Holy cow, where has this summer gone? I truly do not know how I used to blog as much as I did: just writing this has basically taken me three months. I’ve been traveling a ton for work, but I’ve also been reading and going to Pilates and hanging with my pug/husband and watering/talking to/inspecting/ loving my plants. And now that gray May and June gloom has broken, we’ve also been trying to grill and go to the beach and be in the sunshine as much as possible. 
Overall: it’s been really nice! I celebrated my birthday in Belize (keeping my tradition of every birthday in a new country alive!), and we’ve taken a couple of weekend trips up north to Chico (my delightful little college town with the best swimming hole in all the land) and Big Basin (to stay in a treehouse and hike under the redwoods). We’ve done a few DIY projects at home too, including painting our bedroom (a deep blue-green-grey) and our living room (a bright white!), and planted a vegetable garden in our backyard. I’ve also been spending some time going through all of the processes to volunteer at a few new places with Gert: in addition to our monthly visits to the Ronald McDonald House, we’re also now bringing a bit of puggy joy to hospice patients and in the pediatric cancer ward. It’s also been nice to be able to sleep in a bit, and take long leisurely walks around the neighborhood, and deep-clean the house, and spend lazy afternoons with the only goal of finishing my book.
![Sunset Cliffs at sunset in San Diego]()
Podcasts
I splurged on Airpods a few weeks ago (after two years of being convinced that I would immediately lose them, and there’s still time to prove myself right), and I have been incredibly impressed by the sound quality and connection: aka it’s made it SO much easier to listen to podcasts all of the time. I also feel like this very cute $10 silicone carrying case has made it much less likely that I will lose them: for that I am grateful!
I binged Crimetown season 2 earlier this summer, and have been recommending it to everyone: it’s an especially good binge for road trips! It’s all about the insane level of political corruption in Detroit, and every episode left my jaw dropped. I’m currently obsessed with The Clearing, where a woman realizes her dad is a serial killer, and turns him in. And in non true crime: I’ve been learning a lot and finding good conversation topics in recent episodes of Planet Money and The Journal (WSJ’s news podcast, but through the lens of business and finance).
Looks
I haven’t been using Rent the Runway for Unlimited or Update lately, since I just don’t really have enough fun things to go to! I’ve gone back to using it as a one-off for fancy events, and I absolutely loved this Black Halo dress that I wore to Opening Day at the Del Mar Racetrack. I also got a pair of New Wayfarers, and they are incredibly flattering and go with just about everything!
After being relentlessly targeted on social media, I finally took the plunge and bought a couple of Andie swimsuits. I was pleasantly surprised by how flattering the fit and colors were: I went for the Tulum in Aqua and the Mykonos in Poppy. Bonus: free shipping and returns, which is HUGE to ease the stress of shopping for swimsuits. I returned one where the fit and the color didn’t quite work, and it was super easy!
I’ve been a fan of Lou & Grey for a while: their sweaters are the SOFTEST. I picked up a pair of their sweatpants and a zip-up hoodie, and they’re my go-to for the most comfortable thing to wear around the house or when I’m walking the dog.
Reads
After borrowing Book of The Month hardbacks all of the time from local friends who are members, I finally took the plunge and subscribed! It’s $15 a month, and the curated picks have been SO on point: I especially loved The Far Field (based in Bangalore and Kashmiri, two places I don’t know much about at all) Golden Child (a family drama set in Trinidad), The Golden Hour (WW2 historical fiction but set in Bermuda) and The Gifted School (set in a modern-day privileged suburb of Denver). There have been so many titles that I haven’t heard of before and likely wouldn’t have picked up in a bookstore, but that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. If you’re someone who loves to read, I highly recommend.
I also really enjoyed Elizabeth Gilbert’s City of Girls and favorites of book clubs everywhere Where the Crawdads Sing and The Great Alone. I hadn’t heard of Ginny Moon before a friend lent it to me, but it was very compelling (although also a little sad).
And lastly: Verbatim Books in North Park got a HUGE makeover, and it is worth a stop for any bibliophile in San Diego!
Beauty
My skincare routine hasn’t changed much lately (if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!) but one thing that I have introduced into my life is a silk pillowcase. It is definitely a splurge, but I have a few friends who swear by them and I figure it can’t hurt! The jist of the argument for them is that it soaks up less of your expensive night creams than cotton pillowcase (which I have definitely noticed) and thus leads to fewer wrinkles and less bedhead. I also use a Slip silk eyemask (which soaks up less of my expensive eye cream!), and is also super luxurious-feeling and easy to travel with.
I’ve also gotten much more into nail art lately, and try to squeeze in a visit to Chillhouse whenever I’m in New York City. Currently very into my evil eye nails!
Shows
There have been a couple of HBO true crime documentaries lately that have inspired so much conversation with David and friends and coworkers: if you haven’t watched Who Killed Garrett Phelps and/or I Love You Now Die yet, I highly recommend. We watched the two parts of I Love You Now Die in one weekend (it’s about the criminal case against the woman who texted her boyfriend to die, and then he committed suicide), and basically did not stop discussing the case and the documentary for 48 hours.
Pug Life
For my birthday gift to myself this year, I bought a custom Gert portrait like the nutty dog mom I am. It has made me so happy! Finnley Elliott is incredibly talented, and I’m so glad that I discovered her (and her ability to bring Gert’s perma-concern to life on the canvas).
In upcoming travel and life plans: David and I are heading back to the Jersey Shore to see his family (and also play mini-golf and eat all of the cinnamon rolls!), I’m going to South Korea with a girlfriend for a week of skincare and fried chicken and I’m also spending a few days in Nashville for a work conference!