Jen's Weekend Drafts: On Navigating Difficulty.

+ON DIFFICULTY IN CREATIVE PRACTICE: “Just because you find it difficult doesn’t mean you’re not born to do it.” Wow! This snippet from an interview with Michael Pollan talking about the difficult of writing stopped me in my tracks. I loved his insight that there is a tendency to think, because something is challenging, that “it’s not for us” or that we’re not cut out for it. Keep going!

+FINALE TO MY SMALL WONDERS BOOK TOUR: My swan song book tour event is this Wednesday, 10/21, at Old Town Books in Alexandria, VA! You can RSVP here. I will be in conversation with the luminous Jacqueline Bond of Lit Society, who is someone to know if you’re in DC, NYC, or Chicago and like to talk books. She runs a fabulous series of online and in-person literary events — salons, classes, reading events.

These events have made for a magical year. Thank you endlessly!

+CHRISTY DAWN FALL: Excuse me, this collection is perfect?! Poetic, recherche, one-of-a-kind feeling. I love this woodland hare sweater (I love it so much I might order the small because they’ve sold out in the XS), this Julia dress (zoom in on the pattern!), this poetic blouse, and this fair isle sweater (the plum color in it MAKES it). Right now they are offering an automatic 15% off orders over $300.

+PRIME LEAF CRUNCHING SEASON: Lol! The small things. Pocket-sized joy. (Quote via.)

+ADJACENT REMINDER: Joy is not meant to be a crumb! Image via.

+PRESTIGE BEAUTY SALE: We wait for this all year: 20% off at Credo, including brands that almost never go on sale. I’m using the promotion to stock up on Tower28 mascara, my favorite lip liner (shade: Desert Rose), Westman Atelier’s Foundation Stick, and Kosas AirBrow — four products I consistently repurchase at full price. Two other items to spotlight: this party-ready makeup kit from Westman (has been popular among Magpies and already features a discount thanks to the bundle) and Roz’s entire haircare line.

+20% OFF AT PAIGE: Try their best-selling wide leg Anessas (available in six different inseams!) or their cool barrel legs (I love the vintage canewood color or the brown corduroy!).

+OTHER SHOPPING DISCOVERIES FOR THE WEEKEND:

+This Magpie bestselling soft polo sweater in an unexpected grass green! Chocolate is essential but the green is so fab with fall gem tones.

+A knit bandana scarf for under $40!!! Comes in 8 seriously fun color combos. (Guest in Residence vibes for a fraction of the price!). Could be a cute gift to buy a bunch of your girlfriends, cousins, sisters for Christmas. Everyone gets a different color depending on personality.

+Swooning over these spectacular dressy flats in the textured chartreuse color. You know my thoughts on chartreuse — implicitly chic.

+THE pants of the season are flying in this oxblood color, but Shopbop has most sizes in stock! The pant for fall. Look for less here (and available in petite and tall inseams).

+Deeply into leopard right now and I think I have to have these velvet statements from La Ligne or maybe this calf-hair clutch from J. Crew.

+Cara Cara brought their a-game with outerwear this season. Swooning over this dressy jacket (the feather trim! the textile print! the colors!) and this cozy bandana style with a cool fur collar.

+The coolest sherpa lug sole slipper mules!!!

MADEWELL SOFT POLO SWEATER // $38 KNIT BANDANA SCARF // CHARTREUSE TEXTILE FLATS // DONNI TAFFETA PANTS (LOOK FOR LESS HERE) // LA LIGNE LEOPARD PANTS // CARA CARA FEATHER-TRIM JACKET // KOSAS AIRBROW (20% OFF) // CARA CARA BANDANA JACKET // PAIGE ARELLIA PANTS (20% OFF) // LA CANADIENNE MULES // PARTY MAKEUP SET (20% OFF)

SHOP ALL MY TOP WEEKEND FINDS HERE

+TWO LOLS FOR THE WEEK: “Yeah, no, I can totally help” and the girls heading to book club.

+WHAT TO READ RIGHT NOW: Speaking of book club, I finished The Pirate Queen and am bereft. Such a gripping read, with beautiful line writing and a deeply lovable main character. I am now onto The Understory, which I am loving as well — a completely different energy. Book reviews for both coming shortly! Other read-right-now suggestions:

An Agatha Christie Fall: Lucy Foley’s Murder at the Grand Alpine

Historical Fiction Girlies: Paula Lafferty’s The Once and Future Queen (recommended by Jacqueline Bond!)

In the Mood for Love: Rioghnach Robinson’s Bad Words (blurbed by Emily Henry!)

+FALL TABLETOP/KITCHEN REFRESH: Just in time for guests! I just restocked our towel drawer with the cutest fall patterns from Geometry (left to right: floral, gingham, Halloween). I can’t stop singing their praises — best kitchen towels ever (thin but absorbent, great size and motifs). These would also make such a charming hostess gifts. Use code JEN. Also, I shared a bunch of Farmhouse Pottery pieces in my Fall Breakfast post this week and they’re now running 20% off a selection of very chic tabletop finds, including these gorgeous “silo bowls.”