Hello! Happy August (!!!), happy Olympics, happy pommel horse guy watching, happy Simone Biles GOAT celebrating, happy everything. It’s a short and sweet Friday newsletter this week.

Coming up next week: An exclusive interview with an author whose book everyone is buzzing about right now. I can’t wait to share. ‘Til then! x Alisha

PICTURE THIS— It’s a warm, August afternoon. You’ve signed off early from work and you’ve got no plans for the evening. No one waiting for you, nowhere to be. You slip into your most comfortable clothes: the worn-in, loose tee that fits just so, the crisp shorts with the stretchy waist. The rest of the evening stretches out luxuriously before you, like a cat basking in the sun. What now? The moment is anything you want it to be: an impromptu aperitivo hour, a cold glass of something refreshing in your hands. A reading session on the outdoor chaise, where you could lose yourself in a world far from your own. You feel the tension slip from your shoulders and step softly into the weekend. ∎

~ ~ ~

SET THE MOOD WITH… A good book. Cozy house clogs. A relaxed tee, breezy shorts, and a free-hearted cap. A delicate keeper for your candles as the sun dips low.

What I’m reading…

• The Wedding People by Alison Espach. I’m listening to this on audio and I think this is one of those instances where the narration style is tripping me up, so I may have to switch to the Kindle… (Check content warnings before starting; the beginning is dark.)

• Funny Story by Emily Henry. I missed the boat when this was first released (and I was a little burnt out on romance at the time). This is getting me back into my “fun reads” mood; Emily Henry captures realistic dialogue so well.

• New on my to-read list: Casey McQuiston’s new novel (out on Tuesday) about exes on a food and wine tour sounds incredibly fun and perfect for summer.

What I’m watching…

Presumed Innocent on Apple TV. Jake Gyllenhaal plays a prosecutor in Chicago who is convicted of murdering his colleague with whom he had an affair. The content matter is of course dark, but it’s an entirely engrossing story that leaves you guessing as to who did it. (No spoilers please! I’m on ep 4!)

[Also - a short update from last week: I saw Twisters! I had medium-low expectations! It was entertaining! That was really all I wanted from this movie, and it delivered!]

A fun (and random) $24 find…

This shiny red hair clip. It’s got a stronger grip than my other clips (great news for my thick hair) and adds a nice punch of color to my more minimalist outfits.

What’s keeping me busy…

As I savor the remaining bits of summer, I’m also preparing for the transition to fall in both work and personal life. I’ll be taking the last two weeks of August off from the newsletter to spend quality time with my family and to organize some exciting fall content. It’s my first time planning ahead like this, and I’m eager to share fresh ideas with you when I get back!

As I mentioned this week, I’m also in full-on closet organization and shopping planning mode as fall inches closer… Mindful consumption is the goal, though I don’t always hit the mark. I’m hoping that planning ahead, making edited wishlists, indexing my wardrobe, etc. will help.

Would love to hear how you’re making the best of the rest of summer as August kicks off!

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Reader Comment Spotlight

“I am absolutely obsessed with this! Love that she did this for herself.

The closest I've come to doing something similar was taking my three closest girlfriends on a trip to Palm Springs for my 35th birthday. I know that's a scary age for some, so I wanted to mark the occasion doing something I wanted with people I loved. But I still couldn't imagine having them spend money on me, so I paid for everything myself - despite having spent a collective $10k between the three of them for their weddings.”

—reader SG, in response to this post about my friend Kelsey’s 10-years-in-NYC party.

What Big Life Moments Should We Be Celebrating More? Alisha Ramos · Jul 26 Read full story

Fun Links (and a Reader Giveaway!)

[The rest of today’s newsletter is continued for my paid subscribers this week. I’ll occasionally paywall this newsletter as a big thank you to the supporters who make it possible!]...