Jen's Weekend Drafts: Driving Gently + Weird Art.

The following content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

+DRIVE GENTLY: I saw a terrible car accident this past week and I couldn’t stop thinking about the boy (teenage driver) afterward. What must his mother have felt when receiving that call? What physical and financial duress would follow? It made me think about the sobering fact that today is someone else’s worst day. It was a reminder to go lightly, to drive gently, to give people grace. A single phone call, a moment of distraction in a car, can rearrange a life.

+KRISTEN BELL’S WARDROBE IN “NOBODY WANTS THIS”: I trust we’ve now all binged this Netflix series? For a minute, it was the only thing anyone could talk about. I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the chemistry between Bell and Brody, the quick-fire dialogue, and Bell’s styling, of course! Bazaar shared a carousel of some of her best looks. Yes pls! Of course the fair isle is wildly up my alley. All my fav fair isle sweaters here (reminder that this $50 Old Navy steal is SO GOOD and bound to sell out). I would wear absolutely everything she does in the series and style it almost exactly as she did, too.

+OUR DOUBTS ARE OUR TRAITORS: I came across this Shakespeare quote jotted into one of my drafting notebooks last week and it stuck with me. When was the last time you let self-doubt interfere with your intentions, your ambitions? Get them out of here!

+RICK RUBINS WISDOM: I recently ordered this book on creativity from music producer Rick Rubins. I’d listened to a few of his podcasts and loved his perspectives on the creation of art, much of which boils down to: pursue what interests you, and don’t worry about the audience. This Instagram account spotlights many of his wisdoms, and I couldn’t agree more. Art — whether written, painted, sculpted, performed — that comes from inside, or from the pursuit of what’s inside — will always be more authentic and interesting. I believe that it is the artist’s job to put something out into the world and the viewer’s job to decide what to make of it, and to determine its value. Strangely, though, I’ve found that the more specific and (for lack of a better word) weird, or idiosyncratic, writing is — the more it is ostensibly concerned with its reception — the more readers respond to it. Put differently: what doesn’t interest you probably won’t interest you reader, so stop writing what you feel is expected of you. I am clinging to this principle right now as I make my way through a part of the novel I’m working on and finding myself disinclined to round out an aspect of the plot that feels needed to make everything “work.” I keep avoiding it! So I think I’ll leave it out. Also: all good art should contain a little dash of “what the hell?” I am thinking specifically of Sally Rooney’s last two novels (currently reading her latest). Both are a bit esoteric, and Rooney is experimenting in fascinating ways. I applaud her for it. I was telling Landon that I think her earlier work was more palatable to a mass audience and these later works are more challenging, more artistically exploratory, and I love this, even if I find the work itself occasionally strident or challenging to read.

+AD TARGETING I CAN GET BEHIND: Last week, Instagram served up an ad for this instrumental Christmas music playlist on Spotify. Um, did they look into my brain?! I promised myself I’d wait until after Halloween, but the heart wants what it wants, and working while listening to this playlist put me in the happiest mood.

+EYEING + BUYING: Per my note above, it’s beginning to feel like…Christmas! Don’t hate me! But Hill House launched its popular tartan/holiday release last week and I ordered this streamlined style. I love that tartan and know I’ll be thrilled to have it in the rotation for holiday festivities. Weezie also opened up its holiday shop, and I couldn’t resist these bow motif hand towels for our powder room. And finally, I stole this critter corduroy hat from my son — I ordered it from J. Crew Factory for him but it’s just too cute! — and how FAB is this Line & Dot olive green sweater and skirt combo!?

HILL HOUSE TARTAN DRESS // HEAVEN MAYHEM EARRINGS // TANYA TAYLOR CARDIGAN // WEEZIE HAND TOWELS // J. CREW FACTORY CRITTER CORDUROY HAT // LINE & DOT SWEATER AND SKIRT // AQUAZZURA COMBAT BOOTS

+BESTELLERS: My Valentina sneakers! Truly one of my favorite purchases this year. I wore them quite a bit while traveling in Italy over the past week and find they are so easy to slip on. These leverback earrings were also very popular — the final restock of the year. One of my favorite everyday earrings. So lightweight and easy to wear; I’ve even slept in them.