CAP-SLEEVE DRESS // STARRY WATER GLASSES // SIDE TABLE // MINNOW NECKLACE // BACK AFTER THIS // HIGHLIGHT STICK // KIRA SANDALS // ONE SHOULDER SWIM // MASCARA
Above: A fringed La Veste terry cover up, my J. McLaughlin tote, and a delightful summer read.
01. Really fun, juicy books — Back After This and now Ali Hazelwood’s popular Problematic Summer Romance. Fabulous and lush palette cleansers after my WDS hangover. (BTW, I have been loving all your commentary on the book in the comments, but especially Amy’s note: “Motherhood is not just a theme in this novel, but a question searching for an answer – whether and why to become a mother, what it means to be a good mother, the impressions mothers can leave behind – explored on so many different levels: through the long shadows cast by Claire’s life and passing, Rowan’s relationship with Dom’s children, her relationship with her own mother, the discussions around having children with her husband, even the seals and the whales and their offspring.” Wow! I so agree with this. The book probes motherhood in such an interesting and occasionally jagged way. I was a rapt reader!)
02. My SIL introduced me to this open-sourced fan fiction repository over the weekend. She said it’s a great way to continue your journey if you’re really into a specific character, novel, time period, etc — and I’m so excited to look into this further. I’ve absolutely finished a book and thought, “I wish I could read a whole novel just about this one character.” A quick skim revealed that there is even some fan fiction about Charlie Florek from OGS!
03. Summer beauty favorites: I absolutely love this glow highlighter stick in the bronzed “sunny” color from Goop. My code SHOOP15 should work! I swipe onto cheeks, along hairline, on nose. Gives a great glow. I am also loving (and wearing daily) Westman Atelier’s bronzing drops (more like makeup than skincare) and mascara.
04. Of course, gingham everything! Above, wearing Doen’s June top (almost sold out) and obsessing over my linen bedding from Piglet in Bed. I’ve also been getting some good wear out of my Posse top — but found a boxy cropped look for less here, and found that the brand Wayf has some great Posse-inspired pieces here, here, here. They even have a $65 version of Posse’s Instagram viral bubble shorts, which I’m not sure how I feel about. I think I’ll skip this trend, but the adorable Caitlin Burnhamm made a compelling case for them here; if you’re so inclined to get on this micro-trend, go with this $65 pair!
Final gingham find: I picked up this dress to wear on the FOJ! More FOJ options here, and a late entrant here.
05. Lizzie Fortunato just dropped a bunch of fabulous new arrivals, including some rope/cord necklaces that are sure to sell out. I always find they sell through stock very quickly. I love this, this, this, and this.
06. Picked up this really cute side table in the pool color and plan to rotate it throughout the house for different needs. For example, sometimes we like to have a little side table for coffee / snacks / cocktails while we’re playing board games or working on puzzles in the front living room. Sometimes we have guests and want to have an extra occasional table for the family room. Sometimes I just want something to be out by the benches in front of the house. I love this piece and it comes in such great colors. Other Schoolhouse favorites: this lamp (also available in a portable style), this side table, this flip clock, this quilt.
07. Margaritas (here is the only recipe you’ll ever need) enjoyed in these gorgeous glasses. (I’m wearing these blockprint pants — majorly on sale — below with these fun sandals. But while you’re checking out the blockprint pants, you might consider this blockprint dress, on super sale!)
08. A fun new swimsuit brand discovery – love that kiwi color! I’m also currently – as I write this – about to leave for the pool wearing my new HHH swimsuit (almost sold out!) and I just saw a woman at the pool wearing this adorable rash guard! Added to my list…! More great swimsuits for mom life here. This TB was a Magpie reader bestseller from the roundup.
09. I’ve been noticing another nano-trend this summer: bandana print everything. I kind of can’t stop thinking about these shorts (or maybe the pant version?). Look for less with these.
10. If you are local to DC, I can’t recommend the tiny (one-room) aquarium at Glen Echo more for an easy morning excursion with children. It is proof positive that, with kids, you can “do the small thing” and they will love it. We took my children, niece, and nephew there, and they were rapt — delighted! — for a full hour. There is something magical about the fact that all of the aqualife there is from the Chesapeake Bay, too — hyper-local — and the staff could not be lovelier or more excited to share their knowledge with the kids. It is also charmingly unfancy — slightly run-down, with hand-drawn placards and signs. It feels like something from the 1980s?
P.S. They say “cellar door” is the most beautiful phrase in the English language. I beg to differ.
P.P.S. Seeking a calendar with white space.
P.P.P.S. What simple reframe has changed your outlook on life?
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Highly recommend Theo of Golden, one of my favorite books. A great feel good story.
AO3 fans: hugely recommend the Spoiler Alert series by Olivia Dade, which involves an actor for a game of thrones-esque show writing fanfiction and falling in deep love with his beta reader…who doesn’t know he’s an actor….and they go on a date first but she doesn’t know it’s him! Very rich characters with fun fanfic interstitial chapters.
Not sure how I feel about bloomers. In theory, adorable, but feel slightly diaper-ish when done wrong. I think it might be cute peeking out under a dress that would otherwise be too short, in sort of a retro pinup kind of way? I might actually like it with a tank top if I did an Amy Winehouse victory roll and red lip, I’m changing my answer. I think you just need to do extra work to keep it from reading too casual or juvenile
Kelly, I think the bloomers could be done if everything else is equal parts minimalist and lived in. My thinking is a high-knecked tank or camp-collar button down, flat leather sandals like an Ancient Greek, sunglasses with a distinct silhouette, and red or strong colour accents in the vein of pedicure, lip, and even a bandana. I also think the leg needs to have a slight flare rather than be fitted to steer away from the baggy bottom aspect…