And we’re back with a new set of late-summer icebreakers! My favorite way to find out more about your quirky and wonderful and wise selves. Please copy and paste any/all of these and leave your responses in the comments!
01. What part of adulthood did you feel least prepared for?
02. If you consider yourself “Type A,” is there anything “Type B” you do that plays against character? And if you are “Type B,” is there anything “Type A” you do?
03. The most high maintenance thing about you.
04. Travel bugaboo.
05. Current meal/food hyper-fixation.
06. How do you feel about your height?
07. Something normal/trivial you find surprisingly intimate.
08. An objectively bad movie that you secretly (or not so secretly) love.
09. Do you have a connection to a particular make/model of car?
10. Things that strongly shaped your childhood that no longer exist.
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My answers:
01. What part of adulthood did you feel least prepared for? How unclear things continue to be; how you must learn to live in the middle of things. I’d always assumed adulthood meant certainty. Also, watching my parents age.
02. If you consider yourself “Type A,” is there anything “Type B” you do that plays against character? And if you are “Type B,” is there anything “Type A” you do? I think I’m pretty Type A, but my pragmatism really mitigates the potency. For example, I’m unbothered by clothes with a little wrinkle or stain on them (good enough). I publish half-baked things daily. I live (fairly comfortably) amidst a sea of half-started and discarded drafts. I have to force myself to measure things on a kitchen scale (something my engineer husband has ingrained in me) but sometimes I can’t help myself: I just eyeball it.
03. The most high maintenance thing about you. I travel with my Dyson AirWrap. My skincare regimen is also pretty extensive. And I am really exacting about cocktails. (I am usually too polite to interrupt, but I do watch the measurements when a cocktail is being made and know when something is out of wack.)
04. Travel bugaboo. When people elbow one another to get into the aisles or cut in front of you while deplaning. I try to practice grace — maybe they are hurrying to make a connection! maybe they are unwell and need medicine! — but…it is the antipode of my ethos.
05. Current meal/food hyper-fixation. Santa Claus melon. What honeydew wishes it was.
06. How do you feel about your height? Hated it when I was younger; I was always first in the class line at my Catholic grade school for pageants, filing into Church, etc. And people always thought I was younger than I was — sometimes as young as my sisters (“who’s the oldest?!”). Didn’t mind so much in high school and college, as I got a lot of favorable attention from guys because of it? (“You’re so tiny!”) Now I find it annoying in crowds and when standing next to my tall friends (my best friend is 5’9, and she’s known to wear heels), but mainly, as with the rest of me, I find I’ve settled into it just fine.
07. Something normal/trivial you find surprisingly intimate. When someone remembers a specific detail from a story you told them awhile back. Like a little hug. Also, seeing what the person in front of you in the grocery line is buying. Or catching a glimpse of a serious person’s phone background. (Like, what is on my attorney’s?! Z., if you’re reading this, I’d like to know.)
08. An objectively bad movie that you secretly (or not so secretly) love. Too many to count. “Anyone But You” and “Fools Rush In” spring to mind.
09. Do you have a connection to a particular make/model of car? Jeep Cherokee. The boxy kind from the 90s. That was Landon’s car when I met him and it was — still is — so perfectly him. Sporty but not bro-tastic, stylish in an unfussy way. It also felt like you were driving in a tin can; you could feel every dip and divot in the road. But that was sort of perfect for that time in my life, where I was feeling everything at max volume.
10. Things that strongly shaped your childhood that no longer exist. MTV Summer Break (specifically those weird ads/break clips with popsicles melting on sidewalks), my Discman, the liner notes on the inside of a CD case (I pored over those and sometimes taped them to my wall), My Little Ponies (still technically exist but not in the format I had them), Limited Too at Montgomery Mall, Mrs. Grossman sticker books (oilies, shinies, puffies, fuzzies, etc!)
Your turn!
Post-Scripts.
Icebreakers from seasons past here, here, here.
Image via.
Shopping Break.
+Ordered myself this robin’s egg blue tunic. So cute!
+Fab new arrivals at J. Crew: Doen-esque midi, this short-sleeved cable-knit, these mild kick-flare jeans in a great everyday wash.
+OMG these CUTE boat shoes from Madewell. Love the contrasting red laces!
+Absolutely love this balloon-sleeved top from Madewell, too, in the punchy red. Tuck into white jean shorts now or these wide-leg crops later.
+Just ordered a bunch of these “passports” while they’re 50% off — use code SUMMER. I got some for my kids, a few to give as gifts, and the bird one for me!
+I’ve been noticing all these chic peas wearing dainty lace and silk and eyelet tap shorts with chunky knits — love the look. I think it originated with Doen! Currently trying to find my perfect pair of shorts: maybe these, these, these?
+Speaking of Posse, I absolutely love this mid hydrangea blue suite from their latest collection.
+Classic Six never offers sales but they discounted this striped shirt I was raving about for just a few days if you use code JEN15. I really love this shirt. The cuffs are magic — they fold up to the perfect length and the material is phenomenal.
+Fun party dress currently in my cart.
+These personalized Alex Mill totes are SO fun and giving me the best back to school vibes.
+A denim jacket with a great silhouette (and $50!)
+Love this boldly patterned top.
+Fun, on-trend accessory to tie around your bag handle, in your hair, etc!
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01. What part of adulthood did you feel least prepared for?
Turns out you shouldn’t do stuff you dislike just because you’re good at it, or try to please everyone, or push yourself to the point of burnout. Who knew!
02. If you consider yourself “Type A,” is there anything “Type B” you do that plays against character? And if you are “Type B,” is there anything “Type A” you do?
I am extremely Type A in almost every avenue of my life, but very relaxed about anything physical or embodied. I don’t mind aging, I’ve never minded my body at any shape or size, I have skincare rituals I like but 0 desire to measure myself against my general attractiveness, and I have a louche confidence with my body, its capabilities, my sexuality and physical presence.
03. The most high maintenance thing about you.
I have one million lists, for everything. If I see something I like, I’m pinning it (easily 30 things a day). If I have something to do, it’s on Trello. I have a bazillion Evernote notes, including names of everyone and their kids from the playground and preschool plus any salient tidbits, any thought that enters my head, and all my incoming packages. I organize all my recipes in Paprika. I start planning Christmas gifts in April. The idea of forgetting something bothers me deeply.
04. Travel bugaboo. I hate the idea of missing a connection, though honestly, it mostly works out. It’s too big a “what if” for me to easily parse.
05. Current meal/food hyper-fixation.
I’ve made some sort of chopped salad with chicken fingers in hot honey mustard weekly this summer, full of scallions and radishes and celery, usually with some sharp cheddar. And we eat a massive tub of 8% fat Greek yogurt nearly every day.
06. How do you feel about your height?
I can’t imagine being any different? I’m 5’8″ and depending on where I’ve lived that has been ridiculously tall or somewhat short.
07. Something normal/trivial you find surprisingly intimate.
Getting a manicure when they’re holding your hand! Or hearing a couple I don’t know well yet use pet names for each other.
08. An objectively bad movie that you secretly (or not so secretly) love.
I love cheesy movies. Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Sister Act one and two, The Last Witchhunter.
09. Do you have a connection to a particular make/model of car?
Just my dad’s old Chevy. We’re not car people!
10. Things that strongly shaped your childhood that no longer exist.
Waiting. Waiting for the bus, waiting for your food at a restaurant, waiting for your show to come on. I’m always looking for ways to artificially build in a wait for my children, or boredom, without digital media stepping in.