Falling Deeper in Love and the Outfit I Wore on Repeat in July
Highlights and photos from the month.
A (brand new) monthly edition of Morning Person, featuring the best moments, recipes, articles, and recommendations from the month. Let’s dive into some July highlights!
Between the launch of my novel and a packed travel schedule, June was supposed to be my busiest summer month. And then came July. I hardly had a day to rest before diving headlong into the adventures that filled this month: I committed to commuting almost exclusively by bike (amidst thunderstorms and heatwaves), made chili crisp for the first time, hosted my final book talks in Bend and online, for Morning Person Book Club, and went camping. I cleaned out my closet, watched my oldest friend get married, and continued to heal my relationship with my mom during a transformative visit. My relationship with my boyfriend is also entering a new place. After a chaotic start, including him witnessing this day early into things, it feels so good and so sweet (more on that soon!).
I can hardly keep up with the frenetic energy of summer, which has felt as creatively generative as it has chaotic—I published thirteen Issues of Morning Person in July alone (!). Today, I’m doing something I’ve long been meaning to: Sharing a monthly recap with some highlights of an unforgettable month. Read on for my first “Morning Monthly,” a roundup of the best of July.
🫐 Blueberry Skillet Cobbler: Buttery, with crispy, golden edges, I made this recipe three times this month, for three different cookouts.
📺 “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders” on Netflix: Yes, I loved the high-quality dramas, but this series grabbed ahold of me. I was (so sorry) thunderstruck, by the women’s athleticism, backstories, and grit.
📚 Long Island Compromise by Taffy Brodesser-Akner: An honest depiction of the insidious tendrils of trauma, through a family across time.
I wore these linen pants with black slides (L: Target, R: Reformation), a structured bag (L: Loeffler Randall, R: Clare V.), and a white top (L: & Other Stories, R: Gap) on repeat this month—a perfect uniform for working from home and running out the door, even in the thick of a heatwave.
I’ve never been much of a fan of Christmas or birthday gifts—it feels like a lot of pressure to find the right, under stressful time restrictions. I much prefer coming across an item organically, then sending it to a friend or family member to surprise and delight. Earlier this summer, I went to Dead & Co. with my brother, so when I came across this shirt in Tahoe—a place with personal significance to us both—I bought it on the spot. The classic Grateful Dead Stealie features an outline of the lake, instead of the traditional thunderbolt, which I loved, and hope he will too!
I’m leaving in less than a month for my trip to Bali and Japan (!), and am planning on packing just two pairs of shoes: a good pair for city walking and hiking (think: Tokyo and Mt. Fuji!) and a pair of sandals that can go from the beach to long city walks. As for the sandals, I’d love something that straps me in, so my beloved Birkenstocks won’t cut it (unless these would?). I’m thinking black Tevas, so they can be dressed up slightly, but would love your recommendations for comfortable summer travel sandals!
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What a fun surprise to wake up to in my inbox (while also making me second guess what day it is a few times 😅)
My husband has the Birkenstocks with the heel strap and I’d say go with something else..
I love my Reefs and they have some with heel straps. I also walked all through Europe with Nisolo sandals and loved them.
I bought these black Ecco sandals at the beginning of summer to wear on my commute and wow do I love them!! Very comfortable, maybe even more than my Birks. https://www.zappos.com/p/womens-ecco-flowt-luxe-wedge-sandal/product/9480315