may ins & outs

to longer, lighter days - and all the spritzes in between!

Hi overthinkers 💭🌼

Today’s post is a moodboard in words, if you will - as we get ready to welcome May into our lives. After what felt like the world’s longest winter (seriously, was it always so dark and windy outside?!), I’m finally thawing out. Not everything about winter was bleak though — for me, it was a season of stillness. A necessary slowdown. One I didn’t exactly choose, but deeply needed.

What winter looked like for me:

• Allowing myself to sleep-in

• Wearing SKIMS and Abercrombie sweats like a uniform

• Reclaiming my health, step by (doctor’s office) step

• Writing, reading, creating

• Walking all around NYC - rain or shine

• Becoming 70% gluten free

• Finding new coffee shops to people-watch from (Le Gaz, 11th Street Coffee)

• Trying to build better habits (giving myself grace when I didn’t follow them)

• Physical therapy, lots of it!

But now — the light is back. And I feel it already. That breath of lilac scented renewal that May always brings. Flowers, a sudden craving for citrus, a reminder that life can be both fun and fleeting. And with that, I wanted to share what I’m leaning into this season.

🌷SPRING INS

Aperol Spritz at 5:30pm on a Wednesday
This has always been in, but now the city looks like someone cranked the saturation up 200%. Spritz season has ARRIVED. My favorite spots for one as a mid-20s girlie living in NYC:

• Bar Pisellino

• Bar Revival

• Le Dive

• Elvis

• (Secret spot I’m gatekeeping just a little longer…)

Poems about Spring
I’ve been rediscovering the joy of reading poetry slowly, like sipping something fizzy. A few I’m loving:

🌸 The Spring by Thomas Carew — A classic ode to seasonal shift and unthawed feelings.
🌸 Daisy Time by Marjorie Pickthall
🌸 Lilacs by Amy Lowell

Gabby Windey’s accidental spoken word brilliance
Do yourself a favor and take 2 minutes to listen to Gabby Windey’s “There’s a toddler running our country.” This is comedy, but also poetry. The political take we’ve been looking for.

“I want everyone to be afraid. I want a baby with YOU. YOU IVF, YOU surrogate. YOU bend over — he’s Oprah — and YOU get a baby, baby, baby.”

Full performance here: Gabby Windey being unhinged & iconic.

Striped Sets + Flat Piped Slippers

• Matching sets in candy-colored stripes. I got the shorts, long skirt & button down shirt from NAKD, but I like this DJERF Avenue set too.

• I can’t get behind split-toe flats yet - but Lemaire & Pêche’s flat piped shoes are lovely. To me, they whisper “French vacation”.

Trying new forms of exercise.
Our brains (and bodies) thrive on novelty. But we often become creatures of habit when it comes to exercise, vying for the same workout day after day. At some point, though, there’s a decent chance we’ll stop doing that same workout. What was once a fun challenge likely lost its luster.

Luckily, data supports the power of variety and the brain benefits we get from trying new things. As the good weather rushes in - it can be the perfect time to invite in forms of movement you wouldn’t normally do.

• Pickleball

• Swimming

• Dance classes (or dance parties with your friends)

• Literally anything that feels fun and is not tracked by your watch

A thoughtful Mother’s Day gesture
If you're forgetful, put a reminder in your phone now! to wish your mom and all the moms a Happy Mother’s Day on May 11th. Then, consider going the extra mile with any of the below:

• If your mom has a sweet tooth, send her this Truffle Gift Set (8 Piece Mixed) 🍫. If she has a savory tooth, how about VERVE’s Truffle Gift Set (not chocolates, but actual truffles).

• Ship your mom a Lovebox (yes, the little message boxes that enable you to send your mom a joyful message of love from anywhere in the world)

• Create a tiny cookbook of recipes your mom liked to make when you were younger

• A “just because” text with ✨three things you love about her✨ and ✨three things you want to do together✨ the next time you visit home.

Citrus desserts for serotonin
Lemon Posset, orange olive oil cake, key lime whatever — anything bright, cold, and tart.
🍋 Lemon Posset Recipe
🍊 Citrus Jellies Recipe

Reading under trees
The most wholesome habit I’m bringing back this spring. Highly recommend bringing a book, a blanket, and a basket of flowers, berries, beverages, etc. Lately, I’ve been finding spots in Central Park, Elizabeth St Garden and Prospect Park.

In, in & in

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☁️SPRING OUTS

• Doomscrolling/Brainrot. GET. THE. F. OUTSIDE. It’s light from 6am to 8pm now. Nature is literally begging you not to hole up and rot.

• Resisting change. Don’t fight the thaw; May is built for renewal. Change might just present itself in hints and little gusts of wind you’d otherwise ignore. Listen to its signs.

• Being late to things

• Cottage cheese. I think I overdid it on the cottage cheese trends this winter and now I’m craving actual cheese. Give me the pecorino. Give me the brie. With cold cuts on a real charcuterie board in Central Park. Thank you <3

• Keeping air pods in at all times

• Unnecessary distractions

• Clutter (physical or mental). Manage what apps can send you lock-screen notifications. Clean your space - If you need help getting started, check out this spring cleaning Substack by Our Café and this one by Ella Henry. 🫧

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Here’s to a season of soft renewal. To reclaiming your joy, your space, your schedule. To spritzes and poetry and whatever weird form of movement makes you feel most alive.

Happy (almost) May <3
Delaney