I am dreaming of…
I am dreaming of barefoot walks to the mailbox.
I am dreaming of wind-dried sheets and iced coffee that never melts too fast.
I am dreaming of spicy margaritas on the patio, shoes kicked off, country music loud.
I am dreaming of fresh peaches in Grandma's ceramic bowls.
I am dreaming of dancing around the campfire like no one’s watching.
I am dreaming of long drives with the windows down and nowhere to be.
I am dreaming of dinner outside and laughter that echoes past dark.
I am dreaming of a summer that’s soft and slow, but just a little wild.
—
I spent the first real day of summer at the beach. Just one day, but it was the kind of reset I didn’t know I needed. There’s something about standing in front of the ocean, letting the waves crash without warning, that brings me back to myself. It reminded me of the importance of both—the stillness and the chaos. The calm and the current.
Even though this season fills up fast, even though there’s work to do and people to see and events to prep for, I want to make sure I don’t miss the quiet in between. The barefoot moments. The soft ones. The ones I can’t schedule but end up remembering anyway.
There’s a balance I’m learning to hold this summer. Between dancing around the campfire and watering the flowers. Between working and letting the day take me where it wants. Between the loud and the lovely.
Lately, I’ve been choosing:
• Dresses that make me feel free
• Slower mornings with more stillness
• Messy journals with my thoughts scribbled in the margins
• Evenings that smell like saltwater and sunscreen
• Less pressure to perform, more permission to just be
12th and Hemlock has always been about more than clothes. It’s about living with clarity and soul. About creating space to feel both soft and strong. Feminine and free. Wild and grounded. This blog is the heart of that—where I get to share not just what I’m wearing, but how I’m living.
So if you're craving something slower, something more intentional, this is your reminder. You don’t have to do summer like everyone else. Let it be barefoot. Let it be breezy. Let it be beautifully yours.
But maybe you’re wondering—what does that actually look like?
Here’s what I’ve learned:
It looks like choosing your peace even when the group chat says “yes” to one more plan.
It looks like stepping away from your screen when the sunlight is hitting your bedroom just right.
It looks like writing your thoughts down, even if they’re messy and unfinished.
It looks like dressing in a way that makes you feel like you, not someone else, no matter the event.
It looks like remembering that joy doesn’t always have to be loud—it can be quiet and steady, too.
This blog isn’t just a place for pretty pictures or curated outfits. It’s a sanctuary for the in-between. The honest parts. The things we’re dreaming of, working through, coming back to. It’s for the woman who’s doing her best to create a life that feels good, not just one that looks good.
If you’re tired of rushing.
If you’re ready for softness.
If you’re looking for that sweet spot between intention and freedom—
you’re in the right place.
And if you’re not sure where to begin, here are a few gentle ways to start:
5 Ways to Romanticize Your Summer
1. Brew your morning coffee barefoot on the porch, still in your sleep shirt.
Let the mug warm your hands while the air still holds a trace of dew (and yes, your hair probably looks like a bird’s nest). Sit on the step, braid your hair loosely, and scribble half-awake thoughts into a messy journal. Don’t check your phone until the sun is fully up—trust me, the emails will wait.
2. Chase golden hour in your favorite dress, even if you have nowhere to go.
Put on the soft cotton one that always makes you feel like you. Grab your keys, turn on a song that makes you feel sixteen again (hello, early 2000s playlist), and drive toward the light. Roll the windows down and let the wind mess up your carefully styled hair. Find an open field or quiet road and just… be there. Bonus points if you snap a photo you never post.
3. Host a patio dinner for two with mismatched plates and string lights.
Order takeout or make something simple—peach burrata toast or grilled corn and pasta salad (yeah, my mouth is watering too). Add cloth napkins and cold wine in chipped glasses (or if you're a wild girl, grab a chilled Miller Lite). Let the music play from a Bluetooth speaker. Stay out until the bugs start whispering.
4. Trade your hot girl walk for a soft girl walk in flip flops and an oversized tee.
Skip the matching set and the motivational playlist. Throw on flip flops (bonus points if they’re a little worn-in), yesterday’s denim shorts, your favorite stretched-out tee, and let your damp shower hair air-dry messy and free. No destination, no pressure—just the warm sidewalk and the sound of cicadas (or the neighbor’s dog barking, because real life). Maybe hum a song you haven’t heard in years or just let your mind wander like a leaf on the breeze. This is your movement, soft and easy, just for you.
5. Keep a beach towel, a book, and a basket in your trunk—just in case.
On a random Tuesday afternoon, drive 20 minutes to water. A lake, a creek, the shore if you’re lucky. Read a chapter with your legs stretched out and your sunglasses slipping down your nose. Get your feet wet even if you forgot your swimsuit. Stay until the sky turns honey-colored and you almost forget to head home.
These little moments aren’t about perfection—they’re about creating space for softness, spontaneity, and a touch of wildness in your summer days. It’s about choosing to live fully—even in the quiet in-betweens—and honoring the rhythm that feels right for you.
So, whether you’re sipping your coffee on the porch, chasing golden hour, dancing around a campfire, or taking a slow walk with damp hair and flip flops, remember: this summer is yours to shape.
Here’s to slow mornings, wild nights, messy journals, and all the beautiful, imperfect moments in between.
Let’s dream gently and live wildly together.
Fearlessly yours,
Abbey