+My favorite shoe at the moment — actually a house slipper. I have not taken these off all weekend. They are so plush and festive and easy to slip on and do you know what I feel like when I wear them with my plaid nap dress? A Christmas goddess.
Not featured in the collage above above, but on my radar this chilly and gray Sunday afternoon:
+Mini gingerbread man waffle maker and mini snowflake waffle maker. I bought the mini pumpkin waffle maker for Halloween and mini lost her mind over it! Such a fun little festive detail. I am debating the insanity of buying both winter designs so I can speed up the cooking process (and I think mini would love both designs!). These did sell out at Amazon/Target in the pumpkin shape so going to have to act fast.
+40% off everything at Maje and sister brand Sandro, meaning that you can score this tweed coat dress (which was one of the most popular items I featured last month) at a serious discount. Absolute perfection for a Christening or a demure wedding-related festivity. I am eyeing this perfect sweater dress with the scalloped detail and pearl fasteners — OMG. And let’s not forget Maje’s fleet of perfect little cardigans — eyeing this and this wow wow wow.
Maybe two years ago, a stylish but practical girlfriend of mine asked: “Do you wear one of those Bandolier things?” “Huh…?” I puzzled. Once she’d mentioned the brand by name, I was astounded at how often I spotted them on the street, in the school pick-up line, etc. The style didn’t particularly stir me, but fast forward two years later, and I find myself seriously in the market for my own. At the top of my lust list? Anya Hindmarch’s cheeky canvas-coated style from her “I Am a Plastic Bag Collection,” a series designed around a sustainable canvas material that took two years to develop and has no carbon footprint. (So cool!)
I bought nearly all of my children’s Christmas gifts this past week, fearing sell-outs and shipping delays — the only items I am holding off on at the moment are articles of clothing/items I believe will go on sale as a part of Black Friday promotions. I did end up adding a couple of new items to our list that are idiosyncratic to the interests and needs of my children. We bought mini this extravagant Maileg dollhouse for the mice she’s been collecting since she was born. My mother-in-law and I have always had fun giving her Maileg gifts together, so she is planning on furnishing the house with precious Maileg furniture! I am so incredibly excited to set it up under the tree for her.
We also bought micro this Kartell ghost chair in blue, which, at first glance, sounds incredibly boring, but he and mini always fight over the pink Kartell ghost chair we have set up at mini’s small table in her bedroom, and now he is old enough to want to participate in projects, color, paint, etc.! At the moment, he also simply loves climbing into the chair and slipping out of it, climbing in, climbing out, climbing in, climbing out. I’m excited, too, to be able to occasionally serve them dinner at that table, sitting in those chairs, for special occasions. (On special occasion, we let them watch movies in the living room while eating dinner.) Note: if you are thinking you might have more than one child, and even if you aren’t, probably best to get a table with two chairs that go with it from the get-go, even just for entertaining other little friends. (This one is cute.)
I bought a couple of other smaller toy items for them both, many already shared on this list, as well as a Kiwi Crate subscription (STEM activities curated by age!), but I did also buy micro this service station. I love the Janod brand and I was feeling as though micro needed his own “play universe” — a true second child, he has simply played with everything mini owns, including her duplos, magnatiles, Little People. I wanted him to have something his own.
You’re Sooooo Popular: Gucci Flats.
The most popular items on le blog this week:
+These MAJOR Gucci flats. I guess we’re all in the mode of self-splurging and wanting special shoes for the holidays? (More trendy footwear here, and more chain-embellished goodies here.)
+Turtleneck sweatshirt. (I own in the tan color. It has a nice thin weight — easy to layer.
How do you hit the reset button after a bumpy day, or week?
Earlier this week, my sister and I decided that we would not spend Thanksgiving Day together. She and her husband live in Brooklyn, and we had already all decided not to travel down to D.C. for the holiday to see our parents, but had been hanging on the hope of spending the day with one another given that we live across the bridge. Given the scary spikes in case counts, we made a somewhat last-minute decision against it. And though my brain and resolve told me one thing, my heart rioted. I found myself in a terse funk for the rest of the afternoon, unable to shake it off and baffled by the intensity of my response. I also couldn’t quite figure out what I felt — Upset? Sad? Disappointed? Caught off-guard? This shouldn’t be a surprise, I kept telling myself. We’ve canceled almost everything else anyway. What is really going on with you? It took a long, cold walk with Tilly and my own thoughts and then a long, tearful conversation with Mr. Magpie to realize I was, actually, angry! I was, to quote one of my favorite books on mini’s bookshelves, “mad…spicy mad.” I have felt many things this year about coronavirus, most of them on the sad and scared side of the emotional spectrum, but I hadn’t yet clocked anger.
I assume many of us feel this way right now. We are all fatigued and frustrated. News of the vaccine is spiriting, but it also leaves us feeling frenzied: can we hurry up?!? Can we fast-forward to the part where we have been inoculated? Ahh!
Mr. Magpie, ever the even keel, said two important things to me that night. First: “Let it all out.” And he stood in the kitchen across from me, nodding his head, as I unloaded. Then: “Now knowing that nothing we do today is going to change the outcome of Thanksgiving, how do we make tonight better? How do we hit the reset button for tonight?” And so we did all the things we have been doing since the dawn of this pandemic to muddle through: we hugged one another, we escaped into the TV (currently totally obsessed with the HBO show “The Undoing”), we sat down to a delicious dinner. And, just to make sure the reset button was fully depressed, I put on my favorite Hill House tartan nightgown, lit all the candles in our living room, and opened a bottle of champagne. It helped.
+Minor closet upgrade: going to put all of Mr. Magpie’s shoes in clear boxes. (More of my favorite home gear/organization items here.)
+Currently in the market for a bowling set for my little ones. We were really trying to think up more “active” activities for them as we head into the colder months, especially since we recently decided we will not send them to the playground anymore. This simple set is my front-runner since it has 10 pins (most of the toddler sets I’ve found only have five or six?) and I am anticipating my children will want to play at the same time? But then again…how gorgeous is this wooden set? Melissa & Doug always gets good reviews, too. Any suggestions?
+More indoor activities for small children here, and of course you could always go to my personal child activity guru, Myriam.
+Advent starts the Sunday after Thanksgiving! (If you need a last-minute calendar for children, Target has some fun options here and here, and some Advent wreath ideas here.) I like to give mini (and now micro!) something small every day of Advent — sometimes a piece of chocolate or bundle of crayons and sometimes bigger items. It does take some advanced planning. A couple of things I have on hand this year: sticker books (we love the Usborne ones and these little Dover ones, which are perfect for commute to school on days where I need something to get her out the door), winter animal figurines (I can put one or two in the pocket every few days), WaterWows, play-doh.
+I have heard great things about this detangling brush. I adore my Mason Pearson brush but I do find I need a separate detangler just out of the shower, and have been using a Tangle Teezer for years now, which does a good job of working through snarls, but I find that I fling it out of my hand routinely. I wonder if the proper handled brush might be a better solution.
Thank you for all of your recently-submitted queries! I’m answering about half of them here and will answer more in an upcoming post. Below, what you are shopping for…
A: Dondolo has some super cute options, like this dress for you and this one for her, as does Doen. Maisonette also releases mommy and me styles periodically that always turn my head — this dress for you, this dress for her. There are also some amazing coordinated tartan looks for the whole family here! Finally, this oversized bauble sweater comes in mommy and mini sizes for a more casual moment.
Q: The perfect neutral loafer (suede or leather?)
A: Tod’s! Worth the investment for sure. They are beautifully made and just never go out of style. You can get the look for less with these.
Q: Master bedroom bedding! Duvet cover in particular. We have the RH with the gray stripe.
A: Sounds like we have similar hotel-bedding-style preferences — we also used to own the RH in the gray stripe! Now, I own and love sets from both Boll & Branch (I have these sheets and am eyeing the coordinating duvet, but can I also put in a plug for their cozy bed blanket, which I currently use and LOVE? You can save 25% off with coupon code STOKES) and Hill House Home (I have the entire Chancery Lane set).
If you want something a bit more ornate, Matouk’s Mirasol and Aziza collections are stunning.
Q: Open cardigans/breastfeeding-friendly sweaters.
A: Oo, this is YOUR season. So many great statement cardigans out right now. A few of my favorites, which could be easily layered over a nursing tank:
A: Splurge: love these fun side tables from Oomph Home. For something less expensive, this under-$100 style comes in great colors, this wicker side table is precious and adds interesting texture, and this one has a clever design that enables you to bring the traytop over the arm-rest of your glider.
Q: A chic battery lamp for an entryway where there is no outlet.
Q: Puffer coat that is also somehow slimming and warm. Does this exist?
A: This Everlane! The length, profile, and lightweightness of the “puff” create a long line. (Also has a hidden drawstring cord to cinch at waist a little bit.) Higher-end pick: this Max Mara.
Q: So dumb: bathroom/powder room trash cans that don’t kill my Schumacher wallpaper vibe.
A: So chic! I adorethese nightstands (so elegant!) and these have an interesting shape, but are $$.
Q: A book explaining the religious side of Christmas to a three-year-old.
A: We have read Christmas in a Manger to Emory since she was a baby! Simple words and images.
Q: Ribbon to put on the Christmas tree.
A: I would suggest going for ribbon that is wide — 2.5 or 3″ wide — to make a big statement. Red velvet is a classic, but I know many of you go with pastels/white-themed trees, so here are a few pretty ones: pink, sheer plaid, even “chardonnay.” This metallic plaid or this mossy green are also chic!
Q: Stylish sneakers for my dance class. We jump a lot!
A: In my opinion, the most attractive sneakers are the APL Techloom. I love all the colors, though I have owned them in black/white in the past.
+Decided to bake these cinnamon rolls for Thanksgiving Day morning, Molly Wizenberg’s recipe published in Bon Appetit (many years ago). If you’ve never read Wizenberg’s first book and are looking for something beautifully-written and heart-warming, this is for you! Perfect holiday time reading, as it’s all about food and love.
+Honestly, I could not stop laughing at BBC’s coverage of Rockefeller Center’s Christmas tree (thanks to my girl Alison for sharing): the tree’s “sparse” appearance feels very “on-brand for 2020.” I shared this article with some of my family and my brother-in-law said: “Woof, it’s almost like there was a miscommunication and they cut down the wrong one.” “No, Chip, not that one — not — BUZZZZ.” The entire debacle led me to order this Christmas puzzle of a Rockefeller Tree from a better vintage. (Ha!) I also ordered this one. I am anticipating a lot of down time with just Mr. Magpie and I over this holiday season.
+If you’re looking for a last-minute activity to preoccupy little hands this weekend or on Thanksgiving morning that will not entail a lot of supervision (i.e., no glue or scissors involved), might I suggest buying a pack of inexpensive craft paper cards and envelopes and these stickers (or these) and having them decorate “thank you” cards for loved ones, neighbors, etc? That’s what my children will be doing this Saturday morning, and then our “outdoor activity” will be scooting to the mailbox down the street to drop them off.
+Uh-oh. Saks is running a tiered promotion — $50 off purchase of $250, $100 off purchase of $400, etc, etc — this Christmas red cocktail dress is calling my name…
+My hair stylist used this leave-in conditioner on my hair when I last got it cut and colored and I just snagged my own bottle, currently marked down from $28 to $18! Smells like heaven.
By: Jen Shoop
This book was unbelievable. In it, Woodson tells the story of multiple generations of a Brooklyn-based family, principally focusing on the unexpected pregnancy of Iris as a fifteen-year-old girl and the way her decisions to keep her baby and then leave her daughter in the care of her parents and boyfriend in order to pursue a college degree impact the family.
The prose runs both tactile and evocative, similar in a sense to Seamus Heaney’s poetry, which somehow communicates both earthiness, muck, physicality as well as the ineffable emotions that surge through us–often simultaneously. Both writers are in this sense worldly and other-worldly: they attend to the realities (sensorial and otherwise) of living in this world while also grappling with Big, Profound Things — in Woodson’s case, the meaning of family and motherhood in particular, the conditions of belonging to others while we are alive, even the nature of death. I marvel with particular wonderment at her conjuring of the forces of water and fire throughout the novel. Both elements play a functional role in propelling the plot forward and pinning down various symmetries in the novel’s narratives, but they also externalize the texture of this book, which feels almost like something fanning outward, rippling over–like flames, or waves. We don’t know if they are consuming the characters or propelling them, cleansing or burning, drowning or warming. There are deaths and injuries by fire, the sending of ashes out into the water, and many other moments conjuring these elements. The overlapping narratives told in different voices as well as the jumping forward and backward in time all further contribute to this sensation. The prose positively moves, and moves us with it.
I feel a lump form in the back of my throat when I think about this novel. There were sadnesses, yes–gaping absences, woundings, abandonments–but mainly it struck me as a slow fraying. Woodson does not linger on the specifics of a maudlin scene, for example. We find out about the (SPOILER ALERT) death of Aubrey not through elaborate poignant details but almost obliquely, in the moments leading up to it and the aftermath five years later and the briefly-glimpsed vision of Iris running sixty blocks to the World Trade Center. Because of this, there is never one central moment of agony or decay — just a slow tearing at the seams. Though we focus principally on Iris and her decisions, we also see the broad swathe of multiple generations of her family, and the way their heartaches are both intertwined and in some ways tragically disconnected. It is beautiful, truthful writing and I read it in two or three sittings, unable to think of anything else.
If you have read it, what did you make of the ending? Why did we end with a scene in which mother and daughter have been more or less reunited by the near-cosmic dint of the deaths of everyone else in the family, and their mutual discovery of gold (a material that can withstand fire!) buried by Sabe? It felt almost metaphorical to me, and at the same time, deeply believable. Please share your interpretations — I have been puzzling over this today…
+Currently reading Ruth Ware’s One by One (thriller!) as a little palette cleanser before digging into Billion Dollar Loser, a non-fiction chronicle of the rise and precariousness of WeWork, the co-working space behemoth.
+Currently listening to Cobble Hill, by Cecily von Ziegesar, author of Gossip Girl, which follows (copying and pasting from the cover materials) “a year in the life of four families in an upscale Brooklyn neighborhood as they seek purpose, community, and meaningful relationships—until one unforgettable night at a raucous neighborhood party knocks them to their senses.” I am listening to this book on Libro.FM, which several of you recommended after my post on audiobooks a week or two ago. Libro.FM enables you to buy audiobooks through your local bookstore. The folks there reached out to me after reading my post and generously offered me access to a selection of titles gratis.
+I am seriously considering this MZ Wallace crossbody in the navy with the red Gucci-esque striped strap — currently on sale! These are the kinds of bags that are heaven to have with little children around. I know several of you have raved about the similarly styled Dagne Dover phone sling.
+Speaking of Dagne Dover, I am also eyeing this fanny pack in the pretty matte pink color. I know I’ve talked your ear off about this, but I cannot believe how much wear I get out of my State Bags belt bag (available on sale here and here!). Or maybe I should invest in higher end one given frequency of use…black velvet Gucci anyone?
+These house slippers! LOVE. If they are too #extra for you, I also love the elegant smoking slipper styling of this pair. Peep the copy: “Furlanes are traditional indoor/outdoor Venetian slippers. These chic handmade shoes with slip-resistant rubber bottoms (once made with recycled bicycle tires after WWII) are worn by gondolieri so they do not ruin the wood of the precious gondolas. Legend says that the Venetian nobles wore them to sneak in silence, thanks to the soft and silent soles, in the night to meet their secret lovers.” YES. Love a shoe with racy history.
+Oh! Before we move on too far from bags, this stylish MZ Wallace backpack is also on rare sale. Love. I own the Metro style, but this is also majorly attractive as far as backpacks go. (And I did a lot of research on the subject back in the day.)
+Speaking of statement coats, one of my personal favorites in my closet is by Harvey Faircloth, a brand that seems to have gone out of business — it is a utility jacket with a wide band of faux fur trim and I get so many compliments on it to this day. You can still find them gently used on eBay and occasionally NWT. I love that they fancy up everyday jeans and add edge to dressier looks!
+Maybe by the time this post has gone live, this sweater will have dropped. LOVE. I wore a similar style from Zara earlier this year on Instastories but it has sold out!
Another one of my most-requested gift guides this season (second only to gifts for men): holiday gifts for babies! (I’ve covered toddlers, older children/tweens, and loved ones, and even added a special guide with gourmet gifts per multiple magpie requests.) As always, feel free to shoot me an email or direct message if you are still looking for something for a specific person. I love hunting for you all!
Some great gifts for little ones under two years of age (most of these ideas skew towards ~one year olds, with a specific section for under-six-months below):
+Fisher Price Little People. Both of my children have adored these toys from the age of maybe 8-9 months up. The figures are the perfect size for little hands and they promote imaginative play. Both of mine play with this house (still!), but this bus is a clever innovation since new/learning-to-walk little ones can pull it around with the handle. My son has been obsessed with this Little People Batmobile I gave him on Halloween. It has lots of interesting features (doors that open, things that click up and down, etc.) and, duh, it’s a car.
+Hammer Bench. We actually ordered this for Hill this year — he’s nearly 18 months and I think this would have worked as a gift far earlier, but I also think he’ll get a big kick out of organizing the pegs, hammering them, etc.
+Melissa and Doug Tub Stickies. (Come in multiple different patterns, like mermaids, numbers, etc.). My children love these, and Hill has been especially into them for as long as I can remember. You could bundle with other bath gear (my children love these bath dropz and tub crayons; and Tubby Todd can do no wrong in my book) or a darling bath robe.
+Mini Corolle Baby Doll. I think I’ve included this on every baby gift list I’ve ever done but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a small child more excited about a new toy in my life — mini went absolutely wild when she opened this at just shy of a year old. She loved it and carried it everywhere with her for months. The size of the mini Corolle is perfect for tiny little ones (it is super small!), but if you want a bigger doll, I would look at Minikane or Rosalina for precious alternative options.
+Wooden Block Set. Babies love stacking! I was surprised at how much longevity we’ve gotten out of this exact set for Hill — the size of the blocks is perfect for a baby. He will often lines them up on the edge of his crib or stacks them in towers. This alphabet set is also cute.
+Janod Shape Sorter. I love the wooden design on this style, and shape sorting toys are such a great gift to entertain and promote focus among small children.
+I Love Plum Tutus. I think my heart stopped the first time mini wore one of these adorable tutus to “pre-ballet” class. Just beyond precious. Cute with this book alongside it. The illustrations are darling!
+Duplos. A classic for a reason. My children have used these from around the age of one.
+Music Table. We try to give the children something in the art/music category every holiday — this was a big hit.
+Janod Doctor Suitcase. This is marketed for 3+ years so will need to be used with supervision, but mini received this at one year of age and has loved it and used it consistently ever since.
+Petite Plume Pajamas. Seeing a tiny body in old man-style pajamas is pretty much the cutest thing you will ever see in your life. (More holiday jammie ideas here.)
Big-Ticket Items.
+Mini Armchair. Such a sweet way to transform a corner of your room into a reading nook.
+Olli Ella Doll Stroller. Beyond darling. Can you even imagine it beneath a tree with an enormous velvet bow on it and a little baby doll nestled inside? Makes me swoon!
+Personalized Knit Sweater. Because, let’s be honest, babies under a year don’t really care about that much besides the wrapping paper, so might as well make it actually a gift for the mama! Ha 🙂
+Janod Activity Table. My parents have an activity center similar to this they keep in their living room and it is always the first destination for all grandchildren entering the house. I like this table style because little ones can pull up on it as they are learning to stand, and all of the Janod brand toys are attractively designed (non-plastic!)
+Piggy Bank (also love this actual pig style) with an inaugural deposit. We had good friends give mini a piggy bank when she was first born and it was just such a sweet gesture and classic gift.
+Wooden Stacking Rings. I think Hill’s ring set was the first toy he truly engaged with. Nice that they can teeth on the rings and also learn how to stack them up.
+Rattle Set. I’m specifically drawn to this set because they are soft-knit — do you know how often little babies drop things on their own faces?? These little teething ring/knit sets are also precious.
+7AM Enfant Foot Muff. Every baby needs a cozy stroller situation in cold weather! This brand is la creme de la creme and works with most strollers.
+Fisher-Price Sit-Me-Up Play Seat. I wish I had known about this before Hill was too big to use it, but this is genius! The perfect transitional seat for a baby just learning to hold up his/her head, but too floppy for an activity center. Cushioned, low to the ground. Every mom can use an extra place to put down her baby!
Net-A-Porter just marked down a bunch of amazing things. This Horror Vacui top is in my cart — the perfect way to add interest to your favorite jeans. Also worth a gander:
Unrelated, but you must also know that Ralph Lauren has marked down it’s near-iconic flag sweater for children to around $60. Bought it in navy for Hill. For some reason, when I checked out, they offered me free fast shipping even though the banner at the top indicates free shipping on orders over $150!
P.S.
By: Jen Shoop
*Dress above by Borgo de Nor, currently 70% off (!!!), seen on Camila Carril while lounging at home — exactly where I’ll be donning my dressiest duds this year.
I don’t know about you, but I am desperate for any occasion to dress up these days. Mr. Magpie and I take turns taking mini to school and sometimes I put on a dress and booties when it’s my turn (and the weather cooperates) just because it makes me feel good. My sister and brother-in-law recently glammed up in coat-and-tie/heels and pretended to “go out to dinner” at home one night, lighting candles and fixing up fancy cocktails first, and then sitting down to a proper dinner on china after. Below, sharing some holiday dresses for the upcoming season — no judgment (in fact, mad props) if you doll up just to trim your tree at home…
I feel as though I’ve been on a children’s clothing shopping hiatus for the past few weeks, and now I am looking to add some new pieces to get us through this next leg of increasingly cold weather. Below, some of my favorite latest finds:
I mentioned in passing that Mr. Magpie has been using the Calm app, which promotes better sleep and a quieter mind. One thing he observed after only a few days of use was that he found it close to impossible to get through a single ten-minute meditation session during the daytime without interruption. This sparked a wide-ranging conversation on how much noise and interruption all of us contend with on a daily basis. Even when we are dialed in on our laptops for work, there are all kinds of chimes, pop-ups, and tones that remind us of the meeting in five minutes, or the message from a colleague, or the arrival of a new email. These alerts can be disabled, but do we do it? Not always. Even the presence of multiple tabs in a browser can occasionally feel like “noise” — the “other things” vying for your attention while you are attempting to just respond to this singular email. And all of that is only within the frame of your computer screen. Then we also have our smartphones, with their infinite notifications (news! emails! social media! wellness apps! reminders! phone calls!) and the technologies and appliances in our homes that beep and ding and, well, just make noise by virtue of functioning (a washing machine, the clang of radiator, the tick of a clock). And on top of that we have street noise (as I type this at 10:02 a.m. on Friday, I hear the lurch of a bus, wheels on wet pavement, someone shouting something) and of course the constant commotion of the loved ones we live with during this pandemic, when so many of us are at home together more often than not.
These sounds are not invariably “bad.” They are audible reminders of the very full and fortunate life that we have willingly built together and the technologies we have opted into. And I am still-astounded by the incredible conveniences that modern innovation has afforded us. I often tell Mr. Magpie that it feels like we are living out The Jetsons fantasy world — I basically have “robots” living in my home thanks to modern technology: “Siri, read me the news” and “Siri, call my mom” and “Siri, what’s the temperature outside?” I can run out of bananas and diapers, more or less press a button, and have them appear on my doorstep in two hours. It is unbelievable. And to have been one of the last generations with one leg on each side of the digital divide allows for peculiar wonderment: much to my daughter’s eventual chagrin, I will one day say: “I can remember the day my dad first brought a computer to our home, and it was about the size of an oven, and we shared it breathlessly, and it didn’t have Internet on it.” (“What on earth did it do then?!” Haha.)
But our conversation also touched on COVID-19, and how living through this pandemic and of necessity passing much more time together in a small space has intensified the noise and density of interruptions. There are always small feet padding around, more deliveries at the door, the echo of a voice on a business call, the clanging around of pots in the kitchen — it is a busy soundtrack and it is difficult to pass more than a minute in total silence.
And quiet is, I think, inherently healthful for us. (Do we all agree on that?) So what do we do in the case of a deficiency in it?
I think many of us have either cultivated tactics for tuning out or turning down “noise” or have adapted to its omnipresence with varying degrees of begrudgement. For example, I love using the “do not disturb” function on my laptop while focused on writing, and I have my phone automatically set to “do not disturb” mode from 10 PM to 7 AM every night. I try my absolute best to use the “one screen at a time” tech detox, though I admit I am horrible about it in the hour just before bed. On the flipside, I am so inured to them, I find myself virtually unbothered by certain types of notifications on my phone. I feel like they don’t even register half the time! So, too, with street noise unless it’s something truly jarring — it’s all just part of the fabric of my day-to-day life in Manhattan.
But I had to ask — how do you deal with interruptions in your life? How do you carve out quiet space for yourself?
+These brush pots are such a chic way to organize pens on a desktop. I also love the eclectic small boutique (House of Cardoon!) that stocks them — this shop was founded by a fellow UVA grad and female entrepreneur. (Thanks, C., for the intro.) Thinking I might gift one of these with a rainbow of Le Pens to a fellow writer as a gift for the holidays.
+Contemplating pre-ordering this plum oil, which keeps selling out! Chrissy Teigen recently raved about it on Instastories and I have to say I’m intrigued…
+I haven’t yet ordered holiday cards…! Have you? This is gorgeous and so are these.
+After my comment about needing a new office chair in a recent post, a reader wrote in to say an interior designer had recommended this style. Chic and well-priced!
It’s the little things in life, right?! I recently had to part ways with this memory foam bath mat, which I absolutely adored for several months and then could not stand. On the pro side, it was the dreamiest feeling to climb out of a warm shower onto that plush, soft cushion. On the con side, it was next to impossible to clean. You *can* put it in the washing machine but then it’s always a hassle to balance with other heavy items (like towels) so it doesn’t make the washing machine sound like it’s dying. I also found that even when properly balanced in a load, it came out still looking not quite clean enough. So, I’m in the market for a new bath mat or two, this time more washing-machine friendly…
I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED JONATHAN ADLER’S WHIMSICAL ZEBRA MAT (LOOK FOR LESS WITH THIS) — OUR MASTER BED/BATH IS SO UNDERSTATED AND CIVILIZED; MAYBE THIS WOULD ADD A LITTLE TOUCH OF THE FRIVOLOUS
