A guide to the Flower Fields
Also in here: Easter egg paintings + the tee and sneakers in my cart
Hi lovelies! My kids are on spring break, so on Monday we visited The Flower Fields, a favorite tradition from my own childhood. I haven’t been since I was pregnant with Charlie (in 2018) and y’all, we were absolutely gobsmacked. Ranunculus as far as the eye can see (literally!) and thousands of other spectacular flowers across the grounds… I’m doing Deep Dive on our trip with newsletter later this month, but here are a few photos I couldn’t wait to share:
Can’t wait to give you the complete guide to visiting The Flower Fields and share all my film photos. Subscribers to
will be the first to see! If you have any questions you’d like answered in the guide, leave a comment and I’ll be sure to cover it :)))today’s bouquet
Bookmarking: Paris-inspired Etsy search terms.
This coconut + lime chocolate bar came in my CSA box last night. Eleanor’s review: “OMG, it tastes SO GOOD. Am I eating a coconut, a lime, or a chocolate bar?”
Adding guacasalsa to my TJ’s cart.
Extremely interested in a rhubarb & cheddar tart.
WOW, this wool painting!
19th century textiles are quite something.
Would you wear a t-shirt made from trash?
Podcast rec: Melinda French Gates chats about transitions, one’s inner voice, where to give, and so many other gems. She even shared some specific parenting failures she asked her children at the Thanksgiving table! Adding her new book to cart immediately. Her other book, The Moment of Lift, is one of my Top 10 of All Time.
arts + crafts
Yesterday we took a trip to the art supply store for sketchbooks, new paints and an easel. Charlie was quite dismayed when I told him we could not get every single color pastel, haha.
“I always tell young artists, the world is full of quitters, so don’t quit and you’ll eventually rise to the top. And here I am, tada.”
— Amy Sherald (via Amanda Jane Jones)
When we got home, I went hog wild and painted four blown eggs! The two yellow ducks in the back are covered in real dried pansies :’) and the others are painted with acrylic.
Have you ever hollowed out eggs and decorated them? Do you know where to find a cute egg cup? I want to add more to my collection!
shopping basket
Kristen Kish was wearing this adorable “thanks a lot” tee in a Top Chef promo and I’ve been waiting six days to share it with y’all.
Favorite thing I bought this week.
To those blessed with size EU 38 feet, grab these! (via Cynthia)
On the lookout for the lowest low-pro sneaker. Think I found it.
Is this or is this not the perfect baseball cap? (To be fair, I haven’t tried a Chord hat yet, but I intend to…!)
This will be ideal for beach days and heatwaves.
Wish we could all have dinner together and eat off these garland plates!
Aways on the lookout for pretty matchboxes.
Le Creuset gave us a floral braising pot. Le Creuset wins this newsletter. (via Brittany R.)
“You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, who had ever been alive.”
— James Baldwin (via Mary)
last thing
Most popular link last week: precious egg cup
Readers today: 2,011
Grateful for you.
Here are three easy things you can do to support Handpicked:
tell someone about it
shop through the links
xoxo a.s.
I agree that books really connect you to humanity. I am currently reading "Remarkably Bright Creatures," and I find myself comforted that my pain is somehow universal.
Your eggs turned out PERFECT! I am still determined to make this happen this weekend, fingers crossed.
And that tablecloth, Anthro vibes! Also truly digging those Vans, I want more red in my life this summer!