I have absolutely, positively no idea how it is August. I was staring at the calendar yesterday and realized that this is one of those years when time flies more than usual. The August birthstone is peridot, which appears in only one color, a light green. I’ve never been a huge fan of green handbags, but as I searched for the nine best on the market right now, I started to rethink my aversion to the shade.

Of all the things I miss about home now that I live in New York City, being able to shop at Nordstrom is one of the biggest. Manhattan has its own Nordstrom flagship coming in 2018, but obviously that’s far too long for me to wait for my Nordstrom fix, particularly since the much-anticipated Nordstrom Anniversary Sale just launched moments ago.

At first glance, a link between what handbag you choose and how well you endure hot, sticky summer weather seems counterintuitive. You don’t wear a bag, you carry it, so what difference does it make? Well, as anyone who’s been stuck in the heat hauling a giant leather tote or satchel knows, it can make a lot of difference. A bag might not cover you, but it definitely spends a lot of time against your skin and body, and especially when you’re outdoors, even that bit of contact can be majorly annoying as temperatures rise.

Net-A-Porter never lets me down when it comes to their semi-annual sales. I already scoured the US sale but yesterday the store opened up its International sale. I’ve been searching the site since the sale went live and found what I believe are 9 of the best handbags being offered. From Valentino to Yves Saint Laurent to Bottega Veneta and many more, there is page after page of designer handbags marked down.

Last week’s weather in New York City was pretty terrible. There was nothing but rain, fog and stifling humidity for days on end, and even when the sun did peek out, it only served to seemingly boil the moisture in the air. Suffice it to say, my hair was not happy, and neither was the rest of me. Generally, days like those turn New York into a wide swath of dark neutrals – black umbrellas, grey and tan rain coats, black Hunter boots.

Being a mom is a tough, tiring, sometimes-thankless gig. All the way from changing diapers to doing your college-aged kids’ laundry when they come home to visit, moms deserve more credit than they sometimes receive. Compared to how much a great mom can mean to her kids throughout their lives, a once-yearly Mother’s Day gift seems paltry by comparison. Want to make it count?