January 15, 2026

You turned six months old this week, born to a mother whose own mother was already slipping away from brain cancer. We worried you might tip the delicate balance of a house already bowed by sorrow and bracing for loss.

But you were anything but.

The windows open. The air shifts. The farmers markets come alive again. Suddenly, the food looks brighter, the evenings last longer, and even a short walk outside feels like medicine.

This time of year makes me want to clear things out—not just closets and drawers, but habits, routines, and mental clutter too. Spring has a way of showing us what feels stale, heavy, or overdue for a reset.

So this month, I’ve been thinking about simple ways to feel a little lighter. Not in a punishing or all-or-nothing way. Just a seasonal reset. Fresh food. More movement. A little less noise. A little more room to breathe.

Spring cleaning doesn’t have to mean scrubbing baseboards and reorganizing your spice drawer, although more power to you if that’s your thing.

Sometimes the most helpful spring cleaning starts in places like these:

Your pantry.
Toss the stale crackers, expired sauces, and mysterious snack bars no one actually likes. Clear out what no longer serves you and make room for foods you’ll genuinely use.

Your fridge.
Wipe the shelves. Start fresh. Refill it with foods that feel alive again—berries, greens, fresh herbs, crunchy vegetables, eggs, yogurt, citrus.

Your schedule.
Not everything needs to be attended, fixed, or carried by you. This might be a good month to ask: What am I doing out of habit, guilt, or obligation?

Your mind.
Mental clutter is real. Too many decisions, too much information, too much pressure to do everything “right.” Sometimes health improves simply by simplifying.

One of my favorite things about May is that we can start eating with the season again.

There’s something grounding about walking through a farmers market and seeing what’s actually growing right now. It reminds us that food is not just fuel or math or another self-improvement project. It’s connection. It’s rhythm. It’s pleasure.

A few things I love looking for this time of year:

• asparagus
• strawberries
• radishes
• sugar snap peas
• fresh herbs
• spring greens

My best advice? Don’t overbuy.

Pick just a few things that look beautiful and build simple meals around them. Farmers market shopping can get aspirational in a hurry. We picture ourselves turning ten kinds of produce into rustic seasonal magic, and then by Thursday we’re throwing out wilted greens while ordering takeout.

Better to buy less and enjoy it.

Seasonal, locally grown produce is the best way to eat healthy. Click the pics below for details on nearby Farmer's Markets.

Three Easy Ways to Use Spring Produce

Here are a few low-effort ideas if you bring home something fresh and don’t want to overthink it:

1. Strawberry Spinach Salad
Spinach, sliced strawberries, goat cheese, toasted pecans or walnuts, and a simple balsamic vinaigrette.

2. Roasted Asparagus
Toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast until tender, then finish with lemon and shaved parmesan.

3. Herb Eggs for Any Meal
Scramble or fold eggs with fresh parsley, chives, and spinach. Add avocado or toast on the side and call it breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Healthy doesn’t have to be fancy. Most of us do better with simple.

May is also a great time to stop making movement so complicated.

Not every good thing has to happen inside a gym.

A walk after dinner counts. Stretching on the patio counts. Gardening counts. Taking your coffee outside and standing in the morning light for ten minutes absolutely counts.

Fresh air helps. Sunlight helps. Being in your body instead of just in your head helps.

If your routine has felt heavy, stale, or overly structured, this may be the month to loosen your grip a little and ask: What would feel good to do outside?

A few ideas:

• take your daily walk somewhere green
• do a few Pilates or mobility exercises on the deck or patio
• eat one meal outside each week
• start your morning with five minutes of sunlight and deep breathing
• stretch after a walk instead of thinking it has to be a full workout

Sometimes the best reset is the one you’ll actually do.

You do not need a dramatic overhaul.

You probably don’t need a cleanse, a punishment, or a new set of rules.

You may just need a little more freshness. A little more color on your plate. A little more movement in your day. A little less clutter in your kitchen, your calendar, and your mind.

This season invites us back to what is simple and sustaining.

Open the windows. Buy the strawberries. Take the walk. Let that be enough for now.