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LETTERS TO MY DAUGHTERS

May 13, 2018 By Kristin No Comments

Happy Mother’s Day!  Today we celebrate all us mamas do … the long hours, the sleepless nights, the agonizing worry over every little thing our kids do or don’t do, the never-ending dance to balance hundreds of competing priorities, and the indescribable joy we feel doing it all … because we know that, although it’s difficult, it’s to support and nurture the most important thing any of us will have in our lifetime: a child.

Given the gravity of this responsibility, and today being the day to celebrate the joy that comes with it, I thought it was the perfect time to share what I think may be one of the most important gifts you can give to your child … a handwritten letter, written as early in his or her life as possible.

This letter should tell your child everything they’ll need to know about who you are, what you value, and what you hope for his or her future.  If you were to leave this earth tomorrow, what would you want him or her to know?  This is big girl stuff, so dig deep, and be honest.

| Hat  |  Cardigan  (in numerous colors, and on sale!)|

So, why write this letter?  Well, my mother wrote one for me … she gave it to me at my high school graduation, and I’ve cherished it ever since.  I was only three months old when she wrote it, but I can tell from her words that in just a few short months I had become the single most important thing in her life.  The simple truths she communicated in that letter have stayed with me, and I can see now that all the lessons she taught me throughout my childhood, all the fights we may have had over seemingly insignificant things, were all deeply rooted in love.  She wanted nothing more than for me to grow into a strong, kind, and faithful woman.  She told me so in that letter, and everything she’s done in my life since has been in furtherance of that goal.

Overwhelming, I know.  When I wrote Olivia’s letter only a month after she was born, I was overcome with emotion, and it was incredibly difficult to say the most important things and nothing more.  But that’s the goal.  This letter should have everything you need to say, and nothing more.  Don’t clutter or dilute it’s central message, whatever that may be for you.  As I said above, if you were going to leave this earth tomorrow, what are the most important things you would want your child to know about you, life, love, and faith?  And don’t be afraid to go through a few drafts … as you think about these things, your ideas may evolve, or change shape … that’s good … that’s your mind working out all the details, and choosing the absolute essential truths you want to share. Respect the process, and don’t rush things.

What you include in this letter is really up to you … there’s no magic formula.  I chose to begin my letter by describing my new life with Olivia, and then Emme.   I shared memories of those first few days and weeks, how they made me feel, and the joy that each had brought to my life.  The middle of my letters is devoted to what I’ll call the essential truths … my beliefs about family, faith, God, and life, including the value of hard work, discipline, perseverance, kindness, and charity.  Finally, the end is devoted to how I hope these principles and truths will help guide my girls throughout their lives.  Again, this is just my version … and being a lawyer, I tend to take a very organized, logical approach.  But, how you write this letter, the form and structure, is just as important as its content … it gives your child a sense of who you are.  So don’t feel constrained.  Tell a story, write a poem … choose a format that speaks to who you are.

And, here comes another uncomfortable truth about this process … should something happen to you before your child is old enough to learn all these things directly from you, he or she will have your letter.  And that means you’ll have to have a tough discussion with your significant other, or someone you trust, who can give your child the letter if the unfortunate happens, and you can’t.  Jacob knows where my letters are, and should something happen to me before Olivia and Emme reach the age at which I think they’ll be able to appreciate the significance of these letters, he’ll be able to hold them and share them at the appropriate time.

These letters give me a tremendous sense of peace, knowing my little girls will always have a window into my soul, and be able to read, in my own words, what I felt for them, what I believed, and what I hoped for their futures.   Every mama should be able to feel that … and every child know, without a doubt, where his or her mama stands on life’s most important questions.  So I urge you to take the time, and write it down.

Happy Mother’s Day mamas … you’re amazing … you do God’s work every single day.

yours, K

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see also

  • MY SKIN GLOW-GETTERS // GREEN SMOOTHIE + KOREAN SKINCARE OVERVIEWMY SKIN GLOW-GETTERS // GREEN SMOOTHIE + KOREAN SKINCARE OVERVIEW
  • COORDINATES & CULOTTESCOORDINATES & CULOTTES
  • Cozy Sweater CookiesCozy Sweater Cookies
  • Little Girls’ Spring & Summer Capsule CollectionLittle Girls’ Spring & Summer Capsule Collection

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Hello, I’m Kristin

Hello, I’m Kristin

Welcome to my blog, The Crisp Little Lookbook! In this space, I offer tips on how to take an intentional and meaningful approach to everyday life, welcome simplicity, and celebrate femininity and beauty. Whether your goal is creating a warm, beautiful home, building a timeless wardrobe, graciously welcoming and entertaining guests, or preparing nutritious food your family will love, I encourage you to slow down, eliminate excess, and identify the beauty in the everyday ordinary.

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A guide to a more simple, organized & fulfilling life, 1 image at a time. Wife, mama to 3 under 5, recovering attorney & lover of all things neutral.
Spring is finally here! I’m ready 💛 #goodbyew Spring is finally here! I’m ready 💛 #goodbyewinter
Looking for a quick, healthy, and satisfying break Looking for a quick, healthy, and satisfying breakfast?  Only requirement: you must love dill! 

Crack two eggs in a bowl, add a splash of milk, and whisk until fully combined.

Heat a mini skillet (I linked to a few of my favorites here) to medium heat and add a small dab of butter, coating the bottom of the pan. 

Add the egg mixture to the skillet and cover. Reduce heat to medium-low, and let cook 2-3 minutes.  Check that egg is cooked through (you may need to cover and let cook another minute or two). Gracefully (Julia Child-style), flip the egg over, then add shredded dill havarti, and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt (love @maldonsalt ). Cover and let cook about one minute more (just until cheese has melted). 

Remove from pan to plate and sprinkle with fresh chopped dill. 

Serve with toast or your favorite fruit!  And if you want to add a little healthy fat to the mix, top with half an avocado.

Bon appétit! 💛

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“Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatev “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” 
- Philippians 4:8

It can be incredibly difficult in our post-modern culture to fill our minds with beautiful, just, and honorable things. It seems as if we’re in a race to see who can best glorify the grotesque.  Pop culture hasn’t met a boundary it isn’t willing to breach. It indulges and celebrates the darkest elements of humanity… music, movies, art, architecture … they don’t even attempt to stir your soul anymore, they’re focused on one thing, and one thing only: defiance.  Defiance against all that is good, beautiful, and true. 

One of the primary reasons I spend so much time creating beauty in our home is because I want it to be a refuge from the madness outside. I want my children to feel the goodness in this space, and to see evidence of God’s grace, creativity, and power. I want them to live everyday what the Apostle Paul commanded in his letter to the Philippians. 

Your environment and your mind are your destiny, so make them beautiful. 💛 #beautymatters
Meet Snowdrop, Jane, and Misty Morning … three p Meet Snowdrop, Jane, and Misty Morning … three prints I’ll be releasing in my Etsy shop (coming soon) … my pretty little quail was a gift for someone special, (so no prints of him) though maybe I’ll do another one in the future! 💛 #madewithlove
Sharing some of my favorite spring sweaters today Sharing some of my favorite spring sweaters today … flowers anyone? 💛 

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Hi 💛 Hi 💛
If you want to create beautiful things you need to If you want to create beautiful things you need to consciously surround yourself with beauty … starting with your workspace!  I finally got mine in working order, and I’m in love with this cabinet … it’s actually meant for a bathroom vanity, but why not an art supply cabinet?? 💛 #creatingbeautifulspaces 

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Sunday morning breakfast was the yummiest homemade Sunday morning breakfast was the yummiest homemade popovers with honey butter and strawberry jam 🍓… grab a popover pan and whip these up (so easy)! 

Preheat oven to 450F … briskly whisk 3 eggs & 1 1/2 cups whole milk in a large bowl. Then whisk in 1 1/2 cups flour & 1/2 tsp salt until all lumps are broken up and dissolved.  Mix in 2 Tbsp melted butter & 1 tsp sugar. 

Place the popover pan in the oven for 2 mins, then remove and fill each cup three-quarters full with batter. Bake for 20 mins, then reduce heat to 350F and bake for another 20 mins. Popovers should be golden brown on top. Remove from oven, turn them out of the pan (they’ll just pop right out!) and serve immediately! 

Great with whipped honey butter or preserves. If you’re looking for a good jam, @stdalfourusa is our favorite … their strawberry rhubarb rivals my grandma’s recipe 💛 #crisplittlesundaybrunch
My first piece ✨ … I still need to receive pri My first piece ✨ … I still need to receive prints and launch my Etsy shop before I start selling, but this is your preview!  Each print will come with a unique fabric matting, sourced from a couple of my favorite local fabric stores. I’ll have individual prints, and some sets as well. My original intention was to include birds, botanicals, and maybe some landscapes, but I suspect they’ll be some fun wanderlust and whimsy thrown in too!  I’d love to hear your thoughts … what would you like to see hanging in your home?  Happy weekend all! 💛 #wonderandwhimsy

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Hello! Well, after a very long drawn out sick per Hello!  Well, after a very long drawn out sick period (anyone else dealing with post-COVID monster viruses?!), we’re back … but with some changes. After giving it much thought, I’ve decided to give the blog a pause for awhile. 

I’ll still share weekly looks, home inspo, and nuggets of wisdom, but it’ll all be here and on Pinterest. 

One of the biggest challenges we all face, myself included, is how to manage our time, prioritize what we cherish most, and accomplish our goals. While I enjoy the blog, managing it has taken precious time away from other goals. If I’m honest, goals I’ve been too afraid to pursue. No more.  I’ve been wanting to start an art business and write a book (or two) for awhile. It’s clear to me that the blog has become a pleasant distraction, and a place for me to hide. 

Finding time for my husband, three small children, part-time homeschool, endless activities, a part-time law professorship, and creating a beautiful space to call home takes time and work. I don’t outsource much, I do it all. 

And to all the other full-time mamas out there, while many people may look at your life and think, “what does she do all day?”, you know the truth.  It’s work. It’s tough. I’ve done both — full-time as a lawyer and full-time as a mommy.  Homemaking and mothering is so often unnoticed and taken for granted, but I truly believe it’s the most important work.  And one day, the fruits of your labor will be realized. 

In the meantime, be ruthless with your free time.  Paint the picture. Start the business. Write the book.  Time passes so quickly … make the most of it 💛
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