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Are you going anywhere this summer? We’ll be spending almost ten days in Colorado, a few nights in Charlottesville, a long weekend at Deep Creek Lake, and hopefully half a week on a trip towards the end of summer whose details are yet to be ironed out. I can’t wait to use these Paravel suitcases (currently 25% off the already-discounted bundle price) with these packing cubes and a combo of these new cosmetic bags from Weezie and these soft-sided ones from Julia Amory. Historically, I’ve used the Medium M.Z. Wallace for travel days (weighs nothing and can fit the universe inside — really fun new colors available) with a small crossbody bag to keep my wallet/phone easy to access. My Goody would be a good candidate for the latter, and I’m also in love with this daisy-patterned Naghedi (20% off with YOUROCK)?! Do I need this for everyday errands? I love traveling with a crossbody not only for the travel day but also because it tends to be the perfect shape for tourism/day trips (hands free, and secure!) and can usually transition from jeans/tee to a dress at night. But on the MZ Wallace note: I am contemplating buying this Dagne Dover Landon tote (size large) so many of you love to travel with. I love the feature of the little fabric slot that slides over a roll-a-board handle, and having the separate laptop sleeve compartment would be handy, too. If you have it, do you use the large or XL for travel?
The Paravel suitcases are so thoughtfully designed, and currently 25% off (sitewide promotion), meaning the carry-on style is around $300. It comes with a “compression board” that you can use to really stuff your belongings inside, and I love the zippered pouch top to keep bulkier items separate. I don’t know if you can see it from the photo below, but the material that zips the top compartment closed also has a little zippered slot on the front you can use for smaller items (belts, underwear, anything loose that you don’t want floating around the bag). It also has one of those TSA locks so the officials can get in but no one else can — peace of mind. I also bought the AirTags for our checked baggage after our last trip (to Tulum). Again, peace of mind — and also convenience. When you’re waiting for the bags on the carousel, you can at least get a sense for whether they’re likely to appear imminently.
I also wanted to mention that these Weezie cosmetics bags are for sure going to be heavily used this summer. They are highly functional — the interior and exterior wipe clean, and you can fit a curling iron / hot tool in the largest one (so convenient!). All three have pockets on the interior, too, which I always find so useful. I’ll use these for my luggage and the soft-sided ones for my carry-on most likely — those can squish a bit better into small spaces.
I’m not sure what to do for the children’s luggage for the long trip to CO — any tips? I’m thinking I’ll probably just put all their belongings in one big checked bag and then have them carry on backpacks or duffels. I’d love to get them their own roll-a-boards (per their feverish requests!) but that route seems fraught with tactical challenge. When we were little, my mother purchased my three sisters and I personalized duffels from Lillian Vernon that came to be known as “the pink bags.” We’d line them up on the kitchen counter the night before a trip and my mother would tuck a few activities, snacks, and toys inside that we were permitted to retrieve as soon as the seat belt sign had turned off on board the plane. The main thing I remember about these pink bags is that my doting father invariable ended up lugging all four of them through many airports while also wheeling his own suitcase and toting his own (heavy!) briefcase. I can’t imagine what would have happened if all four of us had roll-a-boards. My Dad wouldn’t have had enough hands! So, suitcases feel wrong. But, if the prevailing sentiment is that this is the way to go, these Target ones are cute and currently on sale for $62 — price is right. — and Quince also has a reasonably priced option whose quality is probably more trustworthy. I’d personalize either of these with those cute vinyl stickers from Joy Creative Shop.
If I go for duffels, I like the ones from Mark & Graham, Lila and Hayes, Calpak, Little English, and TBBC. Also! OMG, who else lived for her Vera Bradley duffel bag in high school and college? I had a yellow floral one I treasured and I have no idea where she is now. But I noticed VB is still in action and has some cute solid colored options. I mean, those bags have earned their keep! They are well-made and very lightweight.
As far as packing, most of these trips are going to be active-oriented. Lots of hiking across all three, with some lake sports and Colorado adventures (kayaking, horseback-riding, etc) folded in. Here are a few of the items I’m eyeing or planning to pack for these trips:
Not seen above, but on my radar: a couple of long-sleeved mid-layers to wear over sports bras/tanks. I love the Vuori Halo, and I’ve been eyeing this Addison Bay one, which comes in great colors. And I’ll probably pack a sport dress or two — I love this one from Lululemon (my review here), and this Vuori appeals in the fun cornflower blue. For active shorts, I like these striped Fair Harbors and these bandana print Tuckernucks.
For meals and non-active activities, all three destinations are very low-key. I’ll probably wear easy sundresses along the lines of…
Last note: I thought your differing perspectives on how to pack skincare for travel were fascinating! I am torn between the smart point that it’s better to buy what you love in trial/mini sizes for travel (as they will come in the correct types of bottles / sprays / pumps / etc and will not require you to decant) and investing in a smart set of travel containers, like the Cadence ones.
P.S. More great travel tips from Magpies here and here.
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Safe to say that a good number of us own the Agolde Parker shorts? In April, I shared some thoughts and inspiration for styling white shorts for summer, and I ended up ordering both the Veronica Beard Ellis shorts in ecru and the Agolde Parker Longs in white. (Note that there are a wide range of different washes, hems, and two different lengths of the Parkers — you can shop them all here.) I loved them and briefly contemplated keeping both, but ended up hanging onto the Agoldes because I found them slightly more flattering on the leg and anticipated that they would be a touch more versatile owing to the finished hem and stark white color. I took a size up from my usual denim size for a looser/baggier fit and love the effect. I swear I tried these shorts on a few years ago and returned them because I didn’t like how they looked, but I’m obsessed with them this go around and now wondering if I just hadn’t figured out how to style them in a way that fit my own vibe. I am really liking the look of shorts with a blazer, vest, or button-down — a little more polished maybe? I am so short (5’0), so sometimes I feel like shorts make me look like a child? The blazer/vest/button-down balances out the youthfulness of the style perhaps?
I styled first with my denim blazer from VB (sold out, but available on TRR here and in a fab black lace on sale here; similar style from ALC here), a Leset tee (details on all my favorite white tees here), Eleftheria sandals, my Celine sunglasses, and this raffia bag.
I also loved the look of the Agolde Parkers with my Veronica Beard vest and my little Celine phone sling (a lucky TRR find, similar in all black leather here and black logo here; look for less here). You can get the vest look for less with this, this, or this.
I also wanted to show you the Ellis shorts for comparison! Note the raw hem and slightly more exaggerated flare. I took these in a size up from my usual denim size, and they were a tiny bit too big, I think — the Agoldes look loose fit but I think these looked a bit too gappy in the waist. I’d probably suggest taking your true size unless you’re between sizes — in which case, go up. I styled with a brown stripe shirt from J. Crew (old), but similar here and here.
Last note — more styling ideas for white shorts here, but I have been thinking they’d look great with one of the Julia Amory husband shirt tucked in. These are such a versatile item. I have worn as a beach/pool cover-up (mainly how they’re styled on site), tucked into the matching pareo for day wear (as seen below — shirt, pareo), and also paired with white jeans! Fun fun.
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A digest of cheerful items I am in love with at the moment —
01. Thanks to Khaite, woven circle bags have been very popular the past season or two, and I couldn’t resist this cute pink one, seen above with a Julia Amory pareo worn as a skirt (and the matching husband shirt tucked in).
02. Stanley pint cups! Especially love the pink stripe and citron yellow. Great for summer / outdoor / pool. I was chatting with a Magpie about how these would be a cute end of year teacher gift with those vinyl stickers to personalize, and a gift card tucked inside.
03. I just ordered a few different weights and resistance bands for a new at-home fitness series by Heather Robertson I’ve started. I’ll share more thoughts after I’ve made more progress on it, but I really like the pace and approach. She doesn’t speak through the workout — she’s doing it live, too! — and instead has quick-paced music, a progress bar on the right hand side so you know how far you are, beeps and countdowns to let you know when you’re getting ready to transition to a new move, and icons so you know whether you need light/medium/heavy weights (and other equipment). It’s hard to get bored, as the videos move quickly and there’s a new video for each day of the challenge. I also ordered a new Beyond Yoga set (this bra, these leggings) as a treat to myself once I’d made it through three consecutive days.
04. Julia Berolzheimer just launched a beautiful collab with jewelry/accessory brand Jennifer Behr, and I’m obsessed with these earrings!
12. Absolutely hooked on this rosewater spray. I use it morning, afternoon, and night! Morning to prime and then set makeup; afternoon as a little refresh; evening as the penultimate skincare step before a moisturizer.
15. White teeth for summer! I do love this brand. I’ve used on and off for several years. They are the only ones that don’t make my teeth hurt.
16. Mr. Magpie bought me this recipe book because I love smoothies but can’t seem to get my act together about making them at home, and we’re determined to get into a rhythm this summer. A smoothie is my ideal breakfast most days. Anyway, I bought these glass straws for the smoothie habit, and I now drink my water out of them, too, and what is it about them that just makes water taste better?
By: Jen Shoop
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Inspired by Laura Reilly’s thoughtful post on “building a no-skips underwear drawer,” I’ve been clearing out underwear I routinely avoid wearing until I’m down to my last pair and doubling down on the pieces I love. When I polled Magpies for their favorite undergarments, hands-down, the top vote-getters were Hanky Panky thongs and Natori Feathers bras. I adore both, too.
All my favorites below!
01. Negative Underwear Whipped Boy Shorts and bralettes. Insanely soft and breathable, with edges that never dig in anywhere.
02. Hanky Panky. An oldie but a goodie — my day-in-day-out staple for decades now. I like the low-rise variation. Several Magpies wrote to encourage me to try the retro style, too.
04. Kalon Racerback Bralettes. I love to wear these under summer caftans/popover style dresses. Feel like nothing at all, and very inexpensive. I take out the padding.
05. Bolivelan Seamless Thongs. A must for fitted or white items — literally invisible beneath clothing. The sizing is strange so double check the chart. I take a 5.
06. True & Co Convertible Bra. I lived in this for a year straight with no complaints — like wearing nothing at all, never digs in, and does provide some support (versus the other bralettes here). However, I found the look matronly and sometimes difficult to wear with necklines. I eventually found myself wanting to switch back to Natori as it made me feel just the tiniest bit “schlumpy”? Wearing pretty undergarments just does something for my mood.
07. Besides the Negative boyshorts, these Stripe and Stare underwear are my favorite sleeping underwear. Really soft and stretchy. I cannot sleep in a thong (?! am I alone in this?!) so always switch to briefs or boyshorts for bed. These are my favorites when my Negatives are in the laundry, and more affordable.
08. Nippies. If I can avoid wearing a bra, I will. Ha. These are great for strapless dresses, and I also wear underneath suits like my Hunza G.
09. Several Magpies raved about Chantelle briefs! I haven’t tried these yet, but they’re on my radar.
Two other very random, intimate details that I’ll share here: 1) I use this organizer to keep my underwear drawer organized. When they come out of the laundry, I roll my undies and stow them — makes them easy to find and keeps the drawer sorted. N.B.: My sister once said organizing my underwear in this way made me seem like a serial killer. HA. 2) Another gift from my sister, this time one of her best discoveries: this brand of pads comes in so many different and helpful varieties, including one for petites. I hope that’s not TMI but I’m always grateful for real sister talk!
Do you romanticize your life? What does that mean for you?
There’s a vibrant and occasionally vicious discourse around this concept and the way it is lived (or performed, as the case may be) on social media that has been unfolding for years now. Some academics have linked its popularity as a TikTok hashtag to the doldrums of the pandemic — e.g., we needed ways to find beauty in the bleak midwinter. Its champions position it as a kind of mindfulness: slow down and appreciate the little things, like a plate of artfully sliced mango for breakfast, or bedding spritzed with lavender. I can get behind this impulse. Another formula for seeking slivers of joy.
But when I think about “romanticizing my life,” I think of it differently. I see it less as an aestheticization and more as the practice of seeing myself as interesting. There is every possibility and in fact a strong likelihood that my life is ordinary. But when I look at myself, and especially the squiggly path that drew me to my present, I choose to see it as cinema. My time in Lyon, falling in love with Mr. Magpie, the “I feel a bigness in me” journal entry, the internships and the first jobs, the cramped but cozy New York years, the way life has carried me all the way from stumbling through poetry readings at the age of eight to writing for a living thirty years later. I replay it now as silver screen. This is not about looking at life through rose-colored glasses (there are countless failings and missteps that cling to me as thistledown) as much as it is finding my own story curious and worth taking a look at. Perhaps this is shaped by my vocation. I can’t help but see the stars and dress them up as asterisms.
But I think that no matter how you romanticize your life — whether this is about tying ribbons in your hair or painting yourself into the lyrics of a Taylor Swift song* or looking back on your relationship with your husband as though it was destined for pictures — you are in a way practicing art. The best description I’ve ever read of art came from Kurt Vonnegut, who said:
“Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not to get money or fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what’s inside you, to make your soul grow.”
Earlier this week, Rachael Ringenberg wrote an interesting piece on the discourse around “tradwives” (scroll down), and, like her, I’m disinterested in the detractors and instead fascinated by the impulse behind any creative effort. She writes: “Creating and making are inherent joys to being human, whether it’s shaping homemade butter and pressing a flower into it or writing this newsletter. The mind craves learning and challenges, longs to learn new things, attends to curiosities yet unknown, and one of the ways to survive thrive in sustaining a household—particularly in this culture of isolation—is enjoying elaborate riffs on necessities.” I would take this further and suggest that much of the creative spirit is guided by a desire for self-knowledge, or at least a kind of glancing “this is me?” as we try out different styles, forms, medium. To apply the Vonnegut phrasing: art is about finding out what’s inside you. Stress-testing what makes the cut, and asking why. Do we include that azure lining, or do we trim the paragraph, or do we add another stanza? Do we make our beds just-so, do we arrange the book spines by color or theme or author’s surname? Every decision you make is informed by a unique set of experiences, references, and instincts, and that makes every decision interesting (and sometimes unexpected to passersby). Lean into those weirdnesses; care about the details; let out the hem and restitch it if you need to. This, then, is a romantic life: arranged to find out what’s inside.
Post Scripts.
*Cut to me, a happily married forty year old woman, belting out “But Daddy I Love Him” in my car at top decibel.
+Alice Walk is running a great sale — this is one of my favorite striped tees ever (so stretchy, and really nice and long) and I love their knitwear, but especially their cotton ones!
+Going to give this Jouer concealer a try next. I like the Nars radiant concealer I’m using (it’s grown on me, actually, since writing this review, because it really does provide good coverage without looking cakey), but it is matte vs. radiant/glowy, so curious to see if this Jouer delivers it all.
+These matches are so chic! Cute little hostess gift.
+Maison de Sabre has some cute technology accessories, like this phone sling, this AirTag case, this iPad case, and this AirPods pouch!
+My favorite late night activity: hunting TRR for gems. Right now I’m obsessing over this crochet Gucci bag, this Markarian dress, and this raffia belt bag.
+My son is having a reptile-themed birthday party (complete with a reptile show and petting zoo), and I’m having fun sourcing decor. I like these gift tags (thinking of giving all the kids either a Schleich reptile or a book on reptiles in lieu of a goody bag), this balloon arch, this oversized snake stuffie as a centerpiece, and these inflatable snakes for the front lawn / doorway!
By: Jen Shoop
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation. Above: my son enjoying a picnic lunch on the Weezie x Katie Ridder picnic blanket.
I just placed a big order for my children at Minnow. We’re going to a casual Derby party with them on Saturday and I thought this terry shorts and polo set would be cute for my son, and either this terry set or this terry dress would be perfect for my girl (I’ll let her pick which she’d prefer). Regardless of what they pick, I know all of these items will be heavily worn this summer. I’d also been eyeing these pink stripe boardies for weeks and added them to the order. Honestly, I wanted one of everything for my kids this summer! They have the best patterns, fabrics, and wearable pieces — they somehow please both my children and
My son is beginning to read! Such an exciting time. He loves when I point to a word while I’m reading to him at bedtime and invite him to sound it out. I usually pick three or four letter words that are easy to sound out phonetically, and he nails them and beams with pride! I placed a big order of first reader books for him — some Mercer Mayer, some of these award-winning fox books, some of the Biscuit series, and a box set of Pete the Cat. Last night, I went into his room after his lights were out to replace his water bottle with a fresh one, and he had two of them laid on his pillow, and was sitting there sounding out the words in one. He looked up at me in alarm, knowing it was “past his bedtime.” Of course I reassured him he can and should read! I was ecstatic. How special to welcome someone I love into my favorite lifetime hobby. I immediately ordered him one of these little book lights, which my daughter also has and uses heavily each night before bed. They are rechargeable and easy to use but difficult to break. I like that this enables them to read a bit before bed without running the risk of falling asleep with the overhead lights on, or needing to rouse to get out of bed and switch them off.
(By the way, my favorite bedtime books here, and great books for early readers here.)
I feel like I mention this every few weeks and then make no decisions/progress, but we’re still planning to order some furniture for my children’s rooms. They currently have a hodge podge of pieces we’ve inherited or bought for different rooms that don’t necessarily go together but get the job done. It’s been totally fine for the past few years but I’d love to replace or upgrade some of their pieces. My daughter specifically needs a desk now that she has nightly homework. She often does it downstairs, which I like, too, as we can keep an eye on her work and be present for questions, but I know it’d be nice for her to have a dedicated space. I like this one (I would probably replace the knobs with something else), this one, and this one. I’m interested in something simple that won’t look too babyish as she grows up. I also found this cute lamp for her dresser, and think this linen side table in sage or cream would be cute. I also keep coming back to this spindle bed for my son’s room. I love the look!
Switching gears, my daughter’s little sports outfit from Azarhia arrived (I got her some of these Lilly Pulitzer-esque shorts and a tank) and she lost her mind with excitement and has promptly worn it three days in a row. How cute are these bow shorts, these rose shorts, and this skort?!
Last but not least, mentioned this in passing elsewhere, but Macy’s is currently offering 30% off RL classics for kids, including their iconic oxfords (I ordered in the stripe and the white), polos (in good colors!), and twill shorts. My son has worn these items heavily in his five years! Great time to get them on sale. And for the itty bitty kids: these cable-knit cardigans are such a great staple, and make a great baby gift, too. You always need a cardigan!
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation. Images via Sancia and Dominique Nurtch.
So many of you loved the first installment of this series featuring lesser-known brands or unexpected hidden gems you won’t see on anyone else that I’m bringing it back this week. Guaranteed to fetch comments and separate you from the crowd!
01. I’m swooning over pieces from new-to-me Australian label Sancia. This striped linen dress is under $200 and perfectly chic. Also comes in a cute shorts/top duo, styled perfectly by Dominique Nurtsch above and below. Also love this knit polo dress.
02. Zara’s always a good spot for double takes and “is that The Row or…?” moments, and I love this crochet cover-up situation. The colors are weird in the best way.
03. These tweedy takes on a Teva are so fun. Pair with a voluminous white dress or caftan for max effect.
05. If you’re one of my more minimalist girlies (you’re drawn to Khaite, The Row, Toteme, etc), you are going to freak out over Rue Sophie. This jacket, these pleated shorts! The prices are reasonable given the high-end minimalism of the aesthetic. I’m personally drawn to their simple and elegant dresses in black and white: this, this.
07. The eyelet cover-ups from Nantucket-based brand Cartolina are gorgeous. (See also this one!). They also have dresses with fabulous details, like this embroidered linen mini.
08. OK, these do have a label and they are a high end designer, but I find them so fun and unexpected. I haven’t seen anyone wear anything like this! These Havaianas have a similar vibe for under $100.
09. Absolutely everything from Spanish brand Andion, but especially this dress and this one.
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A list of my essential tops —
01. Leset Margo tee. My most-worn white tee. It’s a thick cotton that holds its shape well (not thin/drape-y) and I really like how it looks paired with jeans. I own this in multiples! I take an XS in this — has a boxy, loose fit.
02. Uniqlo U-Neck Tee. My favorite inexpensive white tee. The thick collar and substantive material make it look more expensive than it is. The material is thicker than the Margo, so I tend to avoid if I’m tucking into a skirt to avoid bunching. I take an XS in this — runs a tad slim/snug so size up if in question. I tried the COS tee that many people rave about in the same breath as Uniqlo and found it very cropped — even on me, and I’m petite (5’0!). I can barely tuck this into my pants. The style is similar, though: polished, with a heavy weight and a wide collar. I would vote for the Uniqlo, though! You can buy three of them for the price of one COS and they’re virtually identical in quality IMO.
03. J. Crew Essential Tee. These are a much thinner weight/handfeel than the Leset and Uniqlo — almost a burnout quality — so great if I’m pairing with something snug at the waist. They look more casual and dressed-down than the Leset/Uniqlo.
04. Xirena Lark Gauze Button-Down (seen above, paired with these pants — more sizes here). Sadly nearly sold out (a few more sizes here), but this is my go-to for tucking into white jeans/jeans when I want to look a little more put-together than with just a tee. The fabric is so plush and soft — only gets better with every laundering. Heaven on the skin. Runs TTS. Gap has a similar style available for only $50.
05. Frank and Eileen Patrick Popover. A Magpie described this as “young Diane Keaton mom vibes” and she’s spot on — it has that casual-but-polished Saturday morning feel. I love this as a top layer over a Beyond Yoga tank / legging situation, or thrown on with jeans and Birks for every day life. It’s a loose/boxy fit with a dropped shoulder seam that gives it a “borrowed from the boys” or “old rugby shirt” vibe, but the sleeves taper in beneath the elbow for a flatteringly fitted look at the wrist. Take your true size.
06. Vuori Energy Top. For walks with girlfriends / hikes, paired with leggings or shorts. This has a great boxy, slightly cropped fit that looks perfect with high-waist leggings.
07. SoldOut NYC Everything Shirt. Quality is insane relative to price — has a fabulous sheen to the fabric. Runs very oversized, but intentionally so. I like this untucked and paired with jeans and flats.
08. SoldOut Scoop Tank. Perfect for pairing with skirts. Has a tight weave to it that sort of holds you in.
09. Leset Kelly Tee. Very form-fitting. I call this my “Jennifer Aniston” top. It looks like exactly what she’d wear tucked into cargo pants circa 2002. I like this when wearing a maxi/midi skirt. Runs snug — I took and XS and it’s very fitted. You might consider sizing up in this style. Madewell has a style that is very similar that I also own and swap in/out with the Kelly — and it’s 1/3 the price.
10. Leset Pointelle Short Sleeve and Long Sleeved Tees. I lived in these all winter! So cozy and comfortable, and I like the texture contrast and vintage-feel neckline beneath a cardigan.
11. Lacoste Polo. I’ve worn these forever! I actually purchased several while living abroad in France that I still wear. I wear them less in my daily wardrobe now but still wear when golfing!
The good news is that your child is there before you,
and your arms are available.
-Thich Nhat Hanh
I wrote: “We don’t trumpet the small and trivial wonders of everyday living because of their ordinariness–because they are grout rather than tile. It is the work of a grateful heart to rename these things.”
About a decade ago, I realized that happiness is not a static condition, and that expecting otherwise is a recipe for disappointment. I’ve described it elsewhere as follows: “I am not a particle that toggles between bands of “happiness” and “unhappiness” and stays put. I experience happiness in small bursts, usually at the hands of something wildly trivial, like the lay of sun on our back porch at four o’clock in the afternoon, the sight of my son’s pudgy, still-babyish fingers on my dress, Mr. Magpie carrying a handful of raspberries in from the garden in the morning, the smell of coffee at the beginning of a slow weekend morning.” I was talking about this on Instagram in the context of small things that had sparked joy in the previous 24 hours, and I asked Magpies to share a “sliver of joy” from the past day, and the replies were universally uplifting.
Today, I’m taking the imperative of publishing good news literally. I’m sharing some of the these slivers of joy from the Magpie community. They build a beautiful mosaic of grateful hearts “renaming the little things”:
“Video from my 10 year old autistic son’s teacher of him playing happily with peers.”
“Reading a book on the lawn with my girl.”
“A FaceTime call from my son in college…love seeing his face.”
“Getting in bed at 8:45. Sleeping until 8 am.”
“Gorgeous sunny walk with my coworker along the East River.”
“My 12 year old son with a developmental disability packing his own lunch.”
“My constantly-on-the-move 14-month-old son taking a beat and snuggling with me this morning.”
“My baby clapping.”
“Returning home.”
“I woke up to birds chirping this morning.”
“I’m five weeks pregnant today.”
“Eating the granola my mom makes and flies out to me or sends home with me every time I visit.”
“My 18 month old saying unprompted ‘I love mama.'”
“Sitting in direct sunlight while my tea brewed.”
“Sharing a Passover book with my infant son, even though he’s too young to understand it.”
What other good news can we publish today, whether literally (feel free to share yours in the comments!) or figuratively (leaning forward to appreciate something small and wonderful from your everyday life)?
Post-Scripts.
+”I now believe that a woman of substance is someone so at ease with herself, she can give herself to others without self-diminishment or self-projection. She can be happy for friends, and sad for them, too, without losing anything of herself. She can listen without interjecting her own story; she can marvel without battling jealousy; she can endure unkindnesses without questioning herself. She does not need the last word, the biggest laugh, the adulation, the apology: she is full without the feedback. She stands still in her center.” More on this here.
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+The colors in this dress are joyful! Reminds me of a CeliaB, but under $200.
+PSA that Macy’s is offering 30% off RL polos and oxfords. I just stocked up for my son. I love the classic blue and white oxford stripe and bought him the next size up in that as well as a standard white oxford, and the polo in pale pink.
+J. McLaughlin has some amazing handbags out right now — this one reminds me of Marni, and this one reminds me of Ulla J. Love the blue!
+Speaking of swim, the athletic wear brand Left on Friday just sent me a few of their swimsuits to try for summer! I can’t wait to wear. They have really fun mix-and-match tops and bottoms in great colors.
+Cara Cara has the most gorgeous new arrivals. This dress! And this one! The florals are so spectacular!
+It’s a bit of an eye sore, but this toy is a guaranteed hit with children.
+Has anyone tried Fair Harbor’s athletic wear? I think I might order these in the sailing stripe. I need some more all-purpose fitness shorts (not just for running) as we will be hiking quite a bit this summer.
+A chic, on-trend wedge sandal at a reasonable price.
+My son requested red sneakers — he’s worn his NBs into the ground! — and I ordered him these. When I showed him the picture online, he was so excited, he ran around the house showing his sister, Mr. Magpie, and the nanny what they looked like!
By: Jen Shoop
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.
At dinner this week, one of my girlfriends, a successful consultant with her own practice, talked about how she felt for a long time that she didn’t really know what she was doing when it came to the business side of her business — as in, she was a subject matter expert and felt confident in her domain expertise, but she didn’t know what to charge, how to package her services, how to find new customers. “Throw enough mud at the wall, and something sticks,” she concluded. It was so true, and raw, and — in my experience — what entrepreneurship is. A gradual right-sizing. A process of putting out one version, then collecting feedback, then releasing version 2.0, whether you’re working on a product feature, a menu of services, a price point, even a sales pitch. The groundlessness of this pursuit is challenging. You must get comfortable with constant evolution.
I’ve been thinking about the concept of right-sizing all week. It’s human to want to get to the finish line now, to achieve stability, to level up. But a lot of life is trying on new things, stretching them out, finding them too constricting, moving from little snail house to little snail house. And it’s often in a zig-zag: one step forward, two steps back, then a jag to the left. Life is movement. Life is adjustment. A single phone call can rearrange a day, a week, a life! Meanwhile, my children change clothing sizes and cultivate new skills by the month. (A Magpie recently wrote: “Your children are never going to be as young as they are today.” (!!)) And each phase of motherhood has demanded a new version of me. I am continuously reshaping myself as I learn and adapt to new needs. I think often of the children’s book The Runaway Bunny. It is as much about the constancy of a mother’s love as it is about the way motherhood demands that we take on new forms as we look after our children. We become the clouds, the fishermen, the mountain-climber, the gardener, the tree that our children come home to. The through-line is: no matter how far and fast you run, I will shape-shift to meet you where you are.
I’ve been listening on and off to an audiobook by Pema Chodron, a Buddhist nun, over the past six months. It’s a lot to listen to in one go, but sometimes I feel spiritually deficient or fatigued, and I listen to her, and I find myself back on a good path. She talks a lot about groundlessness as the basic condition of living a full and authentic life. At one point, she writes:
“To be fully alive, fully human, and completely awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest. To live fully is to be always in no-man’s-land, to experience each moment as completely new and fresh. To live is to be willing to die over and over again.”
Two weekends ago, we stayed up way too late with our best friends, who were in town from New York for the funeral of another friend’s father. We laughed a lot. We ragged on each other. We sang “Lilith Fair karaoke” on my daughter’s karaoke machine until 1 A.M., shout-singing “Come to My Window” by Melissa Etheridge. (No, really, if you want to get a group of 40 year olds jazzed at the mic, try this on — “Just to reach you / Just to reach you / Oh, to reach you / Come to my window / Crawl inside / Wait by the light of the moon / Come to my window / I’ll be home soon.” YES, Melissa!) But we also consoled one another, catching up on ailing family members, the misfortunes of friends, professional woes, parenting struggles. Change is the only constant, my friend said, and we all harrumphed in agreement.
What are we saying here, Jen?
I suppose I want to reassure myself, and any Magpies reading along this morning, that you’re not doing anything wrong if you feel like you’re “throwing a lot of mud at the wall,” or in continuous inner movement, or still-failing (which is to say, still-learning). That’s how life feels when you’re determined to make a big go of it.
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Also this week…
+Had a little girls’ night on Saturday! Wine and all the snacks. I love so many of the pieces I served with — these cute goblets, pinch bowls, and platters from Roundhouse; these lipstick cocktail napkins from Dear Annabelle (15% off with JEN15); this rattan wine bucket from Half Past Seven.
+It was a good hair week this week. First, I had my hair blown out on Wednesday by Glamsquad because I had a few things going on during the day and then had an event at night (reminder: $20 off for new users with code JenniferS and $15 off for repeat users with code JenniferS15), and then I used a combo of this insanely good dry shampoo (currently 25% off) and my new favorite tool, Mane’s thermal brush. This actually works and I’m so excited about it. It is not a wet hair styling tool — it is specifically for refreshing slept-on / day old / two-day old hair — and it does exactly what I’d hoped it would: bends the ends back under while giving body to limp / slept-on hair.
+The first picture below is me on Wednesday, just after my hair was blown out at home, and the second picture is of me on Friday, after I’d used Vegamour and the thermal brush. I can’t believe how smooth and styled my hair still looked!
+Also, you Magpies have such good eyes, because a few of you asked about the blue cardigan I’m wearing in the corner of the “Mane” thermal tool box photo, and it is indeed the Alex Mill Paris one, which is currently waitlist only at Alex Mill, but I found a few smalls and mediums at St. Bernard’s and XS, S, and M at a boutique called Hamilton and Adams.
+And! I just received this mascara and this lipstick (shade: Madame Bovary) from Queen Musia and I’m so, so, so impressed. The mascara is truly the only one I’ve ever used that doesn’t stiffen lashes. You can apply several coats and your lashes still have bend/give to them. It is superb at lash separation. It’s a different look than the one I tend to prefer — which is inkier, longer, more dramatic, but I will be keeping this in the rotation. And the lipstick color is super pretty and matte. I’m wearing it in the blue cardi photo above but not sure it’s a great demonstration.
+Little joys: a book of “not too hard” crossword puzzles. My neighbor said he works on one of these just before bed if he’s not in the mood to read his book, and I loved that idea — screen-free, just enough mental stimulation, but easy to pause and clip out of. I sent this photo to one of my girlfriends this week, and she said: “Welcome to 40! Come on in, we love puzzles.” Next up: a juice glass of red wine after the kids are in bed, in my favorite gingham chair, wearing my current favorite oversized sweatshirt. I don’t know why, but I love the vintage-feel rolled hem. Finally: salt and vinegar almonds from Blue Diamond! (A Magpie reader rec.) These are absolutely delicious and I like that it’s not a chip — a little more protein/sustenance when I’m in a snacky mood.
+Some pretty things this week: fresh powder bath hand towels from Weezie’s Katie Ridder collab; new Lake Pajamas; the Chantecaille rose water spray I’m obsessed with; and new pillows in our living room. We just signed off earlier this year on all of the plans for this room with our interior designer (window treatments, paint, entirely new furniture, lighting!) and pieces are slowly beginning to arrive. One of the details I am most excited about — she ordered a game table for the corner of the room so Mr. Magpie and I can enjoy our little Saturday morning games, or weekend puzzles, out of the fray of the kitchen, where we’re often infringing on counter space that would otherwise be used for lunch, cooking, homework. I can’t wait to share more as it comes together. Our designer had these pillows made up in Cowtan and Tout’s Arabella fabric, with a corded edge in a contrasting sky blue from Samuel & Sons. They were an outrageous splurge (o.m.g. — kids will never be permitted near these pillows, which is OK, because this is for a formal living space) but we are doing a solid colored sofa and they will really make the whole room come together (the other occasional chairs will be uholstered in different fabrics). You can find a similar pillow in the exact pattern on Etsy here, but note that they only have the fabric on the front side.
+One of the threads I loved in the comments on my post seeking life hacks / helpful tips / codes of conduct: many of us do things for our future selves. We fill our water glasses before a run, we close our blinds now if we know we’ll be coming home late; etc. One of the things I’ve been doing is buying one specific gift for all of the birthday parties in a given season — it saves a lot of time because then you’re not scrambling to find something to buy; you know what you’re giving and can even buy a few to keep on hand. This season, I’ve been giving the seven year old girls these water bottles personalized with these vinyl stickers (I ordered a few sheets of all the letters — how cute are the new floral ones?!), and paired with these cute straw toppers. They are such a hit and I like the personalized element — it feels thoughtful. I also keep lots of gift wrap on hand, and one recent addition to the gift closet has been these “gwrap” bags, which are brilliant. No box, no tissue required — just place the item in the bag, fold over, and seal with a to/from sticker. So cute and easy. (Also, MAGPIE10 gets you 10% off Joy Creative Shop! I just ordered some of these to bundle with gift cards for teachers at end of year.)
+Another thing I am trying to get into the habit of doing: prepping lunch for at least 1-2 days of the week on Sunday. We order out more than we’d like for lunches, and it just feels easier to open the fridge and have something ready to go. Last Sunday, I made this simple couscous salad. I think this week I might pick up some good bread and make chicken or tuna salad to have for sandwiches at Monday and Tuesday lunches.
+A big gift to my future self: new luggage for our summer travel! This set is by Paravel and you can save a little bit by ordering the two together. I am starting to begin to get my ducks in a row for summer plans and am excited to have these ready to go.
asd
By: Jen Shoop
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.
What Inspired Me This Week…
+FASHION HUMOR: My girlfriends and I circulated this hilarious reel about jeans this week. “The person that invented jeans: I don’t think you’re getting it — hard pants. Stiff, extremely stiff pants. Instead of moving with you as most clothing does, these will actively fight against you. They won’t really fit anyone correctly. They’re going to be based on the way a toddler draws a human.” We were laughing so hard about her commentary on white jeans, too. (However, she doesn’t know our little secret — these Gap jeans, which are actually comfortable and flattering and opaque and stretchy and slimming at the same time.) I loved reading through some of the comments: “Can we talk about the people who fly in jeans?! I’d be more comfortable flying in a formal gown with corset.” Ha!
+TTPD: Like everyone else, I listened to Taylor Swift’s latest album on repeat all week and exchanged feverish interpretations and hot takes with a few Swiftie friends. The discourse surrounding this album feels exhausting, so I’m loathe to add to it, but I have So Many Thoughts. At this point, despite loving several of the songs and considering the album a representation of her songwriting at its best (the layered and elliptical metaphors! the wordplay!), I don’t think I want to read anything else about this album! That said, and no one asked me, my favorite tracks are “Down Bad” (the catchiest lyrics, but is it about pregnancy loss?), “Alchemy” (I was readily imagining a teen flick about dating the quarterback montage set to this), “So Long, London,” “So High School,” and “I Can Do It with a Broken Heart.” What about you?
+THE SCENT ENCLAVE: A cluster of Magpie readers are highly informed and passionate fragrance afficianados who have weighed in on their favorite scents in the comments multiple times. I finally tried the Le Labo The Noir 29 perfume so many of you recommended and it is divine. Spicey, herby, and sweet, but also very complex — you won’t be able to identify it as “a tea leaf” smell. I was stopped twice this week about my perfume (!) and the first day I wore it, I was sitting in on my son’s speech therapy session and I kept thinking, “Gosh, someone smells amazing.” I realized I was smelling myself! (More Magpie scent recs here.)
+WEEKEND SHOPPING: J. Crew’s new arrivals are amazing! I think we all need this jacket and these pants, but there are so many great finds! Also: 20% off at Kule with code SPRING24. I have several of these striped tees — the best, cheeriest colors! Finally, Phillip Lim is running an online sample sale, and you can get an extra 20% off with 31FRIENDS20. You must check out this incredible dress for your summer wedding / summer event lineup. Originally $725, with code, it’s under $175 (!??!). I also love this white blouse — with code, $108! — as an alternative to a basic button-down. And these heels are SO fun for summer, and on sale for under $100.
+NORA AT SAKS: I love following Nora, a personal shopper at Saks, on Instagram! She offers the most amazing previews of designer bags that will be stocked, or that may sell out before being stocked. (You can DM her to order.). It’s a fun way to see what’s coming up and trending among labels like Loewe, Celine, Dior, etc.
+NEW/OLD SKINCARE: About a decade ago, I bought Chantecaille’s splurge-y rosewater spray on the rec of one of my best girlfriends, who was well-informed on all things beauty (and had incredible skin). I remember buying it at a little beauty boutique in Old Town, Chicago. I treasured it and used it to the last drop — I used it for a late afternoon refresh, or to soften/mist makeup after applying — but then felt guilty re-ordering given the price tag so I sort of forgot about it. This week, Chantecaille sent me a box of beauty products and I was delighted to see the rose water spray inside! I had to text my girlfriend to see if she remembered how much we loved it — a full circle / internal reference moment. Funnily enough, by total coincidence, I had Glamsquad do my hair and makeup one morning this week and the artist used rosewater spray to prime my face and then set the makeup! I am excited to reintroduce this product to my routine. I should mention that I have tried a few other less expensive rose water sprays in the years intervening, but none of them compare to the ultra-fine mist of the Chantecaille bottle. A small thing, but a good applicator is half the battle! Chantecaille also sent me their foundation and I am OBSESSED. I typically wear Westman Atelier’s Foundation stick, but this has a great gel consistency that I find easy to blend. It wears like skin, I promise! (A side note: Glamsquad is offering us a code: $20 off for new users with code JenniferS and $15 off for repeat users with code JenniferS15. If you’re local, my two favorite stylists have been Michael A. and Alexsys G. You can request through the app!)
+TENNIS FROM CIAO LUCIA: I loved these sets (and the styling of the shoot) from Ciao Lucia!
+PALM ROYALE: I’m so late to this game, but I really enjoyed the first two episodes of Palm Royale on Apple TV+. The sets, the costumes are fabulous! Making me want to buy this dress, or pants like these.
+ORDERED / ARRIVED: A few items I was particularly excited to order and/or receive this week: my Mane thermal brush (stay tuned for a full review), this Mille dress, this Anthro bag, some new whipped undergarments from Negative.
What You Loved This Week…
+A lot of conversation via DM and email about my diary on slowing down. One Magpie wrote: “My Dad is in the hospital and my mom, who I call the bopper because she bops from thing to thing and can’t sit still, has struggled to let some balls drop. I read about POLR the other day on your blog and we’ve adopted it as our mantra. Several times a day, one of us will stop the other with POLR and we reconsider the necessity of what we’re doing.” I thought that was so beautiful — sometimes a mnemonic, or mantra, can really help us stay a course, tow a line, etc. ICYMI, “POLR” is the acronym Mr. Magpie uses for “Path of Least Resistance.” When things are chaotic, there’s too many balls to juggle, and we find ourselves stretching to do something unnecessary — i.e., cook an elaborate meal, drag our children somewhere, etc — we’ll call out “POLR!” and let ourselves off the hook. The other mnemonic Mr. Magpie uses is “DNE,” as in “Do Not Engage.” If someone is acting salty, short-tempered, pushy, bizarre when we’re out and about, he’ll glance at me and say “D.N.E.”)
+Another Magpie responded to the same post to say: “I expected grief to be emotionally exhausting, but what I didn’t expect was how physically exhausting it would be. I slept so much in the two weeks after we lost Adam and had to slow down. My body demanded it, even while my brain was telling me to stay busy, be productive, etc.” Amen to this! Our emotional lives are so deeply integrated with our physical ones.
+On a lighter front, this Tuckernuck dress was the most popular item I featured this week. A perfect summer wedding guest find, and around $300 — even less if you use code YOUROCK for 20% off. This incredible SPF-packed primer/serum came in a close second. A perfect summer base layer for your face. BTW, RMS gave us a promo code — 20% off with Jen20. All bestsellers below…
