14 Cool Things You Need to Click On Today

I can't believe it's almost August. I mean, how?? The summer is over half over! It's going by way too fast. My kids are finishing their fifth week of camp today, which is just bizarre. (And it's hitting me how I had hoped to accomplish way more during those camp hours that I actually have. Eek!)

And, now, we're finally doing a little bit of (local-ish) traveling. We visited friends in the Hamptons last weekend, which was great, and are heading to Asbury Park on the Jersey Shore next week. (Believe it or not, I haven't been to the Jersey Shore since I was a kid!). This weekend, we'll be laying low at the lake, which I am definitely excited for. A lazy weekend of reading sounds good to me. 

Whatever you're up to this weekend, I hope you make it a great one. Here's a few fun links to check out in the meantime.

• If you've seen me in person in the past two weeks, there's a decent chance I was wearing this Vici dress, because I have been living in it. It's kind of the perfect dress: It's basically a big, soft t-shirt, so it's super comfy, but the cut is just right, so it's not shapeless or overly baggy. And I love the dusty black color; it looks vintage-y and just a little worn in. I've dressed it up with gold sandals and a long necklace, and worn it running around town with flip flops and a hat. And it's under $50! I'm obsessed.

• I've always been an Anthropologie fan (fun fact: I worked there years ago!), but lately I've been rediscovering it in a big way. They have so much great stuff right now! I recently bought this hat, which I love, and two of these $18 knotted headbands, which are perfect (and much less expensive) dupes of those Lele Sadoughi headbands everyone is wearing. And this lacy top is next on my list. How pretty is it?!?

• Got these blush-pink sandals from Target (!) the other day, and they are even cuter in person.

• As I mentioned a few weeks back in this post about how to increase your reading, I've been reading a ton this year. I'm now up to 64 books in 2019! And in case you're looking for a beach read, here are a few of the very best ones I've read since that post: Recursion (this one actually ranks as an all-time fave. SO GOOD), A Nearly Normal Family, Lock Every Door, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, The Beekeeper of Aleppo (out in late August, but you can pre-order), and You Were There Too (this doesn't launch until January, but it's worth preordering. I loved it!).

• Speaking of books, I'm super excited about a new podcast coming soon from one of my Instagram buddies, @bookishkatenyc. It's called The Shelf-Care Podcast, and it combines two of my favorite things: books and beauty. (Uh, why didn't I think of that!??!) Kate already told me who the first guest is, too, and it's a good one!

• I went to an Amazon holiday preview earlier this week, and there was so much good stuff. A lot of it is already available, so here's a peek at my three very favorite things I saw there: this amazing gold flatware set (four five-piece place settings for under $95), this stunning serving piece (so good for entertaining!), and this jewelry storage cabinet hidden inside a mirror (I need this).

• I never knew I wanted a "snuggle nook" until I saw this one. Now, I need a snuggle nook. (I mean, how cozy and gorgeous and snuggle-worthy does it seem?!?)

• I hadn't even heard of Electric sunglasses a year ago--and suddenly they are by far my favorite brand. I own three pairs now! My latest is this Honey Bee style in Nude Crystal, which is a big departure for me (I almost always wear black sunnies), but it's so fun. And my absolute favorite pair is the Crasher in Matte Black. So cool! They're definitely not cheap, but they are extremely durable, and just so damn good-looking.

• Besides being a blogger and a beauty-PR wizard, my friend Meghan is a true Paris expert (she has so many dreamy posts of her many trips there on her blog!). She recently launched a new service where she'll help you plan your trip there by creating a personalized, curated list of cool things to do and see including lots of hidden gems you won't find in the guidebooks. If you're heading to Paris soon, 1) I'm jealous, and 2) check out her service, Paris, Perfected. It's only $25!

• Watermelon Mint Frose?! Uh, yes, please!

• After hearing rave after rave from people I admire, I had to check out this much talked about essay. You should, too. It's worth it.

• A photographer asked elderly couples to pose for engagement-style photos--and the results are adorable.

And in case you missed it, I...

• Told you why you must visit Nosara, Costa Rica immediately.

• Shared exactly what I bought at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.

Have a great weekend!

17 Cool Things You Need to Click On Today

How was your week? Mine was busy, but fun. On Wednesday, I went with my friends at PureWow's The Coterie to go see Mean Girls on Broadway. As much as I loved the movie, I kind of had low expectations for the show, but it was so good! A great adaptation of the movie and so funny. I laughed out loud throughout! And the actors were amazing--especially Regina George, Damien, Karen, and Gretchen. I loved it! 

And now, the weekend is here, and so is winter. it seems. It's flurrying here right now, and we're supposed to get a bunch more snow this week. I'm not happy about that, but at least it will present a good excuse to stay inside and do some reading. (If that's you, too, I have some great book recs below!) Whatever you're up to this weekend, I hope it's a great one. Here's a few fun links to check out in the meantime. 

• J.Crew rollneck sweaters were huge when I was in college. I had a navy one back in the day. I love that they're back now! I'm wearing this pink one today and I really like it. (They modernized the style with a more flattering, less oversized fit, thank god.)

• I had heard great things about the book Lilac Girls and finally read it last week. Wow. I loved it so much! It's an amazing, heartbreaking story and one of my favorite books that I've read in a long time. Highly recommend picking it up. Right before that I read A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult, which I also recommend. I thought it was okay/pretty good throughout, but then was totally wowed by a couple of great twists towards the end. Really good and a fairly quick read. And I just finished One Day in December, which was a Reese Witherspoon book club pick (and I really have always loved Reese's recommendations). I don't usually go for relationship/dating fiction (this is very much in the vein of a Love Actually type of story), so I wasn't sure about this for awhile in the beginning, but I ended up really liking it a lot. And I actually had tears in my eyes at one point, which really surprised me! Also totally recommend this one, because it's a good read and it's definitely going to be turned into a movie and you'll want to have read the book first!

• Love Grace's guide to buying your first Chanel bag.

• As a beauty editor, who has spent over a decade hearing (and then drumming into the heads of readers) that wearing SPF very single day is an absolute must, reading this article, which basically says the opposite, pretty much blew my mind. Let me add that I am not going to be convinced by one article--and I'm not slowing down my sunscreen use (especially because the article only addressed skin cancer, not the wrinkles/aging that are cauased by the sun!). But it's a very interesting read, and I'll be curious to see follow-up pieces about it.

• How pretty is this braided, beribboned bun? 

• Super inspired by my friend Meghan's outfit here. How cute does she look?!

• Here's the beauty secret no one wants to tell you: The best skincare trick is being rich.

• I love this piece by Ali from Inspiralized on that point when living healthy becomes unhealthy. 

• This story of a stolen bikini design reads like a mystery novel. So good!

• About a year ago, a woman in my industry (who I had met and worked with a few times but did not know well) died sudddenly when she was pregnant with her second child. It was, obviously, a very, very sad story. Now her widowed husband has penned an incredibly beautiful, heart-wrenching essay on leaving New York City after his wife's death. Do not miss it. 

• If you're looking for a new jarred pasta sauce, don't miss this thorough review of 129 different sauces--every single one sold in the state of New Jersey! (most are sold nationally, though). You won't believe what scored #1. 

• This made me LOL: "I'm Running In 2020, But I Must Admit, Even I Don't Know Which White Guy I Am."

And in case you missed it, I...

• Listed my 2019 health resolutions.

• Shared how I'm going green this year. (Hint: It includes a great deal for free stuff!)

• Named the best beauty products of 2018.

• Gave some blowout inspiration.

• Announced my Favorite Things.

Have a great weekend!