Jen Shoop, Author at Magpie by Jen Shoop

By: Jen Shoop

The following content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

I have been thinking a lot lately about fractionality and its virtues. Last week, Mr. Magpie mentioned the concept of a “fractional CMO/CFO” — the idea is that you pay a tenured, likely retired, executive a fraction of her annualized salary for a few hours of strategy and counsel each month. You might not be able to afford the full-time commitment of an experienced CMO or CFO for your small business, but you can get something. And something is better than nothing. In just a few hours of consultation, she might point your nose in the right direction; she might offer the prized introduction you’d never have scored on your own; or she might help you shortcut your way through a learning process by referencing her battle scarred ledger. My point is that we can’t let perfect be the enemy of good enough. I’ve been carrying this insight with me everywhere. Has this ever happened to you: you finally work up the begrudging energy to exercise, and you hate every minute of it? It’s an unsatisfying session: your body and mind riot against your every movement; you skip the final abs section; you scowl into your sweaty towel. But the truth is, you did more than you think. Some exercise is better than no exercise. A middling effort is better than zero effort. So, like, shed that perfectionism!

Let me also propose the concept of a fractional date. A midday lunch, a thirty minute errand, an hour of quiet conversation while your thirteen year old niece plays a card game with the little ones in the basement. I myself went on two dates with Landon last week. Neither were planned or exotic – I simply got to a point in the holidays where I thought some time alone would be restorative, asked our teenage neighbor if she was available, and off we went for happy hour cocktails, 10 minutes from our home, twice in a week. We didn’t have reservations; we didn’t stay for dinner. We were just two tired and mainly happy parents sitting at a bar, letting our hearts spill out over cocktails.

This is the truth: love doesn’t fret over the furnishings. Connection can happen anywhere. The magic of a marriage will show itself in a parking lot, in a hospital room, in a medium bar with medium drinks, in the dim light of a midnight nursery with a crying newborn. Life, and love, are happening right now, in the imperfect present. This is all we can safely say we have: today, with its bad timing and its broken dishwasher and its hint of an incoming cold. Today, with its Invisalign trays and unfinished housework. Today, with the people we love as they are right now.

Which is to say: call the sitter, make the date. Put your love first.

Post Scripts.

+More notes on dating our spouses.

+Marriage is…! (A lot of things.)

+On being truly happy for friends.

Shopping Break.

+A really fab party dress.

+Laura Mercier makes the best setting powder. I’ve used this forever, and keep coming back to it!

+Extra 25% off Tory Burch. LOVE this green coatigan, this printed silk dress, and this unusual and very chic taupe dress.

+I know Warby Parker has been around forever but I was just looking for some chicer glasses options than my optometrist offers and I realized they now have filters for “extra narrow faces” and you can even do a virtual try-on on their site! I am going to order these! (I only wear my glasses during the 10-20 minutes after I’ve washed my face but before I totally wind down for bed, so this is a nominal time but why not have a cute pair?)

+These trousers remind me a lot of La Ligne’s Colbys, but come in petite lengths and are more wallet-friendly.

+Apparently these are just as good as the original beauty blender, but a fraction of the price.

+I just noticed this caftan is currently heavily discounted. I lived in this last the last two summers (but owned in a pink color).

+Cutest sandals for minis at Cat and Jack (Target): these and these! While you’re there: these look very similar to Lulu aligns. Pair with a half-zip in the same color. Also digging this longline, oversized sweatshirt for under $30!

+My kids would love these Valentine’s Day decorate-yourself mailboxes!

+Appointed sent me an acrylic stand with calendar cards this year (now sold out, sorry – they do still have their wall calendar, and/or this is similar, and my girlfriend Inslee illustrates the most spectacular ones each year, too) and I can’t believe how often I use it. Like, hourly? I swear I’m constantly trying to schedule things / quickly get a sense of which day is what, and it’s such a helpful cue! I’ve also been crossing out the days on which I exercise (even if it’s “a fractional workout,” ha), which has been strangely satisfying. Strongly rec!

+Chic Cloudmonsters for the new year.

+Cesta’s 40% off sale ends today. I absolutely adore their “lunchpail” handbags — shockingly versatile, as they work easily with cocktail dresses and more casual attire — and several are deeply discounted, and I love this neutral version of my pareo (I own the rainbow colored one).

+Microtrend for 2025: been seeing lots of these fringed moccasins!

By: Jen Shoop

Image via. The following content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

Exactly what I want to be wearing right now, styled into a few different looks. I am really lusting after a pair of Le Monde Beryl Regency flats (seen above, bottom left), but I found the BEST look for less this week here!

VERONICA BEARD BLAZER // VERONICA BEARD JEANS // HEAVEN MAYHEM EARRINGS // BOTTEGA BAG // STEVE MADDEN FLATS // BOOK

ANINE BING BLAZER (30% OFF!!!) // PISTOLA JEANS // TOTEME BAG // LE MONDE BERYL FLATS // CELINE SUNGLASSES

VARLEY PUFFER (ON SALE IN MY RED COLOR HERE!) // VARLEY FLEECE // BEYOND YOGA LEGGINGS // SEE BY CHLOE BOOTS // HAIR CLAW

KILTE HALF-ZIP (ON SALE!!! OR LOOK FOR LESS HERE) // PISTOLA JEANS (AVAIL IN PETITE) // MANSUR GAVRIEL BAG // SCAROSSO FLATS // AMAZON BAG CHARM

P.S. Chic cold weather accessories.

P.P.S. Quince favorites.

P.P.P.S. So let me tell you what I love —

By: Jen Shoop

The children are happy and healthy, and still willing to climb into my arms;

There is bonus coffee downstairs;

The only thing between me and my goals is effort;

My mother is a phone call way;

The sun will rise tomorrow, and the trees outside my studio window will dance in its rays while I work, and the redbirds in our yard will visit their branches, and I will continuously remember how immaterial my worries are in the face of these generosities;

The empty page is waiting for me;

The roses that remind me of Elizabeth will bloom again in the spring;

I do not need to prove myself to anyone;

Mr. Magpie will fold me wordlessly into his arms when I go to him;

and today is not the final draft.

Post-Scripts.

+This post started as a quick note on my iPhone (screenshotted below). I needed a little extra oomph to help me get into the ambitious fitness and writing routines I’d set for myself this month. I realized after I began expanding on it that the list was, formula-wise, a subconscious riff on this poem by Thich Nhat Hanh, which I wrote about previously here. Publishing the good news! Amen!

+More on the concept of bonus coffee!

+The concept of the sun still rising took on intense new meaning in the midst of COVID.

Shopping Break.

The following content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

+If you have a big event coming up this spring, or are just thinking ahead to summer festivities and/or family portraits, you must spend some time looking through the dress sale section at Net-a-Porter (up to 60% off). Some incredible buys: flattering dress for a summer family portrait that you will get a lot of everyday wear out of, too; spectacular option for fall family photos; the airiest summer dress for stagnant D.C. heat (I own this and love it); fabulous formal dress for a spring gala or wedding that no one else will have.

+Also think this dramatic Loewe scarf from the Net sale section is fun, and this floral Zimmermann blouse is ultra-dreamy, whether paired with the matching pants or styled with white jeans/white skirt or even as a cover-up. The pattern reminds me of De Gournay! (Speaking of: a very chic coffee table book.)

+New colors available for these chic, practical kitchen chairs. (We learned the hard way about upholstered dining chairs and small children.) Love the unexpected green! 20% off and free ship right now. Also love this simple bobble-base tea table (also 20% off and free ship). We have been waiting patiently for our Oomph tini table to come (to the tune of 24-28 weeks in production time…) but this would be very chic and quicker to arrive. This one is also really fun and more similar to Oomph — the quatrefoil shape of course reminds me of Van Cleef and Arpels!

+The Mother Science moisturizer I was raving about yesterday launched!

+Great exercise socks (also fun in these retro / varsity-style colors). I love these and these inexpensive ones from Amazon.

+Found my Varley longline fleece 25% off here! This is such a great piece because it covers the rear in leggings but cinches at the waist for a flattering silhouette.

+Micro-mini new year’s resolution: I WILL wash my makeup brushes more routinely, using this cleaner. Just created a recurring calendar invite to remind myself! (All my favorite makeup brushes here.)

+New popcorn bowl for my popcorn addiction. (Importantly, it’s melamine so my kids can enjoy it on the couch!)

+A great source for high-end looking shams / bedding with elegant monogram options.

+Loving the dramatic, affordable designs from new-to-me label Damson Madder.

+Eyeing one of these velour (!!!) sets from Suzie Kondi. Juicy revisited (and improved).

By: Jen Shoop

The following content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

I’ve mentioned this a couple of times in the past few months, but I have been doubling down on moisture for my skin ever since I had a facialist tell me (much to my surprise) that my skin was dry! I honestly had no idea — it’s not flakey or red or anything, just runs dry. I’ve tried probably a dozen moisturizers over the past few months, and these are my absolute favorites:

01. InnBeauty Extreme Cream — Mr. Magpie and I both love this and for most of the summer and fall I used this as my daily moisturizer (currently using The Outset, mentioned below, but will definitely toggle back to this in future months). Don’t let the slightly garish packaging put you off; I was initially deterred by the marketing because it read very “Gen Z” or younger to me (sorry, but it’s true!), but this is an excellent daily moisturizer. It’s very similar to Augustinus Bader, which I’ve also tested in the past — Bader is a great moisturizer but I just couldn’t get over the price tag especially when I find InnBeauty so similar. InnBeauty might be a tad more oily / unctuous / heavy than Bader but overall a similar product. Deeply hydrating, almost has an oil-gel-like feeling when applying, scentless. Mr. Magpie says it’s like “wearing a filter” because it makes your skin glow.

02. UBeauty Super Hydrator (seen above) — A Magpie once wrote to say she had a makeup artist do her makeup for her wedding, and she ran off to apply this before they got started, and the artist was absolutely shocked at what it did to her skin and begged to know the product. I think about that random anecdote every time I apply this. It leaves your skin so plump and glossy! I don’t think this hydrates skin as thoroughly as InnBeauty but it leaves the top layer of your skin looking like a glazed donut. It also works beautifully beneath makeup IMO.

03. The Outset Nourishing Squalane Moisturizer* — The week before Christmas, I simplified my morning and evening skincare routine to The Outset’s three-step micellar gel cleanser, collagen serum, and squalane moisturizer (sold as a bundle here). This is ScarJo’s brand and she swears it is all she uses on her face. I am very impressed, and very happy. It’s a very gentle, nourishing sequence, which appealed to me because I am now using the LED mask (several weeks in, I’m a believer in this) and Dr. Dennis Gross peels in a strict regimen and want to otherwise keep my skincare simple. (I do, though, layer on extra moisture after the three step process.). I really love the moisturizer. This is a great product if you want something simple, clean, gentle — it’s much lighter than moisturizers one and two above but does a fantastic job all the same. Not as heavy but absorbs invisibly and really seals in moisture.

*Quick aside that their viral lip oasis was restocked!

04. Mother Science Molecular Genesis Moisturizer. Technically I’m not supposed to share this until tomorrow but giving you an early scoop – this incredible moisturizer will be released tomorrow but I’ve been using as the last layer in my moisture routine for several weeks now and am completely obsessed. It’s thicker than the previous three moisturizers, and is clinically proven to “effectively repair the skin barrier for dramatic smoothing, firming and hydration of the skin.” I cannot stop touching my skin, which I know is terrible, but it is SO unbelievably soft and conditioned thanks to this moisturizer. I use in the AM after Vitamin C and the Outset trio, and in the PM after the Outset trio and a layer of this facial oil. It is so rich and soothing. I love the way it feels like you’re sealing in all the goodness. Huge fan!

Runners up: I use these final three items more sparingly / specifically, but I really appreciate both of them for specific use cases.

+The first is Rhode’s Glazing Milk, which I use like a primer right before I apply makeup on most days. My process is often vitamin C, The Outset trio, and the Mother Science moisturizer, and then I make breakfast, work out, etc, and apply this just before putting on makeup. It’s more of a fluid but it really feels like it “sets” your skin for makeup, and evens out the canvas.

+The second item is Ursa Major’s Alpine Rich Cream which I use when I’m feeling super dry and/or sometimes apply as the last layer before bed, almost like a sleeping mask. If you need something super heavy, this is the Mac Daddy. Thick, rich, deeply hydrating.

+The third item is Dr. Dennis Gross’s Blur + Repair Cream. This has such a beautiful, almost whipped, texture and sometimes I’ll apply before redoing makeup in the evening or even as a top layer over makeup to sort of refresh things if I don’t feel like redoing everything. It’s a beautiful product but I find I prioritize 1-4 as daily moisturizers and will use this more sporadically. I do think it creates a halo-like or filter-like effect on your skin, blurring imperfections.

Related note: my favorite eye cream remains UBeauty. I know, it’s $$, but nothing else compares to how it hydrates non-greasily. When my eyes are puffy (or when I’m traveling and short on space), I love the $20 caffeine eye cream from BeYou. Totally incredible for depuffing. Recently, I have been using the Tula stick recently, and I do love the application style (so easy to swipe on) but I don’t find it’s quite as hydrating.

What about you? What are your favorite moisturizers?

P.S. How do you get your kids to eat?

P.P.S. 11 small ways to slow down.

P.P.P.S. Love in ways big and small.

By: Jen Shoop

The following content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

In The Comfort of Crows, Margaret Renkl shares a new year’s tradition in which she treats the first bird she sees each year as an augur of things to come. I’d loved the premise the moment I read about it: birds as texts. Birds as signs. The natural world in general as a mirror, or model, for navigating life — which is to say for navigating change — with grace. I made a mental note to participate in the tradition at the dawn of 2025, but in the post-holiday, mid-head-cold haze, I forgot about it until I woke up in the middle of the night on January third to the sound of a vixen screech outside my window. Foxes. We have a family of them that I believe live in the dense thicket of trees and brush at the perimeter of our property, though we have neighbors who think they live elsewhere; they certainly make their way around. Or maybe there are multiple families of them that we confuse for one another. All I know is that we regularly see one trot straight up our driveway in his magnificent coat on his delicate feet from somewhere in our backyard in the early morning, and make a left hand turn into our neighbors’ yard, which has a hot tub, and so we joke that the fox is taking his morning dip. We see that fox (or maybe a member of that fox family) frequently enough that we’ve named him “Frederick,” and one of the Glamsquad hair stylists who often does my hair calls my house “the fox house,” because she’s crossed paths with Frederick (or his doppelganger) twice while visiting.

So maybe the fox is my avatar for the year. And what can I learn from them? The first observation that suggested itself: these foxes didn’t always live here; we’ve only noticed them regularly for the past year. My suspicion is that they found the food supply here plentiful and settled in for the long haul. In the spring, our neighborhood is absolutely overrun by cottontail rabbits, which I’ve learned are the preferred repast of the American red fox. So they are an opportunistic species, moving where they’ll be best-nurtured, or where their likelihood of success is high. And they are also resilient: they will adopt an omnivorous diet when they need to. Just this morning, two days after the midnight vixen call, my daughter called us from the front living room: “Frederick is outside, and there’s another fox with him!” We watched from our window. The littler one (bigger than a kit, but small? a female? the female that was screaming outside my window?) was chewing on the branch of the plantings that attract unbelievable numbers of pollinators in the warm months in the front of our yard. Maybe she was hungry, and the plant was breakfast.

I watched the fox and thought: this year, how might I put myself in places that are likely to nurture me? How might I let go of unnecessary patterns in order to prioritize my own well-being, my own likelihood of success?

What is the first bird or animal you crossed paths with this year? How can you read it as a symbol of, or herald for, 2025?

*Above photo is terrible — you can see my reflection in it! — and was taken in warmer months, but still. Frederick in action in our front yard!

Post Scripts.

+What we can learn from winter.

+Another time of “wintering,” or drawing inward: the early post partum days.

+The pinches of motherhood.

Shopping Break.

The following content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

+A great everyday cardigan for $128. Lots of colors available but of course I love the black and white stripe!

+I just recently learned that Rent the Runway has a fairly extensive resale section. You do not need to be a member / have a subscription to purchase from the resale section, and you can find insane deals on styles from seasons past, like this adorable BA&SH cardigan I just bought ($85, plus use code LOVE2HAVE for 15% off) or this Veronica Beard wool toggle jacket for $80. Note that these are pre-worn pieces, sort of like on The Real Real, but potentially with even fewer wears. I also think this might be a good spot to ferret out statement dresses you might only wear a handful of times. Love this Alemais dress for a winter getaway, and feels more reasonable at $225! They even have handbags from APC!

+Love this reversible sherpa vest from Sezane!

+I’ve been wearing this lip tint oil a lot the past week — I have it in the hope color and it is SO pretty. Hillary Kerr described it perfectly this week (and I agree with her enthusiastic review): “It’s not as intensely pigmented as the liquid blush, but it’s really buildable and the texture never feels sticky. It kind of melts into your lips, but the hydration part really lingers, in a stain-like way, but without the drying that normally comes with a stain.”

+Just noticed this sleek portable speaker is on sale. We have a different brand of portable speaker (WonderBoom) and use it ALL THE TIME but dare I say the Bose is slightly more aesthetically pleasing? (And given my obsession with Bose’s ultra open earbuds, I am inclined to trust the quality!) Just toss in your bag for the beach, for a picnic, when traveling (we always bring when we’ll be staying in an AirBnB!), when gardening, when dining al fresco, etc. They also have a micro size on sale that would be good for camping, hiking, times when you need to pack light.

+Speaking of camping/hiking, did I tell you that Mr. Magpie and I — completely without arrangement — individually bought one another two Helinox chairs for Christmas?! Now we have a complete set of four, one for each family member, so it turned out great. He bought two of the zeros (ultra lightweight) and I bought two of the ones (a little heavier but more comfortable and sturdy, based on reviews). We now keep them in the trunk of our car! I actually have a specific vision for these chairs. I’ve long wanted to hike the trail between Aspen and Crested Butte and the zeros are definitely lightweight enough to pack for the trek! Hoping to accomplish this in 2026.

+Speaking of trunks (ha), can I remind you that this Thule organizer is THE BEST THING? We still talk about how much we love it routinely, and we have had it for a full year! There are of course lots of cheaper organizers on the market but this one collapses flat and is somehow the perfect dimensions for literally whatever you need. It somehow holds everything snugly and securely. Specifically, great for groceries.

+I had always wanted to try these Tula eye balms and just got my hands on a stick of the power swipe. I have to say the applicator is very compelling. It’s not like it’s a huge lift to dab on eye cream but something about being able to apply it directly to your undereye with a quick swipe feels very easy. I also picked up this 24-7 moisture intense cream. You would not believe how many layers of moisturizer I have been applying daily, and I still feel like my skin drinks it up thirstily.

+Just a reminder that the Newa is still 20% off, and Emese Gormley has raved about it.

+Moon Boot-inspired snow boots for littles, under $50 — final few!

By: Jen Shoop

Image via.

“Why not end here, without answers?
Aren’t there chance meetings in every life that don’t play out,
stories that seem meant to remain ghostly, as faint and fleeting
as the reflection of a face on the window of a bus?”

-Stuart Dybek

This sentiment has been a prevalent motif in the past few years of my life: not everything resolves to a fine point. True in relationships, true in business, true in the occasionally wounding ways of the world, true in the unending complexity and contradictoriness of people. But I was thinking of this especially when I ran into an acquaintance dining out by chance at the same restaurant as Mr. Magpie and I last week. We exchanged pleasantries, caught up on how the holidays went, and then she grabbed my hand and told me that she’d had a terrible fluke accident where she’d tripped down the steps in her home and punctured a lung. She hadn’t realized the severity of the incident until hours later, when, still in pain, she found herself unable to breathe, and immediately went to the hospital, where she subsequently spent the days leading up to Christmas while her husband attempted to keep the magic of Christmas alive on his own for their four children. We joked about men wrapping gifts, the pomp and circumstance of the entire holiday, how much there is to do — and then I told her, somewhat tentatively, as we aren’t close friends:

“I had a freak accident, too, a few years ago. I tripped on a rug in my apartment while pregnant with my son and split my head open. I ended up needed ten stitches right down the center of my forehead. I don’t know if you’re like me, but I spiraled for awhile about this. I kept thinking, What does it mean? Is the universe telling me something? Did I deserve this? And, I just want you to know, that sometimes random bad things happen. They just just happen. And they’re not your fault or a sign from the universe except for maybe a gentle nudge to slow down.”

I don’t know how much of this she took on board; I could see she was still in those early, tender days after something disruptive happens where you’re just wanting to reacclimate, move on from the piquancy, resume the normal. (About a year ago, I was catching up with a high school classmate who’d also succumbed to a weird incident — a stray hockey puck struck her while at a Caps game and she ended up needing multiple stitches across her scalp! I saw her just after the incident, and could tell she was still shaken up about it, still in that early phase of processing and desperately wanting to put it all behind her.)

So I don’t know if I helped either of those women in any immediate sense, but I want to put this energy out into the world because back when I was navel gazing and wringing my hands over my own incident, groping for guilt, or puzzling over what my comeuppance meant, a Magpie reader wrote me to say:

“Sometimes bad things just happen.”

And I fought militantly against that phrase. I’m by nature drawn to plotting the asterisms. I have been trained, rigorously, in both college and graduate school English programs, to track the patterns in order to derive meaning from a text. I want to believe that everything happens for a reason. And as a Catholic I am a consequentialist, more or less in constant company with guilt.

But I think sometimes these fluke accidents do just happen, and we can’t permit ourselves to attach too much meaning to them, or we begin to lose faith in the goodness of the world, and we harden our hearts. One of the big adjustments to adult life is acknowledging the fair world fallacy — that bad things happen to good people, and vice versa — and finding ways to not let this beat out the good news of the world.

Does this fit neatly with my broader belief that everything happens in its own time, and that what’s meant for you will not miss you? Absolutely not. The puzzle pieces refuse to nest. But maybe life is this way, you know? Maybe I can keep the “everything happens for a reason” sentiment up on the marquee but still permit a few side showings in which the opposite is true: that some things mean nothing, or are not worth the time and energy of assigning them meaning.

Not everything is going to resolve perfectly. (“Why not end here, without answers?”) We are not living out a math problem; we are in the wilderness of lived experience. Just last week, I was reading Mary Oliver’s Rules of the Dance, which is a fairly rigorous review of poetic scansion, meter, form, etc. She makes the point multiple times that there are rules, but that there are also ambiguities in those rules, and that two different scholars might scan the same poem in slightly different and yet legitimate ways. And what’s more, they might change their readings over time. Somehow this reassured me in the most granular way. We are going to change, and our interpretations of the rules will change, and that’s OK, because what we’re after in the end is just a life well and fully and artfully lived. Everything in service of that core, that giving center.

Sunday Shopping Poetry.

The following content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

Mansur Gavriel has a mini version of my most-worn bucket bag in a great versatile color. And this is a great look for less for my own green bigger sized one. // Dolce Vita is my favorite less expensive footwear brand, and it has some of the cutest shoes for spring — love these platform mesh beauties and these fun eyelet sneaks. // Great sale happening at J. Crew – includes the brushed cashmere pullover we all love and this $36 sherpa half-zip; a great look for less for my Varley Roselle. // Spectacular resortwear here and here. And I’m smitten with these sandals. // Gorgeous wallet for the new year. // A great look for less for a piece that is typically $1000. // Pore-shrinking serum. // Dorsey restock on some best-sellers, including these statement earrings and these fabulous everyday leverback ones. // Restock of this best-selling cashmere hoodie!

By: Jen Shoop

The following content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation. Image via.

+MEASURING A DAY / A WEEK / A YEAR: When you reached the end of 2024, how did you measure the year? What inputs went into determining whether it was a year that asked or answered, whether you were happy, whether you achieved what you had hoped, whether it was, writ large, a good or bad year? Two quotes this week really got me thinking along these lines, via Sophie Joan Short and Olivia Ann Rose:

What if we measure a year by how much time we spend with people we love? Or what if we measured it by degree of presence versus productivity? You know how there are those “goal tracking” notecards / graphs where you can indicate whether you achieved your goal each day, e.g., “drank 1 gallon water,” “exercised,” “wrote 250 words,” etc? What if the goals were “spent meaningful time with someone I love,” and “stopped what I was doing to really pay attention”? I would do well to audit my days against these rubrics. This is hitting me hard today because now, on the 13th day of my children being out of school, when I am trying to find ways to get some writing and work done, my son is sitting at my feet, begging me to play the board game he just created, complete with “pawns” marked “mama,” “dada,” “Emory,” and “Hill.” I am desperate to carve out just a few hours of quiet work, and yet. He will be back in school Monday (ha, Mother Nature is suggesting otherwise – we are expecting several inches of snow and I anticipate school will be canceled), and the opportunity to sit and play his game will have evaporated into thin air.

+SPECTACULAR PHOTOGRAPHY: These photos of Estelle Manor, a hotel and private club in Oxfordshire, by Mark Anthony Fox, and these New England portraits by Chesley McCarty absolutely took my breath away and made me want to write multiple different stories at once.

Images via Mark Anthony Fox

Images via Chesley McCarty

+LIVING OUT CONFUSIONS: Stirred by this quote from Anais Nin: “You live out the confusions until they become clear.” This past year, I had a number of different breakthroughs — in writing, in business, in relationships — and I was struck by the fact that the “answer” or “the path forward” had seemed completely obfuscated to me for months (sometimes years), and suddenly, the mist had drawn back. This was particularly true in a relationship that was causing me a lot of pain. I was so deep in it, I couldn’t see anything rightside up. It took an enormous act of strength to lever myself out. But I think a lot of important things take a long time to resolve, or to manifest, and we must be patient in working through haze for a long while. I had a younger creative reach out to me and ask “how did you grow your following?” and I had nothing material to offer her — just that I show up every day with the belief that what I am creating feels in some way essential to get out there, into the world, whether just for myself or perhaps because it might resonate with someone else rowing a narrow strait, and that I must try (and often fail) in dozens of ways. But the art, the thing, the joy in creating, comes first. I know there are other creatives who have catapulted to success and perhaps they are better suited to answer the question more pithily. But for me, it’s been a slow and steady dance. I have had to take the long view. I have lived through decades of confusions! Onward!

+EYEING + BUYING: The main thing on my radar — KBeauty! I’m late to this entire world but polled Magpies via Instagram for a few favorites. The top, top vote was Beauty of Joseon daily SPF — dozens of Magpies swear by this. Other common responses: Mixsoon Hyaluronic Acid and anything Incellderm, but especially the cleanser and oil mist. You can find all my latest beauty discoveries here.

NEW FRANK + EILEEN COLOR // THE COOLEST SHOES FOR THE NEW YEAR // K BEAUTY SUNSCREEN VALENTINE’S DAY FROM LAKE // LA LIGNE SWEATER // BUZZY FANTASY BOOK // MY FAVORITE HOUSE CLOGS

+BESTSELLERS: The top sellers were this Varley half-zip, 40% off and this gorgeous suit, which I can’t rave about more. Perfect amount of coverage, not uncomfortable, runs TTS.

01. VARLEY HALF ZIP // 02. FOLLOW SUIT SWIMSUIT (BEST WINTER GETAWAY SUIT! RUNS TTS) // 03. GLASS SKIN COLLAGEN MASKS // 04. TUCKERNUCK DRESS // 05. KULE CARDIGAN (ON SUPER SALE, PLUS EXTRA 10% OFF) // 06. PINK CHICKEN GIRLS PUFFER // 07. BEST AFFORDABLE SHEETS // 08. SWEATER KICK FLARE PANTS // 09. MADEWELL BARREL JEANS (SO GOOD – GO DOWN A SIZE) // 10. EXFOLIATING PADS // 11. BEST SOCKS // 12. AYR EARLY MORNING TEE

By: Jen Shoop

The following content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

CARTOLINA BLAZER // DEHANCHE BELT // MOTHER JEANS // HEAVEN MAYHEM EARRINGS // STRIPE + STARE BASE LAYER

VARLEY SWEATER JACKET // LESET POINTELLE TEE // DORSEY EARRINGS // INUIKII BOOTS // CARTOLINA BLAZER // DEHANCHE BELT // MOTHER JEANS

J. CREW METALLIC TURTLENECK (OLD, SIMILAR HERE) // LA LIGNE OONA SKIRT (MY COLOR NO LONGER AVAIL, SIMILAR HERE) // LIZZIE FORTUNATO EARRINGS // VERONICA BEARD DASH BAG // AMANDA MARIA CASHMERE CREWNECK AROUND SHOULDERS

FRANK AND EILEEN CARMEL SET (LOOK FOR LESS HERE) // ROTHYS CLOGS

SABLYN CASHMERE TOGGLE COAT // RAG + BONE SOFIE JEANS // ISABEL MARANT BOOTS // APC BAG // LA LIGNE CASHMERE CARDIGAN

J. CREW MOCKNECK (OLD) // CO CASHMERE PULL-ON PANTS // VERONICA BEARD DASH BAG // HEAVEN MAYHEM EARRINGS // LA LIGNE MINI MARIN SWEATER // CHANEL FLATS

SKIMS SWEATSHIRT // MAGPIE BIRDING HAT (!) // ODODOS FLEECE BELT BAG // BEYOND YOGA LEGGINGS // VERONICA BEARD SNEAKERS (RESTOCKED!)

PAIGE METALLIC KNIT MOCKNECK // JOE’S JEANS VEGAN LEATHER SKIRT // LARROUDE BOOTS // J. MCLAUGHLIN CARDIGAN // 3.1 PHILLIP LIM SOLEIL BAG // HEAVEN MAYHEM EARRINGS

RHONE MOCKNECK // RHONE LOUNGE PANTS

SLVRLAKE GRACE JEANS // KILTE QUARTER ZIP // RAG + BONE TEE

By: Jen Shoop

The following content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation. Image via.

When my sister and her wife were in town, they shared that in lieu of making resolutions, they create “New Year Bingo Cards” featuring a range of different aspirations, at different gradations of complexity and seriousness. For example, some of the meatier ones were career-related, but one of my sister’s Bingo Card squares last year was also “seeing an owl in real life” (I know, absolutely adorable — to think this was one of nine exciting things she imagined for her year!), which she successfully did when we visited the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies in July (!). What I love about the premise is that there’s nothing punitive about it, but if you cross one off, you’re delighted by the accomplishment! More of a pleasant game that rewards you for putting yourself out there and pursuing your own joy. I’m all about this as I get older — fewer hard lines, more grace. Life is strenuous enough on its own; why add more to your plate? Pressure is a choice! I like the way the bingo model makes ambition playful: a space to share your big visions but without penalty if unachieved.

Below, sharing a template you can print or even just save to your computer and input answers over using Canva (everyone uses Canva, correct?) —

Several of mine were writing-related (another writing retreat! polish this manuscript! query agents! etc), two had to do with traveling with people I love, one was about Magpie Merch. (Hopefully this last one is coming in February — plans are already underway. I’ve had a bunch of readers ask for the Magpie Birding Club hat I made for myself and Mr. Magpie last year, and a few have also asked for “Bad Book Girl Club” hats!, and nothing would delight me more than readers wearing their own “Magpie Birding Club” hats out for their morning walks…! I also have a bunch of other fun ideas that I am dreaming of bringing into this world, but am too scared to detail out here. (For example — yikes! — is it too ambitious to dream that Ayr might release a special Magpie edition of their Early Mornings Tee?! I mean, they already have one in a MAGPIE STRIPE which feels kismet. And it’s kind of the perfect tee for morning birding — I wore mine on an actual guided bird hike this summer — because it’s somewhere between a sweatshirt and a tee. And so many of us own and love this. To be clear, I have not spoken with anyone at Ayr, but it’s now on the Bingo card. A girl can dream!)

But probably the most meaningful was spending more time with my parents. They live five minutes away! I need more of them. Mom, if you’re reading this, look forward to finding me on your doorstep more often in 2025 🙂

What’s on your 2025 Bingo Card?

*If you’re stuck, a couple of categories you might contemplate: meals you want to make (a specific complex recipe, a family dish you want to introduce your children to, a cookbook with a new cuisine), books you want to read (could be – “read 12 books” or “read a new genre” or “join a book club”), travel goals (“see a new country” or “take a day trip with my mom to a local spa”), organizational goals (“finally tackle the garage!” or “donate my old clothes”), nature goals (i.e., “see a barred owl!” or “visit a national park” or “go on a hike”), fitness goals (“complete one month of Heather Robertson videos,” “be able to do a weighted routine with 8 lb dumbbells,” “run 5 miles”), work goals (“earn a promotion!”, “get my resume ready,” etc)! Onward!

Post-Scripts.

+On the magic of taking a walk in cold weather.

+What stage of parenthood are you in?

+Our secret work playlist.

Shopping Break.

+While we’re talking AYR, you need to know they’re running a 48 hour Archive sale with select items up to 80% off. This includes sweatshirts for $30 (orig. $165) and a preppy striped dress for $65 (orig $325).

+Varley sweatshirts still on sale here, too!

+I’m obsessing over this Zimmermann dress (70% off…!)

+I am truly in love with these Mini Marin sweaters. I have the red, an olive and black stripe, and just picked up the baby blue. I’ve been seeing that color a lot all of the sudden and it feels very fresh. Imagine with white jeans, or even khaki/taupe/olive barrel pants? The sweaters are the perfect length, super warm, and I love the detail of the wider collar. You can also just tell the quality of their pieces IRL. They really stand out.

+A few recent buys I’m enthusiastic about: 1) already mentioned this dry shampoo, which I like to use all over my head and then use the Crown Affair powder at the root; I also noticed the Divi brand sells packs of silk hair ties for $7 — much more affordable than Slip! 2) Souper Cubes! A Magpie reader rec that Mr. Magpie now uses a TON for soups and stocks. 3) Wingspan! Our new board game obsession. Mr. Magpie gave me this for Christmas and we LOVE this game. The set-up commitment is pretty steep. It’s a complex game with a lot of moving parts — you really need to invest in a full-length practice round before things start to click. But once you’re over the hump, it is SO delightful.

+New denim silhouette from Agolde!

+Coziest set. Been getting a lot of wear out of this. I bought it for travel days to/from Italy and have found myself reaching for it frequently.

+Completely obsessed with this powder bronzer. WOW. I had gone down deep Reddit archives in search of a great bronzer and this one kept coming up. It is so natural-looking!

+Love these J. Crew winter boots – on sale!

+A perfect cardigan.

+And another perfect blazer from VB…!

+Still absolutely loving my Cuyana System tote for taking to meetings, when I’m working on the go, etc. It fits everything but feels so minimalist chic. I own it in the burgundy. I might zhush it up with this fun little bag charm a girlfriend of mine was wearing on her tote the other day — under $10!

+But can this tote stop haunting me pls and thank you.

+Also, just a yearly reminder that I think MadHippie’s very affordable Vitamin C is one of my favorite Vit C options — I will regularly cycle it in when I want to save a little money. My two other go-to Vitamin C products are Biossance’s Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil (love the formula) and Goop’s formula (which I believe has the highest concentration of vitamin c on the market!)

By: Jen Shoop

Why not start this year light?

I could not stop laughing earlier this week because I decided I’d rope my husband into that viral Instagram trend where you ask a man things typically only women know. Only we didn’t do it on video, and I also want to caveat that these types of jokes can reinforce nettling gender norms, etc, etc. But bear with me, because his answers to these prompts were absolute gems.

Me: What is an LBD?

Landon: A laser…botox…dermatology?

Me: What is a waterline?

Landon: The indentation of a too-tight pair of pants or socks.

Me: What is a kitten heel?

Landon: A little heel.

Me: What is tulle?

Landon: A fabric. It’s kind of sheer.

Me: What is contouring?

Landon: Of what? Clothes? I have no idea.

Me: What does “snatched” mean?

Landon: You got a good deal. “You snatched it.”

Me: What is your cupid’s bow? [I ended up giving him a hint: “it’s something on your body.”]

Landon: What…? [After thinking for a minute, he points to the underside of his rear end.]

Me: What is shellac?

Landon: When you shellac your hair…it’s like a hair style.

Me: What is threading?

Landon: When you get rid of your eyebrows. No, like you trim them. You tidy them.

In short, he scored 3 out of 9 — I honestly thought he’d do better since he’s an attentive guy and patiently listens to me chatter on and on about everything in my life. But then again I am sure that I would completely bomb a list of nine items about cars, sports, tools, etc. I can’t even deal with his answers to “snatched” and “waterline” — !

How would your significant other compare? (Ask them if they can correctly define the following items and report back!: an LBD, a waterline, a kitten heel, tulle, contouring, “snatched,” cupid’s bow, shellac, and threading.)

Post-Scripts.

+My husband’s thoughts on fashion trends. Your comments were really funny, too.

+A few of Mr. Magpie’s great recipes: Miso Marinated Black Cod, Buttermilk Biscuits, Linguine Con Vongole.

+On dating my husband.

+Sometimes he doesn’t even realize it, but he’s holding my entire universe together.

Shopping Break.

The following content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

+Gap just released joggers in their popular CashSoft material! Also love this cardigan from the CashSoft collection — a little wink to Khaite. And if you’re going to see Kacey (and you should — she was SO GOOD), you need this.

+But while we’re talking elevated lounge, Rhone sent me this lounge set (mockneck, bottom) and I am obsessed! Ultra soft but have a nice sense of structure to them that make them flattering. Run TTS.

+Adorable Mary Janes with a moire effect — great colors! — for under $65.

+As predicted, this swimsuit has nearly sold out in several colors. They are very hard to find in stock in peak season. I own this in a red/purple combo and it is such a flattering, sexy, interesting, different suit! If you’re going somewhere warm soon, pack it along with these fun earrings and anything from Zimmermann’s “toweling” collection! (I’ve also been hearting some new resortwear over at Shopbop — see my picks here.)

+My in-laws got me this popcorn maker and I’m obsessed!!! We’ve made so many batches during this cozy time of the year. I’m realizing that as I get older, I’m less interested in sweet treats and more interested in an after-dinner or mid-afternoon salty snack. We’ve been using these Amish Country kernels.

+Love the structure of this tweedy jacket. The entire outfit, as styled on the site, is SO me. I love this silhouette — the wide leg jeans, the slim-fit base layer, the boxy cropped jacket / cardigan. J’adore!

+Keep thinking about these neutral sneaks.

+Rag + Bone is offering an extra 30% off sale — how fab is this coat?!

+I did end up ordering this fancy eyeliner in the gold-bronze-brown Mordore color. Stay tuned! While we’re talking makeup, I’ve mentioned this a few times, but this concealer is incredible. My favorite recent cosmetic discovery.

+My favorite glasses for serving margaritas, which are sort of my go-to at-home cocktail. (My recipe here.) We also have the tall ones, and they are ENORMOUS and specifically ideal for our morning smoothies. We pair with these wide glass straws, which are easy to clean (thanks to the included wand) and a dream to drink through.

+These tiny condiment bowls with tops would actually be really handy – we often have little bits of squeezed juice, dipping sauces, minced herbs, etc, and would be so nice to be able to cover with a proper lid!

+Cute striped sweater at an insanely good price.

+A great denim statement top. A splurge but SO good.

+A new kind of Stanley with a flip straw.

By: Jen Shoop

The following content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation

Happy 2025, Magpies! I can just feel that this is going to be a good year for us. I’m channeling the energy in Gayle Brandeis’ poem below for us all: just think about all the good things already in motion, already underway, that will come to us.

Now, onto three cleansing exercises to atune us to the new year:

First: The Paths of Desire Exercise. Over Christmas break, my sister and her wife introduced me to the concept of “paths of desire.” Have you ever noticed a well-trampled path through grass even when a sidewalk is not far off? As in — people just naturally want to walk this one way through this one area, and will trod through grass rather than walk on the paved bit because it feels more natural, expeditious, etc? My sister was saying the same principle holds true in organizing and shaping our homes: if we are constantly frustrated by the pile of shoes at the door, why not put the shoe bin or rack there versus spend some portion of every day moving your children’s shoes to their other destination elsewhere in the house? Or if there is a constant clutter of keys and mail on a certain table that feels like a visual eyesore to you, why not find a decorative bowl or bin to place right there, as you are naturally inclined to drop those items in that particular spot? Or maybe your kids leave their bikes in a heap by the front door. Maybe a rack in that area? Or you’re constantly looking for a place to put your tea mug while in the living room. Maybe you need a small cocktail table?

The idea is working with the grain versus against it — accommodating our “paths of desire.” My prompt for you: what areas of your home give you “background noise anxiety”? Is there a more aesthetic solution you could install right in that spot that accommodates your natural inclination to place specific items there? (This might mean moving a laundry bin, finding a pretty paper box to corral “kitchen papers,” purchasing a larger charging station so you can simultaneously charge more technology in one place.)

Second: Suleika Jaouad’s Five Lists. Importing this lovely set of lists wholesale from the brilliant Suleika. Timebox yourself — give yourself two minutes on the timer to jot down the first things that come to mind so that this isn’t over-precious or over-wrought. I found this exercise deeply rewarding. It surfaced worries, and longings, that I hadn’t even known laid just beneath the epilimnion. I was shocked, frankly, at how quickly the answers materialized on the page…! Turns out I have a lot to be proud of, and a lot to rely on, and a lot that I’m hoping to accomplish…! Onward — !

Three cleansing exercises and journal prompts for 2025.

01. What in the last year are you proud of?

02. What did this year leave you yearning for?

03. What’s causing you anxiety?

04. What resources, skills, and practices can you rely on in the coming year?

05. What are your wildest, most harebrained ideas and dreams?

Third: The Petty Frustration Exercise. I wrote about this a few years ago and really need to trot it out again today:

“Sit down for a second and think through your day, hour by hour. What petty frustrations bother you over and over again? Small things like coffee consistently not being hot, or phone running out of battery by 4 p.m., or having to prep your children’s lunch at 10 p.m when you’re ready for bed, or having a charger that is too short for you to use your phone in your bed. Write them out. Then, devise solutions for each. I think you will be surprised at how small grievances can pile up and create a kind of background “noise” that no one needs, and that many of these petty frustrations can be addressed rather simply.”

I shared my own list along with possible solutions a few years ago here, if you’re looking for an example of the kinds of things we can workshop.

What else are you doing to get into a good headspace for 2025?

Post-Scripts.

+My intention for 2024…I think I did OK on this. I do think I was better about being present in whatever I have been doing, but I wasn’t as focused on this specific concept as I had hoped I’d be.

+Reflections on the past year.

+I’m not really big on resolutions, but this is something very specific I’m doing in 2025.

+My other big aspiration is to clip more permanently into my running/Heather Robertson routine! I have been so sporadic with this since September and I always feel like an entirely different woman when I can commit. I feel better in my own skin, my own head, and my own clothes.

Shopping Break.

+My New Year’s gear: a few fresh Appointed notebooks for hand-drafting and note-taking; fresh writing implements (currently loving these fine-point Sharpies and these Japanese ones, these white-out tapes, and these highlighters); and a new day planner. Appointed also sent me this “year task planner,” which is gorgeous, but I need more space on a “day” level for my crazy specific to do lists. I think I might use it to kick off each week — just write my top goals for the week and ONE item I hope to accomplish on each day. I sort of do this already by highlighting ONE THING that must get done on each calendar day.

+I find it’s easier to commit to working out when I have fun new clothes/gear. In the past two weeks, I ordered two new pairs of my favorite leggings, this fitness top (on sale in select colors here), and this Magpie-recommended sports bra. For running, I am ga-ga over my new “open” ear buds from Bose. Safer, more comfortable, I’m not always worrying they will fall out. Truly a gamechanger for me.

+If you do a lot of gym training, these sneakers made a world of difference for me. I didn’t realize that running shoes are specifically made for forward motion but they provide virtually no stability for the ankle if you’re doing side lunges, squats, really any kind of lift down or up. These are lightweight, comfortable, and really hold your ankle in place.

+If you like my Rag & Bone jeans (currently my favorite pair of jeans in my closet) but want something at a lower price point, you might consider these Pistolas! Use JEN15 for 15% off.

+These teddy bear toys are currently on sale — a friend of mine gave to her daughter for Christmas and it was a huge hit. Bigger than they look on screen! Very cute.

+Just discovered bodycare brand Uni. Like Necessaire (their body lotion is an immediate reorder for me – I replenished my unscented one since I felt that it was too much of a commitment to buy one of the scents in the bigger size without knowing if I like it!*), they develop skincare-grade body products. I’m so intrigued by this body serum that people are raving about. But am I reading it right that the product will not ship until August?!

*Maybe this is mildly insane but I’ve been using the Necessaire body lotion first (truly the best base layer – so hydrating) and then finishing with a small amount of Byredo’s Creme in the Blanche scent, which is just the most divine, clean base layer, but is crazy expensive.

+Speaking of, this hair perfume was a bestseller last week. It’s such a splurge but makes your day old hair (or restaurant hair, or airplane hair!) smell divine!

+Two brands that may help if you’re fine-tuning what you eat/drink in the new year: 1) Bardelia is a great resource if you’re doing dry January or trying to cut back on alcohol in general. They just emailed me with a 15% off code – JENSHOOP15. 2) I’ve mentioned this a bunch, by try a few days of Sakara one week this month! I really think it’s a great reset. It wouldn’t be sustainable for me but when I need a week of healthy eating that will require zero preparation / work on my end, this is where I’ll go. (20% off with code JENSHOOP).

+Extra 20% off Hunting Season’s sale items with code EXTRA. This mini bag is perfect.

+I own and adore this unusual caped top – currently 50% off!

By: Jen Shoop

The following content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation. Image via.

Tuckernuck is running a really big sale, and a few incredible snags: