Jen Shoop, Author at Magpie by Jen Shoop

By: Jen Shoop

The following content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

I just spent yesterday morning trying on about half of my closet in preparation for a few different parties, dinners, and festivities over the coming weeks. Sharing a few of the outfits I liked best —

QUINCE SLIP DRESS // QUINCE CASHMERE TURTLENECK (I WENT UP A SIZE FOR A LOOSER FIT) // DORSEY RING // MIGNONNE GAVIGAN EARRINGS

LAPEYRE EMILY DRESS // DORSEY JAMES NECKLACE WITH EMERALD PENDANT // DORSEY EARRINGS // MICHELLE WILHITE CLUTCH // VERONICA BEARD BLAZER // MARCH HARE WATCH

ANN MASHBURN TARTAN DRESS // DORSEY JAMES NECKLACE WITH EMERALD PENDANT // DORSEY EARRINGS // CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN MULES (OLD — SIMILAR HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE) // MARCH HARE WATCH // DORSEY RING

FEW MODA SWEATER // DORSEY JAMES NECKLACE // DORSEY CLEMENCE NECKLACE // MARCH HARE WATCH // DOEN SKIRT // EMME PARSONS SEQUIN FLATS // DORSEY EARRINGS

VERONICA BEARD BLAZER // J. CREW FACTORY POLO SWEATER // BODEN VELVET TROUSERS (UPGRADE PICK: LA LIGNE) // J. MCLAUGHLIN BAG (OLD) // DIOR J’ADIOR HEELS (DO NOT BUY – BEAUTIFUL BUT DEEPLY UNCOMFORTABLE LOL) // DORSEY JAMES NECKLACE WITH EMERALD PENDANT // DORSEY EARRINGS

TUCKERNUCK VELVET DRESS // DORSEY JAMES NECKLACE WITH EMERALD PENDANT // DORSEY EARRINGS // GUCCI TIGHTS // DORSEY RING

I’m also currently debating between wearing this Veronica Beard sequin dress and this velvet and lace Saloni dress for a holiday dinner next week with Mr. Magpie, my best friend, her husband, my sister, and my brother-in-law. I didn’t get great pics of the two options (should have put on heels and had better lighting) — see below. What’s your vote?

P.S. More festive outfits.

P.P.S. What’s your favorite part of winter? (The comments are gorgeous.)

P.P.P.S. Honest beauty reviews.

By: Jen Shoop

The following content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation. Image via.

WOOM BIKES // GLOBE // LEGO SET // SNAP CIRCUITS SET // OWALA WATER BOTTLE // CUSTOM “TICKETS” TO DISNEY // JANSPORT BACKPACK

The big gift this year is — tickets to Disney! My kids have been begging for ages and we feel like their ages are perfect (5 and 7). Itinerary/plans still in formation but this is the big one. Any suggestions on how to “wrap” this welcome: I know there are many creative videos along these lines all over the Internet — Mickey ears, etc? My top thought right now is one of these custom “tickets” for the trip — they can each unwrap!

The big gift from Santa will be Woom bikes! This one for my son; this one for my daughter. If you have these bikes and don’t love them, don’t tell me — lol. (I already ordered them!) We did a lot of research and kept landing here. Mini needs a new helmet (she’s outgrown her Banwood — I think they make the best prints/styles for young kids), and a few in contention are this Smith, this Thousand (the cutest of the litter), this Linus, and the Giro Scamp. The Smith and Giro are the sportier picks; I think she’ll outgrow the Linus within a year or two from a style standpoint. I can’t decide!

My girl specifically asked for this Lego set, a journal (I’m giving her this one), a Jansport backpack (!!!! what comes around goes around — I had one too at her age), an Owala water bottle, and Squishmallows (she has many of the bigger ones so we got her a mini Squishville set).

She also asked for books (specifically Roald Dahl and Charlotte’s Web) and “arts and crafts stuff.” We had fun in this last category — Mr. Magpie found her this Klutz eraser making kit and a comic book making set (she’s big into drawing her own comics), while I got her these cool paintbrush tip pens my friend recommended and these layering markers from Ooly.

My son asked for a globe (!!!) and the brand Replogle came top recommended in my research, so I got him this one; Legos (we got him this Pirate ship); and a puzzle (we got him this Lego minifigure themed one).

He’s very into puzzles and Magnatiles, so we wanted to find him more STEM-type toys that require him to fit pieces together — Mr. Magpie ordered him a Snap Circuits set and a Gravitraxx set that honestly Mr. Magpie can’t wait to play with (can you tell he’s an engineer by training?). He said he first found both of these in a hobby store he loves to take my son to out in Rockville and has been waiting for the day they might be age appropriate for him. We also got him a few books and some Ooly markers, too.

What are you getting your children this year?

P.S. Stocking stuffers for kids.

P.P.S. My top rec for making gift-giving as pleasant and stress free as possible: order early and then plan one or two “wrap nights” where you put on music or a holiday movie, mix up a batch of cocktails and snacks, and hang with your spouse while wrapping!

P.P.P.S. If you could go back to school to study anything you’d like, what would it be?

By: Jen Shoop

I won’t be able to write from the grave

so let me tell you what I love:

oil, vinegar, salt, lettuce, brown bread, butter,

cheese and wine, a windy day, a fireplace,

the children nearby, poems and songs,

a friend sleeping in my bed—

and the short northern nights.

-Fanny Howe

A la Fanny Howe: what are the things you love right now?

Let me tell you what I love, at 40 years old, a mother to two, a loving wife, and a daily communicant with the blank page:

My son’s freckles, the salvation of trees outside my studio window, a sandwich with my Dad,

a clear sentence, a cloudy day, my children pedaling around the cul de sac outside our home,

a long sit in the sun after a four mile run, my mother’s voice, the redbirds in our yard,

an hour-long phone call with my sister, the hard work that pays off, the friends who say: “tell me everything,”

notes from my daughter left on my work desk, raw oysters and champagne, reading in bed above the sheets but beneath the comforter,

the mug my husband fills with hot water to pre-warm it for my coffee, the neighbors who turn out to be guardian angels, the right word,

vinegar, the primacy of my children’s joy, the promise of morning,

my husband and my husband and my husband, and the outrageous joy of being loved by him daily

benedictions, all —

and together, quite possibly, the meaning of life

Post-Scripts.

+There are many ways to say I love you.

+What has surprised you most about getting older?

+That summer I misbehaved.

+What’s something weird that you love about your significant other?

Shopping Break.

The following content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

+If you keep coming up dry on what to get your bestie or your sister, just get them an Ugg slipper. What we all really want and love — trust. I own and love the platform Tazz, and I also really love the look of these, too.

+I wore these earmuffs to the skating rink over the weekend and Mr. Magpie said he loved them?! I paired with this red puffer jacket from Varley, which I have been stopped by women about multiple times! It almost looks velvet (but isn’t).

+Back to Apparis and slippers: how cute are these? Apres ski vibes.

+Speaking of winter sports: these are our favorite winter parkas for the kids for skiing/skating/snow fun.

+And I just got this fun sherpa tote for schlepping loose mittens, spare socks, sticker books, snacks, etc to and from the ice rink.

+What I bought my bestie: Hermes nail polish, Dior cuticle balm (we both LOVE manicures / talking nails), and my favorite dry shampoo.

+Rhone’s DreamGlow collection caught my eye — have a polished vibe somewhere between Spanx and Varley for those of us looking for dressier athleisure.

+Dolce Vita sent me a pair of their waterproof suede boots and I’m very impressed. I love the shape of the bootie — elongating, flattering, and perfect for pairing with wide leg jeans. Plus: waterproof! Look much more expensive than they are.

+I initially got these with the intent of giving my MIL (we love to play this one card game called O Hell), but now I have them in my living room by the game table! Pretty enough to double as decor.

+This Talbots cape is giving Alice Walk vibes for half the price.

+Snagged this cute seashell print mini from La Maregold — already loosely shopping for our Disney trip this spring.

+Still love this scoat from Gap!

By: Jen Shoop

The following content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation. Image via.

WHITE CERAMIC TREE // PRETTY CANDLES // MELAMINE HOLIDAY PLATES // HOLIDAY TUMBLER // COOKIE CUTTERS // BOW DRESS // QUICK LUNCH

These holiday goodies are at Target for amazing prices! Below, my top picks.

01. These ceramic trees would make a perfect centerpiece or minimal decoration on an entryway table –multiple sizes available.

02. These Studio McGee stockings are too good to pass up. The gingham is classic — and the price can’t be beat.

03. Twist tapered candles in a gorgeous cream and deep red.

04. Bird ornaments!

05. I always buy a few of Target’s holiday themed melamine plates for gifting cookies and/or bringing snacks to various gatherings — obsessed with these and these; also like these and these for families.

06. The Tonies audiobooks are a great screen-free gift for a little one. My kids loved these between the ages of 3-6-ish. We’ve now moved on to listen to Audiobooks via Homepods at bedtime, but I was just thinking that it might be a good time to revisit the library and see if any older / more mature titles are available at Tonies.

07. My daughter put this Owala on her Christmas list.

08. Miscellaneous: this is a good, easy lunch when you’re in a rush.

09. Lululemon vibes with these wide leg sweatpants and matching jacket.

10. Darling four-pack of appetizer plates!

11. A look-for-less of the viral Anthropologie holiday glasses.

12. Always love the gift wrap from Sugar Paper for Target — this year love this and this — but this year also love the options from Hearth & Hand, especially this stamp motif (with matching tags) and these beautiful boxes.

13. Meri Meri’s adorable woodland and holiday cookie cutters: fun woodland animals or Santa and reindeer!

14. Sweet bow dress for a little love.

15. My daughter loves these kinds of socks. (Good stocking stuffer.)

16. Adorable sweatsuit for a little lady.

P.S. Last month’s Amazon finds.

P.P.S. What is the most romantic movie scene?

P.P.P.S. Holiday dressing.

By: Jen Shoop

Image via. The following content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

What were the best book experiences you had this year?

For me, kind of hard to top Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead. Absolutely astounding in both scope and narrowness of detail. The characters are so believable, so personal, and yet Kingsolver’s narrative is operating on a major stage, grappling with sweeping issues including the child welfare system, the opioid crisis, and poverty in America. Truly a work of genius. I’d guess this will be in my top five books of the last decade for awhile. I’m hosting a “favorite things” gift exchange later this month and one of my best guy friends said he’s bringing two items: Monkey 57 Gin and Demon Copperhead. I mean, flawless taste…! My full review of D.C. here.

Next up: Sally Rooney’s Intermezzo. I didn’t ever get around to writing a full review of this book because I found it so sprawlingly suggestive, and I couldn’t quite make my way around the circumference of why it elicited such powerful sentiments in me. Rooney’s previous works tend to center romantic relationships, and this one has some deep and complex romance to it, too, but it’s really a story of two brothers and their misreadings of one another, and how those “bad readings” lead them to lose out on one another, and suffer in private. Rooney is always playing in and through these crevices: the gaps between people, the spaces in which we isolate ourselves in painful and ultimately unnecessary ways whether by force of social norms, self-absorption, or the errant failings of language. I don’t think anyone captures modern communication as well as she does. Text messages, dead phones, and other captures of modern technology never feel clunky in her prose; everything works and feels mimetic with the world in ways that occasionally makes me feel I’m watching real people interact rather than reading a novel. Just a wonder to behold.

Third: Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend. A major resume gap for me. And completely brilliant. I’ve not yet gotten around to reading the other books in the series, which makes me wonder — I suppose I didn’t exactly love reading the book even though I appreciated it, and found it awakening parts of my mind that probably suffer from disuse. The meta-fictional aspects of this book are fascinating. My full review here.

Fourth: The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl. Mr. Magpie bought me this in hard copy and we keep it on our kitchen counter with the intention of reading a chapter or two of Renkl’s “howling love letter to the natural world” in the morning. We’re still making our way through it but it is the most beautiful morning devotional. The writing is gorgeous.

Fifth: I read a lot of romance this year, but my favorite atmospheric read in this category was This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune (wait to read this until summer — it really sent me into an adirondack-chairs-on-a-wood-dock-surround-by-pine-trees-at-a-lake-house mood). I liked the beau! More off the rails / a true “beach read after dark” (warning!): Cash by Jessica Peterson, which I believe was a rec from our girl Caro Chambers. It’s a cowboy enemies-to-lovers tale that surprised me — sometimes romance books can feel formulaic to the point of boring but this had some moments (occasionally unhinged ones) that kept me on my toes.

Sixth: The God of the Woods by Liz Moore. An astounding debut novel! I know Magpies were split on this one, but I found it gripping and substantive enough to sustain protracted conversation with my mother, sister, and several girlfriends. I didn’t read as much thriller/mystery this year as I typically do — this left some big shoes to fill. Full review here.

Seventh: Poetry! I realized this year that I read a lot of it, and often reach for it in lieu of a novel in the morning, when I find it unblocks me if I’m in a writing rut. I usually pick up this anthology and flip to a new poet and read one or two of his/her works. Sometimes I revisit the same handful I have dogeared, too — I especially love William Carlos Williams’ “Of Asphodel,” which I’ve written about in fits and starts and Robert Frost’s “The Death of the Hired Man,” which is witchy and brilliant and genre-bending (more fiction than poetry?)

Eighth: Short fiction by J.D. Salinger and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Another great place to visit when I’m stuck. The way both of these men write about the first gropings of a budding romance — !!! It undoes me!

Please share your favorite books from this year!

Post-Scripts.

+Some thoughts on the modern thriller as a genre. I felt this year was light on good ones? Ruth Ware’s latest felt like a major dud to me. Any suggestions? I do love this category.

+My favorite audiobooks.

Shopping Break.

+A really good buy from J. Crew’s Cyber Monday promotion. Love it in the stripe, the red — all the colors. Also – this brushed cashmere sweater was a bestseller for two weeks on Magpie and now is a great time to snag on sale.

+Now is the day to buy all your kids’ holiday outfits. I bought my son these tartan pants at Bloomies (they are Ralph but sold out on RL!) and — I couldn’t help it! — this sweater from RL (40% off) plus some great Ralph basics also 40% off, including a classic white turtleneck, long-sleeved polo, sweatshirt, joggers, and long sleeved tees. Those basics are more or less Gap prices with the discount! I did a major stock up.

+J. Crew and J. Crew Factory also have some great holiday scores for kids: this velvet dress, this tartan and tulle dress (which mini picked for herself!), great fitting cords in festive colors, and tartan button downs.

+My velvet trousers are on sale! Upgrade pick: La Ligne.

+Guys, I bought Mr. Magpie these cashmere joggers and this waffle cashmere pullover, both in charcoal gray, and they are SUCH a great fit and look so handsome on…he was wearing them when I came back from running errands yesterday! Just need to add a backwards hat…

+Little reminder that select pieces from Varley — which is very difficult to come by on sale — are 25% off here. Treat yourself to this fleece! I own in the pink. I also absolutely love their slim joggers. The most polished I’ve ever felt in athleisure, esp paired with the matching sweatshirt. I go down a size in everything from Varley — I find it runs big — with the exception of the joggers, which I take in my true size.

+Necessaire just sweetened their BFCM deal — you now get 25% off and a free body wash with every order. Trust me, this is the best body lotion. Just finished a tube and reordered.

+This gorgeous mini red Ferragamo is haunting me…

+Cuyana discounted their most popular “system tote” in three gorgeous, classic colors! This is a fantastic work bag. I own this in the burgundy color and have been using it to tote my notebooks, folders, laptop, etc over to my Dad’s to help him with some projects.

+My daughter asked for a journal for Christmas! I am giving her one of these beautiful Emily Ley ones (currently on sale), and I just noticed they’ve discounted their 2024-2025 planners as well.

By: Jen Shoop

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And here we are, chapter twelve of twelve: December. Funny how December always feels like such an upswing, a crescendoing scale, but it’s also an ending. And what have I learned this year? Two things spring to mind –

First: the body is bad at keeping secrets. I’m in blessedly good health but there have been many moments in which my body has been screaming the truth: you must slow down; you are stressed; you need sleep. And I’ve been unhurried or obtuse in responding. Earlier this year, faced with a range of different demands and stressors, my right eyelid twitched on and off for nearly two weeks. It irritated me to no end. Finally, I realized it was just my body whispering the truth: I was more stressed than I cared to admit, and I needed to slow down and get more sleep, and also talk through the matters with my husband. Nearly overnight, the twitching stopped. Anyhow, the through-line is that the truth will out, and if you don’t admit it to yourself, your body will do it for you.

Second: a year is an important marker. Earlier this year, a friend of mine told me about a difficult relationship she had been stuck in, and how it took a lot of courage for her to set boundaries and transition into more of a low-contact arrangement. I asked her how she’d done this and emerged with such a sense of perspective and equanimity, and she said (paraphrasing): “It takes a full year of grieving, of fortifying the boundaries, of navigating awkward scenarios, but at the year mark, I found myself in a place of peace, or at least strength.” Easier to stick to your guns because the precedent has been set, etc. Another friend who moved to a new state after living in DC for decades told me a few weeks ago that it had taken her exactly one year to establish herself in her new community, and that she was finally feeling settled. I think time increments can feel so arbitrary — what is a week? what is a month? — and yet the year, encompassing as it does four full seasons, and an entire circuit of holidays besides, is such a powerful milestone. You may not be able to change your life in a month, but you can definitely change it in a year. This insight has been helpful to me across many domains. If I can make it a year…! And, conversely: give me one year and I’ll make it to the next level. And when I’m feeling no progress has been made: It’s OK, Jen, it takes a full year. Keep going.

What are some of your learnings from the year?

Shopping Poetry.

The following content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

+Today only, this cashmere fisherman cardigan is $30 off at Quince — Jenni Kayne vibes for a fraction of the price.

+Veronica Beard added more items to their sale section (use code THANKS2024 for extra 25% off), including this ivory tweed blazer you may recognize from my personal wardrobe (worn frequently this fall) and my latest acquisition: this holiday velvet beauty. Still a few of my fav navy Mabel blazer available, now under $300. I’m currently sitting in indecision over this tweed Bentley blazer (with code, $275). I mean I wear my VB blazers allll the time and feel like they’re always great investments.

+Pair those blazers with a great pair of wide legs from Rag + Bone – my current favorite denim brand. I own and love both these and these — 25% off + plus extra 10% off with code RBBF10.

+Reminder that Hotel Lobby is giving us 20% off with JEN20 through today only! Discount expires at midnight. Try their holiday scent!

+35% off at Oso + Me. I used this discount to buy a few shorts for my son and striped tees in the next size up – they are our collective favorite. Great colors, short inseam, pull-on shorts, and the tees are ultra-soft and stretchy. We’re taking my kids to Disney (!!!) this spring so already looking for some pieces already. The other kids’ sale to shop is Minnow (20% off sitewide). I love their boardies for my son and all their terry pieces for both my kids — these dresses are so soft and play-appropriate but sweet/traditional in their own way. You can get even deeper discounts on their sale section (extra 20% off the prices listed).

+Dyson AirWrap on sale here. I’m telling you…you must buy this. I convinced my mom to buy it and she keeps coming by and saying “Jennifer, that AirWrap…!!!!” Worth every penny. I messaged one of my brothers in law to let him know about this product and the deal at Nordstrom on it…so good.

+Shopbop sale still running strong (25% off almost everything)! I’m constantly updating my hearts here. I can’t recommend these pants for petites more. The fit is perfect. And this gorgeous Elleme bag (which I own in a brown woven leather) is included! The gold hardware handle is SO fun / chic / reminiscent of Bottega’s Sardine bags, and of course we love the green suede. (And, my fav gifts for sisters and girlfriends from this sale here.)

+Sorry to be redundant but my favorite deals from this crazy sale frenzy: Alice Walk (rare 20% off — this is probably my favorite and most-worn sweater in my closet); Crown Affair (30% off – I used it to buy three of the dry shampoos to give as gifts, but you could also treat yourself with an upgraded hair routine — I especially love their leave-in conditioner, dry shampoo, and quick dry hair towel); and Kule (30% off — I finally picked up one of their striped turtlenecks).

+Also, if you haven’t tried Elemis’ rose makeup melting balm…!!!! It’s my favorite luxurious way to erase the day, and it’s currently 30% off. Elemis runs a lot of promotions but their balms are difficult to find at a discount.

+Sezane’s collection with Maria del Orden launches today! I am a longtime fan of both brands and they feel like a perfect match.

+I’ve placed a record number of Amazon orders in this past week. These dried orange garlands are my best recent find. The quality is incredible. Two years ago, I spent hours and hours dehydrating orange slices myself and then threading them with twine. These are incredible quality and can be reused year after year. I wove them through my cedar garland over our dining room mantel.

By: Jen Shoop

The following content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation. Image via.

+ART IS A FORGIVING MEDIUM: This week, my friend and fellow creative Caroline posted this sweet video of herself celebrating her own creativity after enduring a major loss. It reminded me that art is such a forgiving practice. You do not need to be healed, or to have it all figured out, in order to create. You can make art while angry, confused, hurt, sad. It meets you where you are. Onward!

+THE REAL WORLD SAINTS: I loved this excerpt from a letter from Kurt Vonnegut, discovered here. The concept of finding saints almost everywhere we go — such a precious sentiment. It reminded me of my note to self about staying open: “Leave the door ajar, enough to let joy sneak up on you, so that you laugh when you are washing the dishes and notice that your husband is carrying a Barbie doll in his back pocket, and you remember that you are on a moonwalk, living out the exact space fantasy you dreamed about when you were on that Jetsons ride in Orlando at the age of eleven, watching the young families around you. Stay open to the neighbors, who turn out to be guardian angels in disguise, treating you tenderly when you’ve fallen, and bringing by dinner and crates of activities for the children when illness visits.”

+NOVEMBER RAIN: The preceding sentiments hang uneasily with the ones in this Linda Pastan poem, but I found it stirring and beautiful nonetheless, especially the visual of isolation in our separate umbrellas, and the acuteness of the lyric “December with its white / enamel surfaces; the numbing / silences of winter.”

+FOR THOSE OF US WHOSE OLDEST CHILDREN ARE DAUGHTERS: Um, how close to home is this? We’re just living in Emory’s world over here. Ha!

+WHAT I ORDERED FROM BLACK FRIDAY DEALS THIS WEEK: What did you buy this week? Any standouts? I got a lot of shopping done.

As gifts: Yves Durif brush (25% off); three dry shampoos from Crown Affair (30% off when added to cart as a bundle); this Chappywrap (20% off with JOY20); multiple Pieceworks puzzles (30% off); a few Linnea candles I’m tempted to keep for myself (up to $45 off depending on spend); and a Rag+Bone tee (use RBBF10 for extra 10% off) for Mr. Magpie.

For myself: I ordered gift card holders and gift tags from Sarah Tucker’s collab with Joy Creative (15% off with FEELGOOD15) and a few items from Julia Amory, including a pair of her silk dupioni trousers, the Jane dress in marigold (imagine with black velvet), and the Betty dress in black — all 30% off. I also managed to buy the only thing on the Internet not on sale: this spectacular velvet and lace Saloni dress. I’d been hoping it would be on sale this week but alas. My toxic trait is being drawn to anything excluded from sale. I also bought some more Skims! I can’t help myself! It really is good. These long-sleeved tees are figure-hugging wonders for pairing with barrel / loose fit denim, and also great base layers beneath knits. Take your true size. I also picked up their famous bra!

+THIS WEEK’S BESTSELLERS: At the tippy top of the list: our favorite everyday moisturizer (up to 30% off depending on spend) and this Skims dress (50% off)!

01. INNBEAUTY MOISTURIZER (UP TO 30% OFF) // 02. SKIMS DRESS // 03. LAKE PAJAMAS POPLIN PAJAMA SET (25% OFF) // 04. LAKE PAJAMAS RELAX SET (25% OFF) // 05. MADEWELL X LESET POINTELLE SETS // 06. TUCKERNUCK DRESS (20% OFF) // 07. TEXTURED POLKA DOT BLOUSE (20% OFF) // 08. TARTAN MINI (20% OFF) // 09. UGG SLIPPERS // 10. J. CREW CABLENKIT CARDIGAN // 11. RIFLE PAPER GIFT WRAP // 12. DORSEY EMILE EARRINGS

By: Jen Shoop

The following content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

ALICE WALK WEEKENDER SWEATER (20% OFF) // LESET POINTELLE TEE (30% OFF) // VELVET BY GRAHAM SPENCER BRYLIE PANTS (25% OFF) // DOLCE VITA FLATS (30% OFF) // PHILLIP LIM SMALL SOLEIL BAG (ON SUPER SALE) // AURATE STUDS (35% OFF)

A CLOSE UP OF MY GEMSTONE STUDS FROM AURATE — CURRENTLY 35% OFF (UNDER $100!)

BA&SH MEREDITH JACKET (25% OFF) // TALBOTS CASHMERE TURTLENECK (40% OFF) // DORSEY EARRINGS // RAG & BONE FEATHERWEIGHT WIDE LEGS (25% OFF PLUS EXTRA 10% OFF) // PHILLIP LIM SMALL SOLEIL BAG (ON SUPER SALE) // ISABEL MARANT BOOTS

VERONICA BEARD VELVET BLAZER (LOOK FOR LESS) // LIZZIE FORTUNATO EARRINGS // MADEWELL WOOL VEST (40% OFF) // MADEWELL WIDE LEG JEANS // EMME PARSONS FLATS // DOEN POCHETTE

THE VEST SANS BLAZER

TUCKERNUCK DRESS (UP TO 30% OFF) // KILTE CARDIGAN (ON SALE IN SELECT COLORS) // ISABEL MARANT BOOTS // PHILLIP LIM SMALL SOLEIL BAG (ON SUPER SALE) // LIZZIE FORTUNATO EARRINGS

JOE’S JEANS SWEATER (30% OFF) // MADEWELL JEANS // PHILLIP LIM SMALL SOLEIL BAG (ON SUPER SALE) // ISABEL MARANT BOOTS // LIZZIE FORTUNATO EARRINGS // SKIMS BASE LAYER

VERONICA BEARD BLAZER (OLD, SIMILAR HERE) // HERMES SCARF // RAG AND BONE SOFIE JEANS (25% OFF) // SOLD OUT NYC LONG TEE (20% OFF)

PISTOLA SWEATER (30% OFF) // MANSUR GAVRIEL BAG // TWIN DOVES DENIM // GUCCI FLATS (OLD)

By: Jen Shoop

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We’ve talked in the past about green flags — the opposite of triggers, or the little things that immediately endear us to people — but I was thinking the other day that one of “the tells” of a great friendship is that I find myself uncompelled to perform. A few weeks ago, I attended a concert with a girlfriend, and somewhere between vibing to Sturgill Simpson and catching up on life in little tendrils of conversation between sets, I found myself commenting on how weird and almost synesthetic it is to watch a crowd at a concert — all the heads bobbing in unison, the alien uniformity of it. I didn’t even have a point. I was just pawing inelegantly at something I was experiencing, and sharing it in all its inchoate mess. My friend unflinchingly leapt in. I’m not sure she fully got what I was describing (I didn’t even know what I was describing), but she said, “I love talking about stuff like this.”

I wrote her a text awhile after and said I kept thinking about that moment, and about how it demonstrated her rare ability to put people entirely at ease, and to let them be their full selves, weird comments about crowd frisson and all. I added: “Sign of a true friend – no need to perform!”

This made me think about how increasingly I find myself drawn to the places I don’t need to perform, and I use the term “perform” liberally. I mean any place you don’t need to put up a guard, a stiff upper lip, a smooth surface, a forced smile, a manicured response. Some of these places are:

A booth at a restaurant next to my mother

My car, while driving my kids to and from school — I just sit and absorb news from their worlds and find myself at my most open and equanimous

My parents’ kitchen counter

Anywhere with Mr. Magpie, but especially on our couch in the evenings, digesting our days together

Text threads with my sisters (“Any regular hair dryer recs?” “I only like blow torches, but my neighbor was just raving about her T3” “She has good hair? lol”)

The floor of a living room with my college girlfriends

On a long walk with my sister

My children’s arms

The half-full page (mid-writing flow)

What about you?

Post-Scripts.

+On losing friendships.

+On building friendships through motherhood, and on balancing friendships.

+Advice for moms returning to the workforce.

Shopping Break.

The following content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

+Black Friday continues! The two big newcomers today are Frank and Eileen, offering us 20% off sitewide and Left on Friday, offering us 30% off. It’s difficult to find both of these brands on sale — sometimes you can score a $50 off code at F&E, but a flat discount sitewide is pretty compelling. My two favorite F&E pieces are their Patrick henleys (great for layering – a bit more interesting than a crewneck) and of course their travel sets, specifically the Carmel! And for Left on Friday — this sweatshirt is an absolute favorite. It’s a Friday night sweatshirt — perfectly soft and broken-in, with an unfinished hem. Sort of Jennifer Grey in Dirty Dancing vibes. I LOVE IT.

+Apparently these are the secret to arranging flowers?! Can anyone confirm? Another handy trick: this vase. I swear it takes all the guesswork out of arranging because the flowers fan out beautifully against the rippled edge. Great gift idea for a MIL. (Currently 20% off!)

+Not surprised, but the two Black Friday bestsellers so far this week have been these poplin Lake Pajamas (I mentioned I bought matching pairs for my MIL and her sister and they LOVE to twin in them when they visit one another — so cute) and Lake’s Relax set, which I own in multiple colors but especially adore in the new, sleek black. I pair the latter with my Ugg Tazz slippers and am in absolute heaven.

+Just noticed this BA&SH Meredith jacket I was just raving about earlier this week is on sale for 50% off in a cute pink-red color here.

+A great look for less for the VB fair isle cardi we all love.

+You’ve probably noticed I’ve absolutely worn my mesh Dolce Vita flats into the ground this season, and they are currently 30% off with code CYBER…however, contemplating upgrading to the mesh LRs while 40% off. Love the black mesh with the rhinestone detail!

+Picked up a few of these brain-teasing games to give as gifts to my smart godsons/nephews — a good gift for a boy who likes Rubiks cubes / chess / puzzles / etc. Friends of ours brought it to a ski trip last year and it’s addicting, and challenging! This also falls into the same category.

+Most of my girlfriends are die hard Mother Denim fans, and they have discounted a ton of their styles here. I find their jeans ultra-comfortable. I have a pair of their Insider Frayed Crops and they are so flattering, but so comfortable, and great for when you want to tuck jeans into boots have a clean line.

+Mille is offering 30% off their fall selection with code BLACKFRIDAY24. Two of my favorite statement tops from this season are included: this black Swiss dot (with velvet tie detail and embroidered bows!) and this burgundy print style, which looks great tucked into jeans.

+Mini will freak out over this Squishville set.

By: Jen Shoop

The following content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation. Image via.

I just bought a bunch of items from Ooly, one of my go-to brands for gifting, while 25% off (not sure if promo will still be live when this post publishes!), including a few varieties of these activity cards (my daughter will love the joke decoder), these note card sets, and some new markers for my children (these and these). I figure I’ll use these as Advent calendar surprises or stocking stuffers, or just to give away to little friends. This drew me down a rabbit hole and I filled multiple carts with cute stocking stuffers / small gifts —

WORD SEARCH PUZZLES // HARIBO REINDEER CANDY // PENS // MAGIC 8 BALL // ETCH A SKETCH // WOODEN YO YO

01. These paintbrush-tipped pens were a rec from a pen loving friend — my daughter would adore!

02. Astronaut erasers! (Come in other shapes, like macarons, too.)

03. Cat’s Cradle set. I owned and loved this exact Klutz set when I was maybe eight or nine. Can’t wait to introduce my daughter!

04. Word search puzzles.

05. My daughter has loved these Usborne sticker books since she was three. She’s very into ice skating right now and I know this particular set will go over well.

06. Lego mini figure packs. We recently went to the Lego store at Tyson’s and they have this cute little stand where you can create your own lego mini figure — pick pants/bottom, top, head, hair, and an accessory. My kids LOVED it.

07. Haribo reindeer candy!

08. Magic 8 ball — a very popular gift (according to Magpie readers!) between the ages of 8-10.

09. Etch a Sketch. A classic for a reason, and great for travel.

10. A great detangling brush for your little lady. I like to mix in utility-type gifts in the stocking. My mom always gave us scotch tape and glue sticks!

11. Crocs shoe charms — my son would flip over the Mario motif.

12. Unicorn playing cards.

13. Koosh balls. I didn’t even know they still made these! Iconic.

14. Personalized bookmarks. These were a go-to gift of mine, along with a bundle of books, for awhile!

15. My kids are absolutely obsessed with their book lamps, and they stay charged forever. Anything that encourages reading is OK in my book, even if it means staying up a little late.

16. Slinky!

17. Color your own sticker set.

18. Puffy 3D sticker playhouse.

19. Wooden yo-yo.

20. Bombas socks.

21. Tennis grips for your little racquets lady.

22. Squish-a-long set.

23. Beanie-boos. (My local Safeway often sells these for like $6 or $7 each — check there first!)

24. Rainbow shoe laces.

25. Potion play!

26. Fill in the blank thank you notes.

P.S. Will be sharing what we’re buying for our kids in an upcoming post, but some good shopping starting points here and here.

P.P.S. The Nutcracker and holiday tradition. A bit ironic because this year, we are actually not going to see the Nutcracker! We had one of those scenarios where we were trying to thread too many needles at once — coordinating with other family members, trying to pick a showing in which one of mini’s friends was performing, and wedging it into an increasingly busy holiday season. We had gone through three or four rounds of trying to coordinate this and finally I said to Mr. Magpie, “or maybe we just don’t go this year,” and we both felt it was the right thing. Sometimes doing one less thing also makes space for more room to breathe and enjoy! I am feeling two ways about it though…

P.P.P.S. Some great bedtime books for kids.

By: Jen Shoop

A lot to be grateful for this year — thinking acutely of my health, my parents’ health, the sensation of being settled (finally, after what felt like two straight decades of wandering), the opportunity to travel to Italy with Landon this past fall, the ongoing embrace of close friends, the redbirds in my back yard, the evergreens outside my studio window (“I would almost say they save me, and daily,” per Mary Oliver), the privilege of being a mother to my Emory and my Hill, and their perfect everything, right down to their unkempt fingernails. (Last week, a friend of mine brought her son with her to a coffee date, and apologized in advance with: “Don’t judge…we’re bringing the tablet. I can’t parent anymore” and I replied: “Judgment free zone! If you could see the status of my children’s fingernails…you’d know that.” For some reason fingernails are a final frontier of maternal effort that I routinely fail to reach. It’s 7:49 p.m., I’ve just finished reading my son his book, and I notice he has dirt under his nails. It’s just not a reality that I’m going to rouse him from this thicket of blankets to handle this ministry at that hour. I am appalled even as I think: dirt under the nails are a universal rune for happy boyhood. So I guess I’m grateful for those, too.)

I’m also, as always, deeply grateful for your readership. It moves me that you invite me into your mornings. I wrote not long ago an ad hoc post on Instagram that I am reprinting here, apt as it is today and all days for that matter:

I sit here in my studio and write to find out what’s inside, and then I wait to hear what you think, and this process — this conversation, this unfolding — is one of the greatest joys and privileges of my life.

Someone recently said that if you aren’t living to write, you probably aren’t a writer. I don’t know about that — I don’t like its subtext of exclusivity — but I can tell you that I have lived to write since I was a kid, when I’d put together saccharine love stories my saintly mom would encouragingly read, and coerce my best friend into writing screenplays with me because her dad had an old typewriter we were permitted to use. I then had the good fortune of a string of charitable early patrons who paved a way for me — my mother, enrolling me in writing classes; a grade school English teacher who read my work and encouraged me to submit my fiction to various competitions; an uncle who used to send me thick packets of short stories by J.D. Salinger along with a note that read: “Keep writing!”

So I guess I have been living to write for decades, but the fact that I have somehow found a way to write for a living, too, is the wildest of spacewalks.

Thank you for your readership, your patronage. Every time I log on and see you sharing my words, hearting my stories, commenting with thoughts, I can hardly contain my shock and delight.

Thank you doesn’t quite cover the circumference of my gratitude, but it’ll have to do today —

Thank you,

And as we say, onward —

Jen

Post Scripts: A Couple of Exceptional Sales to Shop.

The following content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

+30% off at Julia Amory (discount applies automatically at checkout). Now is the time to snag a pair of her gorgeous silk dupioni holiday trousers (I did!), one of her elegant Jane dresses, or her Betty dress in a winter fabric and hue. (I own in a summerweight but just ordered the black, too!)

+20% off Dr. Diamond Metacine with code INSIDER20 — now’s the chance to try their incredible plasma. (I’ve never seen this on sale!) I went through two bottles and then felt guilty at the price tag but this discount is making me want to jump back into the water. This product dramatically shrinks pores and improves the texture/surface of your skin.

+My 3.1 Phillip Lim small Soleil bag I’ve been wearing all fall long will be discounted to $220 today (orig $895). Price will appear in cart. The team also offered us free shipping with code BFCMSHIP! This bag is so spectacular. I have it in the coffee color and it’s this magical, versatile hue that somehow goes with every color you have on — can read gray, can read brown, can read taupe. I’ve been stopped several times by people asking where it’s from; it clearly looks designer but I’ve never seen it out in the wild before. A great buy.

+20% off sitewide at AYR. You need the Early Mornings Tee. Sorry, it’s that good. Perfect hybrid between a tee and a sweatshirt. Also a good gift for a sister.

+20% off Chappywrap blankets. (A major RWI for me and many other Magpies – we now have four). Great gift, especially in this iconic holiday tartan.

+Up to $300 off at Dana Rebecca — elegant, diamond-centric everyday jewelry. I own and love these crossover huggies. They feel like a slightly edgier Tiffany vibe — delicate, but modern? These are a great everyday piece that go with everything. Drop a hint to your partner! (And if you spend over $1,000, you receive a Beis In-Flight Case and a Ruby Bond Candy Bag — decent swag!)

+Up to 30% off at Cuyana. I absolutely love to gift these travel cases (on sale in select colors!) – have given to my mom, best friend, and one of my sisters. You can get their initials put on the side. They are super elegant / quiet luxury pieces and beautifully made. This is not included in the sale, but I also wanted to mention that I recently received their system tote and it is absolutely gorgeous (and super practical — fit a laptop and everything else you need) IRL. A great work bag. I’ve been working on a project with my Dad and I use this to tote files and paperwork back and forth. Obsessed.

+25% off at Guest in Residence. Uber luxe but fresh/cheeky cashmere pieces. This cashmere rugby has been viral in popularity – I’ve seen it all over among the chic set. I own and adore this cropped tartan cashmere jacket — wore it all over Italy! And of course who doesn’t love a fair isle.

+20% off at Lizzie Fortunato with code LFHOLIDAY. If you’re more of a statement jewelry gal, this is for you. I have four or five of LF’s fabulous pieces and they are just so special and fun. I really love her chunky collar necklaces (I own this one — how great is this?!) and Julia Amory often styles them with her Jane dresses (30% off) — SO CHIC. Absolutely follow suit. These earrings are one of LF’s bestsellers — SO FAB with a simple white button down and jeans.

By: Jen Shoop

This post is sponsored by Talbots.

The other morning, I drove over to my mother’s house wearing the head-to-toe Talbots outfit seen in these photos, and — entirely without any pre-coordination — my mother came to the door wearing head-to-toe Talbots as well! (She was wearing an ivory knit skirt and matching ivory knit sweater.) Talbots has such a special place in my heart for festive dressing, as my mother has leaned on their classic pieces for her holiday lineup for decades now. When I was growing up, my mother hosted an annual mother-daughter Christmas tea, and Talbots nearly always made the wardrobe cut for the occasion — whether in the form of a cashmere turtleneck or a tartan skirt. I am now an extension of her gesture, selecting Talbots pieces for my own holiday lineup.

This season, Talbots has some seriously chic pieces to work into your winter wardrobe, and nearly everything is 40% off this week thanks to Black Friday deals. Above, I’m using my tried-and-true styling trick of going monochrome (takes a lot of the trial-and-error out of dressing and looks so polished!) with this cashmere sweater and this maxi slip skirt in the perfect shade of candy cane red. I especially love the slip skirt — the length feels very modern / contemporary, and it has a nice weight to it so it doesn’t feel like actual lingerie. This would also look great layered beneath an oversized, chunky cable knit sweater. I paired with these fun satin mules and this spectacular black watch tartan wool coat (also 40% off — and such a good value for a great piece). I love a statement coat and know I will get a lot of wear out of this modern classic — would also look fab layered over barrel jeans, a cableknit, and flats.

A few other pieces from their current collection that belong on a chic holiday dressing wish list: