So many of the picks from my holiday dress roundup are currently on sale, but I wanted to call out a few exceptional sale finds from this list as well as a couple of additions:
+This stunning velvet dress with the prettiest bows on the shoulders — 30% off! I already bought my velvet Christmas dress but I might need this one, too.
+This feather-trim tuxedo blouse is EVERYTHING. I would pair with big statement earrings, cigarette pants, and heels and feel like Audrey Hepburn in it.
+Tartan mules ($69!) — easiest way to transform your favorite jeans and black or ivory sweater into something perfect for Christmas day. (This $40 pair of flat tartan mules is also darling.)
P.P.S. Do you want more fiction? I have been working on the book quite a bit and am desperate to share…
By: Jen Shoop
I’m back with an abbreviated selection of honest reviews (more here, here, and here)! I’ve been in a pretty good spot with my beauty and cosmetics routine and have been disinclined to introduce much else at the moment, but I did want to share a couple recent experiences…
+Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint. I wanted to like this so badly! A serum and an SPF with foundation-like coverage, all-in-one? However, I found the formula very difficult and unwieldy to apply — even after shaken vigorously (per instructions), I felt the tint “broke” and was difficult to apply with any degree of consistency over the skin, even with my Artis brush in hand. I also did not feel it left my skin looking as natural as it does when I wear a tinted moisturizer — I found it difficult to blend in (splotchy?). Finally, it has a very distinctive scent I could not get beyond — sort of like plastic or plaster or something? Disappointing. But, it reminded me that I already have two great tinted moisturizers on hand (love LM and Chantecaille) and, when I need more coverage, my favorite foundation stick (<<free shipping right now with code FLASHNOVEMBER).
+Differin. I have been intrigued for a long time about retinol and retinoids, which promote skin cell turnover and which many people claim as the key to the fountain of youth. My dermatologist recommended starting with something non-prescription (a retinoid) and working my way up to a prescription-strength retinol if I liked how things were going, as they can be drying. Many people rave about Differin — inexpensive, treats acne, and adapalene (its key ingredient) is a retinoid. I used this for a month and saw no favorable difference in my skin. In fact, I broke out! I think the breakout could have been because I stopped using my glycolic acid treatment pads in favor of testing Differin and my skin rioted against the unceremonious change. But I just can’t figure out how or where else to introduce differin — it feels too harsh to put it on top of glycolic acid?! Help! Tell me your secrets, skincare gurus!
+Ritual Vitamins. As a part of my self-improvement regimen, I started taking daily multivitamins, and I chose Ritual. There is a lot to like about them — they taste good (minty) and contain only what you need (no additives), and I like the subscription model (takes all legwork out of the equation), but I found them so hard on my stomach! Every day I took them, I was horribly nauseous. I later read that this is common and that often it takes your body awhile to adjust but I could not get to the next phase, and so I abandoned ship. I do feel I eat a very balanced diet so I am just going to rest on those laurels for now.
+IGK Thirsty Girl Leave-In Hair Conditioner. This stuff is AMAZING for color-treated, dry hair. I have been layering it with my Oi Hair Milk recently and je suis obsessed. It goes on like a hair spray (!), smells like heaven, and totally softens and conditions my hair. The Oi Hair Milk is fantastic as a primer and detangler. I think they work wonderfully together.
+Not new in these parts, but I recently re-stocked a few items that I simply can’t live without:
HOURGLASS EYEBROW GEL — Please (!) give (!!) this (!!!) a (!!!!) try (!!!!!). It is truly the most amazing eyebrow tamer, shaper, and filler. I love the way it fills and shapes brows with a simple flick (no tedious penciling-in), and looks so natural given the range of colors it comes in (you can actually match to your natural brow color!)
BOBBI BROWN EXTRA LIP TINT — Pack of three for 25% off at the moment. I don’t know about you, but I have worn statement lipstick once in the last nine months, and it was on a day where I needed to hit the reset button and my children were very confused about why I had red marker all over my lips. (Ha!) Most days, I wear this lip tint instead. It glides on like a balm and affords the loveliest hint of color. I couldn’t resist picking up this three-pack at such a good value! (They work out to like $14/tube! Buy for yourself and give the other two as gifts to your sister and mother! Or use them all for yourself, as I am doing…ha!)
BELIF THE TRUE CREAM AQUA BOMB — I seriously considered testing a different moisturizer (thank you in particular to Veronica for your very convincing recommendation of Drunk Elephant!) but I ended up reordering Belif, a gel-like cream from Korean skincare label that I find deeply hydrating for the dead of winter, because a) I know and love it, b) I was somewhat disheartened by my recent testings of the highly popular items above, and so I might as well stick with what works for now, and c) it is such a good value compared to other high-end moisturizers! (Half the price of Drunk Elephant for the same amount of product, for example.) J’adore j’adore jadore.
What other products have you been testing and liking?
The product I now have my eye on is Le Prunier’s Plum Beauty Oil, which Chrissy Teigen (unsponsored!) lauded on social media a few weeks back and is, of course, now sold out for weeks.
*Image above via Polarn O Pyret, maker of my favorite snow bibs and suits for littles. And how beyond precious are these girls?! Can you even imagine having triplets? Hats off to all the moms of multiples.
Mini is ecstatic about the prospect of snow this winter, and I have learned the hard way (i.e., multiple years in a row…) that it is best to buy the gear well before you think you will need it, or run the risk of sending your baby out ill-equipped to handle the weather. Below, my favorite snow gear finds for children. Worth noting that these are all high quality pieces that will hold up over time and are hand-me-down material for multiple children.
POLARN O PYRET BIB SNOWPANTS (MINI HAS THIS PAIR; MICRO HAS THIS PAIR — NOTE THAT THIS BRAND RUNS REALLY BIG! I THINK YOU CAN GO A FULL SIZE DOWN! I ALSO LOVE THESE FOR ITTY BITTIES; MICRO OWNED IN A FEW SIZES)
P.P.S. Indoor toddler activities, plus I just ordered mini this rock-painting set. I know so many moms who do not live in a city are probably choking on their coffee right now! “You bought…rocks?” But I actually don’t know if it’s right to take rocks from Central Park (or particularly clean, especially in the high-traffic areas we frequent…note: never ever ever take anything from a Manhattan playground…)?! Moreover, mini’s Montessori is big on “leaving plants and nature as you find it.” So, I found myself in a strange moral quandary when mini plied me to help her build her own rock collection after seeing an episode of Sesame Street on the subject. Ahh! What’s a Manhattan mom to do?!
One of the most common shopping requests I get is whether I can track down a Mason Pearson brush on sale. I am always scouting, and I found a compelling promotion for you to consider: Neiman Marcus is offering $50 off any purchase of $200. You can buy the brush and my cherished Cle de Peau concealer (I think most of us agree that it’s the best concealer money can buy?) and add on something small, like a lip balm or a pair of Hanky Panky and get the lot for around $150. Not a bad deal! It’s like getting the concealer for $20, or the brush for $70, depending on how you look at it.
But there are also incredible prestige beauty deals elsewhere that I had to gush about —
+Kevyn Aucoin SSE for 25% off — this stuff is heavy-duty. It’s when you need The Big Guns, as in you have a ridiculously bad breakout, or you’re muddling your way through the sleepless newborn phase of life, or you are trying to hide a scar or something. It is thick and unctuous but it stays put and looks remarkably skin-like. I wore it once in front of my father-in-law and he commented that my skin looked like “porcelain” (!). This from a man who had never previously commented on my skin!
+RMS Beauty Living Luminizer — 30% off!!! This stuff is incredible! I love that it is non-pigmented and it just glides on over anything. Use under brow, on cupid’s bow, at tip of nose, at inner corners of eye, etc.
**Today is Small Business Saturday! I shared some of my favorite small business gift ideas here, and also want to shine a spot on my girlfriend Liz, who has just launched a business selling the most adorable themed sensory kits. Her husband’s family owns Burke Candy in Wisconsin and so she even has a cute holiday bark-making kit featuring Burke Candy caramel — such a cute weekend activity for little ones! You might also want to check out some of my recent Women of Substance, most of whom are founders of small businesses!
My Latest Snag: My Holiday Dress.
My main shopping activities this week entailed finishing up my holiday shopping thanks to all of the incredible Black Friday / Cyber Week deals, but can’t publish too many specifics because many of my loved ones read this daily…instead, I will just say that I did buy my Christmas dress (currently 40% off)! More contenders here, and how amazing is this Coca-Cola red SP (on super sale) and this tiered maxi in a similar hue (almost like wearing a nightgown to the dining room table) as late-stage entrants for your consideration? Saloni also brought back their stunning velvet bow-front Camille gown from last season and it was highly tempting…but I’d been eyeing that fierce SP for awhile and couldn’t say no. (Wouldn’t it be dreamy with these?)
I also treated myself to this Bobbi Brown extra lip tint trio, on super sale (with current promotion, each comes out to like $14 — normally $29 apiece!)
I’m listening to Obama’s new memoir at the moment and there is a provoking throwaway comment he makes early on in the narrative: “I’ve always hated footnotes and endnotes.” I wrote it down in my little “Bric a Brac” notebook, which is littered with half-formed thoughts, words I like or have recently discovered and am desperate to try on for size, ideas for blog posts, shopping lists, to-dos, quotes. I appreciated the implied tidiness and near-rectitude of the assertion: if something’s worth saying, why not fold it into the body of the oeuvre? Why deliberately relegate it to a space that I, for one, occasionally discard as unnecessary, depending on how much I am liking — or how much I need — the text at hand? The mechanics of the footnote or endnote require something extra of the reader: an unceremonious departure from the text to flip to a different part of the book, then the jostling back and forth between wheat and chaff to confirm understanding, before reabsorption into the text proper. They are, in other words, an interruption, and most of those feel unwelcome in these parts.
At the same time: they serve a purpose. There are times where a brief ancillary history might prove beneficial to the reader, but would interrupt the flow of writing, or detract too much from the central argument.
Just on the heels of this musing, a quote I once heard attributed to Junot Diaz materialized; I am botching it here, as I cannot track it down online, but it went something like: “I like to write between the cracks.” Meaning, in the context of the interview, that he was principally interested in the hidden, discarded, broken bits — the people and places and thoughts and spaces that do not look like smooth pavement, and that are often overlooked because of it. You might say that Junot Diaz writes in the footnotes and endnotes, or is making some statement about their positioning as such.
And just on the heels of that: memories of reading Vladimir Nabokov’s Pale Fire, which is a book that takes place almost entirely in the footnotes. (It consists of a 999-line poem, and the rest is fictionalized front and back matter — where the heft of Nabokov’s intellectual work emerges.) Nabokov was inviting us here, as elsewhere in his work, to investigate the role of the reader, the author, and the conventions to which both are beholden.
Stringing my way through these thoughts yielded no grand insight — just a pleasant, scenic intellectual perambulation. But I appreciated the invitation to think for a minute about some of the mechanics and scaffolding I take for granted in my chosen art form.
+I saw the COOLEST girl running in the park the other day wearing #allblackeverything with these throwback-style Nike tube socks and I literally went home and ordered the same.
+Such a fun top. I’m obsessed with the brand La Double J.
By: Jen Shoop
An abbreviated ledger of the absolute best Black Friday finds (all of which I have purchased or already own myself):
TUBBY TODD OINTMENT — A must-have for new-moms. Works on everything from diaper rash to eczema to baby acne. 15% off isn’t mind-blowing as far as discounts go, but I’ll take it!
NATORI BRA — $25?!?!? These are the absolute best everyday bra and I’ve written about them a billion times. Have never seen them at such a discount!
NO. 6 CLOG BOOTS — 20% off and my favorite winter boot at the moment. These run narrow, FYI — I sized up to pair with chunky winter socks and am glad I did.
S&L TEAK STEP STOOL — 20% off and free shipping. This is such a chic alternative to your wire frame collapsible style, whether for in the pantry/kitchen or at the sink for little ones. (And if you are about to have a c-section, you will need a step stool to get into bed, so why not have the chicest one on the market?)
TISSUE TURTLENECK — I own this in like 10 colors, including the recently-launched plaid. 50% off!
COCOFLOSS AND KLORANE DRY SHAMPOO — Both 30% off. Weird things to be excited about on Black Friday, but I’ll take a discount on these medicine cabinet staples, which I will happily purchase at full price.
RALPH LAUREN BABY CASHMERE CARDIGAN — 40% off. Yes, 40% off! This is such a splurge but I have purchased a few of these for my children as infants and they are beyond adorable over their holiday looks.
PETITE PLUME PAJAMAS — My favorite traditional brand of pajamas for children, on sale for 25% off in the most precious holiday print here.
SEA BEAUX DRESS — What I wore for Thanksgiving, but would also make a festive choice for the holidays. It’s a very light weight material, which proved perfect for the 65 degree temps we had yesterday, but would be dreamy if you live in warm weather year round.
LAKE PAJAMAS — Everyone’s favorite pima cotton jammies.
HILL HOUSE NAP DRESS — Join the “Victorian ghost” movement. (I now own five?) These are such comfortable, beautifully-designed pieces to flounce around the house in.
BALA WEIGHTED BANGLES — These consistently sell out. The chicest wrist weights you’ve ever seen. 30% off.
P.S. Full rundown of sales for you here and sales for children here.
By: Jen Shoop
What are you up to today, besides shopping all of the amazing Black Friday deals? (I’ve been updating that post all week — wheeee! — I think I’ve completed all of my holiday shopping thanks to the many impressive promotions that started early this year! So fun this go around — there was something sporting and spiriting about the online shopping experience given the bleak circumstances of 2020.)
We have an advent calendar and a nativity set from years past, but I had to mention that this wood set from Target is absolutely adorable. I just ordered one for each of my godchildren!
I am also thrilled we’ve officially entered the phase of the year where Christmas music and movies are openly permissible. A few of my favorite holiday albums: Kacey Musgraves’ twang-y, kitschy “A Very Kacey Christmas” album; Vince Guaraldi Trio’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas”; Elvis Presley’s “Christmas Album”; the 49-track “Soul Christmas” album featuring various artists; and of course Mariah Carey’s “Christmas” album.
A few of my favorite holiday movies, and I am certain I’ll rope Mr. Magpie into watching one or two this weekend…
“THE HOLIDAY”
“ELF”
“ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS”
“HOME ALONE”
“A CHRISTMAS STORY”
“WHITE CHRISTMAS”
“IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE”
“THE FAMILY STONE”
“LOVE ACTUALLY”
“CHRISTMAS VACATION”
A few other movies that aren’t explicitly Christmas but that have prominent Christmas scenes that I will also be re-visiting this season: “Meet Me in St. Louis” (in it, Judy Garland sings the now-classic “Have Yourself a Merry Christmas”), “Harry Potter,” “You’ve Got Mail,” “When Harry Met Sally” (also a great NYE moment), “While You Were Sleeping,” and “Die Hard” (had never seen this before this quarantine, and I went into it thinking “why do people make such a big deal of Bruce Willis?”…now I get it).
This is a weird year, and I know that most of us are spending the holidays not as we wish to, but as we must. Hang in there, pour an extra glass of champagne, put on that nap dress, and may God bless you and yours.
xxx
Jen
P.S. Our family Thanksgiving prayer — which always (!) brings a tear to my eye — is here. I know many of you have adopted this in your own families. I doubt I’ll be able to get through it this year in particular without crying.
P.P.S. If you’re looking for diversion (and/or are new here!), introduce yourself to the Magpie community here! I love reading these answers. So many interesting people read this blog.
Links are back up and running! I’m so sorry for the inconvenience earlier, but everything should be working in my first post from today.
Now: a few really amazing deals I’ve found on toys and clothing for children during this sale season:
+TUBBY TODD: 15% off sitewide, plus extra promotions for purchases over $100. Their all-over ointment is magic — a must-have if you are a new mom! Works on everything from diaper rash to baby acne and even eczema.
+ZULILY: Ooly products on sale! I’ve never seen this brand on Zulily and — as you know — I’m in love with this brand for art supplies for my children, and in fact had already ordered a few packs of their gel crayons for the holidays, but now I’m going back and considering these dot paints and some of their coloring books for my “emergency stockpile” of activities. While at Zulily, note that CPC is back, and you can still snag these perfect-for-Christmas cord overalls for your little man (Hill owns! — these run big; I would size down).
+ANTHROPOLOGIE: 30% off Olli Ella, including their absolutely adorable baby doll pram and dollhouse. The pram won’t ship until after Christmas but this is the kind of item you might buy now and set aside for the birthday. (I never see this brand on sale!)
+BELLABLISS: 40% off with code THANKFUL. I remember mini wearing a past-season variation on this precious romper and swooning over her in it. I also love these Christmas shortalls for a little boy. I prefer the look of shorter shorts on Hill (I feel like so many of these rompers have big, baggy legs that go down below the knee), and this fits the bill.
+NORDSTROM: Some price breaks on darling Janod gifts, like this cool aquatic puzzle (which teaches them how to use screws!) that I just snagged for Hill at 40% off and this tractor puzzle (also 40% off, and also snagged).
+MINNOW SWIM: Starting at 8 PM PST, all swimsuits are 20% off. I am buying mini this for next summer — it is TOO GOOD. I find this brand runs true to size, so will probably size up from her current size so it fits next year.
+1212: 25% off with code BF25. I wrote about this at some length in my big Black Friday roundup, but the absolute best, softest baby basics and I especially liked their onesies when my littles were tiny.
UPDATE (2:18 P.M.): Links appear to be back in working order! Apologies for the confusion.
UPDATE (11 A.M.): Hi Magpies! A lot of my links to amazing shopping finds are not working at the moment. I am working with my technology partner to resolve this issue. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Part two of my latest batch of shopping inquiries! (Part one here, and more of what you might be looking for here.)
Q: A beautiful LBD for a special occasion (to be celebrated at home).
A: This dress (seen above, and currently on sale for 40% off). Wowza. More options here and here.
Q: Gifts for both of my sister-in-law’s families — one large family gift for each.
Q: TV stand decor. At a loss for how to style mine beyond the actual TV.
A: I hear you! You don’t want too much up there to impede or compete with your TV-watching. I would say a stack of coffee table books in a carefully curated set of colors with an objet (suggestions here) on top on one end and a green plant on the other — maybe a potted boxwood? That’s what we currently have going on in our living room, and it helps tie the room together without feeling too cluttered.
Q: Looking at Sheertex tights — seem to good to be true? Need tights for work in winter.
A: I honestly hadn’t heard of this brand until you wrote me about it! I have been a Spanx girl through and through for over a decade. I think the quality is amazing and I like the compression. However, I am currently looking to upgrade to Wolford Matte 80 Denier, la creme de la creme in hosiery!
A: I would suggest Erin Gates’ collection. This 8×10 size (!) is $400, and it looks like something out of a Ralph Lauren ad, and this one is refined and plush and belongs in a Nancy Meyers living room. I shared more rugs I love here, and some of them fit the bill (under $400) if you’re looking for area rugs around 5×7.
Q: Pointy-toe cognac/camel work flats at a reasonable price and available in Canada. Sarah Flint is out…
A: Margaux! Impossibly chic and in the greatest camel color.
Q: Timeless luxury clutch. BFF has the BV pouch and I love it but can’t copy her! Something similar?
A: Oo such a fun one — what about a Chanel wallet on a chain? You can tuck the chain inside to use as a clutch, but nice to have the option to wear as a crossbody, too. Drool.
Q: Gifts for dads and brothers. Likes: boating, history, genealogy, and wine.
A: A starting point for men’s gifts here, but a few thoughts related to their listed interests:
+Depending on their degree of sophistication in wine (this might be insulting to, like, a trained sommelier), we use this What to Eat with What You Drink book constantly — maybe this and some wine from a local vineyard? (My parents-in-law frequently send us wine from Early Mountain Vineyards in VA.) Great stocking stuffer: this amazing champagne stopper. Actually works! Read the reviews!
+Yeti mugs or lowballs for their next boating adventure (depending on if they set sail at coffee or cocktail hour). They come with splash lids (boat-friendly!) and are insulated to keep their beverages at just the right temp.
Q: A cute laundry basket that isn’t woven (wicker or rattan)!
A: Poppin! We use this blue one in Hill’s room. Comes in great colors! Alternately, Yamazaki always has attractive storage solutions — if you’re open to one without a liner, love the look of this.
Q: A nice but not too $$ gift for someone you don’t know well. (An in-law’s new partner…)
A: There are some good options along these lines in my Stocking Stuffer roundup — but if you’re looking for something more substantial (around $50), perhaps a Caran d’Ache pen and notebook, a beautiful mug, or a pair of digital tiles. My mom has also given a lot of Everlane and Patagonia to significant others of her children in years past (before those people became children-in-law) — both brands are nice, substantial, and “inoffensive” (by that I mean, a safe play — who doesn’t love Everlane and Patagonia? — and because they are more along the lines of outerwear, they don’t feel too intimate/personal). Something like this fleece sweatshirt or this fleece pullover might be just the ticket.
Q: How to dress my husband.
A: Ha! Todd Snyder has been my strategy for the past few years (bonus! they are running a great Black Friday promotion where you can save up to 30% off right now). I love that they walk the line between traditional and, for lack of a better word, urban — or stylized. They also offer great colors! I feel like all men’s clothing is navy, brown, or green, but Todd Snyder dares to venture into bright blues, oranges, yellows, pinks, etc. I buy Mr. Magpie several head-to-toe outfits at a time from them a few times a year. This winter checklist is a good starting point — I would start with some cords and a great sweater. I find that the way they style their models online is instructive (sometimes I copy their entire looks), and their in-store staff at their flagship store has also been very helpful on visits in years past — now they offer free email styling consultation, which might also be helpful.) I also recently discovered Taylor Stitch, a more rugged-leaning menswear label. I’m intrigued by their textured shirting, like this houndstooth and this corduroy.
Let me know if more suggestions would be interesting for a standalone post.
Q: Footless neutral or light blue one-piece for newborn boy. Photographer wants feet out!
A: So sweet! I did an entire roundup of my favorite holiday dresses here. This one is so cheery! Feel free to email me any time with specifics like style, pricepoint, etc and I can do a deeper dive.
Q: Christmas/holiday cards. Traditional, classic, not too modern, non-photo.
A: This is tough to find — so many of them are photo-centric! I’d say your best bet is to find an Etsy shop whose designs you like and ask if they will work with you to adapt one to be photo-less. That’s what I’ve done! Currently working with EW Designs on this exact subject. HoneyBearPages also has beautiful work that might be adaptable. I’ve also worked in the past with Sweetly Said Press and Dinglewood Designs — both were joys to collaborate with and yielded the most stunning letterpress designs!
Another hack: search for “Holiday Moving Cards” (tend not to be photo-centric, but to have holiday themes!) and just change up the phrasing to suit your own needs!
CORNFLAKE CHRISTMAS WREATH (RECIPE BELOW — MY MOM HAS MADE THIS EVERY YEAR FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER AND IT IS THE PERFECT BAKING ACTIVITY FOR SMALL HANDS TO HELP WITH — WILL ABSOLUTELY BE DOING THIS WITH MINI THIS YEAR!)
Magpie Sugar Cut-Out Cookies.
Cream 1 cup butter and 1 cup sugar. Mix in 2 eggs and ¼ tsp salt. In a small ramekin, dissolve 1 teaspoon baking soda in 4 tablespoons milk. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla to the dough and add milk mix alternately with 4 cups all-purpose flour. Roll out dough. Cut with cutters. Bake at 350 for 8-10 mins.
Grandma Carm’s Christmas Horns.
Work 3 tablespoons sugar into 5 cups flour and add 1 pound butter. Mix in ½ cup sour cream and 2 dry yeast packets. Add 3 beaten egg yolks and two tablespoons vinegar. Knead. Store in fridge over night. Shape dough and roll in circles. Fill with 1 tablespoon apricot jam and roll like crescents. Brush with beaten egg white and sprinkle with chopped walnuts. Bake 15-20 minutes at 350 and sprinkle heavily with powdered sugar.
Cracker Toffee.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment and then place saltine crackers in a single layer on top — as many as will fit, edge to edge. In a small pot, combine 1 cup (two sticks) unsalted butter and 1 cup light brown sugar (packed) and bring to a boil. Once bubbling/boiling, continue to boil for three minutes, until deep caramel color. Immediately pour over saltines and spread to cover crackers completely. (Work quickly, the sugar-butter mixture hardens fast!) Bake in oven for 5-6 minutes and sprinkle 2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips over top. Let sit a few minutes to melt and spread over top. If chocolate does not melt, you can return pan to oven for a few minutes and spread then. Sprinkle with chopped pecans. Cool completely, break into pieces, and eat.
Cornflake Christmas Wreaths.
Melt 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter in a large pot. Add 1 10-oz package marshmallows and stir until melted. Mix in green food coloring. Stir in 4.5 cups cornflakes. Form into either one large round wreath on a serving platter or multiple small wreaths on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Dot with red M&Ms or red hot candies and finish with red velvet bows. Let cool completely.
Holiday Baking Supplies and Accoutrements.
+This enormous bin of plastic cookie cutters is the absolute best. For $15, it covers every holiday as well as nearly any theme you could want (letters! sports! animals!) and I find them better than the more expensive/fancier-seeming metal ones — they do not bend or rust like their metal counterparts! I also like that even within a given holiday, the set includes bigger sizes and smaller ones — we have proper enormous gingerbread men (they are like 6 inches tall!), which is so fun for a dramatic presentation. Did I mention the entire kit is $15?! I’ve had mine for over a decade and will never part ways with it.
+I had a recent inquiry about sprinkles! I have really liked the sprinkles from India Tree, which I first discovered at Sur La Table. I especially like their sanding sugar. However, I did recently discover this fun brand, Sprinkle Pop, which does over-the-top themed sprinkle mixes and I think I will order some for decorating with mini.
+Alternately, Martha Stewart used to make the most charming treat boxes/bags, and you can still find a handful if you look hard online (also here), though I don’t think she’s produced these for a few years. Too bad — I loved her stuff!
+Williams-Sonoma Gold Touch baking pans and sheets are my favorite to bake with. They are heavy, non-stick, and do not warp. I feel like I always talk about “not warping” as the ultimate marker of quality in cookware, but I’m haunted by some of the inexpensive stuff I bought in college, where the baking pans never actually laid flat, and were therefore always yielding uneven cooking results and at risk of toppling onto the floor.
+That said, my head has been turned by these Great Jones sheet pans that I’ve been seeing all over. Has anyone tried? The dishwasher safe element intrigues me — you aren’t supposed to put most baking sheets in the dishwasher and as a result they can be difficult to keep pristine.
+Upgrade your baking game this season with Nielsen Massey vanilla and almond extracts — the best. Or splurge on Guittard chocolate chips or Scharffen Berger chocolate. I also always and only bake with Plugra or Kerrygold unsalted butter. It’s expensive, but especially in baking, you can really tell the difference. It yields the richest flavor!
+Also, take it from me: buy your peppermint and almond extracts now. I have in years past had the HARDEST time finding these in the run-up to Christmas, and I anticipate this year will be particularly scarce with more people at home looking to celebrate any way possible.
+Meri Meri always does the cutest cupcake decor kits, like these and these. Mini would have a blast decorating with these.
+I’ve written about this recently, but this cake dome (double as a punch bowl if you invert the stand and place the dome on top of it!) has been a true MVP in our house for a decade. I nearly always keep something in it, whether baked goods, store-bought treats, or — inverted — an enormous bowl of fruit. I also find the pedestal handy on its own for creating dimension in a tablescape, i.e., you could elevate a pie on it around a bunch of other baked goodies. I also have always loved the cake stands from Mosser, which are usually made of milk glass, and this green would be so elegant if you go with a green/blue theme for the holidays. Also a fun way to showcase your baked goods on a pedestal!
P.P.S. If you’ve been eyeing the Nintendo Switch for your children, quick! I found it restocked in this limited edition pastel colorway here, and available with free shipping.
By: Jen Shoop
Who is ready for some online sale shopping? I will be updating this post with all my favorite scores and finds from Black Friday through Cyber Monday, including many small businesses:
+OUTNET: Extra 25% off almost everything with code BLACKFRIDAY, including the silk charmeuse trousers you never knew you always needed, Zimmermann magic for your first post-COVID social event, and a CHIC houndstooth blazer (pair with black turtleneck and leggings for your next Zoom meeting).
+ANTHROPOLOGIE: 30% off everything if you sign up for their (free!) AnthroPerks program, so you can score this darling dress, this plaid cardigan (MEANT to be worn with No. 6 clog boots), or something sparkly for NYE (this dress would work with (or without) modest bump, and j’adore this Saloni-esque style). Finally, is this not the most perfect lounge-y Christmas dress? Festive in color but easy to wear. Basically a nightgown.
+LAKE PAJAMAS: Select pieces of everyone’s favorite pajamas on sale. I just ordered a few of pair of these as gifts, and I absolutely loved these maternity pajamas while nursing — great gift for an expecting/new mama. Bonus: free shipping over $50. Do not wait on this promotion — these do sell out.
+LAURA MERCIER: 25% off everything; 30% off orders over $150. I ended up not liking the Ilia tinted serum I bought in the Sephora sale (full review coming soon), so I re-ordered LM’s tried-and-true tinted moisturizer. I alternate between this and Chantecaille’s tinted moisturizer most days! Two other items I love from LM: their eye primer (which I use in lieu of shadow most days but can of course be used as a base layer as intended!) and their eye shadow in “Vanilla Nuts,” which is the most perfect neutral shade for me. It brightens the eye while still looking very natural.
+1212: 25% off everything with code BF25. If you are a new or expecting mom, 1212 makes the absolute best onesies and leggings. The softest pima cotton, only two snaps to fuss with on the onesies, and an extra stretchy head opening for those tiny heads. These pieces are expensive, but they hold up beautifully — I passed all of them down from Emory to Hill. Especially when my babies were itty bitty, I only wanted to put them in the softest cotton pieces and these are in my opinion the absolute best. They also have precious footies. A great option if you have a new baby you’d like to shower with a gift! (Also, they have a Hanukkah-centric pair of holiday pajamas!) The brand runs a bit small, so I would size up if in question.
+BOLL&BRANCH: 25% off everything. A great time to upgrade your bed with my favorite sheets and bed blanket. (Love love love love.)
+OUTDOOR VOICES: I actually do not care for their leggings, but Mr. Magpie lives in their joggers and I am eyeing a pair for myself — up to 35% off in select colors.
+MAJE and SANDRO: 40% off everything at Maje and sister brand Sandro, meaning that you can score this tweed coat dress (which was one of the most popular items I featured last month) at a serious discount. Absolute perfection for a Christening or a demure wedding-related festivity. I am eyeing this perfect sweater dress with the scalloped detail and pearl fasteners — OMG. And let’s not forget Maje’s fleet of perfect little cardigans — eyeing this and this wow wow wow.
+HILL HOUSE: 20% off almost everything, but LBH – we’re all here for their nap dresses, which, sadly, are probably already almost all sold out. (I got to the site three minutes post-launch and they’d already sold out of the print I wanted!) My favorite styles are the Ellie and the Caroline, but I did manage to snag a new style for myself, the Nesli in their holiday tartan.
