The August Edition
A month in review: what I ate, drank, read, wore, bought, loved, etc.
Hello friends. It’s the end of August, which always leaves me feeling a little melancholy. Though I haven’t gone back to school in over a decade, that feeling of summer ending and “reality” setting in (never mind that my reality in the summertime isn’t much different from the rest of the year) gives me a bit of the blues. A bit of the I Didn’t Make the Most Of Its and the I Should’ve Done More Of XYZs.
And while I’ll mourn the end of summer and all that goes with it, the change of seasons does usher in that feeling of new beginnings — and new things to get excited about. Which is why I thought this was the perfect time to start a new series I’ve been concocting up for a while: The Monthly Edition.
In this monthly newsletter, I’ll be sharing everything I’m currently loving. I tend to have an obsessive personality and will hyperfixate on meals, objects, outfits, restaurants, music, you name it. I’ll eat/wear/listen to them over and over again until I can’t take it anymore — and, eventually, get hooked on something else. So, why not share them with you?
I’m envisioning this newsletter as a list (oh, how I love a list. Add lists to the list of things I hyperfixate on) of the things I’m currently obsessed with, though I can see moodboards, Q&As, and photo diaries making their way into the mix. I want The Monthly Edition to be as fluid as our likes and dislikes — ever-changing but always personal to who we are in the moment. A stream of consciousness of little things I hope will inspire.
I hope you love it and if you have any suggestions, please feel free to send them my way. Let’s jump in.
What I’m cooking: Lately I wake up craving one thing: peanut butter and raspberry toast. I like to get a loaf of sourdough bread I can slice myself so it’s nice and thick, lightly toast it, generously spread on peanut butter, mash on some jammy farmers market raspberries (or ones from Trader Joe’s, depending on the week), and finish it all with a sprinkle of cinnamon. I tell myself it’s a chic, grown-up version of PB&J. Divine.
At dinnertime, I’m making the most of tomato season with fresh tomato pastas. Big tomatoes or small tomatoes, either from the store, farmers market, or my garden, cooked any which way and tossed with pasta (or risotto, as seen in collage at the top). The sungold pasta recipe by Wishbone Kitchen (pictured above) was a huge hit, though don’t get me started on that pasta shape. Fusilli Capri is not for me.
Where I’m eating: Green Street Restaurant. A Pasadena institution I’ve been going to ever since I was a kid, where I have fond memories of having lunch with my mom and grandma. I recently had a craving for their famous Dianne salad (essentially their super-crunchy, very refreshing version of a Chinese chicken salad), and have since been back seven times and counting. This restaurant doesn’t come up on any must-eat or best restaurant lists for the area, but those who grew up in or around Pasadena know.
What I’m drinking: Iced tea is always my go-to in the summer. The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf peach green tea, which I buy and brew at home, mixed with a healthy splash of Trader Joe’s limeade is soooo refreshing. Throw it in a nice glass with a wheel of lemon/lime or a slice of peach if you’re feeling fancy.
What I’m reading: A few months ago I finally decided to give A Court of Thorns and Roses a whirl, and flew through that series. Yes it is as spicy as everyone says and I am suddenly a fan of fantasy fiction? I quickly moved on to the Throne of Glass series, which took me until book three to really get into. Now I’m hooked. Currently on Empire of Storms and torn between wanting to devour it during every free second, and wanting to savor it so it doesn’t end too quickly.
What I’m (trying) to do every damn day: Morning walks with an audiobook in my ear. It’s hot and I don’t always want to, but Sasha’s in school full time and I’ve committed myself to hour-long daily walks after I drop her off. Because my mood is the better for it. I love audiobooks while I walk, and have been on a Kristin Hannah kick. I listened to The Women, then The Four Winds, which were both devastating but SO good. Doesn’t hurt that the narrator is fantastic. I definitely received more than a few concerned glances from fellow pedestrians due to the fact that I was walking around sobbing. Worth it.
What I’m wearing: Breezy sundresses are pretty much all I wear in the summer. They’re cool but more importantly don’t require much thought, because I can’t be bothered with pairing tops and bottoms right now. I’ve worn these three from Doên, Hillhouse (similar here and here), and Free People so many times that I think the cost per wear is just pennies at this point.
What I’m learning: Grilling! I’ve spent too long depending on my husband whenever I want something grilled — which in the summer is all the time. I’ve been learning mostly by following recipes and through trial and error. And as much as I know summertime + grilling go hand-in-hand, I truly cannot wait to grill in the fall when it’s cooler.
Where I’m shopping: I recently rediscovered my love of Fish King in Glendale. I grew up just up the road, but now that we’re living in Glendale again I find myself splurging on good fish all the time. Trust me, it’s worth it.
What I’m buying: Tableware, always. But I’m really leaning into color, funk, and patterns. We’ve been eating outside quite a bit and my collection of enamelware is growing because of it. This splatter baking dish is so cheery and I just love using it as a serving dish. It’s oven safe, too, though I haven’t baked anything in it quite yet. The exact one I bought is sold out, but I’ve heard great things about Crow Canyon Home and their’s looks almost identical. And I love love love thrifting tableware, especially glasses. These amber coupes pictured are just stunning, and were a steal at $5 each! Etsy and eBay have a few similar ones, if you search amber cocktail coupes. These are particularly gorg.
LOVED this and will be religiously reading all of them ♥️ the sundresses are so beautiful and good on you for getting in daily walks