+MAGNOLIAS AND MOURNING: On my run this week, I noticed the most spectacular bloom of magnolias. My Wednesday morning bounty, just waiting to be noticed:
The blossoms were glossy and perfect — almost like wax replicas of themselves — and I was reminded of a gorgeous elegiac poem by Jean Janzen. The way she presents the merge between the natural world and the human one is breathtaking, and of course deeply sad (the speaker is observing her mother’s final days on earth). The opening of the second stanza is absolutely perfect: the intermingling of the outer world with the inner. Fragrance, open doors, birdsong, the way it all melds together in the moment of this reader’s profound mourning. The line “but birds when they die / find hidden places, sigh invisibly / into leaves” has left a forever imprint on me, and I think it has to do with the secret, knowing solitariness of the vignette against the subtext: “from dust to dust.”
+PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION FILM ADAPTATION: In sunnier news (geez, Jen, way to glide into the weekend on a song), I saw this teaser about the adaptation of an Emily Henry novel and immediately circled January 9th in red. A fun release to look forward to during that post-holiday slump.
+TWO OUTFITS I LOVED THIS WEEK: This easy breezy beach look from Alice Pilate and this refined boating look on Maria De La Ord. I’m planning to recreate elements of Alice’s look with this Madewell top currently in my closet (alternatives: this Posse, this Tuckernuck, this Gap) but might pair with my new gingham pants.
+A COUPLE OF GREAT SALES: Three sales I’m excited about this weekend:
1) Marea’s (was just raving about this brand a few days ago — love this skirt and the matching top, and this navy blouse will be perfect easing into fall)
2) Alex Mill! At Alex Mill: this fab striped tank dress and this cotton poplin popover dress in a fun marigold shade.
3) Tory Burch! Sale is an extra 25% off. This tennis henley was a bestseller earlier this year and is now on sale for $75, and you know how much I love these sandals!
+LISTENING: I’m not a big podcast listener — I can’t figure out how to shoehorn it into my routine? — but I have been trying to find ways to listen to Amy Poehler’s podcast, “Good Hang.” I absolutely love both her and Tina Fey (who appears on several of the episodes) and find Amy a compelling and surprising host, especially in the way that she makes a lot of space for her interviewees and seems so light on her feet in responding to their occasionally surprising comments. I imagine that must be difficult (?) as a trained comedian, always rearing up for a punchline? Then again she had a start in improv so maybe the collaborative aspect of podcasting is baked into her DNA. Anyhow, currently listening to the episode with Will Forte (always love the “inside baseball” conversations with fellow former SNL cast members), but have been hearing a lot of buzz around her interview with Dakota Johnson. One of my girlfriends, who is not normally “taken” by celebrity personalities, said she found her deeply interesting, especially in the way she pauses and permits silence in the conversation without seeming flustered in the least. (You can see a clip of it here, but I have been only listening to it!)
+FUN LAUNCHES THIS WEEK: Dorsey released its final capsule of Yves paracord necklaces (I have this one) and I have to say I really adore this necklace. It adds a little edge an interest when layered with my more feminine staples, and of course the paracord is high trend right now. And Julia Amory launched a patterned version of her convertible Elle dress, which last time sold out in under 24 hours!
+EYEING + BUYING:
LEWIS CHERRY PAJAMAS // ALEX MILL POPOVER DRESS (ON SUPER SALE) // SUEDE FISHERMAN SANDALS (20% OFF) // POSSE GINGHAM TOP (IN MY CLOSET, SEEN HERE) // DORSEY PARACORD NECKLACE // BANDANA PRINT QUILTED POUCH // TORY BURCH TENNIS HENLEY (ON SALE) // VARLEY SKIRT (ON SALE) // NIKE TENNIS SHOES // BOMBAS CHERRY SOCKS // NET CHECKER // CAITLIN ROUNDS CHERRY BOWL
+BESTSELLERS: This adorable J. Crew dress! It screams summer vacation!
01. J. CREW DRESS // 02. STRIPED OCTOPUS BUTTON-DOWN // 03. TARGET GAUZE PANTS // 04. HAMPTONS CANDLE // 05. STRIPED DRESS // 06. RIC RAC TRIM GINGHAM SHORTS // 07. SPLENDID GAUZE PANTS // 08. LEFT ON FRIDAY SWEATSHIRT // 09. KNOTTED TOTE // 10. LINEN CARDIGAN // 11. CLARE VIVIER TOTE // 12. HUSBAND SHIRT
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I’ve also been loving Good Hang! I particularly enjoyed the episode with Michelle Obama. Admittedly I am a huge fangirl, but I find it especially enjoyable when someone who is such a public figure, who you know has to always watch how they carry themselves at all times, truly has moments of complete genuine laughter and the barrier breaks where you see how they really must be in private. You can tell she and Amy have met before and enjoy speaking and that she’s genuinely laughing very hard at what Amy is saying – even more apparent over video! Also highly enjoyed her and her brother on Las Culturistas lately – the “I don’t think so honey” segment was another moment of pure enjoyment and laughter.
Like others I tend to listen to podcasts during some of the more monotonous tasks I do each week – folding laundry, drying my hair, unloading the dishwasher, etc. Will sometimes save episodes of favorite podcasts for the gym too!
Love this and going to listen to both of those specific podcasts you mentioned! Thank you!! xx
Thanks for the podcast recommendation. Dakota Johnson is becoming one of my favs as ive watched several of her films lately. How to Be Single is favourite. Materialists is worth seeing too!
I really want to see that one!! xx
I hear you with podcasts! If I actually care about the content I’ll read a transcript, since I’m lightyears faster reading. I like a podcast to go to sleep, I set the sleep timer for 20 minutes and I’m out. I like soothing voices and tend to use it to explore my current pet interests: cycling and married at first sight. I like MAFS Afterparty with Lauren Dunn, MAFS Funny, and the Geraint Thomas Cycling Club.
I love listening to podcasts while I do all of my “boring” jobs – dog walking, house cleaning, laundry, sitting in traffic, even skincare and blowdrying my hair – it brakes up the monotony for me.
Laundry is a great idea!!
Interesting! Do you then go back to the same podcast and start at minute 20 the next night, then minute 40 the following so you can string a full episode together?
xx
I do if it’s not one where the conversation has moved on! So for the MAFS ones I do because I want all the gossip, but for cycling I listen to whatever is most current since I’m usually also following races. And if I’m not enjoying an episode but want the info I’ll skim a transcript! My favorite that I will listen to every bit is Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster. It’s rambling and funny, they’re interviewing celebrity guests about their imaginary dream restaurant
I love the way you think about these nitty gritty details! Thanks for sharing.
xx