French Friday: Best Friends Necklace for Grown-Ups
I remember being on the playground in elementary school wearing saddle shoes (everyone else had Keds) and seeing girls wearing those brokenhearted “best friends” necklaces. It seemed like a secret, highly-exclusive club: who had the other half, and how could I get one? Do you remember how important the title of “best friend” was then?
Looking back now, I wish I had appreciated those super rad saddle shoes and had not sweat the sly handing out of those necklaces. I mean, what do best friends in first grade do anyway? It’s not like you need them to help mend your heart, visualize your winter look, or talk about what the hell you’re doing with your lives. You’re seven.
Which is why I love this necklace so much. First off, it’s a whale, not a heart (cool), and it bypasses the whole idea of “best” which feels silly by the time you’re nearing thirty anyway. (But traditionalists, take heart: this Etsy seller has the whale take on the “best friends” necklace, too.)
Let’s talk about the weekend. What are you guys making and doing and––as equally important––not doing?
Photo: Whale Amies necklace on Etsy
Ashley: Oh the tears I remember crying over those best friend necklaces! I think a small part of the trauma still lingers…
I have a big closet cleanout planned. Last weekend in a moment of inspiration I pulled everything out. Then, predictably, I lost the energy/interest and bailed to watch Mad Men dvds. The time has come to sort it all and put it back! Have a lovely weekend =)1 year ago
Kristina Strain: Doing: painting baseboards, attending live bluegrass, drinking beer, painting more baseboards, re-assembling a built-in cabinet, sleeping on an air mattress, watching it snow, vacuuming inside the kitchen cabinets at the new place, soaking in Epsom salts.
Not doing: Writing, driving, worrying.1 year ago
Oh, Ashley, the many times I have done the exact same thing with my closet!
Wow: great list, Kristina.
And me:
Doing: finishing Angle of Repose, making oat soda bread and soup, anusara yoga, tidying up the apartment, sleeping in, drinking coffee in bed, catching up on New Yorkers.
Not doing: stressing about the new job or the fact that I’m hosting book club this weekend and my apartment is giant mess, wishing I were somewhere other than right where I am.1 year ago
Katie @ cakes, tea and dreams: What great lists. And oh, what fun friendship necklaces. (I always had more than one best friend as a kid – so the idea of having one of those necklaces, and trying to choose or be chosen, just killed me.)
Doing: making soup and burritos and cookies; hosting a friend’s birthday party; a little knitting; a little writing; letting myself enjoy the moments as they come.
Not doing: stressing out about job/life decisions; beating myself up for being “unproductive”; worrying about whether my apartment is spotless before the party. (Though I do want it to be clean.)1 year ago
Brie.: doing: drinks and dinner with friends, making coq au vin for saturday night in, and a bracing walk in the english countryside on sunday, taking a bath
not doing: any serious wedding planning1 year ago
“A bracing walk in the English countryside”—Oh, how I wish this were on my list!1 year ago
Roxy: Maybe it was just my school, but we trended more towards those bracelets we made with embroidery floss.
Doing: Hopefully finishing Final Fantasy 13. Maybe start playing a new MMO. Going to a birthday party. Framing some embroidery. Watching Sex and the City Season 2.
Not Doing: Shoveling snow(yay for apartment living). Grocery Shopping. Shaving.1 year ago
I totally forgot about those bracelets, Roxy, and I LOVED making them! Ditto on the shoveling.1 year ago
Bethany: I think when I was a little kid I received one best friends necklace from Cadie, and I got the same best friends necklace for Sarah…that way I could wear one half and match both of theirs. I guess I was a little sneaky.
Doing: Recovering from the flu, finishing the novel Dracula, missing my boyfriend who will be in Las Vegas for a conference on my birthday, taking a nice bubble bath, opening the windows and airing out the apartment when it’s not freezing.
Making: http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/10/pink-lady-cake/ with my Mom for my 22nd birthday.
Not Doing: worrying about school, any real work.1 year ago
EB: Oh god! The horrible day it was in my life when my “Be Frie” tossed, nay THREW her “st nds” half of her heart necklace in the grass and proclaimed we were no longer! Tragedy.
As for the weekend? I am NOT reading anything for school. Serious Netflix streaming and ‘fun’ reading are on the docket!1 year ago
Sarah G: i love these lists – such great inspiration to really own the weekend rather than letting it pass me by
doing: nursing my sweet dog, Cooper, back to health (he randomly had to have exploratory surgery in his stomach yesterday!), tasting coffee for the first time in 3 weeks (thank you Lord!), having some new friends over for dinner and game night, painting the basement for our new renter!, telling my hubby how much i love him as often as i can
not doing: the homework i have been putting off for next week, cleansing (bring on the pasta), spending money as a means of entertainment if i can help it
hope everyone has a delicious weekend!1 year ago
Sarah F: Doing: schoolwork, light cleaning, and cross-stitching my Jacobean flowers quilt panels.
Not doing: worrying, stressing, or anything that might bring on a headache.1 year ago
Cadi: I loved seeing another Cadie (though mine has no E) in the world in Bethany’s post! I never had one of those necklaces, and was definitely one of the Friendship Bracelet of embroidery floss crowd. Fun fact – i still remember how to make them!
Doing: having friends in for dinner, attending a Chile Relleno party, watching football, laughing with friends and enjoying the unseasonably warm January we’re having here in Northern CA. Some yardwork and wine drinking.
Not doing: Finishing my closet purge, finishing the laundry, working out, or feeling guilty about not doing these things.1 year ago
That final point about not feeling guilt over the other things you’re not doing is key!
1 year ago
Kanesha: Oh – I’m so thrilled it’s FRIDAY and it’s 60 degrees today. AMAZING! I just sat outside, for lunch, and read an US Weekly in full view of all university students and faculty colleagues.
Doing: birthday celebration for an Aquarian sister (no matter what the NEW zodiac says), making Valentine’s day cards and maybe something for the Chinese New Year, writing, watching movies in prep for the Oscars, and folding laundry while catching up on the Housewives of whatever city.
Not doing: major house cleaning (even though I should) or technical reading1 year ago
Christine S.: Chalk me up as another one recovering from the flu this weekend! As well, I’ll be finishing Mockingjay (3rd in The Hunger Games trilogy), cleaning up after my sick self, dealing with final grades, and watching old movies.
Not doing: shovelling snow!1 year ago
lisa strawberry: I always love your lists, and the details about how you make life meaningful. Your blog is my absolute favorite.
Since you asked, here’s my weekend in a nutshell–
Doing: reading (classic and trashy and fun, all are included) Russell Brand’s Booky Wook 2; A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson (bookclub choice); Jane Eyre
Seeing “Green Hornet” (Husband’s choice, but directed by Michel Gondry, so hey!), and Downton Abbey (we both love it) so lush and wonderful, an Edwardian delight
Drinking some gorgeous wine , eating a little blue cheese and toasted walnuts, lazing about in pj’s, petting dogs
Not Doing: grading; worrying about stuff I can’t control; taking life too seriously.1 year ago
wendy: Done: paper marbling class at library. Been wanting to try for years,had a great opportunity with out the dollar outlay! Yay! It was so much fun!
doing: cleaning and baking cookies, making tapioca, cooked a huge pot of Flor de Mayo beans, They are purple to start with! and quite tasty!
Drinking chocolate kisses=cream de cacao and heavy cream. YUM!!!
Watching:Chaos Theory with Ryan Reynolds and Emily Mortimer on Netflix.
Reading: A Glass of Blessings by Barbara Pym.1 year ago
Sara Rose: Must own these. STAT.1 year ago
deanne: I’m making a pork tenderloin for the first time ever. I’m nervous! I should make wendy’s chocolate kisses instead.1 year ago
Katherine: I really like the idea of grown up friendship necklaces, and you can actually make your own. I wanted to get matching owl necklaces for my younger sister and me (we both went to the same college with an owl mascot), but I couldn’t find any that were just right. So I bought a pair of very cute owl earrings and asked my mom to help me make them into necklaces. All you really need is some needle nose pliers. The earrings I got are kind of antique gold-looking, so I was actually able to buy some cheapo necklaces on clearance from Claires (hadn’t been in there in at least 10 years!) that I could use for the chains without having it look mismatched. Anyway, it’s a fun way to customize and get just the perfect thing.1 year ago
Tami -- Teacher Goes Back to School: always wished i could have one of those necklaces too, but my mom thought they would add to the friendship drama. smart woman.
doing: yoga workshop, library, yoga class, blogging, laundry, sleeping in, going to bed early, catching up with friends on the phone, writing, tidying up, listening to music.
not doing: grocery shopping, report cards – guess i will have to do them on my recesses and lunch tomorrow and the shopping later this week.1 year ago
I love reading these weekend lists–especially in the cold light of Monday morning.
Lisa, I’m so flattered! Thank you so much for saying that.
Wendy, LOVE Barbara Pym.
Katherine, So smart about turning the earrings into necklaces! I love that idea!1 year ago
Tiffany Antonius: Those are lovely, I absolutely love those. To lovely wales.
Indeed finally something for grown ups
Regards,
Tiffany @ Prayer Necklace1 year ago