By: Jen Shoop

Happy Fourth of July weekend! Hope you are enjoying yourself somewhere sunny but not too hot, with lots of watermelon and rose.

My Latest Snag: My New Office Chair.

We are finally close enough to the move to order my new office chair for my new Magpie writing nook! I know many of you purchased and loved this chair and I cannot wait for it to arrive!

We have actually not yet ordered anything else (!) for the house. The last few weeks have been unbelievably busy — mainly with fun things, like completing final NYC bucket list items, celebrating my birthday, visiting our friends in East Hampton, etc., but also with so much admin. (Just the process of finding a new pediatrician, pediatric dentist, and pediatric ophthalmologist; transferring medical records; and lining up appointments to get the required school forms filled out by a certain date consumed an unbelievable amount of time. Yikes! Thanks to all my D.C. Magpies for referrals!) On top of it all (as is always the case), both of my children came down with a cold that turned into an ear infection for mini, and so there were a few days spent with my feverish children laying on top of me. (Side note: the pediatrician mentioned that there has been a huge influx in common colds and viruses since things have opened up again!)

We have found an interior decorator to help us with some aspects of outfitting the home and are going to get started after the move, once we’re in the space and things have settled down just a little. (There will still be so much — new nanny, buy a car, get new license, etc. — but at least we will be in the house.) Anyway, here’s to living in a vastly under-furnished home for the next six months…! Eh well. A small chapter in the grand scheme, and I want to take the time to make measured decisions for this house we hope to live in for a long time.

But. I did want a new desk chair! So that’s one lovely find to look forward to immediately!

P.S. Chic desk finds.

You’re Soooo Popular: A Perfect Wedding Guest Dress.

The most popular items on le blog this week:

+Gorgeous wedding dress guest option.

+Wicker serving tray.

+The $65 blouse that has sold out about ten times this season.

+The best sippy cups for littles transitioning from bottles.

+Mermaid nap dress.

+Floral ballerina mules (on sale for $54!)

+Cute puff-sleeved dress.

+Pearl and straw bag. More great woven bags here!

+Well-priced indoor/outdoor rug.

+Q by Quincy Mae loungewear for littles.

+Hill’s Sesame Street alphabet toy.

+My favorite Etsy boutique for personalized stationery. More cute stationery picks here.

+Chic scooter for a little one.

+My favorite sunscreen for the entire family.

+Tailored-looking outdoor cushions!

Weekend Musings: The Juggle.

I have a theory: I am only capable of successfully, attentively juggling three parts of my life at a time. The first two categories are nearly always reserved for family and writing. The third category typically rotates between fitness, social life, and reading. At the moment, however, that third category has been co-opted by this unwieldy move and all its moving parts. I am straining to accommodate that reality. It pains me to say, for example, that I have only gone on a handful of runs since the week we closed in early June after working so hard to make it a non-negotiable part of my weekly routine for the many months prior. I can feel my body changing — runs are harder, even after only a few weeks of easing up! However. If there is anything I learned from reflecting on my son’s birth, it’s that I want myself to lean into these brief periods absent of “normalcy.” I simply do not have the time to run at the moment. That hour is now handily consumed by the million other more pressing to-dos related to the move, and (this week) by my sick children to boot! I must remind myself: That’s OK. I will get back into it. Life will resume its patterns. This is temporary. I know that it is extremely challenging for me to be operating well in more than three categories, and I’m not doing anyone a favor (least of all myself) by shoe-horning an extra into the mix. For now, I’m going to let myself enjoy the fact that I don’t need to scaffold the time to run and shower into my day, and I don’t need to give myself an informal pep talk when I’m not in the mood to run in 85 degree heat. I’m instead going to continue to make small, determined progress on this transition.

The other day, I posted the words: “Enjoy the now” on my Instastories. That’s it! This is my life at the moment, and I’m doing my best and attempting to enjoy the reprieve from running in this suffocating heat and the opportunity to get my family settled in our new home.

More to come!

P.S. I am never moving again.

Post-Scripts: Dresses + Mules.

+If I were going to a wedding this summer, this would be my top pick for a dress at the moment.

+These $25 pointed denim mules are so fun. I’m imagining them with a white midi or maxi dress.

+This is not usually my style, but I so love this knit pencil skirt and matching peplum top.

+Another top and skirt set I love, this one from SIR and on sale: this yellow top and this matching skirt.

+Ancient Greek vibes for under $50.

+Great acrylic and brass side table.

+SEA vibes for $30.

+Only a few sizes left in this darling Rhode dress!

+Discovered these adorable heart jammies ($24!) for littles after sharing this post on cute under-$30 finds for little ones.

+The cutest finds under $205.

+FUN gingham statement dress. This one is also super fun.

+These scalloped wicker chairs are really just so chic.

+Handsome table lamp.

+This clear bookstand would be such a chic way to display a favorite coffee table book.

+This super popular dress was restocked in a few sizes.

+Rattan vase/decorative urn!

By: Jen Shoop

What are you doing for the holiday weekend? We are staying put in Manhattan — our final weekend here as New Yorkers! — and planning to eat American food (making Ina Garten’s pan fried onion dip to serve with Ruffles and rose for a park hang and then having burgers later in the weekend!) and make a classic flag cake with mini.

And, as always, a couple of great sale deals to contemplate…

+Extra 25% off Tory Burch’s sale section with code EXTRA. Cannot believe this festive dress is only $112, and I love (!) this ribbon-trim tunic! Meanwhile, this blouse or this striped shirt dress would be fun picks for back-to-work!

+30% off sitewide at Nicola Bathie with code 4JULY. I believe this is the steepest discount she offers on any of her sales, and it’s the perfect time to buy a pair to wear in a family portrait, wedding, or special occasion. I love these, these, and these. I have a few pairs of her floral studs (like these!) that I wear with every day dresses, and then I’ve been startled by how often I wear a pair of strawberry earrings from her I bought last summer that are similar to these. Such a fun little whimsical detail to pair with a dress with pink in it, like this, this, or this.

+20% off sitewide at Pam Munson — discount automatically applied at checkout! Perfect time to treat yourself to the Isla Bahia tote you’ve been eyeing…

+Classic Prep is back on Zulily. A great time to buy staples like solid white pima cotton tees (!!! regularly $30, now $14); everyday cotton dresses ($20 and the quality will put every other $20 dress you’ve ever bought your daughter to shame); and even some cute options for back to school.

+Extra 25% off sale prices at Shopbop (currently only for members — free to join) with code SUMMER. A few very random things I found that are worth a look: this cashmere-blend hat and gloves set, marked down to like 80% off with code ($43) — your future self will thank you; these amazing No. 21 white sandals; this gorgeous Cara Cara eyelet dress; this cashmere sweater in the heather color, marked down from $300 to $111 and perfect for chilly offices/early fall layering; eyeing this dramatic red top for holiday parties this winter; and a gorgeous summer maxi for an upcoming special occasion.

+60% off at Bellabliss! Honestly a great time to buy next year’s FOJ outfit for your littles. Mini wore this exact flag set (they reprise some of their styles year after year) when she was two and it was just beyond precious. Also love these swim trunks (this style is cut short, the way I like them!) and this gingham dress.

P.S. I have been going back and re-reading posts from exactly a year ago and — wow. Look how far we’ve come. The chasm between July 2020 and July 2021 is nearly unfathomable. I actually found tears in my eyes reading bits of last year’s post written the Fourth of July weekend. Oh, it was a hard time to be parents during those childcare-less, fear-filled, peak-of-quarantine months. I am startled by how quickly I have snapped back into the “norm” of being able to roam about, run errands, enjoy company. Good to take a moment, stare that period right in the face, and say — amen amen amen, I’m glad we’re beyond that.

By: Jen Shoop

I have been noticing a lot of statement pieces inspired by sea life lately and I’m loving them — a fun twist on the botanical patterns that have been all over the place the past few seasons. A few stand-out finds:

seashell fashion finds blog

01. // 02. // 03. // 04. // 05. // 06. // 07. // 08. // 09. // 10. // 11. // 12.

Even more under the sea fun below…

FARM RIO FUN

I THINK I NEED THESE DROP EARRINGS

THE HILL HOUSE DREAM — I ALSO LOVE THIS STYLE IN THE PRINT

SEASHELL PRINT JAMMIES! OMG, SO CUTE I ALMOST WANT TO WEAR THE TOP OUT?

SUPER FUN ONE-PIECE SWIMSUIT IN A GREAT SEASHELL PRINT — ALSO LOVE THIS ONE IN A FISH PATTERN!

CUTE CLUTCH

WAVE SPRAY FOR HAIR, WHETHER YOU’RE AT THE BEACH OR NOT

UNBELIEVABLY FUN SEASHELL HOOPS FROM A SMALL BUSINESS OUT OF THE PHILIPPINES, FLORA MAGICA

INCREDIBLE SEASHELL BELT — WOULD TRANSFORM ANY OLD DRESS IN YOUR CLOSET

IN LOVE WITH THESE SHRIMP EARRINGS…SO CRAZY AND SO FUN

SHELL EMBELLISHED SANDALS

#EXTRA STRAW VISOR

ELEGANT L’AGENCE MAXI IN A SEASHELL PATTERN

LOBSTER COVER-UP

SHRIMP NECKLACE!

FISH PRINT SARONG

ALMOST BOUGHT THIS DRESS FROM AN UP-AND-COMING DESIGNER FOR MY BIRTHDAY — THE BLUE CRAB!!!

EMBROIDERED SEA LIFE SHIRT DRESS

THESE DRAMATIC, UNDER-$100 SEASHELL EARRINGS!!!

STELLA MCCARTNEY DREAM

PEARL AND STRAW CLAM CLUTCH

AMAZING (!) STATEMENT NECKLACE

THESE AREN’T EXPLICITLY SEA-INSPIRED BUT TOTALLY GO WITH THE VIBE

P.S. Great beach bags, and very chic straw bags.

P.P.S. Lots and lots of fun cover-ups.

P.P.P.S. The best things I discovered last year.

By: Jen Shoop

*Seen above: Fire truck stationery (I custom ordered this, but I’m sure Erin would print for you, too!); shadow lettered stationery; spaniel stationery; star stationery.

My mother was always on us about writing thank you notes immediately after the receipt of a gift. It’s a lesson she engrained so deeply in me that I even now feel her peering over my shoulder if I’ve not written a thank you note within a few days! I’m hoping to instill the same urgency around thank you etiquette in my own children, and having cute stationery on hand helps. Pro tip: order a few sets with all of your children’s names across the top, or with your family name across the top (“The Shoop Children” or “The Shoop Family”), as there are a number of instances where the note should come from more than just one!

A few favorites:

SIMPLE SCALLOP TRIM

BOWS FOR GIRLS AND BOWS FOR BABIES

STATELY GINGHAM

STRAWBERRY INITIAL PRINT

STARS

SAFETY PIN (GREAT FOR BABY SHOWER / NEWBORN GIFTS)

RACE CAR (LOVE THE STRIPED LINING ON THE ENVELOPES!)

PUPS

WATERCOLOR OF A GIRL PUSHING A STROLLER

BUGS (MINI WOULD LOVE THIS)

PLANES

BUNNY WITH INITIAL

RAINBOW NAME

BOATS

LADYBUGS

FIRE TRUCKS

SUPER HERO

BABY BONNET

SHADOW LETTERING

For gift card enclosures, I have been getting so many compliments on these, which are a perfect match for this gift wrap! Also love these trains and this customized face set.

For personalized name stickers and tags (for gear at school / playground), these are great for backpacks or strollers (there was “stroller parking” at mini’s NYC school so we could leave the Yoyo there during the day!) and for everything else: these gingham, these rainbow plaid, and these trucks.

On a separate but related note — I am loving this little “It’s a Girl / It’s a Boy” sign for bringing home baby, and if you are looking for chic letterpress birth announcements, I have worked with both Sweetly Said Press and Dinglewood Design and they put out the loveliest letterpress pieces at a reasonable price. For non-letterpress styles (more affordable), check out Erin Wallace’s new selection! How sweet is this Herend-inspired one? I love the script she uses at the bottom. I have sent out birth announcements sans photo for both of my children, but most Etsy vendors will work with you to alter the design upon request.

And — I find these 13 x 8 x 4 sterilite bins ideal for storing stationery.

P.S. Affordable personalized stationery for adults here.

P.P.S. Pouches are a key to organized life as a mom.

P.P.P.S. All of the mixed emotions on the final day of mini’s school up here in NYC. Still feeling all of the feels.

By: Jen Shoop

Do you negotiate? Are you good at it? I have a good friend in commercial real estate who practically salivates over the opportunity to negotiate. He bought a parking spot beneath his building here in Manhattan a few years ago and I remember him intoning: “It was the best, most exciting deal I’ve ever done.” (Clearly, he’s chosen the correct profession.) I can’t say I share in his thrill with negotiating, but Mr. Magpie and I have been through countless negotiations together, both as business owners and determined administrators of our home life together, and I have gradually worked my way from a place of dreading them to viewing them as a necessary evil to re-interpreting them as an occasion to advocate for myself.

When I was younger, I tended to assume the answer was always “no,” and would talk myself out of negotiating before the conversation had even started. (I would later learn this to be a chief tactic amongst seasoned negotiators: get the other party to negotiate with itself — usually by refusing to make the first offer — and you don’t need to do as much work.) I was particularly this way about formally-presented offers, i.e., “We are pleased to offer you this position with a starting salary of x” or “Your application for this apartment has been approved; the rent will be $x.” The declarative structure of these “invitations” made me feel as though everything was a done deal and that I would be out of line to ask for anything different. (Once a rule follower, always a rule follower…) I now understand that everything is a posture — including the formal language! — and that there is very little that isn’t negotiable. With intensive coaching from Mr. Magpie, who has reminded me on countless occasions that “you miss every shot you don’t take” and “if you don’t ask, the answer is always ‘no,'” I have gotten more comfortable with countering. At the beginning, I was often worried that countering would make me unlikeable or would hurt someone’s feelings, but those assumptions have proven either incorrect or unfair to myself — or both. The key for me has been realizing that I don’t need to be rude or unpleasant to negotiate. I can present an alternative calmly and politely in a way that gestures toward fairness for all parties. I typically start my counter offers by saying: “Thank you so much for the generous offer” or “I’m honored by this opportunity…” or “This is such exciting news!” A small thing, but starting the conversation from a place of gratitude and acknowledgement helps me put my best foot forward and tends to build goodwill.

Nowadays, my biggest stumbling block in the negotiations arena is the old “bird in the hand” mindset I occupy in all realms of my life — that is, “a bird in the hand is better than two in the bush.” I can’t tell whether this mentality is a condition of expediency or risk intolerance. Mr. Magpie will go through multiple rounds of counter-offers to get to a place that he deems fair. Meanwhile, I would rather have a firm resolution that’s in the ballpark of what I want than sit uncomfortably in limbo going back and forth and worry that I’ve risked the entire enchilada. Mr. Magpie often makes the valid point that it is pretty rare an entire deal will go asunder by adding an extra round of negotiation — most of the time, both parties are pot-committed and determined to make things work by that point. This has proven to be correct over time, but doesn’t make the experience any less of a nail-biter for me.

Mr. Magpie and I have been in a number of these kinds of negotiations recently in the process of buying our new home, finding movers, renting our current apartment in NYC, selling various items in our home, etc, and I’m always a bundle of nerves, begging him not to go back again, while he displays flinty determination in getting to a satisfactory result. I should note that he is never untoward or unpleasant in these conversations. He is calm, collected, rational, gentlemanly. Still, I find the process gut-turning. On my run the other morning, I found myself wondering whether the delta between us in this regard is a gender thing, a personality thing, or the result of his MBA? (Probably a combination of all three?) One framework he shared the other week that has helped me better accommodate his perspective involved acknowledging and identifying constraints on both sides of the negotiation. That is, it often feels as though I have the most to lose in a negotiation, but that’s not necessarily true. As an example, I have worked with various vendors over the years. It has felt at times as though I will run the risk of entirely losing the opportunity to work together if I don’t accept the proposed terms, my constraints being budget and ability (I actually cannot do that thing by myself). However, the vendor is operating under its own constraints, and it is worthwhile to take a minute to imagine what they might be. As an example, it probably cost the vendor a lot of time and money (whether marketing, staff time, etc) to acquire me as a customer, and it is less expensive for them to drop the price on my project than it is to find a new lead and bring her to the point of contract.

My broad point here is that negotiating is a skill developed over time, and it is worthy of practice. Running two businesses has taught me that no one will advocate for you. You must be willing to advance your own objectives or someone else’s will supersede your own. (Sometimes, by the way, that’s OK — there are issues that are not particularly important, or costly, or worth your time, or maybe you just think the other party deserves it. But sometimes, it is a matter of fairness, and sometimes you are being taken for a ride. I have been!) I should add that these principles do not only apply to my narrow experiences with entrepreneurship. Some of the best negotiators I know are stay-at-home mothers who know how to navigate healthcare systems with sophistication, get a fair deal on home services, achieve a better outcome with customer service representatives, etc. You have to show up for yourself — no one else will!

What about you? How do you approach negotiation? Are you good at it?

Related to this post: how risk tolerant are you?

Shopping Break.

+Super elegant dress (on sale for $124!) for something like a Baptism, baby shower, luncheon, etc.

+This $50 marble footed fruit bowl is so elegant! Would be a great way to display fruit/citrus on a counter. Also a fun house-warming gift!

+Love this linen maxi for a barefoot backyard BBQ. Would work with bump!

+Into the look of layered gold pendants — this set is $110 and so chic, and Shashi also has some fun and reasonably priced styles if you want to create your own set.

+Speaking of, I feel as though I’ve worn statement earrings for years now but completely neglected statement necklaces. This Roxanne Assoulin and this Lizzie Fortunato are helping me course-correct.

+This cherry print one piece is in my cart — 50% off!

+Drooling over these sandals.

+OMG this custom peg doll family! Sweet gift for a new big sister.

+This cute blue botanical dress for a little lady was just discounted — you can twin with your little one wearing this matching mama style.

+These shoes are SO chic! I know a lot of you are fans of this brand. I think they’d be a great summer alternative to my velvet Birdie mules I wore all winter long!

+Gingham midi dress in an on-trend shape (Sleeper vibes) for under $30.

+They are an investment, but these Minnow rash guards are just the best. They fit snugly and the blue color goes with so many of the suits I tend to buy. Plus, gender neutral so can be passed down from sibling to sibling!

+Did you know Free People sells activewear? These $30 shorts are a bestseller and come in fantastic colors.

+Adore this floral blouse.

+Cute side table for outdoors.

+Speaking of outdoors: PSA — S&L has marked down their outdoor furniture through July 6. A few of their tables have been contenders in my current search for patio dining furniture and this promo might push me over the edge. This this teak garden table (I like that the white legs open up fun possibilities for contrasting chairs) is towards the top of my list.

+Such a pretty pillow — would be great for pattern/color mixing. (More chic throw pillows here.)

+European pharmacy beauty favorites.

+Lake Pajamas keeps coming with the hits — I am in love with their new caftan! Hoping they release it in even more colors.

+Now THIS dress is ready to party.

+More clothes to celebrate in.

By: Jen Shoop

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation. This post was originally sponsored by Serena & Lily. It has been updated since its original publication in 2021, and is still loved and treasured in our new home in Bethesda.

A lot of us are in the midst of furnishing or re-furnishing our homes at the moment, and I wanted to shine a spotlight on one of my absolute favorite furniture investment pieces over the past few years: my Serena & Lily Blake dresser. If you have been following this blog for awhile, you probably recall that I had been eyeing this dresser for years, and when we moved into our second Manhattan apartment, I finally had the space to buy it. I bought mine in the “wide size” in fog gray (no longer available, but their coastal blue is very similar), which felt like a perfect match for our predominantly gray/blue/silver bedroom. I was principally attracted to the raffia texture, which contrasts beautifully with the other pieces in our bedroom (upholstered headboard, mirrored side tables, wood desk, and upholstered desk chair), and somehow just makes the space feel “softer” in general. As I have gotten older, I have found myself increasingly drawn towards rooms (and outfits, actually) that feel coordinated but not matchy-matchy, so I loved that the Blake dresser was in the same fog gray as our bed (also Serena and Lily) but they did not look to be purchased as a set. I appreciated the way they both boast strong, nearly architectural (?) designs — the Pondicherry bed with confident curves and the dresser with a bold, block-like Parsons-style design — but they aren’t the same designs. Something about the play of curves with lines in these two major pieces of furniture in my bedroom just makes my heart sing. I have also always loved those gorgeous brass pulls. Mr. Magpie often jokes about my obsession with that detail, as our bedside tables also feature them, and I presented him with several consoles with the same style of pull when we were looking for one for our living room. What can I say? It’s like jewelry? It adds polish? It offers dimension? I don’t know, but the dresser gets me.

serena & lily blake dresser
serena and lily blake dresser

From a functionality standpoint, the drawers of the dresser are wide and beautifully constructed of wood. They are a near-perfect match for these drawer-dividers (so much so Mr. Magpie asked whether they came built-in to the dresser!), which help me keep my shirts folded perfectly a la Marie Kondo. A small thing, but the scroll of the drawers along the metal glides really speaks to the quality of the dresser’s construction in my opinion — previously, I had used a cute little bead board style dresser I’d bought from Crate and Barrel right out of college whose drawers would sometimes dribble open (I suppose the dresser was not totally flat, or the metal glides weren’t?), and then I had a love-hate relationship with an old cedar dresser Mr. Magpie inherited — the kind whose drawers sort of hang at an angle when opened. These were not insurmountable problems by any stretch of the imagination, but once I had the S&L dresser, immediately noticed the absence of any such foibles. This thing is built beautifully, and to last. (As an example, the entire back of the dresser is covered in raffia, too, so you could easily position it somewhere in a room where the back is visible without batting an eye! Every detail is done right, no expense spared.)

serena & lily blake dresser
serena & lily blake dresser

My one hesitation with buying the dresser was upkeep. I had noted that you shouldn’t use any cleaning products on it, and that you must instead address any spills/stains with “a clean dry cloth.” Does anyone else with children shudder upon reading those words?! I mean, how on earth…? I actually went back and forth on whether to wait to buy it until our children were older, imagining my daughter running into our bedroom and swiping my beloved dresser with chocolate-covered fingers, but in the end, this has not been an issue at all. It’s not common we have food in our bedroom, and in fact the children are rarely in our bedroom, full-stop. I also think that the variegated texture/colors of the dresser could hide a random spot or two — as you can see in the photos above, there are natural variations and color differences in the raffia itself. I have just been using a microfiber cloth to wipe it down and rid it of dust/debris. In fact, my experienceon the upkeep front has made me think differently about outfitting my home with small children in tow. I now feel comfortable investing in pieces in our bedroom and offices, as our dresser has fared beautifully and without incident for nearly two years now, but will continue to be highly cautious and reasonable when outfitting the family room, kitchen, and dining room. Accordingly, I am already contemplating the purchase of one of their stunning chaises for our new bedroom — can you imagine the luxury of reading on it, especially if outfitted in a fabulous print?! — or possibly (finally!) upgrading to a King bed and moving our queen-sized one to one of the guest bedrooms. I have no qualms about having a room almost entirely outfitted in Serena & Lily (we also have their Amelia rug in our bedroom) as I think you can achieve an effect that looks eclectic — different textures, shapes, finishes — but all hangs together. So much to look forward to — just trying to remind myself that slow and steady wins the race when it comes to decorating…!

P.S. ICYMI: we are moving to D.C.!

P.P.S. A detailed review of a great pair of jeans from Citizens.

By: Jen Shoop

I’m back with a new batch of honest reviews, and I feel like I’m tackling some heavily hyped products in this installment. Eager to here your feedback and experiences with these widely endorsed beauty finds! The TL;DR is that my favorite new product discovery is Elta MD’s facial sunscreen, though there were a lot of very good products this go around!

+Clarins V-Facial Intensive Lift (currently on sale!). I’d had my eye on this mask since Courtney Grow listed it as a “requirement for women over 30.” I’d heard many other beauty enthusiasts rave about how it de-puffs and contours the face, so I was thrilled when Clarins generously gifted me my own tub to try. The results first baffled and then impressed me. For context, for years, I’ve been obsessed with Peter Thomas Roth’s Rose Stem Cell mask (basically sold out everywhere but here — I think they’ve discontinued it, sob), and I specifically like the way it leaves my skin feeling dewy, radiant, and deeply hydrated. My runner up long-time favorite mask is Origins Rose Clay Mask, which is a totally different experience — it hardens and tightens the skin and then you wipe off with warm water and your skin feels as soft as a baby’s bottom. But both masks leave me feeling like a glowing goddess, nearly trailed by a halo. So when I removed the Clarins mask after it’s appointed ten minutes, I felt confused. Where was the halo effect? I didn’t register the sensation I usually associate with masks — slightly tender, soft, glowing skin. However, I kid you not: my face looked almost chiseled?! There was a noticeable difference especially around my mouth and along my neckline — everything looked tauter, more streamlined. It immediately became my go-to face mask when going out in the evening or even getting ready for a daytime event. I will still use the rose stem cell at night (I like to sleep in it) but before a night out? Before applying makeup? Yes ma’am. Very impressed with this one-of-a-kind product! Strongly encourage you to try it, with the caveat noted above that it’s not so much a mask for radiant, glowing skin as it is for facial contouring and tightening.

+Saie Mascara. I was so excited about this clean mascara — I’ve had many readers and friends rave about it, whether or not they are clean beauty enthusiasts! It is definitely one of the best mascaras I’ve ever tried, and hands-down the best clean mascara I’ve ever used (better than Ilia, which I also thought was quite good — Saie is even better at lengthening and lifting). I actually tested one eye with the Saie and one with my ride-or-die Armani mascara and think they both deliver great results — only the Saie is more natural and does.not.clump, which I have to admit Armani does by comparison. I will absolutely be using this mascara until empty for day time. For night, I’ll probably still reach for the slightly-more-dramatic Armani. (Note that Armani is now available in a mini size if you want to test without the commitment of a full tube!)

+Elta MD Facial Sunscreen. Y’all were right. This is the best facial sunscreen out there, and that says a lot coming from a longtime devotee of La Roche Posay’s fluid sunscreen. Let me put it this way: I have a semi-strict one-in-one-out rule when it comes to beauty/cosmetics purchases in the same product category. I simply don’t have the space to hang on to ten different mascaras and four different moisturizers. (Manhattan living and the associated shortage of storage space has trained me to play beauty hardball: I use products until they are completely empty OR I chuck them/give them away to friends/siblings if I decide they aren’t for me.). When I was running low on LRP, I bought Elta and wanted to give it a little try after it first arrived, even though I still had a few days left of LRP. I cannot bring myself to wear those last few days of LRP — I only want the Elta! I am going to have to force myself to finish it the next few days prior to our move. Anyhow, it’s about the consistency — it absolutely glides on and is far less runny than LRP. The consistency makes me feel confident I’m covering every single square inch of my face — something about it makes you keenly aware of where you’ve applied it. And makeup lays beautifully on top of it. I’m officially a convert. I just discovered it on sale with free shipping for $28 here and ordered another bottle so I’m ready to go when I run out.

+Saie Glowy Super Gel Highlighter. I bought this highlighting gel primer after reading quite a bit of hype and it mainly made me realize I have already overbought in the “illuminating cosmetics” category. Do I need a highlighting primer when I’m already using multiple layers of serum (illuminating!), glowscreen, illuminating powder, and my favorite Westman Atelier highlight stick? The answer is, frankly, no. It just felt like another step. I did enjoy applying it as an added layer for my birthday dinner out — I mean, why not?! If I have the time and a special occasion ahead, I’ll take an extra little boost. It’s a nice consistency, easy to apply with fingers all over the face prior to applying tinted moisturizer/foundation, and not so shimmery that you feel like opalescent. A novelty/big-night-out purchase. Still, if you are looking for just one highlighting/illuminating tool, I would rec the Westman Atelier stick in clear over any other product in this category. It is a dream.

+Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm. I’ve written about this product a few times over the past few weeks, but wanted to reiterate my review here. This is a lovely, luxurious product. I look forward to removing my makeup with it on nights I’m feeling unharried and self-care-oriented. You slather this deliciously-scented balm all over your face and wipe away with a warm wet towel, and all of your makeup and any dirt/residue on your face absolutely melts off. You are left with lightly perfumed, hydrated, cleansed, glowing skin. It’s an elegant experience — so fetching, in fact, I sent a pot of it to my mother for mother’s day in the hopes that it would leave her feeling similarly pampered. My only hesitation with recommending this 100% is that I find it competes with the skincare regimen that has been working well for me since December 2020. Namely, if I use the balm, then I won’t use my Tata Harper regenerating cleanser, which I find very effective in balancing my skin and preventing breakouts. (I also love the scrubby texture of the cleanser.) I also feel as though applying either my retinoid or my glycolic acid pads (I alternate between these two most nights of the week, taking a break every now and then if my skin feels dry) negates the effect of the Elemis balm, almost stripping away the collagen/oils it imparts. In other words — great product, but not sure how to make it work with the other items I have found effective in my skincare regimen. For now, keeping it as a luxury experience for nights I need a little TLC.

+Clarins V-Shaping Facial Lift Eye Cream (also on sale!). Alongside the aforementioned face mask, Clarins also sent me their eye concentrate and serum from the same line. I am in love with the eye concentrate. It’s honestly like nothing I’ve ever tried before as an eye product. I love the metal applicator — so cooling to the touch, and deposits just the right amount of product! — and the product itself is a thin, clear gel. So many other eye products feel thick and buttery by contrast, and therefore become more difficult to layer under concealer. I truly find that this product tightens and de-puffs the eye area. There is still no eye product I’ve found that really does anything with dark circles to speak of, but I’ve given up on that front at this point and will take what I can get with regards to making my eye area look tightened and smooth. I did not really register much of a result from using the serum, though I will say I already use and love two other serums (the famous Clarins Double Serum and Drunk Elephant Vitamin C) and so part of me just had trouble figuring out how and when to fit it into my beauty routine. I would recommend Clarins’ Double Serum all day every day instead — that’s a hero product for me.

+French Girl Rose Lip Polish. How many rose products is too many rose products? Ha. My sister gave me this lip polish as a part of my birthday gift and it is delightful! I have been using it before dinners out so lipstick will stay on perfectly/will not flake. I follow it up with a healthy slather of Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream. A great addition to your summer beauty arsenal for dry lips or to prep your pout for a matte lip color.

+Slip Eye Mask (on sale). My sister also gifted me a Slip silk eye mask as a part of my birthday gift (#spoiled) and urged me to give it a try. She and her husband both sleep with these and insist they make for the best beauty sleep on earth. I have to say, I am seriously loving the slight compression this eye mask affords when I slip it on at night, and I am also intrigued by the brand’s assertion that the silk material “protects delicate skin from the tugging effects of tossing and turning.” I’ll take that! My only problem is that I wake up every morning and I have apparently at some point in the evening taken it off? I keep finding it on my floor. I’m not sure if I’m doing this subconsciously or if it just slides off my head? Ha! Anyway, I can see how it might become a relaxing part of my bedtime ritual — with the added benefit of deterring me from checking my phone or even registering when it might be going off. Will continue to test this over the next few weeks but wanted to toss in an early impression of its benefits and appeal.

+Supergoop Glowscreen. Another product I feel like I’ve written about 3,000 times already, but I am in love (!!!) with this illuminating, moisturizing SPF. I originally specifically bought it for mornings I run — perfect to slather on before heading out without applying any other makeup, as it offers a tiny bit of coverage/color correction and a nice amount of illumination in addition to SPF. However, I like it so much, I find that I blend it with my tinted moisturizer nearly every morning that I’m not going on a run, too! (I find I need more coverage than it provides, hence why I blend with another brand.) I love the illumination it affords — gleaming, sun-kissed, happy skin. Could not love this product more as either a stand-alone while playing sports/running/exercising or blended with other facial products for every day wear. Definitely (!) a favorite discovery this year.

The items I am currently testing for my next installment or that are sitting in my cart at the moment:

WET BRUSH SHINE BOOSTING BRUSH

NEW WESTMAN ATELIER CHEEK STICK — I HAVE IT IN DOU DOU (J’ADORE — GIVES A WINONA-RYDER-FLUSHED-FROM-A-WINTER-SPRINT EFFECT TO MY CHEEKS) BUT WANT IT IN EITHER POPPET OR MINETTE

I NEED SOME NEW LIP COLORS…ANY RECS? HAVE HEARD GOOD THINGS ABOUT GUCCI’S FORMULA IN THE PAINTED VEIL COLOR AND CHARLOTTE TILBURY’S NEW LIP AND CHEEK STAIN…ANY ENTHUSIASTS?

If you are new to this series, more recent honest beauty reviews here, here, and here.

P.S. Fun little chair from Target’s latest furniture collab. More great Target finds here.

P.P.S. Musings on letting the time tick by.

P.P.P.S. I just re-read this post and some of its comments and I find myself weepy. What a year it’s been.

By: Jen Shoop

I know I’ve shared this a few times, but Target’s collection with Quincy Mae is incredible — love the striped set I bought for micro (seen above) so much for a nap / post-adventure / lounge situation, I’m inclined to buy a second set. Did I mention these pieces are 100% organic cotton?! Super soft and fairly thick, too.

A few other great under-$25 finds to consider:

children's clothing finds under $30

01. // 02. // 03. // 04. // 05. // 06. // 07. // 08. // 09. // 10.

These and more finds below…

THIS SWEET FLORAL TANK AND SHORT SET — SISTER MATCH WITH THIS

THIS EYELET DRESS (!!!!)

SEERSUCKER DRESS

THIS EYELET BUBBLE — OMG

FLOWER SUNGLASSES

THIS GINGHAM BATHROBE!!!

PIQUE SWIMSUIT

RIBBED COTTON SET

CUTEST SAFARI FOOTIE FOR $8

SMOCKED FLORAL TWO-PIECE SET

SWEET STRIPED SUNDRESS

ZIP UP RASH GUARD ($12)

CHERRY PRINT DRESS

P.S. Cute water shoes for littles.

P.P.S. Time is a thief.

P.P.P.S. For the mom nursing her baby in the wee hours of the morning. Love the comments on this post.

STRIPED PAJAMAS IN NAVY OR PINK – TIMELESS

MY SON WOULD LIVE IN THESE TIGER JAMMIES

STRAWBERRY BATHING SUIT

TINY TEVA STYLE SANDALS

THESE RL SHORTS FOR TODDLERS ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITES

PULL-ON SEERSUCKER SHORTS

SWEET SEERSUCKER RASH GUARD

By: Jen Shoop

Do you think that there are certain childhood ages that are categorically more difficult to parent than others? This is not to say that we can’t still enjoy and celebrate each age, or that we don’t still absolutely adore our children with reckless abandon through the more difficult phases, but — #realtalk. Is this the case?!

Over dinner a few weeks ago, friends of ours said: “They tell you to brace yourself for the terrible twos, but we weren’t prepared the difficulty of the threenager phase. Three was way more difficult for us than two.” This was the third or fourth set of parents who had shared the same observation on the twos versus the threes independently of one one another in recent memory.

I have to agree with this mounting and informal consensus. Three really rocked our world. It was full of big emotions, boundary-testing, what felt like endless reinforcement of the same set of rules, meltdowns, struggles to get through even highly routine steps in our daily regimen. I can’t tell you how many nights we spent troubleshooting as parents: “But what if we tried…?” and “Maybe she needs more one-on-one time…?” and “We just need to be consistent on…” I was frankly shell-shocked by the sassiness and the dawn of emotionally manipulative comments and the shocking volume of her feelings around needing a specific cup, or specific pajamas, or what have you. There was also the daunting reality of being physically outmatched: at two, my daughter could be lifted out of a dangerous situation; at three, my daughter could often out-run and out-wrangle me.

Then again. We were parenting a child through a pandemic; I feel as though she was still processing the addition of a new sibling (“he’s permanent?!”); she is our first and therefore this was our inaugural interaction with the threenager phase; and the period is also fresh in our memories, whereas, for example, newborn days feel like a distant blur (time does sand down the edges, doesn’t it?). Is it possible that when micro hits this age, we will be seasoned enough to “come ready” and feel less throttled by the Big Emotions of a three year old? Do some children lean into “the threes” more than others? Will gender play a role? Is two with micro going to be more difficult for us than three with him simply because he is who he is? (I already feel as though micro at two is far more physical, fearless, and adventurous than mini was at the same age, though…am I just forgetting? Or was it a little bit easier because there were two parents to one child versus now two on two, and we are therefore necessarily stretched thin this go around?) Does it all vary by child anyhow, regardless of how many you have or what’s going on with the world? (I say this with particular attentiveness because the OK-to-wake clock we bought for our daughter was a game-changer for us — but it does not work for every family. I was discussing this with a mom friend who had no luck with the clock, and I observed: “Well, you know, mini is something of a rule-follower — like me! I think it worked because of that. She tends to like things with discernible signals, logic, etc. I would have also probably reacted well to it as a child.”)

That is to say, there are so many dynamics, inputs, idiosyncrasies, and conditions to contend with that I feel hesitant to categorically say “three was more difficult than two.” However. It truly felt that way, at least with mini. Corroborating this perception: it seems as though mini turned four and a switch flipped. Gone are the protracted conversations and outbursts when leaving the playground, or a playdate, or any interesting activity. She can be reasoned with. She can be relied upon to uphold and even remind us of the rules (“no talking with your mouth full, mama!”). She is downright helpful with her brother, alerting us when he is getting into something he shouldn’t and a serving as a fountain of knowledge for new sitters (“he only drinks milk out of these cups”; “he needs to be wearing a bib”; etc.). She may push back or whine or pout when she does not get her way, but I cannot remember her last tantrum (!). What a relief just writing that! I know, of course, that four will have its own trials and tribulations. I worry, for example, about whether children will be more judgmental about her eye patch as she heads towards five, and I think a lot more about the children she pals around with. I have seen her bring home new phrases and awarenesses that give me pause. A whole new world to contend with. I am already anticipating feedback along the lines of “but Kennedy is allowed to do this!” Still, for anyone struggling through the threes, let me be your ray of hope for the day: parenting my four-year-old daughter feels about ten times easier than parenting her when she was three.

When my children were very young, my mother had a habit of reminding me that, with infants, it’s often two steps forward, one step back, especially with sleep and feeding patterns. I have never been able to pause this fast and inconsistent footwork, even well beyond the newborn phase: some days feel easy, and others feel impossible. We make strides in one area — let’s say, table etiquette — and then all of the sudden mini is licking butter off her noodles one by one, with her feet propped up against the table, the very picture of defiance. (!?!) I look at her blinkingly, and I wonder whether any of the three trillion and ten reminders and rejoinders I have issued around the subject of table manners have been all for naught? We move from a relatively calm week where micro tampers with nothing in the apartment to a weekend where he cannot keep his fingers from any electrical cord in the unit. Then it’s back to neutral. Then it’s climbing tables. Then back to neutral. We remain, it seems, smack dab in the middle of that two-step-one-step tango.

In other words, everything is, truly, a phase and there are sub-phases and recursions and regressions within phases to boot. Raising my children feels anything but linear. So I suppose it remains to be seen whether three will prove to be one of the most challenging ages we will face with mini. Perhaps we will encounter a new bumpy patch at four and a half, or seven will be tricky, and God help me come the teenage years. I know enough from watching my parents gray while raising five teenagers to know that it is not an easy road. Beyond that, I have a hunch that by the time my girl is in her 20s, I will have all but forgotten the travails of threenagerdom, remembering instead her willingness to hold my hand; her wonderment at space and bugs and tiny little toys; the way she shrieked with joy while running through the splash pads of New York City; her obsession with blue; the flick of her ponytails as she sprinted ahead of us down the city sidewalks of Manhattan.

Cheers to anyone who is sitting there gobsmacked by a new phase. Sometimes it helps to be reminded that “this, too, shall pass” (as noted earlier, I can state with confidence that four feels much easier than three so far!) and sometimes you want to know that other people’s children lick butter off their noodles and tamper with electrical outlets, too. In either case: tonight at five p.m., I’ll be toasting to you in solidarity.

In the meantime, curious to know what you think about the idea that certain phases are just trickier than others as a parent? What say you?

Post-Scripts.

+More thoughts on parenting through challenging times.

+Practical thoughts on welcoming a second child.

+Do you think the transition from 0-1 children was more difficult than the transition from 1-2?

+9 things that surprised me about having a c-section.

+High and low: love both these $13 shades and these $400 ones.

+Lusting after this gorgeous dress.

+These lobster cover-up pants (under $100) are SO good. Sad I missed them in my size!

+More chic cover-ups here.

+Striking wedding guest dress option. (More here!)

+Just discovered that Minted has adorable personalized labels for school gear! (These ones for boys!)

+Have gotten a lot of wear out of these distressed pull-on jeans. They wear like sweatpants but look like denim!

+Have received a number of questions about Baptism/Christening gifts. I love these personalized crosses (also have ones with Biblical quotes on them for less, and I also love the slightly more whimsical styles from Tricia Lowenfeld); a simple white Bible; and this children’s Bible and book of prayers bundle, which I think I have given to about six babies at this point.

+A couple of gifts to give to godchildren as they grow older that have a religious theme:

THIS MAGNETIC CHURCH SET (SAVED US IN MANY MASS SERVICES…)

LITTLE GOLDEN BOOKS RELIGIOUS SET (MINI LOVES ALL OF THE BOOKS UNDER THIS IMPRINT…A CLASSIC FOR A REASON! I THINK WE READ THE STORY OF EASTER EVERY NIGHT FOR A MONTH STRAIGHT)

NOAH’S ARK SHAPE SORTER

FISHER PRICE NATIVITY SET OR PEG DOLL NATIVITY SET (GREAT ADVENT/CHRISTMAS GIFT)

SAINTLY SOFTIES IN TONS OF DIFFERENT NAMES

THIS SWEET CROSS BRACELET

+These popular $10 gingham swim trunks for boys are still available in nearly all sizes!

+My next Reformation acquisition.

+How great is this red-and-white striped maxi?!

+The price on this 49-piece set of cutlery is absolutely shocking…would be great for al fresco dining! Love the mint and pink colorways.

+I really want this entire look, head to toe: white trousers, white pleated top, raffia clutch. 100 100 100 100!

+More great woven bags for summer here.

+This bandana print one-piece…!

By: Jen Shoop

*Image above via Smockingbird x Julia Amory featuring their darling swim collection.

A few random items I wanted to share…

+The latest Smockingbird x Julia Amory collection launched last week and I just had to have this sweet sundress for mini. She already owns this dress of theirs from their previous collection and it is such a treasure. These are fantastic dresses for family portraits, special occasions, school photos, etc. I am also tempted by this matching sibling moment — these trunks for micro, and this rashguard for mini! (And you can also twin with your mini in your own shirtdress!). I would say that their styles run TTS for little ones. Mini consistently wears a 5 and takes a size 5 in her dresses.

+If you are into the Carrie Forbes sandal vibe but after the look for less, Kaanas just launched very similar sandals and I saw them come on Shopbop last week and they’re already old out! There are still a few available at Madewell! Also like this style by the same brand.

+I wore this seashell print nap dress to Citi Field over the weekend for a Mets game and it was STINKING HOT outside (92 degrees and blazing sun) and it did me RIGHT. The lightest weight fabric and I love the way the skirt portion barely skims/touches your body when standing upright to allow for maximum ventilation. I also got stopped twice by people asking about it :). Pretty much the perfect weekend summer dress.

+I know I have fellow mamas who swear by Nuk active cups — the only way I have gotten my children to switch from bottles to sippy cups, and I must have tried a dozen other brands during this tricky transition — and they just launched a two-pack in a neutral pattern (praise be) for $11 that I snagged. Most of their cups have cartoon characters on the side so I welcome something simpler…it’s the little things.

+We will be in the car with the children yet again next week — I have frankly been surprised/impressed by how tolerant micro has been with all of the car time over the past few weeks after virtually none for the first two years of his life. The big hits for him have been WaterWows (remember to pre-fill the pens with water before you hit the road), lift-the-flap books like this one, and sticker books. These Dover ones require more help from a parent (he has trouble getting the stickers off himself), but the size is better for his small hands; these M&D ones he can do himself, though he seems to have more trouble balancing the book upright in his carseat. Meanwhile, mini has been very into Polly Pockets and sticker sets like this.

+So far, we have been very impressed with the Nuna Rava car seat. To be fair, we don’t have any point of comparison for a convertible car seat, but I am already thinking I’ll be thrilled to be able to totally remove and launder the seat cover since there are already crumbs and stains happening.

+Three dresses that are gorgeous and selling fast: this Horror Vacui-esque En Saison steal, this seashell print L’Agence, and this stunning white eyelet. (Swoon over all three!)

+J. Crew’s end of season sale is still raging — extra 50% off all sale items — and it’s such an incredible opportunity to buy cute dresses like this striped button-front one for future weekend BBQs/hangs. These $30 pajamas are currently in my cart — I love their entire “Dreamy” line. A few other finds:

CASHMERE CREWNECKS FOR LITTLE ONES FOR AROUND $40! — JUST ORDERED MINI THE CAMEL HEATHER COLOR FOR FALL!

$8.50 LEGGINGS FOR LITTLE LADIES (RUN LONG AND SLIM, FYI) — ALSO LIKE THESE BLOCKPRINT-INSPIRED ONES

ADORABLE DENIM JACKET FOR A LITTLE LADY, AROUND $20 — GREAT LAYERING PIECE FOR EARLY FALL

$11 T-SHIRTS IN GREAT COLORS FOR LITTLE LADIES

+Discovered these marble-effect serving bowls via Grace and they are SO chic!

+Grace and James Kids has some true gems in their warehouse sale, and everything was further-discounted over the weekend. I did end up snagging this wet/dry pouch and this matching swimsuit for mini.

+A lot of my favorite small children’s boutiques are running major mid-summer sales, including Frilly Frog, with 40% off its sale section with code SALE40. I buy the bulk of my children’s clothing while on sale in these promotions! Always love anything by Sal E Pimenta, including this sweet striped dress (another good family portrait pick) and any and all of their swimwear; everyday cotton dresses like this; and OMG this dress for your little lady’s first visit to Disney World, which is something Mr. Magpie and I are currently discussing…

+Still time to order fun headbands for the Fourth if you’re doing something low key like we are. (We’re making a flag cake and having a picnic!)

By: Jen Shoop

This Mother Theresa quote is near-ubiquitous, possibly platitudinous (?), but the other day, it appeared, mirage-like, in my thoughts and I carried it around with me for the better part of the day:

“Do small things with great love.”

Knowing that these words came from Mother Teresa, I am of course inclined to imagine the humble and wordless ministrations of a caregiver wiping crumbs from the face of a child, or preparing a bed with clean sheets and hospital corners. Small things, done with solicitousness.

By contrast, how often do I absolutely race through the process of preparing breakfast for my children prior to thoughtlessly — almost robotically — clearing their plates and shuffling the morning right along into its next phase? On the one hand, this sort of perfunctoriness is necessary: I keep the household moving, and ensure my children are fed, brushed, and clothed by the time I sit down to my desk at 9 a.m. And sometimes the rote is a gift, clearing needed mental space for undertaking other intellectual or emotional work: I can be pouring milk cups while also pondering the American Scholar article my father sent or ingesting the news. Beyond that, I am not so spacey as to think that there might be hidden joy or rivulets of love to be found in selecting a plate for my daughter’s breakfast, or what have you. But still — could I maneuver myself to a place where many of the daily responsibilities in my life are achieved with love rather than an occasionally begrudging sense of conscientiousness or rule-followership? What might that look like? I am thinking specifically of the way my mother packed my lunch: always with a little love note on the napkin in her loopy blue script; the napkin invariably, artfully folded on the diagonal. Even the fact that she took the time to fold the napkin just-so speaks to me today: the tiniest of kisses. I also think of the way she will often turn down the coverlet on the bed before bedtime, or offer me a soda alongside a cup of ice. Small things, done with great care and consideration. I think, too, of my husband: the way he warms my plate before dinner, and chills my glass before a cocktail, and never declines the opportunity to plate my meal and garnish it, too. The way he sets my coffee out, prepared the way I like it, so it’s waiting for me at my desk. The fact that he never ever neglects to wrap my gifts, giving thought to the presentation itself.

I think there are also ways to do small things for myself “with great love.” This will either resonate with you or confirm your suspicion that I am bizarre beyond belief, but it is not an infrequent occasion for me to be sitting at my desk, parched with thirst, but not willing to get up to fetch water for myself because I’m in the throes of work, or I will be rushing around trying to put things away after running a few errands or cleaning up the house and will not pause to use the rest room or feed myself lunch until absolutely everything is tidied, finished, taken to the garbage, etc. I suppose you can chalk it up to “completion desire”: I am so task-oriented that I would rather finish something in its entirety than interrupt the flow. But after reading the Mother Teresa quote the other day, I got up and poured myself a glass of water when I was thirsty and later, when bringing home a bunch of fresh flowers, actually took the time to enjoy arranging them in a vase versus rushing to clip them, get rid of the debris, and sprint to the next thing on my list. If I am sounding schmaltzy, forgive me. But these tiny decisions appear to me as a new and miniature mode of self-care: doing the smallest of things with love for myself.

Shopping Break.

+Lounge shorts: I’m eyeing these Kules or these from Splendid. Love the retro styling on both.

+The perfect button-front sweatshirt in great colors — I shared a similar style for less a few days ago but like the cropped silhouette here, too.

+Just love this Brock-like blouse for under $100.

+SUPER love the simple, retro-esque (Wendy Peffercorn-like?!) styling of this Gap suit in both the on-trend ditsy blue floral and solid pink.

+Absolutely stunning floral dress for $140 – sort of a combination between Horror Vacui and Cecilie Bahnsen?

+Adore this stationery, and recently came across an Etsy shop that creates fun frames with a similar design via Being Bridget.

+Cute and clever printable indoor scavenger hunt. Wish I’d come across this back during peak-quarantine days.

+Some other great indoor activities for littles here. I did all of these, many of them multiple times over…

+Speaking of the great indoors: an indoor shrimp BBQ you must try. Only you could also do it outdoors, with friends, now 🙂

+Love this tiny little fan for the stroller.

+The cane detail on these shorts is amazing!

+Speaking of tennis, Marysia’s coveted scalloped tennis dress is back in stock here in white (run!!!) and here in black. More fun tennis and golf gear here.

+Such a small thing, but we now have a bunch of different keys for our house, for my parents’ house, etc, and I am out of key rings! I found some cute ones at an Etsy shop, including this rose embroidered style and this throwback motel style.

+Another great beach-to-cocktails dress.

+Lusting after these shorts.

+Also lusting after a Rimowa suitcase as my next investment whenever I travel…

+Love this dress in the sage green. The tiers make it!

+Just a reminder that these adorable blue gingham swim trunks are $10.

+And Janie and Jack marked down a ton of cute swim, including this precious lilac stripe swimsuit!

+While there: so wish this dress wasn’t sold out in mini’s size! The eyelet sleeves!!!

+Going to be needing a lot of new storage apparatus in our new home — I will have a walk-in pantry!

+Some of my favorite storage gear here.

+Ordered some extra silicon mats for the children. I find these a conveninent way to preserve our dinner table and catch spills, but my gripe is that they are a pain to dry after washing/wiping. I love that this set comes with those convenient cutouts so you can hang them from a hook.

By: Jen Shoop

One fun way to make a big statement using items you already own: organize your book spines by color rather than height or subject matter. I always get a lot of comments on the monochromatic arrangement of books on my bookshelves (seen above and available here — you won’t believe what a great price these are!), and have even had visitors ask whether I buy my books according to color. Ha! If you don’t have enough books in the same color family, don’t be afraid to remove the jacket cover — they often reveal beautiful colors/patterns beneath. I’ve also seen creatives arrange their books spine-to-the-wall so that you see lots of white/cream pages instead of the book jackets. Less functional (you can’t see which book you’re looking for!) but I can see the appeal if you’re simply trying to tidy up a bookshelf of never-touched books. (For example, we have loads of Lonely Planet Travel Guides that are used rarely — i.e., only when we are traveling to a particular destination — that are something of an eyesore on a shelf, but you could flip them all around to just see a tidy row of white instead.)

All that said, a few absolutely beautiful coffee table / book shelf books that I have purchased specifically for their design/color (and also lovely to spend a morning poring over with a cup of coffee!). These are great if you’re looking for a short stack on an end table or to lay flat on a bookshelf. Some of these are cookbooks that were purchased by Mr. Magpie for their content alone that proved so attractive, I gradually co-opted them into the decor of our home. (Mr. Magpie routinely asks me where such-and-such cookbook is?! — and I’ve usually nestled it artfully on a bookshelf. Ha.) I own nearly all of these!

chic coffee table books

Row I: India Hicks, Palms, The French Dog

Row II: Ralph Lauren, Lost Fish, Cabinet of Natural Curiosities

Row III: Lillian Bassman, Tom Ford, Architectural Digest

Row IV: Domino, Michael S. Smith, Domino

Row V: Allegra Hicks, Heritage, Beautiful

Row VI: Prune, Lee, My Last Supper

A few specific notes on particular books, some shown above and some not…

THIS ALLEGRA HICKS IS OVERSIZED AND SUCH A DRAMATIC PRINT — TRULY A FAVORITE

I LIKE STACKING THESE DOMINO BOOKS (1 AND 2) ON TOP OF EACH OTHER ON A TRAY ON A COFFEE TABLE

THIS BASQUE COOKBOOK HAS A GREAT BRIGHT YELLOW SPINE WITH A FUN SQUAT FONT ON THE SIDE — PERFECT FOR A POP OF DRAMA ON A BOOKSHELF

THIS RL BOOK IS ENORMOUS AND LOOKS FANTASTIC WITH BROWNS/LEATHERS/RUSTIC VIBE

ANOTHER FAVORITE — SUCH A GREAT SHADE OF PEONY PINK, AND LOVE THE FONT ON THE SPINE (ALSO ONE OF OUR FAVORITE COOKBOOKS)

DON’T KNOW WHY THIS IS UNDER $10 ATM BUT IT’S A GREAT RED SPINE

I THINK THIS FRENCH DOG ONE MIGHT BE MY FAVORITE…LOOKS GREAT LAYERED BENEATH A SMALL POTTED BOXWOOD IN AN ENTRYWAY

LOVE THE FONT ON THE SPINE — ALSO LOVE ALL OF OTTOLENGHI’S COOKBOOKS FOR THE SAME REASON; GREAT DRAMATIC FONT

I don’t own these yet, but I also absolutely love the look of the Assouline destination books. These would be fantastic if you already have a color scheme going in a room and you want to nail it home or draw out one of the “supporting” colors in a throw pillow.

And a few other decorative books currently on my lust list:

P.S. The Prune book holds special sentimental value, as the restaurant (semi-permanently closed, sob) was the site of a major turning point in our adult lives.

P.P.S. More coffee table styling ideas and while we’re talking coffee: the best gear for coffee and tea service.

P.P.P.S. The Lee book also taught me a thing or two.

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