Hi! Danielle Wraith here! The Second Act is the weekly newsletter I always wanted in my inbox, packed with obsessively-curated recommendations, thoughtful reflections on books, feelings, life, and the art of making room for more. Whether you're seeking inspiration or connection. The Second Act offers a warm, inviting space for all.
Imagine we’re catching up over coffee and I’m gushing over what I’ve been Lovin’ Lately…
📚 The God of the Woords by Liz Moore: Fourteen years ago, the son of a wealthy summer camp owner in the Adirondacks went missing. When his little sister’s bunk is discovered empty in the ‘70s, a trove of family secrets is unearthed, bouncing between camp and home drama in this artfully woven novel.
🎥 ‘Twisters,’ in theaters: A summer blockbuster in its truest form, this remake of the ‘90s classic about daring storm chasers delivers with romance, one-liners, and exciting chase scenes. It stars Glen Powell as the brazen cowboy in it for the thrill, and the YouTube subscribers, and Daisy Edgar-Jones, as the meteorologist returning to the field at the request of her old friend (Anthony Ramos). Tornadoes abound.
📺 “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” on Netflix: In this murder mystery most charming, Pip becomes fixated on a murder that took place when she was a girl, five years prior. In this adaptation of the YA series of the same title, Pip puts her academic prowess toward solving what really happened to Andie Bell that night.
I’ve been out of sorts of the past few weeks—every time I feel like I’m getting a grip on things, I then overcommit to social events, I unexpectidly go out of town (and get sick), my kids head back to school (insert a to do list of prep). It’s all things I’m genunely excited about, but it also means that I’ve felt largely out of control and ungrounded. My reaction to these times is to go back to my original coping mechanism of perfectionism. I neurotically marry myself to my to-do list, in an attempt to grab hold of some semblance of balance. Everything will be okay, so long as I can finish my to-dos. (Spoiler: There is no end to to-dos.) During these times, the routines and practices that are vital for me go out the window, since nothing matters as much as getting through my tasks.
To that end, I’m trying to establish routines and rituals I can do anywhere, including recommitting to morning walks (now that its cooler) and my daily poetry routine. I’m also trying to use regular rituals, like getting dressed, as a means of connecting creatively with myself while taking care of myself (as opposed to athleisure) In this weeks Sunday Edition, I’ll be sharing five outfits I wore this week, and their sources of inspiration—from a song playing in the park, to a memoir, and a chance photo… stay tuned!
Sharing a few of my saves and other faves because cool girls don’t gatekeep!
My forever favorite Transport Tote
Cute prints!
Why Lake Tahoe isn’t a national park.
A diaper bag fanny pack.
Tomatoes with spiced olive oil.
This Curling Iron with 3 Interchangeable (I’ve had it for years!)
Cute, minimal alternative for a recycling bin and a stylish home composting system.
How celebrity book clubs actually work.
Cute white sneakers (that are easy to clean!)
More to read:
Alright, see ya next week! Leave me a comment on anything you’d like me to include in Lovin’ Lately in the future… Day in the life details? What’s on my TBR? Fave spots in Fresno? Got a question? Lemme know!
Free ways to support The Second Act that I’d be oh so grateful if you took a few second to do:
“like” and comment on this post on Substack
restack the post to help spread the word
share a screenshot on social media
forward to a friend
Twisters was so much fun! And The God of the Woods... wow