BAYBALA DRESSES. I’ve shared this brand a few times, but my daughter and I wore our coordinated Baybala dresses (mine, hers) to visit Santa this past weekend. You can use code JEN30 for 30% off orders over $75. A few things to love about these dresses: first, I find the styles “flex” well, meaning that my dress could work while nursing, while pregnant, while a little heavier or a little slighter. The same goes for the children’s dresses. I ordered mini a 6Y (her current true size), and the style could easily have been worn a tad boxy last year and will still work next year because it is cut to have a sort of loose, straight fit. I love this about the brand. It reminds me of Oso and Me, another childrenswear brand I love, who designs clothing to last several seasons on growing children. I also love that the front placket on her dress is actually SNAPS versus buttons so she can dress herself. Finally, the color palette on these dresses could work for fall OR holiday, so I can easily repurpose for a fall event next year, too. But I plan to wear this dress for everyday wear, too, the next few weeks — they are so soft, breathable, designed to live and move in. Nothing restrictive or fussy about them. Obsessed.
ASHA EARRINGS. I wear my pearl studs 99% of the time during the day, and have been contemplating adding a slightly bolder everyday earring to the rotation. I love the look of this Asha pair.
GAP KICK FLARES. Um, I paid $33 for these and they arrived and I’ve worn them every day this week. I find the style fresh and different and largely inspired by the lookboard here. They have the perfect amount of stretch and are super flattering and comfortable. I tend to have really good luck with Gap denim — it just fits me perfectly, always. (I take my true size in their denim.) They have a raw hem so I was able to trim them to be the perfect length myself (no costly trip to the tailor). They look perfect with a ballet flat, loafer, or dressy sneaker. I wore mine with my pearl trim cardigan from Vita Grace in the snap above — a novelty purchase I made two or three seasons ago that I still pull out and still feel special in? It’s funny. Sometimes you buy these statement pieces and they are a true flash in the pan. This cardigan is standing the test of time. I’m now eyeing this boxy cropped cardigan of theirs, which reminds me of something by Lafayette 148.
BOW HAIR TIE. A perfect accessory to throw on when you’re running out of festive attire ideas. It just occurred to me a few days ago that I need to map out what I’ll be wearing to multiple holiday festivities in the next two weeks, and I rush ordered a few glitzy additions to see me through, including this bow hair tie, which I can pair with a black sweater and trousers and feel festive in!
J. CREW DRAPEY FEATHER TRIM TOP. I also ordered this feather trim blouse — I love its versatility. I plan on wearing it first to a holiday tea tucked into high-waist wide leg black watch tartan trousers I bought from J. Crew years ago that look very similar to these. (Other options to consider: these J. McLaughlins and these Ann Taylors, or go for a solid color at Banana. The deep green are fabulous!). But then I think the top will look amazing tucked into more casual jeans for a fun dinner out, or thrown on over a sparkly dress. Note the embellishment at the wrists! The details are incredible!
GUCCI MATTE BEAUTY BLUSH. I bought a few of these using the Sephora 20% off code (GETGIFTING) to give as gifts to girlfriends. Who doesn’t love a luxe blush palette?! Comes in at under $40 with code — pretty amazing! More beauty gifting ideas here.
THE GARLAND PROJECT. I spent most of one day earlier this week desiccating oranges in the oven to craft my own wreath using cedar garland from a local plant shop, fairy lights, and this pretty velvet ribbon. You can also skip the fuss and order one pre-made from Williams-Sonoma. I like the way they fix different types of plants/trees in theirs, especially the magnolia leaves. Target has an inexpensive faux one that nails a similar look here.
NETFLIX STUTZ DOCUMENTARY. Mr. Magpie and I watched this Jonah Hill-directed documentary about his therapist, Philip Stutz, on a whim, and I was deeply moved by it. I cried multiple times! I think there is something anyone can take away from the film, which presents Stutz’s visualization techniques for patients navigating any number of challenges — anxiety, loss, feelings of insecurity/inferiority, bitterness over a perceived injustice, and much more. Unlike the conventional role of the therapist as calm, detached listener, Stutz takes an active role in his patients’ treatment, often telling them the exact, discrete steps that they should take to make themselves feel better. The film is about even more than that, though. It is, at the end of the day, a story of love and connection between two men. Mr. Magpie and I were also touched because Stutz openly discusses his Parkinsons Disease, and Mr. Magpie works for the incredible (!) Michael J. Fox Foundation, whose goal is to cure Parkinsons. Anyhow, this is not exactly a light viewing, but it is uplifting and substantive.
FAIRYTALES LICE-REPELLING ROSEMARY SHAMPOO AND DAILY CONDITIONER SPRAY. Mr. Magpie and I recently made our way through a parenting rite of passage: lice. I am now more or less an expert on these pests. We ended up hiring an incredible service, Lice Happens (cannot recommend enough — five stars, 10 out of 10, would recommend) who came to our home, checked every family member’s head (including our nanny’s), and then treated my daughter. They do not use the pesticide shampoo that most of us are familiar with (and that did not work on my daughter — apparently, lice have grown resistant to most of those chemicals! ahhh!), and instead focus on extraction. There is SO much misinformation out there about lice — it’s unbelievable! — and now I feel totally confident about how to handle this annoying situation. (Example: did you know most people do not even know they have lice? Only some people are allergic and therefore find themselves scratching their heads…! So, a lot of people have no idea they’re even carrying.). Anyway, my top tips for prevention if you think it’s going around your school is to use this shampoo and conditioner, which our specialists told us the bugs hate and will avoid if possible, and to tie your daughter’s hair back tightly in braids — the lice cannot cling to hair presented that way. They’ll look for loose strands mingling with another person’s hair.
HOLIDAY BAKING. I actually calendared a schedule of holiday baking projects to make sure I get it all in this year! The first thing we made (the first weekend of December) were my classic cutout cookies. I topped with Ina Garten’s buttercream frosting and then let my children go wild decorating with lots of holiday sprinkles — they were in total heaven, as evidence by the maximalist tray of cookies seen above. I can’t recommend this inexpensive set of cookie cutters more. They have styles for every holiday and occasion you can imagine and are actually superior to the metal ones because a) they do not rust, b) they do not get bent/misshapen, and c) they are much safer for little children to use. (The metal ones can have kind of sharp edges!). Next up: Ina Garten’s pecan squares, which I’ll be giving out to neighbors in these cute little 5×5 kraft boxes. I also ordered a few of these inexpensive gingerbread-shaped tins and melamine plates for gifting. I might go back for these cute baggies more for my children than anything else!
P.S. All of my favorite baking gear.
P.P.S. My favorite holiday essentials.
P.P.P.S. All things velvet.