The summer favorites edition 😎☀️

It’s hard to believe we’re already heading into August. I hope these last few weeks of summer bring you some rest, a little adventure, and plenty of time with the people you love.

I’ve been writing some more intensive pieces lately and found myself needing a bit of a brain break. So, in the spirit of the holiday gift guides I love putting together each year, I thought I’d share a roundup of some of my favorite things this summer. Every item here is something I bought with my own money, use regularly, and genuinely recommend. I hope you find a few new favorites, too!

Minted hydrangea stationery: My kids went to sleepaway camp for the first time this summer, so I wrote lots of handwritten letters. I loved this set, and I think it’s super versatile. I’m also a huge fan of this pen set.

Dosaze contoured orthopedic pillow: I 100% feel like an old lady recommending this, but I LOVE this pillow. Since turning 40, I have been on the hunt for a supportive, but not too thick sleeping pillow. I’ve tried and returned more than I care to admit, but this is the Goldilocks for me.

Aquinnah First Light necklace: I found this necklace at a local boutique at the beginning of the summer and I’ve been wearing it constantly. It looks great layered with shorter necklaces.

Malin + Goetz body lotion: This is the most I’ve ever spent on a body lotion, but it completely eliminates the sticky feeling post-application and I love the smell, so I’m sticking with it.

Open Edit fitted blazer: I’m not doing to pretend to be a fashion influencer, but I got this blazer during the Nordstrom sale (it’s still going on through August 9!) and I thought it was really flattering.

Coastal Americana coloring book: When I’m looking for a low-key way to connect with my 8-year-old daughter, I turn on Spotify and we color in these high-quality books (there are several theme options available).

Quince Italian leather crossover slide: These are so comfy—I wear mine constantly!

Magical Athlete: I’ve mentioned before that we’re a big board game family, and this game is our new favorite. When I first pulled it out, my 11-year-old took one look at the box and declared it a “baby game”. It decidedly is not. It takes a game or two to get the gist (this video was helpful), but once we mastered it quickly. Heads up that it took over a week to come from Amazon, but it was worth the wait!

Tulip Tie Dye: Ever since COVID, every summer, I make tie dye with the kids. Yes, it activates my Type A energy (make sure you check everyone before they come inside to avoid any spare drips of dye!), but they love the finished product.

Basketball organizer: I feel like my garage overflows with crap every summer. This basketball organizer has been clutch (also fits soccer balls, kickballs, etc.) My son particularly loves that’s it’s on wheels so we can easily get it outside for free throw competitions.

Galison seaside puzzle: I love these puzzles, and it’s right on theme for summer!

PlasmaCar: We bought this 8 years ago and it still gets used. I would say it’s best for kids ages 3-8.

Cornbaby ice pack (the best!): Of course, all that fun and games brings plenty of injuries. This ice pack/heating pack has been getting a lot of use, and—while we’re at it—these is my kids’ favorite bandaids.

Whistler by Ann Patchett: I know everyone is hyping this book, but I truly believe it’s worth the buzz. It’s a beautiful story about a woman reconnecting with her former stepfather… and it make you feel good about humanity. Extra tip: if you’re not already following Parnassus Books (Ann Patchett’s Nashville bookstore) on Instagram, do it!

London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe: This is another book that’s gotten a lot of recognition, but—again—I loved it. Written by New Yorker reporter, it’s the true story of a middle-class kid in London who falls in with a group of gangsters by pretending he’s the son of a Russian oligarch. He ends up dead (not a spoiler) and it explores his double life, the impact on his family, the failure of Scottish yard to properly investigate his death, and also the reasons why London has become a hotbed of international crime. It reads like fiction and the audiobook version was great (and I’m very picky about my audiobook narrators).

The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood I have a habit of reading authors from the places we're about to visit, so given that we’re heading to Canada soon, I decided it was finally time to explore more of Margaret Atwood's work. The Blind Assassin completely lived up to the hype. It's intricate, surprising, and incredibly well written—a slow burn that comes together beautifully in the end. Now I'm eager to keep working my way through the rest of her books.

Wow in the World: The How and Wow of the Human Body by Mindy Thomas & Guy Raz: This is my 8-year-old daughter’s top recommendation. If you have a kiddo who is really into the human body/being a doctor, this is packed full of fun facts. They also have a version for animals, space, and dinosaurs, if that’s more your jam.

In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick This is my husband’s recommendation, and he said it’s the best book he’s read in years. It tells the true story of the whaleship Essex—the real-life disaster that inspired Moby-Dick.

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander: My basketball- and book-loving 11-year-old recommended this book. Told in verse, it's a fast, emotionally rich story about twin brothers navigating family, friendship, and the pressures of growing up on and off the basketball court.

While our kids were at summer camp, my husband and I spent a week exploring midcoast Maine, from Acadia National Park down to Camden. Summer in Maine is a dream, and we absolutely loved it. Here are my highlights:

• Favorite hotel: The Norumbega Inn in Camden was truly magical. It's within walking distance of town, yet somehow still feels peaceful and tucked away. We stayed in the Sandringham room, which was perfect. I'd recommend this more for couples than families.

• Best hike: This is a tough one, but it has to be one of the Acadia hikes. It's worth knowing that Acadia isn't a traditional national park with one large, contiguous property. Instead, it's spread across several islands and the Schoodic Peninsula, so you'll find yourself driving between different sections rather than spending the entire day in one place. Our top three were Flying Mountain, Ship Harbor Trail, and Ocean Path Trail. All are beautiful and very doable with kids.

• Best meal: We went to Little Deer Isle specifically to eat at Aragosta, and it was 100% worth it. We were celebrating our anniversary and splurged on the private greenhouse dinner, which made the evening even more memorable.

• Best ice cream: Mt. Desert Ice Cream Maine sea salt caramel is, without question, the best caramel ice cream I've ever had. Honorable mention goes to Pugnuts. f you can find it, order the Spruce Tip gelato. It's made by steeping fresh spring spruce tips in milk and is only available in Maine.

• Best lobster roll: Beal’s Lobster Pier in Southwest Harbor.

• Favorite activity: If you couldn't already tell, food was definitely a theme of this trip. 😆 We took a tour of Tapley Cove Oyster Farm and had such a great time. We pulled oysters from the water, cleaned them, learned to shuck them, and—best of all—ate them. It was a really fun, hands-on experience.