Playing cards, starting poolside wars and honey masking
The diaries of a reluctant summer resident.
Hello, it’s great to
see you again.
Editor – Phoebe Tully
—
First a shout out to the people who literally bought me things from The Small Things for Christmas. I don’t deserve you.
I was only half joking when I said that this is a year-round gift guide (for me).
And secondly, happy new year! I’m late to the party, which is basically the only party I’ve been later to in my life. I decided to take January off once I was in January and realised I was still 1000% running on empty. Anyone else? Both here and in my business, I just took a content pause. On 2 January I had over 100 emails that had been sent that day and I decided I just didn’t need to do that to you or me.
But I’m back! The Small Things resumes for 2023, full of suggestions for making every day a bit more special.
Cards on the table.
Let’s bring back card games.
Pour yourself a round of kirs (or make a pot of loose leaf tea – loose leaf non-negotiable here) and play a game of cribbage, whist or gin rummy one evening this week instead of watching TV.
I grew up in a Canasta Family (capitals intentional), but there’s a ton of two-person card games I want to learn.
Some card packs I would leave on the coffee table:
You’re the eco-friendly bomb.
I need to start with a caveat that I have not actually tried these, because I don’t currently have use for them. But I find myself moving into an apartment complex with a pool soon, and it reminded me of some fairly epic water bomb pool fights over the years.
Now we know better and wouldn’t dream of buying that much disposable plastic, right? BUT water bomb fights! Let kids be kids! As I was mulling over this problem, look what popped up on my feed: refillable water bombs ($$).
Made from soft silicone, they automatically close when filled with water. I don’t understand how that works, but OK. I love how they go to lengths to explain that silicone is soft “but we do advise not to throw directly at someones face”. They don’t know my big brother.
I first need to think about washing machines, sofas and vacuums, but after that: water bombs.
PS. If you also looked at that link and thought it wouldn’t be enough bombs, here’s a link for 16 refillable water bombs ($$). I hear you.
DO | take a tennis lesson (or if, unlike me, you already know how to play, play a game of tennis) one morning while it’s still cool.
MAKE | a honey face mask either by literally slapping manuka honey directly on your clean face, or making a refreshing summery mask with a few mint mashed leaves, 2 parts honey, 2 parts aloe gel, and a few sprays of rosewater. Leave it on for up to 20 minutes before rinsing with warm water. Or just outsource it ($$).
READ | My Family and Other Animals – Gerald Durrell
WATCH | American Gigolo (1980)
LISTEN | Duke Ellington & John Coltrane