Thursday, August 14, 2025

Lately

Sooo many photos in today's post so keep scrolling! 


Hat (under $100)



Snipped these from my little garden!

Cute, fluffy boy after his bath! 

This week was back to the grind after a fun stretch at the lake with family and friends. We were there for 10 days, which is shorter than my usual few weeks, since our Portugal trip is just around the corner! I’m so excited (if you couldn’t tell from how often I talk about it). Still, something about long flights always stresses me out a bit. I’m not a fan of lengthy car rides or flights... I mean, who is? I’d actually rather drive, but I’m not a nervous flyer; I just loathe being confined to a plane for hours on end. My dream is to visit Japan one day, though I’m not sure I could stomach that much travel. One day, though!

I will always appreciate the fresh perspective that travel brings. Whether I’m exploring somewhere new or returning to a familiar favorite like the lake, time spent with family and friends in different places fills my cup. Yet no matter where I go, I’m always reminded of how grateful I am for the comforts of home, like my own bed, my routines, and the sense of comfort they give me. Returning home from travel has a way of reigniting my appreciation for life’s little routines, the quiet moments, and the so-called mundane. They are worth noticing and treasuring! 

One thing I already miss from Georgia, besides the incredible peaches, is the weather. In July and August, the Lake Chatuge area is usually hot and humid, with lake water that’s borderline warm. This year was different. My mom and others were disappointed, but I was not. When I talk about how much I love a sweatshirt and cooler weather, my mom always says, 'You are your father's daughter. ' Mornings and evenings called for a sweatshirt, and some days stayed chilly from start to finish. I went on walks without breaking a sweat, cozied up in the only sweater I’d packed, and soaked in that crisp breeze with complete contentment. Of course, when we returned to Pittsburgh, it was sweltering. I couldn't get over the fact that Georgia was much cooler than Pittsburgh! I feel like all I talk about is the weather, but after having such a harsh winter, it's frustrating to have been met with such a harsh summer! I'm praying that fall is lovely- Pittsburghers deserve it!! 
Dress (use code SUMMERWIND10)/ Espadrilles

Dress (use code SYDNEY15)
Wearing: Whenever we near the end of summer, I get lazy with my outfits. Throwing on a dress is the easiest way to stay cool, comfortable, and feel put together! 

Are you following me on the LikeToKnowIt app?! You can shop all of my outfits, favorite finds, and more in the app. I am constantly updating it with the latest! You can also access all of my posts, here, if you don't use LTK! You can also find me on ShopMy, another shopping platform! 

Eating: Opened these pickled okra this week and loved them. Some of the best I've ever had! My sister got it in Charlotte! 

My cod obsession continues. This rosemary potato cod recipe is next up! 

Drinking: This week, I finally ordered a new coffee maker—a long time coming. I spent way too much time researching, but ultimately landed on this machine, and it should arrive any day now. My excitement level is high. Our current machine, which I’ve loved for seven years, just hasn’t been the same this past year. The coffee isn’t as hot, and the flavor has weakened. I almost repurchased it, but started looking elsewhere because, frankly, it’s an eyesore: a big black plastic box sitting on our countertop. While it makes excellent coffee, I knew there had to be something out there just as good but sleeker in design.

I’m a devoted black drip coffee drinker, and our Ninja does far more than that, most of which we never use. The one feature I couldn’t compromise on, though, is its ability to brew a single cup in any size, using any grounds, directly into your mug. My husband and I drink different coffee and only one cup each per day, so a pot is unnecessary. Pods were also out of the question. The machine I chose checks every box: single-cup brewing with switchable grounds, a removable water reservoir (a must-have for me), and a stainless finish that is easier on the eyes than our current setup. We still have our Nespresso for the occasional weekend cappuccino, but this new one is all about great black coffee. My fingers and toes are crossed; I picked well! 

Reading: I loved The Cure book, which I talked about last week. It was very Hunger Games-esque in the dystopian teen storyline. I purchased the second book in the series and am going to save it for our long flight later this month. Loved Into Thin Air. My Everest fascination continues. I have a few more books loaded that I am going to read because I didn't get to them at the lake!  

Sale: This is the cutest little wicker and leather bag, and it's on sale right now for under $130! I love that it has a removable crossbody strap and that it zips closed. This is what I plan to bring along to Portugal since it's neutral and will work with many of my outfits! 

Today is the last day for Dermstore's annual anniversary sale. You can get up to 25% off using my code SUMMERWIND. Some of my favorites, like Obagi Vitamin C serum, are included. I ordered myself another Tarte lip in Poppy because it's my most worn color, and it's 25% off right now. 


This Dress is one of my favorites and it's on sale right now, plus if you use the code YOURULE, it ends up being under $100. It's final sale, though, so be sure to get the right size! I am wearing a size small and it runs very roomy. It's only fitted in the shoulders/arms. The small fits like a roomy 4. 

Listening: On the way home from the lake, we listened to the true crime podcast, Bone Valley. It's a wild story. It took me about two episodes to get fully invested, but once I was, I was hooked, and it got crazier and crazier as time went on! I'm not a regular podcast listener, but I loved Serial and a few similar to that genre like Cold. 
Loving: I love that the mariner link is 'on trend' right now. It's a classic nautical motif and I find jewelry like this necklace to be so fun! 

Wanting:
I love this simple and timeless green striped shirt. These Uggs are calling my name (to wear as house shoes). This Jack O Lantern is darling. I think I am going to order these clogs for wearing with lounge clothes, running errands, and going to and from pilates, etc.... I know, who am I?! These glasses are stunning and perfect for bubbly or a martini. Very into this dress for early fall. J.Crew dropped new arrivals, and this plaid jacket is *chef's kiss*. LSF is doing another collab with Stanley. I don't even care about LSF or Stanley, but I caved and bought an overpriced tumbler in last year's collaboration, and I truly have no regrets. I use it daily, and the beautiful print brings a smile to my face! My hot tip is to order via Stanley's website vs. LSF because last year, LSF sold out immediately, but Stanley's website did not. Lots of good Quince new arrivals. I love this bag- it's a good designer look for less. Rugby shirts are popping up at so many retailers, and I love to see it. This one is perfect! A classic, in my eyes, but glad to see they are making a comeback! Another classic that is everywhere is the barn jacket, and I love love love this one. This diamond cuff is sleek and chic. They usually have a Labor Day sale, so hold off if you have your eye on something! When the weather starts to cool, I am definitely ordering this cable knit or this one. I'm torn, they are both so good! Glad to see this tote back for fall. I LOVE it. Love this dress I just got from MG! 

Pittsburgh: Excited for the Pittsburgh Parks' Glow In The Park event to be back this year on September 19th! Last year was the first year, and it was such a fun event with delicious food, cocktails, music, and more. I loved the photobooth, candy, and the ride on Schenley Park's carousel! Hope to see some of you there, as it benefits a great cause, and tickets are very reasonable! This dress is in my cart for the occasion! 

Amazon Rec: I posted my Amazon August Finds on Monday! 

You can find more of my Amazon favorites, here on my Amazon page where I am constantly updating it with all of my finds and top picks from home, beauty, fashion, and more!



Mini Discovery Sets (my code is SYDNEY15)
Smelling: Earlier this week, I did a sponsored IG story with Salt and Stone, and many of you agreed, raving about the brand, but many of you also wondered what each scent was like. Scents are so hard because you have to take your own whiff to decide. But I did my best to describe them and give details, so here is a screenshot of that. I think the mini sets are the best way to try out each scent and see which you prefer. The good thing is that there are no bad scents, which is remarkable because there are sooooo many scents from brands I love that I do not like. My code is SYDNEY15 for 15% off. 

Quoting: "It's better to do something than to do nothing while waiting to do everything." - Winston Churchill //See more of my favorites, here.

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