Just for fun! What to Read, Watch, Wear, and Put On Your Face
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I'm not sure how this is possible, but summer is almost over! In an effort to stretch it out as long as possible, here's a list of some of my fave things I've read, watched, worn, and sat on this summer season (listen to the podcast episode for even more in-depth reviews!).
My 9 fave things from this summer season:
1. Summer reads
I've been really into shelving my deeper, more thoughtful reads (see you in the fall, Heaven and Earth Grocery Store!) and leaning into books that are just for fun and feel like summer. Here are some of the ones that I've read and really like and what I have on my nightstand.
Funny Story by Emily Henry (Amazon | Bookshop)
Beach Read by Emily Henry (Amazon | Bookshop)
Just for Summer by Abby Jimenez (Amazon | Bookshop)
The Housemaid is Watching by Freda McFadden (Amazon | Bookshop)
Sandwich by Katherine Newman (Amazon | Bookshop)
The Sicilian Inheritance by Joe Piazza (Amazon | Bookshop)
Very Bad Company by Emma Rosenblum (Amazon | Bookshop)
Do you have any fun, beach-y reads that we should all get on? Leave them in the comments!
2. Thelma
I LOVED THIS MOVIE! How many times have we had the chance to watch an over 90 star in a film? Maybe never?!??!
This movie was hilarious (truly), eye-opening, and provoked some really great convos with our kids about aging and how each stage of life has its own challenges and problems. See it!
3. Summer Shenanigans List
At the start of every season, we make a list as a family of all the fun things we'd like to do. This summer we've checked off a bunch, including s'mores, hiking to a waterfall, having an ice cream competition, watching a double feature, going putt-putting. See it's quite the list!
It's been great because the kids are highly invested and whenever we have downtime, they'll head to the fridge and pick something. Easy and has made us a lot of good memories!
You can download your own right here: Summer Shenanigans
4. @unc.pappy on Instagram
I've been pretty much off of Instagram all summer, but I hopped on one day and found myself in the miraculous rabbit hole of unc.pappy.
He's so optimistic and uplifting, plus really hilarious (he does some of his videos from the middle of a swamp where alligators are cruising by to give you context!). This was the video that got me hooked - such a lovely message!
5. Favorite thing I'm wearing: Matching Sets!
If you want one item to completely revolutionize your wardrobe, I can't recommend a matching set enough. (A matching set is just where the top and bottom match materials). They're so easy to throw on, you can mix-and-match on vacation with other items, and you just don't have to think.
Here are a couple of my faves:
- I wear this set all the time! It strikes the perfect balance of looking put together but still feeling comfy.
- You know when you don't know what to wear to a cool party during the day at a friend's house? Wear this!
- You'll wear this one wear all summer and fall, k? It's fitted the right amount, the slight ribbing is very flattering and it goes great with a jean jacket.
- Very into this classic, blue and white number that has an elastic waist and would be so easy for a day party.
- This one is bright and fun and screams Summertime (and it's from Target!).
6. Watching older sitcoms as a family!
Getting to watch shows together as a family that WE ALL like is a total game-changer. This summer we've gotten really into some of the older sitcoms, which are hilarious. Can I just say how good it feels to laugh with your kids at the same stuff?
A few of our faves have been: Brooklyn 99 (the big winner and is so funny!), Abbott Elementary, and Parks and Rec. They weren't into New Girl or Scrubs, but I'm thinking we can still try The Office and what else??!! What were your faves that we should give a whirl?
7. Getting my face products down to 5 steps!
This one is a bougie, privileged one, I get that, but I went to a professional to try and figure out what to do about my rapidly changing, so annoying skin (yay for perimenopause). I have to warn you, I'm spending quite a bit more every quarter for each product, but I'm also not buying everything Instagram decides I need that day, which is actually saving me quite a bit.
Here's what I've been using (I would say I'm buying each one 1-3 times a year just to give you an idea on cost):
- Face cleanser: I've used a bunch but this one hasn't made me break out and really gets everything off. (I think I have bought one this year?)
- Vitamin C serum: This is expensive (!), but I feel like it's made a huge difference! When I started I had a bunch of age spots starting and really uneven skin tone. My spots are pretty much gone and my skin looks so much brighter and more even and I definitely think this has been a game-changer. (I've bought two this year.)
- Retin A: you have to get this from your dermatologist and not sure if it's controversial, but it is probably the most helpful thing on the list, in terms of evening out my skin tone and making it look just generally less like an old, wrinkled lady. (I've used one tube for almost two years.)
- Moisturizer: This may be a wrong thing to do, but I've been using this night time moisturizer day and night because it's so dry here in Colorado. I feel like I have used every one on the market and the majority of them sit on the top of my skin and then I feel super dry all day. This one really sinks in and makes my skin feel soft. (I've used three this year.)
- Sunscreen: My dermatologist said this was her fave and the one least likely to make me break out (yay for perimenopause!) and it seems to work great so there you go! (I've used two this year.)
8. Our new (expensive) outdoor couch
I hesitated to put this one on the list because it is an investment. But, that's what we wanted!
We've had several outdoor couches over the years from Ikea and Target, but they have always faded within months and just generally looked terrible very quickly because of the crazy Colorado weather and sun.
So, we splurged on an Outer couch and so far, love it. It has some technology that's considered innovative, although they seem, to me, like features every couch should have, but whatever! It has built-in covers for all the cushions, the cushions are all washable and spill-proof, and (supposedly) the frame won't fade in the sun.
It's meant that we've been spending a lot more time in the backyard so that feels like it's worth it. I'll let you know how it holds up!
9. Caro Chambers' Substack
A dark hole in my life is cooking. I'm not good at it, don't care that much, and am stressed every time it's time to do it, which is ALL THE TIME.
Caro's Substack, What to Cook When You Don't Feel Like Cooking, has saved us so many nights. It's $5 a month for super-easy recipes that typically only use one pan and can be completed in under 30 minutes. And they taste great!
We've been eating them around three nights a week and we haven't gotten tired of them yet!
What did I miss? What was your favorite book, movie, TV show, thing you bought? Tell us in the comments so we can all maximize these last few summer months!
Other links mentioned in the episode:
