books
Still working through Fear of Flying (Erica Jong), a bit slowly though, since it’s become my bedside book.
Picked up Slouching Towards Bethlehem (Joan Didion), but skipped to the middle to read her “On” essays, starting with “On Self Respect.” In case you want to read the essay, but don’t have the book, you can find the pdf here.
Also picked up a short and quite small poetry book called The Orange (Wendy Cope). I saw it on Lucy Allan’s recent Substack about her Filofax, and put it on my bookshop list. The cover was what drew me in (see picture below) — that orange and that blue! So beautiful. Also below, an image of my favorite poem in the book.
*This would make a great stocking stuffer for the holidays because it, a. will fit in a stocking, and b. is delightful.*
looks
Summer Sundays tend to be slow and delicious in my house. Coffee first thing in the morning, a walk with the pup, some time spent in the sun, cleaning up around the house… you get the picture. Eventually, I’ll move out of my pjs and into some clothes.
As we enter into the last official month of August, I admit that I am sickkkkkkk of summer clothes. I held out as long as I could and stayed positive and cheerful about paper thin blouses, tshirts, and even embraced some linen into my closet for this summer. But dear reader, I’m doooone. BRING ON A CHILLY BREEZE.
Thankfully, I’ve got this short sleeve cashmere top in my closet that scratches that sweater itch without making it unbearable to be outside in 85+ degrees.
Reached into my closet for these silver Chanel ballerinas. I purchased these in 2016 with my Bloomingdale’s employee discount, and still love and wear them. (In case you didn’t know, I was a ready-to-wear Assistant Buyer at Bloomies a few years ago!!!)
On Monday, I woke up excited (and anxious) to tackle my to-do list.
Believe it or not, I usually wear my “day” outfit for the morning/afternoon dog walk as well. I’ll swap out the cute shoes for my most used pair of flats, and will leave any accessories at home (bags, jewelry, etc.).
Walks are between 15–30 minutes long, depending, and I’m most comfortable and at ease in my normal clothes and shoes. I’ve had a neighbor make comments to me about how I’m not wearing “appropriate walking shoes,” and my only comment back is that a shoe that’s comfortable to you is a walking shoe. :)
Anyway, I spent the whole day working and then ran out in the afternoon to get a few errands done. My husband was on a work trip this week, so my aunt I had sleepovers, and hung out in the afternoons.
On Tuesday, I shot content for my job in the morning, answered some emails, and then closed my computer to spend the afternoon with my aunt.
We ran around town checking off (her) errands from the list, picked up food at Erewhon (our favorite), and got manicures at the end of the day. I’m so happy and lucky to have fun and special aunts.
On Wednesday, I sat at my computer for most of the day.
Left the house to drop something off at the library and for a diet coke.
There are days when I work from home that I will sit for what seems like hours. Having a pup is great because after a while, she will nudge me, and we’ll go outside and play or do a mini walk. But sometimes, my pup is such a snoozer that she’ll just sleeeep and sleep — especially if it’s super hot outside. The last thing she wants to do is be in the heat.
I found that listening to music on a record player vs. on my computer speaker forces me to get up and switch the disc side, or restart it. It gets me off my butt and out of my computer tunnel vision.
Woke up on Thursday to some clouds (unusual for high summer in LA), which was such a bummer because I had a whole content shooting day planned for my job. We make plans…!!!!!
Instead, I sat at my computer doing some admin work and answering some forgotten messages and emails.
After a mini 3pm rain shower, the sky cleared up, so I gathered all my gear and headed outside to shoot. These types of content shooting days are so exciting for me — I love creating!!!
As soon as I finished, I drove out for a treat — a crispy diet coke.
In the early am where I live, the temps are in the high 50s/low 60s, so on Friday, I took advantage of the “chill” and wore a soft and cozy sweatshirt.
Recreational Habits is a new-to-me brand, and founded by a wife (Jackie) and husband (Marlon) team (pictured here, on their brand’s Instagram). Jackie was the Women’s Director at Kith and the Associate Fashion Director at Barney’s… meaning she’s super chic and has a fabulous eye.
Around lunchtime, the temp was back up to 90 degrees, and I was back in my paper thin blouses. Husband and I headed to Erewhon to grab lunch, pup in tow.
As I mentioned above, summer dressing is getting stale for me. Being bored with my outfits is okay — it happens all the time, and usually I learn something interesting from it. This time around, it’s resoundingly clear that accessories are what make the wardrobe, and allow me space to play and get creative.
I’m starting to get more comfortable adding jewelry back into my outfits. These Heaven Mayhem ribbed earrings* give the perfect pop of an interest to an otherwise basic outfit.
All this to say: here’s another version of blue jeans and a white breezy DÔEN top.
Saturday started early, as do most days in my house. After my husband and pup got back from their obedience training class (they go on Saturdays at 8am haha), we went for a walk in the neighborhood, made coffee, and caught up on this weekend’s edition of How To Spend It.
Hoping to spend the rest of the weekend reading, cleaning and organizing my closet, and cuddling with my pup.
Hope you have a fabulous weekend/ start of your week.
Xx,
Natalia
*items marked * were generously gifted to me
&bonus
Mugs were heavily featured this week, so I’ll link the ones I can below, and also a few that are either on their way to me, or eagerly sitting in my wishlist.
Featured and some favorites
Canyon Coffee diner mug (also my preferred mug shape for ice cream in the evenings)
Royal Copenhagen high handle mug — one of my everyday favorites. My Bestamama (Norwegian for grandmother, although she was my great-grandmother) gifted me one of her Royal Copenhagen tea sets for my wedding. These mugs match the set, but are great for coffee. And yes, I’m part Norwegian!!!
Martha Stewart splatter mug from a set we got on Amazon. Can’t recommend this enough.
In transit
Just ordered two mugs from Six Bells — the Country House Mug (by Brixton Pottery) and the Large Hen Mug (by Nicholas Mosse). Can’t wait for them to get here!!!
On my wishlist
In love with pottery by Nicholas Mosse, and this Old Rose Mug is on my wishlist, as is this Reindeer one.
This striped mug from Portuguese brand, Luisa Paixão.
soooooo ready for the chilly breeze!!!
joan’s ‘on self respect’ = best
the jeans and madewell tote are stunning! and okay DD bag!
i quite literally have a white set JUST like the donni one you’re wearing but i always feel so drab. i love how you’ve styled it with the light necklace and pop of color flats!
🤍
Obsessed with the Mary Jane style Chanel flats - feeling like I need a pair 🙈♥️ and the madewell tote, soo cute! Enjoy the rest of the weekend reading + organizing, sounds so lovely!