P.S. Drooling over the new NB x Staud collab, which launches today at 12 PM EST. So many of you messaged me about this capsule! It truly is right up my alley. I must have these. Setting my alarm.
P.S. This post on “pride of ownership” spawned an interesting conversation in the comments section. Allyson said: “I obviously don’t want to be reckless with my things. And yet, at the end of the day these items & spaces exist to serve me; I am not a slave to them.”
Sharing a few of the questions I often field via DM or email as maybe there are some enquiring minds out there in a similar boat. By the way, I LOVE emails and direct messages so keep them coming! So fun to chat with you guys.
A: In my opinion, yes, they are worth it (seen above and worn with aplomb). I have mine in the brown leather and they go with everything. They are made of the softest, highest quality leather and they give over time. I have worn mine for many summers (since pre-Emory back in Chicago!) and they have held up and only softened with age. I would say they run TTS, maybe even a little bit on the big size because they do stretch/have give over time in the band that covers the foot. I especially like the way they look when styled with breezy white summer dresses like the Everlane I’ve been living in or this Staud I’ve been eyeing. If you like the look but they are out of your budget, I have a few friends who love this very similar pair from French Sole for $150.
A: By far and away my most-asked question over Insta. It is Stark Studio’s “Fauna Rug” in the almond color. I love this rug so much I bought it twice. The first one we had was too small for our current living room space and our dog had destroyed it with accidents — wah! It is fantastic because the print hides a whole manner of sins (i.e., children dropping food on the ground constantly) and it has a fun print but works as a neutral.
P.P.S. I use these rug pads in the 1/4″ thickness underneath all of the rugs in our apartment. The pads keep rugs in place, protect the rug as well as the floor, and afford even more cushioning. If you have a rug between sizes, you can just trim the rug pad with scissors.
Q: Which Pam Munson bag do you have?
A: Another frequent question as I am nearly always wearing this bag in my summer snapshots on Insta. I have the Isla Bahia. She makes it in a petite size which may be a better fit for those of you less likely to be schlepping around toys, sunscreen, and other miscellaneous children’s gear at any given moment.
P.S. More great straw bags for summer here, and more on my Pam Munson obsession as well.
Q: Best restaurants in NYC?
A: I shared all of our favorites at the bottom of this post.
Q: What to do in NYC with children?
A: My top rec is the Central Park Zoo — it’s a tiny jewel box of a zoo, and I frankly appreciate how limited it is. You can see the entire thing in under an hour if you want, with no tired and complaining legs. Don’t miss the Tisch children’s zoo, which is separate from the main zoo and included in any ticket purchase. Your little ones can pet/feed goats and sheep there! Also: Jane’s Carousel in DUMBO, Museum of Natural History, any/all of the fantastic playgrounds in Central Park (bring a swimsuit/towels in summer as many of them have water features/splash pads), Bronx Zoo (much bigger and more impressive zoo than CP one), The Intrepid, Great Lawn or Sheep Meadow for a picnic, scooting around the plaza in front of the Metropolitan Opera (the fountain there is mesmerizing for babies, and there is often a gelato cart close by). I’m mainly focusing on outdoor adventures because that’s all we’ve had the last year and change, but we used to love story time at Books of Wonder, music class at Musibambino (the best — the lovely woman who runs this program plays so many fantastic instruments and exposes children to them, too, including violins!), pre-ballet/dance class at Juliette and Ella’s Playdate, and sparing trips to the Children’s Museum (I say sparing because it is kind of overwhelming with all the kids running amok and also…I think not very clean or well-maintained TBH).
Q: Wedding guest dresses!!!
A: This has to be most frequently asked question over the past few months — we’re all heading back to the wedding circuit after a long hiatus! I am trying to keep this part of my shop updated with options and will also be sharing a ton of specific picks on Friday, in my final installment of “What You’re Shopping For” for this month.
Q: What was the product you used after having stitches on your forehead?
A: I am astounded by how often this question comes up. You all have good memories! And I guess a lot of us have unpleasant accidents 🙁 I did trip and need ten stitches on my forehead, and then I went to see a plastic surgeon to see if she had any thoughts on how to minimize the scar appearance. Her main recommendation was wearing a lot (a lot!!) of facial sunscreen and applying this silicon-based gel for the first few months — basically until the tube runs out. She said that by the end of a year, the scar will look the way it will always look, so make sure to be religious about the sunscreen especially during that first year. I have to say, the scar has healed incredibly well — I’ve had friends say that they would never have noticed had I not reminded them it had happened.
Q: How do nap dresses fit? Are they sheer?
A: I shared some thoughts on sizing/style of nap dresses here, but I do think Hill House does a good job of explaining how the sizing works on each individual dress and would follow their suggestions. For example, if you click on the Ellie dress (I believe their most popular style), they note underneath the product that it runs big and advise to size down. I agree with this recommendation. Other dresses run truer to size. They did not always have an XXS so I bought my first many nap dresses in the XS and they fit great except for the Ellie, which I always found a bit too big in the bodice and found myself adjusting/pulling up the neckline quite a bit. The Nesli works fine for me in XS; not sure I need to size down there.
They also note when a fabric is sheer/not in the color description. I find their dresses except for the swiss dot ones to be opaque and can be worn without a slip, though you might be best off wearing nude underwear (this is my favorite pair in the “Chai” color — I own so many pairs of this exact color!). I also wear mine sans bra but the Skims scoopneck apparently works well with the Nesli and Ellie for most people. (I’ve had several Magpies write in to upvote this bra for nap dresses, but I also had one reader write to say they didn’t work for her. Just an FYI, to give the full picture. Probably worth a shot for $32 and a good nude bra is always welcome in my closet anyhow.)
A: This is a question I received a lot of the other day when I shared an Instastory of my son working with this Elmo alphabet set. He loves this little toy! It’s basically an alphabet puzzle. A few other favorite toys at the moment here.
Q: Where to buy personalized stationery?
A: This question also comes up a lot because I think many of you remember I wrote a post about it years ago but it’s not particularly easy to find on my blog. (I’m so sorry about that — I publish SO much SO frequently that things get buried quickly. Always trying to think on how I can make my posts easier to track down.). Anyway, my favorite sources for affordable stationery here, and one of my current favorite Etsy vendors for doing anything custom (invitations, moving announcements, gift enclosures, etc.)
I am forever followed by a sagacity a Magpie shared a few years ago: “Never wish away your child’s age.” Any time I find myself flustered or fatigued by a certain phase, I am positively haunted by those words and by the lived truth that I already miss my son as he was at two weeks, and two months, and so on. Each age has manifested its own challenges and worries and exhaustions alongside its unique tendernesses and excitements and developments. I have been thinking of this recently, as my son turned two and it seemed as though a switch flipped. He went from the calm, sweet baby on my hip to a sharp, inquisitive little man with opinions who will stamp his feet in fury when denied milk before dinnertime and will writhe out of my reach more often than not and wants to do everything on his own and of his own volition–especially when his older sister is undertaking them simultaneously. Taking him to the Hamptons last weekend was an exercise in patience in the sense that we were in a new place with tons of stairs, tall grasses promising to hide deer ticks (a big problem in that area), and a million new threats not yet sufficiently observed or de-risked or put off-limits by yours truly. One morning, I was preparing breakfast in the kitchen and micro turned one of the bright red knobs on the cooktop, no doubt entranced by the fun color and large gauge. He knows not to touch the stove at home, but how to resist an oversized red knob in a new place with unenforced rules? He routinely tumbled down stairs or wavered at the top of them in imbalance, giving me a thousand heart attacks over the course of the weekend, and of course what two-year-old can deny the lure of traipsing through “forest” in pursuit of birds while unwittingly attracting ticks, rashes, and scrapes?! Like all two-year-old boys, he is over-confident and adventurous, and I swear I spent about half the vacation trailing him, removing his wriggling body from danger zones, and reminding him to hold onto the bannister on his way down the steps. The friends we were visiting also have a two-year-old, and though their child was acclimated to the surroundings, had been exposed to steps for years, and had a good three months on micro, I found myself sheepish at the helicoptering I felt the situation demanded. Was I being too careful? Is this how children learn — through occasional bumps and bruises? (Micro came away from the weekend with more than his fair share, even with my hawk-like watchfulness.) I have always aspired to be the mother who offers her children enough space to afford the impression of independence, while being close enough to intervene when necessary. Have I been coddling my son too much?
I presume that our move to Bethesda, MD and to a home multiple times the size of this Manhattan apartment, with steps and a big backyard, will force my hand a bit. The space will demand accommodation. He will need to learn to go up and down the stairs safely on his own. He will need to learn to acquit himself in a backyard and avoid whatever areas we demarcate as unsafe. In the meantime, I suppose I must not be too tough on myself. The steps were new to him and a bona fide hazard to his wellness, as he initially assumed he could walk straight down the middle without hanging onto a hand or bannister! It takes time to learn new things, and certainly cannot be expected to be mastered within a weekend. And perhaps in general, having raised him in New York City since his birth, I am inclined towards vigilance on his behalf, having had to routinely yank him out of the way of dog excrement on the sidewalk and unsavorinesses of various kinds. A mom friend recently told me, flatly: “New York is not built for toddlers.” Correct.
Having been through all of these phases with my daughter, I know that though the transitional periods are ungainly and mildly harrowing, I will fall into a rhythm and figure out how to manage my way through. I am trying to drink him up at this age, to appreciate how exciting the world must be through his eyes: suddenly accessible to him, on his own, without my screening and preening presence intervening at every other minute to help him toddle around, or reach something, or what have you. I am trying to resist the urge to “get to the other end,” where he is aware of the rules and threats and knows how to handle himself in our new space, and to instead embrace the growth that is happening right before my eyes.
But it is tough.
Still, I have this: a few weeks ago, I wrote that I could not remember the last time I had rocked my son to sleep. Almost immediately after publishing that post, micro shifted into a new habit of occasionally crying out for me after being put down to bed. Now, a few times a week, I will go into his bedroom, pick him up, and sit on the upholstered bench in his tiny New York City bedroom with him in my arms. I will run my fingers through his hair, rock him, whisper to him, and he will lay there calmly and quietly with, first, an enormous smile on his face, and then, gradually, the hazy far-off look that precedes slumber, before slow-blinking himself to sleep. Each night, it feels as though I’m holding onto my baby boy for the last time, and tomorrow he will wake up a full-on child, and oh! — the agony of these evolutions, the relentlessness of these changes, the unsettling hesitancy between welcoming and shooing-away the next phase. All in, the emotional toil of mothering a young child. In the meantime, I will treasure those narrow spans of evening, when he melts into my baby again.
Post-Scripts.
+Shared loads of cute patriotic looks for the entire family here, but a few other options…
+Just ordered these fun little headbands for the occasion for my littles. We will be staying put in NYC — our last weekend here as a family! — so looking for little ways to honor the day.
My mother-in-law and I went down a rabbit hole with the furniture brand Oomph home. We are both in love with everything they do, including the very expensive but spectacular bedside table seen above. Wow! What a statement. I have always lusted after their adorable tini tables with the quatrefoil tops — right now, a pricey accent table feels ultra-remote since we have so many other higher priority furniture investments to make, but maybe one day.
Anyhow, a couple of gorgeous nightstands worth considering if you are in the market…
INTO THE PULL-OUT TRAY ON THIS STYLE — WOULD BE SO HANDY FOR EXTRA SURFACE AREA AT NIGHT, WHEN MY BEDSIDE IS ALWAYS A JUMBLE OF REMOTES, CHARGING ITEMS, JEWELRY, WATER, ETC…
Time, curious time Gave me no compasses, gave me no signs Were there clues I didn’t see? And isn’t it just so pretty to think All along there was some Invisible string Tying you to me?
Bad was the blood of the song in the cab On your first trip to LA You ate at my favorite spot for dinner Bold was the waitress on our three year trip Getting lunch down by the lakes She said I looked like an American singer
Time, mystical time Cuttin’ me open, then healin’ me fine Were there clues I didn’t see? And isn’t it just so pretty to think All along there was some Invisible string Tying you to me?
Say what you will about Taylor Swift — and I know she has vocal detractors (Mr. Magpie among that camp) — but I find her to be one of the most compelling lyricists in present-day pop music, and I especially love her album folklore. Swift super fans have delighted in all of the (obscure to direct) personal references in the album, including in “Invisible String,” quoted above, which many believe is about her relationship with Joe Jonas* (ed. note: a reader has written in to note that the song is actually suspected to be about Joe Alwyn!), who apparently worked at a frozen yogurt shop referenced earlier in the song and was expecting a baby at the time the song was published, which she refers to as well later on. I’m not as interested in the autobiographical bent, but I find the thoughts she captures in several of the tracks on this album refreshingly vulnerable and vividly-caught, too. Who hasn’t at some point grasped for the invisible strings that have led us toward people or experiences? At one time or another, hasn’t everyone dismissed the concept of “invisible strings” (i.e., fate) as “just so pretty” — that is, superficially winning though immaterial? (As an aside, stylistically I appreciate the syntactical inversions in this song, which reinforce the feeling of piecing things together out of order, i.e., “bold was the waitress on our three year trip” instead of “The waitress was bold.”)
I feel as though the amount of time I have dedicated to parsing out how much autonomy I have in my own life versus the measure owed to fate or Providence rivals the amount of time I have spent thinking about any given subject matter in my entire life. I do believe that everything happens for a reason, and that God laughs when we make plans, and that — to borrow from Swift — time “cuts us open and heals us fine.” I can’t imagine living any other way. In fact, the discomfort of living any other way facilitated the leap of faith my outlook requires. But still — some days, and some life phases, I wake up wondering. I particularly agonized over this notion when I tripped and split my forehead open a few years ago. Do some things just happen? Does everything come with an elaborate message we must divine? Do we directly control anything at all? Or are some things so small as to be beneath God’s notice? I know these are enormous, over-dense questions to grapple with on a Tuesday morning, but I find myself circling back to that fall with a dogged recursiveness, as though a bruise I cannot keep myself from touching. Was it random clumsiness or a reminder to slow down? Was there any marionette string being pulled, or was I just a hungry, imbalanced pregnant woman scurrying toward pizza? And how does my outlook here mesh with my general proclivity towards blaming myself, and taking responsibility for things not in my control?
I had something of a breakthrough along these lines earlier this year when I stumbled across a completely random Instagram post by a woman who had contracted COVID. The caption was livid, rife with anger that she had caught the virus, furious at her fellow New Yorkers for (from her perspective) not complying with mask-wearing mandates. I do not think ill of her for having those thoughts. It was traumatic to have COVID at the beginning of it all, back when death rates were much higher, hospital systems were overloaded, and it felt like we were finding something new and generally horrifying about the virus with each passing day. And she is entitled to feel the way she feels, full stop. Anger neighbors on grief. But her tone precipitated the most intense evening of introspection. I had not previously registered anger as an emotion that was even possible in a conversation about catching COVID. I instead felt guilty and ashamed. I felt I had compromised the health of my family, and neighbors, and New York in general. I went over and over the possible ways I could have contracted it, chastising myself for not taking greater precaution even though I have since come to a catharsis on that point: I did everything I could. I would never knowingly put my loved ones at risk. Still, I even felt guilty for the amount of worry I put my husband and parents through. When I saw that post, though, something changed — forever — for me. It was as though COVID was a rorschach test. The delta between my reaction and that Instagram stranger’s incited powerful self-awareness, and I now find myself capable of stepping back for a minute to recognize that not all that weighs me down is mine to carry. I actively remind myself that I am not personally responsible for everything that happens in my life, and especially not the way other people act or react. It is difficult, though, to find a perch where these varying insights and beliefs hang together seamlessly. What is mine to carry, after all? Though God may be drawing the invisible strings, aren’t I responsible for following the breadcrumb trail with purpose and mindfulness?
Where do you land on this?
Just some light thoughts to ease you into your Tuesday. Ha!
+I should have included this in my Amazon post last week, but these are just the absolute best oven mitts on the planet. I used to have to replace our Williams-Sonoma ones all the time, or they would brown/burn in spots. These Amazon ones are INCREDIBLE. Super thick — you never burn your hands and can’t even feel the warmth while holding a hot pan — and I like the silicon tips, as you can wipe/rinse them clean without any issue. You will never need to replace them! We’ve had a set that’s lasted at least four years now!
+I forgot to pack an evening clutch when we went to the Hamptons and so I used this little monogram applique pouch instead. I have it in a pretty dusty blue with darker blue letters, and it actually looked perfect with my Jonathan Simkhai dress, which I also wore to family portraits, and which was recently restocked in most sizes here and here!
+More great statement blouses for summer. If you’re after a bold print, check this Shoshanna out! So into that green color! I have been surprised by how much I’ve worn a green floral print Hill House dress I bought a few launches back. I always get compliments on the color! Their currently available “Emerald Space Floral” has the same green background.
+I just ordered a bunch of new jammies for the littles from Ellifox’s sale section: these and these for mini (both blue because, as she never fails to remind us, “blue is my favorite color”), and these and these for micro.
+Love this little striped dress for throwing on over a suit or just running around on a hot summer day. I have a Mi Golondrina short dress that accomplishes something similar that I wore in a photo I posted on Instastories while at the beach last weekend and I received a number of questions about it. Having a short dress like that is SO easy on vacation when going from the water to the lunch table!
+More cover-ups that take you from pool/beach to cocktails here.
+Our friends in East Hampton shared their “craziest COVID purchase”: these expensive floating chairs for their pool. They were delightful, and our friends had done a ton of research to decide on these, but we all had a good laugh about the weird things COVID brought to us this past year.
+Although I do have to say these bunches of balloons were yet again a huge hit among children and adults alike…I dare you to find an adult male whose mind is not blown by how quickly these balloons fill with water and how magical it is that they self-seal.
I honestly find Prime Day very confusing — I swear deals appear and disappear by the minute, and it’s hard to figure out what’s happening. However, there are a few great deals I had to pass along at Prime, Target, and more:
+Gingham swim trunks for $8 at Target! Just ordered these for micro! Too cute. They also have two cute gingham swim styles for girls here and here but sadly both are sold out in the size mini would wear.
+I know people are obsessed with Dyson vacuums. We are a Miele family (not on sale), but if I were in the market again, I might be swayed by the $100 off code on this ultra-popular model from Dyson.
+Prime deals that spoke to me:
ELTA MD FACIAL SUNSCREEN — EVERYONE’S FAVORITE SUNSCREEN…I JUST STARTED USING MYSELF! CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT A DISCOUNT!
+Saks is offering 10% off almost everything with code NEED21. 10% isn’t a fantastic price break, but for things that rarely go on sale, like Roller Rabbit hearts pajamas, current-season “It” dresses like Rhode’s Eloise style, and La Mer cream, a nice little surprise. I also found these face masks on sale for $12 at Saks and bought them for Hill, who just turned two and will now need masks in various public places!
+I believe you have to provide email address to get access to this sale, but Grace + James just launched its sample sale, and sweet pima cotton dresses like this are on sale for $24, and I just added this strawberry swimsuit to cart.
By: Jen Shoop
+I have been receiving a lot of inquiries about hostess gifts lately, which just lifts my spirits as I am imagining many happy reunions and resumptions of traditions. A few favorite hostess gifts…
+And while on the subject of Church, this magnet set was a total lifesaver for me with mini between the ages of 2-3 back when I went to Church in person! We still have not resumed. Planning on doing so after we move!
+We will need baby gates in our new home. Micro is…startled and obsessed by the discovery of stairs in his new home. Isn’t it funny to think that a little two-year-old has not had many daily chances to climb stairs?! (We live in an apartment with an elevator!). I am looking seriously at one of these elegant wood styles that sort of blends in with the woodwork near our stairs: love this and this. I had also had this in mind, but then realized it doesn’t “screw into” the wall and so can totally imagine Hill knocking it over/bypassing it. But I LOVE the look! Would be good for dogs!
+Have also received a number of inquiries about tennis/golf gear for little ladies, and just came across this under-$15 polo dress that could be an option over these kick shorts, which are my absolute favorite for layering under ALL of mini’s dresses. More tennis/sport options for littles (and mamas) here.
+My girlfriend Inslee is just so talented. That is all.
+I really need to get back into the habit of this post-work buffer. I have been all over the place the last few weeks!
+Truly adore these pima cotton collared dresses on mini. We have a few of the Nantucket Kids styles and they just launder so incredibly well — they come straight out of the dryer looking pressed/ironed, I swear!
+Again, random things, but we had to buy a new washer/dryer for our new home. Mr. Magpie did so much research (no really, so much research…he boiled it down to a few specific models and was actually circling the differences to compare/contrast and asking intense questions about how often I clean my sportswear, as apparently some of the models have specific settings for performance fabrics!) and it seems like most of the top-recommended models are LG. This is the exact model we ended up with.
+These totes in the largest size are just the BEST things ever for car travel with littles. I tuck all their stuff in their and then wedge them underneath their carseats and it’s SO handy to have an open-top, wide-mouthed tote with pockets lining the interior (!) to get literally anything you need while in transit.
+I get the vibe that this outdoorsy brand is THE gift for people who actually do things outside, like hike, camp, etc. These shorts would be a good gift for an outdoorsy sis! Kinda want them for myself…
+While packing for our trip this past weekend, I belatedly realized that Mr. Magpie needs some new swim trunks. He has these Vilbrequins in white, which I am SO obsessed with him. He pairs them with a white or black Lacoste polo and looks like a million bucks. Somehow he is always tan? I don’t understand. A few other cool pairs:
I have been fielding a lot of questions about cute straw bags for summer, and I nearly always respond with the same thing: get thee to Pam Munson, queen of the woven tote. Pam was one of my earliest women of substance and is a true gem — beautiful inside and out, elegant, and highly talented. I’m a huge admirer. If you are a mom or tend to tote a lot with you, I would highly recommend investing in one of her large-sized Isla Bahia totes. I carry it nearly every day of the summer. It goes with everything and holds a lot, but she does have a smaller size, too. I have a few of her bags and this one is my favorite because it has shoulder straps!
Did everyone buy a nap dress this past week!? I met up with a girlfriend for lunch just after the launch on Wednesday and we both realized we’d gone directly from purchasing the same nap dress to lunch! Ha! My sister and about twenty of my good friends ordered the same one, too. My only question now is: do I need a second Nesli in the Pampelonne print? I think the Nesli is my favorite style at the moment because I love that little tie behind the back, which keeps everything snug and in place, and it’s just so flattering, and it has sleeves, and…I could go on. I wore mine in the car on our trip down to close. Such a great travel piece!
+This adorable travel laundry bag. Would also be good for kids stuff in general while traveling — we have a similar drawstring style bag I love to use for the children’s shoes when packing.
I came across a great quote on Instagram the other day:
“If I waited till I got my ducks all in a row, I’d never cross the street. Sometimes you just have to gather up what you’ve got and make a run for it.” — Judge Lynn Toller
I feel this so profoundly at the moment. We are busy bees, hands full with fun and exciting things, but my goodness do I feel like I’m attempting to swing on monkey bars with one arm full of belongings. That is to say, my movements are uncoordinated and slapdash, and it feels as though I need to put a lot of things down in order to actually make progress, but I can’t. The note above was a reminder that it’s OK to not have everything tied up with a bow. Sometimes you just need to hustle across the street.
+Into this faded sweatshirt for Mr. Magpie…or for me. Imagine oversized with white jeans while roasting marshmallows on the beach.
+I have this pink cotton Lilly Pulitzer nightgown so similar in style to this J. Crew variation that I’ve had since I was probably 24. I still wear it nearly every time I need to blow-dry my hair — it is SO cool and thin and I love the crisp cotton that doesn’t cling to me when I get hot. A must-have if you also get overheated while drying your hair, or want something cool to slip into after you come home from the beach/pool.
+These might be the chicest sandals I’ve ever seen for the price. They look like they are by Hermes or The Row but cost $150?!
+Just bought micro his second pair of these shorts. They launder so nicely and look absolutely adorable with his Lacoste polos. Such a great retro 80s vibe. I’m pretty sure my brother wore variations on this theme every summer between 1984-1988.
So many requests for dresses this month — special occasion, wedding guest, Baptism, photo shoots! Cheers to celebrating life anew. I’m sharing lots of dresses below, but had to point you in the direction of this festive and Zimmermann-inspired floral for $170. I’m half-inclined to buy now just so I have it on hand for an event as-yet-to-materialize! It is so good!
Q: I have a son who is a couple months younger than micro. I was wondering if you knew any brands that sell shorter shorts for toddler boys? I am not into the longer knee length shorts that sooo many brands carry for boys.
A: Totally understand this question. Why are so many of them so long and baggy?! My favorite brands for shorter shorts on boys are Cadets (size up a full size — no joke! they run tiny tiny tiny; Hill can sometimes still wear an 18 months in certain brands because he’s slim, but he needs a 3/4 in these and they still seem tight), Minnow (run TTS), TBBC Sheffield shorts (but only the Sheffield style – their others run long and baggy), and Ralph Lauren’s chino shorts.
Q: Summer sweaters to wear over semi-casual dresses (e.g., nap dresses).
A: We have and love this vegetable cookbook! This description in the copy is spot-on: “If you’re finding pantry cooking to mean too many uninspired pots of beans, might I suggest Six Seasons? [It] both highlights a perfectly ripe plant . . . and shows you how to transform slightly less peak-season produce (yes, the cabbage lurking in the back of your fridge right now counts) with heat, spice, acid, and fat.”
In terms of meal-planning help, my sister uses a pad like this to keep meals organized in her home. My mom did the same thing growing up. I remember her eating Crispix and cutting coupons out of the paper as she’d plan out the week’s meals on a notepad. Another sister of mine swears by an app called “Plan to Eat” to help with meal planning and grocery shopping, and my husband’s approach is to sit down on Sunday with a stack of his favorite cookbooks and go through with post-its to mark anything that catches his interest. Then he adds all the groceries he needs to the “Reminders” app on his iPhone (which is handy, as he has shared the grocery list with me, so whoever does the shop that week can get everything needed) and keeps a running list of what he’ll be making in a “Note” on his iPhone. In that “Note,” he also keeps a running list of “backlog dinner ideas” in case he’s uninspired or in a time crunch.
Q: New outfit for interviews.
A: Good luck, friend! I know how trying that process is. My principle advice is to wear something that makes you feel empowered. For me, a tailored shirt dress, ironed/steamed to perfection, is just the ticket. A few stunners:
*Use your discretion as to whether more artful/bold clothes will be well-suited to the work environment. You might want to dress more conservatively if interviewing in the legal/finance fields, but wearing something artful to an interview at, for example, an art gallery might make sense.
If a shirt dress will make you feel fidgety and uncomfortable and not-like-yourself, though, go with pants instead! Back when I had a more conservative work environment, I invested in a few Theory suits/trousers and they are cut beautifully.
Q: “Airport outfit” to meet my boyfriend after his 10+ month deployment!
A: Sending him thanks for his service! Wow, what a special reunion. Some of the date night dresses above might be just the ticket, but I immediately imagined wearing this gorgeous Reformation in the white floral. So romantic and feminine but not too fancy. Could be worn with sandals or mules. So sweet.
Q: Guest dresses with sleeves for Church ceremony. Will change for black tie after.
Q: Tricky one: slim college-aged daughter needs cute swimwear suitable for a 32DD.
A: I know a number of women who love Summersalt because many of their suits offer more coverage and support than other brands. Solid and Striped has many styles with underwire cups that might be appealing for her, too — I love this style and the print is so fun! I have several suits from Solid and Striped and the quality is great! She might also check out Cuup — they have simpler styles but are focused on properly fitting all bust sizes, and a classic black or white suit never goes out of style.
Q: Beginning of October wedding in mountain. I’m a guest!
Q: Best hair product to help hold my fine beach waves.
A: I also have fine hair and I love DryBar’s Money Maker hair spray. It holds wave/curl but never feels crispy. The scent is great, too!
Q: Golf outfits for an eight year old boy and five year old girl.
A: I would look at CPC and Busy Bees — both of these brands are basically made for country club sports. If more athletic wear is permitted, Cadets has an athletic style of short that might be perfect for your boy. I shared some cute tennis finds for littles here that might also be good (or a good starting point) for your children, too. I also always love classic Lacoste polos with Polo shorts — great for on the course or just everyday play!
Q: Cute outfit to fly overseas in!
A: I might be a broken record, but a nap dress layered beneath a soft cardigan sounds perfect. So comfortable and non-constricting, and you can slip into mules and go straight out to dinner upon arrival!
Q: Neutral flat sandal!
A: These have been a top-seller this year and would go with so many cute summer outfits. (Under $50, too!) I also personally think the Hermes Oran is worth the investment. They last forever and only get softer with time. I have traipsed all around Chicago and Manhattan in them for the last six summers. But you can get the look for less with these! If you’re on the preppier side, Jack Rogers (favored by Jackie O.!) are always a good bet, and Talbots always has really great styles at a reasonable price, like these and these (which I own!).
Q: Casual dresses with pockets — maternity friendly.
A: I was just thinking how much I like my India Amory dress because it has pockets. The fit is roomy so I think it could work through second trimester. Shirtdresses are also a good non-maternity maternity dress because you can adjust the self-tie waist and many have pockets, including this pretty one!
Q: Dress for a woman of substance.
A: I love this question. Truly, I think a woman of substance should wear whatever empowers her most, but this Mille dress immediately sprang to mind as the perfect way to communicate sophistication, femininity, and strength with (thanks to that bold shirting stripe). I ordered it for myself! Something about the stripe just feels right to me — also love this classic stripe from RL.
A: Ooo so pretty! Splurge would be Frontgate’s Etienne nightstand and dresser — the French blue! I also like Ballard’s Sidney or Grace styles in white or gray, and then you can pick a dresser in the same finish. I have a similar upholstered headboard in a gray color and we have mirrored side tables and the S&L grasscloth dresser — so don’t feel you need to match the side table to the dresser if you find one or the other that you love but that does not come with matching nightstands.
2 // La Coqueta is having an absolutely epic sale, with some pieces 50% off. This is one of my absolute favorite brands for special occasionwear. I have so many precious dresses and knitwear sets from them that I will absolutely be passing along to grandchildren (knock on wood). If you are on the hunt for family portrait outfits, this is your lucky day — so many beyond exceptional pieces, and they do lots of sibling match/coordination if that’s your cup of tea. A few standouts:
THIS AND THIS ARE IN MY CART FOR MINI…BEYOND! THE BLUE WOULD BE A GREAT FAMILY PORTRAIT CHOICE AS I CAN IMAGINE EVERYONE IN VARIOUS SHADES/PATTERNS OF BLUE ALONGSIDE IT
4 // Beaufort Bonnet just launched their new back to school collection. I know it’s hard to think about back-to-school when school just let out, but I have purchased dresses for first day of school from them for the past few years! (Also good for school interviews.). I love this dramatic sashed style and this windowpane plaid! This is the kind of purchase that can sneak up on you and then you find yourself overnighting something for $20…maybe just me.
5 // I had thought all the JB x Lake Pajamas had sold out in children’s sizes, but still a few in this precious print available for littles ones!
P.S. Has anyone tried the Our Place pan? It has been all over Instagram and I feel like every blogger raves about it. I’m not sure it’s our cup of tea in the Magpie nest because we’ve already invested in every permutation of pot and pan from All-Clad and I find we use our nonstick pans less than others because we want the maillard/crust on things like steak, fish, etc. However. It did occur to me that this would make a great gift for a recent college grad or someone limited on space, as it really does a lot for one piece of cookware and seems to be fairly low-maintenance in terms of care (i.e., because it’s nonstick you won’t be using bartender’s keep on it). Anyway, just tucked that away as a future gift idea and thought I’d share.
P.P.P.S. Megan Stokes just raved about this clean concealer yesterday, and I thought I’d pass it along as I know many of you Magpies are on a quest to purify your cosmetics bags / make the switch to clean only cosmetics. So far, it sounds like Saie mascara (just ordered for myself) and this concealer are getting a ton of traction/popularity, even among people who are not committed to clean products only.
