Weekend Musings | July 26, 2025
In my heart and in my cart + other things
In My Heart -
Hey guys! Yesterday was my birthday and now it’s my birthday weekend, all part of a larger birthday week, by which I mean boy, have I been coddling myself with tricks and treats all week long.
My actual birthday was pretty low-key and so freaking good. I went to work as usual, but managed to take off a little early and meet my sisters at the beach for the afternoon. Once everyone was sufficiently sunburned, we headed back to my place for a sloopy joes dinner and let our kids run feral around the yard with sparklers and glowsticks while we drank a couple bottles of wine around a small bonfire.. Everyone stayed the night and although the setting is obviously different, it felt good and nostalgic to say goodnight to my sisters before falling asleep. Like old times, ya know?
And now I throw myself into new goals and whatnot. I consider it so lucky to have a summertime birthday. When I was a kid, and already a total ho for attention, I hated that my birthday missed the school year and I never got to bring in birthday cupcakes and feel like a queen on the playground. Now though, I get to have those new year, new me vibes roughly every six months and it feels really good and motivating to me to have another fresh page to restart. And so, I’m filled with dreams and plans to make this the best year yet. Doesn’t optimism feel the best?!
In My Cart -
+I bought myself this book and this book as a birthday gift to myself. The former has been on my wishlist for a while. The latter is by an author that feels nostalgic and has never done me wrong. Also came with an excellent testimony on SubStack last week.
+If you’re a Sephora VIB member (do it, it’s free!), don’t forget to collect your birthday gift. I picked the Rare Beauty lip oil and soft pinch blush and it’s really good. Furthermore, I get myself my own birthday gifts (look, my marriage is happier this way) and I picked out this banana pudding balm that is a hit for anyone who loves banana laffy-taffy, and this mini eyeshadow pallet. It all arrived on Thursday and I love delayed gratification, so I forced myself to wait until my birthday to open the box.
+My scent for the summer. I heard it described as an Aperol Spritz for the body, and guys, that’s very accurate.
+I picked up another pair of these earbuds. You may remember that I bought a pair a month or so ago, and I’m still raging about this: I lost them immediately. I mean, maybe I had them two full days? Completely lost. I have the case, but no buds and I have torn my house apart to find them. But I rest assured that they’ll turn up now that I’ve replaced them.
+40% off summer things at Anthropologie. I rarely buy, but I love to scroll Anthro. Such pretty stuff!
Other Things -
+Oh my gosh, a real Father of the Bride II moment!
+Bad week for love, ya know? Venmo and the Coldplay Jumbotron will out your bad judgement: 16 chaotic ways people found out they were being cheated on.
+A fun read via A Cup of Jo: What small, inexpensive things make your life better? For me, it’s the $15 pooper scooper that helps me keep my yard safe for children and the variety of $10 candles I get from TJ Maxx.
+Summer destinations in the midwest. I was delighted to see my hometown (deservedly!) on this list, along with a few places I’d love to check out.
+Currently reading.
+Horoscopes for the week: July 27 - Aug 2. PS- Can you believe this week is AUGUST?!