5 things I'm thinking about this week

It’s been almost a month since I put pen to paper (or more specifically, keys to google doc) on this little corner of the internet. I wish I could share that I’ve been off galavanting around the world, but in reality, I’ve really been feeling the lazy days of summer.

The humidity and the heat always reek havoc on my productivity and inspiration, and instead of beat myself up about it, I gave myself the grace of taking a break.

That’s not to say I haven’t been doing nothing.

A whirlwind 36-hour trip to Detroit helped to get me out of my creative funk. Surrounding myself with good food and the masters of art at the DIA was fabulous, as was hopping across the border to stock up (again) on all my favourite tastes of home.

I know fall is hectic and I should be languishing these last days of summer, but I really can’t wait for a dip in the temps to really get my groove back.

In the meantime, here are 5 things I’m thinking about this week:

1. NYTimes The Women’s Magazines of 2023 Are in a Facebook Group and Your Inbox: i’ve written about Becky Malinsky’s substack before, but this article this week really resonated with my about everything I missed about fashion media. I love that trusted journalists are finding audiences on old-school mediums, one of the things I miss most about magazines is an editor’s curated point of view. I love this return to curated journalism, I miss the old days when fashion pubs were more about curation than affiliate links.

2. Mollie Jenkins Pottery Ghosts: I have almost purchased these ghosts 5 times in the last week, but I just can’t justify spending $125 on more Halloween decor when there are so many more pressing home purchases I need to make. Even this minimalist queen can’t help but adore these white ceramic guys, there’s the perfect size and shape to sit on my mantle for all of spooky season. Adding to cart, again.

3. Club Monaco Abhy Merino Wool Sweater: as much as I would love to pull out my chunky turtlenecks, the reality is our weather isn’t going to be #sweaterweather for at least another two months. Boo. In the meantime, this merino wool sweater would be a perfect in-between sweater for my closet. I’d pair it for the office with a pair of trousers or a long silk maxi skirt, or more casually with an a-line mini or even a pair of tailored shorts.

4. Madewell Greta Ballet Flat in Silver: this summer I actually ventured out into a mall (!!) during a free afternoon and was pleasantly surprised to come across these silver ballet flats at Madewell. I’ve been on the hunt for a silver pair for awhile now, but my biggest beef with the flats I’ve purchased and returned was their flimsiness. I’m happy to report the leather on these felt substantial, like most Madewell shoes, and I love the square toe and the black strap. Just waiting on a coupon code to snag these at a discount.

5. Bun & Pillow Tiptoe Sculpture Vase: Bun & Pillow has been another previous mention on this site; I just can’t get enough of their whimsical ceramic wares. While a lot of their items would add the perfect quirky kick to a bookshelf or desk, it’s this Tiptoe vase that is my current obsession. I’m currently trying to style a fireplace mantle and think I would look perfect next to a mirror and piece of art for a minimalist yet fun style.

5 things I'm thinking about this week

Well, I caught up in hype of Prime Day. Lured in by hopes that “this surely has the same quality of X” only to be brought back to reality that it never would. I should have know better. =)

Thank goodness for free returns - now I just need to make it out of Whole Foods without collateral damage to my credit card. But it never hurts to look, right? *wink

I think it’s best that I keep to what I know best - like these 5 things I’m thinking about this week.

1. Williams Sonoma No Kid Hungry Spatula by Joshua Weisman: if there’s one place in a home where an injection of whimsy is welcomed, its definitely the kitchen. It can be super overt, like a turquoise mixer, or something a little cheekier, like this Williams Sonoma spatula. I’ve always checked out their No Kid Hungry spatulas every year, this is the first time where one of their designs has been purchase-worthy to me.

2. Tuckernuck Pearl Cluster earring: I’ll always have a soft spot for pearls since they’re my birthstone, but I find that I’ve been reaching for them more frequently this summer. When I was first browsing Tuckernuck’s site, I thought these huge statement pearls were perfect for me. They feel a little cartoonish now, which is why I’ve got my eye on this pair of cluster pearls. Larger than a stud, but not so overt, these would pair perfectly with breezy summer dresses and white jeans, or this fall with a crisp button and a tailored skirt or trousers.

3. Better Homes and Gardens Amy Planter: TikTok made me do it. Well kind of. I spotted this planter on TikTok and couldn’t believe that it was from Walmart, so I had to go and see for myself. It’s the perfect 1970s vibe to go with my house’s mid-century modern style. and I can’t wait to fill it with an equally 1970s monstera or other large, leafy plant.

4. Polene Tall Lapel Vase: I spotted this vase on Mojave’s latest vlog and couldn’t believe it was from Polene. I’ve only known them as a affordable luxury handbag brand but this collaboration with Japanese brand Mobje is gorgeous. The height, the materials, and the flexibility of the top of this vase are so unique, this would look fabulous with or without stems.

5. Seven by Jung Kook: even though I’m forever and always ot7, everyone has always known that JK is going to be the Harry Styles/Justin Timberlake of BTS. His first single, Seven, is super fun, you’ll find yourself singing “Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday…” when you least expect it.

5 things I'm thinking about this week

Are there a bunch of retailer sales coming up this week? I can’t tell. /sarcasm

I’m fully prepping for a week of influencer overload. Between Prime Day, the Nordstrom Sale, and every other retailer, I’m totally expecting Instagram to be unbearable this week. Let’s see if it bleeds over in Threads?

Speaking of Threads, are you on the platform yet?

I’ve been messing around with it a little bit, it seems to be pretty positive still, similar to TikTok, except full of really bad millennial jokes. I was really hoping they would have a more chronological feed, instead of the algorithm, so I can follow on with live sports and breaking news/weather. Until they figure that piece out, I’ll still be logging into the bird app every day.

Anyways, here are 5 things I’m thinking about this week.

1. King the Land: its been a while since a totally cheesy, chaebol falls first, romantic comedy k drama aired, so I was more than ready for King the Land to hit Netflix. It’s everything you’d want in a summer kdrama, gorgeous leads with fantastic chemistry, inside jokes galore, and a script that loves to poke fun at itself. I’m bummed its already half-way over, but have my popcorn ready to watch the rest.

2. Watershed Four Peel Strawberry Gin: we did a gin tasting when we stopped at Dillon’s outside Niagara where I had the chance to taste strawberry gin for the first time. At the time they were recommending pairing it with ginger beer to make a strawberry mule, which sounded like the most refreshing summer cocktail. I was heartbroken to leave the Dillon’s strawberry behind, but so delighted to see that Watershed brought theirs back again this summer. Not only is this gin a gorgeous dark pink colour, it delicious as well. I’ve already mixed it into a G&T, and am looking forward to adding it to ginger ale and ginger beer all summer long.

3. Tennis Dresses: between arts fest and the Taylor Swift concert, I’ve been seeing tennis dresses everywhere as of late. They’re perfect for this swampy weather we’ve been having, my only hesitation in picking one up is length. (Tall girl problems). I’ve got my eye on this one from Lululemon, but also love that this one from Athleta comes in tall (and is on sale!).

4. Audo Copenhagen Stance Vase: as my wardrobe becomes more and more minimal, I’m finding that my home decor is following suite. Sculptural, intentional furnishings are starting to replace patterned, complicated ones, and this stance vase would fit right in to my new point of view. I love the height of the 20'“ one, and love the layered look of the two of them every more.

5. Banana Republic Rugs: yep, you read that right, RUGS. The Banana Republic rebrand has been so interesting to watch, from preppy workwear to safari-luxe. Their new home decor line fits right into this point of view, with elevated price points just like their clothing. I do love the gray tones of the Moroccan and classic wool rugs, this one, this one and this one are my faves. Maybe these will eventually go on sale, just like their clothing? /fingerscrossed

5 Things I'm thinking about this week

To Kill A Mockingbird Broadway Tour cast

PTO.

There might be not be a more glorious combination of three letters in the English language.

I’m kidding (I think). But I was long overdue for some time away from the office and my home,

While I love the brain break a day off at home provides, physically removing myself from my surroundings really did me some good. As much as I try to separate my work when I’m working from home, there’s something freeing about truly getting away and leaving my work laptop behind.

I grateful for the resurgence of creativity that vacation provides, and the new perspectives I was able to view.

Without further ado, here are 5 things I’m thinking about this week.

1. Glossier You Look Good Hat: I don’t think I can call myself an OG Glossier fan, I didn’t jump on board until their Moon Mask debuted and never really got into their Stretch Concealer or Skin Tint. I am a huge fan of their Ultralip and recently rediscovered Lash Slick, but their latest product launch I’m loving has nothing to do with face products. A baseball bat hat is a must for me in the summer, you wont see me without one on the weekends, and I love the minimalist vibe of this one, with the cheeky You Look Good tagline on the bill. So cute.

2. Jenny Bird Sylvie Anklet: I don’t think a month goes by without another wishlist item of mine from Jenny Bird. The Canadian designer has the coolest vibe and I love to see her sport her on jewelry on her Instagram. My latest “want” is this pearl anklet, its the perfect feminine piece to layer with summer’s clunky sandals. It’s modern and classic and would look great on its own, or layered with many more JB pieces.

3. To Kill a Mockingbird on Broadway: this play took me by surprise and made me so happy I’m a Broadway subscriber. This was my second to last show of the season, and if I’m being honest, I wasn’t looking forward to it. Yes, it’s written by one of my favourite writers, Aaron Sorkin, but the thought of sitting in a theatre on a warm June night just wasn’t thrilling to me. To Kill a Mockingbird was fantastic. The cast/acting was phenomenal, the pacing was great, and I sat enraptured for the full 2 hours and 35 minutes of the play. If it comes to a city near you I highly recommend.

4. Acne Studios Arima Top Handle Bag: retailers summer sales are finally starting to get good, the discounts are getting steeper and the brands are getting better. It’s really hard to pick up all the things, but my will power is still going strong. This bag almost broke it - I’ve had it on my wish list for six months now and its finally marked down. Let’s be honest, I have no real use for this bag. But it’s adorable, and from one of my favourite brands, and I really want to own it. Maybe if the Saks sale gets steeper I’ll might have to make it mine.

5. When in Rome by Sarah Adams: this book is the perfect summer rom-com and Sarah Adams is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. The premise of When In Rome is a little far-fetched, a pop-star gets lost in rural Kentucky and shacks up with the grumpy single baker, but the way it comes together is adorable, engrossing, and entirely un-put-downable. It’s a perfect, light summer escape. (I read for free on the Libby app).

5 things I'm thinking about this week

The Harmony Project Concert at Columbus Commons

I got to witness something pretty remarkable last week.

The Harmony Project, the Columbus non-profit, returned to the Columbus Commons for a free concert for the community, and it was pure joy.

The choir sounded amazing, the weather was phenomenal, and the stories were tear-inducing, in the very best way. But the most remarkable thing about the concert was the audience.

It’s been a really long time since I’ve been in an audience that collectively wanted to do and feel good. It felt like a real community, a community that uplifts, a community that supports, and most importantly, a community that celebrates the uniqueness of everyone, without judgement or bias.

It. Was. Glorious.

If you haven’t checked out the Harmony Project, I highly encourage you to do so. In the meantime, here are five things I’m thinking about this week.

1. Dillon’s is coming to the US!: My favourite Canadian Distillery is going to start selling their Gin Cocktails in the US! The Canadians do canned summer cocktails SO much better than Americans, and Dillon’s are the best IMO. I never need a reason to make a foodie stop in Michigan, and this gives me one more reason head north.

2. Adidas Blue Version Dress: I love when sportswear companies do dresses, from Lacoste’s polo dresses, to Essentials t-shirt ones, they are some of my favourite fits to wear all summer long. This Adidas Blue Version Dress has quickly skyrocketed to the top of my wishlist, I love the neckline and length, but mostly I love the fabric and how the swing of the dress enhances it. Here’s hoping Adidas sends me a birthday coupon….

3. Appointed 23-24 Studio Wall Calendar: I know it’s weird to be talking about calendars in May, but this 17-month wall calendar is deserving of a conversation. Everything Appointed creates is minimalist and classic in the best ways, and this wall calendar is no different. No frills and great design have me smitten, I might just have to pick one up this summer.

4. APC Black Meryl Shoulder Bag: I’ve largely been trying to avoid the SSENSE sale this spring, to avoid the temptation. But this drawstring bag from APC keeps luring me back in, I can’t keep my eye off of it. I love APC bags, they age really well, and this one is such an unexpected shape and texture from them, it almost reminds me of the Chanel 22. Must resist.

5. Bun & Pillow Clayhead sculptures: I first heard of this shop via Eva Chen’s instagram stories, and I’m so smitten. These Clayhead sculptures would like so cute as a set of three on a shelf, see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil vibes.