This face mask is one of my absolute favorites and is increasingly difficult to find (not sure if it’s been discontinued?) I use it every third night as a part of my new-ish skincare regimen (more detail on this to come, but I alternate between a retinoid, glycolic acid — currently on sale!!, and this mask). It is brightening and hydrating and gentle enough to leave on overnight. It is sold in a sizably sized tub, and I found it at a ridiculous two-for-the-price-of-one deal here. I have also given this face mask away to several close girlfriends/sisters, so this might be a good opportunity to keep one for yourself and give one away as a gift for a gal pal or mother in need of a little extra nurturing and love.
I wore a green kilt rolled up at the waist to an indecent length, a deliberately faded polo, a ribbon in my hair, and not a stitch of makeup — it was cooler to look unkempt and unconcerned with appearances, at least in those circumscribed ways, facing the audience of my 103 classmates at Georgetown Visitation.
I was hushed and awed at Mass and in the presence of the handful of non-cloistered nuns who still ran homeroom, or held administrative roles, or crossed the Quad on errand in their black habits: their goodness hallowed and invulnerable to even the snarkiest of teenager.
I used ProActiv and wore a retainer and had learned through elaborate trial and error how to blow-dry my hair stick-straight like Jennifer Love Hewitt.
I wanted desperately to have a boyfriend, but routinely snubbed the handful of boys who did call — one in particular, a lanky and offbeat intellect who ended up going Ivy and — though I haven’t kept up with him — I am certain is somewhere happily married doing something important in some corner of the world. He burned me mix CDs (#2 on one of his mixes was “You Sexy Thing” by Hot Chocolate and I blanched with embarrassment and skipped it immediately) and asked to take me out and I only begrudgingly agreed after clarifying that we would go as friends for lunch one Saturday, an excursion I soiled by politely but impassively sipping Diet Coke and pushing greens around my plate while sitting across from him at Pho 14 in Cleveland Park. “But you have to try the pho!” he had pleaded, his eyes earnest and encouraging. “It’s the whole reason I brought you here!” I shruggingly declined, and even in my naive and churlish state, understood that I was being absolutely terrible to him: I could see the careful design of this date, could see he was attempting to communicate his interests and sophistication, could see the outline of his sixteen-year-old pride slump in the face of my disinterest.
I kept the CD, though–an artifact of something I wanted in general, but not in the specifics presented.
My friend Nicole drove a brand-new, hunter green Ford Explorer, and it was A Big Deal. She listened to Jay-Z and DMX, and because of this, I strained my way into listening to rap and hip-hop on my own, on the enormous Aiwa speaker set I’d begged my parents for one Christmas.
Nicole would blast Nelly’s “Country Grammar” or DMX’s “Good Girls, Bad Guys” or Jay Z’s “I Just Wanna Love U” as we’d barrel out of the gates of our high school, flush with adrenaline and posture and promise.
There was a girl at our school who dated an older boy who drove an open-top Jeep Wrangler, and on the occasions he’d sit in his car waiting out front, I’d peacock with self-awareness in our loud, bass-driven exit from the school, even though he never gave us the time of day.
I idolized my brother — more cerebral than I was, despite my near-flawless academic record, in that he was capable of throwaway references to a broad and unwieldy canon and might invoke Bartleby the Scrivener with a kind of laidback naturalness that was impossible to emulate —
And also, in spite of or perhaps because of this encyclopediac referentiality, he was much cooler than I was. His friends smoked cigarettes, and threw parties with hard liquor, and were merciless with their wise-cracking and incessant commentary of disparagement and bluster.
But still, but still — those boys had gone on a mysterious religious retreat called Kairos that had been mandated by their Jesuit high school and they had returned sober and wide-eyed —
And though they appeared to take nothing seriously, Kairos loomed sacrosanct, virtually unbroachable —
And one of them had yanked me by the arm so I would not step on the school seal on the floor of Dooley Hall —
“You can’t step on the seal!” he had barked before nodding graciously, as though he’d done me an enormous favor —
“Why –?” had been on the tip of my tongue but I was too shy and also understood by osmosis that it must have been of those weird boy school traditions, a superstition kept afloat by insidership rather than incident,
And this was maybe why I tended to do well on tests at school:
I was self-diminishingly vigilant and obsequious to others, and
Academics was one way to shine brightly while observing silence and harming no one. It was an aggressive sport with no obvious victim, and I was viciously competitive in its play.
My brother was also cool because he seriously dated a strikingly beautiful, breathy girl who attended a school that rivaled my own, and my sisters and I fawned over her.
She smoked cigarettes, too, and left lip gloss in my brother’s car, and stray articles of her clothing — all current-season J. Crew, including flannel-lined khakis and wood-soled clogs and platform flip-flops — lingered around our house. She appeared to live with a kind of bewitching carelessness I longed for myself — but I could not disguise or dilute my hawk-eyed, obedient ways.
Her mother’s name would appear on our caller ID frequently, and I never understood what she and my brother talked about at such length, only that it seemed also serious and sacrosanct, and my own concerns felt correspondingly flimsy and ill-gotten in the sense that they were largely fabricated.
Among these wisps of memory, which individually mean virtually nothing,
I see the sloping formation of the bearings of my adult self,
Those joists that still, some twenty years later, remain:
The sloping search for the approval of others has slackened in the time intervening, but
The centricity of love and Church burns inviolate.
+I haven’t done my nails once since the start of quarantine in March. Not once! This has been very odd since, prior to this break, I have not gone without a manicure for longer than two weeks since I was about twenty. Desperate to do things up for the holiday, I ordered Rock the Runway (one of my favorite reds!) and gave myself a passable manicure.
I receive a lot of questions about everyday dishes and glasses. Below are my absolute favorite articles of drinkware — the ones we use daily (or at least weekly) in our home. (Image above from a fantastic Southern feast Mr. Magpie and I enjoyed several years ago, back when we had a back patio to enjoy, showcasing my favorite champagne flutes and coasters. Biscuits and cucumber salad from our favorite Southern cookbook, and plates are Aerin.)
CB2 WATSON COOLERS — We use these as water glasses. They are elegant (love the rounded design) but not so delicate that they chip in the dishwasher. (And we wash them daily.) Bonus: they can double as highballs for Tom Collinses (my go-to pre-dinner cocktail).
CRATE + BARREL 6 OZ JUICE GLASSES — These are squat little things perfect for a small pour of orange juice or apple cider, and I also love them for wine in the evening. (We call them, coursely, “stubs” in our house. Mr. Magpie will ask: “Do you want your wine in a glass or a stub?” Ha!) Mr. Magpie also uses these for cocktails typically served “up” since we got rid of all of our martini glasses in a fit of frustration in a recent move. (They take up so much space and just don’t get that much use!) He always has one or two of these on the top shelf of our freezer in the event that he wants a martini or manhattan in the evening.
TIFFANY WHITE WINE GLASSES — Whenever I post a photo of these on Instagram, I receive questions. They have the most elegant shape thanks to their tall, thin stem. They are ultra-delicate at the lip, so must be handled with care.
TIFFANY CHAMPAGNE FLUTES — Classic and beautiful. I love the thin stem and the rounded shape of the flute. We actually drink quite a bit of sparkling wine in our home, so these see quite a bit of use. (I prefer sparkling to still white wine, though I’m in general a red wine drinker — incidentally, one time, my best friend’s husband was arranging an elaborate getaway to surprise his wife for a milestone birthday, and when they arrived at the destination, they stopped by a liquor store to stock up for the weekend. As soon as my friend’s husband added a bottle of red to the cart, my friend said: “Aha! So the Nurmi [my maiden name] sisters are going to be here this weekend!” HA!)
SCHOTT ZWIESEL RED WINE GLASSES — We have several types of red wine glasses from Schott Zwiesel, but these are our favorite. They have a dramatic, fun shape and are fun to swirl in the hand. Oenophiles will be able to explain why the shape is optimal for burgundy wine in particular, but we use them for nearly any red.
ZAFFERANO COUPES — A recent addition to our glassware repertoire, but I have long wanted a set of champagne coupes, and Mr. Magpie mixes enough cocktails to warrant a set of cocktail coupes, and these are versatile enough to be used for either. I loved the pearl-like design!
WATERFORD CRYSTAL OLD FASHIONED GLASSES — Timeless design and perfect for, well, old-fashioneds (one of Mr. Magpie’s favorite cocktails), straight pours of liquor, and specialty drinks like egg nog.
CRATE AND BARREL REEF OLD FASHIONED GLASSES — I love this set of old-fashioned glasses specifically for margaritas and palomas! The design puts me in a happy mood that feels well-suited to tequila-based, on-the-rocks cocktails.
LA ROCHERE BEE TUMBLERS — I use these less frequently than our Crate and Barrel juice glasses, but these are fun especially in the summer, when we have guests. In years past, I’ve served up small pours of icy cold Bloody Marys in these and also refreshing portions of homemade lemonade.
TERVIS TUMBLERS — I can’t help the college sorority girl in me from persisting in the form of my addiction to these tumblers. They are just the best for keeping water cold at your bedside without leaving a ring of condensation. They are also virtually unbreakable, though my children have found ways around that claim over the past few years. Not the most elegant, but I had to include them here — I love them! Also great for backyard hangs.
LILLY PULITZER POOL CUPS — Anyone who has spent any significant amount of time with us has used these cups. They are inexpensive and virtually indestructible. I bought two sets in my early 20s and both have somehow miraculously stayed intact despite several moves and ill-advised activities (these have accompanied us on and survived many-a tailgate, beach bonfire, boating adventure, boozy float down the James River, etc.) They are a true vestige of my post-college, pre-children life and I can’t quit them! I just love them. Great for outdoors, and inexpensive enough that you won’t cry if they are left behind at an outdoor music festival (post-COVID, sigh). Perfect for a walk around the block with a happy hour beverage, or an iced La Croix on the beach with a good book, or a front porch sit with a good friend and a white wine spritzer. Bonus: they are also good vehicles for stowing herbs in the fridge. We’ve learned over time to treat fresh herbs like cut flowers, stowing them upright and in water, and then placing a baggie over the top. They keep so well this way!
A couple of other drinkware accoutrements j’adore:
OXO ICE CUBE TRAY — OUR FRIDGE DOES HAVE AN ICE MAKER BUT WE HATE THE SHAPE OF THE CUBES (SUPER THIN AND WIMPY), SO WE KEEP THESE IN OUR FREEZER FOR COCKTAIL-MAKING…THESE ARE THE ABSOLUTE EASIEST/BEST TO USE
TOVOLO SPHERE MOLDS — FOR COCKTAILS THAT CALL FOR A BIG BLOCK OF ICE, THESE ARE THE BEST
INEXPENSIVE AND UNFUSSY, BUT THESE MAKE BOTTLE OPENING A CINCH; WE ALSO EXCLUSIVELY USE WAITER CORKSCREWS FOR WINE, HAVING NEVER FOUND THE RABBIT PARTICULARLY GOOD
MAUVIEL CHAMPAGNE BUCKET — AN EXTRAVAGANT GIFT FROM MY PARENTS-IN-LAW THAT GETS QUITE A BIT OF USE IN THESE PARTS!
THE BEST CHAMPAGNE STOPPER (HANDMADE IN ITALY — THESE ARE AMAZING AT PROLONGING THE LIFE OF YOUR BUBBLY!)
More of our favorite barware/mixology gear — and a recipe for a fantastic cocktail — here! One question I get a lot is where Mr. Magpie gets his cocktail recipes from. He has a number of cocktail books and is always screenshotting recipes he comes across, but I would say he most consistently uses the Death & Co book! Exceptional!
A couple of other recent drinkware finds/accoutrements I’m in love with:
LOVE ALL THESE WRAPPED CARAFES AND PITCHERS FOR AN OUTDOOR VIGNETTE…OR, HELL, AN INDOOR VIGNETTE WHEN YOU’RE PRETENDING IT’S SUMMER (IMAGINE A TROPICAL MENU!)
P.S. More ideas on entertaining at home, even if it’s just you and your hubby or you and your sister.
Some great deals to be had amongst the end-of-year promotions…had to share a couple of great ones:
+Crate & Kids has discounted their storage/shelving — a great opportunity to buy that bookcase for baby’s nursery. I love the green color of this bookcase for a boy’s room, this Jenny Lind style is timeless, and this chic book caddy is now under $130. (And a whole bunch of trending children’s books to fill it with here.)
+A lot of the children’s sale finds I mentioned here have been further discounted — classic navy Cientas are only $23/pair!
By: Jen Shoop
My Latest Snag: New Sneakers for Mini.
I wrote recently (skip to post-scripts) that mini has all of the sudden outgrown all of her shoes (literally changed shoe sizes over night), and I just ordered her a slew of new shoes, but my favorite pair? These Liberty London Vejas. I find these sneakers pair well with these white socks.
P.S. More Liberty and Liberty-esque floral finds here…and one new entrant: this darling floral coat for little ones from Zara!
I recently learned about the Polish tradition of sharing oplatek (a flavorless, cracker-like wafer) on Christmas Eve. The idea is that each family member takes turns breaking off a piece of the wafer and publicly sharing his/her wishes for another family member for the upcoming year. I love this practice — how often do I take the time to share good will or gratitude with a member of my immediate family with the entire gang sitting around? Probably not often enough.
Today, dedicating a virtual and asynchronous oplatek wish for my angel mother, my anchor throughout the vicissitudes of 2020: I wish her a comfortable year of continued good health that is, unlike 2020, full of family.
+Discovered these too late for this Christmas, but just ordered for next holiday season! Perfect for little hands enjoying hot chocolate!
+I mentioned these forever ago, but they have been a huge hit for several months now in our home. Hill started enjoying them as early as 15 months! He has now discovered that they attach (magnetically) to his Ubbi diaper pail, so he loves attaching them, porcupine style. So creative! A slow burn toy for sure.
+A solid snow mitten if you’re in a pinch — these arrived the next day for me when I couldn’t find mini’s Polarn O Pyret pair just in advance of the nor’easter last week.
My sister and I have always had a special devotion to the movie “Meet Me in St. Louis” and specifically the part where Judy Garland sings her little sister these lyrics:
Through the years We all will be together If the fates allow Hang a shining star upon the highest bough And have yourself a merry little Christmas now
This year, the lyrics truly hit home, as the fates have not allowed most of us to be together, but — nonetheless — we are hanging a shining star on the highest bough and muddling through.
Thinking of you, Magpies! Merry little Christmas.
P.S. Heartier musings on Christmas here, here, and here.
P.P.S. If you’re looking for something to do at home with loved ones during the lowkey week between Christmas and New Year’s, a few thoughts:
+Nothing like a rousing match of Trivial Pursuit to send your sibling into an acrimonious funk. Haha — someone is always angry after we play these games.
Merry Christmas Eve! What are you up to tonight? We will be having a virtual family cheers over Zoom, opening a few gifts, setting out cookies for Santa, watching “A Christmas Story,” and indulging in a special Feast of the Seven Fishes menu dreamed up by Missy Robbins, famed chef and restauranteur. I cannot wait. Wishing you all the best, Magpies, no matter how strange this holiday seems. I’ll be toasting you from New York with a glass of Billecarte Salmon champagne that is currently chilling in our fridge.
+Canada Goose Trillium Parka – truly the best investment piece for living in Chicago for five years and even here in NYC, which is more temperate but can still startle with icy mornings. These coats are wonderfully made and exceptionally warm. I specifically recall some of Mr. Magpie’s tough and burly buddies coming to visit us in the Windy City one winter, and as we made the short walk to a restaurant one night, they were stamping their feet and blowing in their fists to keep warm, and I was blissfully unbothered by the 3 degree temp. Mine is cherry red! If you like this look but not the pricetag, love this pastel pink style from Athleta!
+North Face Minna Mittens – another Chicago acquisition. These are lined in fleece and delightfully thick — they really keep the hands warm.
+J. Crew fur pom knit hats — I have a few of these in different colors. Similarly styled beanies are all over the place and probably about the same in terms of quality; I went with J. Crew just because I was able to use discount codes and wanted a cream/ivory color to go with my minna mittens! I shared some other cute beanies along these lines here!
+Barbour earmuffs — I LOVE earmuffs. I have four pairs and wear them constantly — I usually prefer them to hats! I love the plaid/fur combo on this pair.
+Acne hat — I’m not usually huge into labels but I love the dimensions and color of this specific hat, especially with the matching scarf. Tres chic, ca.
+Under Armour beanie — I just added one of these to my cart because it comes in the best muted pastel colors! I selected the desert rose color so it will go with the vest below. I figure this is inexpensive enough to work for a light jog without worrying about ruining it.
+Darn Tough socks and Smartwools — worth the price. These keep you warm and I love the cushioning of the Darn Toughs in particular, but both are great boot socks.
+Sorel snowboots — another Chicago purchase. You really need tall snow boots there because you can occasionally find yourself wading through a foot of snow. These are ultra-heavy-duty, impervious to moisture, super-warm, and…heavy. Haha. Lifting your leg in these is like a quad workout. But I felt that I needed the big guns up there. I also like this slightly less intense-looking pair from the same brand.
+Sperry boots — love the classic look of these boots; would have bought them myself if I didn’t think I needed something with a taller profile.
+Arcteryx Sentinel Jacket — for my Magpie skiing snowbunnies. The style worn by seasoned skiiers I know!
+Wantdo Ski Jacket — $80! Gets incredible reviews. Love it in the dusty pink color. This is the perfect snag for ladies who only occasionally find themselves in snowy weather or on a slope and do not want a big investment. This promises to deliver warmth and waterproofness with style, all under $80.
+Fur headwarmer — one of my girlfriends has one of these and looks SO chic in it! I like it in the white.
+Orolay down coat — this brand has been tremendously popular for the past few years — so much so that it has been called “the Upper East Side mom jacket”! Love the new pastel color variations.
+Talbots scarves — I have a couple of scarves from Talbots, including two in 100% cashmere, that my friends there have sent me the past few years and they are my favorite! Super-soft, a great length, versatile prints/colors. I wear them constantly!
+Zippo handwarmer — for seriously cold days, this does not mess around.
+Moncler Puffer — ultra-luxe. Also love the styling on this style (if a Bottega Veneta bag were a puffer coat…)
+Ugg scufette slippers — for thawing in front of a fire. I bought these as a gift for someone after reading countless rave reviews and have to admit am slightly envious.
Maisonette has discounted a couple of my favorite brands/styles and I had to flag —
+Busy Bees — I adored Hill in their George rompers and Windsor bubbles this past summer. Just the best quality and most classic prints, and I like the dimensions. (The shorts are actually short, i.e., mid-thigh, which is delightfully retro.) I also love mini their Peter Pan collar pima cotton dresses for everyday. The perfect traditional look, but easy to launder and look great even without an iron! All of these items are currently 40% off.
+Cienta — Love their t-strap style in red and navy for both boys and girls. They are the perfect compliment to the rompers and dresses from Busy Bees — slightly elevated classic. I love that these look dressy enough to pair with dresses, but feel like a sneaker. I buy these in navy and sometimes also red every single season! I also like their Mary Jane style — so sweet in gingham!
+CPC Kids — My absolute favorite shorts for mini (this print is fun for the Fourth) and I also love their Maddie dress (50% off!) Also love their longalls for boys, but they run generously big and baggy — you can go a full size down. (I find the shorts and dresses above run TTS, maybe even a tiny bit small.) Zulily still has some items (very low in stock) from this brand on crazy clearance sale for even less than Maisonette here, FYI.
+Lali — Gorgeous ribbed tights for 40% off. Often pair high-end, thick-ribbed tights with a dress like this.
*Image above via Sarah Bartholomew design. The vignette is major #goalz and has little to do with what follows, but it was too good not to repost.
This year was a year of learning and discovery on every imaginable front. I tried and routinely failed to be a Pinterest mom (and shared the most successful indoor activities here, most of them thanks to the genius of one Myriam Sandler); realized that my children can be happy and fulfilled even without venturing much outside of our apartment for the better part of a year; discovered what it would be like to live without my sense of taste and smell while coping with COVID-19 (not great — I’m so sorry, Claire!); became proficient in making my own fancy cocktails for happy hours at home; figured out how to stick with an exercise routine (main learning: commit to a schedule, block off the time on my calendar, and then pretend like there is simply no option to not go — it’s just part of the architecture of my day and cannot be moved); and published my first installment of fiction. I also made countless personal gaffes and missteps along the way–but here I am, having survived one hundred percent of my bad days and angling for better in 2021.
I cried, publicly, at the sight of the elderly woman I observed balancing a small cheese pizza on her walker as she slowly made her way into her building on Thanksgiving night.
And shed a tear when I noticed the small parcel outside a neighbor’s door: “Painting Party Kit for One! — Everything you need for a fun night to yourself” emblazoned on the front.
And, of course, the unbearable loss of jobs, livelihoods, and loved ones our neighbors (including several dear friends) have endured this year.
Here’s to a brighter 2021…!
And on a more frivolous circuit — some of my favorite purchasable discoveries this year:
WEMO SMART PLUG — UM, THE BEST THING EVER FOR THE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTS…”HEY SIRI, TURN ON THE CHRISTMAS TREE” INSTEAD OF SPITTING OUT PINE NEEDLES WHILE CONTORTING INTO A WEIRD FORM BEHIND THE TREE, DODGING MR. MAGPIE’S FANCY SPEAKERS
TODDLER UGG BOOTS FOR MINI — NEVER THOUGHT I’D BOOMERANG BACK INTO THE PRO-UGG CATEGORY, BUT THESE ARE WARM, GOOD IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER, AND EASY FOR HER TO PULL ON
DOVER STICKER BOOKS, WHICH HAVE PAVED THE WAY FOR US TO GET TO SCHOOL ON TIME ABOUT 1/3 OF THE MORNINGS THIS FALL/WINTER
What were your best discoveries this year, whether of the soul-growing or aesthetically-pleasing varieties?
First, Shopbop has another crop of amazing discount finds, but the main thing I want you to know is that these Agolde jeans (which I own and love!) are on sale. You can see me in them here, with a few other great Shopbop sale finds beneath.
Second, the Reformation sale is still raging! So many amazing dress scores. Already plotting for happy summer adventures in them, God and COVID willing.
Third, yesterday, I bought the chicest planner for 2021 at 40% off! Note that this is a daily planner — the way I like it. (I create lists for every day of the week.) I included a few other great agendas/planners at all pricepoints here.
Fourth, I shared all of my current favorite running gear essentials here, and it occurred to me that a few of these items would make excellent gifts for running/exercise enthusiasts and are still available on Amazon Prime for next-day delivery. Specifically, these wireless bluetooth headphones are amazing — waterproof and virtually indestructible and so much better to run with than your more-expensive and easier-to-lose AirPods. The sound quality is inferior to be sure, but I much prefer them to AirPods, which can fall out of my ears! And this water-resistant pouch has been my best running buddy for five years and counting. Mr. Magpie bought it for me when I was at the peak of my running fitness pre-children and I felt like a dunce for having run around with keys jangling in my pockets (and occasionally, while holding my phone in my hand!) for so long. Super slim and low-profile — you barely notice it’s there. I find it to be the perfect size for my iPhone X, a credit card (my Dad instilled in me the necessity of always carrying cash or a card while running for emergencies), and my keys.
And while we’re on the topic of last-minute gifts, a few items that are still marked for pre-Christmas-delivery…
PRETTY PASTEL BEANIE OR HEADBAND — I JUST ORDERED ONE FOR MYSELF
HERMES BODY SOAP (COMES IN PRETTY BOX) OR MOLTON BROWN SHOWER GEL (LOVE ALL THEIR PRODUCTS) — PERFECT FOR WHEN THAT GIRLFRIEND UNEXPECTEDLY DROPS OFF A GIFT…!
I’m feeling myself teetering dangerously on a desire to redecorate portions of my apartment. Does anyone else go through these upheavals every six to eight months or so? Like, I can be more or less happy with the state of my home for long stretches of time and all of the sudden I want to change everything!
I USUALLY HAVE A PROHIBITION AGAINST MOST PATTERNED PLATES IN MY HOME BECAUSE I TIRE OF THEM QUICKLY (WHITE SHOWS FOOD BETTER, TOO), BUT THESE ARE SO FUN
SPEAKING OF ORNATE IN A GOOD WAY: THIS BAR CART LOOKS LIKE IT BELONGED TO MY GRANDMOTHER AND I WANT IT
