What I did on my summer vacation

Dispatches from not-Brooklyn and my August favorites. If you have a dog, you'll want to read this.

Don't you just love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies.

Me writing this email.

How is summer…over? I know, I know, it’s not really over til mid-September but culturally speaking, it’s over. This summer I actually enjoyed myself, and the trick, it turned out, was not being in Brooklyn for most of it.

For the month of August Lottie and I packed up my car and went to a house in the woods in Ulster County, NY where I enjoyed a steady stream of tomato sandwiches, corn on the cob, cold pasta salad, outdoor showers, hot dogs on the grill, blooming dahlias, deer prancing through my yard, friends coming on weekends and reading books in the pool. I wrote—for fun! I listened to the sounds of crickets at night and tried to figure out what stars I was looking at in the sky. I watched a lot of Netflix murder documentaries. I went to the farm stand every few days and got addicted to Dilly Beans. I ate a lot of pie.

In the month of the year where I normally feel depressed, sluggish and anxious, I felt………..none of those things. I feel like I unlocked a secret door to my personal happiness. August is too hot to be in the city. It moves too slowly in the city; it’s boring and it drags. Upstate………I am a different person. I’ll definitely be doing it again next summer.

I chose this over another Paris trip in the fall. In the back of my head I was worried I would be let down by the…sameness of a month in a small place in the woods for 30 days, but it was the opposite. Honestly.

A slow life for me, 31 days out of the year!

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Here are some of the favorites of my August:

• The sungold and heirloom tomato tart from Food52 was the easiest but most impressive recipe I’ve ever made.

• My favorite pool reads are by this author. They’re delicious. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but def mine. I read The Tenant and The Ex, both in a day. Pulitzer winners they are not, but I enjoy the twists.

• Peach cake. Yellow cake box mix, fresh peaches, bake as directed on the box. Everyone asks you for your recipe. You’re welcome.

• This face cleanser from Merit that helped get sunscreen off without stripping my face and leaving it dry. It’s foaming so easy to keep in the shower.

• This cupping device. I am very into cupping right now after I had a treatment and with this I can do my shoulders, arms and legs at home (back still needs a person). It has all of these different intensity levels (I like the middle level), and heat. It’s also HSA/FSA eligible and works with code GEETHANKS — the best! It feels AMAZING.

• Still living in these pants. Size down one UNLESS you have a big butt like me, then take your true size. Maternity wear is a go for this — everyone who reported back just said size up one.

• If you have a dog, drop everything and buy yourself one of these treat holders from Sunny Tails, now at Nordstrom. I was a very early adopter (I’ve had mine for about 8 months) and I am NEVER going back. Hooks right onto your leash, holds half a cup of kibble or treats, and truly: it’s SO durable. Makes a great stocking stuffer.

• I was eyeing this pitcher all July and I finally pulled the trigger. Use it as a vase!

• PS. The Last Call Sabah sale is somehow still happening. Please don’t miss out. It’s better than Black Friday.

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