This morning, I am republishing an essay from February 21, 2022. I stumbled upon it last week and realized how far I’ve come since that time in my life, and also — that I really needed to hear its sentiments. Even now, when life is much more stable than it was back then. Because sometimes you are staring at something in your life and you aren’t sure what it means but it’s not exactly asking anything of you, either. This could be the new neighbors down the street, some background noise in your social calendar, a change in parenting logistics, a shift in a relationship that’s not bad, not good, just different. Eventually you realize that shift was an answer to something. Onward —

P.S. Reading that I wrote this around two long walks with my (now deceased) dog moved something in me!

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Tall trees stand immediately outside the windows of my writing studio, a green screen. I am benignly and un-specifically aware of them throughout the day — they present as ambient visual noise — but sometimes, I stop to observe them. They are, still, fresh respite from the concrete jungle of Manhattan, where I would crane my neck to make out an isolated tuft of foliage wedged between the two buildings immediately across the way from my writing desk. They are also a reminder of Things Bigger Than I, as they bend and move and rustle according to indiscernible, though melodic, patterns of their own. The other day I sat down at my desk and studied them for a minute. I realized they felt like an answer.

To what, I don’t know. To New York, yes, but only in the most obvious way. It feels more accurate to say they stand in response to the last many years of search and stress. I went on two long walks with my dog to think through this, to write my way into something solid. I returned with empty pockets.

But maybe that’s just it: answers are not always arithmetic. Sometimes they are unquantifiable, suggestive. Sometimes an answer is a head nod, a sigh, a shift in body weight. A half-rest in a measure of music. A paragraph break.

If you are looking for a sign that you have made the right decision, know that assurances do not always present in legible script. Sometimes an answer is realizing that, somewhere over the course of the past few weeks, you stopped feeling as though you might throw up with nerves while presenting to your colleagues at work. Sometimes an answer is the light left on for you by a significant other. Sometimes an answer is anticipating the sun on your face while walking the same circuit you walk every single day. Sometimes it is the sway of trees outside your window.

The questions that can govern our lives are easy-to-form. I am more interested in the things that feel like answers.

Post-Scripts.

+Imprints of a new (suburban) lifestyle.

+The loft borne of experience.

+On measuring our days in terms of presence rather than productivity.

+On remaining open to joy.

Shopping Break.

+Cashmere waffle-knit joggers, on sale!

+My favorite everyday desk sweater of the season. Currently wearing. So warm and the perfect level of body-hugging.

+I find I keep reaching for this Madewell long sleeve. It’s more body-hugging than a lot of my other white tee base layers and I love it for balancing out wider legs.

+We put this rug in my daughter’s room and it is PERFECT. The colors are sweet but not cloying — muted but happy. I’m such a Ruggable fan girl. They really are the answer to this stage of life, where you want something fun and chic but not so precious (or $$$) that you’ll throw up when your children inevitably squish blueberries or slime into them. I’m very impressed with the “foot-feel” — soft, good quality, plush. Just huge fan! This style has been a Magpie reader favorite this month.

+Gorgeous new arrival at Tory Burch.

+Good look for less for the popular PB beachcomber baskets.

+Our favorite winter boot in a limited edition color! (PS – a selection of other winter styles 15% off here.)

+Sezane just launched a collab with SEA!

+This popular rattan mirror was just restocked. And they released a gorgeous matching tray!

+The VB dash bag in some fun new colors!

+BTW, just hearted a bunch of these Hermes clutches in my Vivrelle account. I’d need to go to the next membership tier up to rent but wow. In a fun color for the summer or something?! Reminder you can use code JENSHOOP for a 1 month free trial — so you can rent a bag and see what you think of it for free!

+Gorgeous coffee table book, and my preferred way to serve little nibbles at the bar.

+Love this shape and style of dress with a tall boot for winter Sunday mass.

+I got my daughter these disco ball Converses and I’ve never seen her light up so quickly! She’s obsessed with them. Generally, I have learned that picking clothes that I would wear is the right litmus test for her. She’s deeply disinterested in anything frilly, fluffy, outright girly; she hates dresses. She instead loves pieces like this La-Ligne-esque sweater I just got her and her wide-leg jeans. Once I realized that she really just likes to dress like a mini-me (with maybe a little less floral and fewer dresses), shopping simplified!

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