The sap is rising and already we’re fantasizing about fiddleheads, rhubarb and wild leeks.

But until the crocuses pop we’ll keep stuffing our bags with gourmet delights from these fantastic year-round farmers’ markets:

• Dufferin Grove (Thursday 3 p.m.-7 p.m.)
Fresh breads, sheepmilk cheeses and lamb pies.

• St. Lawrence Market (every Saturday from 5 a.m.)
Ewenity Dairy cheeses, red fife pasta, seafood, spices and flowers.

• The Stop’s Green Barn Farmers’ Market (Saturday 8 a.m.–1 p.m.) 

Raw cocoa beans, honey, artisinal crackers, mushrooms and more. 

• Regional 'n' Artisanal Food Market at CBC, (monthly until April)
Organic spelt flour, jams, baguettes and local artisan cheeses.

Give winter the cold shoulder with a sojourn of sun, sand and shopping in South Beach.

stay
We’re not sure what we love most about The Betsy: the colonial, beach-style rooms (stocked with Frette linens, Dylan’s Candy and Malin + Goetz products), the location (slap bang on Ocean Drive), the restaurant (Laurent Tourondel's fabulous BLT), or simply the overall vibe (heightened by some great music styling). From $300/night, www.thebetsyhotel.com

eat
If you’re lusting after sushi try Bond St, where the fish is fabulously fresh and inventively prepared. You’ll find a wonderful plate of melt-in-your-mouth gnocchi at DeNiro’s Ago and for fantastic steak try Prime One Twelve.

drink
From the Setai to the Delano to the Shore Club, every SoBe hotel boasts a great people-gazing bar. We settled comfortably into the sofas at the W South Beach and sipped cocktails, flicked through fashion tomes and counted collagen implants.

shop
South Beach has The Webster, Barneys and Intermix – but savvy shoppers know to cab it to the design district. En Avance is worth a visit for a smattering of big name and on-the-up designers  and if you’re shopping with your guy, be sure to check out the bespoke suits at Duncan Quinn. The Louboutin store is a real thrill and for mega splurge furnishings pop into Fendi Casa or Kartell.

If your aesthetic is Hollace Cluny but your budget is Ikea, why not spruce up the Ektorp with some colourful hand-crafted cushions from Australian designer Megan Park?

The pillows (from $47) are made from silks, linen and cashmere and are embellished with embroidery, beading and fringing. Mix in as many prints as possible for a look that is playful, bold and entirely your own.

At Hollace Cluny, 1070 Yonge St., Toronto, 416-968-7894, www.hollacecluny.ca

Some websites take invite-only shopping way too seriously. Since when did we need to apply (with a personal essay) to buy a blouse?

Sites like ReFashioner peak our interest a whole lot more. Branded as a ‘swap heaven’ this is the place to go to trade in your Margiela ankle booties for Balenciaga pumps that actually fit.

“Your mistakes and one-wear-wonders become valuable assets. Refresh your wardrobe without spending the earth.”

You’ll find all sorts of designer duds from Lanvin, Prada and Rick Owens, plus a smattering of vintage offerings.

Point, click and swap.

$5 fee is charged per swap; www.refashioner.com

If your skin is winter worn, try a homemade scrub before splurging on expensive salts and lousy loofahs:

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup grapeseed or olive oil
A splash of vanilla extract (or your favourite essential oil)
Stir and slough away.