Hello! I am back in Charleston after the whirlwind of L.A. and then New York. I'm feeling a little ragged, if I’m being honest. Completely my own fault but whew. I landed at noon yesterday, dropped my bag, showered, put on my cute dress, and ran over to meet the Boden team at their pop-up. Then work catch-up followed by so much cleaning and unpacking. It was a late night but worth it. I never take the flexibility I have with my job for granted, even if it sometimes means a late night here or there. Also: sometimes I amaze myself by how much dirty laundry I, a woman living alone, manage to produce. That’s the funny thing about living by yourself — there’s no one to blame but yourself for the mess!

Moving on . . . I have a relatively slow rest of my week and purposely didn't plan much for the long weekend: it will be nice to rest and regroup! Both legs of the trip were so much fun (besides getting sick). More on that in tomorrow’s send... I hope you’re having a great week.

Also, semi-random but: WNU brought back my absolute favorite waffle top! I got this last year and lived in it, but it sold out so quickly - I’m glad it’s back. It’s big and roomy (I wear my usual size, a US 8) and absolutely perfect.

Monday: Worked from home

PS - Last week’s outfits!

A better look at the necklaces. When I had a session with earlier this summer, she advised tucking a leather cord pendant into my tops and dresses to give them a casual vibe. I love this tip!

Tues AM: Pilates

Tuesday Day: Worked from home.

Tuesday Night: Tried a new sushi spot with friends.

Wednesday: Worked from home, family dinner at my sister’s house.

Thursday Day: Flew to LA.

These Me + Em pants again! They have such a great shape, hold up very well in the wash (I don’t put them in the dryer), and are made of a fabric that is thick but not hot, if that makes sense. Definitely a favorite. I wore them on my flights to New York and Charleston, too. I have them in black, which must have sold out, but I actually like the navy better.

Thursday Night: Sushi and a movie. My dress is 30% off!

I get asked all the time about these necklaces, which I rarely take off. They are both from XIV Karats in LA, which unfortunately does not have ecomm!

Friday Day: Shopping with my bestie and then dinner with her and Geoff.

(and then I got sick!) More next week! xoxo

Disclosure: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. I only feature things I truly love here. Thanks for your support.

In the spirit of LDW travel, here’s a little outfit inspiration. I gave each one a destination, but I'd truthfully wear every single one of these looks in all my usual spots (Charleston, New York, LA!).

The destination/vibe: Upstate New York. I’m imagining somewhere with that not-cold but not-hot weather where you can wear a chambray shirt with shorts! It’s a relatively neutral base with a color combination I love right now: royal purple and chartreuse. (And how fun is this new bag from Call It By Your Name?)

Outfit Details: J.Crew Denim Button-Up, SimonMiller Eyelet Shorts, Alex Mill Ballet Flats, Call It By Your Name Printed Tote, Julietta Beaded Necklace

The destination/vibe: Cape Cod! This combination feels classic and sporty, but still very chic. I imagine wearing this to spend a day in Chatham. A trip to the Candy Manor, oysters at The Impudent Oyster, browsing in all the pretty little boutiques.

Outfit Details: Good American Raglan Tee (but also check out this one from The Gap!), Donni Gingham Pants, Alaïa Fishnet Sandals, Zara Shopper Bag, Mounser Pendant Necklace

The destination/vibe: Charleston! A pretty dress will give you just the right amount of ventilation, plus fun accessories. I cannot get enough of my heavenly jellies! Jellies can be tricky, but I haven’t suffered a single blister, and I wear mine a lot. I like how the clear sunglasses tie in with the shoes.

Outfit Details: Merlette Midi Dress, Staud Cashmere Sweater, Heavenly Jelly Embellished Flats, Reformation Raffia Clutch, Alaïa Round Sunglasses

The destination/vibe: Michigan Lake House. Another slightly cooler locale. Pants! Imagine that? Stripe pants, a breezy top, the coolest raffia tote, and my beloved VB velvet flip-flops.

Outfit Details: Banana Republic Scoop-Neck Top, SimonMiller Wide-Leg Pants, Veronica Beard Flip Flops, Maria La Rosa Raffia Tote, BaubleBar Beaded Necklace

The destination/vibe: The Hamptons! We’re channeling Ina Garten in all white and a stack of neutral necklaces, but making it a little more luxe with the Gucci sunglasses. These crazy flip-flops make me smile.

Outfit Details: Chan Luu Ruffle Set, Staud Flip Flops, Gucci Round Sunglasses, Brinker + Eliza Pendant Necklace, BaubleBar Beaded Necklace

For more outfit inspiration:

Disclosure: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. I only feature things I truly love here. Thanks for your support.

I don’t think we give the word “crush” enough credit. A crush isn’t just a person, it’s a feeling. And that feeling can have absolutely nothing to do with romance. It’s an unexpected jolt; it’s something you didn’t plan for that catches you off guard shifts everything else around.

A crush can be a restaurant you didn’t think you’d love that ends up becoming a regular spot. It can be a single sentence in a book . . . a new city you can’t stop thinking about. Today we’re going to talk about some of my crushes right now.

But first? A little walk down memory lane. You may know this by now, but my first job out of college was as an assistant buyer of women’s fragrances for a department store chain based out of Boston (RIP, Filene’s). This was 2003, over twenty years ago! My fragrance? CHANEL Coco Mademoiselle. Chance had just launched, but Mademoiselle spoke to me on a higher level. While Chance felt playful and fun, Mademoiselle made me feel sophisticated and polished.

The fragrance was a promise of the woman I wanted to become. Someone who was confident. Someone put together and well-dressed. Spritzing Mademoiselle onto my wrist was the last thing I did every morning before walking out the door to catch the train to work. It made me feel like I had my life together, even though back then I had very little figured out: life was just beginning, after all.

CHANEL Coco Mademoiselle Crush Absolu gives that exact feeling I described above: a jolt, a little spark – you didn’t see it coming.

If you’re familiar with the original, you’ll love this one. It feels like my old favorite, modernized. Grapefruit and lychee up top (bright, a little mischievous), rose and jasmine in the middle (iconic to the original), and then a woody, ambery base that lingers all day in a really good way. It gets better and better as you wear it, opening up like a fine wine.

Paris is the thing (the place) I am crushing on most right now. Feel free to roll your eyes at the cliche, but I miss it so much. The energy. The light. The shopping, the food, the museums. The chic people on the street. The flea market. I am turning 45 at the end of September and I am not feeling up for a big party or celebration but I do really fantasize about a trip.

Just thinking about being there gives me that crushy feeling: the butterflies and irrational excitement . . . thinking about what I’ll wear, where we will eat and stay . . . I can’t wait to be there.

Some quick crush hits - Answer these in the comments if you feel like it!

A book I love: Dolly All The Time snuck up on me. I am not a huge romance reader, but I fell in love with the characters and the setting. I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did but it ended up being one of my favorite books of the entire summer.

A newsletter I love: I am really loving ’s Substack Rly Gr8. Alyssa has amazing style, in particular, I love the way she puts together color. Also, her jewelry finds. To die for.

A recipe: Alison Roman’s tiny, salty chocolaty cookies. I make these an alarming amount. Any bad day can be turned around with these cookies. They’re easy to make and are a total crowd pleaser.

A meal: The cheeseburger at Zero George here in Charleston. It’s back on the bar menu, and it’s incredible — the truffles!! Highly recommend splitting one at the bar with a girlfriend.

A color: Paprika! We talked about this in my pre-fall roundup. I cannot get enough. Red looks good on everyone and pairs well with just about everything.

A piece of clothing: I am loving a great pair of track shorts or LAX shorts. Especially paired with something feminine: a lacy top or cashmere sweater. I live in the South, so I will be wearing mine all the way through November.

Tell me what you’re crushing on in the comments!

Hi from the West Coast. Weekend Reading is up on the blog. Topping the list is Bon Appetit’s list of best new restaurants and Vanity Fair’s fall movie guide. The trailer for the new season of The Gilded Age, how good taste is getting weirder (yay), the best places to go this Fall, how to spend a bookish afternoon in Brooklyn. A romcom I’m excited for, how to make a crybaby cocktail, does dressing your age still matter? Plus: how to have a Nancy Meyers fall weekend, shopping finds, home tours, and more. I hope you enjoy the list (and the rest of your weekend!).

PS - this one gets a little long. Click through to Substack to read the whole thing. And if you are feeling nice, give it a heart; it helps the algo. <3

My New Favorite Night Cream

I feel like I am announcing a new press release here. I have a new favorite night cream. For years it’s been the Augustinus Bader Rich Cream. Which I still love - I’m not kicking it out of my routine or anything. But I am fully obsessed with Irene Forte’s night cream. I like it even better; I have never said that before. It’s hard to articulate exactly why I love it so much, but if you have dry skin, just trust me. It’s a perfect night cream. It claims to have Botox-like qualities, which I don’t quite get (I really wish brands would stop saying that - no face cream is going to give you the same results as Botox!), but it hydrates exceptionally well, and I swear I wake up looking younger.

Weezie’s New Arrivals

Weezie dropped their fall collection this week, and I literally gasped. I am a big Weezie fan. Their robes and towels are so soft, I love the monograms, I love the piping. But I personally gravitate towards vibrant brights and moodier hues in my home (as opposed to pastels and florals, which they do very well but feel less me!). This squiggle robe has Missoni vibes — I ordered it immediately. It also comes in a deep brown with polka dots. Also worth noting: the leopard toiletry bags and bath towels!

Saie’s New Eye Shadows

Saie sent over their new eye shadows, and as predicted (everything that and her team make is excellent), they are fabulous. All-day wear, beautiful wearable colors, a suede-like finish. The brand’s main claim is that you don’t need a primer, and that’s true: I put them to the test (in Charleston’s humidity no less), and they stayed on from morning through dinner. My two favorite shades are Gelato and Sorbetto. I am more of a shimmer > matte person — a little bit of sparkle around the eyes lights up your whole face. Gelato is a warm brown shimmer, and Sorbetto reminds me of Stila “Kitten” — a beige shimmer. I’d recommend the brush as well; it gives a flawless application.

This Helix Sale

I am a Helix girly through and through. I’ve had the same low-profile mattress for ages because it fits my platform bed, but I’ve amped up the comfy factor with this mattress pad (seriously the best if you get back pain). Ever the diva (at least when it comes to sleep), I have it under my Eight Sleep pod — a truly divine combination. My cooling pillows are a reader favorite and best seller for good reason. They don’t get hot, and they’re just the right height and firmness (I do best with a dense memory foam pillow... while I love the look of big fluffy pillows, I take them off my bed for sleep!). Also worth noting: Carly has this mattress and loves it.

This sale is really good — up to 30% off. For a big-ticket item like a mattress, it’s the best time to buy one. But also, the pillows. They’re amazing.

Boden: Today (8/29) only, take 15% off sitewide with code 3V63. Tomorrow (8/3), take 10% off sitewide with the same code. I just updated this shelf, which is where I keep all my Boden favorites stashed. I especially recommend this short swingy trench; it’s gorge.

CANN: The whole site is buy one, get one 30% off through 9/7.

Coco Labs: Labor Day Sale through 9/7. Take 15% off select sets. Their dental floss is the very best and rarely goes on sale, so I would heartily recommend this set.

Frame: End of season sale with deep discounts (think 50-60% off). These jeans, these jeans, this jacket, and this jacket are all fabulous for fall and very well priced.

Edie Parker: End of season sale! I was delighted to see that the lighter necklace is included, as is this lighter case (a girlfriend got me the malachite one and it’s one of my favorite things).

Freda Salvador: End of Season sale through 9/1. Up to 70% off summer styles, no code needed.

Kiehl’s: Friends & Family Sale (ends 9/8). Take 25% off sitewide and get free shipping with FSSHOPMY. I am really excited about this new plumping serum; I ordered more of this body cream, and this + this are two old favorites that I had forgotten about.

Loeffler Randall: End of summer sale. Take an extra 30% off sale styles. So many cute, happy styles are included.

NARS: Take 20% off sitewide with code SUMMER. I love this new blush.

Perelel: Their only sale of the year - 20% off sitewide. This is one of my fave electrolytes. I love that it also has collagen and the mango lemonade flavor is yummy but not too sweet.

Posse: End of summer sale! Take 30% off selected styles through 9/2. They are one of my favorite brands. I pulled the trigger on this plissé set (cami + trousers) in ivory. Three faves I own and love (all are true to size) are this lace-trim top, this lace-trim mini dress, and this eyelet dress!

Ruggable: Labor Day sale with up to 30% off. My living room rug is included.

Tanya Taylor: Take an extra 25% off sale styles! My cute mini dress that I wore earlier this week is included.

The Shards (Hulu) Still watching and loving this — Scream meets Gossip Girl, but set in the 1980s with Ryan Murphy’s gorgeous sets and cinematography.

Furious (Hulu) Love this too - very very dark though, you’ve been warned. A female serial killer who was trafficked as a teenager is slowly taking out all of the men responsible for her friend’s death in an Epstein-esque trafficking ring. Emmy Rossum plays the cop investigating her case, and Jake Lacey is Rossum’s abusive ex (and fellow cop). It’s always hard watching Jake Lacey play a “bad” character; his face is so angelic.

• BaubleBar launched new colors (and triple stripes — love!) of their striped totes! Hard to pick a favorite combo.

• Shopbop Hearts are ready for you with loads of fab fall finds.

• Monica Vinader has a fun GWP, for just a few days. Join MV Circle and spend $190 and get a free L’Occitane hand cream. I love this necklace.

• I am back on the retinol train after taking the summer off (sometimes you just want to simplify), and am using this gentle one with time-release technology. No irritation so far!

• Donni launched the first part of their fall collection. I didn’t buy anything yet. I’m thinking about this silk baseball tee. I love these track pants with a lace stripe but fear they’ll be too short. I wish they were full length.

ICYMI - I am adding a little extra content beyond the paywall each week.

What’s below:

• This week’s high + low

• A fifth find — (really good hostess gift idea!)

• Substack articles from fellow publishers that I enjoyed!

Read more

As I write to you, it is Thursday afternoon, and I am up in the air, en route to LA for a few nights and then New York after that. The person behind me is sneezing and coughing profusely; I wish I’d thought to pack a mask. Hindsight! Masks have been ordered to Geoff’s house for the remainder of my travels— I don’t miss the mask mandate, but I like having one in my bag just in case.

I’ve been looking forward to this trip — it’s a fun week ahead! Sushi and a movie with G and his son tonight (last night), and while he is at work tomorrow (today), my best friend and I are meeting up to go shopping.

I love shopping in LA, and my friend Alex is my favorite person to shop with. We both love Dries; we’re obsessed with jewelry and fragrance, and we share the belief that you should stop for snacks and maybe a marg or two. Last time, she took me to XIV Karats — life-changing, IYKYK.

I’ve been dreaming of going back to the Dries store ever since we went during the holidays (it’s the most perfect store ever). There’s an entire room of sale stuff, a fun archive room with older pieces . . . you can sample their beautiful fragrances in person . . . heaven. As discussed in this post, everything fall looks incredible, but shopping in person is so much better.

Geoff is not a big shopper, but while the cat is at work, the mice get to play. He’ll finish work, and the three of us will meet up at this new-to-me oyster bar that looks right up my alley. Tomorrow we will spend the night in Malibu, and then I head to New York on Sunday. I have a few meetings with brands and PR friends, some fun social hangs, and then the main event: celebrating ’s 40th birthday!

As predicted, my calendar has gone from sleepy to stacked in a blink of an eye. I’m grateful for that slower summer!

What I’m most excited about this month: Labor Day weekend at home, this twenties-inspired feté to benefit our library society, turning 45, interviewing Jodi Picoult. Come, if you are local.

Work things on the horizon: I have been working with one of my favorite New York brands to plan a Charleston brand dinner in October. It’s fun seeing that come to life. I am launching a small jewelry collection with Jennifer Behr this December. Just four perfect pieces. This project has been a total dream — we started working on it in the Spring. I’m giddy with excitement to get the samples back and share more with you. We are still working out the marketing program, but I’m hoping to give Substack subscribers the first look.

The book: I made a lot of progress in August after basically taking July off from writing (oops), but I realized my original (self-imposed) deadline of having something ready for a developmental editor by October just wasn't realistic. I let her know this week. While part of me felt like a failure, I was proud of myself for being honest and not wasting her time.

I have a lot of thoughts about my tendency to take on too much and then beat myself up when I inevitably fall short. Coming to a future Substack letter. For now: Let’s be nicer to ourselves? Maybe it’s being “halfway to ninety” and all, but I’m aiming to be a little more Type B this year. Saying no, taking my time to produce something quality instead of rushed, pacing myself with both work and social commitments.

PS — Like everyone else, I was gutted by Dolly Parton’s passing. I’ve really enjoyed reading all of the tributes. It also brought me down a rabbit hole of reading about her late husband and their marriage. I love that he was such a normal guy, running his asphalt business.

PPS — The new Fara Homidi mascara launches today. They sent it over a few weeks as a sneak peek, and I gave it two thumbs up. Big glossy lashes that won’t smudge or feather. Bonus points for the bright packaging — it’s pretty, but also very easy to find in my makeup bag!

Heels will always have their place in my wardrobe, but if I can find a fun, somewhat exciting flat, I’m all in. I cannot do painful shoes, I want to be comfortable! I couldn’t stop thinking about these cool flats and ordered them in white this week. This pair from Zara gives a similar vibe.

PS - Even more chic flats can be found on this shelf.

Styling Last Week’s Best-Sellers: 3 cute ideas.

Our bi-weekly under $200 edit with so many great things!

This week’s Wednesday Ten was especially good IMO — the 10 things worth knowing about.

My August wish list!

Based on a True Story, by Sarah Vaughn

A successful children’s author is about to celebrate her seventieth birthday at her beautiful new home on the cliffs. During the party, a television crew will film a documentary about her life; Everything is perfect. Except: She’s being targeted. Dame Eleanoor Kingman has a past, and someone’s figured it out, sending her menacing emails. Someone knows what she did, and they are out for blood. We meet her three daughters, the au pair, her agent (and former agent), and even her ex-husband. But who would do this? Liked it.

Read this if you loved: A Very Bad Thing

Order on Amazon.com or Bookshop.org

You With The Sad Eyes, by Christina Applegate

This was my latest listen, and it flew by for me. Applegate makes for a wonderful walking companion. I came for the tea (I’d heard it was juicy and very honest — it is!) but stayed for her dark sense of humor. It was interesting to learn more about Applegate’s life, her struggle with body image (big content warning there if its a trigger), her strength through battling breast cancer and then M.S. I really enjoyed this. Really Liked it!

Read this if you loved: Mean Baby, Famesick

Order on Amazon.com or Bookshop.org

Promise Me Never, by Liv Constantine

Liv Constantine is a no-miss author for me. Instant pre-order. The Last Mrs. Parrish will always be a favorite! Savannah is an aspiring author who has caught the eye of superstar novelist Bennet Bryson. After a whirlwind courtship (dating a month), they marry and settle into his beautiful home in Bedford, New York. But Bennett turns cold, is critical of her writing, and locks himself away to work. And: Savannah begins to suspect that he killed his last wife. There’s a fun twist at the end, I read it in a day! Really Liked it!

Read this if you loved: The Ghostwriter, Just One Look, any of her other books!

Order on Amazon.com or Bookshop.org

This week, I was back from the lake, back to work and being a productive human. Daily showers! Getting dressed! It felt good. I definitely thrive when I am at home and in my routine. (Though I also get bored if I’m home for too long — hey: it’s all about balance!) This was one of those weeks where I had jusssst enough social activity to fill my cup. More? I’d be overwhelmed. Less? I’d be lonely. Again: balance!

Today is a travel day — I’m off to LA and New York. Looking forward to time with Geoff, celebrating ’s 40th, and lots of little work + fun things peppered in between.

Monday: Worked from home, got caught up on life admin, so much laundry after being away. This Anthropologie top is a total gem btw!

PS - Last week’s post!

Tuesday morning: Training session. I don’t always snap a pic of my workout ‘fits but I really like this set from Rhone.

Tuesday: Worked from home. (Sizing note on the Ref pieces — I went up to a large in both!)

Wednesday: Lunch at Current Burger with girlfriends, work, family dinner at Renzo. (Good food day!), This Dissh dress is amazing but it runs really big. I’m in the 8, which is my usual size, but wish I got the 6.

Thursday: Worked from home, got dressed up, got caught in the rain.

Friday: Went to the Zero George caviar bar with three of my close girlfriends to celebrate one of my friends’ professional milestones!

I am a huge fan of Eddy but struggle with their sizing a little as I am exactly between a medium and a large. In my experience, their pieces are cut tighter through the shoulders and more generously through the hips. Usually my hips are why I size up, so this confuses me. This dress is divine, so I got the large and just pinned some of the extra fabric to give it a better shape. I heartily recommend searching for vintage Monet brooches on Etsy. And I just got this brooch from Jenny Bird, which is equally fab.

PS - I was prowling around the Internet looking for an affordable alt to my Staud bag and found these satin mini totes on Etsy. Really like them!

Saturday: LOUNGED. I love this cute set — I wear the M/L in each piece.

Sunday night: Cookbook Club. Best way to end the week.

I will add that I’m having a real moment with Reformation lately. I placed a big order a few weeks ago and have been delighted with everything that came. These shorts have been a winner (size up); I also got the matching pants. And this silky top is such a gorgeous color. Paprika! I want it in every color. Same with the tank I showed above.

1. Donni Gingham Shorts: These are so soft and comfy. The sort of short you can wear out or lounge in at home. I size up in these; they run a bit short and tight in my opinion.

2. Olehenriksen Eye Creme. This was one of those old favorites that I’d forgotten about. It really is one of the very best, especially for brightening. Plays very well with concealer, no pilling!

3. Lili Claspe Oval Necklace. This necklace has elicited more than a few gasps from my girlfriends — everyone thinks it’s real. As if!

4. Rothy’s Suede Sneakers. These are so cute and so comfy, and I’m a little obsessed with the leopard. They come with red laces too!

5. Madewell Varsity Tee. Try swapping your white tee for this (or something like it) — I really like wearing it with lace shorts!

6. Alaïa Fishnet Sandals. I hate that these are so expensive, but trust me when I say - they are truly perfect. I love them so much. (Sorry!) Here is a more affordable alternative.

7. Fatty15 Gummies. I have two of these every morning. I have no idea if they are working, but the science behind them is pretty cool. I like that they also have fiber, and they are very tasty.

8. Prequel Anti-Itch Lotion. I have been personally victimized by mosquitoes this summer (ugh) and have been so, so itchy. This helps (and it’s very hydrating, feels nice, etc.). I’ve taken to just using it as my everyday body lotion and will continue until the bugs go away.

9. Le Maregold Floral Shorts. These are so cute! I love the floral print — they’re a perfect accompaniment to a sportier top like the Madewell one up top or a fun graphic tee. They run a little big; take your smaller size.

10. Cocolab Dental Floss. I am weirdly passionate about this floss because nothing gets my teeth cleaner (and the glide is so good).

11. Pêche Heeled Sandals. These are my most complimented shoes, and they’re also a great price and very, very comfortable. A total win.

12. Anthropologie Barrel Jeans. I love Anthropologie denim so much. These are truly perfect. The shape, the longer length (I am a hair under 5’8 and get the “tall”), the pre-cuffed hem.

13. Fresh Soy Cleansing Jelly Balm. Bringing me mega joy this month (I am a simple creature) is a jelly-balm version of my favorite cleanser! It smells so good and takes off all of your makeup. For extra credit, I recommend a double cleanse—this, followed by the original.

14. Sylvia Toledano Tasseled Earrings. I am feeling big, fun earrings pretty deeply for fall. I just got these, and they are absolutely incredible.

15. Parker Thatch Mini Bag. The cutest little companion. I love her so much.

Disclosure: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. I only feature things I truly love here. Thanks for your support.

Hi and happy Saturday!

Weekend Reading is up on the blog. A list of books about rich people behaving badly. High-protein, no-cook dinner recipes. It’s time for brands to invest in women who lift. The six key trends for Fall to know about. “A time for female monsters.” Tory Burch’s revival. How fashion learned to fear a newsletter. Everything we know about the Ocean’s Eleven prequel (!!) Several gorgeous home tours. Loads of shopping finds. And more — enjoy.

PS - this one gets a little long! Click through to Substack to read the whole thing. And if you are feeling nice, give it a heart. <3

My New Water Bottle

I feel silly for how much I love this, but this is a newsletter about silly (wonderful!) things. I never got into the Stanley trend (generally an Owala girly, this is my other favorite), but what I like so much about this one is the flippy straw. The straw is connected into the cap and so you can carry it around like a water bottle but then when you want to have it with a straw, just flip it open. Also the bottom has grippy material on it to keep it from slipping. Have never felt quite so passionately about a water bottle before!

Covered Hair Ties

I really like all of Teleties hair ties (they grip your hair really really well and they’re cute) but I have noticed that they sometimes cause a little bit of breakage. These covered hair ties solve that problem. Same great hold (especially for a high bun or ponytail) without the breakage. Genius!

This Toiletry Bag!

I love this travel bag. The color is very pretty, it’s sleek and streamlined . . . but I mostly love it because you don’t have to unpack. Everything stands up in perfect alignment, and the edges fold down so that you can see it all. I couldn’t design a more perfect toiletry bag if I tried.

YISE Glow Primer

I test out so many new things that I inevitably forget about old favorites. When I was up in the lakes, I packed a travel size of this do-it-all SPF/luminizer/primer, and it was all I wore on my face for the week. I forgot how much I like it. It makes you glow without looking like the tin man, plus SPF, of course. Can’t recommend it enough.

(Everything this brand makes is fab - also love the eye patches, this highlighter, and the new peptide moisturizer.)

Dissh: End of summer sale, take an extra 20% off! I love their dresses (this, this, this!) and recommend sizing down. I find the brand runs a little big.

Elemis: Friends & Family Sale! Take 25% off sitewide, and get a free 5-piece gift (worth $119) when you spend $145+. My personal faves are the cleansing balm (duh), these AHA pads, and this creamy-but-exfoliating cleanser.

Helix: Seriously great Labor Day Sale - up to 30% off sitewide! I can’t say enough good things about my ErgoAlign mattress topper (I have it under my Eight Sleep), and you know how much I love these pillows (constantly a best-seller!). They are cooling but also: just the right amount of firmness.

Hotel Lobby Candle: Their annual sale (seriously, they only do one sale a year) is still going strong. 25% off sitewide. I stocked up on Signature (soft and fresh) and Hamptons (best tomato!), my two go-to favorites. Ends 8/23.

J.McLaughlin: Take an extra 40% off sale, including my happy striped tote.

Net-a-Porter: Beachware sale, with up to 50% off. I was surprised by what a great assortment is included. It’s not just swimwear and beach stuff. Dragon Diffusion bags? This raffia cutie from Demellier? A Zimmermann dress and this Johanna Ortiz pareo? Good stuff!

Lola & The Boys: End of summer sale. I have gotten my niece so many great things from here! All of her crazy, colorful, sequin pieces that she loves so much. The sale prices are really great.

Ole Henriksen: Friends & Family sale, with 25% off sitewide. I love all of their products, but my two ride or dies are this juicy peach cleanser (it helps to even the skin tone), and this eye cream, which is the best for dark circles.

Ritual: Take 40% off sitewide! I take this multi and this probiotic every day.

Veronica Beard: End of summer sale! Take an extra 30% off sale styles with code LDW2026 through 9/7. I own this jacket, these jeans, and these rope sandals . . . I’m eyeing this dress!

I came back from the lakes to some great television!

I am a broken record but I loved Sterling Point and gobbled the whole thing up in just a few days. We talked about this yesterday but I absolutely loved this show. It’s just wholesome enough to feel cozy but not be boring, it’s got just enough rich kids behaving sort of badly, and the family story is a delight. Also, Ella Rubin’s hair.

I started The Shards and am loving that too. It’s worth watching just for the cinematography and the sets. These eighties LA homes are incredible. It’s based on the book, which I’ve somehow never read: a serial killer and a group of very wealthy, very unsupervised prep school teens in the 1980s. I think this one has promise.

• My beloved floating moissanite necklace is back in stock. It’s the perfect layering piece.

• Shopbop Hearts are up to date. We’re starting to see lots of great fall pieces, which is exciting.

• M.Gemi has launched a Substack! Meet . I always love seeing what brands do here, I’ll be keeping tabs. Check it out here.

• I’ll be a little cringe and share this video with what Geoff is working on right now. I thought it was really well done and I am so proud of him. (Also, I picked out that shirt he’s wearing — he was going to wear black!)

ICYMI - I am adding a little extra content beyond the paywall each week.

What’s below:

• This week’s high + low

• A fifth find!

• Substack articles from fellow publishers that I enjoyed!

Read more

It’s good to be home. I didn't miss the heat and the thunderstorms, but I missed my cats, my bed, my friends, my coffee! I leave again on Thursday (LA and New York), so I am just soaking up being home for now. I’m really looking forward to reading and pool time tomorrow, fingers crossed that the thunderstorms hold off! Today’s send is a little list of things I love right now - enjoy!!

1. Letting things slide . . . just a little. I really beat myself up this summer for feeling lazy, not accomplishing enough, blah blah blah. Know what? It’s hot. I’m tired. It’s okay. 4Q is coming, and I’m gonna just savor the last bits of summer before there are paid commitments and brand drafts and all the other (important but less fun) job responsibilities I didn’t have much of this summer. I am sliiiiiiding into September.

2. Cooking myself a really good dinner. I love to cook, but as I live alone, I don’t do it as much as I’d like. So often I just order something, eat a pre-made salad, etc. I’m trying to do this once a week and just enjoy the process of making something delicious (and enjoying the leftovers all week long). It is the best self-care!

3. Along the lines of cooking for myself (and others) — one-pot dinners, because I love to cook but I hate cleaning up! I made ’ one-pot crispy chicken and orzo on Monday and have been eating it all week: it’s truly delicious. Please tell me your favorite one-pot meals in the comments.

4. This perfect little black dress. Sophisticated, but doesn’t touch the body! Excellent for the end of summer if you live somewhere warm. It runs a little big. I got the US 8 but wish I sized down.

5. Martha Stewart’s new book, The Martha Way. I love that this is more textbook style: her philosophy on everything from cooking and entertaining to what to collect. Probably not for everyone, but I’m gobbling it right up as I could stand to learn a lot from her!

6. These Alaia sandals. I wish they weren’t so expensive, but they are absolutely perfect. These have a similar feel, but I can’t advise on comfort. (I’ve walked miles and miles in the Alaias already.)

7. Embracing my natural hair texture. I’ve not had a blowout all summer, and while I can't say I love how my hair looks au naturel, I can say that life is much easier just washing and wearing, and that’s what I’m doing — at least, until the humidity passes. Sometimes I look like a human Brill-O pad, but that’s okay!

8. Christina Applegate’s audiobook, You With The Sad Eyes. I adore listening to a celebrity memoir and this does not disappoint. It’s darkly funny.

9. Hotel Lobby Candle’s Sale. They only do this once a year, so it’s the best time to stock up (ends 8/23). I scooped up more Signature and Hamptons, my two favorites.

10. ’s substack, Search Terms. Ages ago met Juliana at the Loeffler Randall store opening (she’s their brand director!) and told me I had to follow her. I followed Carly’s orders and her Substack has quickly become one of my favorites. Vintage tees, affordable art, her monthly shopping roundups? I love it all. She just launched a paid tier, and I signed up immediately. Love that so many of the Loeffler gals write A+ Substacks - and too!

11. Gap’s fragrance relaunch. I ordered minis of all but om and earth (never loved those) to test. Admittedly I was disappointed by grass (it’s totally different, maybe I’m alone in wanting to smell like a fresh cut lawn!?) but heaven and dream totally transport me back to my younger years.

12. Sterling Point on Amazon Prime. It’s wholesome in a beautiful setting; there’s just enough rich teens behaving badly; I want Annie’s hair, and can you believe that Connor is played by Mark Ruffalo’s son? (The resemblance is uncanny, but Carly had to point that out to me).

13. Lagree Pilates. I go to Form here in Charleston. I had my eighteenth class yesterday and am growing to love it. It’s spicy, the reformer uses a lot of resistance . . . I love it. My core has gotten so much stronger and it’s done helped my posture immensely. I also love that it’s only 45 minutes.

14. The new burger joint at The Cooper. I went for lunch with girlfriends on Wednesday and it was fantastic. A perfect cheeseburger, an ice-cold fountain Diet Coke, and crinkle fries? Heaven. Love the nostalgic vibes.

15. Watching kind, talented people succeed. Our girl (who is very much both things!) got her solid orange check mark this week. So deserved. I study her Friday newsletter like it’s a textbook.

Also, this was announced yesterday so I can finally share: I will be interviewing the amazing Jodi Picoult on September 30th at Charleston Music Hall. If you are in Charleston, it will be a great night. I loved Hollow Bones and can’t wait to talk to Jodi!

Mini trend alert! Carly and I have both remarked on seeing crushed velvet all over the place. She flagged this little cutie, and I found this one. I think we are going to be seeing a lot more velvet — crushed and regular — this fall.

PS - Even more velvet faves on this shelf. I’d probably try this one out in a bag (especially living somewhere so warm) but gahhh I love this jacket.

Three very cute outfits styling last week’s best-sellers.

Carly’s monthly “up next edit,” with the things we should be paying attention to. I love her perspective!

The Wednesday Ten: the most important things to know this week.

By popular demand: My Eight Sleep Review!

The Stalker, by Paula Bomer

This is deeply toxic. I will warn you that there is a trigger for sexual abuse. It is the nineties in New York, and Doughty has arrived, fresh out of BC. He is, simply put, a total monster. He's managed to climb his way from sleeping in a bed at the YMCA to living with a book editor in her forties, in her posh Soho loft. Meanwhile, he's actively pursuing a relationship with a bartender. He's entitled and delusional, and tells both women that he is pursuing a career in real estate. Meanwhile, he spends his days watching VHS comedy specials (he has a real thing for George Carlin), or in the park, smoking crack. If you like dark and toxic, you'll like this a lot. Really Liked It!

Read this if you liked: Tell Me Lies (and you thought Stephen DeMarco was the worst person in the world -- Daughty makes him look like a puppy), You. It also, in a very abstract way, reminded me a bit of The Guest.

Order on Amazon.com or Bookshop.org

Girl’s Girl, by Sonia Feldman

This is not my usual book! I picked it up at Ladybird because I liked the cover and the title. But it's much more literary (and slow!) than I usually read. The writing is gorgeous, and it really captures the little nuances that come with being fifteen: the jealousies between friends, the neediness, etc. Mina's two best friends, Eleanor and Margaret, are her entire world. It is high summer in Ohio, and they spend their days languishing by the pool, plotting to go out, getting dressed up, and taking pictures of each other. But when two of the girls share a kiss, the group dynamic begins to change. Suddenly three starts to feel like a crowd, and Mina no longer understands her place in the group. This is such a great depiction of being young: the tension, the volatile feelings that can happen between best friends... first love, first lust, all of it! Liked It!

Read this if you loved: I couldn’t think of anything quite like this, but parts of it reminded me of the Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow.

Order on Amazon.com or Bookshop.org

White Out, by Carola Lovering (out 3/9)

Carola Lovering is one of my no-miss, instant pre-order authors (you might remember her as the author of Tell Me Lies). I was so excited when she asked if she could send me an ARC. Obvious yes, obvious drop everything to read it in under 24 hours. I will warn you that this one has trigger warnings for stillbirth, postpartum depression, and psychosis. June Lyons has an idyllic life in Aspen, Colorado. And then everything changes in an instant, and her family's world is shattered when she's injured while skiing and loses her baby just weeks before he was due. When June wakes up, besides healing from a devastating loss, she must reconcile what has happened. Why was she skiing so close to her due date? Where was her husband? What if losing the baby was not a total accident?

Read this if you loved: The Push, by Ashley Audrain.

Order on Amazon.com or Bookshop.org

It’s hard to believe that we are already more than halfway through August. I’m here all week, then go to LA and New York, and will be in Charleston most of September. Honestly, I’m counting down the days until things cool off a little bit and the humidity drops. Fall in Charleston is the very best, and last week’s burst of cool air up by the lake was such a tease. It was really nice to need a sweater!

This won’t be my best week of outfits. Some photos are taken by my nephews, sometimes I am not so clean. But that’s what I love about this column: the real life documentation of it all. The days blurred together and I’m honestly not sure if I’ve labeled the outfits by the right day. But that’s vacation for you.

Monday: A trip into town. The town of Skaneateles is so charming. It reminds me of Chatham on Cape Cod. I wish we spent more time there, but it was quite a hike from our cabin.

PS - last week’s post!

Tuesday Night: Sunset at the Lake.

It looks like a filter and it’s all because of this YISE SPF - makes you glow!

Weds AM: hot tub! (It had been cleaned, rest assured)

Thursday: Wine Tasting at Anyela’s.

Friday: Lake life!

Saturday: I didn’t snap a pic but then I found this from my family group chat. We had a really rough trip home. This was from our Atlanta airport delay.

Sunday: Home sweet home and at my favorite evening Pilates class.

That’s it! I’m happy to be back home for a little bit! Xo!

Shopping is a big part of my job, after all, so there’s an extra benefit for me: being able to share the thing if it ends up working, which is great when it happens! I’ve found some great things. I’ve also wasted a lot of money on gimmicky things that do not work. Especially neck stretchers. I’ve tried ‘em all, turns out simple is best.

Today’s post is just the things that really work. They make my life a little bit better, and I hope that they’ll do the same for you.

1. Wthn Acupressure Neck Wedge

This acupressure neck pillow looks so scary but I promise — it feels really good! I like to lay on it when I get home from the gym. Just ten minutes — it’s prickly at first, but it works. You can use it two different ways to target your upper neck or your traps — I do both as I store a lot of tension in both places.

2. Doctor Stolberg Rest + Digest Tea

I love this tea! Someone, maybe , called it the “hot girl tummy tea” which made me laugh. It’s true — it’s on every model and “hot girl’s” instagram feed or Substack. I do not personally identify as “hot,” but I can tell you how much I love this: it’s helped my stomach bloating so much. I try to have two cups a day, one after lunch and one after dinner. The coriander taste is really mild and soothing, it’s a nice little ritual.

3. Arrae Bloat Gummies

No matter how careful I am with what I eat, I always get really bloated when I fly. I keep these in my personal item for instant relief. They make a difference. I like them more than arrae’s bloat pills, for the record.

4. YogaToes Toe Stretchers

These are a weird one! But hear me out: they are fabulous. Especially if you have foot/toe pain. My feet always bother me, specifically my big toe and the right ball of my foot. Massages help, but it’s one of those ongoing things that just bugs me. It’s only gotten worse with weightlifting and reformer pilates.

These really do make such a difference. Find a time when you don’t need to move for fifteen minutes and slide them on. It will feel weird at first, maybe even hurt. But the relief they provide my toes is unparalleled. I love them and have convinced several of my girlfriends to try them, everyone agrees!

5. Neck Stretcher

I have talked about this again and again but ahhhhhhhhhh — it is the very best! Just laying on it for ten minutes loosens all the muscles in my neck and de-escalates tension. It’s the best $10 I’ve ever spent (the price has gone up; I bought mine nearly ten years ago).

6. Dr. Singha’s Mustard Bath Soak

I have so many pricey baths, but if I am not feeling well (this applies to hangovers, colds, aches and pains; I could go on and on!) I reach for this. It will make just about every ailment feel a little better. It will also turn your tub yellow, but whatevs — it’s worth it.

7. Slip Contour Silk Sleep Mask

I’ve slept with eye masks on and off my whole life, but one thing I have noticed since getting my (love of my life) Eight Sleep mattress cover (it meticulously tracks all the elements of a good night’s sleep) is that my REM sleep is always much higher when I sleep with an eye mask. Just something interesting I noticed, so I have been making a point not to forget it, and I do sleep better, even in my (very dark) bedroom! I really like this one because it gives you a little extra breathing room around your eyes.

8. Kroma Chicken Bone Broth

This is so delicious! And it has easy protein, collagen, and turmeric. I probably have a cup every day as a snack. I love the savory miso flavor. I truly cannot get enough of it. I even have the travel packs for trips.

9. Back Pod!

Another back/neck sort of stretcher, but this one focuses on my upper back. It was a reader recommendation, and I love that it targets that top part of your back, which can be a little hard to stretch out!

10. Epsom-It Concentrated Muscle Lotion

This is another gem for sore muscles! It is more concentrated than an Epsom salt bath, making it not only more convenient than a soak (though I do love a soak!) but also more effective. I love it. It’s best to just rub it onto sore muscles before bedtime. It does make you slightly sticky (a few readers have asked me if it does!), but nothing terrible.

11. Moon Juice Magnesium Powder

I jokingly call this my “happy drink,” but it really is that for me! It helps me sleep, it helps with mood swings, it helps with digestion and regularity. A trifecta of goodness. The berry flavor is my favorite; it’s very mild — I actually like how it tastes.

12. Behrhaus Magnesium Oil

This is the greatest for sleep! I massage a few drops into my feet, traps, and/or the back of my neck, and it feels incredible and helps me fall asleep —and stay asleep. Don’t use too much; it’s very concentrated - the bottle should last you a long time. Why is magnesium just the best!?

Disclosure: If you buy something through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. I only feature things I truly love here. Thanks for your support.

When I think back on our family trip to Skaneateles (it’s pronounced “skinny atlas,” not “skanny-at-uh-lus”), I will imagine my father laboring over a pot of his signature linguine with clam sauce. Just when he had it perfect, ready to serve us, he realized that our sprawling log cabin only had three bowls for eight people. My mother and I ate our linguine on saucers; my father opted to eat out of a mixing bowl. Rather than get annoyed, he matched his portion size to the bowl, lumbering over a gigantic family-size portion. I could not stop laughing.

The house we rented was remote. It would have been the perfect set for a horror movie; literally nowhere to go except into the lake. A beautiful log cabin, set down the most treacherous dirt road I’ve ever seen. Steep and winding; at one point we were fully vertical on our drive down. My parents, sister, nephews, and I arrived on Saturday. Geoff had a parents’ weekend at his oldest son’s boarding school and couldn’t get here until Tuesday.

It was beautiful, but we were always a little bit uncomfortable. My mom and I tried to go for a walk on the first day; the climb was so intense that we only made it a thousand steps before turning back. Down by the dock, there was a set of stiff iron chairs with upright backs. On the middle level, a hammock and plastic Adirondack chairs. No cushions. Above that, plastic lounge chairs, also sans cushions. Every seat was a little bit broken, a little bit “off” in some way.

Read more

Hi from the lakes. Weekend Reading is up on the blog. How heavy is your mental load? (And how to lighten it.) Ruth Reichl’s cooking essentials. This month’s must-see films on Netflix. How to tell if you are trauma dumping. Do your emojis make you look old? How 20 well-read people make time for books. “The year I stopped fixing myself.” Reasons to have faith in the art world. What fashion execs are reading this summer. Teenagers and tradwifery. How to make the famed Palm Springs Date Shake. Plus the usual mash-up of recipes, home tours, shopping links, and more. Enjoy!

PS - this one gets a little long! Click through to Substack to read the whole thing. And if you are feeling nice, give it a heart, it helps the algorithm a lot. <3

Abbode Everywhere Tote

Abbode has long been a favorite. I have several of their waffle pouches and love giving them as personalized gifts to friends. They’re so fun to build . . . you can pick creative icons, fonts in all sorts of colors, the best! And now they’ve launched totes. I designed my own (I know it’s probably very shocking, but I went with the Essentials over the Cat Mom) and am so excited to share what I chose when it arrives.

My Favorite Toning Pads, to-go

I think it’s so smart that Barefaced sells their (iconic!) toning pads in travel packs; they take up no room and are perfect for travel. I was really happy to have them with me on this trip; so convenient!

East Fork x Matisse

You know by now how much I love East Fork’s beautiful pottery (it’s pretty much all I use for my everyday dishes), and I was so excited to see their new Matisse-inspired collection. The cobalt blue stoneware (named La Sirène; a nod to the iconic blue hue Matisse used in many of his cut-outs) is incredible, I love this set of cake plates as a fun accent, and how gorgeous is this set of dinner plates?

An Old Favorite Eye Cream, Rediscovered

I forgot how much I love this eye cream! It brightens up dark circles, and it plays really well with concealer. Usually I am 1000% devoted to my Natura Bisse (that one has a tint), but for something non-tinted, I adore this. I can’t get over how much better my dark circles look without any concealer. Also from Ole, I can’t stop talking about this peachy cleanser (the scent is heaven, and it’s packed with good-for-you ingredients) and this acid toner for gentle exfoliation.

Bare Necessities: Top drawer sale, with up to 40% off their best brands. Highlights for me: my favorite minimizer bra, Hanky Panky’s lace boy shorts, this actually comfortable convertible bra.

Else: Summer sale! They have such beautiful lingerie, especially their bras. I love this and this.

Flamingo Estate: This is a really good one - in honor of their birthday, all candles and candle sets are 21% off. This excludes the XL sizes and personalized candles. Ends tomorrow! I love the heirloom tomato candle (of course, it truly is iconic!) but also adriatic sage and prinsesstarta.

Gap: Friends & Family Sale with 40% off everything, plus an extra 10% off with code GREAT. Ends 8/20!

Helix: Labor Day Sale, with up to 30% off. You know how much I love my cooling pillows.

J. McLaughlin: Big summer sale with up to 50% off. I have this happy yellow striped tote and love it so much.

Kate McLeod: Their summer sale kicks off next week, but they gave me a code to use on three products that won’t be included. The daily stone refill, the grounding stone refill, and the sleep stone refill! Use GRACEATWOOD20

Lo & Sons: Take 20% off my favorite crossbody bag (ends tomorrow, I think). I brought this to the lake house and love it so much. Leather is buttery soft; it feels much more expensive than it is. Feels The Row-adjacent!

Mejuri: Summer Sale. Through tomorrow 8/16, tiered savings sitewide! (15% off $150+, 20% off $300+, 25% off $500+)

Minnow: Annual sale is now live! This only happens once a year and is a great time to snag swim, knitwear, pajamas, and more — all for up to 50% off. My niece loves their swimsuits.

Reformation: So many fab styles are marked down 30%!

Soft Services: Anniversary Sale! Take 10% off sitewide and get a cute little GWP when you spend $75 or more. My favorite overnight hand cream and the bessssst buffing bar are both included.

Tory Burch: Private sale, with up to 50% off. This hobo has been a reader favorite; same with these sneakers. And I really love this glitzy little bag and this silk shirtdress. The prices are great.

Vivrelle: Don’t forget! Get your first month free with GRACEATWOOD

We watched Miracle on the video projector downstairs at the cabin. A classic. Otherwise it was a pretty TV-free week. Tell me what you’re watching in the comments; I’ve been a little off the grid — anything new out?

has me excited to watch Don’t Say Good Luck (written by !) on Netflix so that will be tomorrow evening’s plan. I hear it’s a tearjerker and that we all need to hydrate before we watch it.

• Shopbop Hearts are updated! I add to this little collection every morning; it’s one of my favorite rituals.

• I added a bunch of fab things to my Zara edit too.

ICYMI - I am adding a little extra content beyond the paywall each week.

What’s below:

• This week’s high + low

• A fifth find!

• Substack articles from fellow publishers that I enjoyed!

Read more

Open up Instagram, and everyone seems to be either relaxing on a beautiful beach, gallivanting in the Hamptons, or enjoying a fancy far-flung trip to Europe. Meanwhile, I’ve spent the past month or so at home, just hanging out with my books and my cats. I haven’t wanted to do a thing. I wrote about summer malaise and it was seriously real.

My friend Pamela left a thoughtful comment on that post. Thirty-two of you liked it, so I know it resonated.

“My one takeaway from business school/operations was that the best systems aren’t running at 100% capacity- they’re running at 80%. They intentionally leave room for maintenance, variation, and the unexpected. Running at full capacity all the time eventually reduces performance. I think about that a lot in the summer!”

Amen to that. I’d been running at full capacity for a few months: constant travel, a slew of work demands, trying to write my book. As much as I know I needed a break, to let myself run at, say, 50 percent, it was still hard to feel like everyone else was doing something cool and I was just some loser cat lady who read 12 books in a month because I didn’t have anything better to do.

I know I am being ridiculous. If this comes across as whiny, know that the thing I am whining about most is me! I’m the problem and I know it. I also want to illustrate the effect of social media on our brains. We open up the app and immediately forget all of the good things in our lives (and in my case, all of the other trips I have taken) and focus on all the things we’re not doing, all the things we don’t have. In just May and June I was in Croatia, L.A., New York, and Harbour Island. When I got back from all of that, I craved rest and feeling grounded. I needed to not go anywhere—the algorithm was just tricking me into feeling bad.

July was kind of just a wash. In addition to not traveling, I did not work on my book, I did not vibe code my app, and I did the exact bare minimum for my job. I relaxed, a lot. I failed to reply to many many emails. I gave myself permission to just let some things slip. I spent Saturdays under my umbrella or in the pool. One day I fell asleep so hard in my backyard, only to be woken up by a thunderstorm. Glorious! And if it was raining (there has been so much rain), I’d hide out under a blanket with a cat and a book. I got to the gym nearly every single day and hit some record step counts, even in the heat. I had what felt like a thousand doctors appointments—and I hate going to the doctor. (Nothing scary or bad, just getting caught up on regular appointments, plus a full blood panel twice because they didn’t draw enough blood the first time. My idea of hell, but also necessary to figure out what’s going on. I don’t feel like myself, and haven’t in a bit. Perimenopause, qué horror!)

Speaking of hormones and summer malaise—does anyone else feel a constant, low-level annoyance? Please say yes.

I was annoyed because it was too hot, I was annoyed because a thunderstorm would strike just as I was headed out the door. I was annoyed because no one was around to hang out, but I probably didn’t want to go anywhere anyway. I was annoyed because I had writer’s block, annoyed because I felt lazy and incompetent. Annoyed because I was out of seltzer and the person meant to order the seltzer (me) had given herself a break from responsible grocery shopping. I was annoyed because Geoff went to Denmark for two weeks without me. (It was the Scouts Jamboree and in theory, I could have gone, but tent life and 30,000 young teens would have been my undoing. Know thyself.)

In hindsight, it was probably for the best: I felt bored for the first time in years, I really worked on my health. It was the July I needed.

I was out for a walk with a girlfriend (who was home for two days before leaving again) and we were chatting about this. “The thing with all this travel jealousy and feeling bad is,” I said . . . “I don’t even like being away from the house and the cats for more than a week. Even in the heat!” She laughed and said, “So what you really need is for everyone to stay here and not leave.” “Right, exactly.” You have to be able to laugh about it. Laugh at yourself, and delete Instagram for a few days.

As I publish this, there have been some updates. That month off from writing my book actually helped. It’s pouring out of me now, which feels exciting and good. While I wasn’t actually putting fingers to keyboard, I thought about my characters daily. I’ve also gotten out of the house—my family and I rented a house in Skaneateles, a town in the Finger Lakes I knew very little about (except that I was unable to spell it until now). I’ve mentioned before that my youngest sister is a professor at Cornell and lives in Ithaca—this was closest and easiest for her. So we’re living our best lake life.

I don’t know . . . I just may be emerging from my summer of nothing!

Will I ever grow tired of fringe? Probably not. Right now I’m loving a fun fringe top with shorts (or for a cool night, silky pull-on or balloon pants). This one from Dissh is a winner. I was lucky enough to snag this Zara jacket before it sold out (I have a lot of luck signing up for email alerts for sold out products). For a similar look, try this Farm Rio top, worn open! And of course there is this forever fave from Sea. I have it in black but want the white.

PS - Even more fab fringe on this shelf.

Styling last week’s best-sellers! Three cute outfit ideas around the pieces you snapped up like candy last week.

A rlly good under $200 edit, packed with late-summer finds.

The Wednesday Ten: ten things I think are worth knowing right now.

The Shampoo Effect, by Jenny Jackson

Caroline Lash packs up her life in New York and arrives in Greenhead, Massachusetts, where she has received a prestigious writing fellowship. Almost immediately, she meets -- and falls in love with Van Whittaker, a sweet and smart long-haired environmentalist-type. Van grew up in Greenhead and still runs with his childhood besties (and ex-girlfriend, Bailey). Caroline finds herself thrust into this new group: older than her, many with children.But when Van learns that Bailey, who he's been on and off with for years, is pregnant with his baby, the group dynamic is thrown off. Before she knows it, Caroline has been thrust out of the circle. What she does next will shock everyone in the town and expose long-held secrets.

Read this if you loved: Jackson’s other book, Pineapple Street. She writes the best characters. I would also say, Ann Patchett. A bold statement, but this read a bit like Patchett for me! The way she describes the most mundane details. The intricate family relationships.

Order on Amazon.com or Bookshop.org

I’m Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself, by Glynnis MacNicol

I loved this book so much. I listened to it, which I would highly recommend, as it feels like a multi-hour catch-up with your new best friend. It's 2021, and international travel has just opened back up. MacNicol, forty-six and unmarried without children, decides (after 16 months of living alone in a tiny Manhattan apartment) to move to Paris for a few months, in pursuit of one thing: enjoying herself. Friendship, food, and sex. It's indulgent and wonderful. It's also feminist, and I loved seeing another unmarried, childfree woman living life exactly on her own terms. The friendship stories are big-hearted and warm, the casual sex is juicy and salacious, you won't be able to stop reading.

Read this if you loved: I can’t say I’ve read anything quite like this (that’s a good thing), but I would say it could be a good chaser to All Fours. And I’d compare the writing to Nora Ephron.

Order on Amazon.com or Bookshop.org

Looks Perfect, by Jessica Siskin

If you love books about the influencer world, I think you’ll really enjoy this. Stella is an up-and-coming fashion designer and influencer, on the cusp of hitting a million followers. Her life is perfect, except for one thing: her boyfriend Alex seems to hate her. When she is offered $10,000 to try out a new dating app (without posting anything), she takes a chance. There, she meets “Pineapple,” who has her reconsidering everything about her career and her life. Can she and Alex fix things, or should she take a chance on this new, anonymous stranger. My favorite thing about this is the way that Siskin wrote Stella’s character. She’s not a total monster (so many books about influencers can do that), but she also makes bad decisions and falls prey to living to create content vs. the other way around.

Read this if you loved: Such a Bad Influence, People Like Her, books about influencers!

Order on Amazon.com or Bookshop.org

Kitten, by Stacey Yu

This is a weird little book, and I feel like I have to warn you (in as vague a way as possible to avoid spoilers) that an animal dies. That’s a huge trigger for me, and I probably would have skipped it had I known that! There is a big theme of coming into your own and going from being taken care of to taking care of yourself. Katie is far from home, newly graduated from college, and very reliant on her boyfriend James, who is kind, generous, and all too happy to care for the both of them. When his parents are away, he takes care of his family cat Silver; Katie becomes a bit obsessed with her. Everything else seems to fall away as she observes Silver’s every move. There were parts I liked (it really captures that tie between college and real adulthood beautifully, as well as her codependent relationship with her mother and then her boyfriend), but that one thing made it really disturbing.

Read this if you loved: Girls, on TV. I genuinely can’t think of anything else to compare it to, but I could see a young Hannah Horvath acting a lot like Katie.

Order on Amazon.com or Bookshop.org

Hello from the lake! I’m writing this from the porch of our Skaneateles rental. My nephew just showed me an acorn; he can spin it like a top. He’s up to twenty-two seconds of spinning. My parents are further down on the porch . . . mom reading her book, dad on his iPhone. The wifi and cell reception up here leave much to be desired, but that’s probably a good thing.

We haven’t left the house very much, but that’s been nice. Lots of time to write, lots of home-cooked meals and family time. I have learned two new games (German Whisp and Ticket To Ride) and anticipate learning many more over the course of the rest of the week. I did go to a really cute bookstore — apparently it’s only been open for a week. If you’re in the area, check it out!

Monday: Worked from home, met my friend Holley (aka ) for margs and tacos at Bartaco.

PS - Last week’s post

Tuesday: Worked from home. A note about the dress. It’s very short! I am 5’8 and the designer recommended a large if you’re 5’6 or above. One of those pieces that is sized more for height.

Also: really into adding black to a red and blue outfit to keep it from going too Americana.

I think adding black to red and turquoise (or any shade of blue) is a great way to elevate the look/keep it from feeling patriotic.

Wednesday Night: Went to dinner with two of my friends.

Friday: Errands, got a facial.

Saturday: Travel Day!

Sunday: A walk with my nephew and my mom.

Sunday Night: Family Dinner (and bribing my nephew to take my pic). The Albion pants are A++ for travel as they do not wrinkle! I’m in the medium; I would say they run a little big.

That’s all! See you next week with more lake life outfits. Xo

One gift I give myself these days (most of the time, at least for domestic travel) is letting myself check a bag vs. attempting to cram a week’s worth of clothing into a tiny carry-on. It makes me a more easy-going traveler (I become a little crazy about securing overhead space), it makes for a nicer connection, and besides: it’s nice to have options (not to mention full-sized toiletries).

I completely overpacked for this trip and have no regrets. Packing for a week at the lake is tricky! You need swimwear and shorts for daytime, cozy things for evening . . . hiking clothes, rain clothes . . . you catch my drift. Besides, we rented a house for the week — cue me panic-packing full-size toiletries (sunscreen, shampoo and conditioner, body wash, my beloved bug stone) because you just don’t know who will pack (and forget) what. Add to that: supplements, protein powder, a water bottle . . . five books; I could go on.

I’ll just say that my massive checked bag earned a giant eyeroll from my father!

1. Apiece Apart Oversized Button-Down: From their latest collection, I love this color so much.

2. Nili Lotan Denim Shorts: The best denim shorts; everyone is different, but these fit me so well.

3. Kitty and Vibe Ruched One Piece: I gasped when I saw the abstract butterfly print — it’s stunning.

4. Donni. Gingham Shorts: A new favorite. Comfy enough to sleep in, cute enough to wear out wine tasting.

5. J.McLaughlin Striped Tote: The best little bag; the color is so happy and fun. It’s half off right now.

6. Nisolo Woven Sandals: I kept linking these as an affordable alt to my Miu Mius, but ended up getting the brown.

7. Sold Out NYC Plaid Shirt: The most deliciously lightweight button down. I love the subtle plaid.

8. A.L.C. Satin Shorts: A recent favorite. I like that they feel slightly athletic.

9. Albion Striped One Piece: Perfect for water sports and playing with my nephews.

10. Rhone Anorak Pullover: A great top layer for hikes, walks, etc.

11. Sequin Beaded Necklace: Something fun!

12. Rhone Active Shorts: I wear these on repeat.

13. APL Running Sneakers: My favorites!

14. Sold Out NYC Crewneck Tee: The best tee in a gorgeous olive green.

15. Posse Crochet Mini Dress: I packed a few dresses, assuming that Geoff and I will go out to dinner one night, or maybe we’ll go wine tasting.

16. Veronica Beard Velvet Sandals: So pretty and so comfy.

17. Free People Running Shorts: A recent obsession.

18. Gwyn Striped Midi Dress: Love this easy breezy dress for over a swimsuit or out at night.

19. Jamie Haller Thong Sandals: My favorites. A great pop of color and they are insanely comfortable.

20. Free People Waterproof Pullover: This is the best! It doesn’t take up much space in your suitcase, and I love love love the bright cobalt.

Track Pants! With these (just like with board shorts, track shorts and the like), we are, to use ’s word, making a sandwich. Something feminine on top, a delicate sandal, and happy accessories. The look feels effortless and easy — never sloppy!

Outfit Details: Posse Puff-Sleeve Tunic (this has become an instant fave for me), Donni. Nylon Zip Pants, BaubleBar Tiger’s Eye Necklace, Tuckernuck Mesh Tote (on sale, I can’t believe it’s still in stock; this has been a staple piece for me), Loeffler Randall Slingback Sandals

Henleys! Think of the Henley as fall’s version of the graphic tee. Anywhere you’d wear a graphic tee (or plain white tee?) swap in a henley! I love how the necklace and skirt tie in together to create a cohesive color story.

Outfit Details: Still Here Henley Tee, Leset Jacquard Wrap Skirt, BaubleBar Beaded Necklace, Rouje Raffia Basket Bag, Alaïa Fishnet Sandals

Scarf prints! This top is a dream. Pair her with simple barrel jeans (this pair from Nili was a splurge last year, but completely worth it; this pair from Anthro is a great affordable alt) and accessories that tie neatly into the pattern of the top.

Outfit Details: Alémais Silk Top, Nili Lotan Barrel Jeans (worth every penny), Machete Hair Pin, Reformation Baby Wedges (highly rec), Savette Suede Clutch

Plaids! The key here is to kind of go crazy with color. I know that’s not for everyone, but I think of ’s notion of “one or a ton” when it comes to color, and we are embracing a ton! The flats and shorts feel complementary, never too on the nose.

Outfit Details: Dôen Scoop Neck Top, A.L.C Satin Shorts, Chan Luu Beaded Necklace, Tory Burch Crocheted Tote, J.Crew Satin Flats

Paprika! Honestly, paprika looks great with just about everything (greens like chartreuse, navy, aqua, purple . . . ) but we’re keeping it simple here with a classic button down, flip flops, and a fun bag!

Outfit Details: Nili Lotan Oversized Button-Down, Comme Si Silk Pants, Alaïa Oval Sunglasses, SIMONMILLER Beaded Raffia Bag, Reformation Thong Sandals

I have been doing quite a bit of purging (Summer! Boredom! Staying inside!) and I can’t help but think about all of the psychological reasons we hang onto things. I live in a smallish house (1,900 square feet, three bedrooms and a small “office” that I converted into a closet). It’s more than enough space for one person, not enough space for someone with so. much. stuff.

I tell myself that I am a collector (and I am, so some of my clutter is warranted), but sometimes I’ll open a cupboard or try to find something in my guest bedroom closet and think, “a hoarder lives here.”

There’s the clothes, obviously. I am working on a big post about decluttering and purging my closet because that’s always requested when I do an AMA. But as I go through, room by room, I’ve been thinking about the main reasons I hold onto stuff:

1. Guilt: I spent the money on the thing; I can’t get rid of it.

2. “I might use this if . . .” in which case the “if” becomes a personality transplant. Like, if . . . I suddenly started cooking elaborate pasta dishes every night, or if . . . I were to move back up North. The “if” is usually rather far-fetched.

3. A residual scarcity mindset, leftover from the pandemic. If I don’t have an ample supply of seltzer, cat food, toilet paper . . . I get a little bit itchy.

Let’s break it down.

GUILT //

For me, this is the easiest one to get past. I feel guilty about spending money on the thing I didn’t use, but now it’s taking up space in my closet/china cabinet/pantry. When something you don’t need takes up space, it makes it harder to access the things you truly love and want to use. Also, as taught me in our styling session, it’s bad energy. You should be able to walk into any area of your home and easily find whatever it is you are looking for. So get rid of the thing in your way. Give it to someone who will use it, sell it, whatevs. But most importantly, learn from this one, and stop buying things you won’t use. For me this means being really thoughtful. If it’s a piece of clothing, there needs to be a hole in my wardrobe for it. If it’s a thing for my kitchen, I need to know I’ll really use it!

Read more

Hi! Weekend Reading is up on the blog. The best thrillers of the 21st century, new books out this month. Perfectly portioned dinner recipes for one. A recipe for dirty martini-marinated mozzarella balls. The best Caesar salad recipes from famous chefs. The history of Le Sirenuse. The color combinations that will be trending this year. Do your underarms need a special skincare routine? (lol no) Serotonin shoes! So many home tours and recipe ideas. How weird can Gen Z’s party themes get? And loads more: enjoy the list!

PS - this one gets a little long. Click through to Substack to read the whole thing. And if you are feeling nice, give it a heart. <3

Vestirsi Bag

Vestirsi is my secret spot for beautifully made luxurious bags that look designer but are a bit more accessibly priced. How cute is this little guy? The perfect little bag. I also have a foldover clutch (sadly it sold out but it is the best) from them that everyone always thinks is Bottega. Their bags are beautifully made and always priced well under $1,000. I love the little barrel shape of this one!

La Maregold Set

I just got the cutest crochet set (top, pants) from La Maregold and had to share it as I’m sure it will sell out and it wasn’t the sort of thing you take to a rustic lake house. Truly just perfect! I can’t wait to wear it when I get home.

The Yummiest Syrups

My friend Tara runs Daysie as her side hustle (by day, she’s the director of sales and marketing at HART) and omg, her syrups are the best. Organic cane sugar, delicious flavors, the perfect little treat to add to your coffee (or if you are feeling adventurous, a cocktail!). Start with the variety pack (the salted caramel is to die for). From there, I love the lavender & lemon verbena — it’s amazing in a latte, or drizzled over vanilla ice cream.

Olaplex Shine Spray

This shine spray has been my summer hair MVP! It’s weightless but cuts out my frizz and makes my hair soft and shiny. I cannot recommend it enough. It also makes blonde highlights pop! Ten out of ten summer beauty product.

Anthropologie: Take an extra 40% off sale styles. A lot of great stuff was just marked down!

BaubleBar: 25% off sitewide, and 20% off custom styles. Ends tomorrow. Some personal favorites: this striped tote (and the matching pouch), this chunky necklace, this crystal collar, and this rope bracelet.

Bluemercury: Endless summer sale with up to 50% off. I love these peel pads for body, they are amazing before self-tanning. Also: these liquid lipsticks from NARS are a longtime fave.

Colorescience: Take 20% off sitewide, no code needed. They have great sunscreens, but for me it is all about this mascara. I wear the brown nearly every day. It makes lashes look naturally long and thick, but most importantly, it contains a growth peptide to make your lashes grow longer and stronger. I’ve seen a major difference since switching to this almost a year ago.

Dermstore: 20% off sitewide! We talked about this on Thursday, but I’m stocking up on Natura Bisse (this eye cream), I love these super hydrating sheet masks (they’re especially great after microneedling or a laser), Skinceuticals is 15% off (love P-Tiox + C E Ferulic), the Rich Cream of course, and the very best lip treatment.

DSW: Take 25% off with code SCHOOLDAY. Personal faves — these flat sandals (love the pearl!), these open-weave raffia mules, these jelly slides.

Earlybird CBD: Take 10% off sitewide with code SUMMER10.

Helix: Labor Day sale has started with 20% off sitewide. I feel like I harp on and on about this cooling pillow every week but it really is the best. I also love this orthopedic mattress pad (I have mine under my Eight Sleep!)

HigherDose: Take 20% off sitewide with code SUMMER26. I love my sauna blanket so much, I’ve been testing this scalp serum (the brush feels so good), and I love love love this bath soak!

J.Crew: Take 50% off all women’s swim.

J.McLaughlin: Big summer sale. My cute yellow striped tote is 50% off!

Kule: End of an Era Sale. I am so, so sad to hear that Kule is closing. Their tees are my very favorite. I guess they will become collector’s items. I love this tee and this tee and have them in a range of sizes from small to XL; everything is selling very quickly, so shop while you can.

Madewell: 30% off wear now styles with code REFRESH. My picks: this cute red dress, this plaid (plaid!) top, these boat shoes, and of course the Sophie top if you can find it in your size. I find it comes in and out of stock, I found it for my sister in a medium earlier this week.

Negative Underwear: Swim sale! I heartily endorse this top and these bottoms, worn with this.

Nordstrom: The anniversary sale ends tomorrow! My picks are saved to this collection. Great time to stock up on bras, socks, beauty, and basics.

Me + Em: New styles added to sale, for up to 60% off! So many pretty pieces are included, at really great prices. My picks: this bias cut maxi dress, this chic mini, these eyelet sandals, this raffia bag, and this shirred maxi.

Stripe & Stare: The best underwear ever (seriously!) are 30% off when you buy three pairs. I’ve slowly replaced my underwear drawer with mostly these.

No TV this week though I started Mary Beth Barone’s comedy special on Netflix. (I fell asleep — a reflection of me, not her!) What I did see was very very funny, I really enjoy her particular brand of humor as well as her politics.

• Banana Republic’s new arrivals are really really good! The three standouts for me are this cowl neck top, these silky shorts with lace trim, and this utility mini dress. Go Banana!

• Shopbop Hearts are up to date with some fab saves from the week.

• A little reminder about my Kate McLeod code— GRACE15. I live for the eucalyptus bath pebbles, use the daily stone well . . . daily, and packed the bug balm stone for our trip to the lakes.

• New arrivals at Alex Mill! My favorite piece is actually this jersey cotton cardigan — feels really easy! But also, rollnecks.

• Z Supply has launched an impressive edit of denim. My personal faves are these and these. I ordered both and will report back on fit!

• Vivrelle brought back my code. GRACEATWOOD gets you your first month for free! I’ve had the same bright Prada tote borrowed for the past two months, I am not ready to part with it!

ICYMI - I am adding a little extra content beyond the paywall each week.

What’s below:

• This week’s high + low

• A fifth find!

• Substack articles from fellow publishers that I enjoyed!

Read more

Just a little grab bag of things this week. I am leaving for a trip with my family tomorrow (we’ve rented a log cabin on the lake for a week — I am elated to get out of the heat and have some quality time with my sister and her nephews), and I’m feeling just a wee bit scatterbrained before I go.

Here are some things I’ve been thinking about!

Accountability!

I did not work on my book in July. Honestly, I don’t know what my problem was, other than the fact that I simply did not want to do much besides read books.

I worked just enough to pay my bills and be a responsible human, but creative work? Strategic work? Absolutely none of that. I felt a little bit guilty, but I think I needed it. Sometimes I feel like I can’t take my foot off the gas pedal. We’re not supposed to operate at 110% all the time, and that’s what I had been doing. I think, now that I look back, that I was a little burnt out.

August (the six days of it) has been better! suggested that we be each other’s accountability buddy and have been texting each other our daily word counts; it’s actually very motivating. I find that the earlier in the day I write, the more likely I am to hit my writing goal (I am trying to write 1500 words a day — generally a pretty manageable goal but not always!).

What to wear when it’s hot!

asked me — and nine other women — what to wear when it’s too hot to get dressed. I was so honored to participate and loved reading everyone else’s answers as Charleston’s heat and humidity have been extra spicy this week.

Fwd: from a friend

I asked 10 stylish women what they wear when it's unbearably hot

I'm never going to be someone who loves getting dressed in August. By this point in the summer, I'm rotating and sweating through the same handful of outfits, and feeling completely uninspired. So I outsourced the problem to 10 women on the internet whose style I never get tired of and asked them what they actually wear when it's unbearably hot. And let…

Read more

a month ago · 11 likes · 8 comments · Emily Schuman

Ian Fleming’s Jamaica Schedule

I cannot stop referencing this. I think maybe I’ll try it for a day (with less alcohol) while we’re up at the lake. It’s the midday siesta that really grabs me. Also, Scrabble. I’d also love to sit in the garden for an hour and play Scrabble. The whole thing sounds equal parts blissful and productive. Not particularly healthy (Fleming died at age 56 after a life of heavy smoking and drinking), but memorable.

Every where I look, all the cool girls are wearing wrap skirts. The best way to wear them is with a long sleeve tee (our beloved J.Crew fave, one size up!), a vintage graphic tee, or a chic little henley. I have this one from Alemais and this one from Dries; and I really love this Leset cutie, too!

PS - Even more fab options on this shelf.

Everything I read in July: my review of the twelve books I managed to read.

How to wear last week’s best-sellers: 3 very cute looks!

The Wednesday Ten: what I think you need to know about this week.

Carly’s Cut: Her monthly edit of what she’s shopping for, watching, reading, pinning, eating, and more.

Dolly All the Time, by Annabel Monaghan

I surprised myself by how much I loved this. I am not generally a romance gal, but maybe that is changing. So many of my friends, and so many of you, had recommended it that I had to give it a try. It’s set in a coastal Rhode Island town (it reminded me of the Cape, so that was a selling point) and is about a hard-working single mom and a handsome billionaire who enter into a fake dating arrangement which (of course!) turns into more. I really enjoyed it. I loved both of the characters, especially Dolly, who is ultra competent and smart (I cannot do a messy romantic heroine!) and I found myself utterly engrossed in it. Loved It!

Read this if you loved: Happy Place, by Emily Henry

Order on Amazon.com or Bookshop.org

Getting Away With Murder, by Shari Lapena

When I spotted this at Ladybird (my beloved local bookstore), I bought it without knowing a thing, as I tend to really enjoy Shari Lapena’s books. This one is about Jill and Ted, a wealthy couple in Brooklyn who have made a few bad investment decisions. Realizing that they are on the verge of losing their beloved brownstone, they make a plan to murder Ted’s brother Greg (as one does, right?) This will, they believe, solve all their problems. With the two of them as the only witnesses to Greg’s death, their story will be ironclad. Or is it? Can they really trust each other? I’d describe this more as suspenseful than twisty (twisty is my preference), but I still really enjoyed this. Really Liked It!

Read this if you loved: Shari Lapena’s other books; this was her tenth! I didn’t love this quite as much as The Couple Next Door, but still really enjoyed it.

Order on Amazon.com or Bookshop.org