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By: Jen Shoop
Earlier this month, Landon called us to the yard: he’d found a four-foot-long rat snake draped across one of the branches that overhangs our drive. We couldn’t believe it; would you ever think to find a large snake in the suburban canopy? Rat snakes are not venomous to us, but long enough to be scary, and apparently known, according to our neighbor, to feast not only on rodents but bird eggs, which might have explained its aerial perch. Reader, I did not care for its clandestine callings. I made a wide arc into the lawn grass each morning to avoid its possible encounter, and I pointlessly worried over the nests it might have found.
The next day, a catbird — common as grass in these parts — launched into what must have been a two day long chant. The catbird has a distinctive song, if you’ve ever heard it: melodic but jumbled, liquid and trilling and seeming to go on for a long time. They also mimic other birds, animals, and even machinery, so it can sound like a helluva lot happening — almost like a breathless child telling you about her day, and in exclamation points and random departures into sound. I’d never heard the catbird so riled up or protracted in its palaver, though; it vocalized for hours one night, while Landon and I sat at the grill, and it woke me up two mornings in a row, too. Of course, it might have been several catbirds, or perhaps I’d simply never paid the catbird call any attention before, but it seemed to me one clear voice, and with a lot to say. Of course I cannot stare at the fabula without inventing the syuzhet, and so I imagined some horror story in which the rat snake had eaten the cat bird’s eggs, and we were witnessing a marathon lamentation.
Meanwhile, my daughter complained of “a weird machine sound” outside her window for nights on end. I thought she meant a leaf blower, or an auxiliary power unit, or any of the other normal but motorized suburban sounds to which we’ve become accustomed, but when I finally sat with her one evening, I realized she was hearing frog song, probably from the neighbor’s pool, and then I, too, couldn’t unhear it at night.
Between the catbird and the frog calls, and the rat snake threatening my morning peace, I came to feel like a visitor in these parts. A wayfarer interrupting, or attempting to coexist with, the natural. It’s medicinal to feel that way every now and then, I think: small, peripheral. This is one of the central bestowals of living in or near Northwest D.C., come to think of it. The Midatlantic’s native wilderness pokes through or dominates certain stretches of the urban landscape, reminding you that it came first. If you’ve ever driven down Military Road or through any part of Rock Creek Park, you know what I mean: there are parts that feel untouched by humans despite centuries of dense proximal habitation.
As always, I look for the constellated meaning. I think I have been asked to wake up to my world. To let the noise in. To hear the wild song, and not wish it away, or dismiss it as background noise. It’s simple really: let the wild heart beat how it wants.
+Two things have been hanging out in my J. Crew cart and I just got them while discounted: this dress for my daughter and this eyelet one-piece. Don’t sleep on J. Crew swim! I usually go up a size in their swim — just fits me better for some reason, though I usually take my true size in their other pieces.
+Love LaMareGold’s latest drop! I own this Sammy dress in a past season print and she’s SO easy to wear in peak summer. The new print is so darling! Also available in a cute shirtdress format.
+OMG my beloved Rothy’s clogs are 30% off! These are probably one of my favorite belongings. No, really, I love them that much.
+I mentioned the ZIIP nano-current products earlier this week, and they followed up with a code: 10% off with code SHOOP. I’ve now watched a lot of videos of people using the ZIIP Halo device and am officially intrigued, especially by the way it lifts and firms skin. (Another recurring thought that’s arrived as I barrel towards 41: do I have jowls? Will the ZIIP help?). I’m not sure if you follow Cheryl of If It’s Tuesday (she is just the loveliest person), but she has a highlight in her profile of how well it worked for her, and I really trust the products she vets. I might be jumping on this one.
+So many of you loved this striped hoodie I shared a week or so ago; another fun striped sweatshirt option here!
+My cousin is having twins this week and I already picked out these pointelle footies. The sweetest colors (we don’t yet know the genders) and the magnetic closures will be much-appreciated when dressing TWO in the middle of the night. And, of course, we love pointelle….
+Just came across this “relief bra” from the brand Eby. Has anyone tried? Compelling description: “Our answer to ditching the discomfort of traditional underwires without sacrificing support, lift, or shape. It’s the seamless wonder you’ve been searching for and quite frankly, the only bra you will ever need.” This is maybe what I’ve been looking for, because I often have to decide between the underwire of my Natori Feathers (the most comfortable underwire EVER but still it’s there…!) and the shapelessness of my Negative bralettes (so comfortable but not what you want beneath a thin white tee).
+Back to swimwear for a sec: this is not even really my usual style but I love this sporty suit from Summersalt! The brown and black combo is very chic and I like the fit. I already own their flagship “sidestroke” style and it’s a bestseller for a reason. It is so flattering and practical if you’re swimming with kids / chasing kids / etc.
+The brand Hatch just reached out to me and offered to send me one of their Restores, which so many people have raved about. The idea is that you can leave your phone somewhere else and instead use this for sleep sounds, a bedside light, a clock, and — most appealingly to me — a “sunrise alarm” that gently wake you up in the morning. I’d be thrilled to never hear the piercing, triggering alarm sounds of the iPhone. It was such a timely introduction because Landon and I have been talking about leaving our phones in the office or downstairs or at least across the room as a deterrent for doom scrolling in the middle of the night. I’ve gotten pretty disciplined about reaching for my Kindle instead of my phone but every now and then…and I really wish I’d not check my phone first thing in the morning!
+Something else I love on my night stand: Soft Services’ ultra-luxe hand cream. My sister and her wife raved about this over Christmas and I had to copy. The lotion is ultra-hydrating and luxe, and I love the sculptural dispenser! It’s currently 10% off (the only sale they offer until Black Friday) when added to cart.
+Mini has been begging for hoops all year long and I’ve been worried about her snagging it on a sweatshirt or having it yanked out during sports. I think I’ll still require her to switch earrings when doing something athletic, but this week, we found out she no longer needs to wear her eye patch (!!!) and I decided as a way of celebrating all of her effort and forbearance in her daily occlusion therapy, I would get her some new earrings. I got her these and added on these fun summer studs from Pip Pop Post, and then picked up these little flower hoops at Oh Clem, too.
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By: Jen Shoop
Several of my favorite summer “uniforms” center around fabulous button-down shirts, like the Sezane tomboy shirt above. I’m providing detailed reviews with notes on sizing and styling below, but first! Some easy outfit formulas that center around the glorious and versatile button-down.
Outfit Formulas that Spotlight the Button-Down.
Casual-cute mom uniform: boxer-style shorts and a big oversized button-down, finished with a rattan/basket bag. Easy, trend-conscious, and fun.
Sizing Details + Notes on My Favorite Button Downs.
A few of my favorite button-downs to achieve these looks:
01. Rag + Bone Maxine — truly an all year round investment; looks great layered beneath a crisp blazer or paired in summer with white shorts, a white skirt, etc. The material is silky and gorgeous, and I love the contrast stripe on the pocket. Looks very expensive. Currently on sale! Runs a bit big. I went down to an XXS in this and it still feels roomy. (I’m usually an XS.) Look for less pick:this Tuckernuck. The sleeves are different but has a really similar overall polished feel.
02. Frank + Eileen Eileen — the iconic. Runs TTS and has an intended lightly oversized fit, with dropped and rounded shoulders. F&E has a few different cuts/styles of button-downs, but this is the greatest basic ever especially in white linen. It’s oversized but not as voluminous as some of her other styles and I feel like it hits the exact right length (covers rear) while remaining tuckable (not too much bulk). The Shirley is their more oversized style and I am eyeing that one in blue and white stripe next for more dramatic moments.
But let me again say that I absolutely LOVE the Tuscany set, which includes the Eileen shirt and matching bottoms. Easiest, chicest everyday look and of course the pieces can be styled separately. I love the pants paired with a striped tank or tee.
03. Sold Out NYC Everything Shirt — another piece I can’t help but speak in exclamation points about. The quality will astound you. It feels and looks like something from…I don’t know, Tom Ford? Silhouette is intentionally oversized and slouchy but pulls in at all the right places, and the material is heaven-sent. Runs very big but intentionally so — it’s meant to make a voluminous statement. I have this shirt in several colors and also the matching shorts in two colors. I’m petite and wearing the full set (shirt with shorts) is a big look for me — a lot of fabric and color — so I will keep everything else ultra streamlined (barely there sandals, a simple tote). Look for less picks: I’m loving J. Crew’s Etienne with the matching boxer shorts or Gap’s The Big Shirt with coordinating shorts.
04. For more of a tailored look: obsessed with this Sezane (seen in the photo at top with a Mirth skirt from last season; similar here, here). Runs a tad narrow / small. Great if you have a fuller skirt or fuller/more dramatic pair of pants and want to create a trimmer silhouette up top. Look for less pick: this J. Crew Factory.
05. Donni’s Pop shirt is another great buy with a cool-girl, lived-in feel — everything they touch just feels Scandi chic to me. It’s a bit narrower than the Sold Out but longer hem length and more “undone” feel than the Eileen. Runs oversized.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
By: Jen Shoop
I am in a committed relationship with my Appointed notebooks (always have several on hand), but for my book, I wanted something different, and this gorgeous oversized, spiral bound beauty fit the bill. (Fellow lefties will rejoice in the top binding!) In general, I’ve been intuitively segregating all my book work from my normal flow. When I sit down to work on my book, I clear my desk of everything except the notebook above, have a specific playlist, turn off the lights, etc. It’s a different flow and I find it signals to my brain: “It’s time to settle in and get going.” BTW, I believe that the notebook above is included in Rifle’s 25% off promotion for Memorial Day. They have so many adorable gifts — how chic is this set? I am still delighted by any notepad I ever receive. (And I put them all to great use.)
PS – Our local Whole Foods just started carrying the Spindrift Nojito flavor and I love it!
PPS – Above, wearing those Splendid gauze pants I won’t shut up about. They are currently somehow 40% off with code MEMWKND. I can’t rec enough. These and the Pistola utilities are easily my most-worn pants for heavy-duty work days, when I need to write without feeling the faintest distraction. Magpie reader Kelly recently wrote this in a comment: “Things that tell my body it’s okay: fresh air. Water. Physical journaling. Belly laughs. Bone broth. Ripe fruit. Clothes without constriction or itch.” I thought how true that was, how wearing an outfit that moves, breathes, and most importantly as a writer sits comfortably permits my mind to be more fully itself because my body isn’t vying for any attention. You can’t really see the rest of the outfit, but the other elements that make for a great workday: Negative undergarments, the softest t-shirt I own (Buck Mason, where have you been all my life), and a La Ligne marin sweater in cotton. I am always, always cold.
I have framed on my desk this little scribbly MAMAMAMAMA note that Hill made for me when he was first learning to write my name, and I recently scanned it and had it engraved onto this coin pendant. It charms me to no end to carry my son, and his fledgling attempts at writing, around my neck. It’s also just lovely — such a privilege — to be called Mama at all, you know? I read a great quote by Warsan Shire this week: “The sun is perfect and you woke this morning. You have enough language in your mouth to be understood. You have a name, and someone wants to call it. Five fingers on your hand and someone wants to hold it. If we just start there, every beautiful thing that has and will ever exist is possible. If we start there, everything, for a moment, is right in the world.” God, how beautiful. “You have a name, and someone wants to call it.”
This is why I adore this little pendant so much. A great talisman for warding off the occasional monotony and frustration we can feel when stretched too-thin as mothers. Anyhow, the price is reasonable — $138 for something custom — and it’s currently 20% off with code MEMDAY. I really like this jewelry retailer; lots of special pieces. I gave my SIL this connection necklace as a way to signify our closeness even though she lives abroad and we share maybe a week or two a year together, if lucky.
My entire family is addicted to these Jeni’s ice cream sandwiches. All the flavors are incredible, but I might like key lime and mint chocolate the best. Just divine, divine. I feel like a lot of times, the cookie part of the ice cream sandwich is a cardboard afterthought, but the cookies alone on these creations are delicious.
Gingham everything! How fortuitous that I shared my obsession with this Posse top on Sunday only to find it fully restocked the day after! Kismet. Ordered on the spot. And also wore this gorgeous gingham dress over the weekend — it’s linen and the fit is gorgeous. Sadly almost sold out at the time of writing this, but this Reformation is virtually identical (more stock here). And if you’re looking for something a bit more tailored, this $79 gingham lovely also turned my head. Anyhow, I paired with these Madewell sandals, which are 25% off!
Back to red nails! Sparking such joy after many weeks of doing pale white/pink. This is OPI Emmy Have You Seen Oscar? Got it on my toes, too.
Very impressed with this gentle exfoliator — a perfect antidote for summer SPF, sweat, outdoor activities, etc. I used it on Sunday as a part of a long and languid everything shower and delighted in it. Skin was soft and happy and scrubbed clean. It felt like the most delightful way to scrub off the busy weekend and prepare for a full week of writing.
Speaking of skincare: I’ve been using this TikTok-viral cream cleanser daily for the past two weeks or so and LOVE IT. It has an almost mallow-like texture with little exfoliation beads (but not too many — it doesn’t feel like you’re really scrubbing your skin) and I love the effect. Hydrating, smoothing, softening. I use after my nightly cleansing balm application. I absolutely cannot skip the cleansing balm stage. It’s like an invisible cue that it’s time to start getting ready for bed, winding down, letting my heart and head rest. It feels like everyone is running a sale, because the balms are also 25% off. I can’t recommend this trio of balms more. It’s already a discount ($120 value, costs $90) but 25% off this weekend. For me, the balms are instant re-order. The only one I don’t like is the cherry flavor. Fig is actually delightful, but I really couldn’t stand the cherry scent. Stick with rose or the others.
I worked on my book almost all day Saturday and Landon was my hero, ferrying the kids around to soccer, to lunch, to errands, to birthday parties! Halfway through the day, he knocked on my door to deliver Shake Shack, and even had it all plated up. Salvation! It feels unbelievable to have his encouragement and nurture during this time.
You may have noticed the green set in the Shake Shack pic: I wore this Varley shorts set (top, shorts — running low on stock in my color but others available) 3x this past week, mainly in those interstitial times of day, i.e., carpool before workout, errand after workout, just out of the shower, etc. It is SO comfortable and I also think cute! I can say that with confidence in fact because I came down wearing it and Landon said: “That’s a fun set.” A fun set!
I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks: above, my first attempt at a fishtail braid (at my daughter’s request) and…not terrible? I’m better at doing space buns. What did moms do before YouTube tutorials?!
For some reason I’ve been huddling around the idea of talismans lately. I’ve been wearing my courage pendant almost daily, and now often layer it with the Mamamamama necklace featuring Hill’s writing. Both bring me different things whenever I feel for them — they sort of put me in touch with sentiments I reach for routinely throughout the day. I also started wearing this evil eye chain bracelet this week after I had one of those weeks where things were just not clicking right — missed opportunities, botched communications, timing logistics askew. It’s not that I think it will ward off those unpleasantries, but I look at it and I remind myself to think positive: “Every good thing is going to happen.” (Seen above with my beloved Dorsey turquoise bracelet. A $58 look for less here.)
Landon and I are still totally obsessed with Wingspan. We usually play on weekend mornings / at weekend happy hours when we’re home. The kids have learned to accommodate it and it’s taken on its own beautiful routine feel in our home. My sister and her wife also play and after they visited (and played with us), they sent us a few “deluxe add ons” for our set, including these wood bird tokens — and they picked a magpie for me! Is that not the most thoughtful?!
Bonus: extra salty Virginia peanuts. Peanuts are the best game snack.
Oh! And we’ve also been playing a ton of Sleeping Queens with the kids — this was the top rec from Magpie moms when I asked which games you enjoy playing as a family. It’s perfect. Easy to learn, encourages math, and has enough luck to it that the parents aren’t always winning. Also a quick pace and overall run of play (most games are over in about 10 minutes?). We also played a few rounds of this drawing game over the weekend, and they loved it, although we had to give Hill a 45 second head start to even things out (he’s five), and we play for two minutes versus the suggested one. I just picked up two adjacent games that I think they’ll enjoy based on Scribbles: Sussed and SketchyTales.
We’ve had an unusually dense few weeks of dining out, and have enjoyed truly incredible experiences. Pascual was unbelievable upscale Mexican (with a little European twist — this is the newer concept from the folks behind our beloved Lutece in Georgetown) and well worth the 45 minute drive into DC. Not pictured above but deeply enjoyed: Pisco Y Nazca, brand-new and in our neck of the woods here in Bethesda. IMO Bethesda is seriously lacking dinner date spots, but now we have Aventino (five stars) and PYN, which is a fun, sort of clubby-vibe Peruvian spot that specializes in ceviches and pisco sours. It was BUSTLING. The music was too loud but we had a really fun time. Would be a good place for a group of girlfriends, too. And finally, Landon and I really celebrated ourselves at Rose’s Luxury last Friday. We’ve been twice now and this last experience cemented it in our minds as the best luxury meal in DC. It is so creative, so beautifully presented, so delicious, and the service and overall experience top notch. We specifically love the prix fixe format, and the way they send out little “gifts” around the menu. These are probably just factored into the cost of the meal but it always feels so extra and indulgent, and special.
One final note: I wore this spectacular statement necklace last Friday to a new parents’ coffee at my daughter’s new school. I wanted to spotlight it because it is from a business run by a Magpie reader: Meg Carter Designs. How show-stopping?! Thank you, Meg!
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
By: Jen Shoop
Image above via Posse, which just launched a new gingham-centric capsule!
A couple of launches, sales, and finds not to miss —
01. Extra 20% off Veronica Beard’s sale section with code MDW2025. This is such a great time to invest in the pieces you’ll reach for over and over again. I want to spotlight this denim vest, which I own and absolutely love. SO chic paired with colored denim, white denim, dark wash denim, or layered over a dress (as I’ve done in the past). Other favorites: the Valentina sneaker in a spring/summer fabric and color, this chic robin’s egg blue top (pair with high-waisted white trousers or skirt), this white eyelet number that is sure to be in heavy rotation (pair with leather sandals for casual wear, layer over a swimsuit, pair with a heel for dinner out). And of course I always rec taking a look at their blazer options while on sale: this denim will serve you well. I have a similar one from VB (also in dark denim) from two seasons ago that I wear constantly. I love it with lighter wash denim, white denim, colored denim, brown or green utility trousers, etc.
02. Hill House’s swim/early summer capsule launched yesterday and the much-anticipated rash guard / swim jacket are FLYING (may have already flown by the time this post goes live), as has been the skirt. Nellie Diamond has been promoting these as “not just for swim” — she wears the skirt/jacket as athletic wear or athleisure. I love that tailored jacket! If you missed out on these pieces, you might like the options from Watskin. These half-zips can be worn as swimwear or activewear and come in great colors. Watskin is also running a sale — MEMORIAL25 for 25% off.
Back to HHH: I absolutely love their Giana suit (own in a different pattern) and currently have the chocolate gingham in my cart! How perfect with this cocoa print pareo?! Love the pattern mix!
But honestly if I lost my entire summer wardrobe tomorrow and had to rebuild from scratch, I’d be pretty happy with a closet full stocked by Posse. Like how perfect are all these pieces?!
04. Doen also released its summer collection yesterday! I’m doubling down on gingham because I absolutely adore the June in the new red gingham! I own this top in a different print and it is ultra-lightweight and therefore comfortable in heat but easy to tuck into shorts/jeans with no added bulk. I really love the look of these tops tucked into my trusty Agolde jean shorts in the summer, finished with Birks. Easy and youthful but polished. I can’t get over the way they styled the shirt with these adorable white eyelet shorts on the site! Are you noticing a trend between Posse/Doen?! It’s the vibe! Also really loved this patterned skirt from the launch — I’d style with brown strappy sandals, a white tee, and a Jane Birkin style basket bag. Last but not least, I’m swooning over their new “cottage grove” floral print, which comes in this feminine frill top or this spectacular dress (which I immediately imagined for a bride-to-be!)
05. Frank + Eileen re-released its red “Greece” set, which sold out quickly last summer. It’s the perfect set for a trip to Nantucket/Cape Code/Martha’s Vineyard where you might need warmth in the mornings/evenings. Just imagine with a pair of sneaks for a morning coffee run, or layering the sweatshirt over white jeans shorts on the beach, or the sweatpants with a tank…so good! The outfit just suggests itself into your own lifestyle. I own this set in white and love it; the silhouette of the sweatpants are my absolute favorite. While you’re there, note that F&E is running a fantastic sale but only select colors are included in each SKU! Don’t miss the aforementioned incredible sweatpants (I own in two colors – navy and white), the Effie in a great ice blue color (love this layered over leggings / paired with jeans), and this fabulous “tuxedo” style shirt, which is somehow 70% off?!?!?! I own and adore this top!
06. On the Mem Day sale front, don’t miss Splendid’s incredible gauze pants and/or eyelet pants at 40% off with code MEMWKND. I live in the gauze pants, and the eyelet pants were SO fun to wear over the weekend. I thought they’d look cute layered over a swimsuit too.
07. Merit is launching a brand new product — a tinted mineral sunscreen! — tomorrow, but we get early access here, with code EARLY. I love these kinds of products and live in them in the summer. Great way to get a tiny bit of coverage, some glow, and of course SPF without feeling like a full face of makeup. I can’t wait to test this. I generally find they do a good job with releasing products that feel like you’re wearing nothing / that blend and layer easily.
08. Dana Rebecca is offering 18% off sitewide to celebrate its 18th birthday! So many special, delicate pieces that are beautiful layered or worn solo. I love the barely there vibe of these; you could never take off and wouldn’t be bothered by them! I own and adore these diamond crossover huggies. They’re petite but elegant and the kind of thing you can just wear for days on end without thinking about it. They go with everything. They also have a $500 and under section that would be fabulous if you’re looking to invest in a meaningful gift for a grad, for a bride-to-be, for a daughter matriculating to a new school or completing one chapter or another. Or just for yourself! Celebrating a big milestone at work, one month as a mother, etc. They’re gorgeous and special but not thousands of dollars, especially with the 18% discount. I love this delicate bezel necklace and these bar studs. Last but not least: push present idea — this initial pendant charm with the baby’s initial on it!
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09. Madewell ALSO launched a 25% off Mem Day sale. (This week has had some of the best promotions of the year! I don’t remember it being this good last year?). So many great finds in the same “gingham-sardine-crochet-bungee-cord summer vibe” we’ve been circling around.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
By: Jen Shoop
Heads up: HHH just launched a really great swim edit, with a jacket-like rash guard top that has basically already sold out in 35 minutes — run if you can. I’ve heard you can wear this to swim in or as a basic athletic jacket; same goes for the skirt! But really I must plug their Giana swimsuit. I own this in a past-season print and LOVE IT. The fit is perfect – flattering, not too cheeky, etc. And the prints! I think I’m going to grab the chocolate gingham!
An unrelated launch I had to mention: Frank and Eileen’s Greece travel set in RED. This sold out instantly last summer and was just restocked. SO fun for Nantucket / beach / FOJ / etc!
The last few years, my fitness regimen has thrived in late spring and early summer, in part scaffolded by the inviting weather (I love a morning run in the high 60s/low 70s, and am happy even in the 80s; plus, there is so much to look with all the blooming flowers and happy yards) and in part because I know I’ll soon be baring my arms and legs and want to feel toned. This year has been no different, and I am finding I really need it for my own mental wellness during this busy period. Below, some of the fitness finds I’ve been loving most lately….
01. First, the Stakt fitness mat — I love slight cushioning and it’s great if you’re ever in need of elevation (calf raises, inclined push-ups, etc). It also folds up so tidily!
02. Any and all Vuori — this tank is my absolute favorite! I have it in two colors and reach for it first when it’s clean in the laundry.
03. I swear by my Lululemon align bike shorts — these are the 6″ ones. I’ve tried a bunch of different bike short options and these are the only ones I find that don’t dig in to skin / are flattering on the leg.
04. You were right: Bombas has the best running socks! I’m totally in love with these and will never look back.
05. For running: Nike Invincibles are my ride or die, although so many Magpies raved about these Brooks Glycerins, I ordered to test. I’ve taken the Brooks out for three runs this week and I really like them; I’ll definitely keep running with these until the treads wear out. The cushioning is divine. I still might slightly prefer my Nikes because they’re even lighter-weight and have a smaller profile. The Brooks are maybe a little more supportive and stabilizing, but I feel a little bit like I’m running with blocks on my feet? They are kind of bulky!
06. I find the Nike Free Metcons work best for me for strength training, though. I will actually change out of my running shoes and put these on when I get home if I’m doing any mat training / cross training / etc. I find it really hard to do things like squats, lunges, anything with balance if I’m not wearing these. They really stabilize the ankle, whereas running shoes are designed for forward motion only.
07. I loveeee the stripe on these Tracksmith shorts; I had to have them!
08. Another Tracksmith option — these are my favorites for really hot weather. They’re feathweight and breathe beautifully.
18. Habit tracker — this is super helpful to keep up a routine! Under $10 too.
19. My tried and true earbuds. I’ve written too much about these but I just love them, and they hold their charge FOREVER which was one of my biggest gripes with my Apple ones. Nothing worse than having one or both peter out 1/3 of the way through a run.
20. Varley running shorts — I’m actually really impressed with these from a performance standpoint. I love Varley for athleisure but these work really well for actually running in. A really good length, the waistband doesn’t kill you, and the color/styling is chic!
Last note – this is not usually the kind of thing I do, but one of my best guy friends swears by LMNT electrolytes as a runner. Has anyone else tried and liked this? I’m usually a total purist — only drink water, take no supplements/vitamins, etc, but I admit he was pretty convincing! Just ordered for summer runs!
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
By: Jen Shoop
The last week has given me a true summer feeling. First: I lightened and cut my hair, and I suddenly feel like doing all the summer things wearing linen and color and joy. Second: the air took on its signature Mid-Atlantic summer weight, storms rolled through, and high noon hung heavy. I love it all. Honestly, I love the heat. I was born in it! Anyhow, the advancement in weather (and new hair!) made me want to sit in an air-conditioned basement watching classic summer movies, and I thought about this post from last summer and wanted to re-publish in preparation for the months ahead. There are some great additions and suggestions in the comments; please continue to add to the list!
We have recently been watching “family movies” together and I can’t wait to watch “Parent Trap” with my kids for the first time this month! (“Parent Trap” was the number one rec from Magpie readers answering my question: “What are your favorite family movies?”)
*****
During the summers of my childhood, my mother designated each night of the week with a different activity: Tuesdays were game nights, Thursdays were family walk nights, and so on. Fridays were for movies. We’d pile into my mother’s Land Cruiser and drive to the Blockbuster in Cleveland Park to squabble over the marquee selection. (We were there so frequently, she knew the cashiers by name.) I recall many viewings of “Little Giants,” “The Parent Trap,” and “Sandlot,” along with “E.T.” and “Grease.” We also tore through “I Love Lucy” episodes, and indulged one of my sister’s (curious?) obsession with the Three Stooges. She found the slapstick so hilarious, she’d melt off the sofa into a puddle of laughter on the sun room floor. Her joy was contagious. And so I came to have an abiding affection for Larry, Curly, and Moe, and their silver-gray hijinks on a Friday night.
My children are now approaching an age where Friday summer movie nights seem feasible. My children typically go to bed early — my son around 7:30, my daughter around 8 — and they need all of their sleep, or we pay for it in the morning, as we frenetically expedite them through pre-drop-off routines. (My husband tells me he dreads the mornings he must rouse them from sleep. Usually, they rise on their own around 6:30 — but mornings where we need to creep in and wake them are bound to be torture on all parties.) Their feistiness and recalcitrance swell in inverse proportion with the amount of sleep they’ve logged the night prior. But in the summer, camp starts later, or there’s no camp at all, and it’s not the end of the world if you’re late for camp anyhow. Mornings open up slowly, easily. And bedtimes are similarly forgiving. Longtime readers may remember that I experimented with “an 80s childhood summer” two summers ago — meaning, I sought out an unstructured, backyard sprinkler, popsicles dripping on the porch, dirt under the nails kind of experience for my children. We enrolled in minimal camps and traveled lightly. Let me speak plainly: it did not pan out. We were in each other’s hair all summer long, and I was not at my best as a mother. In retrospect, they were a bit young (3 and 5) for my ambitions. Last summer, I swung the pendulum too far in another direction: we had them in back to back weeklong camps. This proved to be a lot for my children, and I remember a distinct flagging feeling in late July/early August that I came to call “camp fatigue.” I had underestimated how draining it would be to figure out a different drop-offs, regulations, camp dynamics each week, and had not adequately thought about how taxing it might be for them to plop into a new setting, with new teachers, new rules, and new camp friends, each week. This year, we’re only doing two three-week-long camps and have nothing on the calendar for August–a source of mild to moderate midnight frisson, if I’m honest. But they are older, and it’s their summer, too. We all need time to do nothing at all — kids included. This map of the months ahead may better explain my mantra for the summer: go easy.
Anyhow – part of my “go easy” plan involves summer movies for the entire family, and part involves re-watching some of my favorite summer films after the children have gone to bed. Below, sharing a few of my top “big popcorn” picks for (adult / older kid) summer enjoyment:
“Jurassic Park”
“The Great Outdoors”
“Bull Durham”
“Jaws”
“Dirty Dancing”
“Back to the Future”
“Dances with Wolves”
“Parent Trap”
“Wyatt Earp”
“Mystic Pizza”
“A League of Their Own”
“Varsity Blues”
“Can’t Hardly Wait”
“Speed”
“Top Gun” (new and old!)
“The Princess Bride”
“Lost City” (a spoof of sorts, but I really enjoy this movie)
+Frank and Eileen released their iconic jersey popover in a fabulous stripe. These are SUCH a versatile piece. You can throw on as a top layer over a tee if it’s chilly; pair with jeans; tuck into white shorts; style with athleisure; layer over a sports bra on the way to yoga; etc!
+Speaking of suits: discovered that Free People has a huge run of sizes in several colorways of the Magpie favorite swimsuit, Follow Suit’s Flora.
+I’ve been looking for a good summer slipper. I had to put my Ugg platforms away because they make my feet too hot. I usually just wear my Rothy clogs around, but then I discovered these from Brunch and I LOVE the yellow color.
+Megan Stokes’ just did a collab with Mackenzie-Childs (famous for its kettles, ceramics, etc) and I love this pitcher, which I would use as a vase. These plates are also gorgeous — imagine piling up biscuits or scones or blueberry muffins on one for a big summer brunch.
+Guys, now I get why you said Bombas are a “regrettably worth it” item. I AM OBSESSED. The best running socks I’ve ever worn and in a cool shaft height too. They just hug the foot perfectly! No weird sagging/stretch/droop/etc.
+Away’s new kid luggage line is so charming! The colors are fab. Also love their new lunchboxes! I know the last thing we want to think about right now is packing lunch — ha. I cannot wait to have a break!
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.
By: Jen Shoop
Lately I’ve been gravitating towards bold pops of color, mixed and matched with abandon! There is something very liberez! about it, and I love the way the vibe signals “summer in the Mediterranean” (is it that limoncello shade of yellow?!) or at the very least “a summer spent outdoors.” It is joyful, it is unserious, it is bold and fresh.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
By: Jen Shoop
“Oscar Wilde said that if you know what you want to be, then you inevitably become it – that is your punishment, but if you never know, then you can be anything. There is a truth to that. We are not nouns, we are verbs. I am not a thing – an actor, a writer – I am a person who does things – I write, I act – and I never know what I am going to do next. I think you can be imprisoned if you think of yourself as a noun.” – Stephen Fry
I was inspired by this! You are a verb, not a noun! Some adjacent prompts for a Monday morning as we ease ourselves into this week:
+Describe yourself in verbs.
+Re-write one of your social media profiles to omit any references to yourself as a noun.
+How can you express yourself as a verb this week?
*****
These exercises drew out some interesting insights.
The first: I without thinking, I answered the first prompt exclusively in the present participle:
Jen: writing, mothering, listening, receiving, loving, asking, becoming…[the list goes on for some time]
Which mainly made me think about how much we carry every day. I wondered then how I might feel if I’d written instead:
Here, the list feels more like possibility, i.e., I am capable of doing these things, but I am not always doing them simultaneously.
Then I bent the rules and re-read my initial list as gerunds instead, those wily noun-verb hybrids. (In case you need a refresher, a gerund is form that is derived from a verb but that functions as a noun, e.g., “everyone enjoyed Landon’s cooking” or “the writing was bad” or “they love camping“). And I liked that part of speech best — seeing myself as a half-formed action, or a process? That’s what writing is, after all, which is probably the thing I know best in this life: half movement, half print, both from a creation and a consumption standpoint. On the creative side of writing, you have the amorphous marshlands of pre-writing that somehow eventually deposit you in the packed earth word. But what lies on both sides of that transformation is writing, clear and simple. So it is movement and stasis at once. And on the consumption side, you have what’s fixed on the page — the font, the letters — and then the entire fluid universe of your imagination that charges it with meaning. Movement and stasis again. I like that duality, that doublet: I move, and I am movement. I guess I’m a gerund girl.
The other scattershot thoughts these exercises drew from me:
+Why is there no verb equivalent to being a spouse? I “wife”? Perhaps “being a wife to someone” carries too many glinting evocations. Or perhaps it is simpler to just write: “I love.” But the wifeliness — it carries more than love, you know? It is love plus. It is belonging to someone, it is coordinating your daily life with someone else’s, it is greater than the sum of us, etc, etc, etc.
+A woman contains multitudes!
+”How can I express myself as a verb” — this was my favorite question of the three, because I immediately saw myself shedding no-stretch coats, and instead jumping exuberantly, or crouching down to look closely. What freedom, to welcome movement!
+On that last mini dress note: Nellie Diamond (of HHH) at some point called this “the summer of the nightgown” or “nightgown summer,” and I thought of her the second I saw the J. Crew dress. I love the ethos: bare feet, early mornings, the dew under foot…! It gives me the best feeling. Nellie must be on to something because Hill House’s first nightgown launch of the summer sold out pretty much instantly. She’s been teasing a launch of more nightgowns soon — will share when they go live! (BTW, I love that “sweet pea” print — you can get it in this style of dress instead. It reminds me of D. Porthault!)
+ICYMI: this full-sized/professional-grade steamer is on sale for 50% off). I hope you love it as much as I do, and I’m envious you got it on sale versus full-price. I purchased this a few months ago and it’s been a game changer. Infinitely better/more powerful than any handheld, plus I really like having the hanger/rack already there. I was usually jerry-rigging some weird scenario with a hanger dangling off my mirror. It’s also available in a cute pink colorway if aesthetics matter to you…
+My Internet friend Katie was raving about this watermelon licorice and I had to order the sampler to try! Have I been living under a rock? Do we all love this?
+Has anyone tried the ZIIP Dot? I’m so intrigued by this micro-current device for acne treatment. It reduces swelling/inflammation to make breakouts less visible and help you get over them more quickly. I think I need this. Why is it that any time I have a big event, a big zit appears two days before…
+For acne – I do LOVE these Rael patches, a Magpie reader rec from years ago. I think their principle appeal for me is that they keep me from touching the area! They aren’t truly invisible but they’re better than having the blemish exposed.
+Another Magpie reader rec note: I just mentioned this last week, but many Magpies dubbed L’Occitane’s Almond Shower gel a “regrettably worth it” item and I’m firmly in your camp now. I’ll never go back to Gillette. This oil-to-lather product is unlike anything I’ve ever tried. I use it in lieu of shaving gel and it smells wonderful and truly hydrates and protects skin as you shave. Anyway, I just noticed they now have an enormous refill size available and I snagged it. It’s a good value, plus less waste. And, while there, I noticed they just launched a shimmering body oil for summer! I love the idea of dabbing a bit onto my shoulders/chest while in a sundress. The smell is so divine but won’t compete with perfumes. The oil reminded me of this Kopari SPF glow spray I’ve been seeing all over TikTok (obviously, L’Occitane’s doesn’t have the SPF) but both of these products just make me feel so GOOD about summer?! Like they invite a summer feeling that makes me giddy. And pair both of those with this body exfoliator from Goop — slough off the dirt, sweat, sand, chlorine, SPF, etc! I believe my Goop code is still good: try SHOOP15.
+As always, my favorite Goop products and reviews here.
+I’ve mentioned this boutique a few times, but I’m truly blown away by the thoughtful and chic assortment of pieces from brands I love at Shop Casalina. The buyer has such a good eye for pattern and color and often stocks pieces from brands you don’t find elsewhere. How incredible is this fish-print skirt?! If you’re a first time shopper, you can get 10% off your first order, which can be meaningful on higher-end pieces like Agua Bendita — I just wore this dress last Friday on a date night with Landon! (See me in it here.)
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
By: Jen Shoop
One thing I’ve learned in my 30s: the body is bad at keeping secrets. It will tell you when something is wrong, when you’ve been getting too little sleep, when you are not caring for yourself, when you are taking on too much. I find my body especially “noisy” when I am stressed. It wants to yell about the stress I’m experiencing on a megaphone, and in weird, annoying voices that sound like: muscle twitches, acid reflux, headaches, poor sleep, and other irritating although mainly harmless manifestations.
I have been burning the candle at both ends since we returned from Disney. I’m usually more mindful about my time, more stubborn about dodging “busyness” and more determined to find white space in my calendar, but sometimes everything lands at once, you know? And a lot of the “landings” right now are blessings. I will not complain! And also, it’s healthy to remind myself: it has been a lot! I know some of you Magpie moms will relate: a friend recently referred to May as “the Other December,” and the head of school called it “May-os” (rhyming with chaos). I’d never thought of it that way, but it does feel a bit like the walls are closing in. There is so much going on at the end of the school year, and with the transition to summer programs and summer activities and summer care, and especially with us in the midst of transferring our daughter to a new school (we’ve had two “new family” events this week alone). All blessings, but busy. I know I’m not alone in feeling as though I’m barely hanging on — thank God for the “safety mechanism” of the Mom’s Group text message chain, which reminds me at 7:02 a.m. that it’s pizza day, or noon dismissal, or whatever. I’ve frankly never felt so scattered in my life, although I know this is because I am giving every spare minute to my book, and to a few other exciting projects I cannot wait (!!!!) to tell you about. (Think…stuff you really want. Hehe.)
I am working to make peace with this temporary feeling of out-of-sortsness. Difficult as a “dotted i and crossed t” person — but I keep thinking that when I zoom out on my life, I think I’ll care more about making this book the best that I possibly can versus dropping a ball on signing up for something, or sending my children into school in uniforms from the laundry bin (yikes, can’t tell you how often this happens). In other words, I’m trying hard to recognize which of the balls I’m juggling are glass, and which are plastic. And also reminding myself that this, too, is temporary. Isn’t that what it all comes down to? Getting comfortable with the fact that everything in life — the good, the bad — is impermanent?
Back to my original point, though: earlier this week, I woke up to an alarming email about a project I’ve been working on, and my body broke out in a full sweat. I could feel my heart skitter away from me. 6:39 a.m., I was in full flight or fight mode, pajamas sticking to my body. I knew even as my body rioted in response that the issue at hand was not insurmountable, and that I’d find a path forward, and I had the wherewithal (i.e., perspective that comes with age) to gently tell my body “It will be OK, toots. Hang in there.” And I did that by putting on my running shoes and hitting the pavement. 30 minutes of welcome sweat later, I felt like a new woman. But the experience reminded me that my body is talking to me at all times, and that I need to listen to it, and then answer. I know I need to get to a place with more margin — a place where an errant email won’t send my body into a state of distress — and I also know I’ll get there after this temporary busy season. In the meantime, I’ll rely on simple things to whisper back to my body: it’s OK. Things like exercising, forgoing alcohol, drinking more water, taking a walk to the end of the block. Things like taking care of myself as though sick. And also, more difficult things (for me), like asking for help, or admitting I can’t make something work, or rescheduling.
Mainly I’m reaching for self-nurture and grace during this time. Go easy, friend! We’re almost there!
Sunday Shopping.
(Above, on my desk, sampling all the fabulous Maison D’Etto scents earlier this month. I wrote about them quite a bit this week, but the Durban Jane is absolutely exceptional. I ordered the full size, but you can also use this discovery set to find your favorite. I’m using the extras for travel! The founder is a poetic soul — you should read the olfactory notes! She collaborated on them with two of her best friends, and the copy is deeply evocative. I also learned that all of the scents are inspired by the founder’s love of horses; she is an equestrian! She actually messaged me a photo of her with the horse named Durban Jane and said they rescued each other. So beautiful!)
OK, onward: so many good finds today.
First, this great look-for-less for my beloved Doen skirt is currently restocked and available in all sizes. I wear the Doen version constantly. It’s just the vibe I’m after this May — airy, feminine, carefree — and infinitely versatile!
Second, two great price breaks on summer skin products I love:
a) RMS Beauty’s Supernatural Radiance Serum (20% off a bundle of two). I wear this every single day. I blend it with Westman Atelier’s Foundation stick straight on my skin — meaning, I’ll apply a swipe of the stick on my forehead, cheeks, chin, and then a little squiggle of the RMS serum and blend with this magical Merit brush. It gives the most natural, glowy, blended, non-foundation-like look. Bonus: the RMS product is like skincare! Packed with great ingredients and SPF, but gives glow and a tad bit of coverage. I find it makes the Westman product blend beautifully into the skin. Anyway, you can get two for $58 here (20% off). I just ordered so I’m stocked for the summer!
b) Whitney Bowe’s excellent, award-winning Vitamin C serum is 25% off starting today. I have been using this the past few months and I absolutely love the formula and results. I have talked a lot about this, but my skin really responds (well, strongly) to vitamin c, and I have a few brands I love. Whitney Bowe has entered the winner’s circle, too — bonus points for the fact that it is scent-free and you can buy refills for the pump bottle (less waste). I also really like the consistency. My other preferred vitamin c products are in oil/liquid form, which is not the end of the world, but I like the ease of applying the Whitney Bowe “gel” formula.
Final note: I’ve been looking for a boxy gingham top to pair with my white Doen skirt. I finally found this PERFECT one but it’s out of stock in my size and I can’t find it anywhere else! (I can find the top, but in solid colors only.). Some options I’m considering instead: this Emerson Fry, this Le Bop…let me know if you find anything better!
And one last segment for those in the market for some fabulous home/yard finds at a steal:
We inherited a set of white wicker patio furniture that has been just fine for the past few years but I’ve been casually perusing some more modern options, and in the midst of that hunt, discovered a great bistro chairs for a back patio — they come in several great colors (the red is so fun?) and are currently about $110 each. That led me to bop around at Wayfair and omg – there are a lot of really great deals on pieces that look much more expensive than they are (they launched their Mem Day sale early!), including this striped swivel armchair! I spent a lot of time looking for something exactly like this for Hill’s room when we first moved to Betheda. I wanted something I could read to him in / rock him in but that wasn’t super precious (little boys…), and that also had a fun print/stripe/pattern. I literally could not find this when I looked; everything was either way too expensive, boring, or had an unattractive pattern. (I ended up waiting for a year and finally getting him this.) If you are a mom looking to outfit your toddler’s room, this Wayair find is such a great score. Under $300, swivels, and has a fun nautical print! Win win win. Another really good find: this pouf ottoman, for under $70. You could actually use it as the foot rest for the striped swivel chair to add a little texture to the room, or could be a cute “coffee table” sub for a play area, and I also like the styling suggestion of using it beneath a console. Can be pulled out for extra seating, or just fills the blank space. And! I found a really classic-looking picnic bench for outdoor dining. This is such a great way to add outdoor seating on a budget. Forgo the chairs and just get two of these for either sides of the dining table! So classic, and only $106! Like, you’d be hard pressed to find one chair for that price.
OK, I’ll pause there but I really was so shocked and delighted by my finds! Especially the swivel chair — where was that three years ago?
+COMFORT SHOWS/COMFORT BOOKS: One thing I’ve learned about this Magpie community is that many of us are “repeat readers,” which — on principle, I love someone who identifies as a repeat reader. A repeat reader is a woman who knows her own mind, who is an expert in herself. She takes her own joy seriously! These are traits I love in my friends. Are you also repeat watchers? What are the comfort shows you turn on when you can’t find anything else to watch, or when you are feeling blue or anxious or sleepless? Please share in the comments! Mine are:
“Gilmore Girls” (mainly in the fall)
“Downton Abbey” (especially when I’m sick)
“Great British Baking Show” (something to fall asleep to)
“The Mindy Project” or “Arrested Development” for LOLs
“Veep” (when I want to be truly entertained — this is not a “drift off to sleep”/background noise show)
“Normal People” (when I’m in a big-feeling mood, and have the capacity for a big but sad love story),
“Emily in Paris” (frothy vibe)
But then, like all good millennials, Landon and I will watch “The Office” or “Seinfeld” (and, sometimes, “Parks and Rec”) if we are in a hotel room, or have nothing else to put on the TV. And I think we’ve watched PEN15 at least three times from start to finish. Comfort watches forever. What are yours?
+THE SLOW MAKING OF THINGS: Just a reminder that every overnight success story is ten years in the making. All good things take time. Hang in there! Todo a su tiempo. Are you the heirloom tomato now green on the vine, with its promising peak around the corner?
+WHAT ARE YOUR DOORS? I found this excerpt from Women Who Run with the Wolves stirring. What gives your life texture, mystery, a good kind of ballast? Those are doors to meaningful things!
+BRILLIANT CHARACTER PORTRAIT: I can’t explain why, but you need to see this comedian’s portrait of Patsy from “Every Clerk’s Office in the South.” (Part I, Part II). It is on the nose – every detail. I would guess we’ve all met Patsy, one of the most powerful women in the county. (Comments are also really entertaining.)
+WINNER OF THE MAGPIE BOOK CLUB BAD BOOK GIRL HAT: I’ve been LOVING all of the AIM “reader” handles you shared in response to my Magpie Book Club 2.0 announcement. Some of my favorites: @onlymurderbooksinthebuilding, @rarebookgirl (her parents are rare book dealers!), @JoMarchsBestie, @PlaceHold98, and @half&halfreader (half serious reads, half ‘bad’ books), and @ireadbooksinbars. You all are so clever and charming! The winner of the Bad Book Girl hat is Lauren (AIM handle Libbyfan89)! Lauren, I’ll email you for your shipping address.
