Tomorrow is the first day of spring! If you've been feeling the itch to purge, reorganize, or finally clear out the things that have just been piling up, I’m right there with you and you're right on time. There's something about this time of year that makes you want to create space. In your house, in your head, and on your calendar. The mental clutter that built up over winter, all of the to-do lists that never got done, the tabs you have open (literally and figuratively), spring is the perfect time to dump it, check it off, and close them out. You’ll feel lighter and can finally see clearly again (buh-bye brain fog). This week we're diving in head first with that energy. Let's feel a little lighter.
And I think that starts with small decisions. Not a full weekend overhaul, not a total life reset which can just cause more stress and overwhelm. Just picking one corner of your home that's been bothering you and actually dealing with it. Saying no to one thing on your calendar that you've been dreading. Putting your phone down an hour earlier than usual. None of it is dramatic but it adds up faster than you think. That foggy, heavy, slightly off feeling that's been hanging around since winter? A lot of it is just stuff. Physical stuff, mental stuff, the invisible weight of everything you've been carrying around without realizing it. Spring is a good reason to start putting some of it down. Let me know what you’re doing this week to start lightening the load.
Ok, now for the good stuff…
Date Night
If you haven't been to Ysidora yet, this is the week to go, and here's why. March 21st is Swallows Day in San Juan Capistrano, one of the most iconic local traditions of the year, and Ysidora sits right in the heart of it all at the Inn at the Mission on Old Mission Road. The setting alone is worth the reservation. You're dining on an outdoor patio surrounded by bubbling fountains, Bird of Paradise flowers, olive trees, and the ruins of the Great Stone Church right in view. You can feel the history. It is genuinely one of the most beautiful spots in all of South OC and most people drive right past it without knowing it's there.
The food is California comfort with a full Spanish influence, wood-fired seafood, hot and cold tapas, locally sourced meats and produce, and a cocktail program built around Spanish wines and gin-forward drinks that are unlike anything else around. Happy hour runs from 3 to 5pm Sunday through Thursday so if you want a lower-key version, get there early and sit by the firepit in the lounge. For a full dinner, they're open until 10pm every night and the best part is locals get 20% off on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Make your reservation at ysidora.com or through OpenTable.
Outdoor Adventure
With spring is officially here, all I’m thinking about is getting outdoors and OC Parks is making it really easy to get your kids (and you!) outside and off screens this week. The first option is the Jr. Ranger Adventure at Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park in Laguna Niguel, happening this Friday March 13th from 3:30 to 4:30pm. It's led by OC Parks naturalists and Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteers, designed for kids ages 7 to 12, and it's one of those activities that actually gets kids genuinely engaged. They explore the park, complete hands-on nature activities, take the official Jr. Ranger Oath, and earn their own Jr. Ranger badge to take home. The park itself is 4,500 acres of trails, oak trees, year-round streams and wildlife including deer, bobcats and hawks. It feels remote even though you're minutes from Alicia Parkway. The program is free, $3 for parking, and advance registration is required. Register at ocparks.com/events and search Jr. Ranger Adventure Aliso and Wood Canyons.
If Friday doesn't work for your family, or you have little ones who aren't quite ready for the Jr. Ranger program, there's a Family Hike at Agua Chinon on Saturday March 21st, from 4:30 to 7pm in the Irvine Ranch Open Space. This one is intentionally paced for families, a gradual 3-mile round trip with 500 feet of elevation, led by OC Parks staff who point out red-tailed hawks, mule deer, and the sounds and smells of the canyon at dusk. It's a beautiful way to end a Saturday and get everyone moving without it feeling like a workout. All ages welcome, no strollers, water and sturdy shoes are required, and advance registration is mandatory with no walk-ups permitted. Register at letsgooutside.org and search Family Hike Agua Chinon.
Movement Goals
If you've been wanting to get back into a movement routine this spring, Modern Art of Pilates on PCH in Dana Point opened in early 2025 and it has been on my radar ever since. It is a women-owned luxury boutique Pilates studio that blends classical Pilates with Lagree-inspired intensity, which means you get the lengthening and alignment benefits of traditional Pilates with the real strength and muscle work of a more athletic format. Small class sizes mean the instructor actually sees you, corrects your form, and gives you modifications when you need them. So many members are describing it as one of the most beautiful studios they've ever been to and the results they're getting speak for themselves.
What makes this place stand out beyond just the workout is the community. The founder Haley built it intentionally to feel like a wellness club, not just a gym, so you leave feeling stronger and a little more like yourself. Morning classes run Monday through Saturday, which makes it very doable even with a full week. They offer drop-in sessions as well as packages so you can try it without committing to a full membership. Book your first class and see their full schedule at modernartofpilates.com.
There's something about the first week of spring that makes it feel like you actually have permission to start fresh. I want you to take that and run with it this week, even if it's just one small thing. Go to dinner, get outside, move your body. We spend so much time in our heads planning and thinking and meaning to do things, and then the week is over and we did none of them.
I challenge you this week to let go of one thing that's been cluttering your space or your mind, and replace it with one thing that actually fills you up. Pick something from this list and put it on the calendar. That's it! Let’s make this week feel a little lighter. Hit reply and tell me how it goes.
See you next Thursday!
