At the end of some internet rabbit hole I tumbled down this week, I found myself reading a “list of educational attainments” for six and twelve year olds written by a home school parent. I was less interested in the substance of those lists (and am therefore not linking) — or rather, I’m less interested in debating here the merits of those lists (and am therefore not linking) — but I liked the concept of “a list of attainments” as a general prompt. I found myself immediately drawing up a few different lists and tucking items into their respective buckets over the course of the week.

For example, what might go on “a list of attainments for the 2026 year” for our family? What might belong to “a list of attainments for our children by the age of 10”? What would you add to “a list of attainments for me by the age of 50”?

I’m now keeping a few of these as open lists in my notes app, with these first few rolling off the pen easily:

List of Attainments for the Shoops in 2026

+To take our first international trip as a family;

+To implement and uphold a realistic set of chores and rewards;

+To attend Mass every Sunday unless ailment or travel impedes;

+To go on at least four proper family hikes (not just neighborhood walkabouts);

+To bring a dog into our family

It was hard for me to write these without veering into the unquantifiable; I am such a English major. But the constraint here: these attainments must be measurable in some way. And so I had to delete my aspirational entries: “to speak with kindness to one another, even when frustrated,” “to spend less time tidying and more time living,” etc.

List of Attainments for a 10-Year-Old in the Shoop Family

+To identify the commonplace birds, flowers, trees, and animals in our yard by name and in some cases by call;

+To look adults in the eye when speaking with them;*

+To demonstrate confidence in math and writing;**

+To practice resilience in small arts, like game playing, throwing the ball outside, at-home science and cooking projects;

+To understand the basic economics of running a business;

+To eat adventurously, even if in small increments (i.e., be willing to try at least one bite of something new when presented with the opportunity);

+To have received the sacraments of First Penance and Communion, and to recite by heart the major prayers and parts of the Mass;

+To practice one sport and one instrument with dedication.

I recognize this second list is less measurable than the first. (How do we measure confidence in math, resilience in games?). I need to put some thought into this; I’m sure there are diagnostics. But I like these lists as a north star in the coming months and years.

What would go on yours? What other “lists of attainments” might be interesting to keep in your notes app?

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*This has been a big effort of ours for years. Before we decamp on any party, activity, gathering, play-date, we run through the same list of reminders, making sure the children know the hosts’ names, can recite “Mr. and Mrs. Allen” without stumbling, have some possible conversation starters in mind (i.e., “how are you doing?”, “did you get your pumpkins yet?”), remember to look people in the eye and speak in a proud voice. I had to laugh recently: we stopped by our friends’ home last weekend, and clearly our little speech-making landed heavily with my son on that particular day, because my friend opened the door, and Hill said, all in one big breath, before we were even through the door: “Hi Mr. Austria, how are you, how is your weekend going?” all in one big breath. It was so cute; my friend paused and said: “Wow, thanks for asking –” and we were off to the races.

**I was devastated when my daughter told us earlier this year, “I’m bad at math.” Absolutely devastated! We have worked so fastidiously to instill the opposite…! We have work to do here.

Sunday Shopping.

+Cozy new sheets for the season (pair with this duvet and this bed blanket and put on a cozy fall movie).

+The Rothy’s clog sale ends tomorrow. Trust me, your puppies will be happy in these comfy clogs while you’re going through all the fall and holiday ministrations around your home — cooking! running to get the mail! dropping kids! I just discovered they have kids sizes, too…

+I just wrote about jeans yesterday, but someone was just telling me these Apiece Apart jeans are great for petites. In my cart. Love the wash! Imagine styling with this cropped jacket and this cool girl belt.

+New HHH holiday! This embellished collar dress is so fun, and this bow-front style (reminiscent of Valentino) has already sold through in some sizes. While we’re talking holiday: this feather trim Cara Cara is extra in the best way.

+These everyday drop earrings are back available for pre-order. I have been wearing them around the clock. They are so delicate and chic and they weigh nothing. Somehow work with cocktail dresses or jeans and a tee. OBSESSED. A great under $200 buy for the season.

+Cool mom carpool outfit: statement fleece, espresso brown leggings, slip-on sneaks.

+Could not be more obsessed with this $29 body cream. OMG. Are you a neroli fan?! I love this smell — to me, it’s what cashmere would smell like if it were made into a scent. It’s warm, it’s cozy, it’s soft, it cocoons. I can’t stop smelling myself when I apply this lotion! OBSESSED.

FLANNEL SHEETS // ROTHY’S CLOGS // RED COCKTAIL DRESS // FEATHER TRIM CARA CARA DRESS // ISABEL MARANT FLEECE // VARLEY LEGGINGS // DOLCE VITA SLIP ON SNEAKERS // ANINE BING JACKET // APIECE APART JEANS // DORSEY EARRINGS // CYKLAR NEROLI CREAM // AUREUM BELT

OBSESSED WITH THIS $29 BODY CREAM

P.S. Day-Early Access to the Credo Beauty Sale.

Beauty destination Credo is offering us day-early access to their annual 20% off sale. You can shop today only with code JENSHOOP2025 — fab, as some of their bestsellers do sell through during this promotion.

I really love their thoughtfully curated “sets,” featuring products from different brands bundled together, like this “glossy romance lip kit,” this “date night essentials” set, and this “fall and lip trio.” They’ve done all the heavy lifting of picking the best products in the best colors! I used the promotion to get more of this contouring stick (really really good — it’s the first contouring stick I ever used that I could actually get to work for me; I went through an entire tube!), my must-have foundation stick (instant reorder for me), and this gorgeous lipstick. If you’re a fan of Westman, this is the time to stock up; I’ve never seen this brand discounted more deeply.

Also, can I please put a plug for a few FAV beauty products at great prices: this curling mascara (rivals mascaras that are 2x the price), this “cloud mascara” I mentioned yesterday that I’ve been wearing for a few weeks now (major lengthening), and this glides-on-like-velvet lip liner (I like color desert rose). I wasn’t a lip liner gal til I discovered this Soshe and now I wear it almost every day.

KOSAS AIRBROW PENCIL // WESTMAN FOUNDATION // KOSAS LIPSTICK // TOWER28 MASCARA // SOSHE LIP LINER // BEST WEIGHTLESS DETANGLER // MY SISTER SWEARS BY THIS NAIL TREATMENT // WESTMAN COUNTOUR STICK

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