Love & Letters September - A monthly note from Marcie

Dear friends,

Greetings from Sagaponack.

If August is the "Sunday of summer," then September must be a bit like Monday morning. The kids have a saying at sleepaway camp: "10 for 2." You wait ten months for two magical months of summer. I couldn't agree more. I spend the whole year looking forward to summer, so before I fully embrace fall, I'm squeezing every drop out of these final days in Sagaponack.

This year it feels like we were gifted an extra week.  Labor Day is so late that the kids don't head back to school until September 9, the latest I can remember. I basically live my life on a school calendar, and if you ask me, summer is always over far too quickly.

One of my favorite parts of summer in the Hamptons is entertaining at home and being invited into friends' homes. The restaurants out here leave a lot to be desired, so dinner parties tend to be much more fun (and far more delicious). I love seeing how everyone entertains - from beautiful tablescapes to delicious menus - and I always come home with a new idea to borrow. A bonus is when my friends use Dear Annabelle place cards on their tables!

I’ve enjoyed entertaining at my house a few times this summer.  For an impromptu dinner last month, I hung bistro string lights between two trees in my backyard and set the table underneath. It changed the whole atmosphere. I tend to stick to a familiar menu formula: chilled soup to start, followed by a plated entrée, usually something like branzino or beef tenderloin with smashed potatoes and grilled vegetables. For dessert, I love serving something a little unexpected, like warm coffee cake with vanilla ice cream or an old-fashioned sundae bar with plenty of toppings. This past weekend, we tried to recreate the French toast dessert from LPM, and it was a hit.  I'd love to hear your favorite dinner party menus.

My other favorite part of summer is spending time on our boat, The Little General (one of my husband's many nicknames for me). While the water in the Hamptons may not rival the Mediterranean, there's something about being out on the water that feels like an escape. It's one of my favorite ways to gather friends, and I don't think there's a prettier place to watch the sun go down. 

Back at Dear Annabelle, we're heading into one of our busiest (and most exciting) times of the year. I’m looking forward to being back in the office and to hitting the ground running. The holiday countdown has officially begun. Only 126 days until the start of Hanukkah and 146 days until Christmas!!

We have so many new projects launching this fall that I briefly wondered if we'd planned too much . . . but c'est la vie. I'm especially excited about our new desk calendars. We created two versions in very limited quantities, and while they'll officially launch in October, I'd be happy to set one aside if you'd like first dibs. Our new candles have also arrived, and I'm completely obsessed with Love Notes: Paris. It's chic and sophisticated, and it somehow manages to smell exactly like the city feels.

Now it's all hands on deck as we fill wholesale orders, prepare for holiday pop-ups, and photograph our holiday collection. It's a busy season, but one of my favorites.

Things I'm loving:

• Unreasonable Hospitality: A friend recommended this book by Will Guidara of Eleven Madison Park fame, and I couldn't put it down. My sister wrote a great review of it in her weekly newsletter. You can read it here. Next up: Mean Moms by Emma Rosenblum, which couldn't be more different.
• Gossip Girl:  Luke recently started watching the series, and it's been so much fun seeing it through his eyes. Unfortunately, his siblings spoiled the big reveal of Gossip Girl's identity, which definitely changes the experience!
• Flare jeans: I've been searching for the perfect pair forever. These were a splurge, but I already know I'll be living in them all fall. Here’s another great option from Frame.
• Russian manicures: I resisted for ages, and now I'm completely converted. I go to Mansion Beauty on the Upper East Side and always choose the shade “Ice Cream.” (Thank you, Eliza, for the recommendation.) They dry instantly and are practically indestructible.

I hope you're finding a way to savor these last few days of summer. Before we know it, we'll be setting the table for fall.

With love and letters,

Marcie

PS: Are you hosting for the Jewish holidays? Now is the time to order your place cards and send them to the calligrapher. We’re happy to help. Just reach out, and we can coordinate for you.

PPS: Does holiday gifting feel overwhelming? Let Dear Annabelle be your gifting concierge, send us the names of everyone on your list, and we will pick out the perfect presents. We can also organize beautiful custom products to make the gifts even more personal.