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SNAPSHOTS

Seventh-Grade Flashback

Making these things is weirdly relaxing. I had forgotten.

I spent last night trying to chill out for a second after hours and hours and hours of filling out forms and making phone calls and trying to iron out the details of everything from airport pickups to rental cars to whether we're going to be living in a walkup (happily, we appear to have scored a first-floor apartment), and thought that merited a conclusion to the evening that included some Orange Is The New Black and friendship-bracelet-making.

Best

Westbound

In two and a half weeks, I am moving to California.

That's not a joke or an exaggeration (although it is temporary; I'll explain), and to say I'm feeling overwhelmed - because this is something we decided only a few days ago - would be the understatement of the century.

Here's what's happening: Kendrick was offered a summer internship in San Jose (just south of San Francisco) that was just too exciting of an opportunity to pass up. Too good for him, too good for his future. Our future. It's exactly the kind of opportunity that we had hoped to see arise when we made the decision for him to go to business school and sleep in another state several days a week, and for us to spend two years as a single-income family.

Style

The Only Thing I Want To Wear

This tunic is the only thing I want to wear lately. I force myself to wear other things because it's weird to wear the same exact thing every single day (not to mention inconvenient re: constant running of washing machine), but I don't want to.

I want to wear this. It's light, and flattering, and goes with everything, and works as a top over shorts or jeans or as a cover-up at the beach or pool, and I love it and want to live in it for the rest of my life. Or at least for the rest of this pregnancy. (And maybe for a couple of months afterwards.)

SWEETS

Banana-Mango Smoothie

On my Farmer’s Market trip this weekend, I spoke with a nutritionist who recommended this smoothie for my particular moment in the pregnancy, since it’s extremely high in calcium (and right now is when the baby’s skeletal structure is developing, so calcium is extra important).

I mean, I didn’t really need any more information after I heard “there is mango in it,” but the calcium is a nice bonus (and good for non-pregnant people too, obviously – did you know that 80% of women don’t get enough calcium from their regular diet? True story).

Style

I Have Located The Perfect Vest

It's not often that I get an item of clothing in my head and actively set out on a hunt for it; I'm usually a browse-and-see-what-I-like kind of shopper. But I've been wearing vests religiously these days, for two reasons 1) I'm leaning towards simpler cuts and fabrics, and the number of things in my wardrobe that actually fit me is dwindling, so a vest adds style points to a basic look, and 2) They give me a little added coverage if I'm feeling a little less than look-at-me on a given day (and an 8-months-pregnant stomach can make you feel very look-at-me indeed).

Anyway, I got it in my head that I wanted a green, rugged-ish vest, but was a little specific about it: I wanted it to be long, look good open (in other words, not have that weird hourglass shape that vests that are cinched at the waist and meant to be worn buttoned can get), be lightweight, and be less-than-a-fortune.

Then I was in Old Navy the other day buying tiny striped leggings with ruffled butts (yaaaaa), and:

Lifestyle

Farmer’s Market Invite (And Questions For You)

On the agenda this morning: figuring out how to plant these Concord grape & blackberry seeds and actually generate something resembling fruit. Any suggestions? Fruit-planting (other than tomatoes, which I'm aware are technically fruits even though that fact continues to make no sense to me) is a new one for me.

Speaking of fresh fruit: tomorrow we're headed up to Boston with Welch's to celebrate the release of their new Farmer's Pick 100% Juice line . If you're in the area, I'd love to see you there (invite below)!

Entertaining

How To: Throw A Baby Sprinkle

Here is the thing about having a baby, take two: You’re the same amount of “excited”…but how all that excitement gets expressed is a little different. A little toned-down. Mostly because you just don’t have the time or energy to run around scouting a million different stroller options, picking up a carrier in that exact color you wanted, setting up a nursery straight out of a Pinterest board, and throwing a huge, fancy shower…but also because you realize that honestly, when it comes down to it, those aren’t the things that really matter. They’re fun, of course, and they’re an important part of gearing up for the excitement that is welcoming a new member of your family. But they aren’t everything.

This time around, I wanted to celebrate our little girl, but I didn’t want all the fuss associated with a shower. I didn’t want gifts, I didn’t want to dress up (or make my friends pour themselves into dresses on a Sunday afternoon), and I certainly didn’t want to make it about me; been there, done that, and it was wonderful the first time around…but any more would feel super weird. More than anything, I wanted a celebration of spring and the friendships I’ve made here – friendships that I know are going to carry me through the coming months.

My solution: a Sprinkle.

Best

A Stroll Down Memory Lane: Clean & Clear Commercial (1998)

My 15-year high school reunion is tomorrow. I'm going because there are a couple of people it would be really fun to see, and because I love the idea of showing Kendrick my old classrooms and such…but the idea of walking into my old high school makes me panic. High school memories are a little complicated. I mean, you were in high school too, presumably. You know.

Eghhhh.

Anyway, the upcoming reunion inspired me to do some Googling in search of yet another ancient gem: a Clean and Clear commercial that I shot when I was sixteen, was teased for more than you can imagine, and that there is a very good chance that you remember if you were alive and/or of TV-watching age in 1998, because it was on that much. Which was both good (residual checks) and bad (the aforementioned teasing).