+JEN WITH A SINGLE N: I was completely tickled and thrilled by the rich conversation we had earlier this week about names we love, whether we fit our names, etc. There is a whole sub-thread in the comments about being a Jen with a single n vs. Jen with a double, being a Brooke with an E or not, etc. As one of you put it: “It’s all very Anne-with-an-e-coded.” I love the self-awareness so many of us have about our names, even if our reasonings are half-formed or ill-lit: for example, one of you said “I’m definitely a single-syllable girl” and I knew intuitively what she meant! It’s funny because I straddle both. To most of the world, I’m pert little Jen! But to my parents and husband, I’m “Jennifer.” Actually, it scares me when Landon calls me my name at all (if he says “Jennifer” or “Jen,” something bad has happened / something is urgent); he has a thousand other pet names for me that he uses in a mood-based fashion. Anyhow, if you’re looking for an entertaining read (or a good source for a baby name), please enjoy the comments section and join yourself. A rich tapestry there! (Anyone else fanning themselves over the name “Gabe”? This made me realize: I wish I’d asked, ‘What’s a hot guy name?’ For me: Gabe. I also don’t think I’ve ever met an unattractive Scott — there were a lot of UVA athletes with this name. And of course Landon. I remember meeting him and thinking, “Oh my God, his name matches him perfectly!”)
+WORDS THAT COULD BE PRETTY NAMES (BUT CAN’T): Related, rounding up this hilarious list of ‘words that could be pretty names, but can’t’) that we compiled together. I’m LOL-ing at Latrine and Cauliflower.
+FOR A LAUGH: Icelandic horses we would date. “100% yes. Look at this gorgeous silver fox. Um, he will cheat though. Like we’re not going to be dating for a long time, but he knows how pretty he is.” LOL.
+LET PEOPLE BE PERFECTLY THEMSELVES: This is one of the softest kinds of love, in my opinion: roundly accepting people exactly as they are. Loved the treatment from Jenna Is Feeling.
+EYEING + BUYING: I got a lot of my holiday shopping done this week while everything was on sale (full list of exactly what I bought here), but I also treated myself to some great finds for home and self. I picked up this narrow footprint bookcase for my studio, this runner for my kitchen, and these notebooks (my favorite; 30% off) for myself and a writer friend. (I had hers embossed with her initials!). I am also convinced that I need to put a little tree in the corner of our bedroom. I’ve always wanted to do this, and this might be the year. I discovered these “sparse” trees via Katie at Beach Reads and Bubbly (she has two in her library) and think I want to copycat. I just know it will bring me so much joy to fall asleep to their twinkling lights. Finally, I ordered this Dyson hair dryer, my most exciting BF Friday of the year! I’ve been wanting this for awhile. The consensus among many Magpies: both the AirWrap and the hair dryer are independently worth it.
NARROW BOOKCASE ($40 OFF) // JULIA AMORY VELVET JACKET (30% OFF) // DOEN DRESS (ON SALE FOR $209) // SELF PORTRAIT PURSE // DYSON HAIR DRYER ($150 OFF) // APPOINTED NOTEBOOKS (30% OFF) // EMILY LEX “NUTCRACKER” WATERCOLOR BOOK (20% OFF) // J. CREW FAIR ISLE SWEATER (40% OFF) // SPARSE FAUX TREE ($200 OFF) // RUNNER (30% OFF)
+MY DAUGHTER’S HOLIDAY WARDROBE: I also sorted out my daughter’s holiday outfits all in one afternoon, which is pretty unusual for me. I usually buy here and there over the course of weeks. This time, I opened 100 browser tabs and had my daughter “yay” or “nay” every look. She is very particular and generally doesn’t like dresses so opted for skirts/sweaters. We chose this bow sweater and this velvet skirt for the Nutcracker and Christmas day; this dress for brunch with Santa and Christmas Eve; this sequin top and skirt for two holiday cocktail parties, finished with the matching sequin headband; and this sweater for a gingerbread house making event and cookie-baking afternoon. The silver flats will go with everything! And almost everything is on sale!
SILVER FLATS // SEQUIN TOP // SEQUIN SKIRT // BOW SWEATER // VELVET SKIRT // SEQUIN HEADBAND // GINGERBREAD SWEATER // VELOUR TARTAN DRESS
+THE BACKSTORY BEHIND THE CORRESPONDENT: I loved this blurb providing some context for The Correspondent, which a lot of us are reading, and which will be (spoiler alert) our December book club pick! I can’t wait to dig in, especially with the backstory about Evans having written a stack of novels that no publisher would touch, and its unusual rise to fame months after initial release, which Ann Patchett attributes to word-of-mouth popularity. Per Patchett: “The only thing that sells a book is one person reads it and tells two others to read it.” I loved this vision of a chain of women recommending the book to one another! Also intrigued by the epistolary form — I’ve written about this convention before, and its particular prominence among female writers. Cannot wait to talk about it all!
+BESTSELLERS: The chicest rug! This is in our bedroom. I am so impressed with the quality! We have rugs that cost multiples of this and the look and feel is comparable. Super soft and the pattern is so elegant! Currently 30% off. I did not know much about this brand but am a new, big fan. Their claim to fame is that the rugs are machine-washable — obviously not really relevant for a big area rug in our bedroom — but their runners certainly can be washed in the machine and this makes them so practical for high-traffic areas like the kitchen!
01. OUR BEDROOM RUG (30% OFF) // 02. SWEATPANT JEANS (15% OFF WITH SHOPMY15) // 03. LA LIGNE MINI MARINA SWEATER (50% OFF) // 04. VELVET BOW CARDIGAN (30% OFF) // 05. LESET POINTELLE TEES (30% OFF) // 06. MY FAVORITE CONCEALER (20% OFF) // 07. TUCKERNUCK VELVET DRESS (25% OFF) // 08. VARLEY PUFFER // 09. TARGET FEATHER TREES // 10. ROTHY’S CLOGS (30% OFF) // 11. ANN MASHBURN FAIRISLE SCARF (UP TO 25% OFF DEPENDING ON SPEND) // 12. VELVET AND SATIN DRESS
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I know this is an older post, but I read back when I have the time – and can I just tell you? I bought that same rug this weekend and it’s so comforting that you love it! I have rug regret often and they’re difficult to return/exchange. I’m excited to receive it now, as I trust your taste implicitly.
Oh I’m so glad! I feel you – sometimes I have that feeling when I purchase home goods, too. Especially bedding — should I have gone bolder or more neutral? Etc. xx