June in Bloom

Simple things elevating my days as we ease into summer

For whatever reason, Chicago has felt more like October than June lately, and I can’t say I hate it. The cool mornings have encouraged slower starts with the windows open. Tea brewing and a good book waiting on the coffee table. Legs up the wall and reading is a form of therapy for me! I’ve been getting to bed earlier, nourishing myself with grounding meals built around farmers market vegetables, local cheeses, and beautiful cuts of meat, and spending more time baking than scrolling.

The weather has also made my daily walks feel almost effortless. Fifteen thousand steps sounds ambitious until you spend an hour wandering through the park while talking to your mom, leaving voice notes for friends, or catching up on life over the phone. I’ve always been a call girl. Audio messages too. Always audio messages!

Yesterday I sat down to write my intentions for June, but today I found myself thinking less about goals and more about the simple things that have elevated my life so far this month. And a quick sidenote… this substack is dedicated to my dear friend Deb, who unknowingly inspired about half (if not more!) of what’s on this list.

1. Find a local florist and show them some love.

This one took me far too long to appreciate. I shop seasonally when it comes to food, so why wouldn’t I do the same with flowers?

Now, one of my favorite rituals is stopping by Petals on Saturday mornings to pick up my blooms. We are right in the middle of peony season, which is just my favorite, and and every week feels like a small ode to seasonal living. The flowers are fragrant, long-lasting, and impossibly beautiful. It’s become one of my favorite ways to romanticize the season and mark the passing of time.

2. Elevate your reading experience.

Speaking of Deb, she also managed to score us the sweetest Kindle cases from BookRats during one of her recent drops. Evie Schofield inspired us both, and we were positively giddy when the stock refreshed. We all chose the deer print, which felt like an immediate yes, but they are all so sweet.

This month, I’ve been thinking a lot about elevating the reading experience. Maybe that’s a beautiful hardcover with thick, crisp pages. Maybe it’s a reading lamp so you can stay up with a novel while your husband sleeps beside you. (Blake is firmly in the early-to-bed, early-to-rise camp. I am also early to bed... just not quite five-a.m.-club early.)

Whatever it looks like for you, reading feels infinitely more inviting when the ritual surrounding it feels special.

3. Oil cleanse and embrace lymphatic work.

I had one of the most beautiful facials while we were in the South of France, and a major component of it was manual lymphatic massage paired with a luxurious oil cleanser. I’ve been recreating pieces of that ritual at home ever since.

There is something incredibly grounding about taking five minutes to slow down, massage your face, and reconnect with your body. Of course, it helps with puffiness, but for me the bigger benefit is how calming it feels. It’s become one of my favorite ways to settle anxious energy and return to myself. Call me a weirdo until you try it — it’s extremely cathartic.