FriYAY.

ZOMG, the weekend could not come soon enough.  This week was too much.  It started off lovely, with my parents flying in just for Monday-Tuesday.  We had several gorgeous meals, including a gourmand dinner at the famous Blackbird restaurant, and a lovely afternoon of mother-daughter shopping in the Oak Street shopping area in the Gold Coast.  It was just the mini-break I needed, but it did make the rest of the week feel extra crammed and it left me wanting MORE relaxation and MORE time with friends and family.  Holidays, hurry it on up.

I’m so ready for the weekend.

I am especially looking forward to doing yoga (yes, I’m making good on my pledge to get my butt in gear) with a friend, and going out to the Botanical Gardens to take in the changing foliage with Mr. Magpie.  I’ve probably mentioned this 340 times, but I’m most looking forward to our quiet Saturday morning routine: waking up early (somehow so much easier to do on the weekend — whereas, this past week, I had several early morning work calls at 7:30, 8 AM on several days, and was literally dragging myself down the stairs like that character in The Ring), grabbing coffee and a pastry from one of our favorite hipster coffee spots (Buzz or Wormhole, both in Wicker Park / Bucktown area, and both ridiculously delicious), and taking the pup to the dog park for a nice long play session.  (For those in Chi: we love the dog park at the base of the 606 running path, right off Damen.  It’s big, it’s clean, and the dog-owners tend to be really nice and easy-going.  The one in Wicker Park proper is a little dicier.)

At any rate.  A few things I’m planning to look into this weekend while taking a mental snooze from work:

A girlfriend of mine gave me the sweetest (literally) surprise of some candies from Sugarfina.  They were almost too prettily packaged to eat but I still managed to gobble them up over the course of an afternoon.  What an adorable gift — I’m keeping this in mind the next time a girlfriend gets a promotion or needs a little pick me up or deserves a special thank you.  I love this “But First Cocktails” box ($28) — all the candies are cocktail oriented!

These slippers are too great.  I work from home a lot and, while I try to actually get dressed every day (and often need to, as I’m bouncing from home to meetings to video calls all the time), there are gross rainy days like this past Wednesday where you just want to chill in leggings and slippers.  These “Glam” slippers ($72) look almost like loafers and would add a little pizzazz to a stay-at-home look.

I know I’ve been featuring a ton of velvet lately, but I somehow missed this French Connection bow-shouldered shift ($210).  I’m now convinced this is just the ticket for holiday family dinners.

These punchy colors from Mac’s new Nutcracker collection ($18) are insane.  I want them all.  Mac has the BEST colors and I love their formula — it really stays.

This herringbone-patterned sweater is on sale for only $35 (!!!!).  I looooove it.  So chic with black skinnies and some great booties.

I’ve read GREAT things about Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Body Soap ($10) — I’ve been a huge fan of bar soap (and especially love soap from the brand Fresh — they have enormous, oversized bars) but this stuff may make me change tacks.  You can’t beat the price, too!

This plaid coat from J. Crew ($378) has to be my favorite outerwear pick of the season.  J. Crew just does the BEST outwear.  That said, while these coats are SO pretty, here in the arctic north of Chicago, you literally can’t make it without investing in one of those heavy puffy coats for the heavy duty cold weather.  Mine is the Canada Goose Kensington in the bright red color.

How funky-cool is this embellished velvet clutch ($98)?!  I think it’s the perfect little punch for a holiday outfit.

My sister in law is a huge fan of Marimekko’s incredible prints.  These bowls ($23 each) remind me so much of her and make me very happy.  How could you not have a great start to the day enjoying cereal out of one of these?

The latest pick for one of my book clubs (I’m in 2) — looking forward to reading this one.

Oh, and P.S. — This tunic-length JCrew sweater is a dream.  I tried it on in-store a few days ago and it is SO flattering and cozy.  Love the unexpected blue color, too!  Mom — it’s so you!