Category: Life

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MY 2024 SUMMER BUCKET LIST

Hellooo summer! I know the people are divided on summer in New York (some liken it to a sauna with skyscrapers) but I’m firmly in the camp that revels in this time of year. The parks are lush and green, the days are seemingly endless and tend to spill right into hot city nights with an energy that’s unmatched any other time of year.

Last year however, for those that remember, our summer went a little differently. Between July and September we planned our entire wedding and honeymoon, said goodbye to two beloved grandparents, I battled a stomach ulcer and generally had a lot of life/work stress. Needless to say, there wasn’t a whole lot of weekends where we just soaked up summer. Not to jinx myself here, but this year is looking quite a bit more relaxed.

This season, besides lazy days reading in the park, Rockaway Beach trips and dinner/drinks al fresco – I’m making a point to do all the things that really make this time of year shine in the city. Below, my summer bucket list:

  1. Tribeca Film Festival – This falls in early June every year and we always try to get tickets to at least one event. I love seeing a sneak peek of movies that will be out in theater in the coming year and often hearing Q&A’s with the director and actors themselves after the screening!
  2. Grand Banks – An oyster bar.. on a boat! Docked at Pier25 near Tribeca, this is one of my favorite places in New York to grab a cocktail and oysters and watch the sunset over the Hudson when the weather is nice.. but when compiling this list I realized that I haven’t been there since pre-pandemic days! I need to change that this summer!
  3. Sleeping Beauties Exhibit at the Met Museum – I always try to catch the Costume Institute’s exhibit (that debuts at the Met Gala in May) and I’ve heard great things about this years. Bonus points for a warm weather trip to the Met including a rooftop glass of rosé while you gaze out over Central Park!
  4. Half Marathon – I’m officially booked for a half marathon in mid-June! My last one was when I was 30.. so it’s been awhile. I’m nervous but after consistent training these past few months and a ‘practice’ 10 mile race in Philly in early May, I think I’ll be ready to go! This one is out at Rockaway Beach which should be fun.
  5. Sailboat Cruise – Last Christmas we gifted my parents a voucher for a Sailboat Cruise around Manhattan. I can’t wait for them to come visit this summer and ‘cash in’ on this!
  6. Day Trip – For the most part we’re staying local this summer – but I’d love to get back out to Sag Harbor near the Hamptons (it’s been since pre-pandemic!) or upstate to Hudson (we’ve only ever been in the fall). Even just a day trip in the car would be enough to feel like we’ve been somewhere!
  7. Rooftop Show at Pier17 – One of my favorite warm weather venues, this rooftop in South Street Seaport offers sweeping views of downtown skyscrapers to your left and the East River and Brooklyn Bridge to your right. All while you watch live music. Hoping to catch another show there this summer!
  8. Boat House in Central Park – After a brief closure, the Central Park Boat House has thankfully reopened! We like to go and grab a drink and a bite on their outdoor deck while we watch the row-boaters go by.
  9. Try 3 New Restaurants and Bars – Between beloved institutions and trendy new spots – I will likely never get through all of the bars and restaurants here I want to try. Last year I started to move out of my comfort zone of favorites and make more of a dedicated effort to try places I’d always wanted to. I think one per month of each is an achievable goal!
  10. Rooftop Movie – Last year Adam took me to Rooftop Cinema Club in midtown and we saw Pretty Woman. It’s about the same cost as a regular movie, but you sit in great deck chairs, have individual headphones to drown out any city noise, and the evening showings start just as the sun goes down and the city lights start to flicker on. It was so fun! I want to go back for another film this summer sometime.
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MY 2024 SUMMER READING LIST

Long days by the lake or on the beach, evenings on the fire escape after work while the sun sets, sitting outside on my lunch break – summer reading hits different. Below, the 15 books on my list this year. And in case that’s not enough – my lists from 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020 (when reading was basically all I did those months..). What a fun tradition this post has become!

  1. Funny Story by Emily Henry: I kicked off last year’s list with a rom-com from the queen of them too – so this felt fitting. I read this one in on big gulp on the plane ride home from Italy and loved it, I think it ranks #3 for me of her books, behind Book People and Beach Read.
  2. The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher: A backlist title circa the 1980s! A family drama I’d heard great things about, my book club is tackling it this month. I haven’t been able to put it down all weekend and after posting about it on Instagram, my Mom told me that my Nan and great Aunt loved it back in the 90s! I miss them both dearly which makes it such a fun connection now. Isn’t it amazing how books can do that?
  3. Table for Two by Amor Towles: If you’ve been here awhile you know I’m a fan of Amor Towles particular brand of character-driven historical fiction. Rules of Civility is one of my all-time favorite books and so I couldn’t help but grab this collection of essays – part of which follows one of the characters from Civility.
  4. Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo: I loved Lombardo’s first novel ‘The Most Fun We’ve Ever Had’ and can’t wait for her latest to release in mid-June. Might even need to preorder this one!
  5. The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo: A little bit historical fiction, a little bit magical realism, a little bit romance – I’ve heard good things about this one.
  6. I’m Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself by Glynnis MacNicol: With a subtitle of ‘One Woman’s Pursuit of Pleasure in Paris’ how could I resist? Debuts mid-June.
  7. The Wedding People by Alison Espach: Her novel ‘Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance’ was one of my favorite books of the past few years and one I still think of often (the true mark of a 5 star read for me) – so I’m really looking forward to this one when it releases at the end of July. Espach threads the needle of heartbreak so well in my opinion while keeping a firm grasp on levity and realism. I’m hoping this book pulls off the same balancing act!
  8. Real Americans by Rachel Khong: Another highly anticipated book from an author that I’ve previously read and loved – this one is already getting a lot of great reviews. With duel timelines between late 90s New York City and present day, I’ve already got a signed copy and might dive into this one next!
  9. Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld: Published a few years ago, I’ve got a secondhand copy I found of this on my shelf waiting. Set in a fictional SNL with a ‘celebrity falls for normal person’ trope – I’m interested to see what Sittenfeld does with the romcom genre after reading and loving ‘Rodham’ by her last year.
  10. Old Flame by Molly Prentiss: Claire sent me this one for my birthday and I didn’t think I’d ever heard of it – a fun bookish surprise!
  11. Within Arm’s Reach by Ann Napolitano: Originally published 20 years ago this was recently re-released with a new cover. I loved ‘Hello Beautiful’ last year so I’m interested to read this backlist title by her!
  12. Anita De Monte Laughs Last by Xochitl Gonzalez: I grabbed this one in my Book of the Month mailer in May, a buzzy new release that follows two timelines set the in the art/literary world.
  13. June Loves Legs by Karl Geary: Admittedly – the last 4 books on my list this summer were all on my list either last year or the year before I didn’t get around to them. Time to finally tackle them! This one is billed as a heart-wrenching coming of age story of friendship, set in 1990s Ireland.
  14. Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty by Anderson Cooper: One of only 2 non-fiction books to make the list, I love Gilded Age history so I’m excited to make time for this one.
  15. The Librarianist by Patrick DeWitt: I loved reading ‘French Exit’ by this author a few summers ago – so I’m looking forward to finally picking this one up. The story follows an aging librarian in Portland, Oregon as he begins to volunteer at a local retirement home – but given DeWitt’s style I’m expecting dark humor and unnerving charm.
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LET’S CATCH UP 3.11.24

As I write this, we’ve officially made it through the darkest days of winter. A single tree in our neighborhood has just burst into tiny pink petals. There are (a little strangely?) 60 degree days in the forecast for the week ahead. Spring appears to be knocking at the door – and I’m more than ready to welcome her in. Below, what’s on my mind, on my bookshelf and in my cart as we look towards a new season.

ON MY MIND:

  • In an effort to manage my typical winter blues I made a really pointed effort these past few months to focus on good habits – a consistent workout routine, reading good books before bed instead of endless scrolling, healthy eating and limited alcohol intake, re-setting my finances, finally taking daily vitamin D. It’s the stuff that I know is good for me but I used to let it get pushed to the back-burner. Lo and behold, despite work still being stressful and some aspects of life being challenging (I don’t suspect that to ever not be the case) I feel.. good. And March is, historically, not a month where I’d describe myself feeling that way. Hope you’re all finding glimmers of happiness too as we make our way out of winter.
  • Another thing I’m feeling happy about? Spring travel! Because of my work schedule, I only have specific times of year when I can be away and to make the most of that we have two trips booked for this spring. I’ll leave you guessing as to where we’re headed but one is a place we’ve been before (3 times in fact) and the other will be new for us (I technically went there once for a single night about 15 years ago but I can barely remember it.. so counting it as new)!
  • A quick and easy lunch I’ve been making: shredded brussel sprouts marinated overnight in olive oil and lemon juice. Add pomegranate seeds, slivered almonds, salt/pepper to taste and top with shaved parmesan. That’s it!
  • I found this recent NY Times Article on teen subcultures fascinating, if not pretty disheartening. TLDR: kids of past generations had to earn their aesthetics: preppy kids actually went to private schools and played lacrosse, mall goths actually hung outside of Hot Topic at the mall.. you had to ground yourself in actual spaces surrounding by like-minded people to be legit. Today – subcultures are born in the vacuum of TikTok (cottagecore, vanilla girl..) and have nothing to do with outside society. As someone who loves fashion history and the ways that what we wear has always been a reflection of the times in which we’ve lived, I’m honestly not sure where we go from here?
  • I’ve been sharing a bit on Instagram but after starting from scratch at running again last year, I started to add some real distance in this year and so far, so good. My sister and I signed up for Philly’s Broad Street 10 Mile Run in early May and then I’ve got my sights set on a half marathon in early June out in Coney Island. My last half was when I had just turned 30 and I hadn’t been consistently running in the years since, so I honestly wasn’t sure I’d ever get back to this place. I feel pretty proud of my progress and this time around, am really enjoying the training.

ON MY BOOKSHELF:

  • I do this thing sometimes where if I think I’m going to l love a book, I put off reading it. I guess because I, preemptively, don’t want it to be over? It’s silly really but I’ve been doing it with Ann Patchett’s ‘Tom Lake‘ – even though I preordered it last Fall! I finally ‘let myself’ start it this weekend and while it has a sort of quiet start, I trust wherever she’s taking me. Next up for my Patchett journey is ‘State of Wonder‘ on her backlist. I have a copy I found at used bookstore ready and waiting on my shelf.
  • While I have bought probably 3 new books so far this year, I’ve largely been prioritizing ‘shopping my shelves’ and reading what I already own. To great results so far! ‘Talking At Night‘ was one that had been sitting around since last year – and when I finally picked last week I couldn’t put it down. It gutted me in the best way. Beautiful writing, characters with depth, a sprawling story.. please read it.
  • For the first time, my virtual book club is trying a “pairing” for the months ahead. We’re reading the backlist classic ‘The Things They Carried‘ by Tim O’Brien (a male perspective on Vietman) and new release ‘The Women‘ by Kristin Hannah (a female perspective on the same war). I’m really interested to read both and hear what we all think.
  • We started Feud on FX last night – the Truman Capote biopic with a star-studded cast of his ‘swans’. I had read the book ‘Capote’s Women‘ that it’s based on last month in preparation of watching so I knew it was going to be a darker story, but the visuals are a real treat as it spans 1950s-70s high society in New York.
  • I’m carefully planning what I’ll take with me on our first trip and I don’t have the full stack selected yet – but it’s definitely going to include Dolly Alderton’s latest release ‘Good Material‘ – I think she might be the modern day Nora Ephron. High praise, I know.

SHOP BOOKS:

IN MY CART:

  • I made it 2+ months into 2024 with virtually no shopping! There was a pair of Pilates socks along the way, a couple of books and then at the very end – this dress (I was afraid my size would sell out and want to wear it on one of our upcoming trips) – but nothing else. Not even a manicure to speak of! I’ve done at least a month of this at the start of the past few years and it’s a really helpful practice in resetting my finances, taking stock of what my closet is truly missing and remembering that sometimes the ‘wanting’ passes. Highly recommend.
  • With the aforementioned trips on my mind, I’m taking advantage of Anthropologie offering 20% off purchases over $100 (ends tonight – use code: ANTHRO20)- this vest and short set and these playful earrings are on their way to me!
  • I’ve been wanting to try a pair of Ecru jeans for spring and am currently between this cropped pair and this wider leg, full length pair. I might order both to try at home and pick a favorite.
  • I started these non-toxic teeth whitening strips before our wedding and they work so well plus don’t create any sort of teeth sensitivities. It’s time to order another pack!
  • During my shopping ban, I noticed I often felt many of my outfits were missing a good belt option. For spring I’m looking at this raffia one, a classic black leather, and this denim one which would be fun over dresses.
  • Why are swimsuits so hard to find? Technically they’re everywhere but I want one that has a Goldilocks level of coverage and isn’t $300. Is that too much to ask? This polka dot one with this matching skirt is on my wishlist.
  • Abercrombie (despite the high school flashbacks it triggers) has so many cute things right now! Use code: AFLTK through tonight for 20% off – I ordered this cute denim dress and this sweet little embroidered dress.
  • Okay I know I don’t need these, but I’ve seen a lot of heels with rosettes this season.. but these are the ones I actually want.

SHOP IN MY CART:

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LET’S CATCH UP 1.21.24

I swear it always feels like January lasts 3 months and all of Oct/Nov/Dec lasts about 3 weeks. I’m reminding myself that in the second half of last year I would have given anything for an entire weekend to spend padding around the apartment, sleeping in, reading and writing, planning out the weeks and months to come. So I better go ahead and relish it now. And for the most part I think I’m doing a good job of it. But still, it’s a long month. Below – what’s on my mind, on my bookshelf and in my cart (it will have to linger there for awhile…) as we head into a new week ahead.

ON MY MIND:

  • I credit Julia Child (see below) but I was feeling inspired to cook this week. I made this Sausage, White Bean and Spinach soup tonight and am going to try these Ginger Meatballs with Peanut Sauce (found via Meghan of Wit & Whimsy) later this week. I also meal prepped my lunches for the week and went with this super simple combo that I make often (no real recipe): Sauté brussel sprouts over medium heat, then add steamed lentils and top with sesame dressing. That’s it! Easy to re-heat at the office and plenty filling.
  • I can’t be the only one that’s itching for a vacation with this frigid weather. I’m dreaming of someplace warm but also really want to prioritize exploring some new cities this year. Alas, we’re also dreaming of buying an apartment. The budget is in a delicate balance these days!
  • The joy of really starting to prioritize my diet and fitness in the middle of last year (read more about those changes here) is that by now I’m about 7 months in and on a steady roll. I’m still finding the Sweat App to be great at targeting arms, abs or legs in 30 minutes flat and complete 3 of those workouts a week (I’m currently on week 28 of 3.0 HIIT). Outside of that I try to run twice a week and also throw in a treadmill hike or long walk as a low impact day. I’m also really excited to try Pilates at a local studio! Something that for years I’ve been interested in but too intimidated to do – but suddenly feel like it’s no big deal.. so what if I’m a beginner, that’s how you learn! One thing I’ve started doing is using my weekly planner to write out all of my workouts in advance – so there’s less wavering in the mornings. It’s already in pen on the page, there’s no erasing it!

ON MY BOOKSHELF:

  • I just finished My Life in France by Julia Child and absolutely loved it – it’s a love letter to France and food, but more than that it’s such a lesson in always staying curious about the world around you and finding and pursuing new passions at any age. Plus – her relationship with Paul was so lovely to read. Adam and I spent Saturday morning watching old black and white episodes of her cooking show on YouTube – I love when a book leads you down a rabbit hole!
  • My virtual book club (over 3 years strong!) has picked Mercury by Amy Jo Burns as our next book. It’s a family drama set in the 90s in Pennsylvania – as a PA native that rarely reads books set in the state, I’m interested to see how true I find the setting. I’ve heard rave reviews so far.
  • I’m doing my damndest to write an earnest first draft of a novel this year and have turned to Stephen King’s On Writing for encouragement after my best friend Claire (who is working on the same goal!) recommended it. I have admittedly never read King but his advice isn’t genre specific and I’m finding it really thoughtful.
  • I’m starting The Rachel Incident by Irish author Caroline O’Donoghue tonight – it was blurbed by Gabrielle Zevin (of Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow fame, which I loved last year) so I have high hopes. Will report back!

IN MY CART:

  • The #75hardstylechallenge was all over Instagram at the start of this year and I’m doing my best to stick with it! Essentially you get dressed every day for 75 days (so until about mid-March), document every outfit and don’t buy anything new. Aside from the heavy snow/rain or bitterly cold days lately I’ve been doing a fairly good job at it so far. I’m not feeling like I need to stick to it 100% but it is certainly making me get more creative with my wardrobe and is a nice financial reset after an expense-heavy 2023.
  • That being said, I finallyyy treated myself to some new workout gear (I hadn’t bought anything new in probably 3 years) at the end of last year and so far the hero pieces have been this high impact sports bra (nothing moves, even when running!) and this jumpsuit that quite literally fits like a glove and is under $30.
  • While I’m doing my best to not shop these next couple of months, I’m keeping a running ‘wish list’ for things that catch my eye and then once I’m ready to spend, I’ll be able to really assess what will fill wardrobe gaps, what I’m still swooning over, etc. It’s actually been a fun exercise! On my list as of now: this punchy tweed cropped jacket, these classic cat eye sunglasses at a good price and this corset-effect denim dress (I wore a similar silhouette dress from this brand in white to the after party of our wedding and loved it SO much).
  • My current favorite lip combo – this Jones Road Beauty liner in Nude Rose and this Urban Decay lipstick in Love Trap. The result is a natural, rosy winter pink with just a hint of shine.
  • Adam got me this robe for Christmas and it’s SO cozy for a cold winter’s morning. Feels just like the super plush hotel robes I always love.

SHOP THE POST:

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THE BEST BOOKS I READ IN 2023

2023 was a year of incredible highs and some fairly challenging lows, which was great in the sense of personal growth – but when it came to my reading life meant that I often found myself struggling to find the time/brain space that I usually have. In total, I read 45 books last year – a totally fine number but low for me lately (the least I’ve read since 2019!) and much of that was in the first half of the year before things really went off the rails in the second half. All that to say, I’m really excited for the year ahead when I can reset and get back into the swing of my more usual reading routine. But before I do that – a look back at the books I loved in 2023. In no particular order, below are my top 10.

It was interesting to see that 7 out of 10 were backlist titles (published over a year ago) and 4 out of 10 were from authors I’d read and loved on past year’s lists. A great reminder to explore back into an author’s catalogue and also to not be afraid to look beyond shiny new releases to find books I might have missed (or never even heard of!) for the chance at discovering things I’ll love.

For even more great reading recs, here are my ‘best of’ lists from 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019! What a fun tradition to look back on.

Now for the list:

The Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchett – I read 3 titles by Ann Patchett last year (I’m clearly a fan) and had a hard time deciding as I honestly loved them all – but her debut novel was absolutely stunning to me from a story-telling point of view. The main characters will remain in my mind for a long time to come. Honorable mention though to Truth & Beauty (a memoir on friendship) and These Precious Days (an incredible collection of essays).

Last Summer in the City by Gianfranco Calligarich – This book might have been the biggest surprise read of the year. I picked it up on a whim one day and took it with me to Central Park to read. I ended up devouring it and the story of a young restless man spending a hot summer in Rome has stayed with me. It was originally published in the 70s in Italian before going out of circulation and only much later was translated and re-published. Those in the literary world have since compared it to The Catcher in the Rye or The Great Gatsby though and regard it as a ‘lost classic’. It’s not a happy story but there was so much depth and truth in it and I found it really accessible for a translated work.

I Was Told There’d Be Cake by Sloane Crosley – I love a good essay collection for when I’m in a reading slump. This one had Crosley’s signature self depracating wit – and while not all of the essays have held up fully since this was published in 2008, for the most part it was a fun time, and sometimes that’s just exactly what I want a book to be. Especially loved the essay on being a bridesmaid!

Strip Tees: A Memoir of Millenial Los Angeles by Kate Flannery – You might have had to have been an American Apparel wearing early 20 something in the years 2008-2012 for this to really hit home, but if you were – read this. This memoir follows the spectacular rise and crashing fall of AA during the early Aughts and the general Indie Sleaze (dying over this term but it’s truly so accurate) of that particular time in New York and LA. It was a wild time. I had fun reading this while also being horrified by the inner workings of that company.

Flight by Lynn Steger Strong – I read this right at the end of last year, and while it takes place over the holidays I think it would be a great winter read in general. It’s short but packs a punch as it immediately dives into a complicated family dynamic and is set over the course of a few tense days. If you liked the sort of quiet drama found in Commonwealth by Ann Patchett or Olympus Texas by Stacey Swann – I think you’d really like this.

Slow Days, Fast Company by Eve Babitz – This is my third Eve Babitz and I still find myself falling under the spell of her uniquely ‘Los Angeleno’ voice. Originally published in 1977 and the only other non-fiction that made my list this year, if you want to know what it was really like to find yourself young and restless in LA in the ’60s/70s – you want this collection of essays.

Eve in Hollywood by Amor Towles – A different Eve in LA! Last year I read and loveddd Amor Towles’ Rules of Civility. This hard to find novella follows one of the main characters from that novel, Eve, out to LA in a series of short vignettes. His writing was captivating as always and I loved getting a chance to revisit this character. (Note: this book is hard to find but it looks like it’s being re-published this spring along with a collection of his other short stores – preorder here)

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano – Based very loosely on the structure of Little Women this story follows a group of sisters in a tight-knit family and a boy who intersects their lives – told over decades. I really loved this story – such rich and complex characters. If you’re a fan of The Dutch House, I think you’d like this one.

Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld – When I think back on the books that really stuck with me from 2023, this one is high on the list. I don’t know that I’ve ever read something that so archly bends the lines between truth and fiction – this story is an ‘alternate reality’ in which Hillary Rodham doesn’t end up with Bill Clinton and their political lives diverge and intersect throughout the decades to come. I thought it was brilliantly executed.

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin – If I had to play favorites, this one would sit in the #1 spot. A novel about two childhood friends that go on to design video games together. It’s about love and ambition and creative pursuits and work and friendship and ego and.. just read it. I don’t care about video games at all and I loved this.

SHOP THE TOP 10 LIST: