I saw you caught between
All the people out, making a scene
And the bright, ideal tomorrow — Elliott Smith, “Independence Day”

This month really sped by.

Reading: The Burning Library by Gilly MacMillan, a fun treasure-hunt thriller set against an academic/university setting that rings true.

Art: Sargent in Paris at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. My first in-person encounter with Sargent’s painting Fumée d’ambre gris…!

Video: Bodies on Netflix. Time-travel sci-fi with lots of historical costuming.

Drinks: It’s the only time of year when I crave a glass of white wine or rosé. Also, I’m brewing my own iced coffee concentrate at home this year.

(Tr)eats: Various violet candies from Spain, Germany, and our very own metro region, thanks to friends who all thought of me when they spotted these floral sweets!

Beauty Products: Naxos Apothecary shower gel in Sangri, a tart rhubarb scent. Splurge-y, but so good. Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint bar soap, a summer essential. A new bottle of Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse in the original scent, for hair/legs/arms.

Fragrances: I purchased a sample set from indie-artisanal perfumer Syd Botanica and I’m really enjoying it. And I had the chance to meet the duo behind Mitti Parfum at a pop-up market close to home.

Garb: I really needed a new robe, so I picked up a satin-y peacock-and-floral print one at Pearl River Mart.

Pleasures: Some good coffee chats and dinner dates. More freelance work, including a museum guide gig, to close the résumé gap and bring in a little extra cash. The “normal” summer weather between intense heat waves.

Up Next: A writing deadline (stay tuned for news about a new project!). A crash refresher course (self-taught, hah) in canonical modern art for that museum guide work.

What have you been up to lately?

Image via Google Gemini, one of my very rare uses of AI