with you guys! enjoy!

to start, i didn’t really look up any tutorials or anything, i just kind of went for it. one of my favorite ways to learn is trial and error, so i used a method that i thought would work and grabbed some leaves and flowers that i thought might dry well.

i started out by wandering around our yard, hunting for flowers. i ended up grabbing an iris, a bunch of little leaves, some purple wildflowers, and i found some light and dark pink azaleas at church a couple of days later. out of this collection, i think the azaleas did the best (you’ll see later on what i mean). once the daffodils and lilies start blooming, i’ll try drying them and send out an updated list (:

after gathering the flowers to dry, i brought them inside where i could watch the process. they would have probably dried faster if i’d done it outside in the sun, but i wanted to watch the process. i grabbed a roll of twine and some duct tape and strung the twine around my room, so i’d have a place to hang the flowers as they dried. i guess it wasn’t entirely necessary and the duct tape tore the paint off the wall a little, so i maybe wouldn’t recommend that.

i clipped the flowers to the twine with clothespins, although it didn’t turn out quite like i wanted. ideally, the clothespins should have sat above the twine with the flower hanging below, but the clothespins were too heavy, so they flipped around and ended up with the flower above and clothespin below *facepalm*

}{ apologies for the messy background and terrible quality haha }{

i left the flowers for a few days and when i came back a few days later, they were all wilty. the leaves had started getting a little crunchy.

it only took about a week and a half for the flowers to finish drying, but i left them up for about three weeks, just to be sure. each flower had. . . . varying levels of success.

the iris turned out the worst. i didn’t think it would do well, but i wanted to try it anyway. it looks like a rotten banana peel.

the azaleas turned out alright, although the color changed drastically. both shades of pink ended up turning almost purple. that happened when i pressed some azaleas too. . . . so not sure what that’s about. they’re very cute, though, and pretty small.

the little purple wildflowers turned out alright as well! i didn’t think they’d keep their color but i’m glad they did. i’ll probably snip the stems off to make them look a little less unruly.

i honestly have no idea why i thought the leaves would dry well. somehow, it didn’t occur to me that leaves get crunchy when they dry. i know there are certain kinds of leaves that don’t get super crunchy so i’ll have to try some of those next time.

what can i use my dried flowers for?

i love using dried flowers in my penpal letters! sometimes, i stick them onto the paper as decoration or sprinkle them into the envelope like confetti. it’s a cute little springy surprise!

i also used to keep a few dried daffodils stuck around my bulletin board. it was a cute little pop of color and i liked the contrast between the bright art and photos and the earthy tones of the flowers.

another idea i had was to drop a few dried flowers into the bottom of a gift bag. it’s a cute little touch and it makes it seem you spent a lot of time on the composition of the gift, regardless of whether you did or not.

what do you think?

i hope you all liked my ideas for drying flowers and loved seeing the pretty blooms! i actually had a lot of fun making this post so maybe i’ll make one for pressed flowers!

have you dried flowers before? what was your method of choice?

have a lovely day, friend (:

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aesthetic things to do this spring {romanticizing spring}

hello, friends, and welcome back to our fairy hollow!

we are in the midst of spring right now! the southerners are already sweating to death, the northerners are still shoveling snow, and those parts of the northern hemisphere in the rare sweet spot are getting lovely spring weather. (we don’t talk about the southern hemisphere — they’re busy raking leaves.)

spring is the time of year when the world wakes up from her wintery nap, shakes out her grassy gown and embroiders it full of lovely flowery designs. what better time of year to be aesthetic?

here’s a list of some lovely things to do this spring to romanticize the season and bring joy in the mundane areas of life.

1. read a classic

i’ve never been that big of a classics fan, but something about the springy weather makes me want to read Little Women or The Secret Garden. i suppose spring just has that effect. but the idea of sitting on the porch at sunrise with a cup of tea and a good book just sounds so lovely, even though i dislike tea, early mornings, and reading outside. i suppose that’s just the magic of the season.

2. go on a picnic

though i’ve never actually gone on a picnic (around here, there aren’t many open fields with room to set out a full meal!), i’ve always loved the idea of taking my favorite treats and a soft blanket out to a place where no one is around and enjoying a peaceful meal with my closest friends. choose a day when it’s sunny and warm — but not too warm! — so the birds will be chirping and the squirrels will be running around. try wearing a thrifted sundress and a pretty straw hat. if you get rained on, dance in the rain. sing a song. harmonize with the music of the birds and the wind. the world is beautiful this time of year!

3. listen to new music — or rediscover old favorites

spring is a time of newness and change, and what better time is there to maybe find your new favorite song? i love listening to new music, and the freshness of the season has encouraged me to try listening to genres and artists i normally wouldn’t give a chance. but, if finding new music isn’t your jam (pun intended 😉), then maybe now’s the time to listen to old favorites. dig out your old iPod, look up your favorite artists from your childhood, and just relive the happy memories!

4. host a tea party

hosting a tea party is very fun and very aesthetic. it doesn’t matter whether you like tea or not — host a lemonade party if that strikes your fancy. invite your friends, and tell them to wear their loveliest dresses and hats. talk about what fancy ladies might converse about. there is no quicker way to feel aesthetic than to have a tea party!

5. press or dry a myriad of flowers

i love pressing wildflowers! they are always so pretty and they’re fun to send to my penpals or just use in decoration around my space. and drying flowers is fun too! though the color isn’t always as vibrant, the petals are just as delicate and many flowers keep their scent for a long time after they are pressed or dried.

6. do some light spring cleaning

whenever i hear the words “spring cleaning,” my mind automatically jumps to cleaning every nook and cranny in the house. but spring cleaning doesn’t have to be that in-depth. sometimes spring cleaning is just pulling out a few un-worn shirts from your closet and donating them, or throwing away old papers under your bed. freshening up your living space doesn’t have to be overwhelming. but if deep-cleaning is unavoidable, check out this post about finding joy in spring cleaning.

7. watch the sunrise

i’ve watched the sunrise once in my entire life and it was so beautiful. there is something so satisfying in waking before the sun and being there to greet it. or, if waking early isn’t your thing, sit outside and watch the sunset. just as beautiful, but less of a commitment!

what do you think?

well, there is a lovely list of wonderful, aesthetic activities to do this spring. spring is such a lovely time of year and you can be sure i’ll be doing these activities myself!

have you done any of the things on this list? what is your favorite springy activity?

have a lovely spring, my friend (:

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the end of the blog tour

i can’t believe the blog tour is already over. i can’t believe it’s already been a week. or should i say, i can’t believe it’s only been a week. i’ve had so much support and traffic over the past week, it’s been insane. thank you to everyone who participated, to everyone who clicked, to everyone who commented and liked and subscribed. y’all are amazing ❤

a few stats for you all

overall, since launch day, iflaf has gotten 553 views, 16 likes, and had 166 visitors.

the day with the most traffic was April 5.

the iflaf email list gained 20 subscribers, not counting those that subscribed before the blog was launched, like my tour participants and my family members. counting all of the subscribers, i now have 26 email list subscribers! i’m so happy all of y’all are here and i’m looking forward to getting to know every single one of y’all as time goes on!

and of course, i want to thank everyone that wrote a post or sent out an email about this blog! i couldn’t have reached these numbers without y’all! and to everyone that was kind enough to click and see what they were talking about, thank y’all for giving us your attention!

what do you think?

i’d say that, for my first blog tour and the first week of iflaf being out in the world, the numbers are pretty good! definitely wayyyy better than i was expecting. thank y’all so much for being a part of this!

were the numbers higher than you expected? lower? if you’re new here, where are you coming from? one of the tour participants or the WordPress Reader or somewhere else?

have a lovely day, friend (:

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welcome to I Feel Like a Fairy + blog tour hub

hello hello, friends, and welcome to the fairy hollow!

i’m operating under the assumption that this is your first time here. if so, welcome welcome! i’m so glad to see you! if you’re returning. . . . welcome welcome! i’m still glad to see you! welcome to the official launch of i feel like a fairy, and the hub of my blog tour!

“what blog tour?” you might be asking. read on to find the answer to that question!

what is a blog tour and why are you doing it?

a blog tour is a series of posts across various blogs, websites, and email lists, used to publicize anything the organizer chooses! most people use blog tours to publicize their newly published books, but i am using a blog tour to spread the word about iflaf! it’s my hope that after this next week, i’ll have a bunch of new friends to share this journey with!

i’m new here. what can i expect?

great question! i plan to post about my favorite books, music, and the ways i find joy in this silly thing called life. if any of that interests you, feel free to subscribe to my email list! you’ll be notified of new posts and receive exclusive content that won’t appear on the blog!

why won’t you use proper capitalization? it’s bugging me!

well, you wouldn’t be the first to tell me that. i don’t plan to change to proper capitalization anytime soon, so if that bugs you a lot, no one’s making you stay (:

who’s participating in the blog tour?

ah, the million dollar question! here is a list of everyone that is participating and when you can expect to see their posts!

april 4 — tour kickoff, myself @ Windows; Erin {via YWW}

april 5 — Reece Turner {via her email list}; Liesl @ Quote, Unquote

april 6 — Brittney @ This Reader’s Thoughts

april 7 — Anna @ Anaru Blogs; Pearl Christine {via her email list}

april 8 — Jessica B. Brown {via her email list}

april 9 — Joanne Shin {via her email list}

april 10 — Monica @ Monica Grace’s Journal

april 11 — tour ends back here

if you’re interested in reading any upcoming posts, go ahead and subscribe to these lovely people! and if you’re reading this in the future, all the accessible posts should be linked, so feel free to go back in time to when iflaf was first launched!

what do you think?

here’s to fresh beginnings and grand potentials! i can’t wait to continue on this journey with all of my lovely friends, new and old!

how did you find this blog? via a blogger, email list, a random Google search, etc.?

have a lovely day, friend (:

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how to find joy in spring cleaning

hello, dear friends, and welcome back to the fairy hollow!

so. cleaning. i’ve never enjoyed cleaning in any form, aside from organizing, which is very satisfying. but, we are in the midst of spring, and people all over the world are doing their spring cleaning, in varying capicities.

it can be hard to find the motivation to get off the couch and do some tidying. i know i struggle with motivation all the time. but i’ve decided to share some things that have helped me push through the procrastination and get right down to it!

1. make a specific checklist

i don’t know about you, but i love checking things off of a list. it’s just so satisfying to have that thing behind you. but the thing about checklists is that sometimes they can be overwhelming. so, don’t put “clean the kitchen” on your list, just like that. break it down into simpler tasks like “wipe the counter” or “load the dishwasher”. you’ll have more things to check off and your to-do list won’t be as overwhelming.

2. break a big project down into smaller parts

this builds off of the last point, but seriously. it’s so helpful to break a big task into bite-sized pieces. don’t focus on how messy your room is. focus on what’s making it messy. is it the baskets of laundry piled in the corner? is it the stationery scattered around the floor? training yourself to see the smaller components to a mess will be a huge help in the long run.

3. don’t hoard

i know, i know. this is painful to hear. but you really don’t need every notebook Walmart sells. if there’s a massive pile of something that’s taking up valuable space, ask yourself, “am i going to use this in the immediate future?” if the answer is no, pull it out and get rid of it. and you don’t have to throw it away. you can donate it or give it to your little cousin. once you get rid of stuff that’s just taking up space, you’ll feel so much better.

4. take a picture of your clean room

it can be hard to find the motivation you need when you’ve been living in a disaster for a few weeks. if you take a picture of your room when it’s clean and look at it when you’re feeling unmotivated, it will be a great reminder of what you’re working toward. are you more productive in a clean room? will your mom stop nagging you to clean it? will your roommate be pleased that you put all your stuff away for once? have an end goal in mind and imagine how wonderful it will be to achieve.

5. reward yourself!

cleaning is hard work! though there are a select few that enjoy the act of cleaning, most people don’t. so when you finish a big cleaning project, reward yourself! buy those shoes you’ve been wanting. go out with your friends. or just sit around and watch YouTube the rest of the afternoon. a reward is so much more satisfying when it’s well-earned!

what do you think?

well, those are my tips for finding joy in cleaning! these are things that i’ve found are a huge help to me, so i hope this list helps you in the same way it’s helped me!

what are some things that have helped you when it comes to motivation? are you doing any spring cleaning this season?

have a lovely day, friend (:

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some lovely spring songs

hello friends and welcome back to our happy little fairy hollow!

music is a wonderful way to get into the spirit of something. just think about Christmas music! it’s playing all the time during the season and, for most people, it has a special kind of joy and nostalgia to it.

spring is such a wonderful time of year and there are some wonderful songs that go along with the season, so i thought i would share some of my favorite springy songs with all of you!

Grow As We Go ~ Ben Platt

when you’re high, i’ll take the lows // you can ebb and i can flow // and we’ll take it slow // and grow as we go

this song is all about growing and the melody is lilting and beautiful. it makes me think of flowers gently blowing in the wind.

Two Oruguitas ~ Lin-Manuel Miranda

both of you know // it’s your time to grow // to fall apart, to reunite

everyone knows of this song’s existence, but i think it fits the spring theme very well. the lyrics tell the story of two caterpillars that meet and are inseparable and ends with them becoming butterflies and flying away. it’s all about growth and caterpillars. what could fit spring better?

Spring Theory ~ PEABOD

most days i watch grass grow // most days time moves that slow

this song has “spring” in the title! it has very nice peppy vibes and it’s all about trusting God to bring light to your life when you’re feeling a little down. i’ve been listening to it on repeat because it’s just so catchy!

Alpha ~ C418

this is an instrumental track from Minecraft, but the music tells such a lovely story. it reminds me of flowers blooming and green springing forth after a long winter. ’tis very lovely.

Reuben ~ Antino and Welles

this is another instrumental track from Minecraft: Story Mode. it’s very bouncy and cheerful. it reminds me a lot of the daffodils that pop up around our house every spring. very cheerful, very bouncy, and very springy!

the author ~ Luz

i just wanna stay outside till 6 am // even though i hated it then // i’ve only gone and stumbled into a dream

i’m not sure how much the lyrics reflect spring, but the melody and general vibe of this song remind me strongly of cool spring mornings. down here in the south, where i live, spring mornings are so wonderful and cool. not too hot, not too cold. just a soothing melody of wind across your skin as you watch the sun rise. that’s exactly how this song feels.

God of Heaven ~ PCC Symphonic Choir

new beginnings freely offered // who can make us whole again?

God of Heaven is one of my favorite anthems, and the performance posted by the Pensacola Christian College Symphonic Choir is one of the loveliest things i’ve ever heard. this song starts out quiet and timid in the beginning and swells in the most amazing way towards the end. just like spring. timid blooms and budding green leaves that explode into a blanket of color as the season goes on. such an amazing reminder of how great our God is.

what do you think?

i hope you enjoyed this brief list of lovely spring songs! i took the liberty of creating a playlist of these songs and some other favorites for you all to enjoy.

what are some of your favorite springy songs? have you heard any of the songs on this list?

have a lovely day, friend (:

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in which we list books with springy vibes

hello, dear friends, and welcome back to the fairy hollow!

i don’t know about you, but spring is one of my favorite times of the year, especially early spring, when it’s rainy and cool and the flowers are blooming and the baby animals are being born. it’s such a lovely time of year and i love looking out my window to the green trees right outside.

in celebration of this lovely season, i have decided to make a list of some of my favorite books with lovely spring vibes. so let’s get started!

the Grandma’s Attic Series

{apologies for the grainy photo}

the Grandma’s Attic Series is a four-book-long collection of short stories compiled by Arleta Richardson. each book recalls stories that Arleta was told by her grandmother, all about the time Grandma was growing up on a farm in Michigan during the mid to late 1800s.

in every one of Grandma’s stories, exhilarating antics ensue. in one story, grandma is dressing a piglet in baby clothes, and in another, she is getting lost at the county fair. there is no shortage of silly situations to laugh at, and each story teaches a valuable lesson.

i own the first two books in this series and i love both of them. they are very fun to read and they make me long for the olden days, when towns were small and telephones didn’t exist. perfect for when you want a cozy read for a rainy day.

These Happy Golden Years

all of the books in the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder are very lovely and fun to read, but These Happy Golden Years is my favorite. it tells the story of how Laura’s relationship grew with a man in her town, starting with him giving her rides to and from the schoolhouse Laura worked at, and eventually ending with them marrying and moving in together.

the book starts in the dredges of winter, but slowly blossoms into spring, and the parts of the book where Laura and Almanzo are admiring nature or attending singing school have such wonderful, relaxing vibes. it’s a very nice read and i’ve read this book so many times, my copy is falling apart. i need to buy another one, haha.

literally any of James Herriot’s children’s books and short stories

James Herriot’s stories are so beautifully written, especially his children’s books. my mother gave me my first James Herriot book when i was eight and i have read it nothing short of a million times. over the years, we’ve collected a few more, but i won’t be happy until i have the entire collection! my two favorites are Smudge, the Little Lost Lamb, and The Christmas Day Kitten, although the latter is not quite as much of a spring read as some of the others.

not only do Herriot’s books tell stories of cute, fuzzy animals, they also tug relentlessly at your heart strings and teach beautiful lessons. and i am yet to read a James Herriot book without amazing illustrations. they are all so lovely and definitely worth a read.

The Secret Garden

though, i have put this on my spring book list, i have a rather embarrassing confession. . . . i’ve never read this book all the way through. i read a little more than half of it for school, then lost my patience and stopped. but that was more than six years ago and i have come a long way in my reading journey. so, i’m putting this book on my reading list. maybe i can successfully finish it this time around.

from what i can remember, the story is very springy and lovely, and Frances Hodgson Burnett was one of my favorite authors when i was young. (i was obsessed with A Little Princess all through elementary school.) i miss the ravenous nature with which i read classics when i was young. growing up is a travesty.

what do you think?

i hope you enjoyed reading my springy book suggestions! spring is such a perfect time of year, full of flowers, showers, and sunshine, and i cannot wait to spend my season sitting outside and reading my favorite classics.

what are some of your favorite spring books? have you read any of the books on this list?

have a lovely day, friend (: