A Week of Summer
Scenes from the past week, photos included
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This week was a gentle blend of structure and softness, bookended by office days and family time, with moments of motion and stillness in between. Some days felt packed to the brim; others unfolded slowly, like warm laundry or soft light across the living room floor. I kept showing up, to work, to my children, to myself. Here's how the week moved, one little scene at a time.
Monday: Commuter Coffee + To-Do Avalanche
Back in the office and back in the swing of things, with a to-do list that felt like it had been doing push-ups all weekend. After hours, made parmesean crusted chicken over a caesar salad and enjoy dinner with my boyfriend.
Three things I got done: Cleared my inbox (kind of), prepped for a project kick-off call, and remembered to text my sons soccer coach back.
Currently obsessed with: My jam jar iced maple lattes. You have to shake it up real good and it’s *chefs kiss*.
Tuesday: Little Wins
Office day two and the rhythm sets in. More meetings, more emails. Talked myself out of buying a $85 linen top by walking around the block. (Retail therapy, but make it mental.) At home I swapped strappy sandals for my OnClouds and my boyfriend and I took my dog Margot for a nice long walk around Woodward park. Enjoyed an early bedtime, praise.
The vibe: Competent and caffeinated, with just a hint of “if I make it to 3pm, I deserve a treat.”
Midday highlight: Lunch at Heirloom with my marketing team and yes, I got the baklava fro-yo (the cup on the right).
Wednesday: The Pivot Point
That halfway point where everything feels a little wobbly, but in motion. A few bumps, a few bright spots. Designed and formatted a bid proposal with a short turnaround. Even snuck in a quick brainstorm for next week’s Substack post during a lull between meetings. Picked up my children and immediately headed to my daughters gymnastics class. Read a few chapters while she did her thing.
What I’m learning: “We must have the courage to say no to things that do not matter, so we can say yes to what does.” This quote beautifully captures the heart of the book, Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives, creating space in your life not just for rest, but for what truly matters.
Snack of the day: A handful of goldfish crackers I meant to give the kids… but ate in the car while waiting for Target pickup. No regrets.
Thursday: Home Office, Soft Pants On
WFH. Woke up slow, lit a candle, and tackled a few things that needed focused energy. Enjoyed sandwiches for lunch with my son and we chatted about our exciting weekend plans. Got through (most) of the laundry between meetings.
Midday reset: A quick stretch, a crisp coke over iced with lemon, and a meme that made me laugh harder than it should’ve (something about the existential dread of accidentally hitting “Reply All”).
On my screen (after hours): An open tab with summer capsule wardrobe inspo, and a paused YouTube video about organizing kids’ bookshelves.
Feeling: Grounded.
Friday: Landing Gently
WFH. Easing into the weekend. Answered emails with a face mask on, peak multitasking. Wrapped up the week with a few wins: inbox cleared (mostly), project timelines updated, and a little extra breathing room for next week. Later that evening, I celebrated one full year of The Second Act. Champagne, cake, and a few close friends who’ve cheered me on since that first “publish” button
Friday treat: The return of smoothie bowl summers. Cold, colorful, and topped with whatever fruit didn’t get devoured by tiny hands. A spontaneous kitchen dance break that my kids may or may not have judged me for, and cold, colorful, and topped with whatever fruit didn’t get devoured by tiny hands.
What I’m carrying into the weekend: A deep breath, a few good book recs, and the reminder that it’s worth celebrating the things you once only dreamed about.
Saturday: Chlorine, Cousins & BBQ
A full family pool day, the kind where there's sunscreen in your eyelashes, towels on every chair, and the sound of cannonballs echoing off the water. Almost a dozen cousins splashing, shrieking, and soaking up every second of summer.
The energy: sun-warmed chaos in the best way.
Highlight: watching the kids unpack the summer bags my parents put together, tiny treasures, snack trays, and bubble wands that felt like magic.
Sunday: The Exhale
We kept things low and sweet. A picnic lunch outside while I read The Borrowers aloud, this month’s pick for our summer reading tradition. A rainbow carwash (our favorite chore). Then dinner at our local pizza spot with a special guest. We played card games at the table, the kind where everyone leans in and laughs too loud.
Vibe check: calm, connected, and just the right kind of tired.
Grateful for: simple rituals that make a Sunday feel like a soft landing.
A Sweet End-of-Week Recap
Reading: Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood — A sizzling, age-gap, brother’s-best-friend romance set against the dreamy backdrop of a chaotic Sicilian wedding. Equal parts angsty, funny, and steamy, with just enough heart to keep you hooked.
Listening: “At the Beach with You” playlist I curated. Still undefeated for windows-down drives and dinner making.
Wearing: These linen shorts I said I’d only wear at home but now wear everywhere. Also, a claw clip for the messiest bun with zero shame.
Seven days later and I’m heading into a new week with a full heart, a half-empty laundry basket, and the quiet kind of joy that comes from noticing the small things: a dog walk at golden hour, cousins splashing in the pool, a book read aloud from a picnic blanket. Nothing wild, nothing wasted. Just life, lately and I’m grateful to be in the thick of it.
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I love the picture of your keyboard. Sounds like you had a great week. I love working from home; it's such a joy. Happy reading!