Hello friends. This week I wrapped up some edits for my novel and had a batch of paintings sell out at my gallery. We have about three more weeks until the school year ends and I transition into a pool mom. The countdown is very loud in my brain. ❤️
Here are ten things I loved, learned or discovered recently.
My most recent paintings.
1. Summer Goals
I like to set a few (low bar!) goals for myself during the summer. This year I want to learn to make really good salads and some new pasta recipes. Every time I travel I have the BEST salads and I realized I just need to learn to make them myself. For the pasta, we already eat a ton of pasta (love!) but want to add more variety to the rotation. (pls send me your go-to recipes!)
It’s still so exciting to have a working kitchen every single day.
2. A New All Seasons Candle
I finally found a new year-round candle! So, if you haven’t heard me rant about this on the podcast I am obsessed with fir needle candles and I want to burn them year round (oops I’m burning it right now), but I try to mix it up.
I discovered the inner circle candle which is a dupe for the Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille candle. It smells SO good.
3. The Red Shoes (1948)
If you like old movies or ballet I recommend The Red Shoes. We watched it last night and it’s stunning! Related: I’m obsessed with the transatlantic accent & learning about how and why it evolved.
My writing partners.
4. On my bookshelf
I’m so excited to start The Book Thief this week. And I just finished the first Emma M. Lion books and loved it.
5. Overall Shorts
I got these overall shorts for summer. I think they’ll be the perfect pool coverup and fun in general. Oh! And also, I finally got one of these bags and absolutely love it.
Fireplace details (still obsessed more than a year later)
6. Cute housewarming gift idea.
This corkscrew would be so cute with a bottle of wine and flowers.
7. Loved this article.
Hi again!
8. Book of the Month
I joined Book of the Month. So excited to try it out! It supports one of my goals, which is to read more new release books the month (or season) they come out.
I’ll let you know my thoughts after more time has gone by.
9. Thriftbooks
I am such a huge fan of Thriftbooks. They have great prices on older novels and design books. I got obsessed with it a while back because I wanted to collect the Martha Stewart back catalog (which is too big, by the way, but super fun to pick favorites from). I get these books on my porch several times a week and it’s like a surprise opening them. Highly recommend!
Our front yard in Spring (happy tears!)
10. Gothic Summer?
Physically I’ll be at the pool handing out ice cream bars but mentally I’m considering drafting a gothic novel this summer. Now that I have a little gap of time I’ve been debating what to work on. I have around five novel ideas that I want to do (including one I’ve started several times—Augh). But my heart is saying haunted house summer. I’ll let you know which one wins out in the end.
Thank you so much for subscribing! Next week I will be changing up the schedule a bit and adding regular categories. Reply to this email and let me know what you’d like to see more of! I’m excited to make it even better for the coming season. xx
