Catching up to spring (+ a sneak peek!)

Is it spring yet?

I don’t know about you, but I feel like this month has been one great big April Fool from Mother Nature. From what I’ve heard, parts of the West skipped straight to summer this year, while much of the rest of the country—including Chicago—experienced a winter-that-wouldn’t-quit. (It felt so wrong to see snow-covered flowers!)

Spring break was early this year, too. During the last week of March, my husband, daughter, and I headed southeast to spend a few days in Gatlinburg, Ten...