The first day back after a holiday weekend can be a real bummer. Many of us spent hours in cars packed with family members and exhaustion, and while the reverie and celebration are over, life marches on. Remember summer as a kid? I really do miss that — one day blurring into the next as the heat swirled around us and the biggest care in the world was whose fence we planned to hop that day for some fun.
I’m writing full-time from home now, so I spend a lot of time with this guy and his brother. When Josh comes home from work, there is much fanfare awaiting — and usually a yummy, organic snack too.
But as we prepare for the arrival of our daughter (it’s a girl, by the way!!!), Josh and I are trying to make the most of all days — even Mondays. Some day soon summer vacation will reinvent itself as we watch the warm days go by from her innocent point of view, but during our last July and August as a twosome, we’re making some sweet memories of our own.
So excited to meet our little girl in the fall.
Tonight it will be fish on the grill with steamed veggies and a salad, and later this week we’ll head out for a movie (I’m dying to see The Fault in Our Stars still, but we’ll see how lucky I get). We have a relaxed weekend ahead with no plans on deck — we’ll likely spend it test-driving strollers, cooking together, and taking a few long walks with the dog. In August, we’ll see Miranda Lambert in concert (I’m already tearing up at the thought of hearing “Automatic” live), and then we have a baby moon on Sanibel Island, Florida to plan.
On Thursday we were in Connecticut at the start of a couples’ weekend with my amazing brother and sister-in-law. We picked this fresh baby romaine and basil from her garden and used them in dinner. THIS is my idea of a sweet summer!
These days, it’s all about simplicity, and good old-fashioned fun that has me in bed at a reasonable hour and well-fed on wholesome, nutrient-rich food. It’s a far cry from many of the other summers of my 20s, fabulous as they were — fueled by booze and burns, calorie counting and chaos, dresses and drama. And while that was all fun, this is shaping up to be my best one yet.
More fresh CT produce was used in the making of these open-faced gluten-free BLTs. Try drizzling a little olive oil on instead of smearing your bread with mayo. True delight.
In line with my new, more laid-back approach to dressing, which is comprised mostly of maxi dresses and other gauzy things, and a makeup routine based heavily on healthy skin and an emphasis on the eyes, I’m trying to leave my hair alone this summer. As you know I had several inches, plus bangs, cut in December. And while the severe, Alexa Chung-ish chop was super-chic and just what I thought I needed, it is often when we return to our real selves that we feel the most fulfilled.
Josh loved my fashion-forward hair, but he’s more into this girl, who doesn’t spend 45 minutes on her coif anymore. We both know I won’t have that kind of time as of November!
Thanks to the prenatals and the girl growing inside me, I’ve got about three of those inches back, and I’m taking it easy on my hair these days with minimal heat styling and 3-4 washes a week. Here’s how I create those great beachy waves we all love, without a blowdryer (or even a brush). A dear friend of mine has super-shiny, stick-straight hair and I once asked her how she achieves it, because I know her natural texture is wavier than that. Her description of the process was comical, because step one was described as “letting it airdry for about 30 minutes till it looks like sh*t.”
Well, the tactic really does work! Your hair is less likely to look damaged and fried if you allow the bulk of the drying process to happen naturally. I let it go for 20-40 minutes depending on how much time I have, until it, like Rachel says, looks like sh*t. But I do so with just a hint of product in it — a quarter-size amount of Unite Lazer Straight, $25, amazon.com.
This relaxing fluid works wonders if you want to style your hair stick-straight, but I’ve found it can do double duty by helping create undone, frizz-free waves, too.
Pull your hair into a messy French braid, weaving it off to one side. I suggest the side because when you braid it straight back, the bottom tends to droop and those strands are the ones that need the most body. Also, it looks slick this way and can easily work if you need to leave the house. A few loose strands are no big deal; you want a hippie-ish finish, so don’t braid too perfectly or your waves will come out looking totally uniform.
Leave your braid in until the hair is fully dry, messing up the back with your fingertips every ten minutes or so to check for dampness and also to keep the look unrefined and fun. Once dry, let it out and spray with a firm hold hairspray to keep frizz at bay. The end result is pretty beach hair without a stitch of heat styling. I make these waves last two days and they always look even prettier on day two. Do this once or twice a week this summer, and I guarantee your hair will grow faster and look gorgeous in the process.
Born to be a Bride 