Weekend Reads v. 31.5.2025
The view from where I sit.
The view from where I sit is breezy, sunny, and underscored with optimism. Maybe it’s because today is the eve of June, A.K.A. summer is marching this way with all her sunny charm and spontaneity. Maybe it’s because the previous short week that felt like a long week is in the rearview. Or maybe it’s because a friend just downloaded the details of her trip to Italy, and now I’m buzzing for vacation. This handful of days that mark the transition from spring to summer feels especially magical. Summer has yet to unload her oppressive heat, and the calendar ahead stretches out to give hope for rest and relaxation.
In so many ways, summer is a gift. Sweet fruit and long stretches of afternoon make Heaven feel close. Patios become slivers of paradise when you add a beverage, music, and good company. Soaking up the sun’s rays under a bright blue sky feels nourishing even if just for a few minutes.
Hopefully you have a bit of downtime ahead of you this weekend!
JCrew Factory is giving you an extra 50% off their clearance items. (So, does this mean the tariffs are off again?)
Hearing really good things about this tinted lip balm from Versed. I’ve enjoyed their Day Dissolve Cleansing Balm, so I may give this a go. Both are at very low price points.
Really love these 15 photos of Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart in the home they shared.
This list of ways you can spruce up your outdoor space without breaking the bank was missing a few things, I think. Those missing items have inspired me to make a new gift guide to share with you later this week. (Washington Post gift link)
I have way too many tote bags, but I can’t help myself from bookmarking more bags. This tote is seen on street corners across NYC. The variety of colors and ability to add your initials in a modern font make it feel designer (but without the designer price tag).
This essay makes an interesting observation, … “many parents wish that they had had just one more baby, but no one wishes for “just one fewer” child.”
If you’re into British bands like Pulp you might dig this track from Andrew Wasylyk and Tommy Perman. It has a beautiful piano melody layered with electronic sounds and Andrew’s Scottish brogue.
Also music related: Panda Bear has a new album, and Arcade Fire is back.
Maybe ice cream can teach us a lot about enjoying life. Jeni’s Ice Cream founder sure thinks so and explains the importance of pleasure in this essay.
“I suggest that our culture has an aversion to pain and is thus unable to experience genuine pleasure. We don’t know how to eat ice cream anymore. In the pursuit of pleasure without consequence, we lost some of our ability to feel. And with it, our perspective on what matters most.
Ice cream tastes better in Italy. It’s a fact. One reason why is simple and profound: there is no air conditioning in Italy. You are hotter, less comfortable, and more grateful for the relief of a scoop (lemon sorbetto and coconut for me). You long for ice cream in a way that is impossible anymore in America. You dream of it. Ice cream becomes a metaphor for all the lusciousness of life in summer in Italy. And you will miss it when it’s gone. Longing (not the same as craving) is a prerequisite for pleasure. And pleasure is a prerequisite for happiness.” (Source)
Are you a “watch person”? I am!
What are you doing to unwind this weekend? More time outside? Savoring a lazy afternoon? I’ve no set agenda for the weekend, and it feels glorious.
I included an Amazon Affiliate link in this post. If you make a purchase, I may earn a commission. Thank you kindly if you decide to make a purchase!