June 1st: welcome to chapter six of twelve. We’re halfway through, and summer and every other mossy thing in it waits for us. June is when my time begins to stretch, and generously. Later bedtimes, looser routines. If we’re late for camp, so be it. This year’s June looseness is particularly prized: I will have submitted the manuscript for my book, and suddenly I will go from running two creative processes to one. Is it wild to say I know I will miss the strenuousness of this time? That I rather like bending over my desk like some boarding school student over her prie-dieu? What can I say? My work ethic runs bone deep. And multiple things can be true: I can love this time, and also look forward to the rest after.
I try to set an intention at the beginning of each season: some word to anchor my days, to serve as a makeshift divining rod when I’m torn on which direction to take, which plans to say yes or no to, which experiences to prioritize. This summer, I want softness. A soft summer. The slow-fade of twilight into the dark bowl of the sky. Gentle wake-ups. Ripe seasonal fruit: peach, raspberry, watermelon. Lush leisurely reading on the grass. Breathable cotton. Any clothing that tells my body: relax, be free. Natural light. Uncaveated alone time. Soft serve in a cup. Music playing in the other room. Hydrated, happy skin. Grace in my interactions with others. Routines that give.
Do you have an intention for the season ahead?
HATCH RESTORE // JILLIAN DEMPSEY EYE MASKS (MAGIC — 10/10 WOULD REC) // HILL HOUSE NIGHTGOWN // LINEN GINGHAM PILLOW CASE // SOFT SERVICES THERAPLUSH HAND CREAM // JANESSA LEONE HAT // WUTHERING HEIGHTS // NOON AND MOON CUP AND SAUCER // A. EMERY SANDALS // MARKET TOTE // DOLCE VITA SNEAKERS // FRILL SOCKS // PEACH HAIR CLIP // SOPHIE JAMES WINE
A few shopping notes —
+Janessa Leone is offering $50 off its packable fedoras with code PACK50.
+I mentioned this last weekend too but I just LOVE LOVE LOVE this hand cream. And it comes in the prettiest bedside jar and you can buy refills for it rather than tossing the jar when it’s out. I think the 10% off when added to cart ends today or maybe June 3 — they only run this sale and one during CyberWeek so strongly rec.
+Also can’t stop speaking in exclamation points about these eye masks. They are literally the only eye product I’ve ever used that really does something to the dark undereye circles. Like it adds this sheen, glow, lightness to the area. It can really make you look awake even when you’re low on sleep. Use code JENSHOOP for 15% off.
+And now, an ode to the Hatch Restore. OMG. I’d heard buzz about this here and there but I am completely and utterly obsessed. I had been flirting with the idea of leaving my phone in a different room, or my closet, for some time, because I wanted to wind down without my screen and it is so tempting when it’s a few inches from my face. Even in an innocuous way — I’ll be wondering about the weather tomorrow, so I grab my phone to check, but then I read a text that takes me to Instagram or an email that sends me into my notes app and…you know how it goes. Anyway, the Hatch Restore arrived and gave me the perfect opportunity to test a screen-free bedtime. I’ve been using this for a week and I’m utterly in love. I can’t stop talking about it to Landon! The idea is that you pre-configure a routine on the Hatch. For me: I have 30 minutes of wind-down before bed, during which the Hatch gently dims its light until it’s time for lights out, at which point it switches from one set of sounds (you can select which you’d like for each) to another. I currently have Half Moon Bay waves crashing during my wind-down, then cricket-song while I’m asleep. Then I have it wake me up at 6:38 in the morning — my usual alarm time — and the Hatch will gradually wake you up by slowly brightening its light, and then playing a gentle sound (mine is birdsong) at the “alarm time.” It is the most gentle, sweet way to start a day. I am usually slowly roused by the light. What makes this product incredible is the quality. The sounds — the speaker — are high-fidelity, high-quality noises, and the light is this gorgeous amber-rose-gold-to-sunlight color range that feels muted and not artificial or blaring in any way.
I also love the easy manual buttons on the top and the sleek design. I can’t recommend enough. I’ve been sleeping happily without my phone next to me for a full week now and it’s given me such great calm. I enter the day with only my thoughts. I leave it in quiet, too.
A great tool for a soft summer.
+Finally: I’ve fallen hook line and sinker for the linen gingham bedding from Piglet in Bed. The way I need these sheets after studying their Instagram account…!
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