Notes from July '25

The shirt I wore ten times, my favorite book of the year (so far), and August goals

Hi! Happy August! July was a busy month, as it usually is. We spent a lot of time in our car, traveling from state to state, family to family. My cup is very full.

Every year, I feel like August smacks me in the face. It’s total whiplash. I feel like Memorial Day was ten minutes ago, but suddenly, the big box retailers have Halloween candy stashed in the entryways and fall style guides are in my inbox (no complaints, I indulge heavily in these). It’s the Summer Scaries in full effect—trying to relish in the remaining bits of summer, but with a looming feeling that the next season is right around the corner, waiting to jump out at any second.

But! Even though Anthropologie started putting out pumpkin candles before July 4th, we still have plenty of time until spooky season, and I plan to make the most of it. Here’s what’s on my August to-do list:

• Soak in all the beach/playground/splash pad days with my toddler. Next summer, he’ll be a completely different human!

• Wear as much linen as humanly possible. Ideally, those linen Bermuda shorts I’ve been too scared to wear out in public.

• Eat berries and tomatoes. All the berries and tomatoes. Also, corn.

• Read the books I have before buying new ones. This could take a while.

• Stick to my clothing budget 🫠

• Bake a loaf of sourdough bread before the temperature drops and it’s too cold for my June Bug (my SD discard) to rise properly

A quick list of what I loved this past month. I tried to keep it to five, but there were too many favorites!

1. COS Cobalt Button-Down (similar linked). I bought this button-down to replace a vintage RL one I had but sadly lost during a move. Shockingly, it hung untouched in my closet for a few weeks before I finally pulled it out. Ever since, it’s been the perfect layer and accessory, best worn tied around my waist.

2. Reformation Lewis Tee. I knew from the second I bought it that this shirt would be a winner. I wore it no less than ten times in July, and will likely break that record in August. It’s not a form-fitting top, so it has the vibe of a sweatshirt, but it’s light enough for days when it’s too hot for a sweatshirt. Listen, it’s a boxy long-sleeve shirt. But it’s a damn good one at that.

3. Reformation Linen Dress. This mini shift has been such a go-to item for me. So easy to dress up or down for daytime or dinner. I’m very impatiently waiting for the Chianti colorway to come back in stock for those hot early fall days.

4. Ray-Ban Sunglasses. I am a Ray-Ban girl through and through. I had a pair of Wayfarers years ago and got new ones this summer that I’ve been wearing on repeat. I feel really cool when I put these on.

5. Red Glass Bead Necklace (similar linked). Anytime I’ve felt like my outfit needed something a little extra, this little necklace has been my savior. The pop of red is subtle but adds some interest to the look.

6. Cuyana Travel Set. One of my best friends got me this set in a gorgeous sapphire color with my monogram for my birthday and I am obsessed! I use the large pouch for skincare when I’m traveling and the small one to hold all my littles (lip gloss, hand sanitizer, hair ties, etc.) in my purse.

7. Crown Affair Leave-In Conditioner. I started using this product on and off during this past winter but it quickly became a staple in my hair routine during the summer months. I put it in my hair when it’s wet, but you can apparently use it on dry hair too. I especially like it when I’m planning to airdry to help tame humidity-induced frizz, but it also acts as a detangler and heat protectant. Triple threat!

I read three books in July, including what I think will be my favorite of the year.

1. Broken Country, 5 stars. Oh my heart. This book tore me up. A love story, a family tragedy (many of those, actually). Loss, recovery, forgiveness. This one is truly as good as everyone says it is and I have full confidence it’ll land at the top of my list at the end of the year.

2. The Most, 2.5/3 stars. I’m still confused about this one. The story follows a housewife who stays home from church one warm Sunday in November and goes for a swim in the apartment complex’s communal pool. When her husband and two children get home, she refuses to get out of the pool. The ending felt a bit rushed and the story overall fell a little flat.

3. Atmosphere, 4 stars. TJR, the woman that you are! This book started slowly for me, but quickly picked up about 100 pages in. The relationship between Joan and Frances was so heartwarming and beautiful—definitely one of my favorite character relationships of all TJR’s books. Something about this one just felt a little underdeveloped for me compared to her other books, so I knocked one star off for that.

Have a great month!
Brittany