I began July by wandering the colorful streets of Wroclaw, Poland and ended July kayaking in my favorite lake in Connecticut with dear friends. July flew by, but I enjoyed (almost) every day nonetheless. I gathered all my favorites from the month- everything from books to recipes and new spots I fell in love with.
I’ve got a lot to share, so let’s just get into it:
Next of Kin by Gabrielle Hamilton:
Often when I’m choosing my next read, I love hearing people’s recommendations or favorite books of all time or the “staff favorites” section of the bookstore, but Next of Kin was a book I’d never really heard anyone talk about and I just grabbed on a whim because of the description. I am no stranger to a complicated family relationship and estrangement from a parent, but this memoir really dives into the thick of it. It was definitely a slow burn, it took a while for me to get through the first few chapters but once I got into the thick of it I could not put it down. Gabrielle Hamilton dissects the underlying complications of her family after her older brother commits suicide- their individualism from one another, and the certain freedoms that come from such an independent family. Hamilton is honest, humorous in her story telling and able to admit to her mistakes throughout the novel. Highly recommend.
Whistler by Ann Patchett
Oh man, I just love Ann Patchett so much, I really can’t think of another writer I love more. This past week, I was telling a friend about Ann Patchett and her books- and while the descriptions of the novels aren’t over the top or particularly interesting, it’s the tenderness and familiarity within her writing that makes me fall in love with her books every time. Whistler is no different. Fifty three year old Daphne Fuller runs into her step-father Eddie Triplett at the MET- she hasn’t seen him since she was 9 years old after her mom abruptly kicked him out of their home. He was only her stepfather for a short time, but she recounts those years as the best of her childhood- the story follows them reconnecting after 40+ years apart, and the impact we make on each others lives, even if only for a short time. I really loved the description given on the inside of the novel:
Whistler is a story about two adults looking back over the choices they made, and the choices that were made for them. It’s a story about bravery, memory, the often small yet consequential moments that define our lives, and the endless stream of loss that in time comes for us all. Beautiful in its simplicity, it is ultimately about how love endures, and how the feeling of being known by one other person, even for a short period of time, can change everything.
I love the idea to be known and loved as these different versions of ourselves, but even as time passes, still being able to see those parts of ourselves in each other. Beautiful book. One I wish I could re-read again with fresh eyes, I highly recommend.
Dresses!!! Summer is my time to shine in all my favorite dresses; some recent pick ups include this vintage madras Ralph Lauren midi dress I got at a local consignment shop, and I snagged this Realisation Par dress during their sale that I will be wearing to death. I am vowing to not buy any new clothing items in the month of August though since I’ve been going a little crazy recently.
You all know I love a fun purse specifically a fun clutch and I loooove this one I thrifted a few years ago, it’s an old Aldo purse. The mother of pearl details are lovely and never overpower the entire outfit- I love this clutch for a good beach trip night out look. I found the same shell purse on Mercari if you want to match <3
I got some fun jewelry throughout the month of July, but the best pieces are these amber rings I got while in Poland. You’ll find the most beautiful amber jewelry all over Poland in all shapes and sizes, it was honestly so hard to just pick a few pieces, but I ultimately went home with these two rings that I love so dearly. They’re great statement pieces with a story behind them- my favorite kind of jewelry to have.
Havianas always. My tried and true staple to all my summer outfits, I don’t know what I would do without them. My best friend even set me up with a pair of the Isabel Marant x Havaianas collab flip flops and I cherish them every day of my life.
When it comes to creative work this month, I’ve made the conscious effort to slow down quite a bit. I think it’s important to me to take advantage of the freedom I have, and how much I cherish quality time with my friends and family; and if that means making a few less things than usual, then so be it. These days, all I want to do is paint. Maybe I’m reverting back to my 6 year old self who took acrylic painting classes every week for years, but it’s the medium I am most drawn to right now when it comes to experimenting and clearing my head. I just picked up a few more supplies for my pieces so I’ll keep you all updated on what comes of it.
And of course, a hand painted birthday card for my best friend Jess.
I just love dahlia season. The Flower Project in Rowayton, Connecticut grows the most magical dahlia’s every year, I genuinely cannot believe they’re real sometimes.
Hollyhocks! I love watching them sway side to side in the wind, the colors are just so beautiful.
If it’s not obvious, I love the color blue. I want my home to be filled with it. I recently picked up this absolutely beautiful hand dyed antique curtain from Geminola, a shop based in NYC but recently reopened their store in Bedford, NY only a few minutes over the line from Connecticut. Within the same weekend, I found another beautiful vintage linen in the perfect teal color to lay along my corner nook table. The color combination with the yellow Gerbera daisies brought me so much joy!!
I also just cannot get over these beautiful handmade wooden angel I picked up in Poland at the start of July. She fits perfectly in my home, tucked in my favorite corner nook on the wall behind where I sit.
Speaking of Geminola- if you’re ever in the Bedford, NY area, you need to stop by. The town as a whole is so lovely and has so many charming shopping spots, but the second I saw Geminola had moved from the city out to Bedford, I was ecstatic. The shop is so lovely and the pieces are all magnificent.
I recently had the loveliest day ever visiting Island Beach off of Greenwich, CT. For $25 you can take the ferry to a small private island for the day and it’s so special I could not believe I had not been prior. Connecticut town beaches tend to be overpriced for what you get, so a $25 ferry ride to a beautiful little island for a peaceful day is my new favorite spot.
There’s not much on the island, but of course it has some quaint New England charm sprinkled about. This little goose curtain in the window made me smile.
King Kone <3 a random stop off the highway in Katonah, New York for the best ice cream and feel good greasy foods. This is all I want in the summer time after a long day.
Some natural wine loves- including their labels. Nothing better than a glass of cold orange wine and sitting outside in the summer at dusk and laughing with my friends. God I love it.
I picked up this mph underpainting palette before I left for my trip to Poland and I am in love with it! I had never tried underpainting prior, so it’s definitely an adjustment to my usual routine, but the formula of these creams are just so perfect, and it was really an added bonus with how easy it was to travel with this palette, I didn’t feel the need to bring a bunch of other face makeup products.
While in Poland, I picked up some Caudalie products since they tend to be a lot less expensive in European countries- I got the beauty elixir spray that I absolutely love. It’s hydrating and refreshing, I use it all hours of the day when doing my skincare, setting my makeup, a quick spritz- it was such a great purchase.
I also grabbed their vinoperfect serum, I tend to have some dark spots on my skin and feel like my skin can look dull sometimes, so this product is perfect for brightening. Sometimes vitamin c serums can make my face burn a little, but this one is very gentle and doesn’t irritate my skin at all.
99% of the time I am a savory breakfast girl, but every once in a while I love a good crepe, especially when I pick up fresh blueberries from the farmers market to make this. So easy and fresh.
I am on a huge bean kick right now and this is by far one of my favorite recipes. Get that fiber up…
I had the opportunity to shoot a lovely super 8 film for Docker Pinney on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in New York City. I love my super 8 and collecting moments of my life through it, I’m slowly waiting on receiving my film back from Poland. Stay tuned!
August tends to always be my favorite month, and I can’t wait to see what it brings. Please comment below or dm me on instagram if you have any July loves you want to share, I always love to chat. Until next time!
xoxo Izabela
Some recent posts of mine you may enjoy:
Sharing All My Favorite Spots in Connecticut
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Jul 29
Connecticut gets a bad rap. It’s usually dismissed as a glorified drive through state- a stretch of highway sandwiched between New York City and Boston. Ask the average person what’s there, and beyond UConn basketball and New Haven pizza, not much else comes to mind.
Driving Through Poland Reignited My Creativity
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Jul 17
There’s something so special about revisiting a place you often visited as a child. While it feels like home, there’s a sense of rediscovery, to notice things with a new set of eyes, to experience places you couldn’t have before. This was the ethos of my roadtrip around Poland I have just completed with my mom.
Wandering Through Poland's Hand Painted Village
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Jul 6
I am currently writing to you all from the Polish countryside, while on a 10-day roadtrip through Poland with my lovely mother. For those who may not know, I am a dual citizen of the U.S and Poland. Both of my parents immigrated to America from Poland where they met and had my brother and I. Polish was my first language growing up, and is very much inte…
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