Weekend Vibes: A Baggy Life.

Above: another photo from my time living in NYC and making nearly daily trips to Central Park. Fall, there, is nothing short of magic.

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My Latest Snags: APC Grace Bag, Nikes, and a Baptism Gift.

I did some shopping this week. I finally pulled the trigger on the Small Grace APC bag in Noisette. Several Magpies have written to say how high quality this bag is — like Celine, but 1/3 or 1/4 the price. Not cheap, still, but more attainable. I know many of you bought this, too, this season, so now we can all twin! You’ll be promptly seeing it in every photo of myself this fall. I cannot wait!

I also ordered Nike’s new and updated version of my favorite running sneaker. I’ve purchased at least five pairs of the shoes from this particular line of Nikes (the InfinityRNs). A Magpie wrote and asked me how they compare to Hokas and Ons. I’ve discovered I cannot run in Hokas — they make me too flat-footed and my calves ache afterward — but I love both those and the Ons for walking my dog, walks with girlfriends, low-key “hikes” with my children, etc. They’re better walking shoes for me. The Nikes are ultra-lightweight but offer decent support and enabled me to achieve a natural gait in my running, almost as if I’m wearing nothing at all. I got them in the cool green color.

For an upcoming Baptism, I ordered these sweet Bible affirmation cards. I’ve gifted a few sets of these over the years — they’re ideal if you’re attending a Baptism, but not a godparent. Just something small and thoughtful. I actually regret not ordering a couple at a time. Good to just have on hand! Would also be sweet for a First Communion gift.

This Week’s Bestsellers.

This week, we purchased lots of fall pants. I have so many pairs of jeans but I am currently hunting for a darker wash everyday jean. I shared these earlier this week and think I’ll order to try. I love that they have an unfinished hem so I can cut them to the perfect length at home.

01. DOEN RHODIA DRESS // 02. UBEAUTY LIP PLASMA // 03. BODEN COAT (ONLY A FEW LEFT) // 04. NILI LOTAN SHON PANT* // 05. CITIZENS JEANS // 06. J. CREW FEATHER TOP // 07. J. CREW PINTUCK DENIM TROUSERS // 08. GAP CORDS // 09. NB 550S // 10. UGG CLASSIC ULTRA MINI // 11. LINE & DOT IVY BOUCLE CARDIGAN // 12. AMAZON FLEECE BELT BAG // 13. MESSERMEISTER PUMPKIN CARVING SET // 14. ENERGIZER CLIP BOOK LIGHT

*A lot of us also ordered these Magpie-reader-recommended $30 utility pants from Target as an alternative; the NLs run tall/long and are better suited, proportionally, to taller frames. The Targets are apparently great for petites.

Weekend Musing: A Baggy Life.

This week, I kept coming back to these words from author Matt Haig: “Get a routine baggy enough to live in.” In context below —

Years ago, I made a little pact with myself: life is too short for too-tight clothes, and especially too-tight jeans and too-tight fitness wear. Why endure an entire day of discomfort to flatter my own vanity over a clothing size that no one else will see?

When I read Haig’s words, I thought: “Life is also too-short for too-tight plans.” I don’t want to live with narrow margins and tailored-within-an-inch-of-life seams. I love the idea of finding a “baggy routine” — one that feels loose around the hips and accommodates random tacks and jives with minimal strain and stretch. I want to take a walk that’s a little longer than usual, let the children stay up late to play one more round of Uno, stop to talk with my neighbors, have the flexibility to say “yes” to last minute plans because we have the extra give in our schedule.

This involves, as Haig points out, “saying no to things that get in the way of life.” Someone recently forwarded me a little bit of a Ted Talk that Elon Musk’s ex-wife gave. I know little about her and I understand that Musk is a controversial figure, but my friend and I both warmed our hands around what she had to say about the power of saying no. In the clip, she argues that: “Behind every no is a deeper yes to everything you do want.”

Love these sentiments heading into a busy season —

Making sure I leave my schedule baggy enough for what matters.

Post-Scripts.

+These earrings surprised me — I find myself reaching for them all the time when I want an earring that’s a little more interesting than my standard pearl studs but not too much of a statement. Wore the last two nights!

+I was really impressed with my Sezane order. I don’t think I’d ever ordered from them before? I got this cardigan and these pants. The cardigan feels much more expensive than it was — I’m wowed by the quality. It is a tad itchy (you need a LS tee beneath) but very warm and the details/colors are fab! I took an XXS and it’s still pretty big/boxy, so I would not size up. I ordered the pants in a size 2 in the green color and they are snug but am still keeping them because a size up will probably be too big. I’m typically a 0, so I would advise sizing up one size from your usual. They have a great weight to them, and I love the silhouette. Now I’m eyeing this fine knit henley and this classic navy blue cardi (the buttons!).

+My biggest tip for mamas with multiple little kids: buy a pouch for each child to keep their clothes/diapers/gear/pacifiers/bandaids/toys/snacks separately in your bag (this would make a great non-diaper-bag diaper bag). Then you can remove the pouch(es) you don’t need if you’re with only one child, and quickly find what you do need in your diaper bag. I really love the Mackenzie wet/dry bags from PBK, but I don’t understand why they don’t offer in more colors/patterns each season. I have a solid navy and a solid gray that I had monogrammed for each child years ago. They’re great because they’re lined and can double as “soiled clothes holders” if need be. These Pehr ones are also great — super roomy.

+Speaking of Pehr, I still adore their canvas bins for small toy organization (also good for things like diapers, swaddles, etc). I like to use these to group gifts together for baby showers. Just wrap the entire thing in cello with a big ribbon at the end. How cute would this bin be stuffed with great baby books, swaddles, etc for a new mama?

+The Great’s new outerwear collection is SO good. I’m swooning over this reversible puffer and this colorblocked fleece. While we’re talking statement puffers: this Canada Goose!

+Cutest tiny fleece vest for a little one – under $25.

+Love this yarn-effect headband. Fun pop of color/pattern for fall.

+Wearing this top as I type. It’s a perfect jack-of-all-trades fall blouse because it works with basically any fall color. I had a Magpie write a few days ago: “How do I style cords?!” And I said that I always try to balance out the staidness of corduroy with a pattern, a feminine detail, etc. A top like this is perfect.

+Cute $8 sweatshirts for boys.

+If you’re not into florals, though, adore these embroidered black tops. Comes in a bunch of colors and would be a perfect pairing with denim, cords, etc.

+A perfect heel for holiday season.

+These patterned lampshades are so chic.

+Lake just launched really cute children’s holiday jammies.

+How cool are these framed “vintage matchbox” illustrations? They have tons of schools, including good ol UVA.