I am a bit Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde at the moment when it comes to dressing myself in the morning — it’s either embellished-hot-pink-statement-everything or crisp denim with stripes at the moment. I rock variations on the look above constantly. Sharing some favorite finds in this vein below, but first must mention —
EVERLANE IS OFFERING 25% OFF ALL FULL-PRICE ITEMS TODAY ONLY — GREAT TIME TO SNAG A GREAT SWEATER OR BOXY BUTTON-DOWN
THIS TOTEME SWEATER IS HAVING A MOMENT (HAVE SEEN ALL OVER THE PLACE!) AND H&M HAS A FAB LOOKALIKE UNDER $50 (“COMING SOON” TRICK: IF YOU “FAVORITE” IT, IT BECOMES AVAILABLE TO YOU AND YOU CAN CHECK OUT!)…BANANA HAS A GREAT SIMILAR STYLE AS WELL
My favorite buys this week were my new calligraphy book and calligraphy pen set (have always wanted to learn — why not now?) and some new fitness gear. I shared all my favorite exercise finds yesterday but am especially excited about my new hot pink sports bra and mint green fitness top!
I am still mulling over the fascinating and nuanced comments in response to my post on self-care, downtime, and mom guilt. One quote I came across this week that led me back down that thought trail:
I find this to be true, even in the sense that I often take a scheduled break during my day to run an errand, fold laundry, organize a corner of the house, take care of administrative business like doctor’s appointments and returns, etc., because I have learned that I need that “inactive” time to let things marinate. Sometimes my best writing happens when I’m driving to the dry cleaner. If I am running dry, the last place I should be is sitting at my desk in front of a blank page. This isn’t exactly what Austin Kleon is getting at, I don’t think. I think he means that people need time to “turn off” and “recharge” — not “be creative in the background,” which is more or less what I’m saying. Perhaps that’s nit-picking, though, because the point stands, whether or not you are in a creative field: it is healthful and generative to take breaks and, as he puts it, “do nothing.” The problem, I think, is that very few of us feel we can take time to “do nothing,” and for a number of reasons — inherited work ethic, frenzied and overscheduled days, guilt about taking time for ourselves as moms (specifically: guilt about leaning on other people to care for our children while we are taking time for ourselves), logistical complexity.
I shared the above quote on Instagram and one Magpie replied: “I am currently finishing my counseling degree. Counselors have an obligation to self-care — it’s actually in our code of ethics. It’s helped me to take time alone to be quiet with a little less guilt.”
Now, of course we are not all counselors working with others through difficult times, but I thought the fact that, as a profession, counselors have determined that it is productive, healthy, necessary to take time out for themselves was an encouraging endorsement of the practice more generally.
I don’t have any great answers, unfortunately, as to how to find the time and the childcare and the grace to give yourself “guilt-free downtime.” But perhaps, if you are able to elbow out some room for yourself, you can revisit some of the thoughts in this post or the comments in the previous post and remind yourself that it is OK to do nothing at all. You need time to sit around and do nothing.
+This pennant would be absolutely adorable for a little boy meeting his baby sibling for the first time, or for a newborn photo shoot with big brother in it.
+I can’t believe how popular this ski jacket was this past week. If you’re heading to the slopes, this is a cute base layer!
+Still time to order this beyond adorable heart dress for Valentine’s Day for an LO. More heart-centric finds here.
+This blouse is absolutely gorgeous — and under $100.
+I have a few of these hinge lid storage bins in my bathroom — great for things like facial cotton, razor blade refills, tampons, etc. I’m thinking these open-top bins would be a great compliment for organizing some of my shampoo/shaving cream/toothpaste etc backstock. (Costco life! Such a change from NYC, where I rarely had a back-up for anything — all hand to mouth!)
+I love a leopard moment. This would be great with booties and a little black cardigan right now.
+Have been eyeing this tiered midi all season long. I love dresses like this at the moment. So easy to wear, loose-fitting, but pulled together. They work with boots or flats!
+Obsessed with this $30 (!) sweater. Also love this embellished gray one.
+Mini adores her new rainboots. They are on a tiny price break at the moment!
+This button-back sweater is fun in the cream/blue mix.
I have been using our new fitness bike a lot the past few weeks — it’s been so fantastic to have an alternative to running during this cold snap. Aside from a year in Chicago when I got into FlyWheel, I haven’t done much spinning/cycling, but I am really enjoying mixing it up. It’s also ultra low-commitment (i.e., if I lose steam, I’m in the house and just walk upstairs! When I go running, I *must* return way I came, no matter how much I am flagging) and I therefore find it much easier, mentally, to “go for a quick spin” downstairs. At any rate, my renewed commitment to exercising has me itching for some new gear. I recently bought a few additional cropped tanks (on sale here in a great lavender color) from Beyond Yoga (seen above) — so, so soft and comfortable but flattering and feminine. But I am mainly drawn to spring colors mixed in with pops of hot pink at the moment. Lululemon has some of my old standbys — swiftly tech tees, align leggings, and define jackets — out in some great new spring colors that are calling my name, and I have this head-to-toe look from Alo in my cart: fitness turtleneck, hoodie, and leggings. Sharing even more below…
*Image via Amal Kapen featuring one of the Oomph tini tables I’m lusting after!
A few things at the top of my current lust list…
+Thierry Colson dress. This is going to be my first spring wardrobe purchase! I have always been intrigued by this French brand and have seen several ultra-chic women wear it. I love this unexpected green Liberty print, and the shape is my preferred silhouette — long, body-skimming!
+Gucci barrette. I have a weakness for frivolous, #extra accessories. They can completely take a “lather-rinse-repeat” look into “I feel amazing” territory.
+Oomph tini table. We still need a lot of furniture for our new home, and I have been eyeing one of these fun and fabulous Oomph tables for probably a decade. I am thinking it would be punchy in our front, formal living room, which currently has an elegant mint green rug from Jayson Home (exact one sold out, but similar in design/vibe to this, just a lot more mint-green-centric) and some inherited traditional pieces from my grandparents and could use a little POP of modernity in the form of this table.
+Celine Sangle bag in Amazone. This is my current designer bag obsession. I haven’t bought a new, prestige designer bag in awhile and am thinking I might treat myself to this in 2022. I know several of you have this exact style and most of the feedback has been ecstatic. A few of you have urged me to go into a boutique to determine whether the size will dwarf me and how I feel about the shoulder strap, which some of you have said slides off the shoulder easily. Just passing along the intel in case you’re in the same market!
+Mrs. Alice placemats. I have featured these and similar placemats so many times on the blog but never purchased myself a set. Recently, we have been hosting more small/intimate dinner parties and I have been thinking how much I wish I had a set of these. I love the bow motif and of course the blue is perfection! The Avenue also has some fabulous placemat options.
+Antique Gustavian chests. I have been poring over 1st Dibs lately — there are so many insanely chic antique finds that have been catching my eye. How fabulous would these be in either a guest bedroom or somewhere unexpected in a living space, i.e., flanking a fire place.
P.S. Cardigans and turtlenecks are still in heavy rotation in these parts. My favorite look this season.
P.P.S. I have been having a weak spot for statement earrings recently…you know my Shrimps earrings Mr. Magpie gave me? I found some lookalikes on Etsy for under $40!
P.P.P.S. Lots of great home finds here, here, and here.
By: Jen Shoop
A couple shopping announcements…
+A reader had asked whether I could sleuth out the brand of tights Lily Worcester is wearing in this Instagram photo. I am usually pretty crafty about tracking these things down but could not find the exact pair! These are strikingly similar (metallic flocking, semi-sheer) and only $15, and would be SO fun styled similar to the way she wore them, i.e., with a more conservative knit dress (also love this and this) or ladylike jacket like this or this.
+The inquiry led me to track down some other fun, loud patterned tights to style in a similar vein…love these, these, these, and these. (Channel the chic pea above!)
+Hill House is running a 20% off sale on its bath and bed collection. I own so many of their pieces for home. I love the script and block lettering monogram options they have; we rotate their Chancery Lane sheet set in with our Boll & Branch. I especially love the way HHH’s euro shams look in this pattern with a block print monogram in the center. Though I prefer B&B for sheets in general (a bit softer and easier to iron), I almost always use these euro shams because I like how tailored and tidy they look (and of course they mix in easily with our B&B sheets since everything is white), especially compared to the hemmed ones we have from B&B — I find the “hem” droops and looks wrinkly after a few sleeps. And PSST! These mini pillowcases make great gifts for new babies with a fun little nickname on the front for baby!
+Today only, Shopbop is offering an extra 25% off sale prices with code REFRESH. Don’t miss any of the unfussy and sophisticated boots from Aeyde, this LOVE necklace, this pretty SEA, this fun sweatshirt, this colorblocked scarf, this gorgeous LWD (perfect for bride to be), and this blue and white ditty (exactly what I’d lean toward for an anniversary dinner or family portrait over the summer).
+Minnow just launched a new line of sweet terry pieces for children. I love these little tennis dresses for girls and terry shorts for boys.
+Several of you absolutely raved about the fit/silhouette of these COH jeans earlier this week and I found them for one lucky gal on sale for 50% off! The ones from Shopbop are currently in my cart. Very intrigued after all the positive feedback. I like that several of you mentioned that they appeal to multiple generations! I can see that — they are on-trend and classic at the same time.
+Some of you anticipators have been thinking ahead to Easter dresses and decor. I am still feeling as though not a ton of spring dresses have been released so will continue to hunt and share out in a few weeks when there is more inventory to pick from. However, I did want to mention that I bought some moss bunnies for our Easter table last year and they were both adorable and fun for the children. I also noticed that these toile ceramic bunnies that you loved last year were brought back again this year!
+These melamine plates have been one of the most popular items on my blog for two years running. I just noticed that Target has what appears to be the exact same (?) style on offer for even less. They also let you buy a set of the bowls separately, which I love. Those bowls would be fabulous snack bowls for children since they don’t break! Love that they aren’t festooned with cartoon animals, too!
+Speaking of Target — there have been so many great Target finds out there in the last few weeks (and I have bought so many of them!) that I created a separate section of my shop with justTarget finds.
+Also have been keeping my “Latest Finds” section more up to date. How fab is this? Tempted by all.the.things.
P.S. What was your first CD/cassette? I had a major scream-singing session in my car yesterday to Alanis Morissette…just what the doctor ordered.
Where are you and who are you with? Are you alone? Are you exercising? Are you cooking? Are you doing nothing at all?
There is a section from an essay by Natalia Ginzburg in which she writes:
“My vocation is to write and I have known this for a long time. I hope I won’t be misunderstood; I know nothing about the value of the things I am able to write. I know that writing is my vocation. When I sit down to write I feel extraordinarily at ease, and I move in an element which, it seems to me, I know extraordinarily well; I use tools that are familiar to me and they fit snuggly in my hands.”
I wrote recently that “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.” Her variation on this theme rung so true to me I stopped in my tracks. When I am writing, I indeed feel as though I am using “tools that…fit snuggly in my hands.” I am comfortable, I am alive, I am moving with purpose. Everything as it should be.
In graduate school, I worked in The Writing Center in the bowels of Lauinger Library at Georgetown University. Students would come by for assistance and feedback on their essays, and would often tell me: “I’m not good at writing” or “I hate writing” or “I just can’t do it.” At the time, I was baffled by these protestations. I will admit to occasional bouts of ungenerous skepticism — was it just that they were being work-shy? In those exchanges, I had to lean on prefabricated lines from the “Introduction to Teaching Writing” course I’d taken earlier in my tenure as a grad student, which had emphasized that writing is process rather than product and presented various strategies for helping students unblock and embrace the messy experience of writing. Of course my assurances on this front felt alien, rehearsed, and disingenuous. The truth was I’d never even thought of writing as anything but natural, even pleasurable. I write to know what I think, I have said on many occasions. And it is true: for me, the actual experience of living is only half of life. The second measure lives in 26 letters and 14 marks. But teaching writing, and working in The Writing Center, made me realize that this is not a universal impulse, and that’s OK. Writing is, simply, my medium. I don’t know why, or how–likely, it is owing to some alchemy of patronage, parenting, practice, and personality. But like Ginzburg, “I know nothing about the value of the things I am able to write.” It is pure instinct to live here, on this page. I make no claims as to its merit, or usefulness. (I do, however, feel proud of the community that lives on the other side of this page. There is purpose and good among you women, and if I do nothing but cultivate a space for us to sit together, I feel well with the world.)
This morning, I write as though kneading dough. I am working my way through the intersections between “feeling at ease” and vocations and language and purpose and I don’t know that these concepts always lay neatly upon one another for everyone. Perhaps it is a rarity that, for me, ils se feuillettent.*
I’m curious this morning to hear from you on this front — when and how are you most yourself, most at ease? Does that experience overlap with a vocation or not?
*They fold on top of one another, like pastry sheets. There is no exact way to phrase this as visually in English, I don’t think.
+This sweater comes in great colors and looks far more expensive than it is. Reminds me of something by Nili Lotan (<<originally $895, on sale here for under $300!)!
+This dress was inspired by Carey Mulligan. YES PLS. I find this label to be exquisitely well made. Their pieces tend to run small in the bust/chest area, FYI.
+Speaking of La Ligne, this gives me La Ligne vibes for under $200. Very Parisienne-chic.
+Just added a few of these $12 fitness tanks to my cart. Tons of great colors. I have been reaching for tops like these while using our fitness bike at home!
+Into the silhouette on these reasonably priced pants.
+Do you know about the brand Charlie Holliday? I am swooning over so many of their warm weather pieces, including this bikini (Marysia vibes), this fruit print skirt, and this fetching hot pink dress. The prices are reasonable, too!
+Zimmermann has made this dress several seasons now and it is just so fetching — romantic but tailored. Would be perfect for a bride-to-be, for a wedding anniversary, or for a family portrait on a beach.
+Cute (!) $22 smocked top in the white floral or black. Hill House vibes!
+Diptyque has some fun new limited edition scents out. I love the packaging on this one!
+Speaking of candles, many of Hotel Lobby’s previously sold out candles are back in stock. I was so impressed with the winter scent I burned all holiday season long! Will be back for more soon.
Do you follow social media icon Tinx? I had a hard time explaining who she was to my husband, as she’s partly self-help guru for the millennial and Gen Z sets, partly comedian, partly influencer? She and I couldn’t be more different in terms of aesthetic or vibe but I appreciate many of her messages (mainly about empowerment and self-care) and find her hilarious to boot. A few weeks ago, she wrote: “Try to be truly happy for your friends.” I haven’t stopped thinking about it. I consider myself a devoted and loving friend. But how often do I congratulate someone reflexively, or issue the bare minimum in response (i.e., champagne emoji or a “wow! you deserve this!” via text)? More generally, how frequently do I move through my life without fully contemplating what my friends are encountering? Tinx’s post jostled me. It has shadowed me and my interactions with friends since. When I hear from a friend — whether she is sharing happy news or venting or anything in between — I have been trying to channel Tinx by taking a minute to fully put myself in her shoes. Sometimes (often?) a promotion is not just a promotion. It’s a recognition of unseen work, a resolution to a stressful financial situation, a vote of confidence from a demanding boss. Sometimes (often?) a pregnancy is not just a pregnancy. It’s years of painful and emotional procedures, impossible-to-live-with interruptions and timetables, and heartbreaks. Sometimes (often?) a new job is not just a new job. It’s turning over a new leaf after a tough period, shedding toxicity from a previous work environment, a brave and nerve-wracking step towards happiness. And on the flipside, sometimes what appears to be a small setback (an ailment, canceled plans, logistical trouble with caregivers or daycare) is in fact a colossal stress. A girlfriend might air the grievance without signaling that she is in fact struggling on a profound level because — “it’s just a snow day.” But it’s not just a snow day. It’s a snow day that falls on the first day her children were meant to be back at school after a three-week quarantine, and she is so behind on work that she has no idea how she will prepare the presentation in time, and she has already exhausted all of her boss’s goodwill, and she is exhausted and frustrated to boot. “But everyone’s going through the same thing,” so many of my friends are quick to say, eager to dissolve the potential appearance of being a squeaky wheel or a Debbie Downer. I am reminded, immediately, of my girlfriend Whitney who told me, when I was struggling, but feeling as though others had it far worse: “Pain is pain is pain.”
My Dad often reminds me to cut people slack. “You just never know what they’re up against,” he says, knowingly. Tinx’s rephrasing put this sagacity in high relief for me. I have been trying to apply these twin imperatives with rigor when I talk to my friends. I have been working to tamp down the instinct to see the world through my own experience and instead emote around what it must be like for my friend to have decided to move abroad, or finally worked up the courage to start a new business, or go for a third baby, or what have you. I have a funny image that comes to mind when I am in the midst of those moments: I imagine emptying myself of all the self-involved thoughts and emotions and to-dos I am carrying with me. They drain to my feet. I envision myself then turning with openness to my friend and letting happiness or empathy or whatever appropriate emotion the situation merits fill me instead.
It’s profound, the impact of this small shift in awareness. First and foremost, I feel that I am being a more authentic and helpful friend. And while the tenor of this mindset insists these moments are not about me! they are about celebrating good things happening to good people!, I have been surprised to realize that I feel happier, too. (A rising tide lifts all boats?). Stepping outside myself presupposes the truth that we are all running our own races. And so I am realizing that it feels good to deliberately forget myself and experience joy through and for a friend.
+Target with the HITS! I love these dipping dishes, rice bowls, and spoons. They are porcelain (!) and incredibly well-priced. We have some similar pieces we bought in a small Asian market in Uptown in Chicago that we use constantly. Those rice bowls and dipping dishes in particular are a fabulous size for so much! (Even tea bags, tiny snack plates, etc!)
+I bought Mr. Magpie a cheerful set of chopsticks similar to these and we use them multiple times a week!
+I cannot stop thinking about these punchy lug sole rain boots. So unexpected with that yellow detailing!
+This scalloped heart baking dish is so fun — and under $10.
+These beaded bracelets are so joyful! Someone asked for a good gift for a girlfriend and this is now going to get my top vote. Such a fun and festive surprise for someone sharing good news.
+This pretty Lug Von Siga is now 70% off, as is this gorgeous Loretta Caponi. I’ve had gals writing to ask for Easter dress recs and either of these would be spectacular.
+Maisonette is running a great sale — I’m eyeing this funky sweatshirt for mini and these patchwork joggers for micro.
+OMG, this smocked top in the pink for Valentine’s Day! More VDay outfits for littles here.
+This lingerie drawer organizer is kind of the best thing ever. I actually use the “sock” grid for underwear, just roll them up! I was just thinking I need another sock grid for my actual socks.
+This cashmere cable sweater comes in such great spring colors — into the lavender in particular.
+Speaking of lavender, also adore this Ann Taylor score.
+In case you want to test my favorite Vitamin C oil in a small size, this is a good value. (More on this wunderproduct here.)
+While you’re there, check out this gorgeous striped longline cardigan!
+Another seriously cute Valentine’s Day card option — the glasses are removable! My children would adore these.
+And how fun are these XO plates and this garland?! More Valentine’s day ideas here and here.
+These bow wall hooks would be adorable in a little lady’s room or closet.
+This little kit full of lip products in trial sizes would be so fun to play around with.
+These light wash jeans feel fresh for a little boy.
By: Jen Shoop
*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!
