September Update

Hi!

First I just have to say: thank you so much for all of your kind comments on my blog post. To be honest, I posted, and then didn’t check back for several days, not because I forgot, but because of that same feeling as when you post something on social media where you’re sure no one is going to like it and you don’t want to see the indifference for yourself. You know what I mean? I feel so damn fortunate that anyone is still reading, much less this amazing group of women (and men)! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for still reading and being kind enough to comment/email/DM me so. Or just reading!

I don’t have a plan on what I’m going to post today (or in the future) so I think I’m just going to take it post by post and see how things evolve. Is that OK? I know there is a lot of demand for interviews, and I’d love to do them again, but I just have limited time. But I will. REALLY. One day!

Alright, let’s do some updates.

Life: The kids are getting older and are both in school until the afternoon now (was the same last year…before that one was out at noon every day). Hallelujah! Both are participating in drama this year, which I encouraged, because “mommy likes the arts” but I have only belatedly realized that means parents are expected to attend every single performance (I suppose because related persons make up approximately 100% of the audience). I have a friend who has long hair who said she had meant to cut it short but is keeping it long through the fall so she can have Air Pods in when necessary. Of course I think the kids rehearing their lines is adorable but I don’t think this is a terrible idea…

Shopping: I have a new terrible habit of buying things on J.Crew clearance, final sale, as a sort of gamble. WHY do I do this? I have no idea. But when I’m bored and browsing I’ll poke around the sale section. My tip is I won’t do anything at final sale which isn’t more than 60% off already. If it’s around 40-50% off I might try if it is returnable. But I really like a lot of J.Crew, and I have been liking it for quite a while! An example of something I recently snagged for super cheap is this Clio dress.

I also have a second terrible habit, which is that at some point I just gave up on the $1K mark being a crazy price point for shoes, or rather, I still think it is crazy, but now I’ve accepted it as a point of entry, and so I’ve been buying shoes. It’s awful! In the last month I have bought some Prada sandals (right when the weather is supposed to turn cool, yes) and have a pair of Chanel pumps on order. I’m worried about the latter as I generally find Chanel closed toe shoes uncomfortable (and the chunkier styles quite heavy). Alright this paragraph sounds ridiculously bougie. But I really like those orange Vivier pumps I shared above.

Reading: Okay, I’ve got some recommendations here! I know I owe a lot of book recommendations. Here are some recent favorites in different categories, something from all (or most) I hope:

All Systems Red by Martha Wells, for fun sci-fi

Liars by Sarah Manguso, if you want literary fiction or are really mad at your husband

All Fours by Miranda July, if you want literary fiction, are mad at your husband, or suspect you are in perimenopause and/or undergoing a mid-life crisis

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore, if you want a smart, well written mystery

Once Upon a Time, by Elizabeth Beller – If you can’t get enough of the Kennedys (well except for that one) and are a completist/worship CBK’s style (I do)

Sour Heart by Jenny Zhang, for literary fiction about Chinese American girls which I thought was so well done

Consent by Jill Ciment, if you want an interesting memoir about a large age gap relationship, by a memoirist who might have more freedom now that her much older husband has passed.

Okay so I am in need of inspiration – for style (purchases), beauty recommendations, books, and more! What have you been loving? Please do share!