This week, my mind has been on love, support and what it means to truly stand beside someone. Dolly Parton’s husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, passed away, and while most people wouldn’t recognize his name or his face, his influence on her life and career was undeniable.
It’s also a big travel week in our house, with Claire and Mason heading to Japan on Saturday, so there’s been a lot of packing, planning and pretending I know how much Yen is worth. More on all of that below.
On My Mind
Dolly, Carl & The Greatest Love Story You Didn't Know
If you’ve been here a minute, you know Dolly Parton is one of my all-time favorites. She’s right up there with Whitney and Adele when it comes to my top performers, and as far as good humans go, I think her only peer is Oprah.
This week, Dolly’s husband Carl Dean passed away after 58 years of marriage. What’s so interesting—and inspiring—is that most people didn't know his name or what he looked like. He stayed out of the spotlight while Dolly shined, never needing to share it with her. Instead, he supported her quietly, allowing her to be fully herself while remaining fully himself.
There’s a beautiful relationship lesson in that: the best relationships happen when two people keep their own identities rather than merging into one unit. A true partnership isn’t about being inseparable—it’s about standing beside each other while still being exactly who you are.
It makes me think of Todd and our 26 years together. He’s also quiet, steady and endlessly supportive while I loudly and publicly experiment with who I am. Whether it’s my latest obsession, a bold new idea or just another over-the-top holiday decorating scheme, he lets me be fully me—without ever losing himself in the process. I think that’s the real secret to lasting love.
Sending love to Dolly and gratitude to Carl for sharing her with the world—and for reminding me just how lucky I am. (You can read more about Carl here.)
26 years, a breathtaking view and a man who still lets me be the loud one. Todd and I celebrated our anniversary at the top of Dallas—literally.
大きな週
Japan Bound!
Claire and Mason leave Saturday morning for a 9-day trip to Japan, which means a lot of my energy this week has been spent getting them ready to go. We’ve ordered Yen for them to use as pocket cash (no clue how far $50 each will go, but it feels responsible to send them with something), and they’ll also have Till debit cards and access to my Apple Card—so, financially speaking, they’re covered.
Emotionally speaking? I don’t think I’M ready for them to be halfway across the world, but I know they'll have a great time and learn a lot!
Add To Cart
A Suitcase That Blew Me Away
Mason needed a new suitcase, and since I’m a huge Away luggage fan but not a huge fan of paying Away luggage prices for a teenage boy, I decided to try a cheaper alternative from Quince.
It turns out, this Quince suitcase is REALLY good. It looks great, feels just as high-quality as Away, has more storage pockets and is almost half the price ($169 compared to Away’s $295). We’ll see how it holds up after a trip to Japan, but so far, I’m impressed. If you’re in the market for luggage that doesn’t cost a fortune, check it out: Quince Expandable Carry-On.
Follow My Friends
Suzi Says So
I don’t even know how long I’ve known Suzi, but it’s been a long time. I think her best friend used to live down the block from me and I know her ex-husband was once a client, but honestly, I don’t even care who introduced us—I’m just so glad I got Suzi out of the deal.
I don’t see her IRL as often as I’d like, but whenever I need to find something on Amazon or need a hack for literally anything, she’s my go-to. Now, she has an Instagram channel @suzisaysso where she shares all of her shopping finds, hacks and random thoughts to make your day better.
A quick update from last week's Cooped Up: Claire’s soccer team didn’t advance to the State Finals, but they played an incredible game. The final score was 1-0, and the other team just kept shooting and shooting and shooting, but only managed to score once. There were definitely tears, but I hope they all know how proud they should be for going this far—in fact, it's the farthest their school’s girls soccer team has gone in at least two decades. They left it all on the field, and that’s what matters most.
Words To Live By
Stay True & Shine Bright
"Find out who you are and do it on purpose."
- Dolly Parton
No one lives this more than Dolly -- and no one supported it more than Carl.
That’s all for this week! Hit reply and let me know what you think, send me your own favorite Dolly wisdom or tell me how much Yen you think $50 is worth (because I still have no clue). And if you missed last week’s edition, you can catch up right here.
YOU ARE LOVED!
P.S. If you enjoyed Cooped Up, forward it to a friend who could use a little more humor, honesty and mildly questionable life advice in their inbox. Sharing is caring—or at least good for my ego.
Cooped Up is my free weekly newsletter where I share the stuff that’s making my life better, funnier, prettier or just a little more functional. It’s part smart ideas, part stylish finds and part overshare — all wrapped in my twisted sense of humor, parenting sarcasm and occasional moments of life wisdom I swear I didn’t steal from Oprah. Think of it as a lifestyle column for people who love beautiful things but don’t have the patience for perfection. Or hashtags.
