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One winter just after I’d graduated from the University of Virginia, Landon and I drove up to Deep Creek Lake for a ski weekend with friends. The forecast projected a blizzard, and even the Wisp Ski Resort website read: “Now is not the time to visit Wisp.” But if you are 23 and have already put down a non-refundable deposit on a group house rental, you drive to Wisp, snow squall bedamned.
We drove straight into white-out conditions. Landon was driving his black Jeep Cherokee, and we could barely make out more than three, four feet ahead of us in the headlights. It was scary, disorienting; I barely spoke for what felt like miles. But I remember Landon saying that all he had to do was keep sight of the dotted highway lines, and drive slowly.
Setting aside our sophomoric decision to drive through an ice storm, it’s not a bad metaphor, you know. Most of the time — in business, in parenting, in life — you can only see a few feet in front of you, and the best you can do is keep things between the guard rails. You can’t worry about the perils down the road, or the maneuvers they will ask of you. What you can do is carefully make your way through the space that’s immediately in front of you.
Another way of reminding myself to live where my feet are. And to send those worries out to pasture.
Repeating this to myself as I bat away the most absurd worry on my mind today: leaving my children for a full week later this month. I know, pull out the world’s tiniest violin. But I’ve not been away from them for more than three nights since they’ve been born — how can I do it? The answer, of course: focus on the right here and now.
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Also this week.
LEFT: An evil eye bracelet — I remember these were all over Greece when I visited in college and I always regretted not buying one. Don’t hate the idea of warding off evil. // RIGHT: Sunday donuts after Mass: a new ritual. I have been over-liberal with plying my children with activities and snacks during Church for too long, and mini will be making her first Confession and Communion this upcoming spring. I went cold turkey: no more activities, no more snacks, in the pews. Instead, if they keep it together, we get donuts afterward. We really love the ones from Sunday Morning Bakehouse.
LEFT: Jovencourt daquiri (recipe here) for Friday night happy hour while watching Robot Dreams with the kids — a really smart, captivating animated movie. // RIGHT: Our newest Chappywrap. We fight over these. The best prints, the perfect weight, and so soft. They just offered us 15% off with code JEN15!
LEFT: Surprised Mr. Magpie with pastries from Fresh Baguette. The coffee eclair! (BTW, every time I use an exclamation point, I think about F. Scott Fitzgerald’s quote: “Cut out all these exclamation points. An exclamation point is like laughing at your own joke.” But in this case, the exclamation point is warranted.) RIGHT: This Mansur Gavriel is probably my best purchase of the season. So easy to wear and such an interesting color.
LEFT: A perfect thin, ribbed, stretchy sock for pairing with every shoe this season. Six pairs for $9. // RIGHT: Regrettably, as good as they say it is: you need this dry shampoo.
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Sunday shopping poetry…
HILL HOUSE DRESS // FALKE DOT TIGHTS // BYREDO BLANCHE ROLL ON PERFUME // AMAZON HAIR CLAWS // JENNY BIRD BANGLE // LA LIGNE SELBY TROUSERS // H&M COAT // CELINE HAT AND WALLET
Hill House launched a party capsule — this Valentino-esque red bow-front dress is too good not to contemplate for a big holiday moment. // Love a dotted, semi-sheer tight for holiday looks, too. Falke has great options. // Ordered one of my favorite scents in a roll-on for upcoming travel! // Just got these La Ligne trousers in. They also just launched loads of gorgeous new knits. How spectacular is this!? If you’re looking for the vibe for less, you might consider some of J. Crew’s offerings. // My hair claws seem to grow legs and go missing every few weeks. Just ordered these smaller ones to keep in my purses. // Jenny Bird has been having a moment — I absolutely love these gleaming (water durable!) gold bangles. // This H&M jacket is astoundingly chic. // My latest middle-of-the-night TRR finds: Celine ballcap, Celine wallet.
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