My Latest Score: The Apple Homepod.
We recently bought an Apple Homepod for our kitchen, and we are OBSESSED. We had an incredible Sonos sound system installed throughout our old house (speakers in the ceiling of nearly every room, as well as in our backyard and our roof!), and have been missing the omnipresence of music in our new apartment. We listen to music through our TV, as Mr. Magpie bought a bunch of fancy Kef speakers to outfit the TV, but you can’t hear it well from our galley kitchen. When Apple released its latest operating system, it suddenly became possible to play music simultaneously through your Apple TV and any other devices — so BOOM! We were sold on the Homepod, as it meant we could project whatever was playing in the living area in the kitchen. I’m in love. While I’m cooking in the kitchen, I can say: “Hey Siri, play Kacey Musgraves,” or “Hey Siri, turn down the music,” or “Hey Siri, what time is it?” — totally hands-free. The quality of sound is incredible, too. The Homepod is something of a gateway drug, though, because it led Mr. Magpie to upgrade our lighting system with the new Hue bridge (we had an older one that didn’t play well with the new Apple operating systems) and to finish installing Hue bulbs in all of the lamps of our house, so we can now tell the Homepod: “Hey Siri, turn out the bedroom lights,” or “Hey Siri, dim the living room lights,” or — BEST OF ALL — as I’m leaving the apartment — “Hey Siri, turn off all the lights.”
That is some next level Jetsons wizardry.
(And you should get yourself some of it.)
You’re Sooooo Popular: The Vintage Snag.
The most popular items on Le Blog this week:
+Vintage Hermes scarves — an extra 20% off right now! (Or, get the look for less.)
+Get that designer vacay look for less.
+The book everyone seems to be reading RN.
+A super chic eyelet top that looks a lot like Zimmermann but costs $59.
+The absolute perfect floral dress.
+Adorable Lilly bow for a mini.
#Turbothot: What Are You Rebelling Against?
One of my sisters always has incredible conversation-starters at the ready when we’re sitting around in the living room, some of us on the floor and others of us on the couches, or lingering over plates of dessert and glasses of wine at the dining room table. Most recently, on night four of our family reunion, as our conversation about the virtues of Taylor Swift’s “Delicate” dwindled, without missing a beat, she straightened up and asked: “What thing are you rebelling against right now in your life?” We all sat there, puzzling over the inquiry, for a few minutes. I said something about my self-imposed rules, as I’ve been thinking about them a lot since my musings on “keeping curfew” the other day. But I’m not sure that’s it, on reflection; it takes effort, mindfulness for me to break out of my routines and rules because I generally prefer order and schedule to the willy nilly. So, I suppose I do rebel against them when I have the mental space to do so, or when I feel like I need it, but I’m not in active rebellion against my habits and rituals in any consistent way.
Rebellion is a strong word, but I am absolutely engaged in a weird tango with some of the personas I find myself occupying as a new mom. Let me explain: I can talk about strollers and high chairs until the cows come home (and I have), but — have you ever been sitting at a table or in a playgroup with four or five other mothers and you realize that the only thing you’ve spoken about for the last hour plus is baby gear, or sleep schedules, or what you’re feeding your child and why? And this little rogue part of you recoils? And you suddenly cordon yourself off, mentally, from that conversation, insistent that there are other things to talk about and that you aren’t going to be that mom who talks about her kids all the time? That’s me. And I’m aware that my internal flinching is an unattractive look, because it suggests that I’m in some way above those conversations, which I’m absolutely not, as I spend enormous swathes of time researching baby gear, obsessing over my daughter, and documenting both here. Plus, all moms spend so much time preening and caring after their children, and they need an outlet to share their observations and anxieties — so who am I to suddenly withdraw, feeling as though the conversation has gone on for too long? It’s untoward.
And yet.
There’s that impish alter-ego that pops out around minute 49 of baby talk, and I find myself thinking: “Who am I?! How am I sitting here talking about the merits of my travel carseat? QUICK! CHANGE THE SUBJECT! Talk about something pertinent to world affairs or the book you’re reading or…well, anything you might have spoken about pre-baby!”
In other words, if I’m honest, I think I find myself rebelling inwardly against some of the motherly personas I inhabit.
What about you? What are you rebelling against?
#Shopaholic: The Perfume.
+I wore Coco Chanel Mademoiselle through most of college and my grad school years. I’d forgotten about it until I turned a page in Bazaar and sniffed the little flap enclosed in its advertisement. I was taken back — and in a happy way. I think I’ll by myself a new bottle.
+This is absolutely adorable. It looks sort of like DVF or Draper James — but without the pricetag.
+Great sale going on at TB — I love this dress.
+No longer just available for pre-order!
+Janie + Jack just launched a limited selection of Liberty London pieces, and I’m loving this!
+Currently reading this and am actually very impressed with the writing. Someone had said that Sittenfeld is just OK but some of the observations that emanate from her protagonist are deeply true to life and well-put. The beginning is a bit slow-going, but I’m pot-committed now.
+Reese Witherspoon just raved about this book, so I’m sure it’s going to be a smash hit.
+OK, but these are really cute.
+RMS now has eye polish?!?!?!?