*Image via.
My Latest Snag: Spring Tote.
I outlined highlights of my recent acquisitions in detail here, but I truly love my Naghedi tote. I’ll try not to sound like a broken record, but such a fun addition to my spring uniform. I also ordered some tennis gear for my daughter from Southern Smocked Company — this tennis dress, this skirt, and this polo. Sizes are running out fast. You can get 10% off with code WELCOME10 (if you’re placing your first order, as I was).
This Week’s Most Popular: Early Spring Finds.
01. REVERSIBLE PUFFER SHIRT COAT // 02. NAGHEDI TOTE // 03. J. CREW BOYS SHORTS // 04. SAM EDELMAN WOVEN FLATS // 05. JOE’S JEANS UTILITY PANTS (MORE SIZES AND COLORS HERE) // 06. SCALLOPED JUTE RUG // 07. NAIL CONCEALER // 08. WET BRUSH // 09. XIRENA LARK TOP // 10. GAP STRIPED TEE // 11. OLD NAVY DRESS // 12. GAP WHITE KICK FIT JEANS // 13. TARGET SANDALS // 14. WHITE LINEN PANTS
Weekend Musings: On Over-Engineering.
Raccoons have been getting into our garbage bins, scattering trash all over our driveway. I found myself idly searching on Amazon for “garbage bin clips” once or twice, and wondering whether we shouldn’t move the pails into our garage, which would be an enormous inconvenience, since they currently sit nestled in a nook outside of the mud room off our kitchen. But after cleaning up the aftermath of this midnight bacchanalia a handful of times, Mr. Magpie placed bricks on the bin lids, and we’ve had no issues since.
Mr. Magpie is this way: he sees a problem, and he engineers a straight-forward solution. His cost no money and came at no inconvenience to us. Where the man sourced bricks is beyond me — part of that Mr. Magpie mystique and graciousness that means I also, up until recently, had no idea where our circuit breaker panel was. These are probably not omissions to brag about. (I am an adult woman!) But, all the same, I am deeply grateful that I do not have to worry about them. Mr. Magpie thinks it’s beneficial to divide labor in this way: why have me wondering about bricks and circuits when I already have other domains I fully own and fuss over about myself, e.g., children’s clothing (sizes, seasonality), our social calendar, the housekeepers, doctor’s appointments, etc.
But, household division of labor aside, I was reminded of a possibly apocryphal story about ingenuity and simplicity that I call upon frequently. During the Cold War, the Russians and Americans competed on everything related to space exploration and aeronautics. Apparently, the Russians spent weeks iterating upon the design of pen that could write in space. (I guess the absence of gravity interfered with the flow of ink in the firmament.) Finally, they announced with great fanfare that they’d successfully created one that worked. The Americans shrugged it off: “We just use pencils.”
There is an important lesson here about over-engineering, and I return to it frequently. Sometimes, in design, in business, and certainly in life, less is more. Simpler is better.
Tossing the sentiment out to this Saturday morning. Is there something convoluted in your life that is nagging at you? Something causing contortion? Maybe worth a minute looking for a straight line between the two points.
Shopping Break.
+Marea’s popular Elizabeth top was restocked in several fun spring patterns in most sizes. Run! So cute! Also loving their smock-waisted skirt either with a plain white tank or the matching blouse.
+A cute wagon to have on hand for spring/summer activities and walks with littles.
+Don’t know how I missed this striped maxi shirt dress from J. Crew — soooo chic.
+Swooning over the summer wedding guest gowns/dresses from Bernadette — can you even with this or this?!
+Are you a Jack Rogers fan? I lived in these for about a decade. I like how they work with dresses or jeans or shorts – anything. I love this new sage color they came out with.
+Saie just launched a glowy serum foundation — $40. Intriguing! I really love the products I’ve tried of theirs, especially their SlipTint and highlighter.
+Love these outdoor lanterns.
+Another Gap slam dunk — how pretty in that multi-colored stripe?!
+This coverall for baby girls reminds me of the styles from Petite Plume.
+These ikat bags from Mrs. Alice are SO cute!
+Chic and simple gingham dress for spring. Under $75. I like the idea of pairing with a bag in a contrasting pastel color.
+You’d be the talk of the courts in this tennis dress!
+I love this little stool. We have it in our downstair powder room for my son to use the toilet / wash hands and it tucks perfectly on the shelf under our sink.
+Really cute shorts for summer. I also thought these patterned ones from a collab between Markarian and Summersalt were adorable.
+The shirtdresses from new-to-me label Misook are gorgeous — !! Love the lilac and the pale blue.
+Similar: this yellow one from Simkhai. Just so elegant!
+Eyeing these monogrammable long sleeved polos for micro for spring.
+Great Easter shirts for boys on sale here and here.
+Cheerful indoor/outdoor rug.
I agree that simple is better in most cases. My husband goes down the over engineering route on occasion.
When it comes to the space pen, It is my understanding that the Russians used pencils, as did the Americans. It was actually Paul Fisher who invented the space pen independently of NASA.
Oh interesting! I assumed it had to be apocryphal — seemed to track too closely to international rivalries. But, I think the gist still stands: why do we need a pen if a pencil suffices?
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We have a place on the Eastern Shore and raccoons are super clever. We now use bungee cords to keep the lids closed…in case you find the bricks become a short term solution:)
Uh oh – ha! Thanks for the tip!!
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Yes to simple solutions. And yes we operate similarly – no micromanaging.
That’s interesting, I hadn’t thought about the fact that owning separate domains also likely precludes micromanagement/mild disputes over how things are done. Makes sense!
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