Dreaming about…a Cozy Reading Day In.

All I can think about this week is cooler breezes, hot drinks, and chunky knits to wrap myself up in while reading a good book. It’s been ages since I’ve sat down to just enjoy a book for the day. We’re a waysssss off from chunky knit season down here, but that’s why this is called “dreaming” after all. I can see the light at the end of our interminable summer tunnel though!! I swear it’s been breezy lately.

My new favorite couch blanket,

the coziest chunky knit I’ve ever seen,

a simple airy tank to layer,

comfy neutral leggings to lounge in,

a book you’ve been dying to read,

cookies to munch on,

a fresh mug of the best coffee,

a candle that smells amazing and is nice to look at,

and cushy slippers to warm your feet.

Dreaming about…a Picnic Date.

I know that it’s still snowing where some of you are and I think that’s just the pits. But where we live in Florida, it has been all blue skies and lovely breezes and windows thrown open, and all I can romanticize about right now is a picnic in a big green field with butterflies flitting by, a husband by my side, cold grapes, a bottle of crisp white and fresh cheese on a cracker to go along. Play along with me as I daydream about a picnic date.

The sweetest little sundress to lounge in,

a French market bag to tuck a baguette and all the fixings into,

a straw hat because a sunburn isn’t at all romantic,

buffalo check napkins to use all through spring and summer,

enamel tumblers in *tarragon* for sipping,

the cheeseboard of my dreams,

a recipe book for menu inspiration galore,

a pretty berry basket for fruit,

the only blanket you could possibly take on a picnic this romantic,

and this cute mini cooler to keep it all icy.

Sweet Nightgowns for Summer.

You guys, the second half of the school year has just really gotten the best of me this year. I haven’t posted a thing on here since February and it’s not for lack of post ideas. I have so many! It’s for lack of time time time. I know. This coming from the person who says that if you want things to be done – you have to make time for them. I’m hoping to get back into a regular routine of posting over the summer, which begins in three! more! days!. I love having this little corner of the internet to myself!

Ok, enough ruminating on time and blogs and wordsmithing my life away. Now on to the topic of this post – nightgowns. The other day I mentioned on Instagram that I am a nightgown person, through and through. I grew up wearing very 90’s nightgowns – think flannel, lace trim in winter and silky little girl princess vibes in summer. Around middle school I switched over to giant oversized sleep tees stolen from my dad or older brothers, and finally I graduated to sleep shorts and a t-shirt from high school through my mid-twenties. But when I was pregnant with my first baby boy, Charlie, I started wearing nightgowns again. You see, this extremely attractive thing started to happen where my belly got so very large that a strip of it started to show between where my pajama shorts met my tank top. Lovely. If you’ve been pregnant before – maybe you can relate. I can’t think of many things that could make you feel less attractive during pregnancy than constantly trying to hide the ever-growing strip of belly with pajamas that feel like they’re shrinking onto you. Well…I also do have this rather memorable photo of myself very pregnant and trying to wear a wrap dress, but it…wouldn’t wrap around my whole body so it just came to a point and left from my belly button down exposed in a big upside down V. Low point. lol. Ok, truly, I digress. (who let this wordy girl have a blog anyway??)

Now that you have my entire history of sleepwear…oh shoot I forgot to tell you that my mom favored sleep sacks when I was a baby – yes, back to nightgowns! Modern! Cute! Nightgowns! Even after pregnancy – I’ve continued wearing nightgowns in adulthood. They’re feminine, they don’t leave me feeling at all frumpy like sleep shorts can, and especially for summer, they’re just the best, easy breezy, old world romantic way to sleep. But! (of course there’s a but!) It feels like there are typically two types of nightgowns. Old lady, or lingerie. So here-in lies the topic of discussion. Where can one find nightgowns that land perfectly in the middle of these two extremes? I went hunting around to find some cute nighties that maybe you guys would like too! And now I might need to buy a couple because there are some cute ones out there! I tried to find a few different price ranges because I kind of hate when bloggers post $200 options that hello, normal people can’t buy.

I did get a couple questions about nightgowns riding up during sleep and honestly, I’ve never thought much about it either way, but I do believe that’s something you may have to grapple with depending on what kind of sleeper you are. Your nightie may ride up, especially if you are a turbulent sleeper. I’m the kind of sleeper that moves not even an inch while sleeping, so that may be why I’ve never thought about it before. Other notes from my lovely instagram friends: suggestions for TJ Maxx, Target and Marshall’s were all given as places to find cute nightgowns too, but for those – you just want to give them a visit. On to the nightgowns!

1// Ok, so I know there are mixed opinions about Shein, but! This nightgown was too sweet to share. And for $14! How could I not tell you about it? I think I’m going to order it. Will report back on my love level.

2//Aerie has this cute kind of athletic option. Looks easy breezy summer-y.

3// You guys, I’m dying over this J. Crew nightgown!! That print. And I am such a sucker for shoulder ties.

4// Well I will just have to lust after this one that is out of my price range, and hope that one of you gets it so I can hear if it’s truly as good as I think it is. (They also have a long version which is so very dreamy.)

5// A gingham nightgown. Need I say more?

6// A sweet, affordable option that comes in a few different colors!

7// I’m very into this super simple light cotton version that makes me feel cool just by looking at it. I would maybe size up for ultimate comfort. Looks like it could be a little clingy.

Happy Summer Sleep Shopping, Friends!