My Latest Snag: A Lot of School Gear for Mini.
I will do a full post with all my back to school buys soon, but I was committed to doing all of my daughter’s back to school shopping this past week, realizing how quickly we are closing in on the start of school. Micro is pretty well-set since he just started Montessori last January and I bought him all new backpack, lunchbox, indoor shoes, etc then, but mini needed a bigger backpack, uniform regulation shoes and socks, sneakers, etc. A few of the items I ordered this week…
THIS BACKPACK AND THE MATCHING LUNCHBOX (<<MINI PICKED THE PATTERN!!! I LOVE HER SPIRITED STYLE)**
JEFFERIES CREW SOCKS AND GAP TRIPLE ROLL SOCKS (<<THESE GAP ONES ARE JUST THE BEST…SOFT, THICK, AND HOLD UP WELL; SHE IS PUSHING IT THIS YEAR OUTGROWING THE LARGEST SIZE BUT THEY RUN GENEROUSLY/ARE STRETCHY AND I THINK WE CAN MAKE THEM WORK A LITTLE LONGER)
I DON’T WANT TO PANIC YOU BUT I HAD TROUBLE FINDING HER NAVY MARY JANE CIENTAS IN HER SIZE! ORDER NOW IF YOU NEED THEM!
NEW HAIRBOWS – I LIKE TO TIE HER HAIR IN PIGTAILS OR TWO BRAIDS AT THE MOMENT, AND THESE ARE INEXPENSIVE ENOUGH THAT I WON’T FREAK OUT WHEN THEY INEVITABLY GO MISSING…
The last thing I’m contemplating is athletic shoes, which she’ll need for gym. I’ve seen a lot of little ones wearing NB velcro styles, and they’re just not my favorite, though I can see the appeal — they look easy for little ones to put on and well-cushioned. If I go this route, I’ll get these in the fog color or these. I really want to buy her these Nikes, though. So cool! But I am trying to be practical and know that a full velcro shoe is more practical — these in the honeydew/pink color are probably my front-runner at the moment…
**I had wanted to order her this State Bags style in either the rainbow heart pattern or pink tiger pattern (and their matching lunchboxes), but when she saw that blue tiger one, she begged me for it. Blue is her favorite color, and she took an immediate, intense liking to it. I usually order her items myself, without discussion, but the backpack seemed to me like a good way to get her excited about her new school and give her a sense of ownership. I presented her with a handful of options I thought were fun and she liked that one best. Bonus that it cost $40 less!). I will say that after scouring the web for backpacks that are functional and stylish, I kept coming back to State and CB Kids. A lot of the other ones I liked had adorable patterns but were too small, didn’t have a water bottle holder, or seemed like they had cheaply made zippers? I know that’s a weird observation to make purely from photos but sometimes you can just tell the quality, and I want this backpack to last several years.
You’re Soooo Popular: Summer Finds.
The most popular items on Magpie this week:
CREAMY WHITE BUTTON FRONT QUILTED JACKET WITH REMOVABLE STATEMENT COLLAR — THIS IS THE DEFINITION OF THE PERFECT VERSATILE TRANSITION PIECE
CLASSIC ONE-PIECE SWIMSUIT — THIS WAS MY SURPRISE FAVORITE SWIMSUIT I BOUGHT THIS YEAR
MULTI-TONE NEUTRAL SUEDE SNEAKERS
CROPPED HEAVY CANVAS DRAWSTRING HEM JACKET WITH CORDUROY COLLAR AND CUFFS — SUCH A CHIC, UPDATED TAKE ON THE CLASSIC WORKWEAR UTILITY JACKET
HIGH-RISE CROPPED PANTS WITH EXPOSED BUTTONS AND PATCH POCKETS IN A RICH OCHRE COLOR FROM VERONICA BEARD
GORGEOUS MOTHER OF PEARL FLOWER-SHAPED EARRINGS WITH A SWIRLED CENTER…OPTION TO MAKE THESE CLIP-ONS TOO!
VIBRANT ORANGE HIGH NECK MAXI DRESS WITH SMOCKED BODICE AND OPEN BACK
SHORT SLEEVE FRENCH BLUE COLLARED MAXI-LENGTH SHIRTDRESS WITH WAIST-TIE FOR EXTRA CURVE DEFINITION
CHIC CUSHIONED RETRO-STYLE SUEDE AND MESH LIGHT GREY REEBOK WALKING SNEAKERS…THIS 90S BRAND IS HAVING A STREET STYLE MOMENT
SET OF TWO WOVEN RAFFIA STATEMENT HAIR CLIPS — THE PERFECT ACCESSORY FOR A TROPICAL VACATION OR EVEN JUST RUNNING ERRANDS IN STYLE
LIGHTWEIGHT CREWNECK LONG-SLEEVE SWEATSHIRT IN BLACK WITH SIDE CUTOUTS
BREATHABLE GAUZY COTTON SHORT-SLEEVE COLLARLESS BUTTON FRONT SHIRTDRESS
COLORBLOCKED NEUTRAL COURT SNEAKERS FROM MADEWELL — — OWN AND LOVE THESE IN A DIFFERENT COLOR
KORRES ULTRA-MOISTURIZING LIP BUTTER STICK THAT ADDS A SHIMMERING PINK SHEEN BEHIND FOR A NATURAL LOOK
SET OF TWO LIGHT BEIGE PATIO CHAIR COVERS TO PROTECT YOUR FURNITURE DURING SUMMER STORMS AND THROUGHOUT THE OFF-SEASON
WHITE LEATHER FLAT SLIP-ON SANDALS FROM FRENCH SOLE — PAIRS WITH LITERALLY ANYTHING FROM YOUR CLOSET FOR EFFORTLESS SUMMER STYLE
Weekend Musings: Value What You Have When You Have It.
I re-shared this Instagram post from BeingMethod earlier this week:
“Value what you have when you have it.”
The caption reads: “This is one of the foundations of abundance. You cannot look at your life through a lens of lack.”
This resonated powerfully with me this week; I needed to hear it. Not so much because I feel I’ve been outright taking things for granted, but because I have been rushing and frazzled, and letting unimportant things cloud my perspective. I have been carrying around a long list of “to dos” like they are a leaden sack. Returning from the beach, my mind was skittering in twenty directions: figuring out the technical glitch on my site, laundry, unpacking and repacking for our next trip, caring for my sick son (well, this was important), ordering mini’s uniforms using convoluted uniform guidelines, figuring out how and when I’d finish my creative work for the week, making several returns and completing other errands, picking up my new Invisalign trays, scheduling dental appointments for the children, submitting school forms, scheduling car repairs, responding to a lot of unanswered emails. None of these things were in and of themselves substantial or particularly onerous. But I was storming through my days. When I read these words, I realized how badly I needed to create space between myself and those urgent but relatively trivial matters. I know they will get done — I trust myself to be thorough. And these errands speak only of our many blessings! I am lucky to count these chores as my own.
Mainly, though, I realized I needed to sit back and take the long view of things. I can get so bunched up around minutaie that do not in the long run matter. I want to be better about popping my head up above the surface and taking a deep breath. Mindfulness, etc.
I thought I’d share today in case you’re in a similar boat.
Onward…!
Shopping Break.
+Ended up treating myself to this patchwork SEA coat for early fall…I’ve been wanting it for so long! Get an extra 20% off using code YOURULE.
+I know a lot of us are only shopping for fall at the moment, but Mott50 is offering an extra 40% off sale prices using code EXTRA40. I’ve been eyeing this rash guard and the matching style for mini all season! (With code, the rash guard for littles is only $31!)
+On our most recent trip, I found little zippered pouches like these great as “toy carriers” — my children filled them with cars and animal figurines. (BTW: pro mom tip. Don’t give them the whole box of cars / figurines at once. Give them 2 or 3 at a time and keep some in reserve as a surprise when you need it at a restaurant / in car / etc.)
+Fab late summer dress. Chic chic chic.
+Vogue just declared these “the best white t-shirts.” I’m intrigued; as you know, I love their striped tees. I’m also intrigued by Ayr’s “supercool” tee.
+Petite Plume pajama vibes for under $15.
+My two favorite investment bags for the fall season: this Khaite or this Bottega.
+Currently reading this book — Mr. Magpie’s distant cousin finished it while we were at the beach and gave it to me. It is SO fun and such an easy read. Very cinematic – I can’t help but cast actors/actresses for all the characters! Can totally imagine it as a new Netflix show.
+I know some of us are over a puffed sleeve, but this top is fab (look at the embroidery on the plaquet!). Would look amazing tucked into high-waisted denim. (BTW, found some pairs of Khaite’s popular Abigail jeans on sale here and here.)
+This under-$100 Gap dress is a dead ringer for SEA. WOW! Great fall colors, too.
+Thinking ahead to Thanksgiving…this would be a good gift to bring when visiting out of town family for the occasion!
+I’ve shared this beauty a few times, but it keeps coming to mind as a perfect fall statement dress. A best-seller for a reason!
+Adorable fall floral jams for your little lady.
+OBSESSED WITH THESE SHOES FOR WINTER.