I just added this $20 scalloped cover-up/nightie to my cart! How adorable?! Giving Ciao Lucia vibes. Also added a few sets of these pearl-trim melamine plates for al fresco dining. These were a bestseller among Magpies a few years ago and I never bought a set. I think this year is the year — I feel like it will invite outdoor dinners as soon as the weather warms. Below, some other great Amazon finds for spring…

MELAMINE PLATE // BUNNY CRACKERS // LIP MASK // HAND WASH // MOSS BUNNIES // LOUNGE SET // COSMETIC CASE // MARY JANE // NAPKINS

A few other great finds I’ve flagged and/or added to my cart in the past few weeks —

01. Speckled decorative eggs for the house.

02. I love Caspari napkins! These are perfect for spring decorating.

03. These artificial moss bunnies — whimsical Easter decor. You can see them on my Easter table from my NYC days above! I put them on the table every year.

04. Darling gingham bunny crackers!

05. Floral pajamas for the littles.

06. Incredible Frank and Eileen look-for-less.

07. Travel cosmetic bag — looks so high quality and chic.

08. Favorite lip mask.

09. 5 pack of chip clips.

10. I love these pens for journaling.

11. These are my go-to travel containers! Worth the investment.

12. This Fresh hand and body wash smells amazing — so luxurious.

13. I so recommend this hair mask — it does wonders on color treated hair.

14. How cute is this ruffle nightgown for girls! Obessed.

15. Kids play tent.

16. Dinosaur alarm clock for littles.

17. Kids boat shoes.

18. Little boys Lacoste polo.

19. Le Monde Beryl look-for-less flat for spring!

20. This wicker magazine basket looks so high end.

21. Peter Rabbit sticker book for the littles.

P.S. How do you reset for the week?

P.P.S. Styling the La Ligne Colby Pant.

P.P.P.S. Pastel knits for spring.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

A few weeks ago, I asked: What are your signatures? By this I meant: what are the slender details that serve as synecdoches for you? I’m thinking at this moment of one of my best guy friends, who only writes in green ink. I see a green pen, and I think of him. (Our lives become mosaics of the people we love.)

Below, I’m sharing 11 evocative sets of signatures that Magpie readers shared with me via comments, email, and Instagram. I abridged some of your longer lists to just 3-4 descriptors, but of course a woman contains multitudes and it was difficult to append them. (Read the expanded format of several of the portraits below here.)

As I read these, I was touched by the way these women are obvious experts in themselves and their ways of being — and impressively capable of capturing themselves in haiku form. These feel like the written equivalent of those Victorian-era cameo miniatures: tiny, elegant, hand-carved, portable versions of yourselves.

***

Overalls // a hidden love note // “I think we’re in great shape!”

Two books going at once // extreme extrovert who hates being the center of attention // Mitsouko // can make anyone laugh

Red nails // book as accessory // made bed

Foraging // vintage art // oversized button downs

Water from a 500ml bottle/glass // red passport-sized Moleskine // Ranking obsessive // Being the dog in the relationship i.e. here to be next to you

Well-crafted emails // detailed trip plans // extreme Virgo energy // fresh flowers

Well-done fries // mismatched earrings // outdoor showers

Having a ‘daytime book’ and ‘nighttime book’ // Breton Shirts // metrocards as bookmarks

Big kisser // dinner parties with psychotic precision // “I’ll just make it from scratch”

No earrings or eye makeup ever // remembers everyone’s name // 150 books a year // wordy AF

Striped sweaters // Sancerre // knocking on wood

****

(Share yours, too! Can you keep it to three or four signatures? A poet’s challenge.)

Post-Scripts.

+Another kind of self-portrait: listing the things you love.

+One thing that jumped out at me — probably a quarter or maybe even a third of the portraits you shared included the phrase “has multiple books going at once.” Please tell me more! How do you decide what to read, when? Are they different genres? (Also, what we’re all reading right now here. Loads of fantastic book recs.)

+Are you a book repeater?

+The bad book girl continues her unlearning.

+A winnowing inward. (A love note to Landon.)

+Weird things we love about our significant others.

Shopping Break.

+PSA! This VERY popular Magpie reader top is in stock in all sizes here. (We sold it out on Nordstrom.). I just ordered!

+All my Shopbop hearts (just updated).

+Who else bought the The Row-inspired cage jelly flats? I got them in the pink!

+Another common Magpie reader signature: oversized button-downs. I’m firmly in that camp, too. Have you tried the Frank and Eileen Shirley? I’ve heard this is an excellent oversized style. I own a few F&E button-downs but don’t have this one. (I really love the one that comes in this set — wear it a lot.) By the way, I just got a F&E catalog in the mail with a code: LOVE for 15% off. Not as much of a discount as we’d like, but I’ll take it! (And which are your other favorite oversized button-downs?)

+LOVE this head-to-toe linen look. With a brown leather sandal and tortoise sunnies?! So good.

+Pretty skirt from Target, and I love this high-necked ribbed tank top to pair with it. I actually want it in several colors! The latter reminds me of this striped Sezane tank I wore all last summer. I found the cut very flattering — shows the perfect amount of shoulder. Great to pair with a white or denim skirt.

+Pretty Easter tablecloths here, here, here, here.

+Forever on a quest to replicate salon-quality blowouts at home…I just had a Glamsquad gal come by this morning (this is my new thing, I think: blow out at the top of the week and try to make it stretch as long as possible) and she was raving about this Drybar “curl conditioning styler.” In her words: “They really did the science on that one. I bought several so I wouldn’t run out.” It helps define/maintain curl. I don’t actually curl my hair but I love a bent-under end, and this really helped the bend stay put longer. (Also, little reminder about my Glamsquad codes in case you want to book: $20 off for new users with code JenniferS and $15 off for repeat users with code JenniferS15.

+Hoka running shoes on sale in a great pink color for spring. (More spring fitness finds here.)

+Just added a navy-and-white stripe Kule tee to my closet. I have these in lots of colors. A fun, boxy fit; great everyday tee to add to your collection.

+Reminder that these excellent, high-stretch barrel jeans from Ruti are temporarily $55 off with code SS25. An ideal choice for petites. These are great jeans to live in / work in / write in / sit in. Super comfortable.

+Fun wall decor idea.

+Tortoise shell headband – a forever chic piece.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.

We are all loving this gorgeous spring floral top from FarmRio. We sold it out on Nordstrom, but it’s still in stock at FR. Perfect for pairing with white jeans / white shorts, and making me so excited for spring break in a few weeks. Even if you are not headed somewhere tropical — spring break can be a mindset! Embrace bright colors and airy fabric. On the first few warm days of spring, I love to put on a breezy dress and mix up a margarita. It feels SO good to bounce around the house in bare feet after weeks of socks and slippers and clogs at home.

Anyhow, below, sharing a few “spring break state of mind” finds, whether you’re traveling or just mixing up a marg at home! I wanted to shine a spotlight on this feminine and sexy linen dress by Tove. It reminded me of something Charlotte York might have worn, but with dialed up sauciness.

LEFT ROW: TOVE RAHEL LINEN AND COTTON BLEND MAXI DRESS // RAFFIA BUCKET HAT // HANDWOVEN RAFFIA RECTANGULAR CLUTCH // BRIGITTE MULES

RIGHT ROW: ADELAIDE SCALLOPED EYELET EMBROIDERED JACKET // 1966C RECTANGULAR SUNGLASSES // FOLK FLORAL OFF WHITE SCOOP NECK SHORT SLEEVED BLOUSE

Spring Break State of Mind Styling Ideas.

TOVE RAHEL LINEN AND COTTON BLEND MAXI DRESS // JENNYBIRD GEMMA EARRINGS // HANDWOVEN RAFFIA RECTANGULAR CLUTCH // BRIGITTE MULES // 1966C RECTANGULAR SUNGLASSES (LOOK FOR LESS HERE)

PRINTED BEACH COVER UP // RIBBED KNIT TOP // LAUREL SANDALS // RAFIA MINI BUCKET BAG // OUTTA LOVE SUNGLASSES

FOLK FLORAL OFF WHITE SCOOP NECK // EVERYDAY WIDE LEG LINEN PANT // ALBA BALLET FLATS // T-LOCK LEATHER CLUTCH (LOOK FOR LESS HERE) // JAYA SUNGLASSES (LOOK FOR LESS HERE)

ADELAIDE SCALLOPED EYELET EMBROIDERED JACKET // REN HIGH RISE WIDE LEG // NUBUCK BAG // MUSGRAVE EARRINGS // BALLERINA FLATS

P.S. Styling the la ligne colby pant.

P.P.S. Spring finds for children.

P.P.P.S. My favorite spring jackets.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.

Two boxes of books, in various states of undress:

dogeared, drawn-in, dotted with dust or dirt,

bindings undone,

worn down by wear.

“Who would want these?” I thought, withdrawing one that had come entirely apart at the cloth-bound seams, and another with a disruptive rip down the climax.

Yet Landon and I sat on the floor of our daughter’s room in the late afternoon light, blinking back the beginning of tears, as we handed one another these books that had been the shapes and sounds of our firstling years as parents, had lent color to my children’s earliest ductile imaginations, had molded a shared vernacular for describing the world and its upsets and consolations. This mound of well-loved books: the signaries of our family’s first years; its runes and reliefs.

There will be more stories to share, of course — and the piles in the boxes will forever be our communal referents,

but saying goodbye to these baby books was a rough slough, nonetheless,

a little too close to the heart of things.

*We ended up donating a bunch of books but some were just too sentimental to part ways with, or heirloom-quality. We stowed these upstairs for visiting guests. Some of my children’s iconography, like these muddy yellow Hunter boots both of my children wore, have been stowed away in an upstairs closet, along with precious stuffies that belonged to Mr. Magpie, or that have particular sentimental value to me, like this striped teddy with Hill’s name embroidered on it. It was the first thing I ever bought him, when I was only a few weeks pregnant.

Post-Scripts.

+Some of our favorite bedtime books for our children.

+The toy trolls in the tub.

+Jarred, in a good way.

+On making my way through a really tough relationship moment.

+The reassurance library.

Shopping Break.

+Don’t miss at the Neiman’s 25% off sale: this Staud dress (very flattering); everyone’s favorite Ankle Fray jeans from Mother; and my current favorite pair of weekend jeans: Mother’s Half Pipe Ankle (do not need to be hemmed if you’re a fellow shortie). I own the latter in two washes.

+OMG this SEA dress! It sold out in like 24 hours on Tuckernuck and is only available in a few sizes here and here. Such a great, unexpected dress. Would work with bump!

+These heels are SO fun — and $60! I’m contemplating ordering to wear with this dress for Easter. (Dress is almost sold out; contemplate this similar skirt/shirt set if out of stock in your size!)

+Speaking of white dresses, wore this one out to drinks with girlfriends over the weekend. I find Rixo has the BEST petite-friendly cuts — they just fit my body absolutely perfectly.

+I found a great $59 linen button-down in the best colors. I ordered in the lilac/pink hue. I love the way these look paired with boxer-style shorts and raffia sandals (currently on sale!) for an easy everyday outfit in warmer weather.

+I’ve never owned a Stanley before (gasp) but I saw these were 25% off and ordered one for my desk!

+I have been really loving my laundry products from Dedcool. It started with their limited edition detergent collab with The Ouai (now sold out, but this is their other bestselling detergent fragrance) — I really loved laundering our sheets in a “fancy” scent. Just gives this ultra luxe aura, but not too perfumed. I am now totally hooked on this room and linen spray. It smells DIVINE. I usually spritz over fresh laundry, guest bedding, and any time I feel my children’s rooms are smelling a little…hm. I noticed that they’ve launched some fragrances, too, like Mochi Milk.

+I finished the last of my Biossance Rose/Vitamin C oil (25% off at the moment, FYI!!) and tried this formula from new-to-me brand Dr. Whitney Bowe. I love it. More like a gel and boasts other anti-aging properties. Both it and the Biossance are incredible and highly effective. The Biossance is more like a light oil.

+I used to do my full skincare regimen right when I woke up but then some of you Magpies pointed out that I’m probably sweating off some of the products while exercising…! So now just quickly cleanse my face and put on a light moisturizer when I wake up, and wait until after I work out to run through the whole rigmarole. The only hiccup is that I went running TWICE last week without remembering to put on facial SPF. I remembered both times halfway through the run and it really helped me pick up the pace…yikes! (I always wear a hat but…still!). I decided to put a facial skincare tube right by the door so I no longer forget. Currently testing this one for that purpose, but have been absolutely loving (!) this Korean sunscreen a few Magpies recommended — it’s what I keep in my cosmetics drawer and use daily post-workout. Glides right on, no residue, no white cast.

+Mr. Magpie has been on a major fitness regimen this year; now he’s incorporated strength training into his routine, and I noticed his “gym shoes” were really past their prime. I bought him a pair of these, which I absolutely LOVE for myself. The best gym shoe — good ankle stability.

+Best swimsuit, back in stock for a second (already almost sold out again). Runs TTS. Full coverage but flirty thanks to the v-notch neckline and cut outs. But not TOO flirty. Just right.

+New styles added to Veronica Beard’s 25% off selection. My top picks here. Not included in the sale, but I’ve gotten so much mileage out of this vest. Worn with dark wash jeans as a set, layered over button-downs with trousers, paired with floral dresses!

+Girls’ soccer shoes in fun colors.

+Pam Munson just launched a 30% off sitewide promotion this morning – use code FRIENDS2025; no exclusions! Over the years, I have amassed quite a collection of her gorgeous, high-quality bags. I just added this sweet embroidered clutch to my closet this month; will absolutely be wearing to every spring event, including Easter. I also love this tote (own in a different color) and am eyeing this basket.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.

We are still waiting on spring’s full bloom — the blossoms on our backyard trees are just coming into themselves and the daffodils that line the walkway to our door are up but not open — yet I’m deep into my spring self already. I am wearing too-thin clothes for the still-cold weather, sorting my children’s rooms, re-organizing the medicine cabinet. I find myself wanting to put everything into a bin. Cord bin, shoe bin, especially the donate bin. One thing I learned observing my parents as they downsized from their house in NW DC to their condo in Bethesda: get rid of things periodically. They’ve actually always been good about this, but even with my Dad’s purge mentality, there were still duplicate knife sets they’d never needed, and old clothing my mother had hung onto from her childhood. I find myself applying new rubrics. It’s not just: do I need this / would I realistically use this in the next year, but — would I want to give this to someone in 5, 10, 30 years if I hang onto it? And would it better to give it away now? An excess mini food processor is better to shed today than in 15 years when it’s deprecated. Mainly this leads me to donate a lot of things, which is good.

This springtime urge for more blank space has also led me to re-evaluate my current organization systems. I realized we needed a second drying rack (less expensive option here) for the laundry room — I was forever filling our wall-mounted one and then draping excess items over baskets and on cupboard handles. And our basement storage room had piles of boxes and luggage on one side that often barred full entry to the space. My husband ordered additional storage units that matched the ones we already had in there and — wow. It feels so luxurious to have everything put away, and not heaped on the floor. I discovered that certain beauty items I reach for every day — contacts, these makeup removing wipes, retainer cleaner — were in the back of the cabinet, behind things I don’t use daily. I moved those to the front and decanted into containers to make them easy-to-grab. In the kitchen, I am forever in pursuit of a pair of scissors, a box cutter, and a pen, all items that appear to sprout feet and wander away over the course of a day. I bought extras (and then some) of each and stowed them in a specified bin. I also don’t know how it took me until this week to realize that my process for organizing my clothes and the various items brands send me to test was woefully ineffectual. I had piles of things everywhere. Neat piles, to be fair, but it always felt like I was shuffling small clusters of items from one area to the next without giving them a proper home. (Another surprise of getting older: how much time you spend putting things away.) I devised a new solution, with garment racks on the top floor, and a tiered cart with designated areas for products I want to test, products I want to write about, and products I want to give away. These tiny improvements somehow make me feel like I’ve closed seventy open tabs. The systems suit — even simplify — the work. (How had I not noticed the poor fit prior?)

I also find myself changing my work process–yet again. I am now in the midst of a few bigger projects (stay tuned!) that require chunkier blocks of maker’s time. My previous, more intuitive approach of mainly writing in the morning and mainly doing lighter creative work and admin (like collages, and product reviews, and emails) in the afternoon no longer pencils out. I have to “X” out entire half-days (sometimes full days) to really get into things and make material progress. My adaptability to this shift has surprised me. I guess all that writing and thinking about being fluid, accepting change with grace, and especially the mantra: “Actually, life is beautiful and I do have the time” are paying off. But mainly the work has made clear its demands, and I am dutifully carrying them out.

All of these movements are perfectly suited to springtime anyway. It’s the season to clear out the dead leaves, shed the layers, make room for what’s coming. It’s time to let the fresh in.

Sunday Shopping.

All the items I own or am currently eyeing in this spring headspace:

BEADBOARD DRYING RACK (LOOK FOR LESS HERE) // DRAWER ORGANIZERS // RATTAN TIERED STORAGE // SORBUS CLEAR BINS // BEACHCOMBER BASKET // PASTEL DOCUMENT ENVELOPES //SCISSORS // THE BEST PENS // STACKABLE CLEAR DRAWERS // LUCITE HANGERS // MINI LABEL MAKER // GOLD GARMENT RACK

And! A few other more general shopping bits and bobs:

PATTERNED PANTS AND TOP // RAFFIA BAG // STRAPPY SANDALS // BRODERIE ANGLAISE TOP AND PANTS

+Banana Republic launched a 40% off promo this morning. Use code BRSHIP. Love this top and the matching pants! And this bag and this dress! And so much more.

THE JSH HOME COLLECTION

+Just discovered the most gorgeous collection of home accessories — paper products, pillow covers, candles, and more. I’ll take one of everything.

+I ordered my kids the cutest new bedding — this clamshell motif for my daughter and this alligator motif for my son. All of it is 25% off with code  ROOMREFRESH25.

+I couldn’t resist treating myself to this Bottega-inspired mini clutch! (Compare with the real deal — $9,000 — here.). Will go perfectly with my Julia Amory dress (now available!)

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.

+PORTRAITS OF MOTHERHOOD: My friend Riley Sheehey illustrated the most gorgeous book on motherhood; it launches on the 25th, but you can pre-order here. (And pre-orders are a big deal for authors! A great way to support an author you admire/love.) Each page is like a Delft tile — delicate, charming, and narrative-oriented. I absolutely loved her post on the publication journey, including the mini bottle of champagne she purchased for herself when she signed the contract. It’s so beautiful to see the process behind the product — all the blood, sweat, tears! A well-formed sentence (or well-drawn line) is no accident. My favorite page depicts a mother holding a dandelion for her daughter to “make a wish on.” It felt kismet, as I just finished writing about dandelions, which are extraordinary plants, but commonly considered unwanted weeds. Riley’s portrait of that vignette reminded me that — in addition to being self-propagating, resilient, and medicinal — dandelions carry the wishes of children all over the world. How sweet? Bravo, Riley! I think this book would be a sweet addition to a baby shower gift, or a gift for a new mother, or a gift for your own mother.

+ANOTHER REASON TO EMBRACE THE ADMIN: I wrote recently about my mantra, when it comes to chores, admin, anything that doesn’t feel like “the heart of the matter” — “this, too, is the job.” Meaning: stop resisting, stop dismissing those activities as “filler” or “interruptions” or “extraneous” because they are in fact a big part of the job of running a home, being a mother, participating in a workplace. Anyway – I was just thinking this week that a lot of these repetitive tasks, like folding laundry and putting away groceries, even running to some extent, are frequent sites of creativity for me. It’s like I’m focusing my lens on one specific detail, and this rich tapestry of thought is forming almost without me knowing it in the bokeh. (How many of you have also come up with a great idea while in the shower?) Just another reason to accept, even embrace, those tasks. A lot comes out in the wash, you know?

+A PANT TO WORK IN: OK, these $59 pants are beyond incredible. I wore them all day to write in and they have such a great amount of stretch — sit and move with you so well — but look very polished at the same time. I dressed them up below to demonstrate how great they’d be for a meeting / in a work environment. The color is a fun switch-up from black/navy but reads like a neutral. They’re $59…! Lots more colors available. I got them in the pale spinach hue. Run TTS. Styled with a SoldOut NYC button down (they make THE BEST SHIRTING — it’s so luxe in handfeel and silhouette; could pass for Oscar or Ralph prestige labels! Use my code MAGPIE15 for 15% off; all my favorites from that brand here) and my beloved Veronica Beard denim vest, which I’ve worn sooo many different ways already.

+TIMOTHEE CHALAMET SPEAKING FRENCH: IDK who needs to see this, but here is Timothee Chalamet being charming in French. And, I shared this via my newsletter yesterday (sign up here!), but this video of a man reviewing his family’s “performance” shopping at Target made me laugh out loud. (“We’ll review the footage, we’ll get better, and we’ll move on from there” — lol.)

+BESTSELLERS: This dress, again! A bestseller for a reason.

01. BEST POLISHED DAYTIME DRESS FOR ANYTHING // 02. CHICEST REVERSIBLE QUILTED PULLOVER (UNDER $30) // 03. TARGET MESH FLAT // 04. FRANK AND EILEEN LOOK-FOR-LESS SET // 05. MY FAV GRAY BAG // 06. FARM RIO TOP (WE SOLD OUT THE ONE AT NORDSTROM BUT MORE HERE AND HERE) // 07. TRUE BOTANICALS BRONZEWELL DROPS (OBSESSED) // 08. MOTHER WHITE JEANS // 09. MINI RAFFIA BAG // 10. YELLOW MARY JANES (IN MY CLOSET TOO) // 11. GAP CRINKLE SHORTS // 12. GORGEOUS POINTELLE CARDI (ALSO IN MY CLOSET)

+WELCOME INCONVENIENCE #194: I wrote not long ago about “welcome inconveniences” — things that, on the surface, feel like frustrations but turn out to be gifts, or proof of effort, or evidence of love. I just discovered this week that five keys on my keyboard have completely lost their lettering. I happened to be glancing down for the letter “A,” and it was nowhere to be seen. I’d run the letters blank. It felt like an invisible milestone; how many thousands of times have I hit the keys A, S, E, R, and T over the past many years? This keyboard has born witness to each keystroke that has brought me to where I am now.

+EYEING + BUYING: I love this pretty top and the matching shorts — I’m all about the sets right now. Would be such a cute late spring look with leather sandals.

HHH ANNETTE TOP // HHH AUDREY SHORTS // FREDA SALVADOR CLEAR FISHERMEN SANDALS // AMAZON BAG // ALPYN BARRIER REPAIR CREAM // SELF PORTRAIT DRESS // MANGO BLAZER

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

The Jacket Makes the Look.

One of those days where I felt uninspired, so I just took out all my favorite things to wear, paired them together, and finished with a great jacket. This quilted coat seems to go with and over everything — loose fit accommodates puffy/bulky sleeves, dressy enough to pair with a dress or fancier look but elevates jeans and a tee, warm enough for this in-between weather. And of course the dramatic collar makes it.

LOEFFLER RANDALL BARRETT COAT // MOTHER HALF-PIPE ANKLE JEANS // SOLD OUT NYC BROWN TEE // QUINCE CASHMERE STRUCTURED CARDIGAN // ELLEME BAG // FREDA SALVADOR FLATS

An Easy, Bold Caftan.

I absolutely love the fit and detail on this Julia Amory caftan. The colorway is old but there are new options available now (use code JEN-15); LOVE this brand-new (just launched this week) patterned lilac option. Can be worn belted or unbelted — so comfortable and so chic. I was stopped so many times while wearing this on St. Patrick’s Day!

JULIA AMORY COATUE CAFTAN // QUINCE MULES (SOLD OUT; SIMILAR HERE AND UPGRADE PICK HERE) // DANS LA MAIN TOTE

Another Great Pair of Jeans for Petites.

I’ve been sharing lots of great petite-friendly styles lately; these Mother Ankle-length half-pipes are another fab buy. I’m 5’0 and they required no tailoring. They are a bit more rigid than the Rutis (Rutis are like level 10 comfort – so, so stretchy; let’s call them “airplane jeans”) but I was still able to do an entire day of work in them at my desk, and I feel like they sort of hold you in / suck you in. The sneakers made this whole vibe work; they are from Larroude but very Miu Miu.

You may also notice that in most of the photos in this post, I’m wearing a new long-length charm necklace (26″) from Hart. I had so much fun picking out the charms and kind of want to add a few extras. The exact charms I have are here. It has been such a conversation-starter this week! I’ve been asked about it at least three times!

SOLD OUT NYC TEE // MOTHER HALF PIPE JEANS // LARROUDE SNEAKERS // ALTUZARRA TOTE // HART CHARM NECKLACE (WITH PIG, LETTER, AND “LET IT GO” COIN)

Chic Two-Piece Set for Dinner with My Parents.

We ate at Opal in Chevy Chase and it was a gorgeous, warm spring night. I wore this two-piece set (top, skirt) from Julia Amory, which felt polished but playful. I feel like this would be a brilliant thing to pack for a vacation, because you could pair the top with white shorts or jeans, and the skirt with a simple white tank or a white button-down for a completely different look — three different vibes with one set. You can’t really see the necklace, but it’s SUCH a great statement, from Lizzie Fortunato. When I sat down, my mom said, “Gosh, I wish you would have paired your necklace to your outfit a little better.” (Ha!). They looked MADE for each other. I layered it over this fun heart pendant from Mignonne Gavigan. Maximalism in full force!

JULIA AMORY SKIRT // JULIA AMORY TOP // LIZZIE FORTUNATO NECKLACE // MIGNONNE GAVIGAN HEART PENDANT // J. CREW TOTE // NOT SEEN, BUT WORN: THE BEST PLATFORM SANDALS

Classic White Oxford Dress.

My inner prep couldn’t resist this fab white oxford shirtdress. I was really pleased with the fit. Some of the Untuckit styles are a bit boxy on me, but this one was really beautifully tailored — felt/fit more like a Veronica Beard to me. I think my code JEN20 should still work, making this a GREAT, versatile everyday dress. I swapped out the fabric belt it came with for this Aureum because I was going to a meeting and wanted to feel a bit more polished, but you could definitely style more casually or even without any belt. I ended up wearing a bright Hermes scarf with this but was in a rush so didn’t grab a picture of it!

UNTUCKIT OXFORD DRESS // CELINE SUNGLASSES // CUYANA BAG // AUREUM BELT (20% OFF WITH JENS20) // HART CHARM NECKLACE AND CHARMS // DORSEY HEART ID NECKLACE

What to Wear While Sorting My Children’s Rooms.

I went for comfort — my beloved Alice-Walk sweater (like a hug!) — and it was chilly out while we cleaned out my children’s bedrooms.

ALICE WALK WEEKENDER SWEATER // J. CREW POINTELLE HENLEY // MOTHER JEANS // ROTHY CLOGS

Two Fun Statement Tops for Spring.

Wore these on two separate days, but managed to totally forget to capture the outfits in any greater detail! Both of these are really fun but easy to wear with white jeans, and both of them are reasonably priced. The gingham is $54. Runs small – I took a 0 but wish I’d taken a 2.

FEW MODA GINGHAM TOP

TUCKERNUCK TOP

What to Wear for Car Travel + Spa Day.

My mom and I both showed up for our little one-night getaway wearing Frank and Eileen! Polished, comfortable, elevated athleisure. This is my set, but this $49 look for less from Amazon has gotten the Magpie reader stamp of approval. Many of you have written to rave about it. I was also wearing my new oversized Cuyana tote, which turns out to be a fantastic travel day bag. It fits a TON.

FRANK AND EILEEN SET (LOOK FOR LESS HERE) // CUYANA TOTE (WHICH I USED AS MY TRAVEL CARRY-ALL AND FOLDED UP MY GOYARD FOR ACTUALLY GOING TO/FROM SPA) // ADIDAS SAMBAS

Perfect Shirtdress.

I’ve shared this a lot this week, but it really was a 10/10. Will be wearing a lot. I love the fluidity of the skirt — it just glides and moves!

TUCKERNUCK DRESS // FREDA SALVADOR FLATS // VERONICA BEARD CLUTCH

Soon to Arrive Julia Amory Dress.

It was a Julia Amory week, I guess! And I feel bad sharing this one today because it doesn’t launch until tomorrow and I feel like it’s going to sell out quickly. This is her Betty dress silhouette — my second or third pattern in this style. Comes in a great, heavy-weight cotton (like, surprisingly heavy) and I love the dramatic length.

JULIA AMORY BETTY DRESS (MY EXACT PRINT LAUNCHING TOMORROW) // ALTUZARRA TOTE // MADEWELL MARY JANES // MIGNONNE GAVIGAN NECKLACE (OLD) // DANA REBECCA NECKLACE // DORSEY HEART ID NECKLACE

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I finished Pat Barker’s The Silence of the Girls and it made me think a lot – as mythology and its representations are meant to do – about the underlying shapes of things. The archetypes of heroism; the fundamentals of conflict. I also went on two four-mile runs this week, my first time back on the road in ages. Both days, I ran through the morning lightly, fleet of foot — I was so happy to be moving in the spring air — and I noticed dozens of parents walking their children to school, or standing at the curb or sitting on the stoop, waiting for buses to arrive. I overheard many quiet, routine tendernesses: last-minute reminders, final hugs, laughter. The shuffling of bangs out of faces, and wiping of breakfast crumbs off of cheeks. Inchoate promises: “Maybe after school…” It struck me that all over the world, parents are engaged in this exact and unremarkable daily send-off: these same closing ministrations before the fledglings fly out into the world. What I really saw was the familiar daily devotion each of us accomplishes in her own lane, not knowing she is part of an enormous pattern of women expressing their love in unknowing synchrony with one another. What an incredible thing, to be a part of that tapestry of love.

Another underlying shape: the undulating wave of the morning send-off. Which made me think, too, of this one painting by Pablo Picasso called “Femme et Enfant” — and how rich the tradition of motherhood portraiture has been over the ages, from the Madonna-and-Childs of the Medieval period through the cubists, and beyond. Across the decades, you see a lineage there, a continuity in form. You look at the Picasso painting, as abstract as it is, and you just know you’re looking at a mother and her baby, those cosseting arms, and yet it is expressed differently.

What are the underlying shapes of my motherhood, I wonder? The things I feel for, the elements that jump out at me, or that I cozy up against?

Post-Scripts.

+Love waits, doesn’t it?

+The most romantic movie scene.

+A playlist for a lowkey romantic night.

+Make this cocktail this weekend!

+A visual aubade to spring.

Shopping Break.

+What us Magpies are reading right now here. I am just settling into The Berry Pickers but what I really feel like reading is this one, which so many of you are reading ATM!

+Just updated my Shopbop hearts. In the process, I ordered this skirt and the matching top!

+Very popular among Magpie shoppers the past few days: this mini raffia bag! I believe it’s still 25% off! If you’re looking to make a bigger investment in this style of bag, you might consider this Gucci or this Tods.

+This tweed top is SO good, and $59. It reminds me of the shape of that chic Julia Amory top.

+My Ciao Lucia dress just arrived and is so darling. I found a great look for less here!

+I’ve been living in my Varley pieces this spring (see me in two of my favorite Varley pieces here, with all my picks linked below).

ROSELLE FLEECE // SLIM CUFF PANTS // CELESTE SWEATSHIRT CARDIGAN // OLLIE SHORTS

+Goop just restocked its wildly popular hydra-barrier lip gloss. (It was sold out for awhile.) Use code SHOOP15 for 15% off.

+Just got these glossy gold earrings in — I feel like they’ll be my new everyday go-to.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

I’m always in need of an “in between” shoe for spring. You know, not quite a sandal but not quite a structured ballet flat or loafer. I have been loving the mesh flats and jellies microtrend — popular last season and even more widespread this one. What a playful way to welcome spring and have fun with fashion, while indulging in some 90s nostalgia. I’m ordering a pair of these $50 The Row-inspired flats, and will be bringing out my Staud Alba flats from last season — elegant yet sweet and casual at the same time (seen above and below!). These $35 Target Mary Janes (a Magpie reader bestseller) achieve a similar look.

How I’ve Worn the Staud Alba Flat.

Flats and Jellies for Spring: Street Style Inspiration.

Below, inspo to demonstrate the playful chicness of this trend! I love the way a colorful mesh flat looks with a simple color scheme.

ALBA BALLET FLATS CREAM CROCHET // RAFFIA ALBA BALLET FLATS // ALBA BALLET FLATS RED NETTING // MARLOW JELLY FLATS // BRIT BALLET FLAT IVORY CROCHET // JAMIE JELLZ SLIP ON BALLET FLAT // IVORY NOLITA FLATS // LUNA MESH BALLERINA FLATS // LANDON MESH BALLET FLAT // LEATHER TRIMMED FISHNET BALLET // SPIRE WOVEN MARY JANE // BALLA MESH BALLET FLAT // RAFFIA BALLET FLAT // SWAN LAKE MESH FLATS

Styling Inspo: Mesh and Jelly Flats.

KEARNEY TEE WITH CONTRAST PIPING (LOOK FOR LESS HERE) // SUPERWIDE-LEG JEANS // ALBA BALLET FLATS // DASH CLUTCH // BABY KNOT EARRINGS

BLUE AND WHITE CORINNE STRIPE DRESS // AESTHER EKME SMALL SUEDE SHOULDER BAG // LANDON MESH BALLET FLATS // THE CASHMERE CREWNECK SWEATER (LOOK FOR LESS HERE) // HEART AND SOUL EARRINGS

STAUD ROCKI SHELL SWEATER // RIO SHORT DUSTY CITRON (LOOK FOR LESS HERE) // CREAM AND NATURAL LAN BAG // SELENE SASHA SUNGLASSES // MINI FLORENCE EARRINGS // BRIT BALLET FLAT IVORY CROCHET

LOW SLUNG BAGGY JEANS // PIMA COTTON T-SHIRT (LOOK FOR LESS HERE) // CASHMERE CARDIGAN // THE ARDEN TOTE // KAI BIO BASED SUNGLASSES // JAMIE JELLZ SLIP ON BALLET FLAT // DEMI FINE PUFFY HOOP EARRINGS

P.S. My favorite spring jackets.

P.P.S. Spring finds for children.

P.P.P.S. A visual aubade to spring.

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A few items I’m really excited to wear in the coming weeks:

+This party-ready Aligne top. It honestly reminded me of that viral poem by Lindsay Rush, “She’s a Bit Much.” Have you read it? (“You mean like a bonus fry in the bottom of the bag?”)

+This Tuckernuck patterned blouse, which I’ve already worn. Makes me feel like I’m on vacation.

+This new Julia Amory husband shirt (15% off with JEN-15) — my favorite thing to wear over a bathing suit in the summer (ultra light and airy), but I also love to wear with white jeans. This is already selling out in select sizes, FYI.

+This pale pink Ciao Lucia number. I couldn’t resist the color and shape.

+This white lace caftan dress. Love the idea of dressing up with heels and a little woven clutch or dressing down with flat leather sandals and a ponytail.

Items that are more in the everyday wear category that also make me very excited below. Whenever I’m in a fashion rut, I go to my closet and pick out all my absolute favorite basics and layer them on top of one another. A few of my most-worn hero pieces, all of which play nicely together, and each of which I reach for, week in and week out, and each of which continues to delight me with details, fit, style:

+Sold Out NYC tees. I have almost all the colors, and two in white. The silkiest hand-feel, opaque, sufficiently thin that you can tuck without bulk, a “fashion-y” silhouette. (15% off with magpie15.)

+This Quince cardigan,* my La Ligne sweaters (especially Mini Marins), and Alice Walk knitwear (although I find these are more casual / comfort-wear for me).

+My Celine tortoise sunglasses.

+Barrel jeans — Madewell’s Darted pair, Mother’s Half-Pipe ankles, and Ruti. All very petite friendly. The Ruti pair have the most stretch.

+This statement jacket from Loeffler Randall.

+My Hart charm necklace. (Exact charms I have here.)

+Doen Sebastiane skirt.

+These Freda Salvador flats. The squared toe feels contemporary, and silver is unexpected?

*Note that Quince is running a very rare one-day sale today only, with 88 items discounted (discount appears in cart). It’s a little confusing but they sent me a list of all the items included and I narrowed it down to (in my opinion) the best picks:

01. These Birk-like suede clogs ($10 off). I have these and the Birk Bostons and honest to God prefer these. They are much more comfortable in the footbed / have more support or cushion or something. They run a bit wider than Birks.

02. These lightweight cashmere crewnecks ($10 off) in great colors. A fantastic wardrobe staple. Tuck into white/ecru denim for an easy transitional look.

03. Distressed denim shirt (20% off). Another great staple. I love this layered over a silky dress or paired with white or brown denim.

04. More of an investment, but this cashmere puffer vest is $50 off, and looks a lot like Loro Piana.

P.S. Our lives become mosaics of the people we love.

P.P.S. Not to be morbid, but what would your last meal be?

P.P.P.S. Permutations of love.

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Easter basket fillers collage

JUMP ROPE // SUGARFINA CANDIES // BASKET // PAJAMAS // CROCS // MELAMINE PLATE // PLASTIC EGGS

As we await the joy of Easter, I’ve pulled together some of my favorite Easter basket fillers for children, including these pajamas I ordered for my children.

01. Fun tokens for an egg hunt. I’ve used these for a few years — be sure to sort through them and pluck out the ones that aren’t feasible / seem a bit too much!

02. Darling pajamas as seen above.

03. Absolutely love this scalloped Easter basket!

04. Spring sticker book.

05. This egg hunt kit with healthier snacks inside.

06. Wish I could buy this floral vest for myself!

07. How fun is this $9 jump rope?!

08. A Maileg rabbit is the perfect basket filler.

09. Springy mess-free painting book.

10. Personalized toile plates.

11. Melamine Easter plates on clearance here and here.

12. Spring Squishmallows!

13. This Lego set would be perfect for my son.

14. Wooden bead kit.

15. Coloring art cards!

16. Printed plastic eggs.

17. An alternative book option.

18. I love the idea of a card game as a basket filler — see our family favorites here.

19. Sugarfina assorted candies.

20. Another basket option! I’m obsessed with the woven ears.

21. Easter puzzle.

22. I love this idea — kid’s gardening tools so they can help Mr. Magpie in the garden.

23. Kid’s floral crocs.

P.S. March is a good month for change.

P.P.S. Favorite spring jackets.

P.P.P.S. More spring finds for children.

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Spring fitness finds collage

BEST GYM SHOES EVER (ON MY SECOND PAIR) // FAVORITE INEXPENSIVE CREW SOCKS // OPEN EARBUDS // SWEATSHIRT // WATER BOTTLE // YELLOW RUNNING SHOES // 5LB WEIGHT

I’ve been in a determined fitness groove this year, and so has Mr. Magpie. At the beginning of the year, my goal was to move my body for at least 20 minutes each day, with three longer, higher intensity sessions per week. Over time, my target has evolved to working out more days than I don’t each month. I do try to exercise every day but sometimes it’s just not feasible — illness, travel, work commitments, schedule changes, fatigue (!), etc. — and so having the modified objective of working out at least 1/2 and usually closer to 2/3 of the days of the month feels right for right now. I track this by using a little square desk calendar to cross off the days I’ve exercised; mine is from Appointed but sadly sold out. You can find something similar here.

What this usually looks like is 20-25 minutes of Heather Robertson (available for free on YouTube) or Physique57 (I pay a monthly subscription for video access) 4-5 mornings each week, and then 2-3 of those days, I add on a 20-30 minute cardio session (usually on the stationery bike, but about to reincorporate street running and trail running into my routine now that it’s getting warmer). I can feel myself getting stronger — better able to hold poses and complete sets, leveling up in weights — which is reassuring, especially during this perimenopause phase where sometimes I feel alien in my own body. Has anyone else been feeling this way? My doctor explained all these changes so I knew to anticipate them, and I am trying to give myself and my body grace, but it can feel bewildering and even frustrating. What’s always worked in terms of keeping my body toned no longer seems to matter! Ah well. Onward…

ABOVE: ALICE WALK SWEATSHIRT // FREE PEOPLE BRA // VUORI ENERGY TANK // LULULEMON BRA // TAKEYA SPORT BOTTLE // TARGET SOCKS

ABOVE: FREE PEOPLE SHORTS // ALICE WALK SWEATSHIRT // VUORI TEE

In addition to the quote “move the dirt,” one of my favorite ways to keep myself motivated: with fresh fitness gear. Below, some of my favorite fitness discoveries for spring exercise:

01. My favorite workout tanks: the Energy Top from Vuori and a good look-for-less here.

02. This Beyond Yoga spacedye bra with matching leggings.

03. FP peachy leggings and matching bra.

04. A classic cropped sweatshirt.

05. Vuori lightweight tee.

06. I see these FP shorts all over social media!

07. Lululemon classic light support bra.

08. Butter yellow running shoes. Obsessed!

09. Old Navy longline sports bra for a great price. Comes in so many colors too!

10. I love the entire Align collection from Lululemon, including these 6″ shorts.

11. This half zip is $25 right now. Limited sizes left!

12. Another running shoe option.

13. Target floral sports bra — perfect for spring!

14. 5lb dumbbells.

15. Amazon weighted vest for $30.

16. I’m a big fan of the Owala water bottles.

17. The perfect workout/running earbuds.

18. I want to wear this sweatshirt over everything! So comfortable yet chic.

19. Running crew socks.

20. Another great FP bra/tank.

P.S. On progress and realizing you’ve changed.

P.P.S. Chic totes for spring.

P.P.P.S. Everyday sweaters.