Happy Friday, Magpies! Easing into the weekend with some fun icebreakers — pour some coffee and share your answers in the comments! (As always, feel free to answer all ten or just cherry pick the ones that interest you.)
01. If you had a personal assistant, what would be the first task you’d ask him/her to take off your plate?
02. You’re about to go on air on Good Morning America. What would you like to have been asked on the show to discuss?
03. You’re backstage at Good Morning America. What have you requested in the green room?
04. Good Morning America permits you to have one friend/family member in the audience, and one backstage with you — who would you select for those two roles?
05. Your go-to Mario Kart character from childhood:
06. Preferred conditions for sleeping.
07. Room service order.
08. If your employer offered complimentary in-office breakfast, but for logistical reasons, you could only select one dish to have every morning into perpetuity, what would you choose?
09. The most attractive thing about your significant other.
10. The most attractive thing about you.
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My answers!
01. If you had a personal assistant, what would be the first task you’d ask him/her to take off your plate? Packing school lunches
02. You’re about to go on air on Good Morning America. What would you like to have been asked on the show to discuss? Creative process — I could talk for actual days about this. But a moonshot answer: my book!
03. You’re backstage at Good Morning America. What have you requested in the green room? A really good oat milk latte, fresh fruit, pastries from somewhere amazing in NYC
04. Good Morning America permits you to have one friend/family member in the audience, and one backstage with you — who would you select for those two roles? Backstage: my sister(s) — can’t they count as one person?; in the audience: my husband
05. Your go-to Mario Kart character from childhood: Inexplicably, Bowser
06. Preferred conditions for sleeping. 68 degrees, windows and blinds open — I like to wake up with the sun! — and both a fluffy duvet and a bed blanket over the sheets. An enormous glass of water on my bedside table. Nowhere to be first thing in the morning.
07. Room service order. Burger, fries with mayo, a virtuous side salad, a glass of red wine
08. If your employer offered complimentary in-office breakfast, but for logistical reasons, you could only select one dish to have every morning into perpetuity, what would you choose? Overnight oats with fresh and dried fruit on top, a side of breakfast sausage, fresh-squeezed juice
09. The most attractive thing about your significant other. His big, tender heart. Physically: tie between his smiling eyes and his arms
10. The most attractive thing about you. I think I’m a good listener. Physically: my little nose?
Your turn!
Shopping Break.
+Rag and Bone new arrivals I’m loving: gorgeous fair isle, this incredible convertible coat (!!), and my favorite black jeans ever. The material sculpts and holds you in but is also stretchy somehow — very comfortable. They make me feel like a million bucks, and I did not need to hem them. Perfect with a boot like this. I wore them earlier this week (see here) and was reminded of their many virtues! Rag and Bone reintroduced my code for October, too: use JEN20 for 20% off!
+Today was the first legitimately cold morning — I wanted to be wearing these waffle pants and this waffle tank beneath a big sherpa fleece.
+OK, this coat by Farm Rio! It’s convertible to a vest. So chic/fun to layer over fall denim! And it’s on sale, as is this perfect fall dress from the same brand (! love the pattern play, and under $140!), and this dressier crochet midi.
+A few other great Outnet finds: embellished Roger Vivier wellies, a GORGE fall Zimmermann dress, a ribbed wool and cashmere Veronica Beard sweater, an oversized Toteme corduroy vest, a shearling coat from Maje that’s giving Cameron Diaz in “The Holiday.”
+Our favorite sleeping pillows (we use throughout the house) are 30% off — make sure you check the little tick box beneath the price for the extra discount!
+A perfect tall boot and a perfect fall scarf (the colors and pattern – LOVE).
+Meanwhile, this is on my radar for Thanksgiving with a big Lizzie Fortunato necklace. LOVE that copper color. And speaking of Lizzie Fortunato, she has a collection going live this morning with Julia Amory that I’m confident will sell through. (What a dream collab!). They generously sent me a piece, and I chose the Neptune collar, which goes with EVERYTHING in my fall wardrobe.
+I’ve always had good luck tracking down Burberry coats for my kids in GREAT condition at The Real Real. This iconic duffle coat with the plaid lining and this classic quilted style!!!
+While you’re there…this mini Celine or this velvet Prada! CHIC!
+LOVE this boxy faux fur jacket. Upgrade pick here.
+Do you use an eyelash growth serum? I just got this one from SWEED to try. I’ve always been a little circumspect about these products because I’ve heard they can have weird side effects, but this one is clean! I also like their cloud mascara — I went through an entire tube last year! It’s inky and takes a minute to dry but really lengthens the lashes!
+Sleek and well-reviewed car vacuum.
+Adorable quilted backpack.
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01. If you had a personal assistant, what would be the first task you’d ask him/her to take off your plate?
I actually thought about this a really long time!! And it turns out the only stuff I want off my plate is the stuff my cleaning lady does, I’d just like more housecleaning/organizing and someone to iron our shirts and wipe our fingerprints off our horribly smudgy cabinets. Right now I preclean for 2-3 hours for her 2-3 hours but if I could afford to have her do 6 hours! What a dream.
02. You’re about to go on air on Good Morning America. What would you like to have been asked on the show to discuss?
I could happily discuss gluten free baking or scent enclave things or queer romance.
03. You’re backstage at Good Morning America. What have you requested in the green room?
Vico’s cheese naan potato chips, Coke Zero, truffle cheese, chorizo
04. Good Morning America permits you to have one friend/family member in the audience, and one backstage with you — who would you select for those two roles?
Backstage my little sister in law for her unflappability and makeup tips, and my nana in the audience
05. Your go-to Mario Kart character from childhood:
Toad
06. Preferred conditions for sleeping:
Cold room with breeze through an open window, silk filled duvet (we just got one and it’s now essential can’t live without), one firm pillow, bottle of water. Nude.
07. Room service order.
BLT and a Virgin Mary, fries with mayo. Or avocado toast with smoked salmon.
08. If your employer offered complimentary in-office breakfast, but for logistical reasons, you could only select one dish to have every morning into perpetuity, what would you choose?
Steel cut oatmeal, or black bean tacos (which I really did eat every morning for 2 years of work when I was broke).
09. The most attractive thing about your significant other.
The way he is in motion. The spark in his eyes, the way he leans in, the weight of his attention, the face he makes when he’s being funny, the way he throws himself bodily into things. He’s a very obviously handsome dude but I think the things that reveal who he is are the best part.
10. The most attractive thing about you.
I have deep body confidence that’s rooted in radical body acceptance and a lot of comfort with my sexuality. I have lots of friends who are more conventionally attractive than me but they’re not happy with their bodies and I think the energy I give off is that I’m happy in my skin and I know that whoever I’m with will be happy with it too? I didn’t have this in my 20s. I really think there’s something extra I’m working on out now.
In a friend way, I think my most attractive quality is I take things seriously. I will give anything a considered answer!
OK, so much goodness here — your note on having someone do more cleaning is spot on. That’s one activity I just can’t find any joy/purpose/etc in. It is so tedious! And I loved the truffle cheese shoutout — sometimes Whole Foods has a really good truffle gouda and my mouth is watering just thinking of it.
Also – “the face he makes when he’s been funny” — swoon!!!
xx
01. If you had a personal assistant, what would be the first task you’d ask him/her to take off your plate? Meal planning – my most dreaded chore.
02. You’re about to go on air on Good Morning America. What would you like to have been asked on the show to discuss? Nonprofit effectiveness, particularly as it relates to fundraising costs and staff salaries because there are so many damaging misconceptions.
03. You’re backstage at Good Morning America. What have you requested in the green room? Egg and cheese on an everything bagel, a chai latte with almond milk, a ton of ice water (ideally with pebble ice!).
04. Good Morning America permits you to have one friend/family member in the audience, and one backstage with you — who would you select for those two roles? My mom backstage, my husband in the audience.
05. Your go-to Mario Kart character from childhood. I really didn’t have one since I hardly ever played video games.
06. Preferred conditions for sleeping. Just enough chill in the air to need a cozy down comforter, lots of pillows, a slightly firm mattress, a great book to read before I fall asleep, the sound of rain.
07. Room service order. Eggs, toast, fresh fruit, orange juice, black tea.
08. If your employer offered complimentary in-office breakfast, but for logistical reasons, you could only select one dish to have every morning into perpetuity, what would you choose? So boring, but I’d actually love someone to make my favorite green smoothie for me everyday. I never get tired of it!
09. The most attractive thing about your significant other. He is deeply earnest and thoughtful about everything.
10. The most attractive thing about you. I have been told I’m very approachable and warm. Physically: my hair! Stylists always compliment the color and it’s thick with a lot of texture.
We need the hair routine, Megan! What do you use to care for it?! Sounds like you have a great head to begin with but how do you enhance/care/treat?!
Love the pebble ice call-out and the nonprofit effectiveness expertise too!!! Lucky to have women like you dedicating their careers to good causes.
xx
01. If you had a personal assistant, what would be the first task you’d ask him/her to take off your plate?
Laundry! Hate it with the fire of a thousand suns.
02. You’re about to go on air on Good Morning America. What would you like to have been asked on the show to discuss?
Commenting on the latest celebrity trial lol
03. You’re backstage at Good Morning America. What have you requested in the green room? Iced matcha americano, pastries, fruit.
04. Good Morning America permits you to have one friend/family member in the audience, and one backstage with you — who would you select for those two roles? Bestie backstage, husband in the audience.
05. Your go-to Mario Kart character from childhood: Yoshi!
06. Preferred conditions for sleeping. Cold room, heavy blanket, fresh sheets, husband next to me.
07. Room service order. Also a burger (nothing like a good room service burger, especially if traveling solo!), well-done fries, Diet Coke over ice.
08. If your employer offered complimentary in-office breakfast, but for logistical reasons, you could only select one dish to have every morning into perpetuity, what would you choose? Traditional Japanese breakfast and fruit, iced tea.
09. The most attractive thing about your significant other. His complete lack of cynicism, total joy, and kind heart. Physically, I dunno— everything! Haha.
10. The most attractive thing about you. I’m spicier and tougher than I look (I really look like a Nice Girl). Physically— my hair, I think?
Love love love these responses. We are twinning across so many of them! Love that you describe yourself as spicier and tougher than you look 🙂
xx
hahah Bowser!!! I hardly ever played Mario Kart as a kid — I was one of those poor souls without a video game console 😉 — but fear not, my husband has his old N64 so now I get to play all the time with my kids 🙂 It’s so fun. Toad’s my fave, also inexplicably. Bowser is a better option, strategically. My 6 year old (Yoshi) is better than me. By a long shot. Ha!
And yes, can someone pack lunches for me please? [I’m telling myself my kids will do this one day, but maybe going on GMA for my future book is more likely ;)] xo.
Love!! Hi Yoshi!!
01. If you had a personal assistant, what would be the first task you’d ask him/her to take off your plate? Finding truly chic, stylish clothes, home decor, and furniture that aren’t prohibitively expensive yet are still great quality. It can be such a hunt!
02. You’re about to go on air on Good Morning America. What would you like to have been asked on the show to discuss? Ideas for celebrating seasons and holidays or ideas for home design. If we can invite co-guests for the discussion – Martha Stewart and James Farmer!
03. You’re backstage at Good Morning America. What have you requested in the green room? A really good cup of coffee (especially pumpkin spice if it’s fall) and a New York blueberry bagel.
04. Good Morning America permits you to have one friend/family member in the audience, and one backstage with you — who would you select for those two roles? My mom backstage, as she’s a cheerleader 24/7, and my husband in the audience so he could take it all in and we could discuss it later.
05. Your go-to Mario Kart character from childhood: Princess Peach – I always thought she was so pretty!
06. Preferred conditions for sleeping. In my own bed, 68 degrees, comforter at the foot of my bed, lighter bedspread over me, ceiling fan on, clean sheets, the sound of heavy rain and thunder all night, and a glass of water on my nightstand. I resonate with the comment of water being there even if I never need it!
07. Room service order. I rarely order room service but when I do it’s such a treat. I’d pick dinner – probably a burger.
08. If your employer offered complimentary in-office breakfast, but for logistical reasons, you could only select one dish to have every morning into perpetuity, what would you choose? Fresh fruit, turkey sausage or bacon, scrambled eggs, and a piece of toasted whole grain bread with a little butter and jelly.
09. The most attractive thing about your significant other. His green eyes and his ability to discuss anything in detail for a long time (he’s a great conversationalist)!
10. The most attractive thing about you. Others have complimented me on my thick hair and always being happy and upbeat (my sister told me the movie character I’m most like is Kathleen Kelly from You’ve Got Mail). I personally really like my height (5’9”)!
OMG, what a great compliment – I love Kathleen Kelly! And I love that you love your height whiel being recognized/praised for other traits. Love this deep comfort in your skin!
Blueberry bagel was such a surprise! I’ve never met a blueberry bagel gal!!
xx
01. If you had a personal assistant, what would be the first task you’d ask him/her to take off your plate? Ooph, either putting the family laundry away OR hanging the art that has been leaning below its intended space for far too long.
02. You’re about to go on air on Good Morning America. What would you like to have been asked on the show to discuss? The real-life application of lessons learned from fiction and the books that helped to inform the woman I have become.
03. You’re backstage at Good Morning America. What have you requested in the green room? A French press full of good black coffee and a super decorative dainty antique china cup and saucer.
04. Good Morning America permits you to have one friend/family member in the audience, and one backstage with you — who would you select for those two roles? My husband backstage, he is always in my corner saying ‘yes, you can’. In the audience, my 13-year-old daughter, born to be an ultimate hype-girl. I could be assured that even if I screwed up exquisitely, she would find a redeeming part of my participation and point it out.
05. Your go-to Mario Kart character from childhood: Toad- and I still love a mushroom motif to this day.
06. Preferred conditions for sleeping. A firm mattress, extra full down pillows, no synthetic fabrics within 100 miles, the sound of water, a cool breeze, and featherweight gauze pajamas.
07. Room service order. An aperol spritz, taralli crackers, and a newspaper with a crossword puzzle.
08. If your employer offered complimentary in-office breakfast, but for logistical reasons, you could only select one dish to have every morning into perpetuity, what would you choose? Fresh berries, a thick slice of warm buttered sourdough bread, and 2 lightly salted hard boiled eggs.
09. The most attractive thing about your significant other. The way his eyes crinkle when he smiles and that he is simultaneously the most masculine and the most tender man on earth.
10. The most attractive thing about you. Probably that I do what I love with reckless abandon, even if it’s ridiculous. I have been told it makes people around me feel like they have absolute license to be themselves.
These are all such great responses but I LOVE the picture you’ve painted of your supportive family — your husband saying “yes you can” and your daughter always finding the bright side in the audience. So beautiful.
This is SO lovely and valuable — keep going –: “I have been told it makes people around me feel like they have absolute license to be themselves.” You are a lamp lighter!!
xx
Oh Jen! This is a fun one!
01. If you had a personal assistant, what would be the first task you’d ask him/her to take off your plate? Estate planning! Researching the best attorney, booking the appointment, helping with the pre-work.
02. You’re about to go on air on Good Morning America. What would you like to have been asked on the show to discuss? Dinner party planning!
03. You’re backstage at Good Morning America. What have you requested in the green room? Anything that would not get stuck in my teeth and fancy sparkling water in glass bottles.
04. Good Morning America permits you to have one friend/family member in the audience, and one backstage with you — who would you select for those two roles? My mother in the audience because she’d never forgive me otherwise! Backstage my husband to cheer me on.
05. Your go-to Mario Kart character from childhood: Princess Peach, I’m a girlie-girl at heart.
06. Preferred conditions for sleeping. Ice cold, pitch black room with crisp white sheets that were laundered in Buff City’s Narcissist scented detergent, fluffy down luxury pillows and a waffle cotton blanket with a heavy down comforter on top.
07. Room service order. Room service is my travel indulgence. Coffee with skim milk on the side, scrambled eggs, bacon, and dry rye toast with a newspaper on the side.
08. If your employer offered complimentary in-office breakfast, but for logistical reasons, you could only select one dish to have every morning into perpetuity, what would you choose? Oatmeal with chia seeds, fresh raspberries, and walnuts topped with kefir.
09. The most attractive thing about your significant other.
His table manners are impeccable! It’s so sexy to watch him eat.
10. The most attractive thing about you. My complexion. I inherited my great-grandmother’s thick French Canadian skin. Pride myself on how well I take care of it.
Fellow rye lover — my mouth watered at that detail. And the detail about your husband having impeccable table manners — wow!! Such a great and illustrative detail.
Thanks for sharing yours!!
xx
01. If you had a personal assistant, what would be the first task you’d ask him/her to take off your plate?
– I would love to have my routine and stress inducing medical appointments booked for me and that I wouldn’t know about them until the day of.. I tend to be consumed with anxiety days before and imagine all sort of terrible scenarios.
02. You’re about to go on air on Good Morning America. What would you like to have been asked on the show to discuss?
– I’ve never watched Good Morning America, but I assume it’s a talk show full of positive vibes? I would love to discuss quirky documentaries with their directors. There is a highly recommended documentary about extreme birdwatching called Listers on you tube that I’m saving to watch. It’s supposed to be touching and very funny. One woman said she loved it even though she is terrified of birds?! High praise.
03. You’re backstage at Good Morning America. What have you requested in the green room?
– sparkling water in a variety of flavors, sugar free mints, and excellent coffee and a toasted Ess-a-bagel with veggie cream cheese and tomato.
04. Good Morning America permits you to have one friend/family member in the audience, and one backstage with you — who would you select for those two roles?
– husband backstage because he calms me and any of my college buddies to be an enthusiastic audience member!
06. Preferred conditions for sleeping
– 68 degrees in a quite room with the sound of ocean waves in the distance. Fresh clean sheets and perfectly supportive pillows, of course. I would also want a big glass of water on the table next to me that I never drink from but need to know is there.
07. Room service order
– I only really order room service for breakfast and my order would depend on the hotel and the country! But in general, it’s a version of eggs, sausage, fruits, and pastries.
08. If your employer offered complimentary in-office breakfast, but for logistical reasons, you could only select one dish to have every morning into perpetuity, what would you choose?
– if this is NYC, my favorite bagel order. I went to law school in NYC and I actually ate the same thing almost every single weekday morning during the school year. With a massive iced coffee to go. Even in the winter!
09. The most attractive thing about your significant other.
– His generosity and devotion to our little family. I still find him so very handsome after all these years as well.
10. The most attractive thing about you.
– I think I’m a supportive and often fun friend! Physically, I love that my son and I have the same green eyes.
Oh I love these, especially the comment about the green eyes you share with your son — so sweet. Also this got me: “the sound of ocean waves in the distance.” Let me add that to my list…any running water!
xx