Provocation for this Monday in October: imagine a stranger approaches you and says, “You look happy; what are you instructions for living a good life?”
Some of my field notes —
+Pay attention to love in its smallest increments: the post-it note your mother left you, the saved seat.
+Understand that feeling good about your life is an in-house job. You won’t find it in other people, in the right job, in the best house, etc.
+Celebrate the turn in seasons: the first morning that calls for a sweater; the brave crocuses of spring.
+Avoid the ease of cynicism; practice excitement, optimism, delight!
+Take care of your body as thought it belongs to someone you love.
+Get to know your neighbors.
+Pick up the phone when your parents and grandparents call.
+Let yesterday be yesterday and tomorrow be tomorrow.
+Take risks, especially in your 20s.
+Laugh at yourself.
+Recognize that bad days (grief, heartbreak, “what am I doing?”) are a part of every good life.
+Chase what interests you, detractors be damned! Embrace the cringe.
+Never miss an opportunity to say “I love you.”
+Say yes to the trip —
Post-Scripts.
+A few other personal house rules.
+The most beautiful phrase in the English language.
Shopping Break.
+New holiday cocktail attire from Tuckernuck! Obsessed with the color.
+Speaking of holiday, love the subtle holiday metallic thread in this just-dropped blazer. I love a statement blazer like this over a simple tee, cashmere crewneck, or turtleneck.
+Wow – La Ligne’s new arrivals are next level. This rich chocolate knit dress; this multi-color stripe knit; this show-stopping leopard coat. (More leopard here!)
+These boots are deeply chic. Perfect color, shaft height, heel silhouette, etc!
+I am normally very on the ball about ordering Halloween costumes but I really ran it down to the wire this year — oops. My daughter asked to be a strawberry (!) and my son asked to be Sonic. Ordered both this week and heaved a sigh of relief.
+My favorite cashmere cardigan, now in gorgeous new fall colors. No one makes a knit like Alice Walk.
+Investment territory: I have my eye on a Moncler coat this winter. They are so luxe! I love this, this, this.
+Tweed jacket dress, under $100! Perfect for Baptism / 1st Communion / etc.
+Ordered Landon one of these bomber jackets, in the olive color!
+Landon just upgraded our coffee situation to the Aiden precision coffee maker from Fellow — it’s like pourover coffee with the ease of pressing a button. It is SO sleek and chic; looks like it belongs to the Jetsons! And makes a great cup of joe. Great gift for a dude this holiday season!
+Speaking of: my mom just ordered all the men in our family these half-zips for Christmas.
+A great pair of under-$200 jeans (run TTS) in a fabulous fall “claret” color.
+Have heard good things about this lip pencil! I find the products from this brand are really well made.
+Rattan vase at a great price!
+LOVE a peplum top!
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