Oooo baby baby

I became addicted to milk baths after the temptresses at Bath & Body Works sent me home with one formulated with monoi oil. It smelled fantastic, turned the water a lovely milky color, and moisterized my skin like a body butter would. Best of all, it didn’t foam (read: no UTIs). Then they discontinued it. I’ve been searching for a replacement ever since. First I stuck to the liquids, just like my beloved monoi oil one. I found a decent one from Archipelago, but my pocketbook wasn’t going to allow me to indulge in that one very often. All of the other ones I tried after that produced bubbles though, and after a round of antibiotics, I turned to powders. I found a giant jug in the Target beauty section, but after procrastinating a few weeks, I found that it too had been discontinued. I had pretty much given up. Then, on a trip down the baby aisle at the grocery store, which served as my cut-through to the real milk, there it was: Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Buttermilk Bath Soak. Why had I never thought about the baby aisle before? The manufacturers formulate the products to be non-irritating. Burt’s Bees in particular is eco-friendly. Eureka!

Let me tell you, this stuff is awesome. It doesn’t take very much powder to turn my garden-size tub that beautiful cloudy color and it smells heavenly. Maybe it’s not as moisterizing as the monoi oil, but I’m willing to sacrifice. After all, Burt’s Bees does make a companion lotion…

I heart faux bois

I have such a strong affinity for nature-inspired design, especially tree motifs.  It’s whimsical and cozy all at the same time.  I think what trees represent – earthy solidity – is a grounding feature for an otherwise ornately designed space.  Faux bois pieces work especially well in cottage decor, or any residence that doesn’t take itself too seriously. 

Table by Wisteria.

What’s in a name?

Why Magpie House?  Well, magpies are known for two things: being little chatterboxes and hoarders of pretty little things.  Both describe me to a T.  Imagine what a real magpie’s nest must look like and that esthetic translates to my house – myriad collections crammed into every nook and cranny.  Old clothes full of memories, half-finished craft projects, magazines, and vintage knickknacks all clatter around, waiting to be rediscovered and reappreciated.  This blog will become an extension of that – an amalgam of inspiration and shiny objects that caught my eye.

Sunlight, greenery, an oasis

This perfectly captures my style. Easy, relaxed, slightly shabby, and made for lazy spring afternoons. Marston and Langinger are best known for their glassware in the U.S. The Ampersand glass has become an iconic fixture in homes that appreciate the quiet solitude of an English garden, and lately has made the transition to more contemporary homes to offset the clean lines. The blues and greens are particularly lovely, especially when the sunlight filters through them.

I’m not one for long hellos

This blog exists as a way for me to scratch my design itch. I wish I could decorate interiors or go into fashion for a living, but I suck at math and can’t even sew a button. I can, however, appreciate art and the talent behind it. Welcome to a running list of the things I covet and homes I dream of moving into.