This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation. Above: my son enjoying a picnic lunch on the Weezie x Katie Ridder picnic blanket.
I just placed a big order for my children at Minnow. We’re going to a casual Derby party with them on Saturday and I thought this terry shorts and polo set would be cute for my son, and either this terry set or this terry dress would be perfect for my girl (I’ll let her pick which she’d prefer). Regardless of what they pick, I know all of these items will be heavily worn this summer. I’d also been eyeing these pink stripe boardies for weeks and added them to the order. Honestly, I wanted one of everything for my kids this summer! They have the best patterns, fabrics, and wearable pieces — they somehow please both my children and
My son is beginning to read! Such an exciting time. He loves when I point to a word while I’m reading to him at bedtime and invite him to sound it out. I usually pick three or four letter words that are easy to sound out phonetically, and he nails them and beams with pride! I placed a big order of first reader books for him — some Mercer Mayer, some of these award-winning fox books, some of the Biscuit series, and a box set of Pete the Cat. Last night, I went into his room after his lights were out to replace his water bottle with a fresh one, and he had two of them laid on his pillow, and was sitting there sounding out the words in one. He looked up at me in alarm, knowing it was “past his bedtime.” Of course I reassured him he can and should read! I was ecstatic. How special to welcome someone I love into my favorite lifetime hobby. I immediately ordered him one of these little book lights, which my daughter also has and uses heavily each night before bed. They are rechargeable and easy to use but difficult to break. I like that this enables them to read a bit before bed without running the risk of falling asleep with the overhead lights on, or needing to rouse to get out of bed and switch them off.
(By the way, my favorite bedtime books here, and great books for early readers here.)
I feel like I mention this every few weeks and then make no decisions/progress, but we’re still planning to order some furniture for my children’s rooms. They currently have a hodge podge of pieces we’ve inherited or bought for different rooms that don’t necessarily go together but get the job done. It’s been totally fine for the past few years but I’d love to replace or upgrade some of their pieces. My daughter specifically needs a desk now that she has nightly homework. She often does it downstairs, which I like, too, as we can keep an eye on her work and be present for questions, but I know it’d be nice for her to have a dedicated space. I like this one (I would probably replace the knobs with something else), this one, and this one. I’m interested in something simple that won’t look too babyish as she grows up. I also found this cute lamp for her dresser, and think this linen side table in sage or cream would be cute. I also keep coming back to this spindle bed for my son’s room. I love the look!
Switching gears, my daughter’s little sports outfit from Azarhia arrived (I got her some of these Lilly Pulitzer-esque shorts and a tank) and she lost her mind with excitement and has promptly worn it three days in a row. How cute are these bow shorts, these rose shorts, and this skort?!
Last but not least, mentioned this in passing elsewhere, but Macy’s is currently offering 30% off RL classics for kids, including their iconic oxfords (I ordered in the stripe and the white), polos (in good colors!), and twill shorts. My son has worn these items heavily in his five years! Great time to get them on sale. And for the itty bitty kids: these cable-knit cardigans are such a great staple, and make a great baby gift, too. You always need a cardigan!
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation. Images via Sancia and Dominique Nurtch.
So many of you loved the first installment of this series featuring lesser-known brands or unexpected hidden gems you won’t see on anyone else that I’m bringing it back this week. Guaranteed to fetch comments and separate you from the crowd!
01. I’m swooning over pieces from new-to-me Australian label Sancia. This striped linen dress is under $200 and perfectly chic. Also comes in a cute shorts/top duo, styled perfectly by Dominique Nurtsch above and below. Also love this knit polo dress.
02. Zara’s always a good spot for double takes and “is that The Row or…?” moments, and I love this crochet cover-up situation. The colors are weird in the best way.
03. These tweedy takes on a Teva are so fun. Pair with a voluminous white dress or caftan for max effect.
05. If you’re one of my more minimalist girlies (you’re drawn to Khaite, The Row, Toteme, etc), you are going to freak out over Rue Sophie. This jacket, these pleated shorts! The prices are reasonable given the high-end minimalism of the aesthetic. I’m personally drawn to their simple and elegant dresses in black and white: this, this.
07. The eyelet cover-ups from Nantucket-based brand Cartolina are gorgeous. (See also this one!). They also have dresses with fabulous details, like this embroidered linen mini.
08. OK, these do have a label and they are a high end designer, but I find them so fun and unexpected. I haven’t seen anyone wear anything like this! These Havaianas have a similar vibe for under $100.
09. Absolutely everything from Spanish brand Andion, but especially this dress and this one.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.
A list of my essential tops —
01. Leset Margo tee. My most-worn white tee. It’s a thick cotton that holds its shape well (not thin/drape-y) and I really like how it looks paired with jeans. I own this in multiples! I take an XS in this — has a boxy, loose fit.
02. Uniqlo U-Neck Tee. My favorite inexpensive white tee. The thick collar and substantive material make it look more expensive than it is. The material is thicker than the Margo, so I tend to avoid if I’m tucking into a skirt to avoid bunching. I take an XS in this — runs a tad slim/snug so size up if in question. I tried the COS tee that many people rave about in the same breath as Uniqlo and found it very cropped — even on me, and I’m petite (5’0!). I can barely tuck this into my pants. The style is similar, though: polished, with a heavy weight and a wide collar. I would vote for the Uniqlo, though! You can buy three of them for the price of one COS and they’re virtually identical in quality IMO.
03. J. Crew Essential Tee. These are a much thinner weight/handfeel than the Leset and Uniqlo — almost a burnout quality — so great if I’m pairing with something snug at the waist. They look more casual and dressed-down than the Leset/Uniqlo.
04. Xirena Lark Gauze Button-Down (seen above, paired with these pants — more sizes here). Sadly nearly sold out (a few more sizes here), but this is my go-to for tucking into white jeans/jeans when I want to look a little more put-together than with just a tee. The fabric is so plush and soft — only gets better with every laundering. Heaven on the skin. Runs TTS. Gap has a similar style available for only $50.
05. Frank and Eileen Patrick Popover. A Magpie described this as “young Diane Keaton mom vibes” and she’s spot on — it has that casual-but-polished Saturday morning feel. I love this as a top layer over a Beyond Yoga tank / legging situation, or thrown on with jeans and Birks for every day life. It’s a loose/boxy fit with a dropped shoulder seam that gives it a “borrowed from the boys” or “old rugby shirt” vibe, but the sleeves taper in beneath the elbow for a flatteringly fitted look at the wrist. Take your true size.
06. Vuori Energy Top. For walks with girlfriends / hikes, paired with leggings or shorts. This has a great boxy, slightly cropped fit that looks perfect with high-waist leggings.
07. SoldOut NYC Everything Shirt. Quality is insane relative to price — has a fabulous sheen to the fabric. Runs very oversized, but intentionally so. I like this untucked and paired with jeans and flats.
08. SoldOut Scoop Tank. Perfect for pairing with skirts. Has a tight weave to it that sort of holds you in.
09. Leset Kelly Tee. Very form-fitting. I call this my “Jennifer Aniston” top. It looks like exactly what she’d wear tucked into cargo pants circa 2002. I like this when wearing a maxi/midi skirt. Runs snug — I took and XS and it’s very fitted. You might consider sizing up in this style. Madewell has a style that is very similar that I also own and swap in/out with the Kelly — and it’s 1/3 the price.
10. Leset Pointelle Short Sleeve and Long Sleeved Tees. I lived in these all winter! So cozy and comfortable, and I like the texture contrast and vintage-feel neckline beneath a cardigan.
11. Lacoste Polo. I’ve worn these forever! I actually purchased several while living abroad in France that I still wear. I wear them less in my daily wardrobe now but still wear when golfing!
The good news is that your child is there before you,
and your arms are available.
-Thich Nhat Hanh
I wrote: “We don’t trumpet the small and trivial wonders of everyday living because of their ordinariness–because they are grout rather than tile. It is the work of a grateful heart to rename these things.”
About a decade ago, I realized that happiness is not a static condition, and that expecting otherwise is a recipe for disappointment. I’ve described it elsewhere as follows: “I am not a particle that toggles between bands of “happiness” and “unhappiness” and stays put. I experience happiness in small bursts, usually at the hands of something wildly trivial, like the lay of sun on our back porch at four o’clock in the afternoon, the sight of my son’s pudgy, still-babyish fingers on my dress, Mr. Magpie carrying a handful of raspberries in from the garden in the morning, the smell of coffee at the beginning of a slow weekend morning.” I was talking about this on Instagram in the context of small things that had sparked joy in the previous 24 hours, and I asked Magpies to share a “sliver of joy” from the past day, and the replies were universally uplifting.
Today, I’m taking the imperative of publishing good news literally. I’m sharing some of the these slivers of joy from the Magpie community. They build a beautiful mosaic of grateful hearts “renaming the little things”:
“Video from my 10 year old autistic son’s teacher of him playing happily with peers.”
“Reading a book on the lawn with my girl.”
“A FaceTime call from my son in college…love seeing his face.”
“Getting in bed at 8:45. Sleeping until 8 am.”
“Gorgeous sunny walk with my coworker along the East River.”
“My 12 year old son with a developmental disability packing his own lunch.”
“My constantly-on-the-move 14-month-old son taking a beat and snuggling with me this morning.”
“My baby clapping.”
“Returning home.”
“I woke up to birds chirping this morning.”
“I’m five weeks pregnant today.”
“Eating the granola my mom makes and flies out to me or sends home with me every time I visit.”
“My 18 month old saying unprompted ‘I love mama.'”
“Sitting in direct sunlight while my tea brewed.”
“Sharing a Passover book with my infant son, even though he’s too young to understand it.”
What other good news can we publish today, whether literally (feel free to share yours in the comments!) or figuratively (leaning forward to appreciate something small and wonderful from your everyday life)?
Post-Scripts.
+”I now believe that a woman of substance is someone so at ease with herself, she can give herself to others without self-diminishment or self-projection. She can be happy for friends, and sad for them, too, without losing anything of herself. She can listen without interjecting her own story; she can marvel without battling jealousy; she can endure unkindnesses without questioning herself. She does not need the last word, the biggest laugh, the adulation, the apology: she is full without the feedback. She stands still in her center.” More on this here.
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+The colors in this dress are joyful! Reminds me of a CeliaB, but under $200.
+PSA that Macy’s is offering 30% off RL polos and oxfords. I just stocked up for my son. I love the classic blue and white oxford stripe and bought him the next size up in that as well as a standard white oxford, and the polo in pale pink.
+J. McLaughlin has some amazing handbags out right now — this one reminds me of Marni, and this one reminds me of Ulla J. Love the blue!
+Speaking of swim, the athletic wear brand Left on Friday just sent me a few of their swimsuits to try for summer! I can’t wait to wear. They have really fun mix-and-match tops and bottoms in great colors.
+Cara Cara has the most gorgeous new arrivals. This dress! And this one! The florals are so spectacular!
+It’s a bit of an eye sore, but this toy is a guaranteed hit with children.
+Has anyone tried Fair Harbor’s athletic wear? I think I might order these in the sailing stripe. I need some more all-purpose fitness shorts (not just for running) as we will be hiking quite a bit this summer.
+A chic, on-trend wedge sandal at a reasonable price.
+My son requested red sneakers — he’s worn his NBs into the ground! — and I ordered him these. When I showed him the picture online, he was so excited, he ran around the house showing his sister, Mr. Magpie, and the nanny what they looked like!
By: Jen Shoop
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At dinner this week, one of my girlfriends, a successful consultant with her own practice, talked about how she felt for a long time that she didn’t really know what she was doing when it came to the business side of her business — as in, she was a subject matter expert and felt confident in her domain expertise, but she didn’t know what to charge, how to package her services, how to find new customers. “Throw enough mud at the wall, and something sticks,” she concluded. It was so true, and raw, and — in my experience — what entrepreneurship is. A gradual right-sizing. A process of putting out one version, then collecting feedback, then releasing version 2.0, whether you’re working on a product feature, a menu of services, a price point, even a sales pitch. The groundlessness of this pursuit is challenging. You must get comfortable with constant evolution.
I’ve been thinking about the concept of right-sizing all week. It’s human to want to get to the finish line now, to achieve stability, to level up. But a lot of life is trying on new things, stretching them out, finding them too constricting, moving from little snail house to little snail house. And it’s often in a zig-zag: one step forward, two steps back, then a jag to the left. Life is movement. Life is adjustment. A single phone call can rearrange a day, a week, a life! Meanwhile, my children change clothing sizes and cultivate new skills by the month. (A Magpie recently wrote: “Your children are never going to be as young as they are today.” (!!)) And each phase of motherhood has demanded a new version of me. I am continuously reshaping myself as I learn and adapt to new needs. I think often of the children’s book The Runaway Bunny. It is as much about the constancy of a mother’s love as it is about the way motherhood demands that we take on new forms as we look after our children. We become the clouds, the fishermen, the mountain-climber, the gardener, the tree that our children come home to. The through-line is: no matter how far and fast you run, I will shape-shift to meet you where you are.
I’ve been listening on and off to an audiobook by Pema Chodron, a Buddhist nun, over the past six months. It’s a lot to listen to in one go, but sometimes I feel spiritually deficient or fatigued, and I listen to her, and I find myself back on a good path. She talks a lot about groundlessness as the basic condition of living a full and authentic life. At one point, she writes:
“To be fully alive, fully human, and completely awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest. To live fully is to be always in no-man’s-land, to experience each moment as completely new and fresh. To live is to be willing to die over and over again.”
Two weekends ago, we stayed up way too late with our best friends, who were in town from New York for the funeral of another friend’s father. We laughed a lot. We ragged on each other. We sang “Lilith Fair karaoke” on my daughter’s karaoke machine until 1 A.M., shout-singing “Come to My Window” by Melissa Etheridge. (No, really, if you want to get a group of 40 year olds jazzed at the mic, try this on — “Just to reach you / Just to reach you / Oh, to reach you / Come to my window / Crawl inside / Wait by the light of the moon / Come to my window / I’ll be home soon.” YES, Melissa!) But we also consoled one another, catching up on ailing family members, the misfortunes of friends, professional woes, parenting struggles. Change is the only constant, my friend said, and we all harrumphed in agreement.
What are we saying here, Jen?
I suppose I want to reassure myself, and any Magpies reading along this morning, that you’re not doing anything wrong if you feel like you’re “throwing a lot of mud at the wall,” or in continuous inner movement, or still-failing (which is to say, still-learning). That’s how life feels when you’re determined to make a big go of it.
******
Also this week…
+Had a little girls’ night on Saturday! Wine and all the snacks. I love so many of the pieces I served with — these cute goblets, pinch bowls, and platters from Roundhouse; these lipstick cocktail napkins from Dear Annabelle (15% off with JEN15); this rattan wine bucket from Half Past Seven.
+It was a good hair week this week. First, I had my hair blown out on Wednesday by Glamsquad because I had a few things going on during the day and then had an event at night (reminder: $20 off for new users with code JenniferS and $15 off for repeat users with code JenniferS15), and then I used a combo of this insanely good dry shampoo (currently 25% off) and my new favorite tool, Mane’s thermal brush. This actually works and I’m so excited about it. It is not a wet hair styling tool — it is specifically for refreshing slept-on / day old / two-day old hair — and it does exactly what I’d hoped it would: bends the ends back under while giving body to limp / slept-on hair.
+The first picture below is me on Wednesday, just after my hair was blown out at home, and the second picture is of me on Friday, after I’d used Vegamour and the thermal brush. I can’t believe how smooth and styled my hair still looked!
+Also, you Magpies have such good eyes, because a few of you asked about the blue cardigan I’m wearing in the corner of the “Mane” thermal tool box photo, and it is indeed the Alex Mill Paris one, which is currently waitlist only at Alex Mill, but I found a few smalls and mediums at St. Bernard’s and XS, S, and M at a boutique called Hamilton and Adams.
+And! I just received this mascara and this lipstick (shade: Madame Bovary) from Queen Musia and I’m so, so, so impressed. The mascara is truly the only one I’ve ever used that doesn’t stiffen lashes. You can apply several coats and your lashes still have bend/give to them. It is superb at lash separation. It’s a different look than the one I tend to prefer — which is inkier, longer, more dramatic, but I will be keeping this in the rotation. And the lipstick color is super pretty and matte. I’m wearing it in the blue cardi photo above but not sure it’s a great demonstration.
+Little joys: a book of “not too hard” crossword puzzles. My neighbor said he works on one of these just before bed if he’s not in the mood to read his book, and I loved that idea — screen-free, just enough mental stimulation, but easy to pause and clip out of. I sent this photo to one of my girlfriends this week, and she said: “Welcome to 40! Come on in, we love puzzles.” Next up: a juice glass of red wine after the kids are in bed, in my favorite gingham chair, wearing my current favorite oversized sweatshirt. I don’t know why, but I love the vintage-feel rolled hem. Finally: salt and vinegar almonds from Blue Diamond! (A Magpie reader rec.) These are absolutely delicious and I like that it’s not a chip — a little more protein/sustenance when I’m in a snacky mood.
+Some pretty things this week: fresh powder bath hand towels from Weezie’s Katie Ridder collab; new Lake Pajamas; the Chantecaille rose water spray I’m obsessed with; and new pillows in our living room. We just signed off earlier this year on all of the plans for this room with our interior designer (window treatments, paint, entirely new furniture, lighting!) and pieces are slowly beginning to arrive. One of the details I am most excited about — she ordered a game table for the corner of the room so Mr. Magpie and I can enjoy our little Saturday morning games, or weekend puzzles, out of the fray of the kitchen, where we’re often infringing on counter space that would otherwise be used for lunch, cooking, homework. I can’t wait to share more as it comes together. Our designer had these pillows made up in Cowtan and Tout’s Arabella fabric, with a corded edge in a contrasting sky blue from Samuel & Sons. They were an outrageous splurge (o.m.g. — kids will never be permitted near these pillows, which is OK, because this is for a formal living space) but we are doing a solid colored sofa and they will really make the whole room come together (the other occasional chairs will be uholstered in different fabrics). You can find a similar pillow in the exact pattern on Etsy here, but note that they only have the fabric on the front side.
+One of the threads I loved in the comments on my post seeking life hacks / helpful tips / codes of conduct: many of us do things for our future selves. We fill our water glasses before a run, we close our blinds now if we know we’ll be coming home late; etc. One of the things I’ve been doing is buying one specific gift for all of the birthday parties in a given season — it saves a lot of time because then you’re not scrambling to find something to buy; you know what you’re giving and can even buy a few to keep on hand. This season, I’ve been giving the seven year old girls these water bottles personalized with these vinyl stickers (I ordered a few sheets of all the letters — how cute are the new floral ones?!), and paired with these cute straw toppers. They are such a hit and I like the personalized element — it feels thoughtful. I also keep lots of gift wrap on hand, and one recent addition to the gift closet has been these “gwrap” bags, which are brilliant. No box, no tissue required — just place the item in the bag, fold over, and seal with a to/from sticker. So cute and easy. (Also, MAGPIE10 gets you 10% off Joy Creative Shop! I just ordered some of these to bundle with gift cards for teachers at end of year.)
+Another thing I am trying to get into the habit of doing: prepping lunch for at least 1-2 days of the week on Sunday. We order out more than we’d like for lunches, and it just feels easier to open the fridge and have something ready to go. Last Sunday, I made this simple couscous salad. I think this week I might pick up some good bread and make chicken or tuna salad to have for sandwiches at Monday and Tuesday lunches.
+A big gift to my future self: new luggage for our summer travel! This set is by Paravel and you can save a little bit by ordering the two together. I am starting to begin to get my ducks in a row for summer plans and am excited to have these ready to go.
asd
By: Jen Shoop
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.
What Inspired Me This Week…
+FASHION HUMOR: My girlfriends and I circulated this hilarious reel about jeans this week. “The person that invented jeans: I don’t think you’re getting it — hard pants. Stiff, extremely stiff pants. Instead of moving with you as most clothing does, these will actively fight against you. They won’t really fit anyone correctly. They’re going to be based on the way a toddler draws a human.” We were laughing so hard about her commentary on white jeans, too. (However, she doesn’t know our little secret — these Gap jeans, which are actually comfortable and flattering and opaque and stretchy and slimming at the same time.) I loved reading through some of the comments: “Can we talk about the people who fly in jeans?! I’d be more comfortable flying in a formal gown with corset.” Ha!
+TTPD: Like everyone else, I listened to Taylor Swift’s latest album on repeat all week and exchanged feverish interpretations and hot takes with a few Swiftie friends. The discourse surrounding this album feels exhausting, so I’m loathe to add to it, but I have So Many Thoughts. At this point, despite loving several of the songs and considering the album a representation of her songwriting at its best (the layered and elliptical metaphors! the wordplay!), I don’t think I want to read anything else about this album! That said, and no one asked me, my favorite tracks are “Down Bad” (the catchiest lyrics, but is it about pregnancy loss?), “Alchemy” (I was readily imagining a teen flick about dating the quarterback montage set to this), “So Long, London,” “So High School,” and “I Can Do It with a Broken Heart.” What about you?
+THE SCENT ENCLAVE: A cluster of Magpie readers are highly informed and passionate fragrance afficianados who have weighed in on their favorite scents in the comments multiple times. I finally tried the Le Labo The Noir 29 perfume so many of you recommended and it is divine. Spicey, herby, and sweet, but also very complex — you won’t be able to identify it as “a tea leaf” smell. I was stopped twice this week about my perfume (!) and the first day I wore it, I was sitting in on my son’s speech therapy session and I kept thinking, “Gosh, someone smells amazing.” I realized I was smelling myself! (More Magpie scent recs here.)
+WEEKEND SHOPPING: J. Crew’s new arrivals are amazing! I think we all need this jacket and these pants, but there are so many great finds! Also: 20% off at Kule with code SPRING24. I have several of these striped tees — the best, cheeriest colors! Finally, Phillip Lim is running an online sample sale, and you can get an extra 20% off with 31FRIENDS20. You must check out this incredible dress for your summer wedding / summer event lineup. Originally $725, with code, it’s under $175 (!??!). I also love this white blouse — with code, $108! — as an alternative to a basic button-down. And these heels are SO fun for summer, and on sale for under $100.
+NORA AT SAKS: I love following Nora, a personal shopper at Saks, on Instagram! She offers the most amazing previews of designer bags that will be stocked, or that may sell out before being stocked. (You can DM her to order.). It’s a fun way to see what’s coming up and trending among labels like Loewe, Celine, Dior, etc.
+NEW/OLD SKINCARE: About a decade ago, I bought Chantecaille’s splurge-y rosewater spray on the rec of one of my best girlfriends, who was well-informed on all things beauty (and had incredible skin). I remember buying it at a little beauty boutique in Old Town, Chicago. I treasured it and used it to the last drop — I used it for a late afternoon refresh, or to soften/mist makeup after applying — but then felt guilty re-ordering given the price tag so I sort of forgot about it. This week, Chantecaille sent me a box of beauty products and I was delighted to see the rose water spray inside! I had to text my girlfriend to see if she remembered how much we loved it — a full circle / internal reference moment. Funnily enough, by total coincidence, I had Glamsquad do my hair and makeup one morning this week and the artist used rosewater spray to prime my face and then set the makeup! I am excited to reintroduce this product to my routine. I should mention that I have tried a few other less expensive rose water sprays in the years intervening, but none of them compare to the ultra-fine mist of the Chantecaille bottle. A small thing, but a good applicator is half the battle! Chantecaille also sent me their foundation and I am OBSESSED. I typically wear Westman Atelier’s Foundation stick, but this has a great gel consistency that I find easy to blend. It wears like skin, I promise! (A side note: Glamsquad is offering us a code: $20 off for new users with code JenniferS and $15 off for repeat users with code JenniferS15. If you’re local, my two favorite stylists have been Michael A. and Alexsys G. You can request through the app!)
+TENNIS FROM CIAO LUCIA: I loved these sets (and the styling of the shoot) from Ciao Lucia!
+PALM ROYALE: I’m so late to this game, but I really enjoyed the first two episodes of Palm Royale on Apple TV+. The sets, the costumes are fabulous! Making me want to buy this dress, or pants like these.
+ORDERED / ARRIVED: A few items I was particularly excited to order and/or receive this week: my Mane thermal brush (stay tuned for a full review), this Mille dress, this Anthro bag, some new whipped undergarments from Negative.
What You Loved This Week…
+A lot of conversation via DM and email about my diary on slowing down. One Magpie wrote: “My Dad is in the hospital and my mom, who I call the bopper because she bops from thing to thing and can’t sit still, has struggled to let some balls drop. I read about POLR the other day on your blog and we’ve adopted it as our mantra. Several times a day, one of us will stop the other with POLR and we reconsider the necessity of what we’re doing.” I thought that was so beautiful — sometimes a mnemonic, or mantra, can really help us stay a course, tow a line, etc. ICYMI, “POLR” is the acronym Mr. Magpie uses for “Path of Least Resistance.” When things are chaotic, there’s too many balls to juggle, and we find ourselves stretching to do something unnecessary — i.e., cook an elaborate meal, drag our children somewhere, etc — we’ll call out “POLR!” and let ourselves off the hook. The other mnemonic Mr. Magpie uses is “DNE,” as in “Do Not Engage.” If someone is acting salty, short-tempered, pushy, bizarre when we’re out and about, he’ll glance at me and say “D.N.E.”)
+Another Magpie responded to the same post to say: “I expected grief to be emotionally exhausting, but what I didn’t expect was how physically exhausting it would be. I slept so much in the two weeks after we lost Adam and had to slow down. My body demanded it, even while my brain was telling me to stay busy, be productive, etc.” Amen to this! Our emotional lives are so deeply integrated with our physical ones.
+On a lighter front, this Tuckernuck dress was the most popular item I featured this week. A perfect summer wedding guest find, and around $300 — even less if you use code YOUROCK for 20% off. This incredible SPF-packed primer/serum came in a close second. A perfect summer base layer for your face. BTW, RMS gave us a promo code — 20% off with Jen20. All bestsellers below…
*I took my usual Doen size in this — an XXS. I am typically an XS but I find sizing down at Doen works well for me. This dress is short — I’m 5’0! More photos of me in it here. You do need static guard for this dress!!!
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It’s a bold headline, but I’m willing to risk my reputation on this: below, the only margarita recipe you’ll ever need. I think this at-home marg is better than about 90% of the margs you’ll find out on the town, and at least in the same register as the elite, top 10% percentile. I’ve had friends write to me out of the blue saying “just thinking about one of your margs,” and once, we had friends over for a taco dinner, and one of them asked me to demonstrate how to make it twice in a row, mainly because he wanted seconds, and then thirds.
Magpie Margarita
2 oz blanco tequila (I like G4, but Espolon is another favorite, and less expensive — has a vegetal pepperiness I like)
3/4 oz Cointreau
1 oz fresh-squeezed lime juice (non-negotiable, must be fresh squeezed; for best results, strain the lime juice through a fine mesh sieve to remove all pulp)
1/4 oz agave (I go a hair over the 1/4 oz line when measuring because it’s difficult to get every last drip of agave out of the jigger)
1/8 cup salt mixed with a pinch of sugar
Pour the salt-sugar mixture onto a small, flat plate. While squeezing the limes, reserve one juiced lime and rub it around the rim of your rocks glasses. Then invert the glass onto the salt-sugar plate to rim it. Fill with ice and place glasses in the freezer.
Pour tequila, cointreau, lime juice, and agave into a cocktail shaker and fill with ice. Shake vigorously for 13-15 seconds. The shaker should be frosty on the outside, and your hands should be very cold. Strain into frosted, salt-rimmed glasses.
Enjoy!
*Note: A standard set of cocktail tins can easily make these in batches of two at a time. Just double all ingredients. I shared all my favorite cocktail gear here, but we like the weighted cocktail tins from Koriko (large, small); the angled jigger from OXO; and the OXO strainer.
**Above, I’m serving our margaritas in Half Past Seven’s starry night rocks glasses. They just released in a bunch of fun colors. These are the perfect marg class IMO — I love the heft and the thick lip!
+Have been wearing these woven dad sandals a lot this week. So fun and surprisingly comfortable. Upgrade picks: these LRs, these Pradas, these Sandros. If you’re over dad sandals and are intrigued by the fisherman sandal trend, DV has you covered there, too. (Upgrade pick: Prada.). Final note on DV: love their platform sandals, which remind me of the Chloe Namas (<<somehow 30% off when added to bag, as are their popular sneakers!)
+OK, I ordered both the VB shorts and the Agolde ones I was talking about here and loved them both! I sized up one size in both for a looser fit and would advise doing the same. I am definitely keeping the Agolde ones (tags are already off and I wore them out and about this week), but also love the VBs…just don’t know that I need two pairs of white/off-white jean shorts and think the Agoldes are more versatile. The fit is SO GOOD. I swear I tried these on a few years ago and hated the way they looked on me. I love them now! Strongly rec you add to your summer wardrobe.
+I wore my Agolde shorts this week with my denim Ferazia VB blazer (available on TRR here, or in a chic black lace on sale here; similar denim collarless blazer option here) and my Margo tee. I meant to update you on the COS tee everyone has raved about — it runs SO short. And I am short! Would not advise for anyone taller than me — I find I’m just tucking and re-tucking all day long, and it’s already been demoted in my t-shirt drawer. I prefer my Margo day in and day out!
+Which brings me to: J. Crew’s new arrivals are incroyable. LOVE the aforementioned textured lady jacket, this gorgeous linen midi, these pants in the stripe, this puff-sleeved top, and this cap-sleeve top, which feels like such a clever twist on the basic white tank we’re all reaching for when styling statement pants / skirt!
+Speaking of basic white tanks: this one is a good one. It’s a good thickness with a nice, tight weave.
+I have a couple of items sitting in my cart at Vuori: this bra (love the neckline), another one of these Halo crews (I love this as a top layer over a tank top — perfect weight and shape), and maybe these bike shorts? Bike shorts look so cute on other women but I’ve never found a pair I really love. I’m guessing Lululemon would be a safe bet here — I noticed they have different lengths and great colors in their amazing Align material! Do you have any bike shorts you love?
+The colors in this Zimmermann are beyond. Imagine with loose hair and a strappy flat sandal.
+Earlier this week, I raved about the Crown Affair mask and now I want to try more of their products, including this dry shampoo that several people I trust have been talking about enthusiastically. However (!!!), I just discovered Vegamour’s Dry Shampoo on the rec of Emese Gormley and I was totally blown away. It really, really, really works. I have been using everyone’s favorite Living Proof dry shampoo (I discovered this via the flood of recommendations that came from you Magpies!), but I have started to really hate its smell. I’m not normally sensitive to scent but I cannot STAND that one?! I even started looking into hair fragrance to mask it (this was sitting in my cart until I realized I was being kind of insane about the smell of the dry shampoo). Anyway, Vegamour’s works incredibly well — dare I say better than LP? — and the smell is more tolerable. It’s currently on sale for 25% off. Strongly rec!
+Metier’s tote bags are beyond gorgeous, and so unexpected. I’ve never seen one “out in the wild”!
By: Jen Shoop
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I’m deep in my recon phase for the children’s warm weather wardrobes. I usually spend a good week scouting out options and then prioritize my favorites and order. I used to be much more scattershot about this, but have learned the hard way that this is how you end up with six adorable smocked dresses and no everyday shorts.
04. Shorts: CPC Kids! My daughter has lived in these every summer since she was two. I like to pair with the polos from Lacoste (<<on sale here; love the scalloped collar detail) and RL. (BTW, Macy’s and Dillard’s consistently have the best run of sizes and colors in RL and Lacoste polos. I frequently order from these outlets because of this. Macy’s is running a Friends and Family sale and it’s a good time to stock up on staples like this that rarely go on sale.) NB: I find Lacoste runs small and short (I size up) and RL runs a bit slim for girls and TTS for boys. For more casual wear, my daughter loves denim shorts from Zara and Gap. Of course she loves a graphic tee, and the ones I don’t mind come from J. Crew and Danrie! And since she’s hot on the tank top, I’m eyeing some of the patterns here.
05. Sports/camp: I’ll have to do a separate post on this as I’ve not yet adequately dug into this shopping area for my daughter, but I did just buy her a few of the performance tanks and shorts from new-to-me brand Azarhia. Apparently they outfit various summer camps! I liked the patterns — a bit more interesting than Adidas — and my daughter had been begging me for “tank tops” (!!). I also loved their tennis skirts but our tennis court has a strict all-white policy (down to the soles of the shoe). Also like this tennis dress, and we’ve had really good luck with J. Crew Kids’s activewear collection. I think we own nearly all of the pieces from it, mostly in white. The fit is good, and I like the restraint on the styling (just a white tank; just a white skirt). I also just discovered the brand Set Athleisure, which seems to have more polished sportswear, and of course I love this iconic tennis dress from Lacoste and the simple, unfussy performance-wear separates from H&M.
06. For footwear, mini has already been living in her Natives (purple because it’s Taylor Swift’s favorite color), and she’s been begging for some flip flops. I think I’m going to buy her a pair of Tkees. I love these for myself. Zara also has a really fun, fashion-y take on the Teva here and here. (For littler feet, I love a jelly sandal! So practical for kids who splash through everything. I used to buy mini Igor jellies — it’s a European brand and the colors and quality are fantastic — but also love this Gap style, and mini owned this $20 pair a season or two ago and loved them, too.) For a classic, timeless look: Salt Water Sandals!
This week, I had the strangest bifurcation of experiences as a mother. In the first, I patted myself on the back for my “anticipator” ways — that is, I found myself well-prepared for multiple last-minute outings. I had wipes when needed for sticky palms, emergency snacks in good supply, a new coloring pad when my son was acting up in Church, and a bandaid when I accidentally pinched my son’s finger in the carseat. (Of course, no bandaid was actually needed; it was serving its critical ancillary role as a placebo mollifier — well known to mothers the world over.) I also perfectly timed a convoluted mom life sequence: picking up my children from a half-day at school; identifying and driving somewhere that would both serve an acceptable lunch for my children (no small task, as they are picky) and offer snacky provisions for a girl’s night I was hosting the following day; and then arrive at my son’s rescheduled speech therapy session, and all within an hour. I say this not to showboat, but to demonstrate how far I felt I’d come in my matrescence. There have been countless instances where I’ve forgotten the bandaids, or reached into the wipes bag to find it dry, or been too stressed by the logistics of a multi-stop trip with young children to even undertake it. (As recently as six months ago, I might not have attempted the lunch-and-provision-shop stop with my children.) And so I found myself pleased with my own progress. It felt this week that I’d successfully contemplated not only Plan B, but Plans C, D, E, F, G, and showed up with the needed supplies. My sister and I often talk about a scene in “One Fine Day” where George Clooney’s daughter complains she’s hungry, and he fishes in his pocket and finds an unappealing tic-tac before Michelle Pfeiffer retrieves a blueberry muffin in her Mary Poppins handbag, saying “Here you, go sweetie.” For decades, we’ve clung to the enshrined model of prepared motherhood from that scene. As I’ve learned these past seven years, though, it takes a Herculean amount of effort to live out the Michelle Pfeiffer paradigm, and sometimes those ministrations are wasted. (For example, it’s happened to me that I’ve arrived somewhere with carefully cut fruit that has gone uneaten and then rancid in the car. And what if Clooney’s daughter hadn’t pilfered for the muffin? Would it have gone stale in her bag? Even the weatherman gets caught in the rain.) Let me be real, too: sometimes those preparations are a waste of not only supplies but energy. How badly do you really need a bandaid, a water bottle, etc? These are nice to have on hand if needed, but you can usually run into a CVS, ask a stranger for help, use something else to tide yourself over, wait the ten minutes until you’re home. (These are not life or death circumstances!) Would I rather lose five or ten minutes pre-packing for every possible contingency or make do should something arise? I’m haunted by the thought that everything I do is displacing something else. Perhaps that’s an unwanted scarcity mindset view, but isn’t it true that I could either spend my precious time preparing for every possible scenario and securing all needed supplies, or I could spend that time…writing, being present with my children, taking a walk outside? Which is to say, doing the things that make me feel whole?
At the same time. I do know this about myself: I feel most confident when I’m over-prepared (learned trial by fire style from my pitching, management, and presentation days), and I’m not the biggest fan of last minute surprises. As I like to remind myself: Be as you are. In a sense, my preparations are an act of love to my future self–even a kind of self-care. I know I’ll feel better, calmer, more equipped if I have my little emergency kit ready to go. And so I was proud of myself this week — both for having what my children needed when they needed it, and for feeling “settled into” this phase of motherhood.
A day after these “hurrah!” sentiments surfaced, I took my daughter to the pediatric dentist to have a cavity filled and sealants put on her teeth. I had hardly slept the night prior. I hadn’t been able to put my finger on what was bothering me, but I tossed and turned all night. As I sat next to her little form in the dental chair, I put two and two together: I had been deeply anxious about her treatment. I found it agonizing — almost impossible to watch — as the dentist worked. I shifted in my seat, I wrung my daughter’s stuffed animal, I said a decade of the rosary — but mainly I stared at my daughter’s hands, which occasionally flexed in pain or surprise and then relaxed. Clocking her gestures made me feel in some panicked way as though I could step in if signaled.
I wrote a few years ago about how I’ve found some moments in motherhood unexpectedly hard on the heart. I wrote: “…motherhood is like that, I find: the tiniest tug might lever the most enormous lurch of the heart. Sort of like fishing, I think: a little nibble, you reel, and you might find a whale at the other end of the line.” I’d gone into the dental office expecting minnows and instead caught a big fat whale. I didn’t even know those cetacean emotions were brewing, but now I see their headwaters clearly: a string of high-stress dentist visits with mini when she was younger (I described one such recently, where my daughter began flinging implements around the room), a lot of dental work in my own childhood (much less comfortable then than it is now — I didn’t have nitrous for cavities! I also had a molar removed while I was awake and not sedated in the least and it sends a shiver of dread down my spine when I think about it); and a recent incident in which my orthodontist’s partner unexpectedly filed my teeth down while I was sitting in her chair. (This was during my Invisalign treatment — the best gift I’ve ever given myself.) It didn’t hurt, but it was unexpectedly triggering. I’d had it done many years before, when the technology was more barbaric, and had found the experience painful and the results unattractive. So that day the orthodontist unexpectedly filed down my teeth, I sweated through all my clothes (right down to my underwear), sprinted to my car, and wept at the wheel. Another whale at the end of the line.
My point, though, is that I was unprepared for the dentist office moment this week. I was shocked by my own jumpiness. Here I was, wringing a stuffed animal and white knuckling it through ten Hail Marys, and the intensity had emerged out of thin air. My post-mortem proves the opposite, of course — that there are deep roots at play that explain my reaction — but man! Just another day where motherhood took the wind out of me. Just another whale to sling over my shoulder. I spent half the week celebrating how well I’d anticipated what was needed of me as a mother, and then Tuesday’s emotional vehemence came like a bolt from the blue. Motherhood continues to humble, doesn’t it?
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+Part of my “prepared mode” as a mother: keeping the bottom shelf of my studio closet stocked with mom bag staples. This includes: 1) a mini pouch with bandaids, sanitizer, neosporin, and sunscreen (we love Supergoop); 2) a snack pouch; 3) a big plastic bin of rotating activities — I’ll pull out a few at a time for Church, travel, appointments, restaurants, car time — and I usually keep a good supply of Usborne sticker books, Melissa and Doug sketch pads and activity books, this Crayola marker set, and Plus Plus pieces (these little zippered pouches are great for storage); 4) Cutter wipes during bug season; 5) a change of clothes and often a change of shoes depending on what’s in store. The Natives see a ton of wear in summer — you just can’t beat their design! — and I like the little co-ord sets from Zara and H&M, as they require no matching/planning; 6) Wipes — I’ve been using Honest lately. When they were younger, we’d go through so many wipes, I’d buy them in those enormous bulk bags and decant into a wipes dispenser.
+I rotate between mom bags, but I often carry my Goyard, this Altuzarra (holds a surprising amount), LL Bean, or, for bigger outings, the Calpak seen above. It’s a great day trip bag, thoughtfully designed with interior slots and pockets and a separate compartment for shoes. It’s currently 15% off.
+I just updated my Magpie promo code page — a few great brands extended us codes, including Freda Salvador, RMS Beauty, and Mille! If there’s a brand you’d love a code for, let me know via email or comment and I’ll try to get one for us.
+$22 pareos in great patterns. I also like to wear these as scarves with white tee and jeans.
+Hunter Bell releases the most fabulous, fun vacation pieces — they always sell through quickly as she releases in small batches. I love this dress and this one!
+Just got on the waitlist for this popcorn seasoning. Another (even easier) way to serve up fancy popcorn: this truffle kind you pop at home. I just ordered a few boxes as I like to keep these on hand as little hostess gifts.
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I few fab little finds that turned my head recently…
01. Mignonne Gavigan shell earrings. I own and LOVE these (seen above, with this Hill House dress, my Celine sunnies, and these heels). A big statement (they’re oversized) and a fun way to amp up a party look. They’re a mid-weight — not super heavy but not super light — but the French backing makes them easier to wear than your standard clip-on. Currently on sale! Sadly, these are sold out at Mignonne Gavigan itself, but I do have a code there for 20% off with JEN20. I just ordered these flower hoops from them, too! (Code works on them!)
02. Rainbow sarong. Also love these ones from Cesta, but they’re 2x the price.
03. Shell phone wristlet. This was so popular, it sold out and is now available for pre-order! I have one of these wristlets from this brand and they are like jewelry!
04. Pam Munson clutch. I love the frayed flower! Adds interesting texture and dimension to a look.
06. Lizzie Fortunato necklace. I’m OBSESSED with everything they’ve released this season, but especially this green shell, this turquoise heart, these flower earrings, and these drop earrings.
P.S. My gift closet must-haves. I just added a few items to it, including these genius “gwrap” bags from Joy Creative — they require no tissue, no box, and come with a little to/from sticker that you use to seal the top.
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Q: Date night dress!
A: You must try the Doen Jewel (seen above)! So saucy and chic. Runs pretty short — I’m 5’0, FYI! — but otherwise take your usual Doen size. I’m usually an XXS in their dresses, which is what I took here and it fits perfectly. (I am typically an XS. If you’ve never ordered at Doen, I’d go down a size — most of their styles are loose fitting.). I’m very into the slip dresses at the moment. I also just received this polka dotted Rixo and I’m obsessed with her! Will be wearing on a date with Mr. Magpie this weekend!
Q: Two dresses for a 10-year college reunion in DC at the end of May. Dress code one night summer cocktail and other is smart casual. Will be 14 weeks pregnant.
A: Fun, and congratulations! For summer cocktail, I’d consider this Coco Shop, one of the Fanm Mon Lorr dresses, this Mille, this SEA, or this Celia B. I’m pretty sure all of those would accommodate a 14-week bump! Pair with practical shoes — something you won’t be teetering around in. I love these daisy-studded mules for summer cocktail affairs. Knowing it’s in Georgetown might mean you should wear something with a block or platform heel instead of something spindly (all the brick!) — something like this or this! For smart casual, I’d probably still wear a dress. Something like this Parterre, this Mille, this Hunter Bell, or a Julia Amory caftan with Ancient Greek Eleftherias or something like this.
Q: Cute sneakers for my son.
A: I’m currently eyeing these for mine! He also loves these NBs — he’s owned in a few colors. Very comfortable and easy for him to get on/off himself.
Q: My son is graduating from college and I would like to get him a money clip. Help please!
A: So sweet. Congrats mama! Tiffany is a forever gift, and you can have it engraved with his initials. However, if that feels a bit precious for a college grad (!), Leatherology has a handsome brown leather one that you can emboss with initials, and it’s under $50. I’m not sure if he’s specifically asked for a money clip, but I would also suggest / contemplate getting him one of the needlepointed card cases from Smathers and Branson so he can safely carry ID, card, and cash in one place.
A: The RMS product is more concentrated and gel-like — a dab to work in all over your face. RMS acts like a primer, blurring and adding glow. The SuperGoop Glowscreen feels more like a tinted moisturizer to me, and you need more to apply all over the face. It’s a bit more lightweight and creamlike. Similar products that blur the line between skincare and makeup! Both are excellent. The RMS is my current favorite for layering beneath concealer/tinted moisturizer. It does a great job of creating a smooth, glowy surface to apply makeup on top of.
Q: Can you share your desk setup or inspo or products? Feeling the need to revamp my very commercial office space.
A: I feel you! I shared thoughts on designing a work space to cultivate creativity here. These pinboards are also really great ways to introduce color, inspiration, pattern to a depressing space. You can pin up pretty paper, invitations, quotes, hang tags. Ballard has some options for this, too.
Q: Do you have any dress recommendations for a Derby party? I’m seeing people I haven’t seen in 15 years, thank you!
Q: Bump friendly dress for the summer. Maxi or midi length with sleeves and under $200.
A: I think you’re looking for the Anthro Somerset dress! Such fun patterns. Quince also has an “inspired-by” dress in solid colors for under $100. Marea also has some gorgeous breezy caftans to consider. And finally – check out Julia Amory’s sale section for dresses that are around $200 (some a tad over) but well worth the overage IMO — these are pieces you will wear pregnant or not and can be dressed up or down. I especially love this caftan (I own in a lime green — can be worn unbelted), this Majorelle (so soft and breathable), and this shirt dress (polished perfection).
Q: Blue dress for my best friend’s wedding. Oregon in August. Solids preferred, or small pattern.
Q: Sunday Mass dresses for my seven year old — not too frilly.
A: I have been eyeing some of the cute pieces from Pink Chicken. I feel like they’re a little less “frou frou” and more fun (my daughter’s in the same camp as yours on this matter). The Kelsey dress comes in cute prints, and I also love the colors in this style. Minnow also has some great options — this floral, this stripe, this gingham.
Q: What are the cute moms wearing to t-ball this summer?
A: I’m new to this world, too! I’m learning that t-ball practice and games require practicality — you are dusty, you are standing grass, you are swatting at gnats, you are sweating. I wore my Birks and a Mille Saffron dress and regretted it. Honestly, leggings, sneakers, and a t-shirt are the way to go. I’ll probably be wearing my Beyond Yoga set, Adidas sneaks, and either a sweatshirt (obsessed with this one) or a long-sleeved tee over top (I love my Vuori Halo — it is the perfect weight and shape — or would opt for something like the Ayr Morning tee or one of these destination tees) this weekend. Don’t forget the Cutter wipes.
