Well, if I would have had power last week, this was the post that was going to go live. But, finally, my Internet service has been restored and here we are. It’s hard to imagine that it’s August already. Just a few short months ago, I was busy making my summer plans and trying to occupy my weekends and enjoy the beautiful summer weather as best I could (all without leaving my neighborhood). Now, we’re into August, that point in the summer when you feel like you have to take advantage of every second. Back in March, when the pandemic began, I couldn’t imagine what the summer of 2020 was going to look like, and now having gone through most of it, I can’t believe all that has happened this summer.
I posted on my Instagram Stories the other day about everything we’ve endured so far: pandemics, recessions, hurricanes, and let’s not forget ‘murder hornets’ and shark sightings for good measure. Yes, it has been quite a summer. My biggest fear (aside from surviving a global pandemic) was whether this summer would feel like summer at all. I’m happy to report, that while it was very different than previous summers, it still felt like my favorite season.
While there won’t be a trip out East to the Hampton Classic Horse Show at the end of the month (the show was cancelled due to COVID-19), there will be another stay in Montauk in the coming week. Here’s what’s on my agenda this month:
Go: If you read my posts back in June, you know that I was itching to get out of town (without leaving the Island). So, I spent a few days at the Breakers, a boutique hotel out in Montauk. I had been there for a yoga class a few years ago, but my trip in June was the first time I stayed there. Then, sometime last month, I decided that I needed another little getaway to have on my calendar to look forward to. So, I booked a second stay out at the Breakers. Fingers crossed for good weather this upcoming week!
Read: One of the things the pandemic has gotten me to do more of is read. Thanks to an app from my local library called Libby, I’ve been downloading lots of books on my iPad—and I’ve even gotten into a new nighttime routine. During my last trip to Montauk, I read Gary Janetti’s book, Do You Mind if I Cancel? and now I just finished reading Elizabeth Gilbert’s City of Girls. I love Elizabeth Gilbert’s books, so I was pretty confident that I was going to enjoy all 539 pages of this one, but I wasn’t prepared for just how much I was going to love it. A friend of mine who happened to be reading the book at the same time I was, described it as, “Candy for the mind,” and she was so right. Every night before bed I embraced my new routine and got thoroughly invested in the eccentric life of Vivian Morris who made New York City in the early decades sound intoxicating. If you’re looking for an exciting read and want to embrace a whole new world and find a little escape, I highly recommend reading this book. Trust me, you won’t be able to put it down and you’ll never want it to end. Excuse me, Ms. Gilbert, can there be a sequel?
Hear: During a usual summer, I spend a lot of time at the Huntington Arts Council Summer Concert Series, which is comprised of 42 nights of music at Heckscher Park. But due to ongoing safety concerns about gatherings, the Huntington Arts Council put together an abbreviated Summer of Hope Concert series. I was initially leery about attending an outdoor concert, but they did a great job making sure that everyone was spaced out six feet apart (there were little circles sprayed on the grass, so people knew where to sit) and they required advanced registration (and capped the concert at fewer than 50 people). I was thrilled to be able to attend a jazz concert this summer and am hoping to make it to at least one more event in the park before the month is over.
Do: I’m pleased to be a Power 30 ambassador for this year’s Susan G. Komen Virtual Race For the Cure event, which will take place in September and celebrate the organization’s 30th year. As I’ve shared before, my grandmother is a two-time breast cancer survivor, so this is a cause that is close to my heart. I know times are tough for everyone right now, but I would be honored if you would consider donating to or sharing my fundraiser. Every dollar makes a difference and goes to helping to create a world with more breast cancer survivors. To join my team or donate, visit my fundraising page. Thank you in advance for your support!
Buy: I was recently gifted a gorgeous Warrior bracelet from Vented in Brooklyn. I’ve always called myself a Warrior after my thyroid cancer diagnosis. It’s such an empowering word to me and that’s why I immediately gravitated toward this bracelet (oh, and the fact that its rose gold helped, too). Each one of these vented bracelets is unique—the metal can hold a few drops of your favorite essential oil (which is a great stress reliever during the day as you breathe in its soothing scent), and for each bracelet that’s purchased, the co-founders give one away to a cancer patient or charity. Want your own Vented in Brooklyn aromatherapy jewelry so you can feel good, do good, and smell good? Use code LIVINGINSTEIL15 to get 15% off your order!
What’s on your agenda this month?
Leave a Reply