What I loved this month: August 2020 edition

I recently started a new series on my blog reflecting on what I loved last month – covering what I’m reading or doing, my favorite beauty & fashion finds, and everything in between. What I loved in July was my first post, so this month is the second edition! 

I’ve gotten some really great input on Instagram on what you’d like to see. So you’ll notice this post has more life updates and a ton of discount codes (both US and EU). I’d love more feedback on what you want to see in these updates, so please leave me a comment below to let me know what you think!

August was a really busy month for me, but in a good way. My husband & I went back to Greece for the first time in two years, which felt almost like returning home.  It’s a special place for us for so many reasons. My husband is Greek-American, and our first big international trip was to Greece. That was also my first ever trip to Europe (at age 21), and what sparked my insatiable passion for travel. We love Greece so much that we actually got married there in Santorini. 

While it felt amazing to be back on the islands, it also came with a level of sadness. Many of our favorite restaurants & shops were closed (hopefully temporarily) due to a lack of tourism. We’ve also shared some of the most memorable moments of our life in Santorini – but with our friends & family. So while everything has a great memory attached, it also reminded us of the loneliness you feel as an expat. 

We are now going on 8 months since we’ve seen our friends & family back in the states. We keep in touch via FaceTime, but it’s sad to see your family growing up and your friendships changing from a distance. It feels like we’ve all settled into this weird temporary “normal”, but everyone is still dealing with something difficult because of COVID. So remember to check in on your friends & family – even the strong ones or the “happy” ones. Try to find joy in every moment where you can. And if you still find yourself struggling or feeling like the glass is happy empty, you may find these tips helpful!

On a less somber note, it truly was relaxing to be back in Greece and exactly the reset I needed. So without further ado, here are all of the things I loved in August!

What I’m wearing

When we got back to the Netherlands the weather already had that fall chill, so I had to break out my favorite sweater from Sezane & my Madewell jeans.

Sezane

Sezane is one of the best french fashion brands to get that “effortless chic” look. Their styles are actually quite affordable, and surprisingly easy to wear. I’m petite so some of their sizing can be big on me, but their knit sweaters are always my favorite.

I love their low back cream sweater. I’m rounding up all of my favorite pre-fall fashion trends, but I’ll give you a sneak peak – try coordinating that sweater with a brown leather skirt. And I have some good news! If you’re in the Netherlands, you can use the code BONJOURAMSTERDAM until September 20th for free shipping & a free gift! They’ll also donate 10% to an Amsterdam-based charity focused on under-privileged children.

Madewell

I don’t want to leave any of my US friends out of the loop, so my favorite jeans brand Madewell is up to 50% off summer styles with the code HIFALL until September 14. These button front jeans that I like are already 55% off! Some of my favorite denim staples from Madewell are linked below. And if you want more discounts, check out what I loved in July for discount on the best protein powder I’ve ever had.

What I’m reading

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I recently started a book club with a friend in Los Angeles as a way to stay in touch. Our first book was Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, and I really loved it! It’s almost as if The Chronicles of Narnia were written by Tim Burton, with an extra sprinkle of British quirkiness. It was also a show on the BBC in the 90’s, but I highly recommend reading it instead. Make sure to get this version in the US, and this version in the EU if you want the author’s preferred text.

What I’m watching 

I’ve been really big into nostalgic American movies since we moved here, I think because they remind me of home. We’re been through everything from The Mummy to the Harry Potters to The Matrix trilogy. Embarrassingly I had never seen The Karate Kid, so we watched that on Netflix recently. I think they actually have the entire collection if you’re in the US (and a new show called Cobra Kai). But if you’re looking for something more cerebral I’ve also really been into Dark, a Netflix German original. The first two seasons are incredibly well-written. You have to really focus since it has subtitles, but I promise it’s worth it.

What I’m using 

You know all those chic European products we go crazy for in the US? Well they’re usually available in drugstores here, and one of my favorite things about traveling is sampling all those cool “local” brands. While I was in Santorini, I picked up a ton of products from the Greek brand Korres.

For skincare, I love their wild rose brightening face oil (no parabens). My favorite body scent is Santorini Vine (of course!), and they don’t have the body cream online but they do have the shower gel. If you order through their website right now, you get a free gift with the code GIFTPEAR. A few of my other favorite Korres products are below!

What I’m listening to

Spending a lot of time in Greece = listening to a lot of deep house music. Think chill tracks that have a cool deep base beat, and sample unique vocals.  I first heard this remix of Leonard Cohen at Scorpios beach club in Mykonos, and it’s been on repeat for me ever since I got back to Amsterdam. I also love that it has an old Greek music sample (check the 4:30 min mark). That remix isn’t on Spotify yet, but I recommend checking out the Scorpios playlist on Spotify or this Scorpios YouTube mix. Let me know if you like it!

That’s it from me – let me know what you loved in August by leaving me a comment below!

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