May 2025 // Recap

Did you know I launched a podcast?!

Jun 06, 2025

Clockwise from top left: **Black Leather Flip Flops** // **Glowy SPF 30** // **White Linen Buttondown Coverup** (on sale!) // **Nan’s Outfit** // **Three Quarter Striped Tee** // **Cake Shopping Membership** // **Nan’s White Jean Outfit** // **Leopard Dress** (on sale!) // **Navy Dress** // **Wishbone Kitchen cook book**

Can I say ‘Happy Summer’?! Now that it's June, I feel much more in summer mode. How about you all?

When do summer Fridays start? Now, right? (Because I work for myself I suppose I could have summer Fridays all year long and sometimes I sort of do.. but I very much lean into a half day of work in these summer months.)

But before we dive too deep into all things summer, I am back with a quick recap of the month of May. First, I share a personal high and low from the month. And then a shoppable round-up of the most popular products as well as some of my favorite outfits from the past month.

Share Nan's Notebook

My low for the month of May: breaking my foot…

In case you missed it (not sure how you could have, because I feel like a bit of a broken record as I complain about it..) but in the middle of May, I broke and fractured a bone in my foot. I was on crutches for a bit and now am in a boot for about four more weeks. I keep trying to remind myself that, in the grand scheme of things, it's a relatively minor health issue (no surgery, no long-lasting effects) but it’s still an annoyance nonetheless. Truthfully, it has just put me in a funk! I miss taking Fitz for long walks or wearing a fun outfit (no outfits look good with the boot..!) And generally, I really do not like feeling helpless. It is better now, but for those first few days, I felt pretty incapable and that was hard.

I will say this experience has certainly reminded me how much I take my day-to-day health for granted…

Highlight of my month: launching a podcast, Gems & Friends, with

Maddie Bush

Maddie and I have been long-time internet friends (turned real-life friends), and about a month ago, Maddie threw out the idea that we should start a podcast together. We just sort of ran with it from there! We have published five episodes so far and plan to continue releasing one episode a week going forward. Some episodes will just be Maddie and me, where we chat about daily life, shopping, and whatever else is on our minds. And then in other episodes we will have guests - our first guest episode was with our friend Madison, the founder of Fewer Finer. We don’t have any huge plans or goals for the pod (just yet), so who knows where it will take us, but so far it has been an exciting new project to work on.

Listen & Follow on Spotify

Listen & Follow on Apple Podcasts

@GemsAndFriendsPodcast on Instagram

Starting the podcast has reminded me that it can be fun and exciting to learn something new! To just go for it - to start, to dive in! I think I often get anxious and scared, overthinking things before I even start. But I don’t think that is necessary; in reality, I think so much of life is just figuring things out as you go.

^^Anywho, I am rambling, so i’ll stop there (and save it for the pod)! But if you are reading this and have been thinking of trying something new, maybe this can be a little push of motivation to just go for it!

Here are your favorite (and most shopped) items from the month of May

Leopard Dress from Tuckernuck
1. I sized up one size and got a XXL because I find Tuckernuck dresses to run short(!) But if you are not worried about the length, I think your true size should be great.
The Fleur Dress from Hill House
1. Mine is my true size (XL) but its a touch loose so I maybe could have sized down
Linen Beach Shirt from J.Crew
1. I sized up and bought a XXL because I like it big and oversized
Yves Block Heel Sandal from Margaux
1. I don’t own these (yet, I am tempted) but I can share that I generally find Margaux shoes to be true to size
Kinto Sandals from A.Emery
1. I would say these are true to size
Skin Glow SPF 30 from YSE
1. promo: NAN-15
Black Mesh Bralette from Eby
1. I take my true size in Eby bras, a XL
Spanx Smooth Bikini Underwear from Spanx
1. These are offered in just two sizes: one size or one size plus. Based on their size chart I fell into one size plus, so that is the size I wear
The Wishbone Kitchen Cookbook by Meredith Hayden
Three-Quarter Tee from Alice Walk
1. I find this to be true to size, I take a XL.
2. Hear more about this shirt and why I love here.
Cake Shopping Membership
1. I have been really happy with my Cake Membership — I hate when things feel like gimmicks or you pay for something and don’t feel like you get your money’s worth. But I have already used ‘cake cards’ three times, so the $100 membership has more than paid for itself and then some while I saved money on purchases from Alex Mill, La Ligne, and Jenni Kayne.