Not pictured: the sweater that I wrapped around my waist in the hopes of manifesting Fall weather in Alabama and promptly tossed on my stadium chair. Dress is Pistola and lipgloss is Nivea strawberry.
Welcome to Fall in the South where everyone starts to dress in warmer clothes in 90 degree weather. We can’t help it; we want to wear boots and sweaters in September just like everyone else. I was one of those people yesterday at the Alabama/Wisconsin game – I took a sweater to the game even though I was sweating.
This has been one of the quietest Septembers I can ever remember since my boys started elementary school. They are in the Junior High School (7th grade!) this year and while it is super busy, I haven’t been traveling for work as much this month, my summer was a little slower this year so I was able to catch up on a few projects in my house, but the main thing is I’ve been very purposeful (annoying trendy word alert but it works here) in saying no to evening events and yes to being home more. And wow has it made such a difference in my overall state of mind. I have been able to cook for my family (we are loving these crispy chicken bowls), go for walks and listen to audiobooks and catch up with loved ones and friends, watch shows that I have been putting off etc. I know it will end and that’s okay but it has been a great few weeks and I’m reminding myself to be thankful for it and enjoy.
Here are a few simple things that have been making me happy lately.
I honestly don’t know if it is the design and color on the can of these sodas or the drink itself but in a quest to get my son to stop drinking the real stuff, we stumbled upon these in our Instacart search. They are delicious – sweet, but not too sweet and really hit the spot over a giant cup of ice at night when I am writing this newsletter and watching tv! My favorites so far are this strawberry lemon flavor and the orange.
I bought these sweatpants this summer at the Marea flagship store in Fairfield, Connecticut and I will be living in them all Fall and Winter. I think cute sweatpants (don’t even like that word – lol) are really hard to find so I grabbed these even though it was 90 degrees outside when I bought them. They are actually perfect.
I recently ran out of face cream and tried this Sofie Pavitt moisturizer recommended by Goop. I loved it so much that I bought three more on Sephora – one to travel with and two backups so that I don’t run out. It feels incredible – super rich and thick but goes on really smoothly and doesn’t leave any residue on your face or neck (I hate that). J. Crew has started carrying the LA/NY based skincare brand Joanna Vargas daily serum – it smells and feels so clean and good.
I found these cool notebooks on Amazon – I love them because of the dividers that you can use to organize your work/personal/travel/kids lists and notes.
A New Bedspread – I needed a new bedspread for my guest room recently and purchased this one from Serena & Lily. It is so much prettier in person – I love the weight and silky feel of it and it looks great on the bed.
new bedspread in my guest bedroom
I know everyone under the age of 30 has this Tymo curling iron but I hadn’t tried it until recently and it is just as easy as they advertise. Super easy to use and give you perfect wavy curls.
Messy bun in a messy room watching college football, another one of life’s great messy pleasures.
My friend turned me on to this good dry shampoo recently, which I find is an essential ingredient to a simple life.
Annie Meyers-Sheyer strongly recommended this Eberjey long pajama set as the softest and most comfortable one she owns. I ordered a pair and she was dead on – they really are so soft and cozy (and cute!). I think they would make a great gift for someone too.
Have you ever stayed at a hotel and they have little nightlights by the bed so that you can use and not disturb your partner? Huge nerd alert here but I love that feature in a hotel – I am known to stay up very late reading at home and I love this little nightlight from Amazon so I can read in peace without being asked to turn the light off – lol. It is great for anyone that has trouble sleeping too, if you like to read to fall back asleep (I know, I know – you’re not supposed to do that. Easier said that done!)
I love this gadget!
A Good Book: The Carpool Detectives — listening to this audiobook has been motivating me to go on walks every night this week – I am not going to give it away but this is the incredible true story of four friends and moms that investigate and SOLVE a 15 year old cold case. I’ve been hanging on every word and twist and turn of their investigation. They are amazing!!
The Carpool Detectives- apparently the author had to sort through 10,000 texts between the four of them to research and write the book.
A friend of mine told me recently about Libro.fm, an audiobooks app that supports independent bookstores. Download Libro.fm and listen to Carpool Detectives. And if you don’t have a local independent bookstore or do not know of one, choose Thank You Bookshop in Birmingham!
Libro.fm shares profits from your audiobook purchases with your chosen bookstore, giving you the power to keep money within your local economy.Â
A few new shoes I’m excited about – Kristen Scott Thomas’ new film, My Mother’s Wedding.
The new HBO crime miniseries, Task, written by the same creator of Mare of Eastown (worth watching if you haven’t seen it)
Season 6 of the great cold case show on PBS called “Unforgotten”.
And in a departure from the simple theme, I leave you with news about the most complex, complicated, and high maintenance figure in human history, Marie Antoinette. There’s a new exhibit opening at the Victoria & Albert museum in London on September 20 called “Marie Antoinette Style: Shaped by the most fashionable queen in history”, sponsored by none other than Manolo Blahnik. It is sure to sell out, so read my secret about how to secure tickets here.
A complex fashion icon, Marie Antoinette’s timeless appeal is defined by her style, youth and notoriety. Explore the lasting influence of the most fashionable (and ill-fated) queen in history – with over 250 years of design, fashion, film and art.
Marie Antoinette died of too much clothing. Somehow she did not notice the social and economic forces that brought the French monarchy to the verge of collapse. She blithely discarded venerated modes of court dress in favor of the upstart Paris fashion, and abused the royal coffers to suit her newfound fancy. She fooled herself into thinking that all flamboyance is alike, but depending on the political epoch, exuberance can be effervescent—or mortally dangerous. Marie Antoinette went right on shopping her way to the guillotine, and so remains the magnifying glass through which we look at both our fashion dreams and fashion nightmares.Â
