5 Delights To Make, Read, Try, Buy, and Shop For July.
Contents are 100% easy peasy, I promise.
Hi everyone, I’m so glad you’re here! I’m writing in a long-weekend haze, having eaten perhaps two too many Snake River Farms extremely fancy hotdogs and approximately 1000 tacos from Tijuanazo, eyes blurry from co-assembling Kakamora barges and Earth/Moon space toys, and heart full from watching my children enjoy a very excellent firework show. In other words: The joys of spending a few days in La Jolla.
I think July is my favorite month, which is heretical for an August birthday girl to admit, but it’s kind of perfect. We’ve left June gloom behind, but aren’t gearing up for the start of school; it’s one of the few times of the year when it’s all about maximum ease, and even my high-pressure Virgo brain eases off, a smidge. Accordingly, I’ve rounded up some July delights for your summer pleasure, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
MAKE: Big Fat Greek Salad with Souvlaki-ish Chicken by Meredith Hayden / Wishbone Kitchen
Confession: I love watching @wishbonekitchen on social media, but I haven’t cooked that many of her recipes IRL. So I was cautiously optimistic when I bought her cookbook, The Wishbone Kitchen Cookbook: Seasonal Recipes for Everyday Luxury and Elevated Entertaining ($30) last month. The cookbook is gorgeous, more seafood forward than I imagined (not a complaint), and I found a new easy salad recipe I’ve already made a half dozen times. I highly recommend this crunchy, fresh, not-too-fussy salad for hot summer days, as it’s truly a delight and mostly just chopping, which is basically the max capacity I have right now. Full recipe is here. Have you all been cooking from her book? Any other recipes I should try?
READ: Atmosphere: A Love Story ($25) by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Longtime Hi Everyone readers know that I’ve read everything TJR has ever written, and that I was harassing y’all to buy Daisy Jones back before it was a monster hit and a TV show. And I even cold recommended her latest, Atmosphere, earlier this summer before I’d even read it. Well, I spent yesterday afternoon in my parents’ backyard inhaling it, and I’m here to say that it’s definitely, officially worth your time. Caveat: I started crying somewhere around page 70, and that kept up sporadically throughout the whole book, so maybe don’t start it if you don’t want puffy eyes? The book is—as billed—a love story set in the 1980s, at NASA, when women were first accepted to the US space program, and seems to be enjoying an enthusiastic reception, if my DMs are any indication. When I posted the cover yesterday, I immediately got hundreds of messages that all contained one of two comments: Are you loving it? and It’s the best book I’ve read all year. So take that for what you will!
TRY: Westman Atelier Eye Activator Brightening and Firming Serum with Peptides + Exosomes ($120)
New product alert! Celebrity makeup guru Gucci Westman just created a new superhero product for Westman Atelier, which I am in the early stages of testing, and already THRILLED about it. Like many women (esp in their 40s), I’m always looking for anything to nourish the skin in my eye area, plump fine lines, and reduce morning puffiness, but my eyes are also sensi as hell and get real pissed at most formulas, which is just so fun! Wisely, Westman Atelier’s serum is fragrance free, and is magically soothing even on my often-irritated skin, and the formula contains niacinamide (brightens), a peptide duo (smoothing), ceramides (super hydrating + good for skin barrier), hyaluronic acid (more hydration + plumping), and eight other actives.
I have been using it morning and night, on both my brow bone and under my eyes, after washing my face, but before moisturizing, and it’s already looking less crepey. I will keep you posted about the full four and eight-week trial, but so far, it’s looking really really good.
BUY: A.Emery Jalen Suede Sandals ($220) in Army Green
Last summer, I tested 15 of the most popular, most recommended summer sandals, to land on three styles that I recommended. One of those styles was a toe-ring, ankle-wrap, super pillowy style from A.Emery, which I bought and wear in gray. This season, I’ve noticed a substantial uptick in this style, with chic options from Larroude (this one is pre-sale but one of the best I’ve seen), Reformation, Amanu, Khaite, and more.
After a year of wearing A.Emery’s Jalen, I just wanted to pop in and say they are still shockingly comfortable and highly recommended. While I don’t think they make the gray anymore, I’ve moved on to army green, which again is a color that goes with nothing, so it goes with everything. I think it’s particularly nice with white, black, gray, navy, tomato red, chocolate brown, pale blush, ocher, and pretty much anything in the Tibi world.
SHOP: Sezane Justine Basket Bag ($285)
As someone who owns…more woven raffia bags than I’d like to admit, when I see a special one, I feel the need to give it a shout, and this one from Sezane is truly a gem. Full disclosure: Mine was a gift from the incredible Gaby Dalkin of @whatsgabycooking, who also makes my favorite Dalkin & Co. flakey sea salt, but I love it so much I have bought it as a gift for someone else already. So why is this one good? It has both short straps to carry by hand and a longer strap if you want to wear it on your shoulder, plus the inside has a cotton lining with a drawstring, so you can protect and hide your keys/wallet/sunglasses etc., and it’s surprisingly roomy despite the compact size, making it the perfect blend of form and function. I wear it to the farmer’s market and store flowers and bread in it, but it’s also cute enough to style with a strappy summer dress for date night. Overall, a really well-made, solid purchase.
Okay friends, that’s it for now. If you want to follow me on @hillarykerr, I’d love it. And if you have anything to say or ask (preferably nothing terribly mean), please drop me a note either via DM or in the comments below.
As always, thank you for taking the time to read this post. I’m truly so glad you’re here. If you like what you’re reading, please consider sharing this newsletter. (And if you have the time to like it, that would mean a lot to me!) All products mentioned are independently chosen, and some may be affiliate links. Your support is appreciated.
Thanks for all the work you put into your Substack! One of my faves.
From Wishbone Kitchen cookbook: shake and bake chicken with hot honey tomatoes. I have made it weekly for the last month! So good.