The thing was that her whole life she had lived by the sea, pulling up the lobster traps with her father with her rough, calloused hands. Hair cut short to be practical. Sensible sneakers. Working alongside her brothers. It wasn't until she was 17 that she realized she wanted to be some whole other kind of girl, the kind of girl who wore silk pajamas and who, when she laughed, leaned forward and placed her hand on someone's arm for emphasis in just the right way. Oh, to be that kind of girl. The kind of girl who looked pensively out the window with her chin cradled in her palm and said, "Ah me," the way Olivia Hussey said it in the balcony scene of the 1968 film of Romeo and Juliet, which she had recently seen in her English class. That kind of girl. 

Here's the thing today. 
Brilliant Earth's Riata Diamond Pendant, $990. 
Four bezel-set diamonds are effortlessly suspended along a lustrous chain in this sleek 14k gold lariat-style necklace.
Brilliant Earth is a jewelry company devoted to transparant, ethical, sustainable, and inclusive business practices. They use 100% recycled precious metals to minimize their footprint and help diminish the negative impacts of metal mining, but don’t compromise quality or beauty to make sustainable jewelry. Brilliant Earth goes above and beyond the current industry standards to offer Beyond Conflict FreeTM Diamonds that have been selected for their ethical and environmentally responsible origins. The company also gives back through initiatives like the Brilliant Earth Foundation, a donor-advised fund, focused on three critical areas – Responsible Sourcing, Social Impact, and Climate Action. This is bling you can feel ethical about wearing. 

https://www.brilliantearth.com/Riata-Diamond-Pendant-14K-Gold-BE4D105/​

The thing about books was that they felt reliable in ways that other things didn't. In every city she had lived in, from Chicago to Paris to Portland, she sought out the bookstores first. Every place had a used bookstore, where she could stand in the narrow alleys that ran between the shelves, breathing in that smell of paper aged like a fine whiskey. She'd run her finger along the spines, looking for a title that spoke to her. When she had found her treasures, paid, and tucked them into her leather tote, she took them to the other place that was reliably present in every city: a little coffee shop with the mismatched wooden chairs and the oatmeal cookies or sliced carrot cake under a dome on the counter, and if she was lucky, a resident dog or cat snoozing in the window. The staccato thumps as the barista dumped the coffee grinds from the espresso maker to make a fresh cappuccino, followed by the loud exhalations of the milk steamer. These places felt like home, places where she could slide into a corner and pour herself into a fresh book undisturbed, but not alone. 

​Here's the thing today. 
Universal Standard's Spritz Divine Jersey Shift Dress, $98. ​
We heart Universal Standard. The company is dedicated to being the most size inclusive brand of clothing, as well as challenging rigid beauty standards with its truly diverse models. They support a number of initiatives to give back to the community and social causes. They also work with only the best fabrics, offering sustainable options whenever possible. And their quality is exceptional. They use premium Peruvian cotton, signature stretch linen, luxurious Italian wools, French satin-back crepe, and enduring, expertly engineered denim.  Their garments are durable and long-lasting staples for any closet. The Spritz is a light, supple shift dress that flatters most body types and comes in three colors. It’s made from buttery soft divine jersey that has a luxe look and feel. Elegant and classic with the comfort of your favorite pajamas. It features a beautiful drape, hook and eye neckline that can be worn open or closed, and a chic front slit. Wear this one from your desk to your dinner table. With ballet flats in the spring and sandals in the summer. Toss on a cardigan and some boots, and you can wear it into fall. It's a versatile dress that can be worn many ways, perfect for vacation.

​The thing that struck her was the way everything slowed down in the late afternoon there. The traffic, the monkeys, even the fever trees seemed to become still in that heavy heat. She sat under one now, sipping iced "bush tea" through a straw. It reminded her of her grandfather's pipe tobacco and of safaris with her father as a child. In the evening hours, as the heat pulled away, they would watch the sun set in purples and oranges next to the tent and sip warm red tea. In that place, everything seemed to wake in the evening, after the hypnosis of a slow, lazy, hot afternoon. 

Here's the thing today.
Tucson Tea Company's Vanilla Rooibos Tea, $10.
Tucson Tea Company's unique small-batch blends include a variety of organic and fair-trade options, all made with high-quality ingredients. From traditional black teas to unique herbal blends, they have something for every tea lover. The base of this exceptional tea is red rooibos, a caffeine-free, South African herb known for its deep amber hue and rich, slightly nutty flavor profile. The addition of delicate cornflower petals brings a beautiful visual appeal to the blend, while contributing a subtle, floral undertone that adds complexity and depth to the taste. Natural vanilla flavor enhances the tea's earthy and floral notes. Aside from its irresistible flavor, Vanilla Rooibos Tea also boasts a plethora of health benefits. Its antioxidant-rich ingredients support overall wellness, while the anti-inflammatory properties found in red rooibos tea and cornflower petals may help soothe the body and promote skin health. The calming aroma of vanilla contributes to a sense of relaxation, making this tea a perfect choice for unwinding after a long day.

https://tucsontea.com/collections/rooibos-teas/products/vanilla-rooibos-herbal-tea

The thing is intangible, the way a scent transports us like Proust's Madeleine to another place. Sonoma County, California, with her rolling hills and mustard flowers. Chai lattes. An antique shop with squeaky plank floors, nosing through a crate of records from the 70's, old posters from mason jar companies. The apple trees in Sebastopol heavy with fruit, and the scent of the earth hanging in the air. She walks through the orchard and is transported back, remembering the warm night they picnicked in just such an orchard many years ago, under the stars, just holding hands and being there. 

Here's the thing today.
Salt Creek Mercantile's Sebastopol candle. $19
Notes: Patchouli - Tea- Nag Champa
Earthy and bold - sweet tea undertones - aromatic and zen.
Hand-poured in small batches at Salt Creek Mercantile using all-natural, midwest-made soy wax, the highest quality fragrance oils, and cotton wicks.  Amber glass, gold lids, and locally printed and hand-stamped ivory labels create a timeless appearance in any setting. 

https://saltcreekmercantile.com/products/no-2-sebastopol-1