7.5.22

Times are so difficult for so many people in our country that I personally found it difficult to celebrate the fourth over the weekend. There’s the ongoing disregard for Black lives, the continued domestic terrorism that seems to pervade even the most innocent of gatherings, and the chiseling away of our established freedoms by those in power. Not to mention the impending threat of global warming, inflation, and war and tragedy abroad. It never seems to end and at times it can be difficult not to feel a bit hopeless.

Despite all of the darkness, I hope you were able to carve out some time with friends and family doing the things that bring you joy. For me, it was seeing a movie, cooking (and eating!) some of my favorite summer snacks, and hugging my cat.

Our trip to Nantucket was a success, thanks in part to some beautiful weather. The highlight for me was spending time on the beach, Jettie’s to be exact. The happening beach bar makes it a must-do on any itinerary. My favorite meal was at Bar Yoshi, situated on one of the piers with the cutest outdoor dining. Reservations are tough to come by but you can snag an outdoor table by showing up at 5. There is a ton great shopping downtown, including a new storefront for Hill House Home, but my favorite browsing by far was Erica Wilson. They carry some of the most coveted summer designers and even have their own in-house line with exclusive collaborations.

We saw the new Elvis biopic over the weekend, and I L-O-V-E-D it. Elvis is the king for good reason.

Speaking of entertainment, I’ve been watching an enormous amount of TV lately, and I loved Under the Banner of Heaven, a true crime series about a vicious murder that happens in a Mormon community in Utah. We just started The Bear and I’m loving the funny, fast-paced kitchen scenes paired with the lead character’s tragic backstory. I’m savoring the final few episodes of Endeavor on PBS.

It’s not too late to check out the J. Crew sale. I picked up this basket bag for myself (now about $18!) and have my eyes on this linen dress and this pajama set. I have to say, their men’s selection is looking really good lately and I’ve been doing a big of shopping for my partner as well. He’s been loving the short-sleeved linen shirts, soft washed oxford shirts, and the cotton-hemp tees.

Gap has also had a really great sale on, and I picked up this linen shirt in brown (which I can’t wait to wear as a beach cover up on vacation) and two of these tanks to wear under breezy shirts all summer long.

Zara’s summer sale is on, and I have this linen dress, these flat sandals, and this blouse on my radar.

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden hosts an “Art in the Garden” event every Wednesday from 6/1-9/7. For the last few weeks, they’ve been featuring unique musicians who play on the grounds. I love the idea of packing a picnic and heading there to enjoy the gardens as a way to break up the week.

As I (impatiently) wait for my limited permit to come through so I can start practicing therapy for a living, I’ve been looking to some podcasts to keep my head in the game. My favorites right now are Dear Therapists, which gives you a birds-eye view into a brief therapy session, Pulling the Thread, where host Elise Loehnen interviews some of today’s leading thinkers, and Therapists Uncensored, in which therapists and their guests unpack some interesting topics that apply to all of us, whether you’re therapeutically inclined or not.