*Mini last Christmas with her new “lectric kittar.” What can I say? She loves big metal. She has a mini HomePod in her bedroom and most mornings this past week, I’ve been entering to find her playing “Nirvana essentials.” Who is this rocker chick?!
I wrote a few weeks ago about a special morning my daughter and I spent poring over the American Girl holiday catalog, her socked feet swinging back and forth beneath us, and how I took that moment as a harbinger for things to come — a slow and intentional holiday season. I have accordingly already been getting organized for my children’s holiday gifts. I must say my daughter has been asking for this American Girl washer-dryer set (she flagged it last year and this one) and I just can’t fathom spending $175 on a playset I suspect will not find heavy use (?). I was thrilled to find this $65 one from Kidcraft, which is not only more attractive, but from a very reputable toy brand. (Right now, I am seeing a little coupon box appear beneath the Amazon page where you can save $16, bringing the total down to around $50!). I think I might treat her to the Bitty Baby seat, though — she loves her Bitty Baby doll so much! It is really special.
Below, a bunch of fabulous gifts for little girls — many of which mini already owns and loves, and the rest of which are on my radar for this holiday season!
11. TONIEBOX BUNDLE — CANNOT RECOMMEND THIS SCREEN-FREE STORYTELLING CUBE ENOUGH…MINI USES HERS EVERY SINGLE DAY AND WE’RE BUYING ONE FOR MICRO THIS CHRISTMAS
12. ED EMBERLEY ART BOOK — WE HAVE A BUNCH OF THESE AND MINI LOVES THEM SO DEARLY
22. BITTY BABY DOLL — MINI ADORES HERS AND PLAYS WITH THIS MORE THAN SHE DOES HER “BIG” AMERICAN GIRL DOLLS; WORD TO THE WISE: THESE SOLD OUT IN SELECT STYLES LAST WINTER!
Gap runs lots of promotions, but this one is particularly good (and includes nearly everything on the site), and there are a lot of great buys out at the moment. A great opportunity to fill in some wardrobe blanks for a song.
Mr. Magpie and I have a secret “dish” that we probably eat once a week called “Trash Salad.” We would never serve this “dish” to guests, and it feels strange to even share it here. But whenever we’re short a side, or the vegetable dish Mr. Magpie had been planning to prepare alongside our main runs away from him (this happened a few days ago when the cabbage dish he’d been slaving over would not have been ready in time for our BBQ chicken supper), we assemble it. Trash Salad consists of four ingredients we nearly always have on hand: carrot, cucumber, raw white onion, and bottled Garlic Expressions dressing. (The dressing is critical — do not sub.) It is as underwhelming as salads come and scarcely qualifies for the moniker of “dish” (hence the use of quotations) but, curiously, we find it addictive and roundly complimentary to a wide range of cuisines, especially BBQ, where the smoke and crackle of the chicken is deliciously offset by the tang and crunch of our salad. But we eat it with everything — a pasta dish that is meat-heavy and calls for something light alongside, a platter of fried chicken, rice and kofteh. My husband will request it as a mid-afternoon snack when peckish, and I could frankly eat it for breakfast — but then again, I’m a vinegar-head, and can nearly drink the stuff on its own. It occurred to us the other day that “Trash Salad” is, essentially, the most rudimentary of quick/light pickling. Somehow, the onion, bathed in that dressing, softens and mellows a bit, and the carrots and cucumbers still shine brightly through. I know I am making too much of this salad, and some of you will go home and prepare it and then stare quizzically at your bowls, thinking: “And this is…what? Come on, Magpies, I expected better!”
But it is a long-standing part of our at-home dining repertoire. The kind of food you fall into by force of habit. The category of “dish” that comforts by virtue of its familiarity and ease-of-preparation. The sort of thing you can make even when all of your belongings are packed up and you are eating a final meal in an empty apartment on a makeshift cardboard box table. It’s the kind of salad that’s there when nothing else is.
I know you must have these ad hoc dishes secreted away in your own homes, in the annals of your own family history.
What are they? I’m curious — what do you eat when your fridge is bare?
Post-Scripts.
+We made these delicious cocktails over the weekend. Cannot recommend enough.
+This Toteme-esque shawl collar sweater is in my cart (and under $75).
+Teamson play kitchens are 30% off here — order now for the holidays! We have one and the children love it — plus, super cute!
+OMG – several fabulous / slightly unhinged / Margot-Tenebaum-meets-grocery-store-grandma coats from Shrimps are on sale at Outnet: love this and this and this. Cannot endorse the purchase of a loud novelty coat more. I know it sounds so frivolous but it can TOTALLY make an outfit out of the LBD you’ve had in your closet for ages and worn a million times.
+Speaking of, I will be wearing this FABULOUS ice blue sherpa topper all winter long — THE BOWS! AHHH!
+OK, J. Crew — you are slaying this season! Love this little feathered handbag!
+A GREAT oversized waffle sweater at an amazing price.
+I just ordered these fancy-looking French u-shaped hair clips. I have no idea how to use them so will need to spend some time on YT but they look so chic!
+Fun earrings — perfect for a Thanksgiving palette.
By: Jen Shoop
*My children last holiday season wearing Petite Plume (an older pattern, but this similar one is precious for this year) and Old Navy candy canes (which they brought back this year!)
The holiday season is rapidly approaching, and I’m already shopping for a couple pairs of holiday pajamas for my little ones. I like to give them their first pair to wear on Thanksgiving night — sort of to mark the official beginning (for us) of Christmas season.
01. HENLEY-STYLE HIGH-QUALITY PIMA COTTON PAJAMA SET IN A LIGHT PINK WINTER WONDERLAND ICE SKATING PATTERN
02. LONG SLEEVE FITTED PAJAMA SET WITH RIBBED CUFFS IN A MULTICOLOR ADORABLE SKI RACING PATTER
10. SEVEN-INCH LONG INTRICATELY EMBROIDERED SET OF FOUR NUTCRACKER ORNAMENTS…THIS HOLIDAY CLASSIC IS A BIT OF AN INVESTMENT, BUT THEY ARE GORGEOUSLY MADE AND OH-SO-TIMELESS
11. RED AND WHITE PLAID NIGHTGOWN WITH EMBROIDERED DETAILING AND RUFFLED COLLAR AND CUFFS
Today, I am republishing a modestly edited version of an essay I initially wrote in March 2021. I remember scheduling it for publication and thinking, “It’s really happening; we’re going home,” and feeling like I could finally exhale. Somehow its appearance in twelve point font on this little corner of the Internet reified a trickle of conversations and maneuvers that had felt more dream-like than anything else.
I revisited this post last week and found myself awash with emotions. Mainly, I felt proud of my husband and I for moving mountains to make a decision that we continue to feel has been the best for our family. It is hard to initiate big changes in life. It demands imagination, heavy logisticizing and problem-solving, risk tolerance, sleepless nights, second-guessing. But I sit here on the other side and all of that short-term pain feels immaterial, moot. I would do it ten times over given how settled we feel now.
I wanted to share these thoughts, and this essay, to root you on, if you are half-in-half-out on a big life transition, or if you are feeling like change is impossible. You can do it. Lean into that one wild and precious life. As my Dad would say: “You’re gonna love it.”
***********
It trickled in like rivulets. DC. Home. What ifs that pooled in the bottom of half-drunk glasses of wine while we’d talk late into the evening, my legs curled beneath me on the couch. Stray idylls in moments of parental fatigue — “can you imagine if we lived closer to our families? Saturday mornings, we could take them over to ride bikes with Doe or run around Liz and Jamie’s backyard with the cousins?”
Widening streams of escape, loudening whispers of promise. D.C. Home. The setting up of Redfin alerts — “just look at this house! Only three minutes from your parents’! Look how much more space you get for your money!” The long walks around Jackie O. Reservoir, spilling out dreams of a future with a backyard and a Weber kettle grill and childhood friends only a fifteen minute drive away. The vision of my father-in-law or brother-in-law dropping by with tools, supervising Mr. Magpie’s handiwork. Tricycles in a driveway; quaint, healthful-seeming chores of mowing the lawn and taking out the garbage for our growing children. Borrowing suitcases or folding chairs from my parents’ garage. Holidays simplified, travel-free. School pick-up, drop-offs at Little League or ballet — all with a car at our disposal. Backyard drinks with old friends who have known us since we were five or six ourselves. Would we consider joining my parents’ country club? What if mini eventually attended my beloved alma mater, Visitation?
Then it came in waves. Meeting my mother for walks and manicures and lunches. Fulfilling her dream of finally taking her granddaughter to the ballet at the Kennedy Center. Cousins growing up together, introducing one another to their little pods of school friends, attending camp and Sunday Mass and everything in between together. I shared some of these fantasies with a friend and she said, “You know, Jen? Life happens between the drumbeats. And I can see why you’d want those pauses with your family next to you.” Then, suddenly, the image of myself, standing uninvited but welcome at the foot of the stairs leading up to the cheerful room where my mother often sits at her desk: “Mom? Just dropping off the dish you lent.” The raiding of her fridge for an apple on the way out. Those willowy, trivial intimacies I have missed. Sitting with my sister on her front porch, barefoot and cooing over her newborn. “Can you pick up ice for the cooler on the way over?” she might ask. My father-in-law on the sidelines at soccer games, my mother-in-law sewing Halloween costumes. Blue crab on their patio, with cold drinks and cicadas and the thickness of D.C. in the summer. Close enough to be there for our parents if they ever need us. Close enough to have them when we need them — which is, frankly, always.
Breakers roared. D.C. Home.
So we did it —
Rearranged our lives, worked through the logistics, calculated timetables and leases and school deadlines, and now we are moving home to D.C. this summer and few decisions in my life have felt simpler, more correct.
It occurs to me that every other move in my life has felt fraught with peril. Each one a tightrope walk into the unknown, with new jobs or impossible timelines or foreign cities or absent networks. Just long, blind lunges into the new. Growth happens there, in those terrifying moments, to be sure.
But this: more of a clear-eyed glide into parts known, and for that I am awash with gratitude. A net beneath us. The sensation as a teenager turning off Connecticut Avenue onto Tilden Street just after I’d gotten my license: a relaxing of the shoulders, a feeling I was safe along that legible corridor where I knew every tree and curb and the cars likely to be parked on the street, and where the only two possible dangers were someone riding too close on my tail and not being prepared for the U-turn I’d need to make at Linnean Ave to curl back up the boulevard towards home, or an over-ambitious left hand turn by an aggressive driver off 29th Place. That is to say: I was still moving, still out there, but at a vastly diminished likelihood of threat. Home field advantage.
Is this what happens in your late 30s? Security begins to outweigh the thrill of the new, the possible? Perhaps, too, we have been re-conditioned by the responsibilities of our lives right now and it has all been amplified by the strain of COVID and the absence of family over the past year and a quarter. And then there is the aging of our parents, the birth of another baby to my sister in a couple of weeks: the pull of family, our hunger for their help. Also on my mind: the age of our children and the mounting desire for more space, less complicated logistics, extra hands. As an example, we had been dancing around how we might get both of our children down to the school that we have loved so much for mini on the subway next fall. One child, when the school was en route to Mr. Magpie’s office downtown (pre-COVID), was perfectly fine. One child, when we had to go out of our way to take her downtown while both of us have been WFH during COVID, has been less than ideal but doable. Two children — especially when one will be in a stroller and Mr. Magpie will still be WFH — looms indomitable. We had explored buying a car for the purpose, but even then: double-parking on a busy street twice a day, running the risk of tickets, maneuvering around parking garages, the unpredictability of traffic especially in inclement weather, the added headache, the cost! (There is a joke that having a parking spot in Manhattan is like taking on a second lease.) No, no, we’re being crazy, we told ourselves. We should move them up to a school closer to our apartment. Then: But we love that school! Mini is thriving there! And it has a great track record with exmissions! And there are no AMI-certified Montessoris in walking distance! And wouldn’t it be weird to move mini for the final year of her Montessori program, especially if we are staying in NY long-term and such decisions do matter when thinking about where she will go to grade school? Do we move back downtown?
Of course, logistics around school, work, and childcare with small children are complicated no matter where you live, but they were growing ultra-knotty for our tastes, and it seemed that most of the solutions were expensive or inconvenient or undesirable, like ceding multiple hours of my day in transit between drop-offs and pick-ups, or paying for a nanny to help with logistics in addition to private school enrollment for two children, or sending them to a non-Montessori, or keeping mini at her school and sending micro to a different school, or moving again.
I have always admired the New York families that raise their children here, but now more than ever — what determination, accommodation, and expense it requires. And what an experience for the children!
So make no mistake about it: we are not leaving on bad terms with New York. I will forever remain grateful for my time here. ILNY. It is dazzling, unknowable, too big for words, still a shock, the most exciting place I will ever have lived. And it is where my boy was conceived and born. Where mini came into her own as a little human with a big personality. Where I settled into myself as an adult — where I owned my interest in writing, where this blog took off, where I came to terms with the shuttering of a previous business, where I began the slow process of reconciling my outsized visions of myself with the reality of the world. It has been kind and unkind to us, but mainly kind. In a strange way, in spite of the challenge of living here during this pandemic, our New York years have been the gentlest of our lives as a married couple: this is where we found a stasis, a rhythm, felt as though we flipped from waiting for the next thing to happen to sitting in the next thing, in wonderment and disbelief. “We live in New York?” we still ask each other. “We have two children?!”
I am proud we made a life here. It is true, I think, what they say: If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. (Even more true, I might suggest, if you make it in NYC during a pandemic.) New York has been an education. We are three and a half years into a city that is exhausting and electric and disgusting and wonderful and where there have been, on balance, far more moments of magic than of malaise. There are mornings where I run through Central Park and feel positively filled with joy. There are moments of snowfall and daybreak and low-lying fog and autumn chill and summer haze where I look out on the city, or traipse down my favorite tree-lined street on the Upper West Side, and I am awash with wonder. What a phenomenal place to live. It presents a breath-taking, movie-set backdrop to everyday life. And everything is accessible, deliverable, only a 15-minute ride away by Subway. The entire world at our fingertips. Interesting people and exciting food and diverse perspectives and provocative culture and — for better or worse — it’s rare I leave the apartment without seeing something worth sharing with Mr. Magpie upon return.
“New York always makes it up to you,” our friends told us when we first moved in, as we shook off a traumatic move to the city. “She’ll come through.” That has proven true. For every strange encounter on the street and icky dripping of mysterious subway juice onto your head (this happens, just ask any New Yorker) there have been life-affirming moments with neighbors and strangers alike. It is equally true, though, that this past year has been rough given COVID constraints and the interminable stretches of weeks spent largely at home in our apartment with two small and active children. I will never forget calling my Dad while still symptomatic with COVID-19 and somehow trying to look after two children without leaving our apartment going on 16 or 17 days, all while we knew so little about the virus but could measure its mounting severity by the number of ambulances we heard careening down the street every other minute and the growing desertion of tenants in our building.
“This is hard,” I told him through sudden tears. It felt like the understatement of a lifetime.
When we first spoke with one of the agents who might be helping us buy a home in D.C., she concluded the call by saying:
“Two children, a dog, a Manhattan apartment, two full-time, work-from-home jobs, during COVID? You must be good people.”
I don’t know if it made us good people, but I feel tougher on this side of things.
I just laughed: “We made it somehow.”
After we hung up, I realized how true that rang. We made it somehow. Not just through a bumpy stretch in NYC, but four stressful moves in under nine years; the building of new lives in two enormous, foreign-to-us metropolises; several major career changes; the births of two children; the purchase and sale of a home; the founding and shuttering of one business and the nurturing of a second–and all while a good distance from our parents and all while knowing in some subconscious sense that we eventually imagined ourselves back in D.C. and therefore never felt truly settled. But God is good. What a ride this has been. So there is another sense of the phrase that emerges: we made it somehow — meaning, we built those opportunities and forged those decisions and invited ourselves to the incredible experiences the past ten years have held. We made our way to that feast. And now homeward we go.
+On surviving the first wave of COVID in Manhattan.
Shopping Break.
+Sharing lots of tartan/plaid finds for winter in a post tomorrow, but I predict this under-$50 dress will fly! I would pair with black tights and platforms.
J MCLAUGHLIN REVERSIBLE COAT. I have worn this coat (generously gifted by the team at J. McLaughlin) every cold morning since receipt. I love that it is reversible — you can wear with the teddy side out, or the quilted side out — for different looks, and it is very warm. I feel like it’s a chicer version of the true winter parka (Canada Goose Trillium) I’ve been wearing the past few seasons. Here in DC, I’m less likely to need the industrial-strength cold-weather-wear I reached for in NYC and especially Chicago. This reversible JMcLaughlin coat is heavy duty but still feels polished and fashion-conscious / less sporty than the CG. I also love the delicious chocolate-olive color. I have been wearing so many colors in this family this season that I always feel pulled together wearing it as the top layer.
TALBOTS CASSIDY LOAFERS. I know these were in last week’s edit, but I had to include again because I’ve been wearing around the clock and had to mention that a) they are 30% off right now, and b) they are so clutch on colder mornings because the sherpa really does keep your foot warm! I love love love. They make even just jeans and a sweater feel fun and festive. Don’t sleep on Talbots footwear! I have so many pairs of their shoes that I’ve worn over the years — I also have a few pairs of their Iona pointed toe booties and they are fantastic — simple, sleek, perfectly-proportioned. I’ve always loved a pointed toe and no matter what’s “in,” will wear these with long dresses in particular.
EVERLANE CASHMERE WAFFLE TURTLENECK. I have been wearing this waffle turtleneck — well, I think it’s the same? but I bought mine a few years ago and it looks identical to this current season offering — a lot this season, too. It is SO WARM. Like, you can’t wear it if it’s going to be over 45 degrees as you will probably incinerate. Ha. I love anything that adds a little dimension/contrast through texture. Somehow this waffle texture against the sherpa/quilted coat just made me feel 1000 times cozier. I also like La Ligne’s take on the waffle sweater texture — the back is so interesting!
WESTMAN ATELIER SQUEAKY CLEAN LIQUID LIP BALM. I ordered a few items from the Sephora sale (ends tomorrow, FYI!), but I’m probably the most excited about this liquid lip balm, which I purchased in the Garconne color. I am not a liquid lip stick gal, and almost actively anti-lip-gloss, but this product gets such good reviews, and W.A. has no let me down yet. The color looks dreamy. Cannot WAIT to test.
HUNTER BLAKE PALM EARRINGS. Another current obsession. I have been loving layering a lot of gold pendant necklaces with a solid-colored turtleneck, my go-to jeans, and a chunky cardigan. These earrings have been accompanying the look.
WHITE LOTUS – SEASON TWO. Is everyone watching? This show is NOT for everyone (not for you, Mom and Dad) — contains a lot of mature content / language / infidelity / etc — but it is so good at building friction from the first second, and the acting and dialogue are strong. I forgot what it’s like to have to wait a full week between episodes!!!
MERIT INSTANT GLOW SERUM. I have been testing this serum the past few weeks after Merit sent it to me as a gift and am impressed with it. I’d just finished a bottle of my beloved Clarins Double Serum and have to say that this Merit stuff is a pretty solid replacement for about half (!) the price. I think it’s the perfect “beginner serum,” in that it is affordable, gentle, clean (!!), and easy to apply. The formula absorbs instantly, leaving no film, residue, or oiliness — just a nice, bright, clean canvas on which to apply makeup. A seriously impressive bang for your buck.
J MCLAUGHLIN FIONA BAG. I’ve written about this a few times, but I was simply obsessed with the nubby/sherpa-like texture of this adorable mini bag, and was ecstatic when the brand offered to send it to me as a gift. I prefer to wear sans chain, more as an oversized clutch I tuck under my arm. I wore it with a La Ligne dress from last season (similar to this season’s iteration) to an event downtown last week and I loved the texture contrast. It have also worn it a bit more dressed-down, with jeans and a sweater. So fun.
LES GAMINS BASICS. I often share this brand in my round-ups of children’s clothing because you can’t beat them when it comes to simple, unfussy, logo-less, high-quality basics in the BEST, most sophisticated colors (how delicious is this new chartreuse color? with like navy cord leggings?). I especially think their sweatshirts are worth testing if you’re new to this brand. They hold up wonderfully in the wash, and sweatshirts get worn a lot in the cold months in our home. I generally try to avoid graphic tees/sweatshirts so I love these! I also find that the solid colors make them a cinch to pair with patterned leggings. Anyhow, we own a lot of their pieces already, but Les Gamins generously sent us some additional items to round out our winter wardrobes. I’m excited to have some sweats and leggings for my son in particular. In terms of sizing, I would take your child’s true size. The sweatshirts are deliberately a bit boxy, just FYI.
AMAZON JEWELRY ORGANIZER TRAYS. I think I learned about these velvet trays from Liz Adams and I am in LOVE. In NYC, short on space, I transferred all my jewelry into little clear pouches that I’d then stow in decorative boxes, which was a brilliant solution at the time, but has made digging through for a specific pair of earrings slightly time-consuming over the years. I also find I forget about jewelry because it’s buried! I reorganized some of my baubles in these and am so happy I did. I keep my fine jewelry, however, in a proper jewelry box from Pottery Barn. I would love to one day upgrade to a Wolf jewelry case — so gorgeous. Would make a really beautiful gift!
GAP HOME GINGHAM SHEETS. I bought these inexpensive sheets as a back-up set for my daughter’s new “big girl” bed and the quality is nowhere near as good as her main set from Company Store (really soft and satiny — currently 20% off, too!), but the color is beyond fabulous — very sophisticated. A kind of muted sage green. It goes perfectly in her room! Recommend as a back up set that packs a punch.
SUGAR PAPER X TARGET GIFT WRAP. I am loving these more muted pastel options in stripe and polka dot as an alternative to red/green/etc! You cannot beat the quality of this thick, gorgeous wrap — absolutely worth spending an extra few dollars per roll because this will not tear/shred as easily as thinner brands. I also love the beautiful holiday gift wrap from Rifle Paper, and they are currently offering 25% off orders over $50. I think that they usually offer 25% off sitewide during CyberWeek, FYI. This was one of my favorite rolls last year. For more of a boho vibe, check out St. Frank’s gorgeous fabric-inspired wrap they just launched — wow! Wrapped with a big velvet bow?!
LAURA VOGEL DESIGN RETURN ADDRESS LABELS. Are these not the most precious?! They absolutely stopped me in my tracks when I spotted them a few weeks ago, and I cannot wait to use them on snail mail to loved ones. They arrived so beautifully packaged, too – I am definitely going to include these in my under-$30 gift guide (coming out soon), because I do think the packaging can make a huge difference in terms of presentation for gifts under a certain pricepoint. These return address labels were so sweetly gifted to me by the lovely Laura — thank you again, Laura.
WIGGY KIT MARKET CORD DRESS. I have been eyeing this dress all season and think I’m going to take the plunge on it and actually might wear it to Thanksgiving? As I mentioned yesterday, I have two other perfect Thanksgiving dresses from this round up that I’ve already worn because I just couldn’t wait! Ha!
IL PORTICCIOLO ERMETE DRESS. This little dress from Il Porticciolo knocked me out this past week! Just beyond spectacular. Every detail! I have a few Thanksgiving options for mini that I’m considering, including this Baybala and this Bellabliss but I might need to splurge on this for her.
BELLABLISS JOHN JOHN. I had been hoping to snag this john john for micro for Thanksgiving, but they are still not showing it as available for pre-order. I think this may be the final winter where I can get away with putting him a john john so…sigh. Wondering if I should still order when available for other winter festivities. Would put it on him over a white turtleneck (<<these under-$20 are quite good, actually — they have a kind of wide/loose fit and the turtleneck is easy to get on over the head, which is nice…I bought a bunch of these for mini’s winter uniform, thankful for the inexpensive price!)
FAHERTY QUILTED FLEECE PULLOVER (FOR MEN). Including this here because I just consulted with my mom on giving these as gifts to all of the sons-in-law in our family, and I love this oatmeal color in particular. I noticed you can get 15% off your order if you sign up for emails, FYI!
By: Jen Shoop
My Latest Snag: Anna Cate Dress.
I’m running into a problem — I’ve now worn two dresses I had thought I was going to set aside for Thanksgiving because I love them so much! The first was the Cleobella dress I’m wearing here, which I wore out to dinner with friends, and now I am breaking out this Anna Cate dress (generously gifted to me by the brand and e-retailer Tuke Bazaar) for an event this weekend, too. Oops! The color and pattern are just so deliciously fall. I will be wearing with a chocolate brown headband.
This Week’s Most Popular: Fall Finds.
01. SILKY HIGH NECK LONG SLEEVE MAXI DRESS IN A STUNNING HAND-DRAWN RED PAISLEY PRINT
02. PINE GREEN WATER REPELLENT PUFFER VEST WITH DURABLE DOUBLE SLIDER ZIPPER — SUCH A GREAT WARM LAYERING STAPLE FOR COLD WEATHER!
03. VIBRANT PINK CROPPED TURTLENECK KNIT SWEATER IN A TIMELESS CABLE-KNIT PATTERN…THE UNEXPECTED COLOR AND MODERN CUT REALLY UPDATES THIS CLASSIC PIECE
04. 10-INCH TAPERED SPIRAL-SHAPED CANDLESTICKS THAT COME IN ANY COLOR YOU CAN THINK OF (PLUS THEY ARE LESS THAT $15 FOR A SET OF TWO)
05. NEUTRAL MATTE AND SHIMMERY EIGHT-COLOR LIMITED EDITION EYESHADOW PALETTE FROM BOBBI BROWN
06. WEATHERPROOF ANKLE DUCK BOOTS FOR LITTES WITH BLACK QUILTED UPPER AND SIDE ZIP FOR EASY ON AND OFF
07. BLUE AND WHITE TAPERED LAMPSHADE-STYLE NIGHT LIGHT WITH PERSONALIZED THREE LETTER MONOGRAM
08. WHITE LINEN DELICATE WREATH SASH WITH ORNATELY PRINTED LETTER MONOGRAM
09. WESTERN-INSPIRED COTTON LONG SLEEVE BLOUSE WITH FRONT BUTTON PLACKET, VOLUMINOUS SLEEVES, AND GORGEOUS PIN-TUCKED DETAILING AT THE NECKLINE
10. ICONIC GUCCI LOGO MONOGRAMMED SEMI-SHEER BLACK TIGHTS — THIS INVESTMENT PIECE IS UNDENIABLY CHIC AND WILL ELEVATE ANY OUTFIT
11. WHITE CHUNKY CABLE KNIT HIP-LENGTH CARDIGAN WITH RIBBED TRIM AND CONTRASTING TORTOISE-COLORED BUTTONS
12. SEASONALLY PATTERNED RED TARTAN MIDI-LENGTH FIT AND FLARE DRESS WITH ELEGANT PUFF SLEEVES
13. SET OF TWO BEIGE VELVET STACKABLE ORGANIZATION TRAYS WITH INDIVIDUAL COMPARTMENTS TO DISPLAY YOUR JEWELRY
14. FITTED TAN PLAID VERSATILE BELTED SHIRT JACKET WITH PLAYFUL FRINGE AT THE HEM AND PATCH POCKETS
15. BLACK SATIN HEELED STRAPPY PEEP-TOE SANDALS WITH CRYSTAL BUCKLE DETAIL AND DRAMATIC OSTRICH FEATHER ACCENTS FOR SOME CLASSY FLAIR
16. MARABOU FEATHER LIGHT-GREY CLUTCH PURSE WITH DETACHABLE GOLD METAL CHAIN STRAP
17. SLIM-FIT BLACK PONTE PANTS WITH ELASTIC WAISTBAND FROM EMERSON FRYE FOR COLD WEATHER LAYERING
Weekend Musings: Tomorrow’s Business.
A friend of mine recently used the expression “tomorrow’s business,” as in — “why worry about that now? that’s tomorrow’s business.” I loved the turn of phrase, finding it a sound rubric for separating what matters now from the whirl of worries outside of my immediate control.
+Truly drooling over these Marion Parke embellished velvet heels in the forest green. I might need them for Christmas eve? AHHHH. (But I did find them for 60% off in a chic blue, too.)
+Speaking of, this is my front-runner for a Christmas dress. I’ll pair with big statement earrings and high heels (hopefully the aforementioned).
+My two most-worn coats at the moment are this reversible (!) puffer/teddy coat (!!!!) — so beyond chic in the olive/chocolate color, and incredibly warm — and my quilted liner jacket from Everlane, when it’s a bit more mild. Both of them go with everything.
+This hybrid between a sherpa gilet and quilted liner jacket would also be a good pick for this time of year.
+Can you believe this sherpa trim tote is under $75?
+Just a reminder ICYMI that Target’s Sugar Paper gift wrap is now available! This always sells out and becomes difficult to find the closer we get to the holidays. It is SUCH good quality for the price — worth spending an extra few dollars per roll because it is very thick and the patterns are fantastic. The candy canes!
+These sequin-embellished herringbone shorts (!) could be a really fab twist on a festive look — pair with suede heels and a sweater/button-down?
+Already ordered this Nutcracker sticker book for my daughter.
+Love these boots. Get the look for less with these.
By: Jen Shoop
This post was challenging to write purely because I want to order each and every one of these fabulous steals…
The last few days, I have felt disconnected from myself, unable to settle into my thoughts and my body as I usually do. I have been the finical bird. I had trouble clipping back into my running routine after taking a break to nurse myself back from a nasty head cold, I was dizzied from trundling our way through an overstuffed social calendar, and household admin in general has been at (what feels like) an all-time high.
How do you recenter in these moments?
In an ideal world, I would have gotten outside for a long hike. I would have paused. I would have given myself a day off. I would have gotten outside of my head. When I do those things, I usually find myself in possession of a new perspective that reminds me that many inanities pass as urgencies.
But all of that felt impossible this week given various demands and commitments, and so I looked for “the small things.”
That is: in what small ways can I call myself back inside?
I found that being deliberate in — even a little extravagant with — the scant pauses throughout my day (the car ride home from dropping off the children, the shower before bed, the lunch break at noon) was the answer.
As an example, I have recently been taking my lunch at my desk in my writing studio. Usually, Mr. Magpie and I try to eat lunch together, but I have been pedal to the metal, and this has felt like one easy way to earn a little extra time in my workday. When I have finished these desktop lunches, I have been stacking my plates on a table outside my room rather than descending to place them in the dishwasher, as a civilized human might do. Then I have been sitting in my studio vaguely aware of the meal’s detritus, side-eying it as a chore I must eventually tackle.
As it turns out, these tiny “time-saving” decisions have been coloring my days, and not in a happy shade.
So instead, I have been repeating the words: “Make thisthe most important thing.” If I am taking lunch, I want to breathe into that noontime break. I want to sit at the dining table without my phone and enjoy a conversation with my husband. I want to clear the plates afterward, restoring the kitchen to its tidiness.
If I am going for a run, I don’t want it sandwiched in between other commitments, a distracted tick-mark on my daily agenda. I want to take the time to stretch, to pause to take a picture on the Crescent Trail, to sit in my warm car afterwards, responding to text messages about lyrics from Taylor Swift’s new album from my sisters. Surely the work, the admin of my life cannot be so intense so as to displace the five minutes of downtime here, ten minutes of jogging there, that make me feel better?
I am sure I have lost an hour of “productivity” in the wake of these gifts to myself, but the math that matters holds up:
It is about measuring my days in terms of presence, not productivity.
I am haunted by an interview I read recently with an angel of a woman who provides end-of-life care. She said that some of the most common things she heard from people as faced their own deaths: “I wish I’d worried less, I wish I’d worked less.”
In some ways, this message feels contradictory with the thrust of my more common posts on focus, self-reliance, discipline. But morose as this might sound, it has recently been occurring to me that there will come a time at the end of my life where so much of what clutters my day-to-day will seem absolutely immaterial to the point of laughable. I predict that in a few decades, I will not care whether I finished that damned short story I’ve been working on this month or next, but I will cling to the way Mr. Magpie burst into unbridled laughter over the lunch table today, that I will caress the many noontime meals we enjoyed in our quiet, child-free home this fall. I will not care whether I’d laundered my sheets this week day, but I will remember my son’s sunrise face peeking up from beneath the covers, radiating with laughter, deferring the laundering process. I will not care if my daughter went to school with a non-regulation uniform sweatshirt because I had not found time to track down the ones that went missing in the lost-and-found; I will think instead of our conversation the other night: “Do you know how much I love you?” I asked her. She nodded. “I’ve known since I was a baby,” she said, which I think she meant matter-of-factly, as in, “you’ve been telling me this since I was born,” but which shot me right in the heart.
I’m willing to lose a little productivity to make space for more of that.
In case you need to give yourself dispensation today to leave the toys on the floor, or the assignment til next week, or the laundry to tomorrow —
+Obsessed with these little minis from J. Crew in tartan and solids.
+I recently re-discovered a Kevyn Aucoin face countouring palette I bought years ago. I’m not big into contouring / heavy makeup, but I’ve used it a few times the last few weeks when getting ready for evenings out and some professional photographs, too — he includes instructions that make it really easy to highlight and accentuate the most flattering parts of your face. I also still use his SSE ALL THE TIME. It’s a great, heavy-duty concealer for my fellow Magpies with dark undereye circles.
+Inexpensive pearl handbag for your holiday party circuit!
By: Jen Shoop
I’ve had really good luck this year with fall wardrobe finds from Gap, J. Crew, and Janie and Jack in particular, which is lovely for me, as all of those retailers frequently run great promotions. My thoughts on sizing for these brands: Janie and Jack runs a bit small (my 3.5 year old son takes a 4), Gap and Old Navy runs TTS (my son takes a 3), Little English runs somewhere between TTS and small (I would size up in their pajamas / cotton pieces but you can take true size in other items…I do find their overalls run too narrow for my son), and J. Crew runs long and lean (depends on item, I usually size up for pants but go TTS or down a size for tops depending on the style I’m after — I generally prefer more form-fitting pieces). Below, all of my favorite current season finds in my son’s dresser, in case you’re looking to round things out for your own little one:
I am generally apprehensive about graphic tees/sweats/etc — I know that once they enter my house, they will be the only things the children want to wear, but every now and then, I decide I’m being too grinch-y and buy them a few motifs that I know they will love. Both adore Marvel and rock music, so we have a select few of the Target tees along these lines (similar to this and this). I did buy my son these Mickey sweats and this Toy Story tee this fall. He just loves those characters so much! And mini cherishes this Rolling Stones tee and will wear it every/any chance she has.
Q: Shoes to wear with HHH Louisa dress in red tartan for Christmas down in Florida?
A: I like to style my nap dresses for day with either Vibis or ballet flats — these silver ones would be really fun, and these $30 velvet ones would be right at home.
Q: Harry Potter Yule Ball dress.
A: Splurge, but why did this Bernadette statement spring to mind first? It feels robe-like in a Harry Potter adjacent way. Also love this red La Ligne with glitzy earrings and heels, this Veronica Beard (feels like something Emma Watson would wear?), this head-to-toe sequin HVN, this sequined Saylor, this pleated Ulla, and this OTS Aje. Or maybe something from one of these glitzy posts here, here, here?
Q: Presents for a friend’s first pregnancy (twin boys!) — baby shower, post-birth, etc.
A: What a dear friend you are! For baby shower, I would buy off her registry, as chances are, she has spent some time vetting what she wants. If you want to buy off-registry, or supplement, I nearly always tuck one of these Love-to-Dream sleepsacks in because it really changed my life when Hill was maybe two months old? He kept startling himself awake / would writhe out of his traditional swaddle (and we were good swaddlers!) and this enabled him to sleep for long. I also like to throw in a Wubbanub (God bless those names…), which are not only adorable but functional. The weight of the stuffed animal keeps the pacifier in baby’s mouth, and makes them easy to find (e.g., they don’t slip down the side of the crib into the netherworld). I also love to give Kissy Kissy footies (my favorite, favorite, favorite — a slightly wider fit that makes it easier to get on/off tiny baby, holds up spectacularly, gorgeous details) and 1212 onesies (also my favorite, favorite, favorite — very soft, two snaps at crotch, and a stretchy material that goes on over baby’s head easily). More inspo in this post on baby gear I wish I’d known about earlier and this post on layette finds.
Once babies arrive, I would focus on the parents. I would deliver a homemade meal, or have a meal delivered. I’ve mentioned this a bunch, but when we had mini, a girlfriend brought buy a big bag full of provisions from Eataly — cured meats, olive bread, fancy mayonnaise, olives, bar snacks, etc. It was heaven to have supplies for a midnight sandwich / quick bite whenever needed. I’ve paid that generosity forward and I usually assemble a bag or basket with bread from a good bakery, deli meats/cured meats, sliced cheeses, fancy mayo and mustard, fancy chips (truffle, etc), marcona almonds, dried fruit, yogurt covered pretzels, etc. Just things that are easy to grab and snack on when you’re up at 3 a.m. and famished. I usually like to drop this bag on a doorstep the day or day after the family arrives home from the hospital. I would not have wanted guests at that tender early time, and it’s magic to have a meal materialize when you’re in that haze.
One other thought — pay attention to the babies’ weights. One of my girlfriends delivered a preemie (and I know twins tend to be small) and I ran out to Baby Gap and bought whatever preemie sized items they had because the baby was swimming in newborn sized items!
Finally, check in!!! Just texting regularly meant the world to me. My girlfriend Steph would just send sporadic texts throughout the first few weeks — “Thinking of you, how’s it going?” and “How’d last night go?” and it meant THE WORLD to me to feel like I had an open ear / someone who saw me.
Q: A cropped turtleneck sweater to wear with a satin slip or skirt — thank you.
A: Chic chic! Love this one, this one (budget buy!), and this one, depending on the vibe you’re after.
Q: Best Secret Santa gift under $50.
A: Fun! A Pomegranate Puzzle (these are seriously the best quality puzzles and so fun to have out for the holidays), a Tara Andris desk calendar (don’t know how I lived before I had a desk calendar like this — I refer to it daily), a set of 12 appetizer plates from C&B (in constant use in house for snacks, bread plates, appetizers, coasters, etc!), cocktail napkins from Chefanie (love these and these), this Mama necklace, a set of Proper Table coasters, or an Emile Henry butter pot. Trust me, the butter pot will change your life. So excellent to always have soft, spreadable butter on hand. You put water in the bottom to create a seal/perserve. Two separate sets of recent house guests we’ve had bought them on the spot/before leaving after enjoying ours for the weekend.
Q: A really good, “heavy” old fashioned comforter. Not Pottery Barn. Not a duvet.
A: I would look at Company Store’s options — love this pattern, and it’s super discounted! I’ve been very impressed with their bedding. Ralph Lauren also does great, traditional patterned comforters, like this toile and this paisley.
Q: Brown suede bag.
A: Splurge: the Khaite Lotus. (Mouth waters). More reasonable: Banana actually has a fabulous bag out this season I’ve been eyeing — love the shape, the logo-less-ness, the rich chocolate color! Staud has a similar one in a slightly different shape that turned my head, too. APC also has their popular Grace bag in a chic suede option. Last but not least, J. Crew has a classic-looking suede tote out this season that would be practical and elegant.
Q: Something to wear to a 20-year high school reunion.
A: Something that makes you feel GREAT! Nothing you’ll be adjusting/tugging/etc. I was just thinking the other day how much I love the look of button-downs and oxfords, but find myself constantly pushing up the sleeves, re-tucking, etc. I mean, I’ll still wear them, but that’s the kind of thing I would avoid at an event where you want to feel comfortable. (Mine was fun but slightly dizzying!) Personally, I would wear a patterned fall midi dress paired with ballet flats or booties depending on weather. A few dresses I would consider that feel festive/fun but not over-dressed:
More dresses along these lines, including less expensive options, here.
If you’re more of a jeans girl, go that direction and pair with a fun top like this or this. (More great statement tops here.)
Q: Chic winter boots for around town — have Sorels, Bean Boots, Uggs.
A: Try a lug-sole — I have been loving these Madewells from last season this fall (this season has a slightly edgier lace-up variation). I like to wear with slightly cropped jeans so that the hem kind of plays with the top of the boot/some tucks in/some doesn’t/ a little camp sock shows, but would also look great paired with a dressier style of legging (I know a lot of you bought this pair of ponte pants from Emerson Fry for this exact reason!). Sam Edelman has a similar one in a waterproof formula that might be even more practical if you’re somewhere that expects precipitation regularly. And Target has a great lookalike pair for under $40 that many Magpies have bought.
Q: A holiday dress for my daughter with smocking.
A: I love this tartan one from Trotters — mini has a nearly identical one from Anavini I’m squeezing her into one more year! I also love this Il Porticciolo. Dillards has a similar tartan style for a little less. I treasure a few of the smocked Proper Peony holiday pieces I bought for mini when younger — something like this or this would be precious.
