A few weeks ago, I solicited your life hacks, mnemonics, frameworks for living artfully and with more ease. Several of you talked about doing things for your future selves: filling a tall glass of water before leaving for a run, pulling down the blinds before going out for the night. Tender mercies. What will I need? What will see me through? What will feel good when I am later tired?
These thoughts reminded me that we are always raising future versions of ourselves, but when I adopted the suggestion to pre-fill a drinking glass before my morning run, I was surprised by the way it felt: more like a tiny high-five than a knowing glance. A satisfying, well-executed relay hand-off. What I’m saying, mainly to myself:
Find ways to be on your own team.
A few years ago, I was at an event with one of my very successful and talented friends, Alison Kenworthy, and I found myself introducing her to a new acquaintance. “Alison is an Emmy-award winning producer and has a wildly popular Youtube channel called Homeworthy where she invites us into fabulous homes around the world,” I said. (Or something like it.) I am sure the last thing in the world Alison wanted to do on “a night off” was talk shop (I recall we had just enjoyed a glass of champagne together, removed from the madding crowd), but when the acquaintance began asking her about Homeworthy, she rolled into the most compelling and dazzling description of her business. I’ve recounted this at least six times to Mr. Magpie in the years intervening. I was transfixed by her poise, her confidence, the way she spoke about her creative work almost as though it were someone else’s. I thought to myself, here is a woman who is on her own team. The experience charged me, and challenged me to re-think how I present myself when asked the complicated question: “And what do you do?”
+Extremely tempted by this little crossbody in the red or blue stripe. I’ve been loosely on the hunt for a smaller bag that I can wear with my athletic wear in the morning, and these are so fun.
+This looks like the dreamiest pullover. It was just restocked recently — very tempted. In case you’ve never shopped at Negative before, they make some of my absolute favorite bras. All my favorite undergarments here.
+These cute sandals from TB are on sale. I’d pick a fun color, like the kiwi!
+Dreamiest dress. When I was visiting Rome many years ago with my father, we walked by a Pucci store and I was drooling in the window. My Dad saw how excited I was by the styles, and said: “Let’s go buy you one.” We went inside, he looked at a price tag, and he said, “Maybe in another life.” Haha!
07. Convenient schlep-all-the-things tote. Great for dropping off field day snacks, toting gear to sports events and picnics, etc.
08. Glass storage is the way to go. I know many of us are insistent on this point! This Pyrex set is a good deal. While we’re talking storage / kitchen organization, this shelf raiser is fab if you’re short on kitchen space. We used lots of these in Manhattan. And a utensil caddy is very handy for outdoor dining season.
P.S. We’ll be mixing up a Magpie marg (or several) this weekend! Join us, virtually! 🙂
Earlier this week, I attended a May Crowning at my children’s parochial school. My daughter and her classmates processed, with startling solemnity, towards a statue of Mary, crowned her with flowers, and recited prayers and petitions from the garden bed at her feet. A huddle of parents — mostly mothers — stood watch under the shade of tree, nodding encouragingly as their children recited their prayers. I was tossed back to my own childhood, to singing “Hail Holy Queen” on Massachusetts Avenue as I marched with my classmates into the vestibule of Annunciation Church with my gray plaid jumper and my navy blue Mary Janes. Even as a child, I was struck by the holiness of the tradition. Something about moving from the shock of May sun into the cool of the Church’s nave, the way sound traveled differently inside, marked the offering as sacrosanct. From the unkempt wild to the quiet, cosseting pleat.
So there I stood, some thirty years later, listening to my daughter read her benedictions off a laminated piece of construction paper. When the children recited the Hail Mary, and the parents chimed in, I caught sight of a cross-generational accordion of faith, and found myself unable to finish the prayer. I was thinking about my mother, kneeling and weeping at Mount Koressos, and my own special devotion to Mary, and wondering what my daughter was storing about this moment in her secret wells of imagination, and memory, and faith.
Towards the end of the crowning, one of the teachers read a little card from which she described Mary as “a joyful witness of others.” I thought how perfectly the phrase captures not only Mary as we understand her forbearing yet exuberant spirit, but my broad aspirations as a mother. Isn’t it the goal? To stand alongside my children, but not in some prop-like, self-abnegating way — to be roundly present, and let myself be delighted by them. I looked around at all of the mothers circling that garden bed, beaming at their children and participating in their prayers, and I saw a perfect chaplet of joyous witness.
+This gorgeous white dress is en route to me. Becoming quite the fan of Rixo — their dresses make me feel like a sexier, more European version of myself. (You might recall how much I love this dress, which I wore recently!)
+Several Magpies have raved about Quince’s fitness wear — I just ordered these leggings and the matching tank to try when I placed my order for their silk pillow case. (Another Magpie rec — so many of you insisted that sleeping on a silk pillowcase is a major step-up for hair care / extending a blow out / etc. See all the rave reviews in the comments on this post.) Will report back on all!
+Eyeing one of these soft-sided coolers for summer. (Love the green color.)
+If you’re looking for a perfect summer flat: here she is.
+FUN Gucci tote capitalizing on the “jelly” trend in its own way.
+Apparently, Jones Road releases limited edition sets of their popular miracle balm sets, and they’ve just landed. I’m contemplating ordering this set of four to sample the different colors! Have heard such good things about these.
By: Jen Shoop
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.
Our pool opens this weekend, and I spent one afternoon this week trying on my suits and shopping for some new ones. Below, my favorite suits in my closet and a few new picks, too —
01. Above, wearing Left on Friday’s Pool Days top and Hi-Tide bottoms. I love the way this brand sells their tops/bottoms separately so you can pick the style you like, customize each by size (if you’re, say, a small on bottom but large on top), and mix and match colors (they have SUCH fun ones). I find these pieces run small — I took an XS in both and they were a tight squeeze. Next time, I’d go up to a S instead. The material is amazing — really hugs you in / slightly compressive and smoothing. The top looks like a sports bra and might play double duty this summer in that capacity. (10% off with code JENSHOOP10.). I paired with my trusty Altuzarra tote and this chic Cesta collective pareo.
03. I always find a few good pieces from J. Crew swim (I typically go up a size from my usual in their swim — take a 2 instead of a 0), and this smocked number is a delight this season. Can’t decide which color — red or blue? But if you buy one swim piece from J. Crew this summer, I can’t rec this ruched plunge style more. It is so flattering and comfortable — good amount of coverage in the rear, everything stays in place. Love the toile!
04. Hunza G fan girl forever. I actually laid out in my back yard before writing this and reached for my Hunza G — just so comfortable and easy to pull on. Nothing cinches or gapes — a flush, comfortable fit. Can’t rec enough. My two favorites are this one in the hot pink (full review here) and this one in a rich blue. I’ve also heard many Magpies rave about this Target dupe as a $40 look for less!
05. If you’re more of a minimalist (bond girl vibes), you might consider this gorgeous two-piece from Simkhai, an iconic Eres (the pinnacle of quiet luxury), or something from Matteau, a brand several Magpies have raved about for swimwear.
06. At the other end of the spectrum (more maximalist): each year, I ogle at the swimwear options from Agua. Love this one for this season, and this similar style from Erdem (on sale!)
07. Adore the dramatic options from Emilia Wickstead, including the new pieces from her collab with a fabulous Italian hotel, Passalacqua. Travel lust inciting!
08. Loving this bold striped Staud. Reminds me of awnings at a beach club!
09. I bought this dramatic Maygel Coronel a few years ago and have scarcely had occasion to wear it — it’s quite a statement, perfect for a bachelorette or honeymoon. I turn 40 in June and plan to wear it on my getaway! Also lusting after this dramatic Zimmermann suit, but how many over the top white suits does one gal need?
10. I also own and can’t wait to wear this white one-piece from Minnow — a bit more understated than the other two picks. Love the pattern and neckline on this one, too. How cute to match with your mini?!
11. I always have had good luck with Solid & Striped swim. I own three or four of their suits — the fit is always perfect and they come out with great colors and patterns. Currently eyeing this two-piece. I take my true size in their swim.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.
A roundup of this week’s launches, sales, and discoveries:
01. Goop is running a really big, really good sale that includes select beauty (my favorite hair mask, by Crown Affair, is included), pieces from their exquisitely made house label, G. Label (don’t sleep on their knits — I have amassed a collection and wear them constantly! — and I also love this interesting popover, seen above), and clothing from various other covetable brands, including Ephemera and Toteme. Two completely random inclusions in the sale that are incredible deals: this Baghera ride-on toy (Hill has one and it is absolutely the chicest toy in our house — I almost use it like decor in his room) and a Slip neck pillow for travel! Hidden gems!
03. Should have included this best-selling linen mini (under $200) in my post on classic, timeless summer staples last week. So good! In every color!
04. Pam Munson’s reprise of her fab Teddy bag sold out in record time, but can you pre-order for delivery in June. I own this bag in an orange croc and adore it. Perfect size, with clever interior pockets, and the straps fit over the shoulder.
05. I know no one is ready to think about fall/winter wardrobes, but Toteme released photos of their autumn collection and I can’t stop thinking about this layered knit moment with the croc bag. I have filed and dogeared this look for chillier weather. It is SO fresh and luxe. You can buy the croc bag now, or this current-season, more summer-appropriate one, which is dreamy.)
07. Elemis is offering 20% off sitewide with code MDW20 starting today. This is their last promotion before Cyber Week in the late fall. I absolutely love their cleansing balm. It’s the most relaxing way to melt off the day, and it really gets every last particle of makeup/dirt from your face. I use this nightly before my cleanser.
08. Menswear label Rhone (my husband loves their commuter shorts for golf) recently expanded into womenswear, and they sent me a few items to try. I absolutely love this quarter-zip. The details are incredible — zippered pockets in convenient places (for holding tennis/golf balls, or keys/Airpods/phone while running), and the hem falls loosely around the hips, so it’s kind of perfect for layering over bike shorts. Many of you bought these on my rec, and I’m so glad! The most flattering bike short. I’m wearing below. Vive la leg!
10. Julia Amory has been promising us her gorgeous Betty dress in fun summer prints, and just released this moss print one! SO CHIC. I am torn — I want to buy one but can’t decide whether to spring for this or wait and see which other prints she releases?!
Over the weekend, I took advantage of Hanna Andersson’s early memorial day sale (the entire site is on sale, some items 50% off) by ordering some everyday summer clothes for my daughter, with her input! She made all of these color/pattern selections herself. She chose…
I also ordered several pairs of Oso & Me shorts and Willie tees for my son. The fit of the shorts is absolutely perfect (on the shorter side) and I love the color selections.
I also ordered him these $20 swim trunks after Caro Chambers raved about them as a cute, inexpensive alternative to higher end brands — great patterns/stripes/colors. (I did already buy him a few pairs of the spendier Minnow ones.)
Over the rainy weekend, I took my children to the bookstore to pick out a few books and ended up stocking my activity book bin for summer travel and rainy days. My kids already broke into a few of them, and these dry erase activity cards have been a huge hit. My son’s already been through them 2x and finds them thoroughly entertaining. Heads up / fair warning: if your child cannot yet read, you will need to be fairly involved in reading them the prompts every few minutes. This was fine for a rainy Saturday. I’d get in a few minutes of reading between each prompt, and we were both happy! I was so impressed with the quality of this card set — funny, clever prompts; good design. I ordered another set with different prompts for my daughter, because she was so envious of them! I also picked up a few other Lonely Planet brand children’s activity books since I was so impressed: this safari activity book, this travel journal, this lift the flap encyclopedia. Not LP, but also ordered this airplane activity book and some Usborne (IMO, the most trust-worthy activity book producer), including mazes and pencil and paper games. I know several of you cautioned against over-packing the carry-on backpacks for kids (very helpful suggestions/thoughts along these lines in the comments on this post), as they’ll usually end up watching an iPad for much of the trip, and you’ll be happy for their sustained calm, but I do want to keep a few items for travel there/back (to Colorado), and I know we’ll also get use out of these on rainy weekends / while in restaurants / etc.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.
I’ve had an influx of wedding guest / graduation / summer cocktail party dress requests, and wanted to share a few top recs today…
At the top of my list: the Fanm Mon Lorr dress. Comes in black, stripes, colors! This dress is simple but statement-making thanks to the embroidered flowers at the neckline. I absolutely love the fit — it feels so elegant and tailored. Can be worn with or without the straps. I would go true to size in this. I took the XS (my true size) and it’s a perfect fit. If between sizes, go up, as this dress has no stretch — it’s a tight-woven linen.
Next up: this linen Zimmermann dress. It’s delightfully unexpected — the colors, the rope belt, the diagonal stripes! — and the construction is brilliant (no zipper on side/back — just two zippers on the shoulders and you shimmy into it from the top down). I took the 0P and it was a tight, tight squeeze, so would probably rec taking your true size (I sized down to the P). You will need a nude slip beneath this (it’s fairly sheer without) and of course as with any linen dress, be comfortable with wrinkles! BTW, the shoes I’m wearing above and below are these Larroudes — probably my favorite sandal ever! So comfortable and add a little sunshine to any dress.
This Sir dress is an absolute knockout in color, silhouette, pattern. Be advised that this brand runs tiny. I took a size up from my usual size (I ordered a 1) and could barely zip it. The halter part is also non-adjustable so if I keep it (still on the fence), I’ll need to have that tailored as right now, it’s too long. But I just love the flattering folds/urching, the feminine neckline, the bold pattern. I felt like a bombshell in this, and I know Mr. Magpie would give it five stars.
+For the Hamptons, or any country club setting on the formal side: this La Ligne.
+Another great option for a country club setting: this floral Tuckernuck (20% off with YOUROCK).
+For either an urban cocktail or tropical wedding: this dress goes both ways! The silhouette is fashion-forward and elegant, but the pattern is ready for island time.
+A big splurge but perfection for a tropical destination: Erdem.
+Agua Bendita always has the most spectacular patterns. I adore this floor-length option. The dresses are pricey but they are exquisitely made — you can tell from the fabric, the stitching, the details — and I have worn mine for several seasons.
+For a pretty cocktail-attire affair, around $200: this or this. LOVE the print.
+You know I adore Damaris Bailey. This floor-length floral is stunning, and this is one of my favorite pieces in my closet (I own in pink).
Shopbop is offering 15% off beauty products through tomorrow, and the assortment includes several items I’ve never seen on sale, like Vintner’s Daughter Serum and Cire Trudon candles. I actually went back to using Vintner’s Daughter as my everyday serum (following Goop’s Vitamin C — also included in the sale!) a few months ago and can’t get over the way it lights my skin from the inside out. These two products (Goop Vitamin C followed by Vintner’s Daughter) leave my skin happy, glowy, and hydrated. I sometimes contemplate going without concealer or foundation and just letting my natural skin glow after applying these. Then I notice my dark under eye circles (damn them!) and decide I need a little coverage, but in general, these two pack a powerful punch for skin.
A few other great beauty products included in the sale:
GOOP GLOW EXFOLIATOR — HOLY GRAIL PRODUCT; BRINGS YOUR SKIN BACK TO LIFE IN 2 MINUTES FLAT
RMS HYDRA BRONZER — MY FAV POWDER BRONZER; I ABANDONED A FIFTEEN YEAR COMMITMENT TO GUERLAIN FOR THIS
AUGUSTINUS BADER — THIS IS SO SPLURGEY BUT A VERY GOOD MOISTURIZER — PERFECT CONSISTENCY AND FAST-ABSORBING. NOT SURE IT’S WORTH THE PRICE BUT ENJOY HAVING IT!
RMS BEAUTY KAKADU CREAM — LUXRE, WHIPPED TEXTURE AND EXCELLENT RELATIVE TO PRICE…FEELS LIKE THEY COULD CHARGE 2X AS MUCH FOR THIS
For Christmas, Mr. Magpie gifted me a signed copy of This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett. He beamed at me when I opened it, flipping to the frontispiece to be sure I noticed the inscription, in Patchett’s own hand:
“To Jen Shoop,
Love and happiness to a fellow writer.
-A. Patchett”
It sent, and still sends, a thrill straight down my spine. Ann Patchett has no idea who I am, what I write, or how huge a fangirl of hers I am. But there was one moment last December where my name crossed the lintels of her prodigious mind. She might have double checked the spelling (“Jen with one or two ns?”), or thought “Shoop, like the song!,” which is what most people say when I share my last name. I’ll never know, of course, but it delights me to imagine that I am alive in a world with Ann Patchett in it, and that my husband’s tender ministrations to my ambitions as a writer and to my tastes as a reader brought our two lives together, however briefly and impersonally. (If an assistant in fact signs her books for her, don’t tell me — I’d rather persist in this fantasy.) When I think about it long enough, I succumb to that same dizzying feeling I get when I remember that there are 100-200 billion galaxies in the observable universe. I am a speck of dust, and how wildly, improbably fortunate I am to live in this galaxy, on this planet, in this millennia, and to have not only found Mr. Magpie but to also coexist with talents like Ann Patchett, and Mary Oliver (well, for a time), and all the other creatives who have nourished my hungry heart these past four decades earthside.
Take (from out of left field) Steven Spielberg. I don’t think we properly recognize how profoundly he shaped the imagination of our generation. He defined the way we think about the supernatural: dinosaurs, extra-terrestrials, ghosts, even lost cultures and artifacts. Which is to say he set the table stakes for understanding otherness, and reminded us that human stories are only a chapter of the book. I mean, E.T.! Velociraptors! The ark! It is difficult to imagine my own imagination without Steven Spielberg’s mediation.
It’s tempting to think about our minds as our own — a space where we shape things as we please, blacksmiths at the forge — but I think in reality my mind is a porous network of allusion, the constitution of which is quirky and roaming, rooted as it is in my idiosyncratic diet of literature, television, and other cultural phenomena. This is why we take children to see art. This is why we read to them at night, and turn a blind eye when their flashlights flicker in the eiderdown, and invite their interpretations of film and fabric. We are pinning the stars they will one day constellate as they search for meaning, connection, hope, or the ancient pleasure of an asterism in the night sky.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.
+Love this striped nautical cardigan. Also obsessed with these linen pants in like ten of the color options, but especially the stripe! And how perfect is this gauze top?!
+Love this necklace and these earrings. That blue color is calling my name!
+When I had my makeup done recently, the artist used Mario Badescu rosewater spray — a great, inexpensive alternative to my beloved Chantecaille. She insisted rose water spray is the best way to prevent cakey makeup — it hydrates and smooths the skin and any makeup you’ve applied. I’m hooked!
+Only a few left of this perfect blazer, marked down over 50% off.
+Luggage brand Beis just released their luggage line in really fun and unexpected colors — yellow, brown! Love! More great travel gear here.
By: Jen Shoop
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.
On one of my runs this week, I noticed a thicket of roses spilling over a picket fence. Wayward and adventurous, they tendriled around one another, the wooden stakes, neighboring trees. I thought to myself: Jen, it’s OK to let yourself spill over sometimes. I’ve been flirting with this theme the past few weeks, longing to go easy. I’ve been slowing down and indulging myself in a more protracted process of exercising, showering, drinking a green juice in the backyard, caring for my hair, going to bed earlier. But sometimes these routines can veer into their own category of discipline: I am finding myself determined to complete my fitness videos every morning, and get to bed by 9:30, and drink enough water. What new logjams have I built for myself in the name of taking up more space in my day? Is this really what it’s like to “go easy”? Am I manufacturing something best left to organics?
I’ve been reflecting on this the past few days in the context of our collective grooming routines — how much time and effort and discipline we put into our own self-maintenance. Most of this is healthful, I think: we are keeping ourselves in good condition. We are treating ourselves with care. As one Magpie put it: “Being a shadow of myself can’t be of service to anyone.” But at what point do these rituals become a kind of obeisance?
Here is the pith: I am disciplined, sometimes to a fault, but what am I a disciple of, or to?
Landon frequently reminds me that I love to make up rules and then hold myself accountable for them. I routinely imagine regulations and deadlines that have never once been mentioned to me. I can be terribly inflexible with myself. Some of this stems from the work ethic I inherited from (or modeled upon) my father. You could call my Dad at 11 p.m. and launch right into a business problem, and he’d nod receptively, tenting his fingers in thought, and then dive right in. He is famous for shoehorning in a meeting or a work call or matter of business when everyone else is in wind-down mode. His energy: “Onward and full speed ahead.” Frankly, I admire this, and always have. I bring a similar intense determination to my own work, and to seeing things all the way through. This approach brought me great success in school and in my first few professional jobs, and was later corroborated by my work in multiple start-up and entrepreneurial environments, where I learned that if you don’t have a bias toward action, someone else will eat your lunch. There is a well-greased start-up philosophy on this point: “first mover advantage.” Andale! Carpe diem! Always be shipping (or cheesy product riff on “always be closing”). I internalized these lessons and have never quite divorced myself from them, even though my current professional and creative niche are a different kettle of fish entirely.
Another Magpie brought this schematic full circle when she wrote this week: “A few of your posts on allowing life to happen, even in the mundane tasks actually helped me shake my routine to make it easier. For example, I love to start the week with an everything shower but Sundays are always tough to carve out a pocket of time for myself: football Sundays, beach Sundays, running errands/meal prepping Sundays and I also just love to cook a “feast” of a meal and spend time with my family before starting the week. I started waking up a little earlier on Monday mornings (I WFH so it’s not too stressful), I start the masks/oils/potions part and after dropping my daughter to school, I finish off with the shower, I LOVE this new routine but it took me a long time to change it just bc I felt like this had to be done on a Sunday! Sometimes I am so rigid with myself for no reason ha!”
I think she’s put her finger right on the x. We can live in a routine, but we must make those routines work for us, not the other way around. The next time I find myself knotting up around a parameter, I’m going to take a beat to ask whether we’re looking at a garden stake or a great wall. Can I fudge it a bit? Can I get to this task tomorrow? Can I skip the last few minutes of the workout to make my life a little easier today? Can I rearrange my appointment so I can get to school without rushing? Etc.
What are your thoughts on this, Magpies? How and when do you let yourself spill over?
Also this week…
+The only time a pile of laundry brings me joy: when I’ve finished a full work out and am stepping into the shower. Its own kind of reward. Also, I’ve shared these Nikes so many times, but I do adore them. Every detail! The color, the support, the lightweight-ness, the smile on the insole. I just ordered these trail running shoes for Colorado and beyond, and love these lightweight, dri-fit caps — I never run without a hat. They keep sweat and sun out of my eyes, protect from UV rays, and kind of hide my make-up free face.
+First warm weather s’mores with friends.
+I was digging through my archives looking for the photo of myself wearing my HHH Cosima dress (re-released this summer in a similar, fabulous blue stripe — you must buy! So flattering and elegant and surprisingly versatile!) and found it (first photo below) but not before finding the two snaps adjacent to it, spotlighting my Tilly Girl. I can’t believe she was ours for so long, and now she’s gone. I did not have pets growing up and had no idea how intense or enduring the grief would be. Mr. Magpie and I were watching Wyatt Earp last weekend — one of Mr. Magpie’s favorites — and there’s a part where Wyatt watches his brother die in front of him. Out of nowhere, I started to sob. It’s not even a particularly poignant or intense part of the movie, which I realize is a strange thing to say given the subject matter, but the death is handled in a very quick-moving, big-Western way. Mr. Magpie looked over at me, startled. I told him that I still fixate on the moment that Tilly died in our arms. One second she was blinking between my palms, and the next, she was gone. I am haunted by the immediacy of her passing — it felt like the cruelest trick of time. Just one millisecond more. I feel, perhaps strangely, proud or satisfied in some abstract way that I was there with her when she went. What if she’d passed away while we were sleeping? In some ways, this might have been gentler on my heart, but in other ways, I feel that I owed her my presence, and I’m glad I was there, petting her ears, telling her “It’s OK, Tilly girl,” over and over into that black midnight. I realize these are intense thoughts to sandwich in after happy photos of s’mores, but this is the way of grief, isn’t it? Defying all logic and decorum. It will wallop you on a whistling Wednesday.
+Random bites I enjoyed this week: shrimp chips, procured from an Asian grocer (I love visiting international groceries and perusing the snack sections) and Van Leeuwen’s Affogato ice cream. My brother in law has an espresso machine and will often make affogatos for me for dessert when I visit — it is the most outrageously delicious and sophisticated dessert (he usually does a decaf one so I’m not wired for hours) and reminds me so much of him. I loved the connection.
+Two beauty products I am obsessing over at the moment: Roz’s hair serum (15% off! and my current go-to for detangling and priming before using my hot tools — all my fav hair care products here!) and Osea’s body oil. The latter is divinely lightweight and quick to absorb, but leaves a gorgeous sheen. I love its delicate citrus scent. (All my favorite summer skin products here.)
+BASIC CHIC:Kelly Rutherford and Monica de la Villardiere makes a case for black and white dressing. Note Monica’s mesh flats — don’t they compel you to try the trend?! Get the look at a reasonable price here.
+IT DOESN’T HAPPEN ALL AT ONCE: Another vote in favor of slow growth, also via Kelly Rutherford. “It doesn’t happen all at once. You become. It takes a long time.” It is so hard to crouch at the beginning of something, an athlete at the start line. You imagine the reward, the trophy, the accolades, the sense of completion. But life is a lot of middles. A slow and often recursive process of becoming.
+RETAIL THERAPY: I did a little retail therapy at Vuori after my girl had her bi-annual amblyopia eye appointment. She had to be dilated and was deeply upset about it – poor lamb! – and so I brought her home to relax for a few hours instead of returning straight to school so her eyes could reset. I reminded myself: “This is where you need to be.” The thought occurred to me: “Life can wait.” But then I corrected myself: “This is life. You’re making space for what matters. Sitting here, consoling my daughter, holding her hand, making her comfortable is the most important thing.” (More on my daughter’s eye condition, and her inspiring forbearance through nearly six years of treatment, here.) Anyhow, afterward, I stopped into Vuori to pick up a few things for myself. All my favorite finds from that trip here.
+DOEN X GAP: I couldn’t be more thrilled about this collection. My two longtime favorite brands together! I absolutely love it all.
+OTHER THINGS I LOVE RIGHT NOW: Mille’s second summer collection! OMG – this dress is SO good in the Nantucket stripe and is en route to me now. (15% off sitewide with JEN15) Also:this mini cosmetic bag came free with my recent Minnow order and it’s the perfect size for throwing makeup essentials into my everyday tote. I just put together a cluster of favorites to permanently keep in there so I can just transfer from bag to bag. You can also see some new Beyou products, including my beloved $18 caffeine eye cream, above – one of the brand’s founder wrote to thank me for writing so enthusiastically about it and sent me another tube! Truly an amazing product. Finally, just received these washable silk Lunya jogger pajamas. Divine. Divine!
What Inspired You This Week.
+OMG, how fun and intimate were the comments on this post about our grooming rituals? I learned so much! Two standout comments that I’ve been turning over:
“Being a shadow of myself can’t be of service to anyone.”
and
“My routines have ebbed and flowed with early motherhood.”
The first reminded me why I take care of myself in the first place (you can’t pour from an empty vessel, etc), and the second reassured me of a truth I have often needed to cling to: nothing is permanent, in ways good and bad. There are seasons of life for everything. If you feel like you don’t have the time, money, or inclination to follow an elaborate (or even minimal) self-grooming routine right now, it’s not a forever thing! I’ve certainly gone through seasons of being more involved and less involved in my own upkeep.
+I shared a random photo of my planner on Instagram and was inundated with questions about my process, my planner, etc! I use this inexpensive, simple Amazon planner because it gives you lots of room to make long lists of to-dos against each day of the week, but you can still see an entire week at a glance if you need to. I am disciplined about getting through each item on the list – but sometimes life happens. I used to beat myself up about the cross-outs, but now I just white them out with these cute little white out pens and instead write what I did do. For example, this week, I ran into a few tech issues that made it impossible to write my blog as I normally do, and then my daughter had an eye appointment that ran unexpectedly long and ate up an entire morning. Instead of crossing out my to-dos, I whited them out and wrote in what I did accomplish. Why not see and celebrate the things we’ve done versus punitively look at the things we haven’t?
The best-selling item this week was this chic hydrangea-print top. Perfect to pair with white jeans for cocktail hour. All bestsellers below.
