you're getting warmer

Billie vs Flamingo. summery things. Reading: Real Americans.

We’ve just returned from ten days in the New Hampshire Lakes Region. The velvet blue-crisp water surrounded by rich evergreen mountains affirming my summer. Pontoon boat outings by day reveal a secluded cove party, perhaps an island hike. A long cruise home, a mosey off the boat to maybe shower, we gather for family porch dinners, a rousing card game. I’m thankful the potential of hopping back on the boat for a golden hour cruise exists and we’re definitely dancing around a s’mores fueled firepit by night. (Here is your playlist).

I’ll gather all my best recommendations (such as the spots above + below) for an ideal New Hampshire vacation and publish in a future newsletter. (yes/no?) This is one of those multi-family events with my college girlfriends and our families — we’ve been doing it for years!

About 4 kids pop up from under the water on the live photo version. Our crew is 12 kids total (10 boys!) over three properties.

How about you? Lake, Beach, or Both? Week-long vacations with multiple families, or nah? You can be many things and love many places, in a summer, in a lifetime.

What else is up as we cruise through the 7th month:

Billie Malibu. Flamingo Rose. POOL PARTY! Island Punch. A peachy pink striped linen top + shorts. A glass of rosé. Rose gold Birkenstocks. Roses from June. I have a funny story about these razor purchases.

Earlier this year I grabbed a new razor from Target. Said razor soon needed new blades (but wtf razor did I buy — what was its name?!) and I one day I spotted an endcap — the blades I need, finally!

Turns out the Razor I had been using was a FLAMINGO and the blade refills I purchased were BILLIE.

this is the flamingo.

I quickly polled a group text on what razor everyone is using. Two responded they still use the Venus. One responded she uses the flamingo or the billie, but she doesn’t know which one. AH-HA! A good friend is one you can always count on to validate you in times of confusion. Same problem over here I responded, same, same.

So, I bought the Billie, and in doing so realized that she comes in a mind boggling assortment of fresh colors like Minty, Moonbeam, Malibu, Sunburst and DreamPop. But — the best thing about the Billie Razor is not how long it takes to choose your favorite flavor, it is the lovely little MAGNETIC HOLDER that ACTUALLY STAYS PUT on your shower wall.

This is a life changing shower aesthetic moment for me. The magnet. The flamingo shower holder was always falling off the wall due to a poor adhesive or the weight of the razor. (This could be a me issue.) But the Billie stays put.

To wrap it up make a long story longer — I still had a the pretty rose colored flamingo so I eventually bought those refill blades too. The flamingo family includes hushed tones of Sage, Lilac and Papaya.

flamingo left / billie right

Which razor is for you?!

The experience of each shave differs but the end result is not an epiphany; my legs are smooth no matter which razor I’ve used.

The flamingo is slightly more substantial and has a grippy handle. The blades are more present, pronounced, and the strip around them glides comfortably. The flamingo wants you to take it slow. The serene colors fall in line.

The billie is lighter — not insubstantial, just physically less weight in your hand, with blades surrounded by aloe shave soap. The billie moves fast + easy, comes in bold colors, and my favorite part, like I exclaimed earlier: it pops onto a secure and unobtrusive magnet holder when you’re done.

billie whipped shave cream is nice, too.

I’ve been living out lazy summer days in a comfortable long sleeve button down and matching pull on shorts. A soft but sturdy linen x rayon blend that drapes effortlessly - it transitions from a late-in-the-day post shower outfit, to cooking dinner, to curling up with a book in the dim hours of the evening. I’m wearing an XS in both (which is not my usual size, I’m normally more M) but these run baggy.

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☀️ Summer Reading Update 🏖️

• Real Americans by Rachel Khong

• This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune

• Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan

• Funny Story by Emily Henry

• Swan Song by Elin Hildebrand

• All Fours by Miranda July

• The Women by Kristin Hannah

Real Americans is a standout performance. I was captivated by this three part literary masterpiece. My favorite book so far this year.

This Summer Will Be Different is classic Carley Fortune and will not disappoint. Brace yourselves for Felix and Lucy, for Malpeque Oysters and Prince Edward Island. I read it in two days.

I realize these are quick blurbs and not full on plot performances — sometimes I don’t have it in me to get all wordy about words and I want to simply tell you: READ ‘EM.

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We’re hiking, graduating Pre K, drinking spindrift flavors: grapeade + island punch with a slight nod to grapeade, and still embracing slow mornings in the garden.

My oldest son is entering Kindergarten in the fall. I’m excited for him. It feels akin to one of those big life moments where it doesn’t hit you until you’re in it. Like an upcoming trip where you’ve gone through the necessary planning motions with enthusiasm. You’ve talked about it on vacation with your friends. Until the moment strikes with gravity it’s not real, real.

What do you do when your child enters a school you no longer owe a college tuition to? Pop Veuve? Maybe when it’s the second’s turn? My youngest remains at their current school and this fall he will head into the preschool class, with the same teacher his brother had. She is the kindest, so I love that for him!

Don’t forget to hit the ❤️ + ♻️ buttons. LOVE YOU GUYS! I HOPE YOU ARE HAVING A KICKA** SUMMER!! If you are not having a kickass summer, I hope you are doing ok, getting through it, you got this.