Monday Memo No. 55
Covering a lot of ground this Monday: Home, tech, Manhattanhenge—get in here.
Summer Entertaining Season
Outdoor entertaining season is in full swing, so if you need to brush up (and brush off those patio seating cushions), last year’s outdoor soiree entertaining guide is one of my favorites, and now is a perfect time for a re-read. I cover all of the serving pieces you need, fuss-free decor, some fun menu ideas and tips for anticipating the elements.
How To Make Frosé
Far more than just a delicious, drinkable Instagram opportunity, frosé is the frosty beverage begging to be on everyone’s rooftop this summer. Except mine. *Continues to type through soft sobs.* This frosé recipe is easy, delicious and a foolproof crowd-pleaser.
MakeSpace
Right, so… babies need a lot of stuff. Additionally, the baby I’m currently working on has two parents who have a lot of stuff, too. Rich and I just signed up for MakeSpace which is the city-dweller’s survival system when life’s possessions threaten to collapse inward upon you. It’s genius, and MakeSpace takes care of everything—they provide you with packing materials (fo free), pick up your stuff (also free), inventory your items in an online catalog, store them (obviously), and if there’s ever something you need, you can just tap on it via their app and MakeSpace will deliver the item back to your door. It’s absolutely genius for storing winter coats, holiday decor or extra furniture, freeing up absolutely essential closet space for tiny dresses and strollers. Or grown-up clothes. Or my husband’s inexplicably large collection of athletic gear. Whatever. It’s shockingly affordable (plans start at $69 a month) and if you click this link to sign up, you’ll get $200 off which (depending on the plan you choose) could basically make your first three months of the service free. Why did I not do this sooner?
Airpod Alternatives
I’m entirely convinced that I will lose any Airpods I own within 30 seconds of purchasing them and have therefore resisted the ubiquitous ear accessory, despite being shamed online and IRL for my continued use of earphones (brace yourself) with actual CORDS (the horror!). However, my desire to live a cordless life (especially when working out) has been ever-increasing, so as an intermediate precautionary step to see if (a) I like the Airpod lifestyle and (b) I can actually keep track of these tiny buggers, I purchased these bluetooth wireless earbuds on Amazon for less than a third of the price of Apple airpods. This just in: they’re AMAZING. They fit very comfortably in my ear, they’re waterproof (so I don’t worry about getting super sweaty with them in the gym), and they last a really long time. Also just alleviating that constant fear of dropping an actual Airpod in a subway grating is such a relief.
Manhattanhenge!
New York’s most instagrammed natural phenomenon (I use the word “natural” loosely, this entirely has to do with buildings, FYI) is happening this week! If you’re not familiar, Manhattanhenge is a phenomenon occurring just before and after the summer solstice, in which the sunset aligns perfectly with NYC’s east-west street grid. Read this article on where to stake out your spot this Friday or Saturday for the perfect sunset snap and keep your fingers crossed for sunny skies.
Bee’s Wrap
No one’s actually like… a fan of trash. We’re all constantly looking for ways to be kinder to our planet, and this is one of my recent favorites. Bee’s Wrap is reusable food wrap (like Saran Wrap you can wash and reuse), that’s a far more eco-friendly way to keep leftovers and meal prep items fresh in your fridge. With this set, you’ll get three different sized wraps for different uses, and please note the phenomenal volume of ratings!
Minted
I have lots of family and friends coming to NYC this weekend for my baby shower and am obsessed with the invitations the hostesses sent out from Minted. (This is the exact one… in pink with scalloped edges and a gingham envelope liner.) The personalization options are so fun and the quality is truly top notch. Not only do I appreciate this because the invitations are definitely going to be immortalized in a baby book (or maybe framed?) but also now I think I need to go back for matching thank you notes… and birth announcements… and any/all paper goods going forward.
Colorblock Coverup Maxi Dress
You may have spotted this bold summer beauty on my Instagram recently, but I thought I’d re-share it here because I just can’t get over the cuteness (and comfort!). Bright colors and flowy fabrics are precisely the medicine we need in this sweltering city heat. I also love this dress for the beach or vacation travel because it’s so easy to throw on over a bathing suit and be ready to be seen off-the-sand, instantly.
Asos Maternity
Hooray. For. ASOS. While they’ve long been a favorite for fun, affordable fashion, I have recently discovered their maternity section and have been living in this dress, this lounge set and this lounge set recently. Not only do I love their selection of maternity clothing, but it’s also just so affordable. So, even if you only end up wearing things for a few months during your pregnancy, that’s okay because you haven’t sunk your future kid’s college fund in maternity sweats. Basically I’m saying that shopping at Asos = financial planning.
Jo Malone Diffusers
Memorandum readers are very aware that my love for Jo Malone knows no bounds. Two of my favorite scents currently are Lime Basil Mandarin, and English Pear & Freesia… although I’ve yet to meet a Jo Malone scent I didn’t love. Personally, I’ve always been a candle person, but after trying these diffusers over the last several months, I’m now wondering why I didn’t hop on the diffuser train sooner. You don’t have to worry about leaving an unattended candle burning, they last for MONTHS, they’re beautiful, and they fill your home with phenomenal scent. I know the price tag is higher than a candle would be, but since they last exponentially longer, they’re very much worth the investment.
2 responses to “Monday Memo No. 55”
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You will find that babies don’t actually need a lot of stuff, it’s more us parents who like to think that. And remember, you can always go and buy what you may need after baby is here!
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Lovely post as always! Wishing you a healthy pregnancy and baby.
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