I woke up Thursday morning in a frisson of joy: my final book tour stop at Politics and Prose in D.C. was scheduled for that evening. I laid in bed in other-body disbelief, blinking at the branches outside my bedroom window as if they might explain something to me. This has been a recurring phenomenon during the past month, since I published Small Wonders: I am doing these things, attending these events, signing my books, talking about “my editor” and “my book deal,” and it all feels out-of-body, tinged with the surrealism of a dream, as though I might be ventriloquizing for someone else. The author Jen, the uppercase Jen. I find I need to constantly pull myself back into my own body, almost like Peter Pan reuniting with his shadow. That is you, too.
I surveyed the intervening hours. The incongruity between how I would be spending my day and how I would be spending my night…! I had lunches to pack, uniforms to track down, a strength training session full of planks and scapular squeezes, an enormous volume of email to muck through, my daily writing, all the usual tiny fires I manage while running this business (invoice issues, some copies of our books arrived damaged, trying to find a partner for a technical issue). The normal back-of-house bustle. Moving through it all felt almost laughable! Didn’t my day I know I was heading downtown to fulfill a childhood fantasy in a couple of hours?! How dare she…?!
And yet. My friend Chesley asked me, while on the dais that night, “what is today telling you?”, a question I often belabor here on the blog. A bit of my own medicine. And I found myself telling her about the tent pole stretch of the day. The way I was moving through all of these tiny chores and minuscule decisions while preparing myself for the lunar travel the evening had in store. It had felt like I was setting a delicate dinner table upstairs while someone else was dragging all the basement and attic furniture around. Big, huge sounds. A lot happening in the eaves. And there I was, polishing the fork tines. And yet, I realized as I talked to her, everything is connected. I have today because of the diligence and determination I apply to the many tiny chores and minuscule decisions every single other day. This because of that. And I found myself thinking about that quote, “make everything the most important thing” — the 60-second plank; the email to the teacher; the hug before school. And, yes, the signing of the books and the celebration of this achievement. I can bring the same loving energy to it all. I can be the positive through-line.
(How you do anything is how you do everything!)
(Onward!!!)
Shopping Break.
+Sneaky secret sale at Negative (!!!) — RUN. Includes my favorite waffle pullover, the underwear that will ruin you for all other pairs (I ONLY sleep in these), and the whipped longsleeve in gray.
+These are such a fabulous pair of summer utility pants. That corded drawstring! OMG! I think I’m going to order in the green. Note that R+B is offering an extra 30% off sale this weekend, too. This includes one of my all-time favorite denim silhouettes (the Sofie) in a featherweight light denim wash, this chic striped tee (orig $198, now $42?!), and this fab sherpa-and-denim confection. (Throw in your lake or mountain vacation suitcase!)
+Very popular this week: this $32 bandana scarf. Tie it around your boat and tote handle, wear it like a triangle scarf around your neck! So versatile and very on-trend. Upgrade picks: this cashmere Kujten and this Zadig and Voltaire (cool French girl brands). I’m telling you, this is THE finishing touch for jeans and a tee. Takes an everyday outfit into “she has perspective” territory.
+EBY launched a buy-one-get-one-free bra promo this weekend!!!
+Floral chintz athletic shorts! I had to have these.
+Chic new arrivals at Cleobella! I love this skirt and this blouse! (You can also get an extra 20% off their sale — consider this eyelet! Also comes in white!)
+Cooling pillows…! Very intrigued by these. I need a really cool bed situation these days.
+Emory’s desk chair is on sale. I always get questions about this when I share snippets/sneak peeks on Instagram of her bedroom. I love that it’s a fun color! I’m always looking for alts to standard white, wood, etc. Another fun children’s room upgrade: these knob replacements for a dresser! Instantly add interest and character to a room.
+The sailboat sweater I styled/mentioned a few ways this week has been very popular — sharing several alternatives at different price points here. (I’m styling my sweater with these fab knit pants.)
ONE // TWO // THREE // FOUR (UNDER $70)
THESE AND MORE LINKS HERE
+Reminder that I’m updating this part of my ShopMy “shelf” with my latest and greatest MDW sale finds all weekend long!
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