My intention for the season is presence. Pushing the to-dos and “did I remember tos” out of my mind when I am in the midst of celebration, a quiet moment with my children, the deep evergreen meaning of the season. It’s a practice versus a state of being, really, something I must continually work at; I caught my mind skittering ahead to logistics multiple times on Thanksgiving Day when I should have been enjoying the conversation with my in-laws or focusing on making paper chains with my children, my son’s heavy breathing at my shoulder and his little face pressed close to mine. And even this morning: my son has been learning about the Rosary at school, has been carrying it around and presenting it to family and friends when they stop by. He’ll launch into a recitation of the Glory Be, the Hail Mary, at odd and sundry moments, impressing himself. Anyhow, this morning, he asked to recite a decade together. I was so moved by it, by the repetition of these words that have meant so much to me during topsail-straining moments of my life, even and especially during that one morning I put myself in a taxi to Mount Sinai while white-knuckling through contractions while pregnant with him. Landon had had to hang back until my sister could arrive to look after my daughter, and so I was alone on the 67th St Transverse, cutting through Central Park, praying the Hail Mary over the phone with my mother. Only I wasn’t alone, of course. I was with my unborn son, I was with my mother, I was with Mary. The cab driver, too, although he kept a stony-face as any true New York cabbie must, until he dropped me at the Labor and Delivery entrance and said, “good luck, m’am.” Oh, that memory! And so I found my mind peeling away from the present, from this perfect boy and his lispy Hail Marys and Glory Bes, from his small hands grasping the beads. I reminded myself: stay here, stay in this moment.

So this is my intention: stay. Fix myself in this exact moment.

It is, well and truly, a muscle! You build up a strength of mind to bear down. You lean on mantras and breathing. You train to elbow out the noise. I’m a big work in progress here but the first step is always awareness.

The Claire Keegan book Small Things Like These couldn’t have come at a better time, rife as it is with reflections on presence in this season. I love the line: “Wasn’t it sweet to be where you were and let it remind you of the past for once, instead of always looking on into the mechanics of the day and the trouble ahead, which might never come.” Keegan offers a riff on my earlier thoughts: it’s OK to sit with the memories when they arrive, but at least defer any worries about the future.

What are your intentions for the season?

Do you have any tried and true practices / mantras / mnemonics for staying truly planted where your feet are? What about books, prayers, music that helps you in this pursuit? I’m all ears.

Eyeing + Buying (Everything on Sale).

First, my piece de resistance sale find: FRANK AND EILEEN SETS FOR 70% OFF. OMG. Run. These are originally $386, now on sale for $115. I own and love several of these spendy sets. I also absolutely love their linen getaway sets too — I own in the white and sand colors. Currently also 70% off in select colors. I find this brand runs true to size.

Next: I love to see what everyone is shopping from my edits — the top few items from the past 24 hours in the fashion category have been our favorite hybrid-between-a-tee-and-sweatshirt “Early Morning” tees (20% off), items from the Negative whipped collection (15% off), the best rain-resistant lug sole boots (25% off), Rag + Bone jeans (use SHOPMY15 for extra discount), these chic sneakers, and this perfect LBD.

For men — you all have been loving these handsome Rhoback q-zips (20% off). My mom got these for all the guys in our family this year (they are all golfers!)

May I also suggest you consider these incredibly chic vintage-inspired sweatshirts (30% off – today’s the last day to get them at this price) and the knits from Alex Mill (iconic and $100 off) and Jenni Kayne (25% off)?

VINTAGE VIBE SWEATSHIRT (30% OFF) // CHIC SNEAKERS (ON SALE FOR $175) // CHUNKY ARAN KNIT ($100 OFF) // BEST JEANS (25% OFF + EXTRA 15% OFF WITH SHOPMY15) // HANDSOME Q-ZIPS FOR THE GENTS (20% OFF) // MY FAV WATER-RESISTANT BOOTS // LUXE JENNI KAYNE SWEATER (25% OFF) // THE SOFTEST LOUNGE YOU’LL EVER FIND (15% OFF)

Spotlight: Black Friday Beauty Deals.

Honestly, I think the beauty category is where it’s at this year. I believe this concealer is THE top item across all categories that Magpies have been shopping. It is the absolute BEST concealer IMO. I was a devotee of Cle de Peau for a long time but I think this is even better — and a rare 20% off. Meanwhile, I am still SO excited about my Dyson hair dryer, and I managed to find our favorite brushes for 25% off. (These are a discovery from you — several Magpies identified them as a top regrettably worth it buy.). Great gift for a sibling!

I did not include this in the collage below but I must rave about this combo I recently discovered for combatting tired eyes this holiday season: start with these YSE undereye patches (as you know, I’m a big undereye patch fan, and I’ve tried lots of brands; my top two favorites are these Jillian Dempseys — 30% off! — and these YSEs, but I give a slight edge to the YSE because they have a patented technology that prevents them from slipping off your face, which is my major gripe with all other brands!) and finish with this incredible highlighting undereye cream (30% off). A friend of mine raved about this and I now know why. It’s packed with good skincare but also has a cosmetic property: a slight tint and glow that illuminates the area. I’m wildly impressed. I’d all but given up on eye creams! This is a really powerful duo.

A full roundup of great beauty products at a discount below:

YVES DURIF BRUSH // PTIOX “BOTOX IN A BOTTLE” // WESTMAN ATELIER FOUNDATION STICK (INSTANT REORDER CATEGORY FOR ME) // ALPYYN CREAM CLEANSER // SARAH CREAL CONCEALER // DR. DIAMOND METACINE PLASMA // ZIIP HALO MICROCURRENT DEVICE // SOFT SERVICES HAND CREAM // BEST MASCARA // DYSON HAIR DRYER // NATURA BISSE CLEANSING MASK // LED FACE MASK

Luxe Bags on Sale.

And a little bonus blurb — I just hit a new milestone on Instagram (crossed 30K followers!) and have been thinking to mark the achievement with a new handbag. (Landon and I just watched a documentary on Marcella Hazan and apparently her lemon chicken came to acquire the name “Engagement Chicken” because it was so frequently made before men proposed to their wives! I just loved the way people had merged anecdote with recipe. Anyway, whatever bag I buy will be my “30K bag” — ha!). It’s not really about the numbers of course but just the feeling of finding like-minded readers who are responding to what I’m putting out into the world. So rewarding and thrilling as a writer! Interestingly, my Instagram adaptation of “Things I Find Randomly Chic” took off, and people have been contributing their suggested additions to the list — handwritten notes is a popular one and I couldn’t agree more!

Anyhow, I’ve been hunting for a fun bag to celebrate and amtempted by this Toteme t-lock, 40% off. I’ve been eyeing these bags for two seasons and love the shearling trim! I also found a few Liffner bags on sale and noticed Cuyana is running a rare promotion to boot! Their system totes are the best understated chic work bags. I carry mine whenever I am schlepping my laptop. They are nearly sold out of this, but their travel cases make really elegant gifts. You can have them embossed with initials – 20% off. I gave these to my best friend and my sister years ago!

Finally, this textured RDV is sooo chic. These are the best travel totes. Really well made, fit everything, very light. I mean doesn’t she want to go with you on your next ski trip?!

LIFFNER BELTED BAG // CUYANA SYSTEM TOTE // LIFFNER CLUTCH // TOTEME T-LOCK // CUYANA CROSSBODY // SAVETTE POCHETTE // TUCKERNUCK CLUTCH // RDV TOTE

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