Easter

Spring weather can be so unpredictable. Where I live a day of sunshine can be followed by a day of snow. But after 6 months of boots, wool, and fleece, I’m ready for linen and crepes even if the weather isn’t.

In order to accommodate both my idealistic spring expectations and the reality of the weather, I paired up with Chadwick’s of Boston to pull together some versatile layered looks for an uncertain spring.

My first easy way to add a little warmth without much bulk is layering a button-down under a high neck sleeveless maxi dress. I paired it with a long, narrow scarf for a bow-tie effect. The effect is as unexpected as the weather.

Next I played with color and texture. I’m loving the currently trending favor for colorful mono-chromatics.

By blending high value tints with low value shades within the same color family you get a long, lean yet completely original look.

Throwing a sweater on top of linen blend sheath dress adds color intensity, a cozy texture, and unstructured contrast to the sheath’s tailoring. Finishing off a bare leg with a closed toe shoes adds further flexibility.

What’s your spring weather like?

I’m not characteristically forgetful, but I don’t remember large chunks of my childhood. There are huge gaps lost to time, years even. And it was a good childhood, full of happy moments, but we only get to keep what we refuse to let go of. What has stuck through the decades, are the things we did over and over: daily habits, seasonal traditions.

Accepting this anecdotal truth, I want to be especially deliberate about my own family traditions. Not only are these rites of passage fun, they define who we are as a family, what we value, and what we celebrate.

Easter, Christmas’s Spring counterpart, has its widely accepted chocolate bunnies, egg hunts, and dying parties, but I wanted to add a few of our own customs to build out the remembrance. Below is a list of 5 traditions to do with kids, which will reinforce family culture:

1. Fly a Kite
Good Friday finds the Bermudan sky dotted with colorful, multi-sided kites embellished with sticks and all shades of tissue paper. Legend has it that a Bermudan teacher used a kite decorated with Jesus’ image to simply illustrate the Ascension of Christ into heaven.

Whether tied to a religious meaning or not, spring is the perfect time to utilize the seasonal breeze. Break free from artificial glows and enjoy an unplugged afternoon.

2. Share Seasonal Bouquets
Easter is a great opportunity to reconnect with your community. If you have access to a garden, collect local blooms and greens. If not visit your local grocer and pick up inexpensive, seasonal sprays. It’s a chance to notice how nature decorates for the season. Cut and arrange the mini bouquets in empty, clean food jars or recycle your old tissue paper and paper grocery sacks as wrapping. Either way, use a pretty ribbon to attach a note and walk the neighborhood making deliveries.

3. Visit the Farm
The fertile rabbit, the unblemished lamb, the new life of chicks: spring animals are closely tied to Easter symbolism. Now is a great time to visit our fellow Earth roommates. Many farms have dedicated petting areas and tours. If the farm allows, see if you can pick up some fresh produce while you’re there. Even better, pick fruits and vegetables yourself and use it to flavor your holiday meal.

4. Gift Summer Pajamas
By the time Christmas pajamas are delivered, winter is half over. But Easter, arriving near the dawn of Spring, times up perfectly with the need for new, light-weight sleeping clothes.These can be easily tucked into Easter baskets or delivered the night before, so your wee ones are smartly dressed for the morning festivities and the candid pictures you want to take.

5. Take a Family Picture
This is another Christmas tradition re-imagined. Rather than waiting until the busiest time of the year for yourself and photographers, take a picture now. You can even send Easter cards out. For my spring photo shoot, I found a timeless wardrobe for all four of my kids at Janie & Jack. All their collections coordinate with each other, (my boys are not huge fans of matching) and they have sizes to fit all my kids from newborn to size 12. Insert “easy” button.

I fell in love with Janie & Jack when Coco was a baby. Their clothes are perfectly timeless yet exquisitely unique. And those tiny dresses and rompers last for-ev-er. The baby clothes I bought for Coco have been handed down to four other baby girls. They are currently in the closet of Coco’s 3-month-old cousin, and nearly 8 years later they look just as darling as when Coco wore them.