June Hot Thoughts
Wedding comedowns, happy crafts and more on my mind this month.
I’ve lived in New York for almost 13 years now, and I can’t remember a month that felt more electric in the city than this one. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention how much fun it was to be in the mix while the Knicks were in the finals. My mom was in town and for game four, Dylan and I took her to Bilt bar on Vanderbilt. She got the full NYC experience — a huge comeback, a nice neighborhood man offering her a chair, David Cross and Bob Odenkirk rolling up to chat and watch. This is what I love about living here.
Just a week later, Dylan and I got married. It was full of luck, and love, and play, and I can’t wait to tell you all about it soon. In the meantime, with so much noise and movement and excitement over the last few weeks, my nervous system has felt overloaded, and I’m looking forward to slowing down and spending some time outdoors. But also I want to embrace a summer of hanging around New York without any big aspirations besides eating well and enjoying my friends. Living here for over a decade, the inclination is to always leave — to be on a trip somewhere decadent or sexy or fun. But, there’s a case to be made, especially this time of year, to enjoy the energy the city has to offer.
1. Keeping In Touch, Chicly
There are a gazillion little takeaways from having a wedding, but one I’ve been thinking about a lot this week is how much I love cards. Homemade, customized, or just cute, a beautiful card with a handwritten note is so intimate and caring, they make me feel held in a way an Instagram comment or email could never. For my bachelorette, I used No Particular Order’s wedding cards to write little notes to all of my friends as a thank you for coming. That felt very special, and I could customize each one to the friend in question.
My new plan: buy cute cards when I stumble across them, so that when the time calls for one, I have something unique to send. Or, maybe even design a card like the one below!
2. Shopping For: Heat Wave Essential
Being that it’s going to be 100+ this week, it’s a great time to double down on some of the barely-there pieces I’ve been wearing on repeat this month. While I’m sadly lacking pool access here in NYC, there are other fun ways to cool off (running through fire hydrant spray, movie theaters, museums).
Truthfully, once summer rolls around I spend most work from home days in a pair of sporty shorts and a tank top, but for al fresco dinners or meetups with friends, I try to put in a little more effort. There’s been some discourse in the past about summer being not ideal for styling. I get it, there’s something creatively satisfying about the layers and textures that come with cooler weather. But, I love summer dressing, because it challenges you to do more with less, to embrace simplicity and lightness.
This floaty Doen dress that I wore on multiple 90 degree days (and styled with this Merlette belt). Its gossamer feel is ideal for sweaty season.
These dressy but comfy linen-blend pants from LESET along with a square neck tank.
I also just picked up these heeled Margaux sandals for events in the city when I want to look dressy, but am also taking the subway.
Lie Studio’s new sunglasses, which are oversized without being full-on Balenciaga-level big.
Merit sent me their flush balm, and it’s been my low-key summer makeup secret. It’s dewy and lightweight, so I tend to dab it across my cheeks, swipe on mascara, add a scent, and that’s really it.
3. On The Homefront
Honestly, this month hasn’t involved much down time at home, between entertaining family in town, the wedding, and some work travel, I haven’t had much time to stop and think, but one thing I loved was taking home some of the leftover florals from my wedding (shoutout Molly Ford) and using them at home. I spotted her posting about smokebush a week before the wedding, and was so glad she included it in some of her arrangements, because how stunning!
I’ve also been getting lots of inspiration from my friend (and fellow writer) Laura Lajiness, who has a very chic vintage home decor business Ca Marche, which is always tempting me with little knick knacks. I’m still sad I missed out on this portrait, for some reason the lady looks like Cynthia Nixon to me.
4. And Out On The Town
Speaking of Molly, she kindly hosted a group of friends in her backyard for a summer dinner, and besides the great conversation, I loved the ways all the summer produce made special appearances including fresh cherries topping a cake, and a cocktail made with gin and fresh pea juice. Now that my summer CSA has finally started, I’m getting inspired by all the creative ways to make use of it. I’ve already made a strawberry cake, rhubarb crisp, and Alison Roman’s unbeatable pasta salad. What next?
Also on the delicious food front, I stopped by Big Night to celebrate the launch of the store’s collab with Parker Thatch, for what might be the chicest shopping tote I’ll ever own. While I was there, I picked up some summery striped placemats from Dusen Dusen and regretted not pickup up Sky High Farms’ jam.
5. A Quick Trip To Lake Of The Clouds
I spent a quick 48 hours in New Hampshire working on a project with the team at Hikerkind. We drove to the top of Mt. Washington and hiked down to the Lake of the Clouds hut for the night. The weather was a bit tempestuous, but the experience, including a mess hall dinner, skits from the dining staff and sleeping in a bunk bed felt like returning to summer camp. With just an hour flight in Portland Maine, and a 1.5 hour drive from the airport, it’s shockingly accessible to NYC for how remote it is. I’d like to carve out a little more time to hike hut to hut for a few nights, but this time, loaded up with garment bags, the trip was short and sweet.
Off the mountain, we “treated” ourselves to Rhode Island pizza, which was blasphemously floppy and cut into squares (we debated whether it’s eaten with a fork and knife?). It was so sad, so I was happy to have a slice of Two Boots when I got home on Sunday. No one does it like New York!
6. Consumption Catchup
I caught some flack on Substack notes for posting that I forced myself to finish The Bee Sting, but it’s all I managed to finish this month. I didn’t like it. But sometimes it’s good to embrace the challenge of a book that never clicked.
Next up, I’m picking Lonesome Dove up again. I tried to read it two years ago, but my library rental expired before I had the chance to finish. Attempt number two incoming!
On sweltering summer days, a dark, cool movie theater is the perfect escape. This month I saw Disclosure Day and Backrooms. As someone who doesn’t enjoy horror or jump scares, I’m working on approaching the genre with lower cortisol levels.
Lastly, this month a shoutout to my friend Aidan who recommended we start watching Widow’s Bay, what’s ultimately become my comfort watch over the last few months. It’s the perfect mix of scary and silly, with an iconic Betty Gilpin appearance and genius work by Matthew Rhys.
7. A Last Reminder That Things Happen As They’re Meant To Be
I want to get a little schmaltzy and say that this year has involved a lot of hard work that didn’t go anywhere, and that’s ok. Projects that fell apart, rejected pitches, frustrated cries. Lately, I’ve aspired to being in the business of making my own luck. Creating the momentum and space for opportunities to come. I just want to send out a quick reminder that something great is always on the way. <3
And now, onto July!
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Say more about that cherry cake pictured 👀
Congratulations again on your wedding!! The photos are gorge!!