big glasses, moral hangovers & lemon orzo soup
monthly recap no. 1
It’s hard to believe the day has come but happy almost end-of-August, friends! Virtual cheers, clinks & confetti are officially in order because pumpkin spice lattes are back in the rotation and my fall persona is defrosting as we speak. Don’t get me wrong—I love summer as much as the next pale person in want of a lasting tan. Late sunsets, life choices largely influenced by the heat, ice-cold watermelon slices, The Summer I Turned Pretty constantly playing in the background…it’s all been great. BUT (and that’s a big “but”), pumpkin season is upon us and we must allow it to do its thing.
The other day, I smelled a Bath & Body Works Pumpkin Apple candle and pretty much transcended time and space. The familiar wave of nostalgia hit me—the one evoking images of past falls when my mom decorated every square inch of the house with those glass pumpkins that have the curly stems and strategically placed Wallflowers with some sort of cozy scent in each room. Saturdays spent going to Hobby Lobby with her to hunt for more decor and practically shoving every cinnamon stick in sight up my nose with little regard to who was watching. (Very unceremonious.) To me, fall is the comfort of childhood and the simultaneous rush of lots of mostly good changes.
As much as I can’t go another second sans pumpkin cream cold brew, a recap of August is the first order of business before fully becoming that Jack o’ Lantern wearing meme of Dwight from The Office. Read on for a specially curated roundup of all the food, products, accessories, books, TikTok accounts, and more that I hyperfixated on this month and am now passing on to you because sharing is my favorite made-up love language. Note that the following is not merely a list of my silly little faves so much as they are *thoroughly* tested recommendations that I hope you get to try and maybe (just maybe) even add to your list.
thoughts & things to remember
One day soon, you’ll laugh about it with your friends and everything will be fine.
Know a good moment when you see it and remember that feeling so you never settle for anything less.
Recover from moral hangovers by chalking them up to the heat, the frivolity of youth, or any other fun reason you can think of to soften the blow of your past actions. Whatever it was, it’ll pass and things happen. You live and you learn and eventually you get back to your super hot self that knows better.
The winning combo of getting ready to a playlist of utterly un-skippable songs can help dull and possibly heal a handful of emotional ailments.
Learning things about yourself every day and playing dress-up and drinking coffee out of cool mugs and driving through a city you love to get a late dinner with your friend on a school night is so special and should be done often.
“It is not selfish to tell people how you feel. What has conditioned you to believe that expressing yourself is a burden?” -Whitney Hanson
That one person’s love is not the only love out there.
You won’t get it until you’re meant to. Until then, learn to ride the waves because most of the time it’s never that serious.
foodie stuff
This lemon chicken orzo soup from Salt & Lavender! Light, cozy, super simple, and absolutely delish. If you know you’ll have leftovers and want this dish to stay soupy/not risotto-y, either add more broth or cook the orzo separately.
StoK Unsweetened Cold Brew + any hazelnut creamer (I love the Coffee Mate one)
Sweet & savory sourdough toast plates:
Toast 1: Cottage cheese, sliced strawberries & honey
Toast 2: Butter, scrambled egg, avocado, salt & pepper, chili flakes
Spicy Italian sub + drink (I do Diet Dr. Pepper) + chips (I do Sour Cream & Onion)
Note: This meal is to be eaten in the comfort of your car at a spot you love while listening to music or talking to a friend. I don’t make the rules.
Yogurt + almond butter + strawberries + bananas + dark chocolate Catalina Crunch sprinkled on top
Trader Joe’s Lemon Herb Macaroni Salad
what i wore
Big ol’ blue light glasses to hide under eye bags and hopefully add some of that je ne sais quoi everyone talks about. You might feel like Edna Mode in them but they’re so fun and flattering, IMHO.
These Abercrombie overalls paired with a strapless top or floral cami for that 90s-esque, Rachel from Friends look.
unplanned two in one!
Denim mini skirt from PacSun because HELLO?!
Another Abercombie win: this strapless denim top
Dangly drop pearl earrings that are snazzy yet affordable
Nails this month were almond-shaped Kyoto Pearl by OPI, which is easily my go-to for a pearl nail that’s not glittery but has a subtle shimmer. Highly recommend!
products & finds
OLEHENRIKSEN Pout Preserve Peptide Lip Treatment, specifically in the Cocoa Créme shade
Biodance Overnight Hydrating Mask for glassy, bouncy skin when you wake up
Incredibly random but gamechanging entryway table-meets-trash cabinet if you want extra storage and don’t love the look of your trashcan being out in the open
Striped ruffle kitchen towels from the kindest Etsy seller
Frenshe Hair, Body & Linen Mist in Lavender Cloud or Cashmere Vanilla
Kopari Sun Shield Body Glow for gorgeous, glowy, protected skin. If you just want the glow for a night out, a little bit on the legs, shoulders, and décolletage goes a looong way. Plus, it has a summery coconut vanilla scent that’s just subtle enough.
media catchall
This man on TikTok that is the definition of unbothered. Cool music, coffee, and immaculate vibes every day just because!
Here’s Your Bite on TikTok for easy, yummy recipe ideas
Still Woozy’s new album that I have no notes on except that it’s perfection
Obvi Sabrina Carpenter’s entire Short ‘n Sweet album but specifically “Dumb & Poetic,” “Sharpest Tool” & “Don’t Smile” (the intro ohmygosh)
Found Objects history podcast for deep dives on topics like Marilyn Monroe & the Kennedys and the origin of the Michelin Star
Hollywood Gold podcast if you love learning about movies and the people who make them! I loved this episode on Christopher Nolan’s Memento and this one with The Princess Diaries producer Debra Martin Chase.
This fascinating book about the science of attachment
Also on a Schitt’s Creek rewatch kick, which makes me laugh both when I watch it and when I have flashbacks of it throughout the day
on that note…
I hope you enjoyed this little recap and get to try a thing or two! Wishing you heaping bowls of lemon orzo soup, all the best parts of summer’s end, and a reminder that anything can be at least kind of funny at the end of the day if you let it.
With love,
em <3