Issue 40: I Can Think of No Greater Pleasure
The luxury of time spent by yourself and how to spend it.
Save for my senior year of college, where I had a lovely one bedroom apartment in Boston — and the year before Doug and I moved in together — I have never lived alone. In case you were counting, that’s two years of concentrated solo time out of the 41.5 years of my life. Yup. After being married for 12 years and being a mother for 10 of those, solo time is something I truly crave.
My days are mostly filled with a highly scheduled, Tetris-like series of events and obligations. I don’t have a lot of free time to just do what I want, when I want, at the pace that I want.
So, whenever the opportunity comes to spend a day or even two alone, I grab it!
This Memorial Day weekend Doug is taking the girls to visit his mother for two days. It’s a Daddy Daughter Trip and I will be sitting this one out. I am so excited to have almost 48-hours entirely to myself to do whatever I want. I plan on filling the two days with plenty of mini-“dates” with myself.
I love dating myself. I never ever feel lonely or awkward going to a play or restaurant or movie by myself. I love the freedom to choose the activity and the ability to enjoy it in silence without having to make constant conversation.
When I go out to eat or for a cocktail by my myself, I often sit at the bar and always bring my book. I can think of no greater pleasure.
When I go to the theater or ballet alone I arrive just before the curtain goes up, slip into my seat (I often splurge for a better seat because I am only buying one ticket) and enjoy the show without worrying what my evening companion might be thinking.
I plan to start my solo weekend by sleeping in and then taking a run along the Hudson River. I’ll end my run at my favorite matcha spot and then walk home to shower. I have not booked anything yet but I plan on treating myself to some sort of spa treatment Saturday afternoon.
Saturday evening I will take myself out to an early dinner and then I am going to the ballet. I am seeing this fun program which features one of my favorite Ballanchine ballets, a fun and classic Jerome Robbins piece and another Robbins piece that has not been performed since 1997! When I get home late Saturday night I plan to binge some of this show that my sister swears I must watch. I’m always up for a tear jerker about mothers and daughters.
Sunday I plan to sleep in again and then maybe take Duke for a long walk (ok so I wont’ be totally alone I will have my furry 3rd child with me) and maybe another matcha date. Saturday afternoon I have tickets to the matinee of this musical which is supposed to be hilarious.
I won’t be home when Doug and the girls arrive Sunday evening because I’ll be on my way to the Taylor Swift convert at Met Life Stadium. Yes. I am going to Taylor without my girls. They had no interest really and so I gave up on trying to get us overpriced tickets many months ago. Then, the other night a free ticket for just me and a really fun opportunity fell into my lap. I had to say yes! Just when I was begging for an end to all the opulent, over the top, Taylor Swift-gramming in my feed. Why not go? After all, I like Taylor much, much more than my girls.
** But more on that and my feelings about all of it next week!
I’ve noticed recently more and more gorgeous sheer pieces that are unlined, and meant to be worn with a bit of skin showing. I truly love this look and have been fully embracing it. Mind you, sheer does not mean see through and it is a delicate balance to find the right underpinnings to make these looks work. Here are some of my favorite sheer pieces right now and my wardrobe of underpinnings I use to create various looks!
I got this gorgeous dress with my trip to Greece in mind. I plan on wearing it during the day at beach clubs with a white bikini underneath and at night out to dinner with a nude slip.
Crochet is having a moment and I am so in love with this stunning dress. Again I plan on wearing it during the day at the beach/pool with a white bikini and at night with a thin slip!
This black tulle dress is so fun for a party. I love to pair it with a black body suit so my legs can be seen in a subtly sexy way!
This pearl swingy dress is so special. I plan to wear it with a fitted nude slip as it is very see through otherwise.
I love this black lace skirt and matching top. I wear them as a set but also paired back to other pieces. They look so great with a black brief and bralette underneath.
This white lace dress is so easy and pretty for a summer day. I would pair it with nipple covers and a high waisted brief.
I have a slightly different version of this layering top in both black and white which is now sold out but I love this floral one. It looks equally good under a slip dress as it does with a bralette underneath paired back to a skirt!
I wore this super special mini dress to an event recently and got so many compliments on it. I like it paired with a nude slip but it could also be so chic by the pool over a bikini!
I love this ultra thin slip under all of my midi dresses. It still lets a little light through but let’s you feel covered up as well.
This black bralette is super pretty when you want something more than basic.
A great basic black bralette that works under anything!
I have these briefs in almond and black and am constantly wearing them under sheer dresses and skirts. They are also great under a silk slip dress when you want to feel a little secure and held in!
I have tried every nipple cover out there and these are hands down the best. They stay on and last forever if you take care of them. A wardrobe must!
This is my favorite slip for shorter dresses. It fits so well and does not ride up at all.
This black bodysuit has a full seat and is great under black pieces when you want your legs to show.