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Venice Nights

Venice Nights & Lilly Pulitzer Pants | Kelly in the City

Lilly Pulitzer Pants (they come in navy, too!) and Off-the-Shoulder Top (The top is sold out, but this just became available! Nearly the same, just in white. I also love this top and this top from Lilly–have them both and ADORE! And this top and this top are amazingly close, too!) / Jack Rogers (On major sale right now! And how cute is the bow and navy striped versions?! And speaking of Jack Rogers, I hear these are the best rain booties of all time.) / Everlane Clutch c/o

I really can’t tell you how hard I’ve been working this week to get myself to a good place work-, house- and baby- and life-wise. I know: I keep talking about how our trip to California and the plague set me back, but goodness. How DO parents catch up after stuff like that?! Am I doing something wrong? Or is it just a very slow process? (Is this normal?!)

I feel like things need to get quite ugly before they get better in the Larkin Household, haha. (Yep. I cried. But then I ate a bag of M&Ms and felt SO much better.) Yesterday was a real turning point, though.

A little background as to how I now handle blogging and freelance work:

Kiel James Patrick

Kiel James Patrick

Kiel James Patrick Gingham Dress, Custom Tote Bag, Personalized Leather Phone Case, Anchor Bracelet and Dog Bandana c/o / Jack Rogers Sandals / Vineyard Vines Hat c/o (Also love this hat and this hat!) / Old Belt, but how cute is this one?!

Okay, we’re one day late. But the rain has finally subsided, and suddenly, it’s May! Before I know it, my toes will be in the sand, and I’ll be doing everything in my power to discourage Emma from eating said sand, haha. I can’t wait for everything the month has in store for us. Trips to the lake, backyard parties, and flights back to the East Coast scheduled for Memorial Day Weekend have all been scheduled… and, of course, there’s new warm-weather clothing to be worn. ;)

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May Flowers?

Barbour Trevose Stripe Raincoat

Barbour Trevose Stripe Raincoat c/o Tuckernuck (Also: favorite quilted Barbour is back in stock!) / Two Bees Cashmere Sweater c/o (Similar here and here by J.Crew Factory) / MZ Wallace Tote / Similar Gingham Umbrella (Also love this striped one!) / Hunter Boots (Matte version here) / Gingham Button-Down / Rag & Bone Jeans

WOO! After the most rain I’ve ever seen this past weekend, my hopes are high for a fabulous month of May. ;) Here’s what I’m looking forward to this week:

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Lincoln Park, Chicago, Outfits, Spring, Style
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Recent Finds, Vol. 15

Recent Finds, Vol. 15

Mine are old (and the colors are reversed), but I LOVE the newer version! Don’t they look just like Chanels?!

Hi, Friends! Sorry for the incredibly late post, but I’m wrapping up a fun-filled weekend with the fam. <3 While today was yet another rainy day, we definitely made the best of it. We spent the morning with Maya and her mom, the afternoon at Kibbitznest, and the evening at Cindy’s Rooftop. (I think Cindy’s is my favorite restaurant in Chicago. You HAVE to go the next time you’re in town. Best views!)

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Recent Finds
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Life Lately, 4/29

Life Lately, 4/29

My brother, Danny, reading to Emma.

I was going to skip the whole blogging thing this weekend since my family’s in town, but oy: the downpour hasn’t let up, and it looks like it’s not going to anytime soon, so… here I am, haha. While we braved the weather this afternoon for as long as we could, we’ve made an executive decision to watch a movie and then order deep dish and stay in for the rest of the night. You should see Dad’s shoes from the rain. Pretty sure we’re going to have to buy him a new pair tomorrow. Oh, April.

Here are this week’s updates:

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Lately
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Personal Essay: Childhood Dreams

Couldn’t find very many relevant photos of me as a child for this post, as I write most of my blog posts last-minute and didn’t give my parents ANY time to look for ’em. ;) But here are three from my awkward middle school days! And yes, I made the above car out of a refrigerator box, complete with a parking pass for the train to NYC. One of the biggest accomplishments of my 13 years…

Last week, I launched a new series on the blog: Personal Essays. I did it for a few reasons. First, writing posts that are part of a series has proven to help me stay organized and have fewer late-night blogging sessions. (Oh, I haven’t yet written a post for the ____ series this week. Perfect! Let’s get started on that…) Second, I want to write more deeply on the blog, and these “personal essays” hold me accountable for that. (Being a well-rounded blogger has always been a struggle because I so often fail to see the bigger picture. This helps, though.) Third, writing in longer form is cathartic for me. (Yes, I’m aware of how dorky that probably sounds. But I love writing, and I’ve always used it as a way to peel away from the chaos of everyday life!)

Today’s topic is a bit more lighthearted than last week’s, but I’m thinkin’ that’s a good thing. No need to start the weekend off on a sour note, right?!

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Personal Essays
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My Top Three Most Surprising Things about Fatherhood

Mitch here!

Baby car seat update: I can’t install the stupid thing in Chicago, either. Kelly and I worked on it for an hour and a half, and I called every fire station in the neighborhood. Luckily, Emma is a city kid and Kelly doesn’t drive. Who needs a car, anyway? (My father-in-law is coming on Friday and he says he’ll do it. Thanks, Chris.)

~

Listen, I love Emma with all my heart, but you’re not going to hear very much gushy love stuff in this post. This post is about all the stuff that nobody talks about. I think that people get so wrapped up in their love for their babies that they don’t feel right complaining. But I love complaining. So here goes nothing.

Here are three things I’ve found to be surprising in regard to fatherhood:

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Lincoln Park, Chicago, Mitch's Posts
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Lilly Pulitzer Luxletic Leggings

Lilly Pulitzer Luxletic Legging

Lilly Pulitzer Luxletic Weekender Legging (Cropped version here / Solid version here — And shop the whole Luxletic line here. If what you’re looking for is sold out, try Zappos!) / Similar Blue Tee / Vineyard Vines Hat / Similar New Balance Sneakers here, here and here

Remember yesterday when I was talking like a crazy person about yoga pants?

I’ll go ahead and blame that second class of Chardonnay for that whole spiel. ;) But THESE, guys. They’re the softest leggings I’ve ever owned, and they’re crazy flattering and comfortable. You know when you try something on for the first time and you’re just like, “Wow. How have I lived without this for so long?!” That times a gazillion with these leggings. Magic leggings, I swear.

Battling Physical & Emotional Distance

Talbots Gingham Flats (Similar here and here) / J.Crew Coat (Sold out, but how great is this light blue trench?) / Rag & Bone White Skinny Jeans (Favorite white skinny jeans. Also available on Shopbop.) / Gingham Scarf (On sale! And have you seen Banana’s full gingham collection?) / Everlane Cashmere Sweater c/o — Without a doubt, the softest cashmere I own! / Ralph Lauren Oxford (Also love this one, this one and this one.) / Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM Tote (But here’s my current tote obsession. It’s scalloped and super affordable!)

Last month, my brother and sister-in-law came to stay. (Why am I only getting around to posting about it now? Truth: lost the SD card with the photos on it, and found it last night in my makeup bag. Of course! Why didn’t I look there?!) As Patrick and Kim live in Philly and we live in Chicago, we unfortunately just don’t see each other as much as we’d like. So an entire weekend of quality time? Honestly, kind of unbelievable! And the absolute best.

But let’s back up, and start at the beginning. ;)

~

My relationship with Patrick has changed a lot over the years.

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