The Magpie Diary: Dec. 21, 2025.

You know what makes hard things better? Companionship that just sits in the car next to you, making little sounds of solidarity. The type that responds to: “OK, but can I just say one more thing…?” with, “Of course” and “Always!” and “Yes, please.” The kind that makes you feel like you’re halfway home when you’ve been out wandering, turning the rocks and raking the leaves for answers. The sort that replies: “but I know you, Jen, and –“; that has your back; that compares notes rather than judges; that lets you hang all the dirty laundry on the line so it — and you — can get some air. Deep breath. The person who will listen to your story of cringe or misstep and remind you to laugh at yourself, or at least put things in perspective. Oh, no one probably noticed, and I’ve done the same thing, and I lived to tell the tale. These might be white lies designed to distract you from your navel-gazing, but things feel a little better anyway, because they’ve seen you unspooled, and have blessed you all the same. It is the most compassionate of chrism.

Every time I publish a musing on this blog, I tag it with keywords to make the post easier to find — motherhood, family, memories, grief. I realized the other day that the vast majority of my posts share one tag: “perspective.” A fine intersection for the venn diagramming of my writing. After all, this, in the end, is what I’m after: the little perch with the long view.

Funny, the way good friends and open-weave writing have proven to be my key footholds in this pursuit. (Aren’t I lucky?)

Photo Diary from the Past Few Weeks.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: SHINSHIN // OLD TOWN BOOKS // HOLIDAY DECOR // HAPPY MORNING VIEW WITH MY JOY SPARKING MUG (MORE JOY SPARKERS HERE)

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: REARRANGING YOUR BOOKS IS A KIND OF SELF CARE // BUTTERED RUM COOKIES FROM THE BEST COOKIE COOKBOOK EVER (NOT A BAD OR EVEN SMEH RECIPE IN THE BOOK!) // TARTAN EVERYTHING (CASHMERE SCARF HERE; BAG HERE) // MY SON’S 345TH HOT CHOCOLATE OF THE SEASON

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: ORANGE TREE FOR LITTLE WOMEN WINTER // NEW GIFT WRAP HACK: BUY NICE COSMETIC SETS AND JUST WRAP WITH A BOW // UNDER-EYE PATCH OBSESSED (MY PICKS HERE) // THIS MONTH’S BOOK CLUB PICK WITH TRUFFLE POPCORN

Sunday Shopping.

+Rails is offering 25% off sitewide! I saw a mom wearing this sweater to carpool pickup this week. So chic!! I’m very interested in these Nili Lotan-inspired cords.

+It’s been a minute since I raved about Buck Mason’s insanely good $48 shrunken fit tee. Just wore the other day and was reminded of its virtues.

+Wore this VB sweater twice this week. It’s VERY warm — thick, high-quality — and great for truly icy weather. Landon and I call these (affectionately) “death sweaters” since they are HIGHLY insulating and can be torturous if worn indoors too long — LOL. But they really do have their place in a cold weather season! Look for less here.

+OBSESSED with this Tory bag.

+Still loving all things bandana. Have been seeing these cashmere bandana print scarves all over the place lately, and I ADORE this personalized pouch, which I transfer from bag to bag with my essentials stocked inside.

+Also still loving the boat shoe trend, especially these Miu Mius. Looks for less here, here, here.

+Longtime admirer of Aurelia Demark’s beautiful jewelry, especially this lucky clover necklace. (Aren’t I lucky?!). Look for less here.

+Two beauty obsessions: Irene Forte’s AHA lemon toning spray. I’ve been using this multiple times a day for the last six months. OBSESSED. Also very into this exfoliant-gloss-mask in one! I just added these to my “favorite things of 2025” list, along with my cherished naked neroli body cream, which I somehow forgot to include the first go around!