spring in a box
When we lived in New York, this time of year was hard for me. The end of March and the beginning of April, when spring should be out in full force, were usually still cold and dreary. Winter seemed never ending. There's only so much you can do with two children under 3 when it's freezing cold outside, and for a girl born and raised in sunny Southern California, I had had enough.
I have a few friends who have had tougher winters than usual this year for various reasons. Friends who have been cooped indoors with colicky babies, or feeling down about just about everything or wondering how much longer they can stay sane in their tiny New York apartments. Oh, I remember.
So I decided to mail them a little something.. I call it "Spring in a Box". I gathered an assortment of all things yellow and orange and wrapped them up in the brightest paper I could find, including a note about how spring would definitely come.. that they had almost made it through the long cold winter. And I included these two lovely quotes:
The packages have all been received. Sunshine delivered by way of the USPS. Friends are cheered. Spring has come. Mission accomplished.
NOTE: Yes, it is because of the long, hard winter that we moved away from NYC and all its charms. Now we enjoy winter in southern California, usually wearing flip flops and making lemonade from the lemon tree in our backyard. So California has its charms too.
04.16.2009
Reader Comments (86)
You have to be one of the best friends ever :) I love it.
I had a few sweet friends send me some sweet reminders in the UAE of the seasons I was missing back home in the US - fall leaves, fake snow.....it's amazing how much happiness you can bring from these types of guestures.
What a fabulous idea! It reminds me of the "Care Package" that I made for a friend with a freshly broken heart ... it contained loads of Care Bear goodies, including a Care Bear blanket to cuddle up to :) I love giving and receiving gifts like that!
What a sweet idea! I made the move from sunny So Cal to Western Washington 3 years ago, and while the winters up here are mild compared to some other places, you realize just how wonderful sunshine and warmth are when it's gone 6 months out of the year! And yes, we're contemplating moving back...
Those are great packages! I bet your friends loved them!
brilliant idea - i wish i had had it!
These are so wonderful & thoughtful!! I love it!
What a lovely thoughtful thing to do! Your friends are very lucky to receive these packages!
Oh boy, are east coast winters tough, especially for a CA girl. I can certainly relate!
This is the best idea!!! I know some people that could use a cheering up, thanks for the thoughtful idea! Great post.
What an incredible idea. Your blog is a bit of sunshine, Brooke.
very thoughtful... what a wonderful idea :)
this is so sweet and a fantastic idea!
thanks for sharing!
This is just so lovely! I know your friends must have been so delighted, so enchanted!!
My husband and I were actually the recipients of something similar years ago, and the package that arrived on our doorstep is still, to this day, one of my favorite memories:
Like you, I grew up in a warm climate: the west coast of Florida. We had a suggestion of seasons and what passed for fall was always my favorite. I moved to NY for college and found fall even more incredible than I could have imagined! Walking through the park, kicking leaves. The first hint of cool weather! The smell of crisp air. The colors of the leaves!! It was all amazing. Eventually we (I'd met my future husband there and we kicked leaves together) moved to Miami for grad school. Even though Miami was part of Florida, it is was much hotter than where I grew up. That semblance of season was replaced with one long continuous year of the same. No Fall. No Winter. Simply summer. I should have been happy since I'd always loved summer but I missed the season I learned to love so much in the north.
Then something magical happened.
We returned home from the studios late one night to find a refrigerator sized box stilling on our doorstep. No return address, just ours. My husband grabbed at it only to notice that it was incredibly light for it's size and made crinkly / scratchy sounds when you moved it. We quickly opened it, ripping the tape off.
We angled the box down so we could peek inside .... and all of a sudden..
it was FALL!
A friend had sent us a box of fall leaves!!! We could smell them before they even came into view.
And, at 3 am, in the middle of a full blown Miami summer, Bill and I shared Fall by walking through nearly a small yards worth of fall leaves, shipped to us by a friend from the north. I was given one of my favorite memories of all time.
I imagine your friends experienced a bit of the same feeling when opening your 'box of spring' and they'll probably cherish that memory the way I have mine. What a beautiful thing for a friend to do!
By the way.. Your blog is incredible! I just came across it and am totally smitten!
Apologies for the long comment ( I really never do this but reading your post just brought back such a happy memory!)
All the very best,
Jen
what an absolutely gorgeous idea! I would be over the moon to receive such a wonderful package in the mail.
What a fabulous idea! I am definitely going to remember this next Spring!
Yep, I'm a fan of Spring in a Box! I can only imagine how happy this little {BIG!} surprise gift would make a friend! Kuddos!
you really are quite creative and so sweet and generous to those you love! you have a blog full of beauty and great ideas.. thank you so much for sharing.
i am also in southern cali... where are you? im in orange county.
i was wondering if you have any great ideas regarding thoughtful gifts for housewarming presents?
cheers and God bless!
What a clever idea to have a color/season theme! I LOVE it!
what a fantastic idea! thanks for sharing.
I am standing next to my mailbox with a very hopeful look on my face.