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Weekend Vibes: Women Who Hold the Universe Together.

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My Latest Snags.

I stocked up on all holiday gift wrap this past week — Rifle is still (I believe?) running its sale, with 30% off their holiday wrap, and I supplemented with some great Target Wondershop patterns, including this pink Santa pattern, these skiiers, and this silver Santa one. The quality of the Wondershop rolls is inferior to that of Sugar Paper x Target, but good for bulky kids’ gifts.

I also stocked up on some weekend wear for my girl, buying her this seasonal Hanna Andersson dress and a few items from Boden: a patterned sweatshirt dress, pointelle tees, and their soft jersey pattern dresses.

This Week’s Bestsellers.

01. J. CREW GISELLE SWEATER-BLAZER // 02. TUCKERNUCK TARTAN TOP // 03. LITTLE ENGLISH SWEATER // 04. PERSONALIZED GIFT SACKS // 05. EVE LOM CLEANSER // 06. J. CREW METALLIC TURTLENECK // 07. LA LIGNE SKIRT ($25 OFF WITH CODE MAGPIE25) // 08. MADEWELL JEANS (GO DOWN ONE SIZE) // 09. J. CREW KIDS SKI SWEATSHIRT // 10. TARGET MELAMINE PLATES // 11. LESET POINTELLE TEE // 12. URBAN DECAY EYE SHADOW PALETTE // 13. FAHERTY PULLOVER (MORE COLORS HERE) // 14. NODPOD WEIGHTED EYE MASK // 15. TREAT BOXES // 16. JULIA AMORY CAFTAN

Weekend Musing: The Women Who Hold the Universe Together.

One of my good friends is a phenomenally empathetic listener. Her baseline is warm, reassuring acceptance, and, in her company, the contents of my heart tumble right out with neither prompt nor pause. Last summer, as I was singing her praises to her husband, he replied: “She’s amazing. But sometimes she’s so empathetic that she forgets to put herself first. She takes on everyone else’s baggage. I want her to take care of herself, too.”

I’ve been thinking about my friend from this discerning vantage ever since. I am trying to be more aware of what I throw out between us — not to censor myself, exactly, but just to pause and ask myself whether xyz is something she needs to worry about. Or at least take quick stock of what else has she been carrying around (that I know of) before adding anything to the wagon. It is easy to throw out platitudes for her to adopt —

Put your own life jacket on first. It’s OK to say no! Channel main character energy. Not everything that weighs you down is yours to carry.

But what might those of us who surround these women of substance be able to do to help? I’m coming around to the view that if we are lucky enough to be close to those women who hold up the sky, we have a responsibility to lighten the load a bit. To knock things off the pile. To block freight before it arrives. To remind them, gently, that they don’t need to carry that thing around. And if that’s not possible, at the bare minimum, to ask, pointedly, how they are doing, and to listen.

Are you the type of woman who puts others first? I’m thinking of you today. I see you holding the universe together.

Do you have a friend who holds up the sky? Here is a little nudge to check in on her.

For M.

Post-Scripts.

+Obsessed with this cranberry-colored Naghedi. You might recall I own this in the most fun shade of buttercup yellow for summer but want this one for the cool months now!

+Love the look of these pants in that fetching green.

+Blockprint tree skirts for under $60!

+Cute colored leggings set for your little lady.

+This Gap satin top and pants get-up is SO good. I can’t decide which color I like better?!

+While there, the velvet baby boot cut pants we all need (great price) and the cutest little sherpa teddy bear bag for your mini me.

+This little porcelain holiday “village” is well-priced and so charming for a mantel!

+This feather vest is SOOOOOoooooOOOO chic.

+Fun space-dyed knit gloves and matching hat.

+If you are spending the holidays somewhere warm, you need this. I own it in a different pattern and it gets so many compliments. Love this pattern!

+Also for snowbirds: these chic suits, and of course a fresh Hunza G!

+The color of this dress is spectacular!

+Bought my son this retro-cool Nike jogger set.

+I generally think slime should be banned, but this monster slime set would bring so much joy to my children. Possibly a good rainy day activity…

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