The July Edit
Hello, hello! This month’s edit is a bit scattered so please excuse my writing which is very much in need of an editor. I’m struggling with the fact that our summer is over even though the calendar says it ends on September 22nd. It’s been raining every day for weeks on end so our outdoor time has been very limited. I’m not complaining, though. It’s keeping the temperatures from hitting the 100-degree mark. We had a picnic at the park over the weekend and the slight breeze was needed. I can tell when my kids are feeling cabin fever and it was nice to hit pause on the constant bickering for a couple of hours.
If you’re a new reader, the monthly edit is a brain dump of everything I consumed (or consumed me) during the month. This newsletter is filled with recommendations that I hope will add value to your life.
Best in Books
As I sit down to type this newsletter, I’ve finished 10 books so far in July. When Among Crows by Veronica Roth, Enemies to Lovers, an upcoming romance by Laura Jane Williams, and The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston were standouts from a very strange and varied month of reading. I read a lot but I struggled to feel invested in a lot of the books I started. I’ll be posting a full recap with reviews later this week. I DNF (did not finish) Powerless by Lauren Roberts and A Fragile Enchantment by Allison Saft, two books I felt sure I would love.
The Watch List
I made my way through more television than usual this month and have some great recommendations for you (to pick up when you’re done watching the Olympics in the coming weeks, of course).
Movies
We never saw Oppenheimer in theaters but I just know it would have been incredible in IMAX. It was impactful and the acting was strong across the board. I appreciated the peek into Oppenheimer’s personal life and some of the conflict his beliefs caused in his career. It was less of a U.S. history lesson than I anticipated.
Hitman was wildly entertaining! I loved the hint of dark comedy. You have to suspend disbelief a bit for the ending but I think it solidified my Glen Powell fangirling.
TV
So when does Season 2 of Deadloch come out? The Australian dark comedy/crime/mystery series blew me away. The actors were incredible and I’m looking into other shows they star in. It’s the perfect parody of a small-town investigative team within a community of feminist oddballs. There’s a series of murders that take place during a festival and you’ll never guess the murderer.
Whew… Eric on Netflix was a tough one to watch. To sum up the plot, a desperate father tries to hold it (his family and his sanity) together when his son goes missing. At its core, the thriller explores the concept of finding a home in the setting of NYC in the 80s.
After hearing about My Lady Jane on TikTok, I gave it a shot right after I finished Bridgerton Season 3. So you don’t go in with skewed expectations like I did, it is not a period drama. The story reimagines a world where Lady Jane Grey lives and it’s a mix of comedy, fantasy, and action I’d compare to The Princess Bride. It took me a couple of episodes to get into but by I loved it by the end and hope there’s a Season 2!
Season 3 of The Bear was a miss for me. The storyline felt disjointed and I could have skipped a few of the artsy food styling shots. Carmen still can’t communicate with anyone and Sydney is sidelined for most of it. It felt half-finished and the “to be continued” message at the end of the last episode was infuriating.
I’m almost finished with the first season of Maestro in Blue and I’m generally enjoying it. The story is about a forbidden affair between a teen girl and a music teacher who shows up on the island to coordinate a music festival. Each episode alternates between the POV of each of the main characters so you get to learn about their role on the Greek island of Paxos. The scenery is beautiful and the way it is filmed slowly reveals a more sinister plotline. It’s the perfect show for summer. I feel like my month centered around Greece (fitting for the start of the Olympics) so this show is a great way to round out my month.
Tunes
Like the rest of the Internet, I’m having a very brat summer. I loved this interview with the creator of the viral “Apple” dance on TikTok. I’m thrilled that Charlie XCX invited Kelley to a tour date. She’s a huge reason this album is seeping into mainstream media.
The new Childish Gambino album Bando Stone & The New World blew me away. Every song incorporates elements from different music genres. I truly think there’s something for everyone in Donald Glover’s farewell to his stage name. He gets real in this article in the New York Times about growing up and prioritizing fatherhood.
Glover said that some who were around for the making of the album questioned its more tender or earnest moments. But he ultimately overruled them. At 40, there is no one left for him to be but himself.
“I think grace is undervalued in the world,” he said. “When I put my son on my shoulders, I feel deep joy. That’s real. No one on their deathbed is going to look back and say, ‘Thank God I avoided being cringe.’”
Purchases + Wish List
My oldest started school this month so we had fun shopping for school supplies. Our school district is pretty particular about brands and colors so there wasn’t a lot of opportunity for expression but I still think it’s fun for my daughter to pick out her own supplies.
I’m planning a Taylor Swift themed birthday party next month so I’ve been shopping around to gather decorations — purple balloons, butterfly cutouts, disco ball plates, heart-shaped sunglasses, and of course, friendship bracelets. I also created a fun invitation in Canva that I’m going to send out to my daughter’s school friends and family soon.
My big Prime Day purchases were a gooseneck tablet stand and remote control for my Kindle so that I can use it while walking on my walking pad in the evenings.
Everyone in our household took advantage of the Old Navy 50% off sale to get a few items for our closets where we had some gaps. I can’t get over how cute these pink floral jeans are on my daughter. I’m looking forward to wearing this shaker-stitch cardigan in the office this Fall. These seersucker pants for men are perfect to dress up or down. The texture of the fabric is such a fun detail.
Organization + Cleaning
Last year I had every intention of creating a backpack organization station and never got around to it. After clearing out some items we’ve had sitting around way too long to donate/sell/trash, we finally had the space to make my dream a reality. I bought a kids cubby that was on sale and added a bin to the top to collect schoolwork until I feel like filing it away. There’s just enough room for their backpack, rainjacket, lunchbox, and a pair of shoes. I also have a desk organizer with pens, the kids’ sticker labels (Mabel’s Labels are still my preferred brand that we’ve tried), tape, scissors, and a notepad… all the things I might need to send notes to teachers. We also bought a peel-and-stick monthly calendar to organize our family schedule. It’s not the most aesthetic setup in the world but I think it will make a huge difference.
Yummy Bites
If there’s one carb I love more than pasta, it’s potatoes. I made lemony Greek potatoes and maroulosalata a couple of times this month. I think my husband is sick of potatoes now so I’m giving him a break for a little bit. That doesn’t mean I’m not still salivating over them.
Highs + Lows
My son had an appointment at the ENT and the allergist for allergy skin prick testing this month and I’m not sure if it was more traumatic for him or for me. It’s awful watching your kids writhe in discomfort, especially while holding them. I felt like the villain in this story but we have a path forward for some issues we’ve been working through since birth.
I’m happy to report the transition into the new school year has been much easier than Kindergarten. No tears at drop-off yet! My husband has been biking my daughter to school in the mornings which is just so much fun to watch. We’re really lucky to live somewhere with a neighborhood school. I’m also glad I’m not the one biking back up the hill to our house. Good for him for getting in his morning exercise before he heads off to the high school, though.
My kids absolutely loved watching my mom’s dog, Charlie, while she and my younger sister were in Denver for the Niall Horan concert earlier this month. I’m jealous they went to Red Rocks the same day that Vampire Weekend played. We probably should have tagged along with them! They brought me back the cutest patchwork tote bag. I can’t wait to style it.
Finally, I’m proud of myself for publishing so many newsletters consistently this month. I also feel like they resonated with a lot of readers. If you missed them, I’d love for you to check out my recent writing.
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Is it just me or does the second half of the year seem to fly by faster than the first half?
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A backpack organization system is genius... and so is a Taylor-Swift-themed birthday party. You sound like such a wonderful mom!
How did you end up feeling about Eric? I had mixed feelings... The acting was amazing though.