Musings + Essays
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Magpie Icebreakers: Winter 2026 Edition.

By: Jen Shoop

This list of nosy questions is partly shaped by my post about how we’re always “giving ourselves away” — the notion that our desks, our purses, our weather apps are confessionals, revealing the weird and wondrous signatures of who we are. Please share your responses in the comments section! I always treasure these —

01. What are you using as a bookmark right now?

02. Last thing you Googled.

03. Household object you’ve given a name.

04. Profession you sometimes wish you’d pursued — or that you might pursue in another lifetime.

05. Objects that draw you back to your tween and early teen years / that could be hieroglyphs for that phase.

06. Unexpected city you keep in your weather app.

07. Favorite “hot guy” or “hot girl” name. (I.e., a name that implies the bearer’s attractiveness.)

08. First celebrity crush.

****

I’ll go first!

01. What are you using as a bookmark right now?

The book jacket! How unoriginal. Dying to know yours — receipts? love notes? a photograph? a proper bookmark?

02. Last thing you Googled.

The calendar at my son’s school. Ha! Are other parents actual grown ups who keep this bookmarked, printed, laminated, posted? I am so organized in so many areas of my life but I google this at least once a week to check for half days, days off, vacation days, etc.

03. Household object you’ve given a name.

Meet Heidi, my electric heating pad.

04. Profession you sometimes wish you’d pursued — or that you might pursue in another lifetime.

Professor of literature. I also fantasize about holding an advanced degree in library sciences and becoming the head of a collection of rare books at a university. I feel like that would be so fulfilling? Guiding academics to books they must handle with gloves that carry the key to deeper insight into some of the great minds of our world? Knowing everything about those particular artifacts? One of my girlfriends and I text about this fantasy on occasion.

05. Objects that draw you back to your tween and early teen years — that could be hieroglyphs for that phase.

Lipsmackers, a blue Tamagotchi, Steve Madden platform slides with the stretchy band over the top, striped and stretchy baby tees from Forever 21, Starter Jacket borrowed from “my boyfriend” (lol), the flares my friend Aline had that I coveted (!!! — not even mine, but these bring me right back), Clinique Happy perfume, Neutrogena cleanser, cloud pajamas, “The Boy Is Mine” single (played on repeat in my Discman), the ginormous multi-disc CD player that took up an entire wall of my room, Devon Sawa, a floor length cargo denim skirt from Delia’s that I considered the peak of chicness, butterfly hair clips, braces, Vera Bradley duffel.

06. Unexpected city you keep in your weather app.

Barcelona. Have kept it in my app since we visited Spain over ten years ago. Every time I consider removing it, I can’t — it still connects me to the magical memory of that trip, to that footloose time in our lives.

07. Favorite “hot guy” or “hot girl” name. (I.e., a name that implies the bearer’s attractiveness.)

Always thought Gabe was incredibly hot. I don’t think I’ve ever met one in real life! (Side bar: for some reason, most of the Dougs and Scotts I’ve met in my life have been very attractive.)

08. First celebrity crush.

Probably Devon Sawa (from Little Giants) but he might have coincided with or been superseded by Captain Von Trapp coming into my consciousness. I’d probably seen The Sound of Music before, but I remember suddenly realizing he was attractive on one viewing.

Post-Scripts.

+Past icebreakers here and here!

+More on the signatures of who we are.

+You can pre-order Small Wonders here!

Shopping Break.

+Chic new sweat set from Splendid. I know we love this brand! BTW, they’ve marked down our favorite gauze palazzo pants to $39 in select sizes!

+A great way to get organized for the week (50% off!).

+Big Ann Mashburn sale happening. My top picks: this smart jacket (in my closet!), this dress (any of their silk dupioni shirtdresses are worth the investment – you WILL wear them for years), this fabulous skirt, this tweed jacket!

+OBSESSED with this dark rinse denim midi skirt. (Dark rinse denim is a big trend to watch this season!). Love the idea of it paired with a knit like this.

+While you’re there: a great work wardrobe piece. As is this striped dress (under $50 right now!)

+Charmed by all the pottery at East Fork, but especially these “bitty bowls,” which can be used for tons of purposes — table salt, a little pat of butter, garnishes, even as a ring dish by the sink!

+This CHIC sweater-jacket was further discounted to $75.

+Polished lounge pants. Style with an oversized button-down and ladylike wristwatch to make it look a little more pulled-together.

+My go-to everyday, wear-with-everything earrings ($160) were restocked — run! You will love them. Electric Picks has a good look for less — use code SHOOP20 for 20% off.

+My favorite undereye patches/masks are back in stock. These sold out over the holiday! They are truly the best. More of my favorite patches here (and I’ve tried a lot).

+Two fun sweaters to add to the rotation: this peplum and this one with the dramatic collar! All my Sezane favorites here.

+These leggings are in my cart. Haven’t tried this brand’s leggings before but love that vintage Adidas energy of the sport stripe down the side!

+ICYMI: my book is available for pre-order!

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.

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Jessica Clare
Jessica Clare
16 days ago

Oh and P.S., it’s a DELIGHT to meet you Heidi!

Jessica Clare
Jessica Clare
16 days ago

01. What are you using as a bookmark right now?
an old photograph of me when I was a nanny with my kiddos!

02. Last thing you Googled.
My local bookstore.

03. Household object you’ve given a name.
The blanket I use on the couch.. The Snuggler.

04. Profession you sometimes wish you’d pursued — or that you might pursue in another lifetime.
A fiction writer or human rights lawyer… when I was 13 I thought I’d do both and be the next John Grisham, ha!

05. Objects that draw you back to your tween and early teen years / that could be hieroglyphs for that phase. Herbal Essence shampoo, Origins makeup, Chanel Vamp nail polish, J. Crew men’s jeans and polos- and also the shortest cutoffs and string bikinis. Funkmaster Flex mix tapes that were copies of copies. Anything Bath and Bodyworks Honeysuckle….but then I became verrrry mature and started wearing the Chanel Allure my boyfriend gave me. Winnie the Pooh stuffie my bestie gave me…I was Pooh and she was Piglet. Cherry chapstick. The Ralph Lauren sheets with tiny red flowers and red piped ruffle.

06. Unexpected city you keep in your weather app.
Yukon, Unorganized… but no idea how or why??

07. Favorite “hot guy” or “hot girl” name. (I.e., a name that implies the bearer’s attractiveness.)
Jake, the affable jock. Jamie, the cool girl

08. First celebrity crush.
Michael J. Fox, circa Back to the Future.

****

I’ll go first!

Mary Kate
Mary Kate
16 days ago

01. What are you using as a bookmark right now?
We had letterpress bookmarks as the escort cards at our wedding (“Find your place”), but I ordered more than we needed in case of any mistakes so we ended up with loads extra — it’s such a fun reminder of the day every time I open my book!

02. Last thing you Googled.
The US publication date for Louise Kennedy’s new novel (!!)

03. Household object you’ve given a name.
While I always give our objects pronouns, I haven’t bestowed any specific names — maybe I should start???

04. Profession you sometimes wish you’d pursued — or that you might pursue in another lifetime.
Department of State Protocol officer — I am fascinated by all the rules and customs. It also delights me to no end that this is where Shirley Temple ended up working as an adult.

05. Objects that draw you back to your tween and early teen years / that could be hieroglyphs for that phase.
Uggs under flare jeans (or with a denim mini!) and the Sims — remember crowding around one computer chair with your friends?

06. Unexpected city you keep in your weather app.
London. I haven’t lived there in more than two years but I don’t have the heart to remove it.

07. Favorite “hot guy” or “hot girl” name. (I.e., a name that implies the bearer’s attractiveness.)
Luke!

08. First celebrity crush.
I really truly cannot think of an actual celebrity but in what feels like a similar vein — I LOVED Phineas in ‘A Separate Peace.`

Claire
Claire
18 days ago

Better late than never??
1. What are you using as a bookmark right now?
I have an ACTUAL bookmark- it is leather and i bought it at Windsor Castle, It is red, soft and has a picture of the Round Tower on it. Reminds me of an amazing family trip to Britain.

02. Last thing you Googled.
I was trying to remember the name of a book I loved by Ken Follett- and it was The Pillars of the Earth- amazing.

03. Household object you’ve given a name. Hmmm, I named my YSL purse Clarice!

04. Profession you sometimes wish you’d pursued — or that you might pursue in another lifetime. I would love to write cookbooks! Specifically, one about soup!

05. Objects that draw you back to your tween and early teen years / that could be hieroglyphs for that phase. Waterfall Bangs!

06. Unexpected city you keep in your weather app. Paris, Rome, and London, my three favorties.

07. Favorite “hot guy” or “hot girl” name. (I.e., a name that implies the bearer’s attractiveness.) Donovan

08. First celebrity crush. Ricky Schroder on Silver Spoons

Allyson
Allyson
18 days ago

01. What are you using as a bookmark right now?
A note from my aunt-“a chunky monkey smoothie for you!”
02. Last thing you Googled.
The synopsis of the book “tell me lies”
03. Household object you’ve given a name.
Our room a is named “Moomba+”
04. Profession you sometimes wish you’d pursued — or that you might pursue in another lifetime.
Ceramicist
05. Objects that draw you back to your tween and early teen years / that could be hieroglyphs for that phase.
A soccer ball, adidas sambas, a light blue dell laptop
06. Unexpected city you keep in your weather app.
Atlanta-strictly for checking layover weather
07. Favorite “hot guy” or “hot girl” name. (I.e., a name that implies the bearer’s attractiveness.)
Chase
08. First celebrity crush.
Jesse McCartney

Liz Carpenter
Liz Carpenter
19 days ago

I love these posts!
01. What are you using as a bookmark right now?
A Peanut m&ms wrapper (even though there’s a whole basket of actual bookmarks within easy reach)

02. Last thing you Googled.
“Rum and ginger”

03. Household object you’ve given a name.
My robot vacuum is Slow Loris.

04. Profession you sometimes wish you’d pursued — or that you might pursue in another lifetime.
I love my job, but marketing can be an exhausting field and sometimes I dream of being an academic librarian at a very old east coast type university

05. Objects that draw you back to your tween and early teen years / that could be hieroglyphs for that phase.
Cassette tapes and poofy scrunchies

06. Unexpected city you keep in your weather app.
Abu Dhabi in one app, and Kennebunkport in the other

07. Favorite “hot guy” or “hot girl” name. (I.e., a name that implies the bearer’s attractiveness.)
Liam (I read a lot of fluffy romance before bed every night and I’ve gotten pretty good at guessing which characters the author plans to spin off into future books based on whether their name is “hot” or not!)

08. First celebrity crush
So we were mostly only allowed to watch PBS at home, and my options were a bit limited! The first crush I can really remember is, oddly enough, a very young Ben Affleck in an educational adventure series called Voyage of the Mimi.

Ann
Ann
20 days ago

These are so fun to read, as always!
01. What are you using as a bookmark right now? I’m using the Christmas card from my sister in law that accompanied her gifts. She gifted me some lovely smelling items from her visit to the Fragonard museum. I say items because she says one item is room spray, but the item itself says perfume. I’m nervous to use it. But I digress..
02. Last thing you Googled. Unfortunately, my college roommate and close friend has had terrible, long term effects from radiation following breast cancer surgery. I just googled the new drug she has been prescribed.
03. Household object you’ve given a name. It’s very unoriginal, but our car. We’ve had the same kind of Volvo in roughly the same color for over 15 years and we always refer to it as ‘the whale’ for reasons we can no longer remember.
04. Profession you sometimes wish you’d pursue. I went directly from my masters in psychiatric social work to law school and I still wonder if I should go back to being a therapist. Or I would love to become an artisanal chocolatier.
05. Objects that draw you back to your tween and early teen years / that could be hieroglyphs for that phase. I went to a ridiculously preppy school so probably pink headbands, Bermuda bags, Laura Ashley dresses, and black watch plaid skirts.
06. Unexpected city you keep in your weather app. Montreal. I hope to buy an apartment there soon.
07. Favorite “hot guy” or “hot girl” name. (I.e., a name that implies the bearer’s attractiveness.) Sebastian for men. Really so many French names.
08. First celebrity crush. This is so weird, or ‘quirky’ to be charitable, but I absolutely loved the movie Chariots of fire in 7/8th grade and I had a huge crush on the character Lord Lyndsay.

.

Aoife
Aoife
20 days ago

01. What are you using as a bookmark right now? For my journals, an Australian gumleaf from my husband’s Nana, a letter from my sister-in-law, Diptyque perfume sample cards (on a white floral odyssey right now), and a postcard I wrote to myself from the L.M. Montgomery Green Gables museum on Prince Edward Island.

02. Last thing you Googled.? Based on Paul Mescal mentioning him in a new GQ video interview, the historian David Olusoga.

03. Household object you’ve given a name.? Not officially my name for it, but my husband calls our robovac Kendall (the name of a movie cleaner).

04. Profession you sometimes wish you’d pursued — or that you might pursue in another lifetime.? So many! But especially costume designer — even more so when I watch Mad Men, etc.

05. Objects that draw you back to your tween and early teen years / that could be hieroglyphs for that phase.? All of the scents I wore throughout high school — I’m trying to write an article about it right now. Namely, Clinique Happy and its flankers (when I was 17), frangipani body mist the summer I had my first kiss, and all the different individual essential oils I matched to subjects while studying for my Year 12 HSC exams (the major leaving certificate exams in Australia).

06. Unexpected city you keep in your weather app.? The city where we got married. It’s actually a tiny farming settlement west of a major city. Nothing sweeter than remembering that time.

07. Favorite “hot guy” or “hot girl” name. (I.e., a name that implies the bearer’s attractiveness.)? I think old world literary figure names are so hot like Aldous and even Ernest, though I know Hemingway was the absolute worst.

08. First celebrity crush.? Omg, me too, re: Devon Sawa, but it was when he was the hot boy ghost in Casper! I thought he was so cute!

Anne
Anne
20 days ago

01. What are you using as a bookmark right now? One that I made during a watercolor paint class.

02. Last thing you Googled. Jane Win pieces. Might’ve gone a little crazy during the sale this past weekend.

03. Household object you’ve given a name. My plants, Thelma and Louise and an orchid named Opal.

04. Profession you sometimes wish you’d pursued — or that you might pursue in another lifetime. Anchor on the nightly news.

05. Objects that draw you back to your tween and early teen years / that could be hieroglyphs for that phase. Veryfine Papaya Punch, Sebastian hair spray, Esprit clothes, Madras print skirts, Frosted baby pink lipstick, Giorgio perfume, Lacoste polos, Swatch watches, jelly shoes and shoulder pads (hurts to type that one, ha!)

06. Unexpected city you keep in your weather app. Kennebunkport, Maine. A dream to one day own a summer home there.

07. Favorite “hot guy” or “hot girl” name. (I.e., a name that implies the bearer’s attractiveness.) Brett comes to mind. Sounds like a hunky football player.

08. First celebrity crush. Grant Show and Jason Bateman

EMM
EMM
20 days ago

Coming out of postpartum lurking/hibernation to contribute – always love these posts, even if it takes me two different naptimes to complete my responses!

01. What are you using as a bookmark right now?

Currently, dog-earing a page each time I put down the book (Marriage at Sea, right now) but often a proper paper bookmark that local bookstores throw in with purchase. I’ve switched to reading about 75% on a Kindle, which negates the need for a bookmark. Other book quirk – I *have* to rip off the paper jackets on hardcover books (including all kid’s books), I find them so superfluous and irritating and typically love the jewel-toned colors of the binding, metallic lettering, and simple hard cover better!

02. Last thing you Googled.

Oh, definitely something medical malady related. Always. Or eye cream recs that were circulating around my girls chat last night.

03. Household object you’ve given a name.

None come to mind, but I’m pretty sure my husband is in a relationship with our Dyson vacuum, so perhaps she deserves some nomenclature.

04. Profession you sometimes wish you’d pursued — or that you might pursue in another lifetime.

Honestly, I love my job (government relations) but sometimes on my strolls around the neighborhood, I fantasize about being a dog walker or similar outdoor-active freelance position (task rabbit gardener?). But only on perfectly temperate days, with perfectly mannered dogs, and no wind blowing my hair into my lip balm (why am I so level-10 annoyed by this?), naturally.

05. Objects that draw you back to your tween and early teen years — that could be hieroglyphs for that phase.

Ooh your last line about Vera Bradley duffels brought me right back. Additionally: digital cameras (products of which were immediately uploaded to an inside-joke facebook album chronicling every weekend), the fleeting technology that necessitated a cassette-tape-insert corded to a usb (?) drive to play songs off my ipod in my car, taco bell crunchwrap supremes, colored tights under too-short dresses, malibu rum, and MGMT “kids” and brand new albums (not an object, but instantly transports me back to high school).

06. Unexpected city you keep in your weather app.

Not entirely unexpected, but my hometown in rural CT.

07. Favorite “hot guy” or “hot girl” name. (I.e., a name that implies the bearer’s attractiveness.)

Blair and Serena (blaming Gossip Girl, both the books and the show – what a TIME). Jake.

08. First celebrity crush.

None come to mind, but I still remain lowkey obsessed with the idea of Armie Hammer via his early days in Call Me By Your Name, Social Network, Rebecca, etc. (I know, I know, so problematic).

Dena
Dena
20 days ago

1. I’m reading Winter in Madrid, and am using a postcard from the National Gallery as a bookmark, and am reading Saint of the Narrows Street and am using a folded page corner as the bookmark. The latter is my usual.
2. Google – Golden Globe winners
3. A new stuffed toy our dog received for Christmas which I named Teddy, and am calling by name constantly to try to teach our anxious dog to fetch it as a comfort.
4. elementary school librarian or reading specialist (I’m a corporate lawyer – eep)
5. aging myself- ray bans, 7-11 slurpees and bags of gummy bears from JoAnns Nut House at the mall, lacoste underneath sweaters, Cheers, U2/The Joshua Tree, Purple Rain/Prince, most John Hughes films
6. New Orleans (I have a child at Tulane)
7. I have never thought about this one, but male actors I found attractive like Brad Pitt and George aclooney do not have first names I associate generally with good looking guys 🙂
8. Jason Bateman (okay, maybe the name Jason for #7?)

Alison
Alison
20 days ago

01. What are you using as a bookmark right now?
– A proper bookmark from a small, used bookstore in my hometown

02. Last thing you Googled.
– Cast of “People We Meet on Vacation”. We watched the movie last night so many of the people in the movie looked familiar and I had to know who they were.

03. Household object you’ve given a name.
– We don’t really do this for household items. However, like someone else commented, the first car I purchased on my own was a Black Honda Civic and I deemed her Black Betty and it stuck until the day I sold her.

04. Profession you sometimes wish you’d pursued — or that you might pursue in another lifetime.
– I loved reading and writing growing up (and still do!) and I wish I focused more on writing and literature classes in college. I would love to be doing something in that space, but at this point in my life, I wouldn’t even know where to begin. Also, I’d absolutely love to own and/or work in a bookstore. I think it’s so fascinating how those spaces are designed and set up.

05. Objects that draw you back to your tween and early teen years / that could be hieroglyphs for that phase.
– A burned CD, sparkly nail polish (like the really thick sparkles), butterfly hair clips, band/celebrity posters hanging on a bedroom wall & The Spice Girls.

06. Unexpected city you keep in your weather app.
– Monterey, CA – We visited there almost 4 years ago and I always look at the weather there on a daily basis

07. Favorite “hot guy” or “hot girl” name. (I.e., a name that implies the bearer’s attractiveness.)
– I’ve always thought the names Ben & Patrick were “hot guy” names

08. First celebrity crush.
– Andrew Keegan

Stephanie
Stephanie
20 days ago

01. What are you using as a bookmark right now? Almost always a dog-eared page – sorry, library!!

02. Last thing you Googled. Kyle Shanahan lol

03. Household object you’ve given a name. Not in the habit of doing this…but my favorite car was a ford ranger 4×4 named Ruby Red that I had my last year of college. Haven’t really named any cars since.

04. Profession you sometimes wish you’d pursued — or that you might pursue in another lifetime. I wish I would have thought more about a career that would mesh well with school schedules, or something that’s easy to find a part time position. Sometimes I wish I had my own bakery, or was a sommelier…but I know I don’t want to live that restaurant life. Been there!

05. Objects that draw you back to your tween and early teen years / that could be hieroglyphs for that phase. Hard candy nail polish, adidas “snappy pants,” Dodge Neon (“Hi.”), flannel shirts worn open over a tshirt, Clueless, scrunchies, white chocolate covered Oreos (my mom served them at one of my teen birthdays and has bought me a box for my birthday ever since! Currently working my way through a box and not sharing with my children).

06. Unexpected city you keep in your weather app. Charlevoix, MI. I like to get an idea of what kind of ferry ride we’ll be in for.

07. Favorite “hot guy” or “hot girl” name. (I.e., a name that implies the bearer’s attractiveness.) Ryan

08. First celebrity crush. The younger brother in Growing Pains!

Jessica Clare
Jessica Clare
16 days ago
Reply to  Stephanie

Stephanie! I’m guessing we might be the same age lol….Hard Candy, Adidas snappy pants, Clueless… that would be my junior year!! I’m 46, nice to meet you 🙂

Courtney
Courtney
20 days ago

01. What are you using as a bookmark right now?

A proper bookmark from Felix Doolittle with purple orchids on the front

02. Last thing you Googled.

The T mobile customer service number. Son is going to Kenya and needed to make sure his phone works just in case.

03. Household object you’ve given a name too.

I don’t really give my household objects names. I do have a goose decoy on my mantel, I’ve named her Cecile. I imagine her as an elegant French woman just chic in her pond or water of choice and her beau my other decoy is always by her side. They are a pair together for life and always together. Everlasting companions for life like swans but they are not swans they aspire to be swans. They have matching ticking stripe bows of red and cream around their necks to signify them as a pair.

04. Profession you sometimes wish you’d pursued — or that you might pursue in another lifetime.

A curator at an amazing museum or auction house. Also a blogger or vintage antique dealer having my own shop/business. I’ve always imagined something of my own. Walking my dog to my place of work that’s mine and I love and my customers love too. A place people love to come and gather.

05. Objects that draw you back to your tween and early teen years / that could be hieroglyphs for that phase.

Delia’s catalogue, Blink 182 CD’s, all those 90’s teen movies, vans warped tour, all things 90’s. My So Called Life

06. Unexpected city you keep in your weather app.

I don’t really use weather apps. I’m so bad I never check the weather. I’m bad at planning around weather.

07. Favorite “hot guy” or “hot girl” name. (I.e., a name that implies the bearer’s attractiveness.)

Sean

Russ for nerds that geeky but sexy

08. First celebrity crush.

Sean William Scott

Ann
Ann
20 days ago
Reply to  Courtney

I now have to know the name of Cecile’s beloved! In my mind, he has a hyphenated French man’s name like .. Jean-Luc or Paul-Henri.

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