We are still in limbo on whether or not we’re doing anything for spring break. My children have two separate breaks that do not overlap (they attend different schools), and we’d talked loosely about skiing, which is now not a possibility because of Emory’s ankle injury — plus, Landon and I are traveling a bit for the Small Wonders events in April and May, and we’re still trying to nail down bigger summer plans, which in turn makes it feels a bit much for me to wrap my arms around another thing. We may do something a short drive away from us — Charlottesville, St. Michael’s, Middleburg — that takes less planning. These are all absurd champagne issues, I realize. Such a glut of blessings. But I was thinking the other day about how I’m pretty on top of things, and how travel plans are the one thing I always leave last on my list. I clearly do not prioritize it and I can’t quite wrap my mind around why. I suspect I dread the heavy logistics of it all on top of a life that already feels very logistics-dense. (Publishing daily is joyful for me, but it also involves a lot of tiny pieces that must be coordinated with tremendous care and precision. I one time added up all the discrete tasks that go into writing a blog post, and it was something like 42 distinct activities. There is a lot that happens on the back end. Add to this the seemingly endless list of small things having to do with my children and their schools and activities and social lives and — wow! There is not a ton of spare energy for tackling other logistically-loaded undertakings.) I also think that the “BATNA” (best alternative to no agreement — one of my husband’s favorite business school terms) to not making travel plans is not shabby. By that I mean: inertia will yield an appealing result, which is: we end up hanging at home, doing little day activities, playing games and doing puzzles. Of course my kids would beg to differ and I’m sensitive to their ages: they are at the perfect childhood traveler phase. 6 and 8, all big eyes and question marks and quick-draw joy, but still capable and sturdy and independent and not needing naps or bottles or diapers or anything like that. They are going to Norway for 10 days this summer, though, and I’m bowled over by that idea. I didn’t leave the country until I was a senior in high school! So maybe the big heft of the few trips we do take will leave a big impression anyway.
OK, onward and away from that nest of thoughts —
But if you are going somewhere warm and tropical…! Pour yourself a pre-vacation mai tai (<<BEST recipe here) and dig into some fun spring break shopping below.
BANDANA INSPIRED // MOSS GREEN & IVORY // SCALLOPED DETAIL // HANDWOVEN TOTE // PRADA BALLERINA FLATS // JANESSA LEONE BUCKET HAT // GEMSTONE NECKLACE
01. Love the silhouette on this classic pintuck dress.
02. This stunning sky-blue linen dress.
03. Boys striped boardie shorts. Got these for Hill!
04. Chic straw bucket hat. Love this style because it packs flat! Although I’m not above wearing a sunhat on a plane.
05. Perfect beachy tote.
06. Obsessed with the embroidered hem on these shorts.
07. I’d pair these with a statement dress.
08. Our favorite swimsuit in a stunning moss green and ivory colorway. They recently restocked colors but are already selling through. Take your true size! I have the poppy/blue color.
09. Embroidered geometric shorts. Perfect for pulling on over a bathing suit with a simple white tee for lunch.
09. These blush terry pants and the matching tee.
11. Elegant crochet ballerinas. At the tippy top of my designer wishlist.
12. Lightweight palazzo pants (on sale). Great for travel day too.
13. This feminine pink bathing suit.
14. Obsessed with the shell detail on this tote.
15. Sweet scallop trip on this dress.
16. Blush gingham one piece and one for your mini magpie.
17. Another cute pair of boys swim trunks.
18. Love this french terry polo for Hill, too — he’ll pair them with swim trunks for to/from pool.
19. Perfect throw-on dress for a lunch date.
20. Stunning skirt with lace ribbon trim.
21. The sweetest front-zip one piece for girls
22. Classic wrap terry sarong for the littles.
23. Fun paisley maxi dress.
24. Pair this gorgeous clutch with a fun spring dress.
25. Everyday poplin pants for the littles.
26. Elegant wrap sandal.
27. Obsessed with the fringe detail on this top.
28. Chic pull-on shorts for spring. I like it styled with the matching button-down or just a simple white tank (<<these are my favorites)!
29. Buttery soft pajama set I always reach for.
Styling Outfits for Spring Break.
GINGHAM ONE PIECE // CELINE SUNNIES // CLUTCH // SPF // BLUSH FLIP FLOPS // BUCKET HAT // YELLOW STRIPE TOWEL // MY BOOK
STRIPED DRESS // BEADED FRINGE SWEATER // SUEDE POUCH // WOVEN FLATS // COIN PENDANT // LIP & CHEEK BALM
FRINGE TOP // WHITE MAXI SKIRT // SATIN MULES // LACE-RAFFIA BAG // CHIC LIP // EARRINGS
P.S. Skirts we want to wear this spring.
P.P.S. Ultra pretty blouses to wear this spring
P.P.P.S. Things to be precious with.
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Please do keep us posted on the NYC date!! I’m going to see family in may or June and that would be doable for me.
OMG I would love that! I will. Right now looking like early May but stay tuned — still ironing out the details —
xx
I’d suggest doing 1-2 small special things with whatever kid is off school! We just had the same scenario. I took my son to the aquarium with my SIL and he reveled in being the center of attention, plus a play date with some friends without his sister there, and a dinosaur documentary that’s too scary for her. My daughter I took scootering and to the carousel. Maybe you and Landon take Emory to a fancy lunch or a movie at the theater, or Hill to a zoo or a water park, or a different day trip for each of them. I can’t wait til mine are old enough for the arcade, or bouldering, or antiquing. One on one time with both parents is a rare commodity.
PS I don’t know if you do Easter gifts, but the MakeDo cardboard tool set has been an absolute hero for our break, Hill might love it. I’m wondering if a special craft kit and time to focus on it may be nice for Emory? An old school Spirograph, or Perler beads, potholder loom or a bracelet kit?
What great ideas. The Baltimore Aquarium has been on our list for ages and maybe this is just the occasion. It often feels a little too far for a random “let’s do this today!” And a fancy lunch! You are so spot-on with those recs for both.
OBSESSED with this Make Do tool set idea! TYSM!!
xx
How funny these comments are- we too are heading to Denmark, Sweden, and Norway for three weeks this summer! Is Scandinavia having a moment, or we are all just great planners?!
Would love any thoughts Jen or other magpies have about taking our 8, 8, and 3 year old boys on this adventure!
I love this!!! Will share more as I get into the details. So funny! Magpies flock to Norge!
xx
Molly, I shared earlier today we took our five little ones (11, 10, 7, 4, 5 months) to Switzerland last Summer. My children truly flourished exploring nature, new foods, the markets, meeting fellow children from around the world (even when they didn’t speak English, smiles are communication). I was overly concerned about the overnight flights, time changes, exhaustive travel (we stayed in a car-free town), etc. In the end, we all managed and thrived. Take the little ones if the opportunity allows 🙂
Love this gentle, wise encouragement, Ryan — I personally need to hear this!
I’ve chimed in before about how magical Norway is as a family vacation destination, but growing up we also would take trips to visit close family or just tour Sweden, Finland and Denmark too. Not all on the same trips of course! We were lucky enough to also take family trips to France and the UK and other parts of Europe, but those were somehow much less relaxed and more eventful (in both good and bad ways). My life since marriage has involved so much travel, and even living abroad in the early years, but the logistics part has never grown on me. I complete relate. There was one year that we missed a flight to Austria out of Newark by 5 minutes (horrible traffic) and couldn’t rebook for days. That unexpected staycation was one of the best we have had! All this to say that whatever happens will be wonderful in its own way!
Wait I love this silver lining: ” That unexpected staycation was one of the best we have had!” This is so gorgeous. It makes me want to write a longer post about good silver lining stories…and also, bizarrely maybe, the stories that don’t have a silver lining (and that’s OK). Sometimes I find I chase meaning where there is none? And it’s OK to just say: “whoops, that sucked, but moving on.”
Anyway, so exciting to hear these rave reviews of Scandinavia for family travel!!! YAY
xx
Jen, I would love to hear more about your upcoming Summer adventure to Norway. This past Summer, we took our five children (including the 5 month old baby) to Switzerland and it was 100% worth every minor/major challenge we encountered. At the moment, we are considering several different destinations for this upcoming Summer, but have not finalized plans.
This is so encouraging / exciting to hear! I’m so inspired by this trip with five kids — like, wow! I love the attitude of “it was 100% worth every minor/major challenge we encountered.” What a great outlook. This made me really look forward to our trip!
I’ll share more once we’ve finalized details but the plan is to spend a few nights in Copenhagen, then a week in my brother’s small town, and then a few days in Oslo. I think all in, we’ll be there 12 nights? We are in the early stages of finalizing where we’ll stay, what we’ll do, etc. I keep thinking — the key thing is to get the plane tickets! I know the rest will fall into place with those coordinates planted firmly.
Andale…!
xx
This sounds amazing, Jen! As your Dad would say, “You’re going to love it.”/”You’re kids are going to love it.”
Omigosh did I just sound creepy as a random person on the internet quoting your Dad?
Love!!
+1 on Switzerland! I took my daughter there mostly by myself when she was 6 and we had an amazing time. I say mostly because my husband went there for a business trip and left a week before my daughter and I flew in. Because he was working on weekdays, my daughter and I navigated public transit, took a 3-hour train trip to a different city for a few days to meet an old friend, walked to the train station in horizontal rain and wind (a memory which she and I still speak fondly about), borrowed my friend’s car to drive to my cousin in a different town, and we somehow managed! She handled the whole trip like a champ and I was so proud of her.
Scandinavia is on my bucket list as well. We’ve explored western Europe a bit but not northern Europe. Would love to visit Copenhagen, and yes Norway too. My husband is going on a business trip to Helsinki in a few weeks and I SO want to tag along, but I hesitate to take my daughter out of school for that long. I go back and forth on this because I see a lot of families take their kids out of school for travel, especially in the younger grades.
Love hearing these stories about triumphs of traveling with young children! So many great memories in formation!!
xx