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Spring Break is here, and while Claire and Mason are off in Japan, Todd and I snuck away to NYC for a few days. The kids are stacked four to a room with their classmates (I can’t even imagine the smell), but they seem to be having an incredible time. Meanwhile, I spent my time in New York seeing shows, finally visiting The Met, and continuing my lifelong quest for the perfect glass of Sauvignon Blanc.

Also, I’ve gone completely feral over velvet ribbons, discovered a concert ticket hack that might change your life, and yes—I’m finally sharing my skincare faves because people keep asking.

Let’s get into it.

Parenting Milestones & Midlife Crises

The Kids Are In Japan

Claire and Mason are off on a 9-day trip to Japan with their classmates, part of a group of about three dozen kids crammed into rooms four at a time. I can’t even imagine the noise, the smell or the general chaos, but so far, the photos they’ve sent have been great!

Parents were invited along, but when they described the accommodations as "comfortable," I knew better. As a 6 ½ foot tall gay man, "comfortable" is the class of travel I’m accustomed to—not the description of my sleeping arrangements. And to make things even less tempting, parents weren’t allowed to drink at all. Not even sake. Nine days with jet lag, 30+ teenagers and no alcohol? Absolutely not.

Also, I really wanted the kids to have their own experiences with each other and their friends. This is their trip, and I can’t wait to hear all about it when they get back.

Out & About

Spring Break, But Make It Grown Up

While the kids are in Japan, Todd and I snuck away to New York for a few days and just got back last night. We stayed at The Dominick, a hotel we’ve stayed at before and love—great location with drop-dead gorgeous views and rooms that are actually...roomy.

We packed in just the right mix of chaos, culture, cocktails and consumerism, including a ridiculous and genius parody of Titanic and what may have been an irresponsible amount of day drinking and shopping.

Full recap—including what we saw, what we ate and the wildest thing we bought—is over on the blog. (Reall all about it here)​

Skincare Faves

My Simple-ish, Affordable-ish, Easy-ish Facial Routine

One of the most common questions I get is about my skincare routine. My #1 thing is simple: I drink half my body weight in ounces of water every day. For real. It makes a huge difference.

Beyond that, my skincare is actually pretty simple, approachable and affordable. I believe process matters more than product or price. I want them to be easy to buy if I accidentally run out and they shouldn't cost a fortune. I swear mostly by Olay's Super Serums and their Collagen Peptide 24 Max line of eye creams and moisturizers, using them morning and night.

If you want the full list of what I use, you can find it here. (I'll keep adding to it as I try new things.)

Better (Than You) Homes & Gardens

My Velvet Ribbon Obsession

I have fully committed to my velvet ribbon era. At Christmas, I put red ones on anything that didn’t move, and it looked so good that now I’ve ordered a ton in yellow, lavender and powder pink for Easter.

Since Easter is late this year, I’m starting to decorate next week. One trend I’m particularly excited to try is the "Easter Tray" that’s gone viral on social media. It's basically a tray full of Easter shit, but more perfect. If it turns out well, you’ll see it in next week’s edition. If not, pretend this never happened.

If you also want to live your best seasonally color-coordinated life, here’s the ribbon I bought.

Suite Life

A Concert Ticket Hack That Changed Everything

I recently discovered that buying a suite for concerts at American Airlines Center can actually be cheaper than good regular tickets—if you split it with a group. For the same price as decent seats, you get:

• Way more room (because standing shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers is a young person’s game)
• Space to dance without knocking into people (ideal for me at 6’4”)
• A lounge area to hang out in before the show starts
• The most important thing for middle-aged concertgoers: bathrooms so close and with no lines. You only miss half a song when you need to pee instead of an entire album.

Oh, and the booze and snacks in the suite are included in the price. If you’re in Dallas and want to get in on these kinds of deals, join my Facebook group where I post about upcoming shows. Join the group here!​

Words To Live By

Parenting Wisdom (That My Kids Don't Appreciate)

"Choices were made."

- Cooper Koch

It’s something I say to my kids often. It’s basically my passive-aggressive way of saying FAFO—you made the choice, and now you get to live with the consequences. Like most of my signature parenting wisdom, it’s met with eye rolls and dramatic sighs, followed by them repeating it back to me in a mocking voice. One day, they’ll appreciate it. Probably.

Snapped

Love Yours

I spotted this graffiti in NYC, and at first glance, I took it as a reminder to love your life as it is—to appreciate what’s right in front of you instead of constantly chasing what’s next. But the more I thought about it, the more I saw it as something even bigger:

Love your people. The ones who show up, who get you, who make your life better just by being in it.

Either way, it’s a message worth stopping for.

That’s all for this week! Hit reply and let me know what you think, send me your own favorite home decor obsession, or tell me what’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever put a velvet ribbon on. And if you missed last week’s edition, you can catch up right here.

YOU ARE LOVED!