+TINY RITUALS FOR A QUIET LIFE: I loved this sequence of mini rituals from Jade Bonacolta, but was especially intrigued by her “two-tab rule.” Do you exercise this restraint? I have been intuitively doing this for my book-writing sessions. I will close out all windows and tabs so I only have my manuscript up, but I always have an extra tab or two open in the manuscript browser because I frequently fact check and sidewind into random pockets of technical language. (I was just researching the foxglove for a piece this week — fascinating etymologically!). I started doing this ostensibly to avoid the distraction of inbound emails, my blog back-end, etc, but I do feel that having less visual clutter in general helps me dial in and live on the page. What other mini rituals help you live a quiet life? My big one is standing outside in the morning, even for only a minute. I do this every day. Once you get comfortable with just looking at the world with no agenda, it becomes a great power pause. Also: rounding up on the parking meter. It helps you hopscotch over an unnecessary inner conversation. What else?
+TWO THINGS THAT MADE ME LAUGH: Major l’esprit de l’escalier (lol, who else can relate?) and what it feels like to move an image in an MS Word document. I never use MS Word but I remember the acute pain of dealing with page breaks, etc.
+OUR SIGNATURE TEE ON SALE: Friends! Our favorite AYR Early Morning Tee is on sale for $80 in the iconic and aptly titled “Magpie Stripe.” I know many of us own and adore these. A perfect hybrid between tee and t-shirt and ideal for — well, early mornings. Throwing on with leggings or jeans for a walk with the dog; tossing on over pajamas while sipping coffee on the back porch; etc. Join the flock! (Lots of other goodies included in the sale, too!)
+WRITING MOTIVATION: “A writer, like an athlete, must train every day. What did I do today to keep in form?” (Susan Sontag). Amen! We have to keep moving the dirt, keep shaking hands with the blank page. I now feel this more than ever as I approach the finish line with my manuscript. I was in good “form” heading into this project, having written daily for years. But it has still been incredibly challenging — as though I’d been regularly walking in the foothills of VA and then suddenly airdropped into a hike at altitude. The stakes are different, the air thinner. I was reminded of something Carol Joyce Oats wrote this week, too: “The first sentence can be written only after the last sentence is written. FIRST DRAFTS ARE HELL, FINAL DRAFTS PARADISE.” Trust Oats before me, but I agree with the statement in sentiment rather than specifics. By that I mean that I am only now getting into a real groove with the book; it’s taken shape, gone from gimcrack to gemlike, and I could only get there after many hours of work. But I also think sometimes my best line-writing comes out with immediacy and can’t be touched by the red pen. Some of it just emerges fully-formed! I can’t explain this.
+EYEING + BUYING: It feels like Cyber Week came early — so many great promotions happening. I shared my top sales and launches from the week here: Veronica Beard! Frank and Eileen! Madewell!
Also sharing some of my top finds this week below, like this fabulous eyelet one-piece I just bought myself (on sale!) and these rope cord sandals from Ann Taylor! They remind me so much of a few higher end styles. Very on trend. This led me to investigate Ann Taylor’s current offerings, and they have a lot of Veronica Beard inspired pieces, like this spectacular brown boxy top. How fabulous with a patterned brown skirt, white high-waist jeans, etc?! Meanwhile, this pleated-waist dress reminds me so much of my G. Label I wore here.
And – my son’s favorite bird-print half-zip is 25% off. I absolutely love the pattern. So fun to let boys wear whimsical patterns like this! I feel like they only get stripes.
Finally, who was going to tell me about Wiley Wallaby licorice?! I’m obsessed. I bought this sampler and we’ve been eating it all week. Delicious — not as sweet as you’d expect.
J. CREW EYELET ONE-PIECE // DORE CLEANSER // POSSE GINGHAM TOP (RESTOCKED!) // LIZZIE FORTUNATO CAMPER NECKLACE (20% OFF) // PISTOLA STRIPE DRESS // ANN TAYLOR ROPE SANDALS // CUYANA PALOMA BAG // MADEWELL SARDINE BAG CHARM // LEWIS BOYS HALF ZIP // WILEY WALLABY LICORICE // J. CREW JELLY FISHERMAN SANDALS
+BESTSELLERS: Lots of you picked up this gorgeous Cuyana tote (in my eyeing and buying roundup above, too) this week — did you get the same bottle green color as I did?! Mine arrived and is SO gorgeous. The shape is so chic and different, and I love the green!
01. CUYANA PALOMA TOTE // 02. DORSEY PARACORD NECKLACE // 03. J. CREW FACTORY CROCHET MINI DRESS // 04. BEADED NECKLACES // 05. LACE TRIM SHIFT DRESS // 06. TUCKERNUCK X STUDIO MCGEE DRESS // 07. KIRA SUNGLASSES // 08. STAUD X BIRKS // 09. GINGHAM BOXER SHORTS // 10. AYR EARLY MORNINGS TEE
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
