By: Jen Shoop

*Image above from Architectural Digest showcasing an interior designed by Mark D. Sikes. Swoon.

Q: Favorite sunglasses right now? I’m seeing a lot of transparent frames and am intrigued.

A: I still reach for my black Le Specs nine times out of ten, and I also like these $15 chunky tortoise shell ones (which gets the Celine look for less). Honestly? I ruined way too many pairs of designer shades by dropping them or leaving them behind (including not one but two pairs by Chanel). I am normally very careful with my belongings, but I find sunglasses very hard to take care of and have scaled back in this department.

I do love the transparent frames trend and Mr. Magpie looks so cool in his Garrett Leight shades (<<unisex, so consider these!). Or get the look for less with these cateyes or these (similar shape and style to the GLs). I feel like transparent shades would look especially stylish with an SZ Blockprint caftan (or this similar blockprint style).

Q: What services do you plan to resume post-COVID and what will you continue to DIY (e.g., nails)?

A: Interesting question! I will likely resume all my pre-COVID services when things fully reopen, with the possible exception of how frequently I used to get manicures. Interestingly, I have not done my nails once since quarantine started — just use cuticle oil and trimmers regularly, buff them, and keep them very, very short — and I kind of like never having to worry about chipping my nails. It also saves me time — I used to go once a week — and the irritation of looking at badly peeling/chipping nails. Would you believe it if I said that prior to COVID19 I can only recall two weeks of my entire adult life when I went with non-manicured hands, and once was while we were moving cross-country and the other was after micro was born? Anyway, I might consider going for stretches without polish on my fingers given how much I use them with all the cooking and caring for small children, but pedicures, hair cuts, highlights, and brow waxes YES MAM.

P.S. Some of my quarantine favorites.

Q: What is your favorite place to shop for work out and running clothes?

A: Lululemon for staples like leggings and shorts; Nike (love these); Target for sports bras (though they don’t seem to carry the Champion C9 styles I used to wear all the time…?), and Tory Sport for fashion-conscious styles.

More exercise picks here and my favorite new running shoes here.

A: What bath seat do you use after infant tub?

A: I used this infant tub from when Hill was six weeks until just a week ago, when he started to climb out of it regularly. (Emory used it until she was close to 18 months, though!). You can reposition the insert to accommodate the baby’s growth and it has a drain (!) — many baby bath tubs do not for some reason, which is really irritating. Now I bathe Hill in the entire bath tub, which is mildly nerve-wracking since he is a monkey and climbs all over the place, making this tub mat absolutely essential to prevent slips.

A few friends have strongly recommended this seat, and I’m contemplating ordering it given how dangerous Hill makes bath time! I believe baby bath seats are a controversial topic as they are potentially dangerous if baby is left unattended, but — there you go.

P.S. More great baby bathtime gear here.

Q: What have you discovered/emphasized during quarantine that you will hold onto long-term?

A: I love this question — thank you for it.

One surprise is that I have become more waste-conscious in the kitchen and I don’t think that will change — ever. Pre-quarantine, if I felt like a bagel sandwich on a random Tuesday morning, I’d go out and get it despite a fully-stocked kitchen. During quarantine, the ordeal of coordinating groceries, occasional scarcity of supplies, and expense of having everything delivered has made me a lot more determined to plan meals ahead, eat what we have, and repurpose leftovers in future meals. I can barely remember what it was like to “run out to the grocery store for lemons.” We’ve eaten way more peanut butter and jelly sandwiches than we have since our childhoods because sometimes lunch hour creeps up on you and you just have to make do. Generally, though, we have become ultra regimented in our meal planning in our attempts to eliminate or at least dramatically reduce the number of times we have to go into a physical store. We plan everything out — lunches and dinners — about four or five days in advance. Accordingly, I keep meticulous stock of everything in our house so that we never run out of anything. I can’t imagine I’ll ever go back to, for example, using the toothpaste down to the end before running out to CVS.

Other changes: we are now longterm devotees of FaceTime with grandparents, cousins, and siblings and I will probably forever be sanitizing my hands, cringing at the sound of a cough, and avoiding touching anything while outside. (More on these thoughts here.)

In general, though, and more to the heart of it, like everyone else, I think this experience has taught me to take nothing for granted — my health, the proximity of loved ones, childcare, date nights, fresh produce, a glass of wine at the corner bar. When I finally saw my sister after nearly four months of separation, I clung to her for a good two minutes and cried. I will never forget what it has felt like to be separated from my family.

Q: Favorite interior design books/resources?

A: Ooh! These are my all-time favorites, and I turn to them for inspiration:

MARK D. SIKES

NATE BERKUS

ERIN GATES BOOK 1 AND BOOK 2 (FAMILY STYLE)

THE DOMINO BOOK 1 AND BOOK 2

What I like about all of these books is that they are approachable and generally oriented around comfortable, livable homes that reflect your lifestyle and personality–not the glossy, unattainable, upholstered-to-high-hell castles of our dreams.

I follow the blogs/Instagram accounts of interior designers I love and constantly find inspiration from their projects and selections. I especially love Erin Gates and Amy Berry.

P.S. My most recent run-down of our apartment’s furnishings and decor here and inexpensive ways to personalize a home.

Q: I need advice on wallpaper! My husband and I just bought our first house (!!) and now need to decorate. We are looking to wallpaper our office (I’m eyeing the Katie Kime NYC toile print in yellow for a statement wall), our nursery for our baby girl, and a child’s playroom. Suggestions?

A: First — wow! Big congratulations on the new home! Second — love that toile! So fun for New Yorkers 🙂 Let me first say that I am desperate to one day wallpaper a room in Osborne and Little’s Farfalle wallpaper. Probably better suited to a small space, but it is #goalz. More generally, my biggest suggestion is to take some time to look over the work of interior designers you admire — I shared a few of mine in the question above. They often list their sources, or, if their selections are too pricey, can at least help you steer into a similar direction (i.e., this). That’s how we settled on the wallpaper in mini’s old bedroom — I pinned a ton of pictures of nurseries I loved and found I was specifically drawn to large-scale gingham and then had this designer on Spoonflower come up with a larger scale gingham than she had listed on the site just for me.

I love Erin Gates’ taste and she has a roundup of her favorite wallpapers here — can’t go wrong with any of them. And, I shared a fantastic resource for nursery wallpaper in this post on some of my favorite Etsy shops! Love that hot air balloon print!

Q: I’m looking for two armchairs to go in our sitting room to accompany our West Elm leather couch. Any ideas?

A: I like the way these interiors incorporate leather into casual but elegant living spaces:

Not knowing what else you have going on in there, let me suggest an arm chair with a print, possibly in blue? A few that I think are ultra-chic:

THESE IN THE BOLD “ANTIQUE BLUE STRIPE”

THESE IN THE BLUE LES TOUCHES (DOTTED) FABRIC

THESE — ALSO IN A CHIC BLUE STRIPE

Two of my favorite rugs would look excellent alongside a leather couch and blue armchairs:

STARK FAWN RUG (WE HAVE THIS IN OUR LIVING ROOM — BLESSEDLY FORGIVING FOR A YOUNG FAMILY)

MARK D SIKES BLUE RUG

Q: Suggestions on a gift for a new baby boy? Would love to give something monogrammed.

A: Aw, welcome little buddy! I shared a couple of ideas on gifts for babies and their moms here, but a few quick links:

A PERSONALIZED HAT (ONE OF MY FAVORITE GIFTS I RECEIVED FOR HILL)

A BABY PILLOW LIKE THIS OR THIS (DREAMY, BOTH)

THIS MONOGRAMMED SLEEP SACK

THIS PRECIOUS SUNSUIT

PIXIE LILY FOOTIE (CAN BE MONOGRAMMED)

By: Jen Shoop

There were so many great Magpie Mail inquiries this go around (you can always DM / email me with them) that I’ve had to split into two posts and still haven’t gotten to them all. Here, in any case, is partie une. (Partie deux tomorrow.) I promise I will get to them all — am likely currently sitting poolside while away with family trying to answer a couple!

Q:What toys do you recommend for a baby starting to sit up?

A: Such an exciting time! Both of my children have loved this sit-to-stand walker. Yes, it’s hideous and yes, its music will haunt your dreams, but it’s great for little fingers and babies can lean on it while developing core muscles. I would set Hill up with his little legs on either side of one of the wheels (sort of on the corner) when he was just learning to sit up so he could reach everything without bonking his head. Hill also loved this stacking set (read reviews – seems like every baby loves these), these cups, and these moluks. Anything bright, relatively lightweight, and impossible to injure himself on was a pro, and I loved that these encouraged him to stack and nest. If I were to go back, I think I would have signed up for one of these Lovevery toy subscriptions. They send you age-appropriate, Montessori-esque toys (read: beautiful and often wood). I’ve seen so many babies with one of their toys in particular — it’s like a toy version of a tissue box (a cube where they pull little pieces of fabric out). Hill would have loved that! He has destroyed many a box of tissues, and I feel like it’s the perfect shape for a baby just learning to sit up.

P.S. More great toys for children here.

Q: I’m looking for casual clothes that still make me look put together.

A: I hear you – quarantine has put pressure on the notion of “getting dressed.” I would suggest investing in a good pair of white jeans and a variety of casual tops — I live in these affordable tees from J. Crew (I especially love the navy and white with white denim), Kule striped tees, these boxy LS tees (on sale), and Ralph Lauren oxfords. It’s an easy uniform when I don’t have the energy to think about what to wear, and I always feel timeless and chic. I will add either my Hermes orans, a pair of Chanel ballet flats, or Supergas — any of these combinations work.

Otherwise, I live in “nightgown day dresses” at home. So comfortable and yet so fun and on-trend. There are tons of reasonably-priced versions in this lane that I love — especially this!

Q: What should I wish for for my 23rd birthday?

A: Happy birthday, friend! Hm. In terms of an actual gift wish list, items that I would have loved and found incredibly luxurious and useful (and never purchased for myself at 23) —

A STAND MIXER (MY PARENTS GAVE ME THIS WHEN IN COLLEGE, AND THEY LAST FOREVER AND ARE ENDLESSLY USEFUL)

GREAT SHEETS

REALLY GOOD FACIAL CLEANSER AND MOISTURIZER

EVERYDAY PEARL EARRINGS FROM MIKIMOTO THAT YOU’LL WEAR FOREVER

If you’re fortunate to have all of those basics covered already…

A LOVESHACKFANCY MINI (WEAR MINIS AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE IN YOUR 20S…!)

STONEY CLOVER POUCHES

HIGH HEELS THAT WILL GO WITH EVERYTHING IN YOUR CLOSET

Mainly, though: your 20s are crazy — full of unknowns, twists, and turns. I found it challenging because so many of my friends were at such wildly different stages in their lives: in my mid-20s, some friends were still in school; others were married with small children; still others were already financially successful because they had pursued careers in consulting or finance. It was hard to benchmark my own progress with so many different markers for “success.” If I could go back in time and give my 23-year-old self some advice, it would be: focus on yourself and your own lane; trust your instincts; work hard; take risks (it becomes harder and harder to do so as you get older); try new things; wear your bathing suit as often as possible (your body will never look better); call your mom; invest periodically in good things you’ll keep for the entirety of your life; understand that some years ask and others answer. I know you weren’t soliciting for that kind of birthday advice (sorry — couldn’t help myself!), but those would be my birthday wishes for you.

Q: Navigating a complete career change. Any tips?

A: Go you! Yes! I’m cheering you on! I think the main thing is having conviction in your decision. A reader once wrote something along the lines of: “Make the choice. Then go boldly into it.” I loved that. You’ve clearly made a brave decision to change tacks and it’s scary to venture into the unknown. Trust yourself; don’t look back. Beyond that, know that the uneasiness of the initial transition will eventually give way to confidence and prowess. You are going to walk through an uncomfortable time where you are the novitiate; this is temporary and you will make it to the other end, suddenly surprised by the depth of your knowledge in your new field when someone asks an unassuming question. (“Wow, I know all that?!”)

While you’re learning the ropes, lean into your greenness. I so admire people who can admit they don’t know something rather than posturing as if they do. I have learned that people tend to like that earnestness and will often take you under their wing because of it.

You got this!

Q: Do you ever feel overwhelmed keeping up and in touch with friends? Any system?

A: I know what you mean. Sometimes I realize it’s been weeks since I’ve checked in with my girlfriends — but the beautiful thing is that they all “get” it since they’re tending to their own busy lives, too. My main advice is to send a quick text the minute someone passes through your mind — even just: “Thinking of you today!” Sometimes I find myself disinclined to send a random text because I feel like I owe a given friend so much more — a life update, a long phone call, etc. But modern technology makes quick check-ins so much easier and keeps the conversation going, even if we only respond to one another at 9 p.m., after the babies are down and the kitchens are cleaned. I also like to send snail mail (following my girlfriend Alison’s lead) and occasionally an unexpected gift (recently gifted this and a pair of these to girlfriends) out of the blue to remind them how much I love them even if I haven’t been the best at phone calls.

Q: What would you do/buy for your mom’s 70th birthday?

A: Ooh, happy birthday to your mom! I love the idea of taking a weekend trip to celebrate the occasion, though times are strange and I’m not sure whether that’s practical right now. But I just know my mom would value a long weekend of chit chat and delicious food (maybe a spa trip?) with me over anything I could buy her. If trips aren’t practical, a few items I would consider buying my mom:

A BEAUTIFUL VINTAGE HEREND PIECE, LIKE THIS DISH OR ONE OF THEIR ICONIC BUNNIES

STUNNING CUSTOM LETTERPRESS STATIONERY (MORE AFFORDABLE OPTIONS HERE)

A TIMELESS BAG

ARTIS BRUSH SET

REALLY GOOD PERFUME

PERSONALIZED WEEZIE SHORT ROBE

SOME GORGEOUS TABLE LINENS FROM ALICE NAYLOR-LEYLAND

Q: What are your go-to snacks?

A: I try not to nibble too much during the day unless it’s a piece of fruit, but I nearly always have an intentional snack at 5 p.m., while I’m preparing the children’s lunch and my own dinner is still about two and a half hours off. And it’s almost always something salty and crunchy. Lately, I’ve been into these cayenne pepper crackers with a few slices of cheese. I also love my Grandma Carm’s ranch crackers, Virginia peanuts, marcona almonds, kettle-cooked potato chips (so, so good with a glass of sparkling — the perfect foil in my opinion), hard pretzels. If we have it on hand, I love a little hunk of salty parmesan cheese (so good with a glass of red), ricotta drizzled with honey, dotted with sea salt, and served with a few crackers, or chorizo toasted in a hot cast-iron skillet, preferably with little slices of bread I’ve browned in the pan juice. When we lived in Chicago and had access to the most incredible Polish/German butchers, we often bought kielbasi sausage that we’d slice into coins and toast in a skillet, then serve with mustard. Heaven.

During quarantine, we have been buying boxes of Frito Lay lunch-sized packs — just the right size for a snack alongside a glass of wine — and I will often accompany an artisanal cocktail from Mr. Magpie with a bag of Doritos, Fritos, or Cheetohs. All absolutely delicious.

This was a fun question! I’m hungry now…

Q: Need a pretty cotton robe that breathes in generous XL under $100.

A: The elegant Emily of Born on Fifth recently recommended this $30 cotton robe, which comes in the cutest prints, including a navy sailboat toile. I also am a huge personal fan of pima cotton (so soft and silky) — the Company Store has a beautiful style in the most perfect shade of mist blue (if you sign up for emails, brings the price down to under $100). I know it’s a little over budget, but I cannot rave enough about Lake Pajamas, and their robes look like heaven.

Q: Would love your thoughts on engagement photos! What to wear, when to take them, etc.

A: Congratulations on your engagement! Woohoo! We did not do engagement photos, but if I had, I would have aimed for a warm weather shoot outside (botanical garden?), worn a dress, and had Mr. Magpie wear something like a seersucker or linen suit (look for less). Personally, I favor feminine styles and would have been comfortable wearing something on the trendier side (maybe not balloon sleeves, but something that feels contemporary). While I tried to go for classic and traditional on my wedding day (tiered ivory lace!) as I knew I’d look back on those pictures forever, I’m guessing that most engagement photos will appear on Save the Dates but not necessarily be framed in your home for the long haul. (Wedding portraits will.) In short: I would have felt encouraged to have some fun with my dress choice!

A couple of dresses I’d consider for the occasion:

+Blue and white feels winsome and dreamy for a bride-to-be and would look perfect next to a seersucker-wearing beau; I love this (40% off!), this Sleeper dress (I own this exact style/print), and this (under $100).

+Something white with a bow — love love love this dress (imagine a picture from behind!) and this one (under $100).

+White eyelet magic! (More ideas in this post — this is a standout for under $100.)

+Splurge/investments: Dolce & Gabbana or Brock Collection (alternate option).

If you’re more on the conservative side and are skittish about being photographed in something that could read trendy: I am dying over this white pleated shirt dress. So timeless and so chic — and reasonably priced at $100! And this Saloni with its covered buttons is everything.

P.S. More bride finds here.

P.P.S. Great source for fun but elegant bridal/engagement earrings, most under $200.

By: Jen Shoop

I thought this would be an interesting rubric for sharing some of my absolute favorite purchases over the past few years with you: which products do I urgently text my sisters about? Amidst pictures of Josh Hartnett (our curious sisterly obsession), stirring and provocative articles, inside jokes, and check-ins, you will nearly always find me evangelizing on account of some product or other.

I am certain I have mentioned all of these across the blog at some point, but here they are, in shortlist form:

THE BEST BRA (WORTH INVESTMENT)

INEXPENSIVE ALTERNATIVE TO HANKY PANKIES (MY SISTERS AND I OTHERWISE RELY ON THE PAIRS MY MOM STUFFS IN OUR STOCKINGS EACH YEAR — HA!)

HARNEY AND SONS SOBA TEA (WELL, MY SISTER RECOMMENDED THIS TO ME FIRST AND I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT IT NOW)

KINDLE PAPERWHITE (CHANGED MY LIFE)

ARTIS ELITE MIRROR OVAL BRUSH (HOLY COW, THIS IS AMAZING — I THINK I’VE BEEN APPLYING TINTED MOISTURIZER WRONG MY WHOLE LIFE)

DAVEK MINI UMBRELLA (SO LIGHTWEIGHT AND COMPACT, YET SO STURDY)

LONG IPHONE CHARGING CABLE (I WAITED WAY TOO LONG TO BUY ONE OF THESE — I LOVE THAT I CAN ROLL AROUND IN BED WITH MY PHONE CHARGING WHEN USING IT)

SPEAKING OF CHARGING – THIS CUBE POWER STRIP, WHICH SITS ON MY BEDSIDE TABLE AND IS SUCH A DELIGHT FOR EASILY UNPLUGGING/PLUGGING THINGS

THE ABSOLUTE BEST MASK FOR GLOWING SKIN (LEAVE ON OVERNIGHT)

RECLINER LOUNGE PANTS

COMPRESSION CUBES WHEN SPACE IS AN ISSUE; CLEAR PACKING CUBES FOR EVERYTHING ELSE

COSABELLA MATERNITY PAJAMAS

SHISEIDO FACIAL COTTON

MINI EPICUREAN CUTTING BOARDS

NONE HAVE HAD A C-SECTION, BUT I WOULD SEND THEM A PACK OF THESE POSTPARTUM UNDERWEAR (SO SOFT AND BLESSEDLY HIGH-WAIST) AND A PRETTY STEPSTOOL FOR GETTING INTO AND OUT OF BED

POMEGRANATE PUZZLES

BABY BJORN MINI FOR ITTY BITTIES

LAROCHE POSAY FLUID SUNSCREEN

LE PENS

NURSING NIGHTGOWN

REVLON ONE-STEP HAIR DRYER

WEEZIE SHORT ROBE AND MAKEUP TOWELS

HHH NAP DRESS (THESE ARE SO COMFORTABLE – I WAS WORRIED THE SMOCKING/CINCHING WOULD BE ITCHY BUT IT IS SO, SO SOFT AND THE FABRICS JUST GORGEOUS)

GLYCOLIX ELITE 15% TREATMENT PADS

AUDIBLE SUBSCRIPTION

MAGICAL FOOT CREAM

ANY OF THESE BOOKS AND THE BEST CONTEMPORARY BOOK I’VE READ THIS DECADE (…?!)

STORI CABINET ORGANIZERS

J. CREW BLACK ELSIE PUMPS (<<ON SALE HERE) — THE PERFECT HEIGHT, THE PERFECT POINTED TOE, IN TIMELESS BLACK SUEDE YES YES YES

I’m sure I’ll think of others…

What else have you urgently texted your sisters (or girlfriends) about?!

P.S. On the topic of sisterhood: this series of 40 portraits of sisters taken together every year for 40 years was moving and beautiful and I’m totally in love with stylish sisters Shelcy and Christy.

P.P.S. Currently in my shopping cart: this belt, these Nicholas Kirkwood sandals, this breezy day dress, one of these totes with my initials on the side, and this happy cocktail dress.

P.P.P.S. On siblinghood.

By: Jen Shoop

*Image above by the ultra-talented Donald Robertson. I love his illustrations!

My Latest Snag: New Accessories.

Lately, I have been finding myself drawn to statement accessories: a new pair of earrings or a new belt can breathe a new life into your entire wardrobe! My new Danielle Fichera belt has left me excited to revisit my fleet of white dresses. Will look so chic layered over a simple white dress (actually just bought this in both the blue stripe and the white — such a great price for such a classic cut!).

But — earrings! Hunter Blake recently sent me these absolutely adorable petal hoop earrings and I am smitten! I like wearing them with all white everything and in fact wore them with an old Self Portrait dress similar to this during my birthday. They are super lightweight and so different from anything else in my jewelry box!

I also *had* to order these pearl stud earrings from Nicola Bathie — the dimensions and style are wearable with my every day wardrobe — but also love these strawberry statements (!) and her new baby’s breath beauties.

You’re Sooooo Popular: $50 Everyday Sandals.

The most popular items on the blog this past week:

+Chic everyday sandals for $50 (wear with everything). I own a pair of flip flops from this label for the beach and they are really well made!

+Jo Malone perfume!

+This Meadows dress, which sells out like hotcakes every time restocked.

+The Clarins double serum, for the second week running!

+Chic stripes.

+Best stroller fan.

+Cute swim trunks for a little lad.

+My secret to an organized diaper bag.

+Precious garden stakes — would make a great gift for a fellow garden enthusiast (mother-in-law?!)

+A gorgeous $28 eyelet dress.

+Comfy nightgown for hot summer nights.

+The Vanishing Half — the book half of America is reading right now it seems.

+My beloved glycolic acid treatment pads, on sale!

Weekend Musings: On Getting Outside.

I posted an Instastory a week or so ago of me with mini and micro in the elevator of our apartment building, on our way out to the park, and subtitled it: “A trillion months into quarantine and daily trips to the park, and it still takes 30 minutes to get out the door.” Ha! Things are definitely easier than they were just after Hill was born, when mini was still highly accident-prone and micro was feeding around the clock. Then, it would occasionally take hours to actually make our way outside the apartment. Hours. Because by the time I was dressed, mini had been cajoled to use the toilet after protracted negotiation, and I’d packed the mid-sized suitcase even a thirty minute outing seemed to require (bottles! spare underwear! a trillion snacks! burp cloths! sweaters! water!), Hill would need to be fed, and we’d be delayed by another 30 minutes as I breastfed, then supplemented, then burped. And then there was always an attendant diaper change or spit-up-mandated outfit change, followed by another trip to the toilet for mini, etc.

Ah!

So, I need to keep perspective and realize we’ve come a long way, though I have, on occasion, when particularly exhausted and mentally preparing myself to ready the children for our daily sojourn to Central Park, asked Mr. Magpie: “Is it worth it?” It takes about 30 minutes to get out the door — 15 on a good day — and the process is inevitably dotted through with protest. “I don’t want to use the toilet!” “But I already used the toilet!” “I don’t want sunscreen!” “Not those shoes!!!” “Mama, can we go NOW!?” And then we rarely spend more than an hour in the actual park, whether because we are all too hot, we need to get home for bath and then nap, or I run out of steam chasing Hill as he attempts to climb (?! yes, climb!) the rickety wire “fence” separating our grassy knoll from a dog run.

But, yes. It is worth it. Even the day I managed to get everyone out the door, set up the picnic blanket, dole out snacks, only to have mini tell me — within no less than a minute of sitting down — that she needed to use the toilet again. Back we went.

And still, even that day, it was worth it. Worth it to feel sunshine on our faces and grass beneath our toes, see other people, breathe, enjoy space. Worth it for the change of scenery. Worth it for the adherence to ritual in this time of flux. Worth it because on the particularly protracted moments of parenting, where I’m not sure how I’ll make it to bedtime, the process of preparing to leave consumes a full thirty minutes of a long day that would otherwise be spent taking deep breaths and reminding myself to exercise patience.

I am writing this in advance, but by the time you are reading this, I will be ensconced with family in a big house with a big yard and a big pool outside the city. I anticipate enormous swathes of the day will be spent outside. I am happy just thinking of it.

Hoping you spend a good chunk of today outside, too.

P.S. Thoughts of raising children in NY (alienated from a backyard!) here and musings on my childhood summers here.

P.P.S. Great outdoor children gear here.

Post-Scripts.

+What to read this summer.

+Verdict is in: Mr. Magpie loves these boxers (just restocked in all sizes). Great gift for the discerning man in your life!

+Mie dresses were restocked!!!

+Such a sleek bedside table. Love the style, dimensions, and functionality.

+Chic dog lead on sale!

+A $100 day dress right up my alley.

+Another pair of Tkees I’m loving right now. The straps look a little complicated for everyday wear (?) but how amazing would the white be with a floaty white dress?!

+Cutest brass bumblee doorknocker!

+What small pleasures are you loving right now?

+Love this $25 chambray popover/tunic — perfect for wearing with Golden Goose or Vejas (on sale!) for a casual day, or to throw over a swimsuit.

+I have been on the fence about trying the much-touted Tan Luxe drops — I know many of you love them (!) — but I had one too many bad run-ins with self-tanner in my college years…then I saw this formula, which includes hyaluronic acid and for some reason found that even more compelling. I think I might add this to my testing list for next month (trying to space out new products).

+This skirt (marked way down to under $100) is so chic — would wear with a white scoopneck bodysuit.

+Intrigued by all of these buzzed-about teas!

+Tennis inspired finds.

+This is how it happens…

By: Jen Shoop

Now through Sunday, take 25% off anything (except preorders) at Nicola Bathie, my absolute favorite for fun jewelry, with code july4. I own and adore these (seen above) in a blue colorway — a crazy steal right now — and I recently added a variation of this pair to my jewelry box. Also love these strawberries and these vines (engagement party?), too.

P.S. Thank you for the sweet comments and emails and DMs about my friend Elizabeth. It feels good — well, not good, but just and deserved and cathartic — to remember her. One other post about her here.

P.P.S. The summer shop.

By: Jen Shoop

I have been overwhelmed and humbled by the outpouring of love and encouragement I received last week, when I shared that I caught and recovered from COVID-19 earlier this year. I was not originally sure whether I would ever write about it, as I still cannot accommodate the sensation of bottomless panic I felt during the long and pregnant pause after I told my mother I had become symptomatic, or the torturous visions I had of Mr. Magpie raising our two children alone —

Let me catch my breath.

But sometimes I lay in bed at night and fret over the frivolous tone of particular posts in the context of this historical moment, and I felt I owed you an explanation.

Though forming the first paragraph above has made clear to me that I would rather write about nearly anything else on the planet right now, I did want to share two things that carried me through the scariest days of the illness because there may be other Magpies silently enduring their own challenges (health-related and otherwise). The first is the relatively new-to-me modality of books on tape and the second an excerpt from a reflection by a Franciscan friar, Father Rohr.

There was a day when I felt so unwell that I could not open my eyes to look at the TV, but I was terrified to lay alone with my own thoughts. Instead, I listened to Jessica Simpson’s Open Book. Her down-to-earth spirituality and earnestness coupled with juicy celebrity gossip hit just right. She reads her book with a delicious kind of extravagance: there are some passages where it sounds like she’s about to cry, or unable to breathe — so intensely she is feeling her own words! — and others where she appears barely able to suppress a laugh. I found her to be a winning and distracting companion and she has forever earned a place of affection in my life because of it. Later, on the road to recovery, I started Ann Patchett’s Dutch House, narrated by Tom Hanks, and the familiar timbre of his voice was deeply comforting while the details and characters of the novel transportive. These audiobooks were life-giving. I have not been an audiobook lover for long; I just started an Audible trial earlier this year, on a whim. I am convinced God made the introduction because He knew I’d need it.

Providence also introduced me to Father Rohr. One of you lovely readers pointed me in his direction months ago and, curious, I signed up for his newsletters. Many mornings, I skip over them in my inbox. A couple days into my illness, I decided to open one and there, in the middle of the page, were the words I desperately needed to hear. I have since copied them onto a little card I keep in my bedside table and screenshotted them for quick access on my phone, too. I find myself skittish about sharing prayers and spiritual musings on this blog because I don’t like the virtue signaling that tends to accompany such content. But reading this passage — even now, fully recovered for weeks — I feel awash with peace. I thought there might be some of you in search of similar solace and so, let me put my own quibbles aside:

“My life is not about me. It is about God. It is about a willing participation in a larger mystery. At this time, we do this by not rejecting or running from what is happening but by accepting our current situation and asking God to be with us in it. Paul of Tarsus said it well: ‘The only thing that finally counts is not what human beings want or try to do, but the mercy of God’ (Romans 9:16).”

Amen, amen, amen.

*****

+More prayers for tough times.

+Chic Amazon finds.

+A well-stocked selection of Sleeper dresses — the Brigitte is still my favorite dress acquisition of the past year or two!

+These are 50% off and still available in my size, but low in stock. OMG OMG OMG….

+Don’t know who needs to hear this, but — on weaning.

+This striped dress is absolutely perfect.

+Some thoughts from earlier this year on outward signs of spirituality — the comments from Magpies were really interesting, too.

+In love with these pretty floral belts!!! What a chic way to update your favorite LWD.

+Had to have these.

+I think we’ve talked about this a lot before, but these are my favorite bibs for little ones. They fold up small so you can easily toss them in your bag, are machine-washable, and also wipe clean nicely. I find that Hill almost always tries to choke himself by pulling the hard/molded plastic ones off because they interfere with his food. These he almost always forgets about.

+More great baby mealtime gear here.

+This is a great bubble bath for children — you get a lot of product for a reasonable price, and it really suds up!

+Mr. Magpie bought me a fancy caran d’ache pen a few years ago — I think I need a mechanical pencil by the same brand, too!

+Sweet summer bralette on sale!

+Cute paper plates for your next grandmillennial garden party.

+More grandmillennial goodness.

+So smart — a collection of nude footwear that matches nearly any skin tone! Do not underestimate the utility of a nude heel!

+Absolutely love this dress and wish it weren’t sold out in my size.

+Just re-stocked Mr. Magpie’s medicine cabinet with a few of his staples — Jack Black facial cleanser, Jack Black deodorant, and Kiehl’s moisturizing SPF.

By: Jen Shoop

THE $82 SUNHAT SEEN ON SUKI WATERHOUSE ABOVE

$40 MARYSIA-ESQUE SWIMSUIT (LOVE THE BLUE COLOR)

ULTRA-CHIC LEATHER D’ORSAY ESPADRILLES

THIS BOW TOP IN THE NAVY OR WHITE

CAMEO EARRINGS

$34 GINGHAM TANK

AMAZING BOW-SHOULDERED BLOCK PRINT DRESS

SWEETEST LITTLE BASKET BAG — WOW!

CUTEST POUCH FOR TUCKING ESSENTIALS INTO YOUR TOTE

RATTAN HEART EARRINGS

ADORE THIS TIERED FLORAL (LOVESHACKFANCY VIBES!)

HEART-PRINT UNDERWEAR

BREEZY CAFTAN IN FUN COLORS

BEADED BOW EARRINGS

THIS SQUARENECK TOP IN THE KHAKI

TASSELED CAFTAN

ANOTHER R VIVIMOS HIT — JUST ORDERED THIS IN THE WHITE AND PALE BLUE COLORWAY

P.S. Sandals to go with your summer wardrobe, plus the Roop bag I must remind you that you need.

P.P.S. I’m so glad I re-read this post on permitting myself to be, on occasion, non-responsible: “Do you ever just allow yourself no curfew so that you don’t have to feel that you’re a child in your own house?” I needed to hear that.

P.P.P.S. The dotted lines between work and personal life.

By: Jen Shoop

I am so sad to report that Wisteria is going out of business after 19 years of helping us furnish our homes. You can still purchase some of their beautiful pieces (at incredible discounts) before it shutters permanently in a few weeks…

I ALMOST BOUGHT THESE EXACT LOUIS XIV STYLE DINING CHAIRS IN THE LINEN FRENCH BLUE — NOW ON SALE FOR UNDER $175

STATELY CHEST OF DRAWERS FOR 50% OFF

SUCH A FUN MIRROR FOR A POWDER ROOM!

THIS LUCITE COFFEE TABLE WOULD BE CRAZY CHIC IN A LIVING SPACE WITH OTHERWISE TRADITIONAL FURNISHINGS

THIS DRAMATIC TUFTED SOFA (CRAZY GOOD PRICE) IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE ONE IN OUR LIVING ROOM

P.S. Great rugs and grandmillennial home design.

By: Jen Shoop

Elizabeth visited with me for the first time in awhile a few days ago. Hill had woken me at 5:30, and I had trudged into his nursery to change his diaper, give him his morning bottle, and litter his crib with toys, hopeful that the distractions might afford me a slender pocket of sleep before mini’s inevitable six a.m. wakeup. I slid back into the cool of my sheets and, half straining for Hill’s cries and half slipping into sleep, felt her energy right next to me, a warm and golden kind of glow.

I fumbled for her. I found myself clawing at memories, desperate for something more shaped than the incorporeal aura sitting at my bedside. Nothing materialized.

It has been almost ten years since she passed away, and I find details of her hard to remember these days. I will never forget her smile, her knowing and slightly arch look on the heels of a naughty aside. I recall clearly the way she flicked her keys around her lanyard. The urgent gesture of her hands when engaged in the passionate retelling of a story. The specific sound the turn signal of her Volvo made — so different from any other car I’d ever been in — and the way she’d lean her pretty face toward her wheel to ease out onto Beulah Road in Vienna, VA. I can still remember her easy laugh. Her bright eyes. The way she smiled through her tears.

But I am haunted by the omissions. And angry at the sparse handful of wisp-thin details I still have. It’s a disgraceful posy. Her spirit was an outsized, meadow-wide, shout-it-from-the-mountaintops-and-ring-it-from-the-belfry kind. This crumbling circlet of memories to which I cling does not do her justice.

But what to do? Remember her to myself. Write against the erasure. Strain for that thing she said to me at 11:05 p.m. standing in the dim backyard of that row house in Georgetown with those handsome Hoyas playing beer pong next to us — oh, what was it?! We had laughed, and hugged our arms to our chests, delirious with the intimacy of our inside joke, performing ourselves in front of those boys in the evening heat of a July summer.

And yet I find myself borne into the different heat of a different July summer. By the time I had wiped away my tears the other morning, mini was at my bedside, breathing into my face: “Mama, why are those gummies on your desk? Mama, why are those gummies there?”

I had a split-second to re-center myself — to clutch Elizabeth’s brief dawn visit close — before launching into the day, carrying what remains of her with me right into the daybreak.

P.S. More on my dear friend Elizabeth here and here.

P.P.S. Female friendships and the things that matter.

P.P.P.S. Life is short. Tell her you love her.

Post Scripts.

+My current favorite gifts for girlfriends: this face mask, this Artis brush (cannot wait to write a full review but am ecstatic about this product), Lake Pajamas, Billie wipes, and Audible subscriptions. I love giving people things I’m evangelical about, and I love surprising them out of the blue with them. (More gift ideas here.)

+This incredible liquid eyeliner is only $9 and is currently on a buy one, get one 50% off promotion. Just stocked up! I think this is just as good as Stila’s, which is saying a lot because I love Stila’s.

+Are you a Lilly Pulitzer kind of gal? I have a couple of Lilly dresses I still pull out every single summer — one of which I’ve had since my second year of college! — and two of them are in this exact shape (somehow this dress is marked down to $67?!)

+Two super cute floral dresses marked down to around $100: this blue and this bold rose print. I honestly think the latter must be a discount mistake — it’s considerably more expensive (or sold out) everywhere else on the internet.

+Mini loves her Petit Collage magnetic set.

+These low-profile glass vases are absolutely stunning (and well-priced) for large bouquets of hydrangea, lilac, etc.

+These bee cuff-links would make such an incredible keepsake gift for a wedding anniversary. (30% off with code HBDWOM.)

+Um, I think a lot of us could use this without regular salon treatments.

+When was the last time you wandered somewhere?

+Obsessed with this skirt.

+These handmade linen dresses are absolutely precious.

+Discovered these beautiful candles from my friend Mackenzie — love the sleek packaging and how can I resist peony?!

+This bubble in the red gingham is too sweet!

+There are still a couple of sizes left in this personalizable cashmere sweater — one of my favorite pieces I bought Hill last winter!

+I think Hill needs this airplane-print backpack. Too cute!

+Had to have this. That grosgrain bow in the back!!!

+This dress was just restocked — very popular the last time I posted it and then sold out!

+Welcome to my new readers. So happy you’re here.

By: Jen Shoop

So many great buys in the Maisonette sale, which just started yesterday. I have had great success stocking up for future summers in their yearly sale, as they carry brands that almost never go on sale. Especially loving…

MATCHING MINNOW SWIM FOR MICRO AND MINI

MY FAVORITE SHORTALLS THAT HILL OWNS

PETITE PLUME NIGHTGOWNS (PERFECT TIME TO BUY FOR NEXT CHRISTMAS!)

ROLLER RABBIT JAMMIES

SWEET GINGHAM DRESS

HAVE HAD MY EYE ON THIS SOPHISTICATED DRESS FOR MINI FOREVER — CONTENDER FOR THANKSGIVING DINNER!

THIS SWIMSUIT IS BEYOND

P.S. Still a few Sammy + Nat pieces marked down to like 80% off — I love these and these.

P.P.S. Baby gear I wish I’d known about earlier and oh, the emotional swing of motherhood…

By: Jen Shoop

We compiled all Magpie recipes into beautiful cards for your kitchen! Get the recipe card collection in your inbox here.

In my ode to picnic cuisine, I neglected to mention how much I love potato salad. Truth be told, I love all kinds of potato salads, including the classic, mayonnaise-based American style I grew up with (“Miracle Whip only,” my mom insists) and the tangy variations that tend to accompany good Carolina-style BBQ, leaving my lips puckered with pickle brine.

But I love French potato salad — the kind laced with vinegar and hints of garlic and, if I am lucky, minced cornichons — best of all.

Mr. Magpie introduced me to this style of potato salad after college and it quickly became a staple in our lives, especially in the summer, where it tends to find its home handily alongside BBQ chicken, hot dogs, and hamburgers hot off the grill. There is something about the preparation of this dish that is appealingly in keeping with the open-windows-bare-feet-laziness-of-summer milieu in which it tends to find itself: I love that you leave the potatoes sprawled out in a single layer across a couple of baking sheets to relax in the vinaigrette. This is the kind of dish that improves with afternoon lethargy. Leave the potatoes out on the counter for an hour or two, at room temperature, and I promise you won’t be able to resist sneaking a couple of rounds right off the pan before dinner.

Mr. Magpie’s French Potato Salad.

A caveat: I am horrific at boiling potatoes. I am attentive and passable as a cook, but I always horribly over- or under-cook potatoes. Keep a close eye on them, spearing them regularly to test for done-ness, to ensure you do not follow suit.

Place two pounds red potatoes, cut into ¼-inch thick slices, six cups of cold water (enough to cover the potatoes by at least an inch of water), and two tablespoons kosher salt (yes, two whole tablespoons) in a large pot. Bring to a boil over high heat.

Lower 1 medium garlic clove, peeled and skewered (I usually lazily use a fork), into the boiling water and blanch for 45 seconds.  Immediately remove and rinse with cold water. 

Once garlic has been blanched, lower the heat to medium.  Simmer for five minutes, or until fork slides in/out with no resistance. 

Drain but reserve ¼ c cooking water. I’m bolding that instruction as it is easy to forget. I like to set a measuring cup right next to the stovetop so I don’t forget to scoop some out before draining. 

Arrange potatoes in a single layer on baking sheets. 

Whisk minced garlic, reserved water, 1.5 tablespoons champagne vinegar, 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard, ¼ cup olive oil, and ½ teaspoon black pepper.  Drizzle over potatoes.  Let stand 10 minutes.  (Or, you know, an hour or two — this is summer!)

Toss with 2 tablespoons minced red onion, 2 thinly sliced radishes, ¼ cup capers (rinsed and dried), and ¼ cup diced cornichons. If you’re not into those accoutrements, you can also swap in a handful of minced, fresh herbs — we love tarragon in this!

Post Scripts: Kitchen Finds.

WE ARE TOTALLY OBSESSED WITH OUR NEWEST GADGET: A TOP-OF-THE-LINE CUCKOO RICE COOKER — MAKES FANTASTIC RICE AND HAS CHARMING CHIMES AND SOUNDS TO BOOT

LOVE THIS CHEERY TRIVET

THE BEST CAKE TINS FOR SERIOUS BAKING PROJECTS

I FIND WE USE OUR MINI BAKING SHEETS ALMOST AS OFTEN AS OUR FULL-SIZED ONES

THESE CUTE CONDIMENT BOWLS ARE ON SALE NOW (ALSO IDEAL FOR SNACKS FOR LITTLE ONES)

PERFECT BAKEWEAR FOR SHOWCASING SUMMER BERRY CRUMBLES AND LEMON POUND CAKES — FUNCTIONAL BUT ELEGANT ENOUGH TO SERVE FROM

AN ELEGANT PERSONALIZED TAG FOR DRESSING UP BAKED GOODS DELIVERED TO A FRIEND (THESE ARE PRECIOUS IF COMING FROM CHILDREN)

THESE ARE JUST THE PRETTIEST CAKE DOMES

LOVE THIS BLUE GINGHAM TABLE THROW (AND CORRESPONDING NAPKINS) — ON SALE!

THESE ETCHED FISH OLD-FASHIONED GLASSES ARE MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE

CHEERIEST COCKTAIL NAPKINS

A TOTALLY UNNECESSARY DISH THAT I ABSOLUTELY LOVE (AND OWN)

THESE ARE JUST ABOUT THE CUTEST NAPKINS EVER (MACHINE WASHABLE!) — JUST BOUGHT A FEW SETS TO HAVE ON HAND AS A HOSTESS GIFT

MORE THINGS YOU NEED IN YOUR KITCHEN

YES, THE VITAMIX IS WORTH IT (WE LOVE OURS)

THESE MELAMINE PLATES ARE BACK IN STOCK!!!

LOVE THESE SALAD SERVERS, THOUGH WE OWN THIS FRENCH SET AND IT’D BE THE PERFECT PAIR FOR SERVING UP FRENCH POTATO SALAD

I FIND MYSELF REACHING FOR THESE MATTE BOWLS ALL THE TIME

THE BEST HOME AND KITCHEN PRODUCTS

WRITING ABOUT FRENCH POTATO SALAD REMINDS ME OF SEEING MY MOM IN DIJON, FRANCE

MORE HOME FINDS

DYING TO TRY PUR HOME PRODUCTS, WHENEVER THEY ARE RESTOCKED!

CHIC PANTRY STORAGE

P.S. Schleich brand figurines are absolutely amazing — so detailed and realistic! Bought a few for my children.

P.P.S. My sneakers are on sale (reviewed here!) and yet another dress I think I need now that it’s marked down to 50% off!

P.P.P.S. These Hazel Village dolls are absolutely precious for a little one.

By: Jen Shoop

Run — Saks has a limited number of classic Lilly Pulitzer shifts in fantastic prints for your mini me on sale for $29. I’ve never seen them at such a good price! I just stocked up on a few in mini’s current size and beyond. I love this print and this print in particular. If you have a littler love, they have a few diaper sets for babies under two years, including this sweet style and this one, which I think may be one of the exact prints mini owned when she was itty bitty. (You can see us twinning above in one of her first sets.)

P.S. They also have some cute pieces in women’s sizes if you like the LP vibe — this column dress is chic!

P.P.S. Love these oversized Lilly-esque bows! Pair with an inexpensive white dress and get the Lilly look for a fraction of the price.

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