Musings + Essays
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Weekend Vibes, Edition No. 288: The Magical Thinking Jar.

By: Jen Shoop

My Latest Snag: Hill House Posy Print.

I have not bought anything from the last few Hill House collections, but I loved the latest launch, especially their navy “posy print,” which feels perfect for pattern matching this fall. I love the idea of their new Louisa silhouette in the posy print paired with a striped cardigan! (See how they are layering patterns here for inspo, too.)One of my girlfriends was raving about the Louisa nap dress as the most flattering of their silhouettes thanks to the addition of those sleeves. IMO this is a fantastic everyday fall dress, easily paired with flats, sneakers, clogs, boots! I bought their Winston pants, which sold out within minutes (!) and am regretting not buying the matching blouse, which also sold out but is still available in other patterns. Hoping they release more patterned trousers like this in the future.

P.S. If you missed their popular Amira blouse from this launch (ideal for updated under-nap-dress layering), check out this similar $28 style!

This Week’s Most Popular: Early Fall Finds.

The most popular items on Magpie this week:

Popular fall fashion

DECORATIVE CERAMIC VANITY TRAY IN A WHITE AND GREY MARBLED PRINT — I USE THIS TO KEEP MY SKINCARE CORRALLED ON MY SINK!

CLASSIC CHOCOLATE HERRINGBONE DOUBLE-BREASTED BLAZER WITH WIDE LAPEL AND GOLD STATEMENT BUTTONS…FALL CLOSET ESSENTIAL

SIMPLE WHITE CERAMIC TABLE LAMP ALONG WITH A CHIC WOVEN RATTAN LAMPSHADE — I PUT THESE IN OUR UPSTAIRS GUEST BEDROOM…THEY HAVE A CLEVER DIMMER SWITCH BUILT IN!

WESTERN STYLE SUEDE BOOTIES FROM SAM EDELMAN WITH CHIC KITTEN HEEL

ADORABLE ‘LOVE LETTER’ MINI CUSTOMIZABLE STATIONERY FOR LUNCH BOX NOTES FOR THE LITTLES

COGNAC LEATHER STRUCTURED BUCKET BAG

HIGH-NECK LONG-SLEEVE BLOUSE WITH SMOCKING AND STATEMENT RUFFLE DETAIL AT THE SHOULDER — ONLY $50!

MARSEILLE-INSPIRED QUILTED TABLE LINENS

IN LOVE WITH QUILTING THIS SEASON! THE FALL VIBES OF THIS BLUE FLORAL QUILTED CHORE JACKET WITH OLIVE TRIM AND A COZY SHEARLING COLLAR ARE PERFECT

SUEDE AND PEBBLED LEATHER TWO-SIDED EXTRA-LARGE LEATHER TOTE TO CARRY ALL THE DAILY ESSENTIALS (AND MORE!)

CLASSIC BLACK LEATHER PENNY LOAFER WITH A SLIGHT PLATFORM SOLE FOR A MODERN TWIST ON THIS ABSOLUTE WARDROBE MUST-HAVE

LONGLINE SHERPA COLLARLESS JACKET WITH OLIVE ACCENTS

BRIGHT PINK BEAUTIFUL SQUARE NECK MIDI DRESS WITH BILLOWY PUFF SLEEVES AND A FLIRTY BACK CUT OUT FOR UNDER $30!

SUPER-SOFT CORDUROY OVERALLS WITH JERSEY LINING TO KEEP THE LITTLES COMFORTABLE FOR PLAYTIME

ORGANIZATION BOX WITH DIVIDERS TO EFFORTLESS STORE OFF-SEASON SHOES (IT IS ALWAYS SO SAD TO RETIRE SANDALS UNTIL THE NEXT YEAR)

Weekend Musings: The Magical Thinking Jar.

I absolutely adored a concept I came across via the Instagram account This Is Like Magic, which shares beautiful, thoughtful ways to “make someone’s day.” The idea runs like follows:

“Children say the funniest things, yet all too often, I find I forget them after a day or two, or sometimes just a few hours. I’ll start telling my husband.. “C said the funniest thing…” and then I can’t quite remember. Or I get it a little mixed up and it’s not nearly as funny as it was originally.⁠

So I started writing down the funnier moments of the day. I keep a jar in the kitchen, and when the kids say something particularly worthy of recording, I grab a scrap of paper (phone bill, envelope, chopstick holder.. whatever is lying around) and I quickly jot it down. Right when it happens.⁠

The idea originally came from Joan Didion, who wrote about doing something similar when her daughter was a young girl in The Year of Magical Thinking. So I call them the “Magical Thinking Jars”. We have four kids, and pretty quickly outgrew one jar. So now, ten years later, each child has their own.⁠

When I’m having a below average day, I reach in and pull out a quote.. and suddenly I’m laughing and remembering a moment I might have easily forgotten. The kids love the jars, too. I find them sometimes with their quotes all poured out, reading them to each other.⁠”

I could cry at this concept. One thing Mr. Magpie and I have been trying to do is capture my children saying their favorite catch phrases and malapropisms and mispronunciations on camera. I was thinking the other day I need to start organizing these into a specific Apple Photo album or I’ll never be able to find them all. I came across the post above, though, and thought it was just an exquisite way to remember my children. I’ve just moved a notepad down to the kitchen in the hopes of capturing these moments as they happen.

Shopping Break.

+Daphne Wilde just marked down a ton of her dresses to around $115-$125! Now is a great time to buy a patterned dress for fall, or a solid one for year-round versatility!

+Love this entire look. Want the pants and matching hoodie. Perfect travel day / errand day / rainy day at home look!

+This new release from Parterre is so pretty and polished. I’d wear this to back to school night / teacher conferences / creative work meetings / lunches.

+Adore this suede bucket bag from J. Crew — it has a minimalist vibe that brings Khaite’s wildly popular bag to mind.

+This whole look is #goals.

+I bought an acid-wash denim dress from Target two years ago that I still wear heavily. It feels very…Isabel Marant? This top and this dress nail the look.

+Going to try this mascara next! Saw that Julia Berolzheimer loves it and want to try!

+Love the chunky jewelry from J. Crew’s new collab with Paula Mendoza, especially this bracelet! Brings to mind Tiffany / Paloma Picasso!

+Just saw Mango has a tall cowboy boot for under $200 that is a lot like the Isabel Marant Denvee.

+Another great knit dress — this one under $50. Very similar to this popular Emerson Fry.

Shop the Post
SAM EDELMAN
OROTON
BODEN
AMAZON
WALMART
HILL HOUSE

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4 thoughts on “Weekend Vibes, Edition No. 288: The Magical Thinking Jar.

  1. I bought a “line a day” journal right after my second was born and put my quotes in it. It lives on the kitchen counter! Kept it religiously for over two years before it became more sporadic. Still an excellent practice, though it will take far longer than five years to fill it–definitely brightens hard days to look back on what my now five and four year olds said and did on this day in 2018/19/20 etc! And congratulations on the glow-up!

  2. Love the new look (but love your blog however it is delivered). The Instagram acct. is so sweet and happy and cannot wait to explore it more.

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