By: Jen Shoop

*Photo above of calligraphy by Plume. Smitten!

Q: I am looking for a special college graduation gift of jewelry for a girl (ideas include something like the Tiffany Elsa Peretti gold diamond necklace) between $500-$1000… is this an impossible feat? I feel like you would know or have good advice 🙂

A: Ooh la la, what a lovely gift for a gal.  I have a few thoughts.

+On the trendier side (if she’s a fashionista), I absolutely adore the Hermes clic clac bracelet my husband bought me nearly a decade ago.  I wear it constantly.  Very stylish!

+On the “heirloom” side, I am smitten with a new-to-me label based here in NYC called Aurelia Demark.  The founder is lovely (used to design for Tory Burch) and has exquisite pieces.  Some of their small pendants would fit your budget, and you can get them engraved on the back with date (you could do her graduation date!) and/or initials.  Super special!

+On the personalized side, Atelier Paulin does these really cool custom bracelets.

+On the high-end side, a bit over your budget, but I have been lusting after a Van Cleef & Arpel bracelet like this forever.

+My husband gave me a Mikimoto pearl pendant necklace similar to this one (but with a diamond embellishment) on our wedding day and I cherish it.  Mikimoto is THE brand for pearls, but not every gal is a pearl girl.

I also think just about anything from Tiffany is appropriate for a graduation gift, so you’re on the right track already.  Who doesn’t love seeing that little Tiffany box on a big occasion?!

P.S. A couple of other thoughts on gift ideas for gals at a lower price point.

Q: I have little storage at home and have a few bulky winter blankets to store. Any tips?

A: Oh, I so feel you on this one. The best solution for us has been to stow out of season clothes and bulkier items in these Ziploc Space Bags. They aren’t a perfect solution — I find that they don’t stay “sucked up” permanently and eventually air gets in — but they are as good a solution as I could find for stowing bulkier items in as small a space as possible.

P.S. I shared a lot of my other favorite gear for small apartments here.

Q: What toy did you end up having mini buy for micro?

A: I ended up buying one of the gorgeous DeBuci Baby bears with my son’s name embroidered on it. I thought it would be special to have her present something to him that specifically has his name on it, and that is sort of heirloom-worthy. My hope is that my son will have that bear forever and understand it as a gift from his big sister! On the flipside, my son will give mini this Bullseye toy from Toy Story. Mini LOVES the Toy Story series and especially loves her Woody doll. I thought it was cute that he’d be giving her Woody’s trusty sidekick/buddy.

Q: Will you continue to live in your current apartment or move to a larger place?

A: We will be moving this fall! We are busting at the seams already, and micro hasn’t even arrived. We are looking at three-bedroom apartments in Manhattan right now — if we can swing it, possibly one with a small fourth bedroom/den/second living area that I can convert into an office for writing, ideally with a Murphy bed or daybed to accommodate guests. Our biggest dilemma is whether to buy or rent. We simply cannot make up our minds on whether we imagine ourselves raising our children here for the longer-term or moving somewhere with more space. Could we be suburban people? It’s funny how my perspective on this subject has changed. I used to be a ringleader for urban living: “I’d rather live in a shoebox in the city than a big house in the suburbs!” Now, though, with a large dog, two children, and some of the fleeting concerns I’ve shared about my children’s exposure to “normal” childhood pastimes, I’m not so sure. Selfishly, too, I work from home and crave the space to sprawl out and write and think — one that isn’t cluttered with toys, city sounds, foot traffic, etc. I dream of having a backyard to grill in, watching my babies run around in bare feet, letting Tilly roam around, unfettered. On the flipside, I can feel Manhattan extending its tentacles around us with every passing month, as our friendships grow stronger, as mini heads off to school this fall, as we become more engrained in the flow of life here.

Long story short: we will be moving, but TBD on whether this will be a move to own or rent.

Q: I’ve just been invited to a wedding in Maine in July for which the rehearsal dinner dress code reads “summer party casual” and the dress code for the wedding which is in a rustic barn venue reads “barn cocktail” Any thoughts?

A: For the rehearsal dinner — my first thought was a chic and on-trend jumpsuit like this or this.  If a jumpsuit isn’t in your wheelhouse, a simple sundress like this, this, this, or this dressed down with some easy slides.  Alternately, I’m DYING over the idea of some elegant linen trousers with a smocked top like this.

For the wedding, I like something romantic and boho, like this, this, or this.  Or anything from LoveShackFancy, which feels synonymous with “barn cocktail.”

Q: What are your favorite shows on Netflix?

A: I saw a meme once that said something like “I pay my monthly Netflix bill so that I have permanent access to Parks & Rec and The Office.” That pretty much captures it for me — I almost always fall asleep with reruns of one of these two shows on. I also love The Great British Baking Show. I think that it captures the American obsession with all things British so well — so civilized, so mannered, so mild. I feel like an American version of the show would be riddled with drama and verbal warfare.

More generally on the TV show front, we have been making our way through Billions on HBO, which we watch while vacillating between eye-widened fascination and eye-rolling (a lot of the characters feel so improbable and ridiculously sketched) and we just consumed Pen15 in one long drink — it is so cringe-worthy and truthful and weird and hilarious. I loved VEEP (just finished) and we’re sticking with Game of Thrones because everyone else is, but it’s a pretty crappy final season.

Basically, we’re boring. Many nights recently, I’ve been preferring to read while Mr. Magpie watches Nats games on his MLB sports package…

Q: My husband and I are going to a black tie party in early June at the MFA in Boston – and the dress code is “creative black tie.” I’m totally at a loss and have looked at so many dresses that I can hardly tell what I like anymore. What would you suggest? I’m pear shaped so a defined waist is a must for me and ideally I’d like to keep it under $500.

A: Wow — lots of creative dress codes floating around these days, eh?

I would interpret this to mean “formal, but with flair” — i.e., don’t be afraid of color or dramatic shapes. It sounds like they want a stylish crowd rather than a see of prim black dresses. A few dresses I’m loving:

+I’m always drawn to Needle & Thread dresses, and I’m besotted with this embellished, tiered style. Stunning.

+This gorgeous pale blue style. I’m not sure if the cut-outs would be too revealing (hard to tell on the model), but I am swooning over it. (So into blue right now!)

+This ruffled, tiered style — what a bargain! Cha cha cha!

+This printed Self-Portrait stunner is insane. Looks like haute couture to me.

+This playful maxi in the chartreuse green. Sure to turn heads — super chic paired with black accessories. (And you can get 15% off by signing up for emails, which brings the price point down.)

P.S. I did a roundup of my favorite Rent the Runway dress options in this Q&A in case you’d prefer to runt for the occasion versus buy!

Q: What are your favorite sources for hairbows?

A: PoppyBows on Etsy! I usually get mini the 4″ or 5″ styles, but note that I prefer an oversized look in general. When I’m in a bind and need something immediately for an outfit (which has happened…#BOWCRISIS), I also like Wee Ones bows, which you can find via Amazon Prime. They deliver the next day.

Q: Is it weird to have stationery with your child’s initials to send thank you notes on their behalf? Is that a faux pas? Also, recommendations for favorite stationery — bargain buys, too, please!

A: Not at all. I send all of mini’s (and micro’s) thank you notes on stationery with their names on it! I’m actually doing a roundup of some of my favorite sources for stationery next week, but my favorite childrens’ stationery comes from Preppy Prodigy (sweet designs, inexpensive, free shipping). I also love their personalized stickers, which I used to demarcate mini’s playground toys — I kept finding that other parents would accidentally pick mini’s stuff up! (Incidentally, also a cute add-on gift for a kiddo about to head off to nursery school. Kids love their names on everything!) More to come soon on the stationery front!

P.S. If you’re looking for posts featuring my absolute favorite products (ones that I’ve vetted over time and updated/reviewed carefully), these are some good places to start: my favorite beauty products, my favorite affordable beauty products, my favorite baby travel gear, my favorite home finds, my favorite maternity products.

P.P.S. I’ve been stirring the pot lately with some of my contrarian views on very popular books…does anyone else share my opinion on this bestseller?

P.P.P.S. What makes you laugh?

By: Jen Shoop

Like everyone else, I was voyeuristically awaiting the birth announcement of Meghan and Harry’s royal baby last week — and how sweet!

Meanwhile, I feel as though everyone is giving birth right now and I’m sitting here, swelling larger and larger. Despite the fact that I was convinced my son would arrive early, I’ve now decided I must resign myself to the fact that I’ll be waiting until the end of the month for baby boy to arrive on the date of his scheduled c-section.

At any rate, Archie’s arrival left me inspired to source gifts, clothing, and other baby gear finds fit for a royal baby:

LA STUPENDERIA ONE-PIECE (ON SALE!) OR THIS FOR A GIRL (ALSO ON MAJOR SALE!)

DEBUCI BABY TEDDY BEAR (MINI’S GIFT TO MICRO — CAN BE HAND EMBROIDERED!)

MONOGRAMMED PLAYSUIT (I HAVE GIVEN THIS AS A GIFT TO SO MANY FRIENDS WHO HAVE GIVEN BIRTH — SO CLASSIC!)

FELTMAN BROTHERS DRESS (<<MENTIONED THIS LAST WEEK, BUT CAN’T BELIEVE THE PRICES ON SOME OF THESE HEIRLOOM-QUALITY DRESSES! SNAG WHILE YOU CAN!)

ELEGANT ROMPER

PEPA & CO DRESS (FINALLY INVESTED IN ONE OF THESE FOR MINI AND CAN’T WAIT FOR IT TO ARRIVE…GET THE LOOK FOR A LITTLE LESS WITH THIS)

LETTERPRESS STORK CARDS

WHITE CIENTA T-STRAPS

OVERSIZED MONOGRAM BOW

SCALLOPED MONOGRAM PACIFIER CLIP

WATERCOLOR AIR BALLOON REPOSITIONABLE WALLPAPER

DANIEL AND SOFIA ROMPER

ALEXANDROS KIDS DRESS (<<RECENTLY ORDERED MINI A MADE-TO-ORDER DRESS FROM HERE AND AM WAITING WITH BAITED BREATH FOR ITS ARRIVAL)

BABY PILLOW (IF YOU’RE A MONOGRAM LOVER — I HAD A PILLOW MADE BY SADDLE STITCHES, OR YOU CAN GET THE LOOK FOR LESS WITH THIS AFFORDABLE FIND!)

WOVEN BOTTOMS WITH SUSPENDERS (A STEAL!)

COMBED COTTON CARDIGAN (ON SALE!)

PEEP’S PAPER PRODUCTS BABY BOOK

WEDGEWOOD PETER RABBIT SILVER UTENSIL SET

P.S. What to wear for a family portrait, whether you’re royalty or not.

P.P.S. My favorite toddler gear and answers to a lot of reader questions, including what to wear to a baby shower and where to find budget-friendly caftans.

P.P.P.S. Recent favorite under-$110 finds: this embroidered cotton dress (looks like an Ulla!); this bow-shouldered blouse; this straw hat; wooden heart earrings.

By: Jen Shoop

Hurry! Beaufort Bonnet Company is running one of its incredible “pink sale” parties, where everything in their sale section is an additional 50% off — and on offer with free shipping! Just use code PINKPRICEPARTY. I snagged a bunch of goodies this morning. My favorites:

A GINGHAM SUNHAT AND MATCHING DIAPER COVER FOR MICRO

FLORAL JAMMIES FOR MINI (NOTE: SIZE UP IN THEIR JAMMIES! I FIND THEIR DRESSES RUN BIG BUT THEIR JAMMIES RUN SMALL!)

WAVE JAMMIES FOR MICRO

A BOW BUBBLE — PROBABLY THE LAST SUMMER I CAN GET AWAY WITH PUTTING MINI IN BUBBLES…!

GINGHAM DAY DRESS

A “BUTTON-IN” — SO TRADITIONAL AND SO PRECIOUS WITH SADDLE SHOES (CAN BE MONOGRAMMED!)

THIS EASTER JON JON FOR NEXT YEAR

Hurry, hurry! They’ve already sold out in a lot of sizes!

P.S. More childrenswear for summer.

P.P.S. Another really good deal on a precious find for a mini.

By: Jen Shoop

Every few months, I come back to home decor inspiration in wicker, rattan, raffia, and other natural materials. I love the island vibe, the suggestion of vacation–especially when paired with fairly refined prints and shapes elsewhere in the space.

THIS PRECIOUS ELEPHANT BASKET FOR A NURSERY ($25!)

THIS DARLING CHILDRENS’ STOOL!!!

THESE GORGEOUS SCALLOPED WICKER FRAMES

THIS PENDANT LIGHT (UNDER $80 — A GREAT WAY TO GET THE SERENA & LILY OR POTTERY BARN LOOK FOR LESS)

THIS SET OF RATTAN MIRRORS — LOVE THAT YOU COULD COMPLETELY UPDATE AN ENTIRE WALL OF YOUR HOME FOR UNDER $400 WITH THIS SET

THIS FAN-BACK RATTAN STATEMENT CHAIR (ON SALE!)

THIS AFFORDABLE WICKER GAZELLE HEAD (!!!! SO FUN!)

THIS WOVEN SEAGRASS MIRROR (UNDER $50)

A DRAMATIC RATTAN BED (MAKES ME FEEL LIKE I’M ON VACATION) — OR THIS DAYBED STYLE

LEGIT OBSESSED WITH THESE CANED SIDE CHAIRS OR THESE BAR STOOLS

A RATTAN CEILING FAN

THIS DARLING PEAR STORAGE BIN

AN AFFORDABLE WICKER SIDE TABLE (TOP WITH THE INDIA HICKS BOOK AND A PALM LEAF)

FOR TABLETOP: LOVE THESE RATTAN PLACEMATS, RATTAN SERVEWARE, AND BAMBOO FLATWARE

UPDATE YOUR SHELVES WITH THIS CANING-PRINT SHELF ADHESIVE

DO SOMETHING CREATIVE ON A WALL/SHELF WITH THESE INEXPENSIVE PALM-SHAPED FANS

Wicker and Rattan Accessories.

Of course, I’m equally drawn to wicker/rattan/raffia in the form of accessories and am specifically swooning over…

THESE FLOWER AND RATTAN EARRINGS (!!!)

THESE WEAR-WITH-EVERYTHING MULES

THIS LITTLE CRAB BAG (SO FUN, ESP FOR US BLUE CRAB LOVING MID-ATLANTIC PEOPLE!)

RAFFIA ESPADRILLES

THESE WOVEN STRAW EARRINGS (UNDER $20) OR THESE RAFFIA ONES

GUCCI RAFFIA PRINCETOWNS

THE JACQUEMUS BAG I’VE BEEN EYEING FOR A LONG WHILE

THIS CANE RANCHER HAT OR (SPLURGE!) ONE OF THESE DRAMATIC LOLA HATS

All of these accent pieces would look epic paired with any of thesepretty linen pieces.

P.S. Some great home finds for your backyard — several of you wrote to say you’d ordered these in particular!

P.P.S. How do you stay organized?

P.P.P.S. My apartment judges me.

By: Jen Shoop

*Image above by the ultra-talented Claiborne Swanson Frank for her gorgeous book Mother and Child. May we all look this good while breastfeeding…

I’ve fielded the question of how to look stylish while nursing countless times over the past few weeks, and I’m so glad — it gave me the occasion to get my own ducks in a row on this topic.

The first thing I’ll say is that I underestimated what I would need the first go around. It somehow did not compute that I’d need breastfeeding gear and nursing-friendly clothing for, like, a year (duh), and so I bought the minimum (slash ignored nursing-friendliness) and was frustrated by the fact that I could wear approximately 1/50th of my planned wardrobe.

At any rate: my first recommendation is to invest in some good nursing bras that fit well and hold up in the wash — and to buy in multiples. During the first few weeks, I really liked this pull-down style from Majamas — so comfortable and unfussy. This time around, I also added some Coobies to my lingerie drawer (similar to Majamas, though a different, more sports-bra-like fabric) after multiple Magpies recommended this label. During those first few bleary days/weeks, I was barely making it out of loungewear — let alone into public — and these felt easy and comfortable. Once I got my feet under me, I tried a bunch of different brands and ended up loving the Bravado Seamless Nursing bra. Read the reviews: people are obsessed with this bra, and for good reason. It is super comfortable and made of a material that creates a nice silhouette while also…absorbing messes. (Even with nursing pads, things happen.) At night, I liked a bunch of soft cotton styles I found from Belabumbum, including this one.

So, that’s my number one tip: buy a couple different brands and styles of nursing bras and really figure out what you like, and then double down on that style. I’d strongly recommend trying at least one pull-down style in the early weeks and testing the Bravado, which, in my opinion, is the best on the market. (Because otherwise you end up doing a TON of laundry. Not that you aren’t already, but — ya know. One less thing to keep track of.)

Also, stock up on nursing pads. I’m intrigued by these reusable ones — I’d forgotten that they existed until after I ordered the Lansinohs (which are, in my opinion, the softest disposable ones out there), and think I might try these after I get through my first box. I’m curious whether they are as absorbent as the disposable ones…

I also picked up this Haakaa manual breast pump because I found that I was “wasting” a lot of precious milk while mini would start nursing on one side. This was not only frustrating because I had an undersupply and wanted to save every last drop — but because I often soaked through my nursing bra/pad/etc. I’m curious to see how this works. My sister said it was annoying to have to get one into place at every feed (she was using a different brand — I have higher hopes for the Haakaa) and she eventually gave up on it, but we shall see. WTTW: I’ve heard you need to buy a stopper to go with this because the Haakaa tips over easily. I ordered this one even though it’s a different brand — the reviewers say it works with the Haakaa — because it was less expensive and less visually offensive than the Haakaa brand one (what is with that cheesy flower?). OK, enough on that topic.

OK, nursing bra: done. Next: buy a nursing cover. I was pretty uncomfortable about breastfeeding in front of anyone outside of the immediate family, and using a swaddle or burp cloth just didn’t cut it. I hated wearing a nursing cover so much — it feels suffocating and uncomfortable — that I apparently threw away the one I used with mini, because it’s nowhere to be found in our apartment. But it’s a necessary evil. This go around, I bought this Bebe Au Lait cover in blue gingham because it’s cute. I’m also contemplating one of these styles for when I’m at home with guests over because — even though it offers less coverage all the way around — it looks like it will make me feel less suffocated. (But — the prints are all hideous. Yuck.) My message here is that I was somewhat spartan with myself the first go around — “I’ll just buy two nursing bras” and “I’ll just use a blanket to shield myself,” I told myself. But nursing is something you do SO FREQUENTLY and for SO MANY MONTHS (if it’s in your plan, of course): why wouldn’t you take the time to figure out what will make you the most comfortable and effective at this daily activity?

So, two nursing cover styles it is for this mama. Just convinced myself.

OK, next up. What to actually wear. I really hate most designated “nursing” styles. There are so many frumpy cotton pieces in ugly colors with obviously-placed layers that scream: “I’M A MILKMAID! EASY ACCESS HERE!” Not for me.

In the very early days, my favorite thing was to wear a comfortable cotton nursing tank with a cardigan and leggings. I’d make myself feel more put-together by adding big earrings, statement shoes, or — this go around — a fantastic headband. I really loved this Gap sleep cami, which I’d wear sans bra and just put nursing pads into the cups of the tank and I already know I’ll get a ton of wear out of this long-line cardigan this go around. There are tons of nursing camis out there — I found I didn’t love the ones that were super compression-oriented because they made me feel uncomfortable as I recovered from my c-section. I preferred the Gap sleep style because it was so loose and comfortable. I did order this in white to test out this go around. I figure it might be a good companion for some loose-fitting jogger-style pants like these or these for dressed-down mornings at home or runs to the coffee shop. For cardigans: I also love this for a fun statement, this for comfort, and this because it looks easy-to-wash and comfortable, and the 90s ribbed look is in.

My go-to during the early months was loose-fit tops and button-downs, especially in tunic styles because they tended to be more comfortable for maneuvering the baby around and more flattering to a post-partem figure. I’d pair them with maternity jeans or leggings during the first few weeks of recovery. Here are my favorites right now, many of which I’ve already ordered:

+This J. Crew button down.

+This striped peplum top.

+This clever double-layered tee.

+This drape-knit nursing cardigan.

+This voluminous white top (to feed, pull up — kind of creating your own nursing cover!; layer with a nursing tank beneath).

+This flattering empire waist top.

+A classic chambray button down. So easy with white skinnies.

Because it will be warmer this go around, though, I’m focusing on dresses and jumpsuits. A couple of my favorite finds:

+This nursing caftan (currently on sale! I own this — so chic).

+This button-front jumpsuit.

+This utility-style jumpsuit. (So chic with Celine sunnies and Hermes Orans.)

+This button-front midi.

+This floral, bow-shouldered sundress.

+This sweet dress. Love the Peter Pan collar and puff sleeves.

+For the Fourth: this dress feels perfect.

+This chambray shirtdress.

+This elegant midi or this similar maxi — the latter ultra-generous to a post partum figure.

Finally: sleepwear! I absolutely loved these maternity nightgowns from Gap and this one from Belabumbum. They are almost identical to one another — soft, stretchy cotton with drop cups and I’ve been wearing them a lot towards the end of this pregnancy, too, when even my maternity leggings irk me. They were heaven, especially when I didn’t want anything near my c-section incision. I also wore my beloved Cosabellas quite a bit, and plan to do the same this go around. (I now have a few pairs.)

This go around, I also picked up some Lake Pajamas maternity jammies and Roller Rabbit jammies that match mini. Both are a super soft cotton and I can’t wait to wear them. I also like the look of this striped sleepshirt.

If you are going on a beach vacation — this tie-front swimsuit looks genius.

P.S. My maternity essentials and baby gear redux.

P.P.S. What’s in my hospital bag.

P.P.P.S. A mini tech detox worth testing.

By: Jen Shoop

My Latest Snag: The Statement Earring.

I just picked up these loud earrings in the tan color and intend to wear them all summer long. I love that the style is so dramatic — and yet the fabric and color are so muted. Perfect with an LWD.

You’re Sooooo Popular: The Caftan.

The most popular items on the blog this week:

+This chic caftan.

+My earrings (above!) — the most popular accessory I think I’ve ever featured on this blog, full stop!

+This easy polka dotted dress (under $100), which I also ordered.

+A gorgeous frame for my bedside table. Leaving this vacant for one of baby boy’s first pictures.

+Vintage Hermes scarf. I keep linking to variations on this and people always go crazy over them. One of my friends just snagged one and had it framed! Such a clever way to create a piece of statement art.

+Ruffle maxi dress.

+The cutest kids’ chair ever?

+On-trend heart earrings.

+Chic sunnies.

#Turbothot: Brene Brown + Little Normalcies.

Has anyone else watched the Brene Brown special on Netflix? I will admit that I was highly skeptical when I sat down to watch it last weekend — “A motivational speaker? On a Friday night? What is happening…?” — but Mackenzie recommended it and my reservations quickly evaporated as I tuned into her compelling research and often poignant anecdotes on the subject of vulnerability and its relationship to courage. There is much to comment on, but one bit that left me swiping tears from my eyes touched on the fact that people who have suffered loss or are enduring tragedy say that they miss “the everyday,” the little normalcies that pass by unremarked but weave the fabric of our daily existence. One family who had lost their four-year-old son to cancer mentioned that their boy used to slam the screen door multiple times a day — and it drove them crazy. Now, in the wake of his absence, they will occasionally stand by the back door and slam it closed just to remember the sound.

I mean.

I can hardly write that without weeping.

Though there is much to unpack in her talk, I clung to this: what are the little nothings that mark my days right now that I will one day miss? I have been looking for these petits riens over the past week, marking them, burnishing them.

From mini’s crib most mornings, when she is waiting for me to lift her out: “Mommeeeee, where ahhh you?”

The explosion of noise when mini dumps her toys or crayons on the ground for the fifteenth, or fiftieth, time in a given day. Cringe-inducing to this tired and very pregnant mom, but also the lintel frame to her indulging in some quiet play by herself–and so, a happy sound.

The whistle of the tea kettle and the buzz of the burr grinder as Mr. Magpie prepares my morning pourover and measures — to the sixteenth of an ounce — the appropriate amount of sugar for my coffee. These are the sounds of his devotion to me.

The thump of mini’s feet and her inevitable cry: “come on, mommy! come on, daddy!” as she skips up and down our foyer, dancing to the Frozen soundtrack for the twenty-ninth time today, begging us to drop what we are doing and join her.

The jingle of Tilly’s collar as she trots around the apartment, looking to get into trouble. She is a handful but she colors our days and keeps us on our toes.

The eternal rumble of the dryer — a reminder of messy and happy afternoons spent in Central Park, spilled yogurt and smears of peanut butter from the good fortune of an earlier meal, dirty kitchen towels from all of the happy cooking that takes place in our kitchen. And also: of our incredible luck in finding an apartment with a washer/dryer in-unit. (Not a given in Manhattan.)

The jarring PING of the doorbell, and the inevitable follow-up of Tilly’s shrill and furious bark, as packages, groceries, dry cleaning, wine are delivered by our building’s porters–reminding me of the convenience of living in New York, where anything can be delivered within a few hours.

The occasional blare of a horn, the rise and fall of voices in conversation, the sporadic yell, the vroom of engines outside my window as I drift off to sleep at night–all markers of the fact that we live in MANHATTAN and I still pinch myself thinking about it.

What are the everyday normalcies that you will one day miss?

Blast from the Past: On a Split-Second Parenting Decision.

A propos of the previous blurb: I have never felt so “rooted for” as I did when I shared this story:

“…I knew I shouldn’t have done it: I can hardly lift her while in her stroller when I’m not six months pregnant and not wearing a backpack, but there I was, shakily teetering down the two steps.

As I ordered our treats, an elderly gentleman stopped me.

“Please don’t do that again,” he said, gesturing to the stairs. “I watched you, and was horrified. That woman on the news…!”

I felt a range of emotions that ran from righteous rage to lip-biting embarrassment. A part of me wanted to snap back at him: “Well, why didn’t you help then?” And another part of me recoiled at his patronizing tone. But the biggest part of me wanted to wail: “I know, I know. I know I shouldn’t have done it, and I did it. And I could have injured myself — or, worse — my baby, or the unborn baby I’m carrying. And for what?! A coffee? Saving a few minutes? Pre-empting a tantrum?” And so I just said:

“You’re right. Thank you.” He looked back at me and said:

“You remind me of my daughter-in-law. I would say the same thing to her. Please take care.”

Ugh.

I’m awash in gratitude and heartburn…”

Read the comments! So much more than I anticipated to unpack in this split-second parenting decision to carry mini in her stroller down a few steps…

Post-Scripts: The Rhode Resort Lookalike.

+If you’ve lusted after the Rhode Resort Ella dress but balked at the price, you might consider this $65 steal instead.

+In anticipation of needing a more complete nursing-friendly wardrobe, I’ve started stocking up on button-down pieces like this. I especially love this one because it looks friendly to a post-partem paunch.

+Love the racer stripes/monograms on these darling pouches! I am a pouch hoarder. I use them constantly in all of my bags to keep things organized.

+This hat reminds me of a style by the far more expensive Gigi Burris!

+I’ve written about this in the past, but I love giving these collapsible tote bags as gifts to fellow moms. They are THE BEST for travel — pack easily in a suitcase and can be used to tote groceries, stow laundry, stand in as a beach bag, keep toys off the ground, etc, etc. I find infinite uses for them any time I travel. I just sent one to my sister, who celebrated her birthday this week.

+Love the floral print on this tunic/cover-up.

+If you liked this floral Steele blouse, you might like this style even more (under $100).

+Absolutely adore this scallop-edged letterpress stationery.

+I’ve purchased and inherited a few traditional pieces by Feltman Brothers, a childrenswear brand that has been around for a century (!), and was astounded to find that Dillard’s carries the label — and that many pieces are on sale, like this sweet score for mini! This would be a perfect christening gown and I seriously cannot believe the price.

By: Jen Shoop

“Oh baby don’t you know that the
Time will do the talking
Years will do the walking
I’ll just find a comfy spot and wait it out.”

-Patty Griffin

One of my girlfriends recently suggested I listen to Patti Griffin’s debut 1996 album “Living with Ghosts.” I’d never heard of her and fell hard — she’s a less twang-y, more lyrical Dixie Chick, or a more country Sheryle Crow, and I love the heartbreak in her voice. (Thank you, W.!)

I especially loved her song “Time Will Do the Talking,” and though I sense she’s writing about achieving some kind of comeuppance or clarity in a strained relationship, I found myself thinking about the breadth of perspective she’s espousing more generally and wishing I’d heard it in my 20s, when I was in an incessant rush to “get to the next thing.”

Because I wish, in my 20s, I had spent less time worrying about getting married and more time drinking Mr. Magpie up in the lighthearted, boyish content of his youth. Had agonized less about calories and worn a bikini more often–because damn! I’ll never look better than I did then. Had embraced the meanderings of my early career instead of fretting over where I was headed and what people might think of me. Had worried less about the imagined howl of the wolves. Had called my friend E. more often, had driven out to see her more regularly when she still lived thirty minutes from me in Vienna, Virginia. Had trusted myself to put one foot in front of the other, make the best decisions I could, and let time do the talking.

The song also reminded me of Sally Rooney’s “Normal People,” my May Magpie book club pick, which I loved and would award 4.5 stars. The novel charts the relationship between Marianne and Connell over the course of many years: we meet them as high school classmates, when Connell’s mother cleans the house of Marianne’s much wealthier family, and follow them through the caprices of their teens and twenties. The book is about modern love and its (mis-)communications. I am principally drawn to her books (also loved Conversations with Friends) because of the gorgeous craft of her character portraiture. I have never met such round, complex characters in my life: they feel real, beyond fiction, as if they exist somewhere in the world and Rooney has only happened to eavesdrop upon them and afford us glimpses into their heartbreaks and hopefulnesses. There is something unforced, natural about the way she captures them. Whereas I find myself steeling against the all-too-common experience of a plot line or character that feels overly convenient or trite in much contemporary literature, Rooney seems to let her characters breathe, be. I love the way she shows us how characters feel rather than telling us. For example: “They couldn’t look at each other when they were laughing, they had to look into corners of the room, or at their feet.” Is there any better way to capture the feeling of flushed attraction and self-awareness at the dawn of a romantic relationship?!

I had the honor of hearing Rooney speak a few weeks ago in Brooklyn and she said that she is always drawn to “relationships in disequilibrium.” In the case of Normal People, Marianne and Connell have a distinctive class divide at the outset of the novel, and there are many interesting negotiations between popularity, social status, and financial well-being that color the book and are worth unpacking. But there are darker vulnerabilities here, too: Marianne’s abusive past prevents her from fully accepting Connell’s purer intentions, and, later, Connell’s grappling with the untimely death of a friend of his send him spiraling into depression. Both struggle with their mental health in ways that impede the promise of their romantic attachment to one another. In many ways, too, I feel as though Rooney’s novel is another evocation of Patti Griffin’s “Time Will Do the Talking” sentiment: we follow these two wounded birds as they navigate their early adulthoods and, given the stretch of time we follow them, have a sense that they will likely continue to fall away from another and reunite over time, and that only the march of years will give us the full picture of their meaning to one another.

Oh, it is aching and truthful writing, and I love its understated elegance.

Book Club Questions.

+Marianne often draws attention to the fact that she sees herself as an outsider, admitting things like, “She knew these were the kind of thoughts that made her different from other people in school, and weirder.” How did you read her and her self-ostracism?

+Related: what did you make of the title? Do you think the title is meant to be ironic?

+What did you make of the ending? How are we to interpret her relationship with Connell at the very ending?

+The book is explicit in its treatment of the sexuality of her characters. What did you make of this? Was it necessary, gratuitous, etc?

+There is a point in the book where we get a very academic take on literature: “It was culture as class performance, literature fetishized for its ability to take educated people on false emotional journeys, so that they might afterward feel superior to the uneducated people whose emotional journeys they like to read about…” This jumped out to me. It’s written as an observation by Connell but seems to have broader implications for Rooney and her perspective on reading/writing. What did you think?

+Did you like the characters in this book? Why or why not?

+What did you make of the class divide between Connell and Marianne? Does it persist throughout the novel or is it more important at certain points in the story?

June Book Club Pick: Joan Didion’s South and West.

I have half a mind to suggest we discuss Educated because I found it one of the more confounding and upsetting books I’ve read in recent memory–not only because its subject matter is deeply disturbing but because I grappled deeply with its intent and the context for its publication. But. I already shared my core reactions to the novel here (please share your thoughts either in the comments on my Insta or below this post — dying to hear more about your reactions; I received so many polarizing responses via DM!) and am more inclined to just keep moving.

I’m instead going to suggest we read Joan Didion’s South and West, “two extended excerpts from her never-before-seen notebooks–writings that offer an illuminating glimpse into the mind and process of a legendary writer.” After sharing a favorite quote of hers in a recent #weekendvibes post, I realized I’ve only ever read her two memoirs and need to own a fuller repertoire of her masterful work. South and West is Didion’s most recent publication and so I thought we’d start there.

If you’re looking for something lighter, I’m currently reading and deeply enjoying Liane Moriarty’s What Alice Forgot, which everyone else read and raved about like five years ago. It has a creative premise and the writing is more substantive than you might expect. Next up for me: this thriller, which came out just a few days ago, from “Liv Constantine,” the pen name for the two sisters who wrote one of my all-time favorite beach reads. I’m also a huge fan of Ruth Reichl (have read a few of her books), and her recently-published food memoir has gotten solid reviews, like much of her writing.

Post Scripts.

+A cute, well-priced, and well-reviewed gym bag. I’m determined to get back in shape after this baby by signing up at a gym, and will need allll the gear to motivate.

+Speaking of gym/athleisure wear, a girlfriend of mine was wearing this puff-sleeved Goop sweatshirt with these and I want it SO BADLY, but it is sold out in my size. Considering this or this as alternatives.

+LOVE this limited edition fire engine red lipstick.

+Super cute summer top for a pregnant or nursing mama — it’s in my cart and would look adorable with white skinnies and Chanel espadrilles.

+A reader pointed me in the direction of these woven mules and OMG. They’d go with everything in my closet this summer!

+Speaking of woven — check out this chic and affordable ceiling pendant.

+Love these feminine striped shorts with the big bow!

+Just added these to my Amazon cart for mini.

+What’s not to love about a striped maxi?!

By: Jen Shoop

I am loving the headband trend so much right now. It started with my Lele Sadoughi pearl-embellished style (get the look for less with this $15 steal), which I’ve worn a TON, and then I added this inexpensive silk-like one and this denim one to the mix. I love that they can update even the simplest of looks — a tee and jeans, an old sweater, an unfussy dress. Perfection. I’ve recently taken a liking to the thick padded headbands (90s redux) that first appeared on the runways at Prada and Alessandra Rich (seen below) this past season but took me a minute to warm up to. I love the O.G. from Prada, but this $48 version is much more comfortable on the wallet for such a fleeting trend. Other more affordable options: this simple black style, this ombre Lele, these inexpensive Etsy ones, and this Chanel-esque tweed.

For the bold at heart: LOVE this embellished velvet style I found on Etsy, which looks like it could be Prada, or this dramatic pearl style, which takes major notes from Kaia Gerber’s strut down Givenchy’s runway!

If you’re leery of the proportions (I will say Lele headbands and many of the other styles featured above are a bit on the oversized/dramatic side), try this floral style I gifted my mom for mother’s day. Though the print is spiffy, the size is not as dramatic as many of the ones I own. And if you like the padded look, consider this $12 find, which also bears a lower profile!

If you like the Lele look but aren’t sure about pearl embellishment, I love this simple white silk style or this classic black one, and many of the styles from British brand Born in the Sun.

And, if you’re a true classicist, you can’t go wrong with this tortoise-shell style.

Related: big hair (like, huge, mega blowouts) are having a moment right now, largely also thanks to Kaia Gerber on the runway. My top tips for getting a great blowout at home.

P.S. More spring trends to try.

P.P.S. These are THE most popular accessory I’ve ever featured on my blog.

P.P.P.S. What have you learned from your mother?

By: Jen Shoop

It dawned on me the other day that some of the quintessential childhood summer experiences — camping, roasting marshmallows, running through a sprinkler with bare feet, shivering in a too-small towel by an over-chlorinated outdoor pool, sprinklers in a driveway (read to the end), cricketsong at dusk — will be difficult to come by for my Manhattanite children. Most of the summers of my youth were passed out of doors, trailing my older brother in our backyard, pumping my legs vigorously on the backyard swing set my father installed when I was seven or eight, participating in summer camps and pool days at my parents’ country club, hiking or horseback riding when we relocated to Colorado for the month of July during the bulk of the years that stretched between 1990 and 2000. Of course there are opportunities to travel with my little family to more rustic locales on vacation, where such pastimes can be indulged (and we intend to do so), but these experiences will be novelties rather than normalcies–brief departures from the concrete jungle, the stink and swell of August humidity in New York City. And the compression of space we experience as urban apartment dwellers entails unique considerations when I muse on this subject. For example, camping involves bulky gear: tents, sleeping bags, backpacks. Where would we stow this when not in use?! Even an inexpensive sprinkler seems like a burden. (“Do we keep the sprinkler in the closet, or use that space for out-of-season clothing?” Etc.)

Of course, this is the tradeoff we signed up for, and there are many unique upsides to living in New York that — for now, as far as we can surmise — balance the scales. But, it’s an odd thing. And there is a thick layer of Norman Rockwell-esque nostalgia that coats my memory of my own childhood and leaves me hoping for similar experiences for my own brood. For some reason, I equate proximity to the unvarnished simplicity of the outdoors in summer with a kind of inborn down-to-earth-ness. The fact that my two children might not know what it feels like to run their toes through overgrown grass on a daily basis curls up alongside a worry that they might become too frou frou or overly-cultivated for their own good. I don’t want them to be coddled urbanites who look on with puzzlement when friends from out-of-town marvel over the fact that “taking out the trash” in our building means calling a service elevator and having a porter remove the bag just feet from our door. (This remains, to me, an exceptional shock, even nearly two years into our life here.) Or that taking a subway or cab to school is de rigueur, or that there are doormen to hail cabs, receive visitors, and carry up groceries and other parcels on our behalf. How will they ever understand these as eccentricities of our lifestyle? Mini pointed to an enormous pillared building meant to look like a courthouse in a book the other day and described it as “a house.” A house! What skewed vision of the world has she already built — or have we in some way co-constructed with her?

These concerns are not overly meaty in the grand order of things. I trust myself and Mr. Magpie to keep our children from growing up too cloistered, and we visit family often enough to keep some semblance of “the real world” (New York is other-worldly, to be sure) impressed upon them. But they occur to me in fits and spurts, as I am switching mini’s clothing to her summer wardrobe, pulling out the strawberry-print blouse I ordered for her while fleetingly, improbably, imagining her wearing it in a field somewhere, and I catch myself wondering: but where?

How do you feel about raising your children in the home you have selected for them? Reservations? Concerns?

Summer Childrenswear Finds.

Most of the pieces I’m sharing here are more casual than you’ll usually find me featuring — because not every day involves a smocked, ironed dress around here (although, if that’s what you’re after, I shared a bunch of more traditional/formal pieces for the entire familyhere). Many of these are more inspired by a rustic aesthetic to match the yearnings outlined above:

+I fell in love with the strawberry blouse mentioned above after pining after La Coqueta’s very similar, far more expensive style. I’ve been waiting for a good La Coqueta promotion to pounce on a few pieces…

+I hadn’t imagined I’d be super into the more West Coast vibe of this label, but I’m loving pieces by Rylee & Cru for micro these days. I have my eyes on these overalls in particular. (Get the look for less with these.) Also — to coordinate without matching, this for mama.

+OMG — Dodo Bar Or has a special childrenswear collection on offer at Matches. If you were one of the chic peas who loved this caftan from my roundup the other day, check this mini-sized version out!

+I love that Jacadi carries their styles even in the ittiest-bittiest of sizes. I find that many labels start at 3M, but micro will be scarcely a month on the fourth of July — and so I have my eye on this for him.

+A sweet linen-blend jumpsuit.

+How darling is this peplum rashguard?!

+Every mini needs some white denim shortalls in her life. So cute with a striped tee!

+Loving the Liberty prints at Harbour this season. This dress! Separately, this striped sunsuit for a boy is adorable (and can be monogrammed with his initials).

+Darling monogrammed trunks for a little boy.

+This swiss dot situation for a little lass.

+$13 t-strap sneaks for a dapper little gent. Love them in the gray.

+RUN. $29 for a pair of RR jammies!

+Also into the sweet, subdued pieces from Quincy Mae as some last-minute additions to micro’s layette. I bought him an entire head-to-toe star print look, some pointelle leggings, booties, and some bloomers. So sweet.

+Bought mini this gingham pinafore.

P.S. My favorite sleepwear brands for minis and micros.

P.P.S. My troubles and treasures.

P.P.P.S. 10 life-changing baby products. (Go for the post, stay for the comments — lots of great reader additions!)

By: Jen Shoop

What’s your favorite color?

(And when was the last time you even thought about color preferences — maybe in seventh grade? Ha!)

Mine is, and always has been, blue. When I was little and my mother used colors to distinguish between the daily drinking cups (we’d line them up in a row at the edge of the kitchen counter after meals, and she’d fill them up there with watered-down juice or milk at mealtime) and the backpacks and the pencil cases and the shoes of her five children, my color was always blue.

When I started writing this blog, I immediately opted for a green-gray-blue color for my logo. There was never really a question; it was pre-ordained to be blue.

When it came time to send out our wedding save-the-dates — even before I firmly had a vision for the wedding itself — I gravitated toward letterpress cards in a periwinkle-hydrangea blue without giving it much thought. (All of our wedding stationery was from Bella Figura.) And my mother told me that one of my aunts clutched at her pearls with delight when she opened the invitation and said: “Oh, it’s just so Jennifer.”

I’ve always loved that little anecdote because — yes. Blue is my color, and there is much to like about it. Blue is the color of Mary, to whom I’ve always held a special devotion. It is the color of peace, the color of serenity, the color of coolness: traits others have generously attributed to me even if I feel inwardly harried and anxious half the time. It is the color of the sea, of the sky, and I especially love hues that incorporate a moody gray that reminds me of these elements: natural, but brooding.

I have been drawn to blue with particular magnetism over the past few weeks. It feels as though everything I buy is blue nowadays. Below, a few of my favorite finds, setting aside my Frances Valentine caftan, which I’ve already blathered on about…

A $40 BREEZY BLOUSE

THIS $60 STEAL OF A CHINOISERIE-PRINT DRESS (DIE!)

A STUNNING SILK FLORAL WRAP DRESS

BLUE AND WHITE RUFFLE SLIDES

MY GO-TO LINEN-BLEND CARDIGAN (WEARING THIS HEAVILY THESE DAYS)

A FLORAL PADDED HEADBAND (LOVE)

THE CHICEST OFF-THE-SHOULDER BOHO DRESS I EVER DID SEE

A CHIC TUNIC THAT WALKS THE LINE BETWEEN ELEGANT AND QUIRKY

A BLOCK-PRINT ROBE

A PRETTY PRINTED MIDI THAT LOOKS LIKE A CHINOISERIE PRINT VASE

A DARLING SHOULDER-TIE DRESS (WHO DOESN’T LOVE A BOW ON HER SHOULDER?!)

AN EASY-TO-WEAR STRIPED SHIRTDRESS

STATEMENT-MAKING TWEED SANDALS (SWOON)

A CHIC SUNHAT

WIDE-LEG BEACH PANTS ($13…!)

SCALLOP-EDGED MIDI DRESS (UNDER $100)

THE CUTEST NIGHTIE THE WORLD OVER

For little ones: these overalls, this gingham dress, this sweatshirt, these Cientas in the washed denim, this romper, and this dress.

Also: I need this blue striped ribbon for wrapping summer gifts and treats.

P.S. Things I’ve learned from my mother, affirmations, and my favorite acquisitions of 2019.

By: Jen Shoop

The final day of Sephora’s 2019 beauty sale is today — I’ve been meaning to write about this but it kept slipping my mind! VIBRouge get 20% off with code HEYROUGE; VIBs get 15% off with code HEYVIB; and insiders get 10% off with code HEYINSIDER. I always use this promotion to stock up on all my favorite products and to test out a handful of new ones, too, since beauty products so rarely go on sale. This go around, I re-upped on my new favorite gel facial cream from Korean skincare line Belif (I’ve been using it in lieu of La Mer the last few months and absolutely LOVE the way it glides on and hydrates my skin — plus, you can’t beat the price), bought a couple tubes of my favorite mascara, and stocked up on my favorite facial cotton. I am also testing a new shampoo and conditioner duo (I have not been disappointed by any of the Ouai products I’ve tested thus far and I love their scent) and I finally snagged a tube of Summer Friday’s wildly popular Jet Lag mask.

Mr. Magpie also asked me to pick up some of his favorite products: Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Face Wash, Kiehl’s moisturizer, and Jack Black’s Post-Shave Gel. The only other fancy cosmetic product he can’t live without? Molton Brown body wash. (Related: A few months ago, I told him we couldn’t use loofahs anymore because they are supposedly breeding grounds for bacteria, and we started using these silicon loofah brushes. Mr. Magpie hates them because the body wash does not scrub up enough for his liking, but at least we’re not defeating the purpose of bathing to begin with anymore — ha! I like the loofah brush because it feels really nice against your skin!)

P.S. The best beauty buys under $50 and some lovely new finds for your bathroom and cosmetics cabinet.

By: Jen Shoop

My Latest Snag: The Saptodjojokartiko Organza Mule.

I’d never heard of the label Saptodjojokartiko before stumbling upon their elegant collection at Moda Operandi (see example above!). Are these mules NOT me in shoe form?! I literally gasped when I saw them. I needed them as a birthday gift to myself, and I plan on wearing them with something like this, this, or this for the occasion of my thirty-fifth birthday in late June. Perfection. Also eyeing these flats from the collection. To die for! I am smitten with the entire feminine, gauzey, demi-sheer vibe of the entire label, seen in select images below! (When will their dresses be available stateside, too?!)

You’re Sooooo Popular: The $15 Statement Headband.

The most popular items on the blog this week:

+This $15 pearl-studded headband (similar to my favorite Lele Sadoughi style!)

+This braided seersucker slide.

+This pretty scarf, which I own in a different colorway (great mother’s day gift — more ideas here).

+This pretty floral midi.

+This gorgeous floral headband ($22!)

+A gorgeous block-print tablecloth (on sale).

+Tortoise tumblers.

+A darling gingham swimsuit for mini for under $20.

#Turbothot: A Quote from Joan Didion.

…because, Joan Didion. (One of her books made my list of the top ten most influential books of my lifetime.)

“People with self-respect exhibit a certain toughness, a kind of moral nerve; they display what was once called character, a quality which, although approved in the abstract, sometimes loses ground to the other, more instantly negotiable virtues…. character–the willingness to accept responsibility for one’s own life.”

This was interesting fodder given my seemingly weekly musings sussing out the boundary between my own agency and fate.

I love the way she’s phrased this and I agree, too. Even if I’m constantly renegotiating my understanding of my role in relationship to fate, or destiny, or God’s plan, I feel a deep sense of conscientiousness when it comes to how the leading and unfolding of my life impacts those around me, and I hope this means that I am cultivating the kind of character Didion captures here. At the risk of sounding punctilious, one of my biggest pet peeves is when people blame others or shrug in irresolve when they find that their behavior has been nettlesome or detrimental to those around them. I once accidentally announced on this blog that a friend was pregnant and Mr. Magpie immediately sent me a note: “Should you have said that? Was that our news to share?” I froze. My heart dropped into my stomach. I wanted so badly to blame someone else — “but everyone in our circle knows!” “but they were so open about it at brunch!” but but but but but. I knew what I had to do: to own my faux pas and apologize.

There have been dozens of occasions of similar hand-wringing on this blog and off of it, and I have not always done the right thing, or done the right thing quickly enough. I hope I am headed towards the realm of “moral nerve” Joan Didion describes.

Blast from the Past: An Ambition.

Because I’ve had so many generous and encouraging reactions to some of my more memoir-esque writing asking whether I will write a book (!), I have been thinking a lot about my ambitions to write fiction. I was reminded of the time I first shared this lofty dream here, when musing on the multiple patrons I have enjoyed along the way, my elegant grandfather included:

“…noting that I was an avid reader and budding writer, between bites of tunafish salad, my grandfather taught me about various and sundry literary conventions, including, most memorably, iambic pentameter.  He tapped each of his ten fingers while quoting a Shakespearean sonnet, helping me understand how to measure poetic meter:

“For thy sweet love remember’d such wealth brings // That then I scorn to change my state with kings.”  

BaBOOM, baBOOM, baBOOM…

In large part owing to these kindnesses, I began to fashion myself as a writer.  I wrote stories and poems on construction paper and stapled them together into booklets, gifting them to my parents and grandparents on various holidays.  The poems were typically tributaries, extolling the virtues of a loved one in banal, forced rhyme, while the short stories were always mysteries I’d cribbed from a book I’d read recently.  I recall writing a short story curiously similar to one of the Bobbsey Twin books and insisting I’d divined it on my own.  Consuming the Nancy Drew series in large gulps, I dreamed of having my own Ned Nickerson and often included a Ned-like romantic hero in my fictional forays.  My best friend Ellie and I tapped out a mystery novella on an ancient typewriter we dug out from the basement.  We modeled it on Harriet the Spy after spending several fruitless afternoons stationed in a row of boxwoods that overlooked Linnean Avenue, composition books in hand, taking notes on the passersby as we sought the latest juicy crime in my neighborhood.  Over dinner one evening towards the end of my short-lived career in espionage, I insisted I had seen multiple strange cars drive into and out of the embassy across the street from us, and that some sort of international subterfuge was at hand.  My parents exchanged looks.  “Why don’t you write about it?” my mother offered, generously.”

And so I’ve been writing since I was very young…

P.S. In case you need a word of encouragement in pursuit of your own dreams.

Post-Scripts: New Shampoo and Lace-Up Wedges.

+Just ordered Ouai shampoo and conditioner using the Sephora promotion currently running! (20% off!)

+These lace-up wedges are to die. Pair with a white eyelet dress and be on your merry way.

+Loving the new Paloma Contreras collection for Williams Sonoma — these tiger-print pillow cases remind me of Scalamandre!

+Love these summer jammies (currently under $30!)

+I am all about this romantic floral midi.

+THESE OVERSIZED EARRINGS ARE MAJOR. And under $50. I love them in that neutral/tan color!

+These pearl initial bobby pins are adorable.

+Do I need this gorgeous Emilia Wickstead swimsuit?! In love!

+A perfect fourth of july swimsuit for a little one. You can coordinate with this (marked down to $50 from $170?!)

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