The Ten List: July 2025

Flag Cake, Sore Hands, a Must-Watch Doc, and One Last Nudge to Try the Free Trial

Jul 02, 2025

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Is there anything better than the Fourth of July landing on a Friday? I don’t think so. And since our fireworks are happening on the 3rd, let’s just go ahead and call this a very long weekend.

Summer is officially here. All my girls are home, and I’m soaking up this little window where we’re all under one roof. We’re still busy, but it doesn’t feel quite so frantic.

Vivi is living her best life at camp during the week—swimming, golfing—and honestly, her weekends don’t look much different. Every day is the best day of her life. Maddie and Ava are both training this summer, and we have a new trainer who comes to the house, which feels like the biggest luxury. No more shuttling back and forth in the middle of the day, and I’m very into that.

The girls have been bouncing down to the shore here and there before we settle in for good at the end of the month for the rest of the summer. In between, Ava’s working through her summer assignments, and Maddie is working for me—which has been an absolute dream. I keep asking if she’s sure she wants to go to college, because I could really use her 40 hours a week. I haven’t had regular help like this… maybe ever.

And in case you missed it, Closet Therapy: A Wardrobe Reset for the Emotional Overthinker—the series we kicked off last week here on Substack—is officially underway.

Part 2 drops next week, July 10th

If you’ve ever stood in your closet thinking, “Why am I still holding onto this?”—this series is for you.

It’s not about building a capsule wardrobe or organizing your closet. It’s about noticing what your clothes are really holding—and deciding what’s worth carrying forward.

Also, some exciting news: we were just listed as one of the Top 100 Best-Selling Substacks in Fashion & Beauty. I’m so grateful for this growing community and all of your support.

You can still sign up for a 7-day free trial to get access to everything behind the paywall, including Closet Therapy, all of our personal posts, and the full archive. No pressure—just a chance to see if it feels like a space you want to be part of.

Now, for the rest of this week’s Ten List...

2. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale
I have such mixed feelings about this sale. On one hand, it’s chaos. On the other, there are always a few really good finds if you know where to look—and luckily, I do.

You can take a little sneak peek at what I’m eyeing [here].

Our full roundup (with all my very honest thoughts) goes live tomorrow on The Well Dressed Life. The sale isn’t open yet, but now’s the time to start building your wishlist so you’re ready to go when it’s your turn to shop.

3. Watch: My Mom Jayne

Wow—this was so good. Of course, we all know and love Mariska Hargitay, and I knew a little bit about her mom, Jayne Mansfield. But the depth of this story, the layers of the people in her life, and the unexpected twist at the end left me surprisingly emotional. It’s beautifully done and absolutely worth a watch.

4. Summer Makeup Refresh
I recently dipped back into BareMinerals and forgot how good it is—especially in the summer when you want light, skin-loving coverage. I picked up the Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer (I’m wearing Opal 1), the Mineralist Lip Gloss-Balm in Rose Pink, and I’m testing out the Original Mineral Veil 24HR Setting Spray.

So far, I’m loving the natural finish and how fresh everything feels. I’ll share a full review in this month’s Empties & Opinions post!

If you missed June’s Edition you can read it here.

5. Shop: Faherty July 4th Sale

Celebrate the season with Faherty’s Fourth of July Sale 🇺🇸 — running July 1st-July 7th online & in store! Enjoy an extra 25% Off Sale items + 25% Off The Summer Collection with code ✨ FIREWORKS ✨. You can see my favorite sale picks here.

6. Buy: This Hand Massager from Amazon

I type all day long—and by the end of the day, my hands are tight, sore, and hurting. I ordered this on a whim and it’s honestly been such a relief. It has hot and cold settings, adjustable pressure, and feels like a mini spa moment while I’m winding down at night.

I usually use it while watching TV, and it’s quickly become part of my evening routine. If you’re on a keyboard all day too, this might be your new favorite thing. Here’s the one I bought.

7. Substack: So... does everyone just constantly think they're too big?
I read this post on Might I Suggest... by Sarah F., and it stopped me in my tracks. The comments—nearly 400 of them—are full of real, raw vulnerability from women who are all asking similar questions.

“So, back to my original question — is everyone lying when they say they love their bodies? Is everyone on a diet and not talking about it? Can you just have a pleasant summer without constantly thinking about yourself and your body and comparing it to others? What is “movement” just for the sake of movement? When I was my smallest, I was my most unhappy, and yet I can’t shake how much I want to be thinner.” Read more here.

8. Read: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I just started this one, and multiple friends have warned me I’m going to sob—so I’m holding off for a night when I can emotionally handle that (you know the kind).

It’s from the author of two of my all-time favorites, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and Daisy Jones & The Six, so I honestly can’t imagine not loving it. Will report back soon.

9. Bake: Barefoot Contessa Flag Cake
The definition of mid-summer perfection. I’m making this tomorrow for our best friends’ annual July 3rd party, and it’s always a hit. It looks impressive, tastes amazing, and feels festive without being fussy. Ina never misses.