Musical Feels

Just a fun post of some songs that sound like what they’re singing about.

“We Go Driving” by Kat Higgins. Yeah, you know that story. Here’s to motherhood in all its shapes and sizes.

“Fireflies” by OWL City. If ten million fireflies were buzzing around me, I’m sure the combined sound of their wings would sound like this song.

“River” by Joni Mitchell. Winter, Christmas, skating on frozen rivers….this song just evokes so many feelings about the winter season.

“Dreams” by the Cranberries reminds me of fall, most likely because of the movie “You’ve Got Mail.” Regardless, I play this song loud when I’m driving in my car in the fall. I mean real fall, not this warm, humid, foggy, crampy excuse of a Jersey season. By the time Jersey gives us fall, it’ll be winter. Jersey never disappoints. Ugh.

“Bright” by Echosmith. This song sounds like the way love should feel. Not the haunting, exhausting, pain-ridden kind of love, but the nice kind. The easy natural kind. Love the way it should be. Sweet, easy, and melodic. Filled with light and flowers. The type of love that gives you a pep to your step, and makes colors brighter and breezes sweeter. The lead singer looks startlingly like Anna Kendrick, and has the sweetest voice.

“Summer Breeze” by Seals and Croft. Although the song starts a tad discordantly, this song will forever remind me of my childhood summers.

“Use Me” by Bill Withers. Sex. I remember it faintly as something I enjoyed. Love this song, just Bill Withers on stage, jamming. Cool personified.

“The House That Built Me” by Miranda Lambert. The wonders and magic of childhood, and the regret you feel as an adult that perhaps you didn’t appreciate it when you were living it. Ever go home to check on your old house and yard, and it looks so…small? I will never, ever, ever, as long as I live, forgive Blake Shelton for leaving beautiful Miranda. I mean, look at that face- how could he leave that face? If he comes on the radio, I turn him off. Love you, Miranda.

“Landslide” by Stevie Nicks. Reminds me of my sons. Every smile, laugh, piece and particle of them. One Christmas they bought me a beautiful framed graphic of the first verse. It sits prominently in my bedroom, where I can read it whenever I want. When it comes on the radio, all talking ceases. It’s our family soundtrack, and sure to make me cry with joy every time. Stevie Nicks just perfect in her perfection.

We Go Driving

Story time.

This is a tough one to tell. My closest friends and family know this story, because I gabbed it to anyone who would listen.

Last year I took a stint as a youth counselor at a crisis center, and worked with young people who, for whatever reason, had lost their way or their faith, and were trying to get back on their feet. Most just wanted jobs, or to finish school, or to have a bed to sleep in. Some warmth, hot food, Wifi, maybe just someone to listen to their goals, their visions, their dreams.

Food, education, a bed. You know, luxuries.

They rarely complained. These kids just woke up every day, ate breakfast, then walked out the door into a world that had never been too kind to them, hoping that maybe this day would be the day that would smile at them. They were not saints, certainly troubled and far from perfect, and the center was certainly filled with the kind of despair you would expect at such a place. I went in there expecting that.

But I didn’t expect the beauty. The strength, the laughter, the friendship, the love that just ooooooozed out of these kids when you made eye contact with them, when you smiled at them and told them you were glad to see them. Some of them were like blooming flowers, unfurling at the slightest hint of sunshine.

And I did o.k. At first.

Listen, it’s a tough place. And while counselors are encouraged to be kind, they are expected to be consistent and tough. Get close to them, but not too close. Love them, but don’t love them too much. Piece of cake, I figured. I’ve been a teacher at some pretty tough places for three decades, and I like to think I’ve seen it all.

Then I met this young mother and her baby, and proceeded to fall promptly and completely in love.

Ruh-roh.

What’s wrong with falling in love with a baby? Nothing, if it’s your niece. Your neighbor’s granddaughter. The baby your close friend babysits during the week as a nanny, when she walks her past your house for a quick hello. Nothing, in those cases.

But when you’re working at a center where young resident turnover is only a few weeks, and the goal is to help young residents work an employment and education program and get back out into society, obsessing over a resident baby is most certainly not conducive to the terms under which you’ve been hired.

I had worked with young mothers and their babies plenty of times, but for whatever reason, this baby girl rocked me. She was the sweetest, funniest, prettiest baby I had ever met, and within weeks of holding her, playing with her, and loving her, I began to worry about her and dream about her. I would wake up in the middle of the night and wonder if she was safe. Loved. Dry. Too warm, or too cold. I worried, and worried, and worried, until I worried myself sick.

I sought advice from colleagues, and they all said the same thing:

“Mary, we can only love them as best we can. At the end of the day, they’re responsible for themselves.”

They were right. Of course they were right. But I worried about her just the same.

I thought I was tough. I’m not tough. I’m a wimp. A cream puff. A gutless invertebrate. A yellow-bellied recreant.

Baby A wrecked me. Destroyed me. Thoughts of her consumed me so entirely that for the first time in my entire life, I thought about seeking a therapist. I could not, and still cannot, stop thinking about her.

But I must.

I have a picture of Baby A on my phone, and once in awhile I’ll sneak a peek at it and think about her. She’ll be turning a year old soon, and I hope she and her mother went back home to family. Then in the same breath I hope they didn’t, because it was a bad situation. I hope her mom managed to keep her job, and that she is still strong and confident. I hope that baby is still smiling and squealing with joy when she gets picked up. I still miss her. Sometimes when you meet a person, no matter how young or old, they lodge themselves into a place in your heart you didn’t know existed. This baby wedged her way into mine, and not a day goes by when I don’t hope and pray she is doing well.

Tomorrow I will post about “Songs That Sound Like What They’re About.” The following song “We Go Driving” sounds like motherhood, to me. That feeling of knowing you would do anything in your means to take care of your child. This young mother told me she was determined to make a better life for her daughter, and I hope and pray she is managing to do that.

I will return to the center one day. My schedule is too full right now, and the pandemic has caused me to take precautions due to my father’s health. And I hope to find out what happened to Baby A. Until then, this song is dedicated to her. I wish I knew how she is doing, so that I could stop worrying about her and crying when I hear this song.

Enjoy.

Date Day

Not being a night person, I always liked day dates. Less pressure. Here are some fun day dates for you and your sweetie.

Weekend brunch. I’m partial to Cafe La Maude in Philly. I mean, Apple Pie Banana Pancakes? Steak Shawarma? Brisket Huevos Rancheros? Egads. Don’t forget the mimosas.

A City-Walking Tour. How about Savannah? The Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Walking Tour is super fun, and don’t be fooled- the “midnight” refers to the book, not to the time of the tour. Savannah also has the best haunted house tours in the country, so visit and indulge.

Coffee Date. Coffee shops and bookstores are my favorite places in the world. Barnes and Noble will do very nicely, and again, if you want to take the drive to Philly, the Barnes and Noble right across from Rittenhouse Square is always bustling with people and activity, and great restaurants are a stone’s throw away. Rittenhouse Square has all of the puzzle pieces of a great date day.

Cooking Class. Take your sweetie to learn how to cook Italian, seafood or vegetarian. USA Today and NBC rate Cozy Meal very highly, and again, right in Philly. Or how about Stir, Colorado? Denver’s Stir keeps the pots hot with classes that include pies and tarts. Some of the class offerings include “Five Classic Desserts Every Cook Should Know,” “Valentine’s Day Chocolate Workshop,” “High-Altitude Baked Goods,” and date night classes.

Art Gallery Visit. We are so lucky to live so close to fabulous museums in Philadelphia and New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Museums of Natural History. So much to see, so little time.

Pumpkin Patches. Here is a slide show of the best pumpkin patches in the country. The closest to where I am, in the Northeast, is Linvilla Orchards in Media, Pennsylvania. Take a harvest hayride throughout the spacious farm or try out a holiday-themed hayride to the witch’s house. Boredom isn’t an option here – there’s plenty of other attractions to keep you on your toes, ranging from agricultural classes to fishing to indoor mini golf.

Stand-Up Comedy Show. Ok, so these are usually at night, but here are some Atlantic City venues coming. I once saw Chelsea Handler in Atlantic City, and it was the worst show I ever attended. We spent a fortune on the tickets, and it was only about 38 minutes of Handler talking about her vagina and laughing at her own lame jokes. I can’t believe she’s still touring.

Wine Tasting. Wineries in south Jersey: Tomasello. Renault. Balic. Cape May. Sharrott. Take advantage of our local jewels. Who needs Napa?

Outdoor Concerts. How about the Ukranian Folk Festival in Horsham? Sounds fun! A dazzling array of Ukrainian music, song, dance, food and desserts. Enjoy a vibrant outdoor concert (1:30 – 4:30 pm), social dancing (4:30 – 8:00 pm), Ukrainian kitchen, arts, crafts and vendors’ market, BBQ, refreshments, and adult beverages.

Miniature Golf. There are still some open throughout our area. Look them up yourselves, do I have to plan every detail? Sheesh!

Have a blast!

Face It

My skin care routine is quite involved. I buy hundreds of expensive skin care products a month, spend hours at the salon and in front of the mirror, and go to fancy spas for high-end beauty treatments. It’s just exhausting.

JK.

I do as close to nothing as possible. I rub Cetaphil Soft Scrub on my face in the shower. Sometimes I use Mac tinted moisturizer, and in the winter I slather on Mac Strobe Cream, my favorite product of all time. In between facials I will exfoliate with a face scrub like Sugar Face Polish from Sephora. And I love Mac makeup removing wipes. And when I run out of product, I go into my sample bag. Every woman has one, a bag where she throws all of the sample products she gets in the mail and in stores. I’ll just use stuff until I run out, and I also pack them in my travel bag.

Complex, huh?

I read articles all of the time about facial care routines, and it strikes me that female consumers are tricked into believing that they must buy expensive skin care products in order to have nice skin.

Horseshit.

Good skin is 80% genetic, just like being in shape is 80% diet and nutrition. I could never be a successful personal trainer, because I would feel compelled to tell my clients the truth:

“Exercise is good for you. It gets your heart rate up, and movement of any kind is health-enhancing. But if you’re going to go home day-after-day and eat badly or too much, no amount of squats, lunges or planks will matter. Nothing you do in the gym matters if you don’t have your nutrition on point.”

That would be an effective motivating speech, and I’d probably feel bad as the client demanded their money back. But hey, we all know the truth: You can’t outrun your fork, and you can’t outrun your face.

Genetically speaking.

I do the bare minimum for skin care. Sometimes in the shower, I’ll exfoliate. I’ll get a facial from Jessica a few times a year. I drink a lot of water, eat some vegetables and fruit, and get good sleep and exercise. I’m happy and love fresh air. But there are women who do all of that, and still describe their skin as ruddy. Sallow. Greasy. Oily. Pallid. And these women can buy as many expensive products as they want, use thick makeup and foundation and color, and the same will remain:

You’ll get what Great-Granny gives you, and you’ll like it. We have to accept what we’ve been given. I got great skin, and pretty feet. I also inherited a wide nose and thick thighs.

What’s a girl gonna do?

Recalibrate

I rented a house in the woods this past weekend, you know, to recalibrate. On the first day, after I returned from shopping for provisions, I was putting my few measly groceries away and heard a knock at the door. When I opened it, there, standing in the doorway of this remote cabin, was this gorgeous guy. He went on to tell me he was the brother of the owner of the house and was stopping by to check on me and see if I needed anything.

“Actually,” I said, “I can’t get the fireplace going.”

“Let me take a look at it,” he said, entering the cabin, “it can get glitchy.”

Listen, without divulging too many details, he got the fireplace going, and accepted my offer of a glass of brandy. Turned out he was a widower and a book editor, and after a few drinks, one thing led to another, and…

Yeah, that’s the plot of the movie “The Holiday” with Cameron Diaz.

See, in the movies, when Cameron Diaz goes away alone for peace and quiet, a widowed and horny Jude Law shows up drunk at her door. In real life, when a woman goes away alone for peace and quiet, she gets…

Peace and quiet.

My old classroom used to have this whiteboard that once in a while would glitch out. I would stand there in front of my students, stewing in frustration, until they reminded me that it simply needed to be recalibrated. There was always a student that enjoyed grabbing the pointer, and tapping on the “X’s” until the screen functioned smoothly again.

Recalibration.

We all have different kinds of getaways. Luxury getaways, family getaways, girl or boy getaways. My favorite are writing/work getaways.

When I start feeling anxious and overworked, I pick something far out in the boonies, something in the woods with a fireplace. I pack minimally and for a few days experience stillness and silence. I meditate and work and think far away from nonsense, pettiness, people and distractions, and ostensibly return home recalibrated, calmer and happier. I try not to watch television on these trips, but on this past weekend, I binge-watched some “Seinfeld.” I love writing dialogue, and “Seinfeld” is a great thing to watch for timing and pithy.

(Jerry and George in L.A. looking for Kramer. Jerry is on pay phone, trying to tell the L.A. police where they are.

George asks a passerby: “Excuse me, where are we?”

Passerby: “Earth.”)

I make sure not to pack much on recalibration trips. Minimalism is key. Sweatpants and a pair of hiking tights. A couple of t-shirts and a hoodie. Fleece-lined clogs. Eggs, salad makings. and blueberries. Yogurt, and a bottle Mark West. One jug filtered water. My French press (which goes with me everywhere), and a bag of high-quality ground coffee. I throw in my small speaker, laptop, notebooks, pens, books and toiletries.

Voila.

On my last day, it brings me great satisfaction to see that all of my clothes are dirty, the food gone, wine consumed, and work completed. No superfluous food or clothing goes back with me, if possible. Upon my return, there is a feeling of completeness. Anxiety gone, irritation dissipated.

Recalibration. Try it, you might like it.

Yada

I promised you hiking spots today, but it’s not going to happen. Ironically I’m in one of my favorite hiking spots right now, but I underestimated the drive time, and it’s late on Thursday night. So let me just catch you up on some Chrysalis Collective haps, and send you into your weekend.

Widow and Widower Meetup Group. People have been asking me for a long time to start a Meetup Group for 55+ widows and widowers, and the demand is high. So I put one together on a lark last weekend, and decided to just check in on it. It already has 45 members ready to get started. So please send the link to any widow or widower you know, because we’ll be planning our first event soon. Make sure you tell them this is not a grief group- it’s a life group, a place to come to discuss change, transition, travel, and career. Tell them to contact me if they have any questions. As expected there are more widows than widowers. Want to take a guess why? It’s a chapter in my book coming out next year, so I’ll give you a preview: widows use their widowhood for improvement, career and travel. Widowers grieve for awhile, and then look for another woman to take care of them. Don’t get your panties in a wad, this is statistically proven. Men can’t be alone. And single women LOVE widowers, can’t get enough of them, so widowers get snapped up. That’s why you’ve probably never met a widower. They remarry almost immediately.

https://www.meetup.com/new-jersey-and-philadelphia-widows-and-widowers-meetup-group/members/

The Chrysalis Collective will be featured in the winter edition of Bella Grace magazine, so look for it soon. We will have a stand-alone article on “Things to Do Just Because.” It is a great honor to be featured in a nationally-ranked magazine, and we’re so honored and excited!

Newletter. If you have signed up for my newsletter, I can’t apologize enough if you haven’t received anything. I will be investigating Mail Chimp this weekend to figure out where your emails are going.

Chrysalis Collective Store. Soon there will be downloadables, coffee mugs with the Chrysalis Collective logo, and Chrysalis Collective flip desk calendars, just to start. You can define “soon” as 2022. Have patience with me readers, I took on a lot of teaching this semester, so I do as much CC stuff on the weekends as I can.

Media. I have been appearing on national podcasts and radio shows since my publicity summit ended, and it has been so fun. I will be doing media all of 2021-2022, so if anyone wants to check out my Press Kit, send it along to any media that is interested. But don’t wait, my calendar is already booking into 2022. If you’re not sure what I present on, email me and I’ll send you my One-Sheet.

maryoves.com. Hey, I have an author site as it turns out! When I asked my BRILLIANT AND PATIENT website designer if I could buy maryoves.com, she informed me that we already did. So if anyone wants to search for me that way, it defaults to CC. Kinda cool how smart other people are.

Native products. Have you checked out their new Coffee Haus collection? Why not? Get to it!!! Just kidding, but they’re all so delicious and yummy, I don’t know why people still buy smelly, boring drugstore products when you can use safe and environmentally-friendly products that smell like scents such as Oat Milk Latte and Matcha and Sweet Cream. Oh, and they have plastic-free containers. But be dull and boring, see if we care.

Billy Joel. Billy has his own channel on Sirius channel 60 for the month of October. Just a side-note!

Carpe Diem!!

Fall for These Movies

Hey Jersey, what’s up? Ummm, some of us are waiting impatiently for the approximately six minutes of fall we get around here, so if you wouldn’t mind shaking a tail feather and delivering it toot sweet. And it’s not just me now. I’ve talked to a half dozen people who are miffed that they had to close up their houses again. We don’t want this humidity and warmth, it’s the MIDDLE OF GOSH DANG OCTOBER, CAN YOU GIVE US A BREAK ALREADY?

Sheesh.

So since the weather isn’t exactly cooperating, if you need some fall motivation, here are some movies that celebrate fall the way it feels.

“You’ve Got Mail.” Just the opening sequence feels like falling leaves!

“When Harry Met Sally.” Meg again, with Billy Crystal. What a pairing. Cutest scene, and one day Meg Ryan’s fashion in this movie will be crushed over just as much as Diane Keaton in Annie Hall.

“Halloween.” I know, it’s a slasher film, but the fall scenes ARE scenes from my childhood. The fading dusky light, the skittering leaves, and the time when friends talked and walked, and didn’t hold cell phones.

“Stepmom.” I love this scene where Susan Sarandon relaxes outside in her yard wearing her comfy fall outfit.

“Sweet Home Alabama.” This is a sweet compilation, the fall part of the scene is around minute 3:30.

Tomorrow: Great local hiking spots if, like me, you can’t go too far this fall!

Plenty of Soup For You!

(Little nod to the Soup Nazi there…)

Scares, sweaters and soups. Was there ever a better holiday trio? Here are ten soups I’ll be making as soon as the heat breaks AGAIN:

Creamy Roasted Cauliflower Soup. Lemon juice adds brightness while crushed red pepper adds a touch of heat. Toasted nuts bring a bit of crunch to this creamy soup. Yum.

One Pot Chicken and Cabbage Soup. Sherry vinegar adds a touch of brightness and pairs well with the medley of vegetables. Serve with crusty bread.

Meatball Soup. My mom made a version of this, so it will always remind me of coming in from the snow. She served it with warm blueberry muffins for some reason, so I have to make blueberry muffins when I make this. But crusty rolls work too. So easy, peasy and ‘licious.

Sausage Potato Soup. Lawdie. So good. Speaks for itself.

Escarole and Little Meatball Soup. Yeah, I’m Italian, what of it? This recipe was famous in my house, and it’s so easy that I find it hard to understand why people buy soup in cans. Serve with warm rolls, please, you peasants. JK!

Creamy Pumpkin Soup. I am NOT a fan of pumpkin soup, or squash soup, or cucumber soup, etc. But far be it from me to deny you the pleasure. So go for it, just leave me out of it.

Cream of Broccoli Soup. In these parts we fancy our cream of broccoli soup not pureed and thin, but with big chunks of broccoli, cheese and bread. Only way to go. Naysayers nay.

Split Pea Soup. I don’t like peas either, silly. Split pea soup is a whole different animal, and so easy. I’m a fan.

Pasta Fagioli. You knew it was coming. My own personal recipe is different, but this is a good one to share. I’m simply not ready to share mine, not yet. One day.

Cabbage Soup With Ginger. The ginger and turmeric have great hydrating and health benefits, and it’s so good on a chilly day.

Graveyard Shift

It’s Spook Season, ya’ll!

I traveled extensively last fall, so I wasn’t home for Halloween 2020. But since Halloween falls on a Sunday this year, my boys have received the ultimatum: if they’re around to help, we’ll go all out with the yard and house. If they’re not around, I’m leaving town for greener pastures.

They’re in. We’ve been doing some research on the hottest animatronics out there for Halloween 2021, so here’s some fun things you might see in our yard this year:

(Note: Wait until the last minute for animatronics in order to get the best price. These animatronics will go down by 40% if you hold out until the week before Halloween. If you want to stock up for next year, they’ll go down 80% on November 1st)

The Caretaker, Spirit of Halloween ($209.99). I don’t know what’s going on with Spirit animatronics the last few years, the quality has really gone down. But this Caretaker is the highlight of their 2021 line. He’s six-feet tall with light-up yellow eyes, and holding a shovel. His voice-over is fantastic, and as he speaks his mouth moves and his arms raise and lower the shovel.

Grandinroad Animated Floating Broom (($69.50). These are going quick, so if you like it, grab it. It’s super cute, and not too scary for wee tikes.

Rabid Girl by Horror Dome ($2,850). We have just discovered The Horror Dome, and now we realize where all of the quality animatronics are hiding. This price tag obviously would be for a professionally-run haunted house or attraction, but I wanted to share what quality scares look like. Rabid Girl is a Shocktronic, which means it starts out as an animatronic, but you need an actor to jump out at the end. Quality stuff.

Clawing Cathy by Horror Dome ($119.99). We love a good smoky graveyard scene at this house, so she will definitely be a major part of our display.

Crashing Witch on a Tree Inflatable by Wayfair ($41.99). People love their inflatables, and while we are not a fan of them, this one is super cute and reasonably-priced.

Swinging Skeleton Boy from Halloween Express ($179.99). We love this skeleton boy and he has already gone down 40%. In another two weeks, it’ll be down another 20%.

Wailing Phantom from Oriental Trading Company ($299.98). The 7-foot tall phantom features the new incredible light-up Digiteyes (patent pending) digital moving eyes that appear to look around and open and close. His tortured face with moving mouth says a haunting phrase, and his torso rises and lowers while his head sways side to side.

Ascending Evil Climbing Skeleton from Design Toscano ($175). He hangs on your wall by keyhole slots, and he’s handcrafted.

Tomorrow: Some delicious fall treats!

Sweater-Season

What are the most pleasant jobs in the world?

A cuddle nurse in a maternity ward.

A cupcake decorator?

Maybe the owner of a kitten sanctuary, or the mascot of a beloved sports’ team?

Working at a fall farm market has to be up there in the rankings, right? While I’m sure there is the requisite hard work like planting, digging and hauling, I would think it goes without saying that selling pumpkins, gourds, corn stalks and hay bales to flannel-wearing, Frye boot-clad shoppers clutching pumpkin spice lattes must be, at the very bare minimum, pleasant as hell.

Everyone is so tickled-orange at fall farm markets. I’m thinking it’s the sweaters.

(Well, well, what do we have here? Is it a possible lead-in for a post about sweaters I am loving right now? Mmm kay)

Jenni Kayne Everyday Sweater ($145). Jenni is the Sweater-Queen, and her sweaters go all the way up to the 600 buck range. Egads. I can’t even get into her affiliate program yet, she’s so “big.” Nevertheless, I want to give props to this sweater that I own in a few colors. Taupe is my next conquest. I wear this sweater to cozy down on my patio paired a pair of fluffy sweatpants and a good book, or after a tough day on the hiking trails in front of the fire with a glass of wine.

Athleta Foresthill Ascent Turtleneck ($79). When I worked at Athleta, every customer who walked in was subjected to my tirade extolling the wonders of the black Foresthill turtleneck. There’s something about the ease of it, of tucking one side of it into a black pencil skirt, and being ready to teach for the day. I have two: one that I wear, and one with a price tag still on it in case something happens to the one I wear. If they discontinue it, I want to be prepared with a back-up. It’s that great a piece, and I have NEVER liked turtlenecks. It looks good on EVERYONE, I kid you not.

M.M. LaFleur Lea Sweater ($395). Gulp, I’m sorry, I know it’s pricey. But remember Dream Cart? All I bought for teaching this fall was this sweater and a blazer. This sweater can do anything- pair it with tights and boots, or with a pencil skirt and sling-backs, and it will work hard for you. Don’t wear this beautiful sweater with jeans, please, I beg you, not unless you’re 24 and hot. Jeans may never go “out of style” completely, but they go “out of style” for women after a certain age. I’ll post about it one day.

Macy’s Free People Open-Front Cardigan ($108). Open-front cardigans are so versatile. In the fall I’ll throw one on for teaching over a sleeveless sheath dress, or pull one over a tank top, tights and ankle boots when I run errands. I’ll grab it for an extra layer on cold winter months, or even over a sundress or a bathing suit for chilly nights on spring break. This cabernet color is so fall-a-licious.

Nadaam $75 Cashmere Sweater is famous for its price, color, and quality. You’ve never heard of Nadaam’s $75 cashmere sweater? Now you have. Over two dozen colors to choose from. Tbh, it doesn’t look good on my body type but non-curvy girls swear by it.

Lululemon Double-Knit Sweater Hoodie ($148). This dusky lavender color is so unexpected for fall, and that’s what I like about it. I like everything about it. The color, the hood, the ribbed and cropped nature of it. Just so pretty and delicate and casual and yummy.

Madewell Tipped Davie Polo Sweater ($89.50). Just click on the hyperlink and look at it, describing it won’t do it justice. So distinctive.

Jockey Fleece-Lined Wrap ($34.99) Did you know Jockey made sweaters? Me either! This caught my eye for the bulky oversized nature of it. It kind of looks like a bathrobe, so don’t think you’re going to be able to wear it to dinner, but it’s a great piece to throw on for some cuddle-warmth. And that price is limited, so grab it!

Everlane Chunky Cardigan ($110). This is the one. The sweater of the season. It features an exaggerated retro-inspired collar, a two-way zip front, blouson sleeves, and a cropped, rounded shape. Zip it all the way up for a big exaggerated collar. Comes in black, toasted almond and canvas.

Tomorrow: Halloween animatronics I’m loving right now!