This post is free for all thanks to our partner, Pique.
This month, I’ve been toggling between wanting summer to last forever and feeling like school cannot start soon enough (any other moms feeling this?). I’ve always loved the clean slate energy of fresh notebooks and the possibilities of a new school year. But then I close my laptop at 2 p.m. and head to the beach, slice into the world’s juiciest peach, or make up the guest room for another round of summer visitors—and suddenly I’m not ready for summer to end at all.
So it’s actually kind of perfect timing that we launched our new Casa Zuma beach towels this week. Yes, they were originally supposed to launch at the beginning of summer, but my perfectionism had other plans. We pushed the date more than once to get the texture, weight, and oversized dimensions exactly right—and it was completely worth it to create the beach towel of my dreams. Besides, summer is a state of mind, right?
We had our first dinner party at the beach house (pictured above), and it was the best feeling to gather friends around the table here. As we sat around watching the sunset after dinner, I realized it’s something I’ve been dreaming about for so long. For pre-dinner snacks, I sliced fresh melon sprinkled with flaky salt, and served it with grilled focaccia and some whole milk ricotta I bought from the store and then dressed up with chili oil and basil. For dinner we did grilled steaks with chimichurri, roasted sweet potatoes with a spicy seed mix (sharing this recipe soon), a big Caesar-ish salad, and a big bowl of sliced heirloom tomatoes with oil and vinegar. It was so simple to throw together and really tasted like the best of summer.
Today’s post is full of everything I’m reading, listening to, wearing, cooking, and using at home right now. Consider it a list of all the things I need you to know about this month (and please add yours in the comments!)
Hydration obsession
I recently listened to this podcast about how dehydration is a root cause of every sign of aging—and why staying hydrated requires more than just drinking endless glasses of water. So, staying fully hydrated has been top-of-mind for me lately, and I’ve been drinking Pique’s new XE Fountain energy electrolyte as my afternoon pick-me-up. It combines a full electrolyte stack with B vitamins and two forms of magnesium to support cellular energy, mental clarity, and sustained hydration—without caffeine or stimulants. And the cucumber-celery-lime flavor is so refreshing—it just tastes like I’m doing something good for myself. Get 15% off using my link.
What I’m reading lately
I finally got around to reading Yesteryear thanks to the virtual book club I have with my mom, sister, and sister-in-law—and wow, do I have thoughts. It was completely unputdownable and also verrry uncomfortable at times. Still trying to decide exactly what the author wanted us to take away from it, especially when it comes to our tendency to romanticize the past. If you’ve read it, let’s discuss in the comments.
Also read Lena Dunham’s memoir, Famesick, and had similarly complicated feelings. (Apparently August is my month for books I can’t put into a box.) It’s definitely not a “feel-good” read, but it is honest and completely absorbing. I’ve never considered myself a major Lena fan (for no particular reason), but this book turned me into one. She’s vulnerable enough to examine her life without always making herself look good, and her talent for telling a story is next-level good.
Here on Substack, I really loved:
On building a legacy, with and —read this if you’re thinking about creating something with longevity.
This isn’t an aging panic piece—’s take on aging is refreshing and grounded.
And generally loving every post on . It’s quickly becoming my favorite place for slightly unexpected wellness commentary.
Currently wearing
Current uniform for daytime: low-slung baggy trousers, a fitted white tee, slim flip-flops, and a simple belt. It’s effortless and feels just nineties-coded enough.
Ever since I started doing strength classes in an infrared heated room (LOVE), I’ve become a bike shorts girl (because it’s too damn hot to wear leggings in that room). I’ve always considered them to be universally unflattering, but these 3 pairs have completely changed my mind:
Daily Track Short from Vuori—Most flattering waistband I’ve ever encountered
6” Biker Short from Veta—super soft and lounge-y
Core Shorts 5” from FORM—perfect amount of support and compression
Oh, and this super chic black tank has been my go-to for an “out to dinner” look when I want to feel effortless and casual—a new wardrobe staple for me.
Listening to
Emma Grede interviewed the Foster sisters on how they created their fast-growing brand, Favorite Daughter—a great listen for any entrepreneur or side hustler who wants to create something people really want, while also juggling other creative projects, family life, etc.
Really loved these 5 tips for back-to-school transitions from my favorite family therapists.
A random recent obsession: Jimmy Sax music as the soundtrack to everything. A couple of weekends ago, we heard what sounded like a live performance floating up the hill toward our house—and after some unofficial sleuthing, we’re 90% sure he was playing at Rick Rubin’s studio (which means around 50% sure - ??). Longtime readers may remember my previous mission to locate said studio, only to discover that it was just down the hill and I’d unknowingly been staring at the Shangri-La palm trees for months without knowing it. Anyway! I’ve had this Jimmy Sax playlist on repeat ever since. Put it on while making dinner with a glass of wine in hand and thank me later.
Around the house
Some of you may remember when I went to Bali last summer? The main reason for the trip was to meet with the artisans making the Beach House Collection that we just launched at Casa Zuma. We worked with our friends at Hati Home on this capsule collection of indoor-outdoor furniture, starting with my absolute dream lounge chair and counter stool. After more than a year of designing, refining, and obsessing over every detail, I’m incredibly proud to finally share them with you. And this is hopefully just the beginning: I’d love to expand the collection with more pieces in the future. I can’t wait to hear what you think.
File this under unnecessary but delightful: I’ve been using this liquid soap with the most divine santal scent, as well as this eucalyptus and rosemary one. Both are free of bleach, dyes, phthalates, etc., which is important when it comes to things we wear against our skin all day. For the full laundry-as-self-care experience, I add a few drops of this santal essential oil to wool dryer balls for the final 20 minutes. Extra? Absolutely. But our sheets smell incredible.
I’ve been burning my Sappho fig candle every evening an hour before bed, and it’s giving luxury spa.
And, I just got this gorgeous percale duvet set in the color walnut for our guest room and am in lovvvve. The material is cool and crispy and ultra-breathable—a dream for those of us who tend to sleep hot. (Joining the Turkish Plush Towels on my list of Boll & Branch obsessions.)
Farmer’s Market Dinners
Similar to a “Girl Dinner,” a Farmer’s Market Dinner is a no-cook spread made up of lots of delicious things that might ordinarily be more of a snack, but served in substantial enough quantities to constitute dinner. The FMD is assembled using whatever juicy, ripe, gorgeous summer ingredients that caught your eye at the market, and it’s my favorite way to eat right now. Sorry (not sorry) to my family for barely firing up the stove this week—but why when the melon, tomatoes, and peaches are this good. Here are a few combos I’ve been loving—choose one or make a few and set them out for grazing:
The Italian-ish Board: heirloom tomatoes, torn mozzarella, prosciutto, basil, olives, focaccia, olive oil
The Sweet-and-Salty Board: cantaloupe, peaches, feta, Marcona almonds, salami, cucumbers, seeded crackers
The California Board: avocado, smoked salmon, snap peas, cherries, soft-boiled eggs, herby yogurt, sourdough
The whole point of this is freestyling based on what you have—My loose equation is: one creamy thing, one salty thing, peak-season produce, something crunchy, and enough bread to make it dinner.
Also on a major smoothie kick lately—
It’s the only breakfast my kids will consistently consume. I’ve been doing frozen berries, a scoop of peanut butter, a scoop of this super delish chocolate protein powder, some whole milk, and a chunk of frozen banana for creaminess. So so good and a more affordable way to get our smoothie fix than constantly ordering them out.
And that’s life over here lately—trying to savor summer while secretly getting excited about a return to routine. Tell me what you’re reading, cooking, wearing, or generally obsessed with right now? Especially accepting book recommendations in the comments.
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