Hello readers! Today’s newsletter brings you my “going into town” summer outfit, a must-see new movie release, and a round up of some summery books I read in the wild-hectic time at the beginning of June before our vacation. Remember that the Saturday edition of this publication is always available for all readers ~ I am so happy you have welcomed me into your inbox ♡
Summer Is Trying to Burn Me Alive
Friends, it was just last summer, at age 42, when I realized that my internal thermometer had just straight up broken. Temperature regulation was OVER. The main thing I remember about last summer was just being H-O-T and feeling like I was on fire, although we also did really fun things! Well, it’s SUMMER AGAIN, and Wisconsin is doing its best to burn me alive and drown me, with the recent wild swings between fiery swamp and rain and thunderstorms. The fact that our ancient farmhouse doesn’t have central air ~ we survive in a windstorm of a generations-old wall A/C unit and so many fans! ~ and one of our cars doesn’t always have working A/C means that alas, I’m often a sweaty, fiery hot mess.
Don’t get me wrong ~ I L.O.V.E. summer. I haven’t worked a real schedule or in a formal setting in the summer since 2004, thanks to a summer of loosely nannying for cousins while I was pregnant with our oldest in 2005, staying at home with babies for two years after that, and then hello teaching and summers at home ever since. That means summers of reading and pools and beaches and naps and gardening and lounging and wearing whatever the heck I want to. I have my house clothes that involve the capri version of my house pants and whatever raggedy tank tops I can find to throw on, but sometimes I have to leave the ridgetop property. We call this “going into town” and it differs from “going to the pool / beach”. Those fun trips off the hill involve just a swimsuit covered by whatever won’t horrify a police officer if I get pulled over, but “going into town” involves things like grocery shopping, the library, a movie, etc. But real clothes when I feel like I’m always on fire? A true conundrum that I have thankfully figured out for this year!
Today, I present to you this year’s summer outfit for actually leaving our property and going into town ~ thanks to for inspiring some of the items!
these delightful $6 tank tops that are just a tiny bit too low in the front but it’s okay, I always wear a sporty bra that I don’t mind peeking out
these shorts with one of those tanks tucked all the way in ~ why are these sold out? I was just going to order another pair!
if not those shorts, then these pants when I may be inside for longer periods or these capris that LOOK like pants but actually FEEL like shorts. Magical.
this shirt in case I get frozen out by air conditioning in stores / library
one of my many pair of ancient Tevas or Birks
That’s it, my friends. This is what the hotter-than-hell middle-aged moms are wearing this summer in Wisconsin. Or just this one? Also, let’s be real. This is also what I wore to work when it got hot in May and will also be wearing to work when it’s hot in September.
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A Movie for Us Anxious Types
I took the almost-13-year-old to see Inside Out 2 on Monday (yes, I wore the “going to town” outfit!) and I really can’t tell you just how much both of us loved it. It’s about hockey camp and puberty and ANXIETY and it’s so perfect for any kid living with anxiety. But also? I’m a grown adult who fully plans to visualize scenes from this movie when gripped by anxiety in the future. It gives such an amazing perspective on how overpowering and destructive anxiety can be, but also a gentle reminder of the purpose of anxiety and how other emotions can help temper it. The youngest and I both think that kids younger than 3rd grade will like it but might not grasp the messages ~ everyone older than that will fully relate.
I loved it more than the first one, but my daughter said she loves them the same and that this is perfect for kids who grew up watching the first movie over and over since it first released, like she did ~ Riley and her emotions have aged with them ♡
Some End of the School Year Summery Reading
There was a hazy period of time between graduation season and before Maine, during a super full time at the end of the school year, in which I read and listened to some really fun summery books that I haven’t managed to write about yet. I shall (briefly) remedy that now!
Every Time I Go on Vacation Someone Dies by Catherine Mack ~ this quippy and fun mystery takes place in Italy on an author retreat and I am so happy that it’s set to be the first in a series! I loved it on audio1.
Jackpot Summer by Elyssa Friedland ~ I adore messy family stories and beach houses and this more than filled both of those needs! Watch as the adult Jacobson siblings win the lottery and deal with it in hilarious and heartbreaking ways, all while navigating their father aging and their own life dramas. Such a fun Jersey Shore story that takes place over the course of a year.
The Summer Swap by Sarah Morgan ~ I can always count on Sarah Morgan to provide sweet stories that are perfect for simple seasonal reading. This summery Cape Cod story has family history, a little mystery and a chaste romance in a beach house no one knew the family still owned.
Favorite Substack Read of the Week
You all know I’m deeply proud of my Wisconsin roots, and really not much could be more representative of social events here than a Scotcheroo. I count on
to hit me in my feels almost every time she writes about food, and she truly came through for me this week. I hereby declare that this shall be the summer I make, for the first time ever, a Scotcheroo! Rather than just counting on everyone else to make them so I can eat a half a pan at every gathering ……..Wait, one more Midwest recommendation! Earlier this week I wrote a guest piece for
, my very favorite (WISCONSIN!) kidlit recommender who isn’t a librarian but sure volunteers as a library board member enough to be one! You can check it out here, and also make sure to subscribe toWhile you wait for my July release roundup to hit inboxes next Saturday, why not check out all the amazing books that have released in June2!
That’s all for this week ~ thanks for reading!
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your summer outfits are on point imho! comfort is the name of the game!
I saw Inside Out 2 this week and my heart melted! So good. Also, I laughed at the comment about living in a windstorm of AC and fans because that was us is this week! We don’t have central air and were running an elaborate system to keep our second floor apartment cool during the heatwave, but it was like liking inside a white noise machine for 48 hours 😂