Me, In a Box!

In the spirit of summer, I hereby declare a Just a Splash Summer Sale! Now through August 11th (my birthday 😉), paid subscriptions are 25% off. TYIA for the greatest gift! xx

I found a piece of myself in a box this weekend.

We were supposed to be at a friend’s lake house rental for the day. But when storms rolled in, we decided to stay put and have a stay-in-your-pajamas and clean out the basement kind of day.

Not exactly how I imagined our 4th weekend going, but its own kind of thrill nonetheless.

With two small kids, “cleaning” and “organizing” can be difficult, so we moved slowly, but surely. Mostly I entertained our two-year-old in the same vicinity while my husband moved boxes around with the moral support of our six-year-old.

I was singing the ABC’s and watching Hazel “fly” for the twelfth time, when I heard Austin’s magic words: “Honey, I think I’ve found the box you’ve been looking for.”

And indeed, he had.

It was my “Magazines & Treasures” box. The box I’d been looking for ever since starting this Substack. The one where I had saved favorite issues of the magazines of my youth: Teen Vogue, YM, Mary Kate and Ashley.

Like many on here, I grew up dreaming of being a writer. And when I hit adolescence, there was no greater goal than working in magazines, at least in my eyes.

I would stockpile my favorites, cut out images for collages, decorate my binder and locker, you know the drill.

In high school I cherished my English classes and became Editor-in-Chief of our yearbook. I interned at our local lifestyle magazine, and when it came time to apply to college, I chose a school with a renowned journalism program. I burst with pride when I was accepted.

But then the 2008 recession hit just as I was entering my freshman year and things changed for my family. Fear and scarcity mindset set in and my parents and I concluded that a Communications and Business degree might be “safer” than an English or Journalism one. “Magazines and print media are dying.” I buried the dream and moved forward. (Ed. Note: Half of my friends in college were in fact journalism majors and all went on to have veryyy successful careers, both in and out of the industry. Storytelling and the importance of reporting on the truth will never die!!)

For the better part of the next decade, I played life relatively safe. And while I don’t regret my choices (they made me who I am today, after all), I am endlessly grateful to be in a place now that I have the luxury of revisiting and exploring past selves.

I may not have gone on to work at Teen Vogue and I may not have become a writer in the traditional sense, but I think 16-year-old me would be pleasantly proud of 36-year-old me. In many ways, I have now what I always wanted: family that’s always been in my corner, a loving husband, two perfect, healthy kids, deep friendships, a beautiful home, a career I’m excited about, a creative space that’s mine. I am extremely lucky. And while the path to get here may not have been how I imagined and the exact output may be a little different than 16-year-old me could have dreamt, I think it’s actually way better. It’s real, and it’s mine.

I’m sure you’ve seen the Internet memes. They go something like this: Remember that where you’re standing now was once the goal.

And this weekend, I felt deeply grateful for that reminder.

I feel like I haven’t done a “style” post in a while, so here’s a quickie.

What am I wearing? Not a whole lot. Ha! Firstly, there’s the whole heatwave of it all, and I hate being hot (makes me feel crabby and bloated and sticky and tired). I’ve been leaning on loose linens and airy cottons to get me through. But moreover, I just don’t know that summer is my most inspired season for dressing.

Summer to me is about swimsuits and coverups, jean shorts and a white tee. I don’t tend to accessorize a ton, and I don’t tend to overthink.

I’ve been wearing Youswim since 2018. It’s very similar to Hunza G, but a little thinner and softer, which I prefer. It doesn’t look like they have my color anymore, but this is similar. Ironically this Hunza color actually looks closer to mine! My other favorite one-pieces right now are this and this.

I also decided I wanted to take my own advice to “wear the bikini” a little more literally this summer and channel the European women Rachel Signer wrote about this week. So, I’ve been looking for a bikini I’d feel good in. A friend recommended this top and this bottom from Matteau. I went with a 2 A/B in the top and a 2 in the bottom and it was definitely the right size, as anything too tiny is not the vibe for me for swim. I love the top — just the style I was looking for. But unfortunately the bottoms are a too low cut for me after two kids. I had originally also ordered this as well, but Matteau had to cancel due to lack of stock. Any recs on a similar high cut / mid rise bottom like it? I tried this from J.Crew but it wasn’t right either — too low rise. Eyeing this and this as well, but can’t decide if I’ll be annoyed that the bottoms don’t match my top (I really like the Matteau top!).

Same, but different: I’ve also been wearing my new, 100% organic cotton underwear thanks to the JAS chat! Tried a few different styles but this is my favorite. New staple! These are also an established go-to for me, just not 100% cotton.

For a 6 A.M. puppy potty break, comfies are necessary and because it’s summer, lightweight comfies are imperative. Cadets sent me their new modal lounge pants and boy if they don’t fit the bill. I was skeptical the fabric would be weird looking (what does “sueded” mean, anyway?), but it doesn’t, and they’re great. Been reaching for them a ton! My color is out of stock, but lots of options. The dream blue was my second choice. (P.S. ARIANESHIP for free shipping.)

Another lightweight comfy go-to of mine is this sweatshirt from perfectwhitetee. In my top five sweatshirts. It’s French terry, so it’s naturally lightweight, but is still very soft. Oversized fit — I’m in the XS. perfectwhitetee is a staple in my closet (another top five is this style, size up once).

My husband works with his family grocery business and this week is inventory week for one of their stores, which means he’s up and out by 5:30 A.M. each morning and I’m on double duty with the kids. In an effort to perk myself up a bit (“I got this!!”), I’ve tried to put on a little more than just bike shorts (these are my favorites) and a tee. You already know I live in these linen pants (I have three pairs, oops, TTS) and these flip flops. I’ve also been loving this tee that I picked up in L.A. (TTS for the intended slimmer cut). And then I’m a collector of Darrin Bedol Jewelry necklaces and I love my Call It By Your Name SLB (Silly Little Bag a la Jess Graves) that my husband got me for Mother’s Day (as instructed). Just big enough for your phone, keys, wallet, and kid snacks.

The fun thing about pickup for my son this week is that he’s been going to a camp downtown, which gives me even more of an excuse to get dressed. Again, nothing fancy, but was into this look for an “I’m a casual, but chic, cool mom” kind of vibe. I even got a turned head from a twenty-something child man, so! The top is vintage, but my jean shorts can (and should) be had. This is my favorite style for my body and I now own them in two washes (one with a frayed hem, and one without). I love the Bermuda-style denim short look that I’m seeing everywhere, but only on other people. It looks too heavy/overwhelming on me. Same bag as above and the leather flip flops we all know and love.

I love my Internet-turned-IRL friends and what do you know! One of them lives here! In Ann Arbor! If you aren’t already familiar with my friend Alexis Wormley, now you are! She’s the sweetest (and chicest) fellow mom of two and entrepreneur, in the midst of a career transition herself. We met for a catch-up + co-working session last week and it was lovely. I wore a tank, my favorite shorts of the season (my take on the full Bermuda), these sandals (they look uncomfortable but they are very comfortable!), and another DBJ necklace (told you I’m a collector!).

I live for a casual Friday to play catch up and run errands. We’re all loving track shorts this summer and these are the ones I chose. I love the length, the color, and the pockets. I also love these jelly-on-top-normal-on-bottom flip flops and my trusty work bag, complete with computer sleeve. Aviators are also a YES for me right now and I’m loving these — they’re lightweight, the perfect size for my more narrow face, and (this is key), they actually block the sun.

Self-explanatory. I’ve caved! Got the 12-pounder. Have yet to wear (too hot), but I will. Much to my husband’s chagrin.

Alright lovies, thanks for reading! Talk to you next time.

xx Ariane

Ps. This post includes affiliate links, but I’d never promote anything I didn’t love! *Denotes gifted product.

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