By: Jen Shoop

There is a tradition at UVA called “Midsummers.” Some time in late June, students flock back to campus for a solstice reunion, the small bars on The Corner packed and sweaty and the frat houses that line Mad Bowl spilling over with howling parties that rage late into the thick summer nights, their roofs dotted with partygoers sitting in lawn chairs alongside coolers of beer, the muffled thud of hip-hop beats in beer-stained basements interrupted only briefly by the strings and twang of country anthems like “Wagon Wheel” and “Fishing in the Dark.” This is the South, after all.

I always loved Midsummers. There was something wildly escapist about being so close to school without any of its responsibilities and deadlines, safely nestled a two-hour drive from my summer job and the routine of life at home: just me and my friends, the haze and stillness of a Southern summer, the taste of poorly-mixed drinks in oversized sorority cups, the bearing of a new summer outfit, the happenstance crossing-of-paths with acquaintances and crushes and old boyfriends. It was thrilling to be seen, maybe with a new haircut, or a deeper tan, or the posture of confidence I did not fully possess.

The summer after my second year, Mr. Magpie drove me down for the occasion. We were only a month into dating, and everything was fresh and new and limber and I called him “baby” for the first time over dinner at The Biltmore, the word catching in my throat like a chicken bone. I looked up anxiously for a reaction.

“What happened?” he asked, puzzled at my sudden change in posture.

“Oh, nothing,” I dismissed, relieved he’d not made the connection between my fumbling attempt at intimacy and my stricken look, comforted by the fact that I could play it off. Maybe terms of endearment were out of reach, I reasoned, this early into the relationship.

After dinner, we parted ways. He headed off to meet up with his buddies and I raced back to my apartment to reconnect with my girlfriends, a tribe of mainly south-of-the-Mason-Dixon-line beauties with a taste for Andre
“champagne” — champagne in quotes because, for those uninitiated in the art of the swill, Andre is essentially $5 fruit juice pumped with some sort of dubious alcohol and bubbles the size of grapes. (It is rot gut.) We huddled in the apartment I shared with my girlfriend A., catching up, blaring music, adjusting our outfits, calling boyfriends and crushes. I flushed every time Mr. Magpie’s name came up–and it resurfaced frequently because I managed to maneuver most conversations toward him. He was older than we were, and I’d been chasing him since before I’d arrived at New Dorms nearly two years earlier, and I felt like I’d won something. Suddenly, my earlier quibbling over the term “baby” felt infantile, and I longed to be in his company: to call him mine, to be seen with him, to be understood as his.

A few hours later, I successfully managed to direct my unwieldy pack of friends to Coupe Deville’s, a bar that felt as though it belonged in 1967, with wood benches and questionable upholstery and low ceilings and the stink of smoke. Mr. Magpie had said he’d be there, and that he knew the bouncer, too — and so I managed to get inside by mentioning his name at the door, despite flashing the ID of an elder sorority sister of a different ethnicity. The bouncer smirked.

“OK, Landon. Fine.” And he waved me through.

I felt as though I had a balloon in my lungs as I skimmed the crowded confines for Mr. Magpie’s shape. My friends were laughing about something as we wove our way through the throngs of good-looking Southern boys and well-dressed Southern girls, many in sundresses with deep tans and sun-kissed hair. We were barreling toward the bar, reapplying lip gloss, breaking out in peals of laughter, and I was scanning for —

Him. Sitting on a stool at the bar in a polo shirt, seemingly freshly showered. He always has that look, even now: clean, tidy, unperturbed. The balloon in my lungs expanded. I leapt toward him.

“Hi!” I beamed.

“Hey, hey!” he returned, pulling me toward him, sliding off his stool, helping me out of the fray. I was conscious of the circle of his male friends registering my arrival, and my face burned with self-awareness. Mr. Magpie widened his stance, pulling his cup of beer into him so that it wouldn’t spill over me despite the jerky movements of the crowd around us, his eyes softening as he looked down at me in an expression partway between bemusement and anticipation. He’s never been big on PDA, but there was something unmistakably possessive about the way he reacted to my presence. Every now and then, he would hold out his hand as if forging an imaginary protective bubble around me, preventing a stray limb or raucous frat brother from brushing up against me.

I remember his regard, his positioning, as if it were yesterday, in part because he still wears it today, on the odd occasion that we find ourselves meeting at some middleground, having arrived separately: that easy welcoming look, that protectiveness. The way he will, simultaneously unphased and disgusted, shove someone out of the way if that person is getting a little too close to me for his own comfort. The way he stiffens if he’s caught wind of an unbecoming sentiment or note of cruelty in someone’s tenor toward me. He is now, as he was then, a gentleman–and it still feels new and indulgent. But I also remember our reunion that night because I’ve never quite shaken the way he made me feel all those years ago, as we groped our way through the awkwardnesses of a young relationship: proud to be his, maybe a little surprised. It’s engendered a reciprocal instinct toward possessiveness around him — even now, closing in on a decade and a half of relationship-nurturing. I wonder occasionally if this marks me as strange, or if other women feel the same way towards their spouses. When I see him across the room at a party, or weaving his way through a crowded farmer’s market, or wrangling mini in the vestibule of the Church, I am overwhelmed by a feeling of attachment: he is mine, I think, with surprise and something like urgency.

Over coffee a few weeks back, a friend of mine mentioned how much she enjoys reading my posts on Mr. Magpie.

“You can just tell from the way you write about him that you’re still chasing him.”

I was caught off-guard by her observation, by its proximity to a truth I’d not acknowledged. I know him well, of course — his moods, his preferences, his occasionally gutting stubbornnesses — and yet, he escapes me. He has always been his own person in our relationship, carrying his own interests and passions and opinions to himself, largely unruffled by my own. He lets me be me, and he is determinedly him. If I ever changed his mind on something, I am unaware of said victory: he is an unrelenting maverick. In the weeks following my friend’s airy and on-point description of our dynamic, I’ve realized that it’s this independence of his that leaves me in his chase. I am always wondering what he will think and how he will act, and whether it will surprise me or not. Whether he’ll recognize my tentative tenderness in calling him “baby” for the first time, or whether he’ll brush it off, concerned with other matters. Whether he’ll slide off the bar stool to wrap me in a bear hug or beam down at me with that quiet “she is mine” gaze.

We are about a year shy of a decade of marriage, and I still find myself wondering, wandering after him — permanently, it seems, in the posture of pursuit.

Post Scripts: Floral Finds.

After sharing some more preppy/nautical/borrowed-from-the-boys finds last week, I found myself bouncing back into feminine territory with a lot of floral finds over the weekend:

+This stunning jumpsuit, which I like with an on-trend Loeffler Randall mule like this (on super sale) or this. (Get the floral jumpsuit look for less with this.)

+These block heels, which would look insane with a voluminous LWD like this.

+Pretty cupcake liners and ribbon. I’m dying over the latter — can you imagine how adorable it would look to wrap up a little parcel of cookies with it, or tie up a gift in kraft paper?!

+These floral leggings! OMG. Do I need these to motivate myself post-baby?!

+This to-die-for Zimmermann. (SWOON.) I like it with these stark white mules (under $120!)

+This headband, which I just ordered for my mom! (Sorry to ruin the surprise, mom!)

+This smocked-waist midi.

+This botanical print swimsuit ($35!!!)

+This amazing (heavily discounted!) floral blouse.

+Not exactly floral, but these elegant pillow covers (on sale!) feel like they’d be right at home in that pretty blue color in a feminine living room.

+TO DIE FOR.

+These fanciful botanical print plates. (I think they’d be the perfect update to my Easter table, which I outfitted with an inexpensive natural linen tablecloth, robin’s egg blue napkins, blue caspari taper candles, and a ton of mercury glass (vases, candlesticks, votives, etc.)) I should mention, though, that I am swooning over this floral-inspired tableware collection from Stephanie Fishwick. GORGEOUS.

+Different colorway: love this floral block-print tablecloth (on sale!), especially topped with pink glassware.

+Kind of into these pink Birkstenstock-esque slides (under $15) for a pool day.

+This embossed floral gown.

By: Jen Shoop

First, this precious mommy and me swimwear moment (seen above) from H&M: the mini me suit is $18 and the women’s style is $35. These are bound to sell out STAT since I’ve seen a number of bloggers I love mention them already. I also added this $6 sunhat to my cart in the blue and white floral print — so sweet, and the print reminds me of something Minnow Swim would carry! (And I think I need to wear this hat with my swimsuit.)

Second, an epic Intermix flash sale — an extra 40% off sale prices, bringing some of the most amazing deals. I am loving this elegant maxi (very drawn to blue these days — I just snagged this caftan in the denim blue color as my coming-home-from-hospital look), this pink gingham blouse ($60 with promotion?!?!?), and this floral midi.

Happy shopping!

P.S. More incredible, affordable spring finds and my favorite beauty products under $50.

P.P.S. In case you need to hear it today. I’ve never received more emails in reaction to a post!

By: Jen Shoop

There is something particularly delicious about a freshly-bathed baby in freshly-laundered pajamas. I look forward to our post-bath routine every night, when mini begins to wind down and, after brushing teeth and lining up her Little People on my nightstand in a tidy row (she is going to excel in Montessori this upcoming year, n’est-ce pas?), we all climb into bed together — Tilly included — to read two books as a family before we head into her nursery. (Current favorites: Jesse Bear What Will You Wear? and Madeline.) Mini is so accustomed to our routine that she will indicate, loudly, if we are doing something out of order. “Mommy, sit here,” she’ll direct, if Tilly happens to be perched in my usual spot. Or “Two books!” if I’ve only brought one. Or “Daddyyyyy!” if Mr. Magpie lingers in the living room tidying up and we’re already nestled in bed.

I love the moments where she curls up next to me in her jammies, laying her head against my chest. Even now, at two, she can be wriggly and willful and silly, and so I treasure those moments of tenderness.

Today, I thought I’d share a couple of my favorite pajama brands for babies and toddlers:

+First, a new discovery: Paper Cape! I love the traditional styling and soft pima cotton of their pajamas (seen above, on mini). The founder, Alex, was generous enough to send mini a pair and we are smitten. (I love the back story, too: “After a decade working for leading retail brands, mother Alex Golden became troubled by the fast fashion disposable clothing trend and the lack of high-quality classic styles for kids that were also super comfortable. In search of inspiration, she found a 30-year-old pair of overalls that her husband wore as a child.  She recognized that this type of heirloom-quality children’s clothing in classic styles are missing from today’s market. So she set out to create Paper Cape, offering the softest, highest-quality fabrics in timeless designs that meet the needs of active kids and modern parents.” Yes!!!) I will be ordering more, including this navy footie for micro. Note: size up! Mini currently wears a size 3T and they fit perfectly.

+Roller Rabbit. I love the prints. They are spend-y for children’s pajamas but they are a super soft cotton and among the cutest I’ve seen. I especially love mini’s pair of love bug print jammies — such a precious pattern! I find I often need to size up in these — mini is currently wearing a size 4, though she’s just turned 2. (Note: I love that I can also coordinate with my kids!)

+Petite Plume. Any time mini wears hers, we go crazy over them. There is something beyond adorable about a child in proper pajamas. For Easter, I gave her her very first nightgown and a matching eye mask. To die for!

+Beaufort Bonnet Company. Such darling prints. These run really small. Size up.

+Lewis. A girlfriend of mine gifted me a pair of these and I was in love with the unusual but darling radish print! They don’t fit as snugly as Roller Rabbit’s or Beaufort Bonnet Company’s, but I found they were too short on mini pretty quickly (she is tall for her age, but just an FYI).

+Kissy Kissy. One of my favorite layette brands, but I still buy mini jammies from this label, too. In my opinion, these hold up the absolute best of all of the cotton pajamas we have — even better than Roller Rabbit. I especially love the classic and unfussy solid and striped styles, like these, for babies. But their prints are darling for older children, like these for mini. (Note: you can often find pairs from this brand for $6-$8 less than you’ll find them elsewhere on Amazon, like these.)

+Livly Baby. I love this Swedish brand and their whimsical prints — especially ones like this. I bought micro this sweet coverall and this print as his take-home outfit from the hospital!

+Gap. They often come out with cute seasonal prints and run promotions that bring a pair down to less than $15, though I will say that compared to the other brands above, the cotton is a lot coarser/scratchier. Currently loving these.

+Hanna Andersson. Love their fruit prints in particular. These are made from a slightly heavier weight cotton than a lot of the pima cottons mentioned above, but also hold up really well and have a lovely amount of stretch to them, so they grow with the child — I feel like we were able to make them last a lot longer than their size might have suggested. (Note: I appreciate that they run sizing by height, as mini is tall.) I noticed that while many of mini’s other infant pajamas looked threadbare, her Hannas and her Kissy Kissys were worth hanging onto.

+Burts Bees. I love their rugby striped pajamas — mini has owned several pairs. Classic. And you can’t beat the price!

+Bella Bliss. I especially love when they release their jammies in solid colors with white cuffs — and then you can add a monogram for a really precious look. Really soft.

A couple of other brands I’ve been eyeing but not yet tested:

+Esme. I’m not as crazy about the colors/prints, but a lot of people say these are insanely soft!

+Daniel + Sofia. OMG. These striped nighties!

P.S. We use all Noodle & Boo products in the bath (shampoo, body wash, and bubbles), and they smell like heaven. I love the scent so much I bought this linen spray to use in the nursery — I spritz it on her upholstered crib, her armchair, her ottoman, and even her stroller cushion.

P.P.S. Siblinghood and some great baby books.

By: Jen Shoop

4.5 stars. This book (how gorgeous is the cover?!) reads like a lucid dream — or nightmare, to put a finer point on it. The imagery is powerful, rich, redolent and the narrative obfuscated through repetitions and recursions, overlapping and interjecting voices and perspectives, and a lack of clear grammatical distinction between quotation and observation. Strung together, these techniques impart the feeling of a dreamwalk that is at once evocative of the main character’s “madness” and at the same time implicative of the broader social problems suggested in the novel: it is as though Rhys is saying, “if you think this story is crazy, you must think the broader world has gone full-on mad — just look at the racism, dislocation, chaos, misogyny teeming in this little post-colonial world we have here.” The book is burdened with the imagery of confinement and escape, of things gone–but not. (And nowhere is this underscored better than in the fluidity of transitions between who is speaking and thinking. We are constantly having to ask: “Wait, who is saying this?” There are many instances of border and boundary-crossing, of identity loss and restoration, even in the way we encounter the text.) We have broken patrilineal (and matrilineal!) relationships, miscegenation, the emancipation of Jamaican slaves, the lush and overgrown West Indies landscape, the appearance and disappearance of Christophine and Aunt Cora (who seem present and absent in the most jarring of cadences), the “first” and “second” deaths of Antoinette’s mother, locked doors, the promise of England and “the rest of the world,” the confines of the nunnery, the isolation of the attic chamber. In the novel, women are caught, trapped, repressed, and dismissed as “mad” — though the sources of their madness are more often than not tethered to the indiscretions and cruelties of the men they love or marry (for these are not always synonymous verbs, she reminds us, and are often colored by financial incentive): their fathering of illegitimate children, their abandonment, their emotional withdrawals. Perhaps saddest of all is the redundancy of the plotlines: Antoinette, like her mother, endures a medley of traumas, is dismissed as mad, and suffers complete dissolution in a fire. And the cycle will continue, we are led to believe, even if not via Antoinette’s own offspring. There will be others who endure similar fates, we know.

On second thought, this, perhaps, is the saddest — or most difficult to process — element of all: that many women are complicit in the confinement and maltreatment of other women, too. I so wanted to trust Christophine, and yet there is a point in her negotiations with Mr. Rochester where we are led to question whether she is motivated by money. Later, Ms. Poole reveals a distinct lack of sympathy in her cruel treatment of Antoinette while attic-bound. Even Cora seems in part responsible for the handing-off and binding and silencing of her niece. Ugh. It is a cruel, male-orchestrated world Rhys paints, but men are not the only ones to blame.

One small aspect of the book I could not stop thinking about was the naming and re-naming of women: Antoinette is nicknamed Bertha by Mr. Rochester seemingly “just because”; there is some debate over whether Christophine is actually Josephine; and there is a strange relationship between Antoinette and her surname: is she Colway or Mason? Rhys seemed to be tugging at the broader conventions of men bestowing their names upon women through marriage or birth, of men “claiming” and “renaming” parts of the world as colonists, of men asserting their power in myriad ways, not the least of which is through the control of language and nomenclature more generally. There is something defiant in the way Rhys writes in the face of these observations: she often forces the reader to puzzle over the identity of the character speaking rather than using names, i.e., “said Antoinette.” In many ways, it is Rhys’ expansive, boundary-blurring writing that commands we imagine a different, less restrictive mode of living.

Book Club Questions.

+Were there any redeeming relationships in this novel?

+What do you think is the source of Antoinette’s “madness” — and that of her mother?

+What did you make of the relationships between women in this novel? What about Antoinette’s relationship between her mother? (Think, too, of the fact that she has many “surrogate” mothers in the book: Christophine, the nuns, Cora.)

+What role did the emancipation of slavery in Jamaica/the West Indies play in this novel? I focused on gender in my earlier assessment, but there is a lot to unpack with regards to race and colonialism as well. Why did she set the book in this context?

+Why does Mr. Rochester marry Antoinette? What are his motivations? Do you think he was duped into marrying her?

+What did you make of the perspective shifts in the novel? Did you find either of the principle narrators unreliable?

+What was your impression of Christophine and her motivations? What role did “obeah” play in the novel?

+Why the title?

May Book Club Pick: Normal People by Sally Rooney.

I was mesmerized earlier this month by Sally Rooney’s Conversations with Friends. (Caveat, especially to my mother: there are many explicit scenes in the novel.) I was mainly impressed by its freshness in tone and its deep and abiding honesty about dynamics between friends. She spotlighted just how observant and sensitive we are when it comes to the slightest of tonal shifts, omissions of information, patterns of conversation and reaction. Her take on romance in the modern (technology-fueled!) age was novel, too. The book left me in a fog of self-reflection. All in, a remarkably original and non-derivative work. I’m eager to pick up her just-released second book and discuss with you all. I think Rooney’s is a powerful new voice to whom we need to attend.

Reading next: Adam Gopnik’s Paris to the Moon after a trusted Magpie book club member urged its reading. I’m curious, too, about Verity, which has caused a legitimate internet sensation (but what is the FUSS?!), but have been discouraged from reading it while pregnant but many people who have already read the book. Hmmm…

More books to read right now.

Post-Scripts.

+Everlane generously sent me this cropped sweatshirt and it’s the perfect lightweight transition-piece for cool morning farmer’s market runs. I’d wear mine with those wide-leg white cropped pants that are everywhere and a pair of Supergas.

+What are your daily reads?

+Speaking of daily rituals: let this be one of them.

+These side chairs are chic. Love the rattan and linen combo.

+This dress looks like it’s a Ganni — but costs less than $60.

+I love the simple, Audrey-Hepburn-esque elegance of this button-back linen shell. Perfect with white skinnies and espadrilles.

+These high-rise underwear get solid reviews for post c-section moms — surprisingly non-hideous.

+I told myself I wouldn’t buy any more maternity clothes (about a month out from due date now!), but my mom generously sent me a fresh pair of maternity pajamas and I have to say — they’ve absolutely made my month. I know I’ve written extensively on the topic of these jammies but, seriously, they are the only time of day I feel fully comfortable. They are so soft, so forgiving. I love the robe that ties under the bust. Just the best. Thank you, mom.

+OMG — these golf socks with the pom poms!!! My mom used to wear these golfing in the 80s and I love that TB’s brought them back.

+Net-A-Porter now carries a limited range of childrenswear, and I’m swooning over these spend-y but darling Chloe shoes…

+Rebecca Taylor’s sale section always slays me. Currently lusting after this, this, and this. (Though I am determined to get out of my jeans-only rut, an easy formula for a spring outfit: a white pair of skinnies and a range of chic blouses.)

+Moms: what is your favorite straw cup for your little one? This Thinkbaby and this Camelbak are in heaviest rotation in our house.

+This rosebud swimsuit is precious.

+How sweet is this little dish for decorative purposes in a nursery?

By: Jen Shoop

A few weeks ago, just after I’d written my post on not getting into my first-choice school, a girlfriend called to share an interesting and completely contradictory experience to the one I’d described.

She’d gotten into her first-choice, Ivy League school, but had gone against the grain and her family’s wishes (she was a legacy!) and opted for a state school instead. The decision caused friction within her family, to the point that it remains a sore issue to this day. She went on to say that she still finds herself wondering what if…?

“In some ways, I envy that you didn’t get into your first choice school and that the decision was made for you. I feel like I was messing with fate. At least you can look back and say: I made lemonade out of lemons. Meanwhile, I don’t know what I was doing. Did I do the right thing?”

As she agonized, I could see that she was still wrestling with a very real and very pressing measure of regret — even now, over ten years after graduating. She went on to explain two or three other serious life situations where she’s been put in a position to decide between multiple options, noting that she’s felt something close to paralysis each time, likely owing to the uneasy experience of her college matriculation.

As we chatted, I realized that I’ve never experienced the decision paralysis she was describing. I can’t tell whether this is because I have — as she suggested — been fortunate enough to have many major life decisions made for me in a certain sense (I actually can’t remember a time where I’ve had to jockey between multiple possible and convincing options where a big life decision is concerned, with the exception of deciding not to pursue a cephalic version when I discovered that mini was breech — more on that below) or because I tend to develop really strong perspectives fairly quickly. For example, I knew Mr. Magpie was The One from nearly the dawn of our relationship — while I know many friends have had to struggle with deciding whether or not a relationship is worth pursuing (“is he the one?!” and “are we in this for the long haul?”). And I knew mini’s name was right for her and never thought twice about it, whereas many other friends have expressed ambivalence and even regret (I actually know a few women who have changed their babies’ names well after birth). Come to think of it, I rarely find myself doubting my own decision-making or regretting a choice I’ve made, with the exception of when I opted to schedule a c-section instead of attempting a cephalic version with mini to see whether we could get her into a head-down position for a vaginal birth. But even in that case, I spent so much time weighing the pros and cons and seeking the counsel of my doctor and trusted love ones, that in my moments of dubiousness, I would run back through my rationale and calm myself: “Yes, I made the best decision I possibly could have at that point.” And I’d relax into my decision. Or maybe I have cultivated sufficient confidence in the notion of “trusting my gut,” as things have always worked out one way or another, and with major faculties intact — so I’ve never given myself room to question the decisions I’ve made. I tend to hunt for “clues” and “signs” and “foreshadowings” in thinking about the path that has led me somewhere, and maybe this find-and-seek activity helps me better explain why I’ve done what I’ve done and why it makes sense within the context of “my story.”

What do you think? Have you experienced decision paralysis? If not, do you think it’s because you’ve never had occasion to weigh multiple possible options or because decision-making is easier for you for one reason or another?

Post-Script: An Elegant Bathroom.

Apropos of nothing at all: I am swooning over the elegant bathroom remodel by the husband and wife team behind The Happy Tudor.

Get the look…

+This simple hotel stripe shower curtain in the taupe, with a coordinating bath mat.

+Beautiful urn vases.

+Their exact wallpaper (stunning). If that’s not realistic, these framed panels or these (budget buy!).

+Tortoise water glasses (so chic!) or a tortoise tray.

+Fringed ottoman.

+An elegant bench. (Ahh, to have the space in a bathroom for a bench or ottoman.)

+Canvas cosmetics cases — love the print. (My utility pick: I use these to stow samples/minis/back-ups under my sink in a big bin.)

+Painted chinoiserie waste basket.

+Aerin scalloped towels.

+Clamshell catch-all.

+This pretty wastebasket. (Kind of like that it comes with a lid — no one needs to see bathroom trash.)

+Cane embossed tissue box cover.

+Hobnail vase.

+Colored tumblers.

+Flower tray.

P.S. My favorite acquisitions thus far this year.

P.P.S. The best products for home and little luxuries for even the smallest of homes.

P.P.P.S. Another super-inspiring room.

By: Jen Shoop

My Latest Snag: The Toile Espadrille for Mini.

H&M has had such great pieces on offer this spring, and I am absolutely swooning over mini’s new toile espadrilles, seen above (under $15!). Would it be too much for me to wear this toile dress to coordinate with her?!

A couple of new additions to my H&M wishlist: this smocked jumpsuit, which I envision pairing with an oversized straw hat at the beach, this puff-sleeved dress, and this sweet skirt for minis, which looks like it’s by Doen or Loveshackfancy!

You’re Sooooo Popular: The Floral Peplum.

The most popular items on the blog this week:

+This floral peplum dress. (Stunning — looks like Johanna Ortiz!)

+This pretty (and affordable) striped everyday dress.

+This cherry-print dress.

+My favorite tee.

+This floral headband ($22!)

+A perfect everyday flat (heavily discounted).

+My favorite new sandals.

+The most precious gift enclosures for minis.

#Turbothot: Chasing Rainbows.

Another quote from a poem in that Rossetti book:

“If all were rain and never sun,

No bow could span the hill;

If all were sun and never rain,

There’d be no rainbow still.”

I initially recoiled from the mawkishness of this poem, but its sentiments lingered, and I have found myself returning to them when feeling, as I have on occasion over the past few weeks, as though I will never make it to the finish line with this pregnancy. I have had this exact conversation play out in my head countless times over the past few days in particular, especially when I am shuffling down the street trying to make it from point A to point B and the pressure pushing downward on my bladder, uterus, etc is about as uncomfortable as I can tolerate:

Me: “I just don’t know how I’ll make it to 40 weeks.”

Also me: “What do you mean, ‘how I’ll make it?’ You’ll make it the same way every other woman makes it: by putting one foot in front of the other, breathing in and out, and taking it one minute at a time.”

Contractions woke me up last Friday morning (you may have seen my post on this front on Instagram) and were coming so regularly — under five minutes apart for two hours straight — that my doctor told me to head to the hospital. I was monitored for several hours and, at last, about six or seven hours after they’d started, the contractions died down and the doctors discharged me. They told me to drink a lot of water, as dehydration can bring on contractions, and also said — both unhelpfully and reassuringly — “This just happens sometimes.” It was a bizarre blur of a day that catapulted me through every emotion you can imagine: excitement, anxiety, concern, panic, resignation, determination, hope, exasperation. I was both relieved and frustrated to return home without baby in arms. Of course I want him to stay put and continue to develop until his appointed due date to avoid complications, and of course I was partly relieved to still have time to get the remaining minutaie in order for his homecoming (Mr. Magpie promptly brought the infant carseat and bassinet up from storage — “It’s time,” he said). But of course I also did not particularly cherish the experience of enduring contractions and running through a fire drill that yielded no result. What surprised me most, though, was how dialed in I was to the smallest of happinesses in the days that followed: the fluffiness of my comfortable, spacious bed in comparison to the hospital cots; the quiet and not-so-quiet familiarity of mornings in our apartment (especially after the frenzy of the previous day), its routines so deeply engrained in me that I occasionally find myself looking up at the clock at 8:33 or 8:39 a.m. and realizing I’ve successfully fed my family, had my morning cup of coffee, made the beds, washed my face and applied my daily makeup routine, dressed mini and brushed her hair, packed mini’s lunch, cleaned the kitchen, tidied the toys, and dressed myself — without really thinking about it; the stretch of TV watching and idle chit-chat with Mr. Magpie before bed; the indulgence of a last-minute decision to order dinner in when we were too tired to cook; the sound of Tilly’s happy panting as we pet her on the couch between us; the reassurances from my mother over the phone. (En route to the hospital on Friday, I called my mother in tears. Mr. Magpie had hung back at the apartment to wait for my sister and brother-in-law to arrive and look after mini, and so I was alone and feeling very anxious. Was this it? Wasn’t it way too early? As the taxi whizzed down the 65th Street Transverse through Central Park, my mother and I said a Hail Mary together, and then she said: “I’m right there with you today, and so is Mary. We’re right behind you.” All of these little comforts gleamed small and bright against the chaos of the day: little rainbows amidst — or after — a storm.

Hoping that you’ll find yourself basking in similar moments of reprieve this weekend.

P.S. More words of encouragement, if you need to hear them. (I’ve never received more emails in reaction to a post in my entire history of blogging! I think these were words a lot of us needed to hear.)

Blast from the Past: On My Hometown, D.C.

On D.C. and the Parochial Wild: “…D.C. has always seemed, to me, small and slack — like a mildly overgrown thicket or a tumbler of water that’s been sitting, sweating, in the heat, a ring of water pooled around its basin.  There is a languor to it — especially in the summer — underscored by the heavy shade of trees you’ll find most anywhere in Northwest D.C. in particular, and the torpid buzz of cicadas, and the canopy of humidity.  The lush green spaces are unmanicured; street signs are often partially obscured by vines or branches; medians will occasionally boast knee-high grass.  There is a thickness, a drawl to things, that has always made me think of the city as part wild — but not wild in the awe-inspiring sense of the Rocky Mountains; wild in the sense of the wood playhouse my father built with birch planks from Hechingers and installed at the top of a small hill in our backyard, beneath a shady pine tree…”

Fellow Washingtonians: does this reverberate?

Others: how do you feel about your hometown?

Post-Scripts.

+On the heels of my post about preppy/classic fashion: these simple slides with the seersucker fabric! Adorable!

+Loving some of the new arrivals at J. Crew, especially this popover dress, this floral ruffle top, and this timeless shirtdress (Grace Kelly much?)

+If you can believe it, I’m already thinking ahead to the Fourth of July, especially since we intend to spend it in the Hamptons. How sweet is this romper set for a little one?

+I love these milkglass candlesticks. I’ve usually opted for white or metallic taper candles, but for our Easter table, I bought a set of pale blue ones to put into my mercury glass candlestick holders and I have to say — it opened my eyes to the possibilities of color via candles/candlestick holders and now I want lots of different colors.

+One of my favorite hairbows of mini’s from last summer. I liked pairing it with LWDs.

+A fun dress for a girl’s trip.

+This wedge has a minimalist-chic (The Row-esque?) vibe I’m into.

+This dotted dress is super fun (and chic) for summertime BBQ season. It has a Saloni feel to it.

By: Jen Shoop

Q: I have a fashion question for you–this summer I am going to Chicago to attend a Friday evening Broadway show.  Of course, I’m from a rural area and this is slightly out of my realm of expertise–what should I wear?  It’ll be June, so not the absolute hottest month, but of course…Chicago in the summer!

A: A show in Chicago!  So fun!  Sadly (in my opinion), you will see folks wearing any manner of clothing at the theatre nowadays, including jeans and a t-shirt.  Even at the Metropolitan Opera, we were shocked to see folks dressed way, way down — while others were wearing black tie (swoon)!  Such a confusing time.  Personally, I’d aim for a feminine summer dress that makes me feel pretty and special.  That’s the vibe I went for when my father in law took me to the theatre last summer! 

I loveeee everything Loveshackfancy has put out recently, and so my mind immediately went to this gorgeous floral number, which you could pair with of-the-moment mule slides like theseor dress down a bit more with simple flat leather sandals.  (You can get the look for less with this dress.)
If that’s wayyyy too frou-frou for your taste, a pretty white eyelet dress has never steered me wrong (and is one of the easiest styles to dress up or down: the eyelet makes it appropriate for day with sandals but easy to gussy up with fun heels in the evening).  

I also love this similar style in the pink and white stripe.  Again, something easy to convert into day-time wear with a pair of simple leather sandals — but throw on a pair of statement earringsand some heels, and you’re ready for downtown Chicago 🙂

If all of these are too girly for your taste, I love this slinky Rixo or this structured LBD.

Q: Looking for some special dresses for the girls for beach pictures next month. I’ve checked all my usual spots and can’t find anything I love. Any recs for places to check?

A: This was a fun challenge and actually dovetailed nicely with some of my reveries about a dreamy summer family portrait. I could look for childrens’ clothing all the live long day. I tend towards the traditional/formal, so my mind immediately went to one of the heirloom-worthy dresses from Pepa & Co, like this or this — or this slightly less expensive style from new-to-me brand Question Everything (I love a smocked floral…). But, I’m sharing a couple of different dresses at different levels of playfulness/casualness/formality:

+Sal E Pimenta.  I just ordered this for mini, which feels like the sweetest summer dress I ever did see. (Cecil & Lou has a somewhat similar style for less here.)

+Proper Peony. I love the petal collar style in particular. Cecil & Lou has a similar style, and Luli & Me also does a similar neckline, and I love everything they do — the quality is insane for the price, in my opinion. (Not that Luli & Me is cheap! But, for an outfit around $60, you get quality that feels well north of what retails elsewhere for $100.)

+Bella Bliss.  I always end up buying a ton of stuff from here every season.  The prices are reasonable and clothing holds up well — and feels a little less fussy / more day-to-day appropriate.  Something like this or this?

+Beaufort Bonnet Company.  I feel like some people are allergic to this brand…but something like this?

+For more of an ethereal moment — I love these linen ruffled rompers and pinafores. I like that they can read either boho or super traditional, depending on accessories/styling.

+Spendy, but I am obsessed with everything La Coqueta does.  Love this or this.

+Crimson Carousel for lovely smocking.

Q: Would love to hear about your beauty/makeup routine for a big night out or weddings. I have a few weddings coming up this summer and need inspiration for a stepped up, glam look!

A: For me, it’s all about dialing up either the lip or the eye, and I tend to prefer the latter. My favorite products are:

1) This Laura Mercier eye palette. I love the colors and find that the smoky browns and purples are really great for evening (without being full-on BLACK or GRAY, which I find very intense and scary to apply). I apply a softer/lighter shade all over the lid and then use the darker color in my crease, especially towards the outer corner. Then I use a super light color in the innermost corner of the eye. I love this particular LM palette because you can use the lighter shades for daytime by themselves (I use them nearly daily).

2) These Bobbi Brown gel eyeshadows, especially the ones with a little shimmer to them. I have one in a bronze/brown color and another in a purple quartz color. I like these because you can build drama by applying more gradually and they’re basically fool-proof (I just use my finger to apply!)

3) Stila Liquid eyeliner. I loveeee this for a more dramatic evening eye. Very easy to apply in a thin line, and you can go back over to add thickness/drama. It really stays put and is the easiest liner I’ve ever used.

4) It Cosmetics Superhero mascara. I use this every day because I love a dramatic lash line no matter the situation, but if you’re a little more averse to that kind of intensity for the everyday, this is the perfect pick for evening. Super inky and dramatic. Love love love. This is my current favorite mascara.

I always apply highlighter for evening, and especially like Nars’ Copacabana. I apply a tiny bit under my brows, on the tip of my nose, on my cupid’s bow, and of course on my cheekbones. I also apply on my collarbone! It’s super glam.

If I go for a bold lip, I keep the eyes a little more neutral (maybe a sand/gold/cream color) and go for a red or hot pink lip. I like Mac Cosmetics’ red colors and for pink, either YSL or Stila All-Day lipstick. The latter really stays put and is easy to apply in my opinion. For any of these bold lip looks, I’d strongly recommend exfoliating your lips first with a lip scrub and then applying a ton of balm; my favorite is Elizabeth Arden’s 8 Hour Cream. This will ensure that you don’t end up with yucky cakey dry lips…

Q: What dresses would you pick from Rent the Runway for a late June black-tie wedding in a city? I LOVE your style and have loved all your wedding picks you’ve suggested to readers so I know I can’t go wrong with a Magpie-approved choice. I lean towards renting for black-tie events since I’m not invited to many and embarrassingly, due to Instagram/social media, don’t love rewearing statement dresses (as much as I hate to admit that).

A: I loved this challenge because a black-tie evening wedding in New York means you can literally wear the dress of your wildest dreams — not too many occasions where you can truly pull out all the stops. My favorite finds at RTR:

+This tiered red number. Cha cha cha! I’d wear with a bold red lip and a coordinated red earrings like this or this and then finish with a nude sandal.

+This hi-lo pink dress. I’m not normally huge into hi-lo hemlines these days, but this gives me all the Jackie O. vibes. I’d pair with pearl accessories like these drops (swoon), these cluster earrings, these Oscars, and/or this clutch. Loving these heels with it. TO DIE.

+This midnight lace gown. I’d do this with a smoky eye and these navy bow earrings or these floral white hoops.

+This is probably the safest bet of the bunch — the cut, the style, the color feel accessible yet party-ready. I would wear this with my favorite “mohawk” earrings and an updo.

Note: these heavily discounted earrings in gold or white would go with pretty much any of the above styles!

Q: Any ideas for cool/interesting but affordable tops to wear out at night? I am always trying to keep up with my stylish friends but can’t afford the high end labels.

A: Yes! I love this puff-sleeved white tee ($40), especially tucked into high-waist denim; this red floral/bandana print peplum top ($30); this floral OTS ($49); this ruffled cotton blouse (looks like a Doen, costs less than $40); this ruched top ($65); and this lace-trimmed top ($98, but currently 40% off).

Also: never forget the power of a well-placed, on-trend accessory, which can often cost far less than a new blouse. Pair your favorite white tee with a statement headband (<<love this floral, and only $22!) or a fun pair of earrings and be on your way.

P.S. No one asked this go around, but one of the most common emails I receive is: what shoe should I wear to my wedding? I shared some of my favorite picks in this Q+A (third question down), but OMG HOW AMAZING ARE THESE IN THE WHITE FOR A HIGH-FASHION MOMENT. I also think my new Newbark slides would be a great pick (available on sale in select sizes here and gently used for under $100 here).

P.P.S. Ralph is running its friends-and-family sale now through the 21st with (big bonus) free, fast shipping. For some reason I always balk at the $8+ shipping rates. I am using the occasion to stock up on basics for micro: a couple of these cable-knit sweaters, one of these terry sweatshirts, and a few of these long-sleeved tees. Also, this sweet pullover for mini and one of these gift sets for a friend who just had a baby.

P.P.P.S. You are enough.

By: Jen Shoop

Currently lusting after all things linen — and other natural-looking fabrics like canvas, twill, hemp — including the stunning Celine shirtdress shown above (now sold out, but available on eBay here if you’re dying over it). Such an elegant, breathable, timeless look. Below, my favorite linen (and linen-like) finds, plus some amazing accessories that compliment the look:

+Swooning over this N Nicholas dress with its dramatic buttons.

+This striped romper (under $100!) — with these rattan slides or these straw ones.

+This open-weave basket tote. Farmer’s market perfection.

+These linen trousers (or, for something more tailored, this pair or this one), paired with this smocked top or this gorgeous floral one — or, for a beachy look, this striped button-down (under $35).

+This slouchy sweater with white skinnies and these basket-weave loafers or these rattan flats in the natural color.

+This linen camisole or this boxy shell.

+This ultra-chic clutch.

+This cotton-canvas midi (so sexy and sweet).

+This canvas and straw bag or this raffia tote.

+This gorgeous stripe dress. (Not linen, but a sweet and airy voile.)

+These ankle-wrap sandals (!) or these classics.

+These linen loafers — to die.

+This striped skirt with these scalloped espadrilles.

+For littles: this linen-blend suit (adorable), these mary janes (mini owns them!), everything from Les Gamins linen collection (mini owns several dresses from this line), this linen jumpsuit.

By: Jen Shoop

I am hoping to arrange a proper family portrait this summer. It feels like we’ve reached the right age and life stage where such formalities are appropriate — and I’ve realized, with increasing chagrin, that the number of photos we have of all of us together are few and far between. We also live across the street from Central Park and how can I pass up the opportunity to document this moment in our lives, when we are so close to such a beautiful urban landmark? I’m wondering if it would be too much to try to coordinate the portrait with micro’s Baptism in late summer — would be lovely to get photos not only in the Church but outside, in the park, in that late-August haze…

During recent sleepless nights, I have taken to daydreaming about what we might wear for such an occasion. I like the idea of something classic and timeless, but know Mr. Magpie will cringe at anything too matchy-matchy. Below, a couple of thoughts:

Family Portrait Outfit: Breezy Florals and Linens.

On me: Floral maxi (get the look for less with this or this midi-length style) with Polly Plume slides.

On Mr. Magpie: Linen suit jacket and linen trousers, Gucci drivers, Garrett Leight sunglasses, Ferragamo pocket square.

On mini: Floral dress (or this dress or this romper set), Namoo mary janes.

On micro: La Stupenderia linen romper (more on this epic brand and where to get it for less here) or this little suit (dying).

Family Outfit: Classic Blue + Whites.

On me: Staud dress with my Newbark bow slides or this stark white dress with these wedges.

On Mr. Magpie: white linen button-down, Sir Jack’s oyster belt (Mr. Magpie owns this exact style), blue linen trousers, Stubbs & Wootton slippers or mid-blue Tods.

On mini: this linen dress, these espadrilles — or this lovely La Coqueta and Elephantito mary janes.

On micro: gingham romper or this classic bloomer set, Baypods.

Family Outfit: All White Everything.

On me: this LSF dress (look for less with this).

On Mr. Magpie: classic RL oxford, khakis.

On mini: Luli & Me smocked dress or white pinafore dress.

On micro: Linen blend romper.

Family Outfit: Casual East Coast Navy Blue Look.

On me: navy crewneck sweater, white cropped pants, Chanel espadrilles. Or this denim dress withthese earrings.

On Mr. Magpie: flag sweater, navy pants, boat shoes. If wearing a sport coat look: this pocket square.

On mini: chambray dress or an anchor top and white jeans. Navy bow, of course.

On micro: navy sweater, jeans, canvas sneakers. Or this flag cotton coverall.

P.S. More spring looks and 5 spring trends to try.

P.P.S. Musings on making space for the newest little member of our family.

P.P.P.S. Just refreshed my baby registry to reflect some new discoveries and revisions. This is one of my most-visited and most-requested posts!

By: Jen Shoop

I am big into feminine florals and bows at the moment but recognize those are not everyone’s cup of tea, and thought today I’d feature some of the classic, tailored, preppy pieces that make it into my wardrobe season after season. Chalk it up to my East Coast roots, but I will often slip into a boxy striped tee (I love the ones by Kule), skinny jeans, and a pair of Chanel espadrilles for every-day errands — and have been doing so since around 2000. Below, a few of my favorite preppy classics for spring:

+This button-shouldered sweater (on sale in select colors here). I own this exact style in a light blue and it is beautifully-made and timeless — a heavier weight than I expected, but in a good way. I know I’ll wear it for decades. Love it as styled on the website, with white jeans. Dress it up with a paired of striped wedges (<<omg).

+Ralph Lauren Striped Oxford. Have this in countless colors and stripes and have worn these since high school. I still love the look of one of these tucked into a pair of perfect-fit jeans. For more of an oversized, beachy fit/look (think Diane Keaton in any of the Nancy Meyers films), I love Everlane’s linen styles paired with white skinnies. (Or, get the look for less with this steal from H&M).

+Speaking of linen, I am swooning (!) over the cut and color of these Miguelina trousers. HOW CHIC?! I like them paired with a boxy linen tank like this. I’m imagining pairing it with this oversized, dramatic straw tote, which looks a lot like the far more expensive Jacquemus “It” bag.

+This knit dress is timeless and ageless (bonus: your mini can kind of twin with you in this, which is startlingly similar). Buy now and wear literally forever. Even in any season — could be worn with black tights and pumps in the winter for a Chanel look, or with neutral sandals in the summer. This Sandro style is similar (and on sale!) but has some fun grosgrain trim if you want something with a little more of a point of view.

+Striped tee dress. I have a couple of variations on this theme and love them with Supergas or Hermes Orans for an easy-chic daytime look.

+The ric rac trim on this dress!!!! I LOVE. Preppy but on-trend.

+An oversized white shirtdress. Love this with brown leather lace-up sandals and substantive gold jewelry, like this pendant.

+Chunky ribbed striped sweater. I have a couple of thick-knit, open-weave “fisherman”-style sweaters like this that I never tire of.

+A linen shirtdress. Endlessly versatile and nearly universally flattering.

+A simple striped tee or sweatshirt — these are under $20! Perfect for layering under joveralls (these are my favorite) or a khaki utility jacket with your favorite jeans.

+Striped duster. This is what I imagine myself wearing on a trip to the beach, curled up with my morning coffee and a pair of white jeans in a perfect little beach cottage.

+Raffia flats. Wear with everything. These give me Chanel vibes. I’d cut off that charm at the toe though.

+Striped headband. You know I can’t resist.

Aaand — a couple of things for minis and micros: this gingham pinafore, peter pan collar top, seersucker shorts, linen dress, washed canvas sneakers, raincoat.

P.S. Did you get into your first-choice school?

P.P.S. A love letter to Mr. Magpie.

P.P.P.S. Clothing basics every woman needs.

By: Jen Shoop

Almost to the finish line with this pregnancy; I’ll be 35 weeks this Friday. A couple Sundays ago, I found myself reading through some of the archaic poetry in Christina Rosetti’s Singsong collection, and while much of it feels dated and cutesy, this poem stopped me in my tracks:

“You are my one, and I have not another;
  Sleep soft, my darling, my trouble and treasure;
Sleep warm and soft in the arms of your mother,
Dreaming of pretty things, dreaming of pleasure.”

My trouble and treasure. What a perfect, honest way to capture the blend of possessiveness, exhaustion, and exhilaration of parenthood. I remember a dear friend describing motherhood as “a double bind” in the sense that she felt both constrained and hopelessly, tenderly attached as a new mom, especially as she navigated breastfeeding. Her comments represented one of the first times someone had articulated a truth of motherhood that was not purely sunshine and daisies: there was a hard edge to her words that caught me off guard, and for which I was grateful, as I felt better-prepared later on.

I am anxious to have my second trouble and treasure in my arms. Even with the distraction of mini, time seems to have gone slack. How is it possible that I can get any larger? That I still face over a month of waiting? It feels as though I am fully stretched as is; micro’s movements are strenuous and often painful. And as my mom put it: “You’ve reached the full-on waddle phase.” (Also: haven’t I been pregnant for well north of a year at this point…?) And yet we continue…

I have been heeding the advice of loved ones, who have been urging me to soak up my last few weeks as a family of three and indulge in as much self-care as I can manage. I have kept my schedule busy, though not over-packed in an effort to spend a lot of QT with mini. (One thing a day.) I am in bed by 8:30 or 9 most nights, reading and nestled into my oversized pregnancy pillow. I have had hair appointments, nail appointments, massages, many trips to the local bakeries, teas/coffees with girlfriends, long (s-l-o-w) walks with Tilly through Central Park. I’ve had our nanny come a fourth day a week a few times this month so that I have more time to breathe and make it all the way through my to dos for the blog, for micro, for our home, for some philanthropic work I’m trying desperately to expedite prior to micro’s due date — especially when the number of doctor appointments seems to have multiplied, and I feel as though I lose a full day each week just to getting through these final pre-birth preparations.

I am a weather vane of emotion. Some days, I feel ebullient, radiant. Other days, I am a weepy puddle. And still other days — my favorite kind of days — I feel a kind of quiet serenity as I move through my day. I find myself more patient with mini, as I have had to afford myself a wider berth, accepting my own limitations: when you already have to think hard about whether you are going to retrieve the cookie you dropped on the carpet (it’s gotten hard to bend over), you begin to ease up on some of the frustrations of parenting a toddler. “Oh, you helped yourself to a second fistful of M&Ms? Oh. OK.” “What’s that? You just flung every crayon I picked up back over the floor? Well. Guess they’re staying there til Dad comes home.” The tone is somewhere between deflation and forbearance, but I will admit: the low-energy tenor of these days leaves me feeling far more zen than I would have expected.

I had intended to share a list of my maternity must-haves this pregnancy, but when I revisited my post on the topic from mini’s pregnancy, I realized that not much has changed. I made a couple of minor updates to the post so that all of the links work (and to showcase some of my new favorite shoes), but the only additions I would make are as follows:

+Sound machine. I have had trouble sleeping for most of this pregnancy between bathroom breaks and my ceaselessly-turning mind. I have found that keeping a sound machine on has been incredibly helpful in lulling me back to sleep.

+A new bra in a size that actually fits. I absolutely adore this Natori bra and wear one essentially every day. I sized up for pregnancy purposes and am so glad I did.

+Kindle. I don’t know how I lived through my first pregnancy without it. I am in bed early, reading, and it’s so comfortable to read on your side with a Kindle! No pages to turn or get tangled in sheets — and it’s so light! Plus, when I can’t sleep, I lay in bed with the illuminated screen reading for hours.

+Rhodia notebooks for lists and notes. Lists of to dos, lists of aspirations, lists of names, lists of everything that courses through my mind on any given day.

+Stylish hair accessories have been all the rage this season and the last, and I’m so grateful for it, as you’re never to big for a new hair clip, and they update even the most boring of maternity looks. My favorite finds have been pearl hair clips, floral scrunchies, and Lele Sadoughi headbands (I’ve purchased several).

+This enormous LL Bean tote in the XL size, which I had monogrammed with micro’s initials and has become the unceremonious but highly useful holding place for all gifts and purchases for him as I continue to figure out where to stow his belongings. It’s nice to have a designated “holding pen” for his stuff that fits comfortably into one of our closets. I toss his belongings in there until I have found suitable longer-term homes for them.

+My Emu Mayberry slippers. I retired these for a couple months after I split my head open wearing them — I was convinced that they were in part to blame for the accident, as I think the bed of the shoe got stuck under the lip of the rug. But I have found myself wanting to pad around the apartment in them, and I move so darn slow these days, I reason nothing bad can happen. (Anything that affords an ounce of extra comfort…)

+My hospital bag, laying partway open on the floor of our bedroom, welcoming nearly daily additions and removals as I mentally prepare for micro’s birth.

+Old Navy maternity dress. This $20 steal has been CLUTCH. It is as soft as a nightgown and weirdly flattering. I like to dress it up with fun statement flats or a loud pair of earrings.

Post Scripts.

+I still feel this tangle of emotions when I think about micro’s birth and its timing in May. May just feels like the perfect month for him.

+A well-priced shirt for an expecting mom (or nursing mom) — $35, not maternity but generously-cut, and hella chic.

+One of my favorite posts of all time, written while waiting — heart in my throat — for mini.

+OMG these jammies (on sale)! And these, too!

+Just added one of these gingham towels with micro’s name on it to my cart.

+Also thinking of buying him a couple of monogrammed burp cloths…

+After last week’s shoe splurge, mini is all but set in the spring shoe category…but she still needed these.

+Swooning over this cloud-print dress.

+Found some great basics on sale at Petit Bateau for baby boys: basic onesies, a knit cardigan in cheery red, and a three-pack of nautical onesies (somehow marked down so that it’s essentially $5 per onesie?!)

+In love with this bubble for a baby boy.

+The heavily discounted romper I bought from elegant childrenswear line La Stupenderia is still available. Mine just arrived last week and the quality is insane. Perfect for Sunday Mass.

+Ordering these with both (!) my childrens’ names on it!

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