Scratch Pad

Hi :) Weekend Reading is up on the blog. It’s a fun list this week. A tour of Elin Hilderbrand’s Nantucket “money pit” (her words!), 7 new books to read this month, why gap years are wasted on the young, how to make your makeup last all day! The TV show I can’t wait to watch, and everything we know about the 13 Going on 30 reboot. How to tie a scarf like a belt. Viral iced coffee hacks. Plus recipes, a few beautiful home tours, shopping finds, and more.

I am a master of making time for myself, taking a break, self-care. I’ll burn myself out, bite off more than I can chew, then sequester myself away for a weekend, have a “me night,” spend an entire Saturday afternoon reading, get out for a long walk, take a bath, hide out under a blanket. I’m good at that. (I’m also child-free and in a long-distance relationship.) What am I not always good at? Making time for fun. Laughter. Joy.

Hello! A few things for today. First of all, don’t miss Shopbop’s sale on sale. Through tomorrow, take an extra 30% off sale styles. So many great things are included. Some of my personal favorites include: a chic wear-it-everywhere summer dress, a classic raffia tote, a crisp summer shirt dress, this Teckel-esque east-west bag. Next, friend-of-the-send Jo Piazza’s book, The Parisian Heistis out! I hosted a talk for her book last night — we had funnn.

Last week, we talked about the 5 summer trends I’m most excited about: graphic tees, wedge sandals, pull-on shorts, pendant necklaces, and canvas totes. Today? Some outfit inspiration for my favorite sort of summer dressing: easy, effortless, with just a little bit of tension. Remember what I said last week about graphic tees? Any time you’d ordinarily reach for a plain t-shirt, try swapping in a graphic tee.

Hi :) Weekend Reading is up on the blog. It’s a great list. Vulture’s review of The Five Star Weekend (out now on Peacock!) and an interview with Jennifer Garner. The best new books to read this summer. How to make paper poppies. The biggest snubs and surprises from this year’s Emmy nominations. Salads that start with fresh fruit. Jessica Knoll’s boldest book yet. Summer skincare tips from dermatologists. Cooking for one. Plus some beautiful home tours, shopping finds, and more.

There is a very specific, exciting—even joyful—feeling that comes with making a new friend. It is rare (for me, at least) in adulthood. We get busier and busier in life, but also, older and more set in our ways. But when there’s that first little glimmer of the spark of a new friendship, it feels really special. It could be a long, leisurely lunch in Soho when an online friend becomes a real friend.

Sezane Tee, Rohé Shorts, Steve Madden Flip Flops Man, it is good to be home. This week’s outfits are not exactly aspirational. It’s hot, my air conditioning has been broken for over a week (it gets fixed today!), I have a pinched nerve, and I got sick in the middle of the week. I haven’t been sticking to my rule of putting on an outfit every day. But I’m trying.

these terry lounge covers really elevate my poolside experience. This book was highly enjoyable. We have hit the hot, humid, sweaty dog days of summer. My upstairs air conditioner has been broken since last week (it gets fixed on Thursday, thank god), which has meant a moratorium on wearing makeup and styling my hair. I can’t say I hate it. Sometimes, especially when much of my job requires looking nice, it’s just nice to take a beat and be a bit of a mess.

I’m back in Charleston and he’s trying to escape Hi (and happy long weekend!) Weekend Readingis up on the blog. Why do so many women have a hard time sleeping? How to plan an easy breezy summer cookout, tons of pasta salad recipes, and a lobster risotto I am dying to make. A list of “vacation-gone-wrong” thrillers to bookmark. The items tourists buy at American pharmacies. How a splash of color can boost your mood. A non-billionaire’s guide to the Hamptons.

Last week, I was in Harbour Island to celebrate my friend Chassity’s new book, Pink Sand Summer. The book is set in Harbour Island, which is a special place for Chass and her family as they own a beautiful home there: Coral House. I didn’t realize how much I needed this trip until I was already there. It was three perfect nights of swimming in the ocean; long, liesurely meals with my friends, and just generally feeling very, very relaxed.