I’m in helter skelter mode these days, flitting, hummingbird-like, between what feels like a thousand different personal and professional commitments, some as inconsequential but odd as selecting interesting-looking board books in Spanish from the neighborhood library for our nanny to read to minimagpie (curious, this, as I don’t speak a lick of Spanish) and some as substantive and all-consuming as testing and scheduling releases of our platform for our tech business. And still others as life-giving as sitting in our backyard with glasses of rose and a plate of ripe cantaloupe and salty prosciutto, listening to Robin Thicke and cooing over minimagpie, who has suddenly discovered and fallen in love with our beloved dog.
Thought I’d share some of the flotsam and jetsam floating through the transom of my mind in the moments between these activities:
PICK NO. 1: ORGANIZATION HACK.
I like a tidy closet but cannot for the life of me commit to keeping the stacks of tees and sweatshirts I have on my shelves in an orderly fashion. I just discovered these lucite shelf dividers ($20 for 2) and am doing backflips. These will provide just the amount of organizational support I’ve been seeking. P.S. More organization ideas.
PICK NO. 2: THE STATEMENT SWEATER.
I think this fall may be the season of The Statement Sweater. Makes sense, coming off the heels of several seasons-of-the-statement-blouse. I wrote at length about a SEA eyelet-embellished sweater I am coveting, but now this Ulla Johnson lovely has entered my life and I can’t stop thinking about it. What do you think? Which should I go for? I don’t think I can fathom the purchase of two statement sweaters over $300 in cost. Or can I. MWAHAHAHAHAH. [Mr. Magpie silently plots the destruction of my credit cards.] But also, this chic Banana Republic embroidered sweatshirt ($138, shown below in navy, but also available in gray) may scratch the itch if I can’t work up the financial courage.
Also, I really love this DVF knit wrap dress for fall ($398) — love the color and the fit and material look super flattering. But you can get the look for less with this $75 steal.
PICK NO. 3: THE DRUGSTORE BEAUTY BUY.
One of you lovely Magpies wrote to recommend this Dove Leave-In Conditioning Spray ($6) and I just added it to my shopping list for the next time I’m at Target. Stay tuned. I love a good drugstore budget buy MVP.
PICK NO. 4: THE GUCCI LOOKALIKE.
How chic is this grosgrain-trimmed bow-sleeved sweater ($28)?!?!?! Very Gucci. I like the idea of wearing it with a black mini skirt. P.S. More designer looks for less — and even more here.
PICK NO. 5: BABY GEAR LUST ITEM.
For those of us with babes: how genius is this Doona infant carseat-and-stroller in one?! I’m dying over it. Think about how easy it would be to travel in an airport with this — just ONE piece, no separate tags needed?! — or, for that matter, how simple it would be to jet around town? I sometimes lazily avoid multiple shopping stops because I can’t deal with having to take out the stroller base, insert the adapter, put the carseat in it, etc., more than 3x in a row.
PICK NO. 6: CHEAP + CHIC.
Cheap + chic shades ($28).
PICK NO. 7: THE RAINBOW GOWN.
I CAN’T EVEN with this striped Caroline Constas gown ($695). I wish to God I had a wedding to go to in the next few months because I would so buy this. It’s too good. I’m dying. I’m dead.
PICK NO. 8: THE CURRENT READ: FITNESS JUNKIE.
After finishing Klosterman’s But What If We’re Wrong?, I shuttled back to lighter fare in the form of Lucy Sykes’ Fitness Junkie. Here’s what I like about it, 20% in (#thankyouKindle): it’s socially aware and insightful, poking sardonic fun at our diet-crazed, fitness-trend-aholic culture, with some very funny parts that remind me of all the Goop chaos that’s been going on (putting jade eggs in our nether regions and so forth). I also just finished The Party, which I’m reading alongside the blogger Meghan Wainwright of The Blonde in Pink. She posts about her favorite reads from time to time and we agreed to read the same book and swap reviews. If you’re looking for quick reads, consider reading along with me! (More book club reviews/thoughts on literature.)
PICK NO. 9: THE JO MALONE SCENT
I mentioned this in passing in a post earlier this week and now I can’t find where (ho hum, I’m losing mah mind), but Arielle of Something Navy raved about this Jo Malone Lime, Mandarin, + Basil scent and I just had to order myself on their candles ($65) to test it out for myself. The coordinating bath soaps look equally divine, and the paper it’s wrapped with is beautiful! This is the kind of thing — were I the type to spend $22 on a bar of bath soap — I’d love to keep stocked in my mercury glass compote on the lip of my bath.
PICK NO. 10: THE GIAMBATTISTA VALLI JACKET
This floral Giambattista Valli jacket (on sale for $621) is the stuff of dreams.
