J.Crew Coat (Also available here. I love it in red and “Sandstone,” too. Sizing: it runs slightly oversized, but that’s the look. I have my normal size, and while it’s roomy, I don’t think it looks too big. I can also fit big sweaters underneath it, which is awesome for Chicago winters!) / Rag & Bone Jeans (Here in black and here in white. Best jeans ever. As we all know, I’m obsessed. I’ve received a few questions about the “Capri” cut. I’m somewhere around 5’4 or 5’5, and they are kind of like ankle jeans. Definitely not real capris.) / Sorel Boots in “Umber.” (Also available here. They run a little short. I usually wear a 7.5, and took an 8 in them. I also have the Joan of Arctics, which you can find at either Nordstrom or Zappos, but only wear them when it’s like -20 degrees. I wore the ones I’m wearing in these pics in -10-degree weather and was fine. And have you seen these? They’re the shorter version and I think they’re so cute!) / Cable-Knit Sweater (So soft! And love this somewhat similar pocket sweater, which I have in white! Similar cable-knit in peplum here. Finally, I recently picked up this sweater in red, and this sweater in tan. I love how the first one hangs and I ADORE the crazy softness–and machine washability–of the second.) / Similar Hat c/o Tuckernuck (Shop the winter sale here, and see my picks here! Remember to use code “FINALSALE” to take an additional 25 percent off.) / J.Crew Scarf / Similar Mittens (On sale! Use code “FINAL SALE” to take an additional 25 percent off.)

Happy New Year!

Do you guys ever do “highs and lows”? When I was in college, my friends and I (even the boys!) used to go around the dinner table every night and share our “high and low” of the day. Okay, fine. I made everyone do it, because I saw it in a movie and thought it was adorable. My friends might disagree, but I swear it brought us closer and helped us reflect. Haha — thoughts, Fairfield Pals? ;)

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So what was my “high” from our week at the lake? Definitely playing on the ice on New Year’s Eve. I’ll admit that I was a bit nervous to get out there, as I’m not a huge fan of the scary sound that ice makes when it moves and expands. (City Girl, for sure.) But once I did it, I had so much fun. Of course, Emma stayed on the shore for safety reasons. But Noodle had the time of her little life slipping and sliding everywhere. At one point, Mitch found a pair of skates in the garage, and was able to race Noods around the lake. How cute is she trying to keep up?!

Anyway, I’ll be back at some point tomorrow with some more reflective writing about 2016 and what’s on the horizon for 2017, but for now, I’m letting Noodle take over the blog so I can get our little family packed up and on the road back to Chicago. So, without further ado…

Noodle’s New Year’s Resolutions:

  1. I will stop licking Emma and only snuggle her. I can’t help it. Emma is just too cute. Everyone else kisses her all over her face, so sometimes I don’t really understand why I’m not allowed to. But snuggles are arguably just as good as licks, and Emma loves snuggling, so my Snuggle Game will be strong this year!
  2. I will be nicer to the UPS and FedEx guys. Harold and Scott are THE BEST. They bring packages every day, and those boxes are often filled with bubble wrap. But I have some short-term memory problems, so it takes me a long time to remember who they are and I often bark my head off at them until I realize that they’re actually our friends. I’ve been getting treats when I quietly sit down instead, though, and I feel like I’m improving!
  3. I will limit snacking. I have a confession to make: if it’s squishy, I will eat it. Even if it’s technically inedible or if it makes me throw up. (Remember the time I ate 17 ear plugs? Oy.) Another confession: if there’s food left on the coffee table, I will totally steal it when no one’s looking. Again, I can’t help myself. But as I’m getting older, I’ve noticed the toll that this little habit is taking on my girlish figure. So I’m cutting back!
  4. I will continue eating healthy. My favorite dog food is from Beneful, which happens to specialize in “healthy.” If you have a dog, you really need to pick some up. My jam is Beneful Originals with Real Beef, and it’s the only food that I truly enjoy eating. Before Kelly and Mitch found Beneful Originals–made with whole grains, accents of vegetables, and farm-raised beef–it would take me a solid two or three days to finish a bowl of dog food. Now, though, I eat the correct amount of food every day and am able to maintain a healthy weight. I’m healthier and happier as a result, and I also have a LOT more energy. (Just look at me running all over the ice in these photos!) While “Beef” is my current flavor of choice, Beneful also offers chicken and salmon recipes.
  5. I will let more people pet me. When a new person tries to pet me, I freak the heck out and try to run away. (#strangerdanger) I’m fixing that, though. I’m trying to remember how afraid of Jess I was when I first met her, and now she’s my favorite person in the world. I need to be more open!
  6. I will keep making my family laugh and smile. One of my best qualities is that I’m quirky and funny. I also always know when someone is sad and is in need of cheering up. I’m great at cuddling, doing funny tricks and making people laugh. So I’m going to keep on doin’ me.
  7. I will consider leaving the neighborhood bunny alone once in a while. Whenever I see him, I want to eat him. It’s like Cookie Monster’s issues with cookies. (Can you tell we have an infant living with us?) But to tell you the truth, I’d be pretty sad if the neighborhood bunny bit it. Who would I chase? So I’m going to be nicer to him, leave him alone once in a while, and always give him a head start.
  8. I will go to sleep on time and stay asleep. Did I tell you guys that Kelly and Mitch recently gave me free reign of the house? It’s awesome, but I now HATE going into my crate at night. (I can’t sleep in the big bed because I have too much energy and keep everyone awake.) Lately, I’ve been pretty bad, and I scratch inside my crate for attention. And when they let me sleep on the couch, I bark at passersby. Mitch has had a lot of sleepless nights because of this, so I’m going to go to sleep on time and stay asleep. Otherwise, I realize that my “free reign” will be taken away.
  9. I will try REALLY HARD to stop pottying on the rugs and destroying Emma’s toys. The thing about rugs is that they’re so plushy and inviting. Go out into -25-degree weather or potty on Kelly’s rug? POTTY ON KELLY’S RUG. As for the toys, Kelly and Mitch get me new toys all the time. But I’m just like anyone else: I want what I can’t have. But I get it. Emma needs toys, too, and she can’t play with dirty toys. So because I love Emma, I’m going to stop stealing her stuff.
  10. I will continue being adorable and super, super long. This one doesn’t even take any effort!

Happy New Year, everyone! Hope your holiday was joyous and safe. Here’s to 2017!

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J.Crew Coat (Also available here. I love it in red and “Sandstone,” too. Sizing: it runs slightly oversized, but that’s the look. I have my normal size, and while it’s roomy, I don’t think it looks too big. I can also fit big sweaters underneath it, which is awesome for Chicago winters!) / Rag & Bone Jeans (Here in black and here in white. Best jeans ever. As we all know, I’m obsessed. I’ve received a few questions about the “Capri” cut. I’m somewhere around 5’4 or 5’5, and they are kind of like ankle jeans. Definitely not real capris.) / Sorel Boots in “Umber.” (Also available here. They run a little short. I usually wear a 7.5, and took an 8 in them. I also have the Joan of Arctics, which you can find at either Nordstrom or Zappos, but only wear them when it’s like -20 degrees. I wore the ones I’m wearing in these pics in -10-degree weather and was fine. And have you seen these? They’re the shorter version and I think they’re so cute!) / Cable-Knit Sweater (So soft! And love this somewhat similar pocket sweater, which I have in white! Similar cable-knit in peplum here. Finally, I recently picked up this sweater in red, and this sweater in tan. I love how the first one hangs and I ADORE the crazy softness–and machine washability–of the second.) / Similar Hat c/o Tuckernuck (Shop the winter sale here, and see my picks here! Remember to use code “FINALSALE” to take an additional 25 percent off.) / J.Crew Scarf / Similar Mittens (On sale! Use code “FINAL SALE” to take an additional 25 percent off.)

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This post was sponsored by Beneful, but all opinions are my own. As always, thank you so much for supporting the partnerships that keep Kelly in the City up and running!