For the first time in years, we’re not going on a big summer vacation. As a kid, we rarely went on trips, mostly to foggy coastal towns within driving distance, squeezed in between soccer tournaments and swim meets. My first time in Europe was on our honeymoon, and since then, I’ve managed to return nearly a dozen times (shout out to my husband, who crushes it on travel points - see all of his tips here).

Though I always look forward to our vacations, as a nervous traveler, I also sort of brace for them - worried about the flights, falling behind on work, leaving our cat(s), etc. Leading up to a trip, I secretly can’t wait until we’re back, so I can feel settled and quiet, with all the big plans behind us. And as someone who also adores staying in - mixing cocktails, lighting candles, and hosting friends, I assumed I’d be relieved this summer without any long plane rides on the horizon. But that hasn’t been the case.

Instead, I’ve felt a bit stuck. Aside from Sloan being out of school, everything just feels...the same, just warmer. The main difference is that most of our friends are out of town, underscoring just how much their presence boosts our daily lives. As she has for several summers, Sloan’s sleepaway camp will be with my parents in Mill Valley, which she looks forward to all year. Last summer, G and I used that free week to lounge at home, getting up early to watch Wimbledon, going out to dinners in LA, and preparing for our upcoming trip to London and Spain. But when we thought about what to do with that free time this summer, we realized how nice it would be to get away, just the two of us, for a few nights, so this morning we booked a quick stay somewhere neither of us has been before. And I’m genuinely ecstatic with zero of my normal nerves.

Even though we now have something cemented on the calendar, it made me realize how important it is to make the most of your situation. When I was younger, I used to make bucket lists for each new season, filled with all the things I wanted to do or try, which made me look forward to the next couple of months. One night last week, when Sloan was lamenting that none of her friends were around (same, girl), I decided to make a new list, which I’ve included below. Even if we don’t get to everything on there (I’m pretty sure visiting a lighthouse and going to a drive-in, two things I’ve never done and have always wanted to do, have made appearances countless times), it’s shifted my perspective in such a refreshing way.

So let’s close out June on a high note! Below the fold, you’ll find:

• 25 of your most-recommended beach reads (I’ve read and loved only 3 of the top 10!)

• My summer 2026 bucket list (thanks for the reminder, Joy!)

• 9 dresses that fall under “reasonably priced formalwear for weddings that’s not just for the Youths™” as requested by a follower

• The recipe that made a friend say I should open a bakery

• Some of my best buys from the month

Your 25 Favorite Beach Read Recommendations:

I’ve read 12 books this year, and while some skew more beach-read-friendly than others (Bright Young Women, One True Loves, and Her Last Breath), there’s nothing better than one that begs to be devoured by a large body of water or, at the very least, with an iced coffee on your back patio. When I asked you for the book you couldn’t put down, you delivered. I condensed the very long list into 25 that were mentioned most often below (with asterisks next to the ones I’ve read and enjoyed).

• Yesteryear by Caro Clare

• Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan

• The Correspondent* by Virginia Evans

• Strangers* by Belle Burden

• Into the Blue by Emma Brodie

• Heart the Lover* by Lily King

• The Wedding People by Alison Espach

• Whistler by Ann Patchett

• The Calamity Club by J.B. Harris

• Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

• First Lie Wins* by Ashley Elston

• The Women* by Kristin Hannah

• The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand

• All the Colors of the Dark* by Chris Whitaker

• God of the Woods* by Liz Moore

• Educated* by Tara Westover

• Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

• The Great Alone* by Kristin Hannah

• Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

• Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

• Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

• The Guest List* by Lucy Foley

• Funny Story* by Emily Henry

• The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty

• Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra

Sloan opted to make her own (it includes things like going to a waterpark, having a sleepover at my best friend’s place, a full beach day (like, bring breakfast, lunch, and dinner with us) and I’ve since taped mine by my desk as a gentle reminder over the next couple of months.

Recently, I got the most adorable request:

A lot of the dresses I see in-feed and IRL are gorgeous, but often fall into one of two categories: entirely too revealing for my taste and/or prohibitively expensive. So with those two things in mind, I set out to find 9 event-appropriate pieces that will all but guarantee you’ll be one of the best-dressed. ...