So this week’s theme is now renamed: 5 things Jill Loves this week that you should too. Because if you’ve learned anything by now, it’s that- well – I have pretty good taste. I don’t steer you wrong and I know what I’m talking about.

So here are this week’s 5 things I love that you should too.

The Perfect Spring Dress. Perfect for day (big camel bag, gold woven sandals, ivory shades and a cute scarf or headband) and perfect for night (nude or gold pumps/wedges, small metallic clutch, camel belt around the waist, gold bangles). The color just makes me happy. And ready for Chicago to warm up from its current 50 degree status since it’s – um – MAY.

Matt Kearny’s new song: Closer to Love. This little ditty will pair perfectly with your iPod,  a sunny day, iced coffee, and the perfect spring dress (see above).

Starbucks Vanilla Roobius Tea. Seriously heavenly. My mom told me about this God-send and if it’s one thing I learned (begrudgingly), it’s that she always seems to be right. About everything. Especially beverages. I tried it for the first time yesterday and this bad boy does not disappoint. To cut the cals, ask for one pump of syrup and pair it with soy or nonfat milk. It’s 100% pure summer bliss. That I am sipping on as we “speak.”

Real Life Twitter. The truth is ALWAYS funny. Really, I LOLed.

MixMyGranola. We’ve talked about this before, but I am so in love with it I can’t shut up about it. You can make your OWN granola from start to finish. A healthy blend for breakfast (think fruit, nuts and organic base) and a “late night mix” for when healthy is not the first thing on your mind (peanut butter balls, choc chips and gummy bears anyone?). It comes in a cute canister with the name of your special blend on it, in addition to the exact nutrition info! It’s perf for gifts and ever more perfect for a gift to yourself. After all, you deserve it. Why? Because you’re you.

Spring is almost here. Although you wouldn’t know it anywhere in the country given the frigid temps. I’m in Chi town and one day its 60 the next its 25 and snowy. Seriously, the weather is more BiPo than our pal Brit Brit and I for one am ready to shed my puffy jacket and grab myself a cute spring dress (and a bottle of self tanner).

So since spring technically starts next week, I though I’d gear us for those springy days with my five loves of spring. Who knows? Maybe some positive thinking coupled with some cute spring staples will convince Mother Nature to bring us sunny skies and warmer weather.

Come on, woman! Help a sister out.

1) The Spring Rain Jacket - There are so many cute jackets for spring, but this one is my fave for one reason. The hood. Wait, there is another reason. It’s really effing cute, but I digress. We know that while we wish everything was coming up roses, Spring brings a lot of rain leaving your hair looking like it is straight out of 1981. Sporting the hood is a must… and some Frizz-Ease in your tote wouldn’t hurt either.

2) The Spring Flat – Usually by February I am so sick of wearing boots every day that I pull out a pair of my flats, dream longingly of skipping in the street, iced coffee in tow. Then I put them out walk out the door and almost lose my feet to frost bite. I can’t help it though; there are so many great options for springtime flats and I just want to buy them all up and wear them out of the store. I am in love with these. I always wanted to be a ballerina on Pointe but my pirouettes were never good enough. So, I’m happily settling for these – perfect for sasayhing down the sidewalk.

3) Spring Sunglasses – When you hear the words Paul Frank you think: the must-have shirt with a monkey….from 7th grade. Being that I was ultra awkward back then, I try to stay as far away from Paul Frank anything that I can. I don’t need to take that trip down memory lane. But then I found these CUTE must-have sunglasses! They are the perfect in-between of overly expensive and so cheap that they will probably break. Still an investment – but an oh-so-cute one. And if these bright seafoams aren’t your thing, he makes them in more muted colors as well. I think I may love Pauly Frank more now than I did in 7th grade. And that is a sentence I never thought I would type.

4) Iced beverages. Iced tea, Iced Coffee, Iced Margaritas (not that I’ve ever had a hot one), Arnold Palmers… Iced is just better. Love, love, love, love, LOVE.

5) The Spring brings all the best out of hibernation. I swear I heard a bird chirp yesterday for the first time in MONTHS and it was music to my ears. Spring brings outside tables to cafes, fun outside ways to spend the day, and must we not forget– lots of men in spring style. Call me a sucker for boys in great jeans and a springy hoodie and I won’t argue. I won’t argue at all.

What else are we going to talk about?

(*Excuse the slightly tipsy typo. We all know I meant to type SVU (as in, Special Victims Unit) instead of a type of gas guzzling giant car)

Yes, iced coffee is not like it’s counterpart the hot coffee. Dark and strong without any imposing calories or sugar or carbs or fat or who the hell cares. But iced coffee can be a different story.

Often times we hear, “Eat your calories, don’t drink them.” I would have to agree with this. It’s smart. Eating an apple for example…much better for you than drinking apple juice. Much more satisfying too, if you ask me.

But back to the coffee conundrum. If you were to purchase a grande ice coffee from Starbucks, sans cream or sugar, mind you, you would be ingesting an extra 20 grams of sugar. Not needed, my friend.

Foods and beverages packed with sugar contribute to abdominal obesity and heart disease (one of the leading killers of women). Are 20 grams of sugar worth that?

I suppose if you don’t mind the added sugar, sip away. If you do, opt for iced tea or hot coffee and stay in the air conditioned vicinities of your world.