By: Jen Shoop

Q: We were supposed to get married in NYC in June but with everything going on we have had to reschedule.  Now, it seems that we will be having our reception in 2021 instead so we are planning on getting married at City Hall in New York whenever it reopens.  So now I need to figure out what to wear!  Do you have any recommendations for a fabulous white dress?  I assume that it will be spring/summertime when we can finally go to City Hall, but I guess you never really know!  I don’t want anything that is too trendy but am open to any suggestions you may have!

A: Oh! — I am so sorry for the change in plans. There is something terribly romantic about a City Hall wedding, though. A few thoughts…

+My top pick is this elegant Saloni. The covered buttons are perfectly bridal and the cut and fit of the dress are stunning.

+For a throwback City Hall vibe, this structured dress, or even something that has more of a “suiting” vibe, like this or — wow — vintage Chanel.

+This is a chic little dress that feels celebratory and carefree.

+This Staud is beautifully romantic.

+A crisp white shirtdress can be dressed up with fantastic accessories — this has a Lauren Bacall or vintage 1950s actress flair to it. (Or this knee-length variation.) Both so impossibly chic!

+I know you said you aren’t into trends, but I had to share a few picks for others who might be in the same boat but want a contemporary look, because they are SO good: this Aje, this Rebecca De Ravenel (pretty much my dream “getaway” wedding dress if you do an outfit change at the end), and — wow — this pantsuit situation.

+Whatever direction you go — buy some fabulous shoes! I love these lace beauties, these Emilia Wicksteads (something blue!), and these Loeffler Randalls.

+More beautiful bridal scores here. Can I draw your attention to this insane pearl clutch?!

Finally, and if I may be so bold — just go for it. Wear the long veil, or buy the ridiculous shoes, or sew that dress patch into your city hall wedding dress, or wear your new “mrs.” name out of the ceremony. You will never regret celebrating what is sure to be the most important day of your life with a small, splurge-y or fanciful detail.

Q: I keep wanting to jump on the sensory bin bandwagon for my toddler, but it seems so daunting. And I’ve already had one traumatic experience with water beads. Have you done any successful sensory bins?  And do you worry about your 10 month old putting any of the pieces in his mouth?

A: I totally hear you. As I mentioned in my roundup of indoor toddler activities, I am also new to the sensory bin world.  The waterbeads can be a particular kind of hell — we only use those in the bath tub because otherwise they go EVERYWHERE and, to your point, my 10-month-old son would 100% put them in his mouth.  So far, our favorite sensory bin has been dyed rice (we use these trays for all of our sensory activities, though these deeper ones look even better for projects like this!).  Place 1 cup of rice with 1 tablespoon of vinegar and a few drops of food coloring in a couple of different baggies and have your toddler shake, shake, shake.  Then spread out and dry on wax paper-lined baking sheets for six hours. (Note: mini loved helping me dye the rice — it was the perfect “cooking” project because proportions don’t totally matter, there are only a few ingredients, and it was fun for her to shake the baggies.)  Ever since, we have used the rice to “bake” (I give her a whisk, some measuring cups and spoons, cupcake tins, etc) and to find letters of the alphabet or little toy animals.  Yes, the rice does spill but we usually play with it on the floor of the kitchen/bathroom and sweep immediately after, and it’s not as big a deal anyway: if micro eats it, no biggie.

It is hard to get over the hump of worrying about the chaos/mess. I find that if I put out a big beach towel and encourage her to “stay on the towel,” it’s easier to let her make a mess and then just pick up the towel and shake it out after.

Q: What are you doing to stay positive during all this virus craziness?

A: I hear you. This is hard.

My chief strategy has been focusing on today only. If I let myself think about how long this might go on, what could happen, etc, etc — it’s just too much.

Instead: What small things can make today better? What can I enjoy at this moment — a fresh cup of tea, a dance party, a glass of rose, an extra cookie, a hot shower? Who can I check on or connect with virtually to make today a little brighter?

Also — a lot of prayer and distraction.

Q: Newborn outfit photo outfits — we’ll need to do them outside because of COVID19. Recs for mom, dad, and baby?

A: Welcome, baby! Hope you are hanging in there, mama. This has got to be the most unusual and anxiety-inducing time to have had a baby. I like the idea of sticking to a palette of white and blue — timeless, crisp, and fairly easy to find.

For mom: this ditsy floral print, this ethereal white dress, this scallop gingham dress, this on-trend blue linen, or this embroidered white chiffon midi (on sale — so, so elegant; reminds me of something a Fitzgerald heroine would wear).

For dad: seersucker pants, blue twill trousers, or denim with a white oxford.

For a baby boy: this classic romper, this gingham bubble, this Peter Pan collar preciousness, a blue knit set.

For a baby girl: this polka dot romper, a perfect traditional bubble, this spectacular floral bubble, or this sweet striped beauty (the collar!!!)

Q: Do you have any more recipes like your shrimp boil — easy and delicious?

A: Zuni Roast Chicken! This recipe requires advanced planning (you pre-season the bird two days prior to cooking it, but it’s a cinch to season!) but yields the most perfect roast chicken with the crispiest, most delicious skin. We usually pair this with orzo dressed in lemon, butter, and chili flakes and a simply boiled vegetable (green beans, peas, etc.) Outrageously good.

One of our other favorite meals is Daniel Boulud’s hangar steak with shallots. Requires very few ingredients and is relatively simple to prepare — but a knock-out.

P.S. The shrimp boil recipe is here, and another good weeknight dinner recipe here, too.

Q: If you had $100 to spend on women’s clothing at Target or Old Navy, what would you buy?

A: A couple of my favorite finds from these retailers:

THIS TIERED RUFFLE DRESS IN PINK OR WHITE (LOOKS LIKE THE BRAND SEA!)

CLASSIC WHITE TEE* OR STRIPED TEE TO PAIR WITH MY FAVORITE JEANS

THIS BLOUSE* IN THE FLORAL OR NAVY PRINT, WHICH I WOULD WEAR UNDERNEATH OVERALLS (BETTER YET: WHITE ONES!)

THIS COTTON DRESS, WHICH I WOULD PAIR WITH MY GOLDEN GOOSE SNEAKERS

THIS WHITE EYELET TOP, WHICH I WOULD PAIR WITH WHITE JEANS

LINEN BLEND UTILITY DRESS (ALSO LIKE IT IN THE BLACK) TO WEAR WITH SIMPLE LEATHER SLIDES AND TORTOISE SHELL SHADES

THIS WHITE SWISS-DOT MAXI*

THIS MDS STRIPES-ESQUE STRIPED MIDI SKIRT* TO WEAR OVER A WHITE BATHING SUIT OR BODYSUIT

THIS FUN PUFF-SLEEVED EYELET TEE* IN WHITE

*If I am following the rules to the letter, the items asterisked is exactly what I would buy with the $100 budget!

P.S. More amazing, fashion-forward, affordable finds here.

P.P.S. Expecting moms: LOVE THIS.

Q: How are you addressing or preventing sibling rivalry?

A: Our approach is to try our best to spend a lot of one-on-one time with each child. Before the pandemic, we got into a great groove where, every weekend, Mr. Magpie or I would take mini out for an excursion all by herself. Sometimes it was as simple as getting a cookie from the bakery down the street, or picking out a flower at the local florist. Other times, it involved a special trip to see a performance or attend a book reading. Now, we try to use micro’s morning nap as an opportunity to spend focused time with her, working on a project/activity.

In a more abstract sense, we are really careful with our language in front of them. A friend of mine once told me that “little rabbits have big ears,” and I’ve never forgotten that. To that end, we never compare the children in front of one another (we also try to avoid this in our own conversations — both are different and perfect!), say “I love you” a lot a lot a lot a lot, and verbally recognize their strengths all the time, especially during nightly affirmations. My hope is that by celebrating them and their differences, reassuring them, and reminding them how much they are loved, this will help.

Q: How do you keep up on baby photos/baby books/baby milestones? Any systems?

A: I could be better about this — I know I will kick myself one day. I did just order (now — ten months in — yikes!!!) a baby book for micro, as I had one for mini, too. Fortunately, I have been fairly consistent about noting milestones in a digital note on my iPhone for both children, as it’s easy to quickly log something in there during the day, so I trust I’ll have enough in there to jog my memory. For photos, we have a shared Apple photos album called “The Adventures of Emory and Hill” and we upload our best pictures there — honestly, we probably have a picture for nearly every day! Can you imagine?! I take a lot of pictures. We love this because we have shared the album with my siblings and our parents, and they can keep tabs on the children and leave comments, too. It’s a great way to keep everyone connected. Every now and then, I order prints online to update our frames. I would love to do a proper album at some point, printed and shipped to myself and our mothers…one day!

Q: How do you organize your clothes?

A: I shared all my favorite organization gear for closets/wardrobes/dressers here, but I will say that folding shirts and pants for dresser drawers the Marie Kondo way has completely changed my life and has made it much easier to keep my drawers tidy (and to stay on top of it). More generally, I stow out-of-season clothes in fabric cubes (wish they’d had this pretty print back when I bought my set!) and line the top of our closet with them. (When we were shorter on space, I used Ziploc space bags) and then organize my hanging clothes by type (skirt/top/dresses) and then by color within each category, and my folded clothes by type (tops/jeans/pajamas/exercise) and then by color.

Q: I’m the officiant for my brother’s boho-chic SoCal wedding in July — dress help please!

A: Wow! So special. Luckily, boho is very in right now, and options abound. Below, a few of my favorites:

THIS ROMANTIC FLORAL

THIS FLOATY LSF

THIS BEAUTIFUL MIDI IN THE BLUE OR RED FLORALS

THIS TO-DIE-FOR ZIMMERMANN IN HAPPY YELLOW

THIS PORCELAIN AGUA BENDITA

THIS EXQUISITE TEMPTATION POSITANO

Q: Any ideas on great housewarming gifts for a recipient who is excellent at gift giving?

A: I hear you — I have a few friends like this, too. How about…

+Some gorgeous custom monogram hand towels. I bought these for my son’s bathroom and was so wildly impressed with the customer service and quality.

+Gorgeously-scented hand wash — don’t know why it’s $3 cheaper here than anywhere else?! This stuff is absolute heaven though, and even the most discerning of recipients will appreciate this.

+If a foodie: a parcel from Eataly — some good olive oil, the best dried pasta on the planet.

+A fun set of cards — with a note mentioning how much fun you’ll have playing together around her gorgeous new living room at some point in the future…

+So random, but if she’s a vintage-score lover: I’ve been eyeing this gorgeous letter opener, and maybe would pair it with some pretty notepads? For her new desk/office space?

+Farmgirl Flowers. Flowers never disappoint, and this is my absolute favorite delivery service. I have been wowed so many times by orders through them.

+Pretty tea towels.

Q: How do you handle Sunday worship during quarantine?

A: Thank you for this question, as it caused me to re-evaluate whether I could be doing something different — something better — on this front. Currently, I look up the readings for the Catholic Mass online on Sundays and read them to myself in the morning, usually before I get out of bed. We did observe the Pope’s televised Sunday Mass on Easter, and I was surprised at how well-behaved mini was throughout its entirety, but I have frankly not tried any other weekend. (My parents do, though.) My thinking has been that I will get more out of “Mass” by observing the readings in quiet than I would corralling my children, but — frankly — your question has led me to wonder whether it might not be the right thing to do for my children to have them observe me tuning in. What are other prayerful folks doing?

P.S. Have been eyeing this Horror Vacui dress intensely, but just found this lookalike!!! Ordered!

P.P.S. Currently reading.

P.P.P.S. How to read.

By: Jen Shoop

Need an afternoon pick-me-up?! I’m here to let you know that there is an extra 50% off sale items at Intermix right now. If the caffeine isn’t doing anything, this should perk you right up! A few incredible scores worth mentioning:

INSANE STAUD SHEARLING COAT ON SALE FOR $84?!?!? — STOW FOR NEXT FALL

THIS STANDOUT MAXI DRESS — SURE TO MAKE YOU THE BELLE OF THE BALL

THESE CULT-FOLLOWING LOEFFLERS FOR ONLY $140

CHICEST BOX CLUTCH FOR YOUR SUMMER WARDROBE

ULTRA-STYLISH PEARL CUFF SWEATER

CHEERY SPRING SKIRT FOR $50

P.S. More fashion finds for spring at incredible prices here.

By: Jen Shoop

I have learned, over time, that there is such a thing as a bad toy.

Bad toys are flashes in the pan: they interest your child for the few minutes after receipt, or maybe for a sparse couple of minutes one or two Saturdays thereafter, but then clutter your apartment forever. Because God forbid you nab it in the stealth of the night in a fit of Marie Kondo cleanliness in order to donate elsewhere. Your child will intuitively sense its absence and ask after it for months to come. (Does this happen to anyone else? You literally never played with that octopus toy, Emory.)

Below, I am sharing good toys. Slow-burn toys. The toys my children play with constantly, nearly daily, even well after I presumed my elder three-year-old would have outgrown them. One common thread? All of them promote imaginative play and most can be repurposed for myriad contexts. (E.g.: The bilibos are used as bowls in a play restaurant, sleds for dolls, beds for mice, hats for everyone, rocks to leap over, etc. And that ball pit! The balls are used in our house for a play “chocolate shop” that mini routinely sets up in micro’s crib. They are also used to pelt parents, to swim in, to play various sports with, as oranges/fruit in a fruit stand, etc.)

I leave you with a roundup of my favorite toys–because they are my children’s favorite toys and have sustained many a long and languid afternoon.

GREEN TOYS TEA SET

JANOD DOCTOR SUITCASE

BATTAT PLAY FOOD (REALLY ANY PLAY FOOD WILL DO; THIS IS THE BRAND WE HAVE)

FIRST YEARS STACK UP CUPS

MELISSA & DOUG BROOM SET

MAILEG MICE AND ACCESSORIES

MELISSA & DOUG POTS AND PANS

FISHER PRICE ROCK A STACK (MINI USES THESE AS DOUGHNUTS IN SO MANY SCENARIOS)

DUPLOS

PICASSO TILES (OR MAGNATILES)

MOLUK MINI BILIBOS

PERCUSSION SET

PLAYGROUND BALL

FISHER PRICE LITTLE PEOPLE PLAYHOUSE

MELISSA & DOUG BALLPIT

WOODEN NESTING BLOCKS

SESAME STREET STORY TELLING BLOCKS (OR REALLY ANY SET OF WOODEN BLOCKS, BUT MINI GETS A KICK OUT OF SEEING FAMILIAR SESAME STREET FACES)

CRAYONS

SPATULAS AND MEASURING CUPS/SPOONS

I will also — hesitantly — add two light-up toys that have had shockingly long duration in our household, though you’ll note NONE of the above are battery-operated! (#Mindblown). Hill has absolutely loved this singing truck set since about seven months old. He plays with it every single day, multiple times a day. He loves placing the balls (or Little People, or play keys, or whatever) in the back, loves pulling the little string along, moving the lever. It’s for whatever reason a genius toy. The other is this v-tech phone, which I suppose should depressingly show us how much we prize our own phones. But both children absolutely love this toy! We have two, and they are in constant use. Mini loves to tuck hers into her “purse” and to pretend to call aunts, grandparents, parents, etc.

I shared some of my favorite organization gear for all rooms of the house — including toys in nurseries! — here, but these are really fantastic for things like blocks, play food, magnatiles, etc. I find that because they are easy to access, mini plays with them a lot more. I have been eyeing these forever for mini’s room — I think we might be at a stage where these would come in handy for keeping her Maileg mice and dress up clothes in particular separate bins.

Finally, I am still updating my roundup of indoor children’s activities! I am always on the lookout for new additions. A couple of you have written to ask questions about the dyed rice activity (#38), which was a big hit in our home, and I shared a few pictures of it on Instagram, too. I got a couple of the same questions in response to my Instastories, so thought I’d share some notes here:

+We have been using these trays whenever we do any activity, including the dyed rice, although these deeper ones would frankly be even better when you’re dealing with the rice (or waterbeads — yikes! those guys get everywhere!) to keep the mess contained. Still, the trays definitely work (though sweeping is necessary after).

+I buried this alphabet from a puzzle in the rice one day, and mini absolutely LOVED this activity. This set would be great, too (the numbers!), and they’re just excellent puzzles to have on hand in general.

+I have been using those little plastic egg dying cups that came with my Paas Easter egg dying set from Easter for all of mini’s projects/activities! They are cheap and I don’t care if they get stained with dye or whatever. However, they are pretty flimsy and I don’t expect they’ll last much longer. Just added these to my cart as a replacement and will continue to use them (and the trays) JUST for activities.

P.S. Children’s bedtime books I love and mini’s favorite books at around a year of age. Also, if you have a brand new baby and are looking for a fool-proof book for your child to fall in love with: Peek a Who. I have yet to meet a baby who does not love this book. Both of mine laughed out loud at it from a young age.

P.P.S. Traditional childrenswear under $31.

P.P.P.S. Unrelated, but — some musings on reading and real life.

By: Jen Shoop

*This post has been updated after publication because one of the gift ideas I had featured was not yet available online!

When I am visiting my parents’ home, my mother will turn down the bed linens for me at night. This means that at some point in the evening, when I am pouring myself a glass of wine or rifling through her pantry, she will have wordlessly gone into the guest bedroom, tucked down the comforter, and fluffed the pillow on my behalf.

She will stock the fridge with LaCroix and oat milk and the pantry with Crispix and Cheez-Its — all my favorite things.

She will clip out recipes or articles or prayers and leave them for me on the desk of the guest room, my name written in her old-fashioned script at the top: Jennifer. No preamble, no commentary, no marginalia. Just the implied: I thought of you when I read this. And, just beyond that, the implied: I love you.

She will unfurl a gift for whatever occasion is upon us — Thanksgiving, Easter, Daughter’s Day, The First Day of Summer (I swear she invents new holidays for the excuse of gift-giving) — “I saw this and thought you,” she’ll say.

She will plan out an itinerary of meals deferential to my preferences: scallops from Black Salt one night; an Ina Garten chicken dish I love the next.

She will wait until I descend for breakfast before having her own, always first asking how I slept–just about the tenderest of inquiries, in my opinion. As if anyone should care how I slept.

And she will stand at the top of the steps waiting for me when she hears the front door open: “There’s my girl,” she will say, opening her arms as I ascend.

When I am weary, lost in the footslog of caring for two small children while confined for the foreseeable future in our Manhattan apartment, I think about the quiet, largely thankless way in which she cares for me, both when I am visiting her and when I am not.

But it is tenderer to think of visiting her because I cannot right now and — oh my God, I miss her.

All this to say: my mother cares for me instinctively, as though she cannot imagine another way of living her life. On the occasion I have the presence of mind to thank her, she is often startled: “Oh, what? Oh — sure, of course!” Her selflessness humbles me as I occasionally grumble and whine my way through these long days:

A basket of fresh fruit arriving on my doorstep just after I had complained about how little produce we had on hand.

Daily phone calls or FaceTime sessions.

Packages ferrying puzzles and toys for the children that have sustained us through many a bleary afternoon.

Hand-written notes to cheer me along.

Postcards addressed to mini — invariably the highlight of her day.

All of this from my mother. I am inspired and spirited by her example as I look after my own children, but I cannot deny that I also crave her care, even now, on the eve of 36 years old (!). It is lucky, as I wrote elsewhere, to be children.

Today, wishing my mother an extra happy mother’s day–

I am lucky I am yours and you are mine.

Post Scripts: Mother’s Day Gift Ideas.

Below, a roundup of items I am currently lusting after (or own!) that would make excellent gifts for mothers. I aimed to keep most of these items under $100 and prioritized featuring small businesses owned and run by women (though there are exceptions).

+Rose print pajamas from Polkadot. How beautiful?! I am so in love with this new-to-me label, which was founded by a mother and daughter team! I love the rose print, but am eyeing this solid white chemise for myself.

+Pretty initial stationery from Hibiscus Linens, also a woman-owned business!

+Floral inlay box from Madre Dallas, a lovely boutique owned by three mothers (and friends). These are the kinds of treasures my mother has gifted to me on many occasions — trinkets and heirlooms I will treasure forever but that I would never purchase for myself. I love the vibrant colors and fun designs on this one.

+India Amory pareo — I loved this new colorway so much, I ordered it for myself! I featured Julia Amory (the founder of the line) awhile back, and she has since become a mother herself!

+Nicola Bathie cameo earrings. These are over $100 but oh my — the perfect gift for a mom. I am in love with mine. (And this is yet another strong female founder with two little ones at home.)

+Weezie makeup towels (from yet another line founded by two women!) and your favorite tube of mascara (this is mine). These would be a mildly ironic gift for my mother as she was on my case for years for ruining dozens of towels with eye makeup. (Sorry, mom.) I also love Weezie’s short robes for getting ready and blow-drying my hair if you’re open to a slightly higher price tag.

+This darling Liberty London dress with a matching style for a daughter from Petit Peony, yet another woman-owned business. (The founder seems like the loveliest woman: she partners with various non-profits to donate and is the mother to a child who received a heart transplant — God bless her). I think I need this matching set for Emory and I.

+Just the prettiest mug ever and a tin of Harney & Son’s Mother’s Bouquet tea.

+Travel jewelry box with a fantastic, Goyard-esque block monogram from Parker Thatch, co-founded by a woman!

+A striped Kule tee (I live in mine). Yet another woman-owned business!

+A pretty pastel saucepan. Such a great size for re-heating soup, warming milk for an at-home cafe au lait, or…decorating your kitchen shelves. (I mean, it is stunning!)

+Scented terracotta pomegranate. People rave about these as a way to lightly scent and freshen bedrooms, closets, etc. Such a unique gift from an Italian pharmacy/apothecary that has been around since 1612. 1612!!!

+A photograph book you can organize online from the loveliest stationer. Would be such a sweet way to document your relationship with your mama. I am actually welling up just thinking about this.

+Anything from this roundup of gifts for new moms if you’re giving something to a sister/friend/daughter/etc who’s just given birth.

+Leopard candlesticks from Alice Naylor Leyland for the eclectic table and chicest of hostesses. (Love love love these.) Also a woman-owned business!

+A pretty floral cardigan.

+Fun melamine plating from Katie Kime to encourage al fresco dining — at least some of us can eat outside during this time of isolation! I love the fun patterns and monogram options from this shop, yet another woman-owned business!

+A heart necklace from Gorjana (co-founded by a woman) engraved with her initials — or one of these disc necklaces with all her children’s names on it.

+Stunning bookplates from Nancy Nikko (female founder!) and one of your favorite books. (Or one of these gorgeous hard-bound ones.)

+Gorgeous ceramic bowls by Susan Gordon — another woman-owned business! I’m in love with this lemon one.

If you really need to celebrate this year, a few splurges:

SARAH BRAY SUNHAT

LE LION PERSONALIZED SWEATER

A CLASSIC TIFFANY HEART LOCKET

VINTNER’S DAUGHTER FACE SERUM (SEEN ABOVE – LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS PRICEY-BUT-WORTH-IT PRODUCT)

P.S. More on mothers and daughters.

P.P.S. More on motherhood in general here and here and here.

By: Jen Shoop

My Latest Snag: Fabric Face Masks.

What an odd time in our lives, but I have been shopping for reusable fabric face masks for my family as New Yorkers are now required to wear them in public when social distancing is not possible. (And honestly, it’s usually not possible to maintain a six foot berth because we live in such tight quarters.) A couple of sources for fabric face masks I’ve found:

BUSY BEES KIDS — MAKES ADULT SIZES TOO

ALICE & OLIVIA

BUCK MASON (GREAT FOR MEN)

LA MADE

PARKER THATCH

P.S. On a more frivolous front, shared some ways to make the everyday a little more special during this time inside here. And if you need a distraction from it all…

You’re Sooooo Popular: Everyday Earrings.

The most popular items on the blog this past week:

+Everyday pearl hoops.

+Just the prettiest most sunshine-y dress ever.

+Cutest toile mini skirt.

+One way to make laundry day a little more elegant.

+Prettiest pillow.

+Sweetest ($10!!!) romper for a baby girl.

+Classic shirtdress.

+My spring floral mug (on sale!!)

+Old Bay seasoning to make BBQ shrimp! YES!

+Gingham romper for a little boy under $20.

+One of my favorite bulk storage bins is on sale for $5 off!

#Turbothot: Kitchen Countertops.

We have a problem with kitchen countertop clutter at the moment. I have been daydreaming of one of those enormous kitchens with a huge island and expansive, spare counters and only, like, an intentional arrangement of flowers or a bowl of artichokes on one surface. Our countertops, by comparison, are lined with appliances, a salt pig and pepper mill, a knife rack, an implement holder, bowls of produce and potatoes, a drying rack for bottles and sippy cups, oil-splattered cookbooks, a stack of hand towels, the Home Pod, a canister of formula, a tray of just-made Rice Krispie treats. Every time I feel I’ve found some clever way to consolidate and hide, something new crops up in its place: a glut of citrus that needs a new home outside the fridge; an arrangement of fresh herbs (we find they keep longer if you place them upright with their stems in water, like flowers); a too-long box of cereal that won’t fit in the darn cabinet; shallot oil from Mr. Magpie’s most recent cooking project.

And yet.

These counters are a perfect mirroring of our lives as young-ish parents to young children: full, busy, occasionally inconvenient, sometimes, necessarily, more focused on function than form. They are also a reminder of how well we eat and how fortunate we are to stock our home so fully.

“Any advice for me now that I have two?” I asked a friend just after micro had arrived last May. She paused and said: “embrace the chaos.” That’s not my style, of course. I am hyper-organized and find it difficult to sit if there are toys spilled across the carpet, or crumbs on the counter. But I am slowly beginning to accept a kind of sanctioned disorder in certain spheres–our countertops being one such site. I have learned how to make the countertop feel more organized and tidy by arranging the bowls of fruit around one another in a cluster, hiding the stand mixer beneath a cover, stacking the bottle racks on their side against the wall when not in use, organizing the spines of the cookbooks by color.

Of course I aspire to one day get my expansive slab of clutter-free marble, sans drying racks and the mound of tomatillos currently sitting on my counter, waiting for taco night.

But for now, I’ve made peace with those tomatillos and with the — well, spillage — that comes with this life stage.

P.S. All that said, I contain, sort, label, and organize what I can. Countertops are tricky.

Post-Scripts.

+Random hunt: looking for some trivets and currently debating between this unfussy “farmhouse” style, this traditional cast-iron, and this fun brass pineapple.

+In love with this dress!

+Love the print on this top. Can’t get enough of that ditsy/ribbon/old-fashioned vibe! (Also love this in the roquefort print for the same reason.)

+So cute for the fourth.

+It feels like mini’s birthday party was a different life.

+Sweet bodysuits for itty bitty girls.

+Very into this look for Hill this summer.

+Fun bedding for a boy’s room.

+Chic way to stow diapers and accoutrements on your changing table.

+Dying over these elegant sconces!!!

+My favorite bra – 25% off!

+Obsessed with the cut of this dress — and it’s 70% off!

+OK, I might need to order this daisy dress to go with my new earrings.

By: Jen Shoop

DROP EARRINGS FROM ULTRA-CHIC JENNY WALTON, SEEN ABOVE — LOVE HOW SHE STYLES THESE, BUT HAD TO ORDER THESE (ALSO BY HER!)

I’D LIKE TO WEAR MY DAISIES WITH THIS DRESS

OR THIS DAISY TOP

THIS FUN SCALLOPED ROMPER, MARKED DOWN TO $61 — IF YOU FOLLOW ME INSTASTORY, YOU KNOW I WORE THIS LAST NIGHT! ALSO AVAILABLE IN A PRETTY BLUSH

I’LL WEAR THE ABOVE WITH A FEMININE WHITE BLOUSE LIKE THIS OR THIS (<<I OWN THIS ONE)

PEARL SANDALS FOR $55!

ON-TREND FLORAL MIDI MARKED DOWN TO $31, AND ANOTHER FOR UNDER $50

FUN GINGHAM MIDI

CHANEL-ESQUE ESPADRILLES

ADORE THIS CLUTCH

MY PINK FRILL TOP

THIS SMOCKED TOP IS THE PERFECT COLOR AND REMINDS ME OF SOMETHING BY THE LABEL SEA

$35 FOR THIS BLUSH BEAUTY!!!! LOVE THIS FOR CHURCH

MINI PEARL HOOPS

GINGHAM TOP

DEFINITELY NOT UNDER $100 BUT WOWOWOWOW

P.S. Speaking of my new daisy earrings…for mini: how cute is this daisy dress and this pair of shoes?

P.P.S. I hope I am this kind of parent.

P.P.P.S. This is me; this is not me.

By: Jen Shoop

A few of my absolute favorite possessions right now…

MY REVLON ONE-STEP DRYER AND VOLUMIZER — HAVING A GOOD BLOWOUT MAKES ME FEEL SO GOOD AND THIS DARN THING HAS CHANGED MY LIFE…! (FULL REVIEW)

ORIBE VOLUMIZING SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER

FRESH FLOWERS — MR. MAGPIE RECENTLY SENT A HUGE BOUQUET OUT OF THE BLUE

MY SPRING MUG AND SOBA TEA

OUR TECHNIVORM MOCCAMASTER COFFEE MAKER

MY RECLINER PAJAMA PANTS

AESOP HAND CREAM

DORITOS

AUDIBLE SUBSCRIPTION (MORE ON MY NEWFOUND LOVE OF AUDIOBOOKS HERE)

OUR COFFEE TABLE — THOUGH WE HAVE A LOVELY FORMAL DINING ROOM, MR. MAGPIE AND I OFTEN EAT DINNER RIGHT HERE, AND IT FEELS INFORMAL AND COZY AND PERFECT RIGHT NOW

EVEN ON MY MOST MINIMAL MAKEUP DAYS, I WEAR THIS EPIC MASCARA, THIS PERFECT BRONZER, AND THE BEST CONCEALER KNOWN TO WOMAN (THE FIRST TWO ITEMS CAN BE SCORED AT A DISCOUNT WITH CODE SPRINGSAVE)

JUSTIN’S PEANUT BUTTER AND GOOD MAYONNAISE (IF I MUST HAVE SANDWICHES NEARLY EVERY DAY FOR LUNCH, I’D LIKE MY FIXINS TO BE TOP-NOTCH)

LE PENS AND MY NOTEBOOK FOR LIST-MAKING — I KEEP A RUNNING LIST OF TODDLER ACTIVITY IDEAS, MEALS, AND WRITING PROMPTS HERE

EVERLANE CASHMERE CREWS — MY UNIFORM ON COOLER DAYS WITH WHITE DENIM

NEW ORGANIZING GEAR – – JUST SNAGGED A FEW SETS OF THESE FOR OUR INSANE COLLECTION OF BRONZE-CUT DRIED PASTA, ANOTHER ONE OF THESE FOR OVERFLOW BULK ITEMS, AND SOME NEW CHIP CLIPS

DIOR LIP GLOW — CAN BE APPLIED WITHOUT MIRROR; GLIDES ON LIKE BALM BUT MAKES ME FEEL POLISHED

USBORNE STICKER BOOKS FOR MINI

MARGARITAS OR PALOMAS AT COCKTAIL HOUR — BEEN IN A TEQUILA MOOD

THESE 8X6 CUTTING BOARDS — WE HAVE TWO NOW, AND THEY ARE IN CONSTANT USE…PERFECT FOR DICING CHILDREN’S MEALS, MAKING SANDWICHES, OR PREPPING CITRUS FOR A COCKTAIL…AND SO MUCH EASIER TO CLEAN THAN ONE OF THE BIG BOYS

MERMAID TUB STICKABLES — MINI NOW BEGS ME FOR BATHS, AND THESE EXTEND BATHS FOR A GOOD TEN OR FIFTEEN MINUTES

And, of course, pretty new spring things to cheer my day and make me feel stylish, many of which I rounded up here. Most days, I have been sharing my daily looks on Instastories, and, in the more recent weeks, have enjoyed pulling out summer dresses to make myself feel better and remind me that this, too, shall pass. A couple of other stunning recent finds to bring me into summer:

SARAH BRAY’S NEW LINE OF SUNHATS WITH VINTAGE RIBBONS

THIS ELEGANT ONE-PIECE

THESE PRETTY TUMBLERS

THIS PRECIOUS SMOCKED ROMPER (IF ONLY EMORY STILL FIT…)

THESE GORGEOUS PUCCI SHORTS

ATTRACTIVE BLOCKS FOR THE NURSERY

ULTRA ORNATE AND INCREDIBLE PLACEMATS

A CHIC WAY TO STOW OUTDOOR TOYS ON A PATIO (IF ONLY I HAD A PATIO…)

DYING OVER THIS DESK (THOUGH VERY ATTACHED TO MY FLIMSY OLD ONE, AT WHICH I’VE BEEN WRITING FOR NEARLY TWENTY YEARS)

P.S. It’s been a minute since I last wrote a book club post. What are you reading? Frankly, neither of the last two books I read are worth comment. (#Harshbuttrue)

P.P.S. Some musings on this horrible pandemic here and here, and a post about grief that makes me cry every time I read it.

P.P.P.S. A recipe you really must try!

By: Jen Shoop

When we moved last October, we set a budget for outfitting our new, much larger space. One of the biggest line items? Rugs. We purchased new rugs for every room, as the spaces were larger and we’d more or less destroyed the ones we had. Rugs are, to me, the quickest way to pull a room together. Even with sparse furniture and decor, a good rug can soften and style a space in no time. Below, sharing a roundup of my absolute favorite rugs:

THIS BEAUTIFUL, CLEAN STRIPE — SEEN ABOVE! — I WISH I HAD A SPOT FOR IT IN MY HOUSE!!!

THIS INEXPENSIVE (WASHABLE!!!!) STYLE — WE BOUGHT ONE OF THESE IN A FUN GREEN COLOR FOR OUR KITCHEN, AS WE CAN JUST TOSS IT IN THE WASH WHEN IT NEEDS A CLEANING

GORGEOUS STRIPE FOR A BABY BOY

STILL SWOON OVER OUR BEDROOM RUG FROM S&L (LOOK FOR LESS)

ADORE THIS ELEGANT BUT CASUAL-LEANING RUG FOR A DINING ROOM OR LIVING SPACE

WE HAVE THIS STUNNING RUG IN A LARGER SIZE IN OUR DINING ROOM

MICRO’S NURSERY RUG AFFORDS A GREAT SOUTHWEST FEEL

LOVE THIS, ESPECIALLY AS A RUNNER IN A KITCHEN (AFFORDABLE)

MINI’S HAPPY NURSERY RUG IS NOW 40% OFF!

A FUN NEUTRAL – I IMAGINE IT IN A STUDY OR OLDER BOY’S ROOM ALONG WITH BROWN LEATHER ACCENTS, I.E. THIS FUN DRESSER, BUT YOU CAN ALWAYS UPDATE YOUR CURRENT DRESSER WITH THESE INEXPENSIVE LEATHER PULLS!

SERIOUSLY IN LOVE WITH THIS SCALLOPED RUG IN THE SUNSHINE YELLOW FOR A LITTLE GIRL’S ROOM

ALTERNATELY, THIS RUG IS FIT FOR A PRINCESS — I’D KEEP THE REST OF THE ROOM FREE FROM PINK TO AVOID OVERDOING IT; MAYBE PAIR WITH TAUPE ELSEWHERE

THIS PLUSH, BRAIDED RUG IS A STEAL FOR A BEDROOM

SUPER FUN STYLE TO ADD TEXTURE/PATTERN TO A LIVING SPACE

I ALWAYS GET QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR LIVING ROOM RUG — IT’S THIS ONE! OBSESSED!

A BIG, FEMININE STATEMENT

FUN, MODERN-LOOKING RUNNER FOR A HALLWAY

And, a handful of amazing (affordable) home decor finds:

SCALLOPED-EDGE DISH TOWELS!

WOVEN PLACEMATS

STUNNING, DRAMATIC FLOOR PILLOWS

DEAD OVER THESE CHAISE LOUNGES FOR CHILDREN

LOOKS LIKE S&L, COSTS MUCH LESS

CLASSIC CERAMIC PLANTER AT A GREAT PRICE

CLEVER WAY TO CONCEAL SPARE TOILET PAPER IF YOU DON’T HAVE ENOUGH STORAGE

WICKER WOVEN PLANT STAND

A DRAMATIC MIRROR (LOVE LOVE LOVE — ON SALE!)

CHIC BASKETS

P.S. Your guide to home organization.

P.P.S. Accoutrements for a perfect happy hour at home.

By: Jen Shoop

I will admit that I spend a fortune on my children’s clothing but I am also very good at ferreting out sales and steals in this category. Below, beautiful, traditional children’s clothing, and nothing is over $31. Well — three items are a few dollars over but the vast majority are under $31, and there are several steals around $10!

Pour Les Filles.

PINK SEERSUCKER DRESS

GINGHAM ROSETTE DRESS (THAT COLLAR MAKES IT LOOKS SO MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE THAN IT IS)

COTTON BUBBLE (IN THE WHITE! OR FLORAL! OR GINGHAM! DEAD! $10!!! I WOULD ORDER ALL!)

ANCHOR SMOCKED DRESS

SHORT SET — THE BLOUSE LOOKS LIKE LIBERTY LONDON!

FLORAL BUBBLE (OK, THIS IS $34)

SMOCKED FLORAL DRESS

LEMON EMBROIDERED DRESS

CIENTA T-BARS

SMOCKED DRESS

STRIPED SUNHAT

LIBERTY PRINT BLOUSE

ROSEBUD SWIMSUIT

SWISS DOT DIAPER SET

GINGHAM COLLARED DRESS

Pour Les Garcons.

SLEEVELESS COTTON ROMPER

PRINTED PIMA ROMPER (30% OFF WITH CODE SPRING30 — HILL HAS ONE OF THESE AND I’M IN LOVE)

SEERSUCKER SHORTS

DENIM SHORTALLS

CIENTA SLIP-ONS

GINGHAM SHORTS

STRIPED LINEN SHORTALL

GINGHAM BUBBLE ($20!)

SUNSUIT (OK, THIS IS $33)

HOODED KNIT (UNDER $14)

STRIPED BLOOMERS

LINEN ROMPER ($33)

STASH THESE $16 SHORTALLS AWAY FOR YOUR FALL WARDROBE

P.S. This stunning hand-smocked dress is a dead ringer for the far more expensive brand Pepa & Co (well-loved by Kate and her royal brood) and these are a great way to showcase special pieces in your closet.

P.P.S. I am always updating my children’s shop and I also re-organized and updated my list of indoor toddler activities (it’s jumped to 45 ideas!) My favorite addition has been dying and playing with rice! We loved making the rice — it’s the perfect few-ingredient “recipe” for a toddler and involves shaking a baggie to mix — and it’s been a blast to play with.

P.P.P.S. My other heartbeat.

P.P.P.P.S. The above photo is of Caroline and Jackie Kennedy. Did you know Caroline personally taught me a really powerful life lesson?

By: Jen Shoop

You must buy this mascara.

I am a complete devotee, and I am serious about mascara (and have tried nearly every brand). This is an outrageously lengthening, lifting, separating formula that does not flake/cake/clump and stays put very nicely. This, coming from a woman who tears up more often than she cares to admit.

*Sephora just launched it’s tiered bi-yearly sale. If you have Rouge status, you can shop today through May 1st for 20%. off; VIB status, you can shop tomorrow through April 29th for 15% off; Beauty Insider status, you can shop April 23rd through the 27th for 10% off with code SPRINGSAVE.

P.S. Also a great time to stock up on staples. I am repurchasing my everyday cleanser, the best bronzer ever, Shiseido facial cotton, and La Mer eye cream. More favorites here and here.

By: Jen Shoop

Some point between grades three and four, I decided that I wasn’t “a numbers person.” I recall cautiously seeking my father’s help on a long division problem one afternoon, feeling sheepish and frustrated with myself. He was sitting in the sun room, watching the news, and embarrassment washed over me as he read the problem and then looked up at me expectantly. You should know this, seemed to be the subtext. I’d never needed help in any other subject and so I mistook the alien feeling of being challenged for the first time in my academic career as a symptom of intellectual impotence.

“I’m bad at math,” I told myself. Which was entirely untrue. I have earned straight As (often A plusses) in every single mathematics course I have ever taken — handily. But I opted for the easiest possible level of math every year and told myself that I was only doing well because I was in with the remedial bunch. I was thrilled when I learned I’d earned a scholarship at college that waived every area requirement and sailed gleefully through UVA without a lick of math.

I regret this. I commend UVA for bending the rules for promising and motivated students, but — c’mon. I was a coddled, self-involved eighteen-year-old not to be trusted with making mature decisions, let alone building my own curriculum. So I still find myself saying that “I am not a numbers person” because I am embarrassed that I am only capable of high school-level math and appalled at my lack of grit. I have never known myself to back away from anything, least of all challenging intellectual chestnuts, and so I often ruefully puzzle over my indisposition to math as a girl.

It would be easy to step into a conversation about gender norms here, but I don’t see it that way. Frankly, I always considered myself smarter than the boys in my class. I was usually competing with two other smart girls — a girl named Patty in particular — for top marks in grade school, and then I attended an all-girls high school, and so boys were largely removed from the competitive landscape.

I think it was more because so many people recognized my talent in language arts at an early age but I didn’t hear the same resounding applause in the mathematics arena. For several years, my teachers would seat me outside the classroom during language arts to complete advanced dittos by myself, recognizing that I was punching well above my weight in the subject. I was talented in reading and writing, but I was exceptional at grammar, whose rules made perfect sense to me. I was frankly shocked at the lack of grammar comprehension among my classmates when I matriculated to Visitation, a prestigious all-girls high school. I remember gawking when a classmate could not distinguish an adverb from an adjective in my freshman-year English class. I’d been diagramming sentences since nine or ten and it felt like a joke.

Funny, though: grammar is more or less the mathematics of writing. There are rules to follow; parts of speech to parse; tidy hand-written diagrams on paper. We usually think of “language arts” as creative, or subjective — but grammar is all about rote memorization, the application of rules, and problem-solving. Circle the antecedent. Underline the adverbs. Diagram the sentence. Grammar transforms what appears to be a loose and fluid practice (writing) into something that feels a lot like science. It irritates me that I did not perceive this parity and ask myself “Am I really not good at math?”

But I had patrons galore as I pursued the craft of writing and I intuitively compared their density to the total absence of a personal mathematics cheering squad. My grandfather, my uncle, my parents, several teachers had all taken an interest in my writing and had encouraged me in various ways. My mother enrolled me in writing workshops. My grandfather took me to lunch at Chevy Chase Club and taught me about poetic meter over a grilled cheese sandwich, showing me how he counted each “foot” (a term of art in the study of poetry) on a different finger of his hand–using a Shakespearean sonnet as an examplar, no less. My uncle sent me photocopies of J.D. Salinger’s short fiction with little notes attached to the front: “Keep writing.” In seventh grade, a few years after I decided I was “not a numbers person” — this, despite the fact that math at that point felt easy to me, busywork to be completed without effort while eating Combos on the floor of my bedroom — a young college graduate, Mr. Caulfield, became my English teacher. He was twenty-two, extremely handsome, and impressed with my writing. He encouraged me to enter a local student poetry contest and I beamed with pride when I was named a finalist. I wore a black watch tartan kilt, a white button-down blouse, and a pair of black patent leather loafers with a chunky, 2″ high heel that I’d all but bartered my soul away for in a protracted negotiation with my mother. My mother and Mr. Caulfield sat in the audience while I stammered my way through my maudlin and flowery attempt at poetry. Afterwards, Mr. Caulfield gave me a small bouquet of flowers and a manila folder with my name on the front. Inside was a spiral-bound book of poetry he’d written — “Heels to a Cliff,” by Paul Caulfield. I now question the judiciousness of presenting an impressionable twelve year old with a book of poetry that appears to have been grappling with themes of suicide, but at the time, I was floored. I kept the flowers at my bedside and read the book cover to cover. I didn’t understand it, but no matter. I felt recognized, initiated. I was a poet! He was a poet! I was good at something! I never once in the years of schooling that followed doubted my talent or ability when it came to reading or writing. I completed AP Lit early. I took 400-level English seminars when I was a first- or second-year in college. I doubled and tripled up on the literature coursework wherever possible. “I’m good at this,” I told myself. “I’m a letters person.”

When I took the GREs for graduate school, I was anxious about the math, having not taken any mathematics in over four years. So you can imagine my shock when I discovered I had earned higher marks on the mathematics portion than I had on the writing portion. (Let that sink in for a minute. I was essentially pursuing an advanced degree in writing.) The discrepancy in scores was ironic and disappointing but secretly thrilling. “I could have been a numbers person after all,” I told myself.

But as it turns out, my aversion to math made space for my love of language, a love that has carried me from the sing-song, rhyming fustian of my youth to the arduous, searching expositions of graduate school and finally to this blog that has brought me such deep pride and purpose as I write to learn what I think.

So it’s not so bad, not being a numbers person.

I’m happy here among the letters.

Post Scripts.

+Speaking of grammar: an ode to the em dash.

+And speaking of language: words I hate.

+A little something on understanding the difference between intellectual snobbery and the accurate use of language.

+This mirror is amazing — and on sale! Would completely transform an entryway hanging above a narrow console.

+I am seriously lusting after a matching top-and-skirt situation — there are so many epic styles out there right now. My top picks:

THIS HAPPY CITRUS WITH MATCHING TOP

THIS SET IN WHITE LINEN

THIS THIERRY COULSON WITH MATCHING SKIRT

HORROR VACUI WITH MATCHING SKIRT

THIS FLORAL WITH THIS TOP

+This classic weekender bag is currently 30% off (and it never goes on sale!)

+Super pretty, and kind of in the vein of nightgown dressing.

+Pretty, feminine tumblers for your morning juice.

+The color and ethos of this dress is fantastic. It would totally swallow me alive but I love the thought of it.

+CUTE centerpiece for a child’s birthday.

+

+Chip clips can be chic, too…

+People love these rainbow toy sets — this is the ultra small one, but there are even bigger ones! — for promoting imaginative play.

+This adorable bubble is marked down to $34. I absolutely adore this brand for special occasions — or occasional splurges just because. And don’t even get me started on this. IT IS SO GOOD.

+So fun and easy to wear — and 30% off.

+This pretty top is now marked down to $44!

By: Jen Shoop

My Latest Snag: A Staud Dress.

Did you manage to jump on the Staud runaway train sale earlier this week? So good. I bought this one. Still some incredible scores on offer at Saks. RUN. Will I look like Felicity the American Girl doll? Ha — no. I’ll make it work.

P.S. More fantastic dresses as we head into warmer weather and my spring shopping list.

You’re Sooooo Popular: A Stunning Sunshine Yellow Dress.

The most popular items on the blog this past week:

+This stunning dress, which is currently over 50% off.

+A gorgeous floral from RL. It reads more like a moody LoveShackFancy though. Into it.

+Pretty everyday earrings.

+Fun sub for a classic tee — I’d wear this under white overalls.

+Chic beach chair.

+Micro’s seat. We mainly use it in the living room. So nice to have extra spots to secure him for a time — he is SO mobile.

+Gorgeous tea towels to spruce up your kitchen.

+The cutest little toile skirt (a steal!)

+Classic denim shortalls for a little boy for a Tom Sawyer moment this summer.

+In love with this traditional pattern.

+The world’s best vanilla extract for your next baking project.

+Use this at every single mealtime.

#Turbothot: A Wish for a Friend in Troubling Times.

I have many friends and loved ones enduring particularly stressful situations right now–pregnant friends, doctor friends working the ER in NYC, friends who have had to relocate amidst all of this (can you imagine moving against your will with two children under two because mold has been found in your apartment in the context of this shut-down?! how?!), friends who have lost loved ones, friends who have lost jobs, friends who started new businesses just before the outbreak that are now buckling under the financial pressure they are suddenly facing. I listen to them; I rather uselessly repeat things like “I can’t imagine” and “I am so sorry you have to go through this,” phrases I have at the ready for situations like this. But this might be better-put, plucked from a letter from Emily Dickinson to her own friend nearly two centuries ago:

P.S. I have also sent a few close friends weathering storms of different kinds little gifts over the last few weeks. Some great gift ideas for girlfriends here.

Post-Scripts.

+There is a fantastic children’s sale going on at Ellifox right now featuring so many of my favorite brands — just use code SPRING30! Mini already owns this and this, and I currently have this in my basket for FOJ (and this coordinating jon jon for Hill), this for a summer picnic, this for micro.

+These white leather t-straps are amazing — they fit like a sneaker but are dressy enough to be worn with a jon-jon or dress. Similarly, I buy mini a pair of cotton t-strap sneakers and slip-ons from Spanish brand Cienta every summer and they work with dresses, too.

+I can’t get over this mural. What a clever (and affordable) way to completely transform a room without the exorbitant cost of wallpapering. In an entryway?! Are you kidding?!

+This is a good price for a statement-making lamp — would love this in a room with a more masculine vibe.

+Bought one of these fabric face masks — for each one purchased, A+O donates one to communities in need. I’m dubious about how effective these cloth face masks are but am following my marching orders — New Yorkers are required to wear these.

+Dreamy, easy-to-wear summer dress — perfect and accommodating for an expecting mom at a late summer baby shower. Look for less with this.

+This gorgeous Self-Portrait — which I know many of you LOVED — is now marked down to 50% off.

+In love with the green print on this well-priced quilt.

+Green satin never looked so good. These shoes have all the markings of a Magpie purchase: highly impractical, involving a bow, and in a color that will be difficult to match. HA. Seriously — I love a good frivolous shoe.

+This lilac evening gown is absolutely perfect.

+These trousers are FUN.

+A precious cashmere hat for an itty bitty baby (mini had a similar one), discounted Kissy Kissy, and your son’s Sunday best look, sorted.

+A must for outdoor dining.

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