Jen's Weekend Drafts: A Healing Walk Habit.

+THE HEALING WALK: I’ve been finding it difficult to motivate myself to run this month. After being in a determined running routine (3-4x a week since January 1), I found myself dreading it? (Does this happen to other runners?) I’m normally firmly in the camp of “sometimes you just have to move the dirt” — one foot in front of the other, “bird by bird” to borrow from Anne Lamott — but I took a different tack this week. I went on three-mile walks wearing a weighted vest instead. I found this healing in a way I didn’t anticipate. I think it had to do with giving myself the latitude to (literally) slow down. To not hold myself to such a high standard in every undertaking. To let go of the pincer grasp I (still) have on my own fitness regimen, despite my best efforts at relaxing it over the past few years. Last summer, I stopped running with a watch, and it felt like I was going against my own religion. (Did it even count if I hadn’t tracked and timed it?) But I no longer wanted running to feel like a punishment, or a site in which to assess my self-worth. Running was also a complex part of my complex relationship with my own body image in my 20s, and I wanted to further disentangle the activity from that baggage. I decided I wanted to run for heart and mental health — that’s it. And slowly, last year, I let go of the measurement complex. Now I never run with a watch, and it has felt like I’ve better aligned my aspirations with my actions. But this shift to the walk — it felt like taking a step further. A hug? A pat on the shoulder? Yes, you can slow down. Really, you can. I discovered, too, that walking affords a pace more generative for self-reflection than running. When I run, I will sometimes think pointedly about things, or catch a thought thread, but I often find a pleasant emptiness — which has its merits, too. I’m sure things are processing, but it can feel cathartic to run across a clear deck. Come to think of it, running feels like b-roll: things are going on in the background, but it’s out of focus and vaguely immaterial because I am focused on the physical exertion I’m undertaking, and everything is narrowing in to the thud of my feet, the checking for cars, the narrow goal of just getting to the top of this damn hill. When I am walking, by contrast, I am roundly present with my own thoughts. And so walking this week gave me a gorgeous platform to work through some emotions that have been simmering — things I need to work on as a mother; things I am processing. If you’ve not tried it, can’t recommend the healing walk enough.

+A FABULOUS PODCAST: While on my walks, I listened to a couple of incredible podcasts. My favorite was Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ interview with writer and contemporary sage Anne Lamott on the podcast “Wiser than Me.” The episode is full of wisdom, humility, wry humor, and wit — two charming luminaries in heartfelt and occasionally cranky conversation with one another! — and Anne dispenses her signature bon mots like candy. One of my favorite parts: a quote from Anne’s husband, Neil: “Eighty percent of everything that is true and beautiful can be experienced on any 10‑minute walk.” Amen! The charm of neighborliness, the birds singing their pleasure, the flowers that were just waiting until today to bloom. (I took the photo at the top of this post on one of my walks, just awestruck at that glamorous magnolia.)

+ANATOMY OF A PERFECT WALKING OUTFIT:

BOMBAS SOCKS // VUORI FEATHERWEIGHT TANK* // TRACKSMITH SHORTS // APL CUSHIONED SNEAKERS // WATER-RESISTANT SPRINTS BELT BAG // NOT PICTURED: MY FAVORITE SUMMER SPORTS BRA, MY WEIGHTED VEST, MY BELOVED BOSE AIRPODS, AND MY BKR WATER BOTTLE

*Not exactly the same (not as soft/lightweight), but these Quince tanks are a pretty good sub for the Vuori for $20.

+GAIA PROJECT + THE OVERVIEW EFFECT: A Magpie reader sent me this video on a fascinating touring art installation by UK artist Luke Jerram. “Measuring seven metres [sic] in diameter and created from 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the Earth’s surface, the artwork provides the opportunity to see our planet, floating in three dimensions.” A gorgeous visual companion to last month’s book club pick, Orbital. I loved the note in the video’s description, which gave me useful new terminology: “The installation aims to create a sense of the Overview Effect, which was first described by author Frank White in 1987. Common features of the experience for astronauts are a feeling of awe for the planet, a profound understanding of the interconnection of all life, and a renewed sense of responsibility for taking care of the environment.”

+MY 15 YEAR ANNIVERSARY DRESS: Treated myself to this stunning Coco Shop dress (seen below on the brand’s founder, Taylor Simmons) while the site was 30% off this week! (Discount appears in cart.). I was torn between a few styles, but Taylor sold me on this one!

+TOUR DE CLEANSERS: For the past two years (!), I’ve been testing every face wash I can get my hands on–and so has Mr. Magpie, my willing guinea pig, who will gamely compare notes and let me test various serums, tinctures, and tonics on him to boot. (His favorite facial products: Chantecaille rosewater spray — 25% off with JEN25 — and a collection of ByNacht nighttime oils, serums, and moisturizers that were generously sent to us. Very spendy but he LOVES them and claims that they are the only nighttime oils/moisturizers that do anything. I don’t fully agree with this claim — there are other products I love in this category — but I agree they are in the upper echelon.) Anyhow, after much testing, my favorite everyday cleanser (have other picks for specific needs/situations/seasons) is Vintner’s Daughter’s Active Renewal Cleanser. It is a gently foaming cleanser that really gets everything off but also leaves skin feeling nourished and soft. A perfect daily use product. Landon’s favorite is Elemis’ Dynamic Resurfacing Cleanser, which does have a bit more of a dynamic feel to it — it mildly exfoliates and you can feel it! A little more energizing and vigorous than Vintner’s Daughter. So it depends on what you’re looking for! Anyhow, I will be sharing all my thoughts on the cleansers we’ve tried soon but wanted to spotlight my husband’s pick today because you can currently get an incredible gift with purchase of any full priced item at Elemis using code NIGHTTIME. You’ll get not only a full bottle of Landon’s preferred cleanser but also a full-size night cream and a few minis.

OUR FAVORITE EVERYDAY CLEANSERS: ELEMIS AND VINTNER’S DAUGHTER

ALSO PICTURED: MY FAV NEW EYE SERUM AND DAILY MOISTURIZER (CAN SPEAK IN EXCLAMATION POINTS ABOUT BOTH)

+LITERARY ADAPTATIONS TO FILM TO LOOK FORWARD TO: Excited about this list!

+CLASSIC HOME FINDS ON SALE: I was surprised by the positive feedback the last time I shared a roundup of great home finds from Wayfair, and they are currently running their “Black Friday in July” promotion, with lots of low prices on very chic pieces. My top picks below:

CHAISE // PORCELAIN PLANTER // BOBBLE SIDE TABLE* // SCALLOPED JUTE RUG // ACCENT BENCH

*We got this similar-profile side table from Schoolhouse this summer and it has been so useful! I love to move it around wherever we need it — right by our game table to hold our cocktails and game snacks; next to a guest enjoying a visit; etc.

+BESTSELLERS: These Lake Pajamas! My favorite style of theirs. I own maybe five pairs?! I also noticed several of you bought this spectacular linen mini (see me in mine here — I think SHOOP15 gets you 15% off) as well as my beloved seersucker jumpsuit (almost sold out – run!; see me in mine here.)