things I didn’t overthink - spring obsessions and things that kept me sane this season

This spring my mood was as chaotic and unpredictable as the weather in Illinois - one day it’s warm, sunny, perfect, the next - rain, wind, a storm, and suddenly you’re like, wait, do I need my winter coat again? Where did I even put it? So, trying to stay productive and in a good mood through all of that (weather, mood swings, work), I found myself focusing more on small things that actually brought me some kind of joy. Here are some random things I genuinely enjoyed this spring.

Books. The first book I was completely obsessed with was Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk. The story follows Janina, who lives in a small, remote mountain village. She’s into astrology, deeply connected to nature, reads Blake. And when people in her village start dying in these strange, almost mysterious ways, she’s convinced she knows why - but no one takes her seriously. It was such a beautiful book. Very cozy, a little strange, a little melancholic, sometimes unexpectedly funny. I just enjoyed it so much while reading. And I especially loved that the main character is an older woman. Usually older women in books are either side characters or some kind of cliché. But here she is complex, intelligent, a bit odd, a bit mysterious, very authentic, with strong, with very clear views. Just an incredible book. I loved it so so much.

Also recently I was craving something with more structure - high fantasy, politics, some intrigue, maybe a bit of dystopia. So I picked up The Will of the Many and The Strength of the Few by James Islington. I already wrote a separate post about these and will publish soon because this was a 10/10 for me. Exactly what I wanted, and more.

Then I started Red Rising. And wow, that was intense. I went in without expectations, didn’t read reviews, just the description. Also, I found a really beautiful deluxe edition, so I couldn’t not buy it. Another 10/10. I don’t give that rating often, but this spring was just a lot of them. Also, did you know that Pierce Brown is extremely hot? Like… he looks like that and writes like that? Be serious.

What I loved here was similar to what I loved in The Will of the Many - complex political systems, hierarchy, morally grey characters, difficult choices. But Red Rising felt even more brutal, intense and more packed with events. You can tell it’s just the beginning of a much bigger story, but it already delivers so much! The character development alone in the first book is enough to get you hooked. I’m very excited to continue the series.

Another thing I kept coming back to was Useless Magic by Florence Welch. It’s more of a meditative book for me. A mix of her poetry and lyrics, with beautiful photos, illustrations, handwriting. I kept opening it, reading a few pages at a time, enjoying.

And finally, I finally made myself acquainted with Clarice Lispector and yeah, I get it now. I understand why everyone is obsessed. I read Agua Viva and loved it! Such a strange, beautiful, almost meditative stream of consciousness! You just get pulled into it. It just flows, and you follow. It’s just such a beautiful chaos and there are so many layers in it. I was reading and just thinking what a beautiful things were going on in her head when she was writing, such a poetic thoughts! It’s a very short book, you can read it in one evening, but it’s pure pleasure. Highly recommend

Music. The highlight of this spring was definitely seeing Bad Omens live in Chicago this March. I bought the tickets the second they announced the tour and I genuinely couldn’t wait for it. And it was everything I expected and more. The vocals live are insane! Like goosebumps level incredible. The whole show felt like a completely different level — the energy, the production, the lighting, the sound, everything was just so well done. You could feel how much work went into it.

And Noah’s stage presence… I don’t even know how to describe it. He’s like some fucking god on stage. I still can’t get over it. I’ve been in a full post-concert hangover ever since and I’m already waiting for the next chance to see them live

© Bryan Kirks

The past couple of weeks I’ve had The Neighbourhood tour setlist on repeat. I already got tickets for their show next autumn, so I’m kind of tuning into the vibe. I’m not a huge fan, I probably have like ten songs I really love. But I’ve always wanted to hear Sweater Weather and Softcore live, so now I’m going through the newer stuff and the setlist.

Also, in March I discovered a band called LEAP. Their song Exit Signs was on repeat for weeks! There was this perfect moment - warm night, driving home after a really nice date, windows down, music loud, I had two espresso martinis, perfect mood, and I’m sitting in the passenger seat of my own car, which I weirdly loved. (I usually never let anyone drive my car.) I could just relax, just be there, feel the warm air, listen to the music, and enjoy the night and now this song just instantly takes me back to that exact feeling!

Clothes / Beauty. My unexpected favorite this spring was Skims t-shirts. I really love Skims - their bodysuits and long sleeves are basically most of my wardrobe. I have them in every color, different fits, sometimes duplicates (you know how it goes).But for some reason I never tried their t-shirts. And they’re so good! Perfect fit, nice fabric, really comfy, basic item. Now I need more brands that do basics like this with a perfect fit and good quality.

Fragrance. This spring I kept going back to one of my forever favorites - Narcotic Delight by Initio. But I also added two new perfumes to my collection. The first one is Pardon by Nasomatto. I wore it on slightly colder days. It has something in common with Black Afgano, which I love, but it’s more wearable. They share that same deep DNA - almost oily, slightly forbidden edge, a bit dark. While Black Afgano is intense, intoxicating, powerful and very seductive, Pardon is still deep, still complex, but not as overwhelming.

The second one surprised me, because it’s not my usual type - Iris Malikhan by Maison Crivelli. Maison Crivelli is one of my favorites, and Oud Maracuja and Saffron Secret have very quickly taken a permanent spot in my collection. But Iris Malikhan is much different from what I would usually pick, though surprisingly good and interesting. It opens very dry, almost dusty, slightly bitter iris. And then it dries down into this soft, expensive, powdery vanilla with a hint of white chocolate. I didn’t expect to love it this much, but it quickly became my daily spring scent.

Beauty favorites. Lip balm from Nécessaire - saved my lips this spring. Clear, no scent, nice applicator, very hydrating.

Junoco nail oil - nothing special about the formula, but the applicator is amazing! Soft, fluffy and just very satisfying to use

Patrick Ta blush in She’s Seductive - perfect shade for spring and summer. Warm, peachy nude with a bit of pink. Looks very natural but still gives a nice pop of color.

YSL lip blusher in mauve haze - really nice muted mauvy-pink. Very comfortable formula, very subtle (but layers nicely if needed), hydrating, feels amazing - your lips but better.

Movies / Series. This spring I’ve been rewatching Guy Ritchie - The Gentlemen, both the movie and the series. I just love his style. Fast, chaotic, with sharp British humor and great soundtracks. I feel like I needed more dynamic energy in my life, and in terms of cinema Ritchie is just a perfect choice.

YouTube. I discovered Malissa’s YouTube channel few months ago. She talks about books, perfumes, daily life - reading, cooking, walking her dog, going to bookstores and it just gives this calm, cozy, relaxing vibe. I usually watch her videos when I need a break or in the evening with a warm cup of tea. Also - great book recommendations! She has immaculate taste.

Lifestyle. One of my favorite things this spring was finally being able to sit on my balcony with my laptop and enjoy some sun and fresh air while working. Coffee, music in headphones - I missed that so much. Now that it’s getting warmer, I’m finally moving back to favorite cafés, but those first balcony days felt like a small luxury. (Still not the same as espresso and panna cotta in my favorite Italian spot, but I’ll take it.) I also bought a new plant for the balcony. Fingers crossed it survives. Chances are low, but I’ll do my best.

Stationery. Another favorite - my new Hobonichi cover (black, Spy x Family) with an A6 Stalogy notebook. Also Midori A6 notebooks. I love everything about them - the paper, the grid, how flat they lay, very satisfying to write in. And pens - I’ve always been a Muji 0.38 person, but recently I tried Pilot WAAI (friction series), and they’re actually really good - smooth writing, comfortable to hold, and they look cute.

Overall, I’m just happy it’s May and spring finally feels real. The weather is still doing whatever it wants, but it’s warmer now, and life starts to feel a bit sharper again.