*Image via.
Let’s ease into the week with another fun installment of icebreakers — I absolutely love to read your quirky, thoughtful, funny responses to these. Please share your answers in the comments!
01. If you could add a word to the dictionary, what would you add and what would it mean?
02. If you could erase any word from the dictionary, what would it be?
03. Most used emoji.
04. Vogue is writing a profile of you at the age of 75. What’s the subheading?
05. Least favorite part of your daily routine.
06. The secret to success is …
07. What would be your first question after waking up from being cryogenically frozen for 100 years?
08. Something you’re good at that other people find very challenging.
09. The biggest surprise about being an adult…
10. Something you’d tell your 10-year-old self.
I’ll begin:
01. If you could add a word to the dictionary, what would you add and what would it mean? We need more synonyms for joy. There are so many permutations for sadness, but not as many for “joy” in the way I use the word. (Triumph, jubilation, delight, glee — none of these quite nail the springy-but-full feeling of “joy,” as they all feel just a tiny bit twee. They lack the heft of joy.) Also, very technical, but from an aesthetic standpoint, I wish there were more more nouns without -ness at the end. For example, instead of acuteness, couldn’t it be acutoise, and instead of overwhelmedness, overwhelm? The ness feels clunky to write and say.
02. If you could erase any word from the dictionary, what would it be? Hack (used to mean “shortcut”). I object to it philosophically — I think this term misleads people into believing that there are secret passages through hard things, especially in the realm of entrepreneurship. There are none, unless you consider money a hack.
03. Most used emoji. The red heart.
04. Vogue is writing a profile of you at the age of 75. What’s the subheading? Published author retires to a life of reading and cooking in her mountain cottage with her husband.
05. Least favorite part of your daily routine. Washing my face at night. It feels like a hurdle before pouring myself into bed.
06. The secret to success is … From my limited successes, I would say discipline. Inspiration will not always find you, so you must learn to be disciplined. Lather, rinse, repeat.
07. What would be your first question after waking up from being cryogenically frozen for 100 years? “Where is Mr. Magpie?” (I’d force him to be frozen, too.)
08. Something you’re good at that other people find very challenging. Hitting publish on something I’ve written every single day.
09. The biggest surprise about being an adult… How limited your time is.
10. Something you’d tell your 10-year-old self. Keep writing.
Your turn!
Shopping Break.
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+People have been raving about this slip dress — apparently very flattering, and works with bump. First heard about it from Katie.
+How cute are these Valentines that come with little paint palettes?! I know a bunch of the ones I shared here have sold out already — time to order STAT!
+This Gap cardi reminds me a lot of the ones from BA&SH.
+Speaking of BA&SH – they’re running a new year sale, with an extra 20% off if you use code NEWYEAR20. Don’t miss this chic denim blouse, this knit cardigan, or this tweed jacket.
+Love these lucite frames.
+Perfect wide leg everyday pants.
+Cutest personalized vanity bags.
+Oo la la, love this resortwear ikat dress from Mirth!
+My mom bought these patterned versions of my favorite inexpensive sheets and they are SO cute IRL.
+A CHIC wool dress.
+Organizing my overflowing cosmetics cabinets into these stackable, clear drawers sparked serious joy.
+Fun sweater.
+Cute rash guard for your little love — reminds me of the texture of a Marysia suit!