week 28 books and looks
everything I wore and read this week
books
Made my way through one book this week, hit pause on one, and and abandoned another.
Making my way through Years and Years (Hwang Jungeun), which arrived at my doorstep earlier this week thanks to my Aphilia monthly book subscription. At just over 100 pages, it’s a short book, but one that I’m enjoying. The book takes place in South Korea, and traces the lives of a family, focusing on the stories of three women (mother and two daughters). As a child, I lived in Seoul, South Korea for a few years, and have always had a great respect and reverence for Korean people and culture, and now literature.
Hit pause on Her Side of The Story (Alba de Cespedes), No time to read before bed this week, and this is the book I keep bed-side.
Abandoned The Metamorphosis (Franz Kafka) after a few pages. Just not for me right now.
On my TBR pile:
looks
Sunday’s agenda: reading by the couch, spending time with my family and pup, getting takeout
Sunday’s look: whatever was at the top of my clothes chair pile
Added a slouchy, oversized tote for errands outside the house. Also, you can peep the new built-in on the right which is ALMOST finished!!
Monday’s agenda: a pile of work and emails, meal planning + grocery shopping, work calls
Monday’s look: an easy, breezy blouse and jeans
Pulled out a bag I got in Mexico City to add something different to this look. Not sure if love the contrast of black/white and then cream, but I went for it.
Whenever I wear these breezy, lightweight blouses (almost always from DÔEN), I pair it with harsher accessories. Meaning, there needs to be a leather/suede closed shoe or bag, and a belt with hardware. If not, it feels too frilly and feminine — while beautiful and valid, not my style. This would look totally different with a pair of sandals, for example.
Actually, as I’m writing this, I realize that the bag didn’t work for me because it wasn’t slouchy or big enough, not because it was cream leather. Was craving more contrast.
Tuesday’s agenda: shoot content all day long, plus an ice-cream run in the afternoon to help handle the 100 degree heat
Tuesday’s look: white jeans and a tshirt
On days when I’m shooting content, I want to be as comfortable and nimble as possible. The look must be verrrrry basic, in order to minimize distractions such as fussing with the shirt, or pulling the pants up, etc.
The content brief this time included the “airport bin” pic we’ve seen everywhere. Look, I’m sure many creators and brands have indeed managed to pull off the airport bin picture IRL. I tip my hat to y’all. Could and would never be me.
Instead, I bought a plastic bin off Amazon and recreated the airport security bin to the best of my ability.
After I finished shooting content, I ran out with my husband and pup for an ice cream break. Much needed.
Wednesday’s agenda: editing content and Substack writing
Wednesday’s look: (barrel) jeans and a tshirt
Got these barrel jeans from Everlane last week and really liked how lightweight they are. The shape and wash are good, too.
Merit kindly sent me their new Signature Bag they made with Tove, and I wanted to wear it immediately. You can tie the bag three ways: as a shoulder bag, as a top handle bag, and as a pouch/clutch.
Wearing here as a shoulder bag.
The bag has a hidden magnetic closure which keeps all your belongings secure. The color is beyond chic, and I will wear this bag non-stop.
Thursday’s agenda: design meetings at home, emails/calls/computer work, sleepover with my aunt
Thursday’s look: another DÔEN blouse and jeans
An overhead shot so you can see the full look:
Was so thrilled to have a design meeting this day to discuss fabric for the bench seat in our built-in. I have a specific vision of what I’m going for, and I’m lucky and thrilled that the designer we’re working with for the project is not only fabulous and has a great eye, but also trusts and understands my vision.
Friday’s agenda: work in the am, summer friday hours, dinner with girlfriends
Friday’s look: day to night that works in the heat and humidity
We had intense humidity in LA on Friday, which was unexpected. I scheduled a blow out to treat myself, and couldn’t believe I booked it on the one day of the year that felt like Florida. Shout out to Dry Bar though — you wouldn’t have known it was humid by the way they left my hair!!!
Wore the Merit x Tove bag out to dinner and loved using it as a smaller bag. The color is so gorgeous in person.
Saturday’s agenda: hanging out at home and by the pool with husband + pup + father-in-law, grilling at home, naps on the couch
Saturday’s look: woke up wanting to wear jeans and a tshirt — shocker!!!
We have a couple of these straw bags we keep in the garage for the pup’s leashes, and frisbees, and some of our beach/pool stuff. Especially love the size (not too big not too small), and the handle length (easily fits over your shoulder and isn’t too heavy).
Made some bbq sauce to go with the burgers we grilled for lunch, and it was delicious. Anytime we have burgers/hot dogs at home, I make caramelized onions as a topping — going forward, I will also make bbq sauce.
The recipe follows the one in this video, with the modification that I subbed the coconut sugar for a bit of maple syrup, and that I cooked it over medium heat for a few minutes to get all the flavors mixed in. Finished it off by whisking in a little bit of butter to bring it all together. Learned that trick from my Grandma.
You neeeeeed to try.
Ok, a puppy couch nap pic, and I’m signing off.
&bonus
Two things:
The TikTok algorithm got so far up in my psyche and served me a video featuring a Fluffy Coke. Have you ever heard of this? It combines several of my favorite things: marshmallow fluff, soda (diet coke, in my case), and ice, making something cold and refreshing that isn’t tea or coffee.
As I mentioned above, my aunt and I had a little sleepover this week. We ordered in sushi (one night) and pasta (the other), and put on The Parent Trap. It took us two days to finish it because we kept pausing it and talking, haha.
The movie is even better than I remember. As a child, it deeply marked my sister and me (the oreos in peanut butter, the camp vibes and aesthetic, the prank Hallie plays on Annie in the cabin, the ear pierce scene with the apple…), but this time around, I had my eyes peeled on the outfits and the interiors. It is a Nancy Meyers movie, after all!
Most notable was this tray on Elizabeth’s vanity. Need to source one asap.
Beautiful looks and I love your airport bin recreation 😂I always love those visual images too ❤️ Pachinko is on my list..how cool you lived in South Korea!
My favourite newsletter of all! I love how you mix reading, tasks and clothes ❤️