By: Jen Shoop

+20 SECONDS OF AGONY + GENTLER WORKOUTS: I loved two of the unexpected fitness wisdoms from comedian Nikki Glaser’s recent interview with Goop. First, she comments: “I love doing one thing every day, even for 20 seconds, where you’re in agony—like holding a plank—because once you get done with it, everything else seems easy for the rest of the day.” I deeply related to this, and I think this is part of the blessed psychology of exercise. Is there anything better than driving home from a sweaty run? You’ve already accomplished something good, and nothing can erase it. The rest of the day is upside. Later, she observes: “Being gentle with workouts is new to me. It was always about like, you have to run seven miles per hour…now I just do 30 minutes on a treadmill with a 12 incline, three miles per hour. It works. And then you get emails done—even take it down to a 2.5 if you are gasping and mess with the incline, but [I’m not] running as much anymore. I was always running.” It reminded me of a big shift I made about a year ago: I stopped tracking my runs. I know (gasp!) — this runs against our collective Magpie religion. But I found I was being too hard on myself, too competitive. If I had a slower run, or petered out early, or didn’t reach the four mile mark, I wasn’t giving myself credit for what I had done. It was leading me to a deficit mindset. Now I run without watch and without app. I have my usual routes and I know their rough mileage, but I really don’t pay attention to pace or time or distance anymore. For me, this has been huge. It has led me to think about exercise in a binary: did I run, or did I not? Doesn’t matter how long or far. If I moved my body, I consider it a win. Gentler running!

+JOAN DIDION ON HEMINGWAY: I loved this clip of an interview with Joan Didion, in which she talks about studying Hemingway’s sentence construction. In it, she comments: “They appeared to be so simple but you’d come away from a string of them with this overwhelming feeling….You know what was going on. There was withheld information.” An absolutely perfect description of Hemingway’s writing. But the thing I love most is when Charlie Rose asks, “but you got it,” as in, “you cracked the code on Hemingway,” and she says, simply, “yeah.” Yeah?! I absolutely love her shrugging confidence in her craft.

+FOR THOSE WHO ALSO GREW UP ON PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: This clip. LOL.

+EYEING + BUYING: Can’t stop thinking about this spectacular Zimmermann dress from a new favorite e-boutique called Casalina. So many fabulous pieces from brands I love, but a little different from the assortments I’ve seen elsewhere. I also currently have this gorgeous sky blue pochette crossbody in my cart — it’s 25% off this weekend with code COSFRIEND.

This week, I stocked up on these 20 oz Stanley quenchers in the cutest mint green color while 25% off. I literally bought four to stock my gift closet! These are a great gift for girls aged 5-9. I personalize them with these vinyl stickers (10% off with MAGPIE10)! I also ordered my children new lunchboxes (ugh, I know, we almost made it to the end of the year!) because theirs were actually falling apart. I found these on sale at Nordstrom Rack! More great NRack finds here.

And, last note, I had to order one of these adorable “Story in Gold” pendants for myself. You can submit artwork from your child and they’ll engrave it onto the necklace! You could also do this with your husband’s writing, or a little sketch from your mother, or some other hand-drawn memento from a loved one. How sweet?! I scanned in this little note my son wrote me when he was four that I also have framed on my desk. He was just learning the shapes of M and A and would write really long Mamas — mamamama — or mamam. A great mother’s day gift for yourself. If you do buy, try code JENSHOOP at check out. I believe it gives you 30% off!

ZIMMERMANN CAFTAN // SKY BLUE CROSSBODY (25% OFF WITH COSFRIEND) // CROCS FOR KIDS (ON SALE!) // VARLEY ZIP TOP AND SHORTS // 20 OZ STANLEY QUENCHER (25% OFF) // VINYL ALPHABET STICKERS (10% OFF WITH MAGPIE10) // CUSTOM ENGRAVABLE HEART PENDANT // LUNCHBOXES

+A NATURALIST’S MANTRA: “Despite all our accomplishments, we owe our existence to a six-inch layer of topsoil and the fact that it rains.” – Paul Harvey. What a way to put our own trivialities into perspective.

+BESTSELLERS: This white dress (almost sold out; a few left as of time of writing!). I also have this in my closet and cannot wait to style now that the weather is warming. I was also delighted to see two very chic Banana Republic finds in this week’s list; they’re still running their 40% off Friends and Family promotion. All my picks from the sale here.

01. TUCKERNUCK LACE CAFTAN // 02. JULIA AMORY BETTY DRESS (USE JEN-15 FOR 15% OFF) // 03. BANANA REPUBLIC WHITE EYELET PANTS (40% OFF!) // 04. VERONICA BEARD EYELET DRESS // 05. TARGET MARY JANE FLAT // 06. FARM RIO TOP // 07. PERFECT STRIPED TEE // 08. BANANA REPUBLIC DRESS (40% OFF!) // 09. GAP GAUZE SHORTS // 10. UNTUCKIT WHITE OXFORD DRESS // 11. DORSEY RIVIERE NECKLACE // 12. ANN MASHBURN POINTELLE CARDIGAN

+SPRING SHOES FOR CHILDREN ON SALE: Wow did I find a treasure trove of great spring shoes from some of my favorite brands this week — all around 30% off. I literally just bought my daughter a pair of lilac crocs at full price, and now I found this pair in a color I slightly prefer for 25% off!

NIKE SOCKS // ADIDAS SOCKS // NEW BALANCE BIG KIDS SHOES // NEW BALANCE TODDLER SHOES // FROSTED LILAC CROCS // HOKAS // FLOAFERS // RAINBOW CROCS // MINI MELISSA JELLIES

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.

By: Jen Shoop

ALIGNE DRESS (LOOK FOR LESS HERE; ALSO LOVE THIS NEW ALIGNE DENIM SILHOUETTE) // MERCULES BAG // LARROUDE FLATS // JENNY BIRD EARRINGS (10% OFF WITH JEN10) // MIGNONNE GAVIGAN NECKLACE (OLD, SIMILAR WITHOUT FLOWER HERE)

Sunday Mass Dress.

I could live in a shirtdress. So easy, so comfortable, so flattering! This one is linen and boasts the most gorgeous chintz-like pattern — looks like a designer motif from like Scalamandre! Runs just a tad big, as does all of Tuckernuck’s house label for me. I went down to an XXS (I’m typically an XS) and the fit was perfect.

TUCKERNUCK CHLOE DRESS // FREDA SALVADOR JULES FLATS // DANS LA MAIN BAG

Everyday Stripes.

This is sort of a sequence of outfit moments. I started with a hero dressing approach — layering my favorite tee, my favorite current jeans, and one of my favorite comfortable cardigans — and then a package from Kule arrived later in the day and I layered the striped tee beneath the striped sweater. There’s some felicitous about layered stripes. Love.

SOLDOUT NYC TEE // MOTHER JEANS // MINNOW CARDIGAN // DANS LA MAIN BAG

LATER IN THE DAY: KULE STRIPED TEE // LARROUDE FLATS

Boho Meets Prep. (And, IMO, the Best Button-Down.)

I absolutely love this Sezane button-down — it has a tailored but not-too-tight fit that is somehow both feminine and structured. I think it has to do with button placement. Does that sound ridiculous? But it unbuttons to the perfect point on the breast bone. (Do you ever have a button-down where you’re too buttoned-up but revealing too much if you undo an extra button?). I also find that the material folds up at the arm and then stays put. I’m not constantly re-rolling. Don’t ask me about the magic; it just works.

DOEN SEBASTIANE SKIRT (LOOK FOR LESS HERE, HERE) // SEZANE SHIRT // J. CREW TOTE // QUINCE SUEDE MULES // HART CHARM NECKLACE

Utility Pants Comfortable Enough to Write in All Day.

These Madewell camp pants get my vote of approval. I was dressed for comfort and glued to my desk all day, and these were almost like wearing nothing at all — a lot of stretch and really move with you.

MADEWELL LIZZIE PANTS // LESET POINTELLE TEE

Midweek Meeting!

(Veronica Beard is always the answer.)

VERONICA BEARD BLAZER // VERONICA BEARD DENIM VEST // MOTHER JEANS // CHANEL FLATS // JCREW BAG

Varley Girl.

I can’t help it — I now live in Varley in the mornings. Great for drop-off, and I also like it for the wedge of time after I’ve showered but before I’ve gotten ready, when I sit and listen to an audiobook or meditation while wearing my beloved red light therapy mask. Below, two Varley moments from the week. All of my Varley picks (including new arrival favorites) here. I own everything there! I’m obsessed. I usually go down a size in their sweatshirts and jackets (tend to run big) but take my true size in the bottoms.

VARLEY JOGGERS // DONNI TEE // VARLEY CELESTE CARDIGAN

VARLEY FLEECE // VARLEY JOGGERS // ROTHY CLOGS

Saturday Living.

JENNY BIRD EARRINGS (10% OFF WITH JEN10) // HART CHARM NECKLACE // DORSEY TURQUOISE BRACELET // SOLDOUT NYC TEE // MOTHER JEANS // MERCULES BAG // LARROUDE SNEAKERS

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.

By: Jen Shoop

Over the years, I’ve shared several mindset shifts that have dramatically impacted my outlook on life. The ones that I find myself leaning on most frequently:

You’re where you need to be. (Stop straining against the day’s imperatives!)

Today is not the final draft; you are in a constant state of re-writing.

If it comes, let it; if it goes, let it. (This cryptic phrase applies to so much in daily living. It helps me unhook from expectation, that evergreen enemy, and find a new level of freedom in navigating reality.)

What’s meant for you will not miss you.

You are always raising a future version of yourself. (Be kind!)

Let people be wrong about you.

It’s not “I have to do this”; it’s “I get to do this.”

Bad days are a part of every good life.

No one is paying attention to what you’re doing as much as you are.

This, too, shall pass. (Related: No feeling is final, or inapt. And also: You are not your feelings. Your feelings will come and go; the core of who you are will stick around.)

This week, I heard a great addition to this list: “It’s OK to look into the past, but don’t stare.” It felt like a great expansion pack for my “Onward!” rally cry. Assess what you did or did not do; evaluate what needs to change; move on.

What about you? What are some of the most impactful reframes you’ve pocketed?

Post-Scripts.

+What is your emergency music?

+Travel day tips from our strategic Magpie community.

+What’s something that has saved you?

+Starlings and saudades.

Shopping Break.

+Gorgeous new arrivals from Juliet Dunn: this midi dress, this fun cover up (imagine with these jellies — full dream pool day look shared here), these shorts.

+A great Zara steal.

+While we’re thinking ahead to warm weather: you must consider this Jenni Kayne hat. I wore it a TON at the pool last year! And how cute is this terrycloth tote?! (P.S. – These goggles worked really well for my son!)

+I own this bag without the floral embroidery, but LOVE the new version!

+Oh my goodness I love this dress. And this one, too — wow! What a statement!

+A great look-for-less for my favorite F&E linen pants.

+Seriously cute spring mesh flats for under $100.

+My favorite sandals for little girls.

+Three fun launches: 1) Hotel Lobby’s latest candle scent, London!, which they sent me a sample of in advance; it has complex and gorgeous earl grey and wisteria scent and somehow also smells like an overcast sky? 2) Dorsey’s new paracord necklace, which I mentioned yesterday, too. We have advance access. The collection officially goes live on site at 10 am today. I received mine and am in love with it. You can see an early glimpse of me wearing it here. 3). Do you follow Mary Orton? I’m sure you do. She’s a mega-influencer with incredible wit and gorgeous taste. She recently launched a line of luxury ballcaps that feel like an extension of her identity. Her latest spring drop (arrived yesterday) is full of chic hats for the season ahead, and several colors have already sold through. She generously sent me one of her hats in this medium denim wash and I immediately wore to carpool this week. See me in mine here!

+Another really cool lariat/bolo-style necklace I just came across: here. I’ve never worn a necklace like this before but I really love the way it would look with a v-neck or button-down. Chic chic!

+A chic digital frame. I actually have always wanted one of these because my husband has his laptop flip through family photos when in screensaver mode, and a lot of times, we’ll just huddle around looking at them together. He often comments that he loves the experience of working on something and then glancing up to see Emory at her third birthday, or Tilly in Central Park.

+I bought a few of these Squishmallow sets to give as little gifts for my daughter and her friends. I think I’ll put one in my daughter’s Easter basket!

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.

By: Jen Shoop

There is nothing quite as effortlessly romantic as white eyelet and lace for spring. The ultimate feminine statement. A few standout finds for the season ahead: this Tuckernuck dress (seen on me above and below; I go down a size in Tuckernuck’s house label, so I took an XS in this — alert that this is running very low on stock; also available in skirt and top format); this Veronica Beard dress — casual yet elevated — and this unbelievably chic and unusual over-shirt by Frame (which has actually been very popular among Magpie readers; a great look for less here).

The Tuckernuck dress is a strong contender for Easter. I love the silhouette and especially the bracelet sleeves. I styled with my Celine sunglasses, Pam Munson clutch (25% off this week!), and Larroude raffia heels.

White Eyelet and Lace Street Style Inspiration.

Let’s rev the engines with some visual inspo —

White Eyelet Finds.

LEFT TO RIGHT: SUMANTRA COTTON EYELET DRESS // LONG POPLIN SKIRT // WIDE LEG EMBROIDERED PANT // FRANCISCA PANT

LEFT TO RIGHT: ANGLAISE HIGH RISE SHORT // ADELYN EYELET CROPPED TOP // BRIGITTA TOP // THE LACE BUTTON UP

A FEW EXTRAS : CASSIA SKIRT // TOBI SHIRTDRESS // WHITE EYELET TOP // ARIANE BELTED CROCHET TRIMMED COTTON POPLIN DRESS

Styling Eyelet Pieces for Spring.

SUMANTRA COTTON EYELET DRESS // ANNA HAZELNUT NAPPA // BUCKET BAG // THE ESTELLA // PEARL MARION EARRINGS

CASSIA SKIRT // PIMA COTTON SHIRT // LOW SCOOP ONE PIECE // LILY SANDALS // RIO MINI TOTE // 1998C SUNGLASSES (LOOK FOR LESS HERE)

THE LACE BUTTON UP // HIGH RISE WIDE LEG JEANS (LOOK FOR LESS HERE) // NAPA FLATS // T-LOCK LEATHER CLUTCH (LOOK FOR LESS HERE) // PUFFY HEART EARRINGS (LOOK FOR LESS HERE)

ANGLAISE HIGH RISE SHORT // CASHMERE BLEND KATIE TEE // EMMA V-NECK BOYFRIEND SWEATER // JAVIER VANILLA NAPA FLATS // MINI BUCKET BAG // SELENE SASHA SUNGLASSES // GIA STUDS (LOOK FOR LESS HERE)

BRIGITTA TOP // LUNA HIGH RISE TAPERED JEANS (LOOK FOR LESS HERE) // MARTINEZ WHITE NAPPA FLATS // SAC SUPPLE TOTE (LOOK FOR LESS HERE) // VENICE POLARIZED SUNGLASSES // GOLD LARGE HOOP EARRINGS

P.S. My favorite everyday sweaters.

P.P.S. Styling the la ligne colby pant.

P.P.P.S. Microtrend: fisherman core.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.

By: Jen Shoop

Like everyone else on the Internet, I was unseated by Sam Rockwell’s monologue on desire in this season of HBO’s “White Lotus” series. It seemed to rise out of nowhere, and Walton Goggins’ comedic reaction towards the beginning further threw me. But the questions Rockwell posed were heavy-hitting, core stuff that hearkened back to my grad school days reading Lacan and Hegel: is desire born out of lack? Do we seek our opposites, or our mirrors?

My hunch is that — as with much in life — it’s a little bit of column A and a little bit of Column B. Some of the things that have long drawn me to Landon are traits I lack in myself. I love, for example, his clarity of thought — sequential, strategic where mine is intuitive and anfractuous. Even his stubbornness appeals: he knows what he likes, and he is unflinching about it. Meanwhile, I am too accommodating. He does a lot of heavy lifting for the two of us in these domains. And yet we share core values, a stringent work ethic, life ambitions, and the exact same threshold of tolerance for mess in our home.

As an exercise this week, I jotted down the first things that came to mind when I asked myself: how our Landon and I different versus alike? What do we share versus not?

Things we don’t share: precision in cooking, a militant approach to dishwasher loading, coffee (his is black; mine lightened with sugar and cream), extreme calm in times of high stress (he is sturdy as an oak and I worry and fret), a taste for beer, Excel mastery, stubbornness, the blanket on the couch, a Green thumb (mine is black), to-dos related to plumbing, yardwork, and cars, clothes (I am a full foot shorter than he is), strategic-mindedness.

Things we do: a live and let live mentality, ice cream pints, two perfect children, our free time, extreme work ethic, health insurance, hundreds of thousands of discrete memories to which no one else is privy, the same fork when need be, a rotating roster of inside jokes, a mortgage, the long view, a bed, household tasks and admin, a bank account, Dr. Dennis Gross exfoliating pads (we cut them in half each night), playlists, knowing looks, the full widths of our hearts.

What do you think? Are you more similar to or different from your significant other?

Post-Scripts.

+Marriage is…

+”I love the way you echo through my daily chores and counterspaces.”

+On flirting with the wrong guy to get to the right guy.

+The ick vs the swoon.

+Landon, when did you hang the moon?

Shopping Break.

+ICYMI – Banana is offering 40% off sitewide; you all have been LOVING these pants and this dress. All my picks here!

+Amazon Big Spring deals to consider: these masks (!!!! — reallllly good for a quick hydration / glow pick me up); best sleeping pillows (on sale, and then tick the box beneath the price for an extra 20% off); these rolling carts (just ordered one for organizing some of my office stuff! would also be good for kids’ art supplies); Stanley quenchers; Shark blow dryer (most of the Glamsquad hair stylists use these and they have great things to say about them); neoprene free weights set in fun colors; Cadence travel magnetic pods; a Bogg bag look for less.

amazon spring deals collage

+Can’t resist this color right now…

+You all know how much I adore my Celine phone sling, which I snagged on The Real Real (more inventory here and here). It’s been a shocking closet MVP – had no idea how often I’d reach for it. Great for travel days (keep phone / ID on your person), travel in general (i.e., you want to grab a drink downstairs and just need keycard and phone), concerts, any situation where you want to be hands free and carry only the essentials. This Loewe crossbody feels like “a phone sling plus.” Still tiny but you can probably fit a mini wallet / keys in there, too.

+Dorsey launches a really cool new cord necklace style tomorrow, and we get advance access here! This is different from their iconic / archival collections and has a more modern, almost lariat-style appeal. I love it in the beige and marine! Would be fun to layer beneath a chic button-down.

+Some less expensive phone sling options I like: this (especially love the white sand, cabana stripe, and bright red), this Quince in the green, and this designer-inspired COS steal.

+This skirt and vest set are giving major Posse vibes for less (compare with Posse here). LOVE the color, silhouette, etc! While you’re there, consider these Alaia-inspired Mary Janes!

+Pretty and affordable spring scarves here and here.

+Chic Madewell sandals!

+Keep hearing good things about this eye shadow. My best friend was raving about it over Christmas and then Julia Amory hyped it, too. Apparently it can be hard to find in some colors!

+Love the BOLD colors on these sneaks.

+How adorable is this: you can have your child draw a picture and Aurate will engrave it onto a heart pendant!

+LOVE this bag in all the colors — the bamboo handle is so good!

+Mi Golondrina just launched a seriously gorgeous collection of pieces with spring flower patterns.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.

By: Jen Shoop

Nordstrom is offering 15% off an extensive collection of beauty products through 3/31! The discount isn’t super-deep but the collection includes a number of brands that I rarely see on sale — Cle de Peau, Westman — as well as products I routinely pay full price for! Just used this promotion to buy a back-up Clarins mask. My absolute favorite. It depuffs and chisels away at your features and leaves your skin so soft and renewed. A beauty arsenal must-have! Every item below, with the exception of the Armani Foundation, which I’ve not yet tried but know many Magpies swear by (including my discerning mother), is in the “would pay and have paid full price for” category. (Also, I know many Magpie readers are Nordstrom card carriers — you earn 3x the points on all beauty through this promotion.)

01. BEST SETTING SPRAY ON THE MARKET (USE DAILY; WORKS EVEN IN PEAK DC SUMMER HUMIDITY) // 02. MY NEW FAVORITE TRICK FOR SUN-LESS, SUN-KISSED-LOOKING SKIN (SOLD OUT EVERYWHERE ELSE!) // 03. MY MOM’S FAVORITE FOUNDATION – TRYING THIS NEXT! // 04. OLD FAITHFUL // 05. A GREAT EVERYDAY LIP COLOR (SHADE: GENTLE) // 06. MY FAVORITE BROW TOOL (SHAPES, FILLS, HOLDS) // 07. BEST MASK OF ALL TIME // 08. ONE OF MY FAVORITE SIGNATURE PERFUMES // 09. THE BEST FACIAL COTTON ON THE PLANET (YOU’LL NEVER GO BACK) // 10. GOAT CONCEALER

P.S. My last batch of honest beauty reviews.

P.P.S. The Dyson AirWrap actually changed my hair life.

P.P.P.S. Energy multipliers.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.

By: Jen Shoop

William Wordsworth described “the first mild day of March” best: “there is a blessing in the air.” Everything is new again!

Today, a propos of that energy, sharing some March discoveries and dotings —

01. Last Saturday afternoon, my children flung themselves despondently onto my bed after their friends had left from a morning playdate. They brought with them that curious listless-bordering-on-angry energy. They were a powder keg of “What can I do?” and heaving sighs and jostling one another just to jostle one another: a study in storm clouds gathering. I was folding laundry on the floor of my bedroom, and without saying anything, I put on the audiobook of Kenneth Grahame’s The Wind in the Willows. I’ve never done this before, and have no idea where the impetus came from, or why I chose that title. It just surfaced out of the dead blue. And the strangest thing happened: my son crawled onto the floor and began matching socks next to me, and my daughter curled up under our comforter and listened on her back, eventually bringing her notepad and marker set beside her, so she could draw while listening. We stayed like this for 30 minutes, a fresco of docile domesticity, and afterward, they disappeared into their rooms, all signs of their piquing angst fully ebbed. I will be trying this again, but sparingly, of course — lest the magic of its rarity erode.

02. Focus Features is re-releasing the Keira Knightly version of “Pride and Prejudice” to theaters starting April 18th. I just checked some of our local theaters (you can check here) and a lot of them are already fairly booked! Going to see if I can coerce Landon into a date night to see it. This is one of my top repeat comfort watch movies, and I listen to the soundtrack weekly.

03. I’ve written a few times about True Botanicals’ new Bronzewell drops (out of stock at TB, but available at Nordstrom!), and I know a lot of you have purchased, too. I bought both them and the Westman bronzing drops and find the TB easier to incorporate into my routine, but I do layer them if I have enough time/energy. TB is more skincare; Westman is more cosmetic, so I apply the latter with a brush or fingertips after moisturizing, etc, but TB I just drop right into my moisturizer. I love it — no smell, no fake orange color, and it washes off so it’s low-risk if you go too heavy-handed. Several of you have asked whether it transfers to white tees. I have not noticed this, but I will also admit I routinely get concealer/foundation smudges onto my white tops while removing at night, so it’s possible I mistook the usual smudgery for the TB? I do notice that right after I apply, there is a little bronze residue on the towel I use to wipe my hands. Take that for what you will!

04. As I wrote on Sunday, I’m deep into my spring self, and have been purging and organizing every nook and corner of my home. I recently pruned the skincare and hygiene products I keep on the bathroom counter, and decided Landon’s side deserved an upgrade — I put this gorgeous Kassatex tray and this matching lidded q-tip jar on his side of the bathroom counter (seen above — and temporary co-opted so I could photograph the drops). Chic!

05. Currently reading The Borrowers with my eight-year-old daughter. We’re enjoying it — my daughter for the clever home furnishings Norton dreamt up (cigar box for a bed; postage stamp for wallpaper; thimbles for cups) and me for its whimsical, frothy wordplay and the way it creatively mirrors the misfires associated with “borrowings” of all kinds. (I.e., The book includes malapropisms like “human beans” instead of “human beings”). It’s a book that makes you think about the leaps and gaps we make when observing other people.

06. Speaking of wordplay, did you know a group of panthers is called a claw and a group of ladybugs is called a loveliness? I’m forever charmed by coinages like these.

07. Just discovered a very chic new e-boutique called Casalina with a great curation of brands and some styles I’ve not seen elsewhere, too. You could craft the most epic spring or vacation wardrobe with their new arrivals: a spectacular caftan, a gingham swimsuit, a patterned pareo!

08. Current favorite lip color combo: Soshe’s soft-glide lip liner in Desert Rose paired with Trish McEvoy’s lipstick in Gentle. I’m wearing in the photo at top. The lip liner glides on beautifully and is more deeply pigmented than my usual go-to, Charlotte Tilbury’s Lip Cheat in shade pillow talk. BTW, I was not a lip liner girl until about six months ago and now I wear it daily; I find it lasts a long time and really defines/fills the lip.

09. My kids loved “Honey I Shrunk the Kids” — ! See my son, below, completely locked in. We watched it as a family last Friday, and they went over to our neighbors’ house the next morning and begged to re-watch it again! Thank you for all the great family movie recs here!

10. CurrentBody sent me their series 2 LED red light mask and I love it even more than the first one. If you already have the first one, there’s no need to buy a second, and it’s absolutely incredible too, but if you’re in the market for one, let me briefly explain the virtues of the series two: 1) the series 1 has two clinically proven wavelengths: red (633nm) and near-infrared (830nm); the series 2 has those as well as deep near-infrared (1072nm). All of these wavelengths boost collagen production and reduce fine lines, but the deep near-infrared work on areas where signs of aging are more pronounced. I have yet to really observe these differences (just upgraded a week ago) but I am encouraged. I’ve already seen such a big improvement with the series 1. 2) the new mask is much more comfortable and stays on my head more easily thanks to a better-designed back-of-head strap. This is not sponsored in any way; I absolutely love and swear by this gadget though and truly think it’s made my skin brighter and clearer. (BTW, if you do buy, they gave us a code – JEN10).

11. My husband made a batch of these delicious mezcal-spiked daiquiris on Friday! A kiss of spring! In general, though, we’ve been dramatically limiting alcohol lately in pursuit of better sleep and more water and all that good stuff. This was a fun Friday night treat.

12. Cherry blossom season! Just the best. Supposed to peak in DC starting March 28, according to Linda Carducci of WETA Classical. (We listen to this channel every morning while the kids are getting ready for school — it generally sets a calming, soothing tone for the day. However, Landon and I always grumble when the lineup oversamples baroque music — our least favorite. I find the harpsichord grating! I mentioned this offhandedly to my brother-in-law — he and my sister also frequently listen to WETA Classical — while he was visiting, and he said: “Totally. Any time there’s a harpsichord on first thing in the morning, I say, ‘OK, so it’s going to be that kind of day.” We all affectionately call the host “the Cardooch.” She has the perfect tone for classical radio commentating; I could listen to her read the phone book.)

Anyhow — the locals drive through Kenwood for cherry blossom viewing instead of schlepping downtown, although Kenwood has become a zoo the past few years, too. I find myself instead rhapsodically studying the handful in our own neighborhood. We have a lot of apple blossom trees, too, which I think are just as beautiful.

13. Chappywrap has some gorgeous new patterns in their spring collection! I think we all know these are the most elite throw blankets on the planet. We probably have five at this point. I think the patterns have grown so sophisticated! I just added this one to our front living room. It was too perfect a match! (Use code JEN15 for 15% off.)

14. Currently reading…and how charming is my new teacup!? Will be using this every Saturday just to mark the day. On this particular Saturday, I was wearing my Lake robe and these jammies beneath. I just felt like the picture of a happy weekend morning! (Any/all of the items pictured below would be great for a Mother’s Day gift, fyi!)

What’s new in your neck of the woods? What has March brought you?

P.S. We’re not far from April agita.

P.P.S. Places that turn into people.

P.P.P.S. Some of my favorite audiobooks.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.

By: Jen Shoop

I just added this $20 scalloped cover-up/nightie to my cart! How adorable?! Giving Ciao Lucia vibes. Also added a few sets of these pearl-trim melamine plates for al fresco dining. These were a bestseller among Magpies a few years ago and I never bought a set. I think this year is the year — I feel like it will invite outdoor dinners as soon as the weather warms. Below, some other great Amazon finds for spring…

MELAMINE PLATE // BUNNY CRACKERS // LIP MASK // HAND WASH // MOSS BUNNIES // LOUNGE SET // COSMETIC CASE // MARY JANE // NAPKINS

A few other great finds I’ve flagged and/or added to my cart in the past few weeks —

01. Speckled decorative eggs for the house.

02. I love Caspari napkins! These are perfect for spring decorating.

03. These artificial moss bunnies — whimsical Easter decor. You can see them on my Easter table from my NYC days above! I put them on the table every year.

04. Darling gingham bunny crackers!

05. Floral pajamas for the littles.

06. Incredible Frank and Eileen look-for-less.

07. Travel cosmetic bag — looks so high quality and chic.

08. Favorite lip mask.

09. 5 pack of chip clips.

10. I love these pens for journaling.

11. These are my go-to travel containers! Worth the investment.

12. This Fresh hand and body wash smells amazing — so luxurious.

13. I so recommend this hair mask — it does wonders on color treated hair.

14. How cute is this ruffle nightgown for girls! Obessed.

15. Kids play tent.

16. Dinosaur alarm clock for littles.

17. Kids boat shoes.

18. Little boys Lacoste polo.

19. Le Monde Beryl look-for-less flat for spring!

20. This wicker magazine basket looks so high end.

21. Peter Rabbit sticker book for the littles.

P.S. How do you reset for the week?

P.P.S. Styling the La Ligne Colby Pant.

P.P.P.S. Pastel knits for spring.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

By: Jen Shoop

A few weeks ago, I asked: What are your signatures? By this I meant: what are the slender details that serve as synecdoches for you? I’m thinking at this moment of one of my best guy friends, who only writes in green ink. I see a green pen, and I think of him. (Our lives become mosaics of the people we love.)

Below, I’m sharing 11 evocative sets of signatures that Magpie readers shared with me via comments, email, and Instagram. I abridged some of your longer lists to just 3-4 descriptors, but of course a woman contains multitudes and it was difficult to append them. (Read the expanded format of several of the portraits below here.)

As I read these, I was touched by the way these women are obvious experts in themselves and their ways of being — and impressively capable of capturing themselves in haiku form. These feel like the written equivalent of those Victorian-era cameo miniatures: tiny, elegant, hand-carved, portable versions of yourselves.

***

Overalls // a hidden love note // “I think we’re in great shape!”

Two books going at once // extreme extrovert who hates being the center of attention // Mitsouko // can make anyone laugh

Red nails // book as accessory // made bed

Foraging // vintage art // oversized button downs

Water from a 500ml bottle/glass // red passport-sized Moleskine // Ranking obsessive // Being the dog in the relationship i.e. here to be next to you

Well-crafted emails // detailed trip plans // extreme Virgo energy // fresh flowers

Well-done fries // mismatched earrings // outdoor showers

Having a ‘daytime book’ and ‘nighttime book’ // Breton Shirts // metrocards as bookmarks

Big kisser // dinner parties with psychotic precision // “I’ll just make it from scratch”

No earrings or eye makeup ever // remembers everyone’s name // 150 books a year // wordy AF

Striped sweaters // Sancerre // knocking on wood

****

(Share yours, too! Can you keep it to three or four signatures? A poet’s challenge.)

Post-Scripts.

+Another kind of self-portrait: listing the things you love.

+One thing that jumped out at me — probably a quarter or maybe even a third of the portraits you shared included the phrase “has multiple books going at once.” Please tell me more! How do you decide what to read, when? Are they different genres? (Also, what we’re all reading right now here. Loads of fantastic book recs.)

+Are you a book repeater?

+The bad book girl continues her unlearning.

+A winnowing inward. (A love note to Landon.)

+Weird things we love about our significant others.

Shopping Break.

+PSA! This VERY popular Magpie reader top is in stock in all sizes here. (We sold it out on Nordstrom.). I just ordered!

+All my Shopbop hearts (just updated).

+Who else bought the The Row-inspired cage jelly flats? I got them in the pink!

+Another common Magpie reader signature: oversized button-downs. I’m firmly in that camp, too. Have you tried the Frank and Eileen Shirley? I’ve heard this is an excellent oversized style. I own a few F&E button-downs but don’t have this one. (I really love the one that comes in this set — wear it a lot.) By the way, I just got a F&E catalog in the mail with a code: LOVE for 15% off. Not as much of a discount as we’d like, but I’ll take it! (And which are your other favorite oversized button-downs?)

+LOVE this head-to-toe linen look. With a brown leather sandal and tortoise sunnies?! So good.

+Pretty skirt from Target, and I love this high-necked ribbed tank top to pair with it. I actually want it in several colors! The latter reminds me of this striped Sezane tank I wore all last summer. I found the cut very flattering — shows the perfect amount of shoulder. Great to pair with a white or denim skirt.

+Pretty Easter tablecloths here, here, here, here.

+Forever on a quest to replicate salon-quality blowouts at home…I just had a Glamsquad gal come by this morning (this is my new thing, I think: blow out at the top of the week and try to make it stretch as long as possible) and she was raving about this Drybar “curl conditioning styler.” In her words: “They really did the science on that one. I bought several so I wouldn’t run out.” It helps define/maintain curl. I don’t actually curl my hair but I love a bent-under end, and this really helped the bend stay put longer. (Also, little reminder about my Glamsquad codes in case you want to book: $20 off for new users with code JenniferS and $15 off for repeat users with code JenniferS15.

+Hoka running shoes on sale in a great pink color for spring. (More spring fitness finds here.)

+Just added a navy-and-white stripe Kule tee to my closet. I have these in lots of colors. A fun, boxy fit; great everyday tee to add to your collection.

+Reminder that these excellent, high-stretch barrel jeans from Ruti are temporarily $55 off with code SS25. An ideal choice for petites. These are great jeans to live in / work in / write in / sit in. Super comfortable.

+Fun wall decor idea.

+Tortoise shell headband – a forever chic piece.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.

By: Jen Shoop

We are all loving this gorgeous spring floral top from FarmRio. We sold it out on Nordstrom, but it’s still in stock at FR. Perfect for pairing with white jeans / white shorts, and making me so excited for spring break in a few weeks. Even if you are not headed somewhere tropical — spring break can be a mindset! Embrace bright colors and airy fabric. On the first few warm days of spring, I love to put on a breezy dress and mix up a margarita. It feels SO good to bounce around the house in bare feet after weeks of socks and slippers and clogs at home.

Anyhow, below, sharing a few “spring break state of mind” finds, whether you’re traveling or just mixing up a marg at home! I wanted to shine a spotlight on this feminine and sexy linen dress by Tove. It reminded me of something Charlotte York might have worn, but with dialed up sauciness.

LEFT ROW: TOVE RAHEL LINEN AND COTTON BLEND MAXI DRESS // RAFFIA BUCKET HAT // HANDWOVEN RAFFIA RECTANGULAR CLUTCH // BRIGITTE MULES

RIGHT ROW: ADELAIDE SCALLOPED EYELET EMBROIDERED JACKET // 1966C RECTANGULAR SUNGLASSES // FOLK FLORAL OFF WHITE SCOOP NECK SHORT SLEEVED BLOUSE

Spring Break State of Mind Styling Ideas.

TOVE RAHEL LINEN AND COTTON BLEND MAXI DRESS // JENNYBIRD GEMMA EARRINGS // HANDWOVEN RAFFIA RECTANGULAR CLUTCH // BRIGITTE MULES // 1966C RECTANGULAR SUNGLASSES (LOOK FOR LESS HERE)

PRINTED BEACH COVER UP // RIBBED KNIT TOP // LAUREL SANDALS // RAFIA MINI BUCKET BAG // OUTTA LOVE SUNGLASSES

FOLK FLORAL OFF WHITE SCOOP NECK // EVERYDAY WIDE LEG LINEN PANT // ALBA BALLET FLATS // T-LOCK LEATHER CLUTCH (LOOK FOR LESS HERE) // JAYA SUNGLASSES (LOOK FOR LESS HERE)

ADELAIDE SCALLOPED EYELET EMBROIDERED JACKET // REN HIGH RISE WIDE LEG // NUBUCK BAG // MUSGRAVE EARRINGS // BALLERINA FLATS

P.S. Styling the la ligne colby pant.

P.P.S. Spring finds for children.

P.P.P.S. My favorite spring jackets.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.

By: Jen Shoop

Two boxes of books, in various states of undress:

dogeared, drawn-in, dotted with dust or dirt,

bindings undone,

worn down by wear.

“Who would want these?” I thought, withdrawing one that had come entirely apart at the cloth-bound seams, and another with a disruptive rip down the climax.

Yet Landon and I sat on the floor of our daughter’s room in the late afternoon light, blinking back the beginning of tears, as we handed one another these books that had been the shapes and sounds of our firstling years as parents, had lent color to my children’s earliest ductile imaginations, had molded a shared vernacular for describing the world and its upsets and consolations. This mound of well-loved books: the signaries of our family’s first years; its runes and reliefs.

There will be more stories to share, of course — and the piles in the boxes will forever be our communal referents,

but saying goodbye to these baby books was a rough slough, nonetheless,

a little too close to the heart of things.

*We ended up donating a bunch of books but some were just too sentimental to part ways with, or heirloom-quality. We stowed these upstairs for visiting guests. Some of my children’s iconography, like these muddy yellow Hunter boots both of my children wore, have been stowed away in an upstairs closet, along with precious stuffies that belonged to Mr. Magpie, or that have particular sentimental value to me, like this striped teddy with Hill’s name embroidered on it. It was the first thing I ever bought him, when I was only a few weeks pregnant.

Post-Scripts.

+Some of our favorite bedtime books for our children.

+The toy trolls in the tub.

+Jarred, in a good way.

+On making my way through a really tough relationship moment.

+The reassurance library.

Shopping Break.

+Don’t miss at the Neiman’s 25% off sale: this Staud dress (very flattering); everyone’s favorite Ankle Fray jeans from Mother; and my current favorite pair of weekend jeans: Mother’s Half Pipe Ankle (do not need to be hemmed if you’re a fellow shortie). I own the latter in two washes.

+OMG this SEA dress! It sold out in like 24 hours on Tuckernuck and is only available in a few sizes here and here. Such a great, unexpected dress. Would work with bump!

+These heels are SO fun — and $60! I’m contemplating ordering to wear with this dress for Easter. (Dress is almost sold out; contemplate this similar skirt/shirt set if out of stock in your size!)

+Speaking of white dresses, wore this one out to drinks with girlfriends over the weekend. I find Rixo has the BEST petite-friendly cuts — they just fit my body absolutely perfectly.

+I found a great $59 linen button-down in the best colors. I ordered in the lilac/pink hue. I love the way these look paired with boxer-style shorts and raffia sandals (currently on sale!) for an easy everyday outfit in warmer weather.

+I’ve never owned a Stanley before (gasp) but I saw these were 25% off and ordered one for my desk!

+I have been really loving my laundry products from Dedcool. It started with their limited edition detergent collab with The Ouai (now sold out, but this is their other bestselling detergent fragrance) — I really loved laundering our sheets in a “fancy” scent. Just gives this ultra luxe aura, but not too perfumed. I am now totally hooked on this room and linen spray. It smells DIVINE. I usually spritz over fresh laundry, guest bedding, and any time I feel my children’s rooms are smelling a little…hm. I noticed that they’ve launched some fragrances, too, like Mochi Milk.

+I finished the last of my Biossance Rose/Vitamin C oil (25% off at the moment, FYI!!) and tried this formula from new-to-me brand Dr. Whitney Bowe. I love it. More like a gel and boasts other anti-aging properties. Both it and the Biossance are incredible and highly effective. The Biossance is more like a light oil.

+I used to do my full skincare regimen right when I woke up but then some of you Magpies pointed out that I’m probably sweating off some of the products while exercising…! So now just quickly cleanse my face and put on a light moisturizer when I wake up, and wait until after I work out to run through the whole rigmarole. The only hiccup is that I went running TWICE last week without remembering to put on facial SPF. I remembered both times halfway through the run and it really helped me pick up the pace…yikes! (I always wear a hat but…still!). I decided to put a facial skincare tube right by the door so I no longer forget. Currently testing this one for that purpose, but have been absolutely loving (!) this Korean sunscreen a few Magpies recommended — it’s what I keep in my cosmetics drawer and use daily post-workout. Glides right on, no residue, no white cast.

+Mr. Magpie has been on a major fitness regimen this year; now he’s incorporated strength training into his routine, and I noticed his “gym shoes” were really past their prime. I bought him a pair of these, which I absolutely LOVE for myself. The best gym shoe — good ankle stability.

+Best swimsuit, back in stock for a second (already almost sold out again). Runs TTS. Full coverage but flirty thanks to the v-notch neckline and cut outs. But not TOO flirty. Just right.

+New styles added to Veronica Beard’s 25% off selection. My top picks here. Not included in the sale, but I’ve gotten so much mileage out of this vest. Worn with dark wash jeans as a set, layered over button-downs with trousers, paired with floral dresses!

+Girls’ soccer shoes in fun colors.

+Pam Munson just launched a 30% off sitewide promotion this morning – use code FRIENDS2025; no exclusions! Over the years, I have amassed quite a collection of her gorgeous, high-quality bags. I just added this sweet embroidered clutch to my closet this month; will absolutely be wearing to every spring event, including Easter. I also love this tote (own in a different color) and am eyeing this basket.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.

By: Jen Shoop

We are still waiting on spring’s full bloom — the blossoms on our backyard trees are just coming into themselves and the daffodils that line the walkway to our door are up but not open — yet I’m deep into my spring self already. I am wearing too-thin clothes for the still-cold weather, sorting my children’s rooms, re-organizing the medicine cabinet. I find myself wanting to put everything into a bin. Cord bin, shoe bin, especially the donate bin. One thing I learned observing my parents as they downsized from their house in NW DC to their condo in Bethesda: get rid of things periodically. They’ve actually always been good about this, but even with my Dad’s purge mentality, there were still duplicate knife sets they’d never needed, and old clothing my mother had hung onto from her childhood. I find myself applying new rubrics. It’s not just: do I need this / would I realistically use this in the next year, but — would I want to give this to someone in 5, 10, 30 years if I hang onto it? And would it better to give it away now? An excess mini food processor is better to shed today than in 15 years when it’s deprecated. Mainly this leads me to donate a lot of things, which is good.

This springtime urge for more blank space has also led me to re-evaluate my current organization systems. I realized we needed a second drying rack (less expensive option here) for the laundry room — I was forever filling our wall-mounted one and then draping excess items over baskets and on cupboard handles. And our basement storage room had piles of boxes and luggage on one side that often barred full entry to the space. My husband ordered additional storage units that matched the ones we already had in there and — wow. It feels so luxurious to have everything put away, and not heaped on the floor. I discovered that certain beauty items I reach for every day — contacts, these makeup removing wipes, retainer cleaner — were in the back of the cabinet, behind things I don’t use daily. I moved those to the front and decanted into containers to make them easy-to-grab. In the kitchen, I am forever in pursuit of a pair of scissors, a box cutter, and a pen, all items that appear to sprout feet and wander away over the course of a day. I bought extras (and then some) of each and stowed them in a specified bin. I also don’t know how it took me until this week to realize that my process for organizing my clothes and the various items brands send me to test was woefully ineffectual. I had piles of things everywhere. Neat piles, to be fair, but it always felt like I was shuffling small clusters of items from one area to the next without giving them a proper home. (Another surprise of getting older: how much time you spend putting things away.) I devised a new solution, with garment racks on the top floor, and a tiered cart with designated areas for products I want to test, products I want to write about, and products I want to give away. These tiny improvements somehow make me feel like I’ve closed seventy open tabs. The systems suit — even simplify — the work. (How had I not noticed the poor fit prior?)

I also find myself changing my work process–yet again. I am now in the midst of a few bigger projects (stay tuned!) that require chunkier blocks of maker’s time. My previous, more intuitive approach of mainly writing in the morning and mainly doing lighter creative work and admin (like collages, and product reviews, and emails) in the afternoon no longer pencils out. I have to “X” out entire half-days (sometimes full days) to really get into things and make material progress. My adaptability to this shift has surprised me. I guess all that writing and thinking about being fluid, accepting change with grace, and especially the mantra: “Actually, life is beautiful and I do have the time” are paying off. But mainly the work has made clear its demands, and I am dutifully carrying them out.

All of these movements are perfectly suited to springtime anyway. It’s the season to clear out the dead leaves, shed the layers, make room for what’s coming. It’s time to let the fresh in.

Sunday Shopping.

All the items I own or am currently eyeing in this spring headspace:

BEADBOARD DRYING RACK (LOOK FOR LESS HERE) // DRAWER ORGANIZERS // RATTAN TIERED STORAGE // SORBUS CLEAR BINS // BEACHCOMBER BASKET // PASTEL DOCUMENT ENVELOPES //SCISSORS // THE BEST PENS // STACKABLE CLEAR DRAWERS // LUCITE HANGERS // MINI LABEL MAKER // GOLD GARMENT RACK

And! A few other more general shopping bits and bobs:

PATTERNED PANTS AND TOP // RAFFIA BAG // STRAPPY SANDALS // BRODERIE ANGLAISE TOP AND PANTS

+Banana Republic launched a 40% off promo this morning. Use code BRSHIP. Love this top and the matching pants! And this bag and this dress! And so much more.

THE JSH HOME COLLECTION

+Just discovered the most gorgeous collection of home accessories — paper products, pillow covers, candles, and more. I’ll take one of everything.

+I ordered my kids the cutest new bedding — this clamshell motif for my daughter and this alligator motif for my son. All of it is 25% off with code  ROOMREFRESH25.

+I couldn’t resist treating myself to this Bottega-inspired mini clutch! (Compare with the real deal — $9,000 — here.). Will go perfectly with my Julia Amory dress (now available!)

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.

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