August 2022: Monthly Newsletter

0 - WELCOME

Wearing a Cecilie Bahnsen top from 2019 (similar here), A Day’s March trousers, Hermes Oran sandals, The Row Half Moon bag

Welcome to August!

Hello again! Summer is in full swing, and it’s reached the point where I have to take 2 showers a day to rid myself of the sweat and humidity. I can’t say I enjoy it, but it (sort of) beats the many inches of snow we’ll get in 6 months.

This month’s newsletter features a long section on Turkey, where I spent 2 weeks for a wonderful vacation in July. It was my first time there, and I can’t recommend it enough. I would love to hear about your recommendations if you’ve been to Turkey as well!

1 - FASHION

Baggy Pants

I’ve been into baggy/wide leg pants lately, especially ones that are worn low on the hip. It feels fresher than high waisted pants, and also adds a bit of breeze in the warmer months. I love to pair that with a crop top - cropped enough to show a sliver of skin (maybe my belly button), but not enough for anyone to question my sanity lol. Here are a few that I have my eye on!

Sale Season

Sale season is in full swing, and I’m so happy about it. A lot of my clothes are purchased on sale — there’s nothing that gives me more satisfaction than finding something amazing on sale and saving a lot of money. Even if my size is sold out, I typically add it to my “wishlist” (if the retailer has that option), as sometimes it will come back in stock. Below is a selection of items up my alley that also happen to be 70%+ off:

Five Things I Bought

Since I was in Turkey for half of last month, I haven’t done too much shopping, but here are some of my latest purchases!

1. Isabel Marant Mirvin Slippers: I’ve had my eye on these Birkenstock 1774 beige Boston slippers, but sadly they’ve been out of stock in my size. I came across these Mirvin slippers on sale (obvs) and got them instead

2. Hay Palissade Stool: I wanted a new stool for my room in Toronto, and didn’t want anything too fancy. This is great because it can function outdoors too

3. Cecilie Bahnsen shorts: I have a lot of feminine, delicate Cecilie Bahnsen tops, but no appropriate summer bottoms to go with them. There shorts are perfect

4. Hermes Chypre sandals: As you know, these have been sold out everywhere. I bought a men’s green suede pair (which were SO beautiful), but they were slightly too big — they sadly went back. That being said, I somehow scored a pair of black women’s in my size last week on the Hermes website. Here’s to hoping that they fit when I try them on!

5. B Yoga Strong mat: I have a sensitive back and wanted a thicker mat for pilates. I’ve been using this for a few weeks and love it. The 6 mm thickness is great, and it’s not slippery at all

2 - TRAVEL

Turkey

As I mentioned, I spent two weeks in Turkey last month, and it was an amazing experience. I feel like I barely scratched the surface of the country, but here are my recommendations based on my time there!

Things to Do

Istanbul: Mosques (there are over 3000 mosques in Istanbul — the most famous are Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque), Spice/Grand Bazaars (we did not love the Grand Bazaar — you can find similar items for less in local shops), Turkish baths/Hammam (I loved Kılıc Ali Pasa Hamam), Explore different neighbourhoods (Fener, Nişantaşı, Karaköy, Kabataş)
Cappadocia: Hot air balloon (we used Voyager Balloons), Hike (we went to the Fairy Chimneys and Derinkuyu Underground City)
Resort Towns (e.g. Bodrum, Fethiye, Antalya): Paraglide (we used Hanuman Paragliding), Beaches

Where to Stay

Istanbul: We stayed at the MGallery Galata and Ritz Carlton Istanbul. I liked both — the MGallery was for the wedding and is in a very central location with lots of cobblestone and elevation. The Ritz is great, but it’s in a quieter neighbourhood (still within walking distance of busier areas), so it depends on what you’re looking for. I have also heard good things about Ciragan Palace Kempinski and Soho House Istanbul
Cappadocia: We stayed at Kayakapi Premium Caves, which was fantastic. Our room had a hammam, which was so relaxing after a day of hiking! I also looked at Argos in Cappadocia as an option
Bodrum: Although we didn’t go to Bodrum, I’ve had the Macakizi and the Mandarin Oriental on my list. For a splurge, there’s also a new Amanruya

What to Eat/Drink

Istanbul: Mürver, Mikla, Çiya Sofrası, Etiş Balat Kebap Evi, The House Cafe Corner, Halef, Brew Coffeeworks, Dükkan Galata, Monkey
Cappadocia: Ziggy Cafe
Fethiye: Fethiye Paşa Kebap, Hilmi Restaurant Balık Pazarı, Yengeç Restaurant

General Advice

Learn a few Turkish words! Once we left Istanbul, we quickly found that not everyone spoke English. We were able to get around just fine, but it does help to learn very basic Turkish (like hello, thank you, etc.)
Turkey can be quite affordable — you can get a solid meal for 35 lira (which is like, $2 USD)
Carry cash — not every place takes card (especially once you get out of Istanbul)
Water, similar to other places in Europe, is not free, and it is not recommended to drink tap water. I suggest getting water from a grocery store (as opposed to a convenience store or otherwise), because they won’t make up random prices. We had people charge us anywhere between 5-20 lira for a bottle of water
People eat late in Turkey! I went for a dinner at 10:30 PM and the restaurant was super lively. It seemed like restaurants started to get busy after 8/8:30 PM
If you love animals, you will have a great time. There are a lot of very cute stray cats and dogs

3 - OTHER

Drinks

I like to make matcha and chai lattes at home — my favourite matcha brands are Kettl and Naoki, and I am obsessed with Dona Chai concentrate. Don’t skimp on matcha — it really makes a difference when you use high quality powder! For those who are new to matcha, here’s an easy recipe to follow. Enjoy :)

Vancouver

I’ve been in Vancouver and Whistler this past week for a wedding. Despite the heat wave, it’s been a great time. Here are some of my favourite places on the West Coast: Revolver Coffee, Purebread, Stanley Park, Kingyo, Minami, and Holt Renfrew

Eat

For my friends in the US, my favourite healthy, pre-made meal delivery company, Sakara, is running a 20% off promotion for their 10 year anniversary. Anyone (including existing subscribers) can get 20% off their meal plan order until 8/10 using my code XOJC-FF22. I know I’ll be signing up for a meal plan once I’m back in NYC (yum)

4 - PARTING NOTE

If anyone has tips on how to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes, please send them my way. I can’t stop scratching mine!

Until next month, friends.