After a long day's work in the office yesterday and with the sun falling behind the house, the boys and I went out onto the front porch, and I began harvesting the lavender. I only tended to one large bushel, but it was exactly the natural medicine I needed to unwind. 

As the trug began to overflow with lavender sprigs, I stopped for a moment. Seeing Norman sitting in the boulevard gazing about the neighborhood, and Oscar on the front stoop standing guard, I smelled the palms of my hands, and the scent was magnificent. Very little else can simply bring calm and soon a restful night's sleep, and I thanked the stars that aligned to provide me with this garden I call Le Papillon.

Knowing I have much more to harvest, but that will come this weekend, I went inside and settled in for the evening. Turning the kettle on the stove to boil some water for tea, and selecting a truffle to nibble on from Le Maison du Chocolat, I put on my dressing gown from One Hundred Stars and began to put the day to bed. 

Such daily rituals are calming and comforting no matter what may have happened during the day. In particular, Thursday for me was a day. Bills came in (yep, the contractor handed me the bill - albeit with a bottle of wine from a favorite cellar, but still - the bill - ouch!), miscommunication happened with long-awaited project orders from delivery companies and, . . . no . . .  there was much good that happened as well. Let's focus on that. 

I picked a few blueberries with my young neighbor and chatted with his mother, thanking her for the warm banana almond muffin her kids brought me the day before as a thank you for letting them pick strawberries regularly from my garden. I saw significant progress in the kitchen renovation and was given a specific timeline so that in fewer than two weeks to go it would done, and I slept deeply the night before, waking up only when my body was ready to do so. So, I would make the argument, the good far overshadowed the not-so-good.  

Perhaps that is what having daily rituals does, gives us time to reflect, gives us time to truly consider thoughtfully all that has happened and why it unfolded the way it did.

Every day is new. The attitude we bring to it helps significantly. Our attitude may not change the events that would have initially happened, but how we manage through them is affected by our attitude. Speaking with someone who loves us helps when we find ourselves in a frustrating moment thinking it will never leave us, and being there for someone who is feeling this way is also extremely helpful as well letting us know that everyone has tough moments, but that we can overcome them and move through them. 

Rituals. Healthy relationships. Simply making the most of each day. Doing our best. That is how we make the day sing brighter and end more sweetly. 

In today's newsletter . . . oh, but wait. I wanted to share you a sneak peek at my new potting table and corner (above). It is now complete, but I will be waiting to share with you how I dressed this space up and organized it in the coming months. However, as newsletter subscribers, I wanted to give you a first glimpse. 

With that said, if you haven't already taken the in-depth survey I shared last Thursday, please be sure to do so as I value your opinion. All of the specific details are included in the post that accompany the survey, but essentially, changes and improvements in the quality of content and engagement are coming to TSLL blog. However, in order for that to happen, a soft paywall will be put in place on October 1st. I will be announcing in more detail what exactly will be occurring in a detailed post on September 1st, so stay tuned.  Rest assured, this newsletter, this monthly newsletter, will always be free. And with that said, after today, you can look for this newsletter to arrive in your inbox on the final Friday of every month. But if you are wondering what I will be up to instead of writing a weekly newsletter as I have done for 10 years, don't forget that the premiere of season 3 of The Simply Luxurious Kitchen will be happening in September, and I also have a new addition for Top Tier Ad-Free Subscribers starting in October, so stay tuned. 

Now to this week's newsletter. Full of all of the French Week posts (11 in total so far), you will also find the week's prior posts - so an extra This & That, a wonderful post for Pre-Fall fashion AND 19 books to look out for that will be released this fall. Oh, and be sure to check out the new recipe I shared last week that readers have already made and are loving. So simple and full of chocolate. Wahoo! My kind of cookie. :) 

French Week is not over yet, as there are four more posts to come, and one will be going live at noon today revealing the Grand Giveaway. Be sure to stop by the blog to find out what it is and simply leave a comment to enter by Saturday at 8pm (Pacific time).

Speaking of giveaways, I have an exclusive one for you, TSLL Newsletter subscribers, and Norman is accompanying it just below in the image: a box of 30 chocolate truffles from La Maison du Chocolat. Don't worry, you will have your own, completely packaged box (this one was for my household and oh my goodness, they are scrumptious). How to enter? Simply respond to this email and say - Chocolate please! The lucky winner will be announced on Sunday, so be sure to stop by the blog to see if you are the winner, and then if you are, contact me with your mailing address and I will mail it to you tout de suite. 

Okay, that was a long letter. And I know you want to start perusing, so let's get started. Wishing you a lovely weekend in August, and until August 28th, I will see you on the blog. 

A documentary for bibliophiles, a new film to enjoy, pasta lovers – a must-have cookbook for you, sale items for the home, your wardrobe and more, as well as books for improving your fulfillment in everyday life, shifting your perspective on time and a podcast to help you make it through the pandemic well-fed.

Here we go! French finds galore! Oodles of books, cookbooks included, two French films that I highly recommend, a pop-up sale on French Brocante finds, an upcoming new series set in Paris on Netflix and well, that is just the beginning. Enjoy!