A Mixed Review
I loved the hotel, I didn't like being a solo traveler there.
For Consideration
BOOK REPORT
My summer reading has been quiiite good.
The very best was The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff, who wrote The Bright Years, one of my favorites last year. She’s such a wonderful writer – so good at capturing the human condition and its intricacies through characters you get to know. This is about a family in the aftermath of a house fire. I read it in just over 24 hours, I couldn’t put it down! 5/5 stars.
Also a 5-star read was Heather, by Caitlin Mullen. It’s a thriller in a bit more of a literary way. It involves a cold case and the stories that are told about being a woman, especially in a small town. Others didn’t love it as much as I did, but it was another I couldn’t put down and finished feeling totally satisfied.
Villa Coco by Andrew Sean Greer was a wonderful, character-driven escapist novel set here in Tuscany. It reminded me a bit of my favorite Italian-set novel Beautiful Ruins – the characters, the rich sense of place, the local oddities. It lacked much of a plot but mostly, I didn’t care. 4.5/5 stars for me.
Nine Lives by Catherine Steadman is set in a neighborhood in London that…keeps tabs on each other. It was claustrophobic at times, but a page-turned better written than many thrillers. 4/5 stars.
Dolly All The Time by Annabel Monaghan was a much-awaited book for me – I love all the author’s work, they’re a bit up the alley of a Nancy Meyers movie to me. A romcom without being too trite. This was one of the best, a tale of class and family and New England and yes, love. 4.5/5 stars.
I’ve read a handful of others, but none worth recommending.
MY ITALIAN PHARMACY SUMMER WINNERS
The Italian pharmacy doesn’t get the attention of its French counterpart, but I’d argue the biggest gems are not on the beauty side of the spectrum but the helpful side.
At the beginning of the heat I was struggling big time, always seeing stars hoping I would make it home and not faint. Stefanie told me about the Italian classic Polase, and when I went to the pharmacy I saw the flavor lampone (raspberry) and bought that without realizing it wasn’t the OG formulation. It is specifically a hydration packet, and at least in comparison to LMNT and Liquid IV, it has been an absolute game changer for me. I have not seen starts once since, even in feels like 110 degree heat.
There’s the normal pharmacy and then there’s the parapharmacy, which doesn’t sell any actual medication but natural things and all the skincare stuff. The woman who works at mine is so knowledgable, I go in with a list of ailments big and small and leave with solutions, usually natural (although I am not afraid of chemicals). Two recent heroes. One, Euphralia Allergy eye drops which are natural and the solution is pink but maaaaan does it work. For me, it works far more than a Visine allergy equivalent. Two, Halimed Cream, which has cardiospermum halicacabum, of which I was half-sure I would be allergic to. It ended up being one of those pretty balloon vines, and I am not allergic. In fact, in my almost 35 years of constant cortisone usage nothing has ever worked better to treat a mosquito bite, specifically. I can get a ginormous bite and apply it and wake up with it barely detectable – it’s magic. It has also worked for me on sun rash, but not on eczema.
The last is embarrassing to pull out in public, but when I’m hot and sweaty I don’t care. The Chilly antibacterial minty wipes, intended for intimate uses, are a goddamn savior to use on the back of your neck, the insides of your elbows, behind your knees to not just get the sweat off, but to get an instant (if not long-lasting) chill. I do not use it as intended lol.
I’m not a fancy shampoo girl, hair is one area I have always been fortunate in. I do, however, wish my hair were a bit lighter like it was when I was younger and now rarely achieve because I don’t sunbathe like I used to. The Schultz Ravviante Camomile shampoo has moved the needle, if even just a little – I put it on kind of like a mask, before I get in the shower, while I wait for the water to get warm. It’s stupidly inexpensive.
THANK YOU FOR THE LOVE
It was clear I felt very strongly about last week’s hotel, but the fondness has only grown with how it’s been received. I love when you love the places I really loved.
I did a pretty substantial edit after pressing publish, but that doesn’t ever land in your inbox. If you read it there, this is the permanent version.
For Consumption
A good saturated light blue cashmere sweater on sale.
I had mixed feelings about the Rosie Assoulin x Target collaboration because I’m such a fan of hers, but I did buy this dress and these pants, which are waiting for me at my mom’s house.
My favorite category, luxury novelty pieces on sale: inside out jeans, a tie skirt, and a golden paperclip necklace.
Happy Hoteling!
Don’t Have Single-Occupancy Rooms If it’s Not a Place to Be Solo
This is an example of a hotel where the people do not make the place, policies serve no purpose, and where some things just didn’t match up. It’s also a hotel that I was very inspired by creatively, slept incredibly well in the pretty perfect bed, and had a 10/10 pasta. I always say I’m not a grey ground girl, and I’m not – I loved what I liked and I hated what I didn’t.