Musings + Essays
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Weekend Vibes, Edition No. 264: Questions to Ask Our Future Selves.

By: Jen Shoop

My Latest Snags: Mr. Magpie’s Spring Wardrobe + My New Fleet of Spring Dresses.

This week, I bought a ton for Mr. Magpie’s spring wardrobe, much of which was detailed in this post. I am particularly proud of the rainbow of Lacostes I found him on sale here! As for myself, I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of three dresses I ordered for my spring wardrobe: this Mille, this Doen, and this Cartolina Nantucket, which are all in permutations of transit!

You’re Soooo Popular: Spring Dresses.

The most popular items on Magpie this week:

bestselling spring clothing

AGOLDE WHITE DENIM SHORTS WITH RAW HEM

WOVEN NAGHEDI TOTE BAG — PERFECT FOR VACATIONS, OR AS AN EVERYDAY PURSE — 25% OFF IN SELECT COLORS HERE

SMOCKED PRINTED MAXI DRESS WITH TIE SHOULDER

TIERED MIDI DRESS WITH SCALLOP DETAILING

PUFF SLEEVE DRESS IN HAND BLOCKED PRINT (SEE ME IN MINE HERE)

MOROCCAN RAFFIA SANDALS — THE ANKLE TIE DETAIL ELEVATES THESE CLASSIC SANDALS!

GREEN FLORAL CAMEO EARRINGS WITH STUNNING PEARL POSTS

BODEN SHORT SLEEVE BLOUSE WITH BIRD PRINT

SQUALENE AND VITAMIN C ROSE OIL, FOR RADIANT SKIN THIS SEASON

SPRING THEMED SENSORY DOUGH JAR

90’S HIGH CUT TANK TOP — A CLOSET STAPLE!

LOW TOP GOLDEN GOOSE SNEAKERS

OLAY ULTIMATE EYE

CHILDREN’S EASTER BUNNY EARS

MY FAVORITE FOOTIES FOR INFANTS

MINI’S NEW CROCS FOR “INDOOR SHOES” AT SCHOOL — THE MINERAL BLUE MAKES THEM SLIGHTLY MORE PALATABLE

PRETTY EURO SHAMS

Weekend Musings: Future Self.

I’ve written in the past about the concept of being kind to my future self, usually within the context of taking care of little tasks now so I don’t have to worry about them later, when I might be harried or tired. I think of this often in the evenings when I don’t feel like packing lunch for my children, but know that my future self will be grateful for one less thing to do during the frenetic crunch of activity that is the pre-school morning hour in our home.

The other day, though, someone on Instagram posed the prompt: “What question would you most like to ask your future self?” I was struck by the exercise because it drew out the core question(s) and desire(s) and challenge(s) with which I am currently entangled, generating a heat map across my mind and heart. I found myself mainly asking vocation-oriented questions: “Where do you end up taking your writing?” and “Do you ever publish a book?” On the one hand, the fact that these craft-type questions were top of mind was a reassurance. Their very nature made me realize how blessed I am to have so many other uncertainties around which many women (and former versions of myself!) strain — Will I have children? Will I find a partner? Will I end up leaving New York? Will I resolve x issue with y person? Will I ever feel confident at work? Will I ever feel confident in my own skin?

At the same time, I had to wonder whether my profession-oriented queries were top of mind because I have been reading so much about creativity and craft lately (Gilbert laid the bait!) and have been stretching myself to write in genres that feel new and less comfortable, like the fiction I published earlier this week and the essay-poems I put out here and here.

Regardless, the prompt afforded me insight into what feels weightiest to me at this moment in time. And that in turn felt like a big “Giddy up!”

What questions surfaced for you? Were they relationship-oriented, career-directed, or something else? Did they shed any light for you?

Shopping Break.

+Oo! I just love this Loretta-Caponi-esque sundress. (But at a fraction of the price of Loretta.)

+These airport code embroidered hats are cute — would be a nice way to commemorate a favorite vacation destination, or a hometown!

+You all LOVED this pair of scalloped, woven picture frames and they keep selling out everywhere — just found them at Shopbop of all places!

+The best round brush for a blowout with a traditional hair blow dryer. (AKA, if you aren’t using your Revlon One Step.) BTW, if you need a traditional blow dryer, the $50 “inspired-by-Dyson” one I reviewed here is really good.

+A fabulous and well-priced outdoor coffee table.

+Who doesn’t love a good embroidered tunic top with white jeans?!

+Stunning scalloped pillows. These look much more expensive than they are.

+I usually stick with all-white socks for my children (so you aren’t constantly with one mismatched sock), but micro LOVES these car/plane patterned ones. These are my favorites for when he’s wearing his Vejas or putzing around in socks at home (they have grippies and a nice snug fit).

+The tailored high waist shorts are SO elegant. A different vibe from the more casual ones I featured last week. You could wear this with a silky button-down top and heels out to dinner!

+Also love these under-$100 scalloped eyelet ones!

+A perfect dress for a mother of a bride at her daughter’s rehearsal dinner or engagement party.

+Love this gingham initial sweatshirt for mini.

+DRAMA.

+Stripes + ric rac = dreamy vacation heaven.

+Love this simple striped onesie for a baby in the sage green color. ($5!)

+Drawn to this utility overshirt.

+This little Fendi bag is so good.

+These slim crop pants come in some great colors for spring.

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4 thoughts on “Weekend Vibes, Edition No. 264: Questions to Ask Our Future Selves.

  1. I would ask: Does life ever take you back to him?
    I’m in the midst of a bad heartbreak and hoping our story isn’t actually over. If it is, though, I hope there’s someone just as good out there for me.

    1. Oh gosh – how heartbreaking. I am so sorry you are going through that. I want to share you in your optimism — cheering for a happy ending for you.

      xx

  2. I think I’d ask, “Was it worth it?” I was on an upward trajectory in a career I really didn’t love. I took a big risk leaving to pursue my degree in counseling and will be graduating soon. I’m job hunting again now and it’s been so nerve-wracking. I’m happier, but walking away from a steady income has been stressful.

    1. Hi Tricia – Oh my gosh, I can absolutely relate to this! I’ve had two major career changes in my time and both were highly stressful. Hang in there. Just know it takes a serious backbone to make such a big change and you’ve come so far already. Some other words that were helpful to me at those critical times of change in my life: “Which would you rather — the pain of being stuck or the pain of growth?”

      xx

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