It seems everywhere I look people are shrinking. And I don’t mean they’re getting shorter. There is apparently a great town-wide waistline whittling happening. I’ve noticed it at camp drop-offs and at the park and lounging around at the community pool. There are people walking around Main Street in bathing suits that never would have been caught dead in a bathing suit in public. People who used to favor voluminous tops are suddenly in slim little tanks and tees. And, lest I be mistaken, they look incredible. Collectively, my town is looking good.
And so I’m wondering, is everyone quietly taking Ozempic?? I’ve tried to probe as politely as I can. “New diet?” I say. But I’m met with the same responses again and again. They’ve cut out sugar or gone keto or upped their water intake. I look at my own waistline and think about the gallons of water I drink daily (stay hydrated!) and the desserts I typically refuse and the amount of protein I try adding to my plate. Surely, I’m missing something. It cannot be that simple to lose twenty pounds at my age.
I keep bringing it up to my husband, taking his general temperature on the subject, but he just rolls his eyes and tells me I look hot. “You don’t need to lose weight,” he says firmly. But don’t I? I want to ask one of these non-Ozempic taking Ozempic-takers how they feel. Glorious? Sexy? Free?
I recently hired a new employee at Wild Plum Books (say hi to Sophie if you’re there on a weekend, she’s lovely). She’s young and beautiful all of her bits are still where they’re supposed to be. Maybe it’s this proximity to an early twenties-something body that has me reflecting on my own middle-aged body. Maybe that’s what everyone else in town is doing too. In shedding the weight the tether between their current self and their 20-year old self is shortened. “Ah, there I am,” they seem to be saying.
I listened to such a fun interview with Glynnis MacNicol whose new book I’m Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself I cannot wait to read. After all, it’s about the pursuit of cheese, sex and pleasure in Paris. In the interview she talked about all of her favorite French pharmacy finds and how there’s this weird, slippery place between being young and being ‘mature’ that smacks of awkward adolescence. I thought that was such a great way to describe the perimenopause rollercoaster. Hormones are out of whack, sleep is elusive, my body is changing and I’m so much moodier. I’m like a 40 year old teenager!
A drug that returns me physically to a younger, freer state of being is wildly appealing. I mean, who doesn’t want to feel good enough to walk down Main Street in a bathing suit?? For now, I have no actual plans (my bank account is laughing at the mere suggestion) to take Ozempic for a spin, but I would like to reconnect with the idea of feeling good in my skin. More swimming, more after dinner walks, more freedom of movement. Summer goals.
The brilliant and insanely stylish Tracy Georgiou sent me a link to Jason Schwartzman and Brady Cunningham’s mid-century house, knowing I’d go mad for it. The warm colors, that green front door, Schwartzman’s doodles in the guest bathroom. Terrific.
My daughter has been begging to drive to the coast for some beach time and I want to take the towels linked below and some of these adorable retro folding chairs for some relief from the crazy heatwave we’re having.
A super pretty little charm to add to your favorite gold link necklace.
I devoured Sandwich which I raved about in the last newsletter and have plunged headfirst into the Wild Plum Books summer book club pick, All Fours. I’ve only just begun but I’m already all in have dogeared a dozen perfect passages. Witty and distinct, Miranda July is a wonder.
These are sold out in black so I scooped up the tortoiseshell instead. The shape looks so good and they’re under $60. Sold!
A bright red bag to banish those summer blues!! What a cutie.
I love these pool/beach towels so much — on my packing list for that trip to the beach.
After quickly adding those sunglasses to my cart, I was poking around on the Na Nin website and spotted these excellent striped pants. Cool, crisp and perfect for my shopgirl days. Currently on sale.
After hearing seemingly everyone talk about this hair serum, I’m waiting impatiently for it to arrive in the mail. Hydrating, detangling, smoothing, it’s a trifecta I could use.
I had the most fun night out over the weekend with some of my favorite people. Charter Oak, an excellent local restaurant, hosted three different chefs from all over the country (we were there to cheer wildly for our friends from Harvey House in Wisconsin) for what they call a potluck. There were ice cold oysters with tamari, we braved the surprisingly delicious beef tongue and fried green tomato dish, there was spaetzle and an aged cheddar bratwurst. Over glasses of cold chablis and pork fried rice, the incredible Mary Louise Parker came up (naturally), which lead to a discussion of the terrific show Weeds. I think this summer deserves a revisit!
That’s all for now. You’ll find me squirreled away in the air conditioned store all week, trying to beat the heat. Have a happy and safe 4th of July!
ok. This is so weird/wonderful. Late last night when I was stressed out about the no kitchen/no stairs/guests coming in 10 days situation, I started thinking about Weeds & how good it was in the beginning (probably because I trying to remember which box the bag of gummies was in 😂)
So chocked full of goodness this post! Cannot wait to devour SANDWICH. Am currently living out I'M MOSTLY HERE TO ENJOY MYSELF, but a full report on that upon my return :) I loved going to Bodega Bay with my parents as a kid--just too perfect. WEEDS was such a wry delight... Back then, we all wanted to write a show like that.