A few years ago, my mother gave all of the men in our family Faherty pullovers for Christmas, and they’ve become something of an informal family uniform. I learned afterward that Faherty is itself a family-run business “all about good vibes and making things better” and it made immediate sense: their pieces are designed for ease in everyday family life, whether you’re in the phase of running after young children or hosting your grandchildren at home for the holidays. I snapped a few pictures of Mr. Magpie in some of the pieces from Faherty’s Father’s Day collection last week, and his outfit was perfect on a strangely chilly but sunny summer morning as we went from school drop off to a coffee run and then straight into the weekend. Everything he’s wearing would be perfect for Father’s Day gifting, and Faherty is offering us 20% off with code MAGPIE20. (Plus, free shipping through 6/10 so you can receive in time for Father’s Day.)
I had specifically selected the backpack for upcoming vacation plans — it will be ideal for travel days, but also for the light hikes and other family outings we’ll be taking in Colorado and Deep Creek Lake. It’s made of an ultra-light material, has an interior pocket for a laptop, and a side slot for a water bottle, but it looks rugged rather than performance, which appealed.
He’s wearing the All Day shorts in the 5″ length (but longer lengths are available if your man is more thigh-shy — ha! — Lan is 6’0 tall, for reference). He specifically mentioned he plans to wear these golfing since they come in a water-repellant, technical performance material, but I like that these “crossover” for everyday life, too. They do not look like an athletic short, but they perform like them. He’s wearing with their movement polo, which has the feel of a lived-in t-shirt, and this amazing needlepoint belt. (Mr. Magpie actually came home from the golf course one day a few weeks ago and asked me to find one of these after seeing it on another player! I was ecstatic when I discovered them at Faherty.) He took his true size in everything except the belt, which you are meant to go up 2″ in — so if your man is a size 34″ waist, you should order the 36″.
Lastly, a moment for this terry cloth striped pullover! He was glad he had this on hand since it was 50 degrees out in the morning. Perfect top layer for summer, and so handsome in the stripe. In the middle photo below, you can see his foldable sunnies tucked into his collar — another great buy for summer adventures outdoors.
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Q: Outfit for casual daytime winery hang with girlfriends.
A: I would wear a loose, breezy dress like this, this (look for less), or this with a big straw bag, raffia fisherman sandals, and sunnies.
Q: Nice/cute blouses for dinners out.
A: I just ordered this $30 top to try after seeing it on a few chic peas on Instagram! I intend to pair with trending shell earrings. And I think all of us Magpies own this striped top (perfect with white jeans). I’m also loving the trending crochet look — something like this or this. Different direction: a white waistcoat style top (or my taupe colored one). And of course any of the dreamy, airy blockprint styles from Alix of Bohemia! I always get compliments on mine!
Q: Dress for my engagement party, late July, outside in Tennessee (hot!).
A: Fun! A Julia Amory husband shirt, fun piece of jewelry from Notte or Hart, a splurgey beauty gift like this UBeauty lip plasma trio or one or two of your favorite products from Goop, an Alice Walk crewneck.
Q: Black tie optional wedding guest dress in late June in Tennessee.
A: My big lesson from this past year: don’t be a martyr here — this is one realm where I have learned I must dress practically. There is dirt, mud, sweat, gnats, grass…I like to wear my Beyond Yoga sets or Lululemon athletic dress (look for less with this) with a top layer like one of my Alice Walk sweatshirts or Spanx sweatshirt (10% off with SHOOPXSPANX), fun sneaks, and always a ballcap (I like the ones from Clare Vivier, and the ones from Merci Paris are fun). Don’t forget bug spray and a practical tote like a Naghedi (neoprene, so pretty sturdy!).
Q: Pillow inserts for my family room sofa.
A: I use these Amazon ones several places in our home — decent fill and the price is right. My main tip here is always to size up 2″ from the size of the pillow sham. So if the sham is 18″, buy a 20″ insert; if 20″, buy the 22″ insert. Trust me! Nothing sadder than a deflated sham. Buying the 2″ size up will fill out the case properly.
Q: Flattering athletic shorts that aren’t bike shorts.
A: I like the ones I have from Tracksmith, Sweaty Betty, and Beyond Yoga. Even though I’m short (5’0), I prefer a longer inseam for running and find them more flattering, too. Go up a size in the Tracksmiths — they run really small. Love their vintage styling, and they are top of the line in terms of quality and functionality IMO.
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01. My cousin asked me for pillow recommendations for a family room and I pointed her in the direction of either Pepper Home (especially love this pattern) or Pop o Color on Etsy. Both carry great fabrics/patterns but are much less expensive than the ones we’ve had custom-made via our interior designer. In making the suggestion, I discovered these cute Danika Herrick pillows in red, white, and blue and I can’t stop thinking about them…
02. It wouldn’t be summer without some fresh Lake Pajamas. I now have these blue pointelle ones in my drawer (seen at top) — ultra-lightweight and the blue color called my name. While I was daydreaming about the lake house writing haven yesterday, I thought of this set and how perfect they’d be for our trip to Deep Creek Lake later this summer…
03. Sephora just began to carry Fara Homidi’s viral lip palettes. I must admit that I am intrigued by the buzz and hype! Has anyone tried?!
04. Can’t stop thinking about this striped top and these matching striped pants for a major summer evening moment. Just so impossibly chic, I can’t deal. N.B.: I find Sezane’s pants run really small. Go up a size.
05. Net-A-Porter now carries Rue de Verneuil, and a great assortment of it. Perhaps this is because of my line of work, or my past as an entrepreneur, but any time I see a smaller brand make its debut on a big retailer, I find myself cheering. Like, big time! Big leagues! Also, I absolutely love this cherry red RDV tote — in line with my new red obsession. This particular shape/style reminds me of Hermes’ Garden Party bags.
06. I mentioned this recently, but this candle has been garnering quite a bit of positive attention. I love the idea of my home smelling like The Hamptons (!) I was just texting with some of our NYC friends, and we were reminiscing about one house we rented together in the Hamptons back when we lived in the city, and one of them said: “But remember how bad the cell service was?” and I said: “Part of the appeal, TBH!”
07. A great, well-priced bin for beer and soda during backyard hangs this summer. I also find these types of bins/buckets helpful for birthday parties and other miscellaneous children’s events, e.g., when you sign up to bring snacks for a sport or school event, or want a spot to toss lots of party favors, etc.
08. Clever little frosted cups for neighborhood walks and hangs. Would also make a great summer hostess gift. Conveniently 20% off right now!
09. The prettiest blouse. These are not inexpensive, but I have a few items from this brand and they are all spectacular. The patterns, the details, the heavenly airy material.
10. This white eyelet dress arrived and is absoluteperfection. I feel so sexy in my Rixo pieces! They’re so beautifully cut.
11. Mentioned this collection quite a bit, but want to make sure you get your eyes (and possibly hands) on Doen’s red gingham pieces. They’re sure to fly.
12. I had the wrong link to this fun tomato necklace in Monday’s post — here is the correct one. Love all the whimsical pieces from this small brand.
Side note: I just updated my promo codes page with some really good discounts at Spanx, Aurate, March Hare and more! Don’t forget I have a 15% off code to Mille, too!
Last year, I briefly contemplated applying to attend a weeklong writer’s retreat held at a lake house in the strip of Maryland that thinly divides Pennsylvania from West Virginia. It sang out because, for years now, I’ve cultivated a fantasy of absconding to a cottage to write. The dream is realised enough that I can hear the creaky pine steps in the morning, feel the cotton midweight of the navy quilt over me in the evening, and fall asleep to the cricketsong and starlight at nightfall. There are lunches of farmstand peaches and cherries with fresh bread and Emmentaler cheese enjoyed on a slatted balcony in the sun when I am hungry, and walks down to the lapping lake, with Tilly at my side — because this is a dream after all — when my writing sticks in mud. There is honeysuckle, an old bike with a basket, the sound of my feet running the mountain trails, and I sit at a worn desk with windows open to let the air in, and I find words that communicate before they are understood. Time slips by like a field mouse, disturbing no one.
The vision is a far cry from my daily footfall, where, despite my focused efforts, my maneuvers are time-boxed. Even my roundest writing has grown between tight hedges. I have thirty minutes to ____; I must get ____ before ____; can I squeeze in _____?
But I was listening to Elizabeth Gilbert last summer, while sighing at the delta between my daily life and my would-be Walden, and she said (paraphrasing): If you’re waiting for there to be some summer of untrammeled time to write, some period in which you have nothing to do but craft, you’re dreaming. There’s only today, right now. Get started! If memory serves, she also made the point that Toni Morrison wrote several of her best novels while maintaining a nine-to-five. So, yes. Write now, even if you’ve only got margins to work with.
I love her get up and go. It nests neatly with my own philosophies on writing, which are, in short: 1) publish frequently; 2) what the reader thinks of your writing is none of your business; and 3) inspiration will not always find you, so you must learn to be disciplined. Elsewhere, Gilbert has written about an exchange between a filmmaker friend of hers and the German filmmaker Werner Herzog. Gilbert says her friend was complaining how difficult it was to create as an independent filmmaker, and Herzog wrote: “Quit your complaining. It’s not the world’s fault that you wanted to be an artist. It’s not the world’s job to enjoy the films you make, and it’s certainly not the world’s obligation to pay for your dreams. Nobody wants to hear it. Steal a camera if you have to, but stop whining and get back to work.” Oof! I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of that note, but I can’t disagree with the medicine. “It’s not the world’s fault that you want to be an artist…now get back to work.” Amen, amen. And so we continue to write without the worn pine underfoot and the lake breeze in our hair and the sainted Tilly at our feet.
But there are a few things I have braided into encouragement as I’ve internalized Gilbert’s, and Herzog’s, wisdom. The first is that I can find small ways to welcome Walden into my daily life, and it’s always by doing the narrowest, almost stupidly simple things, like sitting outside for ten minutes without my phone in the morning, watching and listening to my backyard. The bees in the climbing hydrangea, the cardinals’ whistling, then trilling, call and response: cheer, cheer, cheer / birdie, birdie, birdie. The way the forenoon sun feels on my skin, the smell of dew-kissed grass. A suburban sinfonia. As Mary Oliver put it: pay attention, and be astonished. The other tack: I wonder sometimes what I would actually feel if I did abscond to a cottage for a week. If I press my face to the glass, I think I would be lonely, and miss my husband and children, and the clatter and comfort of their feet in my orbit. I would be so far from my source material that I worry my writing would suffer, too. And so I think the grass is always greener (the lake always bluer) and I return with congeniality to the starts-and-stops of my everyday.
+The quilt in my imagined lakehouse….there would also be sconces like this.
+Lewis has some really cute clothing finds for kids, like these strawberry shorts and this seahorse-print dress. I’m a longtime fan of this brand — I have some of their sheeting for my son! The best patterns.
+My son loves fact books — prefers them to fictional ones! — and I know this encyclopedia will be up his alley.
15. Coral mirror. We will need a new decorative mirror in our formal living room (pieces are arriving! will share more when complete) and I’m interested in something that makes a statement, like this one.
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Bad days are a part of a full and open-hearted life. As in — the point of living is not to feeling nothing. Or to hide from the dings, bumps, and bruises. Or to distract, or anesthetize. Life is about taking risks of spirit and mind, and accepting that you may wind up with some battle scars. These are the table stakes.
When I was in the throes of a difficult time, a wise friend told me: “I feel like objects of devotion are important right now — like something you can wear around your neck or keep in your pocket to touch as a reminder that life is happening, you will feel things, and you will survive, you know?”
Life is happening, you will feel things, and you will survive, you know?
This past week wasn’t a bad one for me — stressful and disjointed, yes, but not bad. Still, I wanted to share the sentiments above because they’ve emerged like a promise from the smoke of a challenging time I went through last year. I find myself leaning on them like crutches whenever things seem to be slipping sideways. Which, OK, maybe did happen a little bit this week? Mr. Magpie threw out his back and then was consumed by new undertakings at work, we are currently without childcare, my children needed eye drops administered at school midday — which meant that I spent about 40% of my day in the car going to/from school. (I joke, but it did feel that way.) My least favorite day of the year fell this week, too: my annual trip to the OBGYN. I wrote about this last year, but this routine check-up fills me with dread. Conceptually, I understand that this is tied to losing my friend Elizabeth to cancer in my 20s, and to the ways COVID exacerbated my medical anxiety, but even with careful rationalizing and heightened self-awareness, I cannot shake it off. This year, I did notice a small step forward: I saw the appointment on my calendar and said, “OK, Jen. You’re not going to sleep well, and you’re going to feel out of sorts, but you know what this is. We’ve been on this rodeo before. We’re going to focus on the fact that nothing lasts forever, and that this, too, shall pass.” And even though I did go through all the motions — the sleepless eve, the upset stomach, the spiraling thoughts — I also felt capable of rising above it in a certain way. I’d bob up for air: “Aha, here’s something familiar. Accept it and keep swimming.” Of course, I felt immediate relief afterward, but the enormous knot I’d pretzeled into during the lead-up absorbed a lot of energy.
I know, I know: bring out the world’s tiniest violin. None of these happenings were serious, or particularly interesting. In fact, everything I’ve listed is part-blessing. I have good healthcare, I came out with a clean bill of health, I have the flexibility to look after my kids when I need to in the middle of the day, etc. And still, it was an offbeat week that left me a little loose at the seams.
But that’s OK. Life is happening, you will feel things.
Onward…!
Also this week…a fabulous Memorial Day weekend that involved a pastry stop at Bread Furst, an impromptu visit to the National Zoo (surprisingly quiet for the holiday weekend — but then again, we were there at around 8 A.M.!), a Nats game, lots of of pool time, lots of cocktails.
Side note: my son selected his outfits himself. Pattern mixing pro! I love his little Oso and Me tee and shorts situation in the last photo above. And I loved mini’s striped tank and shorts outfit! (She dressed herself like this!)
My treat to myself after the GYN exam: Trader Joe’s peonies. I also indulged in quite a bit of retail therapy: my new Julia Amory dress, a hair clip from Emi Jay, this crochet dress and these fish earrings from Zara (red!!!), this blouse from Alix of Bohemia, this bronzer, and this seashell bag.
In pursuit of “going easy” this summer, I treated myself to an impromptu al fresco lunch date with my Kindle. (Can you see me in the reflection?). It was delightful. I felt like I was on vacation! I finished this romance, which was so-so but really put me in a vacation mood. The setting (PEI) is delightful.
I also did a little trail running with my new Nike trail runners. I mentioned this recently, but I love the way trail running introduces a new level of challenge — you must constantly think about foot placement, and what’s just ahead. The slight elevation in challenge empties my mind even more than road running — it sends me into a distracted but focused state of mind? And there’s nothing like being completely surrounded by nature.
Last note on going easy this week — I can’t explain it, but sitting in my car outside my house is a kind of self-care. It’s a buffering space where I feel safe, cocooned, but am not immediately springing into to-dos? I love it. Enhanced by a green smoothie in a water bottle from our trip to Indian Springs last fall, the memory of which shuttles me into a happy space.
Separately, how good are all the yellows in these last two photos? Love yellow. You can see my new Spanx sweatshirt on the seat below — it’s the perfect lightweight top layer in the best hue. My Naghedi (medium size) is sold out in the yellow color but I did find a few on sale here. Go for the joyful color! You won’t regret it. Love the orange one, on sale for 30% off.
+A POEM THAT PULLS ON THE HEART: My son turned five on Friday, and this poem by Adrian Mitchell went straight to my heart. My boy still reaches for my hand when we walk together, and I find myself staring down at our clasped palms, willing them to stay that way.
+POLISHED DRESS FOR SUMMER: I couldn’t get over how gorgeous Julia Amory looked in her own Betty dress (now in a gorgeous blue summer print) here. Stunning! Her hair and makeup are a 10 in this video. I immediately ordered the dress.
+EUROPEAN COOL GIRL STYLE: Sort of at the opposite end of the style spectrum, I can’t get over the undone chicness of Ines Isaias. Hers is so far from my own style, but I am so inspired by how effortless and cool she looks at all times, even while in boxer shorts and Birks. Major inspo!
+NEWLYWED KISS: Have I been reading too many romances, or is this the most romantic kiss you’ve ever seen? The caption is perfect: “The rain was a paid actor in this core memory.” Ha!
+LEGO ORGANIZATION: In advance of my son’s birthday (knowing this would be wrapped for him), I did a major clean out of his toys. It felt so good to donate the ones that he’d outgrown, and to sort and organize the rest. I found these inexpensive but attractive bins (very sturdy — and they can stack!) at Target to organize some of his bigger toy sets (action figures, cars) and my husband bought him this Lego organizer, which they’ve together been working to organize. (Aside: some of my favorite details in my son’s room here.)
+SHOPPING OBSESSIONS: This skirt in the blue stripe is SO good; just ordered myself this liquid bronzer (I can’t stop – I need all the bronzing help I can get); a perfect summer blouse for tucking into white shorts.
What Inspired You This Week…
+I continue to receive sporadic notes from Magpies about this post, on letting people be wrong about you. It is in some ways a counterintuitive sentiment, but so powerful once you let it set in. You don’t need to prove yourself to anyone. And it’s a fool’s errand to think you can control who others perceive you. So just let yourself be you and trust the people that matter will see you as you are.
+Thank you for the gorgeous DMs, emails, comments on this post about turning 40. I loved this comment from Hayley: “It describes exactly how I’ve been feeling of late (also at 40). Content and highly aware of my own good fortune, for possibly the first time in my life. I know there will be more and I look forward to it, but I don’t feel like I need to rush at it desperately lest it leave me behind.” Hayley nailed it — there is a distinct feeling of not needing, or not wanting, to rush anymore.
+This Tuckernuck top — wow. I think we all own this top now! I will be wearing mine this week! I think this might be the most-purchased item in a single week in Magpie history. This linen mini was also wildly popular. Viva la leg!
MILLE DRESS // G LABEL CARDIGAN (SOLD OUT, BUT ALWAYS GET SO MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT…THIS ONE IS SIMILAR) // TWIZZLERS, MODEL’S OWN
BIRKENSTOCKS // HHH NAP DRESS (I KNOW THIS STYLE FEELS A LITTLE PLAYED OUT BUT THEY ARE SUPREMELY COMFORTABLE AND THEY’RE ALWAYS WANT I WANT TO THROW ON IF IT’S HOT AND I’M HOME)
Mango, J. Crew, and Shopbop have some absolutely incredible new summer collections that just went live. My favorite picks below!
From J. Crew…
01. Crochet knit tank — the vibe of summer, especially in that fab kiwi green! Pair with the white Agolde shorts and leather or raffia sandals for an on-trend moment.
02. This breezy maxi nails the Mediterranean boho vibe so many “it girls” I follow on Instagram project. Think sun-kissed shoulders, fresh seafood, rose…if it’s too boho for you, try this more refined style. Love the breezy white but also fab in that blue!
03. Sea-life inspired jewelry are trending this summer. Love these oversized starfish.
04. This checked mini has a Sofia Richie / Posse vibe to it that I love.
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Mr. Magpie has coordinated a little getaway for myself and three of our dearest couple friends for my 40th. The trip includes a little bit of all of my favorite things: hiking (my friends are begrudgingly accommodating, ha), pool time, spa treatments, wine tasting, live music, good food, luxury accommodations, and, mainly, the company of old friends. In preparation for the adventure, I compiled a quirky “Jen’s 40th Playlist,” which begins with upbeat classic rock and country and then crescendos into late night dance party and karaoke territory. Songs for good nights, bare feet, best friends. I’ve been listening to it while zipping around town this week and it’s put me in the best mood.
Dream Birthday Wardrobe.
I also compiled a dream wardrobe for this trip — what I’d buy and pack with a limitless budget. I’m digging the bold, bright color palette. Nobody puts 40 in the corner!
