We’re back with possibly my favorite series on Magpie: icebreakers for you to answer at your leisure. I absolutely treasure reading your responses, which are always clever, thoughtful, and surprising. Here goes.
+Your SSB.*
+Your current hyper-fixation meal.
+Name something you secretly want to do. Why haven’t you done it yet?
+Your house catches fire. After ensuring all loved ones and pets are safe, you have time to safely save one final item. What is it?
+First time you remember getting in trouble.
+Food kink.
+First kiss?
+First thing that comes to mind: the smell of birthday candles.
+If you could anonymously email your boss right now, what would you say?
+Who would be the first celebrity guest if you had your own talk show?
*SSB = “Secret single behavior,” a term from Carrie Bradshaw referencing what she’d do when without her boyfriend. Hers was slathering saltines with grape jelly, arranging them in a stack, and eating them standing up in her kitchen while reading Vogue.
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+Your SSB.* Watching truly bad (we’re talking D-grade, 10%-on-Rotten-Tomatoes) romantic comedies and permitting myself to scroll through my phone while doing it. When Mr. Magpie and I are together, we hold ourselves to higher standards: we follow the one-screen-at-a-time rule (and will put our phones in a separate room or behind us while watching TV) and are particular, and thoughtful, about what we watch. There is something delightfully luxuriant, almost wanton, about eschewing these standards when he’s out of town.
+Your current hyper-fixation meal. Green smoothies – kale, banana, avocado, orange juice. We’ve been drinking these all summer long in lieu of breakfast and I crave them each morning! Weirder: last spring, I was obsessed with this combo for breakfast.
+Name something you secretly want to do. Why haven’t you done it yet? Publish a novel and go hut-to-hut hiking somewhere. On the novel front: I am still developing my craft, and know there is a lot of wood to chop with finding an agent, pitching, etc. I have also been heads down focused on making this blog the best it can be, and am still learning. But I intend to explore fiction during this decade of my life. On hut-to-hut hiking: it all comes down to childcare for our kids, and the limited number of vacations we’ve had for ourselves. I hope we will do this in the next few years…!
+Your house catches fire. After ensuring all loved ones and pets are safe, you have time to safely save one final item. What is it? A piece of art my parents gave us. We call her “the green girl,” and I love her.
+First time you remember getting in trouble. I covered my father’s brand-new, leather-topped desk with those fuzzy pads you put beneath furniture feet. It was destroyed. I still contend that my sister lured me into doing this (I was such a rule follower; I cannot comprehend my own behavior!), but my father couldn’t speak to me for a full day. It was almost worse than being punished outright!
+Food kink. Vinegar. I cannot get enough of it – I could drink it. I also really like those bad canned black olives that most people pick out of their food.
+First kiss? A boy named Kyle in fifth grade — a truth or dare situation! This was particularly awkward because I had my first boyfriend at that time and had, up to that day, refused to kiss him because I was scared. He was furious! I think he took back the Starter jacket he’d lent me on the asphalt that morning because of this — ha.
+First thing that comes to mind: the smell of birthday candles. The good-bad edge frosting on ice cream cakes.
+If you could anonymously email your boss right now, what would you say? “Keep going.” (I am my own boss.)
+Who would be the first celebrity guest if you had your own talk show? I mean, it’d have to be Glen Powell at this moment, right?!? But I’m also very intrigued by John Mayer, Richard Linklater, and Celine Song for different reasons. And if authors count: Ann Patchett, all day!
Your turn! Please copy and paste the prompts (some or all!) into the comments and share your cleverness with the Magpie community!
P.S. More recent rounds of icebreakers here, here, here.
Shopping Break.
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+Just received these cardinal red ballet flats — they remind me so much of Miu Miu and add such a fun pop of color.
+Speaking of bright red: my cherry red shorts set was just restocked — top here; bottom here. I have found myself wearing them more as separates than together because I’m petite and the top is voluminous and the shorts are pretty long on me. You can see me styling with a swimsuit here! (15% off Sold Out with code JEN15.). The button-down top in white is a total wardrobe staple. I almost can’t believe she’s under $200 because the quality is insane (the silkiest, most luxurious handfeel) and the shape feels so high end (oversized, larger cuffs). Looks like a million bucks with jeans.
+Similar quiet luxury vibes: this under-$100 dress. So romantic. Could be good for a bride-to-be but would also look elegant on anyone with some simple brown leather sandals.
+Shared a few times already, but Z Supply has some great La Ligne-inspired striped knits for under-$100: this and this!
+Have had some inquiries lately from women in their 50s, 60s, 70s asking for everyday dresses. This RL (more sizes here) is spectacular and so perfect for fall in that rich chocolate hue.
+Absolutely love these biker shorts for my Heather Robertson fitness days, and they just came out in a fun raspberry color.
+Colored jeans, and especially brown ones, are trending for fall — love these in a rich dark chocolate hue.
+I’ve gone through 2 bottles of my beloved Osea cleanser and loveeee it, but am going to try this one next (recently won a few awards). I always like trying new beauty/skincare!
+Reminder that these chic butterfly-shaped studs are 30% off with code JENSHOOP. All my promo codes here.
+This caftan dress is so interesting and different for a late-summer gathering. (I’d pair with a strappy sandal like this.) Mille’s Daisy dress is similar in shape, but less expensive (plus 15% off with JEN15).
+Manolo vibes for under $50.