Just as soon as the summer ramped up, it feels like it’s starting to wind down. Amalia goes back to school in 3 weeks and this is Luca’s last week of school in his current class before his two-week break, so we’re doing as much beach, pool, boat, and outside time as possible this month.
Next week Luca is getting his tonsils removed which I hadn’t been all that nervous about before, but now that the date is getting closer, I’m starting to feel a little panicky about having to watch them put him under. I know logically that he will be just fine and he needs this, but the logistics of the actual day feel very overwhelming. I’ve gotten a ton of support from friends who have gone through this as well as other moms on Instagram and in my Lemon Stripes Mamas Facebook group (the greatest mom resource ever!).
One of the moms wrote a few mantras that she tells herself before procedures with her child who has to have regular testing and this one really resonated:
On a more positive note, it’s that time of the year again. The time where this beautiful community comes together to help clear the lists for teachers all over the country. You can find over 120 lists here. Feel free to search by grade or area. The teachers who are participating have told me that even buying one $5 or $10 item makes a difference and adds up so check it out and give if you can! I cleared two full lists last night and it felt so good to know that something small on my part will hopefully make a big difference to kids who need it.
Pictured above: Dress / Sunglasses
WHAT I’M READING & WATCHING
Books –
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell: I absolutely could not put down this thriller that had me hooked from the first to last page. SO SO SO good 10/10 recommend. The Family Upstairs is about a woman in England who inherits an old mansion and quickly learns about her mysterious past, as well as the house’s, when she visits for the first time. I can’t tell you more than that, just trust me. I just bought the sequel and can’t wait to start that soon.
Little Monsters by Adrienne Brodeur: I’m halfway through this book about a family living in Cape Cod, told from the perspectives of a sister, brother, father, and mystery woman. This family has lots of deep buried secrets and it all twists and turns perfectly together. It’s well-written, smart, and riveting. I’m not done but loving it halfway through.
Next up is Tom Lake by Ann Patchett, my all time favorite author!
TV Shows –
Full Circle (Max): I am such a huge Claire Danes fan, I had to watch her latest mini series (I was obsessed with her acting in Homeland and Fleishman is in Trouble). She didn’t disappoint in her newest project, Full Circle. It took me an ep or two to really get into it but then I was addicted and couldn’t get enough. Claire’s character and her husband are a wealthy downtown Manhattan family. When a kidnapping of her son gets botched, you learn with each and every episode that every character has a secret. The other half of the story focuses on the kidnappers, a crime family/group from Guyana who also has a lot of secrets up their sleeves. It felt a little convoluted at times but overall I really liked it.
And Just Like That (Max): IDK about season 2 you guys… It feels a little forced. Aiden coming back really pushed me over the edge. But I’ll keep watching it because these are my girls and we have a history, you know?
RHONY (Bravo): I am really enjoying the new, more diverse cast on RHONY this season! Don’t get me wrong, I miss the old crew and their antics, but us Bravoholics needed a shake up and I think they did the perfect job of it. Jenna Lyons has been a style icon of mine for decades so it’s especially fun to get a peek behind her curtain.
Podcasts –
The Retrievals: I have never cried from a podcast until I listened to this one about a bunch of women who got fertility treatments at a clinic at Yale. They all had excruciating pain during their egg retrieval procedures… it turns out that was because a drug-addicted nurse in the practice was stealing Fentanyl and replacing it with saline so they weren’t getting the anesthesia they should have been. It was a wild story that made me think a lot about how effed up our healthcare system is and how women’s pain still often isn’t taken seriously even in 2023.
Believable: The Coco Berthmann Story: Another wild ride for ya, this podcast is an investigative report about Coco Berthmann, a supposed child trafficking survivor whose story doesn’t always quite add up.
5 THINGS I’M LOVING
1. Wide-leg jeans: These jeans are so dang cute and they’re already starting to sell out for good reason. They’re so unbelievably comfortable and flattering and stylish without being way too trendy. You can see me wearing them here! I recommend sizing down. They also come in a cool light pink color.
2. Moody Month app: A friend of mine started using this app to track her moods and hormonal cycles and influenced me to do the same. It checks in every day to ask for your mood, energy, and stress levels. You can customize your lists to add a huge amount of things to track like anxiety, digestion, sleep, body confidence, and so much more. I’m only a few days in but I’m very excited to see how it goes! I love understanding my body mind connection better however I can. I’m still on the free trial but it is $36/year if you decide to stick with it.
3. Vacation perfume: Can I shut up about this perfume already? No I cannot. I’m sorry but it smells so good! Like the beach and sunscreen and a swimming pool and salt water. Yum.
4. The best black tee shirt: Great fit, great neckline, super soft fabric. I’ve been wearing this a lot lately and people on Instagram are always asking where it’s from. It fits true to size.
5. Cafe Appliances Air Fryer: My dad and his wife had this toaster oven/air fryer and the second I used theirs, I knew I wanted one. I mentioned it and they gave me one for my birthday! It’s amazing for warming up food, air frying, baking, toasting, and so much more. And looks tres chic on the counter. I gave my old air fryer to my incredible assistant Nicolette who was dying for one!
