end of summer favourite things + reflection
hero pieces, family celebrations, setting spray, kids and tech, and very little reading!
Happy fall equinox! While we’re all getting ready for the technicolour magic of autumn, I hope it’s not too late to look back and share some favourite things and reflections from the summer.
My summer was a steady stream of beloved humans in and out of my home. It was mostly non-stop, and I happily embraced the joyous busy because that’s what this season of life is. I took breaks to fill my self-care cup, but mostly, I soaked in all the good moments with the people I love. It’s been a few weeks since the kids were back in school, and given it’s the turning point of the seasons, I wanted to share a few of my summer favourite things.
One of the reasons I love writing this column is that it makes me reflect. It’s a reminder of what I loved and enjoyed, particularly if I’m feeling stormy and need a reminder of good and inspiring things.
applying:
NARS Light Reflecting Foundation: A sweet salesperson patiently helped me find the right shade for my skin. It’s buildable and not too heavy, while still providing coverage. It has such a nice finish.
Charlotte Tillbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray: Several people on IG recommended getting a setting spray and this one came up several times. I was amazed at how my makeup lasted. Definitely a great addition to my makeup collection!
Lancôme Defencils mascara - I realized that I like lengthening mascaras versus volumizing (which can feel too clumpy and heavy). I purchased one of my favourites from my twenties for the wedding because I knew it was tried and tested.
the finished makeup look for the Mehndi - I was also feeling my hair
reading:
I'm embarrassed to say I finished only one book this entire summer! This may be the first time that’s ever happened. The kids slept pretty late all summer, and after they were down, I felt too spent to read more than a page. Most evenings I would surf the internet, watch a little YouTube, or go on TikTok. I'm not proud of it, but it just helped me decompress after a full day of being so on. I also don't think anything I was reading felt that gripping, and I have a strict rule of finishing any book I've picked up - my reader's guilt is deeply ingrained, and I can't shake it. Anyway, I'm back to better evening habits, and I have several exciting books lined up for the fall - Berry Pickers for our fall book club, re-reading Atomic Habits, and potentially All Fours (so much buzz).
wearing (pakistani clothes):
I spent the first half of the summer frantically trying to sort out clothes for my sister-in-law’s daughter’s wedding. In doing so, I was reminded about how GORGEOUS Pakistani clothes are and my love for colour and print. As a young girl, I remember sitting in Karachi bazaars surrounded by cloth and the sheer joy I felt picking out my own fabrics and laces to get clothes made by the tailor.
Shopping for wedding clothes made me think about how I could bring some of that vibrancy back into my everyday wardrobe. My day-to-day wardrobe has become increasingly minimal in color, and while that makes getting dressed easy, I don’t want it to become too monastic.
loving:
The stars of my summer wardrobe were hands down my white poplin Aritzia skirt, black Gap dress, pale green linen J.Crew pants, and my dragon diffusion bag.
Here are some of my favourite looks from this summer:
thinking about:
Parenting, kids, technology, and its impact on mental health. I have much to say, but for now, my main goal is to educate my kids on the effects of excessive screen time and make sure we have plenty of time offline and in the real world. I think navigating technology is one of the most significant parenting challenges of our time. I care a lot about kids in general and want to make sure we’re doing the right things to support them in growing up healthy. Given how much more awareness we have now than we did even a few years ago, I’m hopeful about how we’re going to address the issue.
listening:
Hit Me Hard and Soft by Billy Eilish, the “Sunday Morning” playlist from Apple Music (like alllllll summer long), Bollywood jams, Sza and Sabrina Carpenter (thanks to my nieces and daughter).
memory making:
There are so many, including my nieces visiting, a weekend with my childhood best friend and her family, the wedding, and of course California.
Summer is so precious, particularly for those of us living in colder climates. I’m never sad for a season to end, but I do feel like the end of summer is always bittersweet. I hope you made some beautiful memories and feel ready for fall.
If you enjoyed today’s newsletter, please leave a heart or a comment. It always means a lot to hear from you. Writing takes time and effort, and it makes me happy to know you enjoyed or gained something from it. I’d also love to hear about your favourite things from the summer - great reads, beauty picks, hero pieces, shows, etc.!
Much love,
Sana
miss you!!