New & Noteworthy // 06.23.2024
Chatting about everything from SPF Lip Balm to Dog Shampoo and Rosé Wine.
Hello from Maine!
It is finally starting to feel like the start of summer now that I am with my family and back in Maine (one of my very favorite places.)
There is nothing like being near the beach to really make you get in the summer mindset. However, it has been a bit rainy and cold the past few days in Maine, but I am not complaining. I will always take a rainy summer day in Maine over a hot and humid summer day in New York City.
As the week comes to a close, I am popping up in your inbox just to share a few links from the past week. I hope that everyone has a lovely Sunday.
Xoxo Nan
STYLE
Summer Handbag: I have been using this white woven leather tote bag lately and I just love it! I have had this handbag for about three years and I tend to reach for it every summer; I love that it is not a style that you see everywhere. (Anya Hindmarch is a UK based accessory brand and I am continually impressed by their chic designs and way they infuse humor into many of their pieces.)
Athletic Wear: I am hoping to play a bit more golf and tennis this summer so of course, in Nan fashion, I need to make sure I am dressed for the occasion. I just placed a order this tennis skirt and this golf skirt. Next I need to order a few golf polos, I think I will order these.
BEAUTY
Perfume: I got a DM from a follower asking what perfume I wear…a somewhat random question but I also have been in that spot before of wanting a new perfume but not knowing where to start. For years now I have worn Carnal Flower by Frederic Malle. It is pricey but a bottle lasts a long while (you might want to start with a travel size.) I am typically drawn to white floral scents, so if that is something you like, this might be up your alley.
I also own a travel sizes of Glossier You, another scent I like. I prefer to bring this Glossier You scent when I travel because it is less expensive, so if it breaks or I leave it in a hotel by accident, I wouldn’t be as sad.
Self Tanner: Now that I am up in Maine, I am already missing my New York City spray tans. (I hate to lay out in the sun, both because I get bored and because I am scared of skin cancer, so I am a big fake tan gal.) With no go-to spot for stay tans, I am on the hunt for a good self tanner.
Let us know in the comments if you have a self tanner you swear by?
Yesterday I used this set from Coco & Eve (*gifted) and I think it went okay. I used shade medium. I think I need to use it a few more times before I have full thoughts / a detailed review.
For my face, my go-to self tanner is this Spray from St. Tropez. I have used this for years now and it is pretty fool proof. (I need to order a bottle to have here in Maine.)
SPF Lip Balm: Speaking of sun protection, one area that many of us often overlook is your lips. I just ordered this tinted SPF lip balm (shade: pink) - a lot of my Instagram beauty friends have given it rave reviews.
P.S. this is my favorite face sunscreen (it is a European/Australian formula so you have to order internationally, I typically order it from Harrods.)
Find all my beauty favorites here.
LIFESTYLE
Lilse McKenna: I am forever in awe of my friend Lilse McKenna and her incredible talent as a interior designer. She brought her magic to my family’s house in Maine and every detail of the design is perfection. We are continually so grateful and appreciative of her and her team.
P.S. her name is tricky to pronounce but the best way I have heard her describe it is as: “Lilse like TRILLS” or “Lill-zz”.
Full Length Mirror: I often get asked about the full length mirror in my bedroom in Maine, it’s from Pottery Barn Teen of all places! (A Lilse find, of course!)
Tablesetting: When I am home in the summer, my mom and I love to set nice dinner tables as often as possible. It is fun to pull out a patterned tablecloth, fun dinner napkins, candlesticks, and all the various tabletop items.
Wine: Last month, I was kindly gifted some wine from Avaline and as I mentioned on Instagram, I was really impressed by it. I am absolutely not a wine connoisseur but I have had many a glasses of rosé in my lifetime (ha!) and their rosé happily lived up to my standards.
When I got to my parent’s house in Maine the other day and there was no rosé (the horror!) I quickly hopped over to Avaline’s site and ordered 6 bottles!
Avaline promo code: 15FORJUNE for 15% off your order this month
Dog Shampoo: My little dog, a six month old Cavapoo, has discovered the ocean now that we are up in Maine. He is not fully swimming (yet..!) more just running around in the waves. Either way, he definitely gets wet and sandy after a beach walk so I have been giving him more baths than usual with this dog shampoo (a recommendation from .)
Reading: Last week I finished reading Wives Like Us by Plum Sykes. I would give the book a 2.5 / 5 stars. I enjoyed the concept and setting of the book( it is about housewives in the English countryside) but overall I found the storyline a bit slow (I think I just like a bit more mystery..something that has you more on the edge of your seat.)
Now I am reading Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth. I am only about 50 pages in, so I have not read enough yet to give a review, but I have enjoyed other books by the same author.
The books I have read and enjoyed by Sally Hepworth are Mother-In-Law and The Good Sister. Both are quick mystery/thriller beach type reads.
Looking for more book ideas, here are all the books I have read so far this year.
Substack Favorites: As always, I continued to be inspired by various posts and content right here on Substack. This week the following stood out as favorites.
: Did you all see that Heather from Habitual Chic is now on Substack? I have been enjoying her posts over the past few weeks.
SALES TO BROWSE:
J.Crew: As always, a lot is for sale over at J.Crew.
I own and love a few colors of this linen button down beach coverup, it could be a great time to buy the white color way while it is under $50! (I size up one size in this so that it is oversized.)
This casual white maxi dress and this blue floral blouse are in my shopping cart.
Toteme: Toteme just launched this summer sale and a lot of great products are included *Note, some styles are final sale.
Spanx: Spanx is having a large summer sale (some items are up to 70% off) but again, almost everything seems to be final sale…
Tory Burch: Another big sale that is happening now is over at Tory Burch. I don’t love their products that prominently show their logo but I do love some of their classic clothing, many Tory Sport items and their home decor.
I own a earlier version of this navy blue puffer coat and it is a great casual winter jacket. I often wear mine to the gym or on walks in the winter. (I fully endorse buying winter coats in the summer when you can find them for great sale prices!)
I am also tempted to order this pretty printed silk dress (It can be oddly hard to find great dresses with sleeves.)
Nan’s Promo Codes: As always, I have a group of discount codes to some of our favorite brands (from Margaux shoes to Crown Affair) so be sure to take a look here for some additional discounts.
That is it for this week. Stay tuned for a post about my favorite raffia summer purses coming in the next few days.
thanks for including my article Nan! ❤️
I love your Substack !