Jen’s Weekend Drafts: The Grass Is Greenest Where You Water It.

Jen Shoop

1 month ago

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+WHERE THE GRASS IS GREENEST: Loved this reminder this week. (Related: comparison is the thief of joy.)

+FOR HOCKEY ROMANCE FANS: There is an entire sub-genre of romance novels dedicated to hockey players, and the social media manager for the Ottawa Senators seems well aware. I laughed at the comments on this post — “I didn’t hear a word that man said” and “What am I buying again…?” Dead! Female gaze Instagram at its peak. If you’re curious, I feel like Katie of Beach Reads and Bubbly has some good recs in this sub-genre.

+A CHIC $250 SUEDE BOOT: If you’ve been looking for a brown suede boot that is easy to walk in and under $300, this is it. It’s in the perfect shade and I love the toe shape. The heel design makes it very easy to stand in, and means it won’t get stuck in cobblestone and street grates, but it’s not a block heel if that’s not your thing either. I put them on while trying on outfits for Italy but ultimately decided I couldn’t designate precious suitcase space for a boot. I’m wearing them with the Ulla Johnson Calais dress.

DOLCE VITA AUGGIE BOOT // ULLA JOHNSON CALAIS DRESS

+A RESOLUTION THAT STUCK: As we head into the final months of the year: how did you do with your resolutions, or intentions, for 2024? My goal was finding more stretch and spaciousness in my day. I give myself high marks. This year, we let our nanny go so we could spend more time with our kids, and I found ways to streamline the business side of this blog so I could focus mainly on writing. I anticipated that letting our caregiver go would have led to a “time crunch” but in fact, it’s done the opposite — I feel like it’s slowed me down and enabled me to find more balance in my life. There’s nothing I can do while I’m sitting in the carpool line and driving my kids home and ferrying them around to sports but…do those exact things. I listen to them chatter, pass out snacks, cheer them on. In the best way possible, it’s forced me to focus on one thing at a time. I simply cannot write while I’m in the car! But I was thinking that one other resolution from two years ago laid some good groundwork: two years ago, I pledged to never have lunch at my desk. I now sit downstairs (usually with Mr. Magpie) and enjoy a proper lunch. It’s the best way to hit pause on the day, eat with intention, and redirect the day’s flow. (One such lunch, and most of my lunches aren’t this fancy!, below: leftover Beef Bourguignon with celery root puree and a side salad with Garlic Expressions dressing, some pecorino romano, and a lot of pepper. A few Instagram Magpies asked for the recipes he used — it’s always so tricky with him because he often combines multiple recipes! The Beef Bourguignon was a combo of the recipe from Daniel Boulud’s Cafe Cookbook and Bourdain’s Les Halles Cookbook, and the celery root puree recipe also came from the Boulud book! BTW — that salad dressing is the best. I’ve had multiple Magpies write to thank me for the introduction. It is the only bottled salad dressing we eat in our house! On Instagram, I mentioned the embarrassing fact that I almost always eat with an apron on. I’ve destroyed too many white t-shirts. I was surprised by how many of you wrote to thank me for the idea – ha! My apron is something my mom got me from my high school’s bazaar — it has my alma mater’s insignia on it — but I bought Landon one of these restaurant-grade Hedley & Bennett ones (he has the Denver Brown color) a few years ago for Christmas, and he loves it and lives in it. A good gift idea for a devoted home cook. Final note: the acrylic placemats are Proper Table! Love love love them — so chic and wipe clean.

+EYEING + BUYING: A Toteme-inspired scarf sweater for under $80. // Absolutely love all things Merit Beauty and was delighted when they sent me this skincare bundle. The angled brush is excellent and I often keep the complexion stick (I wear the silk color) in my purse. Can’t wait to try the new moisturizer. // The cult favorite vented brush — ordered to test! // The aforementioned chef-approved apron your husband will love you for buying. // Inexpensive vintage-style crew socks. // Have been reaching for these brown jeans this week — Target has a great look for less option. // Lizzie Fortunato Jewels invited me to select something from their latest collection and I am falling all over myself with excitement to style this dramatic necklace.

MANGO SWEATER // MERIT COMPLEXION SET // YVES DURIF BRUSH // HEDLEY & BENNETT APRON // VERONICA BEARD JEANS (LOOK FOR LESS WITH THESE) // LIZZIE FORTUNATO NECKLACE // RETRO CREW SOCKS

+AN ALBUM ON REPEAT: I usually work to this secret work playlist, but I have been obsessing over Aaron Frazer’s new “Into the Blue” album. There’s only one skip on the album and it’s the best moody, vibey, soulful music for working on my collages, answering emails, etc. Would also be good cocktail hour music. What are you listening to these days?

+NEW BRAND ALERT: Does everyone else know about the loungewear brand Yellow Label Co? Apparently Justin Beiber’s a huge fan. I’d like one of these oversized sweatshirts in every color, please. The styling on their Instagram account (below) made me excited to cozy up on the couch this fall. I ordered the espresso brown for myself (duh) and the pistachio for Mr. Magpie — his hazel eyes looks good with that color of green. Separate note: I liked the vibe of their bodega shorts but knew the length would be ridiculous on me, so I picked up this shorter-hemmed $20 pair. I kind of like the look on the guy, too — actually, my hairdresser (Ish at George Salon at The Four Seasons) sometimes wears shorts like these and he is so stylish.