Reading · House Call With Kate Arends

I keep waiting for summer to start, which doesn’t make sense given the sock tan I’ve developed. My feet have never looked more Victorian. Signs of the season are all accounted for: popsicles, ball sports, play dates, sparklers, hydrangeas. A bucket list trip to Martha’s Vineyard! A generous five days without kids in the house, thanks to my in-laws, felt electric in its spaciousness.

I can't put my finger on what's keeping me waiting. Maybe it's that it's been colder, or that I'm not

gardening much this year, or that I've got some unpleasant messes on my plate that aren't going away and feel heavy. I’ve stopped wishing for more willpower or good astrology. It’s all become a bore when I think about it. Like, why do we fight for a say in what’s outside our tiny existence? Bad things just happen, and they’re easy to spot. What’s harder is letting the good inside.

You swim (float?) to it, you get your snacks, you find your way back. I don't know if this is real, but I hope it is. A sandwich after a swim tastes like a completely different food. Also, BBQ chips on the beach. Why are they so good?

I have practically forgotten about getting dressed this summer. I look in my closet and just grab what feels good. This is the goal, it turns out. AYR has been working hard in this don't-think-just-put-it-on era. I keep thinking I should try harder, then I put on the slouchy tee and the baggy shorts and I don't think about it again until tomorrow. I like it here.

I was sitting with a feeling in my body that was new and intense, and I needed someone to talk about fear in a way that wasn't clinical or preachy. I found this interview with Christina Koch. (You will remember her: the astronaut, first woman to fly around the moon, no big deal!) She was the right person to give me perspective.

Today (6/25) is the last day to get up to 25% off during Ruggable’s Flash Sale. Here are two rugs I would recommend to clients looking to bring color and personality into their space:Linnea Slate Blue Multicolor Rug: I like the plaid patterning and color variation. It would add some life and color to a kitchen. It’s not too preppy or traditional. Ella Slate Blue Rug: The geometric shapes are reminiscent of my favorite Swedish kilim rugs. It is a little sweet, which would be great for a kid’s room, but could also mix nicely with chunky, heavy wooden pieces (think craftsman-style) or midcentury items.

Then another one. I am not handling it gracefully, but I am handling it. I tried Rare Beauty's tinted brow gel, and I find it is way more natural than the mascara wand I'd been dragging along my brows, which, in hindsight, what was I doing?

If you liked this post, check out my latest essay on the magic of unfinished homes.

Kate's Five Things #79

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