For as long as I can remember, my father has had a designated perch in his house — one seat on the sofa, slightly more depressed than the others, that has always been his home base. My dad permanently keeps his iPad and glasses on the table adjacent because that’s where he’s most likely to rest himself.
Do you have a favorite seat in the house? The spot that feels best to fall into after a long day? The nook that tells your body “everything’s OK”?
The first that came to mind for me was the top step from our back porch down through the tiered garden beds to our patio. It’s an odd choice, because we have an outdoor sofa, rocker, and arm chair — not to mention full dining table — steps away, but that flagstone step is my preferred aerie. It’s often warm with the memory of sun. But I like it best robed in full-sun at high noon, almost too bright to see. I love the blessing of the rays on my shoulders, the feeling of being surrounded by branches and birds, and the solidity of the stone beneath me. It immediately sets me right. Sometimes I even read out there until my bones protest and I find myself in search of a softer landing. But for most days, and most stretches of time I have for just sitting, it’s my beloved.
What about yours? Please share your safehaven, and how it cossets. I love to honor the spaces that make us feel our best.
+Back to Doen, though. Over the MDW, I treated myself to this gorgeous red gingham version of our favorite June top after seeing it on the glowing Ruby Campbell. I just love her summer glow and easy breezy vibe.
+BTW, Marea has such great pieces. I really love their Lake Sweater because it has more of a fitted/cropped silhouette that cinches in around the waist. And one of you wrote to say you think their pointelle pieces are better than Leset, and I got this tee, and I have to say, I got this tee and I might agree?! It’s a bit stretchier and more fitted. I’m also loving their white eyelet, like these shorts and this top!
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By: Jen Shoop
It’s the summer of gingham. (And also, sardines, butter yellow, crochet, and roping.) But gingham is somehow the tie that binds all these nano-trends together with its sweet, homespun, outdoor-picnic vibe: it’s just asking for bare feet and sunshine.
Gingham Summer Dresses.
I want to start with two standout red gingham dresses I’ve been ogling from afar —
Lastly, I am swooning over all things chocolate brown for summer. Love the idea of mixing and matching brown patterns with rattan and roping. It just works! Two favorite finds below —
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
By: Jen Shoop
I hope you’re reading and loving Wild Dark Shore as much as I am — can’t wait to discuss in about two weeks! — but I also wanted to share that I have been side-carring (yes, we’re anointing it as a verb) with some lighter fare most nights of the week. I find that reading a frothy romance before bed dispels any worries I’m carrying from the day and guides me straight into peaceful sleep. It asks almost nothing of me after long days that seem to paw at my pockets. I think that a part of this has to do with the trope-density of the romance genre: familiar shapes, legible patterns. Ah, we’ve been here before. Katherine Center (author of one of my beach read picks below) recently commented: “The central question in a rom-com is never ‘will they or won’t they?’ Because they will. They definitely will!” I think this is a core part of the chamomile I find in romance reading: it is never whether they’ll get together; it is when. So it’s all effervescent speculation rather than true agita.
I will admit that I’m pretty quick to abandon ship if I’m not into a romance trope, not interested in the characters, or distracted by anything too heavy in the plot line. I generally DNF beach read books heavy on the grief motif. I have a lot more forbearance when I’m reading literary fiction — I usually know the effort will be worth it, or at least worth reflection. For these lighter books, I often feel a little manipulated, or dragged through the mud, when there’s something too intense on the docket.
Anyhow, for romance/lighter fare, I am a Kindle Unlimited subscriber so I almost always have something new queued up that is covered by the subscription that I can ping-pong over to without much guilt when I DNF something. (Although, I will be the first to say that I never feel guilty for buying a book even if I don’t finish it. I love to support writers in any way I can!)
My Top Rec for a Summer 2025 Beach Read (So Far).
The standout from my recent beach reading: One Golden Summer. Just as delightful as the last one, and probably even more resonant if enjoyed somewhere close to water. A must-pack if you’re going to a lakehouse this summer. This is my top pick for an easy, romantic, funny, nostalgic, slightly spicy summer read. The setting alone is spectacular! It has the feel of a teenage summer romance (slow build, wet bathing suits, dock dives!) but unfolds between two thirty-somethings with their own baggage, and the protagonist, a professional and acclaimed photographer, is smart and self-aware. I enjoyed the meta-fiction about how, as a photographer, the protagonist navigates the requests and demands of her clients and the reception of her work in the art world — I couldn’t help but imagine Fortune was writing about herself navigating parallel concerns as a writer.
I’m currently reading My Favorite Bad Decision by Elizabeth O’Rourk. The banter and friction is excellent so far, and I’m enjoying the backdrop of two fated lovers climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. Makes for interesting setting, pace, and serves as a built-in plot driver (rising action, climax, falling action — clever). Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, only one bed (tent), forced proximity.
Next in my romance/beach read TBR pile:
It’s A Love Story by Annabel Monaghan. Just came out yesterday! Description: “A former adolescent TV actress-turned-Hollywood producer whose “fake it till you make it” mantra sets her on a crash course with her past, forcing her to spend a week on Long Island with the last man she thinks might make her believe in love.”
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. (Release date: June 3rd.) I know a lot of us are enormous Reid fans, beloved for her The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six. In an interview, she described Atmosphere as follows: “It just felt like time for me to write a very high-stakes, dramatic love story…What is my Titanic?” I already pre-ordered this! I couldn’t help myself. I will be traveling to a resort for a week shortly after submitting my manuscript and I will be diving in. Description: “An epic new novel set against the backdrop of the 1980s space shuttle program about the extraordinary lengths we go to live and love beyond our limits.”
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry. The queen of the beach reads! I absolutely adore Henry’s backlist (if you are somehow new to her, start with Book Lovers! So charming.) Description: “Two writers compete for the chance to tell the larger-than-life story of a woman with more than a couple of plot twists up her sleeve in this dazzling and sweeping novel from Emily Henry.” This book has gotten mixed reviews! A lot of talk about how this is a departure from her usual style, but then others have said it’s still got that signature Emily Henry joy and pleasure to it. I’m looking forward to it!
Back After This by Linda Holmes. This was a top rec from Magpie readers! A lot of you read and enjoyed it; will definitely get to this in the coming weeks. Description: “A podcast producer agrees to host a new series about modern dating—but will the show jeopardize her chance at finding real love?”
Anywhere with You by Ellie Palmer. (To be released August 5.) I’m already looking forward to taking this with us to the lake at the end of the summer, when it’s released! Description: “A nostalgic, heartwarming romance about a Type-A woman who road trips through the Minnesotan woods with her non-committal childhood best friend . . . only for their long-suppressed sparks to start flying.”
The Love Haters by Katherine Center. Just released and have been hearing good buzz. Description: “Katie Vaughn has been burned by love in the past―now she may be lighting her career on fire. She has two choices: wait to get laid off from her job as a video producer or, at her coworker Cole’s request, take a career-making gig profiling Tom “Hutch” Hutcheson, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Key West. The catch? Katie’s not exactly qualified. She can’t swim―but pretends that she can.Plus, Cole and Hutch are brothers. And they don’t get along.”
Park Avenue by Renee Ahdieh. (Release date: June 3.). This one sounds fun: “Fans of Crazy Rich Asians, Schitt’s Creek, and White Lotus will get more than their fix of backstabbing and danger. A delectable and drama-filled thriller.”
A Few Thriller Picks, Too —
If you’re not a romance reader — well, can I convince you?! Ha. But if you’re not, my mom is an avid thriller reader and recommended The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis (about art theft at the MET) and Famous Last Words by Gillian McCallister (suspenseful domestic thriller).
Two other thriller releases on my radar this summer:
+With a Vengeance by Riley Sager (release date: June 10th): “One train. No stops. A deadly game of survival and revenge. In 1942, six people destroyed Anna Matheson’s family. Twelve years later, she’s ready for retribution.”
+Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell (release date: June 24): “three women are connected by one man in this kaleidoscopic thriller.” You might remember her from None of This Is True, which I know many Magpies loved. I also enjoyed it but it was one of the first thrillers I ever listened to on audiobook and I didn’t really enjoy that experience? I think I prefer to read thrillers in paper.
Finally, one of my best guy friends just asked me to read this with him, saying he’d heard it described as a contemporary Bonfire of the Vanities. The book jacket describes it as: “A pulse-pounding novel of class, privilege, sex, and murder, from the New York Times bestselling author of Two Nights in Lisbon and The Expats.” I already bought it!
For More Dedicated Romance Readers —
A beach read I drank in big gulps last month: Lucy Score’s Story of My Life, described somewhat curiously as “Gilmore Girls Meets Schitt’s Creek.” I don’t really understand the GG reference but it is a small town, and it is comedic. I’d describe it more crisply with these handles: grumpy male love interest, fake dating, and the main character is a romance novelist herself, so there is a fun level of meta-fiction. This is true “genre genre romance” in my view. You might like if you’re a fan of Elsie Silver.
Along the “genre genre romance” / Elsie Silver lines, Jessica Petersen released the third installment of her Lucky River series in late April. These are spicy, sparkling cowboy romances. I find she reaches heavily for family trauma in this series, FYI.
Lastly, you might consider Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez. I know a lot of romance readers love Jimenez (including one of my sisters) but I’ve never read anything from her! This one garnered a lot of positive praise! Description: “There’s no such thing as a perfect guy, but Xavier Rush comes disastrously close. A gorgeous veterinarian giving Greek god vibes—all while cuddling a tiny kitten? Immediate yes. That is until Xavier opens his mouth and proves that even sculpted gods can say the absolute wrong thing. Like, really wrong. Of course, there’s nothing Samantha loves more than proving an asshole wrong . . . unless, of course, he can admit he made a mistake.”
Book Lover Finds.
Not related to books, but had to mention that Dorsey is launching some new paracord pieces today — keep your eyes peeled! Their previous paracord sets sold through quickly and then eventually became available again via pre-order. They’ll have some chic bracelets this go around, for $200!
Onto book lover finds: I want all of the bibliophile items below, and I also think they’d be such fun gifts for book club members, or birthdays of friends you’ve made via book club.
+My favorite tabs for physical books. Love using these if I’m going to be discussing the book with someone else (book club!) so I can remember the bits that jump out at me.
+Gorgeous ex libris embosser! Also love this style. And if you’d rather have a sticker version, these are cute!
+A candle that smells like the library?! I need this. Olfactory notes: “A luxurious leather-scented candle laced with vanilla, drawing inspiration from an old library with leather hardbacks and dusty floors.”
+Frosted (reusable) “book lover” cups for your next book club! How cute?! The gals can take them home! And love these book-print plates for snacks.
While curating the finds above, I kept coming across gorgeous special editions and collectible sets that I’d love to see on my own shelves, and decided to put them all in one place here. I have also been noticing a trend in more contemporary romance novels of books with painted edges — fun joy-sparker. For example, take a look at the Katherine Center book recommended above with its aqua-painted edges. A fabulous lagniappe if I’ve ever seen one!
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
By: Jen Shoop
Some of us have been talking in the comments section about this burgeoning “summer fashion vibe” that seems to incorporate a lot of adjacent nano-trends: sardines, crochet, jelly sandals, sunkissed hair, gingham. It feels like a European coastal summer, boho-adjacent. It all kind of goes together, but it’s difficult to subsume under one name. I am especially drawn to all the crochet pieces I’ve been seeing this season; it feels youthful and easy and beachy, even if I’m just heading to cocktails with girlfriends — as I was above, wearing Aligne! A Magpie reader wrote to let me know that this J. Crew Factory dress nails the vibe for less, and I also spotted this longer-length variation over at Varley in case you’re not loving the mini length.
05. This collared shirt offers a fun twist with a crochet detail against denim — so feminine!
06. Obsessed with this Gap crochet tank, which is already in my closet and has already been happily worn. The tomato red color is so good! And the matching pants — to die for!
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
By: Jen Shoop
I am trying to praise the great gift of “the normal” this week. I specifically voided my calendar of all daytime appointments, lunches, calls. I am determined to run no errands. I need a week of unimpeded time to write, and also to just be when I’m not writing. We all need time to do nothing.
I am aiming to bottle a moment from last Thursday, when I flopped onto the couch beside my son, who was reading a Baby Sitter’s Little Sister book (his older sister is the most powerful book influencer in the world), and just laid there for ten minutes, doing nothing at all but studying the perfect spray of freckles across his nose, the way he occasionally mouths the words to himself. I fully listened to the sounds of my husband in the kitchen, and the weather in the window, and — yes — a catbird call every now and again, audible in the family room if you pause to listen.
I want more of those couch moments and less of that sensation of “rapid movement with little depth.” (A navigational hazard: finding yourself stuck in the shoals.)
In this spirit, I am today republishing a modestly edited version of an essay from two years ago — one in which I saw and praised “a day of small things.” This is the energy I’m after: a week of the small and luminous. I am thinking of the first line of Walt Whitman’s poem, “Inscription” (which I believe was actually some front matter for a draft of “Leaves of Grass” but I could be wrong): “Small is the theme of the following Chant.”
This, then, is the perfect opening line for my praise song this week:
Small is the theme of the following chant
****
On the way to a birthday party last weekend, my son’s chatter filled the car, inexhaustible. A new “tell” of his, this chattiness: an augury of excitement. It was the same the morning of his “visit day” at his new school, when Mr. Magpie and I took him out for breakfast before walking him into the red brick building to meet his teachers and classmates, his tiny body swinging between us (“one, two, threeee!”). That morning, his prattle had become a fourth companion, filling every void and pause in conversation, and overwriting most everything else, too. Observations and memories tumbled out of him, wedging their way around us.
The insight tugs at my heartstrings, reminding me that perhaps I haven’t been as dutiful as I could have been about finding occasions in which he plays the lead character rather than the sidekick to his opinionated, older sister. He finds a tiny stream of attention and basks in it, a cat lolling in the sunshine.
Still, I strained to keep my focus from wandering as he burbled about Halloween costumes, “that red car,” why the party’s location had been moved and where it had been moved, why his friend did not go to our Church. Suddenly: “that’s where God is, in the colored window.” I peered at him in the rear view mirror. “Right, mama?” I paused. Sometimes he will steamroll right along if not answered immediately, and I wasn’t sure I had the stamina to engage in theology at 1:45 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon, especially as I inwardly prepared myself for the throttling experience of supervising a young child at a birthday party while engaging in splintered, desultory conversation with other parents.
“Right, mama?” he persisted. “God lives in the colored windows at Church?” I could see in this language a sweet perversion, or adaptation, of something he might have learned at school about stained glass. Perhaps a kindly teacher or priest talking about its metaphor.
“Well, yes,” I said. “But God is everywhere, too.” He thought for a moment, and then we walked briskly in the direction I’d anticipated and loosely hoped to avoid, in which he asked whether God was in his seat, the car, the grass, the street light, the tree, the neighbor’s dog, Spider-Man, his pinky finger.
“But he’s all broken up?” He concluded, mystified. I long ago decided that I would participate in this kind of wonder at the mysteries of faith when my children presented them rather than strain to explain something I myself struggle to understand.
“Yes, He’s everywhere, and in everything. It’s a mystery we can’t fully understand. But He is there.”
“Ohhh,” he nodded. “God is magic.”
And I thought — that’s not a bad landing place for a four year old’s theology.
And I also thought, with some small inward regret, how ill-conceived it had been of me to temporarily hope to dodge this conversation, how wrong it was to have considered his inquisition ill-suited to the time, to the venue. Revelation operates according to its own timetable. It is rarely opportune. Sometimes our most profound insights arrive when we least expect them. Who was I to divert my son’s?
I was reminded, too, all of the sudden, of a quote from Zechariah I’d displaced for years:
“Who dares despise the day of small things?”
He is talking about the re-building of a temple, how paltry the first stones must have looked when laid.
And I thought how all my days are filled with small things. The tiny feet padding around outside my door in the morning, the filling of the coffee mug, the packing of the lunches, the “I love you!” thrown out the car door at drop-off. And yet they eventually stack up to the great things: family, comfort, the rhythmic warmth of domesticity.
My son’s recitative about God in the trees, and in the dog next door, and in the fabric of his carseat suddenly feltpercipient, well-shaped.
So, yes —
Here I am, ready to praise this day of small things.
+Hill House is launching its “nightgown capsule” today at 9 AM. Nellie Diamond has declared this “nightgown summer,” and I love the ethos — bare feet, cottage life, a tad romantic and other-wordly. There are such gorgeous pieces included!
+A Magpie reader recently launched this gorgeous loose tea business. I ordered The Bright Side! (“Warm cedarwood, bergamot zest, lemon peel. Perfect for energy.”). I love boiling water for tea in Fellow’s Clyde Electric Kettle. We actually also own their Stagg kettle, but we keep the Clyde out on the counter for tea (which we brew almost every night during the week). It has such a genius and sleek design — you just tap down the button and it pops up when ready. It has a much bigger capacity (1.5L) than the Stagg and is simple and fool proof and so chic!
+My striped Vee Collective bag is 30% off with code VEEPRESALE30. This is such a fun color option, and a great alternative to the more ubiquitous MZ Wallace bag. (Which I do love, too.) I’ve been using this striped one specifically for schlepping to kids sports events. It has a wipeable exterior so you can set it on turf / dusty benches / etc without worry.
+I just ordered some protein powder from Ballerina Farm. Do you have a favorite protein powder? I feel like all I read about these days is how much women need more protein! My sister was just in town a few weeks ago and urged me to start mixing some protein powder into my morning shake. Apparently this sells through quickly…
+Simkhai’s elegant Jazz dress is on sale in select colors. This is such a fabulous and elegant silhouette — the kind of thing you can wear to school events, meetings, dressier occasions, etc. My sister and I call this elevated, sophisticated look “Midge.” It’s very Midge.
+My Internet friend Katie of Beach Reads and Bubbly just released the cutest merch!
+Reminder that F+E has dramatically discounted some GREAT buys, like this tuxedo front shirt (own and love) and my favorite sweatpants (currently wearing – run TTS and great for petites).
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
By: Jen Shoop
Spotlighting my absolute favorite summer-scented candles for the season ahead —
01. Hotel Lobby Hamptons Candle — My sister called this “our signature scent” last summer because we burned it from May to August. It smells like geranium, basil, tomato, sunshine — fresh, full, happy. Hotel Lobby is offering free shipping through today with code MDW25 and a $20 gift card if you spend over $150. Good incentive to order a few candles and dole out as gifts throughout the summer! Wanted to mention that it comes in the most gorgeous packaging. Gift ready!
02. Linnea Fields Candle — the olfactory notes list “open meadows and golden hay fields.” It smells like a bouquet of flowers cut with grass. I love this one, and I actually keep the diffuser of this scent in our powder room. It has the most beautiful, light, fresh scent — not overpowering, just a clean floral. (Use code MAGPIE10 for 10% off!)
03. Flamingo Estate Roma Tomato Candle — Rich sun-warmed tomato vine scent. I read somewhere that this candle smells more like a tomato vine than a tomato vine does, and that’s definitely the vibe — pulpy, rich, earthy. This is a more full-bodied scent than the previous two, but I love it just as much.
04. Tocca Montauk — Salt air and cucumber. Deeply fresh, like a window thrown open at the beach.
I have a few other scents I’ve read rave reviews of while going deep down random Reddit threads — these are what I’d consider if I want to splurge, or if I’m a big “scent enclave” person:
01. People seem to obsess over Diptyque’s Citronelle candle, which apparently is prone to sell through each season. Verbena, neroli, and orange blossom combine with lemongrass (which is apparently a natural mosquito repellent). Love the label design too, featuring artwork by Marie-Victoire de Bascher.
02. I am always gobsmacked by Cire Trudon’s complex, layered scents. I’ve mentioned this before, but I remember reading a quote by an interior designer who said that you should never quite be able to identify the color of someone’s wall paint — it should always be “it’s sort of gray-blue-green” or “pinkish-brown.” Complexity is sophisticated. This is how I feel about Cire Trudon. You’d be hard-pressed to put your finger on exactly what you’re smelling — rich, evocative, nuanced. Anyway, they’ve released two limited edition summer scents I’d love to test: Under the Trees (cucumber, blackcurrant bud, mint, cedar) and Lost in a Moment (red fruits, macaroon, lily of the valley).
03. Loewe’s cucumber! Someone on Reddit specifically said “the cold throw is wild” — meaning even when not lit, it perfumes the place with a spa-like, cucumber-forward scent. Plus the packaging is so chic!
04. I’ve heard Nest’s Cucumber and White Sage smells incredible, too, if you want the spa vibe without the Loewe price tag. This is a part of Nest’s new “Wellness” line and I’ve heard the scents are all quiet good (and under $50). The Rosewater and Himalayan Salt intrigues me and has been compared to Diptyque’s justly popular Baies.
Chime in share your favorites, too! Curious what you keep burning!
Other Summer Scented Household Products We Love.
Adjacent household scent purchases I love:
+This counter spray in Doheny Drive or Mayfair really make my kitchen smell fresh and summery. It’s currently 30% off! (Promo ends today, 5/26.)
+For hand soap, you have to try Molton Brown’s Rhubarb and Rose (currently 25% off). Smells absolutely divine and I love the consistency of the soap — it doesn’t come out all gelatinous and gloppy. This has been my long-time go-to for our powder room.
+I did pick up the Flamingo Estate Tomato hand soap (currently 20% off!) for this summer as a little treat! Generally, though, we conserve those for the powder room and keep much less expensive hand soap in the sink, as we go through so much of it on a daily basis while cooking. We like Mrs. Meyers and they have some fun new scents out for the season (they also have a tomato vine option!), and for eco reasons, we like the aluminum bottles of Grove Co (scents are pretty muted, fyi) and Clean Cult, which comes in a cardboard box. We decant those hand soap pumps at both of our kitchen sinks. For Clean Cult, we’ve tried and liked the lemon verbena but I’m intrigued by the “sea mineral” option — it’s in my cart for next.
+Santa Maria Novella Pomegranate Clay. This is a year-round obsession for me — I bought this in Florence when we were there last October and keep it in my closet. It perfumes the room (and delicately — the clothes, too) in the most luxurious way. My clay is just now losing its scent, and I am absolutely ordering a replacement. It’s like having a lovely candle lit all the time — smells of bergamot and rose — and looks lovely, too. This would also be pretty on a bookshelf or entryway table.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
By: Jen Shoop
First, a head-note: amidst the flurry of MDW sales this weekend, I discovered my beloved Alice Walk is offering 20% off basics. They rarely do promotions like this, and I cannot imagine my weekly wardrobe without them. I absolutely love this half-zip — it’s a thinner weight and great for transitional weather, but I especially adore the silhouette. A little longer/covers most of the bum, so love to wear with leggings. I’ve gotten one for my mom and MIL. As with all things Alice Walk, the quality is impeccable. Soft, luxe pima cotton with heavy-duty gold hardware and reinforced stitching. Also obsessed with these tees — run a bit longer than your run of the mill tee and have a great swingy fabric and shape.
Now onto everyday outfits for an active summer — the Alice Walk half-zip being a perfect top layer for the vibe I’m after!
****
For the past year, I’ve found myself leaning on athleisure in the morning. I’ve used this word a few times in the last week, but these pieces feel “interstitial” for me — they are the quick grab-and-throw-on outfits for those “in between times” like drop-off, post-working-out, on weekend mornings, while running a quick errand, etc. I have found a couple of great pieces (and brands) that never fail to make me feel put together even when I’ve dressed myself in under a minute, and I’ve learned to mix them in with standard womenswear like tanks, sweaters, etc. Mood board I’m after below — one of my friends described the aesthetic as “Grace Kelly does Pilates.” Love.
Honestly, this might be my vibe for the entirety of this summer, as we will have a very busy and active time with family in town for a week of June, a weeklong resort stay, lots of camp drop off and pick up and swim practice, etc. I want to be wearing clothes ready for anything, whether that means taking a long impromptu walk with my visiting SIL, or watching my daughter at a swim meet without worrying about getting splashed. All my favorite finds below…
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
By: Jen Shoop
Almost halfway through the year, and what have I learned? What have been the 2025 themes? What am I working on? Some through-lines:
+That I must work to take my own joy and preferences seriously. At 40, I’m trying to lean into what I like and avoid what I don’t. This has meant reading a lot more romance books (especially at night, when I can’t sleep). It has also meant reminding myself that I don’t need to flutteringly fill in the blanks in every conversation or pretend to like foods that don’t do it for me. (I am just not a bean lover. I can’t explain it – texture? Most of the time not seasoned enough? For years I forced them down. But I can have opinions! And I can avoid the beans if I want to! I eat everything else!)
+That the main muscle I exercise when running is my mind. I mean this both from a process and result standpoint. Process: whenever I want to stop running / feel gassed / etc, it’s usually my determination (all mental!) that gets us over the hump. Result: I run more for mental wellness than fitness, and boy does it pay handsomely. Running requires such discipline. I almost never want to run, and I almost always count down the minutes until it’s over, and the will this requires is training me to be forbearing in other areas of my life, too. I think my dedication to daily writing is in part shaped, or fortified, by my running habit.
+That the body is bad at keeping secrets. So I really must take good care of myself; the truth will out–!
+That my children often need less needling and more space to explore and become themselves.Let them be those backyard blackberry thickets! Let them make their silly jokes, and run around in mismatched pajamas in the yard, and wear their exuberance. They are only this-young today. I am specifically working on not expediting my son. He often tells me: “Mama, you’re rushing me!” He is prone to dilly-dallying and distraction, but then I think of Uncle Buck: “I don’t think I want to know a six-year-old who isn’t a dreamer or a silly heart.” I’m trying to be more creative about the morning bottleneck with him — laying out his clothes in advance, hanging out upstairs with him while he’s readying himself not so much to verbally remind him to get things done, but to help if he’s stuck or can’t get the toothpaste out or looking for a sock so he doesn’t just give up and sit on the floor of his room playing (as he is wont to do). I’m also trying to say nothing at all when he’s eaten three bites of dinner in thirty minutes. It is such an exercise in patience. But the older I get, the more I think that the softest form of love is waiting. Waiting for someone to be ready, waiting for someone to finish, waiting for someone to come around. Love hangs fires. Love twiddles its thumbs. It does not run according to its own clockwork.
+That I only have today because of my younger self. I have been looking so tenderly upon the younger versions of myself. I keep a framed photo of myself at five on my desk, and I keep looking at her and thinking: “Girl, look how far we’ve come. Thank you.” Thanks for all the early and terrible drafts, the sleepless nights, the stress and anxiety, the hair-brained ideas. Thanks for trusting your gut. Thanks for running against the grain. Thanks for doing it your way. Thanks for all the reading, too. I have been sitting in my quiet studio writing my book and I when I come up for air, and look around, and realize what I’ve been doing all morning, I think: “Oh my God: this, right now, is what you’ve always dreamed of.”
+That writing is hard work. I’ve always known this, but this particularly intense time of writing my book has reminded me, in William Zinsser’s words, that “a clear sentence is no accident.” If I could anthropomorphize a clear sentence, it would be wearing steel-toed boots and a lot of sweat.
+That to be creative you must be a little delusional. Here is the truth: most of the time, I write and think I’m middling or terrible. One tenth of the time I think I’m pretty good. And then once every now and then I think: “Oh my God, that is beautiful.” But to be consistently creative, you have to remind yourself of the “Oh my God, that’s beautiful” moments, and trust they will come. If you don’t have that small nugget of buoying self-belief, you will never finish anything. I feel this acutely at this moment, when my self-assessments as a writer seem to be running on a broken barometer. One day I hate everything I write; the next, I look back at what I’ve put on the page and think, “Okay, okay, this is something!” I keep reminding myself to exercise the “Oh my God, that is beautiful” delusion.
There are other weighty things in chrysalis. Lessons borne of surviving a painful relationship, ambitions for my writing career, the wilderness of change. But these are less legible to me at the moment. I trust their meanings will make themselves known in good time. Nothing leaves us until it has taught us what we need to know.
Onward!
Sunday Shopping.
Merit’s new “Uniform” tinted SPF launched this week and I got my hands on a tube and I LOVE IT. There are several great products in this product category — I also like YSE, Iris and Romeo Weekend Skin, and RMS SuperSerum (although the RMS is a little bit of a different beast / in its own category) — but I am loving this one because it provides a little more coverage than the others. It’s sort of like a light foundation, but wears like lotion. Great for when you need a little extra oomph.
Also, another shout out for Buck Mason’s $40 pima boxy tee. I find myself reaching for this all the time. It is divinely soft (divinely), featherweight (ideal for layering and tucking) and has a sweet, feminine, shrunken boxy fit. I love love love it. I also adore and wear my SoldOut NYC ones a lot (still) but I find I prefer them when I’m tucking into a skirt / jeans on its own (has a more dramatic/pronounced shape) versus layering beneath something else.
If you, like me, can’t quite bring yourself to splurge on the cult-following $338 taffeta Donni gingham pants, try these from Wayf! Different material but similar ethos — and $75. But those Donni pants…eek! Just made available again for pre-order. The fit is so good…tempted. (See below.)
And for my scent enclave girlies: Crown Affair just did a collab with D.S. & Durga — a special edition scent of Crown Affair’s incredible leave-in conditioner. This product is absolutely incredible. I use it when my hair is feeling dry or when I go to bed with wet hair. It leaves hair so soft and tangle-free.
And one last little thought on styling that Everlane tee dress. This popped into my head when one of you commented on how much you love to wear tee dresses during drop off or any moment where you’re sort of between sessions. It inspired me to throw on this striped one this week during one of those windows, and also made me contemplate adding this Everlane (25% off) to my closet. Anyway, some pointed notes on how I’d style a t-dress, which can make me feel either schlubby / shapeless or like a little child if I’m not mindful about styling. I like to wear with a sweater or long sleeved tee to give the shape some definition and contrast — I wear around my waist or shoulders. The Ayr Early morning tee is perfect for this. Then I make it feel fresh by pairing with a trend-conscious sandal — a jelly would be great here, or anything raffia or slightly clunky. These make the look feel contemporary and considered. Last steps: elevate with a luxe hand bag and everyday gold jewelry. And then add some little whimsy to it — like this $10 bag charm or a juicy red lip.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
By: Jen Shoop
+TINY RITUALS FOR A QUIET LIFE: I loved this sequence of mini rituals from Jade Bonacolta, but was especially intrigued by her “two-tab rule.” Do you exercise this restraint? I have been intuitively doing this for my book-writing sessions. I will close out all windows and tabs so I only have my manuscript up, but I always have an extra tab or two open in the manuscript browser because I frequently fact check and sidewind into random pockets of technical language. (I was just researching the foxglove for a piece this week — fascinating etymologically!). I started doing this ostensibly to avoid the distraction of inbound emails, my blog back-end, etc, but I do feel that having less visual clutter in general helps me dial in and live on the page. What other mini rituals help you live a quiet life? My big one is standing outside in the morning, even for only a minute. I do this every day. Once you get comfortable with just looking at the world with no agenda, it becomes a great power pause. Also: rounding up on the parking meter. It helps you hopscotch over an unnecessary inner conversation. What else?
+OUR SIGNATURE TEE ON SALE: Friends! Our favorite AYR Early Morning Tee is on sale for $80 in the iconic and aptly titled “Magpie Stripe.” I know many of us own and adore these. A perfect hybrid between tee and t-shirt and ideal for — well, early mornings. Throwing on with leggings or jeans for a walk with the dog; tossing on over pajamas while sipping coffee on the back porch; etc. Join the flock! (Lots of other goodies included in the sale, too!)
+WRITING MOTIVATION: “A writer, like an athlete, must train every day. What did I do today to keep in form?” (Susan Sontag). Amen! We have to keep moving the dirt, keep shaking hands with the blank page. I now feel this more than ever as I approach the finish line with my manuscript. I was in good “form” heading into this project, having written daily for years. But it has still been incredibly challenging — as though I’d been regularly walking in the foothills of VA and then suddenly airdropped into a hike at altitude. The stakes are different, the air thinner. I was reminded of something Carol Joyce Oates wrote this week, too: “The first sentence can be written only after the last sentence is written. FIRST DRAFTS ARE HELL, FINAL DRAFTS PARADISE.” Trust Oats before me, but I agree with the statement in sentiment rather than specifics. By that I mean that I am only now getting into a real groove with the book; it’s taken shape, gone from gimcrack to gemlike, and I could only get there after many hours of work. But I also think sometimes my best line-writing comes out with immediacy and can’t be touched by the red pen. Some of it just emerges fully-formed! I can’t explain this.
+EYEING + BUYING: It feels like Cyber Week came early — so many great promotions happening. I shared my top sales and launches from the week here: Veronica Beard! Frank and Eileen! Madewell!
Also sharing some of my top finds this week below, like this fabulous eyelet one-piece I just bought myself (on sale!) and these rope cord sandals from Ann Taylor! They remind me so much of a few higher end styles. Very on trend. This led me to investigate Ann Taylor’s current offerings, and they have a lot of Veronica Beard inspired pieces, like this spectacular brown boxy top. How fabulous with a patterned brown skirt, white high-waist jeans, etc?! Meanwhile, this pleated-waist dress reminds me so much of my G. Label I wore here.
And – my son’s favorite bird-print half-zip is 25% off. I absolutely love the pattern. So fun to let boys wear whimsical patterns like this! I feel like they only get stripes.
Finally, who was going to tell me about Wiley Wallaby licorice?! I’m obsessed. I bought this sampler and we’ve been eating it all week. Delicious — not as sweet as you’d expect.
+BESTSELLERS: Lots of you picked up this gorgeous Cuyana tote (in my eyeing and buying roundup above, too) this week — did you get the same bottle green color as I did?! Mine arrived and is SO gorgeous. The shape is so chic and different, and I love the green!
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
By: Jen Shoop
Last summer, we spent eight days in Aspen, Colorado, and could have easily stayed for a month and fully occupied each and every morning, noon, and night. I grew up spending my summers there, and not much has changed, so I recognize there’s an element of nostalgia here, but I’ll say this nonetheless: there is nothing like a Colorado summer, and Aspen has its unique charms to sweeten the pot.
Getting to Aspen, CO.
Most of us on the Eastern seaboard (where the bulk of Magpie readers live!) will need to fly to Denver to get to Aspen. You can then rent a car and drive four hours, or connect in Denver and fly to ASE — a charming, postage-stamp-sized airport whose runways are cluttered with private jets. We have done both. After driving from Denver to Aspen on our most recent trip, I’d suggest connecting flight in Aspen if you have children under, say, 8 or 10. It’s a long last leg, and the roads are windy (both of my kids got carsick! My sister’s kids were so sick from the ride, they had to find dramamine and drove a different, longer route back). Otherwise, it’s dealer’s choice. I will say there’s something nice about driving since you don’t need to worry about making the connection (for some reason, I always find that the timing between flights is irritating for that last leg — either too little time or way too much), and the drive in the summer is spectacular. You cross Independence Pass (the Continental Divide!), drive through banks of snow (even in July), and generally feel on top of the world. I also spotted marmot, deer, and elk on our most recent drive, and there are sections with street signs to look out for Big Horn Sheep! The timing didn’t work out on this trip, but there’s a BBQ restaurant called Smokin Yard’s BBQ about 1.5 hours outside of Denver that is supposed to be excellent and would make a great late lunch pit stop to break up the drive.
Note that you will lose phone service for a good portion of the Independence Pass drive — be prepared with directions!
Where to Stay in Aspen.
For my entire childhood and every visit since, we have stayed at The Gant. It’s a development of privately-owned condos that offers a lot of the amenities of a standard hotel (daily housekeeping, pools, a concierge, a van that takes you wherever you want to go, common areas, a nice coffee shop/wine bar on premises). The units are not luxurious, but they are comfortable. And I am obsessed with its location. You’re a short walk into the heart of town (maybe 5 minutes to City Market / Paradise Bakery), but you’re at the base of Aspen Mountain and can walk onto Ute Trail within minutes. Personally, Landon and I have fallen out of love with AirBnBs/VRBOs in recent years — so many rules, random fees, and we’ve heard too many horror stories from friends — but having access to a kitchen, common living space, etc when you’re traveling with kids makes a world of difference in terms of everyday comfort. The Gant is perfect from this standpoint: no sketchy interactions with a private owner, most of the comforts of hotel living, and lots of space. That said. If we return just the two of us (and I think Lan and I will be going back to hike the trail between Crested Butte and Maroon Bells next year), we plan to stay in one of the hotels, and would consider 1) The Hotel Jerome (an Auberge property with beautiful Western style — we used to go to breakfast here once a week when growing up, and will visit for cocktails every time we’re in town); 2) The St. Regis (probably the premiere luxury option in town); or 3) The Little Nell (an Aspen classic popular among skiiers because you more or less ski in and ski out — it’s right at the base of the lift — but would also be a great pick regardless of season because it’s smack dab in the middle of town).
Unit at The Gant, Aspen
The Gant, Aspen
What to Do in Aspen.
Our rafting guide on this most recent trip said: “If you don’t love the outdoors, Aspen is a hard place to live.” He was right. Aspen’s principal charms, IMO, are its spectacular views and wealth of outdoor activities. Below, a few of my family’s favorite things to do in summer:
+Go horseback riding. We had a fantastic experience with Maroon Bells Outfitters on this most recent trip. They have lots of different offerings (including dinner rides, multi-hour rides, etc), but the one hour option was perfect for all of the little cousins on this most recent trip. My son (5) was too young for this, but we were able to sign him up for a 30 minute pony ride, which he loved. It was much more interesting than just a walk around a paddock — they took him to a little pond and then a field, and he had a ball.
+Walk the Rio Grande Trail. This starts down in Herron Park and is an easy, paved route if you’re traveling with young children, elderly, strollers, etc. It’s one of my favorite ways to start the day, and will take you across and along the Roaring Fork. Another easy, family-friendly walk runs along Ute Drive, crosses the Roaring Fork, and ends on 82 (easy walk into the center of town).
+Go birding at Hallam Lake with a guide from ACES. (I wrote about my most recent experience here.) Be sure to check out the calendar — while we were in town, we were able to attend a Raptor Fair geared towards children that they loved and included being within a few feet of a bald eagle, an osprey, several types of owls, etc. They have lots of great nature programming and excursions and even a summer camp for kids that I used to attend (still in operation, but didn’t work with our scheduled this year).
+Go rafting. Blazing Adventures is the group to use for this. You can meet them at their shop at the base of Aspen Mountain and they bus you out to your put-in point. The guides were phenomenal and were able to tailor our ride down the Colorado River to perfectly accommodate the interests and capabilities of our 5 and 7 year old. This was one of the most memorable parts of our trip! The views are breathtaking, and the guides point out all kinds of local, natural history. Very entertaining. (They provide all the wet suits and gear you’ll need, FYI.)
+Go fly-fishing. My Dad is an avid angler (there are many stories from my brothers-in-law about the humiliation of trying to fish next to my dad — he’ll cast once and reel in a 14″ rainbow trout while they’ll be out there for hours in vain) and likes to fish the Roaring Fork, the Frying Pan, and several of Aspen’s lakes and reservoirs. Many of these are stocked, some are hike-in, so depends on your comfort level. I do remember my dad shopping at Taylor Creek Fishing quite a bit in my youth — I think he liked the flies they carried and trusted the clerks for insider intel on what the fish were eating at the moment — and would start there if you’re looking for a guide.
+Ice cream and live music at Paradise Bakery. Every night from 7-9 PM, a small concert takes place in the small square in front of Paradise Bakery! Truly romantic.
+Rent bikes. We did not do this (not big bikers in our family — yet!), but the Aspen Bikes shop on E. Durant street is always (and always has been) abuzz with activity.
+Take in the Snowmass Rodeo. We had a lot of fun here this most recent trip! Even the people-watching is fun — a lot of cowboy cosplay — and they have a decent “saloon” (bar) with passable margs and other fare. We ate dinner here (BBQ) and it’s sort of part of the experience but it’s nothing to write home about either — just FYI. Lines for food can be long, too. The website makes a big deal about limited parking, so we took two public buses to get to the rodeo from Snowmass and then found there was ample parking after all…? Take that for what you will. (At the same time, the Aspen/Snowmass buses are clean and well-run, so no complaints.)
+Take the Gondola to the top of Aspen Mountain. You can buy tickets the day-of at the base of the mountain. (Kids 6 and under are free.) Lots of fun things to do at the top — play structures, an enormous chess set, and musical instruments for the kids; disc golf for adults; and general wandering around what feels like the top of the world. There is also a small cafe, and it always feels like something’s happening up there — live music, Mass on the Mountain (for fellow Catholics!), etc.
+Go hiking. Probably one of the main draws for me — lots of great, advanced hiking in the area. My favorite trails are Cathedral and American Lakes (start at the same trailhead — both lead to spectacular lakes), Ute Trail (rocky switchbacks), and the Independence Lake Trailhead (you get pretty close to 13K feet on this trail). Weller Lake Trail is an easier hike that ends at a beautiful lake — worth considering if you’re with mixed skill levels.
+Attend a performance put on by the Aspen Music Festival + School. I have great memories of an evening listening to Chopin a few Aspen trips ago. Check out the calendar!
+Visit Maroon Bells. The most-photographed mountains in the the U.S.! Breathtaking. Note that you now must buy a pass in advance to park here. Some of the outdoor outfitters offer shuttles, too.
+Storytime at the Aspen Public Library. We loved this as kids!
+Play golf at Aspen’s public golf course. This is unlike any public golf course you’ve been to before. Beautifully maintained with spectacular views. My husband, brother, and brothers-in-law had a blast playing this course this summer.
+Visit the Aspen Art museum. Small but packs a punch – great to pop in while wandering town or on a rainy afternoon.
+Wander through the Farmer’s Market (Saturdays). The line for doughnuts is insane! We loved the kettle corn stand.
+Visit one of the incredible local playgrounds — my kids loved the one on the edge of Wagner Park and at the base of Aspen Mountain, close to Ute Trail, called Ute Playground. Next level! There are also fountains the kids (and dogs) love to run through just down the way from Wagner Park. Grab a coffee at Unravel and let the kids loose!
+Specific to the Fourth of July: attend the parade (so charming!) and run or walk in the Boogie’s Race.
Where to Eat in Aspen.
Despite spending a lot of time in Aspen, because we’ve always stayed in condos, we’ve cooked in more than eaten out! This most recent trip, my parents hired a private chef to prepare all of our meals, as we had so many people (20!) with different dietary needs/preferences and various schedules owing to all the little children around. However, these are places either I’ve been or that people I trust recommended:
+Paradise Bakery – best breakfast pastries (cinnamon roll!) and evening gelato. I’d skip the coffee. For coffee, go to Unravel or Origin (at The Gant and surprisingly good — my brother-in-law and I were both obsessed with a cardamom latte they had). Paradise opens at 6:30 a.m. and there’s usually line by then — but it does move quickly.
+Ajax Tavern. Sceney in a way that might make you think you’ll get overpriced, underwhelming food, but the food is legitimately good, and the location is fun — right at the gondola/lift. A good place for a burger, glass of wine, and truffle fries. Kid-friendly!
+The White House Tavern. This was the place to be this past trip — never without a long wait. We tried to go twice but were turned away on both accounts! Modern American fare that looked delicious. Maybe next time…
+Casa Tua. An Aspen staple — refined European-meets-local cuisine.
+Meat and Cheese. In spite of its non-descript name, great carry-out options for a picnic or lunch for a group, and a cute little restaurant, too. Very busy while we were in town.
+Prospect at Hotel Jerome. We used to come to the Hotel Jerome once a week for breakfast when we were kids, and my dad and brother still talk about the huevos rancheros.
+Cache Cache. My parents’ favorite Aspen restaurant from back in the day!
+Clark’s Oyster Bar. I walked by here several times and my mouth watered at the plateaus of shellfish each time.
+Poppycocks. Full disclosure: my husband would hate this restaurant, but it’s a classic diner spot (think carafes of coffee and packets of butter) that all the locals love. Great for families. Usually has a line.
+Cocktails: Bad Harriet at the Hotel Jerome. Such a cool, cozy ambiance with a very interesting cocktail program.
Where to Shop in Aspen.
OH the shopping…! One thing I love about Aspen’s shopping is though you will probably be able to visit these boutiques elsewhere, they are all curated and merchandised so well to the Aspen context. For example, the Ralph Lauren there carries such a specific assortment of products tailor-made for the environment, the vibe, etc.
+Pitkin County Dry Goods. It’s been around for ages and carries lots of on-trend brands, from Cara Cara NYC to Emporio Sireneuse, alongside smaller brands I’ve never heard of. This place is always packed with stylish women from all over.
+Miron Crosby. To splurge on beautifully-made boots.
+Aspen T-Shirt Company (407 E Hyman Ave). You need the sweatshirt! I think this little stand has the best Aspen swag.
+COS Bar. This retailer now ships nationally, but started here in Aspen! Great curation of beauty brands, perfume lines, etc.
+Carl’s Pharmacy. Carries lots of fun novelties, toys, beauty brands, etc. Fun to wander around in. Kind of like a European pharmacy.
+Monkees Aspen. Fun, spendy, trendy kids clothes and toys. I almost bought a $70 intarsia sweater with ASPEN on the front…
+Ralph Lauren. The O.G. As noted above, an exceptional curation of their pieces tailor-made for the Aspen experience. While we were there, they put a small Ralph’s Coffee cart out front offering passersby free cold brews!
+Aspen Eclectic. An institution in our family. My parents used to give us each $20 to spend while in Aspen and we’d agonize over what to buy at this little toy shop. We took our kids there on this most recent trip, too.
+My mom and I also enjoyed popping into and out of several of the designer boutiques there — Bottega, Prada, etc.
What to Wear in Aspen, CO.
Layers! It is 45 in the morning and 75 at high noon. Most days, I’d start in athletic wear for the outdoorsy potion of the day (leggings or shorts, hiking boots, tank top, long-sleeved top, sweatshirt, hat), then switch into Birkenstocks for post-adventure lounge, and change into a casual dress for afternoon/evening. The vibe is upscale casual. I saw a lot of “cowboy cosplay” — boots, hats, turquoise belts around little white dresses — but you won’t feel out of place wearing pieces from Veronica Beard, La Ligne, or Doen that read classic Americana, but a little un-done. Ed. note: I published a “what to pack for Aspen/Vail” in June 2025 with a specific guide on what to wear here — links to all items in image below there!
You can see a few photos of me in my Aspen wardrobe from last summer here.
I also shared a mood board on what I’d want to wear in an ideal world on my various trips this summer here.
Final Notes / Tips on Travel to Aspen in Summer.
+The adjustment to the altitude is significant. It took us about 48 hours to fully acclimate — you’re at nearly 13,000 feet on the top of Aspen Mountain! Air is thin and we often felt dizzy and out of breath. Take it easy the first day or two (no big hikes — better to schedule horseback riding or rafting one of these days). Drink lots of water.
+My skin was so parched and dry while there — be sure to pack lip balm (I love this) and heavy-duty cream (I used this as a moisturizer).
+Paradise Bakery is the earliest spot open for breakfast/coffee if you’re trying to hit the trail early — opens at 6:30. (We did a thorough scan.)
+Sun is intense. You’re much closer to the sun! Be sure to pack sunscreen.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
By: Jen Shoop
Earlier this month, Landon called us to the yard: he’d found a four-foot-long rat snake draped across one of the branches that overhangs our drive. We couldn’t believe it; would you ever think to find a large snake in the suburban canopy? Rat snakes are not venomous to us, but long enough to be scary, and apparently known, according to our neighbor, to feast not only on rodents but bird eggs, which might have explained its aerial perch. Reader, I did not care for its clandestine callings. I made a wide arc into the lawn grass each morning to avoid its possible encounter, and I pointlessly worried over the nests it might have found.
The next day, a catbird — common as grass in these parts — launched into what must have been a two day long chant. The catbird has a distinctive song, if you’ve ever heard it: melodic but jumbled, liquid and trilling and seeming to go on for a long time. They also mimic other birds, animals, and even machinery, so it can sound like a helluva lot happening — almost like a breathless child telling you about her day, and in exclamation points and random departures into sound. I’d never heard the catbird so riled up or protracted in its palaver, though; it vocalized for hours one night, while Landon and I sat at the grill, and it woke me up two mornings in a row, too. Of course, it might have been several catbirds, or perhaps I’d simply never paid the catbird call any attention before, but it seemed to me one clear voice, and with a lot to say. Of course I cannot stare at the fabula without inventing the syuzhet, and so I imagined some horror story in which the rat snake had eaten the cat bird’s eggs, and we were witnessing a marathon lamentation.
Meanwhile, my daughter complained of “a weird machine sound” outside her window for nights on end. I thought she meant a leaf blower, or an auxiliary power unit, or any of the other normal but motorized suburban sounds to which we’ve become accustomed, but when I finally sat with her one evening, I realized she was hearing frog song, probably from the neighbor’s pool, and then I, too, couldn’t unhear it at night.
Between the catbird and the frog calls, and the rat snake threatening my morning peace, I came to feel like a visitor in these parts. A wayfarer interrupting, or attempting to coexist with, the natural. It’s medicinal to feel that way every now and then, I think: small, peripheral. This is one of the central bestowals of living in or near Northwest D.C., come to think of it. The Midatlantic’s native wilderness pokes through or dominates certain stretches of the urban landscape, reminding you that it came first. If you’ve ever driven down Military Road or through any part of Rock Creek Park, you know what I mean: there are parts that feel untouched by humans despite centuries of dense proximal habitation.
As always, I look for the constellated meaning. I think I have been asked to wake up to my world. To let the noise in. To hear the wild song, and not wish it away, or dismiss it as background noise. It’s simple really: let the wild heart beat how it wants.
+Two things have been hanging out in my J. Crew cart and I just got them while discounted: this dress for my daughter and this eyelet one-piece. Don’t sleep on J. Crew swim! I usually go up a size in their swim — just fits me better for some reason, though I usually take my true size in their other pieces.
+Love LaMareGold’s latest drop! I own this Sammy dress in a past season print and she’s SO easy to wear in peak summer. The new print is so darling! Also available in a cute shirtdress format.
+OMG my beloved Rothy’s clogs are 30% off! These are probably one of my favorite belongings. No, really, I love them that much.
+I mentioned the ZIIP nano-current products earlier this week, and they followed up with a code: 10% off with code SHOOP. I’ve now watched a lot of videos of people using the ZIIP Halo device and am officially intrigued, especially by the way it lifts and firms skin. (Another recurring thought that’s arrived as I barrel towards 41: do I have jowls? Will the ZIIP help?). I’m not sure if you follow Cheryl of If It’s Tuesday (she is just the loveliest person), but she has a highlight in her profile of how well it worked for her, and I really trust the products she vets. I might be jumping on this one.
+So many of you loved this striped hoodie I shared a week or so ago; another fun striped sweatshirt option here!
+My cousin is having twins this week and I already picked out these pointelle footies. The sweetest colors (we don’t yet know the genders) and the magnetic closures will be much-appreciated when dressing TWO in the middle of the night. And, of course, we love pointelle….
+Just came across this “relief bra” from the brand Eby. Has anyone tried? Compelling description: “Our answer to ditching the discomfort of traditional underwires without sacrificing support, lift, or shape. It’s the seamless wonder you’ve been searching for and quite frankly, the only bra you will ever need.” This is maybe what I’ve been looking for, because I often have to decide between the underwire of my Natori Feathers (the most comfortable underwire EVER but still it’s there…!) and the shapelessness of my Negative bralettes (so comfortable but not what you want beneath a thin white tee).
+Back to swimwear for a sec: this is not even really my usual style but I love this sporty suit from Summersalt! The brown and black combo is very chic and I like the fit. I already own their flagship “sidestroke” style and it’s a bestseller for a reason. It is so flattering and practical if you’re swimming with kids / chasing kids / etc.
+The brand Hatch just reached out to me and offered to send me one of their Restores, which so many people have raved about. The idea is that you can leave your phone somewhere else and instead use this for sleep sounds, a bedside light, a clock, and — most appealingly to me — a “sunrise alarm” that gently wake you up in the morning. I’d be thrilled to never hear the piercing, triggering alarm sounds of the iPhone. It was such a timely introduction because Landon and I have been talking about leaving our phones in the office or downstairs or at least across the room as a deterrent for doom scrolling in the middle of the night. I’ve gotten pretty disciplined about reaching for my Kindle instead of my phone but every now and then…and I really wish I’d not check my phone first thing in the morning!
+Something else I love on my night stand: Soft Services’ ultra-luxe hand cream. My sister and her wife raved about this over Christmas and I had to copy. The lotion is ultra-hydrating and luxe, and I love the sculptural dispenser! It’s currently 10% off (the only sale they offer until Black Friday) when added to cart.
+Mini has been begging for hoops all year long and I’ve been worried about her snagging it on a sweatshirt or having it yanked out during sports. I think I’ll still require her to switch earrings when doing something athletic, but this week, we found out she no longer needs to wear her eye patch (!!!) and I decided as a way of celebrating all of her effort and forbearance in her daily occlusion therapy, I would get her some new earrings. I got her these and added on these fun summer studs from Pip Pop Post, and then picked up these little flower hoops at Oh Clem, too.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
