The Weekly, 08.10.20

“It’s okay to not feel okay all of the time.”

It is, but for some reason, this not feeling okay never sits well with me. The last week is a blur after we lost power on Tuesday, which shifted my plans back to the city. Which was a much needed retreat that I didn’t know I needed. While the shore is my family home, there really is nothing quite like being in your own home after being away for a while.

As soon as I got back to the city, I felt so much…safer? More myself? I’m not quite sure what it was, but when I saw everyone walking around wearing masks, enjoying outdoor distanced dining in the streets, I really really missed New York City, which for me, is Brooklyn.

Yesterday, after a walk in Prospect Park, Chris and I stopped by my favorite happy hour spot for a drink and some late lunch. It was my first foray into outdoor dining during the pandemic, but after finding out we were going back to school in September, I really needed a cocktail. And you know what I remembered? That I love living in Brooklyn, despite and because of the past five months. There is always something so great about being able to love where you are. Our landlords are building a roof deck on our building, so I am looking forward to the cooler months, being able to spend time up on the roof enjoying what we are so grateful to have, even more.

My sister recommended this podcast when I saw her last week, and it really did not disappoint during a two hour drive in the pouring rain. It’s about a self-help “guru” who hosts a retreat that leads to two peoples’ deaths. If you have any interest in cult-mentality or considered the limits people are willing to be pushed to in order to find themselves, this podcast is a good one.

I ordered Big Friendship a couple of weeks ago, shamelessly drawn by the cover of the book. And honestly, it has not disappointed. I’m more than half way through, and feel like so much of the authors’ stories resonates with me. It’s written by two friends who met in adulthood, founded a podcast, and slowly grew apart. They dive into this concept of “big friendship,” and considers the need to put real work into all of the complexities that impact friendship. I highly recommend, especially if you’ve ever wondered how you could be a better friend in the age where no new friends is in style.

After reading this review of acid-based deodorant, a trendy formula in natural deodorants, I wanted to give them a try. I have also been itching to try Necessaire products, but have a hard time justifying $35 on a body wash. I decided to splurge for this deodorant, and the scent is really quite lovely (making that body wash a bit more enticing…might try to snag it in the Nordstrom sale). I can’t speak to the effectiveness quite yet, but so far, so good.

I also just got this lip balm in the mail, and I have to say- it’s an immediate love for me. I have chronically dry lips, so I always look for a good balm that leaves a nice sheen, but doesn’t leave my lips quenched. So far, so great with this one. I’m thinking of putting together a round up of my favorite lip balms, because I am super particular.

It seems like people are taking advantage of the end of the summer to get married- I don’t blame them and I definitely don’t envy anyone wedding planning right now. But a few friends have asked me for help finding a dress to wear to an outdoor wedding, and I love shopping for other people. If you’re looking for a dress for a summer wedding, I highly recommend this gorgeous satin slip dress that could easily be dressed up or down for a wedding. I think this is the longest I have gone in years without a wedding, and I kind of miss the hunt for a great dress.

I ordered these sunglasses earlier in the summer, which are a great dupe for a Celine style. To be honest, I have the real Celine pair, and I like the more affordable version more. They are sturdier and polarized, so it’s nice alternative if you often loose or damage sunglasses. My sister ended up ordering them, and then found this pair, called the Escobar. Well, we couldn’t resist and now we both have them. I wanted to try them before potentially splurging for the hexagon Ray-Bans at the end of the summer, because they have a similar shape.

After Cuomo announced that we are going back to school in September, and after I had a full blown meltdown about it, I ordered two more of these masks that I posted about here. They are much more expensive than any other mask, but I really think their quality, comfort and breathability is superior. They also don’t irritate my face. This time, I ordered the gunmetal and blush. I really want a face mask chain like this one- silly, or necessary?

I’m starting to think about the fact that I might need to wear real clothes on a regular basis soon if we go back to school (still haven’t accepted it…). I love a good bodysuit and I had to order this one when I saw the sunny color and the ribbed material. They go perfectly under jeans, a skirt, or even paired with shorts. I have multiple they are very comfortable- I go with a size L.

I also ordered a new planner for the upcoming school year, because I was forgetting meetings and checking my email constantly to remember final deadlines for grad school. I decided to use this company after a friend’s recommendation, and it just came this week, and I really love the format I was able to customize. The quality is just as a great as more expensive brands, but for a much lower cost. I went with the smaller size, and I got the Notes and Days format, personalized, of course.

This week, I’ll be splitting time between the shore and the city, as I near the end of my graduate program (two more weeks!), but I hope to get some new posts up on the blog for you guys. I hope everyone has a great week, and that you are doing okay as we go into another month of uncertainty. And just remember, it’s okay to not feel okay all of the time. Staying pretty busy usually helps me.