The Magpie Diary: Mar. 15, 2026.

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The ampersand: a fantastic logogram. Fun to look at, with its clef-like, curlicue shape, and I’m always a sucker for a Latinate history (it is a stylized ligature of the Latin letters “e” and “t,” which together (“et”) mean “and,” making it quicker/easier to write the word). More than that, and I have written about this in the past, I love it as an emblem, a crest, a coat of arms for the craft of writing. Because the carefully-chosen word is never just one thing. It is sound and shape; it is definition (and usually multiple of those). In some contexts, a word can also be allusion, performance art, patois, satire, antonym (as in contranyms like cleave and sanction), and probably much more than that. It can obfuscate or clarify. It can call or release.

Poets are the masters of ampersand writing. I am thinking of that poem yesterday by Mary Oliver, where she’s talking about March, and she writes:

“In March the earth remembers its own name. Everywhere the plates of snow are cracking. The rivers begin to sing. In the sky the winter stars are sliding away; new stars appear as, later, small blades of grain will shine in the dark fields. And the name of every place is joyful.“

The smooth lissome of her language! The way it unfolds onto the petals of its own bloom. The name of every place is joyful. Does she mean that we say the names with joy? That the places themselves speak with new joy? That every place collectively should be called “joyful,” as in “the plural of every place is….”? Good poetry (like Mary’s) makes room for all of these interpretations simultaneously and without sanction. (See what I did there?) It neither grants us permission nor punishes us for a false reading. Maybe there are no false readings anyway —

But this I think is why I love the form of poetry. It is a soft landing. It wants to flirt with our imagination. It wants to be left open on the back porch, with the wind and the warm spring air and the March mist introducing new texture to the word. It is such a forgiving page.

Let me conclude with another Mary poem, and I came to this one from what is likely the best article title of encountered all year: “Why Are So Many Women Writing About Bears?” (Now this is kind of click bait I can get behind — lol.) The essay makes reference to Mary’s poem “Spring,” seen below —

It’s gorgeous on so many levels but let me dwell on the construction of the phrase: “whatever else / my life is / with its poems / and its music / and its glass cities.” She is here, as always, a master with polysyndeton — that third “glass cities” absolutely flings us out of the realm of her creative undertakings and into the reality of her physically lived experience. It is propulsive! It is dynamic! So much hinges on the surprise of that final word! The mechanics here very much shape the way I write my own “list poetry,” if we can call it that — the lists of things I find glamorous, things that feel like fresh slates. I’m always looking for the plot twist, the thunderbolt, on a word or phrase level. How do I keep us on our toes? How do I move between modes — the silly, the specific, the heartfelt, the metaphorical? Write across the ampersand. Write into it!

Sunday Shopping.

A big shopping edit today. I had so much fun putting this one together — you’ll see why. Lots of GREAT colors and idiosyncratic / unique finds.

Let me begin here: I have long admired these brush pots from Bridie Hall — come in all the letters of the alphabet — but writing this piece led me to order one of the ampersand ones for my studio from a small boutique in Seattle called Watson-Kennedy! Maybe some of my West Coast Magpies have been there? (Note that you can save 20% on your first order if you sign up for the mailing list!). Also a good assortment here!

In other news: J. Crew is offering 30% off “wear now” pieces for this transition to spring period. I love this Prada-esque shirtdress (especially the styling, with the buttons all the way to the top), these pointelle tees (like $30 right now!), this striped long-sleeve, and these barrel chinos.

STRIPED SHIRTDRESS // POINTELLE TEE // STRIPED TEE // BARREL CHINOS

How I’d style two of these pieces for RIGHT NOW, during peak “confusing weather” season:

LEFT: J. CREW TEE // TUCKERNUCK NECKLACE // HILL HOUSE EYELET JACKET // MOTHER HALF PIPE JEANS // TARGET NETTED FLATS // HERMES BAG (YOU CAN BORROW FROM VIVRELLE! USE CODE JENSHOOP FOR THE FIRST MONTH FREE)

RIGHT: GUEST IN RESIDENCE SWEATER // ANTHRO NETTED BAG // HART NECKLACE // BARREL CHINOS // FREDA SALVADOR FLATS

Now onto an assortment of my favorite finds for today —

BRIDIE HALL AMPERSAND BRUSH POTS // TRISH MCEVOY LIPSTICK // POCKET MIRROR // STRIPED OUTDOOR RUG // CAMI NYC LINEN EMBROIDERED PANTS // DANDELION CHOCOLATE // STRIPED MIDI DRESS // JELLIES // PAM MUNSON MAGIC // RETURN ADDRESS LABELS // WOVEN BAG

+This is my most-worn everyday lipstick — the color “gentle” is a “my lips but better” vibe. Natural but turns up the flush perfectly. I also love the creamy consistency. It’s currently 15% off. I’m tempted to try a few other colors while on sale — “lover” and “perfect pink” look gorgeous. A few other great prestige beauty buys on sale for 15% off here!

+Speaking of lipstick, when I wrote that “applying lipstick with a purse mirror vs an iPhone” is “the height of glamor,” I had this in mind. I might need to add that to cart to up my glamor quotient. (These personalized ones also caught my attention!)

+This woven bag reminds me so much of the styles from Chloe — but it’s under $100!

+I finished the Trader Joe’s podcast on Acquired and am now listening to the one on Mars (as in the chocolate company). It is riveting! I had no idea how hard it is to make chocolate — it’s a very complex process! In the podcast, they talk about a contemporary West Coast chocolatier, Dandelion, that specializes in “bean to bar” chocolate and I had to order. It costs an arm and a leg but I’m really curious to taste chocolate that has been made with this level of precision. I ordered their maker’s collection and a few other treats to sample.

+Fun and unexpected spring statements: this CUTE striped dress (!) and this linen pants/top situation. I imagine the pants with a navy or white tank, and then a navy and white striped sweater for a cool beach evening!

+You all are loving these jellies! I own in clear and they are the best pool / beach shoe. So cute, and surprisingly comfortable (the plastic is really soft and stretchy)!

+I love everything Pam Munson creates, but am especially in love with the big pearls on this bag.

+Cute return address labels.

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