My Latest Snag: The Fur Slippers.
I did some damage yesterday, but the random purchase I’m most excited about? My ridiculous fluffy slippers. I’m usually a classicist when it comes to slippers: either L.L. Bean Wicked Slippers or J. Crew Lodge Mocs. But something about these trendy slide slippers caught my attention and would not let go. There are tons and tons of variations on this theme (budget buy? This $12 pair from Loft), but the Emu Mayberries are the O.G. style and get very strong reviews. $39 was the cheapest I could find them online. I got mine in the natural color.
You’re Sooooo Popular: The Top 10 This Season.
The most popular items on Le Blog this SEASON (not just the past week — thought this would be helpful while we’re in full sales mode; these are the most-loved items on my blog):
1. The Everlane Cashmere Crew. A fantastic gift for yourself or a loved one.
2. The Iris jumpsuit. I own this in lipstick red and absolutely adore it. It’s a super flattering and forgiving fit (loose but hugs the body in all the right spots). The white would be dreamy for a bride, but navy or black is classic for anyone. 15% off right now!
3. Cashmere joggers. PSA: These have been marked down to 40% off and are stocked in ALL SIZES. A mentioned this in a previous post, but a girlfriend of mine loves these joggers so much she bought them in triplicate (!!!) and keeps one pair with tags still on “just in case.” She claims these are the absolute best thing she’s ever bought.
4. Kid’s Play Chair. Currently 20% off with code GATHER. Not hard to see why these are so well-loved — um, the cutest things ever?!
5. Savannah Dress. Stunning winter formal dress — currently 30% off!
6. Elodie Feather Mules. These are now 50% off! Such a fun way to dress up jeans and a simple blouse this season.
7. The Kick Crop Jean. People go nuts over these.
8. Daily Ritual Leggings. These $14 leggings have a legit cult following.
9. Shiseido Facial Cotton. I have gotten so many of you hooked on this facial cotton! I swear by it.
10. Corduroy Bib Dress. Love a corduroy jumper over a peter pan collar blouse. This is one of my go-to looks for mini this fall.
#Turbothot: How Do You Unplug?
Have you ever done a technology detox? I’m normally something of a moderationist (#neologism) in all things, loathe to go to any one extreme and especially allergic to diets of any kind. In fact, Mr. Magpie and I just listened to a news piece on the burgeoning “intuitive eating” approach to food, and we looked at each other and said: “That’s how we eat.” Everything in moderation — and generally in small portions. We eat red meat and butter and full-fat yogurt, but also a lot of fruit and vegetables. And generally, in portions that seem bizarre to our restaurant standards: half a pound of steak will serve us both for a meal, and half a carton of yogurt suffices for breakfast.
All that said, I’m feeling like I need to be a bit more draconian when it comes to technology usage. I find that as a mom, it’s impossible to do anything that requires my full attention when I’m looking after mini. Reading? Writing an email? Drafting a blog post? Forget about it. But scrolling through Instagram? Swiping through emails? Skimming headlines? They’re just the kind of mindless, easy-to-hop-into-and-out-of activities that can keep me entertained without preoccupying all my attention. Further, mobile phones — and the social media apps installed on them in particular — tend to serve up morsel-sized content that fits the minuscule pockets of time I have to momentarily take in something else between reading books, coloring, changing diapers, etc. And so I’ve developed a bad habit over the past year of toggling between my phone and my baby. In turn, I toggle between guilt and a sighing resignation: on the one hand, I hate that I turn to my phone with such regularity, and to consume such generally insignificant content; but on the other, a full day of caring for mini with no momentary escapes is unappealing. I want to feel connected! I live for the bite-sized read that captures my attention and energy and leaves me thinking! And let me be honest: sometimes I need to take a break from reading Click, Clack, Moo and Pout Pout Fish and Little Blue Truck, all of whose rhymes clank and jangle around in mind all the live long day.
I hope I’m not alone in this? Who has a cure or, more realistically, a palliative? I wonder whether keeping my phone on a shelf except for during selected times will help? That way, I can hear when a call is coming through but keep myself from the reflex of the Insta scroll. Or maybe placing time-wasting apps into a specific folder labeled something cautionary like EXERCISE CAUTION so that I’m required to open the folder before accessing it? Or…?
Please share your tips.
#Shopaholic: The Coat Hook.
+Later yesterday, I discovered that Anthro was offering 30% off all purchases — !! I had to order these hooks for mini. I’d been talking about buying a set of hooks and putting them at her eye level a week or two ago and when these went on sale, I pounced. She’s going to flip over the animals and the letters in her name!
+Speaking of letters, I gave mini this set of letter/animal puzzles as a Thanksgiving gift and she *loves* them. She’s young for them, but she is able to point out a few letters (she’s consistent with “e,” “d,” and “i”) and I’m finding them a good way to help connect the idea of letters with sounds.
+A lot of the items I featured in my ultimate gift guide are discounted thanks to cyber week/Black Friday sales. (Actually, a ton of stuff in all of my holiday guides.) I was especially excited to find this ring marked 20% off. Bought immediately. Also bought this beauty elixir for 30% off with code FRIDAY! Great gifts, both.
+My favorite evening sandals are on sale in select colors!
+Hearts are THE shape for statement earrings R.N. These are marked way down. Love.
+I own this Saloni dress (now marked way down) in solid red and have gotten so so many compliments on it. It is the most flattering shape — the way the collar-line works really highlights the decolletage, and that nipped waist and full skirt create the most feminine silhouette.
+Inslee’s gorgeous calendars and art work are 20% off with code OPHIE! I bought a couple of calendars as gifts.