On the heels of yesterday’s post, sharing a few essentials that have gotten me through the last few years:
+Yoyo BabyZen stroller. The absolute easiest way to get around town with a small child. It folds up into a small square that can be tucked under a dining table and can be carried over your shoulder on a strap when descending stairs. It is lightweight and yet much sturdier than any of the other travel/umbrella strollers I’ve ever tested. We used this every day to get to/from school when mini was 2 and partway through her third year, too, as there is a walk on either end of the Subway ride, and also used it quite a bit when we were out and about with both children. (We never invested in a double stroller, and this saw us through the days we needed both strapped in for longer walks/excursions.) This could totally be your one-stop-shop only stroller as a Manhattanite. I especially like that it folds up so easily and can be tucked into a closet.
+MetroCard. Self-explanatory but we rarely, rarely take cabs anywhere. So much faster to get around on the subway, even though I have spent my fair share of time cursing the many stations without elevators while on an adventure with my children. The subway also obviates the question of how to get around with a small child and no carseat. (Plus, can you imagine toting a carseat with you to your destination?)
+Miele Classic C1 vacuum. I’m sure I would use this vacuum no matter where I lived, but scarcely a day goes by where we don’t bring it out given our tight quarters and how much debris, dirt, etc. we track in from the street. I love that this little guy is compact (it sits in our linen closet when not in use) but ultra-powerful, and just so thoughtfully designed. Sort of like the BMW of vacuums IMO.
+Red Rooster sound machines. I know the Marpac machines get the top ratings all around (in fact, just purchased one for a friend of her baby registry!) but the point is: sound machines are essential for little ones given how close we all live to one another and how noisy the city is in general. My son’s nursery is literally right off the butler’s pantry into the kitchen, and it has a highly inconvenient glass transom window over the lintel of his door, which means that when we are cooking in there in the evening (as we do nearly every night), we must keep half the lights off (!) and whisper our way around. We’ve accommodated, and I know one day we will look back and laugh at ourselves tiptoeing around in the dim light of the kitchen for two years of our life (!), but the sound machine has been a crucial element in keeping the peace. I had one for both children but we bought a HomePod mini for my daughter’s room, which is fairly generously sized and therefore serves as a playroom as well. It’s fairly common for us to pass mornings/afternoons playing in there and we wanted music to keep us company! Bonus: Siri plays sleep sounds, so we use that for her room. But the Red Rooster is a good, inexpensive pick handy for travel and the like. I also like how tiny it is. As an aside, Hill’s off-kitchen bedroom placement is actually a very standard arrangement in apartments in pre-war buildings in NYC — they are often designated as “maid’s rooms” in floor plans dating back to that era, as they used to serve as lodging for live-in help. Now the perfect size room for a nursery…with the most imperfect location just off the kitchen. Oh well!
+Shelf-risers. Anything to optimize the space you have in an NYC apartment is a plus in my book. These literally doubled the amount of items we could stow in our kitchen cabinet — and they are super sturdy. Same goes for this hanging rod.
+Elegant candles. Fellow apartment dwellers will understand the importance of a good candle to cope with the fish dinner going on next door, the burnt toast down the hall, etc…I’m a newcomer to Cire Trudon but have been so, so impressed with them. I find them a little more subtle and less assertive than Diptyque, with unique scents. Two of my other favorite summertime candles: Lafco Peony and Tocca Cleopatra.
+MZ Wallace backpack. My preferred diaper bag when out with the children, as my hands are free. This bag is crazy lightweight and has two water bottle pockets so I can keep the children hydrated easily. I wouldn’t call the fabric “waterproof” but it can withstand a light drizzle and is easy to maintain — you can just wipe it clean with a baby wipe when you need to.
+X-benches by the door. I don’t have the exact style linked but if I were buying all over again, I would buy those (and they are 20% off RN!) because they are easier to keep clean / will not show dirt and wear the same way an upholstered style will. These benches are a must for right by the front door — we use them to take shoes on/off, to drop parcels, to set out mini’s backpack for the school day, etc. I mean, I really don’t know what we’d do without them! So handy! Plus, I love an x bench because it can be repurposed as seating when you have a full house. More of my favorite x-benches here.
+Picnic blanket. Cannot tell you how much use we have gotten out of a proper picnic blanket. We basically live in Central Park on the weekends and in the summer, and our nannies have used the picnic blanket many weekdays, too. We bought ours the first year we moved to NYC and it is just now starting to look a little worse for the wear. I love the look of this $30 style or this red-white-and-blue check! I find we need a blanket that has a nylon/waterproof lining on at least one side, but if that weren’t a factor in my math, I’d love also one of these chic blockprinted quilts!
+Bins and baskets of all shapes and sizes in every single room. I am probably going to be basket-obsessed wherever I go, and with however much space I have, but I find them especially critical in our NY apartment, for stowing shoes in the coat closet, toys in the living area, and the miscellaneous debris that tends to accumulate on the chair of our bedroom.
+Running shoes. Running through Central Park every other day of the week is one of my greatest joys — and it’s free! Hard to beat a workout that is aesthetically pleasing and cost-less! These are easily my most heavily used shoes.
+Boat Totes. In heavy rotation at all times. We use these to carry outdoor toys and picnic fixings to the park on the weekends, to schlep parcels to the UPS/USPS, to drop off dry cleaning, etc. Super handy.
+Hermes sandals. Hate to say it, but these were worth every penny to me because they have endured years and years of heavy use and are absolutely the most comfortable sandal I own. I could walk all day and night in them and never see a blister. I’ve heard people wax poetic about the comfort of their Birks, too, so the point is just — super important to find comfortable footwear to accommodate the pedestrian lifestyle.
+Marmot rain jacket (currently 25% off!). This is more outdoorsy than I usually go but this rain jacket is a total MVP in my closet. It truly keeps all rain out, but is super lightweight and easy to throw in a bag without adding any bulk/heft. I even wear it while running in inclement weather.
+Davek mini umbrella. Related to the above: this is the best compact automatic umbrella on earth. It is so well-made (have never had it invert in winds) and is absolutely teeny. I did one time break one of the “spokes” and the company replaced it, no questions asked. Have bought this for a few people I love — it is so good! Weird to get excited about an umbrella, I realize, but there you go.
+Dark Sky weather app. I am compulsive about checking the weather since we travel by foot nearly exclusively, and it’s way better to wear rain boots out of an abundance of caution than to be caught downtown in the rain with no way to get home to your gear.
+StateBags belt bag. Similar to the backpack, great for hands-free life with small children. I also use this (a lot) when walking Tilly in the evenings. The perfect size for essentials.
+StreetEasy. The best way to find new apartments in these parts! Almost comical how much New Yorkers like to talk about this site.
+Excuse me?! These earrings are insane! I literally cannot believe the price! At first glance, I thought they had to be Oscar or something. Such a fun statement for a summer wedding. (More great statement jewelry here — all under $125!)
+Most of the MDW sales are ending today — but worth a quick skim in case you missed them!
By: Jen Shoop
*Image above via Dans La Main featuring their seagrass kelly bag.
Items I am currently lusting after…
1 // Dyson Dryer or AirWrap. I mentioned this in passing last week and was very intrigued by the rave reviews of the AirWrap in particular in the comments section. I meant to add that my stylist said Dyson has exceptional customer service, so I think I will probably buy directly from the source on this one, though I did notice that Nordstrom Rack is selling a refurbished dryer for under $300. (BTW, these are still the best curling irons on the planet. I’ve had the same set, with differently-sized barrels, since college, and they still work good as new. I’ve noticed that nearly every hair stylist I’ve ever gone to uses these, too!)
4 // Laura Davidson Soho Office Chair. Probably the single-most exciting piece of furniture I will be buying for our new home? Is that crazy? I have been desperate for a proper office chair!
6 // New Running Shoes. I am planning to finally go to a store to get fitted for my next pair, but I love the look of these as a general trainer shoe, and have heard good things about these ON shoes (currently 50% off). I also know a lot of runners swear by these Brooks. Their designs aren’t as good as Nike’s, but I will be open to whatever the experts tell me!
8 // Summer Mule. I bought this pair of pearl-clustered Tory Burch mules (<<nearly sold out on Yoox!) three years ago that I have worn so many times over the past few summers. They totally make any outfit and are so easy to wear thanks to the low heel. I’m interested in an alternative pair — a few I LOVE:
9 // Dressy Sneaker. I guess this is a shoe-centric roundup, because I would also love a new pair of dressy sneakers — either Loewe if I decide to splurge or Onitsuka Tigers.
10 // This SEA dress. I just adore it. I now think I might need it for my birthday dress…
11 // Chantecaille Mascara. Crazy expensive, but currently 20% off (through tonight — discount appears in cart). Have heard many good things about this.
P.P.S. In case you’re in a TV-watching drought. We are currently making our way through “Mare of Easttown” on HBO, the Formula 1 docuseries on Netflix, the new season of “Master of None” on Netflix, and a re-watch of VEEP.
I suspect that the biggest thing I will miss about New York is the pedestrian lifestyle. Our pediatrician is half a block from my apartment, as is my dentist. I have gotten into a bad habit of stopping by a little neighborhood bistro while walking Tilly in the evenings to pick up a to-go order of fries with house-made aioli when we are craving a potato side to go with steak, or roast chicken, or moules prepared at home. I have dashed out to the small grocer down the street for milk, or bananas, or bandaids, or toilet paper what feels like every other day of the week for the past two years. The bodega around the corner has a surprisingly impressive array of flowers for any given Tuesday, but if I want to up the ante, there are two lovely florists within two blocks of my home. Central Park is one avenue away, and so my running routes are blissfully close to home and the entire circuit — from walking out my apartment door to returning through it — takes under 40 minutes and I can be in the shower and then at my desk by 10 a.m. if I am disciplined about leaving as soon as our nanny arrives. Not bad when pressed for time. We can walk to the butcher, to countless restaurants (many of them among our favorites in the city — scroll to the bottom of that post to see all our treasured haunts), to great coffee shops, to a darling old-fashioned toy store, to two amazing ice cream shops (Van Leeuwen and Big Gay), to four or five fantastic playgrounds, to my OBGYN and my General Internist, to the farmer’s market, to two kid-friendly museums (Natural History and Children’s Museum), to a lovely children’s bookstore, to the groomer, to the vet. I could go on and on. But it is astounding how completely we can live our lives without ever leaving the Upper West Side, or needing to get in a car, or even having to factor transit time into our daily errands. We open the door, and the world is upon us.
That aspect of Manhattan — its walkability — has never fallen into the taken-for-granted oblivion of quotidian life. I was delighted by this lifestyle change when I moved to NYC almost four years ago, and I am delighted by it now. I love the unfussiness of slipping into my mules and running down the block for something narrow and specific — say, popsicles for the kids or a bottle of champagne to celebrate good news — without feeling it is onerous, or a commitment, or that I should first check a few shopping lists to tick a few other items off. I can sprint down the pavement and be back in three minutes, butter in hand. There is something about the proximity of everything that makes it mentally — and physically — easier to “up and go.” It continuously suggests the art of the impromptu. “Do you feel like margs?” I can ask Mr. Magpie at 5:44 one evening and return with a handful of limes and some tequila from the corner liquor shop by six. One of my favorite pre-COVID self-care rituals back when I lived down by Columbus Circle was ending my work day at four — an hour before our nanny left — and walking over to Epicerie Boulud to have a glass of rose at the bar while reading my Kindle. I can’t say it made for great reading, but it was fun to people-watch, chat with the barkeeper, and just sort of zone out in my own alone-but-not Manhattan enclave.
I will miss this.
We are moving to a house on a beautiful cul de sac and will need to drive everywhere — to the grocery, to the school, to the doctor, to the coffee shop. But as with so much in life, it is all a tradeoff, and the best way forward is to practice gratitude for what I have in the present and stay open-minded for the future. I am convinced I will soon be waxing poetic about the virtues of living on a cul de sac with no cut-through traffic, where our children can ride their bikes in peace. I look forward to the calm of walking my dog without having to dodge — well, anything. I will not miss the density of people, or the weird things witnessed on a regular basis because of that density — everything from people spitting on the ground just inches from your feet to the horrifying incident that transpired just last week, when a man started yelling obscenities at our nanny at the playground and then told her: “I’ll be waiting for you.” She called us in a panic, and Mr. Magpie dropped everything and sprinted to escort her home. We were all shaken, and I even thought that maybe I could start sending our dog out with her? (Tilly is a sweet thing but she is also 65 pounds, with a bark to match.) I’m not so naive to think that these incidents can’t happen outside New York. I grew up in D.C. and lived in Chicago and know that these things can and will happen wherever you are — suburbs and small towns included. But the frequency of these disturbances while I have lived here — that I will not miss.
There was a moment when we were walking through our soon-to-be new home that I stood in the backyard, beneath the set of quaint wind chimes that the owners had installed on the back patio, and I felt the most tremendous sensation of tranquility. No sirens, no unnerving yells, no honking — just, quiet. Stillness. The only thing suggesting the passage of time the undulation of shadow from the clouds above. I crave that right now. I don’t know if it’s a me thing — i.e., I’m naturally inclined toward wanting something a bit slower — or because of living in Manhattan through COVID with very few excursions outside the city, or because of living here with two small children full-stop, or because I am in my mid-30s and hungry for stability and quiet, or because I am entering a Walden phase of life, but there it is. I have a feeling that I will still open my door and find the world upon me — just a quieter corner of it.
Post-Scripts.
+Happy Memorial Day! Grateful for those who served.
+Memorial Day sales are still rolling. I have been updating this post with all my favorite finds, and I also have a dedicated section of my shop featuring top picks!
+For enquiring minds: apparently this is the best bra ($32!) to layer under nap dresses. It works well with the necklines!
+Splash pad season is officially upon us. I bought micro this popover and mini the girl version (also comes in pink, but mini will not stand for pink when her brother gets blue, as “blue is my favorite color,” as she informs me five, six, eight, twenty-two times a day). I had been eyeing them for awhile and had hoped to score them on sale but they’ve been selling out left and right, so I finally pounced. These will be great for the stroller ride / walk home from the park, and then for pool and beach days in the Hamptons in a few weeks, and then for after playing in the kiddie pool behind our home in a few weeks after that! (!!!)
+In this same vein, but some extra Dock & Bay towels to keep in the basket of our stroller — I’ve written so much about these but they are great because they take up so little space compared to standard terrycloth towels and are surprisingly absorbent. Great for travel or city babies.
I am itching to try a new trend this summer: a matching skirt and top set. It feels so fresh, as demonstrated above with a skirt and crop top from label Alexis, and then you can get extra mileage wearing the pieces separately, too. A couple of other sets I’m loving:
*Don’t know the source of the photo above but is it not a dream?!
**Happy Memorial Day Weekend! Lots of sales happening right now, and I’ve shared all my favorite finds across them here. I also created a dedicated shop page with all my favorite sale finds here for quick access! Absolutely everything on that page is on sale.
I can’t remember where I picked this up, but when I’m really struggling to fall asleep, I play a game: I pick a prompt (i.e., characters from novels, fashion labels, celebrities) and then go through the letters of the alphabet one-by-one identifying names that fit the category by letter. For example, in fashion labels, A — Alexis, B – Banjanan, C – Cara Cara NYC, etc. It requires just enough effort to keep my mind from spiraling towards anxieties and to-dos, but I have never (!) made it past the letter G without falling asleep. I first suggested this trick to my daughter a few months back, encouraging her to think of Disney characters or superheroes or fruits whose names began with each letter of the alphabet, and she seemed to like it, and then tried it on my self a few weeks ago and have been pleasantly surprised by its sleep-inducing ways. Give it a try!
*This trick reminds me of a favorite game my siblings and I used to play with my mother, called, inscrutably, “Botticelli.” You write the letters of the alphabet in one column running all the way down the left hand side of a piece of paper (i.e., one letter per row) and then, in a second column, write down the letters of a few words picked at random. We used to just open a newspaper and pick a headline, i.e. (pocketing this straight from my WSJ app): “SHELL ORDERED BY DUTCH COURT TO CUT EMISSIONS.” So then you have a bunch of letters paired together: AS, BH, CE, DL, EL…Then you set a timer for two minutes and you have to think of famous people (celebrities, athletes, authors, politicians, artists, etc.) whose initials match each row. So you might write: AS — Adam Sandler; BH — Ben Harper; CE — Chris Evans; etc. When the timer’s up, you share your answers and cross out any ones that are in duplicate (i.e., that you and another player both listed). Whoever has the most at the end wins. It is such a fun way to pass a rainy afternoon on vacation, preferably with a big bowl of ranch crackers.
Post-Scripts: Denim Shorts.
+A lot of you have been asking for non-distressed, longer-length denim shorts — I like these a lot (maybe size up? I think the trick might be to size up in denim jeans so that the legs are nice and roomy). Imagine paired with a voluminous, tucked-in blouse like this or this.
+I thought of this too late (mini’s last day of school is Friday!), but how sweet to pass out these little bracelets to friends parting ways at the end of the school year?
+In case Memorial Day snuck up on you and you’re determined to greet the Fourth with something more festive, all my favorite red, white, and blue style picks for you and your littles here.
By: Jen Shoop
If you had asked me five years ago whether I would ever wear sneakers with a dress, I probably would have scoffed. My how things have changed. Now I consider a chic sneak an essential part of my wardrobe, and I pair them with everything! Below, sharing a few of the chicest sneakers out there for summer 2021, all under $100…
CONVERSE HI-TOPS (WORN WITH APLOMB ABOVE — GET HER BILLOWY DRESS LOOK WITH THIS OR THIS AND HER CARAMEL SHADES WITH THESE)
I’M EYEING A PAIR OF ONITSUKA TIGERS AFTER SEEING THEM ON A FRIEND THE OTHER DAY — EVEN MORE FUN COLORS HERE
*So inspired by the photo above (source unknown — found on Pinterest), which is a reminder to be unafraid about mixing patterns and styles. We have the same Stark antelope rug in our current living room as the runner seen above and I love the way the house above pairs that animal print with ladylike details and colors. Chic! Also, the runner is $160 and such a good way to introduce that pattern in a foyer or hall!
**Note that many home furnishing stores are running Memorial Day promotions, including my beloved Serena & Lily, which is offering 20% off everything. I know many of you use these promotions to upgrade your lighting to their lovely styles, including this hobnail and this fun style which comes with a scalloped shade. Their Balboa coffee table has also been very popular with you ladies!
Mr. Magpie and I sat down one evening and went through photos of our new home to generate an exhaustive list of needs, wants, and wishes for each room. There are some things we may never do (there was talk of a semi-elaborate reconfiguration of the basement at one time), some things we likely won’t do for awhile, some things we aim to have done in the first year or two, and some things we plan to do immediately. At the top of the latter list are putting up a new fence around the entire backyard — the current fence goes only partway around and we need the entire space enclosed, and while we’re at it, plan to put up something to our aesthetic tastes that runs around the entire perimeter — and buy some pieces of furniture we feel we must have in order to have a functional home. We are generally of the mind that we prefer to go slow and steady on the furniture-buying front to fully understand how we will use the space and to avoid rushing to purchase items we will later feel “smeh” about, but there are a handful of items we will need to make use of spaces we were not fortunate to have in Manhattan:
1 // Sectional for Family Room. I’m pretty dead-set on something from Pottery Barn. I’ve written about this elsewhere but I find their products well-priced and of good quality for our young family. I like this slipcovered, roll-arm style the best. It’s sounding like it will get to us some time in 2024 at this rate…I really have no clue which color to go with. It feels like they have 95 shades of cream, taupe, and gray…?
2 // Media Console for Family Room. We’re moving all of the furniture in our current living room into our new basement, including our much-loved Jayson Home couch and Room and Board media console (in white). Have I already talked your ear off about Room and Board? They make really, really good quality pieces. The console weighs a shipping ton and is in great shape despite its prominence (and therefore vulnerability to destructive little children) in our living room, and we also have a drop-leaf dining table from them that has impressed us to no end. Anyway, Mr. Magpie is very…particular about the placement of the TV on the wall and its relationship to his fancy speaker and sub set-up (he swears by Kef if you are in the market), and he loves the media console because it’s the perfect height to sit beneath a big TV without requiring viewers to angle their heads up to watch. Plus, it has those convenient cut-out shelves perfect for the various technology boxes and speaker gear he has. So we’ll be moving all of that into the basement to create the movie-watching experience of his dreams, along with a new TV down there whose dimensions he continually, vaguely rounds up. (“Oh, it’ll be like…80 inches or something.” Hm.) For the family room media console, one of the things we are thinking we might like to do in the next few years is have some custom built-ins installed in the family room and in Mr. Magpie’s study — and maybe in the basement, too? But for now we want to buy a console for the space as we don’t intend to undertake that project in the immediate future, while we’re still figuring out how we will use all of the spaces and what we’d like to store where. A few consoles I found attractive in my initial hunt:
I WISH THIS CAME IN MORE COLORS — SO GOOD, BUT NOT AS INTO THE BLACK/GUNMETAL
3 // Desk Chairs! We’re finally treating ourselves after somehow muddling through with more decorative chairs for the past year. Mr. Magpie has his eye on one of these Herman Miller styles, but I’m gunning for one of these Laura Davidson beauties for $300. I first heard about the latter from a Magpie reader whose interior designer had recommended it as an attractive desk chair (didn’t know they existed prior) and then my chic cousin mentioned that she has one and adores hers. I love the saddle brown leather (looks so expensive!) but will probably go with gray or even white to fit with my to-be-determined writing nook aesthetic. There is a sitting room off the master bedroom that is just perfect for my writing! It looks out on dense foliage and I’m planning to place my desk right in front of the window and happily write my days away there. I want to eventually wallpaper the room (I have always had my eye on Osborne & Little’s Farfalle print — maybe I’ll take the plunge in that room!), but for now, it will be home to my little white desk, my new office chair, and those tall leaning bookcases that are currently in our living room to house all of my books and cherished decorative objects. Maybe one day I will also upgrade my desk (which has been with me since college, if you can believe it) to something spectacular like this or this, but
4 // Outdoor Dining Set. The new house has a lovely covered porch that overlooks the backyard. We thankfully inherited a white wicker seating set for one end but need a dining set for the other. My sister generously offered us a beautiful stone-slab outdoor table that used to belong to my grandparents (!) that has these cool white wrought iron legs with ivy leaf detailing — hard to describe. We aren’t yet sure if we are going to take it, but if we do, these S&L dining chairs are basically tailor-made for the table. It’s kind of unbelievable! Very similar white iron legs! If we choose to go a different direction, I shared some of my other favorite outdoor pieces in this post and will probably narrow in on one of those options! I was also intrigued by the Magpie who mentioned she purchased a classic teak set from a local shop, as the current owners had a teak table and chairs there, and my parents-in-law were encouraging us to follow suit. We will see where we land. I will absolutely keep you along for the ride.
5 // A Charcoal Grill! Mr. Magpie was heartbroken when he sold his Weber kettle before we left Chicago. I remember him coming into the house, dejected, just after he’d seen it off — it was like losing a part of his identity. Mr. Magpie and his grill are like extensions of one entity. He’s eyeing one of these “Performer Deluxe” ones.
6 // Counter Stools. As you know, I’ve always loved the look of these S&L ones, but I’m not sure the vibe would work in the kitchen, which has darker countertops and a more traditional (not coastal) feel to it. I’m wondering instead about some of these options:
REALLY LOVE THESE BUT AGAIN NOT SURE THEY’D FIT THE VIBE OF THE KITCHEN…
Future state, I would love to put up window treatments in the kitchen and family room (just off the kitchen) that tie the whole space together. The current owners have simple solid colored drapes that will be perfect for now but I am interested in turning up the volume as I slowly decorate the home. I’ve always loved Schumacher’s Citrus Garden pattern and think it would be so fun to install a little roman shade in that print above the kitchen window above the sink (that overlooks the backyard) and then have drapes in the family room that match. But maybe that’s too bold given all of the windows in the family room? Maybe something like Quadrille’s China Seas or Schumacher’s Acanthus (both in my preferred dusty blue colors) would be better for such a big space.
6 // Pendant Lights for the Kitchen. A small aesthetic preference, but I loved everything about the kitchen except the pendant lights. The kitchen currently has three running down the middle of the island but I think I will cap the center outlet and just install two bigger ones. A few I love — not all of them will be perfect for the kitchen but wanted to share them all here —
Also sharing a roundup of some favorite home recent home finds here…
IN LOVE WITH THIS WHITE NIGHTSTAND — ESPECIALLY FOR A NURSERY/LITTLE GIRL’S ROOM, BUT ALSO KIND OF JUST LOVE IT IN GENERAL…THAT PULL-OUT TRAY IS SO CLEVER!
The shopping gods are smiling upon us this week! Nordstrom just marked a bunch of goodies down —
+Patagonia Baggies for Men — Well-loved by countless men, including Mr. Magpie. Sort of a hybrid between a swimsuit, gardening/exercise shorts, and loungewear. I like the athletic 5″ length! I also found these similar North Face ones on sale in GREAT colors. Just added the blue to my cart for Mr. Magpie. These will be handy for when he’s gardening and doing yardwork in our new home!
+Guerlain Bronzing Powder — you know I’m obsessed with their bronzer compact! It’s the only brand I’ve used in probably a decade. Intrigued by this variation, an on-the-go powder applicator, and it’s 40% off!
+St. John Knit Blazer — a serious investment but the kind of thing you will have forever and ever. Would look chic paired with jeans or over a little dress or — as intended — with a black skirt. I’ll never forget when my Dad bought my mother a St. John Knit suit when I was little. It was A Big Deal. I remember going with her to Neiman Marcus and thinking it was the fanciest thing I’d ever seen.
+Kissy Kissy Footies (also in a car print) — if you’ve followed my blog for awhile, you know Kissy Kissy was my favorite brand for my babies. So soft, such high-quality!
+Nailmatic Polish Set — mini loves this children’s polish, and I love it, too, as it rinses off with water! Great to buy now for gifts for little girlfriends.
+Diono Convertible Carseat — I got the Nuna Rava (you can earn a $100 reward credit by purchasing it a Bloomie’s through 5/31, which is what I did), but in polling many of my fellow Magpie mamas, the other top recommended carseats were the Diono, the Clek, and Maxi Cosi. If you’re inclined toward the Diono, it’s 15% off now! One thing I liked about the Diono and the Clek is that they are narrow enough for three carseats across. I won’t have a need, but I like the narrow footprint regardless. It gets squishy back there wedged between two carseats! Anyway, it is such a score to get a pricebreak on these gear investments!
I took about six inches off my hair last Friday, wielding an embarrassingly optimistic handful of inspiration pictures featuring the long bobs worn by Hailey Bieber (see above), Heidi Klum, and Jennifer Aniston. My stylist — the sweetest soul from Venezuela — nodded enthusiastically and then, his shears just inches from my hair, paused.
“Are you ready for this change?” he asked.
“Yes,” I replied, as though being asked whether the seat next to me was vacant. That is – unthinkingly, and without inflection.
“No,” he said, and my head snapped up. “Are you ready for this change?!”, issuing a noticeable crescendo in his sweet-tempered voice. I paused. It was as though the universe was speaking directly to me as I barrel towards a season of change. A Magpie reader’s words materialized, as though arrested in a cartoon bubble above my head: Go boldly into your decisions. I looked at him in the mirror.
“YES!” I near-shouted.
“OK then!” he said with a smile.
Coco Chanel said that “a woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life.” I left that salon walking straight into the unknown with what can only be described as big summer 2021 energy.
And here we go…!
Post-Scripts.
+I am thinking I might eventually gather all of my NYC recs in one place because I’ve gotten so many one-off inquiries about nanny agencies, cleaning services, restaurants, activities, etc., but let me mention here that Gerardo at Polaris Hair Salon has my entire heart (and my unwavering faith, and he has no idea I am writing this). He is meticulous. He is excellent with cuts and also gave me the best set of highlights I have ever had — I like my highlights with a very fine hand (i.e., not as much contrast, no chunky sections) and I know that takes time and attention. He is an artist! He is also the loveliest man and so easy to sit with for an afternoon. Conversation flows but it’s never awkward if you sort of zone out for a bit. Traits not to be underrated in a stylist!
+Before I discovered Polaris, I used to go to Cutler Salon in Soho, which is also incredible, but I found I was losing an annoying amount of time in transit to/from versus being able to walk down the street to Polaris on the UWS, which was non-trivial for me especially when I was breastfeeding and did not have a full-time nanny and therefore my time to myself was very scarce. (Cutler is also…the coolest? place on earth? I would always come home and tell Landon that the salon must exclusively cater to supermodels. It is always full of beautiful people wearing clothes I do not understand and hair styles I didn’t even know existed. Definitely a good spot if you like to be on-trend. The stylists will know what you want before the thought has even formed in your mind.) I used Adrianna for color (excellent) and Melissa for hair (also excellent), though I believe Melissa has relocated to IGK Salon down the street. She’s worth following to IGK — she is extremely well-regarded and frequently does celebrity hair! She is also a doll. A cool doll. Fun and funny to be around, and I kind of always want to know more about her downtown cool life. I’m telling you, Cutler feels like the wellspring of all things new and trendy.
+You all know I have been in a committed and enthusiastic relationship with my Revlon One-Step for the past year and change. Definitely one of my best pandemic-era buys. I think it single-handedly helped me not descend into despair — it always made me feel pretty, and polished, but required so much less time than any other heating tool I’d ever used. Anyway, I may be changing my tune a bit because my new hair style — more of a blunt/angled bob — does not work as well with the One-Step, which I primarily used to get a smooth, long blow-out with a slight bend at the end when my hair was down to my chest. I now find myself needing to use the one-step and then a flat iron to achieve the effect I want. When I was at Polaris, Gerardo used the much-touted Dyson and I asked him about it and he could not speak quickly or volubly enough about how much he loves the Dyson. He said he loves the texture of the hair after it’s dried by the Dyson, which uses ionic heat and is much gentler, but also more powerful (takes less time)? I don’t know the specifics but I was really hung up on his conviction that hair is much smoother and shinier after the Dyson. Definitely going to be considering this investment in the coming weeks.
+I shared this a couple of months ago, but I am polar in my shampoo/conditioner regimen: I either use Pantene Pro V ($12 for an enormous duo of shampoo and conditioner) or Oribe’s outrageously expensive shampoo and conditioner. I find Pantene superior to the vast majority of middle-priced shampoo/conditioners, but Oribe just blows everything else out of the water IMO. It is so luxurious and so effective. A reader did tip me off to the fact that TJ Maxx often carries Oribe at a great discount worth considering!
+Farm Rio is just DOING it for me this season. Adore this loud skirt. More statement dressing here.
+I spent a small fortune shipping these melamine cups for little children over from the UK. They are a great size for tiny hands and come in the sweetest prints — mini had specifically begged me for a cup with astronauts on it, and this was the only one I could find, and so I bought it and all the other patterns to justify the shipping. I just discovered these cute ones from Rice that would fit the bill! I also love these summery pastel printed ones by the same brand.
+For before you trust your child with an open-top cup: I love these simple Re-Play sippy cups. Come in great colors, super sturdy, non-garish.
+S&L just launched 20% off everything for MDW — this is such a fantastic ottoman/coffee table option, and how gorgeous is this scalloped patterned duvet cover?!
+I literally gasped when I saw this black tie-appropriate gown. Have it bookmarked for my sister’s eventual wedding celebration, which has sadly been canceled twice! Once for COVID, the second time because the venue she had booked was permanently closed owing to COVID-related issues.
+And finally, speaking of pearls, thanks to Emily for finding this incredibly fun pearl-and-raffia purse for $21! I love adding an exclamation point to an outfit with a little bag like this.
By: Jen Shoop
UPDATE (May 30th): Top Memorial Day sale sellers here!
The sales are starting to roll in — thought I’d share some of my favorite scores here. Will keep this updated as the week progresses! A few of my top picks here:
+25% off and free ship on Fresh items at Sephora. I exclusively use their wonderful (!) body lotion, and have for years and years. It smells absolutely incredible and leaves skin so hydrating. Is it weird that I love the smell of my Weezie robe because it always smells vaguely of this lotion, which I always apply while wearing my robe?
+25% off at Nicola Bathie using code memorialday — as you know, my favorite statement jewelry designer! I adore my cameo drops, but have been eyeing these for awhile now and may have to scoop up!
+Frontgate is offering some incredible deals on furniture — I mean, this gorgeous pedestal table (perfect for kitchen nook) is on sale for $399, down from $1500!!! — but also a great time to snag some chic pillows and planters for the backyard.
+J. Crew is pretty much always on sale and the current promo isn’t as good as I’ve seen it, but this Liberty shirtdress is 40% off the sale price!!!
+Dermstore is offering 20% off a range of products — I’m using the promo to try the facial suncreen you all have been urging me to try!
+25% off everything at ASOS. This dress is SO fun for summer.
+Kid Made Modern is offering 30% off sitewide this week. These arts and craft kits are great for rainy days, holidays, and gifts for other children. The supply library is a good place to start, but this vacation activity pack would be fun to pack for an upcoming getaway and mini would get such a kick out of this cooking-themed one.
+CPC is back on Zulily. They make my favorite shorts for my daughter (even more styles here — we have the tennis embroidered ones this season!). The brand typically runs a bit big but I find they run small in their girls’ shorts and would advise sizing up if in question. I usually prefer a shorter inseam in my son’s shorts, but I do love their Dylan shorts for little boys because they come in such great prints! These run a little big. Also: $13 for an incredibly high-quality white polo?! YES.
