Reason #19: Top Ten Favorites of Spring

March 20th marks the first day of spring, at last! While I will miss my winter coats, knee high boots, and soups (probably the only three things I like about winter besides Christmas), there are so many things to look forward to in the new season. I will probably expand on each item in future posts, but here are my "Top Ten Favorite Things about Spring":

1. A New Batch of Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables which also means a new fruit topping to put in oatmeal, a new combination of fruits and veggies for smoothies, and new seasonal recipes to try out.

Spring Fruits:
Apricots, Avocados, Carrots, Cherries, Grapefruit, Kiwis, Lemons, Mango, Pineapple, Navel Oranges, Strawberries

Spring Vegetables:
Artichokes, Arugula, Asparagus, Beets, Fava beans, Fennel, Greens, Leeks, Spring and Sweet Onions, Parsely, Peas, Spinach, Swiss Chards, Turnips

2. Spring Clothes Finally I can switch around my wardrobe…

Goodbye
Wool Winter Coats, Tights, Winter Hats, Black Chanel Bag, Knee High Boots, Uggs, Spandex

Hello
Bright colors, bare legs, sunglasses, Pink Chanel Bag, Peep Toed Shoes, Flip Flops, Shorts

3. First Day of Spring Equals A 64 Day Countdown to Shore House
From May 22 (Memorial Day Weekend) to September 7 (Labor Day Weekend), I ditch the city and head to my beach house on the weekends. Here’s to sitting on the beach all day and hanging out at the bars all night!

4. So Long Viactiv, Hello Sunshine
It is finally time to give up the Vitamin D supplements for the real Vitamin D-maker – sunshine!It is now doable to step out of the office and take a walk at lunch time! Or grab a friend and eat lunch at Bryant Park, Rockefeller Center, or the nearest park, tree, bench, curb.

5. Running Outside for Long Periods of Time
Im tired of the crowded, smelly gym and thoroughly enjoying outside exercise now that it is warmer. Long runs, soccer games, tennis, and golf are all good workouts to replace the winter workouts on the elliptical and treadmill.
Personal Spring Goal: Run ½ marathon down the Jersey shore on May 3 (anyone else running?) under 2 hours.

6. Spring Break
So I may have graduated college, but aren’t we all still entitled to a Spring Break? Time to plan a trip. May 9 Im making my annual trip to a girlfriend’s lakehouse in South Carolina for some sun and fun with the college girls (BDs).

7. New York, New York
NYC hosts the following activities in Spring: Fleet Week, Tribeca Film Festival, Five Boro Bike Tour (42 miles of biking adventure), Fashion Week, and Cherry Blossom Season at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden.

8. Spring Cleaning
Finally we can turn off the heat, and open the windows. I cant wait to air out the apartment, dry clean all my winter clothes, and change my flannel sheets to lighter ones.

9. Gardening
Okay, so I live in an apartment with no outside space – but I do have a terrace! Therefore, my Spring 2009 project is to start a herb garden on the balcony.

10. March Madness!
Has everyone gotten their brackets submitted for the NCAA Tournament pool? It is March Madness time! I entered two brackets at work in a winner-takes-all pool. I have picked UNC as winner in one and Pittsburgh in the other. Aside from actually enjoying college basketball, I love a little competition.
Best place in NYC to watch the games: Bounce Deuce in the East Village. You will find me there (last year ran in to the Nets team and two of the past Bachelors!)