Anatomy of a Dreaded Dentist’s Appointment Outfit.
As always, I look for small ways to cushion, or easy my way through, the unpleasant. Three suggestions for a trip to the dentist’s: bring a comfort audiobook (blurs out some of the noise, and gives you something relaxing to focus on); make the appointment for first thing in the morning; and dress in something that makes you feel spirited and strong. Thing: colors! stripes! regalia!
I also really layered on the talismans. My Tilly signet ring, my evil eye bracelet (25% off with JEN25), the pendant engraved with my son’s writing, my Jane Win courage coin…!
Per my post here, I wanted to be ready for anything: taking a walk with my weighted vest, running after my kids in the backyard, sitting outside and reading on a picnic blanket. (And I did all of those things!)
I am specifically hoping for one of the Loewe “pocket” bags for my birthday. (Landon?! Are you listening?!). They are so charming and highly practical for my lifestyle right now. Over the weekend, we took the kids to see the “Lilo and Stitch” movie (deeply heartwarming! — I enjoyed it) at the theater ten minutes from us, and I brought only this Celine phone sling! It was so liberating. Of course, my son was begging for wipes because of sticky candy fingers, but we made do. I think I’d love the Loewe because it’s a tad bigger — could hold mini wallet/card case, phone, keys, and lipgloss. Perfect!
Everyday Summer Bags for Mom Life.
I want to call out a sub-category of everyday purses: for moms of young children! Each of these bags are great schlepping totes that can fit a ton of essentials, but don’t sacrifice style/color! Each of these spark joy and would totally make a uniform of jean shorts and a tee!
Don’t forget pouches like these for sunscreen, snacks, toys, changes of clothes. Makes finding everything much easier and they are wipeable — and if they get destroyed, they aren’t so expensive as to be ultra-precious. Sharing more bag pouches at the bottom of this post!
If you’re more into the chocolate brown vibe for this summer, try this chic $104 tote from If Only If, seen below. Obsessed with her yellow dress, too…
Woven Bags for Summer.
I’m such a fan girl for a woven/straw bag. All my favorites below.
I own and love almost all of these pouches — I’m totally a pouch queen. I love this exact Minnow one for my own stuff — perfect petite but not too petite size — and the Pehr ones are fabulous for kids’ stuff. I often find myself using these (one for each kid) when I’m wrangling stuff for the pool, camp, tennis, etc. Great way to keep all of my daughter’s hair ties, SPF, spare socks, etc in one bag and my son’s gear in the other.
Last but not least, one easy way to transform a favorite all-year-round bag into something that screams summer: add a seasonal bag charm. There are so many cute/fun and on-trend options out there right now. A few of my favorites below.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
By: Jen Shoop
This May-cember has been flying by — I realized last week that I needed to get my act together because the last day of school, Father’s Day, my brother’s visit from Norway, and a weeklong family trip to Pennsylvania are going to be here in the blink of an eye. Trying to get ahead of things by planning out: something for Father’s Day; swimwear for my children; and FOJ outfits. I was delighted with myself because Mr. Magpie had mentioned that he’d always wanted a griddle (for pancakes, smash burgers, etc) and I set to work researching. I kept coming across the one from the brand Made In but ultimately went with this style from a small American manufactuer called Rocky Mountain Cookware, which has been around since 1902! There was an exhaustive conversation about its merits on some corner of Reddit, and the commenters were very compelling. Plus, the site is dated in a compelling way — you just know these people are focused on metal cookware and nothing else. Ha! Anyway, I ordered it and it arrived — and the box was fully emblazoned with the brand name, and Landon looked at it and said: “Happy Father’s Day to me!” Ha! Oh well. The thought that counts?
Below, sharing items to contemplate for the amazing dads in your life. Different price point, different interest — I tried to cover a breadth here. Landon own a ton of the items included in this roundup, and he is a very discerning guy. I feel confident in these picks!
TABLE KNIVES (EVERY TIME LANDON USES THESE, HE STUDIES THEM WITH AN AIR OF SURPRISE AND DELIGHT — JEN20 FOR 20% OFF) // CARDIO SHORTS (LANDON AND MY SON HAVE MATCHING PAIRS, SEEN ABOVE!) // TEE FOR A TENNIS FAN // YACHT LOAFERS (BOUGHT THESE FOR LANDON, TOO) // FANCY PASTA // THERAGUN (LANDON USES THIS DAILY) // POKER SET // SERUM (LANDON LOVES THIS AND WON’T STOP TALKING ABOUT IT) // DUCK CAMP HAT (LANDON’S “I’M A COOL DAD” HAT)
Even more picks below —
01. Ratio Eight coffee machine — they’re only making 800 of them. We do not own this but Landon mentioned there’s quite a buzz about it in the Reddit world.
02. Carbon steel griddle — what I ordered for Landon! Also good for camping and outdoors.
03. Steak knives — as noted above, Landon loves these. I swear he studies them with a look of delight each time we use them. They are SO SHARP. Beware. Use code JEN20 for 20% off.
06. Any and all Tracksmith — this long sleeve is a classic and can be worn many ways. Great for runners of course but also for any outdoor sports and rec guy.
07. Mini theragun — Landon uses this daily. Daily! He uses it before working out and after working out, and often before bed too! He used to suffer from really bad back pains and this has helped.
11. Mesh shorts that aren’t ugly. Landon owns these, too! I like the shorter inseam. Dare I say mesh shorts can be hot?
12. Crawfish hat. Landon owns in the blue crab motif.
13. For the husbands that try to steal your skincare — this serum. We’re both hooked, obsessed, gone. He’s been complaining all week that we’re almost done with the bottle; I restocked it for him!
14. Sueded loafers — bought these for Landon’s summer wardrobe and he’s been wearing them constantly. So handsome!
16. Classic, nice quality tee from Buck Mason. Landon mentioned the other week that of all the things I buy him, he loves the nice tees the most. He gets the most use/wear out of them and you can really tell the quality!
17. Bombas socks — I recently discovered these and I’m in love! Landon needs some, too.
18. Birkenstocks for summer. Another item I pushed on a reluctant Landon. Now he loves slipping into them to go down to the garden or grill, run the kids to school, etc.
19. Very upscale poker set. A major splurge but sometimes it’s fun to indulge ourselves in our hobbies! Lan does poker nights with his guy friends every few months — this would be a major upgrade.
20. The Aura frame — you can read all of my thoughts on my Mother’s day gift guide, but wow — my entire family loves this and yours will too. Just a beautiful keepsake.
25. Nike Free Metcons — I love these in the women’s version as well. They are the best gym shoe — really stabilize the ankle while doing squats, lunges, etc. I got Landon a pair of these!
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By: Jen Shoop
For as long as I can remember, my father has had a designated perch in his house — one seat on the sofa, slightly more depressed than the others, that has always been his home base. My dad permanently keeps his iPad and glasses on the table adjacent because that’s where he’s most likely to rest himself.
Do you have a favorite seat in the house? The spot that feels best to fall into after a long day? The nook that tells your body “everything’s OK”?
The first that came to mind for me was the top step from our back porch down through the tiered garden beds to our patio. It’s an odd choice, because we have an outdoor sofa, rocker, and arm chair — not to mention full dining table — steps away, but that flagstone step is my preferred aerie. It’s often warm with the memory of sun. But I like it best robed in full-sun at high noon, almost too bright to see. I love the blessing of the rays on my shoulders, the feeling of being surrounded by branches and birds, and the solidity of the stone beneath me. It immediately sets me right. Sometimes I even read out there until my bones protest and I find myself in search of a softer landing. But for most days, and most stretches of time I have for just sitting, it’s my beloved.
What about yours? Please share your safehaven, and how it cossets. I love to honor the spaces that make us feel our best.
+Back to Doen, though. Over the MDW, I treated myself to this gorgeous red gingham version of our favorite June top after seeing it on the glowing Ruby Campbell. I just love her summer glow and easy breezy vibe.
+BTW, Marea has such great pieces. I really love their Lake Sweater because it has more of a fitted/cropped silhouette that cinches in around the waist. And one of you wrote to say you think their pointelle pieces are better than Leset, and I got this tee, and I have to say, I got this tee and I might agree?! It’s a bit stretchier and more fitted. I’m also loving their white eyelet, like these shorts and this top!
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
By: Jen Shoop
It’s the summer of gingham. (And also, sardines, butter yellow, crochet, and roping.) But gingham is somehow the tie that binds all these nano-trends together with its sweet, homespun, outdoor-picnic vibe: it’s just asking for bare feet and sunshine.
Gingham Summer Dresses.
I want to start with two standout red gingham dresses I’ve been ogling from afar —
Lastly, I am swooning over all things chocolate brown for summer. Love the idea of mixing and matching brown patterns with rattan and roping. It just works! Two favorite finds below —
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
By: Jen Shoop
I hope you’re reading and loving Wild Dark Shore as much as I am — can’t wait to discuss in about two weeks! — but I also wanted to share that I have been side-carring (yes, we’re anointing it as a verb) with some lighter fare most nights of the week. I find that reading a frothy romance before bed dispels any worries I’m carrying from the day and guides me straight into peaceful sleep. It asks almost nothing of me after long days that seem to paw at my pockets. I think that a part of this has to do with the trope-density of the romance genre: familiar shapes, legible patterns. Ah, we’ve been here before. Katherine Center (author of one of my beach read picks below) recently commented: “The central question in a rom-com is never ‘will they or won’t they?’ Because they will. They definitely will!” I think this is a core part of the chamomile I find in romance reading: it is never whether they’ll get together; it is when. So it’s all effervescent speculation rather than true agita.
I will admit that I’m pretty quick to abandon ship if I’m not into a romance trope, not interested in the characters, or distracted by anything too heavy in the plot line. I generally DNF beach read books heavy on the grief motif. I have a lot more forbearance when I’m reading literary fiction — I usually know the effort will be worth it, or at least worth reflection. For these lighter books, I often feel a little manipulated, or dragged through the mud, when there’s something too intense on the docket.
Anyhow, for romance/lighter fare, I am a Kindle Unlimited subscriber so I almost always have something new queued up that is covered by the subscription that I can ping-pong over to without much guilt when I DNF something. (Although, I will be the first to say that I never feel guilty for buying a book even if I don’t finish it. I love to support writers in any way I can!)
My Top Rec for a Summer 2025 Beach Read (So Far).
The standout from my recent beach reading: One Golden Summer. Just as delightful as the last one, and probably even more resonant if enjoyed somewhere close to water. A must-pack if you’re going to a lakehouse this summer. This is my top pick for an easy, romantic, funny, nostalgic, slightly spicy summer read. The setting alone is spectacular! It has the feel of a teenage summer romance (slow build, wet bathing suits, dock dives!) but unfolds between two thirty-somethings with their own baggage, and the protagonist, a professional and acclaimed photographer, is smart and self-aware. I enjoyed the meta-fiction about how, as a photographer, the protagonist navigates the requests and demands of her clients and the reception of her work in the art world — I couldn’t help but imagine Fortune was writing about herself navigating parallel concerns as a writer.
I’m currently reading My Favorite Bad Decision by Elizabeth O’Rourk. The banter and friction is excellent so far, and I’m enjoying the backdrop of two fated lovers climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. Makes for interesting setting, pace, and serves as a built-in plot driver (rising action, climax, falling action — clever). Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, only one bed (tent), forced proximity.
Next in my romance/beach read TBR pile:
It’s A Love Story by Annabel Monaghan. Just came out yesterday! Description: “A former adolescent TV actress-turned-Hollywood producer whose “fake it till you make it” mantra sets her on a crash course with her past, forcing her to spend a week on Long Island with the last man she thinks might make her believe in love.”
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. (Release date: June 3rd.) I know a lot of us are enormous Reid fans, beloved for her The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six. In an interview, she described Atmosphere as follows: “It just felt like time for me to write a very high-stakes, dramatic love story…What is my Titanic?” I already pre-ordered this! I couldn’t help myself. I will be traveling to a resort for a week shortly after submitting my manuscript and I will be diving in. Description: “An epic new novel set against the backdrop of the 1980s space shuttle program about the extraordinary lengths we go to live and love beyond our limits.”
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry. The queen of the beach reads! I absolutely adore Henry’s backlist (if you are somehow new to her, start with Book Lovers! So charming.) Description: “Two writers compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of a woman with more than a couple of plot twists up her sleeve in this dazzling and sweeping novel from Emily Henry.” This book has gotten mixed reviews! A lot of talk about how this is a departure from her usual style, but then others have said it’s still got that signature Emily Henry joy and pleasure to it. I’m looking forward to it!
Back After This by Linda Holmes. This was a top rec from Magpie readers! A lot of you read and enjoyed it; will definitely get to this in the coming weeks. Description: “A podcast producer agrees to host a new series about modern dating—but will the show jeopardize her chance at finding real love?”
Anywhere with You by Ellie Palmer. (To be released August 5.) I’m already looking forward to taking this with us to the lake at the end of the summer, when it’s released! Description: “A nostalgic, heartwarming romance about a Type-A woman who road trips through the Minnesotan woods with her non-committal childhood best friend . . . only for their long-suppressed sparks to start flying.”
The Love Haters by Katherine Center. Just released and have been hearing good buzz. Description: “Katie Vaughn has been burned by love in the past―now she may be lighting her career on fire. She has two choices: wait to get laid off from her job as a video producer or, at her coworker Cole’s request, take a career-making gig profiling Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. The catch? Katie’s not exactly qualified. She can’t swim―but pretends that she can.Plus, Cole and Hutch are brothers. And they don’t get along.”
Park Avenue by Renee Ahdieh. (Release date: June 3.). This one sounds fun: “Fans of Crazy Rich Asians, Schitt’s Creek, and White Lotus will get more than their fix of backstabbing and danger. A delectable and drama-filled thriller.”
A Few Thriller Picks, Too —
If you’re not a romance reader — well, can I convince you?! Ha. But if you’re not, my mom is an avid thriller reader and recommended The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis (about art theft at the MET) and Famous Last Words by Gillian McCallister (suspenseful domestic thriller).
Two other thriller releases on my radar this summer:
+With a Vengeance by Riley Sager (release date: June 10th): “One train. No stops. A deadly game of survival and revenge. In 1942, six people destroyed Anna Matheson’s family. Twelve years later, she’s ready for retribution.”
+Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell (release date: June 24): “three women are connected by one man in this kaleidoscopic thriller.” You might remember her from None of This Is True, which I know many Magpies loved. I also enjoyed it but it was one of the first thrillers I ever listened to on audiobook and I didn’t really enjoy that experience? I think I prefer to read thrillers in paper.
Finally, one of my best guy friends just asked me to read this with him, saying he’d heard it described as a contemporary Bonfire of the Vanities. The book jacket describes it as: “A pulse-pounding novel of class, privilege, sex, and murder, from the New York Times bestselling author of Two Nights in Lisbon and The Expats.” I already bought it!
For More Dedicated Romance Readers —
A beach read I drank in big gulps last month: Lucy Score’s Story of My Life, described somewhat curiously as “Gilmore Girls Meets Schitt’s Creek.” I don’t really understand the GG reference but it is a small town, and it is comedic. I’d describe it more crisply with these handles: grumpy male love interest, fake dating, and the main character is a romance novelist herself, so there is a fun level of meta-fiction. This is true “genre genre romance” in my view. You might like if you’re a fan of Elsie Silver.
Along the “genre genre romance” / Elsie Silver lines, Jessica Petersen released the third installment of her Lucky River series in late April. These are spicy, sparkling cowboy romances. I find she reaches heavily for family trauma in this series, FYI.
Lastly, you might consider Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez. I know a lot of romance readers love Jimenez (including one of my sisters) but I’ve never read anything from her! This one garnered a lot of positive praise! Description: “There’s no such thing as a perfect guy, but Xavier Rush comes disastrously close. A gorgeous veterinarian giving Greek god vibes—all while cuddling a tiny kitten? Immediate yes. That is until Xavier opens his mouth and proves that even sculpted gods can say the absolute wrong thing. Like, really wrong. Of course, there’s nothing Samantha loves more than proving an asshole wrong . . . unless, of course, he can admit he made a mistake.”
Book Lover Finds.
Not related to books, but had to mention that Dorsey is launching some new paracord pieces today — keep your eyes peeled! Their previous paracord sets sold through quickly and then eventually became available again via pre-order. They’ll have some chic bracelets this go around, for $200!
Onto book lover finds: I want all of the bibliophile items below, and I also think they’d be such fun gifts for book club members, or birthdays of friends you’ve made via book club.
+My favorite tabs for physical books. Love using these if I’m going to be discussing the book with someone else (book club!) so I can remember the bits that jump out at me.
+Gorgeous ex libris embosser! Also love this style. And if you’d rather have a sticker version, these are cute!
+A candle that smells like the library?! I need this. Olfactory notes: “A luxurious leather-scented candle laced with vanilla, drawing inspiration from an old library with leather hardbacks and dusty floors.”
+Frosted (reusable) “book lover” cups for your next book club! How cute?! The gals can take them home! And love these book-print plates for snacks.
While curating the finds above, I kept coming across gorgeous special editions and collectible sets that I’d love to see on my own shelves, and decided to put them all in one place here. I have also been noticing a trend in more contemporary romance novels of books with painted edges — fun joy-sparker. For example, take a look at the Katherine Center book recommended above with its aqua-painted edges. A fabulous lagniappe if I’ve ever seen one!
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By: Jen Shoop
Some of us have been talking in the comments section about this burgeoning “summer fashion vibe” that seems to incorporate a lot of adjacent nano-trends: sardines, crochet, jelly sandals, sunkissed hair, gingham. It feels like a European coastal summer, boho-adjacent. It all kind of goes together, but it’s difficult to subsume under one name. I am especially drawn to all the crochet pieces I’ve been seeing this season; it feels youthful and easy and beachy, even if I’m just heading to cocktails with girlfriends — as I was above, wearing Aligne! A Magpie reader wrote to let me know that this J. Crew Factory dress nails the vibe for less, and I also spotted this longer-length variation over at Varley in case you’re not loving the mini length.
05. This collared shirt offers a fun twist with a crochet detail against denim — so feminine!
06. Obsessed with this Gap crochet tank, which is already in my closet and has already been happily worn. The tomato red color is so good! And the matching pants — to die for!
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
By: Jen Shoop
I am trying to praise the great gift of “the normal” this week. I specifically voided my calendar of all daytime appointments, lunches, calls. I am determined to run no errands. I need a week of unimpeded time to write, and also to just be when I’m not writing. We all need time to do nothing.
I am aiming to bottle a moment from last Thursday, when I flopped onto the couch beside my son, who was reading a Baby Sitter’s Little Sister book (his older sister is the most powerful book influencer in the world), and just laid there for ten minutes, doing nothing at all but studying the perfect spray of freckles across his nose, the way he occasionally mouths the words to himself. I fully listened to the sounds of my husband in the kitchen, and the weather in the window, and — yes — a catbird call every now and again, audible in the family room if you pause to listen.
I want more of those couch moments and less of that sensation of “rapid movement with little depth.” (A navigational hazard: finding yourself stuck in the shoals.)
In this spirit, I am today republishing a modestly edited version of an essay from two years ago — one in which I saw and praised “a day of small things.” This is the energy I’m after: a week of the small and luminous. I am thinking of the first line of Walt Whitman’s poem, “Inscription” (which I believe was actually some front matter for a draft of “Leaves of Grass” but I could be wrong): “Small is the theme of the following Chant.”
This, then, is the perfect opening line for my praise song this week:
Small is the theme of the following chant
****
On the way to a birthday party last weekend, my son’s chatter filled the car, inexhaustible. A new “tell” of his, this chattiness: an augury of excitement. It was the same the morning of his “visit day” at his new school, when Mr. Magpie and I took him out for breakfast before walking him into the red brick building to meet his teachers and classmates, his tiny body swinging between us (“one, two, threeee!”). That morning, his prattle had become a fourth companion, filling every void and pause in conversation, and overwriting most everything else, too. Observations and memories tumbled out of him, wedging their way around us.
The insight tugs at my heartstrings, reminding me that perhaps I haven’t been as dutiful as I could have been about finding occasions in which he plays the lead character rather than the sidekick to his opinionated, older sister. He finds a tiny stream of attention and basks in it, a cat lolling in the sunshine.
Still, I strained to keep my focus from wandering as he burbled about Halloween costumes, “that red car,” why the party’s location had been moved and where it had been moved, why his friend did not go to our Church. Suddenly: “that’s where God is, in the colored window.” I peered at him in the rear view mirror. “Right, mama?” I paused. Sometimes he will steamroll right along if not answered immediately, and I wasn’t sure I had the stamina to engage in theology at 1:45 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon, especially as I inwardly prepared myself for the throttling experience of supervising a young child at a birthday party while engaging in splintered, desultory conversation with other parents.
“Right, mama?” he persisted. “God lives in the colored windows at Church?” I could see in this language a sweet perversion, or adaptation, of something he might have learned at school about stained glass. Perhaps a kindly teacher or priest talking about its metaphor.
“Well, yes,” I said. “But God is everywhere, too.” He thought for a moment, and then we walked briskly in the direction I’d anticipated and loosely hoped to avoid, in which he asked whether God was in his seat, the car, the grass, the street light, the tree, the neighbor’s dog, Spider-Man, his pinky finger.
“But he’s all broken up?” He concluded, mystified. I long ago decided that I would participate in this kind of wonder at the mysteries of faith when my children presented them rather than strain to explain something I myself struggle to understand.
“Yes, He’s everywhere, and in everything. It’s a mystery we can’t fully understand. But He is there.”
“Ohhh,” he nodded. “God is magic.”
And I thought — that’s not a bad landing place for a four year old’s theology.
And I also thought, with some small inward regret, how ill-conceived it had been of me to temporarily hope to dodge this conversation, how wrong it was to have considered his inquisition ill-suited to the time, to the venue. Revelation operates according to its own timetable. It is rarely opportune. Sometimes our most profound insights arrive when we least expect them. Who was I to divert my son’s?
I was reminded, too, all of the sudden, of a quote from Zechariah I’d displaced for years:
“Who dares despise the day of small things?”
He is talking about the re-building of a temple, how paltry the first stones must have looked when laid.
And I thought how all my days are filled with small things. The tiny feet padding around outside my door in the morning, the filling of the coffee mug, the packing of the lunches, the “I love you!” thrown out the car door at drop-off. And yet they eventually stack up to the great things: family, comfort, the rhythmic warmth of domesticity.
My son’s recitative about God in the trees, and in the dog next door, and in the fabric of his carseat suddenly feltpercipient, well-shaped.
So, yes —
Here I am, ready to praise this day of small things.
+Hill House is launching its “nightgown capsule” today at 9 AM. Nellie Diamond has declared this “nightgown summer,” and I love the ethos — bare feet, cottage life, a tad romantic and other-wordly. There are such gorgeous pieces included!
+A Magpie reader recently launched this gorgeous loose tea business. I ordered The Bright Side! (“Warm cedarwood, bergamot zest, lemon peel. Perfect for energy.”). I love boiling water for tea in Fellow’s Clyde Electric Kettle. We actually also own their Stagg kettle, but we keep the Clyde out on the counter for tea (which we brew almost every night during the week). It has such a genius and sleek design — you just tap down the button and it pops up when ready. It has a much bigger capacity (1.5L) than the Stagg and is simple and fool proof and so chic!
+My striped Vee Collective bag is 30% off with code VEEPRESALE30. This is such a fun color option, and a great alternative to the more ubiquitous MZ Wallace bag. (Which I do love, too.) I’ve been using this striped one specifically for schlepping to kids sports events. It has a wipeable exterior so you can set it on turf / dusty benches / etc without worry.
+I just ordered some protein powder from Ballerina Farm. Do you have a favorite protein powder? I feel like all I read about these days is how much women need more protein! My sister was just in town a few weeks ago and urged me to start mixing some protein powder into my morning shake. Apparently this sells through quickly…
+Simkhai’s elegant Jazz dress is on sale in select colors. This is such a fabulous and elegant silhouette — the kind of thing you can wear to school events, meetings, dressier occasions, etc. My sister and I call this elevated, sophisticated look “Midge.” It’s very Midge.
+My Internet friend Katie of Beach Reads and Bubbly just released the cutest merch!
+Reminder that F+E has dramatically discounted some GREAT buys, like this tuxedo front shirt (own and love) and my favorite sweatpants (currently wearing – run TTS and great for petites).
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
By: Jen Shoop
Spotlighting my absolute favorite summer-scented candles for the season ahead —
01. Hotel Lobby Hamptons Candle — My sister called this “our signature scent” last summer because we burned it from May to August. It smells like geranium, basil, tomato, sunshine — fresh, full, happy. Hotel Lobby is offering free shipping through today with code MDW25 and a $20 gift card if you spend over $150. Good incentive to order a few candles and dole out as gifts throughout the summer! Wanted to mention that it comes in the most gorgeous packaging. Gift ready!
02. Linnea Fields Candle — the olfactory notes list “open meadows and golden hay fields.” It smells like a bouquet of flowers cut with grass. I love this one, and I actually keep the diffuser of this scent in our powder room. It has the most beautiful, light, fresh scent — not overpowering, just a clean floral. (Use code MAGPIE10 for 10% off!)
03. Flamingo Estate Roma Tomato Candle — Rich sun-warmed tomato vine scent. I read somewhere that this candle smells more like a tomato vine than a tomato vine does, and that’s definitely the vibe — pulpy, rich, earthy. This is a more full-bodied scent than the previous two, but I love it just as much.
04. Tocca Montauk — Salt air and cucumber. Deeply fresh, like a window thrown open at the beach.
I have a few other scents I’ve read rave reviews of while going deep down random Reddit threads — these are what I’d consider if I want to splurge, or if I’m a big “scent enclave” person:
01. People seem to obsess over Diptyque’s Citronelle candle, which apparently is prone to sell through each season. Verbena, neroli, and orange blossom combine with lemongrass (which is apparently a natural mosquito repellent). Love the label design too, featuring artwork by Marie-Victoire de Bascher.
02. I am always gobsmacked by Cire Trudon’s complex, layered scents. I’ve mentioned this before, but I remember reading a quote by an interior designer who said that you should never quite be able to identify the color of someone’s wall paint — it should always be “it’s sort of gray-blue-green” or “pinkish-brown.” Complexity is sophisticated. This is how I feel about Cire Trudon. You’d be hard-pressed to put your finger on exactly what you’re smelling — rich, evocative, nuanced. Anyway, they’ve released two limited edition summer scents I’d love to test: Under the Trees (cucumber, blackcurrant bud, mint, cedar) and Lost in a Moment (red fruits, macaroon, lily of the valley).
03. Loewe’s cucumber! Someone on Reddit specifically said “the cold throw is wild” — meaning even when not lit, it perfumes the place with a spa-like, cucumber-forward scent. Plus the packaging is so chic!
04. I’ve heard Nest’s Cucumber and White Sage smells incredible, too, if you want the spa vibe without the Loewe price tag. This is a part of Nest’s new “Wellness” line and I’ve heard the scents are all quiet good (and under $50). The Rosewater and Himalayan Salt intrigues me and has been compared to Diptyque’s justly popular Baies.
Chime in share your favorites, too! Curious what you keep burning!
Other Summer Scented Household Products We Love.
Adjacent household scent purchases I love:
+This counter spray in Doheny Drive or Mayfair really make my kitchen smell fresh and summery. It’s currently 30% off! (Promo ends today, 5/26.)
+For hand soap, you have to try Molton Brown’s Rhubarb and Rose (currently 25% off). Smells absolutely divine and I love the consistency of the soap — it doesn’t come out all gelatinous and gloppy. This has been my long-time go-to for our powder room.
+I did pick up the Flamingo Estate Tomato hand soap (currently 20% off!) for this summer as a little treat! Generally, though, we conserve those for the powder room and keep much less expensive hand soap in the sink, as we go through so much of it on a daily basis while cooking. We like Mrs. Meyers and they have some fun new scents out for the season (they also have a tomato vine option!), and for eco reasons, we like the aluminum bottles of Grove Co (scents are pretty muted, fyi) and Clean Cult, which comes in a cardboard box. We decant those hand soap pumps at both of our kitchen sinks. For Clean Cult, we’ve tried and liked the lemon verbena but I’m intrigued by the “sea mineral” option — it’s in my cart for next.
+Santa Maria Novella Pomegranate Clay. This is a year-round obsession for me — I bought this in Florence when we were there last October and keep it in my closet. It perfumes the room (and delicately — the clothes, too) in the most luxurious way. My clay is just now losing its scent, and I am absolutely ordering a replacement. It’s like having a lovely candle lit all the time — smells of bergamot and rose — and looks lovely, too. This would also be pretty on a bookshelf or entryway table.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
By: Jen Shoop
First, a head-note: amidst the flurry of MDW sales this weekend, I discovered my beloved Alice Walk is offering 20% off basics. They rarely do promotions like this, and I cannot imagine my weekly wardrobe without them. I absolutely love this half-zip — it’s a thinner weight and great for transitional weather, but I especially adore the silhouette. A little longer/covers most of the bum, so love to wear with leggings. I’ve gotten one for my mom and MIL. As with all things Alice Walk, the quality is impeccable. Soft, luxe pima cotton with heavy-duty gold hardware and reinforced stitching. Also obsessed with these tees — run a bit longer than your run of the mill tee and have a great swingy fabric and shape.
Now onto everyday outfits for an active summer — the Alice Walk half-zip being a perfect top layer for the vibe I’m after!
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For the past year, I’ve found myself leaning on athleisure in the morning. I’ve used this word a few times in the last week, but these pieces feel “interstitial” for me — they are the quick grab-and-throw-on outfits for those “in between times” like drop-off, post-working-out, on weekend mornings, while running a quick errand, etc. I have found a couple of great pieces (and brands) that never fail to make me feel put together even when I’ve dressed myself in under a minute, and I’ve learned to mix them in with standard womenswear like tanks, sweaters, etc. Mood board I’m after below — one of my friends described the aesthetic as “Grace Kelly does Pilates.” Love.
Honestly, this might be my vibe for the entirety of this summer, as we will have a very busy and active time with family in town for a week of June, a weeklong resort stay, lots of camp drop off and pick up and swim practice, etc. I want to be wearing clothes ready for anything, whether that means taking a long impromptu walk with my visiting SIL, or watching my daughter at a swim meet without worrying about getting splashed. All my favorite finds below…
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By: Jen Shoop
Almost halfway through the year, and what have I learned? What have been the 2025 themes? What am I working on? Some through-lines:
+That I must work to take my own joy and preferences seriously. At 40, I’m trying to lean into what I like and avoid what I don’t. This has meant reading a lot more romance books (especially at night, when I can’t sleep). It has also meant reminding myself that I don’t need to flutteringly fill in the blanks in every conversation or pretend to like foods that don’t do it for me. (I am just not a bean lover. I can’t explain it – texture? Most of the time not seasoned enough? For years I forced them down. But I can have opinions! And I can avoid the beans if I want to! I eat everything else!)
+That the main muscle I exercise when running is my mind. I mean this both from a process and result standpoint. Process: whenever I want to stop running / feel gassed / etc, it’s usually my determination (all mental!) that gets us over the hump. Result: I run more for mental wellness than fitness, and boy does it pay handsomely. Running requires such discipline. I almost never want to run, and I almost always count down the minutes until it’s over, and the will this requires is training me to be forbearing in other areas of my life, too. I think my dedication to daily writing is in part shaped, or fortified, by my running habit.
+That the body is bad at keeping secrets. So I really must take good care of myself; the truth will out–!
+That my children often need less needling and more space to explore and become themselves.Let them be those backyard blackberry thickets! Let them make their silly jokes, and run around in mismatched pajamas in the yard, and wear their exuberance. They are only this-young today. I am specifically working on not expediting my son. He often tells me: “Mama, you’re rushing me!” He is prone to dilly-dallying and distraction, but then I think of Uncle Buck: “I don’t think I want to know a six-year-old who isn’t a dreamer or a silly heart.” I’m trying to be more creative about the morning bottleneck with him — laying out his clothes in advance, hanging out upstairs with him while he’s readying himself not so much to verbally remind him to get things done, but to help if he’s stuck or can’t get the toothpaste out or looking for a sock so he doesn’t just give up and sit on the floor of his room playing (as he is wont to do). I’m also trying to say nothing at all when he’s eaten three bites of dinner in thirty minutes. It is such an exercise in patience. But the older I get, the more I think that the softest form of love is waiting. Waiting for someone to be ready, waiting for someone to finish, waiting for someone to come around. Love hangs fires. Love twiddles its thumbs. It does not run according to its own clockwork.
+That I only have today because of my younger self. I have been looking so tenderly upon the younger versions of myself. I keep a framed photo of myself at five on my desk, and I keep looking at her and thinking: “Girl, look how far we’ve come. Thank you.” Thanks for all the early and terrible drafts, the sleepless nights, the stress and anxiety, the hair-brained ideas. Thanks for trusting your gut. Thanks for running against the grain. Thanks for doing it your way. Thanks for all the reading, too. I have been sitting in my quiet studio writing my book and I when I come up for air, and look around, and realize what I’ve been doing all morning, I think: “Oh my God: this, right now, is what you’ve always dreamed of.”
+That writing is hard work. I’ve always known this, but this particularly intense time of writing my book has reminded me, in William Zinsser’s words, that “a clear sentence is no accident.” If I could anthropomorphize a clear sentence, it would be wearing steel-toed boots and a lot of sweat.
+That to be creative you must be a little delusional. Here is the truth: most of the time, I write and think I’m middling or terrible. One tenth of the time I think I’m pretty good. And then once every now and then I think: “Oh my God, that is beautiful.” But to be consistently creative, you have to remind yourself of the “Oh my God, that’s beautiful” moments, and trust they will come. If you don’t have that small nugget of buoying self-belief, you will never finish anything. I feel this acutely at this moment, when my self-assessments as a writer seem to be running on a broken barometer. One day I hate everything I write; the next, I look back at what I’ve put on the page and think, “Okay, okay, this is something!” I keep reminding myself to exercise the “Oh my God, that is beautiful” delusion.
There are other weighty things in chrysalis. Lessons borne of surviving a painful relationship, ambitions for my writing career, the wilderness of change. But these are less legible to me at the moment. I trust their meanings will make themselves known in good time. Nothing leaves us until it has taught us what we need to know.
Onward!
Sunday Shopping.
Merit’s new “Uniform” tinted SPF launched this week and I got my hands on a tube and I LOVE IT. There are several great products in this product category — I also like YSE, Iris and Romeo Weekend Skin, and RMS SuperSerum (although the RMS is a little bit of a different beast / in its own category) — but I am loving this one because it provides a little more coverage than the others. It’s sort of like a light foundation, but wears like lotion. Great for when you need a little extra oomph.
Also, another shout out for Buck Mason’s $40 pima boxy tee. I find myself reaching for this all the time. It is divinely soft (divinely), featherweight (ideal for layering and tucking) and has a sweet, feminine, shrunken boxy fit. I love love love it. I also adore and wear my SoldOut NYC ones a lot (still) but I find I prefer them when I’m tucking into a skirt / jeans on its own (has a more dramatic/pronounced shape) versus layering beneath something else.
If you, like me, can’t quite bring yourself to splurge on the cult-following $338 taffeta Donni gingham pants, try these from Wayf! Different material but similar ethos — and $75. But those Donni pants…eek! Just made available again for pre-order. The fit is so good…tempted. (See below.)
And for my scent enclave girlies: Crown Affair just did a collab with D.S. & Durga — a special edition scent of Crown Affair’s incredible leave-in conditioner. This product is absolutely incredible. I use it when my hair is feeling dry or when I go to bed with wet hair. It leaves hair so soft and tangle-free.
And one last little thought on styling that Everlane tee dress. This popped into my head when one of you commented on how much you love to wear tee dresses during drop off or any moment where you’re sort of between sessions. It inspired me to throw on this striped one this week during one of those windows, and also made me contemplate adding this Everlane (25% off) to my closet. Anyway, some pointed notes on how I’d style a t-dress, which can make me feel either schlubby / shapeless or like a little child if I’m not mindful about styling. I like to wear with a sweater or long sleeved tee to give the shape some definition and contrast — I wear around my waist or shoulders. The Ayr Early morning tee is perfect for this. Then I make it feel fresh by pairing with a trend-conscious sandal — a jelly would be great here, or anything raffia or slightly clunky. These make the look feel contemporary and considered. Last steps: elevate with a luxe hand bag and everyday gold jewelry. And then add some little whimsy to it — like this $10 bag charm or a juicy red lip.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
By: Jen Shoop
+TINY RITUALS FOR A QUIET LIFE: I loved this sequence of mini rituals from Jade Bonacolta, but was especially intrigued by her “two-tab rule.” Do you exercise this restraint? I have been intuitively doing this for my book-writing sessions. I will close out all windows and tabs so I only have my manuscript up, but I always have an extra tab or two open in the manuscript browser because I frequently fact check and sidewind into random pockets of technical language. (I was just researching the foxglove for a piece this week — fascinating etymologically!). I started doing this ostensibly to avoid the distraction of inbound emails, my blog back-end, etc, but I do feel that having less visual clutter in general helps me dial in and live on the page. What other mini rituals help you live a quiet life? My big one is standing outside in the morning, even for only a minute. I do this every day. Once you get comfortable with just looking at the world with no agenda, it becomes a great power pause. Also: rounding up on the parking meter. It helps you hopscotch over an unnecessary inner conversation. What else?
+OUR SIGNATURE TEE ON SALE: Friends! Our favorite AYR Early Morning Tee is on sale for $80 in the iconic and aptly titled “Magpie Stripe.” I know many of us own and adore these. A perfect hybrid between tee and t-shirt and ideal for — well, early mornings. Throwing on with leggings or jeans for a walk with the dog; tossing on over pajamas while sipping coffee on the back porch; etc. Join the flock! (Lots of other goodies included in the sale, too!)
+WRITING MOTIVATION: “A writer, like an athlete, must train every day. What did I do today to keep in form?” (Susan Sontag). Amen! We have to keep moving the dirt, keep shaking hands with the blank page. I now feel this more than ever as I approach the finish line with my manuscript. I was in good “form” heading into this project, having written daily for years. But it has still been incredibly challenging — as though I’d been regularly walking in the foothills of VA and then suddenly airdropped into a hike at altitude. The stakes are different, the air thinner. I was reminded of something Carol Joyce Oates wrote this week, too: “The first sentence can be written only after the last sentence is written. FIRST DRAFTS ARE HELL, FINAL DRAFTS PARADISE.” Trust Oats before me, but I agree with the statement in sentiment rather than specifics. By that I mean that I am only now getting into a real groove with the book; it’s taken shape, gone from gimcrack to gemlike, and I could only get there after many hours of work. But I also think sometimes my best line-writing comes out with immediacy and can’t be touched by the red pen. Some of it just emerges fully-formed! I can’t explain this.
+EYEING + BUYING: It feels like Cyber Week came early — so many great promotions happening. I shared my top sales and launches from the week here: Veronica Beard! Frank and Eileen! Madewell!
Also sharing some of my top finds this week below, like this fabulous eyelet one-piece I just bought myself (on sale!) and these rope cord sandals from Ann Taylor! They remind me so much of a few higher end styles. Very on trend. This led me to investigate Ann Taylor’s current offerings, and they have a lot of Veronica Beard inspired pieces, like this spectacular brown boxy top. How fabulous with a patterned brown skirt, white high-waist jeans, etc?! Meanwhile, this pleated-waist dress reminds me so much of my G. Label I wore here.
And – my son’s favorite bird-print half-zip is 25% off. I absolutely love the pattern. So fun to let boys wear whimsical patterns like this! I feel like they only get stripes.
Finally, who was going to tell me about Wiley Wallaby licorice?! I’m obsessed. I bought this sampler and we’ve been eating it all week. Delicious — not as sweet as you’d expect.
+BESTSELLERS: Lots of you picked up this gorgeous Cuyana tote (in my eyeing and buying roundup above, too) this week — did you get the same bottle green color as I did?! Mine arrived and is SO gorgeous. The shape is so chic and different, and I love the green!
