My Latest Snag: The Goyard-Esque Laptop Case.
You might have seen this if you follow me on my new @thefashionmagpie Instagram account, but I recently pounced on a Goyard dupe for my laptop. I’m not huge on lookalikes/faux bags, but this one got good reviews and, every now and then, I just think: “I like this and I’m going to get it.” And so I did. $38, free returns, no regrets. I’m now realizing it could swap in for an oversized clutch if I’m so inclined. Whee! Now if I can only convince my girl Inslee to hand paint some letters on the top…which reminds me: her new desktop calendars are now live and they are gooooood, especially for the bibliophiles among us.
You’re Sooooo Popular: The Dreamy Jogger.
The most popular items on Le Blog this week:
+The name of these joggers is apt, because they truly are the stuff of dreams.
+This striped shirtdress is now on sale and very on-trend. #guccivibes
+A well-reviewed bodysuit — perfect for fall layering.
+My secret to keeping my sweaters clean and nicely scented in the winter. (And saving a fortune on dry cleaning.)
+I love these shelf dividers. It’s boring, but it’s my life. More of my favorite organizational products here.
+Monogrammed jewelry cases FTW!
#Turbothot: What Do You Do Just for You?
I was flattered that Inslee mentioned in an Instastory that part of her inspiration for her new book-centric desk calendar was joining my book club. She mentioned that it was something she did “just for her” — not for her business, not for her baby, not for anyone else or any other purpose. I loved that. It led me to wonder: what do I do just for me? If you think about it, so much of our everyday lives is consumed by the needs and wishes and influences of others, whether we are mothers or not, and even in the context of seemingly innocuous things that we don’t necessarily mind, like what to make for dinner (but what does Mr. Magpie want?), or where to grab lunch (but Julie is gluten-free!), or when to call our parents (but mom will be eating dinner now…) or whether we can make it to a playdate on time (but mini is still sleeping!) This isn’t a bad thing, of course. Quite the opposite: I aspire to live my life as a woman for others, though I know I fall well short in that category. (My legacy goals are more realistic.) And there is grand virtue in considerateness, empathy, generosity of spirit, selflessness.
But.
We don’t need to be martyrs about it either. Sometimes we owe it to ourselves to be — well, how should I put it? I hate the negative implications of the word “selfish” or “self-centered.” I suppose I mean to say that sometimes we need to show ourselves some love, some quiet freedom, some permissiveness, even in the narrowest of ways. The other day, for example, I realized that every time I got up to run to the bathroom or change the laundry or grab something out of the other room, I felt compelled to tell Mr. Magpie. I don’t know how long I’ve been doing this, running this ongoing commentary about my comings and goings. I don’t know whether it registers on him. But I know why I do it: so that he’s not left with mini for more than a few minutes wondering where I’ve gone. I do it to reassure him I’ll be back to co-parent with him presently. I do it as a courtesy. But — it was over the top. Sometimes homegirl just needs to run into the bathroom to pluck a stray eyebrow hair or grab a Kindle or take a minute to stand in silence in the bedroom behind a closed door after a battle of the wills with a toddler. And none of these things need to be annotated.
And so, the other day, I left the living room unexplained. And returned promptly. And everything was as it was.
It was small, petty — and just for me.
Other things I do just for me:
+Get a weekly manicure, without fail, and often at the end of the last “working” day of my week, when I have the nanny for a final hour and have wrapped up work on the blog.
+Buy a bag of gummy candies at “It’s Sugar” (<<actual name of the store; horrible) down the street and eat them until I make myself sick.
+Decide to take the longer circuit on my midday walk with Tilly so I can listen to a bit more of whatever podcast I’m into at the moment. (Right now, NPR’s new season of Serial. I have mixed reviews on it at this point, but I’m pot-committed. Next up: Last Seen, which has gotten insane reviews — all about the true story of a major art heist.)
+Go to bed early so I can read under the covers, alone.
+Buy oatmilk (Oatly is SO GOOD) and a box of cereal. Mr. Magpie hates both of these things, so it’s all me, baby. Alarmingly, I find myself drawn to “old person” cereals like Basic 4 (it is so so so good though), but I used to be a Special K Red Berries girl.
+Buy an afternoon soy milk latte. It takes five minutes to walk to a good coffee shop around the corner, and it’s a total and unnecessary extravagance, but my oh my does it make me happy.
+Close the door to the bathroom before bed so I can take my time washing my face, staring at my pores, plucking more stray eyebrows, and layering on all the lotions and oils a girl could ever want without feeling rushed or watched.
+Organize my desk and side table drawers using these. No one else ever goes into these drawers but me, and it brings me joy to find them tidy.
+Turn down my sheets before I get into them. I remove the decorative pillows and shams, tighten the sheets and spray them with crease release when needed, and fold back the duvet. It is like heaven to get into a prepped bed like this and I can’t explain why.
+Splurge on hand sanitizer with a better scent than the run-of-the-mill Purell at Duane Reade. No one cares but me, but yes — it brings me joy. I’ve also heard good things about this brand.
What do you do just for you?
#Shopaholic: The Balloon-Sleeved Sweater.
+Ordering this. Usually this brand’s sweaters are far more expensive — and the color and shape are SO right now!
+Love this dress in the alphabet print!
+WOW. The Loveliest Company has some insane new monogram designs that I almost want to buy and frame! Wouldn’t that be kind of cool?
+Dying over Tory Burch’s Lee Radziwill bag, a new and elegant throwback shape. #newbagwhodis
+Should have added this affordable find to my roundup of what to wear to Thanksgiving (scroll to post-scripts). Affordable and super flattering — and love the cranberry red!
+Love the Western vibes of this blouse.
+I have a pearl encrusted sweater I bought at Zara last year that fetched me more compliments than the remainder of my wardrobe combined. H&M has a chic variation on this theme on offer for only $40!