gems of june
an unplanned substack hiatus, memories of a cape may doll shop, gemini season celebrations, and a list of things i've been loving lately
And we’re back. My unplanned 3-week Substack hiatus can be blamed on sunshine guilt, a mouse problem that is testing my sanity, and a severe case of writer's block. To give myself some credit, I’ve written drafts for Substack and almost hit “publish” but held myself back from going there with specific topics because it simply didn’t feel right. With low-grade worry at an everpresent simmer, I easily fall into the trap of consuming and not creating, which I’m working on striking a balance between. As we welcome Summer, I’m setting the intention to get back into the swing of things and resume my regularly scheduled content creation here on Substack.
Aside from the aforementioned writing roadblocks, June was filled with many gems and some of the loveliest days of the year. At the beginning of the month, I went on a quick overnight trip to Cape May to celebrate my sister’s 31st birthday. We hadn’t visited in over a decade and reminisced about our trips there when we were little girls. Our favorite place that no longer exists was called Oma’s Doll Shop, and it was tucked into a quiet strip of one of the shopping malls. Upon entering the store, you were greeted with the faces and creepy eyes of dozens of dolls organized throughout the shop, from lifelike newborns to toddler-sized dolls and good old-fashioned stuffed dolls. On the left of the store was a room with a clear glass window overlooking a dozen babydolls in individual clear plastic bins, mimicking a nursery you’d find in the hospital. The woman who owned the shop draped us in fake scrubs and then let us go in to pick our babies out.
Once we chose the perfect baby doll, she wrote up a birth certificate and encouraged us to buy our babies new outfits before heading home. At the time, I loved the feeling of being a “big girl” who took care of a baby that was my very own. Looking back now, I find it both adorable and a bit strange that I was so wholely thrust into pseudo-motherhood at that age. Luckily, the baby doll was entirely inanimate and required little real responsibility. My sister Meg loved this doll store experience, too. From ages 8-12, she almost always carried a baby doll, draping it over her shoulder or sitting the baby in the crook of her hip. A few times in public, people were worried that it was an actual baby. She had a habit of gnawing at their hands, and my Mom would put tabasco sauce in an attempt to make her stop, but it hardly worked. To this day, she’ll tell you she left her baby doll, Annabelle, in our childhood home, which we moved out of a decade ago.
No baby dolls were in attendance on this trip to Cape May. This beach-side town has an old-timey, whimsical vibe that I’ve only ever felt replicated at Disney World when a group of men in red suspenders appear to sing acapella. While there were no spontaneous singers, we were able to entertain ourselves as we wandered the streets and admired perfectly preserved Victorian-age homes painted with the most lively colors. My favorite was the pink one, with disco balls hanging from the porch, on the corner of Perry Street and Carpenter Lane. We spent much of the trip enjoying meals and staying cool from the unusually warm temps for early June. While we ate lunch, Ruby was spoiled with a $7 frozen doggie dessert at The Beach Shack. Then, to end the day, Megan let us sing Happy Birthday as she was served apple pie ala mode at The Blue Pig restaurant inside the idyllic Congress Hall.
We stayed at a nearby hotel (the one my parents stayed at the weekend of their engagement) and could hear the ocean waves from our balcony. The next day, we took to Washington Street Mall and browsed all the beachy shops. Instead of bringing a baby home, I found the perfect cozy, seafoam green sweatshirt with embroidered letters spelling “CAPE MAY” across the chest. Much like our younger years of matching as sisters, Meg picked out the same style in hot pink. As with all quick trips, twenty-four hours did not feel long enough, and I’m eager to visit again for a local summer vacation.
Aside from celebrating my sister, this Gemini season was filled with many more celebrations and gatherings. I helped coordinate my neighborhood block party, attended a dear friend’s memoir book launch (more on that later), celebrated my cousin’s husband’s 30th birthday, and gathered with a few dozen family members for an overdue reunion. At that family reunion, I officially became the older cousin who says, “You’re how old?!” when realizing the babies I once knew are now pre-teens with iPhones and jam-packed sports schedules.
With all these social gatherings and celebrations, I’ve needed to carve out small moments of grounding and solitude. Lately, that’s looked like admiring the hydrangea blooms around my neighborhood, taking my computer work outside to my front deck to enjoy the breeze, and whipping up new creations with all the seasonal produce I can get my hands on. In honor of finding balance in this season of life, I’m sharing another list of things I’ve been loving lately.
Loving Lately
Reading + Wearing + Making + Watching + Listening
Reading:
Wednesday Morning: Growing Up in Grief by Christine Fiorelli Epstein
Over the past few years, I’ve connected with more young people who also lost their parents on 9/11, and the author of this book, Chrissy, happens to be one of them. We officially met a few months ago through one of my friends I met from Tuesday’s Children. Now, there’s a group of four of us who all live within thirty minutes of each other and share the unique connection of being touched by the same tragedy in the same way.
Since we’ve met, I’ve known about Chrissy’s book-in-progress. She started writing eight years ago, before she had her children, and finished it this Fall. Earlier this month, she released it on her Dad’s birthday. I read the entire thing in two days and connected so much with her journey with grief as a young girl and the complicated feelings associated with the devastating loss of her Dad. As a former educator, Chrissy thoughtfully explains the developmental phases of grief children experience and how she felt during those years. It’s heartbreaking and heartwarming all at once– I highly suggest you give it a read.
Grab your paperback copy on Amazon, or download it on your Kindle.
Wearing: Saie Glowy SuperGel in Sunglow
I’m always striving for a no makeup, makeup look, and this product fits the bill. I purchased a mini version right before my Italy trip, and once it’s all gone, I will splurge on the full-size bottle. It’s a very lightweight product with a bronzey glow that’s perfect for these summer months. I like pairing it with my Saie Slip Tint tinted moisturizer, wearing it alone, or adding it to my temples and cheekbones for an extra radiant look.
Making: Summer Salads with Homemade Champagne Vinaigrette
With so many gatherings this month, I’ve been whipping up anything but boring salads for everyone! I keep coming back to How Sweet Eats Strawberry Crunch Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette, and it’s been a hit for every occasion. This week, I ate the dressing on a salad with mixed greens, quinoa, chickpeas, apples, and cucumbers, and I will be adding that into my rotation for a filling summer salad option.
It’s a 10/10 from me.
Watching: Bridgerton Season 3
It took me way too long to realize the internet’s dialogue around “Polin” was the combination of Penelope and Colin’s names. Much like the rest of the internet, I did love this season of Bridgerton, just as I have the last ones. Despite the season being broken up into two parts, I felt like the episodes went by quickly and were very binge-able. The storyline between these characters had much more background than other seasons, and I appreciated how in-depth we got to know Penelope and her motivations. I won’t say much else so as not to spoil anything. Give it a watch if you haven’t already!
Listening: Joy Oladokun on Spotify
It’s no secret that I’m a big Noah Kahan fan, and by knowing his music, I’ve learned about other notable artists like Joy Oladokun. Her sound is a blend of folk, pop, and soul blend, often featuring guitar. I’ve been listening to her songs on repeat and especially love look up, Keeping The Light On, and Sweet Symphony (featuring Chris Stapleton). She will be playing at Sea Hear Now in September, and I’m beyond excited to see her perform in person on the sandy shores of Asbury Park!
Until next week!
xo,
Nicole
What a wonderful description of your quick trip to Cape May and your childhood memories with your sister! And I love that you've connected with a memoirist who shares a history with you. Connection is so important!