Slow Summer Diaries: Overcoming Busy Season, Current Reads, and a Brunch Date
There is a distinct kind of magic in a quiet, summer Sunday morning. The world feels a little softer, the air a bit warmer, and for just a few hours, time seems to stretch out, allowing me to simply breathe.
Lately, life has felt beautifully full. Between navigating the familiar rhythms of the 9-to-5, pouring my heart into content creation, and welcoming some wonderful new brand opportunities, the weeks have been a beautiful whirlwind of productivity. I am endlessly grateful for this journey, but I’ve also come to realize how vital it is to fiercely protect those little pockets of quiet—the moments where we can just be.
For me, that stillness has been found on the balcony, curled up with a book while the rest of the city slowly wakes up.
On the Bookshelf
I’m feeling a quiet sense of pride this week because, amidst all the busyness, I managed to finish three books.
Convenience Store Woman (a wonderful subscriber recommendation): It was such a delightfully weird, comical, yet intensely realistic little story.
Iza's Ballad by Magda Szabó: A heavier, more melancholic read that I had actually paused during my trip to Greece, but felt compelled to finally finish. Her writing is always so deeply captivating.
The Diving Pool by Yoko Ogawa.
Finishing these means I’m officially moving onto book twenty-seven for the year—meaning I've already surpassed my gentle, realistic reading goal of twenty-six books for 2026! Up next is Norwegian Wood by Murakami, another subscriber recommendation that I can already tell is going to be a beautifully gritty, immersive journey.
Belated Celebrations
Earlier in the week, Kostis and I had our name days. Because it fell right in the middle of a frantic workday, we didn't do anything grand—just a quiet evening at home, a shared bottle of Prosecco, some favorite snacks, and a lot of gratitude.
Today, though, we decided to properly celebrate with a slow, indulgent brunch date at Dishoom.
Dressing for the Heat
With London hitting a gorgeous (but intense) 30 degrees, dressing mindfully was everything today. When the heat rises, I tend to strip things back to their absolute essentials—barely any jewelry, just a touch of gloss, and a reliance on effortless, breathable silhouettes.
I opted for a classic, minimal black-and-white look: a breezy linen skirt from Assembly Label paired with a simple tank and bag from COS. To finish the look, I wore my new neutral woven flats from VIVAIA, which have quickly become my absolute summer staple. A splash of my La Roche-Posay thermal water spray and my favorite Clarins Lip Perfector in my bag, and we were ready to step out into the sunshine.
I hope today’s vlog brings a little bit of that slow, grounding energy into your own weekend. Grab a cold drink, find a comfortable spot, and let’s catch up.
With love and light,
