Site icon Magpie by Jen Shoop

Weekend Vibes, Edition No. 291: On Measuring Time.

la ligne striped sweater

*Image above via La Ligne. Ah, the enduring appeal of the striped sweater — and this one can be monogrammed! I’ve shared this a bunch before, but this $79 Gap style nails the look for less.

My Latest Snag: Random Amazon Miscellany.

Do you ever think how your Amazon order history tells the story of your life? From 3:12 A.M. orders of extra baby bottles to patterned napkins for cocktail parties. You know? This week’s was especially incongruous —

A FLOOR PUZZLE FOR MY BOY

A GIFT FOR MY NEPHEW

A MEDICINE SPOON FOR MY GIRL — THE SYRINGE FEELS TOO BABYISH BUT THE CUP IS DAUNTING FOR HER…WE ALL HAD COLDS THIS WEEK

A SMALL THING, BUT THESE ARE REALLY THE BEST SPONGES…REALLY THICK AND DURABLE, MUCH BETTER THAN SCOTCH BRITE! JUST REORDERED

MORE OF MY FAVORITE TEA ON EARTH

What about you? What poetry does your Amazon order share about your life stage?

This Week’s Most Popular: Fall Finds.

PINK SUEDE BIRKENSTOCKS WITH SILVER HARDWARE AND COZY SHEARLING LINING

STUNNING LONG-SLEEVE YELLOW FLORAL MAXI DRESS IN A HIGH NECK CUT WITH CHIC, ROMANTIC RUFFLED DETAILING

AFFORDABLE 400 THREAD COUNT PERFORMANCE FABRIC SHEET SETS

CLASSIC BROWN LEATHER SLIP-ON LOAFERS WITH GOLD HARDWARE — GUCCI VIBES FOR LESS

MY GO-TO COLD WEATHER BOOTIES (WITH WARM SHEARLING LINING)

LIGHTWEIGHT LAYERING TURTLENECK IN A UNIQUE PINK FLORAL PATTERN

STRIPED RUG — PERFECT FOR KITCHEN OR FOYER

BLACK SIMPLE CHELSEA RAINBOOTS FOR OVERCAST FALL DAYS — AT A GREAT PRICE POINT

CROPPED-FIT WARM CHUNKY KNIT TURTLENECK SWEATER…SO EASY TO THROW ON IN CHILLIER MONTHS

BOLDLY STRIPED NAVY AND CREAM GIRL’S STRAIGHT-CUT COLLARED RUGBY DRESS

ONE-INCH SATIN HEADBAND — THE LIGHT BROWN SHADE IS SO ON-TREND FOR FALL

MEDIUM WASH HIGH-RISE ANKLE CROP STRAIGHT-LEG JEANS IN A FIGURE-HUGGING CUT

FLAT COTTON MARY JANES IN A RICH RED COLOR

DECORATIVE HALLOWEEN BATS

MINI BOXWOOD WREATHS

SATIN MAXI SKIRT

Weekend Musings: How Do You Measure Time?

A half-formed thought, but I was thinking today (in partial conversation with Anne Helen Petersen’s provocations on the concept of the calendar) how I measure time by week these days. I can’t imagine thinking in a month-long increment — too much happens week-to-week. My head would explode if I were looking at October from start to finish. Even my beloved desk calendar is weekly rather than daily or monthly. Most Fridays, I spend a little time looking at the week ahead just so I have my ducks in a row and know what I need to get done in anticipation, e.g., order gifts for birthday parties, coordinate with our nanny on school schedule, arrange nanny/sitter if we will be out, plan outfits for myself and the children according to whatever’s on the agenda (and sometimes panic-order supplements or alternatives…despite spending a lot of time shopping, I find I always run late on buying shoes for the children and then suddenly discover we have no dress shoes for mini that fit and a birthday party in less than a week).

It was not always this way. When my babies were tiny — under six months — I existed purely day-to-day. I couldn’t fathom thinking beyond a day, maybe two, into the future. When you have a newborn at home, your timetable shrinks. You live in three hour increments. And so much can change in a matter of days. You might drop a feed, or introduce solids, or find your baby is regressing to waking every two hours, or cluster-feeding!

In college, by contrast — I mean, what increment existed then? The semester? It felt like long, fluid motions that ended at exams in winter and spring.

I wonder what my timetable will look like at 50, 60, 70? Especially after retirement — will I adopt a month-long outlook? A year-long one? Or will I find myself living more day-to-day without the swoop of the workweek to define my time?

Interesting to contemplate. It only corroborates the sense in which, with young children, “the years are short, but the days are long.”

What do you think? What time increment do you use to measure your life?

Shopping Break.

+This gallery wall kit would be a great and affordable way to showcase some favorite photographs or memorabilia in an artful way.

+Alice Walk is releasing their wildly popular wool cape in new colors this morning at 9 A.M. EST! These do sell out, FYI!

+This oversized pink scarf is a yes.

+Fun new iPhone case — in my cart.

+I want these pink Nikes purely for aesthetic reasons. They are SO cute.

+This black velvet dress is sophisticated-chic.

+Fun puffer, under $250.

+I already have a party bucket, but I’m in love with this one — and it’s on sale! When not in use at a party, would be a chic storage option for so many other items…spare grocery bags? chips in the pantry? etc! So cute.

+A personalized coir mat at a great price. Gets good reviews, too!

+The kind of tabletop accessory you never knew you always needed. Honestly, it just occurred to me that this would also make a great hostess gift. I just went over to a girlfriend’s house at the last minute for dinner and realized my “gift shelf” was barren. I usually have a few of these wine keys in fun colors and/or champagne stoppers in my closet that I bundle with a bottle of wine wrapped up in a cello bag with an enormous ribbon. The wine coaster would be a cute alternative.

+Love this shirtdress.

+These return address stamps are so beyond fabulous. I love that the mock-up is a nod to Sabrina!

+Love these drop flower earrings from Lizzie Fortunato.