June 1st: welcome to chapter six of twelve. We’re halfway through, and summer and every other mossy thing in it waits for us. June is when my time begins to stretch, and generously. Later bedtimes, looser routines. If we’re late for camp, so be it. This year’s June looseness is particularly prized: I will have submitted the manuscript for my book, and suddenly I will go from running two creative processes to one. Is it wild to say I know I will miss the strenuousness of this time? That I rather like bending over my desk like some boarding school student over her prie-dieu? What can I say? My work ethic runs bone deep. And multiple things can be true: I can love this time, and also look forward to the rest after.
I try to set an intention at the beginning of each season: some word to anchor my days, to serve as a makeshift divining rod when I’m torn on which direction to take, which plans to say yes or no to, which experiences to prioritize. This summer, I want softness. A soft summer. The slow-fade of twilight into the dark bowl of the sky. Gentle wake-ups. Ripe seasonal fruit: peach, raspberry, watermelon. Lush leisurely reading on the grass. Breathable cotton. Any clothing that tells my body: relax, be free. Natural light. Uncaveated alone time. Soft serve in a cup. Music playing in the other room. Hydrated, happy skin. Grace in my interactions with others. Routines that give.
Do you have an intention for the season ahead?
HATCH RESTORE // JILLIAN DEMPSEY EYE MASKS (MAGIC — 10/10 WOULD REC) // HILL HOUSE NIGHTGOWN // LINEN GINGHAM PILLOW CASE // SOFT SERVICES THERAPLUSH HAND CREAM // JANESSA LEONE HAT // WUTHERING HEIGHTS // NOON AND MOON CUP AND SAUCER // A. EMERY SANDALS // MARKET TOTE // DOLCE VITA SNEAKERS // FRILL SOCKS // PEACH HAIR CLIP // SOPHIE JAMES WINE
A few shopping notes —
+Janessa Leone is offering $50 off its packable fedoras with code PACK50.
+I mentioned this last weekend too but I just LOVE LOVE LOVE this hand cream. And it comes in the prettiest bedside jar and you can buy refills for it rather than tossing the jar when it’s out. I think the 10% off when added to cart ends today or maybe June 3 — they only run this sale and one during CyberWeek so strongly rec.
+Also can’t stop speaking in exclamation points about these eye masks. They are literally the only eye product I’ve ever used that really does something to the dark undereye circles. Like it adds this sheen, glow, lightness to the area. It can really make you look awake even when you’re low on sleep. Use code JENSHOOP for 15% off.
+And now, an ode to the Hatch Restore. OMG. I’d heard buzz about this here and there but I am completely and utterly obsessed. I had been flirting with the idea of leaving my phone in a different room, or my closet, for some time, because I wanted to wind down without my screen and it is so tempting when it’s a few inches from my face. Even in an innocuous way — I’ll be wondering about the weather tomorrow, so I grab my phone to check, but then I read a text that takes me to Instagram or an email that sends me into my notes app and…you know how it goes. Anyway, the Hatch Restore arrived and gave me the perfect opportunity to test a screen-free bedtime. I’ve been using this for a week and I’m utterly in love. I can’t stop talking about it to Landon! The idea is that you pre-configure a routine on the Hatch. For me: I have 30 minutes of wind-down before bed, during which the Hatch gently dims its light until it’s time for lights out, at which point it switches from one set of sounds (you can select which you’d like for each) to another. I currently have Half Moon Bay waves crashing during my wind-down, then cricket-song while I’m asleep. Then I have it wake me up at 6:38 in the morning — my usual alarm time — and the Hatch will gradually wake you up by slowly brightening its light, and then playing a gentle sound (mine is birdsong) at the “alarm time.” It is the most gentle, sweet way to start a day. I am usually slowly roused by the light. What makes this product incredible is the quality. The sounds — the speaker — are high-fidelity, high-quality noises, and the light is this gorgeous amber-rose-gold-to-sunlight color range that feels muted and not artificial or blaring in any way.
I also love the easy manual buttons on the top and the sleek design. I can’t recommend enough. I’ve been sleeping happily without my phone next to me for a full week now and it’s given me such great calm. I enter the day with only my thoughts. I leave it in quiet, too.
A great tool for a soft summer.
+Finally: I’ve fallen hook line and sinker for the linen gingham bedding from Piglet in Bed. The way I need these sheets after studying their Instagram account…!
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I love this idea of a “soft summer” — the images in the collage are so evocative, too!
I’ve been intrigued by that hand cream, but as it has retinol we’d have to be even more diligent about sunscreen on our hands ( which I try to do already)
Appreciate the detailed review on the Hatch as well! I have been really wanting to improve my sleep environment and love the idea of waking up gently.
Coming back here to say: the Hatch Restore is FSA/HSA eligible!!!
” I enter the day with only my thoughts. I leave it in quiet, too.” — love that. Goals!!
Ooh that’s great to know! xx
Great to know! I wish they would make the red light mask HSA eligible! I love my HSA account and use it to buy Elta MD sunscreen with it from Amazon.
Good note on the sunscreen on hands!! I always think about that after applying my facial sunscreen — I think it might have been you or another Magpie who said any time you have excess SPF, to put it on the back of your hands. Now I do that daily, too, and add extra (intentionally).
I’m so in love with the Hatch!!
How do you and Landon negotiate your new sounds with the Hatch Restore? I think the crickets would make my hubby squirm!
Ha! That’s funny – he’s not seemed to mind any of it, but then he could sleep through almost anything. We both agreed one set of sounds — “Balcony Over Grand Canal” was not to our tastes, almost simultaneously, so we switched that off (people talking / dogs barking was not relaxing to us). But you can also control the volume easily and turn it down to a level where he might not hear it much at all on his side of the bed? There are lots of options! I think the waves breaking on the beach and the birdsong are particularly innocuous but they also have “soundscapes” that are more abstract — more like white or gray noise.
xx
Where do you keep your phone? I keep my work phones in my home office. I was listening to Mel Robbins the other day who suggested the bathroom.
A summer intention: enjoy and soak up the magic.
Summer is my least favourite season. I did enjoy summers on the east coast with fireflies. And the summers in LA in my 20s too. But most summers are simply painful reminders of all the the terrible things that have happened. I live for autumn.
I love your intention for the summer — slow down and just enjoy the right here. I’m sorry this season stirs up tough memories but I think your intention could be a perfect antidote.
I keep my phone in my studio, which is right off of our bedroom, but separated by doors!
xx
I love the way you describe the Hatch light!! Truly I’ve never seen such evocative copy for a piece of tech, and now you’ve got me scheming to gift them.
Curious what other magpies have on their nightstands! In this season for me it’s just water and tissues and everything else is in the locked drawer because my toddlers are snoops.
My intention is to beautify my life and home in a way that feels easy. Rose colored glasses.
I’d like to sit with salty hair in the sunshine with my girlfriends. I’d like to eat roasted peppers slick with oil using my fingertips. I’d like to twist open a ripe peach, and another, and another, for breakfast on my terrace. I’d like to hear birdsong and find something to like in the fact that my kids wake me before sunrise. My summer bucket list includes a few special dinners out with friends, lunch with my girlfriends with no kids, swimming in the sea. I’ll be perfumed by Caudalie huile de soin and Hermes Jardin de Monsieur Li. I won’t wear makeup except for brows and lip balm. I’m starting a barre class with my good friend Jenny and I’m excited to have some more time together. My French babysitter is scheduled a few days a week in July and August and I’m looking forward to the break. I’d like to get a plain table cloth and paint/embroider it with one of those fabulous dinner party sketches. I’m a big fan of making or approximating the home decor you love, since your touch makes it more special. My friend Frances has promised to take me antiquing in Nice. And my husband bought me some mixed intaglios off Etsy for my birthday, I will decoupage a shadowbox frame for them.
New items I bought this summer: a Hunza G high-waisted bandeau bikini in Coke bottle red, a vintage Valentino swim coverup in goldenrod and white (a steal for 50€!), white crocs T-strap sandals, a long white Sandro dress that ties in the front, a black cotton lined waistcoat vest from Quince to be worn with nothing under, Studs maxi pavé huggies that I never take out, a Zara beaded seahorse necklace and a gingham one covered in tiny glass fruits and vegetables. I’ll be rewearing my prescription Dior logo glasses, my Max Mara and Sandro shorts, my H&M tennis skirts, my Coolibar button downs, my Sam Edelman white loafers, past season knit Sandro dresses, beat up ball caps. I’m not sure if I’ll buy new sneakers or wear mine into the ground, but that’s it for me! Only big event is the members party at our beach club, everything else will be very casual. Skincare pares down to Isdin sunscreen, Tata Harper moisturizer, Fresh strawberry sugar scrub, red light mask. I think a pair of fabulous sunglasses are the best bang for your buck in the same way that a coat in winter makes the outfit.
On my radar: these silly candles have my heart. Plate of pasta with mussels, lemon amphora. Piecework Puzzles and John Derian both sell them and I’m dying to gift them to someone. https://cereriaintrona.it/prodotto/candela-a-forma-di-vaso-con-limoni-h30-o16/
Love everything here – the evocative aspirations for summer, all your fresh finds for the season too! And the word “amphora”!! Thanks for brightening my Monday morning with this gorgeous comment.
xx
Even when I’m struggling in my own writing, I find something inspiring and stirring in yours! So thank you to you too for creating such a lovely community and comments section, I love starting my morning here and find it often « primes the pump » for a more creative day. I really started romanticizing my life a lot more mirroring your example. xx
Gah! What a compliment and mood-booster. Thank you; the feeling is reciprocal. I needed this little boost after an email exchange related to a part of my site that’s not working. Minor issue; we’ll figure it out; but you know how sometimes you can get really boggy in the details? This hoisted me right out. Reminded me that aas long as I have a way to hit publish and to respond to comments, all is right. Thanks Kelly.
xx
I get the exact same boggy sensation about logistics in particular, or plans gone awry! Stuck. What a familiar feeling. We’re all happily along the way for whatever form this takes! Following the deer trail worn by your daily ruminations and repeated trips to the creative well. Good things are always happening to us! Onward! Exclamation points!! xx