
Brighten up the rainy day with these Missoni-like rain boots from Charlotte Russe.
Zigzag Print Rain Boots, $20 (from $32)

People throw around the term “best friend” a lot, especially when you’re young…in middle school, junior high, high school. Somehow when you become an adult, you stop using best friend very often or only use it to describe someone you used to know. “Oh, she was my best friend in ninth grade.”
But, then you have the real deal, a reason to use the term “best friend,” no matter how old you are. I use “best friend” for a friendship that I know will only come along once in my lifetime. Lisa and I met when we were 9 years old and we’re still as close now as the day we met 16 years ago. Actually, that’s not true…we’re closer in a lot of ways. (Holy crap, 16 years!)
We had always talked when we were young about how when we were “old and married” that we’d have to have houses right next to each other because we couldn’t bear the thought of ever being apart. As fate would have it, she now lives in Dubai—about as far away a location as I could have ever imagined, then or now.
But, for a few too brief hours yesterday, we got to talk and laugh and it felt like no time had passed since we had done the same thing last year. Sometimes, when I get lonely or sad, or wish that I could just pick up the phone and say, “Hey, let’s meet for lunch,” I cheer up remembering that I should be grateful just to be half of such an amazing friendship—one that I know is extremely rare.
There’s a lot of things that I hope Isobel will be able to experience in her life, but something closest to the top of the list is for her to have a friendship that will endure over decades too.
“The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.” - Elisabeth Foley

It’s so dreary today. (It looks like snow, but it’s supposed to rain. I have no idea what to make of this “winter” anymore.) As I was walking Milo, I was thinking to myself how nice it will be if we have a prolonged spring with gorgeous, warm weather that holds off the humidity and heat of summer for a little while. I love the pretty spring vibe of this tank, but I’d still wear this now (dreary weather and all) with a chunky cardigan and pair of cognac boots.
What I’ve Read: What It Is Like to Go to War by Karl Marlantes
Vietnam veteran Karl Marlantes wrote this haunting nonfiction book about the realities and after effects of combat, in the context of both historical conflict and modern-day war.
I had put this on my to-read list after reading a review of the book that earmarked it as one of the best insights into the modern-day warrior mind that the reviewer had ever read. Although I can’t say I’ve read every book in this genre in order to make that comparison myself, I can say that this book—and Marlantes’ personal combat experiences—will haunt me for some time to come.
There is a divide between a civilian (like myself) and the veteran or modern soldier that this book attempts to gap by showing how intrinsically different combat is from any other human experience. There’s a tendency among civilians to believe certain things about combat situations from movies or fiction books, and I know I’m guilty of this myself. (I wonder how many non-veterans claim their greatest exposure to the Vietnam War to be Apocalypse Now, for example?)
What this book does so well well is putting words to emotions and to experiences in a masterful way that I haven’t read before. I found myself taking away something so valuable from reading this, but believe that there is an even greater value in this book for the combat veteran, or currently-enlisted soldier, or for the person thinking about enlisting, or for the family or wife of a member of the armed forces. As for me—someone with very little personal connection to the military—I have left this book with a completely altered thought process regarding our nation’s soldiers and what is expected of them both abroad and at home. It’s incredibly sobering and eye-opening.
Have you read this book? What did you think?
What I’ve Read: In Spite of Everything by Susan Gregory Thomas
I don’t even remember why I put this book on my to-read list. I have no idea where I saw it (was it a recommendation?) or if maybe I read another review (on Oprah.com, perhaps?), but the subject matter of this honest, powerful memoir hits closer to home than anything I’ve read in some time.
Thomas starts the book with the following:
For most of my generation—Generation X—there is only one question: “When did your parents split?” Our lives have been framed by the answer. Ask us. We remember everything.
I may not be a part of Generation X, but I have grown up surrounded by friends coming from divorced homes and now find myself in the situation of being an adult child of separated parents—a recent occurrence that I would not have believed even if my current self had traveled back in time to tell me about my future.
What Thomas’ memoir does right is relay the emotional wounds that can exist after a major familial upheaval, like divorce. Her divorce from her husband ravages not only her emotional spirit, but her physical self as well, and I felt for her with every passing page. What’s wrong with the book, then? I had no major problems with it, but did feel that Thomas attempted to toe some line between memoir and objective nonfiction about the ravages of divorce upon a generation without altogether successfully fusing the two. But, by the end of the book, I didn’t notice this (it becomes 100% memoir somewhere past the middle) and didn’t really care either. Her honest voice and vivid retelling of difficult—even tragic—memories held my attention for hours at a time until I turned the final page.
Here is a paragraph from early in the book that has been rumbling around in my head from the moment I read it:
Our fear is that “alone” is the central truth that lies at the heart of the universe, and that we cannot provide them [our children] with an unimpeachably happy childhood, our children will be forced to stare into that void by themselves, too. But what if that isn’t true? What if there is more than this? What if the only truly perfect gem that we can really keep and share with our children is that none of us is alone—that they can remain loved and secure, in spite of everything?
Have you read this book? What did you think?

If you’ve been holding off buying a winter coat because of the after-Christmas sales or because it’s been unseasonably warm until this week, you’re in luck! I love the styling on this puffer jacket and it’s light enough to wear comfortably for a few more months. (And it’s on sale!)
Gap Moto Puffer Jacket, $50 (from $98) with an additional 35% off with code GAPGIFT
My online shopping looks very different these days.
Baby Must-Haves
I’ve gotten a few questions about my recommendations for baby-related items and I’ve been hesitant about posting anything because…let’s face it: I’m less than a month into this thing and I’m basically Googling things every five minutes to make sure I’m not doing something horrible to my child (“Is feeding her all day normal?! Is she starving?!” The answer was no, by the way).
But, if I had to choose a few things that are making my life a whole lot easier right now, it would be these items:
The Miracle Blanket (or some other similar swaddle blanket) makes it so easy to swaddle Isobel up. She likes having her arms and hands free now, so I just leave her arms out and swaddle her from the waist down. Not only does it help keep her calm, cozy and warm, but it’s a million times easier than attempting a regular swaddle with a blanket…especially if she’s fussy and squirming around.
The Miracle Blanket, $32
When I’m changing diapers in the middle of the night, the last thing I want to do is undo (then redo) 50 snaps. Even worse is the prospect of completely undressing her to change her diaper. (Why do they even make newborn clothing that doesn’t have easy diaper access?) These sleep sacks are adorable…and make changing her diaper super fast.
Children’s Place Sleeper Gown, $10
Although the ERGO Baby Carrier is pricey (we received ours as a gift), I would have gladly paid for it after seeing firsthand how easy-to-use, comfortable and sturdy it is. There are tons of carrier options out there, but I like that we can use this one for several years and I appreciate that it’s designed to minimize back strain. Isobel seems to love it too. So does Bridget Moynahan, presumably.
ERGO Baby Carrier, $115
Camisoles! Tons and tons of camisoles! If you’re breast-feeding, buy dozens. I get mine from H&M, but these are similar in style/price.
Old Navy Layering Camis, $3-$9 each
There are two options for breastfeeding: nursing with a BrestFriend and nursing without a BrestFriend. I never want to live in a world where nursing without a BrestFriend is the only option.
P.S. Do not be fooled into thinking the Boppy is comparable. This is what the Boppy is great for.
My BrestFriend Nursing Pillow, $44.89
Anything else I should be using/not using?
The cozy life

I love living close to three major cities, but after growing up in a rural area, I know there are some definite advantages to living a quieter, slower life too. If there was a way to live in a little cabin within driving distance to a decent-sized city in a place that got snow in the winter and sun in the summer…I’d be very tempted indeed.
All images from Pinterest. Click each photo for details.

We’re planning a trip to the beach sometime this spring and I’m going to be wearing something like this (with leggings and sandals) while sitting on the deck watching the sun rise with a cup of coffee. Or…maybe I’ll just sleep in. :)
Old Navy Rib-Knit Crochet Sweater, $28 (from $35)




















