Lately, I have been falling in love with more angularly shaped sunglasses than I’ve worn in years and years. I’m talking Wayfarer vibes. (You may have picked up on this in some of the street style snaps in this post.) Inspo above and below (photo 1, photo 2, photo 3).
A girlfriend of mine told me a few years ago that she treasured the experience of dropping her children off at daycare. She said that there was something about bending over to plant a kiss on her son’s forehead while in a suit and heels that manifested a childhood vision of motherhood for her. I found it inspiring that her paradigm of motherhood had always unblinkingly accommodated a career, and I also intuitively grasped the appeal of the kind of moment she was capturing: there are times, as a mother, where I am keenly aware of my maternal role, and they often take place in front of an audience. There was a moment earlier this summer at a family reunion that spanned three generations during which the youngest children had been sent off to participate in an outdoor activity with a few baby-sitters. All of the adults were congregating on a lawn and the children were traipsing across the far perimeter. My son saw me from maybe fifty yards away and screamed: “Mama! Mama! Mama!” as he sprinted across the greensward, arms outstretched, enormous smile across his face. He leapt into my arms, threw his arms around my neck, and planted his cheek against my shoulder. A murmur rippled across the party — knowing smiles, nodding heads, “awwws” and tsks of approval at the heartwarming scene. I felt at that moment profoundly seen in my motherhood. It was as though my five years of preening, nurturing, reading, lullabying, rocking, steaming vegetables, singing the ABCs, packing lunches, pressing palms against foreheads, disciplining, soothing, holding hands, answering questions, pouring milk lay just beneath the glass on which we stood in embrace, the outline of all of my tendernesses made visible to those around us.
I thought to myself, consciously — “I am a mother.” All other identities receded, like waves at low tide. Even five years into this role, I am still on occasion startled by my possession of it. Oh, yes. I am a mother?
It is strange, though — I felt my label as a mother at that moment, my discernible shape as one, but the moments in which I feel I most fully live out my own motherhood is when I am doing something impossibly repetitious to the point of maddening and yet I feel inside a kind of immovability. A steadfastness that bears me through. I am thinking of endless nights sitting on the floor of my son’s shoebox of a nursery in New York City. It was too small for an arm chair, and so I would rock him to sleep against the roar of the window AC unit sitting on the floor in the dark. My arms would be shaking, my eyes leaden. I am thinking of cluster feeds with both babies, waking every 30 minutes to nurse, so beyond fatigued that I felt ashen and nauseous and riddled with headache. I am thinking of laying beside my feverish daughter for hours on end, and holding my son as he threw up yet another time all over my clothing, the floor, the bed. I am thinking of carrying my children across hot sand and slush lagoons, through subway stations and torrential downpours, in multiple feet of Chicago snow and the muggiest of D.C. summers — my arms burning with fatigue, my muscles aching for relief. I am thinking of sitting on the floor of my daughter’s room waiting for her tantrums to subside — just perched, silently, sometimes with my eyes closed, waiting for the storm to blow over. I am thinking of turning the pages of hundreds of books I know too well — ones I can barely stand at this point — and playing the same games, and singing the same songs, and telling the same stories over and over again into the vast infinity of their imaginations. I am thinking of the painfully long days of quarantine, especially when we were cloistered in New York in 2020, and I would sit and stare at the familiar shapes of my daughter’s bedroom and feel as though my soul was quietly disintegrating as I muscled through playing Barbies or Duplos for the millionth day in a row, with no end in sight. I am thinking of the pique of getting ready to go out to Central Park during those days, too, when everything felt absurdly tedious and I had to give myself a pep talk to even start the twenty-minute long process of putting shoes on feet and packing the proper snacks and cajoling my daughter onto the toilet before walking out the door. I am thinking of rolling out and then wiping down the same dinner placemats night after night, and filling the same cups of milk, and slicing everything into tiny, non-choking-hazard pieces. I am thinking of directing my children to brush their teeth, and saying the same prayer and affirmations every single night of their lives.
It is in these quiet, unobserved moments of motherhood that I see myself carried forward by nothing but the purest maternal instinct.
+This beautiful Thierry Colson blouse is now on sale for 60% off (even more if your order totals over $250…)
+Also loving this gingham top. All the cool Euro girls are wearing La Veste.
+A great transition-to-fall evening caftan to throw on after work and before bed.
+Also love this cutie mini dress to throw on. So easy to wear!
+OH my goodness. This pink feather-trim blazer is, like, everything.
+SLVRLAKE denim is trending – have been seeing this all over the place!
+This fleece sweatshirt is one of my absolute favorites for fall — love the texture and fit.
+Still loving chocolate brown this season…this top is SO good.
+I have had the best luck with henley tees from Gap over the years — so cozy to layer beneath sweaters or puffy vests for casual weekend moments. This one in the white/cream color will be a total star in your winter wardrobe.
Kicking off a new series featuring all of my current obsessions.
HOTEL LOBBY CANDLE PARIS NUIT. I have purchased several of the candles from this small business (the candles ship free from Neiman’s, FYI) and am newly obsessed with this sexy evening scent. I’ve written elsewhere about creating a “buffer” between the work day and my at-home/motherhood responsibilities in the evening — especially important now that so many of us WFH permanently! — and this candle is a part of my unwinding process. I have been lighting it in the kitchen once I’ve descended from the office at dusk. Not only does it cultivate a lovely ambiance, but it’s another sensory signal that work is over and that I need to “clip out” of my creative headspace. The site adequately posits that “this candle immediately transport you to a dimly-lit hotel lobby cocktail lounge.” Yes. I love that it has a more unisex — spicy — vibe, including notes of musk, wood, rum, mahogany.
TAUPE SWEATSHIRT. The perfect logoless, slightly-boxy-but-not-oversized sweatshirt to pair with high waisted denim. I like to layer over button-downs with jeans, or wear around my shoulders! I am obsessed with the color — sort of a faded noisette. Perfection.
SAM EDELMAN SLINGBACK PUMPS. These Dior-inspired heels (see the originals here) have my heart. They’ll look perfect with lighter-wash denim, a tee, and an oversized blazer for an effortless Parisian-chic moment. Also perfect for work, cocktail parties, etc. Definitely order in the suede black. I find suede makes even inexpensive shoes look high-end — I think you notice the difference in leather quality much more easily.
TOVE DRESS. This misty-sea-green-gray dress is at the top of my lust list for fall cocktail parties and the like. So incredibly chic and the color is unexpected.
GAP STRIPED SWEATER. I am devastated I missed out on this sweater in the stripe — it sold out in the XXS/XS/S in a hot minute. Can you believe it’s GAP?! It looks just like Toteme. I currently have the solid “cobblestone” in my cart but can’t decide if I think it’s too boring? Or maybe it’s perfect to pair with a bolder patterned pant or a tone-on-tone moment?
BYREDO MOJAVE GHOST SCENT. I know I’ve talked your ear off about this already, but this scent makes me feel like a new woman. I feel instantly more interesting, pulled-together, and sophisticated — ha! It somehow elevates even jeans and a tee? I can’t explain it, but I’m in love. If you’re scared of trying a full sized bottle, Nordstrom is currently selling a trio of Byredo’s best selling scents (including Mojave Ghost) for $30 off! That way you can give a few scents a try before committing!
MIXED CHARM NECKLACE. SO fun to customize and reminds me of much more expensive styles I’ve seen elsewhere. A great way to get an eclectic look in one fell swoop (without having to collect charms over months and months). I love the trendy paperclip chain!
OIYA EVIL EYE NECKLACE. I’ve wanted to add an evil eye motif necklace to the mix for awhile. I love the eclectic/boho flair it affords — I think I’ll order the one in pink.
HUNTER BELL MERCER DRESS. I wrote about this last weekend, but it arrived and it is spectacular in person. I was worried it might be overly voluminous on my petite frame, but it totally works and fits exactly as shown on the model — semi-narrow in the bodice, fuller at the foot. I am totally impressed with the detail and quality of this dress — I’d never purchased anything from the brand before but will be back. I will wear now with Hermes Orans (look for less with these) and in the fall with my new cableknit sweater around my shoulders and clogs on my feet.
FABRIZIO VITI CLOGS. I couldn’t not have these – they are so fun. I am wildly impractical and impulsive and frivolous about shoes and these just spoke to my soul. Now, clogs are hard to wear. Full stop. But for my lifestyle right now, these are dreamy — I’ll wear these with guests over / when doing minimal walking.
RUTH WARE’S LATEST THRILLER. Oh my gosh, this cannot be delivered to my Kindle quickly enough. Ware is my favorite contemporary thriller writer and I am salivating just thinking of sinking into this one.
APC MINI GRACE BAG. I am so close to pulling the trigger on this beauty. It reminds me of the Celine box bag (which you can find pre-loved on Fashionphile, FYI), but much more affordable. I really love the canvas-leather combo, but am trying to decide if all-brown is more versatile?
Knitwear from Gap and H&M has been selling out left and right, but I did manage to get this cropped cableknit, which I think will have the perfect length for pairing with higher-waist denim this fall. Also love the idea of it layered over a striped button down so just a little of the shirt pokes out at the bottom when tucked in.
TIERED V-NECK BLACK MIDI DRESS WITH FLUTTER SLEEVES AND SMOCKED DETAILING
HORIZONTAL STRIPED COLLARED SWEATSHIRT WITH V-NECK DETAIL IN A SLIGHTLY OVERSIZED STYLE
WOVEN RATTAN REUSABLE SQUARE TISSUE BOX HOLDER FOR ANY ROOM IN THE HOUSE
Weekend Musings: Timing.
“Time is nature’s way of keeping everything from happening at once.” – Farmer’s Almanac
I have felt this wisdom viscerally watching Mr. Magpie tend to his gardens over the summer. The nature, the shape of his work changes with each passing day, as do the fruits of his labor (that is, whatever the chipmunks leave for us of it). If everything were to be planted and harvested at the same time, there would be an unmanageable over-density of work during certain periods, and empty beds for the majority of the rest of the year.
But I found the words comforting in other pursuits, too, where we are left wondering at life’s mysterious timing. Perhaps life happens only when we are ready for it. Put differently: maybe I need to trust the timing in my life.
Shopping Break.
+This Mille dress has been crazy popular the past few days — wanted to mention Mille just marked down a bunch of its summer pieces, including the same dress in a happy sunshine yellow. This floral was also marked down – beautiful end-of-summer dress. (Family portrait material?)
+This reminds me of a SEA dress from last season, but it’s under $160.
+Speaking of SEA vibes for less, a lot of us loved their fleece jacket last year, but you can nail the look for less with this or this.
+Into the image of wearing this around the house in the fall beneath a chunky knit (look for less).
+Would love this layering knit in like five of the available colors.
+Target woven pumpkins are BACK! A great way to get the Pottery Barn look for less. I also had good luck finding a few at TJ Maxx last year — check this one out! I got a few of the fabric ones last year, including this one, to mix and match.
+Lots of TBBC jammies for littles added to the sale section – the birthday ones are adorable!
+I love so many of the fall dresses from Ulla at this moment — this is perfect for a fall wedding, I have this dog-eared for Thanksgiving, and this feels like a wardrobe workhorse.
Mr. Magpie and I have been coordinating a dinner party and it’s made me want to refresh my tabletop options. Below, some of my favorite new finds mixed in with old standbys I absolutely swear by. Some of these are incredible buys — much less expensive than they look.
I wanted to call out a few hero pieces, each of which I own.
HERO PIECE NO. 1: ZAFFERANO COUPES. If you follow me on Instagram, you know that these coupes are one of my favorite possessions. I drink champagne and “up” cocktails out of these all the time (a recipe for one of my favorite cocktails that I serve in these here). The design adds such flourish!
HERO PIECE NO. 2.: WILLIAMS-SONOMA CAKE DOME. We received this cake dome / punch bowl as a wedding gift and it’s been in near-constant use since. We keep this out on our counter with baked goods (or storebought ones — just decant a box of cookies onto a pretty plate!) or invert to serve as an enormous fruit bowl. It looks fabulous stocked with citrus before a big party! We have also used it for its intended purpose — punch! — at parties, and it’s always a hit. (Plus, you aren’t mixing individual cocktails to order.)
HERO PIECE NO. 3: PROPER TABLE ACRYLIC COASTERS. I recently received a set of these acrylic coasters from the brand Proper Table and am smitten. They are spill- and condensation-friendly (just wipe clean!) and pretty enough to keep out on the coffee table. The brand offers tons of different patterns that you can mix and match. These are going to be my new go-to hostess gift.
HERO PIECE NO. 4: AMAZON JULEP CUPS. I have a couple of silver julep cups I bought just after we were married that I’ve used as pen cups, toothbrush cups, vases, and more over the years. I just added a couple of these startlingly affordable julep cups to my collection with the intention of using them for tiny tight posies of peonies at an upcoming dinner party. The perfect size, too, for a little bouquet in the powder bathroom.
HERO PIECE NO. 5: ONLY ON THE AVENUE MELAMINE PLATES. I don’t own the exact pattern shown above, but I can’t live without melamine plates! They’re fantastic for outdoor dining (we eat outside as often as possible), children, snacks on the couch, bringing baked goods to neighbors (less precious in case forgotten and less hazardous in transport), and — for some reason, I eat my breakfast on these all the time! I also like to buy a few extra whenever I’m buying a new set to give away as gifts, i.e., if you are bringing a hostess a plate of cookies, you can let her know she can just keep the plate.
P.P.P.S. I am feeling grateful to have the opportunity to host again so freely. I was just thinking back on how alienated and lonely we felt during the depths of the pandemic.
I thought this was a beautiful expression of the way in which we must, on occasion, separate ourselves from what happens to us. Blurry lines abound here: we are, of course, responsible for our actions. But sometimes things happen to us that are well beyond our control and we must not let those happenstances fray, diminish, disarticulate. I love the visualization that we remain intact; we simply missed a chance to manifest that “kernel” to others.
The next time you do not get the job, the sale, the promotion, the opportunity, the result you anticipated —
Pause to examine what you could have done differently,
But do not let it corrode your sense of self or conviction that you contain what you need to succeed.
+These straight-leg vintage cords are everything I need this fall. Get the look for less with these.
+OK, major Isabel Marant boot vibes for less here and here. Especially digging those Larroudes!
+I wear my Emerson Fry Frances dress close to weekly. I have it in a summer pattern but am wondering if I need a fall one, too? How cute with ballet flats or booties or clogs?!
+Undergoing a major closet clean out at the moment. I ended up buying a bunch of these because I have a very narrow (10″ shelf) going around all sides of the tippy top of my closet and thought these would be perfect for stowing out of season pieces, or the kinds of items I cannot part ways with but are not really in my fashion repertoire at the moment. (I have so many differently colored pashminas, for example, that I rarely wear except for when traveling or attending weddings!). I also have tons of these cubes for stowing things like sweaters, out-of-season cotton pieces, etc throughout my closet. More closet inspo here.
+This lipstick in the bourbon rose color remains my longtime everyday favorite. It’s basically the only one I’ve worn all summer. It is super hydrating and has a great balm-like consistency.
+Guess I’m just in an organization mood because I also organized all my office supplies, paper goods, and folders. I use these file boxes for important papers, and just got these pastel hanging file folders to compartmentalize.
+Just bought a bunch of these as bud vases for an upcoming dinner party — thought it would be pretty to have a bunch of tight posies of roses or peonies scattered with candles down the middle of the table. That way people can talk!
By: Jen Shoop
*Image via Emitaz, rocking Uggsand a plaid shacket that looks to be a past-season Isabel Marant — current season here.
We all need them: the shoes we putz around the house in and dash outside to get the mail in. Heck, sometimes they’re the shoes we slip into to run to the corner bodega, or drop the kids off at school in. Something easy to slip into and comfortable — no buckles, no fuss, no muss — that falls somewhere between a slipper and an outdoor shoe. As we head into fall, we’re talking Uggs, we’re talking Birks, and — if you’ve been here for awhile — you know we’re talking Vibis (I now own four pairs). Birkenstock Boston clogs are trending majorly this season but I just cannot…quite…mentally get there. I guess after all of these years of admiring lots of chic peas wear Birks of all shapes and styles, I must simply confess that I’m not a Birk girl. I always want something like a Birk, but with a bit more refinement? Anyway, I’ve seen lots of people rock them with aplomb, so don’t let me stand in your way. Uggs are also back, both in the mini and ultra-mini styles.
Anyhow, below, a few styles that stood out to me as perfect mail-getting shoes…
*Image via Yatri. If you don’t follow her on Insta, you must! I need her shoes!
Q: Plain white tank or sleeveless top for tucking in, or bodysuit (haven’t ventured here yet!)
A: A friend of mine recently recommended Good American’s bodysuit — I haven’t ventured into body suits yet either, though! I usually reach for this Free People if I want something really fitted; if you can’t tell, I really like a scoopneck silhouette here. This J. Crew style is also up my alley. I’ve seen a lot of street style chic peas in Toteme’s white tanks (look for less with this), which is intriguingly chic but not exactly my usual style. For a similar vibe, Courtney Grow is often seen in this Re/Done ribbed tank or this Target one.
Q: My husband wants to get me a special bracelet for my 35th birthday, something tennis bracelet-esque but a bit more unique. Budget up to $5,000.
A: Wowza! Happy birthday to you! QNot a tennis bracelet, but I would ask for a Van Cleef + Arpels alhambra bracelet. I’ve wanted one forever — timeless and so chic. Alternately, send him to Tiffany — he can’t go wrong. I have the necklace version of these diamonds by the yard from there and it is one of my most-worn pieces of jewelry. Classic, elegant, beautifully made.
Q: I wanted to send a wedding fashion question – I have a wedding on Martha’s Vineyard this Fall and the invitation says it is “Island Formal” attire. Do you have any suggestions for dresses that would work? My husband is in the wedding party and wearing a tux – I am trying to find something that would work with a tux but likely with some color.Â
A: Splurge: anything by Andres Otalora, but especially this gown. I also can’t stop thinking about this Cecilie Bahnsen after seeing it on Liz Damrich and this bubblegum pink Emilia Wickstead. Other options that are less wallet-busting:
Q: My daughter is looking for a “coming home “ dress from the hospital after giving birth to her third baby girl. The date is early October from Stamford, Ct. She’s not a fan of ruffles and smocking.
A: What about Staud’s Vincent dress? They release it in several colors each season, but biscotti or marigold could be good for the season. It’s nursing friendly, can be basically worn year-round, and has a nice loose fit. Could be worn with shearling birks for more of a boho vibe or of course my beloved furlanes for a true magpie style moment. Or really any slip-on/mule/flat! The Great’s herd dress has a similar vibe (a bit more blouson in style), as does Doen’s Joan dress (a bit more ethereal/boho). Sruti Dalmia also has a bunch of really pretty patterned shirtdresses that could be just right for the occasion. For more of a Charlotte York moment, check out Daphne Wilde — I feel like Charlotte would have left the hospital in this dress, Chanel flats, and a big tortoise headband.
Q: Wedding guest dress for Labor Day weekend in Whitefish, Montana.
A: Have fun! I would lean into fall since it will likely be a tad chillier out that way? I would consider…
A: Fun! I love all of the personalization options and colors at Not Another Bill. Bottega’s are splashy and loud (you can find select colors on sale here). I always love shadow lettering, and this case is affordable! This is more of a crossbody/phone sling, but how fun is this Anya Hindmarch?
Q: Colorful cocktail dress for mid-September wedding at the beach. Creatively dressed crowd.
A: You’re asking the right lady. I love a pouch. My favorite for toting around essentials like lipstick, tampons, bandaids, etc is this applique one I bought on Etsy. I transfer it from bag to bag! A few other great pouches, depending on use case / what you’re looking for —
A: I’m fairly traditional, so I would put him in something like this or this with loafers like these or these. If that’s not your vibe, I would put him in a little suit, like this seersucker one with matching pants. For something less dressy, pants like these with a button down.
Q: Girls’ dinner out outfit.
A: SO fun! Have the best time. If you’re thinking jeans, I can’t unsee this bustier top after seeing it styled on this adorable Charleston influencer. For dresses — I like a bold pattern like this or this, a boho dress like this that really only girls understand, this floral, something bright pink, or an easy-to-wear dress like this. Basically, turn up the volume and fun!
Q: Outfit for a sister’s baby shower in October at a restaurant in Georgetown. (I’m hosting!)
A: So sweet of you. I like the idea of this Derek Lam (I think this works into fall — just layer beneath a sweater or wrap if chilly), this Tanya Taylor, this SEA, this Daydress, or this Alemais. I also think a slip skirt, statement trousers, or pleated skirt with a cashmere tee would be chic.
Q: Teak chairs for our backyard.
A: Mr. Magpie and I have been hunting for the same thing! I think we will go with these!
If you’re coming from Pinterest, welcome! Learn more about Magpie here or subscribe to my Magpie Digest here! I’m so glad we found each other.
One of my favorite styling go-tos is wearing a sweater almost like an accessory around my shoulders — I often have no intention of actually wearing the sweater as a top layer, but it adds dimension and interest (often by introducing stripes or a new color or shade to the outfit mix). I’ve been taking additional layering notes from street style starlets mainly over in Europe lately —
These last ten days or so have hung heavy on the vine, like fruit waiting to be picked. The sojourns of summer behind us, the boxes bearing new shoes and school uniforms at our feet:
We are waiting.
I would be lying if I did not say that Mr. Magpie and I are happy for this return to routine. We talk about fall as though respite. We are creatures of habit, all four of us, but everything has run loose and unspooled these past few months: late dinners and later bedtimes, pajamas until mid-morning, bare feet, mussed hair, summer clothes that now run a tad snag and worn. We observe that the children will benefit from some separation after traipsing through the summer thick as thieves (and, therefore, prone to frequent, eruptive quarreling). We, too, could use the space.
Mary Oliver, however, presented to me the other side of this coin, reminding me to live where my feet are, offering me an invitation to reach into the fullness of this late August with hungry arms.
August by Mary Oliver
When the blackberries hang swollen in the woods, in the brambles nobody owns, I spend
all day among the high branches, reaching my ripped arms, thinking
of nothing, cramming the black honey of summer into my mouth; all day my body
accepts what it is. In the dark creeks that run by there is the thick paw of my life darting among
the black bells, the leaves; there is the happy tongue.
+Another great fall coat option — love that this style can be wore belted for a little more figure-consciousness. Extra 15% off at checkout!
+Cutest little sherpa bag. Reminds me of the styles from Stand Studio, but a fraction of the price.
+Definitely going to be wearing a navy slip skirt (upgrade pick: Vince) and navy cashmere sweater this fall.
+Bought a few of these in the 4×4 size to display some of those family photos I wrote about over the weekend. I love these inexpensive frames for displaying little cards, notes, oddly-shaped photos, etc.
+Another gorgeous transition-to-fall dress. This one is in my cart.
+Just the cutest little snack plate for a little one. I also really like these inexpensive “plates” from Munchkin for snack time — they have a high “lip” that can come in handy with spill-prone littles. I also use these as trays when they’re perched on the couch (good for, say, stowing an apple mid-munch) or for corraling elements of a snack into one place (string cheese, crackers, grapes). I don’t know why – I love them! Good size.
+Speaking of snack plates, C&B has the best-sized “appetizer plates.” I have a few different sets of these that are in constant use – snacks, bread plates, spoon rests, appetizers, etc! (Also love this more handmade-looking set.). Buy in the white and they’ll work into any tablescape.
+I have this Mille dress in a different pattern and it is SO fun – the sleeves make it a really celebratory affair. Was thinking this would be cute for a family photo or newborn photo or maternity photo!
+Digging these coated brown crops with a chunky knit…
This season, I am loving the look of oversized blazers with on-trend denim, a classic white tee, and ballet flats, as styled to perfection in these street snaps.
Last week, my three-year-old son returned from the library with a series of board books on emotions — what it means to be happy, what it means to be angry, what it means to be scared. His face contorted into a scowl, then softened into a smile, as he mirrored the imagery of their pages. It was like metal reflecting the sun.
Over dinner one night, we talked about the books.
“What does it mean to be angry?” we prodded.
His eyes, so often these days squinting with mischief or humor or a kind of sardonic “told-ya-so,” widened into enormous dew drops.
“Like chipmunks,” he said, seriously.
“Chipmunks?” We exchanged glances over his head. Had he seen fighting chipmunks in a movie? Were chipmunks illustrated in the book, perhaps?
“Like Dada and chipmunks,” he insisted, the absolute picture of hushed solemnity. The reference clicked into place like a screen in a viewfinder. We burst into laughter. For a year now, Mr. Magpie has lived close to the earth. He has tended to not only herbs and vegetables but fruiting trees, dozens of varieties of flowers, boxwoods, and more. I have watched him learn how to deadhead roses. I have listened to him complain about invasive weeds to the neighbors, then spend time plucking them from the roots up. I have overheard him comparing varieties of lettuce with his father. And persistently, I have heard him swear at the chipmunks, whose population has multiplied in these parts of Maryland with such velocity over the past six months, that we have scarcely enjoyed any of our summer crops. It has gotten so bad that Mr. Magpie has talked about not planting anything at all next year. We have barely enjoyed a tomato and a few fistfuls of berries these past few weeks. They seem not to mess with the cucumbers, and so we have been headily indulging in those, but — all of the tender coaxing and patience and fretting-over-the-frost that has gone into Mr. Magpie’s gardening this year seems like a colossal waste.
So, yes —
Chipmunks and anger are now fused as one in this household. A part of our familial lingua franca, a symbol with no referent outside of our home — one that would not have existed in New York City, and possibly not in Maryland before the onset of this overpopulation. All at once, I felt profoundly rooted to my place, to this season, to the three emotive human beings sitting around the long wooden table in our dining room. It seemed to me that all of us were bound together in a kind of signific circumscription.
One day, I thought to myself, I will remind my son of the way in which the soil beneath my husband’s hands rippled into meaning.
+Totally drooling over this boxy bag for fall. Also comes in beautiful solid leather colors that are even more seasonless. Found it for less on Farfetch, and kind of digging this blue-gray color too?!
+This raffia side table delivers major Serena and Lily Vibes for $130. Same with this $100 woven storage ottoman!
+This Kay Unger dress is very Audrey Hepburn meets SJP. J’adore! Has a Barbiecore element to it, too. LOVE.
+Just ordered these inexpensive but fun return labels to put on bills, cards, etc — I’m tired of writing out our address and now I know we’ll be here for a long time to come! Also love these.
