By: Jen Shoop

I’m back with a new batch of honest reviews, and I feel like I’m tackling some heavily hyped products in this installment. Eager to here your feedback and experiences with these widely endorsed beauty finds! The TL;DR is that my favorite new product discovery is Elta MD’s facial sunscreen, though there were a lot of very good products this go around!

+Clarins V-Facial Intensive Lift (currently on sale!). I’d had my eye on this mask since Courtney Grow listed it as a “requirement for women over 30.” I’d heard many other beauty enthusiasts rave about how it de-puffs and contours the face, so I was thrilled when Clarins generously gifted me my own tub to try. The results first baffled and then impressed me. For context, for years, I’ve been obsessed with Peter Thomas Roth’s Rose Stem Cell mask (basically sold out everywhere but here — I think they’ve discontinued it, sob), and I specifically like the way it leaves my skin feeling dewy, radiant, and deeply hydrated. My runner up long-time favorite mask is Origins Rose Clay Mask, which is a totally different experience — it hardens and tightens the skin and then you wipe off with warm water and your skin feels as soft as a baby’s bottom. But both masks leave me feeling like a glowing goddess, nearly trailed by a halo. So when I removed the Clarins mask after it’s appointed ten minutes, I felt confused. Where was the halo effect? I didn’t register the sensation I usually associate with masks — slightly tender, soft, glowing skin. However, I kid you not: my face looked almost chiseled?! There was a noticeable difference especially around my mouth and along my neckline — everything looked tauter, more streamlined. It immediately became my go-to face mask when going out in the evening or even getting ready for a daytime event. I will still use the rose stem cell at night (I like to sleep in it) but before a night out? Before applying makeup? Yes ma’am. Very impressed with this one-of-a-kind product! Strongly encourage you to try it, with the caveat noted above that it’s not so much a mask for radiant, glowing skin as it is for facial contouring and tightening.

+Saie Mascara. I was so excited about this clean mascara — I’ve had many readers and friends rave about it, whether or not they are clean beauty enthusiasts! It is definitely one of the best mascaras I’ve ever tried, and hands-down the best clean mascara I’ve ever used (better than Ilia, which I also thought was quite good — Saie is even better at lengthening and lifting). I actually tested one eye with the Saie and one with my ride-or-die Armani mascara and think they both deliver great results — only the Saie is more natural and does.not.clump, which I have to admit Armani does by comparison. I will absolutely be using this mascara until empty for day time. For night, I’ll probably still reach for the slightly-more-dramatic Armani. (Note that Armani is now available in a mini size if you want to test without the commitment of a full tube!)

+Elta MD Facial Sunscreen. Y’all were right. This is the best facial sunscreen out there, and that says a lot coming from a longtime devotee of La Roche Posay’s fluid sunscreen. Let me put it this way: I have a semi-strict one-in-one-out rule when it comes to beauty/cosmetics purchases in the same product category. I simply don’t have the space to hang on to ten different mascaras and four different moisturizers. (Manhattan living and the associated shortage of storage space has trained me to play beauty hardball: I use products until they are completely empty OR I chuck them/give them away to friends/siblings if I decide they aren’t for me.). When I was running low on LRP, I bought Elta and wanted to give it a little try after it first arrived, even though I still had a few days left of LRP. I cannot bring myself to wear those last few days of LRP — I only want the Elta! I am going to have to force myself to finish it the next few days prior to our move. Anyhow, it’s about the consistency — it absolutely glides on and is far less runny than LRP. The consistency makes me feel confident I’m covering every single square inch of my face — something about it makes you keenly aware of where you’ve applied it. And makeup lays beautifully on top of it. I’m officially a convert. I just discovered it on sale with free shipping for $28 here and ordered another bottle so I’m ready to go when I run out.

+Saie Glowy Super Gel Highlighter. I bought this highlighting gel primer after reading quite a bit of hype and it mainly made me realize I have already overbought in the “illuminating cosmetics” category. Do I need a highlighting primer when I’m already using multiple layers of serum (illuminating!), glowscreen, illuminating powder, and my favorite Westman Atelier highlight stick? The answer is, frankly, no. It just felt like another step. I did enjoy applying it as an added layer for my birthday dinner out — I mean, why not?! If I have the time and a special occasion ahead, I’ll take an extra little boost. It’s a nice consistency, easy to apply with fingers all over the face prior to applying tinted moisturizer/foundation, and not so shimmery that you feel like opalescent. A novelty/big-night-out purchase. Still, if you are looking for just one highlighting/illuminating tool, I would rec the Westman Atelier stick in clear over any other product in this category. It is a dream.

+Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm. I’ve written about this product a few times over the past few weeks, but wanted to reiterate my review here. This is a lovely, luxurious product. I look forward to removing my makeup with it on nights I’m feeling unharried and self-care-oriented. You slather this deliciously-scented balm all over your face and wipe away with a warm wet towel, and all of your makeup and any dirt/residue on your face absolutely melts off. You are left with lightly perfumed, hydrated, cleansed, glowing skin. It’s an elegant experience — so fetching, in fact, I sent a pot of it to my mother for mother’s day in the hopes that it would leave her feeling similarly pampered. My only hesitation with recommending this 100% is that I find it competes with the skincare regimen that has been working well for me since December 2020. Namely, if I use the balm, then I won’t use my Tata Harper regenerating cleanser, which I find very effective in balancing my skin and preventing breakouts. (I also love the scrubby texture of the cleanser.) I also feel as though applying either my retinoid or my glycolic acid pads (I alternate between these two most nights of the week, taking a break every now and then if my skin feels dry) negates the effect of the Elemis balm, almost stripping away the collagen/oils it imparts. In other words — great product, but not sure how to make it work with the other items I have found effective in my skincare regimen. For now, keeping it as a luxury experience for nights I need a little TLC.

+Clarins V-Shaping Facial Lift Eye Cream (also on sale!). Alongside the aforementioned face mask, Clarins also sent me their eye concentrate and serum from the same line. I am in love with the eye concentrate. It’s honestly like nothing I’ve ever tried before as an eye product. I love the metal applicator — so cooling to the touch, and deposits just the right amount of product! — and the product itself is a thin, clear gel. So many other eye products feel thick and buttery by contrast, and therefore become more difficult to layer under concealer. I truly find that this product tightens and de-puffs the eye area. There is still no eye product I’ve found that really does anything with dark circles to speak of, but I’ve given up on that front at this point and will take what I can get with regards to making my eye area look tightened and smooth. I did not really register much of a result from using the serum, though I will say I already use and love two other serums (the famous Clarins Double Serum and Drunk Elephant Vitamin C) and so part of me just had trouble figuring out how and when to fit it into my beauty routine. I would recommend Clarins’ Double Serum all day every day instead — that’s a hero product for me.

+French Girl Rose Lip Polish. How many rose products is too many rose products? Ha. My sister gave me this lip polish as a part of my birthday gift and it is delightful! I have been using it before dinners out so lipstick will stay on perfectly/will not flake. I follow it up with a healthy slather of Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream. A great addition to your summer beauty arsenal for dry lips or to prep your pout for a matte lip color.

+Slip Eye Mask (on sale). My sister also gifted me a Slip silk eye mask as a part of my birthday gift (#spoiled) and urged me to give it a try. She and her husband both sleep with these and insist they make for the best beauty sleep on earth. I have to say, I am seriously loving the slight compression this eye mask affords when I slip it on at night, and I am also intrigued by the brand’s assertion that the silk material “protects delicate skin from the tugging effects of tossing and turning.” I’ll take that! My only problem is that I wake up every morning and I have apparently at some point in the evening taken it off? I keep finding it on my floor. I’m not sure if I’m doing this subconsciously or if it just slides off my head? Ha! Anyway, I can see how it might become a relaxing part of my bedtime ritual — with the added benefit of deterring me from checking my phone or even registering when it might be going off. Will continue to test this over the next few weeks but wanted to toss in an early impression of its benefits and appeal.

+Supergoop Glowscreen. Another product I feel like I’ve written about 3,000 times already, but I am in love (!!!) with this illuminating, moisturizing SPF. I originally specifically bought it for mornings I run — perfect to slather on before heading out without applying any other makeup, as it offers a tiny bit of coverage/color correction and a nice amount of illumination in addition to SPF. However, I like it so much, I find that I blend it with my tinted moisturizer nearly every morning that I’m not going on a run, too! (I find I need more coverage than it provides, hence why I blend with another brand.) I love the illumination it affords — gleaming, sun-kissed, happy skin. Could not love this product more as either a stand-alone while playing sports/running/exercising or blended with other facial products for every day wear. Definitely (!) a favorite discovery this year.

The items I am currently testing for my next installment or that are sitting in my cart at the moment:

WET BRUSH SHINE BOOSTING BRUSH

NEW WESTMAN ATELIER CHEEK STICK — I HAVE IT IN DOU DOU (J’ADORE — GIVES A WINONA-RYDER-FLUSHED-FROM-A-WINTER-SPRINT EFFECT TO MY CHEEKS) BUT WANT IT IN EITHER POPPET OR MINETTE

I NEED SOME NEW LIP COLORS…ANY RECS? HAVE HEARD GOOD THINGS ABOUT GUCCI’S FORMULA IN THE PAINTED VEIL COLOR AND CHARLOTTE TILBURY’S NEW LIP AND CHEEK STAIN…ANY ENTHUSIASTS?

If you are new to this series, more recent honest beauty reviews here, here, and here.

P.S. Fun little chair from Target’s latest furniture collab. More great Target finds here.

P.P.S. Musings on letting the time tick by.

P.P.P.S. I just re-read this post and some of its comments and I find myself weepy. What a year it’s been.

By: Jen Shoop

I know I’ve shared this a few times, but Target’s collection with Quincy Mae is incredible — love the striped set I bought for micro (seen above) so much for a nap / post-adventure / lounge situation, I’m inclined to buy a second set. Did I mention these pieces are 100% organic cotton?! Super soft and fairly thick, too.

A few other great under-$25 finds to consider:

children's clothing finds under $30

01. // 02. // 03. // 04. // 05. // 06. // 07. // 08. // 09. // 10.

These and more finds below…

THIS SWEET FLORAL TANK AND SHORT SET — SISTER MATCH WITH THIS

THIS EYELET DRESS (!!!!)

SEERSUCKER DRESS

THIS EYELET BUBBLE — OMG

FLOWER SUNGLASSES

THIS GINGHAM BATHROBE!!!

PIQUE SWIMSUIT

RIBBED COTTON SET

CUTEST SAFARI FOOTIE FOR $8

SMOCKED FLORAL TWO-PIECE SET

SWEET STRIPED SUNDRESS

ZIP UP RASH GUARD ($12)

CHERRY PRINT DRESS

P.S. Cute water shoes for littles.

P.P.S. Time is a thief.

P.P.P.S. For the mom nursing her baby in the wee hours of the morning. Love the comments on this post.

STRIPED PAJAMAS IN NAVY OR PINK – TIMELESS

MY SON WOULD LIVE IN THESE TIGER JAMMIES

STRAWBERRY BATHING SUIT

TINY TEVA STYLE SANDALS

THESE RL SHORTS FOR TODDLERS ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITES

PULL-ON SEERSUCKER SHORTS

SWEET SEERSUCKER RASH GUARD

By: Jen Shoop

Do you think that there are certain childhood ages that are categorically more difficult to parent than others? This is not to say that we can’t still enjoy and celebrate each age, or that we don’t still absolutely adore our children with reckless abandon through the more difficult phases, but — #realtalk. Is this the case?!

Over dinner a few weeks ago, friends of ours said: “They tell you to brace yourself for the terrible twos, but we weren’t prepared the difficulty of the threenager phase. Three was way more difficult for us than two.” This was the third or fourth set of parents who had shared the same observation on the twos versus the threes independently of one one another in recent memory.

I have to agree with this mounting and informal consensus. Three really rocked our world. It was full of big emotions, boundary-testing, what felt like endless reinforcement of the same set of rules, meltdowns, struggles to get through even highly routine steps in our daily regimen. I can’t tell you how many nights we spent troubleshooting as parents: “But what if we tried…?” and “Maybe she needs more one-on-one time…?” and “We just need to be consistent on…” I was frankly shell-shocked by the sassiness and the dawn of emotionally manipulative comments and the shocking volume of her feelings around needing a specific cup, or specific pajamas, or what have you. There was also the daunting reality of being physically outmatched: at two, my daughter could be lifted out of a dangerous situation; at three, my daughter could often out-run and out-wrangle me.

Then again. We were parenting a child through a pandemic; I feel as though she was still processing the addition of a new sibling (“he’s permanent?!”); she is our first and therefore this was our inaugural interaction with the threenager phase; and the period is also fresh in our memories, whereas, for example, newborn days feel like a distant blur (time does sand down the edges, doesn’t it?). Is it possible that when micro hits this age, we will be seasoned enough to “come ready” and feel less throttled by the Big Emotions of a three year old? Do some children lean into “the threes” more than others? Will gender play a role? Is two with micro going to be more difficult for us than three with him simply because he is who he is? (I already feel as though micro at two is far more physical, fearless, and adventurous than mini was at the same age, though…am I just forgetting? Or was it a little bit easier because there were two parents to one child versus now two on two, and we are therefore necessarily stretched thin this go around?) Does it all vary by child anyhow, regardless of how many you have or what’s going on with the world? (I say this with particular attentiveness because the OK-to-wake clock we bought for our daughter was a game-changer for us — but it does not work for every family. I was discussing this with a mom friend who had no luck with the clock, and I observed: “Well, you know, mini is something of a rule-follower — like me! I think it worked because of that. She tends to like things with discernible signals, logic, etc. I would have also probably reacted well to it as a child.”)

That is to say, there are so many dynamics, inputs, idiosyncrasies, and conditions to contend with that I feel hesitant to categorically say “three was more difficult than two.” However. It truly felt that way, at least with mini. Corroborating this perception: it seems as though mini turned four and a switch flipped. Gone are the protracted conversations and outbursts when leaving the playground, or a playdate, or any interesting activity. She can be reasoned with. She can be relied upon to uphold and even remind us of the rules (“no talking with your mouth full, mama!”). She is downright helpful with her brother, alerting us when he is getting into something he shouldn’t and a serving as a fountain of knowledge for new sitters (“he only drinks milk out of these cups”; “he needs to be wearing a bib”; etc.). She may push back or whine or pout when she does not get her way, but I cannot remember her last tantrum (!). What a relief just writing that! I know, of course, that four will have its own trials and tribulations. I worry, for example, about whether children will be more judgmental about her eye patch as she heads towards five, and I think a lot more about the children she pals around with. I have seen her bring home new phrases and awarenesses that give me pause. A whole new world to contend with. I am already anticipating feedback along the lines of “but Kennedy is allowed to do this!” Still, for anyone struggling through the threes, let me be your ray of hope for the day: parenting my four-year-old daughter feels about ten times easier than parenting her when she was three.

When my children were very young, my mother had a habit of reminding me that, with infants, it’s often two steps forward, one step back, especially with sleep and feeding patterns. I have never been able to pause this fast and inconsistent footwork, even well beyond the newborn phase: some days feel easy, and others feel impossible. We make strides in one area — let’s say, table etiquette — and then all of the sudden mini is licking butter off her noodles one by one, with her feet propped up against the table, the very picture of defiance. (!?!) I look at her blinkingly, and I wonder whether any of the three trillion and ten reminders and rejoinders I have issued around the subject of table manners have been all for naught? We move from a relatively calm week where micro tampers with nothing in the apartment to a weekend where he cannot keep his fingers from any electrical cord in the unit. Then it’s back to neutral. Then it’s climbing tables. Then back to neutral. We remain, it seems, smack dab in the middle of that two-step-one-step tango.

In other words, everything is, truly, a phase and there are sub-phases and recursions and regressions within phases to boot. Raising my children feels anything but linear. So I suppose it remains to be seen whether three will prove to be one of the most challenging ages we will face with mini. Perhaps we will encounter a new bumpy patch at four and a half, or seven will be tricky, and God help me come the teenage years. I know enough from watching my parents gray while raising five teenagers to know that it is not an easy road. Beyond that, I have a hunch that by the time my girl is in her 20s, I will have all but forgotten the travails of threenagerdom, remembering instead her willingness to hold my hand; her wonderment at space and bugs and tiny little toys; the way she shrieked with joy while running through the splash pads of New York City; her obsession with blue; the flick of her ponytails as she sprinted ahead of us down the city sidewalks of Manhattan.

Cheers to anyone who is sitting there gobsmacked by a new phase. Sometimes it helps to be reminded that “this, too, shall pass” (as noted earlier, I can state with confidence that four feels much easier than three so far!) and sometimes you want to know that other people’s children lick butter off their noodles and tamper with electrical outlets, too. In either case: tonight at five p.m., I’ll be toasting to you in solidarity.

In the meantime, curious to know what you think about the idea that certain phases are just trickier than others as a parent? What say you?

Post-Scripts.

+More thoughts on parenting through challenging times.

+Practical thoughts on welcoming a second child.

+Do you think the transition from 0-1 children was more difficult than the transition from 1-2?

+9 things that surprised me about having a c-section.

+High and low: love both these $13 shades and these $400 ones.

+Lusting after this gorgeous dress.

+These lobster cover-up pants (under $100) are SO good. Sad I missed them in my size!

+More chic cover-ups here.

+Striking wedding guest dress option. (More here!)

+Just discovered that Minted has adorable personalized labels for school gear! (These ones for boys!)

+Have gotten a lot of wear out of these distressed pull-on jeans. They wear like sweatpants but look like denim!

+Have received a number of questions about Baptism/Christening gifts. I love these personalized crosses (also have ones with Biblical quotes on them for less, and I also love the slightly more whimsical styles from Tricia Lowenfeld); a simple white Bible; and this children’s Bible and book of prayers bundle, which I think I have given to about six babies at this point.

+A couple of gifts to give to godchildren as they grow older that have a religious theme:

THIS MAGNETIC CHURCH SET (SAVED US IN MANY MASS SERVICES…)

LITTLE GOLDEN BOOKS RELIGIOUS SET (MINI LOVES ALL OF THE BOOKS UNDER THIS IMPRINT…A CLASSIC FOR A REASON! I THINK WE READ THE STORY OF EASTER EVERY NIGHT FOR A MONTH STRAIGHT)

NOAH’S ARK SHAPE SORTER

FISHER PRICE NATIVITY SET OR PEG DOLL NATIVITY SET (GREAT ADVENT/CHRISTMAS GIFT)

SAINTLY SOFTIES IN TONS OF DIFFERENT NAMES

THIS SWEET CROSS BRACELET

+These popular $10 gingham swim trunks for boys are still available in nearly all sizes!

+My next Reformation acquisition.

+How great is this red-and-white striped maxi?!

+The price on this 49-piece set of cutlery is absolutely shocking…would be great for al fresco dining! Love the mint and pink colorways.

+I really want this entire look, head to toe: white trousers, white pleated top, raffia clutch. 100 100 100 100!

+More great woven bags for summer here.

+This bandana print one-piece…!

By: Jen Shoop

*Image above via Smockingbird x Julia Amory featuring their darling swim collection.

A few random items I wanted to share…

+The latest Smockingbird x Julia Amory collection launched last week and I just had to have this sweet sundress for mini. She already owns this dress of theirs from their previous collection and it is such a treasure. These are fantastic dresses for family portraits, special occasions, school photos, etc. I am also tempted by this matching sibling moment — these trunks for micro, and this rashguard for mini! (And you can also twin with your mini in your own shirtdress!). I would say that their styles run TTS for little ones. Mini consistently wears a 5 and takes a size 5 in her dresses.

+If you are into the Carrie Forbes sandal vibe but after the look for less, Kaanas just launched very similar sandals and I saw them come on Shopbop last week and they’re already old out! There are still a few available at Madewell! Also like this style by the same brand.

+I wore this seashell print nap dress to Citi Field over the weekend for a Mets game and it was STINKING HOT outside (92 degrees and blazing sun) and it did me RIGHT. The lightest weight fabric and I love the way the skirt portion barely skims/touches your body when standing upright to allow for maximum ventilation. I also got stopped twice by people asking about it :). Pretty much the perfect weekend summer dress.

+I know I have fellow mamas who swear by Nuk active cups — the only way I have gotten my children to switch from bottles to sippy cups, and I must have tried a dozen other brands during this tricky transition — and they just launched a two-pack in a neutral pattern (praise be) for $11 that I snagged. Most of their cups have cartoon characters on the side so I welcome something simpler…it’s the little things.

+We will be in the car with the children yet again next week — I have frankly been surprised/impressed by how tolerant micro has been with all of the car time over the past few weeks after virtually none for the first two years of his life. The big hits for him have been WaterWows (remember to pre-fill the pens with water before you hit the road), lift-the-flap books like this one, and sticker books. These Dover ones require more help from a parent (he has trouble getting the stickers off himself), but the size is better for his small hands; these M&D ones he can do himself, though he seems to have more trouble balancing the book upright in his carseat. Meanwhile, mini has been very into Polly Pockets and sticker sets like this.

+So far, we have been very impressed with the Nuna Rava car seat. To be fair, we don’t have any point of comparison for a convertible car seat, but I am already thinking I’ll be thrilled to be able to totally remove and launder the seat cover since there are already crumbs and stains happening.

+Three dresses that are gorgeous and selling fast: this Horror Vacui-esque En Saison steal, this seashell print L’Agence, and this stunning white eyelet. (Swoon over all three!)

+J. Crew’s end of season sale is still raging — extra 50% off all sale items — and it’s such an incredible opportunity to buy cute dresses like this striped button-front one for future weekend BBQs/hangs. These $30 pajamas are currently in my cart — I love their entire “Dreamy” line. A few other finds:

CASHMERE CREWNECKS FOR LITTLE ONES FOR AROUND $40! — JUST ORDERED MINI THE CAMEL HEATHER COLOR FOR FALL!

$8.50 LEGGINGS FOR LITTLE LADIES (RUN LONG AND SLIM, FYI) — ALSO LIKE THESE BLOCKPRINT-INSPIRED ONES

ADORABLE DENIM JACKET FOR A LITTLE LADY, AROUND $20 — GREAT LAYERING PIECE FOR EARLY FALL

$11 T-SHIRTS IN GREAT COLORS FOR LITTLE LADIES

+Discovered these marble-effect serving bowls via Grace and they are SO chic!

+Grace and James Kids has some true gems in their warehouse sale, and everything was further-discounted over the weekend. I did end up snagging this wet/dry pouch and this matching swimsuit for mini.

+A lot of my favorite small children’s boutiques are running major mid-summer sales, including Frilly Frog, with 40% off its sale section with code SALE40. I buy the bulk of my children’s clothing while on sale in these promotions! Always love anything by Sal E Pimenta, including this sweet striped dress (another good family portrait pick) and any and all of their swimwear; everyday cotton dresses like this; and OMG this dress for your little lady’s first visit to Disney World, which is something Mr. Magpie and I are currently discussing…

+Still time to order fun headbands for the Fourth if you’re doing something low key like we are. (We’re making a flag cake and having a picnic!)

By: Jen Shoop

This Mother Theresa quote is near-ubiquitous, possibly platitudinous (?), but the other day, it appeared, mirage-like, in my thoughts and I carried it around with me for the better part of the day:

“Do small things with great love.”

Knowing that these words came from Mother Teresa, I am of course inclined to imagine the humble and wordless ministrations of a caregiver wiping crumbs from the face of a child, or preparing a bed with clean sheets and hospital corners. Small things, done with solicitousness.

By contrast, how often do I absolutely race through the process of preparing breakfast for my children prior to thoughtlessly — almost robotically — clearing their plates and shuffling the morning right along into its next phase? On the one hand, this sort of perfunctoriness is necessary: I keep the household moving, and ensure my children are fed, brushed, and clothed by the time I sit down to my desk at 9 a.m. And sometimes the rote is a gift, clearing needed mental space for undertaking other intellectual or emotional work: I can be pouring milk cups while also pondering the American Scholar article my father sent or ingesting the news. Beyond that, I am not so spacey as to think that there might be hidden joy or rivulets of love to be found in selecting a plate for my daughter’s breakfast, or what have you. But still — could I maneuver myself to a place where many of the daily responsibilities in my life are achieved with love rather than an occasionally begrudging sense of conscientiousness or rule-followership? What might that look like? I am thinking specifically of the way my mother packed my lunch: always with a little love note on the napkin in her loopy blue script; the napkin invariably, artfully folded on the diagonal. Even the fact that she took the time to fold the napkin just-so speaks to me today: the tiniest of kisses. I also think of the way she will often turn down the coverlet on the bed before bedtime, or offer me a soda alongside a cup of ice. Small things, done with great care and consideration. I think, too, of my husband: the way he warms my plate before dinner, and chills my glass before a cocktail, and never declines the opportunity to plate my meal and garnish it, too. The way he sets my coffee out, prepared the way I like it, so it’s waiting for me at my desk. The fact that he never ever neglects to wrap my gifts, giving thought to the presentation itself.

I think there are also ways to do small things for myself “with great love.” This will either resonate with you or confirm your suspicion that I am bizarre beyond belief, but it is not an infrequent occasion for me to be sitting at my desk, parched with thirst, but not willing to get up to fetch water for myself because I’m in the throes of work, or I will be rushing around trying to put things away after running a few errands or cleaning up the house and will not pause to use the rest room or feed myself lunch until absolutely everything is tidied, finished, taken to the garbage, etc. I suppose you can chalk it up to “completion desire”: I am so task-oriented that I would rather finish something in its entirety than interrupt the flow. But after reading the Mother Teresa quote the other day, I got up and poured myself a glass of water when I was thirsty and later, when bringing home a bunch of fresh flowers, actually took the time to enjoy arranging them in a vase versus rushing to clip them, get rid of the debris, and sprint to the next thing on my list. If I am sounding schmaltzy, forgive me. But these tiny decisions appear to me as a new and miniature mode of self-care: doing the smallest of things with love for myself.

Shopping Break.

+Lounge shorts: I’m eyeing these Kules or these from Splendid. Love the retro styling on both.

+The perfect button-front sweatshirt in great colors — I shared a similar style for less a few days ago but like the cropped silhouette here, too.

+Just love this Brock-like blouse for under $100.

+SUPER love the simple, retro-esque (Wendy Peffercorn-like?!) styling of this Gap suit in both the on-trend ditsy blue floral and solid pink.

+Absolutely stunning floral dress for $140 – sort of a combination between Horror Vacui and Cecilie Bahnsen?

+Adore this stationery, and recently came across an Etsy shop that creates fun frames with a similar design via Being Bridget.

+Cute and clever printable indoor scavenger hunt. Wish I’d come across this back during peak-quarantine days.

+Some other great indoor activities for littles here. I did all of these, many of them multiple times over…

+Speaking of the great indoors: an indoor shrimp BBQ you must try. Only you could also do it outdoors, with friends, now 🙂

+Love this tiny little fan for the stroller.

+The cane detail on these shorts is amazing!

+Speaking of tennis, Marysia’s coveted scalloped tennis dress is back in stock here in white (run!!!) and here in black. More fun tennis and golf gear here.

+Such a small thing, but we now have a bunch of different keys for our house, for my parents’ house, etc, and I am out of key rings! I found some cute ones at an Etsy shop, including this rose embroidered style and this throwback motel style.

+Another great beach-to-cocktails dress.

+Lusting after these shorts.

+Also lusting after a Rimowa suitcase as my next investment whenever I travel…

+Love this dress in the sage green. The tiers make it!

+Just a reminder that these adorable blue gingham swim trunks are $10.

+And Janie and Jack marked down a ton of cute swim, including this precious lilac stripe swimsuit!

+While there: so wish this dress wasn’t sold out in mini’s size! The eyelet sleeves!!!

+Going to be needing a lot of new storage apparatus in our new home — I will have a walk-in pantry!

+Some of my favorite storage gear here.

+Ordered some extra silicon mats for the children. I find these a conveninent way to preserve our dinner table and catch spills, but my gripe is that they are a pain to dry after washing/wiping. I love that this set comes with those convenient cutouts so you can hang them from a hook.

By: Jen Shoop

One fun way to make a big statement using items you already own: organize your book spines by color rather than height or subject matter. I always get a lot of comments on the monochromatic arrangement of books on my bookshelves (seen above and available here — you won’t believe what a great price these are!), and have even had visitors ask whether I buy my books according to color. Ha! If you don’t have enough books in the same color family, don’t be afraid to remove the jacket cover — they often reveal beautiful colors/patterns beneath. I’ve also seen creatives arrange their books spine-to-the-wall so that you see lots of white/cream pages instead of the book jackets. Less functional (you can’t see which book you’re looking for!) but I can see the appeal if you’re simply trying to tidy up a bookshelf of never-touched books. (For example, we have loads of Lonely Planet Travel Guides that are used rarely — i.e., only when we are traveling to a particular destination — that are something of an eyesore on a shelf, but you could flip them all around to just see a tidy row of white instead.)

All that said, a few absolutely beautiful coffee table / book shelf books that I have purchased specifically for their design/color (and also lovely to spend a morning poring over with a cup of coffee!). These are great if you’re looking for a short stack on an end table or to lay flat on a bookshelf. Some of these are cookbooks that were purchased by Mr. Magpie for their content alone that proved so attractive, I gradually co-opted them into the decor of our home. (Mr. Magpie routinely asks me where such-and-such cookbook is?! — and I’ve usually nestled it artfully on a bookshelf. Ha.) I own nearly all of these!

chic coffee table books

Row I: India Hicks, Palms, The French Dog

Row II: Ralph Lauren, Lost Fish, Cabinet of Natural Curiosities

Row III: Lillian Bassman, Tom Ford, Architectural Digest

Row IV: Domino, Michael S. Smith, Domino

Row V: Allegra Hicks, Heritage, Beautiful

Row VI: Prune, Lee, My Last Supper

A few specific notes on particular books, some shown above and some not…

THIS ALLEGRA HICKS IS OVERSIZED AND SUCH A DRAMATIC PRINT — TRULY A FAVORITE

I LIKE STACKING THESE DOMINO BOOKS (1 AND 2) ON TOP OF EACH OTHER ON A TRAY ON A COFFEE TABLE

THIS BASQUE COOKBOOK HAS A GREAT BRIGHT YELLOW SPINE WITH A FUN SQUAT FONT ON THE SIDE — PERFECT FOR A POP OF DRAMA ON A BOOKSHELF

THIS RL BOOK IS ENORMOUS AND LOOKS FANTASTIC WITH BROWNS/LEATHERS/RUSTIC VIBE

ANOTHER FAVORITE — SUCH A GREAT SHADE OF PEONY PINK, AND LOVE THE FONT ON THE SPINE (ALSO ONE OF OUR FAVORITE COOKBOOKS)

DON’T KNOW WHY THIS IS UNDER $10 ATM BUT IT’S A GREAT RED SPINE

I THINK THIS FRENCH DOG ONE MIGHT BE MY FAVORITE…LOOKS GREAT LAYERED BENEATH A SMALL POTTED BOXWOOD IN AN ENTRYWAY

LOVE THE FONT ON THE SPINE — ALSO LOVE ALL OF OTTOLENGHI’S COOKBOOKS FOR THE SAME REASON; GREAT DRAMATIC FONT

I don’t own these yet, but I also absolutely love the look of the Assouline destination books. These would be fantastic if you already have a color scheme going in a room and you want to nail it home or draw out one of the “supporting” colors in a throw pillow.

And a few other decorative books currently on my lust list:

P.S. The Prune book holds special sentimental value, as the restaurant (semi-permanently closed, sob) was the site of a major turning point in our adult lives.

P.P.S. More coffee table styling ideas and while we’re talking coffee: the best gear for coffee and tea service.

P.P.P.S. The Lee book also taught me a thing or two.

By: Jen Shoop

My Latest Snag: Outdoor Cushions.

I mentioned that we inherited a rattan outdoor furniture set for the patio of our new home (similar vibe with this), which we could not be more thrilled about. I love the look! Mr. Magpie is going to spray paint the set once we arrive so it looks ultra-crisp/fresh. The cushions left something to be desired, and my mother-in-law originally offered to sew us new cushion covers (she is an excellent seamstress and has fantastic taste to boot — the type of woman who sews her own drapes, reupholsters her own furniture, etc.), but then she found this chic and reasonably priced set in navy with smart white piping and we decided to go that direction instead! Now I’m spending way too much time wondering about throw pillows when I should be focusing on much higher priority tasks, like which furniture pieces we must order ASAP and which to wait on, and how to sequence/tie it all together as we are currently in the process of engaging an interior designer to help with certain aspects. Anyhow, I did discover that The Inside has some fantastic printed outdoor pillows in a 20″ size (I like the scale of that size over a 16″ or 18″) — the coral in particular might be a fun contrast with the navy, or maybe the blue aviary to have a shades-of-blue situation?!

P.S. More patio/deck finds here.

You’re Soooo Popular: An LWD.

The most popular items on le blog this week:

+Adorable $148 dress for a bride-to-be, or any lover of the LWD.

+I bought these bandaids because the prints were fun but OMG. These are actually the best bandaids?? They actually stay on micro’s foot, even when traipsing through sand and water at the beach, and when wearing sneakers that rub at the heel of his foot?! I am in shock! Great, great bandaid that will actually stick on for a long time.

+This chic floral mini, which just went on sale!

+This also-on-sale Staud maxi in the perfect muted green color. J’adore. And cutouts are so big at the moment!

+These seriously fun Aquazzura slides — 55% off and would transform any white dress or even denim shorts and a white shirt into the perfect outfit for the FOJ.

+Adorable hand-smocked dress for a little lady for under $40.

+This rattan dog!!

+This SZ Blockprints dress is still a topseller, multiple weeks into the summer!

+The entirety of Target’s new collection with Quincy Mae — so many cute items!

+Sweet rosary bracelet.

+Beautiful neutral midi dress at a great price.

+Pearl-accented straw bag.

+My favorite summer candle.

Weekend Musings: I Am 37.

I turn 37 today. In years past, I’ve taken my birthday as an occasion for deep introspection — especially when I turned 34 and then 35. (36 was a weird year — COVID was not yet in the rear view mirror and insights were few and far between.) So I sit here at my little white desk at 3:39 P.M. overlooking the UWS and I ask myself: “What did I learn this year?” I think my main achievements have been in the mental wellness space. I find myself far more emotionally resourceful and self-aware after this past year. Perhaps COVID required this of all of us: Mr. Magpie took up meditation, and I focused on small and intentional ways to make my life feel more measured and less harried. I now find myself in near-constant, self-conscious conversation with myself. When I was highly stressed in the days leading up to the closing on our house (somehow, there were still things that needed ironing out 48 hours prior to close, which I have since learned is not particularly uncommon), I remember having the wherewithal to pause and tell myself: “This is hard. But this, too, shall pass. Know that you have had this exact same set of emotions in past moves and life decisions, and usually the discomfort relates to the unknowns of enormous change. Take a deep breath and remember that things always have a way of working out.”

Perhaps most powerfully, I have learned to let myself live with my own emotions, to let them breathe, to not instinctively bat them away or shush them or tell myself “you shouldn’t feel this way because of xyz.” I have told my sisters on countless occasions: “You are entitled to feel the way you feel.” This year, I remembered to tell myself the same thing.

I am imperfect, of course — at the pediatrician a few months ago, I mentioned that I blamed myself for a habit of one of my children, and she paused and tsked: “No, no, let’s not get into blaming ourselves.” Still, I feel as though I have “leveled up” in my own ability to take care of my emotions and recognize that, as I put it in a post earlier this week, I am not personally responsible for everything that happens in my life.

I also find myself increasingly accepting of the inevitable march of time on my body. Though I do occasionally find myself crooning: Oh, to be lithe and 18 again!, I also feel — perhaps moreso than any other year — grateful to be living in this body at this time. It survived two C-sections, the flu, and COVID in the past few years, and it now dutifully runs 3-4 miles every other day, and what can I say? I am lucky to be stewarding it through this life, laugh lines and wrinkles included.

So cheers to 37. Looking forward to settling in somewhere permanent (that we own!) to give this active body and mind a slight break — or whatever break I can get given that life with two small children only moves at one speed: uncomfortably fast.

Onward!

Post-Scripts: Half-Zip Sweatshirt.

+I have an oversized half-zip sweatshirt almost identical to this in the slate blue color and LOVE it for chilly nights/throwing on over leggings for a Lady Di vibe. (She actually wore ones from Sloppy Joe, which are kind of pricey and a pain to get your hands on…but I get the hype.)

+Go full Princess Di by pairing with black bike shorts. I actually like this style, which is a little shorter than a proper bike short…more flattering for me.

+Great white shirtdress for summer.

+This bow ring is exceptionally gorgeous.

+Tenderleaf Toys makes such beautiful toys — mini would love this set. She loves anything that has little parts that you use, especially that echo common household/daily activities, like brushing hair, working at a computer, cooking, etc.

+Eyeing this for micro when we move.

+A great closet staple.

+These affordable personalized pouches (#pouchlife) remind me of Stoney Clover but at a tremendous fraction of the price. Love the second photo, where a purchaser arranged them all as gifts at a luncheon! Cute idea for a bachelorette, girl’s birthday party, etc.

+Adore this blush wine glass set — I’m imagining a porch sit with a girlfriend and a bottle of wine in the near future…

+This zip-up rash guard is genius because those things can be hard to get on children!

+These indoor/outdoor children’s kitchens are amazing!

+Keep coming back to this smocked dress in the chic blue color…

+La Coqueta has marked additional sweet items down in their incredible sale. Shared a few favorites in this post, but this pink dress…!

+This little summer top is just adorable.

+A chic alternative to the ubiquitous Micro scooters — love the matte pink and stark white!

+Another masterpiece from Agua Bendita!

+This $34 dress in the sky blue floral is a great everyday dress.

+These leather sandals with the hearts!

+This floral shirtdress is sitting in my cart, as is this white eyelet dress with bows on the shoulder…!

By: Jen Shoop

The final installment this month, and this batch is yet again full of wedding guest/special occasion dress queries! I’ve updated my wedding guest dress shop, but wanted to also highlight a few recent dress finds at the top of this post that might be just your ticket:

THIS LILAC SELF-PORTRAIT

GARDEN PARTY READY

THIS SHOW-STOPPING AZEEZA!!!

THIS SUNNY ZIMMERMANN-ESQUE FLORAL

THIS BOW-SHOULDERED DRAMA

THIS AGUA BENDITA

THIS STRAPLESS SIR

THIS FOR A BEACH WEDDING (SHE LOVES A THEME)

Volume I here and Volume II here. You can always email me, too!

Q: Couch and nightstands.

A: Sounds like we are in a similar furniture-buying binge. The couch is so individual to the space, life stage, etc., but we are probably going to buy this sectional from PB. I like that it is slipcovered and am into the coastal/Hamptons vibe of the design. However, there were a number of readers who wrote in to rave about the quality of Crate + Barrel’s sectionals. I love Crate and Barrel — I have bought several great, clean-lined pieces that have outlasted even my Pottery Barn furniture — but in this case just slightly preferred the PB couch style. The Inside also does couches and I have to say I love that they have so many fun prints and colors to choose from. It feels like PB and C+B have only shades of white, taupe, gray and sometimes blue if you’re lucky. Serena + Lily does, too, but much more expensive. A few other spots to consider:

JAYSON HOME — WE BOUGHT OUR CURRENT LIVING ROOM SOFA FROM HERE AND CAN ATTEST TO THE QUALITY

ABC HOME – MAKES BEAUTIFUL PIECES THAT FEEL MORE ONE-OF-A-KIND/CUSTOM THAN YOU CAN FIND IN BIG BOX STORES

BALLARD DESIGNS — FUN UPHOLSTERY OPTIONS AND LOTS OF GREAT STYLES

If you are down for a MAJOR statement, this ruffle couch is epic.

For nightstands: just did an extensive roundup here, but the TL;DR is that my budget pick is this lovely little score (under $140 and comes in a great blue color) and my “sure thing” pick that would work with nearly any style and accommodate nearly any need is this white beauty. Love the pull-out tray for added surface area, and the drawers are so functional! Just add a few pretty books at the bottom, or a basket to house glasses/remotes/etc, and you’re golden.

P.S. Great storage baskets by size here.

Q: Beach family picture outfits.

A: Having just gone through family portraits, I know how tricky this is. I would advise starting with a dress you love that looks great on you — for the beach, here are a few ensembles I would consider:

+This fun printed Rixo on you; this Sal e Pimenta on your little lady; these poplin shortalls with a white polo for your little man; this sport shirt with khakis or jeans for your man. Shades of coral with different prints so no one is too matchy-matchy. That was definitely the vibe I was after for ours. I think the pictures will turn out coordinated but not too forced.

+For the beach, I’m into an all-white ensemble as you already have the gorgeous canvas of the sand and blue water. This dress for you; this for your mini me; white or khaki shorts and white button-down for your little man (or shortalls if he’s tiny); linen shirt and either khakis or white shorts on your man.

+In general, if you find a dress you love, work from there. I find that Sal E Pimenta, Luli and Me, and La Coqueta have great options for little ones in a wide range of colors.

Q: Dress I can wear to a black tie optional wedding at 20 weeks pregnant.

A: Congratulations!!! So fun, and such a relief to be out of the 12 week period where you are trying to hide it. I guess it depends on how you’re carrying. I felt like with my second, I showed much earlier. With my first, you could hardly tell I was pregnant until 24 weeks. If you are looking for a true maternity dress, I love this emerald green dress. It looks like Self-Portrait to me and I think would look great with an updo and big statement earrings. If you want to go for a non-maternity dress so it will work post-pregnancy, this Hunter Bell might be worth a try though it’s hard to tell how long the torso goes. Splurge pick: this Anna October in black (look for less with this, but it keeps selling out), which would 100% work with bump and might be the chicest thing I’ve ever seen. Saucy!

Q: Perfect white dress.

A: Either this Ulla (on sale) or this white shirtdress.

Q: Comfy, chic shoes for return to office. No more heels!

A: Amen! People (including my mom, who I would consider a tough critic on this front) rave about the comfort of Rothy’s, and they come in a range of styles. I love their loafer style, but I think it would depend on the formality of your office. You might be better off with something with a pointed toe, which always looks polished. In general, mules are lovely because you never get heel blisters, and I think Nicholas Kirkwood’s Beya style (pointed toe!) would be fantastic for work in a neutral, white, or black. (Very sophisticated!)

Q: Comfortable but chic wedding shoes I can dance in all night.

A: Aw, congratulations, bride-to-be! I would go with these in white or blue (something blue!). If that’s too daunting, consider this even lower heel, though I think the silhouette from the side would be less flattering. Less formal, but these mules from Reformation would be fun and easy to wear, too. Last but not least, Kate Spade does fun little wedding heels like these that would look adorable peeking out from the hem of a formal dress but be easy to wear into the night.

Q: Cute, relatively-inexpensive cover-ups/casual summer dresses.

A: I’m so on your page. I shared some fun cover-ups here, but a few cute and casual summer dresses under $100:

THIS STRIPED TEE DRESS

THIS PRINTED ZARA

THIS $33 BLUE PRINT DRESS — I WEAR THIS LIKE ONCE A WEEK

THIS EYELET MAXI

THIS BLUE FLORAL MINI

HAVE BEEN WEARING THIS WHITE MINI NONSTOP

THIS SOLID TEE DRESS (WOULD LOOK AMAZING WITH DRESSY SNEAKS)

THIS ADORABLE SMOCKED/STRIPED J. CREW

THIS $22 YELLOW DRESS, WHICH I WORE OVER THE WEEKEND AND GOT SEVERAL COMPLIMENTS ON, INCLUDING FROM A WOMAN WHO STOPPED ME ON THE STREET!

THIS ADORABLE FLORAL

P.S. My most worn-at-home dresses and lots of pretty dresses.

Q: Dresses for a 9-month-old for my brother’s wedding in Central America!

A: Congrats to your brother! Brava mama traveling with an itty bitty baby, too! For special occasions, I love the beautiful pieces from Luli and Me like this, Proper Peony like this, Pepa & Co like this, Rachel Riley like this or this, Question Everything like this, and La Coqueta like this.

Q: A new purse. $3K or less, classic yet not “old lady,” can be worn with jeans or dress.

A: Black quilted Chanel! Will go with everything and you will 100% wear it forever. If you decide to buy directly from a Chanel boutique brand new, they sell smaller sizes that will ring in at under $3000.

Q: Dress for a guest at a casual October wedding at the Dirty Dancing resort.

A: !! This is so fun! I think I shared this dress in a separate query for an October wedding guest dress, but this is perfection for fall, as is this cayenne orange/red dress and this burgundy floral from SIR. I also think this is ultra chic for any season — saucy, festive, and every man loves a polka dot — or this dress in navy, praline, or green. If vibe is considerably less formal — this paisley!

P.S. More special occasion dress ideas here or here.

Q: Montana semi-formal wedding guest dress!

A: My brother lived in Billings for many years! I like this floral, this Zimmermann, and this Beulah. I feel like Reformation might be the right vibe for that locale, too — this dress (mentioned above) in any of the prints would be a dream.

Q: Everyday tote that no one else has.

A: Ooh! Corroon or this brand-new Cuyana.

By: Jen Shoop

Some very good scores in the just-discounted section at Shopbop, including…

THIS SAUCY SCALLOPED LBD FROM SELF-PORTRAIT (SEEN ABOVE UP CLOSE)

PERFECT STRIPED SHIRT DRESS FOR $124

OLIVER PEOPLES SHADES

THIS BY TIMO POPLIN SHIFT (HAS BEEN A STRONG SELLER ON LE BLOG OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS)

THIS ADORABLE STRIPED COTTON MINI (ZIPPER MAKES IT EASY FOR NURSING MAMAS!)

I THINK I’M FINALLY PULLING THE TRIGGER ON THIS GINGHAM BELT BAG FROM CLARE VIVIER…NOW $122!

ALSO ADORE THE CROSSBODY VARIATION

THIS TIERED BLUE DRESS HAS ALSO BEEN POPULAR WITH MY MAGPIES — PERFECT FOR A MID OR LATE SUMMER WEDDING!

ANOTHER GREAT WEDDING GUEST DRESS CONTENDER (SPECTACULAR!)

EASY EVERYDAY DRESS TO WEAR WITH FUN SNEAKS

SUCH A FUN STATEMENT TRENCH COAT

CHEERFUL $54 MULES

P.S. Drooling over the new NB x Staud collab, which launches today at 12 PM EST. So many of you messaged me about this capsule! It truly is right up my alley. I must have these. Setting my alarm.

P.P.S. In media res.

P.P.P.S. Pretty frames for pretty pictures.

By: Jen Shoop

*Image above via Farm Rio featuring their stunning yellow open waist dress.

A couple of seriously fun and unusual finds for under $205 that are guaranteed to garner attention…

under $200 fashion finds

01. // 02. // 03. // 04. // 05. // 06. // 07. // 08. // 09. // 10.

Even more scores below…

ROTHY’S NEW BUBBLE SLIDES (SELLING FAST)

CUYANA’S CANVAS TOTE

FARM RIO’S OPEN WAIST DRESS

THIS $65 TOP KEEPS SELLING OUT

LAKE POPLIN TIE DRESS

JELLY SLIDES

J. CREW SWIMSUIT

CHIC BLUE DRESS

BINGE KNIT BUCKET BAG

$30 OPEN-BACK EYELET DRESS

$158 LWD

ROXANNE ASSOULIN EARRINGS

$70 ZARA DRESS

NEUTRAL SUNGLASSES

$85 PEARL HOOPS

$30 RAFFIA HEELS

BOTANICAL JOGGING SHORTS

BLUE ANORAK

OPEN BACK RED AND WHITE PRINT MAXI

SHELL STATEMENT NECKLACE

$30 COLORBLOCK SWIMSUIT

STRAW LEMON EARRINGS

STRAW AND PEARL TOTE

THE LATEST DRESSES FROM HILL HOUSE

P.S. This post on “pride of ownership” spawned an interesting conversation in the comments section. Allyson said: “I obviously don’t want to be reckless with my things. And yet, at the end of the day these items & spaces exist to serve me; I am not a slave to them.”

P.P.S. An absolutely delicious summer bread salad.

P.P.P.S. My current favorite things.

By: Jen Shoop

Sharing a few of the questions I often field via DM or email as maybe there are some enquiring minds out there in a similar boat. By the way, I LOVE emails and direct messages so keep them coming! So fun to chat with you guys.

Q: Are Hermes Orans worth it? How do they run?

A: In my opinion, yes, they are worth it (seen above and worn with aplomb). I have mine in the brown leather and they go with everything. They are made of the softest, highest quality leather and they give over time. I have worn mine for many summers (since pre-Emory back in Chicago!) and they have held up and only softened with age. I would say they run TTS, maybe even a little bit on the big size because they do stretch/have give over time in the band that covers the foot. I especially like the way they look when styled with breezy white summer dresses like the Everlane I’ve been living in or this Staud I’ve been eyeing. If you like the look but they are out of your budget, I have a few friends who love this very similar pair from French Sole for $150.

P.S. On a related note, thought several of the comments on this post about what you splurge versus save on were fascinating!

Q: What is your living room rug?

A: By far and away my most-asked question over Insta. It is Stark Studio’s “Fauna Rug” in the almond color. I love this rug so much I bought it twice. The first one we had was too small for our current living room space and our dog had destroyed it with accidents — wah! It is fantastic because the print hides a whole manner of sins (i.e., children dropping food on the ground constantly) and it has a fun print but works as a neutral.

P.S. More great rugs here, and our bedroom rug here! Note that Serena and Lily is currently running a great promotion on rugs!

P.P.S. I use these rug pads in the 1/4″ thickness underneath all of the rugs in our apartment. The pads keep rugs in place, protect the rug as well as the floor, and afford even more cushioning. If you have a rug between sizes, you can just trim the rug pad with scissors.

Q: Which Pam Munson bag do you have?

A: Another frequent question as I am nearly always wearing this bag in my summer snapshots on Insta. I have the Isla Bahia. She makes it in a petite size which may be a better fit for those of you less likely to be schlepping around toys, sunscreen, and other miscellaneous children’s gear at any given moment.

P.S. More great straw bags for summer here, and more on my Pam Munson obsession as well.

Q: Best restaurants in NYC?

A: I shared all of our favorites at the bottom of this post.

Q: What to do in NYC with children?

A: My top rec is the Central Park Zoo — it’s a tiny jewel box of a zoo, and I frankly appreciate how limited it is. You can see the entire thing in under an hour if you want, with no tired and complaining legs. Don’t miss the Tisch children’s zoo, which is separate from the main zoo and included in any ticket purchase. Your little ones can pet/feed goats and sheep there! Also: Jane’s Carousel in DUMBO, Museum of Natural History, any/all of the fantastic playgrounds in Central Park (bring a swimsuit/towels in summer as many of them have water features/splash pads), Bronx Zoo (much bigger and more impressive zoo than CP one), The Intrepid, Great Lawn or Sheep Meadow for a picnic, scooting around the plaza in front of the Metropolitan Opera (the fountain there is mesmerizing for babies, and there is often a gelato cart close by). I’m mainly focusing on outdoor adventures because that’s all we’ve had the last year and change, but we used to love story time at Books of Wonder, music class at Musibambino (the best — the lovely woman who runs this program plays so many fantastic instruments and exposes children to them, too, including violins!), pre-ballet/dance class at Juliette and Ella’s Playdate, and sparing trips to the Children’s Museum (I say sparing because it is kind of overwhelming with all the kids running amok and also…I think not very clean or well-maintained TBH).

Q: Wedding guest dresses!!!

A: This has to be most frequently asked question over the past few months — we’re all heading back to the wedding circuit after a long hiatus! I am trying to keep this part of my shop updated with options and will also be sharing a ton of specific picks on Friday, in my final installment of “What You’re Shopping For” for this month.

Q: What was the product you used after having stitches on your forehead?

A: I am astounded by how often this question comes up. You all have good memories! And I guess a lot of us have unpleasant accidents 🙁 I did trip and need ten stitches on my forehead, and then I went to see a plastic surgeon to see if she had any thoughts on how to minimize the scar appearance. Her main recommendation was wearing a lot (a lot!!) of facial sunscreen and applying this silicon-based gel for the first few months — basically until the tube runs out. She said that by the end of a year, the scar will look the way it will always look, so make sure to be religious about the sunscreen especially during that first year. I have to say, the scar has healed incredibly well — I’ve had friends say that they would never have noticed had I not reminded them it had happened.

Q: How do nap dresses fit? Are they sheer?

A: I shared some thoughts on sizing/style of nap dresses here, but I do think Hill House does a good job of explaining how the sizing works on each individual dress and would follow their suggestions. For example, if you click on the Ellie dress (I believe their most popular style), they note underneath the product that it runs big and advise to size down. I agree with this recommendation. Other dresses run truer to size. They did not always have an XXS so I bought my first many nap dresses in the XS and they fit great except for the Ellie, which I always found a bit too big in the bodice and found myself adjusting/pulling up the neckline quite a bit. The Nesli works fine for me in XS; not sure I need to size down there.

They also note when a fabric is sheer/not in the color description. I find their dresses except for the swiss dot ones to be opaque and can be worn without a slip, though you might be best off wearing nude underwear (this is my favorite pair in the “Chai” color — I own so many pairs of this exact color!). I also wear mine sans bra but the Skims scoopneck apparently works well with the Nesli and Ellie for most people. (I’ve had several Magpies write in to upvote this bra for nap dresses, but I also had one reader write to say they didn’t work for her. Just an FYI, to give the full picture. Probably worth a shot for $32 and a good nude bra is always welcome in my closet anyhow.)

Q: Where is the necklace you wear every day from?

A: Tiffany Diamond by the Yard! I shared some other stunning everyday jewelry picks here.

Q: What is THAT TOY?

A: This is a question I received a lot of the other day when I shared an Instastory of my son working with this Elmo alphabet set. He loves this little toy! It’s basically an alphabet puzzle. A few other favorite toys at the moment here.

Q: Where to buy personalized stationery?

A: This question also comes up a lot because I think many of you remember I wrote a post about it years ago but it’s not particularly easy to find on my blog. (I’m so sorry about that — I publish SO much SO frequently that things get buried quickly. Always trying to think on how I can make my posts easier to track down.). Anyway, my favorite sources for affordable stationery here, and one of my current favorite Etsy vendors for doing anything custom (invitations, moving announcements, gift enclosures, etc.)

P.S. Lovely, affordable personalized gift ideas.

P.P.S. All my favorite beauty buys and what’s been in my beauty shopping cart lately.

By: Jen Shoop

*Image above from our recent trip to East Hampton. Micro is wearing his TBBC gingham sunhat (also available in seersucker; look for less here) and a Minnow Swim rash guard and boardies.

I am forever followed by a sagacity a Magpie shared a few years ago: “Never wish away your child’s age.” Any time I find myself flustered or fatigued by a certain phase, I am positively haunted by those words and by the lived truth that I already miss my son as he was at two weeks, and two months, and so on. Each age has manifested its own challenges and worries and exhaustions alongside its unique tendernesses and excitements and developments. I have been thinking of this recently, as my son turned two and it seemed as though a switch flipped. He went from the calm, sweet baby on my hip to a sharp, inquisitive little man with opinions who will stamp his feet in fury when denied milk before dinnertime and will writhe out of my reach more often than not and wants to do everything on his own and of his own volition–especially when his older sister is undertaking them simultaneously. Taking him to the Hamptons last weekend was an exercise in patience in the sense that we were in a new place with tons of stairs, tall grasses promising to hide deer ticks (a big problem in that area), and a million new threats not yet sufficiently observed or de-risked or put off-limits by yours truly. One morning, I was preparing breakfast in the kitchen and micro turned one of the bright red knobs on the cooktop, no doubt entranced by the fun color and large gauge. He knows not to touch the stove at home, but how to resist an oversized red knob in a new place with unenforced rules? He routinely tumbled down stairs or wavered at the top of them in imbalance, giving me a thousand heart attacks over the course of the weekend, and of course what two-year-old can deny the lure of traipsing through “forest” in pursuit of birds while unwittingly attracting ticks, rashes, and scrapes?! Like all two-year-old boys, he is over-confident and adventurous, and I swear I spent about half the vacation trailing him, removing his wriggling body from danger zones, and reminding him to hold onto the bannister on his way down the steps. The friends we were visiting also have a two-year-old, and though their child was acclimated to the surroundings, had been exposed to steps for years, and had a good three months on micro, I found myself sheepish at the helicoptering I felt the situation demanded. Was I being too careful? Is this how children learn — through occasional bumps and bruises? (Micro came away from the weekend with more than his fair share, even with my hawk-like watchfulness.) I have always aspired to be the mother who offers her children enough space to afford the impression of independence, while being close enough to intervene when necessary. Have I been coddling my son too much?

I presume that our move to Bethesda, MD and to a home multiple times the size of this Manhattan apartment, with steps and a big backyard, will force my hand a bit. The space will demand accommodation. He will need to learn to go up and down the stairs safely on his own. He will need to learn to acquit himself in a backyard and avoid whatever areas we demarcate as unsafe. In the meantime, I suppose I must not be too tough on myself. The steps were new to him and a bona fide hazard to his wellness, as he initially assumed he could walk straight down the middle without hanging onto a hand or bannister! It takes time to learn new things, and certainly cannot be expected to be mastered within a weekend. And perhaps in general, having raised him in New York City since his birth, I am inclined towards vigilance on his behalf, having had to routinely yank him out of the way of dog excrement on the sidewalk and unsavorinesses of various kinds. A mom friend recently told me, flatly: “New York is not built for toddlers.” Correct.

Having been through all of these phases with my daughter, I know that though the transitional periods are ungainly and mildly harrowing, I will fall into a rhythm and figure out how to manage my way through. I am trying to drink him up at this age, to appreciate how exciting the world must be through his eyes: suddenly accessible to him, on his own, without my screening and preening presence intervening at every other minute to help him toddle around, or reach something, or what have you. I am trying to resist the urge to “get to the other end,” where he is aware of the rules and threats and knows how to handle himself in our new space, and to instead embrace the growth that is happening right before my eyes.

But it is tough.

Still, I have this: a few weeks ago, I wrote that I could not remember the last time I had rocked my son to sleep. Almost immediately after publishing that post, micro shifted into a new habit of occasionally crying out for me after being put down to bed. Now, a few times a week, I will go into his bedroom, pick him up, and sit on the upholstered bench in his tiny New York City bedroom with him in my arms. I will run my fingers through his hair, rock him, whisper to him, and he will lay there calmly and quietly with, first, an enormous smile on his face, and then, gradually, the hazy far-off look that precedes slumber, before slow-blinking himself to sleep. Each night, it feels as though I’m holding onto my baby boy for the last time, and tomorrow he will wake up a full-on child, and oh! — the agony of these evolutions, the relentlessness of these changes, the unsettling hesitancy between welcoming and shooing-away the next phase. All in, the emotional toil of mothering a young child. In the meantime, I will treasure those narrow spans of evening, when he melts into my baby again.

Post-Scripts.

+Shared loads of cute patriotic looks for the entire family here, but a few other options…

THIS DARLING $31 RIC RAC TRIM DRESS

THIS SWEET TWO-PIECE SAILOR SET

ADORABLE RED-WHITE-BLUE CHECK DRESS

CUTEST BLUE AND WHITE STRIPE SHORTALLS FOR A BOY (ON SALE!)

PRECIOUS FLAG BUBBLE

THIS PLUMETI DRESS FOR AN OLDER GIRL

+Lake just launched some new patriotic striped jammies ideal for the occasion too: eyeing these for myself and these for my littles. You can get a similar look for less with these from Gap.

+Just ordered these fun little headbands for the occasion for my littles. We will be staying put in NYC — our last weekend here as a family! — so looking for little ways to honor the day.

+I saw Being Bridget wear this $25 star-print caftan and she looked SO chic in it! Great buy for a poolside/beachside FOJ.

+Fun printed maxi dress.

+White scallop trim napkins at an incredible price. Remind me of Matouk for a fraction of the price!

+Easy everyday cotton dress.

+Who doesn’t love these cabbage leaf cereal bowls?!

+Just discovered that Pink Chicken has the cutest swimwear — love this and this!

+Fun, reasonably priced drop earrings in great colors for your next dressed-up affair.

+This smocked dress is just so cute.

+A fantastic — and quickly-selling — strappy sandal under $80.

+Lusting after this Tove dress, which I love in both the unexpected yellow and stark white. The yellow one reminds me of a great Farm Rio dress I also lingered over, and the white brought to mind this very popular Lake dress.

+Speaking of white dresses: do not miss this $129 statement.

P.S. Motherhood is a heart rent in too many directions.

P.P.S. Parenting auspiciousness.

P.P.P.S. Slow-burn toys.

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