I’ve had a number of readers asking for more everyday wear. One reader put a fine point on it with the following question, which encapsulated the general thrust of other similar queries:
I’m looking for everyday tops for around $100 or less. I have three little ones and I’m OK spending more on dresses but everyday tops seem to have a shelf life in my house, but I still want to look cute. I feel like ti’s either Target or Anthro but nothing in between!
I so hear this! I am going to answer this in three separate categories: everyday blouses; everyday tees; and everyday sweatshirts. Nearly all of these picks are under $100 with a few going up to $130. If I am looking ahead to a full day of parenting/errand-running/writing, I usually reach for cotton tees/sweatshirts, especially in the winter, though I would make an exception for this soft, gauze-like top from J. Crew I just ordered (imagine how cute with trending khakis). All of those items are soft, warm, easy to launder–just what I prefer to wear when I’m feeling cold. In the spring months, or when I have plans to see other people, I reach for a fun blouse or button-down — but nothing too fancy I’ll cry when the children splatter it with paint or approach me with berry-stained fingers.
Everyday Blouses Under $130.
I love to pair blouses with light-wash denim or overalls during the week!
I own many of these tops! I’ve written in-depth reviews of several of them here. I did finally order one of these $15 Uniqlo tees that people rave about — will share thoughts when it arrives! I’m not usually a big graphic tee gal, but some of these have a chic kitschy vibe that would look great tucked into high-waisted denim, paired with delicate gold jewelry, and finished with either ballet flats or cool sneakers.
I have been getting a lot of wear out of my sweatshirts over the past few years — I’ve been especially drawn to nicer-quality solid half-zip sweatshirts layered over striped tees or turtlenecks for daytime. So comfortable, but a bit more polished than your usual fleece. I wrote a review of this $24 Target style last week here! I love it!
A roundup of Amazon beauty buys, most of which I own and love, and a few of which have been on my radar lately. I recently ordered this cute terry cloth headband for use while washing my face as well as Julep’s hydrating tinted balm, which had been getting a lot of buzz. The Julep balm is INCREDIBLE — I’m so impressed! Glides on beautifully and comes in lots of great colors. I ordered in the “nectar pink” but they sent me the “90s neutral” by accident. I’m keeping both! I also have to give a shoutout to this $5 multi-stick, which I bought in the sparkling peach color. It has a nice slick texture to it (reminds me of the Tarte cheek stains — actually, the peach color is really really similar in color and texture to Tarte’s “Tipsy”) and is mildly pigmented, so you can slick it on and blend it in easily. Very buildable/semi-sheer color. Really impressed with it! Going to keep this in my purse because it’s conveniently compact and can double as lip/cheek color.
If there’s one item you must try from this roundup, however, it’s Origins’ Ginzing gel moisturizer — my favorite brightening moisturizer for spring/summer months. Bonus: it’s under $25. My mom turned me onto this moisturizer last year, and I haven’t looked back. It’s strikingly similar to Clarins’ Extra-Firming Energy moisturizer, which I also loved and used to the absolute last drop. (I distinctly remember scraping every last ounce of it out of the jar using one of these beauty product scoops my mom gave me in my stocking!).
Last week, I volunteered to help throw a 100th-day-of-school ice cream party in my daughter’s Kindergarten class. I had my day planned down to the minute, and had been organizing it entirely around the 2:15 P.M. time slot for the celebration so that I would arrive with ice cream that wasn’t overly melted. En route at 2:03 p.m., one of the moms in my daughter’s class called to see if I was still coming. “2:15, right?” I asked. “No, we were supposed to be here at 1:45.” Damned if I didn’t speed all the way to school in a mild sweat!
I underwent the usual internal browbeating — how could I have mixed up the time? I should have read the thread more carefully! I’d made 35 little children wait for their ice cream! I apologized and attempted to put on a happy face, but I felt terribly! I was momentarily haunted by a story a friend shared with me years ago. She is self-admittedly clumsy and has broken many glasses and plates while dining with us. One night, she knocked over a champagne flute, and while apologizing profusely, shared that when she’d broken something of her mother’s a few years prior, she’d cried out: “I didn’t mean to!” and her mom had replied: “Sometimes, you have to mean not to.”
I think a lot about that exchange when I make mistakes. “I didn’t mean to!” rarely feels like a proportionate or winning defense, and I have internalized the message that sometimes, you need to be ahead of the curve, working to mean to do things the right way. Pre-empting slip-ups. Elbowing out the possibility of a misstep.
On the drive home from my daughter’s school, I was still digesting my oversight when a quiet voice inside interrupted:
Did the children still eat ice cream?
Was anyone angry or adversely impacted by the delay?
Did everyone still have a good time?
A round of yeses. And I gently let myself off the hook.
Now, I am the first person to celebrate follow-through and commitment. I am very rarely late and I try my best not to cancel on plans unless absolutely necessary. I’ll admit that it ruffles my ego a bit to think that some of the other parents or teachers in my daughter’s class might think of me as the type of person who arrives tardy, or who does not attend to details, or who prioritized other things that afternoon. But, you know what? Maturity is making mistakes and owning them. (There was a petty part of me that wanted to skim through all the emails to figure out how/why I’d had the wrong time down.) Apologizing and moving on. Letting people be wrong about you. Having perspective. (It was ice cream!) Giving yourself and others grace.
I guess what I’m saying is that I’ve outgrown the defensive urge to cry out: “I didn’t mean to!” (Or to find the part of the email thread that may have caused my error.) But maybe I’m also outgrowing the mentality that “I need to mean not to.” Because what does that message imply? That we are one foresight away from an accident, if we only exert enough care? No. I trust myself. I am organized; I have my heart in the right place; I try my best. That’s enough.
The ice cream party is a frivolous example, but the mentality applies to every domain of my life. I am hard on myself, especially in matters pertaining to parenting. It’s time to learn how to give myself a soft landing when I need it.
+Jennifer Sumko just launched the prettiest collection with Dillards! I love this animal-print skirt, this seashell blouse, and this elegant capelet midi. Very Agua Bendita-meets-Emilia-Wickstead-meets-Alemais?
I was shocked by how many questions I received about the Hunza G Pamela swimsuit I briefly reviewed in this past weekend’s “Magpie Edit” post. Today, providing a more thorough review of the Pamela, answering all of the questions I received in one place:
+This suit has a stretchy but not compressive texture. It doesn’t exactly “hold you in” — it’s definitely not shapewear, and it doesn’t have quite the same “slimming” effect as the standard lycra swimsuit textures – but it feels mildly contouring and it does hug the body beautifully in a way that does not require a lot of fidgeting/adjustment.
+Because of this stretchy material, the suit is supremely comfortable. It does not dig in anywhere, especially not at the leg hole area, which is usually the part where any kind of digging in / cinching occurs for me.
+Full rear coverage. I was worried about this one. I have had to sideline a few of my suits for mom life at the pool because they are just not practical/modest enough! But the Pamela boasts very comfortable rear coverage. I think this is because of the OSFA material — it stretches to cover what you need to cover?
+In general, I was confused about the OSFA nature of the suit. I am petite (5’0) and when I first pulled it out of the bag, it looked small even to me! But the suit magically expands to the right size, length, etc, for a flawless fit. Nothing gaped/snagged/felt overlong/felt too short.
+I was personally worried that the texture might add “puffiness” or “fuzziness” to my silhouette, but it really doesn’t do that — the material hugs the body beautifully.
+There are no cups/is no padding in the bust area. This may mean it’s not a great fit for bustier women? I will wear with these petal covers for coverage. I use these with swimsuits all the time and they work even in water. (I’ve tried a few different brands of petal covers and these are my favorite. They remain adhesive a lot longer than other brands.)
+I had a few questions about whether the suit was “sheer.” It is unlined, but not at all sheer — it is an opaque, stretchy material. However, because it is unlined, I do think (per previous note) you might be more comfortable wearing the petal covers. If in doubt, you might elect for the black instead of the pink, as I think it will be even more modest.
+The Pamela has a strappy neckline that I prefer, but Hunza G’s more famous silhouette is this classic squareneck style. Note the differences in the back — the Pamela cuts straight across in a sporty/athletic style, and the squareneck scoops low. Both very cute, but different vibes. I am tempted by this pastel blue in the classic squareneck. I’ve heard once you go Hunza, you don’t go back!
+Both my sister and cousin swear by the Hunza G brand for maternity! Both wore while pregnant and raved about comfort, fit, etc. Then the suit works just as easily postpartum, and shrinks right back to the original fit/size. I wish I’d known about the brand while I was expecting, because it was kind of a dagger to even spend $30 on an unattractive Target maternity suit knowing I might wear it a handful of times (if that!) and then toss. I love the idea of treating yourself to a Hunza G while pregnant — something stylish you can wear NOW and later.
Ed. note: You may have noticed a slightly different appearance for Magpie home page if you are accessing from a desktop/laptop computer today. We are continuing to tweak the style to make the site run well for the Magpie community — pardon the dust if something looks askew!
Alone
by Jack Gilbert
I never thought Michiko would come back
after she died. But if she did, I knew
it would be as a lady in a long white dress.
It is strange that she has returned
as somebody’s dalmatian. I meet
the man walking her on a leash
almost every week. He says good morning
and I stoop down to calm her. He said
once that she was never like that with
other people. Sometimes she is tethered
on their lawn when I go by. If nobody
is around, I sit on the grass. When she
finally quiets, she puts her head in my lap
and we watch each other’s eyes as I whisper
in her soft ears. She cares nothing about
the mystery. She likes it best when
I touch her head and tell her small
things about my days and our friends.
That makes her happy the way it always did.
*********
This poem landed like an arrow. I thought of how I occasionally chase the shadows of loved ones — living and deceased — in the gestures of others. How sometimes I will observe two sisters, crowns touching, laughing together on a couch and cast out for my own. How one time I saw a girl walking in Georgetown and knew it wasn’t Elizabeth but caught a glimpse of her anyway. How there was a girl in my class at Visitation whom I’d never met before, but who reminded me so much of a childhood friend that I always felt an undue intimacy with her: found myself defending her, going out of my way to show her kindness. How I see my mother in myself when I am placing a cool hand on my daughter’s forehead: echoes of the people we love, reverberating back to us.
+Just ordered these affordable padded woven headbands for myself to pair with my spring wardrobe! So pretty with florals or pastel stripes, like this or this. (Lowkey love Jonathan Simkhai — his dresses always fit like a dream and make me feel so elegant! The midi length one I linked reminds me a bit of Carolina Herrera.)
+A great everyday solid-colored dress, currently around $30. Love it in the white and taupe.
I have my eye on a bunch of Minnow items for my children for spring, and am sort of collecting them in my basket until it gets a tad warmer. For mini, I’m loving this, this, and this; for micro: these, this, this.
P.S. More recent children’s finds here and here (<<all under $30).
*Above, wearing the Horror Vacui Freja dress, the prettiest of the pretty spring floral dresses on offer this season. It runs REALLY big in the bodice, which I think is part of the style, but I am taking it to my tailor for a consultation on how much we can take in because it is currently baggy on me in an unflattering way. But, the pattern! The details! It is divine! I am hoping to make it work. You can see my Pamela Munson Isla Bahia tote on the side — my ride or die. A full review here.
I always find the first shoots of crocuses and daffodils of spring a shock. The earth is gray and dry for months on end, and suddenly: a revelation of impossible green, one random Tuesday morning. Those shoots appear vulnerable, but determined. Poet Maura Stanton once referred to spring as “all second growth,” and I hear those words every time I see the first buds. I think about cyclicality, the way old things have made way for the new. It is a time of possibility. Another example of the way in which Mother Nature provides a live model for accepting change with grace.
Anyhow: seeing those tender shoots appear over the past week or two, first in small islets and then in larger clusters, I feel excited for spring. So, too, are you, apparently, as I’ve had a trickle of questions about what to wear to Easter and for other spring festivities — baby showers, bridal showers, weddings, and more — with a particular clamor for spring floral dresses. Below, some of my absolute favorite finds! This is my comfort zone, my true inner fashion self. I always feel like I am experimenting with different versions of myself during the winter (which can be fun!), but spring/summer is where I feel I “come home.” I am most myself in feminine, midi-length dresses, preferably floral in pattern.
I have to be honest — I haven’t thought kindly on khakis in a long time, since my girlfriend had to wear them for a college job, and we made merciless fun of them (not of her, but of the fact that she had to wear khakis). Now who’s laughing? The chic peas below are bringing a big khaki energy back.
Below, my favorite pieces for nailing the trend. I like them mixed with stripes and neutrals.
P.P.P.S. What energy are you sending out on a daily basis?
By: Jen Shoop
I’ve always had bad teeth. When I was little, I had overcrowding that resulted in multiple extractions. And still, my front teeth grew in almost sideways. As a result, I had braces, head gear, rubber bands, and a retainer I didn’t wear, which resulted in a round of Invisalign in my early 20s. The Invisalign technology was nascent then. The trays were thicker, the “attachments” they place on select teeth to help with rotation more pronounced in color and size, and they still used 3D molds in order to produce the trays. Anyone who had braces back in the day remembers how unpleasant it was to have molds taken of your teeth. You sat in a chair while being told — phlegmatically, by assistants who induced the torture hourly — to breathe through your nose while you felt goop dripping down the back of your throat, invoking a gag reflex. It was a process so disagreeable that it actually weighed into my recent decision whether or not to pursue Invisalign a second time. Luckily, those molds are a thing of the past: they now use a digital scanner for the renderings. This made the decision much easier: it was then simply a matter of finding the right orthodontist. I was absurdly nervous going into these consultations. I felt as though I was admitting a failure–which, of course, I kind of was. I’d had braces and Invisalign and still my teeth were crooked. I had not been compliant about wearing my retainer after braces, and I’d permitted my last round of Invisalign to peter wastefully out because I’d been wearing the trays for over two years and they still had not gotten my front teeth just right. I felt irritated by it all. Then, I moved. And promptly gave up. My teeth happily returned to their former cluttered positions. So, attending these consultations was humbling, especially when one of the orthodontists asked, “Have you had trauma to the mouth?” My God! My teeth were crooked but not so bad (I didn’t think, at least?) that it looked like I’d been hit in the face? I went with a different orthodontist, Dr. David Rad, whom I highly recommend to my fellow Chevy Chase / Bethesda friends. He is sane, pragmatic, and calls it like it is, but he is also funny and light-hearted. When I complained to him about the pain of wearing rubber bands, he said: “That’s what wine is for.” He has always made the process feel like a partnership. Lately, he has been asking: “How do we feel about the placement now?” And he will offer his perspective and I mine and we will together determine the next steps. And because of him, I am sitting here, 18 months into treatment, with extremely straight teeth and probably about two months of refinement ahead of me.
I am almost embarrassed to admit how thrilled I am by the outcome, because I don’t like what it says about my sense of self-worth, or vanity. What does it that mean that having straight teeth has made me walk around with more confidence than I’ve ever marshaled in my life? Am I insecure? Self-absorbed? There is probably more to unpack there, but, at the same time, I think: well, if I can address something that has caused me to radiate with negative energy, why shouldn’t I? Why wouldn’t I fix something that causes me embarrassment, self-consciousness, a sense of being “less than”?
To be sure, this was no quick fix. 18 months of lisping, intermittent oral pain and attendant headaches, constant wearing and washing of trays, frequent visits to the office, a substantive price tag, the routine fluster of encountering someone I know while wearing them and wondering whether I should acknowledge them verbally. I remember the first day I had them in, my neighbor was chatting with me on her front lawn, and I felt like there were enormous emoji arrows pointing at my mouth. Finally, I interrupted the flow of conversation to say: “I’m sorry if I’m lisping. I just got Invisalign…!” She assured me she hadn’t even noticed, but — even if she had, so what? Surely Invisalign is not so unusual that people haven’t seen it before, and wasn’t it worse to have bad teeth on display?
I am, truly, grateful for this technology. Grateful to be nearly at the end of treatment. Grateful to have corrected something that led me to smile with closed lips and opt out of photographs for many years. It is shocking, now, to think about how much energy I wasted worrying about my smile.
I write this and realize that — yes, it is great to have straight teeth, but I am ecstatic to have made space for better thoughts. Not just about myself, either. In eliminating a consistent source of bad energy, I have freed up a part of my consciousness for better things. And for that I am especially grateful.
Sharing this today because, well, sometimes I need a loved one to nudge me to take action about the things that bother me. So here is your invitation to tackle that thing that’s been weighing on you, whether it’s something as cosmetic as teeth or as substantive as making a career change. The beginnings are hard; they require almost gargantuan effort. I got your back. I’m here rooting you on. Let’s do this! Onward!
Post-Scripts.
+”I am not living an alternity, or a rehearsal, or a dressing room. I am living, to quote HRH Mary Oliver, ‘my one wild and precious life.'” Onward!!!
+This post reminded me of this exercise that is helpful at getting rid of some of the everyday irritants that drain us.
+Cute lavender checkerboard rash guard for a little love.
+A pretty moody floral jumpsuit at a good price. Madewell truly makes the best jumpsuits/coveralls. I own several!
+My kids are going to get such a kick out of these sweet and stinky scented markers. I just did a big order of craft/weekend activities for them, including these squeezable paints, which they loved. More ideas for indoor activities with little ones here. So many of these are slightly tinged with sadness only because I leaned on them while we were absolutely crawling through the depths of the pandemic, but it’s been lovely to revisit them now that we are happily ensconced in our new lives here in Bethesda.
+These patterned overalls for a little one. Meep!!!!
+These chairs look almost identical to ours from Restoration Hardware, but a fraction of the price.
+I know I raved about this bronzer stick already, but I’m just coming back to double down on my praise. Lately, I have been slicking it on as the LAST step in my cosmetic routine. I swipe a bit on each cheek and the bridge of my nose and it gives the most perfect sunkissed look. (Full review here.). You can score all of my favorite products they make in this kit for a little price break. TBH, this is like a full face worth of makeup for $140 (!) — you only need mascara!
HUNZA G PAMELA SWIMSUIT. Well, the hype is valid. I am obsessed with this Hunza G suit. If you’re new to the brand, all of their suits are made from a stretchy material that fits most bodies (OSFA). Their iconic style boasts a square neck and thicker straps, but I preferred the slightly daintier Pamela style, and couldn’t resist it in the bright pink. I will do a more thorough review soon (comparing it to some other hyped styles/brands), but the TL;DR is this is a suit for actual real life. My big gripe with some of the higher end brands (especially Agua Bendita) is that there is too little coverage for splashing after your children. Those suits are better for adults-only vacation where you are primarily sunbathing? Hunza G is for real life. It is comfortable, hugs your body without feeling compressive, gives me the impression it will require very little rearranging/tugging/etc. Also, the hot pink somehow made me look mildly tan?! I am so pale at the moment! Love this suit and this color. If you like the look, you can get the vibe for less with this Gap steal! In the snap above, I’m wearing a Julia Amory husband shirt as a cover-up. It’s one of my favorites — really soft, machine-washable, looks great unbuttoned all the way or partway, and has long sleeves for extra sun protection (but is not heavy — very lightweight, breathable, airy cotton). More beach attire finds I love here.
FRONT STOOP VIGNETTE. I received a scattering of questions about all of the items in the front door snap I posted on Instagram earlier this week. The urns are Ballard Designs, the coir doormat is Frontgate (the best – I actually spent some time researching this matter when I was trying to buy one; I read that a lot of the ones that have colors in the coir fibers bleed permanently onto your front stoop, FYI!). You can find more front door finds here! The wide-leg ecru cropped trousers are Gap from a few seasons ago, and I keep reaching for them. A couple of similar styles at different price points: Khaite, Everlane, and Paige. I paired mine with a striped turtleneck from J. Crew and this adorable J. Crew cropped cardigan I have not stopped wearing. The bag is by Mme Mink, generously gifted, and the flats are Amazon if you can believe it! A note about the Amazon shoes: I’m pretty sure they’re not using actual images of the shoes on the site. IRL, the shoes look and run a bit wider and the blue is a bit brighter. I don’t mind at all; for under $50, they are a great Manolo-inspired option, but caveat emptor!
FLORAL SKIRTS. I was so excited to receive this Hill House skirt in the mail just minutes before typing this up. I have high hopes for styling it up and down all season long. I’m actually going to barrel straight into spring vibes by wearing it this week to a date with a girlfriend! Will probably finish with a ballet flat and a cashmere tee/cardigan, but we’ll see what the forecast has in mind. I am also currently sitting here with a tab open to my shopping cart, which has this Agua-Bendita-esque score (under $100) in it. SO cute! What a deal! A few other really pretty spring floral finds: these Mille pants, this Horror Vacui blouse (on sale!), and this Emerson Fry.
MINI’S BIRTHDAY PREP. I can’t believe my baby is going to be six in about a month! We are hosting a cookie decorating party for her at a local bakery, and my sweet and talented friend Erin Wallace designed the cutest invitations — with blue gingham background for my blue-loving lady. I know we’ve discussed this in the past on Magpie, but a lot of us are over favor bags because, to be honest, we just end up tossing all of those little plastic trinkets in the garbage, and it feels like such a waste. I personally cannot stand when the children come home with ring pops!!! They are such a mess and we’ve stained several precious things with them. I know they are a novelty and a treat and I’m being a bit of a curmudgeon but ahhh! No thank you! The last few years, we’ve given out books as favors instead. For this baking-themed one, we’re distributing copies of one of mini’s favorite books. It’s loosely based on Julia Child but the theme is that it’s important to maintain the simplicity and sweetness of childhood — not to let worldly desires and the rush of adult life overwhelm us. To be honest, every time I read it, I feel schooled. (In a good way.) The illustrations are fantastic, too. I ordered these gingham stickers with the words “thank you, sweet friend! xoxo, emory shoop” on them to affix as a book plate of sorts on the interior page. Beyond that, it’s kind of lovely to be having a party outside the house? Our first ever! We usually opt for at-home ones because we enjoy making the cupcakes, serving up some fare and coffee for the parents, having entertainment come to us, but…I’m excited! Easier this year. All I’ll need to do is pick up some balloons. I’m thinking I’ll order some of these and these and mix with some matte pink/blue/seafoam. If you’re local to Bethesda, I go to Party Mania on Cordell because they will fill up any balloon you bring to them, plus have all the basic colors and some specialty ones, too. (And it’s convenient!)
MR. MAGPIE’S FLEECE. My children have been into basketball because mini plays basketball with her fellow kindergarteners on Saturday, and we’ve been spending time on the weekends dribbling and passing. But when I posted the snap above, a lot of you wanted to know about Mr. Magpie’s fleece! It’s this one from Todd Snyder, and currently on sale. They always do such great colors, which is nice because so much of men’s fashion is gray, blue, brown, or black!
JAPONG BAKERY. Mr. Magpie and I made our second trip to Japong Bakery in Rockville, MD this past week and — wow. If you’re local, you must visit. They are best known for their cream puffs, and you must get at least one (try the original for sure, but they also have chocolate and matcha fillings), but my mouth was watering as I surveyed the case. Coconut bombs! Milk bread! Whipped cream buns! Wow. Everything is delightful. It is in the same shopping center as Gama Chicken and BBQ, which makes our favorite Korean-style fried chicken. Worth a visit to hit up those two spots! You will thank me later. We usually pick the items up and drive them home to eat, as its not the most scenic venue.
BACK TO NATURE HIMALAYAN SEA SALT CRACKERS. A bit less exciting than fried chicken and cream puffs, but I am addicted to these crackers. They have a great seedy kind of texture but are, as the name suggests, super salty. These are fantastic for pairing with whipped ricotta, mild cheeses, dips, etc. I can’t leave Whole Foods without them.
By: Jen Shoop
My Latest Snag: My Easter Dress.
My favorite purchase this week was my Easter dress: this spectacular Horror Vacui Freja style. The silhouette, the neckline, the print, the tiers — it’s beyond gorgeous. This brand is an investment but I have a skirt of theirs in a retired Liberty floral that I pull out every season and it always sparks joy and garners compliments. Very much my style. I will be sharing more Easter/spring dress picks this week, but in the meantime, I just updated Le Shop with lots of pretty spring favorites.
Weekend Musings: On Discovering Where We’re Headed.
Cartoonist Bill Watterson said: “The truth is, most of us discover where we are headed when we arrive.” This general sentiment has been on my mind all week, ever since writing about the concept of the “quarterlife,” and the ways in which the stretch of time between our adolescence and our midlives are almost universally defined by meandering and exploration, despite prevalent narratives that propose the inverse. Could my 22 year old self have even imagined I’d be writing, shopping, and chatting with smart friends I’ve met on the Internet for a living? Absolutely not. But looking back, I can see the breadcrumb trail that brought me here.
Bill Watterson authored the comic strip “Calvin & Hobbes,” which my brother loved as a child. I can still remember the row of comic book spines in his bedroom, the way I dared not touch them. I knew only the stick figure outlines of their content: a boy and his anthropomorphic tiger, a taste of mischief and satire. I always felt that they “weren’t for me” because — well, why? He secreted them away from the prying hands of his four little sisters? I shied from them because they were too difficult when he first started reading them (as he is two years my senior), and the challenge stigma never dissipated? Comics were “for boys”? (Where I absorbed that last notion, I do not know, but I can tell you that I take retributive pleasure in the fact that my daughter is deep into the same Dogman comic series the older boys next door love. This is not to say I don’t question the series’ literary merit, but to say: girls can and should read comic books, too.) I am preserving this paragraph-long digression because I think it underscores an important point about creativity, and about living (especially in the quarterlife, but I am convinced this is true across a lifespan):
A lot of writing, and a lot of life, is about taking leaps of faith, and then answering for them. About doing something in dim lighting and then going back and prodding at where we went wrong: the books we did not read, the things we did not say, the things we said but regret, and, most beautifully:
The things we did that turned out great.
Usually, those great things are born of love.
Shopping Break.
+Have we talked about this moisturizer? It is relatively inexpensive (around $20) but super similar to Clarins’ Energy formula, yielding a similar glowy result. I wore this all last summer and just bought a new pot as I head into warmer weather.
+OMG this skirt looks just like Agua Bendita but under $100! You can pair with the matching cropped top but I know some of us aren’t thrilled about a bared midriff. Would also look great with a white button-down like this or this, or with a cashmere crewneck as we head towards warmer weather.
+Khaki seems to be enjoying a moment this spring. More detail on this trend in an upcoming post.
+My daughter has asked for a bathrobe (!) because I have been wearing the Weezie one I raved about here so much. I’m leaning towards this alphabet one or this gingham one (thinking she might prefer the lighter weight of this one in fact), but this rosebud style is precious, too.
+Excuse me, this Target bench is fabulous. More recent Target finds here.
+These slingbacks make me weak in the knees…SWOON.
+La Ligne just launched denim! This brand just gets how we want to dress.
+While we’re talking girls: my daughter absolutely loves the camisoles from TBBC. They are really soft and stretchy and come in the sweetest prints. She likes to swap out the tops of her pajamas for these! I guess she runs hot at night? She also likes these plain white ones (much less expensive) — size up, though. These run snug.
