HOT 5 - 6/30/23
Dear Hot Friends,
How is it possible that the first six months of 2023 are already gone?! I was just writing to you about the appearance of spring flowers and Mother's Day and now July is here along with my favorite season, summertime! As you probably know I was born in the summer and as an ardent lover of this vibrant season, its joys are truly unmatched. I cherish the long sun-kissed days, the sweet aroma of freshly cut grass, the relaxed, happy-go-lucky mindset, and the unparalleled beauty that summer brings. It is a season that celebrates life, and with each passing year, my love for summer just grows stronger. So here's wishing us all a spectacular summer season!
This week's HOT 5:
1. 20 Fun Summer Activities
2. Hot Pick - Snakesssssssss!!!
3. Hot Shops Tiina The Store
4. Consider The Headband!
5. Summer In A Bottle
1. Twenty Fun Summer Activities
I want to share some fun summertime activities on my to-do list this season. A few of them (I bet you can guess which ones!:) were inspired by two very important little ones in my life who are geared up to enjoy summer the way only the very young can. Countless ice cream cones, here we come! Hopefully, my list below will inspire you to do something a little unexpected this summer too!
1. Ride the Ferris wheel at an amusement park
2. Listen to music outside on a blanket with wine and snacks
3. Go fly a kite
4. Take a road trip somewhere new
5. Read something from this list curled up outdoors
6. Watch a sunrise in your PJs
7. Be a tourist in your city (for me that means visiting the Statue of Liberty)
8. Go wine tasting
9. Head to a baseball game (go Yankees!)
10. Visit a farmer's market in the countryside
11. Watch fireworks as many times as you can
12. Try out a summer makeup look that includes colors that you don't usually wear
13. Sleep under the stars
14. Grow a herb garden on your window sill
15. See a drive-in movie
16. Go to an outdoor vintage sale or flea market
17. Make s'mores in the park or at the beach
18. Have an old-school traditional picnic featuring fried chicken and pie
19. Make ice cream
20. Watch a sunset
2. Hot Pick - Snakesssssssss!!!
Jewelry has been inspired by the animal kingdom since the first bangle was forged. It has featured all manner of fauna but perhaps none as much as the sinuous snake whose natural shape is perfect for coiling around the body. The serpent symbolized health to the Greeks and eternal love to the Victorians and it continues to catch the imagination of people today. The image above is from Bulgari who debuted its first gold watch in the shape of a snake 75 years ago! This summer has seen a resurgence of snake jewelry and accessories and we even have some fun pieces featuring that slithery reptile on Hot.
3. Hot Shops Tiina The Store
I first met Tiina Lakonnen years ago on the set of an advertising print shoot for Cover Girl cosmetics. A tall striking blonde from Finland with a cool reserved manner and impeccable taste, she had been a top model for many years. I remember bonding with her over her amazing styling choices. I loved everything single piece she brought! Years later she opened a boutique in Amagansett LI called Tiina the Store where her aesthetic was on full display. It is one of the most beautiful stores I've ever stepped foot in. Tiina curates a bevy of brands unknown to most people that are expensive, beautifully crafted, and unique, truly the epitome of luxury. Tiina has just announced that she's closing the store this fall after 11 years to pursue other interests. Almost everything is 30% off now and perhaps will be further discounted as we get closer to the store's closing. Make sure you check out this special store before it's gone!
4. Consider The Headband!
If there's a perfect season for this accessory, it's got to be summer! Headbands hold your hair back beautifully when the season's heat demands that you get it off your face, they come in pretty summery fabrics and colors, and they add just the right amount of zhush to any outfit. They also work across all hair types. I've been a fan for years, and one of my favorite celebrities, Dame Helen Mirren, is a big fan too! We've just received a new shipment of stylish headbands on the site, and I'm offering them to you at 25% off for the 4th of July holiday.
5. Summer In A Bottle
Summer seems to heighten our sense of smell, doesn't it? And summer scents tend to favor fresh, green, or beachy notes that even I, who's typically drawn to heavy, warm, and spicy scents, find preferable in the summer months. This season a rash of delicious-sounding scents has been launched and each one sounds more enticing than the last. If you're looking for a scent that instantly transports you to the specific joys of summer read on.
The Herbalist from Heretic Parfum is a collaboration with cannabis brand Drew Martin. It combines hemp and a blend of lush botanicals in an exquisite plant-based perfume that proves that plants are magic.
Hermes Eau De Basilic Pourpre is bright, fresh, and green—perfect for summer. Notes of purple basil, bergamot, and geranium come together for a scent made for long summer days.
Elorea Heaven Eau de Parfum is inspired by the elements. Heaven is breathtaking with notes of pepper, citrus, green tea, passionfruit, florals, and vanilla. It's bright, green, spicy, sweet, and oh-so mysterious.
Regime des Fleurs Tears is blisteringly green and strikingly spicy, with notes of lilac, frankincense, green cognac oil, rosewater, pink pepper, and ambergris. It's interesting, unexpected, earthy, and beautifully executed.
Happy Summering!
Terry xoxo
P.S. Last week I wrote about aging and style and suggested Birkenstocks as a great comfortable sandal to try. You can imagine how much this article made me laugh. Enjoy!