Mirrors are such an incredible design accent for a home. They make small spaces feel bigger and are often a considerably more reasonable investment than fine artwork. I am sharing a couple of incredible spaces designed by one of my favorite interior designers, Amy Berry, that prominently showcase interesting mirrors above and below. I love the way she tends to use the mirror frame to create interesting contrast in either color or style with the rest of the room’s design.
A couple of my favorite mirrors for home right now…
First: Happy Labor Day sale shopping! I will be updating this post with all my latest sale finds/scores. One sale that ends today is on my beloved gray Superga sneakers, which I wear season after season with everything from dresses to denim and are currently under $30. (Check out the entire Superga sale section here.)
My Latest Snags: Veronica Beard Flats + A Quilted Coat for Fall.
Just reiterating two items I’ve shared a number of times this week that I am CRAZY excited about: first, these Veronica Beard croc flats, which I snagged for $84 (originally $350). I had been looking for a new casual loafer for fall and my front-runner had been a pair of these camo Rothys, which people go wild over (very comfortable). The VBs are SO chic and had to happen thanks to the ultra-steep discount! I can’t wait to wear them with dark denim and fun fall sweaters. I know that they are only available in limited sizes at VB, but Shopbop has a couple of pairs of these flats in different prints/materials on sale for even less ($79) — love these leopard ones and these python ones. Did I mention they are only $79?! You can’t even get a pair from J. Crew for that price, and VB’s quality is infinitely superior. If you’re hell-bent on the light brown croc color I have but they’re sold out in your size on VB, you can find them here for $169.
I also received the CUTEST quilted coat from Talbot’s the other day. I got the black (I guess I really am turning into a Manhattanite…) and took the P size in petites. It fits me perfectly — I am 5’0 and usually wear a size XS or 0 for reference. I absolutely love the length, which is slimming and elongating. I also own a Barbour quilted coat that I love for fall, but I am delighted by the longer length of the Talbot’s coat, which makes it feel a little bit more versatile (it could be dressed up a little bit with spiffy flats or worn over a dress). And the hood is so fun! Anyway, very impressed with quality and can’t wait to wear this as we transition to fall…I also have to say that I really got a lot of mileage out of Everlane’s liner jacket (currently on sale) last fall. It’s thin so not great for weather under, say, 40-45 degrees, but perfect for layering when the temperatures are still turning.
Weekend Musings: Tricks for Staying Composed During a Presentation.
I always get nervous before a public speaking engagement or big presentation. At the moment, these opportunities are admittedly few and far between both because of my current career path and coronavirus, but I still find myself leaning on a few tricks I learned from a couple of speech coaches back when I was routinely pitching my business in various venues (at pitch competitions, in front of VCs, and in various other promotional settings) and, before that, when I was delivering talks as a the Chief Innovation Officer for an educational technology non-profit. I find these tactics have come in handy even when I was toasting my sister (virtually!) on her wedding day and on a couple of recent calls I have had relating to this blog and so I thought they may be of use to some of you, too.
The first thing: welcome the nerves. I used to work hard to suppress or deny my anxiousness before speaking in public. “Calm down,” I’d tell myself, irritated. Then I had a speech coach tell me: “You’re thinking about this the wrong way. Accept the nerves and the excitement and the tense energy. Your body is doing what’s natural — it’s getting you ready for the stage. It’s your body saying: “I’m here with you, I’m winding myself up, I’m getting ready to nail this.”” That mental shift made a world of difference to me. Now, whenever I feel butterflies or find myself anxiously pacing or even shivering backstage, I nod at myself: “Yep, you’re just getting ready. Let’s do this, Jen!”
The second thing: Focus on your pacing, especially during the first thirty seconds. It sets the tone for the rest of your talk. Force yourself to speak with deliberation that feels almost unnatural. Deliver your first line as slowly as you ca and then take a very deep breath and a very long pause. If you are anything like me, the measured pace will be mildly excruciating that first couple of seconds because I am always eager to just get started, to jump into things, to go fast, to finish, and my nerves can often cause me to speak very quickly. But you’d be surprised at how well this forced pacing works at giving you a sense of control over the room and over the talk itself. If I make it through that first line very carefully and slowly, I always find the rest of the talk a breeze.
The third thing: Slow and center your movements on stage. It is easy to fidget or pace back and forth when you’re standing in the limelight. It is in fact tremendously difficult to get yourself to stand with both feet planted while you deliver. But I guarantee that teaching yourself to stand confidently in one place and only move with deliberation will make you look and feel much more in control. When you are moving, one big breakthrough for me was learning to take a surprising step toward the audience. It feels a little unnatural the first time — you’d be surprised how often you are likely to stand along the same latitude, or maybe take a step back. But taking a step toward the audience at a key moment in your presentation gives the impression of control, confidence, and engagement with your audience. It’s a tiny thing but it really makes a huge difference if you watch any well-seasoned public speaker.
What other tricks do you have?
Post-Scripts: Footies + Sales.
+This two-pack of footies for infants is such a good deal, and I love the unfussy prints/colors.
+Such a gorgeous everyday dress as we head into fall — love the color and sleeves. Would wear with simple leather sandals now and smart neutral flats as things cool down.
+This 3-pack of pastel toddler gloves were a great find for mini — I figure they’ll be easy (and non-precious) to throw in the wash after our commute from school, during which I am sure I will cringe countless times as she touches every surface available to her.
+Love trays like these for organizing drawers and medicine cabinets. I own these similar ones — they are in almost every drawer/cabinet in my home!
+I have been seeing a lot of “lettuce-edge” detailing on base layers/thin sweaters this fall. This throws me back to the 90s and I love it! Eyeing this great black basic.
+This pair of lamps is such a great price for such sweet lamps for a girl’s nursery! Would be cute atop bedside tables or flanking the ends of a wide bookcase or dresser.
Last week, I could not get my three-year-old to the dentist. It was one of a few times in my career as a mother where I was wholly overwhelmed to the point of paralysis, both mind and body succumbing to the force of my daughter. Mini is too old to be forced into a stroller and too strong and heavy to be carried somewhere against her will. No bribe or sweet talk or forceful words could cajole her to put one foot in front of the other and accompany me the three blocks to the dentist. And so I found myself attempting to carry her unwieldy body under the assault of her swinging arms before squatting down on Amsterdam Avenue as she flailed and screamed, grasping her wrist with my hand to prevent her from sprinting off into traffic, and I thought: “I have no idea how to get myself out of this.”
Eventually, I took a deep breath and let her go. She ran all the way home and then stood in the lobby, heaving those big, fat, chest-filling toddler sobs as enormous crocodile tears streamed down her face. I stood in the doorway of our building and we eyed one another.
“Do you need a hug?” I offered, tentatively. She nodded and I took her into my arms and we stood in the door jamb embracing one another for ten minutes, her tears eventually subsiding into the occasional suck-y intake of breath of a child whose body is exhausted by her own emotions.
The doorwoman, a true angel and beloved part of my daily life here in New York, had made a “tsk” noise of compassion toward me when mini had careened into the lobby — and then afforded us a wide berth. I was grateful in that moment that she was a mother, too. It felt that she knew exactly what I was standing up against and that she also knew — by virtue of the understanding cluck of her tongue and the way she serenely retreated behind the second set of glass doors to preoccupy herself with the stack of papers at the lobby desk — that this, too, would pass.
I had surreptitiously called Mr. Magpie as I embraced my daughter in the doorway of the building, and my voice had nearly cracked when I had said: “I can’t get her to the dentist. I need your help.” He replied, instantly: “No problem.” He reshuffled his meetings for the morning and then met us in the lobby, where I was still squatting with mini in my arms, though she was now poking at my eyelashes and eyebrows and giggling to herself.
Mr. Magpie did not make a fuss. He did not comment or reproach or narrate. He just scooped mini up in his arms with his face arranged into a jovial smile and we strode altogether to the dentist while I silently collected myself in their wake. Halfway there, I watched as she rested her flushed face on his shoulder and said: “The whole family is going to the dentist” with something like happiness. Oh, the mercurialness of a toddler! And oh, the emotional whiplash of parenting in its midst! I am always tender-footed, worrying that I will be too dismissive of something substantive — a true fear, a true anxiety that must be met with dignity — and yet there are also days where I see that her fury is drawn up blindly against the shape of my authority. Was the scene that morning because she was afraid of the dentist or because she is three and did not want to be plucked from her toys?
Because of the dentist’s COVID-19 protocols, only one parent was permitted into the office, and so I sat outside in the sticky August heat on a small folding chair and I took a deep breath and if it weren’t for the diversion of the always-colorful street scene of New York City, I would have hung my head and cried. I felt blindsided by my ineptitude and swallowed whole by my daughter. I could not divine the cause of the outburst and I also could not remember the last time I had felt so incapable. And so I did what every 36-year-old mother does in a moment of parenting duress: I texted my own mother. She offered up a practical observation (“she was probably confused why she had to go back to the dentist”) and then said: “I’m sorry. It will be over soon.”
As I waited, I mentioned something about the morning’s events on Instastories and was positively overwhelmed by the flood of messages from fellow moms:
“Been there, done that.”
“Oh mama! That sounds familiar.”
“But you got her to the dentist — I call that a win.”
“Sounds about right.”
“You’re doing great.”
“Hang in there, mom.”
“Same thing happened to me taking my daughter to the dentist.”
“You’re a great mom — this will pass.”
I have always had a special devotion to Saint Mary and specifically to the second joyful mystery of the Rosary, the Visitation, in which Mary “makes haste” to visit her cousin, Elizabeth, who is aging and has been deemed infertile. When Elizabeth sees Mary, she feels her miracle baby move for the first time. The scene is poignant for many reasons and I have found myself lingering over different aspects of the vignette during different moments in my life. But last Friday, as I sat outside of the dentist’s office, I could only think of Mary’s haste in attending to her cousin: to the immediate, urgent empathy my minor travail elicited from so many other mothers. And not only women I know well, like my doorwoman and my mother, but from readers here who simply saw my flail and made haste to reassure me.
I have been looking for occasions to pay this kindness forward to other mothers, but for now, permit me to make haste to leave this for any mother who needs to hear it:
You are doing great. This too shall pass. Hang in there.
+I saw these pretty initial necklaces on Megan (she has one for each of her children) and could not believe the price — so inexpensive! They look vintage.
+This ric-rac trim cover-up dress was one of the most popular items on my blog last summer! I didn’t even realize they’d brought it back — and it’s currently on sale.
+A reader recently asked after chic blazer options for fall. I recommend Smythe, Sandro, and Veronica Beard for investments, J. Crew for something classic and more affordably priced, and Zara for pieces with more dramatic styling.
+Speaking of Veronica Beard, you must check out their insane sale selection — an extra 20% off this weekend with code LONGWEEKEND. I ordered these and cannot believe my good fortune. If they’re sold out in your size, Shopbop has them in on-trend python for even less (under $80!!!) and Nordstrom has them on sale in pink croc for $130.
+This lace collar onesie is darling. And speaking of collared knits for little ones, I often get questions about where to find good quality ones. My absolute favorites are Kissy Kissy for both boys and girls. They last forever, launder beautifully (the collar doesn’t flip up like it does with many other brands). I also like the ones from Luigi and TBBC.
A triple post day — wow! But had to share a couple of incredible labor day sales that have launched in advance of the long weekend, as items are already selling out. I will update this post with more great finds as they materialize in the next few days!
+Macy’s has an incredible deal on these gorgeous scalloped-edged sheets from Martha Stewart. Get the Matouk look for less! I added a set to my cart because who doesn’t need a spare set of sheets?! I also fell in love with the frenchie print in these children’s sheets (only $20!!!) and added those to my cart, too. My children are still in cribs/toddler beds but I just know I’ll be happy to have these on hand in a few years. These botanical print ones also caught my eye ($20!) Amazing to have spare sheet sets like these on hand for such a good price.
+Joie is also running an extra 40% off their sale, which means this on-trend sweatshirt is $36 (originally close to $200) with free shipping! They also have some fantastic booties on sale — these stunners (orig close to $400) are only $100.
+Cecil & Lou has marked down all of their school collection to 40% off with free shipping. I shared my top picks here. These toddler masks are not on sale BUT they can be purchased with free shipping — I love the lower case cursive personalization!
+My favorite mineral sunscreen spray and mineral sunscreen stick for children is on sale for 30% off with code LABOR30. I tried tons of different brands and these were my favorite products for applying to wriggly little ones. And mineral sunscreen is expensive! Great chance to stock up. I also swear by these soothing facial wipes for micro — his skin is so sensitive around his mouth and regular wipes always cause irritation. I switched to these and the problem was gone. (They do have a strong scent — FYI.)
+Cutest melamine plates EVER on sale for 50% off. I always use sale occasions like these to stow away as gifts — love to bring friends baked goods on these plates. Would also make a cute house-warming or hostess gift to have on hand!
+25% off all in-stock items at Nicola Bathie using code laborday25. If you’ve been following this blog for any period of time, you know she makes my absolute favorite statement earrings. I especially love my cameo earrings and my flower pearl studs. Might have to use the promotion for these fun butterflies.
+Minnow Swim is running one of its two sales per year, offering up to 30% off its darling swimsuits for little ones. I always buy a few of these suits for mini each summer. My favorite is the rash guard style for little girls — it is simply the cutest thing I’ve ever seen with the bow in the back and the frill at the leg opening. I think I’ll snag that and these matching trunks for micro this year. This was my favorite print mini owned of their this summer. Just adorable!
+I wrote about how much I adore Aesop’s hand soap here, and it basically never goes on sale — you can get it for 26% off with code LATE26 here.
+Janie + Jack’s end of season sale is here, and they are offering an extra 20% off sale — this was one of my favorite easy one-pieces for Hill as a little baby (only $16 now!). So soft and comfy for cooler fall mornings. This is also the time of year I stock up on swim for next season — love these trunks ($13!) and this one-piece for mini. Finally, classic boat shoes for $23 and a scalloped sunhat for $10.
+Extra 25% off sale at one of my favorite children’s labels, Proper Peony, with code LABOR DAY. I ordered micro these pima play shorts (I LOVE their pima collection — this, also on sale, was one of my favorite everyday dresses for mini this summer, and it is only $24 now!). Mini has also owned many of their heirloom-quality embroidered dresses, and many of them are now on sale! I adore this dress, this strawberry print one (ordering), and this adorable jon jon.
+Skinstore has some great deals on great products. 25% off my favorite Molton Brown hand soap and body wash (both of these scents are heavenly, non-cloying, and great for both men and women). I’ve never used one of these, but many of you have asked about the NuFace facial toning device — a great time to buy if you’ve been in the market.
+60% off Bellabliss’s summer selection with code LASTDAYS. I have been eyeing this dress for mini all season — perfect to stow away for next summer. Also love these scalloped seersucker shorts (only $15.60 with code) and this was one of my favorite bubbles on Hill (with an enormous monogram) and these are one of my favorite pairs of shortalls he currently owns! Finally, if mini was little enough, I’d be all over this diaper set, which mini owned in a different colorway a few seasons back!
+Veronica Beard is offering an extra 20% its already steeply-discounted sale section with code LONGWEEKEND. I bought these flats, and more of my favorites are here.
+J.Crew is never not having a sale, and I’m anticipating they’ll be offering different promotions this weekend, but right now I’m just laser-focused on these pajamas (if you’ve never tried their dreamy pajamas, you are in for a treat — second-skin soft) and this SEA-esque dress.
+Banana is offering 40% off full-price purchases (discount automatically applied). I find their pieces have been a little stodgy lately, but I LOVE THIS PUFF-SLEEVED SWEATER SO MUCH. Such good colors! Adorable!
By: Jen Shoop
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR (Jen): In light of the fact that all of us with little children are navigating a strange return to the school year, today, I have invited my sister Elizabeth, an expert in early childhood literacy, to share some thoughts on supporting your little one’s reading skills during coronavirus. If you like this post, let me know — I will invite other guests to share expertise, too. And if you like hearing from my sister, you can follow here on Twitter for more literacy insights @lizsiteswriting.
Everyone has been affected by this terrible pandemic in some way, and my heart goes out to those who have suffered tremendously. One impact of the coronavirus has been a re-examination of how we educate our children. Many families have made hard choices or changes regarding how their children will learn this year.
Several friends who know my background in early childhood literacy have asked what they can do to support their children’s literacy during this time. I reached out to Jen to ask whether some of the insights I have been sharing would be helpful to this community. Perhaps you or someone in your family is trying to homeschool, or is spending a lot of time supporting virtual learning. Perhaps you are simply concerned that the many distracting factors in schools will result in a less-than-ideal learning situation. This post is intended to support your child’s literacy development, in conjunction with whatever other educational supports you may have.
If you have a toddler, you can continue to follow the same advice and make your home a print-rich environment. You can also expose your child to the alphabet and promote oral language development via the alphabet song and active participation in nursery rhymes/songs (you can stream them from Alexa, for example).
If you have a preschooler/kindergartener/first grader*: According to Donald Bear et al’s Words Their Way, 7th Ed., an Emergent/Pre-Reader is a child who is learning the alphabet and the letter sounds, and may write letters, their name, or letter-like forms. A Beginning Reader is a child who has “concept of word” (see below) and is focused on making reading “happen” via practice in appropriately leveled-texts. A Beginning Reader might sound out words phonetically, even if they leave out letters, or make mistakes with vowels, for example. They might try to write the word Lego “LACO,” for example.
“Concept of word” is a critical piece for an Emergent/Pre-Reader. It refers to the child’s ability to accurately track print, such as in a familiar, memorized nursery rhyme. The reason this is important is that it indicates the child’s understanding of many oral language concepts: that sentences are groups of words that mean one complete idea; that words are a collection of letters in syllabic chunks that have meaning; that letters match the phonetic sounds we hear and say.
There are many ways children have learned to read throughout history and in the world. Some children pick up on these concepts subconsciously fairly quickly and may even appear to “learn to read on their own” through significant time examining and listening to books. However, most children will need or benefit from fairly explicit and on-going instruction, especially to learn to read at the age that our society desires currently (generally by first grade).
Last month, I decided to offer a weekly virtual literacy session for several friends’ children, aged 3-5. Here are my weekly instructional plans to hopefully inspire you, if you have an Emergent/Pre-Reader:
Oral language: play a rhyming or syllabic game for children (such as clapping the syllables in their names and family members’ names)
Alphabet: I encourage families to go on a letter hunt around the house. Do you have alphabet blocks that you can use to designate a letter of the week? Magnetic letters? Where can you find the letter around the house? I also suggest a fun snack that begins with the letter of the week – make sure your child finds the letter on the packaging, where applicable!
Writing: Model writing the letter, and help your child to write it in the air. If you have a sand, rice, or other sensory bin (or these shallow trays, which Jen loves for setting up activities) to help your child form the letter, great. A baking pan makes a great sensory bin. Dry erase markers or truly any writing utensil will be great practice as well.
Concept of word: Provide a nursery rhyme that hopefully also has many examples of the letter(s) of the week. For example, for Hh, I had parents practice playfully reciting Humpty Dumpty at home with their child, in the bath, or other various calm, fun moments. It is great for oral language development if a child learns to memorize the rhyme. Then, in my session, parents print out copies of the rhyme for their child and the child points along as we “read” together.
Concept of word: After reading together, I have children highlight or circle all the ‘Letters of the Week’ they can find in the rhyme. Going on a letter hunt like this helps bring awareness to the sounds in words. With time, you can encourage your child to find words, such as “Humpty” and your child will begin to identify it by the beginning sound.
Concept of print: I end by reading a book that either correlates with the concept of word lesson or Letter of the Week, or hopefully both. I choose authors that are appropriate for early readers and usually have many books or a series to get the child excited to read even more!
Here are a few (by no means all) of my favorite book picks that might interest your young child:
Donald Crews – I LOVE the talented Donald Crews, not the least because he is a diverse voice in a market overpopulated with white authors. Ten Black Dots, Truck, Rain, and Sail Away are just a few examples of his terrific work for an early reader.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear (Bill Martin, Jr. and Eric Carle) – I used this for both the concept of word session and the read-aloud related to the letter B/b. This predictable, familiar book is famous in preschool classrooms because it is a perfect practice for tracking print. Bill Martin, Jr. also wrote Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (fun alphabet book), and Eric Carle wrote and illustrated numerous other lovely, classic preschool books such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
The Quiet Book(Deborah Underwood and Renata Liwaska) – Deborah Underwood is one of my favorite authors, who has a wide range of books, including the hilarious Here Comes Teacher Cat series.
Dr. Seuss – A word of caution: his books range very widely in terms of level. Some are very long and complex. Others are perfect for learning rhyme and language play. Hop On Pop, Green Eggs & Ham, The Foot Book, andDr. Seuss’ ABC are some of my children’s favorites.
And Then It’s Spring(Julie Fogliano and Erin E. Stead) – just had to add this lovely, quiet picture book.
Richard Scarry’s Cars And Trucks From A to Z — I was compelled to include the silly and wonderful Richard Scarry, and also wanted to point you toward alphabet books in general. There are so many kinds of alphabet books, and the more opportunities for letter identification, the better!
Lastly, I didn’t want to leave out second-graders and beyond: Once children have moved beyond the “Learning to Read” stage, they have entered the “Reading to Learn” stage. However, they still fall on a developmental curve and continue to need explicit phonetic/word pattern instruction as well as vocabulary and comprehension strategy, fluency, and writing instruction.
One last tip: figure out what you like to read, and model enjoying reading. Then support your child in pursuing their reading interests as well. Best of luck on your journey to support your little one’s literacy during these difficult times.
*Note that grade level expectations are approximate and every child is on a slightly different path. Using assessment data will be the best way to determine your child’s needs. Some are available on www.readinga-z.com, a partially-free, wonderful series of web sites/apps that might be worth the investment if you are homeschooling.
Post-Script: Notes on Supporting Literacy If Homeschooling.
If you are homeschooling (or if you want an in-depth understanding of your child’s learning), the first step is to conduct an assessment of what your child can truly do without any assistance, hints, or prompting. You might think your child knows the entire alphabet, but often times a 4 year old might still get b/d confused, for example (which is totally normal). One place to look for good assessment tools is www.readinga-z.com.*
For an Emergent/Pre-Reader, instruction should have a balance of activities:
Oral language (such as rhyme, sentence/word/syllable games, initial and final sounds)
Alphabet games
Writing (such as letter formation and letter-sound associations)
Concept of word (such as supported finger-pointing to memorized rhymes/songs, repeated rereadings of familiar books with only a word or few words on each page)
Concept of print (such as listening to stories, retelling/acting out stories)
For a Beginning Reader, instruction should also have a balance:
Fluency (such as repeated reading of familiar texts, on-level-texts, building automatic word recognition)
Word work (such as sorting by beginning sounds, rhyme/word families, and short vowels, sight word practice)
Comprehension (such as listening to stories, predicting, retelling, cross-checking, vocab building)
Writing for sounds (such as supporting your child in sounding out words the best he or she can and writing the letters that match the sounds he or she hears, even if there are mistakes)
One big trend I’m looking forward to this fall? Statement sweaters. Rhinestones, embroidery, exaggerated collars (ahem) — it’s all fair game this season, and I’m here for it. Below, some of my favorite finds to amp up your fall wardrobe:
I’m back with more honest reviews of recently-tested, heavily-hyped products. The TL;DR: out of everything on this list, you need this foundation stick if you are looking for matte, full coverage that is a dream to apply.
+Hourglass Eyebrow Gel. I love this product and have recommended it to two close friends in the past few weeks. To be honest, most mornings, I just don’t have the energy or time to use an eyebrow pencil. It feels so tedious to fill in all the little sparse spots and even things out. I find this eyebrow gel is a perfect alternative — the color fills things out while also giving the brow shape and definition with a few quick flicks of a wrist. Bonus: eyebrows do not feel stiff afterward like they do with ELF, which I have to say I also like because it is $2 and clear; perfect when using with a pencil. I’ll stick with this Hourglass stuff for everyday — it’s a one-stop shop for my daily makeup routine.
+Westman Atelier Foundation Stick. (You can buy this from multiple online boutiques, but Credo is the only one I could find that offered a 10% discount for new users with code CLEAN10 and a generous return policy, which was important given that I didn’t know for certain what shade I would be.) This stick is amazing — I would liken it to Cle de Peau concealer, but as a foundation. Like CDP, it glides on and melts into skin effortlessly so long as (and this is critical) skin is well-moisturized before application. I use my Artis brush to blend. It is matte as matte can be, so I often find myself wanting to soften things up with a lot of highlighting fluid afterward (I love this), but it stays put and offers exceptional coverage. At first, because of how matte it reads, I thought I would only use this when getting dolled up in the evening or when I have a breakout, and planned to continue to use a tinted moisturizer for everyday wear. I have found myself using it almost daily, though, much to my surprise. It really evens out and smooths skin and wears beautifully throughout the day. Bonus points: even the packaging of this foundation stick is cool (the cap is magnetic).
+Parade Underwear. In pursuit of comfortable nighttime unders, I kept seeing this pair highly recommended, nearly always reading that they were “insanely comfortable.” But they just weren’t my speed — I realized I prefer something with a slightly lower rise, and in a soft pima cotton, I think. (These ended up being the winner for me.)
+Hyper Serum. I was desperate to love this product (I admire the founder and have read countless rave reviews), which promises to lighten hyperpigmentation and clear skin, but it did not play well with my complexion. I broke out and was left with dry skin after using it for two weeks, and everything cleared up when I returned to my former regimen. However, I do think — as with most skincare products — that your skin may react differently to this than it did mine; perhaps my skin is too sensitive for it. (Similarly, so many people have raved about Necessaire products but I literally broke out in a rash after using their body wash and have avoided it since!) I will say that the product glides into skin effortlessly — it was easier to apply than my Mad Hippie serum (which I think requires more attentive blending with fingertips and leaves skin a bit tacky).
+Pantene Rescue Shots. These inexpensive deep conditioning treatment ampoules have worked wonders on my dry hair, which I think I have damaged from all of the blow-drying and the minimal hair cuts. My hair appeared so deeply hydrated and tangle free after use. Strongly recommend if you’re going through a rough (dry) patch yourself.
+Olay Ultimate Eye Cream. I was looking for something to help with my ultra-dark under-eye circles and this came highly recommended from so many people. Honestly, I did not see a big difference in the dark circles beneath my eyes after studying the area in the mirror for weeks on end after application. I think I am now resigning myself to the fact that there is probably nothing that can impact this genetically-born feature–so concealer it is. I did like the cream overall, though. It was hydrating and easy to apply and absorb — almost a whipped quality to it. For the price, a very good cream.
+Sunday Riley Luna Retinol Sleeping Oil. I received a very generously sized sample of this and have been using it for about two weeks and will order more. I have grown increasingly reluctant to add any new oils and serums to my regimen — I mean, how many does a single woman need?! I really love Vintner’s Daughter and Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum and tend to alternate between them, and I’m skeptical that I need much else. However. I will say. I used this oil and noticed — without having read it on the label in advance — that my pores were basically nonexistent on my cheeks especially. I mean, it was like perfect baby skin! I checked the label and saw that this oil specifically shrinks pores (among other things, like reducing redness and smoothing wrinkles). For the pore treatment alone, I will continue to use this. I find that the VD and MH serums have more of a brightening/evening-out effect on my skintone overall, in case you’re wondering how this complements or differs from those items.
+Kosas Concealer. (<<The shade-finding tool on their site was really helpful, FYI, and I got the perfect shade without having used any products from the brand prior.) I thought this concealer was very good but not exceptional (i.e., it will not dethrone CDP). So many reviews cited its creaminess but its consistency doesn’t have a patch on Cle de Peau in my opinion, which — despite existing in stick form — truly glides on like a gel of some kind and then just melts into the skin. I had a little bit of trouble figuring out how to apply Kosas properly — it has a somewhat thin consistency but if applying with the built-in applicator, you can easily apply way too much (i.e., the thin consistency is deceptive: a little goes a long way). Where Kosas excels, however, is in coverage and staying power — it really blocks out the dark undereye circles and redness around my nose, and it lasts! I will be using this when I need to bring in ammo in breakouts and the like. I also appreciate the price tag, which is far more reasonable than Cle de Peau. All in, I’ll be keeping this in my cosmetics bag as an alternate for CDP when I need lasting coverage.
+Laura Mercier Signature Eye Shadow Palette. This is not new, but I use this eye shadow palette constantly. I don’t think I’ve been tempted by another eye shadow from any other brand in years — this palette has everything you need. The formula is excellent and the colors are so easy to wear on an everyday basis. I love the cashmere color especially (sort of a mauve-pink) and then the nude is great for brightening the eye when I look tired.
Thinking back across all the products I’ve reviewed so far in 2020, I do have to say that the standout for me has been these vitamin C-serum-infused cleansing wipes. I love them so much. They are inexpensive, effective, and they smell like fresh laundry to me. I also love that they show up at my doorstep as a part of my subscription to Billie, which — I would say — is my second favorite discovery thus far this year. I know, razors?! So weird — but I love not having to think about buying razor blades (you let them know how often you shave and they automatically send you replacement blades). It is also so much more affordable than Gillette, especially given the free shipping! Honestly, a no brainer. I can’t complete this paragraph without also one more time singing the praises of my Revlon One-Step. Maybe it ties for first place with the wipes. It is SO good and it has made keeping my hair presentable possible. If I had my druthers (and infinite resources), I would get my hair blown out every few days by a professional. I hate washing and blow-drying my hair — it is fine in texture, but I have a ton of it, and it takes forever to dry. The One-Step has made the process infinitely more palatable and easy to maneuver — I now scarcely mind it.
What are your holy grail new discoveries from 2020? Anything else you’re itching to try? (I love being your guinea pig!) I am currently eyeing more from the Westman Atelier line since I was so impressed with their foundation stick. I’m specifically eyeing their “Lit Up” Highlight stick and their blush sticks. I would also eventually like to try Augustinus Bader’s heavily-touted and crazy expensive cream, but I’m scared I might become addicted…
You can read more honest reviews of hyped products here, here, and here.
Wow wow wow — Veronica Beard is offering an extra 20% its already steeply-discounted sale section with code LONGWEEKEND. (Let’s start celebrating Labor Day promotions early, shall we?) Top picks:
Her many shades of laughter — the shriek-y kind, the belly kind, the silly performative kind, the anticipatory kind when she’s just waiting to be tickled.
Her cornsilk-fine hair, now so long as to fall midway down her back when it’s not in her preferred style: braids.
The humbling, all-consuming, knee-buckling privilege of knowing that she needs me.
Her shockingly high EQ.
The way she cups her hands around my face in tender moments.
Her inquisitiveness.
Her unexpected, precious compliments: “I love your beautiful dress, mama,” she will say out of the blue, nibbling at her sandwich.
Her occasional saltiness. Me: “What do you think of the halibut?” Her: [Chewing thoughtfully, then slow blinking.] “Horrifying.”
The feel of her hand in mine.
The way she cannot sit or lie next to me without pressing every possible part of her body against mine: her feet against my legs, her head against my shoulder, her palm against my arm.
The stubborn crossing of her arms and hunching of her shoulders when she’s drawn a line and will not budge, equal parts irritating and comical. (But where did she learn this pose?)
Her love of books.
Her attentiveness to detail — she owns easily a hundred or more books and when I ask her “What does Amelia Bedelia Goes to School look like?” as I skim the spines in its pursuit, she will reply, effortlessly and immediately: “Yellow with a little blue flower on it.”
Her love of Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story.
Her babyish mispronunciations, whose death I dread: “yogrette” for “yogurt,” “ozinge” for “orange,” “oppopus” for “octopus,” “pita-budda-jelly” for “peanut butter and jelly” (the “and” elided; the phrase strung together as if one word).
Her taste for apples and the way she twists them around in her still-baby-like hands in search of the perfect next nibble.
Her solicitude for her brother.
The way she calls her brother “Hillbill,” “bud bud,” and “little man.”
Her comfort in conversation with adults: she launches in, unflustered by the age gap.
The earnest way she will tell the doorman and the super where she is going and what she has been doing as we enter and exit our building. More to the point: her underlying, heart-rending assumption that everyone cares.
The soft and faraway look she gets in her eyes when she is tired and I am singing to her in the dark of her bedroom.
The fact that she insists I sing her “O Little Town of Bethlehem” most nights, even when not in the Christmas season.
Her incredible memory for song lyrics — she knows the words of many songs much better than Mr. Magpie or I.
Her obsession with art — painting, specifically — and the care with which she creates her masterpieces, face close to the paper.
The way she intones “oh my goooodneeeeess!” when opening a present: 100% me, living outside my body.
Her wriggly, writhing, uncoordinated dance moves.
Her voice chanting “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can” when racing to the bathroom — an inheritance from her grandmother. (My mother trained me to say this to myself as a toddler, and I paid it forward.)
The way she gleefully yells “mama!!!!!” when I emerge from the bedroom in the morning.
Her beautiful hazel eyes.
The thud of her feet sprinting around our apartment, a kinetic energy that does not stop from 6 a.m. in the morning until she falls asleep at 7 p.m. at night.
+A sweet reader wrote to ask after gift ideas for her Kindergarten-bound niece, in order to “get her excited about school/congratulate her.” A few ideas…
A LITTLE BRACELET — I BOUGHT MINI THIS AS A GIFT FOR HER FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL THIS YEAR BECAUSE I WEAR A GOLD BANGLE DAILY TOO
THE KISSING HAND BOOK — ABSOLUTELY PRECIOUS STORY ABOUT A RACCOON WORRIED ABOUT MISSING HIS HOME/MOM AT SCHOOL
+Talbots just generously sent me this long quilted coat. Perfection for the transition to fall. I’ll be wearing mine with No. 6 clog boots in the pick-up line after school.
+Speaking of boots: these are an amazing everyday fall boot for a toddler. I think I will also be buying mini a pair of Ugg boots for winter. The commute to her school is a cold one in the winter months.
+Emory absolutely loves this book. The illustrations (can’t tell if it’s cut paper or something a la Eric Carle?) are eye-catching, the language is lyrical, and the storyline is powerful.
+This adorable birthday jon jon is on sale and still available in size 12M and 24M (i.e., most common sizes for a boy on his 1st or 2nd birthday).
I’ve had a few mothers reach out in search of chic, nursing-friendly everyday wear. I tried to keep my picks on the reasonable side of the cost spectrum (I recall being reluctant to invest in pieces that might have a short shelf-life), though all of these would work post-nursing, too!
I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN MY HHH NAP DRESS THIS SUMMER AND IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT THIS STYLE (SEEN ABOVE) WOULD BE EASY TO PULL DOWN (THE SMOCKING IS VERY STRETCHY)
I LIVED IN SHIRT DRESSES THAT BUTTONED DOWN THE FRONT (I FOUND THEM TO BE THE MOST DISCREET!) — I LIKE THIS, THIS IN THE CHAMBRAY, THIS (SUCH FUN PRINTS), AND THIS (WHICH I OWN)
THIS ($23!!! I OWN THIS IN YELLOW AND LOVE IT), THIS, OR THIS WOULD WORK WELL FOR SIMILAR REASONS TO THE HHH — GOD BLESS SMOCKING!
THIS HATCH JUMPSUIT IN THE BLACK IS INTRIGUING TO ME (NOTE: THE PIECES I BOUGHT FROM THEM RAN WAY BIG)…I CAN’T TELL FROM THE DESCRIPTION AT GAP, BUT THIS COULD ACHIEVE THE SAME EFFECT FOR A FRACTION OF THE PRICE (SO CHIC!)
IF YOU PREFER LAYERING A NURSING TANK WITH A TOP THAT CAN BE PULLED UP (LOTS OF MOMS HAVE SAID THIS FEELS THE MOST DISCREET TO THEM), SOMETHING LOOSE LIKE THIS OR THIS (LOVE THE FLORAL)
My post last week about quickly-selling-out Halloween pajamas (<<just updated because Hanna Andersson just released really cute prints for the occasion) for little ones left me thinking about fall in general. A few other fall finds for your home:
LOVE A SET OF CLASSIC ADIRONDACK CHAIRS AROUND A FIRE PIT, AS SEEN ABOVE…SWOON! (ACRES OF LAND ALSO A BONUS — HA)
THESE NAPKINS IN THE CLAY COLOR, OR THESE (SUPER SOFT; I OWN THEM — MY FAVORITE CASUAL NAPKINS, AND THEY ARE ON SALE!!!)
I LOVE TO SET A LITTLE SOMETHING LIKE THESE BALLOONS, THESE GHOSTS, OR THESE BATS UP IN OUR LIVING ROOM FOR EMORY TO DISCOVER WHEN SHE WAKES UP AS A SPECIAL HALLOWEEN SURPRISE
Also worth noting: Serena&Lily has marked down all of their chairs, sofas, and occasional tables. Great time to invest in a beautiful coffee table or sofa, or to snap up this little cocktail table — one of the all-time most popular items I’ve featured on le blog!
1 // Inspired by the designer look above: this major pearl headband ($15). I love the idea of wearing this with an airy white dress during these dog days of summer — a clever way to breathe new life into a wardrobe you may be growing tired of. In the fall, perfection with a black jeans, black sweater, and black booties. (P.S. You know I love anything with pearls.)
2 // This cheerful ditsy floral top. I especially like it in the white colorway, but it comes in many grandmillennial-approved patterns. I’d wear with high-waisted denim (these are my favorites; more cool jeans to try for fall here).
