I was surprised by how many of you jumped on my recent menswear finds here and here. I guess most of us do the shopping for our gents? Today, I thought I’d share some more attractive finds for men, beginning with a GREAT sale on new-to-me brand Criquet — I just ordered one of their terrycloth polos for Mr. Magpie, and I might go back for this pair of shorts (pockets are lined in terry!). I also had been eyeing these bold swim trunks from OAS for Mr. Magpie and was delighted to find them 50% off here. I hadn’t ordered from Lord and Taylor in probably a decade (?) so I was able to use code WEMISSYOU for an extra $20 off (!?!?!) making them only $25. This was insane since I was all set to buy him this exact pair from the OAS site, where they would have cost me $90 + shipping! Lastly on the recent-purchases-for-Mr. Magpie front, I recently did a big golf shop for him, and ended up buying him Rhone’s 7″ shorts in the ivy green, Redvanly’s Hanover shorts, and a couple of performance polos from Holderness and Bourne and Rhoback.
I also want to mention that this timeless leather bomber jacket from elegant label Officine Generale is 50% off. Still an investment but a great (!) gift for Christmas or a birthday or a big anniversary. I bought Mr. Magpie a leather bomber a few years ago and he wears it every season. So attractive!
I have a protracted skincare and makeup regimen. If you’re looking for “five products to achieve a flawless face,” this is not going to be your cup of tea. I truly enjoy the process of applying products in the morning; it is a quiet ritual I enjoy alone while my children run amok downstairs under Mr. Magpie’s supervision, and the final preparatory step before I greet the work day. Beyond that, I’ve always found beauty and skincare fun as a general product category — I enjoy testing new discoveries and playing around with application. At the moment, my daily beauty routine centers around the question of how much extra glow I can add to my face. Matte we are not. Below, sharing my step-by-step routine for achieving maximum summer glow, in the exact order in which I apply:
1 // LIVING LIBATIONS CLEANSING OIL — I WET A SHISEIDO COTTON SQUARE, SQUEEZE OUT EXCESS WATER, AND APPLY OIL TO THE SQUARE; WIPE ALL OVER FACE; THEN RINSE SQUARE WITH WATER, SQUEEZE OUT, AND RUN THE SIDE NOT PREVIOUSLY USED ALL OVER MY FACE
2 // BIOSSANCE VITAMIN C ROSE OIL — I USE THE DROPPER TO APPLY A DOT DIRECTLY ONTO MY FOREHEAD AND ON EACH CHEEK, AND THEN MASSAGE INTO SKIN
4 // ORIGINS GINZING GLOW BOOSTING GEL MOISTURIZER — INEXPENSIVE AND A NICE CONSISTENCY; THE SMELL IS DISTINCTIVE, LIKE CLAY?, BUT NOT BAD…CLARINS EXTRA-FIRMING ENERGY GEL MOISTURIZER IS SIMILAR AND MY PREFERRED DAILY MOISTURIZER BUT THE ORIGINS IS LIKE 1/5TH THE PRICE AND A PRETTY SOLID SUB
5 // EVAN HEALY EYE BALM — THIS IS A THICK BALM THAT I’M ADDICTED TO; SOMETHING ABOUT THE EASE OF APPLICATION HAS TRANSFORMED ME INTO A RELIGIOUS EYE PRODUCT USER! IT GLIDES ON AND TRULY MOISTURIZES…I DO FIND I NEED TO LET IT SIT AND ABSORB FOR A MINUTE BECAUSE IT’S PRETTY RICH, BUT THIS IS OFTEN WHEN I GO AND GET DRESSED
6 // BIOSSANCE SQUALANE AND HYALURONIC TONING SPRAY — THE LEAST IMPORTANT STEP IN MY ROUTINE, AS I’M NOT SURE IT DOES A LOT OF WHAT IT PROMISES (?) BUT I LIKE THE FEELING OF HAVING IT SET / SEAL IN MY SKINCARE
7 // SUPERGOOP GLOWSCREEN + IT COSMETICS YOUR SKIN BUT BETTER BB CREAM — I HAVE BEEN BLENDING THE TWO OF THESE TOGETHER IN MY PALM AND THEN APPLYING ALL OVER MY FACE FOR THE MOST GORGEOUS LEVEL OF GLOWY COVERAGE…REALLY SPECTACULAR TOGETHER. WHEN I’M REALLY DIALING UP THE GLAM, I MIX A PUMP OF SAIE GLOWY SUPERGEL INTO THE MIX AND WOWWWW
8 // KEVYN AUCOIN SSE — THIS IS A PRETTY THICK, FULL-COVERAGE CONCEALER, BUT IT’S THE ONLY THING THAT HIDES MY DARK UNDEREYE SITUATION. I APPLY TO UNDEREYE AREA AND ANY BLEMISHES AND BLEND WITH MY ARTIS OVAL 6 BRUSH TO BLEND
9 // GUERLAIN BRONZER — ON CHEEKS, ALONG JAW LINE AND HAIR LINE, AND NOSE…I HEAR SAIE’S SUN MELT IS ANOTHER POWERHOUSE ALTERNATIVE IF YOU PREFER BALM/GEL VS POWDER
10 // WESTMAN ATELIER BLUSH STICK — MY FOREVER FAVORITE BLUSH PRODUCT…I APPLY TO CHEEKS AND LIPS; DOU DOU IS MY FAVORITE EVERYDAY COLOR. I WAS ALSO REALLY INTO ILIA’S COLOR HAZE PIGMENT IN THE CORAL HAZE COLOR, BUT MY DOG CHEWED ON MY TUBE AND I CAN’T GET THE LID OFF ANYMORE! BEFORE, I WOULD ALTERNATE BETWEEN IT AND MY W.A.
11 // NYX EYELINER — THIS STUFF IS JUST SO GOOD…I DO A VERY THIN LINE JUST ON MY UPPER EYELID TO DEFINE THE EYE…IT HAS A VERY THIN APPLICATOR AND DRIES MATTE
12 // GIORGIO ARMANI MASCARA — MY O.G. RIDE OR DIE…THIS WOULD BE MY NO. 1 DESERT ISLAND BEAUTY PICK
13 // ILIA BROW GEL — REALLY HELPS FINISH THE FACE / ADD POLISH AND DEFINITION
14 // A HIGHLIGHTER UNDER BROW + ON CHEEKS, TIP OF NOSE, CUPID’S BOW, CLAVICLE! — I AM CURRENTLY OBSESSED WITH SAIE’S MARSHMALLOW HIGHLIGHTER IN THE LILAC SHADE…IT DOESN’T LOOK AS HOLOGRAPHIC AS YOU THINK; JUST ADDS THE PRETTIEST GLOW AND LAYERS BEAUTIFULLY OVER BLUSH…OTHER FAVORITES I ROTATE BETWEEN ARE W.A. LIT STICK AND RMS BEAUTY LIVING LUMINIZER, BOTH OF WHICH ARE TOTALLY COLORLESS
I’m currently trying to figure out how to fit my new tan drops into this regimen — mix into the moisturizer step I think?
A few other items in the beauty category I’m currently eyeing —
All of the dresses on my radar at the moment, whether you’re looking for a wedding guest option or something more everyday. I’m thinking many of you will rejoice in the diminishing presence of smocking and puffed sleeves in this roundup…
We picked up a bunch of pieces for our beach trip this week, including top-rated Tommy Bahama beach chairs, this small hard-sided cooler in the fog gray color (contemplating getting a decal made with our last name on it to put on the front), and several beach toys, including these scoops, these sand castle molds, this toy set, and a Frisbee. I also picked up some extra sun protection for my fair haired boy in the form of rash guards from Target and Minnow.
I am kind of wishing we had the space to bring our wagon in our car! (If you don’t have one, this one is so chic!)
You’re Soooo Popular: Summer Finds.
The most popular items on Magpie this week:
SUPER COMFY KNIT CREWNECK SWEATER WITH GIANT LOBSTER — SUCH A PLAYFUL PIECE, AND I THINK THE BOXY FIT IS SO CHIC
STRAIGHT-CUT COTTON LONG SLEEVE TOP IN PINK AND WHITE STRIPE PATTERN…EASY TO THROW ON AND A LAYERING STAPLE IN COLD MONTHS
VIBRANT GEOMETRIC PRINTED SLEEVELESS MIDI DRESS WITH PATCH POCKETS
OPEN-BACK COTTON-POPLIN APRON STYLE MIDI DRESS IN WHITE WITH CONVERTIBLE STRAPS — THIS DRESS IS SO VERSATILE AND A DEFINITE WARDROBE STAPLE IN MY BOOK
SUPER CUSTOMIZABLE COLORED ZIP-UP POUCH WITH INITIAL MONOGRAM
ROSE CLAY RETEXTURING MASK FROM ORIGINS TO MAINTAIN FLAWLESS SUMMER SKIN
HUGE RECYCLED COTTON TOTE BAG WITH INSIDE POCKETS IN A BLUE AND WHITE STRIPE — THIS GROCERY-SHOPPERS BEST FRIEND IS ON SALE FOR HALF OFF AT TARGET CURRENTLY
EVERYDAY BOY’S PASTEL GREEN CLASSIC POLO FROM LACOSTE…40% OFF RIGHT NOW TOO!
HIGH-QUALITY LUMINOUS CREAM HIGHLIGHTER — GREAT AS PART OF YOUR EVERYDAY MAKEUP ROUTINE OR TO THROW IN YOUR PURSE FOR SOME ON-THE-GO GLOW
SUPERGOOP SPF 35 MINERAL SCALP POWDER TO HELP AVOID THE DREADED SCALP SUNBURN BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOUR CHIC SUNHAT IS NOT ENOUGH PROTECTION
Weekend Musings: Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus.
Earlier this week, I was reminded of an editorial by Frances Church, who, in 1897, responded to an eight-year-old’s letter asking whether there was a Santa Claus by writing:
“Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.”
The essay is a lovely reminder of the leaps of faith life asks of us. It is one of my father’s favorite little writings. He read it to us as children and the spirit of the letter moves me now.
+Into the fit and color of these mom jean shorts…pair with a fitted tank and a striped sweater around the shoulders.
+Obsessed with this new pattern of bathroom accessories from Kassatex! I love this brand for bathroom accessories; we have this set in our powder room.
+Currently using and loving this loose powder. It’s great if you prefer loose setting powder to packed — if you like packed, I’m also a huge fan of Hourglass’ Ambient Lighting Powder.
+J. Crew’s sale is legit — stock up on kids’ stuff in particular! Micro’s striped shorts are currently $13, as are these versatile athletic shorts — and both go down to $9/pair if you buy more than three items!
+I cannot believe this dress is under $100! Looks like something from Ephemera or Ciao Lucia. If you like that lavender color, you might also dig this sweet Ulla-inspired style.
*Image above courtesy of Moda Operandi featuring my latest swimwear acquisition: Ephemera’s classic one-piece printed swimsuit, currently 50% off!
I swear that about two thirds of my closet is blue or white. During the summer months, I love the “I’m headed to the Mediterranean” vibe this pairing gives. Below, some spectacular blue and white scores for the end of summer, many of them heavily discounted…
STRAPPY FLORAL MOSAIC PATTERNED ONE-PIECE SWIMSUIT WITH KEYHOLE CUTOUT — THIS BRAND RUNS SMALL; SIZE UP
RELAXED DROP SHOULDER KNIT CREWNECK SWEATER WITH CLASSIC STRIPES
MOCK NECK FLORAL PIN-TUCKED MINI DRESS IN COTTON VOILE WITH WAIST-TIE AND RUFFLED HALF-SLEEVE — THIS DRESS WAS JUST MEANT TO BE WORN ON A BEACHSIDE VACATION
WHIMSICAL V-NECK MIDI DRESS WITH PUFFED SLEEVES AND A SMOCKED WAIST DETAIL IN AN UNDERSTATED FLORAL — PAIRS PERFECTLY WITH CLASSIC SANDALS, LIKE THESE WHITE LEATHER TWO STRAP SLIP ONS
COLLARED BUTTON-FRONT SHORT FLUTTER SLEEVE MINI DRESS FROM DVF (ON SALE!!!)
When I turned 34, I wrote that “In my 20s, I didn’t quite know who I was, but I believed I could do or be anything; I was amorphous, evolving — but the world around me felt crisp, knowable, navigable. In my 30s, I know who I am with a kind of true blue certainty, but feel less convinced of my agency, less confident in my grasp on the world. It’s as if I went from being far-sighted to near-sighted; I didn’t know what I didn’t know in my 20s, and now I know what I don’t know — and so my conviction in the shape of things has shifted, shrunk, concentrated in on only the small world around me, the narrow sphere in which I know that 1+1=2. The mathematics beyond skew.”
I am now 38, and the lens is only a little clearer. I think that anyone who has lived through the last decade of politics, war, pandemic, and social unrest has felt this way at one time or another — perhaps for the duration. I am reminded of Corinthians: man only “sees through a glass, darkly.” And so I have set my shoulder against the wheel these past many years, seeking if not the improbable panorama of enlightenment, then at least the rays by which I may draw joy and insight and small pools of meaning in my days.
And yet.
Not to hitch myself to his wagon too many times (as I already referenced his work last weekend), writer Jedediah Jenkins wrote recently about the concept of “an ethical will.” He notes: “For most people, the last statement you will ever really make is your will. You write out what material thing goes to what heir…as if life comes down to what we collected. The ethical will brings soul into the equation. Brings you. The idea is that you write your values, your beliefs, what you know to be true, to be passed on to your loved ones when you’re gone.”
This is a ponderous task. Even as a conditioned writer, I am not prepared for the strenuousness required of fitting it in the space of this one blog post. But I sit here knowing in a nearly physical way that I am capable of this, and this certainty makes me realize perhaps I have collected more truths than I think.
So, perhaps, a humble five-point start:
Five Things I Know for Certain.
There is a God.*
True love bears all things. This blog is many things but one of its principal shapes is a very long love letter to my husband, who has taught me at every turn that there is nothing stronger, flintier, more unflagging than love. Charles Bukowski, whose poetics are close to anathema to me (but still I love this line, so forgive the piracy) wrote: “What matters most is how well you walk through the fire.” I think of that phrase on occasion and always startle to realize that I am never imagining myself alone on that fire trail, but there, even in the direst of circumstances, stands my husband alongside me, helping me shoulder the way through. His companionship, his love — the man he is — have not only supported but defined my life. Reflecting on my various closest relationships, I have also learned that true love lets things go. True love forgives. True love accommodates the movement of others and does not qualify. I write this both as a tool for assessing the nature of a relationship (e.g., what is love vs affection? love vs friendship? love vs companionship?) and as a reminder to let the people you love breathe. Let them grow, let them be.
La famiglia e tutto. An inheritance from my Italian grandmother: family is everything. My Dad says “a la famiglia” before we clink glasses, and it is always a chiming reminder of what is core (family) and what is periphery (all else).
There is no substitute for hard work. Inspiration, fortuitous timing, good connections come and go, so you must learn to be disciplined. My career has been one long lesson in self-reliance. I do not believe that people are intrinsically malicious, but I do believe most of us are doing what is best for ourselves. You are your best (and only) advocate, and the surest way to get what you want is to do it yourself. The only consistently trustworthy tack has been keeping my nose to the grindstone.
Discomfort is where growth happens. Life is about taking measured risk. It is good, especially when you are young, to try a lot of different things. You have less responsibility and a long tether. It is OK — normal, expected! — that you don’t have it all figured out. Let things be awkward, bunched up, uncomfortable. There should be periods of your life during which you wake up in a panicked twist of sheets. Which would you rather: the pain of being stuck or the pain of growth? Most of the best things in my life started in discomfort: pursuing an advanced degree, becoming a parent, starting a business, writing publicly, not getting into my first choice college, forging meaningful relationships.
*I wrote a very long sub-essay for this first bullet point, and then realized I needed a lot more time and space to do justice — and that keeping it short and sweet says it all anyway.
There is so much more to say that I haven’t yet touched upon — the importance of reading, the intrinsic creativity of every human being, the power of remaining open-minded — but I will stop there, at the first five things that sprang to mind as truths in my lifetime.
Your turn. What comes to mind first when contemplating what you believe to be true?
+Molton Brown is my favorite brand for hand soap and body wash (elegant, unisex-friendly scents!) and they are currently running a great sale — managed to snag this body wash and this hand wash for $20/pop! These make great hostess gifts.
+The Nordstrom Sale opens up to us plebeians (ha) today! All my picks here. These white jeans aren’t part of the sale but are discounted owing to their price matching quality — I’ve heard such good things about them!
+These chic collarless blouses are currently on sale for $20. Reminds me of Doen’s Jane blouse!
+This $6 coin purse is an Internet sensation. People love it for travel/just carrying around spare cash and a few cards.
+These popular J. Crew summer pants are on sale for $40! Mini has a few of these solid-colored sweatshirts — love the color options and the lack of graphic designs — and they’re currently only $12!
+This French pharmacy body oil has a cult following. I’m intrigued by the brand’s balm and rose toning mist. All of these products are 25% off with code SALE.
+Could not live without these during sundress season.
+How cute are these artfolios for kids? (This pattern also available!). On sale for only $15. Would be great to buy a few to keep in your closet for gifts!
+There is a hidden trove of fabulous pieces by up and coming designer De Loreta on sale at Red Dress. I snagged this dress (somehow only $100?!), and these pants are SO fun!
Sage green has been a new favorite color in my wardrobe this year — I can’t get enough. For some reason it relaxes me, reminding me of cool corners, shade, lush late-summer quiet. Below, some of my favorite finds in this on-trend hue…
BREATHABLE OVERSIZED LINEN KAFTAN WITH STUNNINGLY INTRICATE CROCHETED PANELS —THIS PIECE WAS DESIGNED TO PACK EASILY AND IS ON SALE FOR 70% OFF CURRENTLY
FLORAL PRINTED SIMPLE PEASANT BLOUSE WITH PINTUCK DETAILING ON THE CHEST AND SLEEVES
FITTED CROP TANK TOP IN A COTTON-TWILL STRIPE PATTERN WITH POLISHED GOLD BUTTONS…CUTE WITH HIGH-WAISTED WHITE DENIM OR A PENCIL SKIRT
MEDIUM-SIZED MATTE METAL PLANTER WITH SCALLOPED EDGES — AND DON’T WORRY THIS POT DOES HAVE A DRAINAGE HOLE AT THE BOTTOM
SLEEVELESS POINTELLE-KNIT SCOOP NECK TOP WITH RIBBED HEM
HAND-POURED MELLOW HERB GARDEN SCENTED NATURAL WAX CANDLE — REMINDER THAT ONE OF MY FAVORITE HAND SOAPS (ALSO FROM THIS BRAND) IS AN AMAZON PRIME DEAL ATM
FLORAL MAXI SKIRT WITH SIDE SLITS AND ELASTIC WAIST IN A SUMMERY LINEN FABRIC
BUTTON-FRONT COTTON MIDI SKIRT WITH POCKETS — UNDER $40!
PLEATED HIGH-RISE LINEN SHORTS WITH SLANTED POCKETS AND CONTRAST TRIM
SQUARE TOE SLIP-ON MULE WITH BUCKLE DETAIL AND MINI BLOCK HEEL IN A GINGHAM PATTERN
OPEN BACK EMPIRE WAIST MAXI DRESS WITH SQUARE NECK AND PUFF SLEEVES…DOESN’T HURT THAT THIS DRESS IS ON SALE FOR HALF OFF RIGHT NOW
COLORED VEGAN LEATHER WOVEN SHOPPER TOTE — INSPIRED BY NAGHEDI, BUT UNDER $70
CLASSICALLY PATTERNED 500 THREAD COUNT EGYPTIAN COTTON DUVET COVER FOR A LITTLE EXTRA LUXURY IN THE BEDROOM
VERSATILE HAND BLOCK PRINTED FULL-LENGTH KAFTAN WITH V-NECK AND OPTIONAL CINCHED WAIST DETAIL
Q: Daughter’s first birthday outfits — for me and her.
A: Happy birthday to her! I love a birthday-themed outfit — this bubble from TBBC would be absolutely perfect. Proper Peony also has some precious birthday embroidery pieces that I’ve purchased for mini over the years. If those are too on-the-nose, a timeless smocked Luli and Me outfit like this (on sale!) would be up my alley. Don’t forget the baby birthday hat!
For you: I like something fun and festive (you survived a year of parenthood!) like this Mille mini, this SWF, this Celia B, or this head-to-toe Boden moment.
A: Gucci or Bottega for investment pieces, Cuyana or Clare Vivier for something mid-range (get the C.V. hand painted with your initials!), Neely and Chloe for something more affordable.
Q: Bathing suits that fit humans.
A: !! I so relate to this because I have been loving all the splashy styles from high end designers (thinking specifically of Agua Bendita — I recently bought this) but am puzzled by the fit — I don’t know many women who want a high leg hole and minimum rear coverage. I end up feeling like I need to cover up on the bottom with A.B. in particular. Which is fine if I’m just sunbathing or sitting poolside, but for function? I do stand by Solid and Striped, which I’ve mentioned thousands of times on this blog. I find their styles are flattering but functional, especially their Anne-Marie, and they have a huge sale section ATM. I also find Marysia’s Venice style is very flattering – I like that the bottom provides a lot of coverage and I find the material has a lot of give/stretch (unlike their pique styles). A few other brands that many Magpies swear by from a flattering fit standpoint:
I also was chatting with a chic pea at the pool the other day who was wearing this striped Melissa Odabash swimsuit — very flattering and full coverage — and she was raving about the brand, saying that she finds the suits demure and very comfortable, especially while chasing children around!
Q: Dress to wear to my sibling’s wedding ceremony next month.
A: Aw! So special. A few great dresses at different price points and covering different levels of formality:
Q: Something for myself in the $500-$600 range to celebrate work milestones. Something classic, not clothes or shoes.
A: My first thought was a great wallet. I shared some continental style ones above, but for smaller, you might consider a card wallet or card case. Another thought: an Hermes scarf! You will treasure it forever. I also love the idea of one of these leather Hermes bracelets or a pair of Tiffany earrings.
Q: A carry-on backpack.
A: I love my MZ Wallace for travel with my children and would easily use for myself if I needed the extra carry-on space. But if I were looking more for something fashion-forward, I love the look of the Paravel one. Alternately, the Dagne Dover ones come in some really fun colors like this tangerine, which would be so chic paired with an all black travel outfit (I’m envisioning head-to-toe Jenni Kayne loungewear) or patterned HHH nap dress (<<my preferred travel day outfit). I also noticed that travel brand Beis has a simple and functional backpack that is a part of the Nordstrom anniversary sale. For an investment — Gucci!
Q: A dress for me for family photos. In the blue family.
A: I love this Naya Rea — the pattern reminds me of D. Porthault bedding in the best way. This Anthro dress always gets rave reviews from Magpies — flattering, comfortable, and I love the blue print. I’ve personally been contemplating buying one of Sue Sartor’s dresses recently — j’adore! — and this long shirtdress style could be flattering and interesting to mix with other prints, as would this Rosie Assoulin. On the less expensive side: this Zara or this HHH dress in the pond floral!
A few years ago, I came across a Pinterest post that read:
NOTHING CHANGES IF NOTHING CHANGES
I immediately dismissed it as fluffy circular logic and went on with my day.
Reader, I cannot tell you how many times I have said these words to myself since. I’ve used them with particular acuteness when groping towards healthier or more fulfilling habits that have a way of slipping just out of my grasp, despite the best of intentions. As an example, I often talk about wanting to read more, to spend more time in nature, to run more frequently, to pass less time on my phone. To all of these aspirations, I have grown repetitious in saying: nothing changes if nothing changes. For some reason, this turn of phrase prompts me into action, but not aggressive, high-expectation action — the wording makes me realize that even baby steps move me forward. When I was starting my running routine this summer, I told myself that my only goal was to run every other day. It did not matter how far, how fast, how long — just that I had gotten outside with my shoes on and put my body in motion. This low-stakes goal eased me into a habit that I am now happily ensconced in. I recently read a similar tack from another budding runner: at first, her goal was to run to five songs on her playlist without checking her watch or fitness stats once. She was often startled that she’d end up in a good groove and continue well past the five songs. She later upped the ante: just run to six songs, then seven songs, then ten songs. Within a matter of months, she was routinely running three or four miles without the usual angst that accompanies making it through a long run.
The same goes for reading. Earlier this summer, I found it difficult to find any time to read. So many of our early summer nights involved hanging out on the back porch with my family, or watching movies with Mr. Magpie, or trying to go to bed early, and so my routine window for Kindle-reading disappeared. Instead, I decided the best foothold would be audiobook listening, and I told myself that my only goal was to listen to an audiobook while walking Tilly in the mornings. At first, I found the commitment a tiny bit frictional in that I sometimes longed to use that time to think or to just walk in silence, especially after the morning chaos of two energetic children clamoring for more cereal, a new bandaid, and help getting shoes on (usually all at the same time). But within a few days, I’d formed the new routine, and I did it by putting my iPhone in my belt bag and my AirPods in my ears even before walking out the door. Then I’d walk outside and listen for 20 minutes. The thing that startled me was that once I’d formed this habit, I found myself searching for other pockets of audiobook time throughout the day — during the five or ten minutes it takes to wash my face, put on a little makeup, and get dressed; while driving the kids to/from school or camp; while folding laundry. I managed to read four audiobooks in the span of about a month or maybe six weeks — a pretty quick clip for me. I’ve regressed a bit over the past two weeks since my audiobook holds lapsed at the library in the middle of the book and could not be renewed, and I know I’ve got to return to brass tacks: nothing changes if nothing changes. That is: how will I now graft the practice onto my routine? (It can change over time! At the moment, looking out across an imminent period of car travel and beach days, I am contemplating picking up the Kindle again with the goal of reading a chapter a day.)
I think the phrase can be powerful in other realms, too: parenting, work, relationships, eating habits, sleeping habits, water consumption, posture, self-advocacy. In so many areas of life, it is easy to just let things slide, to take the path of least resistance, to feel disempowered in the face of what seems like impossible change. But nothing changes if nothing changes.
Try it on for size — see if it resonates with you!
+I had a really strong (not great) reaction to the popular book Atomic Habits, which is all about habit formation. As you can see from the above essay, I really am a believer in so many of the book’s approaches but something about the book rubbed me the wrong way. Thoughts?
+The most important bullet on this list: Nike bras are 50% off with code BRA50. I was literally just reading about how great Nike’s Indy bra is (consistently ranked as one of the best all-around sports bras) and was delighted to find it half off! I bought two!
+I am also ordering one of these Lululemon bras, which gets similarly strong reviews. I was a bit skeptical because — despite the fact that I am a die-hard fan of so many of Lulu’s pieces, especially their Align leggings, Swiftly Tech tops, and Track That shorts — I have found their bras not the most comfortable in years past. I think the key is ordering a size up from my usual size in almost all of their pieces. They do hold up beautifully, which is one element that is convincing me to upgrade from the Champion C9s to which I typically gravitate. (The latter are inexpensive, unfussy, and very stretchy/comfortable, but they do show wear over time.)
+Today is the last day of Target’s Deal Day promotion — and I just realized these incredible $12 running tanks are only $6?! I’ve written about them so many times, but they are my absolute favorite and a bargain at $12, let alone $6! I just ordered another black and another white.
+On an unglamorous but urgent front: I have battled body breakouts forever and ever because of my fitness habits. I have tried every body wash, remove clothing as soon as I finish working out, shower right away, etc, and nothing has worked. I finally booked a one-off visit to the dermatologist to ask for answers. He gave me a Gly-Sal 10-2 body wash, which contains medical grade ingredients, and I am beyond ecstatic at the results. It is a pretty strong (a.k.a. drying) formula so you might want to start by using it 1x a week and see how things go, which is what my derm recommended, but this has been absolutely instrumental.
+Spanx has some really intriguing new athletic wear pieces. I love the traditional pleating on this fitness skirt.
+Are you all stocked up swim? I wanted to mention that HHH just re-launched their quick-to-sell-out swim selection yesterday. This gingham is adorable and this swim skirt is always the first to go!
+I’m also a reluctant participant in anything Outdoor Voices makes – I tried a few of their leggings a few years ago and they almost made me throw up they were so constricting. And these were pieces in my true size! Like, there were areas that were baggy/loose. But some parts of it were just non-breathable, non-stretchable. BUT. This fitness dress (<<part of Nordstrom’s Anniversary sale!) promises to behave differently. I was just reading through the reviews on O.V.’s site (where it’s not on sale, but at least you can check out the reviews — there are a lot to sift through) and this is getting pretty solid traction.
+Megan Stokes has been raving about these running shorts, which are currently on sale for $33 with free shipping. I’m going to order a pair to check them out in the lilac flash color.
+These under-$20 belt bags are the spitting image of the one from Lululemon. Come in tons of colors! Perfect for hiking/walking. For running, I still swear by these $13 aqua belts, which are super lightweight, comfortable, contour-to-the-body, and have just the right amount of space for phone, keys, card.
+I have been using this apple cider vinegar rinse to combat summer hair (rebalance scalp pH after all the chlorine, sweat, etc!). I am still trying to figure out exactly how to use it — I think I’ve put on too much sometimes, and too little other times, but there have been a handful of applications where I’ve emerged from the shower feeling squeaky clean, with the happiest and shiniest hair I’ve seen in awhile. I am still LOVING AND OBSESSED WITH this ACV leave-in conditioning spray, which I use every time I get out of the shower. My hair has never looked softer or shinier!
+Read more of my recent fitness gear roundups here and here.
By: Jen Shoop
I was skeptical, but there are some absolutely incredible Amazon Prime day finds —
I’VE WRITTEN ABOUT THIS MARMOT JACKET SO MUCH – PERFECT HIKING/OUTDOOR/TRAVEL JACKET, FOLDS UP TINY; HAS VENTS; HAS HOOD…I EVEN WEAR THIS RUNNING IN THE RAIN
EERO WI FI EXTENDER SET — THIS HAS MADE THE INTERNET THROUGHOUT OUR HOME (EVEN ON BACK PATIO AND IN BASEMENT) LIGHTENING FAST
THE EYELASH ENHANCING SERUM I’M CURRENTLY TESTING! NEVER SEEN ON SALE LIKE THIS
HAVE HEARD GOOD THINGS ABOUT THIS VITAMIN C – TURMERIC OIL…YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT VITAMIN C PRODUCTS! THEY ARE ALMOST UNIVERSALLY EXCELLENT!
VITAMIX BLENDER — A MUST-HAVE IN ANY WELL-EQUIPPED KITCHEN. FRANKLY NO OTHER BLENDER HOLDS A CANDLE TO THIS POWERFUL MIX MASTER — ONE OF THE BEST RELATIVELY RECENT UPGRADES WE’VE MADE IN OUR HOME
TILE DIGITAL FINDER — A GREAT STOCKING STUFFER / MUST-HAVE IF YOU ARE PRONE TO LOSING KEYS, BAG, WALLET, ETC
KORRES BIGHTENING SLEEPING FACIAL — ONE OF MY FAVORITE OVERNIGHT MASK PRODUCTS…SMELLS LIKE HEAVEN AND LEAVES SKIN SO BRIGHT AND HAPPY
MAGNATILES — NO BRAINER GIFT…BUY A COUPLE OF THESE AND SET ASIDE FOR CHRISTMAS!
P.P.P.S. Where to find affordable personalized stationery.
By: Jen Shoop
When we were younger, Mr. Magpie and I would have “dream talks” — his turn of phrase for meandering moonshot conversation about our futures. These talks, which usually dripped like honey into and past the midnight hour, were suffused with entrepreneurial ambition and warmed by visions of travel and the mirage of children.
It occurred to me at some point over the past few years that those conversations seem to have disappeared from our repertoire. For a time, I was seized with a kind of grief. Are our aspirations behind us? Abandoned somewhere between the burdens and blessings of these last twelve years of marriage together? Are we no longer on an upswing toward the unknown?
Maybe — but —
I want to stand against that fatalism. As with the observation that perhaps the distinction between “friend” and “best friend” is irrelevant — even futile, detrimental! — why must I orient myself around labels and markings in this way? As a writer, I find myself always grasping for the gridwork beneath the landscape. Where are the coordinates? What is sea level? How is the elevation? I feel at times like a surveyor with a laser level, in matters both literary and personal.
But — the future is still ahead of me. The arcs of my own movements may be more circumscribed, or — perhaps not. Perhaps I’ve not yet come to my own Part II. I could be living in the frontispiece for all I know.
Besides, perhaps we are less prone to dream talks because we are two tired parents just making our way to bedtime, all surfeit energy for such imaginings zapped. Or perhaps we are in a phase of contentment where wild gropings towards a different future feel unwelcome. Or perhaps we are settled, with less appetite for the new. Or — we are on our way to being settled now, and so focused on getting to that plane that anything beyond is, well, past the pale. (I write that pointedly, narrowly, as we are in the midst of making some investments in our home, and have been living in a state of mild displacement while we refinish the floors in our family room, with a tarp up and workmen in and out and all of our family room furniture bunched into the front living room in disarray. It is difficult to think of anything beyond getting from this point to the next.)
But then, there are these truths, which run over me like a wave, in senses both other-worldly and remonstrative:
We are running a business together. We have travel plans in our diary. And in the beautiful bedrooms just outside of our own lay two perfect children with full bellies and untroubled slumber.
+On difficult ages with children. (Is there such a thing?)
Shopping Break.
+We are heading to the beach soon and I did some research into the best beach chairs. Basically every single resource (and the majority of Magpies I polled online) recommend Tommy Bahamas’ Backpack Chair as the most comfortable, functional, durable option. My in laws have these, too. My only gripe is that the colors and patterns are not great. However, there was a big drawback to nearly every other attractive option I contemplated — no straps/backpack straps for easy carry; no cup holder; no pouch on the side. A couple of people recommended Sunflow, which has a lot of the same functionality as TB but is far more attractive IMO — BUT, it’s like three or four times the price of a TB and for something we will probably only use a week of the year…? Like maybe if I lived at the beach I could get down with the higher price tag? There were also a sprinkling of upvotes for Telescope — simple styling and the key selling point is that each chair weighs less than 3 lbs! Still, seems to lack a lot of what TB offers. I was briefly tempted by SunnyLife’s chair, which seems like a more aesthetically pleasing version of TB but I couldn’t find any strong reviews to corroborate! We ended up going TB!
+One of my absolute favorite highlighters. This comes in second behind Westman Atelier’s lit stick, which is almost 2x the price.
+Love this pintuck blouse — such a pretty color and pattern.
+Target marked down a bunch of its activity sets, including this color chemistry set you all have been loving this month, and Scribble Scrubbie sets (my children love these too).
+These heels have a great 70s vibe. They remind me of the LR mules that have dominated every wedding for the past few years, but with a bit more funk. Would look great with one of those trending column crochet dresses!
+Target has THE CUTEST rain coats for littles right now — this cherry one reminds me of Jacadi, and these unisex ones come in great color combos. Both under $20!
+Target also has some super cute silicone children’s plates out in great colors/animal shapes that remind me of brands much more expensive.
+Frame’s palazzo jeans feel very “right now.” ESP with anything La Ligne (<<this sweater is 60% off!)
