This New Year’s Eve will truthfully be no different from the past several — we have deliberately and happily stayed in the past many years. Our favorite way to celebrate the new year is by drinking good champagne and indulging in an extravagant “seafood plateau,” including oysters (you can have them shipped to you from Mook’s Sea Farm), steamed lobster (this is where those graniteware seafood pots many of you are giving your husband for Christmas will come in handy), spiced shrimp (boil shrimp with beer, slices of lemon, some whole peppercorns, and a couple bay leaves; drain; douse in Old Bay), and, on occasion, caviar. We love to serve all of this with cocktail sauce laced with extra horseradish. In years past, I have supplemented the spread with savory monkey bread topped with dill butter or hush puppies made from my favorite Southern cookbook. This year, I’m contemplating making my own pimento cheese dip (there is also a good recipe in the Southern cookbook) and serving with my favorite crackers from Firehook Bakery. I am also dying to try these special cheese crackers from The Rounds…! So special for a fun occasion. I usually make a cheesecake for dessert (no idea why — it just feels festive?), but might branch out and do something different this year. Maybe little pavlovas topped with whipped cream and currants?
To make the occasion extra special, a few little finds to brighten the mood…
GALVANIZED METAL TIERED SERVER — THIS SPECIFIC STYLE IS PERFECT FOR SERVING SEAFOOD, AS YOU CAN PACK CRUSHED ICE ON EACH LAYER AND PRESENT THE FISH THIS WAY WITHOUT IT MELTING/DRIPPING OFF EDGES
THIS STAND WOULD MAKE FOR A DRAMATIC MONKEY BREAD PRESENTATION!
If you’re getting glitzed up (like I am): a BIG heads up that Matches has a bunch of sequin Saloni dresses for like 70% off. I bought this one for $127 (also comes in a silver)! Unfortunately, that H&M dress is now likely not going to arrive in time, which is such a shame because they just launched a companion little girl’s dress that would have been beyond precious…but the steep discounts on sequined Saloni at Matches almost make up for it! (This one is also major — love the green!)
If you’re going more casual, love the idea of a pair of velvet pull-on trousers like these, these, or these (all under $100) with a fun statement top like this or this, or a white silk blouse like this or this. Or, dress up your favorite jeans with this velvet top (under $25!) or this (under $40).
P.P.P.S. Will be interesting to compare what I learned in 2019 to what I learned in 2020…
By: Jen Shoop
My girlfriend Jen just hosted a socially-distanced birthday party for her daughter outside that we sadly missed — but I was dying over the La Duree macaron cart she put together for it. Totally and unabashedly piggy-backing off her idea by starting to daydream about a candy-themed birthday for my own girl, turning four in three months! We won’t be having a party for it, but I am now planning to transform a little corner of our apartment into a candy cart for her to celebrate the day. The idea is quickly snowballing out of control, but I had to share so many precious finds I came across for the occasion, starting with this beyond adorable play candy cart and outrageously darling details like these candy-accented straws. OMG!
*Image above via Mary Ellen Becker — absolutely swooning over this stunning entryway. Maybe the prettiest Christmas vignette I’ve seen this year?! Brava!
My Latest (Soon-to-Be) Snag: Bag Strap.
I have been hunting for a chic bag strap for a little gray teddy-textured pouch similar to this that I have so that I can wear it as a crossbody on school drop off days, and I am swooning over the options at Parker Thatch. I cannot decide between this pink/red stripe, this Gucci-esque style, or maybe this patterned one?! All of the stripes are so fun and eye catching. I need help — which one should I go with?! I’m leaning towards the pink/red.
+Our living room rug. I always get questions about this! Great neutral but with a print/interest.
+I swore by this body tonic while pregnant and have converted at least two dozen expecting moms to its magic. I think that stretch marks are hereditary but this was still unbelievable for relieving the dry, stretched, uncomfortable skin on my belly!
Do you have a signature scent? My mom is a big proponent of switching out perfumes every few months while my mother-in-law has worn Dior’s J’Adore for as long as I’ve known her, and I can’t think of my elegant grandmother without remembering her signature Houbigant Paris Quelques Fleurs scent (which my youngest sister now wears in her memory!)
I’m somewhere in the middle, having gone through phases of wearing one scent exclusively, testing a sampling, and now having firmly re-entrenched myself in Narcisco Rodriguez’s For Her scent, which continues to be my favorite scent (on me) of all time. I’ve worn it on and off since college (when I mimicked the chicest girl I knew by wearing what she wore — Chanel Coco Mademoiselle — for a spell, which smelled far too mature for me TBH) and I love the way it is both soft and feminine but spicy — j’adore.
Mr. Magpie hasn’t worn cologne since his early 20s but — is this weird? — I love his natural smell. He always smells clean? I don’t know how, but I married the cleanest man on earth! A reader recently wrote in requesting cologne suggestions and I came up dry for this reason!
What is your signature scent? What scents do you love?
Post-Scripts: Teddy Headband.
+Cutest teddy-style headband for $10! Much more reasonable than the $65 Loeffler Randall headband we were all gunning for…
+This beaded gingham baguette bag is giving me major Carrie Bradshaw vibes and I kind of dig it. Are we headed back toward late 90s fashion?
+Poppy Flowers generously sent me one of their Poppy at Home flower arranging kits (seen above) last week, and I had the best time arranging my own bouquets! I have to say I learned a lot about flowers and arranging them while watching the instructional video by their founder. (And I am a cut flower lover!) For example, I never knew that you can remove the outer petals (“guard petals”) of a rose — or that by blowing into its face while spinning in your palms, you can encourage the rose to open up a little bit for a softer bouquet effect. This might be a fun idea for a flower lover celebrating the holidays solo, or even a surprise pick-me-up after the holidays. If you want to test yourself, they have offered you all a code — JEN10 for 10% off.
+I have to publish a correction: this Gehwol foot cream is actually quite good when used religiously, every night, for several weeks. I suppose I was expecting the near-instant results the LRP foot cream (RIP) delivered, but this stuff is very effective — just takes longer. Strongly endorse. (Originally discussed this matter here.)
+This $30 portable space heater has proven to be one of the best buys of the past decade. We first bought it for our basement in Chicago, which always — in the way of all good basements in old houses — ran cold and drafty. I have since used it frequently in our current apartment by my desk in my bedroom, which sits in front of two enormous windows, and where I am routinely shivering/draped with throws despite having a radiator in the room. Thought I’d mention this because I feel like many women run cold. I used to bring a space heater to my desk at work back in the day! This is great because it’s small/compact and it really works. (Can’t argue with nearly 26,000 five star reviews!)
+What are your thoughts on Taylor Swift’s new album? Pls share in comments. I am finding it highly polarizing! Tip of my hat: I am into it. Especially “No Body, No Crime.”
+One ridiculous splurge I have made on my children has been quilted Burberry coats. They are so sweet and beautifully made and I reason that I can pass down to little nieces/nephews in the future. I had to note that this one is 25% off. In a similar vein, I also love this simple/classic J. Crew style for little boys (currently 50% off) and this peplum style for little girls (and totally smitten with the similar vests, currently on sale!).
+If you are scrambling for a last-minute, show-stopping gift for, like, a wife…or yourself…what woman would not die to open the Dyson AirWrap? I am SO intrigued by this but also put off by the price. Can it really be so much better than our shared favorite Revlon One Step to legitimize the fact that it is 14x the price?! I do not know but I can tell you I’d positively squeal to give it a whirl…
+On the flipside, if you are scrambling for a last-minute, show-stopping gift for your husband, let me tell you that this Canada Goose parka (Mr. Magpie owns in the military green color — runs TTS) was one of the best-received gifts I’ve ever given Mr. Magpie. He would probably not have ever bought one for himself, but it is SO warm and practical and stylish for any well-dressed gent in a cold climate. I strongly prefer the styling of this particular Langford parka, too — I looked at all the styles from Canada Goose and I felt this was the most attractive, masculine version.
+A couple of other last-minute gifts that should arrive on time below. Let me divulge that while I did handle the bulk of my shopping around Thanksgiving, I added a couple of gifts to my list a little late in the game and have bought most of these items myself in the past few days:
+This is urgent: my favorite lipstick, Chantecaille’s Lip Chic, is on sale in select colors for only $19 (50% off). This stuff glides on like balm and comes in the prettiest colors.
P.S. If you’ve not yet shared your five interesting facts, please do! The comments section is a goldmine! Did you know there is a Magpie reader who is the only person in the world pursuing an PhD in the history of carpets?! And another whose great-great grandfather was a robber baron?!
Finally, if you are finding yourself in dire straits with regards to Christmas shopping, get thee to Lake Pajamas. Order by tonight for guaranteed Christmas arrival. Who wouldn’t love some soft pima jammies or this chic poplin stripe set? (No one.)
P.S. A lot of the books here would make great last-minute gifts for children, and will arrive by Christmas, too.
P.P.S. What are you reading? I need a new rec for a fun thriller!
By: Jen Shoop
Last week, I shared my favorite beauty buys of 2020. This week, I wanted to introduce a couple of beauty discoveries I have recently purchased for myself or are already in cart — sort of an early let’s-start-fresh-in-2021 gift to myself —
LUVSCRUB (SO MANY OF YOU ARE OBSESSED WITH THIS! CAN’T WAIT TO TRY)
1 // Has anyone tried Biologique Recherche Lotion P50? I know this has enjoyed a cult following for a long time. I’m loathe to introduce anything new to my skincare regimen at the moment since I’m trying to work retinoids into the routine and I don’t want to contend with anything else, but still curious for the future Worth the hype?
2 // Has anyone tried the GloPRO derma roller? I’m generally wimpy in the face of any contraption or intense treatment (hats off to those of you who wear those intense LED masks!) and in fact have never had a facial in my life (!) but something about this micro-needling roller has, for some inexplicable reason, turned my head. Very intrigued!
And — who has a body wash she loves? I’m currently eying this scrub but open to suggestions.
I am not great at praying. I find it difficult to totally quiet my mind and, especially with prayers I know by rote, find myself prone to wandering thoughts. In all honesty, I can’t say the daily prayer circle I have sustained with my sister and mother since the dawn of this pandemic has afforded much correction in this department. It is still a daily struggle to completely hoist myself into an appropriately prayerful and receptive mindset. There are mornings where I must make multiple attempts at the prayer, unsatisfied with those previous. It is often easier for me to just talk to God — which I know to be its own kind of prayer — or to find that centered mindset when I am in a Church or, better yet, looking out across the majestic Rockies, or on a remote monastery nestled in their alpine embrace. My home, by contrast, especially in the morning, is a den of distraction. Chores, children, coffee, the crash of Duplos, the surging desire to get the day going, the imminence of our must-get-out-the-door-to-get-to-school-on-time deadline vie for my attention.
I wondered the other day whether my contextual preferences around prayer — these conditions that enable me to “pray on my own terms” — are in their own way a selfishness, or a symptom of lassitude? Rare, after all, to find perfect conditions for any undertaking–a subject of recent discussion with Mr. Magpie as we burn our way through the Netflix series “Queen’s Gambit.” We were both struck, in episode three or four, by the interplay of the game’s rules; the player’s agendas, skillsets, and preferences; and the various “extra-curricular” interruptions that, together, mean that much of chess is played off the board. A similar lesson emerges from Mr. Magpie’s disciplined culinary maneuverings in the kitchen: the recipe is merely a fraction of the battle. Then you have ingredients, measurements, skill, quality of cookware, temperature (both ambient and in oven) to contend with. A good cook (like Mr. Magpie) agonizes over the specifics: “what qualifies as a small onion?” “but does he mean a mince, a dice, or a rough chop?” “should the protein be brought to room temperature prior to being placed into the pan?” “my oven runs cool — how to adjust for that?” Etc, etc, etc. In short, being technically good at anything requires constant renegotiation with often unanticipated realities.
So though I do try to pray with some measure of mindfulness, I must try harder. In the meantime, one beneficence of my spotty prayerfulness is that some days, the words of the prayer positively leap off the page at me in a way they did not just 24 hours prior. And I am jarred — in a good way — by that radiance.
I prayed these exact words every morning for nine days straight —
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
— and on the ninth, something clicked, profoundly.
Thought I’d leave those words here for you if you need them today.
Post-Scripts.
+The picture at the top of this post reminds me so much of my First Communion, which I wrote a little bit about here.
+I’ve mentioned these in posts past, but these Yumbox snack boxes (also available in a full lunchbox size) are truly an excellent little investment for your child. They are leak proof, have just the right sized compartments, and mini for some reason loves it — I think it just makes lunch more fun for her somehow.
+A couple of star-print Native shoes still left on sale here! Perfect for next summer (FOJ!)
+Did anyone else’s husband freak out over the baseball mitt chair in the boy’s room in the HBO show The Undoing? Mr. Magpie commented on it no less than five times. I found one like it here. Now on my lust list for micro’s big boy room…
A: Parents can be so tough to shop for. My top picks for loved ones here, but I will say I have yet to find a woman who doesn’t love a new pair of nice pajamas for Christmas (have personally suggested these to about half a dozen close friends looking for gifts for MILs/moms/step-moms — and they can still guarantee delivery by Christmas) or slippers (Other slipper options: I have been living in these, but these look like heaven, I’m personally desperate for a pair of these, and I bought a loved one a pair of these, which are wildly popular. I should note that my sister and I were almost allergic to the Ugg brand after wearing them in our teen/college years and looking back with chagrin at how we paired them with denim mini skirts but…now? I totally get them. Bought mini her first pair this year! They are warm, easy to slip-on, and good for most weather. Oh, and if you want to spend more, these Gucci slippers are…to die.)
Finally, just about anything on this shopping list is something I personally am eyeing/have bought…
Q: An outfit for myself to wear home with my new baby, due in February.
A: Ooh! Congratulations! Depending on temperature, I would go with a new Hill House nap dress in an opaque fabric (most are nursing-friendly — I would probably do the navy check in the Ellie style) and treat myself to a new cardigan (a bunch of chic ones here) with a pair of slip-on mules/slides (would be dreamy and extra to wear these Guccis or a pair of timeless Manolo maysales). Easy, loose-fitting, no buckles or ties or anything complicated.
If the dress is not your vibe or it’s too cold in your parts, a fun new long-line statement cardigan (also love this — perfect for a mom and baby girl pick if daughter is wearing pink to leave the hospital) is perfect for celebrating in — I’d layer over a nursing tank and my maternity leggings!
A: Honestly, I’d skip the dustbuster and invest in a Miele C1 classic canister vacuum. I wish I’d done this years ago. One of the best purchases I’ve made, and the attachments can accommodate nearly any circumstance where you’d need a dustbuster.
That said, we did buy this for our car back when we had one (we sold ours a year into living in Manhattan) and — pre-Miele — I did find I used it quite a bit at home. It’s a great, sturdy, surprisingly powerful handheld vacuum.
Q: Interesting detailed tops for zoom calls.
A: Love this! So 2020. Some of the patterned turtlenecks I shared here would be fun, as would be anything from the statement collar microtrend (this and this are amazing and both under $100). A couple of other specific finds:
THIS $118 BLOUSE, WHICH REMINDS ME OF SOMETHING BY SEA
A: Aw – sweetest! My first thought was a Love Every subscription. People love these kits because they send you beautiful (think non-plastic/non-blinking) age appropriate toys. I wish I’d done this for Hill, to be honest — I bought him so few new toys (lots of hand-me-downs) and I think this would have been a special little treat for my second baby.
Some of the gourmet gifts here or the gifts for book lovers here would also fit the bill!
Q: Christmas gift for boyfriend’s parents! Something the whole family could enjoy?
A: Gourmet gifts — I have lots of really fun ideas from fantastic sources (i.e., not just your standard box of fruit or popcorn tin). Also love the idea of a chess set (so trendy RN thanks to Queen’s Gambit) or this luxe set of classic board games.
Q: A super-soft long sleeved tee (athleisure/loungewear) for my mother-in-law.
Q: A classic gold signet ring that will last a lifetime.
A: Check out Stone and Strand! One of my chicest girlfriends wears a vintage, personalized signet ring on her pinky and she looks amazing. Upgrade pick: Tiffany.
Q: My friend is pregnant and going through a rough time (unrelated to pregnancy). $50-ish gift idea?
A: Shoot – sorry to hear that. Honestly, the most amazing and out of the blue gift I received when I was going through a tough time was a bundle of cookies and cake balls from MilkBar, and, a few years later, a big box of Levain cookies. These and other gourmet treats here. Not suggesting to eat your feelings but…haha! Sometimes it just feels good to treat yourself to something fun and frivolous and indulgent when you’re feeling blue.
Otherwise, a luxe face mask (who else loves receiving skincare/cosmetics as gifts? So fun!). I personally love this Origins clay mask and use it at least once a week — maybe bundle with the much-buzzed-about La Neige lip mask?
P.S. More of what you’re shopping for right now here.
My winter 2020 uniform has been turtlenecks layered beneath chunky cardigans. (And, despite my best efforts, I’m back, most days, in jeans. They are just easier for me to pair with boots on cold days!) Above, I’m wearing a tissue turtleneck from J. Crew (I now own like ten of these) and this Vita Grace cardigan. I have been branching out into patterned turtlenecks recently — I especially love this tartan style from J. Crew (70% off right now)! I have also snagged a couple of excellent chunky cardigans from Zara this season, including this one with the most perfect jeweled buttons.
To sustain this winter vibe, I am currently majorly lusting after…
If cardigans just aren’t your style, I also love layering a turtleneck under a blazer like this (but then go high-waisted on the jeans, tuck in your turtleneck, and make sure your shoes are FIERCE to avoid looking too buttoned up — think embellished biker boots like these) OR under a funnel neck sweatshirt like this (I own this exact style in the camel color and especially like it layered over a striped turtleneck) or this (!!! — such good colors).
Most often, I’m wearing this little cardi-turti combo at home with my velvet house slippers (similar here), and I like to throw on embellished stud earrings like these or these in the evenings to mark the end of the work day and the launch of happy hour.
I treasure all of the reader responses to my getting to know you post. Did you know there is a Magpie reader who…
+”Makes chocolate chip cookies on average three times a week.”
+Describes “Hiddensee (small Island at the baltic sea coast of Germany)” as her favorite place on earth.
+”Built a standing committee at my very traditional synagogue to improve treatment of and relations with interfaith families. As a child of an interfaith family and current member of an interfaith marriage, this has been a real labor of love.”
+Describes her superpower as “patience and my deep love for my children. I put them first always.”
+Wishes she could tell herself ten years ago: “You look amazing, own it.”
+”Was the first person in my family, extended included, to earn a college degree.”
+Just before bed, every night, tells her husband she loves him and hopes he has sweet dreams — “Could not live with myself if he would pass in the night without it!”
+Lists as her desert-island book: “The Thornbirds by Colleen McCollough. (As my sister says, it’s a good book to read if you want to fall back in love with reading.)”
+Uses as a mantra: “‘Everything you need is already inside.’ It’s a quote from Bill Bowerman, former Oregon coach and co-founder of Nike.”
+Identifies the following mezcla of interesting people as her dream dinner party guests: “My grandfathers (who passed away) and fiancé (they never met but would have had so many interesting conversations) and Hannah Ahrendt.”
In awe of each of these women for different reasons. Today, I thought I’d get to know you better but leaving you with an asynchronous icebreaker — what are five surprising or interesting facts about you? I usually hate this prompt in real life because I can never think quickly enough on my feet, but because we can take our time here…GO. And feel free to scale back or dial up if you can only think of two or have a desire to share seven.
I’ll start. It was a little hard to think of these since I share so much with you already, but here goes:
1 // I am left-handed. So is my husband, my daughter, and, likely, my 1.5 year old son.
2 // My great-great-grandfather, Arunah Shepherdson Abell, founded The Baltimore Sun newspaper in 1837. (How bout that name?)
3 // I triple majored in English, History, and French. The University of Virginia did not allow triple majors (double majoring was the maximum permitted), but I completed all area requirements for majoring in all three disciplines nonetheless.
4 // Steven Spielberg scouted my childhood home for one of his movies in the early 90s. I’m not sure which film it was for or whether it was ever produced, for that matter, because my parents — fiercely private as they are — firmly declined to entertain the conversation.
5 // I studied piano lessons from first through tenth grades. Unfortunately, my hands were so small, they barely spanned an octave, meaning many classics (especially more technically complex ones) were logistically tricky for me to pull off. Serious piano playing was just not in the cards for me.
Go!
Post Scripts: Items You Never Knew You Always Needed.
*Many of these items would make incredible, quirky gifts for a loved one who is difficult to shop for. How about these beautiful shears for a flower lover?
+Premium cheese grater with olive wood box. We hunted for a long time for a cheese grater that would yield the kind of hard, pebble-like gratings vs. the thin, long shards you get with a Microplane. Surprisingly difficult to find! Then we found this, which is beautifully designed and yields the perfect grated cheese for topping pasta or soup (i.e., the gratings don’t dissolve immediately upon contact). It’s pretty enough to leave the wooden box out on the table with a spoon for serving! The shipping will make you pause and think twice, but don’t — even if this item cost double what it does, it would be worth it. Beautiful gift for a discerning cook! UPDATE: Mr. Magpie was adamant I should clarify this grater is for hard cheese only.
+Brass bumble bee door knocker. Can you imagine a happier greeting on a front door? Just the sight of this on someone’s door would make me want to get to know the homeowner.
+First day / last day pennant. I decided to forgo the individualized grade years for back-to-school and last-day photos and get this infinite-use pennant instead. One side reads: “First Day”; the other reads: “Last Day.” Comes in a range of great colors. Buy now and you’ll be ahead of the game come year end. (And this one will really be a “last day of school” to celebrate.)
+Shun utility shears. I mentioned this in a recent post, but these are an MVP in our house. Cuts through just about anything, including crab shell, but great for things like trimming twine, assisting in the breaking down of a chicken, cutting anything from parchment paper to herbs, etc. The handles come apart for easy cleaning and they are dishwasher safe. We have two pairs of these and they are used daily.
+Upholstered sconce shades. You would be startled at how much a relatively small investment like this can transform and personalize a space.
+Botanical clogs. For slipping on to take out the garbage or grab the newspaper from the front lawn.
+Plastic trays. If you have small children, these will be your best friends. I use them daily and for infinite purposes — setting up activities, corralling markers while in use, arranging a sensory bin, etc. Easy to clean and the perfect dimensions.
+Marvis toothpaste dispenser/squeezer. It’s the little things in life, OK? Like a tidy spot for your toothpaste that forestalls the inevitable argument with your husband about squeezing the toothpaste from the top instead of the bottom of the tube. (Just me?)
+Silicone mat. Wonderful to use when little hands are coloring/crafting somewhere that makes your stomach uneasy (fancy dining room table) or using a material (glitter) that leaves you chanting quiet mantras of peace to yourself.
+Pack of 12 white appetizer plates. Used daily in our house for any manner of purposes — a spoon rest, a small snack, a bread and butter plate, a dish to set a small basil plant in, etc. The perfect size.
+Kuhn Rikon peelers. Just the best. So sharp and easy to maneuver. The design is perfect — we have more expensive ones from OXO that we hate in comparison to these.
+Pruning shears. Speaking of shears, everyone needs a pair of proper pruning shears. Even in our apartment, we’ve used them for things like our Christmas tree (which needed a little haircut on top), woody-stemmed flower arrangements, etc. We also have a pair for flowers (the pruning shears would be a bit heavy duty for standard flower arrangement) that I use whenever we have cut flowers in the house.
