i'm sorry i ghosted you. here are my outfits, loves, & my excuse

5-4-3-2-1: 5 outfits, 4 shopping finds, 3 unshoppables, 2 holiday looks & 1 treat

If you search my text messages for the keyword “sorry,” prepare yourself: you’ll find gems straight from my iPhone.

this isn’t even half of them.

If you are one of the people in my life who texts me frequently, you know that when I don’t answer for an incredibly long time, it’s never personal. After 37 years, even my own mother is finally starting to understand and accept. Can you imagine how difficult that is? Often I look at my phone, see the message, mentally reply, and then like a golden retriever puppy, I’m off to check out the next shiny thing. The usual responses I get when I inadvertently ghost people are:

• Mom: ?????????????????

• BFF: Haven’t heard from you, just checking in…

• Four-Shirted-Husband: are you alive?

I spend roughly 92% of my life apologizing because I know it can seem incredibly rude and inconsiderate. Alas, part of my journey is self-acceptance and constantly aiming to do better. WORK IN PROGRESS.

Here are a few things that have been on my mind lately. This is part of the reason why I haven’t been responding to all my friends and loved ones. It’s the product of living a life with 89 tabs open at once, both figuratively and literally.

Maybe this is how Leonardo da Vinci felt every day, IDK. Endless notebooks full of random ideas—basically a Renaissance golden retriever. Would he have texted back every single person within five minutes? The world may never know.

P.S. - This may be too long for your inbox. Click “View entire message” at the bottom of this e-mail or read the entire post here.

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What’s Inside: Here’s our gameplan for today’s post - a 5-4-3-2-1 countdown, you know the drill!

• 👗5 recent outfits

• 📦4 things on my shopping radar

• 💗3 non-shoppables

• 🦃2 holiday looks

• 🔊1 take-home treat

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Here are five fun and easy outfits I wore IRL last week.

vest (sized up) | shirt (similar) | pants | flats (similar) | sunnies

1. My love for a collar with character knows no limits. More to come on this topic very soon. I loved this look because the pants literally feel like pajama pants.

shirt (similar) | sweater (size down) | denim | flats | sunnies

Four-Shirted-Husband would not wear his sticker. The reasoning is still unknown. But I may steal his shacket in the near future.

2. Leopard ballet flats? Don’t mind if I do. This barn jacket is really doing all the heavy lifting for me lately.

shirt (size down) | flannel (similar) | denim | boots (size down .5) | earrings

3. I was determined to incorporate one of my coveted Madewell flannels that I’ve refused to donate for years into at least one look of the week. At different points it was tied around my waist, draped over my shoulders, and even worn like a Scottish toga, but I settled on this as the very best.

blazer (color is different) | earrings (similar) | tee | denim | loafers | socks

for the record- I do have eyes, I just don’t know where to look when I take pictures.

4. This was quite a fancy look for getting my stitches out, but you can never go wrong with a blazer and jeans. Add a little sock with the loafer and a statement earring for extra fun—plus it doubles as blister prevention.

sweater | denim (similar) | flats (similar) | earrings | sunnies

4. Oh look, another fun collar! This navy sweater tee look with ecru denim and black ballet flats was an absolute victory.

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Black Friday is soon among us. I used to wake up at the crack of dawn and shop with my Mom. Now, though, we’ve both agreed we’re tired. My daughter has made it *CRYSTAL CLEAR* as of right now she has no intention of carrying on the tradition, lol.

1. Sheer Party Dress - I don’t exactly have anywhere to go in which I would wear this beauty. However, I could go rogue and wear it to my living room on Christmas Eve.

2. Jogger Sweatpants - I love my Old Navy pair that I luxuriate in on the weekends. However, I want to be bold and brave in this new era—perhaps this upgraded pair I can wear more fashionably with a loafer or ballet flat.

3. Knee-High Boots - These boots I saw posted by Madeline Nachbar and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about them. They look like the *perfect* black boot and I could use a structured pair.

4. Statement Earring(s) (1 & 2)- I used to hate wearing anything with ‘bling’ as a kid. My poor mom just wanted to dress me up. Now, as an adult, the more bling, the better. As the holidays approach, I honestly love a shiny pop of interest. Here’s a cool inexpensive version that packs a similar punch. *Always check the earring weight

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One of my favorite writers, ET, posts “unshoppables” in their newsletter that always make me smile. Here are some of mine!

1. Board Games *can* be fun

   I’m known for being a certified board game hater™. In social settings, I’m usually anxiously waiting for someone to take their turn. But they’re busy snacking, chatting, or giggling, and I’m just sitting there dying inside. (See this video for a visual reference of what I mean)

   
   We love playing Uno in our house; I swear we have every single version¹. My nostalgic heart can’t wait to play Harry Potter Monopoly, which just seems so much more tolerable. So grab a board game, a good attitude, and some patience, why don’t ya?

2. Soup Sundays

   Lately, we’ve started “Soup Sundays” at home. I fire up the crockpot before the weekend soccer games, and by the time we’re back, we get to indulge with full, happy bellies. So far, we’ve made broccoli cheddar, chicken pot pie, tortellini, chicken and rice, and tortilla soup.

3. Physiological Sigh

   More podcast victimization, but this one seems kind of cool. It’s about a specific breathing technique for when you really need to CHILL THE F OUT. A physiological sigh is two short inhales followed by a long exhale. It lowers stress, regulates your heart rate, and helps your body settle into a calm, regulated state.²

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Here are two outfits styled for real life. Whether you’re attending a Friendsgiving (more on that later) or a holiday party, these are two easy looks you can assemble to feel your best!

Featuring: the stirrup legging (!!!)

sweater (similar) | leggings | flats | turtleneck | earrings | bag

1. Friendsgiving Fit - Comfort is key when I know I’m going to be living my best life and trying all the things. Dressing up a comfy pair of leggings? Say less. The wrap sweater feels ridiculously versatile, too.

leggings | shirt | brooch (appears larger in photo) | shoes | bag | sweater

2. Festive Holiday Fit - No one-trick ponies here! The stirrup legging deserves more than one look. Throw on an oversized button-up and clip a festive brooch at your collar. Feeling extra? Drape the red sweater over your shoulders. Slingback heels for a touch of fancy pants

• STYLE TIP: Wrap the loop of the legging over the bottom of your heels to feel extra cool.

And if all else fails, follow whatever the hell Maria Hyde says - because her look in this note is absolutely unreal.³

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Friendsgiving is so foreign to me. For the past few years, I’ve hosted my own version of this phenomenon. It includes me, my four-shirted husband, my best friend, her husband, my kids (and now her baby!!). I always laugh that I should really call it “Friendgiving.” (singular)

I’m so grateful they still come—especially after the year I put a plastic tray of food in the oven…. & then had to microwave half the food because it didn’t cook through. That’s real friendship right there.

There are plenty of fun dinner table chat games, but tbh—I overshare and talk so much that I’d never need to play. So, here’s a fun playlist for you to enjoy at your Friend- or Friendsgiving:

It’s 5 hours long, so by the end of the playlist, your guests will know the expectation… everyone shall retire for the night. Otherwise, you can try some other fan favorites…

• The Gwyneth Paltrow: “And there we go, guys—it’s time for me to get in bed. This has been fun.”

• Slap your knee and say: “Welp…” Stand up and add, “Spose we should head out!”

• Flip the lights on/off and yell: “LAST CALL!”

• The Traci: Yawn uncontrollably… I literally can’t help it. It has to be a biological stress response of some sort.

…Or just let them stay and luxuriate in the laughter and good times!

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Let’s Chat: Who else leaves loved ones on read? How long is your record? What’s your go-to board game that doesn’t break apart your family? Are we shopping for anything good right now?

Alrighty friends, let’s go crush the rest of this week! xo,

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• If the spirit moves you, buy me a coffee and keep the fun going.

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1. For the record, Uno No Mercy is the most cold-blooded, family-destroying version of Uno I’ve ever played.

2. For the record, I am not a medical professional. Just trying to live a less unhinged life.

3. This look of Maria’s was featured in Nicole Cherelle’s post here!