The Magpie Diary: Feb. 8, 2026.

It’s funny — I wrote in my draftbook earlier this week “what to do while waiting for your big break,” and I meant it with gentle irony, as there are no big breaks — just hard work and the occasional micro-breaks that you must take great pains to recognize and celebrate. More often than not, those “micro-breaks” are nothing but a break in routine. A meeting finally pinned down; a second round interview; a special request from your boss that signals you’ve earned her respect or attention; a callback. In my trade: landing on the right word or title, a second draft, a reader sharing your work, a first sentence. (Often I write the first sentence last. Much easier — or I should say, less intimidating — for me to begin in media res, write my around the place, then go back through the front door.) And, yes, an email from an acquisitions editor: “Have you ever thought about writing a book?” But this outreach only made possible by years and years of publishing sometimes well and sometimes badly on a daily basis.

But this week, I experienced what felt like a big break. My publisher mailed me two advanced copies of my book. I tore open the package and sat in a warm puddle of tears for a good long while. I was aware that I was in the arms of a golden moment, one of those rare and gleaming afternoons I’d long look back on. Normally these golden moments rise out of mist and heart-meld and take us by surprise. I mean — they’re almost never architected. Yes, sometimes, Christmas mornings and birthdays can yield a golden moment or two, but usually they arrive on the warm breast of that oddball evening where you look over the car console after an impromptu ice cream date and feel like you might explode with love at the person sitting there. How simple, how good life can be — all else, the trivial and not, appears to dissolve into thin air, and it’s just two big hearts on stilts, in love with one another, holding faintly sticky ice cream hands in the front seat of a Jeep.

But, this was not one of those out-of-the-dead-blue moments. I knew the books were coming; I’d tracked them on the Federal Express site as though I was awaiting an expensive imported case of wine or original art. I even deferred opening the package until Landon could sit with me. And yet there it was, the moment, the one I’d anticipated in outline: my heart in my throat, the expansive feeling of visualizing my entire creative life spool up into this one gorgeous 6″ x 8″ x 226- page parcel. I couldn’t stop the tears once I started, and I didn’t try, either.

I had the immediate sense that I was experiencing “a big break.” The book, finished, in my hands. Is it strange to admit I’d worried on and off that something might fall through? That my contract would be canceled, that there might be some issue with the printing, that it would turn out to look nothing like I’d imagined? Oh yes, I can be the most reprehensible of worst case scenario-ists. I’m not talking about imagining plans b, c, d. I’m talking detailed visualizations of x, y, z, then straight through the alphabet again. So here she was, in her complete glory, and just as beautiful as I’d dreamed. Gold foil lettering on the cover, chic serif titling, the interior color washes moody and evocative, my dedication to my Dad on the frontispiece blinking back at me, taking me all the way back (and I mean all the way back) to my youth. To being six and dreaming, to writing stories in graphite in marble notebooks. Oh, little Jen, we did it! And we had bangs when we first dreamed of it and we have bangs now — ha. The full circle, the closed loop, good Lord, is this the big break?

Is it, I wonder? I mean, this book was no accident! It was years of wool-gathering and feeling foolish and stammering and red-lining blotchy first drafts. Still, it has the shape of something much bigger. A true milestone, engraved and well-lit.

Oh Magpies, I’m sitting her trying to hug every part of this moment and also, always, keep moving, do what life is asking me to do, grapple with the usual whiplash of figuring out what to pack in my son’s lunch while I stare in distress at the daily news —

But as we say, always —

onward —

And a little reminder, you can pre-order your own copy of Small Wonders at your preferred retailer here.

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Other ephemera from the week —

Did a Bad Bunny Peloton ride this week! The ride was actually not great IMO (so won’t rec/link) but the music got me going! I was wearing this new set (leggings, bra, tee) from Rhone and switched into my trusty MetCons to complete a core program after the ride. The pattern is SO fun and I continue to think Rhone fits REALLY well, like in the same conversation as Vuori. They also have motivating mantras in the seams — a small thing but they do give me a boost every time I look at them. They’ve re-instated our coupon code — use SHOOP20!

Reinvention by manicure! (A lovely fresh slate feeling.) I’d worn my nails bare for a few weeks and I feel more like myself with them done — ha. I also treated myself to a pedicure and brought along my trusty Tkees. Mentioned them earlier this week, but they’re BIFL territory. I’ve had a pair for north of a decade! I thought of another BIFL item this week: Landon’s Hedley & Bennett apron. He wears his week in and week out, and it really sustains a beating, and it’s still good as new. (This is the brand worn by many professional chefs.)

Morning things, old and new: my two “corpse reviver” products I’ve used for years and years (Jillian Dempsey eye masks — the best, but $$ so I use sparingly, for when I really need it; code JENSHOOP gets you a little price break) — and glow/hydration-giving Vintner’s Daughter active botanical serum) and a newcomer: the Therabody depuffing wand. Only a few uses in, but I actually love this thing. I do notice a difference immediately after; not sure if the effect persists for more than an hour or two maybe, but it does feel wonderful on skin and gives you an immediate sense of brightness and tightness. I know they’re very different products, but I might prefer this to the Ziip because it gives you this wonderful cooling feeling, like holding an ice cube to your face.

Shopping Break.

Are you reading this while “watching” the Super Bowl? Lol. Start with the AYR sale! The best — a rare 20% off our favorites.

A few other fantastic finds…mainly can’t stop raving about this perfect, show-stopping red jacket. I am in love. Maybe influenced by my avatar bird, the Northern cardinal, but MAN does this coat make any outfit feel and look cooler. The shape is amazing, the color is unexpected, the fit is 10/10. I think you can go down a size in this.

And! I have this Lamaregold top and pant set in my cart. We have no plans for warm weather travel this winter but I just know I’ll love her come the early days of summer…

Lastly, how cuteeee is this tiny canvas tote?! The size makes it feel fashion-y.