the Warby Parker Class Trip's stop in Boston

I discovered Warby Parker over a year ago, which prompted me to finally replace the frames I'd had since high school. I wear contacts most of the time, because with one eye near-sighted and the other far-sighted, I get headaches if I wear glasses for extended periods of time. Since I only wear glasses once a month when I change out my contacts, I had a hard time justifying expensive frames. But with $95 pairs of sweet prescription glasses, Warby Parker solved my dilemma. And like TOMS, WP follows a buy a pair, give a pair business model, which is right up my alley. I picked out my five frames for free home try-ons, solicited input from everyone I know, and pulled the trigger on a pair of Webbs in amber tortoise.

Ian also loved Warby Parker's style and values, so last Christmas he requested and received Everett sunglasses in gimlet tortoise. He gets almost as many complements as I do on my (cheap) turquoise mirrored sunglasses. Which are dying. I knew I wanted to include a pair of Warby Parker sunglasses on my Christmas list to replace them. I just needed to find the right ones.

We headed to the hipster store on Newbury that housed a WP showroom so I could explore the full collection, only to discover the shop had closed. But in a fortuitous turn of events, just a few days later I learned via email that the Warby Parker Class Trip would be arriving shortly in Boston—an old yellow school bus retrofitted as a Warby Parker show room and taking a six-month cross-country road trip to nine cities.

We stopped by on the bus's last day in Boston. Yes, it was about as crazy as in it's heyday of transporting elementary school children, but I got some personalized assistance (thanks Sam!) trying on selections from their giant wall of glasses and sunglasses, and we walked off the bus with a shortlist for my wishlist (fingers crossed these show up under the tree!).

And we couldn't pass up the photobooth before biking home. (Maybe we are turning into hipsters, but we always wear our helmets and never drink and ride with multiple cigarettes clinging to our lips.)

"Ian, hurry up, I think it's..." *flash* | duckface Ian meets healthy Anna | Ian on caffeine, Anna being... pensive?

Feel free to comment with your own captions for our photobooth photos!

a pilgrimage to Freeport, Maine

My family has been ordering coats and book bags from the L.L. Bean catalog for as long as I can remember. Unusual for western Kansas where North Face is everywhere, tattered Colorado ski passes dangling from zipper pulls.

In sixth grade, my first L.L. Bean backpack after my relatively new box store bag ripped. I picked it out after flipping through glossy pages: navy, one large interior compartment with a classic square pouch on the front, and my initials monogrammed above it. I was wearing it when I was hit by a car later that year (just a bump, no injuries, freaked my mom out with my phone call from school) and you couldn't tell except for two thin skid marks, battle scars to brag about. In high school I upgraded to a larger size (when fully loaded it's wider than I am), which survived the impressive piles of books I lugged around everywhere as an English major in college, and still serves me well.

L.L. Bean faded into the background until our second winter in Boston. With snows approaching record highs and toes freezing on the daily commute, I turned once again to the brand that hadn't let me down. I got wellies with warmers that arrived in time to carry me through the rest of winter, and snow boots on back order for the next year. This was followed by Ian and I surprising each other (completely) last Christmas with their famous wicked good slippers. (I also discovered when you call customer service, a real person picks up on the other end with no answering system intermediary.)

So our trip to Freeport, Maine a few weekends ago was years in the making. That it happened during their centennial celebration was icing on the cake shearling in the slipper. We headed out with breakfast and an outline of our list: winter boots for Ian, a new winter coat for me, and new luggage for us.

Two hours later, we stood in front of the L.L. Bean flagship store. After taking a few requisite photos with the giant boot (in my matching boots), we walked in. The store is massive. I felt like a little kid.

We wandered around a bit until we discovered into the luggage section, where we scoped out possible replacements for our current set, which is almost 5 years old and is beginning to tear and lose parts (like wheels). After logging a few items for our wish lists, we took a quick lunch break. Thanks to a chowder cook-off hosted by L.L. Bean, Ian downed a bowl of seafood, while I munched on a gigantic cheese pretzel. Then it was time to tackle the remaining items on our list.

We headed to the men's footwear area, where Ian tried on a pair of non-Bean boots they carry for variety. He wasn't sold on the classic Bean boot style, but I convinced him to at least try them on. As soon as he slid his foot in the first boot, he looked at me and said "Anna, I want these boots." I hugged him in my excitement, drawing a strange look from our salesperson.

Boot box in hand, we headed upstairs to women's coats. I tried on just about every heavy coat in stock, with lots of advice from a very helpful associate. "You're in Boston? You'll be happiest with a waterproof coat; let me show you our best two in two price points... Down is nice but high maintenance and more expensive... This comes in a longer length if your order online... This one looks nice and it's more versatile because the fabric is heavy duty: it won't tear if you're hiking through the woods..." I decided on the "Cadillac of Bean coats" for it's fit, waterproofing, and ample arm length (the latter two were missing in my previous winter coat). It feels like it's hugging me every time I put it on. How can you resist that?

We dropped a small fortune (the Dave Ramsey way), but we're set for New England winters for life, guaranteed.

Christina Rosalie giveaway winner announced!

A little delayed as we catch up from a weekend in Chicago, but better late than never! The winner of last week's Christina Rosalie giveaway (SIGNED copy of A Field Guide to Now + 12 gorgeous postcards featuring original artwork from the book delivered with a handwritten note from Christina) is #7, Karen! Congratulations! Email me at annakristina28 [at] gmail [dot] com.

Thanks to everyone for sharing!

meeting one of my favorite writers + a giveaway

I don't remember when I started reading Christina Rosalie's blog, but I do remember falling in love with her writing. It is rich enough that you can feel sticky little hands and the bite of Vermont winters and the warmth of a hot mug in the early morning. It is artful, beautiful, honest, and resonant. So when she launched a Kickstarter campaign to write a book, I knew I had to be a backer.

Over the following two and a half years, I followed along on her blog as she worked on the book, juggling it with her family, a return to school for a master's degree, and a new job. I continue to be impressed with the way she pursues her passions with gusto, and with her bravery to share the messiness of life. And I cheered her on September 4 when A Field Guide to Now was released.

I had my fingers crossed for a book event in Boston, and my wish was granted. In late September, Christina had a reading at Trident on Newbury. Ian and I headed straight over after work. "That's her!" I whispered as we sat down at a table, as if it wasn't obvious. She and I had chatted, off and on, via social media, and I was a full of nervous excitement to meet in person an internet acquaintance that I so admire.

photo by Hilary Hess

"You must be Anna!" Christina said with a gracious smile. It is a lovely realization that someone you admire so much is just as wonderful and thoughtful in real life.

Christina read a few selected chapters from her book—there is something magical about listening to an author read her own book. Each chapter is an essay accompanied by an invitation in the form of an activity, question, or assignment. She paused at the end of each chapter to let us soak in that invitation, and even had paper and pens for us to make our own lists after reading "At Home in the Moment." (Mine is still tucked away in my purse.)

photo by Hilary Hess

After the event, Christina was kind enough to spend time talking to Ian and I about the book, her family, life in Boston versus Vermont, and visiting Montreal.

That night, I devoured her book. It's a focused collection of her beautiful writing with an open, honest, and inspiring look at how to live life intentionally. I love the way Christina takes the everyday and turns it into something evocative and weighty (this is also why I love Ted Kooser's poetry). She offers an important reminder that significance isn't found through doing what the world would consider big and successful things, but through living life intentionally and fully. It's the sort of book you read over and over. To savor each essay, to examine the art she created to accompany them, and to take up the invitations that close each chapter (I'm particularly excited to take on bread making). It strikes me, over a month after my first reading, how quickly I have lost focus on the present, and on being intentional. How human it is to let the busyness of life sweep us off course. I know I will turn to this book again and again to recapture that focus and inspiration.

photo by Hilary Hess

You may be wondering why I had not finished the book before Christina's reading. Despite my horrible luck with contests, I won a GoodReads book giveaway, and received my copy just in time to get it signed Trident. So I decided to pay it forward. I picked up a second copy to share with you, and Christina generously has offered a postcard set to accompany it.

To enter to win a SIGNED copy of A Field Guide to Now + 12 gorgeous postcards featuring original artwork from the book (delivered with a handwritten note from Christina), leave a comment about something that inspires you by Sunday, November 18 at 10pm (EST). I'll select a winner at random and announce here on the blog Monday morning. Good luck!

This giveaway is now closed.

an afternoon in Harvard's plant library

A few weekends ago we planned, with a few friends, a bike ride to Arnold Arboretum. I hadn't yet properly visited since we moved to Boston, which is a serious faux pas since I'm married to a landscape architect.

We ate lunch at Audubon Circle (they have a mean grilled cheese and tomato soup),  fitting on a day we dedicated to trees and the outdoors. After we had our fill (and checked the K-State score), we strapped on our helmets and headed into the great blue yonder, plotting our course through as much of the Emerald Necklace as possible.

Once we arrived at the Arboretum, we leisurely biked to Ian's recommended highlights — Bussey Hill for the view, Leventritt Shrub and Vine Garden for the landscape architecture, and the Larz Anderson Bonsai House for the tiny trees, the oldest of which was started in 1737 — dismounting and wandering around frequently.

It's an amazing green space—large enough to almost forget that you are still in the middle of the city. Each tree and plant is carefully tagged, helpful for avid botanists and anyone in New England doing landscape work, and some even have the story of the plant's journey to America. It feels a bit like wandering through a giant living, breathing library. And while we were a little early for peak fall color, the trees were already beginning to catch fire.

After several hours, we headed to the original JP Licks for hot chocolate and ice cream (caramel apple inspired by The Night Circus) before calling it a day. I love fall in New England.

thankful list | October

01. dinner at Sweet Cheeks with Dane and Micki.
02. Sweet Cheeks biscuits and mac & cheese.
03. spotting Julia Stiles, one of my favorite actresses.
04. an unbelievable family dinner at Lumiere.
05. extra dessert for free.
06. a clean dental bill of health.
07. dental hygienist approval to keep using Toms toothpaste (with flouride).
08. after epic fails, finding an eco-friendly deodorant that works for me (more soon).
09. the Wildcats clobbering our in-state rivals in the Sunflower Showdown.
10. FaceTime to see Ian while he was on a business trip to Kansas.
11. after missing out last year, restocked touchscreen gloves that fit my long hands.
12. learning about physician assisted suicide, on our 2012 ballot (thanks Grant!).
13. an awesome afternoon on bikes with good friends.
14. JP Licks seasonal ice cream flavors.
15. the Wildcats surviving Farmageddon (notice a theme starting?).
16. a double movie date to see Argo (don't miss it!).
17. dinner with a couple fellow community group leaders.
18. candlepin bowling with the Sasaki marketing team.
19. a day trip to Freeport, Maine to shop at L.L. Bean in person for the first time.
20. Ian loving L.L. Bean boots (I hugged him, garnering strange looks).
21. a new winter coat for me with long-enough sleeves.
22. the Wildcats blowing out a favored West Virginia team.
23. Collin Klein jumping to the front of the Heisman race.
24. Bill Snyder.
25. a humble football team that works hard and makes me proud.
26. an afternoon at the Warby Parker class trip.
27. a fun photobooth session with Ian.
28. learning Warby Parker plans to reopen a showroom in Boston.
29. finding sweet shades to put on my Christmas wishlist.
30. dinner with a community group friend, and coffee with another.
31. watching the K-State Texas Tech game with one of our favorite families.
32. teaching all five kids our K-State football traditions (like the Wabash).
33. turning them into K-State fans (second to OU, their mom's alma mater).
34. no damage, no power loss, and no internet loss during Hurricane Sandy.
35. working from home for the first time ever: fast commute, no interruptions.
36. catching up on Once Upon a Time.
37. seeing cute kids in costumes.
38. fall weather.