By: Jen Shoop

*Image via.

Q: Cute sparkly tweed jacket in a light color.

A: This one stumped me a bit – I didn’t like the options I found that were both metallic and pastel, but maybe one of these that fills one of the requirements will be appealing: this neutral metallic is a forever piece, and this pastel Veronica Beard has been on my lust list for a few weeks now. For something a little less spendy, check out Massimo Dutti (this summer-weight tweedy jacket is chic chic!) or Urban Revivo (this tweedy metallic cardigan is pretty fab). Will keep my eyes peeled…

Q: Moving announcements! Trying to find something not cheesy.

A: Congrats, friend! (But since I know this Magpie personally — I will miss you so much!) Etsy is the answer. Check out these elegant ones, these minimalist ones, or reach out to a letterpress shop and ask them to do something simple and custom for you (some inspo here). Upgrade pick: Red Clay Paper will custom-draw your new home on the cards!

Q: Fitted or cropped tanks to wear with high-waisted skirt.

A: A great prompt because I am also in need of these basics. I typically wear this seamless Free People one with high-waisted skirts. A few others to consider: this Susana Monaco or this longer length one (love the polished look of their pieces), this Tibi, this perfectwhitetee, and this J. Crew.

Q: Breezy shirt dresses inspired by Julia Amory but under $300 for my summer mom life.

A: This Tuckernuck is exactly what you want! Use code YOUROCK for 20% off, bringing the dress odwn to $125. Also like this one from the same line! The brand NavyBleu has some cute, breezy blockprint style dresses that are similar — love this $128 navy and white print one, this blue tile one, and this shorter-length one, which is reminiscent of Amory’s husband shirts. A little pricier, but I own and adore this shirtdress in a different pattern and it feels just as soft and inviting as the J.A.’s I own. I rotate between them with near indifference — they feel the same to me in ethos, comfort, breeziness, style, etc.

Q: A dress to wear to my daughter’s outdoor second birthday party, something pink!

A: Speaking of Marea — this would be perfect. It’s celebratory, happy, but cotton and breathable and therefore feels functional for the chocolate icing that will end up smeared on you at some point. I also love the options from Juliet Dunn, as loyal Magpie readers know! So breezy, chic, comfortable, summery, happy! Both of those options feel playful, not-stuffy, happy, but chic.

Q: Rooftop 40th birthday party in LA. Not mine!

A: I feel like I want you to wear a chic minimalist linen mini, like this, this, or this. Simple gold jewelry (think hoops and a few delicate necklaces) and a strappy sandal. She’s a 10. If you’re not a mini-lover, I like the idea of a simple and elegant dress like this.

Q: Men’s chinos.

A: Most of Mr. Magpie’s are from Todd Snyder. I love the modern sensibility, but most of the pieces can be styled traditionally or more urban. They tend to do great color options, too. These Fahertys also have a good, classic, clean fit.

Q: Finally going to be meeting a family member’s 10-month-old baby. Gift ideas for baby under $50?

A: So special! I love gifting these Kyte sleepsacks, which feel super luxe but ring in right at $50. I would have loved having a spare one as a gift! Another idea: a couple of great bedtime story books bundled with a jellycat. Some of our friends gave our daughter a piggy bank when she was born, and deposited an inaugural $10 inside. It was so thoughtful. The ones from Reed & Barton are really sweet.

Q: Tweed pant or skirt suit.

A: Veronica Beard! She doesn’t have too many options out right now, so you might want to wait until fall’s release, but something like these pants with this blazer is…unbelievable. Theory also has some chic options, like this set.

Q: Platform wedges to wear with a white floral jumpsuit at my bach.

A: Congrats! I hope you have the best time. These are SO fun and somehow 50% off. I think you’re looking for height, but I’ve also been swooning over these Ulla Js. So funky and would look amazing with shirtdresses. More affordable end: anything by Castaner!

By: Jen Shoop

Shelby Van Pelt’s Remarkably Bright Creatures started on shaky ground for me: it opens with a great Pacific octopus narrating from his enclosure in an aquarium. Keep going, though, because the motif is not nearly as gimmicky as I anticipated, and the voice of Marcellus the octopus proves to be witty, dry, and entertaining. The book is ostensibly structured as a mystery in which two competing narratives converge to reveal a hidden truth, but it is, at heart, about coping with loss. In the novel, characters lose luggage, class rings, keys, Dala horses, Grateful Dead t-shirts, parents, sons, and tentacles, and undergo tremendous transformations as they seek resolution. They regrow limbs (Marcellus), hatch and carry out elaborate and expensive machinations to procure replacements (I’m think of Tova and the Grateful Dead tee), contort themselves through narrow apertures (Marcellus, again), and cultivate profound will and determination in order to keep moving forward (Cameron, Tova). Though a persistent motif of the book is loneliness, for which Marcellus’ tank at the aquarium might well serve as the insignia, almost none of these transformations happen in isolation. In fact, the “returns” we witness in the book are almost always at the hands of loving community members willing to step in and insist, as Janice does to Tova, “You are not a burden.” The message here is uplifting: though we often feel profoundly alone in grief, we are not, and we can find ways out of the drifts through community and the remarkable inborn agility and resilience we all carry within us. An octopus can camouflage itself in nearly any setting, and can also fit itself into a tiny soda bottle — which is to say, it can undergo extreme transformations in order to survive. So can we.

There were a few highly sticky vignettes in this book, ones that seem to stick to me like sap. The first is the image of a lonely Marcellus with his wise and seeing eye trapped in his tank. Aquarium visitors filter by him all day, leaving prints on his glass, but he is alone and longing for home waters. He is, truly, the spirit animal for both Tova and Cameron — perhaps all those who grieve — who are also isolated in their own homes, despite being surrounded by people and their “prints,” and who feel similarly “alone and longing for home waters.”

The second is the vision of Cameron in his movable habitat (an R.V. — his own kind of isolation tank), inching its way closer and closer to his true family. The R.V. itself bears all the markings (even the gross ones — urine-stained mattress!) of its former inhabitant, and he must learn to transform it into his own space, to care for it, to repair it. I find the vision of him in his own “enclosure” in Ethan’s driveway just as moving as (and parallel with) the vignette of Marcellus in his tank.

Which leads me to my final point: Van Pelt’s representation of physical space. Though she does not belabor the setting, we are always acutely aware of the rooms, tanks, shops, towns in which these people move — the ways they are trapped in them, the ways they escape them, the ways they transcend them. I thought this was a tremendous achievement on the part of the novelist, because she uses such a light hand, but I was always aware of the contours of Sowell Bay, its proximity to water, the layout of the aquarium. I even have a crisp vision of Tova’s home and Ethan’s living room with the peeling vinyl on the shelving. It made me think a lot about the spaces we inhabit, what it means to be trapped versus free, how we define “home.”

All around, a great summer reading book. Perfect for sitting on a porch during passing rain showers. It’s easy to read, but resonant.

Post Scripts.

+If you’re looking for something lighter and saucier, try this one. If you’re wanting something with more substance, look no further than this.

+Next up for me: The Chateau, a thriller by a Magpie reader (!!!), Jaclyn Goldis, which my friend Grace raved about. Description: A dream girls trip to a luxurious French chateau devolves into a deadly nightmare of secrets and lies in this “twisty, well-paced murder mystery that never fully lets go. Then I want to either read The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See (strongly recommended by a few Magpies) or Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, which many of you cited in comments and via Instagram as the book that most recently gave you a bad reading hangover.

+Thoughts on grief.

+Worry dolls and endings.

Shopping Break.

+Has anyone shopped at the brand perfectwhitetee before? I’m intrigued by their collection of everyday cotton basics. Their tanks are their bestselling item, but I love the look of this reverse fleece shrunken sweatshirt and their LS tees, too.

+If you haven’t tried before, Christophe Robin’s hair scrub is incredible. It leaves your scalp feeling so clean and your hair at the roots feels “lifted” — springy, even?! It’s wild. I’d frankly forgotten about this for a few years but just re-ordered. Will be good after all the chlorine, sweat, sun, etc. You can order in a mini size if you want to test before buying the bigger volume.

+J. Crew’s Emilie jacket/sweater is back in new colors. I’m kind of digging the red?? But black and navy are so good, too. How’s a girl to choose?

+ZARA. What are you doing to me!? I want this dress as well as this skirt and top sitch.

+This nightgown is cute enough to wear as a pool cover-up/house dress.

+It’s sandal season! Been hearing good things about this foot mask for preventing cracked/dry skin!

+La Ligne nails it again.

+How cute is this embroidered tote?

+Been hearing a little commotion for Skims’ triangle bra. Has anyone tried it? I’m loathe to give up my cheap Amazon seamless ones but…could be good for certain necklines?

+I received an applique baby pillow like this for my son when he was born and it’s one of my most treasured things in his room! Great gift.

+Love these oyster swim trunks.

+The color of these cropped linen trousers is fantastic. Don’t underestimate brown! Would look great with white, taupe, black, navy!

+I’ve mentioned this many times, but I love this half-zip. It’s SO silky soft. It’s been restocked!

+How sweet is this frameable birth announcement?

By: Jen Shoop

Ed. Note: Today, I am republishing a musings originally published in January 2019. I think about this post and the practice of observing when golden moments are at hand all the time. Another pathway to gratitude.

One of my all-time favorite comments from a reader came in response to one of my all-time favorite memories: observing Mr. Magpie over a languid birthday dinner and realizing that he had — and I thought of the phrase in French first, as there is no better way to put it — returned to himself after a tumultuous year or two. One of my Magpies had this to say:

‘My best friend and I call those “golden moments.” The ones that feel so full and true that they keep you warm your whole lifetime.”

Oh!

Yes.

I have been thinking about golden moments ever since — returning to ones I love, preserving them in a kind of makeshift order, burnishing them.

Another: rolling pasta with my sisters in our petite apartment in Manhattan, doubled over with laughter over — nothing. The inanities of sisterly friendship, the warmth and ease of the evening, the utter lack of pretense.

Another: fat tears rolling down my cheeks the first day I returned from the hospital with mini. My mother had folded down the sheets of my bed in anticipation of my arrival. The narrowness of this loving gesture against the big, ineffable that of new motherhood, overwhelmed me to the point of tears. My mother looked up. “What is it?” “I don’t know. I’m just…overwhelmed.” She came around the side of the bed, gathered me up in her arms, and held me like I was a baby while I cradled my own. Three generations of loving women.

Another: unanticipated tears of gratitude on Thanksgiving day for friendship in a world where many walk alone. (Incidentally, a few dozen of you have written to say that you’ve adopted this lovely prayer for your own families and I could not be happier.)

Another: Mr. Magpie’s face when he found out we were having a boy. I will never forget his red-rimmed eyes, wide with surprise and something else — excitement? — or the way I tried to momentarily distract myself, pull myself together, by focusing intently on the screen in front of us in that dark room as the technician performed the sonogram, before I thought: “But why?” and locked eyes with him and cried. And then after the technician had left the room, sitting down on his lap in a long, quiet, happy embrace.

So many golden moments from the past year to be grateful for, and I was thinking about them with particular intentionality as I listened to Kasey Musgraves’ “Golden Hour” song while cooking a few recipes from my new favorite cookbook (she does not shy away from bold flavors and I love her for that — I made her glazed chicken wings, coconut rice, and slaw and all were delicious) the other day:

“All that I know
Is you caught me at the right time
Keep me in your glow
‘Cause I’m having such a good time
With you

Baby don’t you know?
That you’re my golden hour
The color of my sky
You’ve set my world on fire
And I know, I know everything’s gonna be alright...”

What are your favorite golden moments from recent memory — or even golden hours?

Post-Scripts.

Shopping Break.

+A great Old Navy find. We love gauze!

+Crewcuts has some adorable new finds for girls — love these shorts and this block-print sweatshirt. My daughter loves graphic tees right now, and I don’t hate J. Crew’s — this and this are cute!

+Fun summer party dress.

+Just a reminder that this is THE best facial cotton. Will take your makeup/skincare routine up a level. Soft, plush, perfection.

+Tuckernuck has so many cute summer blouses.

+Tempted by these Emerson Fry patterned pull-on pants.

+Letters from camp!

+Cute workout shorts for your man, on sale.

+Caitlin recently shared these cute Lacoste sweatshirts and I’m eyeing one for my son now!

+These Pippa Holt caftans are #goals. I saw a mom wearing one at the pool last week — SO chic.

+These trays are just the best way to stow jewelry. They really help me keep everything organized and untangled! I keep mine in a stack!

+Less expensive take on the rechargeable stick lamps I mentioned last week!

+Crushing on the jewelry from Aliita at the moment – especially this little shell and this little mushroom. So fun and whimsical.

+Cheerful dress — like a popsicle!

By: Jen Shoop

There is a viral set of “life tips” going around Instagram, and the one that really made me think was: “Ask yourself ‘what does it matter to me?’ next time you find yourself judging someone for their clothing or hobbies. The more you train yourself to not care about the personal preferences of other people, the more relaxed and nice you become as a person.”

I love this reflex/practice: “What does it matter to me?”

Truly, I could be better at giving people space and letting them do their own thing. No skin off my back! Good for you, not for me! In what way does this impact me? Etc!

There is a related prompt that digs a tiny bit deeper that I’ve also found useful: when I find myself cringing, coiling back, or otherwise reacting strongly to something someone else is doing, I spend a minute ferreting out the root. Sometimes, I am startled to find envy or hurt — in which case, I know I need to draw inward, count my own blessings, and live where my shoes are — but sometimes, there’s an underlying clash of values, and this insight is illuminating in that it provides a clear prompt to reflect on whether or not you want to live your life according to the value in question.

Let me provide a hypothetical. This did not happen IRL, but represents a conglomeration of different incidents that have happened to me:

A friend receives a Paperless Post to an intimate cocktail party in your home. You can see she opened the invitation but does not respond. You run into her at the salon, and she says, “The invite was so cute! I hope we can come, but not sure yet whether we will be around!” Two days before the cocktail party, she texts to say, “It turns out my college roommate is in town and wants to do a night out! Thanks for including me, next time!” You feel upset by this. You take a minute to sort through the frustration. You find a good measure of hurt and wounded pride, feeling that her actions suggest she was waiting to see if something better would come along, or perhaps didn’t see your invitation as compelling in the first place. There is also a clash of values, in that you are a planner, and because you hadn’t heard from her, you had rounded up to include her in your menu planning, cocktail program, etc., which incurred extra cost/time on your end. You know that you are a conscientious, rule-abiding person, and that you could never “not get back to” someone who’s extended an invite, as this feels like part of a very basic social understanding. You are also unable to fathom leaving weekend plans until the very last minute.

So, what’s going on here? Is this a situation where you can stop and say, “What does it matter to me?” After all, she’s the one missing out on the cocktail party, and you are going to have a great time no matter what. It’s not your job to police her responsiveness and social etiquette. She probably meant nothing by it and didn’t realize the strain her lack of response put on you. What’s more, when you hang out, you enjoy her company. You believe her to be a fun and well-intentioned person. So, what does it matter to you?

You realize, though, that you might be circling in on a mismatch of values. You prioritize promptness, follow-through, transparency, and she prioritizes connecting with the people that matter to her most and keeping an open mind (and social diary!) for what life might throw her way. She is fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants and you live by the calendar.

This would (and has!) led me to two different paths of action. On the one hand, I can honor my own values and avoid situations where I know they will clash with hers. By this I mean: I can choose not to include her in plans that require planning/procuring of goods/invitations on my end. I can instead text her at the last minute to see if she might want to grab a glass of rose. Or I can choose to not be the one instigating get-togethers with her, and run into her at gatherings hosted by other people who might mind her behavior less.

On the other hand, I can reflect on whether I want to prioritize planning and rule-following above other values. Like, why did I exert so much energy over her wishy-washiness? It wasn’t too hard to round up a bit in the planning of the menu. I could have put that worry into something more productive, or at least positive, in tone. Do I want this to define me? When I imagine myself, do I want “rule follower” and “structured, calendared” to be among the top descriptors? If not, I need to work on getting myself to a place where I can accommodate the behaviors of others who are not this way.

What do you think? Have you run into similar situations where you’ve toggled between “what does it matter to me?” and “But this is a clash of values!”? How do you resolve?

Post-Scripts.

+Another path out of these quandaries: remembering that some of us are walking around with broken hearts, pretending like we aren’t.

+Are you an expert in yourself?

+Do you find that your closest friends share common traits?

+On taking your own joy seriously!

Shopping Break.

+Hunza G released a variation on their beloved bathing suit in STRIPES! Apparently they haven’t released striped versions in years!

+Lululemon Align tank, on sale in all colors!

+Xirena released their popular Draper pants in a classic white color!

+Addison Bay is launching an enormous Warehouse Sale today at 10 A.M. (you can get early access at 9 A.M. as a text subscriber). I can’t wait to see what’s included, as I’ve been eyeing this cute little dress and LOVE a half-zip.

+Hair ties with a little something extra. So cute! I still remain obsessed with the skinny Slip ones — use while washing hair / applying makeup / etc. — and they’re on sale here!

+Cannot stop thinking about this SEA dress, in blue or white. The smocking is spectacular.

+This booster seat is much cuter than the chunky plastic thing we had for my children. We loved to feed them out of this, though, whether on the floor or on the counter.

+These Ancient Greek sandals are in my cart — 60% off! Their sale section is worth a gander.

+While on the summer footwear train of thought: saw these sandals on a serious chic pea in Chevy Chase the other day and did a triple take.

+Loving this collarless denim jacket.

+I love reusable mini bamboo cloths like these for removing eye makeup.

+This is still pricey, but it’s 40% off and absolutely spectacular for a black tie affair.

+Cute lavender blockprint daydress from Cleobella.

+Love this ruffle seersucker trim button-down.

+If you like the look of my Boll and Branch waffle bed blanket but not the price, check out this Amazon find.

By: Jen Shoop

Testing a new format for myself this week…

Favorite Things I Wore This Week: This Juliet Dunn dress. It is so breezy and comfortable and I adore the pattern. I also have been shocked by how much I love and wear my silver Birkenstocks. They’re so easy to slip into and they go with everything from sundresses to jeans. I like that they require no buckling/strapping in.

Favorite Things I Bought This Week: This was a good shopping week. The items I ordered that I’m most excited about: this enormous pump-style sunscreen to keep by the back door as a visual reminder to apply SPF; this dress as an option for an end-of-summer wedding; this Vuori tank; and this striped nap dress.

Favorite Things I Ate This Week: For Father’s Day, I made Landon a roasted chicken, tangerine, and fennel dish that I’d pre-seasoned and then marinated in Pernod, olive oil, orange juice, etc from Ottolenghi’s Jerusalem cookbook (seen above); rice with toasted orzo (also from the Jerusalem book); and a salad with greens, potatoes, olives, and green beans tossed in a yogurt-dill dressing (from Paul Kahan’s Cooking for Good Times). I was pretty pleased with how everything came out, but I especially loved the yogurt-dill dressing. I love sauces like that — I want to dip everything in them. I’m also not normally a big breakfast person but I’ve been eating Good brand cottage cheese (elite!) with fresh fruit mixed in, or everything bagel seasoning on top, and it’s just the perfect amount of protein. Lastly, I can’t get enough lemon ice cream this summer. Trader Joe’s has a delicious one out called “When Life Gives You Lemons” that has little bits of buttery shortbread mixed in — wow. It’s delightful. We also love the one from Van Leeuwen this summer, which is a lemon-poppyseed-muffin ice cream. My mouth is watering thinking of them.

Favorite Thing I Read This Week: Nearly done (73% at time of writing this) with Remarkably Bright Creatures and I’m finding it delightful. The characters are arch and interesting, the pace is good, the overall plot quirky. I like the way she conjures setting in this book — I feel like I know Sowell Bay, the layout of the aquarium, what Tova’s home feels like, etc. She isn’t overly detailed about it but there is a clear representation of physical space, rooms, weather, etc in the novel that is transportive.

Favorite Thing I Watched This Week: Strangely, the US Open. I am not a sports person — I still cannot crank up the energy to begin to try to understand the rules of most sports — but I guess once you’re in your late 30s, you start to enjoy golf. Part of it, I think, was the Netflix series “Full Swing,” which introduced me to many of the current players and their backstories and certainly made things more interesting. I do know a lot about golf already, though. My parents are avid golfers and I spent countless weekends out with my Dad on the course, taking down his strokes with those tiny red pencils on the scorecards clipped to the cart wheel. They also put me in a number of clinics and camps when I was younger. I remember one time, I won a chipping and putting contest when I was maybe 8, and the reward was a Taylor Made brand visor. I got home and showed it to my dad and he said, “Are you going to wear that?” I shrugged. He ended up keeping it and wearing it and I felt so important because of that! Like, I had achieved something and the reward was valuable to my Dad! I still have good feelings about that funny exchange. Anyhow. Despite that upbringing, I still could not bear to watch the hours of professional golf my parents would videotape and watch on the weekend evenings, and so I was tickled by the way this year’s US Open gripped me. I don’t even know the gentleman who won, but when he did, I found myself welling up with tears! It is so moving to watch a professional athlete achieve something great. Honestly, it’s poignant to watch anyone achieve something remarkable in real time.

Favorite Thing I Drank This Week: I found an unfiltered Txakoli at Organic Butcher in Bethesda that was super funky and delicious. Txakoli is a lesser-known Spanish grape that Landon and I discovered in Spain about eight years ago. It is usually very dry and slightly effervescent, and therefore a perfect accompaniment to tapas or pintxos. Also a great aperitif on its own. In San Sebastian, we learned that they often pour txakoli in a specific way, and they call it “breaking the wine”: servers will pour the wine from a ridiculous height above the glasses, probably to introduce more air and effervescence into the glass?

Favorite Thing I Did This Week: A tie between an early rainy pizza and movie night with my children and a walk with a girlfriend. Both afforded me the impression of stopped time, and reminded me that what really matters in life is connection with people you love. It has been a frenetic time in our house because our nanny has been on vacation, my brother and his family are coming into town for over a week, we are prepping for an even wider family reunion, my children are doing camp from 9-3 and then swim practice from 3:30-4:30, and overall, there is just a lot happening. I’ve also been sick (again, UGH! — I swear that someone coughs in Kansas and I catch it) and had to start a new course of antibiotics! Anyway, just to say that there was a part of me that felt like it was not a great time for a movie night with my kids or a slow stroll with a friend, but those ended up being the high points of my week. With both, I felt totally suspended from all the pushes and strains of my day, and I returned to my responsibilities with calm and perspective. It was great to re-center in these ways. Just a reminder that it never seems like a good time to go for a walk or watch a Disney movie with your kids, but you’ll never regret you did.

Something I’m Thinking About: I saw a quote this week that said, ‘Be comfortable with who you are when you’re alone.’ I’ve been thinking a lot about that, or perhaps a slight variation on the prompt: Who are you when no one is looking? Like, be the person who lets the staff know when the bathroom is out of toilet paper. Return the cart not just to the front of the store, but to the actual queue in which they’re kept. Wipe up the spilled sugar on the coffee bar. Help someone out if they seem confused by the protocols in a given store, restaurant, etc. In other words: I want to be a person that stands up straight and does the good and right thing, even when inconvenient or not my job. I’ll be the first person to admit I’m not always this way, but the prompt put some extra wind in my sails.

Something I’m Working On: There have been a lot of demands on my time lately, and sometimes I find myself wanting to snap: “That is just not a priority for me right now!” My girlfriend had a great suggestion for this. She mentioned that she was in the midst of overseeing the staging and inspection of her home for imminent sale, and that a friend had texted and called and texted again asking for her input on something relatively trivial. She said her response was: “I saw you texted and called. I am in the middle of the inspection of my home. I will get back to you this evening.” It gave me a different path forward, one that acknowledges receipt and sets expectations on response. For most of my life, I have responded to things immediately, as they come in, knowing all along that I was not doing a good job of prioritizing, but perhaps priding myself on being responsive and polite. More recently, I’ve been punting the things that do not need immediate attention further out, and have felt better about the alignment between my time and what matters to me, but have not been effectively communicating these deferrals to other parties involved. Now I feel like I have a formula to use when I’m underwater but cannot respond immediately.

Favorite Things I Found This Week: Did you know I update my Shop weekly with recent finds? But, the items on my mind right now…

THIS DENIM VERONICA BEARD JACKET

THIS STRIPED HUNZA G

THIS CHIC SEA DRESS — SO MANY GOOD FOJ OPTIONS THIS YEAR BUT I MIGHT SNAG THIS ONE

SUMMERSALT RUFFLE BACKFLIP SWIMSUIT — 30% OFF!

DORSEY’S KATE LAB-GROWN DIAMOND NECKLACE — I’VE BEEN EYEING THESE SINCE I SAW ONE ON COURTNEY GROW

CB2 COOLER GLASSES — WE USE THESE AS WATER GLASSES IN OUR HOME AND I JUST ORDERED AN EXTRA SET AFTER I BROKE ONE!

DROOLING OVER THESE FENDI SANDALS

What’s happening in your neck of the woods?

By: Jen Shoop

My Latest Snag: New Vuori + New Dresses.

Continuing on my fitness buying bender (I really was due for an overhaul — I had so many shorts/tanks that were really, really old and showing significant wear and discoloration in my closet), I snagged a few pieces from Vuori (this daydeam crew, this performance cropped tank, and these boyfriend shorts — unfortunately, they’d sold out of these shorts that were also sitting in my cart by the time I ordered!). Heads up that you can get 20% off your order as a new customer with code NEWVUORI-V220. Can’t wait for them to arrive, especially with all the rain we had this week. I kept wishing I had that daydream crew to throw on over my tanks and leggings to walk Tilly in the morning. It seems like the perfect top layer?

I need a new nap dress like I need a hole in my head, but I also snagged this red and white striped one, as I just kept thinking how comfortable those Ellies are and how cute it would be for daytime FOJ fun. While at Shopbop, I also ordered this Fanm Mon dress a lot of you also bought this week as a contender for my end of summer wedding guest look. And I picked up another one of these seamless sports bras — one of my longtime favorites. Love the neckline and thin straps.

This Week’s Bestsellers.

MAGPIE BY JEN SHOOP BESTSELLERS

This Week’s Bestsellers.

01. FANM MON ANIM DRESS // 02. TRACKSMITH X J. CREW RUNNING SHORTS // 03. LULULEMON TWIST-FRONT FITNESS TEE // 04. PACKIT FREEZABLE SNACK POUCH* // 05. COIN NECKLACE // 06. RAILS EYELET FLORAL DRESS // 07. GINGHAM RUG // 08. GOOP SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER SET // 09. ZARA EMBROIDERED SHORTS // 10. XIRENA LARK TOP // 11. GOLD HOOPS // 12. DAGNE DOVER BACKPACK // 13. CHARLOTTE TILBURY PILLOW TALK BLUSH WAND // 14. LAKE PAJAMAS NIGHTGOWN** // 15. OXO STRAWBERRY HULLER***

*A Magpie wrote in to mention that these freezable pouches are also great for breast milk storage! Such a clever idea. You toss them in the freezer (they do collapse!) and then they keep contents cold for hours. Come in larger sizes, too. I bought them for my children’s snacks and now might go back for the lunchboxes because this week, they are at tennis camp, and their lunches are just sitting in their backpacks outside! Even if nonperishable, no one wants 100 degree peanut butter?

**Runs big. Most sizes still available in the white seersucker!

***I was SO tickled to learn that this gizmo was invented by a Magpie reader’s friend while she was working at OXO!

Weekend Musings: Something I Love about My Mom.

One of the many things I love about my mother is that I can tell her things without knowing my point. This might sound like poor or inconsiderate conversation-making on my end, but I consider it a testament to our relationship and I believe the feeling goes both ways, as my mother recently mentioned in passing that she felt she could tell me anything, and I walked around on clouds with that knowledge for the rest of the day.

Over lunch this past week, I found myself telling her about the construction worker who had been paving the cul de sac in front of our home and saw me struggling with a gallon of milk and two full grocery bags as I was edging around the hot, freshly-poured asphalt. (We’d had to park our car a few blocks away to accommodate the work.) He gallantly jumped up and helped me carry the bags to my door. Why did I tell her this story? And why did I tell her about the way I’d stayed up for hours worrying in a medical anxiety spiral? And why was I talking about how surprised I was that we actually use all four of the occasional chairs in our family room even though I originally felt like four occasional chairs felt like a lot of chairs in a room? I don’t know! I had no point to any of these utterances; I simply felt full-to-the-brim with observations and needed to share them with someone else. None of them were well-turned, or insightful. Most of them just floated right out of my thoughts — strange and sweet and tiny things on my mind. She is perhaps the only person who can draw these thoughts out of me before I’ve had time to polish them for company. She just listens, finding the bric a brac of my life amusing or silly or normal, and keeps the volley going.

Someone once told me that when your children act out with you but seem great, polite with everyone else, you should take it as a compliment. They are straining to follow instructions and keep it together when out in public, and they feel they can let themselves go when at home — it is safe there, and you’ve made it so. I feel this deeply, even as an adult. I can go to my mother and just let her into the wild and unsorted maelstrom of my day and its attendant emotions. And she sits and tuts or laughs or pauses with a concerned wrinkle between her brow, but it’s all so easy and nonjudgmental. (Except for when I’m wearing ripped jeans — then there’s judgment aplenty.)

I guess what I mean is that my mom receives my whole self, the one unvarnished and unbrushed, and probably not fit for company. And I hope to be the same landing place for my own children.

P.S. Things I have learned from my mother.

Shopping Break.

+I basically want everything Doen is cooking up this summer. This gingham dress looks like a dream!

+This berry print dress for girls is beyond sweet, and under $30. It has a vintage / Doen vibe to it!

+Well-priced summer napkins. Would look so chic with this patterned tablecloth.

+I need this striped seersucker blouse. Under $100 and SO chic.

+Pair the blouse with everyone’s favorite denim shorts.

+I adore my personalized notepads from Erin Wallace. Have one in the kitchen and one on my desk at all times.

+Classic breton stripe sweater for summer. It comes in children’s sizes, too — such a classic, and unisex! Very well made. They run small/snug. This was one of my favorite items in my son’s wardrobe this past year.

+Cute woven crossbody.

+Love these soft-sided coolers.

+This lace knit caftan from H&M is fabulous.

+Two REALLY cute striped minis: this Reformation and this Faithfull. And one REALLY cute striped midi: this La Ligne. La Ligne can do no wrong! I wish I owned every single one of their dresses.

+Been hearing a little (positive) commotion about this book. Has anyone read?

+These are such chic and well-designed salad dressing / oil and vinegar jars.

+A pregnant friend of mine recently wore this dress with strappy sandals like these — so cute!

+Love this skirt with the matching top from Parterre.

+On does the coolest color combos in their sneakers!

By: Jen Shoop

*Image via.

Q: Summer beach hat that packs well.

A: People rave about this one from Janessa Leone. I also personally love this striped canvas one but know it’s not for everyone. Would be cute with a white swimsuit! Finally, though I do often pack sunhats and love the overall aesthetic, I’m much more likely to wear a ballcap…

I did want to mention that I’ve also heard people rave about this tote, which comes with a built-in straw hat carrier, though you can get the look for less with this, or upgrade with this monogrammable Weezie one.

Q: Casual white jacket.

A: I love the look of a utility jacket like this or this (the latter is technically off-white/bone colored), although this fleece (sweatshirt-material) topper also turned my head as a cute top layer. For something sportier to layer over athletic wear / athleisure, I really love this $37 style. The bracelet cuffs are so cute (and handy, if you want to push the sleeves up and have them stay put). You can see me in mine here.

Q: The Hay Adams for the 4th.

A: Oo, have fun! I would wear a patriotic cocktail dress like this, this, or this. More Americana summer outfit ideas here.

Q: Bridesmaid dress with light pink background and different colored flowers — floor length.

A: Oo, tricky one! A few options at different price points: this Bardot, this Reformation, this Bernadette, this Saloni, and this V. Chapman. This Self-Portrait is technically more midi-length (tea length?) but might get the bride’s approval?

Q: Tote that fits a laptop.

A: Cuyana makes a great workhorse bag for, well, work. The zippered top is clutch for travel/commute, and it holds up really well. Honestly can’t believe the price — I’ve had one for years. If you’re looking for more of an investment, I would try the Celine Cabas (depends on size of your laptop), Khaite Amelia, or Bottega Arco. I remember the ultra-chic Becky Malinsky claiming the Arco was THE perfect work bag.

Q: Summer family photo outfits for the whole family. Daughter 19 months and son four months.

A: So cute! I would put my daughter in one of the fabulous, heirloom-quality diaper sets from La Coqueta, like this or this, and baby boy in something like this or one of the little La Coqueta knit short sets. I would wear a dress like this, this, or (splurge) this — something that feels ethereal, painterly, but not too over-dressed. Don’t worry about being matchy-matchy. Just pick pieces in the same general color family.

Q: Classic fall coat for wearing to Paris. An early fall version of the travel series?

A: I love this request and will begin to keep my eyes out for chic fall finds for European travel, but not seeing too much out there for the fall yet! In terms of coat, now is a good time to buy last season’s standouts on sale. You must consider this ultra-luxe Toteme, currently 40% off. WOW. Understated elegance. This scarf-trim Toteme (still not on sale) was also crazy popular last season and would be a fabulous statement to bring with. Also love a tweedy option like this. Imagine over trousers, denim; layered with a bit of fair isle peeking through, or with head to toe black.

Q: July in Vail! What evening outfits work that are cute/warm enough?

A: I was just chatting with a friend heading out to Vail about this. We both thought that dress from Doen or The Great with clogs or booties and a cardigan like this or this was the answer. Alternately, your favorite jeans and a fun top like this with clogs/booties and cardigan! Also, this would be such a fun statement (currently heavily discounted) with jeans/white tee/booties.

Q: Everyday bag — crossbody or shoulder. Two young kids but not a full diaper tote.

A: I really love the options from Mansur Gavriel. This shoulder one has lots of space for the essentials and just looks fabulous, and I’m dying over these woven ones. I like the way both drawstrings closed so you can cinch everything in place when bending over to tend to a little one. This one from L’Uniforme is similar but a little less expensive. For something more casual, have seen a few moms at my daughter’s school with this Naghedi crossbody. Seems highly functional, durable, and cute for a sportier look.

Q: Fun sunglasses for my bachelorette beach weekend – under $50.

A: Have you seen these $12 ones from Amazon? They’re inspired by a style from Loewe and SO fun. Come in great colors. I bought them in yellow, as seen here. I also own these fun oval ones in two colors. Really fab. I first saw them on my girlfriend Alison Kenworthy. We were having a coffee date and I ordered them right from the cafe table!

By: Jen Shoop

It is bizarre and beautiful to me that I have multiple shoeboxes full of hand-written letters from my college days — check-ins and postcards and playlists and inside jokes and flirtations and stick figure drawings and magazine clippings and reports from abroad and kitschy stickers and photos of parties and crushes and too many bare midriffs. I write letters so much less frequently now. What was it about that time that invited such frequent epistolarity? After all, email existed, as did AIM. I think it was the romance of it, the implied intimacy, the grown-up-ness. (I have handwritten letters in my own college mailbox!)

I wrote to my parents, too, during that time, even though we talked and emailed frequently. I have a couple of letters written on hotel letterhead from my travels abroad that my father marked in the upper right hand corner in thick black fountain ink: ELAINE – PLS RETURN. And I can just imagine the way he’d placed my epistles on her desk, on top of her closed laptop, but wanted them back for safekeeping in the straining accordion folders he kept for each of his children.

Letters are an act of love. They require physical exertion, mental planning or at least agility, and a trip to the post box. They cost postage and time. I wrote elsewhere that they are akin to “letting feelings dry on paper.” I have a couple of friends and family members with whom I email regularly and thoughtfully, but would love to get back into the habit of exchanging paper letters, as it dawned on me the other day that the only hand-written dispatches I’ve drafted over the past many months have been condolences and thank yous.

magpie by jen shoop dear elouise stationery
magpie by jen shoop dear elouise stationery
magpie by jen shoop dear elouise stationery
magpie by jen shoop dear elouise stationery

One thing that helps with getting back into the mode: beautiful paper products. And I am newly flush with it. I had the most spectacular and generous opportunity to design a custom set of stationery and enclosure cards with the gorgeous paper company Dear Elouise. These pieces are the truest reflection of my aesthetic preferences. Can you even deal with the gorgeous scalloped trim? The exquisite liner? The vintage-feeling letterpressed script?! I audibly swooned when I opened the box. I’ve had them sitting out in a tidy stack on the small table in my office since opening, as just seeing them adds a little elegance to my day. This is the personal stationery that belongs in the office of someone like Deeda Blair, with chinoiserie panels and everything upholstered in Schumacher and elegant vintage furniture and maybe one of those old-fashioned phones I imagine Lauren Bacall speaking on all the time. I lay claim to none of those possessions or attributes — but now I have the stationery, so a girl can dream. I am swooning.

A few other gorgeous paper and desktop products to consider:

CARAN D’ACHE PEN — MR. MAGPIE GAVE ME THIS AND I FEEL LIKE I NEED IT WHEN SIGNING IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS

FLORAL PEN CUP DESIGNED BY MY DEAR FRIEND INSLEE

DESKTOP ORGANIZER — LOVE ALL THE COMPARTMENTS

APPOINTED NOTEBOOKS AND PLANNERS (15% OFF WITH MAGPIEBYJENSHOOP)

BIGSO LETTER BOXES

LEATHER WRITING FOLDER

“SMALL THINGS” STORAGE BOX — PERFECT FOR STOWING PAPER CLIPS, PENS, PUSH PINS, RUBBER BANDS, STAMPS, ETC…

LUCRIN LEATHER LETTER HOLDER OR TOILE LETTER HOLDER

LEUCHTTERM WRITING PENS

ERIN WALLACE NOTEPADS

MH STUDIOS PERSONALIZED NOTEBOOK

PETITE RIMMED VASE

VALET TRAY

LEATHER CHARGING PAD

ACRYLIC FILE FOLDER

P.S. Cute stationery for children and my favorite home organization products.

P.P.S. On pursuing English as a discipline.

P.P.P.S. What I strive to do every day: shake hands with a blank page.

By: Jen Shoop

A Magpie recently wrote: “I just finished The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See and have a complete book hangover…will need in excess of a few days to fully digest and ruminate before moving onto my next pick. It reminded me a lot of Pachinko – beautiful storytelling, completely thrown into a new (to me) world and culture, complex relationships and family dynamics over decades – essentially, all of the makings of a great novel. I found myself googling so many things to help visualize aspects of the culture and day to day life (anyone else do this?! I’m a visual person…).”

I am new to the phrase “book hangover,” but I know intimately its symptoms, particularly the frisson of not wanting to finish the last few chapters, but needing to know what happens, and then the dimness of the days after you’ve shut the book jacket, they way they feel as though they are missing something. Which they are. Reading a great book is like being in a fabulous but short-lived relationship. It calls to you all day long, seeking your engagement. It rewards you. And then it ends, abruptly! Other symptoms may include:

+Manic googling, as the Magpie above mentioned; I’ve found myself doing this a bit with Remarkably Bright Creatures. I found myself watching videos of great Pacific octopi (can they really contort themselves through tiny openings?), and Google image searching Puget Sound, and all kinds of things. A hallmark of being sucked into a fictive universe.

+Light irritability when reading the next book in your queue. (“But I just want more of the same…”)

+Missing certain elements of the book in certain parts of your home, or neighborhood, or even during certain parts of the day. I feel this way about Taste by Stanley Tucci, which I listened to on audiobook last summer. Even still, I cannot turn certain corners of my neighborhood without thinking of him and wishing I could read it anew all over again. That book is an interesting one because though none of it is groundbreaking, Tucci is such a lovely companion, his voice so rich and conversational and self-deprecating and delightful, and he makes life feel warm and engaging. Reading him is a reminder of how short life is, and why we must take great pains to enjoy ourselves. There is a great quote by E.B. White: “I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time.” Tucci left me in a similar headspace. Lean in, girl!

+Envying people who have not yet read the book.

+Exploring the author’s backlist hoping that somehow you’ll find the pre-story or post-story of one of the characters you loved from the novel you just finished.

+Contemplating how long is intellectually appropriate to wait before re-reading.

+Comparing other books through its prism.

+Needing to take a break from reading.

The book that gave me the worst reading hangover was The Dutch House by Ann Patchett. The writing is, simply, tremendous. The way she dresses her characters in words, their dimensionality, their hyperrealism — it absolutely blew my mind and transported me to a different world. I was deeply invested in those characters and missed them when they were gone. (Full, rave, fan-girl review here.)

What about you? What book has given you a bad hangover? I feel like this is a great prompt for surfacing a list of can’t-miss books! Please share!

Post-Scripts.

+I of course immediately added The Island of Sea Women to my summer reading list.

+Literary life raft.

+A list of 10 books that changed my life. I still stand by all of these though this is a very old post.

+Giving yourself a soft landing when you need one.

+A podcast that truly released something in me — or released something from me — on apologies.

Shopping Break.

+Summersalt is offering 30% off sitewide! I mentioned this brand recently — I know many of you are big fans! — as they recently reached out to me and I can’t wait to give their swim, especially their best-selling ruffle backflip suit, a try. A Magpie reader chimed in with this to say about the Backflip Suit: “I have both the ruffled and ruched versions and they are basically my dream summer-w-small-kids suit: the back frame is a little unexpected, neckline is plungey but totally stays put, and the leg has a very flattering high cut. I’m very picky about cuts and this one hits all the marks for me).” High praise! If that’s too chesty for you, I just saw a mom at our pool wearing The Sidestroke in white, and I did a triple take. Love the interesting back! I appreciate that the site showcases different body types in the suits and has its own grading system on cheekiness and chest coverage.

+I also like Summersalt’s cute French terry pieces, especially this sweatshirt!

+This cotton eyelet button-front dress looks perfect for all the mom things, whether you’re nursing, pregnant, going from swim meet to dinner, etc. A great blend of casual and chic, and love the sage green hue.

+Zara just marked down a lot of very chic items. This dress is one of my top selling items this entire year, and it’s now under $60. Also love this cute mini caftan. More of my favorite Zara finds here, and most are including in the sale.

+25% off my favorite vitamin C product ever. You have to be a member of Biossance’s “Clean Crew” but it’s free to join and worth it.

+Love the pattern on this top. Under $120 and so great for white jeans/shorts.

+Last summer, a Magpie said she bought the enormous pump-style bottle of Supergoop sunscreen (my favorite — great, liquid-y consistency that is easy to apply, smells lovely, and really lasts) and kept it at her back door as an easy way to incorporate SPF application into her daily routine. I’m following suit this year!

+Loft nailed it with this striped everyday dress — SO good! LOVE.

+This SEA dress is speaking my language.

+My neighbor used some of those rechargeable stick lamps on her dining table over the weekend and they were SO clever and chic! Love the options with striped shades.

+Just came across this cute swim company that seems to have designed the most genius rash guard for children ever. They are UPF 50, they zip up the front for easy on/off (such a pain to remove a wet rash guard from a toddler), and are $25, which feels reasonable! I love that they have really cute patterns, like gingham, and great solid options, too. Target also has a great inexpensive option (currently on sale for under $10). Doesn’t have the zipper or UPF, and has more limited color options, but a good back-up.

+A great throw-and-go summer dress for under $50.

+Who else had one of these Simon Says games as a kid? I just ordered one for my daughter and she’s hooked.

+Loved this cropped fitness tee so much, I ordered in both colors.

+DYING over these bone china Tiffany espresso cups. SO fabulous and cute!

+Pam Munson just marked down a bunch of her bags — how fab is this one?

+Has anyone tried the running shorts from Jolyn? I randomly stumbled across this brand on Instagram and the fit looks good, and the price is right…!

+Minimalist-chic caftan.

By: Jen Shoop

While at Tatte a few weeks ago, I found a little card that read: “Who said good things come to only those who wait?”

I had a visceral reaction. The balance of my life’s work has taught me the exact opposite. That is, nothing happens overnight. Good things are worth waiting for. There are no shortcuts. I was thinking primarily of dating Mr. Magpie for seven years before he proposed, despite being “ready” to be asked much earlier. Of waiting, in agony, to get pregnant with my daughter. Of the general stamina and patience required of two pregnancies. Of the fact that I did not get into any graduate schools when I first applied, but I tried again a year later with more success, and though I’m now grateful for the lag (and attendant “real world experience”), my God — experience is a cruel teacher. Of the time I was actively recruited by a start-up when I was desperate to get out of a job, and then — after countless rounds of interviews over multiple months and a covert trip out to San Francisco during which I felt raked over the coals — the company decided not to offer me the position, and instead, unethically told my boss that I’d been in consideration, which in turn led to a stern dressing-down and I still had to wait it out until something else materialized, but it was much better, and worth the heartache and stress. Of the hours I poured into re-designing my site, and the bugs and issues that still required my attention for months to come. Of the years and years of consistent trying and moonlighting and keeping-my-head-down that eventually led me to make a living off of writing.

So, forgive me if I bristle at the thought that I’ve been misplaying my hand, or missing the short-cuts, or not exercising a bias toward action.

Then again, is that my bruised ego talking? The human way in which we extrapolate from the parochialities of our own lives? I must routinely remind myself that data is not the plural of anecdote.

And so I polled my Instagram Magpies: Do you believe there are shortcuts worth taking? I was surprised to learn that over close to half of you believe there are.

Tell me more!

A few shared their experiences:

“I leaned into a job opportunity that I was not ready for instead of waiting to have all the right credentials.”

“I outsource or automate as many low-value tasks as I can.”

“I don’t do it all at home, at work, in life. I do two or three things well and don’t even worry about the rest.”

These are definitely “shortcuts” I can get behind. But are they “shortcuts” after all? Shortcuts and hacks bring to mind scotch-tape and easy roads out. As in, I don’t have the time to properly paint the entire house, so I’m just going to paint the part you can see through the front window and most people won’t know. The aforementioned — taking the job before you’re ready, outsourcing tasks that don’t feel meaningful — seem to me manifestations of focus and drive, not a will to “cheat” to get ahead. Maybe I’m mincing words? Maybe I have the wrong interpretation of shortcuts? It’s just that — every time I’ve tuned in to read about a “life-hack” or “growth-hacking” exercise, I find it’s all about window-dressing, or dodging the meaningful work that might be painful in the short term but that ends up giving you perspective.

Recently, though, I mixed up cocktails for a crowd and found myself squeezing about 20 limes in advance. One Magpie wrote: “You need to buy the Santa Cruz stuff! Tastes just like fresh-squeezed.” Another wrote: “Sub in grapefruit next time — less to squeeze.” It occurred to me in that moment that maybe I have been cringing in the face of “shortcuts” for no good reason. Maybe there are quicker ways through that can yield just as strong results, with less time or self-sacrifice.

What do you think?

Are there shortcuts worth taking? Please share!

Post-Scripts.

+Every phase is a good phase.

+Demeter.

+Do you have “emergency music” in your home?

Shopping Break.

+In the above photo, wearing this Zara caftan which is JUST THE BEST. One of my favorite Zara finds in recent years. Really soft/easy to wear, with a great loose fit. I get compliments on it constantly! I wore with canvas Vibi Venezias.

+Mr. Magpie just bought SIX new cookbooks. I’m especially excited about what comes from this one (Israeli) and this one (Chinese).

+A great everyday top with white jeans.

+Hill House just discounted a bunch of their items, including my Delphine Skirt (LOVE the fit, and the patterns are so fun — just throw on a basic white tee and you’re set! Take your true size; you can see me in mine here) and their classic Ellie nap dress (size down in this style) in select patterns, which are already selling out lickity-split while discounted.

+Chic striped sweater for $59.

+An actual perfect dress for a big meeting / “I need to look pulled together and polished” type situation.

+Awhile ago I raved about this fabulous vitamin-packed skin oil from small business Thomas Grove. I am still using it and loving it. It was a part of my daily skincare routine when it was really cold and dry out, but now I alternate with a few other oils. It’s gorgeous and deeply hydrating. The founder (another Jennifer!), reached out to offer us 15% off with code JENNIFERSHOOP15.

+How CUTE is this denim dress?! And — another great everyday dress.

+A sweet toddler girl swimsuit from Gap.

+Great home organization gear. I actually just repurchased several of these. How is it that I still have miles to go in my pantry? It seems like every time I open the door, I find new things to corral and organize.

+This lamp is in my cart for my son’s new bedside table.

+This adorable girl’s dress was just re-stocked after selling out in a flash. Perfect for FOJ, and all summer long.

+Spectacular summer wedding guest option. Another great one (and this one’s under $150).

+Cute acrylic pitcher for serving up cocktails or coolers outdoors this summer.

+You know my feelings on gauze dresses…and this one is well-priced!

By: Jen Shoop

We compiled all Magpie recipes into beautiful cards for your kitchen! Get the recipe card collection in your inbox here.

Do you have a strawberry huller?

If you have young children, or just like berries, you need one. This pointed pincer tool deftly removes the leafy bits of the berry without sacrificing any of the flesh! I was probably throwing away $5 a week in strawberry tops that still had a decent amount of fruit on them prior.

Other little gizmos and gadgets we love:

+KUHN RIKON PEELERS. Ultra-sharp and the perfect palm-sized shape to really give you grip/control. [Ed. note: Per a Magpie comment on these, the Kuhn Rikon peelers are carbon steel, which rusts very easily. You need to wash and dry the peelers immediately after use. This is not a huge lift for us because we are already meticulous about doing this with our knives, but it might require some habit change if you are not in the rhythm of doing this while cooking! They also cannot be run through the dishwasher. These may be non-starters for some Magpies!)

+MAGNETIC MEASURING SPOONS. Above is not a prime example of the magic of this set, but you can nest them and they all stick together but they aren’t shackled to one another with one of those loops like most sets are. So you can just retrieve the size you want. Also LOVE that one side is narrow and one side is wide — the narrow actually fits into most spice jars.

+OXO SCALE. The pull-out screen is clutch when measuring large plates/platters/bowls.

+FELLOW COFFEE GRINDER. This has saved Mr. Magpie so much grief. He had been hand grinding for years (coffee nerd thing), but whenever we have guests, the hand grinder was such agony! This is very cleverly designed and well-regarded. I rarely make the coffee but had occasion to the other day and it was a cinch to use. Even a coffee ignorant person like me can do it, and it takes like five seconds. Plus, looks cool enough to leave out on the counter.

+THERMOPEN INSTANT READ THERMOMETER. We use this allll the time. Currently $20 off! A really good gift for any grill/protein enthusiast but I also use frequently for baking.

+SHUN KITCHEN SHEARS. We have two sets of these in our kitchen drawer and they’re in near-constant use. They are really strong/sturdy — have even used to cut through chicken bone before — and you can use the pointed ends as intended (as a screwdriver) or as I do — to pierce those damned air-tight tops on peanut butter and spices. There are so many other functions. Apparently also a bottle opener and nut cracker! The blades come apart easily for washing by hand (do not place in dishwasher or they will dull).

+SHUN “TOMATO” KNIFE. For some reason, we call this a tomato knife, but it’s labeled differently online. I know there are a few fellow enthusiasts of this style of knife. THE BEST for slicing bread, baked goods, pastries, and, yes, tomato without “squishing” the goods. It just slides right through, sort of like a serrated knife.

+WINE STOPPERS AND CHAMPAGNE STOPPERS. Inexpensive and so handy — the champagne ones by this specific brand (Fantes) really keep sparkling bubbly even a few days after opening. They are made in Italy and I’ve given them to so many people at this point tucked in with a bottle of wine/champagne. For some reason they are only sold in packs of 2 or 3 at the moment but trust me – you will be obsessed, too, and will happily gift the spare to a friend/hostess/neighbor/etc.

P.S. More kitchen favorites you might not have.

P.P.S. A dish to feed a crowd, and a playlist for the party, too.

P.P.P.S. Shopbop favorites. Heads up that they are running an additional percentage off sale starting today. Lots of great finds!

By: Jen Shoop

You know that quote, “Dress for the job you want?” I’ve been applying it loosely to my recent fitness-wear buying bender, in the sense that: I want to set the table for an active summer. Like so many of you, our home was a revolving door of illness this past school year (including a second round of strep that popped up the final week of school — joy!), and I have had to take multiple sabbaticals from my fitness regimen in order to let my body recover. I’m right now chomping at the bit to get back into my every-other-day running routine, but am getting over a lingering cough that makes running at any length unpleasant and spluttery. But I’m determined. Come next week, I’m getting back in that saddle. My body has been craving the movement. Even though I’ve not been running these past two weeks, I’ve been taking walks with my dog and with girlfriends and trying to spend as much time as possible outdoors, trailing my kids, or at least just relaxing in the welcome sunshine.

Above, I’m wearing a few of my new favorite athletic pieces, starting with the J. Crew x Tracksmith shorts and tank, which have the lightest, airiest, most breathable fabric and are thoughtfully made specifically for running. I take a small in all of Tracksmith’s bottoms and an XS in their tops. They are cut for, like, wiry marathoners, so in general, advise sizing up in their pieces. Could not love more. I paired with this fabulous under-$40 cropped jacket, which gives me Olympic-coach-from-the-late-80s vibes, and I love it. The jacket is UPF50 and very lightweight. Good top layer if it’s a tad chilly, or if you want more coverage from the sun. The cinched bracelet-style wrists are so cute and sporty, and come in handy if you want to push up to the elbow. Comes in more fun colors, too! I’m wearing here with my Naghedi (a great utility tote, FYI) and my Reeboks because I wasn’t going running this particular day — was just out for a walk in the neighborhood — but wouldn’t wear the Reeboks for proper running. I really love these sneaks, though. Every time I look down, I feel like I’m an 80s gymnast or tennis player? I don’t know what it is about that era of fitness style but I love it.

tracksmith x jcrew
j crew tracksmith
naghedi tote

I also have, of course, been getting a ton of wear out of the Lululemon Align Dress. I actually call it my Saturday morning dress because I frequently wear it on Saturday mornings, when the kids are out on their bikes/scooters or playing in the backyard and Mr. Magpie is making the rounds in his gardens or washing the car. Also like to slip into it if I’m walking the dog in the morning but not yet ready to put on my full head-to-toe outfit, or know I’m going to be wearing something a bit dressier and don’t want to muss it up while walking the dog. I wanted to mention that if you’re in the market for a fitness dress but don’t want to spend $148 on one, this Old Navy style is chic and under $50. Comes in really good colors! I also love my Madewell one (currently on sale for under $70!), but would say it runs a tad snug, FYI! I find myself reaching for the Lulu more often because its just a tad more comfortable.

Another chasing-after-the-kids outfit I have been reaching for a lot lately: this pleated skirt from Spanx (really love the fit and the compression level of the shorts beneath — you can get 10% off with code SHOOPXSPANX) with one of my Beyond Yoga tanks. I usually throw a thin layer on top, and this one is under $15.

spanx skort

My go-to outfit for actual running: I’m obsessed with this cropped tee or this Beyond Yoga tank paired with these Beyond Yoga running shorts. My go to outfit for actual running.

Finally, I currently have a big shopping cart full of items from Vuori. I’ve never ordered from them before and mainly associated them with those joggers everyone wore during the pandemic. They have so many cute things right now! In my basket: these shorts, this performance tank and the matching shorts, and this daytime crew. I love a thin top layer like the latter to throw on when I’m inside and inevitably cold, as you can see from the photo above of me wearing the Spanx skirt.

Shop the Summer Fitness Wardrobe.

P.S. On creative habits.

P.P.S. On humble beginnings to new habits.

P.P.P.S. A metronomic approach to grace.

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