Curated Weekly

As we start to approach the end of July, we realize that summer is already starting to slip away, and Autumn is just around the corner for us in the Northern Hemisphere.  For me, this upcoming next week will be my last week in my current position, and I will be transitioning into my new role and going back into the office three days a week.  I am looking forward to sharing some more corporate life posts here on the blog as well as on Instagram.  For now, though, I want to embrace these last six weeks of summer before we all rejoice in our pumpkin spice lattes which will actually be out just next month.  So, before all of the summer days are gone, let’s cozy in for a few more weeks of longer days to enjoy cozy summer hobbies and outings.  Today’s curated weekly post will be all about finishing out the summer season in a cozy way with some shopping ideas, summer reads, videos and articles dedicated to all things summer coziness.

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BOOKS, SHOPPING, MEDIA, ETC.

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If you are going on a late summer vacation and looking for a cute skirt to pack, then look into this Silky Crepe Sarong Midi Skirt from Banana Republic Factory.  It has a beautiful summery pattern and looks to be flowy enough to keep you cool while traveling and would also pair well with any neutral top.

Also great for traveling or just exploring your own town are these pair of Lace-Up Sneakers also from Banana Republic Factory which are only $40.00 right now.  A quality pair of plain white sneakers is an elevated touch for a casual outfit that you want to keep elegant and not too dressed down while out and about.  A pair of white sneakers is always a summer staple for me.

I am a cozy hobby girl through and through.  One of my favorite cozy hobbies to do at home is coloring, so I recently got this Home Sweet Home coloring book and this Day Designer Accessory Pencil Pouch for my marker storage.  I love getting seasonal coloring books and this one just reminds me of cozying up at home which us homebodies simply adore.

And if you’re looking for a cozy yet lightweight blanket to curl up underneath while reading or coloring this summer, this Cozy Knit Throw Blanket from Target is a great option.  I have this one in the neutral color and I love it so much.  It’s so soft and very lightweight so that you don’t get too hot while underneath it.

I know I have featured these before, but for those who love to journal, be sure to look at this pretty summer inspired colored U Brand Soft Touch Felt Tip Pens from Target.  I love using these pens and the pretty colors and rose gold accents just elevates the experience and puts me in a summery mood.

If you follow me on Instagram, then you already know I love putting together a jigsaw puzzle and I especially love the seasonal puzzles.  Galison is my favorite brand of puzzles, and they have this pretty Beside The Sea – 500 Piece Puzzle that will be next on my puzzle list for the late summer season of coziness.

If you’re looking for a luxurious summer scent to indulge in for these last few weeks of summer that smells deliciously of being by the sea, then try the iconic Nuxe Prodigieuse line of products.  They have some great items in this gorgeous scent including their famous body oil and a body lotion.

 

What could be cozier than curling up with a book during a summer storm? I keep a few cozy books around for such a day and I recently picked up this one, The Spellshhop by Sarah Beth Durst.  The cover alone gives all the cozy vibes, but the plot sounds just as cozy as well.  Described as, Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people. Thankfully, as a librarian she and her assistant have spent the last decade sequestered among the empire’s most precious spellbooks, preserving their magic for the city’s elite. When a revolution begins and the library goes up in flames, she flees with all the  spellbooks she can carry and head to a remote island Kiela never thought she’d see again: her childhood home. Taking refuge there, Kiela discovers, much to her dismay, a nosy―and very handsome―neighbor who can’t take a hint and keeps showing up day after day to make sure she’s fed and to help fix up her new home.In need of income, Kiela identifies something that even the bakery in town doesn’t have: jam. With the help of an old recipe book her parents left her and a bit of illegal magic, her cottage garden is soon covered in ripe berries. But magic can do more than make life a little sweeter, so Kiela risks the consequences of using unsanctioned spells and opens the island’s first-ever and much needed secret spellshop. Like a Hallmark rom-com full of mythical creatures and fueled by cinnamon rolls and magic, The Spellshop will heal your heart and feed your soul.

 

Being released this past June was Fiona Ferris’ new book, 100 Ways to Live a Soft, Calm Life.  I can’t believe that it actually took me this long to add one of her books to one of my lists as Fionna Ferris’ books are some of my favorites for cozy, chic inspiration.  I am always excited when she releases a new book and this one looks to be a great read for some summer cozy, chic inspiration.  Described as, if you are someone who could use a little more serenity in your life and would love to enjoy the everyday more (no guilt required), I invite you to create your own version of a soft, calm life.
Inside 100 Ways to Live a Soft, Calm Life you will learn new ideas to live in a more gentle and relaxing way. Even if you already live a very good life, perhaps you can often forget this because there is simply so much going on, both in your life and your busy mind it seems!
As you read this book you will:

• Feel happier and increase a sense of tranquility within yourself.
• Gain a fresh perspective and ways in which to make mini-improvements.
• Feel a sense of self-composure and tranquility envelop you.

Wrap yourself in a blanket of inspiration and calm, settle in with your favorite beverage, and treat yourself to a few hours of relaxing time as you read 100 Ways to Live a Soft, Calm Life and recreate your everyday to be more feminine, luxurious, and cozy too.

 

If you’re looking for a Cozy Mystery to read, then look into The Bakery on the Beach by Grace Meyers.  Step into a sweet summer beach read that will sweep you away with a heartwarming tale about new beginnings and later-in-life love.  This book is described as, grieving the loss of her husband and longing for a change of pace, the winds of fate bring successful baker Emma away from her big-city life and to the shores of Anna Maria. She hopes to find solace and a fresh beginning amid the quiet village streets and the gorgeous tropical Florida beaches as she launches her brand-new bakery business. But someone isn’t a fan of competition… and when a series of mysterious accidents strike her bakery, Emma begins to suspect that somebody is out to sabotage her. Meanwhile, her baking skills attract the attention of the local charter fisherman Connor. He’s determined to help her track down the would-be saboteur – and he’s quickly won over by Emma’s sweet treats and even sweeter personality. And when the pair discover a washed-up bottle with an old love letter inside, it plunges them into an exciting treasure hunt to find the letter’s mysterious writer. Can Emma find the new breath of life she’s searching for on the shores of Anna Maria? And will the friendship she shares with Connor deepen into something more?

 

I think everyone has seen this book popping up on social media this summer, but Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez looks to be the summer book of the season.  Described as, Justin has a curse, and thanks to a Reddit thread, it’s now all over the internet. Every woman he dates goes on to find their soul mate the second they break up. When a woman slides into his DMs with the same problem, they come up with a plan: They’ll date each other and break up. Their curses will cancel each other’s out, and they’ll both go on to find the love of their lives. It’s a bonkers idea… and it just might work. Emma hadn’t planned that her next assignment as a traveling nurse would be in Minnesota, but she and her best friend agree that dating Justin is too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially when they get to rent an adorable cottage on a private island on Lake Minnetonka. It’s supposed to be a quick fling, just for the summer. But when Emma’s toxic mother shows up and Justin has to assume guardianship of his three siblings, they’re suddenly navigating a lot more than they expected–including catching real feelings for each other. What if this time Fate has actually brought the perfect pair together?

Starting off on our cozy summer adventure through YouTube, I picked the queen of cozy herself, Darling Desi and her guide to having a romanticized summer.  Desi brings all the cozy feelings and if you haven’t explored her channel before, definitely take a look around at her many beautiful videos.

If books, cafes, bookshops, journaling and cozy hobbies is your kind of cozy, be sure watch this video from Cups and Thoughts.  She always creates the coziest videos surrounding these things with the softest music playing in the background.

Malama Life is such a cozy YouTube channel to tune into.  Sophie’s calm voice narration, the cozy music playing in the background and the beautiful cinematography lends itself into all things cozy.  If you are looking for simple living inspiration in a cozy way, then look into more of her beautiful videos for more.

One thing that I love to do whenever I am at home reading, coloring, putting together a puzzle, etc. is to put on a soft jazz ambience on YouTube.  There are so many variations that you can search and even seasonal and holiday ambiences.  I keep an entire playlist of them and just pick the one that I am in the mood for.  If you would like to try out an ambience for yourself, tune into this Rainy Day at a Cozy House Inside the Forest ambience.

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ARTICLES OF INTEREST

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What’s a cozy day at home without some cozy loungewear? If you are looking for some loungewear for yourself, but within a reasonable budget, then check out The Best Loungewear You Can Get on Amazon in 2024.

There are some meals that are just cozy and comforting to make and eat and pasta will forever be one of those meals for me.  Since it’s summer and we are into all things cozy summer, this recipe of Pasta al Limone from Bon Appetite looks to be the perfect recipe for those cozy summer nights at home.

If you are looking to stay home on those extra hot summer days, then why not choose a cozy summer movie to enjoy? Here are 51 Best Summer Movies That Feel Like a Mini Vacation.

But if you’re looking to get lost in a cozy television show instead, then here is a list of 47 Feel Good Shows to Watch When You Need a Mood Boost.

If there is one podcast that I tune into faithfully, it’s The Simple Sophisticate Podcast as Shannon Ables always provides that gentle living inspiration that we all enjoy.  To give us more inspiration for a cozy summer, this Podcast episode, How to Create Decor that Welcomes & Comforts is a nice episode to listen to for all the cozy decorating inspiration.

Making a stop by Tea Time’s Cozy Corner, they have a new book/recipe article up that is sure to give you all of the summer coziness.  Mysteries and Morning Muffin Meditations Abound in Come Shell or High Water by Mollie McRae is their newest article posted.  Stop by and visit for a mini description of this cozy mystery novel and a yummy recipe of Fig, Walnut and Spice Muffins.

And lastly, if you are looking to enjoy these last of weeks of summer al fresco, then why not enjoy them with a refreshing mocktail? Here is a list of The Best Summer Mocktails to Sip All Season.