Summer's not over, babe. How to maximize 8 (!!) more summer Sundays
plus, a breakdown of how I do a reset day post travel
Hi, friends!
We’ve made it to August, and while it’s tempting to spiral into “summer’s practically over!” chatter, let’s just stop right there with that narrative. No really, please, I’m begging you!
Instead, I’m here to remind you that we still have eight Sundays left before the autumn equinox on September 22nd…yes, eight! And instead of sprinting to summer’s finish line, I’m inviting you to join me in choosing to stretch these precious summer days out like the sweetwater taffy I brought back from Maine.
In today’s issue, we’ll celebrate August for what it is: not the end, but oftentimes, the most delicious part of summer. The part when the ripest, juiciest peaches sit atop your counter. The part when that body of water that you crave a swim in all year is at its warmest. The part when your kneecaps are the tannest they’ll get all year. The part when the ice in your rosé melts faster than you can drink it, but you do your best anyway. The part when you finally have the ‘book of the summer’ in hand at the pool, and damn, life is actually pretty good, huh? The part where all your expectations for this season of life bloom, and you realize you’re doing it—in the words of Taylor Alison Swift, you’re living for the hope of it all…
For me, the beauty of August is also stealing extra moments to care for ourselves. Having just returned from Turks and Caicos from a work trip on Friday (recap coming soon on Stay Awhile, ’s Substack!), I’m pulling back the curtain on my 24-hour post-travel reset ritual. For paid subscribers, I’ll delve into everything I did as soon as I step foot back home—and what I spent—to feel like myself again between back-to-back travels.
A curation of things I’ve consumed and loved this week: stories that have caught my eye
How to romanticize the eight Sundays left of summer
The Vault (Paid Subscriber Exclusive): a timestamped account of how I reset, including my workout of choice, where I’m picking up produce and provisions, and some much-needed wellness appointments
July Recap. It seems like you all loved hearing about my favorite 13 books of the year so far, of the 33 I’ve read, so I wanted to share this full recap from WVBC, including all the books we finished in July.
‘I Swear, They’re Flying in Nobu Sushi for Their Kids’. The collision of influencer culture with elite sleepaway camp has led to visiting-day excess. Written by previous guest of The Sunday Series, , I loved this recap of the terrors of camp visiting day; it specifically hit because it was focused on the frenzy of Westchester and New York City parents who flooded Portland the weekend of July 18th, when I was in Maine, too! (The Cut)
It’s the Summer of the Crash Out. After seven months of terrible headlines and in the midst of a horrendously hot July, it feels like everyone is on the edge of a full meltdown. It spoke to me how a Syracuse professor of psychology recommended, “purposefully filling our schedule with valued activities, such as sports, socialization, and volunteer work.” I have certainly wondered if my relentless seeking of back-to-back travels is a response to feeling like it’s easier to be disengaged and away than absorbing the full breadth of our current landscape. Something to speak with my therapist about tomorrow! (Glamour)
How Rita Sodi and Jody Williams Built a Restaurant Empire Without Leaving Their Neighborhood. Partners in life and business, Rita Sodi and Jody Williams are the tender heart of a West Village culinary enterprise known for some of the best restaurants. I’m a massive fan of every restaurant these two touch, so this was a fun feature. (Cultured)
Leather Bound. Tanning is back, and Gen Z is ignoring the risks, turning to sunbathing and tanning beds to soothe anxiety and feel in control. Admittedly, this summer I have been flirting a bit too hard with direct sun exposure, so this headline caught my eye! Is the pendulum swinging the other way?? Don’t tell our dermatologists. (Air Mail)
36 Hours on Nantucket. Okay, you know I love this island and am partial to my Guide to Nantucket, but kudos to the NYT for fitting some great spots in theirs! (The New York Times)
And Just Like That Showrunner Confirms the Show Won’t Return After Season 3. I’m not ready to say goodbye to Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte. While I know the cultural conversation has skewed towards roasting AJLT, I’ll be sad to see it go! It’s been such fun to see these beloved characters back on the screen, not to mention filming in our neighborhood. I got to see the scene I ran into them filming at San Sabino on last week’s episode, and my heart was bursting at the serendipity of it all. (Harper’s Bazaar)
I’m thrilled that the universe seems to be on board with us having a big, energetic shift as we finish out summer strong. On August 8th (8/8...and we’re talking about 8 Sundays left in summer..now you tell me there isn’t meaning there?), the Lion’s Gate Portal peaks, creating a moment for manifestation and clarity. Then, mercury retrograde (finally!!!!) ends on August 11th, so if things have felt like a little…much? Relief is coming. Consider these next few weeks your sweet spot for leaning into joy and intention.
Write it down—like, really write it down. The Lion’s Gate Portal isn’t just a woo-woo TikTok trend; it’s believed to be a powerful time for manifestation and clarity. Grab a notebook and jot down what you want to call in for the rest of the year. Be specific. Maybe even light a candle, pour yourself a spritz, and make it a whole vibe. Future you will thank present you for taking ten intentional minutes.
Do the cliché thing—on purpose.
Romanticizing your life means leaning into the obvious sometimes. Going out of your way to read on that bench you love. Packing a sunset picnic with all your favorite foods. Alllll the ice cream after dinner.Chase water like it’s your job.
Ocean, lake, pool—doesn’t matter. Pack a book, your favorite SPF, and let yourself linger. If you’re landlocked, find a hotel pool and splurge on a day pass.Treat the weekend like a mini-vacation, even if you’re not traveling.
Pick a neighborhood you rarely visit and explore it like a tourist. Bonus points for taking photos like one, too.Eat the peach.
Literally. Buy the good ones from the farmer’s market, let the juice run down your arm, and don’t apologize.Make one Sunday a “slow Sunday.”
Clear the calendar. Sleep in, read something good, maybe call someone you love. Sometimes romanticizing life isn’t about doing—it’s about savoring the stillness,Bake a pie or galette
Maybe this is on your slow Sunday, and maybe it’s with the peaches from the market so you’re knocking out three at once, but to me, this is peak summer!Curate a soundtrack.
Make a playlist to cement this moment and play it on repeat. Music has a sneaky way of turning the mundane into a memory.
Eight Sundays. A cosmic green light. Let’s make this final bit of summer count.
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6:38p
Immediately upon hopping out of the Uber from Newark Airport, I was in “what’s for dinner??” mode. I always crave Sweetgreen after traveling, so it seemed like a foregone conclusion that’s where I’d wind up. But rather than drag my suitcase straight up five flights of stairs (walkup life!! so glam!) and then have to go up and down again, I made a cheeky SG stop with my luggage. My order du moment is a kale base, purple cabbage, the seasonal peach topping, shaved parmesan, and spicy cashew dressing. (I skipped my usual quinoa because post-flight bloat is real.)
Cost: $16.98
Then it was me vs. the stairs…and spoiler alert, I won (this is not always the case, unfortunately). I immediately showered, threw on my favorite Schostal boxers that I bought in Rome, and queued up Parthenope, the Italian film I started on the flight home from Turks and Caicos. It’s subtitled, not dubbed, so it requires your *complete* attention. I’m actually going to include the trailer below because I really need more people to watch this, so I have people to discuss it with!!! I ate my salad, checked emails, and had the inevitable sweet craving…but swore I wasn’t leaving the apartment.
7:42p
Cue Laura’s timely text: “Cher and I are walking up the WSH, thinking…. ice cream for dinner 👀 ” to which I obviously said, I’ll meet you! Conditions: no makeup, no bra, still in boxers. God, I love New York.
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