*Image above via Furbish Studio, featuring their fabulous and well-priced table linens. These coasters would make an excellent hostess gift, too!
I shared over the weekend that I will be hosting an intimate but festive (!) dinner party for Mr. Magpie’s fortieth in two weeks. This has led me down quite the enjoyable shopping rabbit hole. I thought I’d share some absolutely fabulous finds, whether or not you are hosting a fiesta! These will banish the winter blahs instantly, whether you’re eating at home with your significant other or hosting a small Galentine’s affair or just stocking the linen closet!
P.S. Stranger rabbit hole I’ve gone down: I actually bought myself a calligraphy set and calligraphy book. I have always wanted to learn and am curious how far I can get self-study style. Going to practice and try to calligraphy the placecards at Mr. Magpie’s birthday!
We compiled all Magpie recipes into beautiful cards for your kitchen! Get the recipe card collection in your inbox here.
*Image above via Park and Oak Interiors and has nothing to do with recipe that follows but this kitchen really caught my eye the other day, and, well, it’s green!
Soup is, possibly, the perfect winter lunch? It is both satisfying — even rib-sticking? — but light, as the bulk of it tends to be broth. I mean, I never leave a soup lunch regretting that I overstuffed myself, and yet it has the effect of warming me all the way through. I also find it elegant and evocative as a food class: a bowl of soup transports and remembers in a way that a deli sandwich doesn’t. This may in part stem from the fact that its ingredients are often themselves leftovers from last night’s dinner, and so soup is often, quite literally, composed of the past.
Anyhow, we it a lot of it at home, everything from Vietnamese pho (which we order in — pho and ramen are beyond even Mr. Magpie’s impressively ambitious culinary interests, as they require a lot of specific and difficult-to-come-by ingredients, take a long time to prepare, and the noodles are everything (can easily degrade the dish if not good) but are difficult to make at home and even source in supermarkets) to turkey wild rice (using Thanksgiving leftovers). My absolute favorite, though, is Caldo Verde, a hearty kale and potato dream from Northern Portugal. Every year, I beg Mr. Magpie to make a batch, and then we freeze it in quart-sized baggies to parse out carefully over the winter, if I can exercise the restraint not to thaw a parcel of it every other day.
This soup is outrageously delicious. It registers as a comfort food of the first order. A spoonful of this thick but not overly-rich soup makes me feel as though I’ve been wrapped in a blanket at a fireside and reminded that “Everything is going to be OK.” It is beautifully balanced, with the quiet comfort of the potato and the mild bitterness of stewed kale offset by the garlic-y, chewy coins of chorizo or linguica. Portuguese poet António Correia de Oliveira described Caldo Verde as “a marriage of flavors and livelihood,” and that’s exactly it. It is comforting but exciting, with those little sautes of smokey, garlic-forward pork to look forward to in every other bite. (Plus, you can enjoy the vague smugness that you have eaten your greens for the day.)
I implore you to give this hug of a soup a try. It is phenomenal for lunch but hearty enough for dinner, especially alongside a salad laced with a vinegar-y dressing and a hunk of good bread.
Mr. Magpie uses the recipe from America’s Test Kitchen, which is reprinted below.
Felicidades!
Caldo Verde.
Serves 6 to 8 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 12 ounces Spanish-style chorizo sausage or linguica, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 1 onion, chopped fine (you can also use leek) 4 garlic cloves, minced Salt and pepper 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes 2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch pieces 4 cups chicken broth 4 cups water 1 pound kale or collard greens, stemmed and cut into 1-inch pieces 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chorizo and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer chorizo to bowl and set aside. Reduce heat to medium and add onion (or leek), garlic, 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, and pepper flakes and season with pepper to taste. Cook, stirring frequently, until onion is translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add potatoes, broth, and water; increase heat to high and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until potatoes are just tender, 8 to 10 minutes.
Transfer 3/4 cup solids and 3/4 cup broth to blender jar. Add greens to pot and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in chorizo and continue to simmer until greens are tender, 8 to 10 minutes longer.
Add remaining 3 tablespoons oil to soup in blender and process until very smooth and homogeneous, about 1 minute. Remove pot from heat and stir pureed soup mixture and vinegar into soup. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve.
Post-Scripts.
+My favorite French potato salad. This is more of a summer recipe but I have been craving it the last few weeks. The tang of vinegar! My mouth is watering just thinking of it.
+I have a chunky knit with bow-shaped crystal buttons down the front that I bought from Zara last year and every time I snap of photo of myself in it, I get loads of questions about it! I found one with IDENTICAL buttons in a chic brown color here. Also love this one (upgrade pick: Ganni).
+Have had a few questions about Easter dresses from my fellow anticipators! I feel as though we should start seeing a lot of gorgeous spring options coming out soon, but for now, the only option I have seen and fallen in love with is this Self-Portrait! Wow! The details are spectacular!
+I own this Rhode dress in another pattern and it is SO fun but also sophisticated because of the neckline and material. Love it in this fun print!
+Inexpensive, easy way to “dress” for Valentine’s Day: add fun statement earrings like these or these!
+These cups are fun for a Galentine’s Day — or even a socially-distanced wine sip on the back patio around space heaters!
+OMG! These mini-monogrammed jewelry boxes are beyond sweet and so well-priced! Contemplating buying a bunch with my girlfriends’ initials and parsing out over the year…Discovered via Megan Stokes.
+That brand also has some fabulous finds for self, including these gorgeous earrings and this pearl-studded knit.
+Loving this silhouette (and wash) in denim at the moment.
+I’m so into Beyond Yoga for fitness wear at the moment. I’ve loved their longline tanks for the last year in particular — the material is so, so soft and stretchy, sort of like Lululemon’s Align material and I love the neckline and thin straps, which feel feminine and flattering. I just noticed their leggings in a great basic navy were marked down and am going to give them a try next.
+This mini crossbody would go with everything and feels so fresh for spring.
+I am going to invest in a Thierry Coulson dress this spring/summer. I’ve been eyeing them for two seasons now and know how often/frequently I wear dresses like this. I’m debating between this sashed style and this stand collar variation. LOVE both in the Liberty prints, and the green is kind of fun? I own so little green! Was also thinking either would be a gorgeous coming home outfit for a new mom given the nursing friendliness and loose fit. I also noticed that Matches has marked down a couple of their pieces and am heavily tempted by this under-$200 caftan! I would roll up the sleeves to the elbow and throw on with Hermes sandals!
+Clever magnetic alphabet set for budding readers.
+These waffle joggers in neon pink are just fun (and inexpensive!).
+Fleece-lined stirrup leggings — highly functional in snow/cold weather when tucked into heavy duty snow boots.
+This $60 rain jacket reminds me of the much more expensive style from Sutterheim! Love it in the pastel blue!
+Speaking of style-conscious rain gear on a budget: Target and Old Navy have great pairs of chelsea style rain boots at wonderful prices.
With micro starting to school, I have had occasion to restock/double down on our lunch gear. Micro is currently only doing half days at school (comes home for lunch), but we do send him in with a balanced snack each day and will be sending him for full-days within the next few months. I’ve mentioned our favorites in random posts here and there, but have had a few inquiries about the gear we use after I shared the photo above on Instagram, so sharing all in one place with annotations…
+I love the gumdrop monogrammed lunchboxes, and I ordered mine from Laken Ashley — they do a great job on monograms and offer tons of sophisticated, customized styles. (I was tempted by this one in the sweet blue gingham from BellaBean, but at the end of the day went red seersucker to coordinate with Hill’s predominantly red school gear.). These lunchboxes are fairly common place but for good reason. They have a wipeable liner, can be tossed in the wash (air-dry after), and hold up nicely over time. I like the little handle on the top, too, as I can hang it on the same hook as each child’s backpack in the evening. I also appreciate that they weigh close to nothing on their own and are the perfect size for fitting my favorite lunch “bento box” (more on them below). Finally, because they are fabric, they can sort of be squished to fit into smaller backpack sizes.
+I use these inexpensive “bento boxes” most days of the week. These are microwave and dishwasher safe, snap tight to create a seal, and nest nicely in the cupboard (unlike the bulkier boxes that can take over an entire cabinet! I find the sizes of the compartments absolutely perfect. I have played around with some of the other “bento boxes” and then just find myself trying to find things that fit the shapes of the wells instead of having something that accommodates most of my children’s meals to begin with. (However, if your littles have more of a snack board for lunch, I know a lot of people like these.) Anyway, for my bento box, the main well usually holds a sandwich, pasta, rice dish, etc., and the two smaller ones hold fruit, veg, or something crunchy (veggie straws, cheddar bunnies, etc.). I am finding now with two that having the differently colored lids will also be handy as I can quickly grab the correct one out of the fridge.
+Yumboxes — I love (!) these for my children’s snacks. I put fruit in one well and something crunchy (granola balls, veggie sticks, cheese and crackers, crackers with sunbutter, etc) in the other. They are such a cute, punchy little package! I sometimes slip a little surprise treat in the tiny well — yogurt covered raisins, a gummy bear, etc.
+Sunbutter — deserves its own entry on this list. My children could eat peanut butter and jelly every day of the week and twice on Tuesday, so thank God for sunbutter, which is made from sunflower seeds vs. nuts and therefore school-approved. Frankly, the taste is…distinctive, but my children don’t seem to notice when it’s slathered with Bonne Maman jam on top. I have also heard good things about Granola Butter, another nut-free but PB-like spread.
+I use these labels on all of their gear. These are not “dishwasher-safe” (!), so they will fade over time if you put them in the machine every day, but for things like the Yumbox, supplies, etc., they are fantastic and actually stay put. I also put these in the soles of my children’s Native shoes. They stay put!
+Yeti water bottles. I resisted these for a long time because of the price but they really are the GOAT. They do not leak and unlike the Camelbaks we used previously, the straw spout is less likely to be degraded/damaged by small teeth. (My children destroyed the rubbery spout on so many of our Camelbaks! You can buy replacements, but still.) They also insulate nicely so water is kept cold throughout the school day, and the handle makes them so easy to grab on the go as a parent. My only gripe is that they are HEAVY for little hands. But, this hasn’t seemed to cause any issues for them. The colors are cheerful, too!
+Stasher bags. Ubiquitous, too, but these are great for many reasons for school. I like that they are semi-clear so children can make out what’s inside, and the sandwich size one is actually perfect for corraling snacks together, i.e., it’s not uncommon for me to send in an apple and a cheese stick and a little box of raisins, and everything can live harmoniously together in one place in this case. They are a pain to clean, though. You can run them through the dishwasher but then you need to dry them for what feels like ages on a Boon drying rack. For this reason, I tend to use these primarily to hold multiple individually wrapped components of a snack (as mentioned before) and it’s more of a transport thing than anything else.
+Sistema sandwich containers. These are also GREAT for us. My children eat a lot of sandwiches — PBJ, cinnamon raisin with cream cheese, ham and cheese, etc. These are the perfect size for a full sandwich, and ideal for when I am going an easier route and just making the sandwich, tossing in an apple/banana, and adding a pre-packaged snack bag of pretzels, granola balls, etc (versus cut fruit/an open bag of veggie straws, which then I need to parse out into the wells of the bento box). I also find this to be a great size for leftover cauliflower pizza slices, cheese/salami/crackers, etc.
+Beaba mini tupperware. I bought these for baby food a million years ago and they are in absolute constant use in our home, both for us (like, perfect size for storing a few oz of leftover squeezed lime juice or some mise en place) and for our children. These are fantastic and the perfect size for snack-time, too: put some grapes in one and some cheese-filled-crackers in the other! I love that they snap together so you can create a little tower of snacks and tuck into a backpack and everything stays put.
+Cutlery/dishes from Mushie or RePlay. We were asked to send our children in with plate/cup/fork/spoon as I believe they set the table every day (Montessori style) for lunch. These are good, unfussy, sturdy, impossible-to-scratch styles and we have sets of both. I’m not crazy about the cutlery for either since they aren’t really good at spearing things. Frankly, the school has sent my children home with random pieces of tiny metal cutlery like this that they’ve I suppose borrowed at lunch time and they are much better. Montessori is very much about scaffolding independence and not babying anything down, so they use glassware and pour from ceramic pitchers and use real metal cutlery at school, and I don’t know why I’ve been so slow to follow form. My children can barely stab a noodle with the plastic ones we have, and I think Hill is now old enough not to stab himself by accident. Don’t tell but Mr. Magpie and I have often found ourselves using those filched metal spoons and forks while they’re at our home over a weekend or whatever — perfect size for spooning jam, mignonette, mustard, etc! Writing this post led me to order this set for our own home and to send in with the children.
+Reusable ice packs. Have used these far less frequently than anticipated, but my children have an early lunch time and are used to eating everything at room temp anyway. Still, good to have on hand for summer months in particular.
+Thermos insulated jar. I also use this much less than I anticipated, partly because of my daughter’s food preferences. This does keep food nicely warmed but the size is fairly big for a small child’s meal, just FYI. I find myself using the bento boxes mentioned above instead and just having mini have her lunch (pasta, rice, meatballs, etc) at room temp. I don’t know about you, but my children prefer things that way versus too hot/even warm?
A few other discoveries I’ve been eyeing…
THESE ZIP-TOP SNACK POUCHES — FUN SHAPES AND SMALLER DIMENSIONS THAN THE STASHERS I MENTIONED ABOVE, BUT I DO WONDER ABOUT EASE OF CLEANING/DRYING
When it comes to actual meal-planning, I am candidly not the best resource! My children are both fairly picky (oh, the irony (!) for two parents who eat everything!) and I have been going with what works/what I know they will eat for lunch/snack because I’d prefer they are full and satisfied while busy at school, and can then work to introduce them to more foods at dinnertime when they are under my supervision and can be coached and cajoled (ha). I do it this way because I enrolled mini in a very expensive and impressive meal service at her school in Manhattan and she ate none of it. So she was starving; we were burning money; and the food waste was atrocious. I had been so hopeful that I could outsource some of the burden of offering a diverse and interesting menu to her via this program but she simply would not eat it and it wasn’t our teachers’ responsibility to handhold through every meal time either. So, for me, school lunch has been one of those sites of relinquishing control as a parent, and perhaps some of my thoughts in this post on linking food to openness to joy can help me resituate the decision as “supporting her food preferences” versus “giving up” on exposing her to more diverse foods. As a corollary, one of my closest friends has a son who was extremely picky to the point of rarely eating anything and she went the full nine yards in trying to come up with solutions that might work, including speaking to multiple nutritionists, reading tons of books on the subject, and consulting with food therapists. At the end of the day, her insights were two-fold: 1) “make it as low stress as possible” and 2) encourage play/multi-sensory experiences, i.e., sometimes she just asks her son to touch and smell the food as a first step. All of that to say — I have made the decision that I go with what works for school lunch, aggressively folding in new interests as they arise in our home (i.e., Hill LOVES cottage cheese at the moment), and then try to be a bit more adventurous at meal-time at home, where we can model enjoying and testing new foods, too.
I’m sure many of you mamas have great resources for toddler lunch ideas that you might be willing to share?
Q: Bump friendly cocktail dress for a wedding at the end of January.
A: This post is a good starting point, though all are non-maternity (therefore most are better for earlier trimesters) and skew towards warmer weather. This Cara Cara would be gorgeous, this Hunter Bell is stunning, and I love this textured black style. This would be a fabulous statement, as would this ($126!) in the red (or black if more comfortable for you!). I also love this wintry velvet number, which is a maternity dress (best if you’re in third trimester), and under $100.
By the way, Emerson Fry has a bunch of gorgeous knit dresses out right now (button-front, turtleneck) that would be a dream for pregnancy. I like the way they are styled, with clogs!
Q: A warm and cute ski jacket under $400.
A: I love this Helly Hensen — the greatest colors (lilac!) and I hear this brand is LEGIT on the warmth/function scale. I’m so into this brand, personally! I also saw that my Instagram friend Stephanie from A Life Well Saved went skiing but did not want to invest in pricey bibs for such limited use and bought this $62 pair from the unlikeliest source…love the white! Snowbunny chic.
BTW, super cute puffers in great colors here. I am currently lusting after a Herno and noticed they are on sale in multiple places, including here, here, and here.
Q: Classic crewneck cardigans.
(ED NOTE: A reader pointed out I shared crewneck sweaters, not cardigans — oops! Completely overwrote the question. Will answer this appropriately in a future post!)
A: I own several of the cashmere ones from Everlane and J. Crew’s Tippi style in different colors. I love the buttons on the cuff of this style, but you can get the look for less with this Zara. And then, of course, RL! Such fabulous basics! If you’re talking more about an Aran knit style, I love this, this, and this!
Q: Long navy or black dress with ruffles or feminine detail for a beach picture.
A: I’ve always loved the silhouette of this Staud — feminine with that off-the-shoulder situation; HHH has a few great nap dresses in black that would be perfect, including their iconic Ellie and the romantic Akilah; this Johanna Ortiz is an investment but oh-so-gorgeous; if you wore a slip beneath, this would be lovely; and this LSF is ultra-pretty, too.
Q: Black tie wedding in ATL.
A: I think the most formal wedding I’ve ever attended was a black tie affair at a country club in ATL. Guests were truly turned out. A few standouts for such a formal affair: this black Chiara Boni, this spectacular navy wonder, this Sau Lee, this hot pink number (dress up with big statement earrings and dramatic high heels), this Tibi, this Needle and Thread.
P.S. Lots of party shoes here and more wedding guest finds here! I also shared a post on special occasion dresses for winter here.
Q: Just found out I’m pregnant. Pregnancy must-haves? Still early, but I’m a planner!
A: Oh!! Congratulations!! So exciting. I swore by Clarins’ Body Treatment Oil and I have no stretch marks, two pregnancies later. I know those are partly genetic, but still! Even if it had no impact on stretch marks, it felt so good to put on after the shower, as your skin gets so tight and itchy around the belly towards the end. I drank SO MUCH Harney’s peppermint tea during my pregnancies — caffeine-free and delicious. It was nice to have a ritual in the evenings, especially since I did not drink alcohol. I also strongly encourage you to buy a pregnancy pillow well before you think you need it. I feel like it happens overnight — one night you’re fine sleeping normally and the next you are desperate for one of these. Good to have on hand now and save for that night! I really liked this brand (actually bought it twice, because I threw it away during the move from Chicago to NYC since it wasn’t something I wanted to store in my tiny NY apartment) but there are tons.
For clothing, I bought Gap maternity tees in every color and stripe and invested in high-quality maternity jeans and leggings. For me, those were J. Brand J Mama (I know so many of you love this style too) and David Lerner maternity leggings, but I can’t seem to find the latter anymore? Maybe try Hatch? I think it’s important to invest in the jeans and leggings because you get so much use out of them, they stretch, etc! You want them to survive heavy use for several months in a row. I also treated myself to a few fun new pairs of shoes because my wardrobe was so limited. Mules are great because they don’t require any bending over to fuss with laces — these and these are fun — or maybe now is the time to invest in some fabulous Chanel flats to elevate a black-leggings-black-tee uniform. I also liked to go super trendy on accessories because my everyday vibe was so simple/minimalist — think Gucci hair clips and my favorite $12 rhinestone headband.
Last but not least, treat yourself to maternity underwear (I loved these and these) and some great maternity pajamas (I owned several pairs of these, and it’s like wandering around in a swaddle of the softest cotton, but I also loved Lake). Trust me — these are worth the expense. I remember counting the minutes until I could change into my pajamas, and I realized during mini’s pregnancy that I was actually excited for laundry day because it meant I’d have maternity underwear in hand soon. For micro’s pregnancy, I bought enough for every day of the week 🙂
Q: Gift for a friend who just got accepted to law school — feel like she has everything. Help!
A: So sweet of you. Maybe some of the ideas here or here will fit the bill? More generally — a lady can never have enough stationery, and I always think personalized gifts are tremendously thoughtful because they require special customization! I love this set and this one, and there are even more options here. A gorgeous leather Smythson notebook (personalized with her initials) would also be a chic statement. Beyond that, I often will ask myself: what’s something I want right now? I have been eyeing this purse organizer for awhile for my Goyard and I think it’d be a practical but splurgey gift for a gal about to head into a busy season of life. I would also absolutely treasure a Ginori mug for coffee/tea, and a personalized AirPods case.
Q: Black designer bag.
A: I’m currently lusting after Celine’s Sangle, and it comes in black. Their box bag is also timeless. A girlfriend of mine owns Loewe’s hammock bag and it is SPECTACULAR IRL. But you’ll never regret Chanel!
Q: Perfect white oxford.
A: I have great luck at J. Crew for this — they think through the length/fit well. I’m also currently into the boxier fit at Everlane and Ayr (and I know people LOVE the latter in particular). COS also has some good-looking, tailored ones at a reasonable price. And I know not everyone loves the visible pony, but I’m a longtime (decades-long!) fan of RL.
Q: Wintry bachelorette party outfits (for the bride).
A: Cute! Congratulations! This dress is the answer. It is beyond adorable! Alternately, pair your favorite jeans with an on-trend, perfect-for-a-bride feathered top like this, this, this, or this. (Even more fun feathered finds here.) If you’re not into the white/feathered moment, consider this $42 white top with some on-trend jeans and party shoes, or look through the fab statement tops here. Finally, this jumpsuit BRINGS the party.
Q: Ski clothes for a toddler girl.
A: I’ve not yet taken my children skiing, but have heard good things about these well-priced bibs (love them in the white — and check out all the 5 star reviews!), Helly Hensen’s ski jackets for children, and Smith ski goggles. These fleece-lined thermals are inexpensive and get great reviews — love the white and lavender colors. (You could layer beneath this ski suit!
Q: A pair of inexpensive table lamps for guest bedroom side tables.
A: These or two of these (which look so much like a style from S&L!)
Q: Storage bins for garage/basement.
A: These Iris weathertight ones are pricey but REALLY well made, keep moisturize out, snap in place. This is the only thing we use in our basement. We invested in these back when we lived in Manhattan and had a storage space in the basement/bowels of the building, and you really did not want to take your chances down there. (Rats, moisture, cold, etc!) We will never look back. We bought a bunch of additional ones after our move. More organization gear here and here.
Q: Help! Trying to create a solution for the clutter of kids water bottles, cups, plates, etc.
A: This is hard for us, too, because we have a bunch of differently shaped plates/cups/bowls that don’t all nest together nicely. I did recently see this water bottle storage solution and thought it was brilliant. Beyond that, I think just do the best you can stacking plates/bowls that match and then keep “like” objects together in bins like these, if only to contain and structure the mess. I will say that over time I have let go of some of the one-off/novelty plates (if they are holiday themed, I keep them in the basement in the weathertight bin associated with each holiday) so that we mainly have the ones from RePlay that all nest nicely together. That has helped. To other moms with younger kids: I wish I’d thought of this sooner rather than buying a bunch of different brands/styles to begin with! Might be a good tip…stick with one brand/style. The RePlay ones are my favorite because they are microwave and dishwasher safe, have deep enough wells to hold things like applesauce, yogurt, even cereal with milk (in small portions), and are refreshingly unfussy/unpatterned but come in great colors. A girlfriend of mine recently visited with her son and she ordered them on the spot after we served lunch in them!
By: Jen Shoop
Target has so many incredible finds at the moment! I’ve been sharing a few scores across the last few weeks, but wanted to add a couple and share them all in one place:
+Gingham bolster pillow (seen in photo at top of post). I am truly shocked and delighted by the quality of this find for mini’s room! It looks like it could be a much more expensive designer fabric and the ties are in a contrasting solid. Just the sweetest addition.
+These coordinating oversized square throw pillows are so adorable, and come in even more colors (including a blue perfect for a boy’s room).
+Keep coming back to this squat little lamp. So interesting and reasonably priced, and reminds me of this style from Serena & Lily. For a desk or bedside? Love.
+Scalloped plates in pink, blue, daffodil, and mint green — so sweet! I’m thinking these would be amazing for an early spring or Easter tablescape.
+Bought these hand towels to layer underneath a monogrammed style in our powder room, but the entire set would be lovely for a guest bath!
+Bought one of these $20 waste baskets for a guest bath. Impressed with quality and it has a liner for easy cleaning.
+I recently purchased this $30 party tub for a few small upcoming gatherings (if they’re still held in light of omicron) as I feel that when there are over six people together, it’s nice for the refreshments to be semi-self-serve so people can pour for themselves or grab another beer or whatever the case may be. I hemmed and hawed over that decision, to be honest. I had heard good things about this higher quality one from Kraftware — heavier duty and insulated so it doesn’t sweat (!) and keeps drinks cooler longer — but I just couldn’t justify the cost for how infrequently I think we will use the tub. I also think the $30 tub will be handy for various activities with the children — I immediately imagined bobbing for apples but also various sensory play activities (even water beads — God help me! I hate those things but the children love them!). Anyway, if children are going to be involved and it’s only for infrequent use, $30 is all I felt I needed to spend.
+$15 kitchen rug! Also available in a great gingham. Note these have a non-slip backing which is great for a kitchen. I’m still on the hunt for a great pair of runner and rug that coordinate for our kitchen (we like to have one by our stove and one by our sink, which are catty corner from one another around our island) but may buy these as a placeholder?
+For Valentine’s Day: I picked up a few Mondo Llama craft kits, including this heart painting kit, these stickers, and these scratch art hearts. This heart-shaped muffin pan is currently in my cart. Mini would get such a kick out of these! We have these large heart melamine plates at home in last year’s pink color and they are so fun for presenting Valentine’s Day breakfast! $3 and unbreakable!
+This $30 scalloped bowl won’t be available until 1/23 but I have my eye on it. Would be great bookshelf decor filled with moss balls or just resting atop a stack of books, or could work as fruit bowl!
+This woven urn also won’t arrive until 1/23 but how fab is it?!
Not seen in collage above but incredible as well:
+This Doen-esque cardigan is SO GOOD. The colors, the silhouette!
+And speaking of Doen, this dress in the gray is a dead-ringer for something from Doen!
+And how cute to present Valentine’s treats in this heart-patterned glass container?
+I love this reversible quilted sham (stripes on the reverse!) — it would go so perfectly with all the bedroom refresh decor I shared here. You can also buy a matching quilt, or you could pair it with simple white bedding and finish with a fabulous monogrammed lumbar for a tailored, dimensional look. The cost for the style is incredible — it feels like something you might find at Serena and Lily.
We will be having a very small dinner party at home for Mr. Magpie’s 40th birthday later this month. We had initially been planning a larger affair with lots of friends, but, in the shadow of omicron, have decided to instead have an intimate affair with just a handful of his closets high school/college buddies. I am going to have it catered (birria tacos! lots of tequila!) and wanted a festive tablescape, but one whose elements I knew I would repurpose for many future events. I went with pink, green, and red (yes, pink! real men wear pink) for a fiesta-esque theme: this tablecloth, red/pink scalloped napkins, serape cocktail napkins, taper candles in hot pink and bright green, mini pinatas, 40 pinata (which I will use as decor on table, not actually hang). I’m going to order a colorful centerpiece from a local florist and then do small bunches of bright bodega flowers elsewhere (hoping I can find spider mums in that great bright green they sometimes come in). Some of the other great fiesta-themed items I found and considered…
I am still on the fence about what to wear! I have this past-season Banjanan dress already in my closet (still available on eBay here) that would be actually perfect for the vibe I want, and I love the way it feels on. This brand is so good! They have two current-season styles that would be similarly well-suited to the occasion, this lime green and this hot pink, but it occurs to me that this style of dress might be a perfect dress to rent at Rent the Runway for a similar occasion in the future, as it’s a dress so bold you might only wear it a handful of times for specific festive occasions. Anyhow, I am inclined to go with the Banjanan but I also own a fabulous BRIGHT red jumpsuit with bows on the shoulders by Amanda Uprichard (similar to this, but with thicker straps and in a coca cola red) that brings me immense joy (you can get the BRIGHT jumpsuit vibe here). It might be fun to pair that with these statement earrings I mentioned earlier this week.
And then there is a piece of me that wants something NEW to celebrate! I think I shared these earlier this week, but I am salivating over this Borgo de Nor. I would also love this CHEERY Celia B, this splashy Alemais, this Love the Label (such a fun boidce!), and this Zimmermann. Cheerful dresses in a drab January!
You’re Soooo Popular: Fresh Basics for Home + Self.
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MILLE STRIPED DRESS (ONE OF MY PERSONAL FAVS — IN MY CLOSET!)
“The whole future lies in uncertainty: live immediately.”
We’ve talked a lot about this theme on the blog the last two years as we have navigated living through a pandemic. Earlier, I found myself continuously punting things off and imagining life “post-COVID,” and then came to a point where I realized I did not want to live as though in a waiting room anymore. Sometimes this has been easier said than done, as COVID has put tremendous constraint on what we can and cannot do, and how easily it can be done.
But the quote above made me realize that even without COVID, there will always be uncertainties and question marks and that I must continue to cultivate the ability to live — as a Magpie put it in a comment not too long ago — “where my feet are.”
One small benefit of our protracted quarantine last month was a decision to slow down and move with more measure through my day. This was borne of the demands of parenting alone, inside, for 10 days while also maintaining my blog. But I have hung onto it. Even in the smallest, most insignificant corners of my morning, I hear myself: “Pause. Slow down.” As an example I’m sure many of you can relate to, most mornings are absolute mayhem. We descend to a pristine kitchen and in the span of ten minutes, the island is cluttered with jam jars, the milk jug, lunchboxes, a wet kitchen towel, the toaster, crumbs, miscellaneous toys, the thermometer, the children’s toothbrushes, stacks of clean plates waiting to be put away that were removed from the clean dishwasher but then interrupted in their transit to the cabinet, stacks of dirty ones waiting to be cleaned, a packet of bandaids, a stained pajama top, jam smudges, drawings, crayons. You get the drift. I am routinely overwhelmed when I survey this. It is such a small and manageable mess (I clean it every single morning!) but I often find myself wondering where to even begin. I have been looking at this, since our protracted quarantine, differently. I try to work in groups. Put all the fridge stuff away. Put all the dishes away. Return the toys to their homes. Etc. Somehow moving methodically in this way makes me feel better, and also affords the upside that if — when! — I am interrupted, I will at least feel I have accomplished something. It has the added benefit of focusing me on just what I’m doing now rather than the chaotic grab-this-shove-it-here-and-randomly-end-up-in-the-pantry-putting-the-children’s-backpacks-on-the-shelf-by-accident. (Which I did one morning, and then promptly went into a panic trying to find said backpacks. Oh my goodness! Jen! Slow down!)
It is such a trivial, ridiculous anecdote to share, but the mindset appears to be permeating into other areas of my life in ways I wouldn’t have anticipated. I am finding myself better able to cultivate calm and focus on the here-and-now when I am exercising, writing, running errands. I continue to find myself floating above my own body, reminding myself to slow down and live immediately.
+This spectacular Boden dress feels similar to the striped Mille above — I find this cut so dramatic but easy and flattering to wear! My favorite silhouette for entertaining at home with bare feet.
+My beloved No 6 clog boots are on sale in SUCH a great color!
+My current favorite pair of denim is on crazy sale right now in this great wash (only $56!). Size down a full size.
+These velvet mules are a dead ringer for Le Monde Beryl but under $80.
+This cute puffer is on sale for only $56 in select colors, and these sherpa clogs are only $36?!
+Oh how I loved bubbles like this for micro when he was a wee lad. Sister match with this. Meep! Too cute. Great for a family photo centered around blue.
+As you know, we’ve been musing on various options for our primary bedroom refresh, and I keep coming back to this Etsy shop for monogram pillow inspo. She has the BEST colors, designs, etc!
+In shopping for my husband’s dinner party decor, I came across this adorable swan pinata and these fabulous balloons to match, which are beginning to percolate as the basis for my daughter’s fifth birthday party…Meri Meri has some really cute plates and candles to continue the theme! And maybe the birthday girl can wear this?!
+These Gucci mules are absolutely fabulous. I often get the question of whether I think the Princetown mules are “out.” I don’t think they’re out. The shape is classic, and if you pair them with simple jeans (like the Khaites above) and a white button down, I MEAN. Unimpeachably chic. The patterned mules offer a fresh take.
+I am absolutely in love with this Liberty print shirtdress.
+These Staud mules are fab! Pair with basics and let those shoes do the talking for you.
+These gorgeous scalloped napkins remind me of my mom! Would make such a gorgeous gift.
+J’adore this tiered denim mini. Immediately imagined myself pairing it with my Paris Texas boots.
By: Jen Shoop
Mr. Magpie surprised me with these fabulous Shrimps earrings on Christmas and I am infatuated with them. You could wear any old LBD in your closet or even a white button-down with jeans and feel instantly elevated and stylish, or you could layer them on top of a fabulous ensemble and feel ultra-fabulous, a la Courtney Grow. Matches has marked down a couple of incredible pairs from Shrimps (not the ones I have, but also fabulous), including these gorgeous pearl drops! Sharing a couple of other favorite statement earrings worth a gander. Most of these are under $100, and some are even around $30! You would never know — these all look like artisanal pieces that you’d buy in a boutique for hundreds!
P.P.P.S. My latest installment of honest beauty reviews. Lots of interesting comments and suggestions on mascara in particular!
By: Jen Shoop
I listened the other day to a podcast in which Gwyneth Paltrow interviews Stanley Tucci. It was an odd listening choice, to be sure, because I have conflicting feelings about both of those celebrities, and I know many of you do, too. But it was riveting to listen to two people who absolutely love food, and have built elements of their successful careers around its appreciation, wax poetic on the subject. At one point, Paltrow asks: “Could you ever be in love with someone who doesn’t love food?” Tucci says, “I could not.”
Are there interests, or orientations, or tenets of life, that are non-negotiables for you in a partner, too?
Love of food is an interesting one, because I think it’s not just about the food itself but perhaps about a relationship to pleasure. I say this as the wife of a man who is beyond passionate about food. Mr. Magpie prioritizes the experience of dining, and will go to lengths to properly plate and garnish each and every dish, cocktail, snack, morsel he prepares. Even his mise en place is meticulous — carefully measured and appealing to look at. He crosshatches his chicken breasts on the grill with precision; he orients his potatoes in the same direction on a pan; even ribeyes going into the fridge for a dry-brine are artfully arranged on the plate just so. “You eat with your eyes,” he’s told me in the past. And “eating,” for him, extends beyond the plate: he is sensitive to ambiance, too, when we are dining. We always laugh about an episode of “The Office” where Ed Helms says, “Last night I ordered a pizza by myself, and I ate it over the sink like a rat.” We sometimes throw this at one another on the rare occasion we are shoveling a snack down while standing in front of the fridge because we are on our way out the door, or too hungry to wait, or what have you. The subtext, though, is spot-on: food in our home is not just fuel, to be consumed mindlessly whenever encountered, but something to savor with care and thought and attention.
I think, too, there is a narrative of respect that overlays Mr. Magpie’s relationship with food: he ministers to his ingredients and his ingredients minister to him. He goes to great lengths to track down “the best” of everything — the best spices, the best olive oils, the best kitchen implements, the best seeds from which to grow his Nantes carrots — and, under his care, they shine. He is loathe to discard a good scrap of food for this reason, and will nearly shave off his fingers on the mandolin to avoid wasting the heel of a clove of garlic or the top of a white hailstone radish from his garden or — God forbid — the edge of a white truffle, shipped overnight from Urbani. (Hence the strawberry huller Santa left in my stocking this year.)
Once prepared, though, he lets the food call the shots. He defers. And so I absolutely love watching Mr. Magpie eat something he loves. His entire energy changes. He has said in the past that eating something delicious “feels good all over”: it is a whole-body thing, with every sense engaged. I had probably noticed this unreflectingly for years but I can remember the exact moment I realized how true this was for him: at Prune, in New York City, on my 34th birthday. He took a bite of something and then actually leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and sighed. It was as though every muscle in his body relaxed. Every stress and striation of the previous few (incredibly intense) months dissipated. The dining experience — the food, the bustling and joyous ambiance, the incredible wine pairing — transported him. And he invited that euphoria. He let it wash right over him.
Watching that moment was transformative for me, too. It left me more open to and curious about the experience of dining. I have always loved food, but I found myself attending more carefully to each bite, and to describing the textures and tastes in more detail. Because for me, a good measure of the pleasure of living is putting it into words. It is as though I need to slip the amorphousness of an experience into a well-fitting suit. And so it has been, more or less since that evening at Prune, an adventure into the wideness of taste and its intersections with language. Toothsome, jammy, piquant, unctuous, tangy, bright, silky, succulent, delicate, wafer-like, mineral, acidic: our nightly lexicon.
I think — moreso than Mr. Magpie — that I tie that pleasure of eating to the ritual of sharing it with people I love. Food for me is more about a shared experience. If I am on my own, I will throw together a salad or fry an egg or butter some farfalle. I still plate it nicely and sit down at the table and try to be conscious about what I’m doing, but it’s not as “all out” as if I were in the company of my man or my friends. If Mr. Magpie is on his own, he will still eat as though preparing food for an audience: porterhouse steak cooked sous vide and then seared to perfection in a butter bath in a skillet, cacio e pepe with the pasta rolled by hand, six briny oysters shucked at home and served with peppery, shallot-flecked mignonette. Regardless, though, I think that our slightly different appreciations of food work together because they share the same foundational orientation around pleasure. We look at dining as enjoyment. Not sustenance, and not hedonism either — as a path to earnest joy.
Thinking through all of this makes me wonder whether I could have fallen in love with someone who did not love food. I’m not sure. I have been with Mr. Magpie for so long (since 19!), and he was my first and only love, and so it is beyond the pale to imagine it otherwise. But I suspect it is more about openness to tiny peals of joy than it is about food itself. I love, for example, that Mr. Magpie “gets” why I like a bright bouquet of pens at my desk, and why I can sometimes fixate on a new word I’ve discovered that I find delightfully accurate (“chelonian”! “carillon!” “febrile!”), and that I can occasionally lose my mind over a pair of shoes. I have been in company where such declarations have elicited raised eyebrows that make me feel as though I need to get a life. (Which, possibly, I do.) But Mr. Magpie never scoffs at these diminutive pleasures. He scaffolds them, encourages them, even if he does not understand the precise sentiment. So perhaps I would say openness to les petits plaisirs would be non-negotiable. (Would everyone say the same, I wonder?)
+Things that I love that I shouldn’t. I have some new additions to this since I first wrote it almost four years ago — may need to run a revision soon.
+This $39 Target cardigan is SO good. Major Doen vibes. I’m conflicted on which color to order!
+My tiered corduroy shirtdress I’ve been wearing all season long is now on sale for under $100 ($75 in select colors). I love (!) this thing. Super flattering (corduroy is not as bulky as you’d think!) and can be layered over a turtleneck or worn on its own. Surprisingly warm! I own in the figgy pudding color.
+I also noticed that my favorite straight-leg cords from this season (under $80) are re-stocked in great camel and forest green colors. I own in the burgundy color, but those appear to be nearly sold out. I’m tempted to buy the green!
+Our beloved carseats are $100 off in gray here! I’ve literally never seen these on sale before.
+Target has some seriously great stuff at the moment — I mentioned I ordered one of these monogrammed hand towels for our powder room in the powder blue (arrived so quickly, already here!) and am going to layer over these flat weave aqua towels.
+I just ordered these gorgeous and well-priced scalloped linen napkins in the red with pink trim. So cheerful! I love all the unusual color combinations they have!
+I’ve been writing all my holiday thank you notes on this gorgeous (reasonably priced) stationery.
+Oh my goodness! The classic striped and Liberty print pajamas are so cute and can be monogrammed! Select colors/patterns are on sale for 50% off!
+This $16 smocked dress for a little!!! I have a few of the tops from this brand and they are lovely!
+This toddler two-piece swimsuit reminds me of the styles/prints from Minnow Swim, but under $30!
+This fitness skort is so chic! I am contemplating taking tennis lessons this summer and this is right up my alley.
+Maisonette just marked a ton of its Busy Bees pieces down to 50% off — we love these Ginny dresses (mini has owned several colors/patterns over the years) and I always use sales like these to stock up on their Henry tees for micro. They are spend-y, but they launder SO well and last forever. Micro wore his size 2T ones for two years since they are cut generously but somehow not too boxy. The shoulder buttons add a little interest, and serve a functional purpose (easier to pull on), too.
+So into striped knits like these. The shape is Khaite!
+Can’t stop thinking about this fabulous jumpsuit. The color, silhouette, and neckline are beyond fabulous. $110!
+These mint green Aligns are looking FRESH for the new year.
+Related to athletic-wear: I am not much of an athletic wear / athleisure person during the day but the last week has been topsy turvy between snow (and related cancellations), school starting, etc. I have had to be flexible with my exercise regimen and that has sometimes meant I don’t work out until the afternoon, which is bizarre. Historically, if I don’t run first thing, I won’t run at all. The day just gets away from me. I ended up NOT setting resolutions this year (you may recall I was on the fence) but one intention I have is to (borrowing from a Magpie reader): “intentionally move my body.” What this has meant so far this year is that I try to stick to a running-every-other-day regimen but if it can’t happen because of appointments, snow delays, snow in general (icy conditions), school drop off, etc., so be it. My Dad just gave us a fitness bike (!) and I now have the option to retreat to our basement and take in a 20 or 30 minute cycle, so this has been such a boon for me on the days I can’t squeeze in a run first thing. Anyway, all of this is a meandering preamble to the fact that because I have not been running in my usual structured 9-10 a.m. slot (though I hope to return to that schedule as much as possible), I have been wearing a lot of fitness gear this past week. I can’t tell you how often I reach for this exact Patagonia pullover in the oatmeal/cream color. I bought this probably 12 or 13 years ago (?) at the Patagonia in Georgetown and it’s still hanging tough and still my most-worn fleece. I kind of want a zip-up variation, and have been eyeing this, this, this (the checked trim!), and this.
+On a related note: this reversible faux fur / faux sherpa coat is so stylish. Love the collar.
+This smocked plaid dress feels fresh for the new year.
By: Jen Shoop
Ellifox is having an incredible sale on high-quality pima basics for little ones at the moment. First: difficult-to-find peter pan collar tops almost fully stocked in white and some other great trim colors under $15. Run! I’ve also written about these peter pan collar dresses many times, and they are under $20 in great colors. These are a total mainstay in my daughter’s wardrobe (as seen above). Easiest everyday outfit! Can be layered over leggings if chilly or worn on their own with a big bow and some Cientas, which — OMG! Cientas on sale here for $25/pop, and in great colors/patterns. Almost fully stocked in toddler sizes in my favorite color and style, the navy t-strap, and in mini’s gingham mary janes (seen above). In case you are new here, these have been a long-standing favorite of ours because they wear like a sneaker but look a little dressier and can go with anything from shorts to leggings to dresses (even kind of fancy ones — they still work!). They are also machine-washable. I find using a tiny bit of liquid or powdered detergent on the rubber with a toothbrush also makes them look good as new before a big occasion!
I also did want to mention that Target has some cotton everyday dresses (and some SS ones here) for little ladies along the same lines, though without the darling collar. We’ve purchased a few of these and they’re just so-so on quality — I feel that they show their washes quickly. However, a solid everyday dress to have in the rotation.
And mini loves (!!!) her silver glitter rain boots. The first day she was apprehensive about wearing them because she didn’t want any of the glitter to fall off outside! Too sweet! A really fun boot for a little lady, and Hunter’s quality can’t be beat. Micro has worn his pair of yellow Hunters close to daily doing those intensive things little boys do — jump on EVERYTHING, walk sideways on curbs, etc — and they are still in great condition, and that’s AFTER they belonged to mini first, and she also loved them. Just the best.
P.S. I can’t tell you how many of our friends and family have tested positive for COVID at this point, many within the last two weeks. I have sent so many Amazon packages! In case you’re wondering what to send or need to occupy small hands at home, I wrote a long post on this subject here, but I also wanted to share this post on “slow-burn toys” (toys my children continue to return to, week after week) and this more recent post on stocking stuffers which might have additional ideas that appeal. One thing I’ve been talking with a lot of my mom friends about is how much novelty has been helpful during these long quarantines. Like, they could be looking at a neighbor’s old, tattered coloring book and just because it’s new and different, there is SO much interest. Not to say they need something new every day, but just that — tiny little surprises and borrowed items helped me make my way through the long stretch.
Today, a miscellany of fashion finds I’m into ATM…
+Having a jumpsuit moment. I wish I’d gotten this hot pink ditty from Rachel Comey before it sold out in my size, but I love this army green one from VB, and Madewell always has great styles for less (also this). I like the idea of pairing these with an unexpected Hermes scarf around the neck and a designer bag (seen above) to balance out the utility vibes.
+Speaking of that Celine bag: I haven’t bought a new designer bag in awhile, but feel that now that my children are older and we are out of the baby days, I would like to have something that is somewhere between a crossbody and a tote. I think this Celine is it. Big enough for some kid diversions, a packet of wipes, etc., but small enough to look like it’s a dedicated part of my outfit. I really like it in this unusual forest green color. Then again, this gray style with the dramatic gold hardware?! Ugh. Delicious. I think I will marinate on this for awhile but may take a trip to the store to investigate size (it appears there is a smaller one, seen above, and a larger one) and color more closely. Honestly, I haven’t coveted a designer bag in awhile, but all of the sudden, I can’t stop thinking about one of these new Celine bags.
+I also want to note that there are two lovely-looking look-for-less variations on the Celine here and here. I might be inclined to swap out the straps they come with for one of these webbed ones (quality is so good for the price — I have one of these and I think the hardware looks much nicer than what you’d expect for the price). I am half inclined to buy one of these to see how I like the size/style before making the Celine plunge. Either way, a great “midway” bag for those of us between baby and big kid years. Another possible option: this ultra-chic Oroton. such a great shape and size.
+I think these boxy striped shirts are going to be a part of my new daily uniform rotation. A new silhouette for the new year. Imagine with layered gold necklaces (love this one as a starting point) and fun sneaks like these or these.
+Kule makes socks that make me so happy. I know a lot of us have talked about realizing that constant happiness is not possible but that finding small slivers or pockets of joy throughout the day is, and I don’t know what it is about a pair of happy new socks that brings me a little lift. I first discovered this with my Alo running socks. They are thick and warm and soft and come in the cheeriest colors, and I love the retro fitness Barbie vibes they serve up. Every time I look down while running, I feel the tiniest bit happier. (Also, Wahoowa.)
+Isabel Marant meets SEA at J. Crew prices. I saw this and immediately imagined a cool street style starlet picking up her children from school in it with hair loose and probably that Celine bag I mentioned over her shoulder. So cool!
+Still loving fair isle and found two great options: this pink Kitri and this brown Meadows.
+This $29 top, in the beige color, gives me Carolina Herrera energy.
+If I were pregnant, I’d be all over this dress. Would work with bump and also post-partum (buttons for nursing and a nice loose fit). Also, it looks super soft.
+The colors on these warm boots are fab. They’d totally make an outfit! They also come in a classic neutral. The minute I saw these and wanted to pair them with this fabulous dramatic puffer coat. If you waltzed by me in this look, I’d be mesmerized. Who is that woman? Such great and unusual pieces/colors.
+Adorable bi-fold wallet. Such great colors! I feel like Mark Cross is an underrated genius.
+Not fashion but have to share this random thought: I have been heavy into the “organize and purge everything” mode (ahem) and just discovered this tea bag organizer. Have I gone off the deep end or does it feel curative to imagine transferring the mish-mash of loose tea bags currently hanging out in a big zippered baggie into organized rows in this? I don’t feel the need to always move things from the boxes they came in into tidy clear bins — that feels wasteful to me at times. But here is an instance where I have tons of loose bags in a jumble…
+Also not fashion but could use some intel: is anyone passionate about a kitchen rug/runner (preferably both – we like to have one long one by the sink/dishwasher, 2×6 or 2×7 or something, and one smaller one by the stove, 2×3-ish)? We had this great pair I bought on a crazy sale at OKL that felt right out of the pages of S&L — blue and white stripes and so happy! But they are horribly stained now and cannot be laundered or cleaned. I did find this $15 one (also comes in a cute gingham) that is machine washable and very happy-looking and, at $15, would not make me feel sick if we end up ruining it. (Also, note the non-slip underside.) But the pastel colors are giving me pause — we work hard in our kitchen! And I wish it came in a matching longer runner size. Another thought would be a woven/sisal type but I’d prefer to add color! Any thoughts? Help!
A: Fun! I super love this look with a boho mini like this or this. Very Kate Moss in the 90s? This pair would turn my head (and looks strikingly similar to Marant) but 1/3 of the price. I found them on sale for even less here in very limited sizes. This pair is also fun in the vanilla color in particular.
Q: A black cardigan with pearl details that is more traditional than trendy or Talbots-esque.
A: I appreciate the specificity! I love this textured one — gives me Chanel/Gucci vibes. (Aside: this label has such fun and fabulous knits! This reminds me of Self-Portrait and Alessandra Rich! And yes pls to this.). These similar styles from Maje and Galvan are also lovely and I think walk the line between on-trend and not-too-stodgy you’re after.
Q: 2.5-year-old girls flower dress for BIL wedding.
A: This white dress is absolute perfection with the big white sash. Absolutely swooned when I saw it. They have a similar style in a more formal taffeta material if the event is dressier. I also adore this petal collar dress — scroll down for the toddler sizing. If she mustn’t wear white/it’s a less formal occasion, something like this is both darling and traditional.
Q: Not boring but casual tops to throw on that are not athleisure.
A: I would say striped tees from Kule or Ayr; tissue turtlenecks (if too fitted for what you’re after, check out this style from Everlane); these fitted, ribbed scoop-necks which feel intentional, and like what you might wear if you have a closet full of Khaite; boxy oxfords (or slimmer fit ones); pointelle tees (have a nostalgic, girlish vibe to them I love — look for less with these); and this supersoft top that has just the right amount of interest.
A: Love a classic camel coat. Investment: any of the ones from MaxMara. More reasonable: Reiss or Club Monaco. Under $200: Mango and Mango again (Diane Keaton).
Q: Dress for a black tie wedding (as a guest) in LA this April.
A: Fun! This $220 navy gown still gives me chills. Hollywood starlet, but in a shockingly sophisticated navy. I also love this black lace statement (Carey Mulligan red carpet vibes — heels must be tall), this bronzed goddess number, this sophisticated Galvan, and this Saloni.
P.S. I have been trying to keep my wedding guest dress shop section more up to date lately!
Q: Rehearsal dinner in February. I’m the bride!
A: Congratulations!!! Splurge: Markarian has so many exquisite options — I love this and this. Over the top/trendy option: 16Arlington. (J’adoreeeee!). And Badgley Mischka has a look for less option that feels a bit more toned down here. This Shoshanna is gorgeous, and I feel like it feels festive and memorable without being too dramatic. Cinq a Sept has a sweet one that walks a similar line.
Q: Doormat for under $25.
A: Love this and this! More home finds under $100 here.
Q: A day dress for my Match Day for medical school (March 18)!
A: Wow! Exciting! I own and love this Mille dress in the stripe — it’s the perfect in-between dress for when you want to look stylish/intentional but not too dressy. If you’re somewhere cold, you can pair with suede boots, too. This dress is at the top of my “everyday day dress” list, I LOVE this corduroy, and I have been eyeing this under-$100 style or this one — both are sweet, on-trend, easy to wear. Alternately, a sweater dress would be fab — something like this or this (more ideas here) with some fun boots or flats.
Q: Sneakers for daily casual wear.
A: If you’re talking designer, I like these Loewes and Rag & Bone. For a sportier/street style vibe, I love NB’s 327s and Onitsuka Tigers. For something more classic/less sporty, Supergas all the way. Have owned and loved my pairs for going on a decade now.
Q: Good nude clutch. No visible labels. Under $300-$400.
A: For casual wear, I love this oversized envelope style and it’s well under $150! Feels very Hermes/classic to me. Meanwhile, this Cuyana is as unfussy and classy as they come. For something trendier, Bottega Veneta has popularized the dumpling bag the past few years, and this style feels very on-trend as a result. This one is even closer to the O.G.! If you’re thinking more for summer or live somewhere warmer, Pam Munson all the way! This would go with EVERYTHING. And this Cult Gaia is gorgeous, too.
These are opposite of what you want (visible labels and out of budget), but I had to share in case anyone else is in the market for a clutch: this Hermes and this Loewe!
Q: Mules and clogs that work for midi dresses.
A: I think these No. 6 ones are absolute perfection in every way. Colors, shape, heel height. A ten! Isabel Marant has a cool pair that Parisian chic peas wear with a tiny bit more edge. And then this $35 pair from Target is a dead ringer for a much more expensive pair by Rachel Comey. All of these would look so chic with a midi dress like this, this, or this (which I own and adore in the blue colorway).
By: Jen Shoop
There are so many adorable Valentine cards out this season, with fun little favors to circulate as well. Above ARE mini’s Valentines from last year from my favorite Etsy stationer, Erin Wallace, who has tons of adorable options (including many shared in this post). Last year, I included a small play-doh tub and plastic cookie cutter along with the card. Below, sharing some other ideas, including many non-edible ones as I know many schools have restrictions on what foods can be circulated, and it’s also always a gamble knowing what other parents’ preferences along these lines…
For most of these, I would wrap the favor in a little cello bag of the proper dimensions and tuck the card inside so its visible and then tie off with a gingham ribbon in red, pink, or blue as the case might be.
An alternative, sweet option is having your children decorate their own Valentines, in which case I would use this Kid Made Modern Valentine Making Kit. I find this brand to have really nice quality, cute sets that have everything you need rather than having to source supplies individually and imagine the permutations of what might be cute for a Valentine. I’ve bought several of the seasonal “craft kits” and my children go wild over them. Target also has a few make-your-own Valentines sets for slightly older children (more complex assembly): these and these.
For something along the more traditional lines, Cheree Berry Paper has some adorable emoji-centric Valentine cards that even young children can help fill out, Meri Meri has some darling cards, and Mr. Boddington’s Studio has kitschy-cute classic perforated card Valentines on sale here.
Another thought: have your little ones make bracelets using heart beads for their classmates/friends. Mini loved this kit and we actually ended up keeping it and reusing it over and over again to make different necklaces at home, but it would also work to make bracelets or necklaces for classmates. I think we gave that to her two Valentine’s Days ago, when she was just three, and she loved it then. For more dextrous (older) children, I love these luminescent heart and star beads (buy a spool of stretchy cord to make into bracelets), or this pastel set. Even though I intend to buy my children some of Erin Wallace’s Valentine’s to give out (above), I think I will buy a set of these for my children to do as an activity around Valentine’s Day. Along these lines, a few other at-home, fun activities for the occasion:
CERAMIC HEART PAINTING CRAFT — NOTE THAT I USUALLY SWAP IN WASHABLE CRAYOLA PAINT INSTEAD OF THE PAINT THAT COMES WITH THIS…EASIER ON ME (HA)
SCRATCH ART HEARTS — MINI HAS A SIMILAR SET FROM MELISSA & DOUG SHE ABSOLUTELY LOVES
VALENTINE STICKERS LIKE THESE AND THESE — INFINITY USES IN OUR HOME
VALENTINE CRAFT KIT — I LOVE TO JUST OPEN THE BOX AND LET MY CHILDREN HAVE AT IT…WE ALWAYS END UP WITH TONS OF FLOATING POM POMS AND HALF-BENT PIPE CLEANERS BUT THEY LOVE IT SO MUCH
Last but not least, I shared some cute Valentine’s Day PJs and outfits here, but this tiny waffle maker in the shape of heart is sure to delight on Valentine’s Day morning. I have a Halloween shaped one that is such a thrill to my children. Serve them up on these $3 red melamine heart plates. I bought them in pink last year and they are absolutely adorable and so fun for little ones! These more expensive melamine ones are also adorable for the occasion.
