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Mr. Magpie hadn’t heard about the concept of “the ick” until we watched “Nobody Wants This” and Noah, in a heavy-handed (pun intended) attempt to win over Jeanne’s family, accidentally grosses Jeanne out. (In the episode, Noah buys an enormous bouquet of sunflowers for Jeanne’s mother, uses a cheesy faux-Italian accent, and dresses in a try-hard way — and Jeanne is completely turned off. She tells her sister: “I can’t believe I let him touch me with those giant flower-holding hands.”) Over dinner in Italy, Landon and I were discussing the concept, and he confided that one of the most profound icks of his life was watching someone else eat an oyster. We couldn’t stop laughing about this (now a forever joke between us), and began to draw up a list of icks from the brief stretch of time in our adult lives in which we did not belong to one another. It feels tawdry, perhaps, to list them all out here, but man — once we got going, we couldn’t stop. Unkempt toenails, cringe-y comments, onion breath…!
We bent the conversation back around by talking about the opposite of the ick: what were the small things in our budding romantic relationship that gave us “the swoon”?
For me, these were:
Walking me all the way to the door, and waiting to hear the lock turn before leaving
Answering my phone call on the first or second ring
When he’d reach behind himself in a crowd to feel for my hand
The first time he used a pet name for me — Lord, I can still remember the butterflies
The focus on his face while he was playing baseball/softball
Related: him in a sports uniform of any kind (bonus for backwards hat), but specifically him in his ski gear — he was on the UVA ski team — and the way he’d snap into and out of his boots? (Niche I know!)
The way he’d arrive on my doorstep, freshly showered and shaved
Paying me earnest, direct compliments — no beating around the bush! Even in the earliest days of our dating, he’d tell me, directly: “You’re so pretty” and “You’re so smart” (!!!!). As I’ve written elsewhere, if there is anything more exquisitely thrilling for an eighteen year old girl, I have yet to hear about it.
His curiosity
The way he grabbed the check on our first official date as a couple and said: “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do this”
OK, your turn. What were or are some of the swoons from the early days of dating? (I wouldn’t hate hearing funny icks, too…)
Post Scripts.
+Sometimes it’s not the grand gesture that makes the biggest impression. Sometimes it’s the littlest act.
+Twilight on the Potomac River.
+On getting into a creative habit.
Shopping Break.
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+Quince just restocked its wildly popular suede totes for pre-order. The brown and navy are so good! Giving major Metier vibes, but $150! Which color should I get?!
+SWOONING over this Bernadette skirt.
+A GREAT look for less for my brown VB Taylor jeans. My one gripe with the latter is that they are a very stiff denim without much give. I own the Pistolas in a different color and they are so stretchy and comfortable.
+J. Crew Factory has some really cute holiday pieces for little ones at great prices. I picked up these tartan-lined pants and this button-down for my son.
+Speaking of tartan — !! This Ann Mashburn silk santung shirtdress is SO spectacular. Dress up with velvet heels or dress down with some flats. Perfect elegant Christmas eve dress.
+Beautiful holiday season bling: this James necklace (my favorite style of their rivieres — I own in the 15″ length) and these emerald drops!
+VERY chic straight leg coated jeans for under $120.
+A great sequin midi skirt for holiday season for under $100.
+Loving these blouses from Rosewater House. So chic! First spotted on Nicole Cassidy.
+Still find these coats unbelievably chic.
+How fab are these sconces?!
Ha! The ick was in college a hunky classmate trying to tutor me in a class about genetics but was completely (and I mean abysmally) wrong about almost everything he was trying to teach me. He was unaware that I was volunteering on a research study at Hopkins at the time in the genetics department and was only taking the class to fill a prerequisite. Mansplaining was not yet a word, but that was total ew.
The swoon….my boyfriend (now husband) took me on a backcountry overnight camping and hiking trip with a small group of friends and family in West Virginia. It was October in Appalachia, it was COLD and raining, and it was very early in our romance. We had to cross a river on wet rocks. Honest to goodness…..he rolled up his pants and took off his socks and shoes to wade in the freezing cold river so he could hold his mother’s hand so she could keep her balance as she crossed slippery rocks. My husband is a walking swoon, but that one left a huge mark on my heart.
Wow – WHAT a swoon! I had to read this out loud to my husband! xx
Hey Jen! Speaking of Quince, are you familiar with their coats? I’m trying to decide if I want to get their cashmere coat ( the long one) for a trip to Vienna over the holidays, but I’m worried about how warm it would be! Any thoughts?
Hi Jennie! I am not familiar with their coats but have been generally very impressed with the quality of their products. I vote yes!
xx