446: Nine Favorite Things.

I can’t figure out what it is, so maybe you all can help, but Miami Beach has smelled absolutely incredible this week. There must be a flower or tree blooming because every time a light breeze rolls through, it smells like the freshest summer day. From my backyard to my morning and sunset walks, the whole neighborhood has this beautiful scent. It’s almost like someone lit the perfect late-summer candle across the entire island.

It made this week at home feel especially wonderful. The sunshine and colorful sunsets have been such a gift. Even on the busiest days, when work felt frustrating, everything seemed to reset during my evening walks.

One of my favorite parts of the week has been my impromptu conversations with Penny Jane and Garrett, the sweetest elderly couple who live around the block. Last night I learned they’ve lived in their home for more than forty years, and they let me in on a little secret too. The beautiful trees lining their yard aren’t what you’d expect—they’re avocado trees.

Beautiful, thriving, organic Hass avocado trees, all grown from pits they planted more than forty years ago. How sweet is that? They even sent me home with two huge avocados, and now I’m patiently waiting for them to ripen. Penny Jane says it’ll take about a week.

It’s little moments like these that remind me to slow down. No matter what’s happening in our lives, there are always small pockets of beauty waiting to be noticed. Sometimes they’re as simple as a conversation with a neighbor, a summer breeze, or two avocados picked from a tree planted decades ago.

Don’t get so busy that you forget to stop and smell whatever is blooming around you. The world really is a beautiful place. Sometimes we just have to choose to notice it.

Seek out the sunshine. Go for the walk. Chase those feel-good endorphins. The little things really do add up.

I love sharing these little moments with you all. I love that we’ve built a space where I feel comfortable enough to share them. So many creators are moving to Substack and putting more of their lives behind a paywall, but I’ve always loved that this space is open. We’ve built it together over the last fourteen years. That’s more than a decade of recipes, stories, conversations, and growing together. It’s actually almost half my life.

I feel incredibly lucky because of that. You all really do get a peek into my world—and honestly, into my brain. This week felt hard and frustrating in a lot of ways, but it also felt beautiful. I’ve learned that both things can exist at the same time.

I hate to say it because it feels like everyone is talking about it right now, but learning how to better regulate my nervous system has quietly changed the way I move through difficult days. The hard moments don’t disappear, but I don’t spiral the way I used to. I can feel the heaviness without letting it completely consume me, and that’s been a really meaningful shift.

Creatively, I’ve felt a little lost this week too. I’ve been doing this for a long time now, and I constantly ask myself how to keep creating things that feel fresh. I want to push myself creatively while also making things that resonate with you all and, most importantly, still feel true to me.

I spent most of this week working on a new feature for the website that I’m genuinely so excited about. I’ve changed directions twice. I’ve questioned almost every decision. And somehow, after all that second-guessing, I ended up almost exactly where I started.

Maybe that’s the lesson.

Sometimes your first instinct really is the right one.

Without giving away too much, this project is rooted in everything I love most. It’s something that feels incredibly natural for me to create and something I’ve wanted to share for a long time. I hope you’ll love it, but putting something new out into the world never gets easier. Whether it’s a recipe, a cookbook, or something completely different, there’s always that little voice wondering how it’ll be received.

But one thing I’ve always promised myself is that I’ll only share what I genuinely love. Never what feels forced. Never what doesn’t feel like me.

I’ve been that way since day one. Just ask my sweet mom, who’s been beside me helping build this website and this little world of mine for the last fourteen years. We’ve said no to so many opportunities because protecting what we’ve built has always mattered more than saying yes to everything.

What we’re working on now feels incredibly special to me. This week was filled with planning, organizing, creating, and plenty of tedious behind-the-scenes work. Not glamorous, but so necessary.

Today I feel tired—but in the best way. A little scared, a little anxious, and still so excited for what’s ahead.

It might sound crazy, but my favorite season is just around the corner. It’s the time of year when I always feel most like myself. I’m excited to see who I am this year, how I’ve grown, and what this version of me creates during my favorite season.

I have a feeling it might be my best one yet.

1. Things I’m Loving.

Wearing: I’ve been wearing a lot of basics this summer because they fit my day-to-day best. For my morning and evening walks, I’ve been living in the matching sets from SET Active. Their sporty bra tops and matching shorts are currently on repeat, but honestly, everything on their site is so cute. The pieces are breathable, comfortable, and perfect for the Miami Beach heat.

I also just added the SET Vintage Euro Dad Hat and SET Cotton Twill Bucket Hat to my cart. I’m trying to be better about wearing hats and UV-protective clothing to protect my face from the sun. I might try this Pocketable UV Protection Parka. I also love this Nantucket Sound Hat from TWP. It has a wider brim that covers the back of your neck too, which is such a thoughtful detail.

The Sunday Hoodie from Abercrombie has become another staple. I throw it on after the sun goes down when the evenings get a little breezy. It’s on sale right now, and I’m tempted to grab it in another color.

Also… I’m shopping at Gap again! I haven’t shopped there this much since middle school, but they’ve been launching some really cute collections lately, including the Hailey Bieber collaboration, which sold out almost immediately. They just restocked the Hailey Low Rise, so I ordered a pair. I’ll report back, but they look really promising.

If you’re looking for an easy summer dress, the Zara Fringed Knit Dress is really cute.

These Métiers d’art 2026 Pumps immediately reminded me of a pair my Nonnie used to wear, which somehow makes me love them even more. Now I just need an occasion special enough to wear them.

Listening to

Lately, I’ve realized I enjoy listening to podcasts far more than watching TV. I find myself learning something new almost every day, often from conversations I never would have expected to interest me. I love hearing how people think, build businesses, solve problems, and navigate life.

I’ve been especially enjoying Maggie Sellers’ Hot Smart Rich podcast. She interviews entrepreneurs and founders from all kinds of industries, and I always find it fascinating to hear how people built their careers.

Right now I’m listening to her conversation with Laura Wasser, Kim Kardashian’s divorce lawyer. Definitely not an episode I expected to love, but it’s been so good. It’s insightful, surprisingly entertaining, and one of those conversations that completely takes your mind off everything else.

And just for fun, I also loved The Bossticks episode with Gabe Waller, who sources rare vintage and hard-to-find designer pieces for celebrities. Fashion is such a different world from mine, so I always enjoy getting a little peek behind the scenes. It was such a fun listen.

Dreaming of Going to

Odera, Tinos, Greece. Carved into the rugged beauty of Tinos, Odera feels like so much more than a hotel. Every detail celebrates the island’s heritage, from its commitment to sustainability to experiences rooted in local tradition. You can learn the craft of marble carving, enjoy the freshest local ingredients, and explore the island through thoughtfully curated adventures. It looks like one of those places that completely immerses you in its surroundings.

Maine. So close to home, yet it feels like another world. The newly renovated The Asticou Hotel looks absolutely beautiful. It’s classic New England in the very best way—timeless, charming, and exactly the kind of place I’d love to spend a few quiet days in the fall.

Around my home

Before I left for Austin, I did a little shopping for the house. Not intentionally—I just kept finding things I loved, and throughout the week a few packages arrived, which made the week a little more exciting.

I have to share this Contemporary Tumbler Set of four handblown glasses. They are stunning. I did have to pay an extra thirty-three dollars in import charges, which wasn’t ideal, but I have my homegrown dahlias scattered throughout the house in them right now, and they look so pretty. I’d say they’re worth it!

Of course, I also picked up a few things during the Anthropologie sale. As expected, quite a few fall candles somehow ended up in my cart.

And I added these cocktail glasses to my collection. Just a heads up—they’re adorable, but they’re very small.

I’m already looking forward to creating fall cocktails and bringing back Spooky Cocktail Saturday this October.

I also found these beautiful Stoneware Graters. While they’re technically graters, they feel like such special little pieces. They’d be perfect for holding rings on a nightstand or displaying tiny flower buds that have broken off their stems.

A few crafty things made their way into my orders as well. I’ve been trying to find creative outlets outside of work, and I’m especially excited about this DIY Watercolor Paint Set. I spend so much of my day working on the computer, so this week I’m going to try shutting it down a little earlier and painting instead. I loved arts and crafts as a kid, and I’m excited to reconnect with that creative side of myself. I also found a similar kit on Amazon.

This Sticker Book is just so fun. It has more than three thousand stickers! I’m thinking of using the blank pages to write down recipes and decorate them with stickers to make them feel a little more special. It reminds me so much of the creative projects I loved as a kid.

And this next suggestion comes with a fun little fact about me. I used to make jewelry as a kid. It was actually my very first little business. I must have been in sixth grade, and I even had my jewelry collection sold in a store at the mall in Beachwood, Ohio. Looking back, I guess I’ve always loved creating, sharing, and making a little money too!

When I came across this bead kit from BaubleBar, it immediately reminded me of those days. It felt like the perfect excuse to revisit one of my favorite childhood hobbies. I can’t wait to see what I end up making.

Beauty

I’ve actually been following a new beauty routine lately. I wanted something that felt effortless and took very little time, especially during these hot summer days.

I read a piece about Paige Lorenze’s easy everyday beauty routine, which inspired me to order the Clinique Moisture Surge Face Spray and the Almost Lipstick in Black Honey.

My routine couldn’t be simpler. I start with my skincare and sunscreen, then give my face a spritz of the Moisture Surge Face Spray. Next, I brush my brows up with The Skinny Confidential Brow Peptide, set them in place with the Rare Beauty Brow Gel, and finish by dabbing the Black Honey Almost Lipstick onto both my lips and cheeks. Five minutes, and I’m done. It’s natural, glowy, and perfect for everyday.

Something new, I’m adding the Air Air Thickening Spray from RŌZ to my routine. Everyone I know who uses this brand absolutely loves it, so I’m excited to give it a try.

I emptied another bottle of this Cleansing Complex. The only cleanser I’ve ever consistently used. It leaves my skin feeling so clean without stripping it or disrupting my skin barrier. I truly can’t live without it.

One more beauty favorite! My favorite sheet masks are included in the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale right now. I love traveling with them. After a long travel day or before getting ready for dinner, they feel like a little spa treatment in a fancy hotel.

Watching

The only thing really intriguing me right now is The Five-Star Weekend starring Jennifer Garner.

She plays Hollis Shaw, a bestselling cookbook author who, after a devastating loss, invites friends from different chapters of her life to her Nantucket home for one unforgettable weekend.

It sounds like the perfect mix of food, friendship, entertaining, and beautiful scenery. I feel like everyone is talking about it! Plus, I’m a cookbook author myself, so I’m naturally very curious. My mom said she enjoyed the book.

Have you watched it yet?

From My Kitchen

Just like you all, I’ve been cooking and baking with all the best summer produce. But my favorite little treat right now is actually something so simple: a plump Medjool date with a little salted butter and flaky sea salt. I got the idea from Kristin Cavallari.

I usually stuff my dates with peanut butter, but the salted butter is such an unexpected combination. It really lets the caramel flavor of the dates shine. I also love topping them with these roasted pepitas for a little crunch, plus some extra protein and fiber. It’s become one of my favorite mid-morning snacks.

These medjool dates from Rancho Meladuco Organic Farm in California are the best, by the way. Keep them in the freezer to stay fresh—they thaw in just a few seconds.

My other current fixation is a bowl of thick yogurt topped with late-summer blackberries, jumbo blueberries, and a handful of granola. I love making my own granola, but lately I’ve been reaching for Purely Elizabeth to save a little time.

Around My Table

Peach everything. Berry everything. That’s the theme around here right now, along with quick, effortless dinners to share with family.

While I was in Austin, I made three new peach recipes, the pistachio ice cream sandwiches I already shared, a burst tomato pasta, a delicious salmon bowl, grilled steaks, and so much more. We packed a lot of cooking into just a few days, and I can’t wait to share it all.

And if you’re in Austin, make a stop at Rockman Coffee + Bakeshop. Wow, their pastries are GOOD! We had them delivered to the set last week, and they quickly became everyone’s favorite.

I’ve been deep in planning mode this week, so there hasn’t been as much time in the kitchen.

This Week’s Little Joy

So many little moments made me smile this week. Sweet conversations with our UPS driver and neighbors. Sending a friend a video that made her laugh. Trimming my dad’s dahlias and filling the house with them. Even the tiny snail I found crawling across my keyboard. At first, I thought he was gross, but then I realized how cute and innocent he was.

One of my favorite moments was an unexpected late-night phone call with a friend who helped me work through a few creative blocks. It was exactly the conversation I needed.

Looking Ahead

It’s officially planning season, and I couldn’t be more excited. I’m dreaming up new ideas and can’t wait to bring them to life.

I’ve always loved this time of year. The anticipation of a new season, football weekends, the first hints of fall, Halloween, and then the holidays before we know it. It all comes so quickly, but it’s my favorite time of year, and I’m so excited for what’s ahead.

2. From the Market: summer produce recipes.

One Pan Corn and Zucchini Pesto Orzo

White Corn Pizza

Browned Garlic Butter Creamed Corn Ravioli

Simple Roasted Sungold Cherry Tomato Pasta

Old School Easy Brown Sugar Peach Cobbler

Cinnamon Crunch Peach Muffin Bread

3. Easy Summer Entertaining.

4. It’s A Sunday Night In September.

I’ve been saying this a lot lately, but I’ve finally made space to daydream again. This week, I couldn’t stop thinking about Sunday nights in September.

The windows are open, football is playing in the background, and my brothers are asking what’s for dinner. Maybe it’s Trevor’s favorite pot roast, or a family-style roast chicken with late-summer sides. There’s a bowl of homemade soft pretzels on the counter, the first pumpkin beers and ciders of the season are in the fridge, and Mom’s Buckeyes or Special K Bars are waiting for dessert.

Growing up, I had a love-hate relationship with Sundays. I dreaded the school week ahead, but I loved the slower pace of Sunday dinner. Add Gilmore Girls and the first hints of fall, and it always felt like the beginning of my favorite season.

I’d love to bring that feeling here this fall and turn Sunday nights into a tradition we can all share.

I’d love your help.

As I build out Sunday Night dinners, I want to know what would actually help bring the people you love around the table.

Would complete menus be helpful? Tablescape ideas with shoppable links? What I’m wearing while I cook? The playlist playing in the background? Hosting tips? Family traditions? Entertaining inspiration?

How much time do you really have on a Sunday? Who are you feeding? Is football on all afternoon, or is it a quiet family dinner?

I genuinely want to know.

My hope is to make Sunday nights feel special again. Maybe it’s time to replace the Sunday Scaries with Sunday Smiles. Simple, effortless evenings around the table with the people you love.

It might sound a little wholesome, but is there really anything wrong with that? I always say, you do you, and let everyone else do the same. Nothing needs to be perfect. It should simply feel good to you.

So tell me…what would make Sunday nights feel special in your home? I’d love to build this together.

5. My Week In Photos.

My favorite set from Set Active this week

My giant hand picked avocados! I love these cuties! They’re almost ready to eat!

I just did a Cymbiotika restock. My cabinet (and my brother’s too), is always stocked with Liposomal Glutathione, Liposomal Vitamin B12 + B6, Mineral Shilajit (84+ trace minerals that help support energy and brain function), Liquid Colostrum, and Liposomal Magnesium Complex, which I mainly take to help me relax and get a good night’s sleep.

Use code TIEGHAN for 10% off at Promix.

Raw Bone Marrow Capsules

– Type III collagen, key modulator of inflammation

Best For: Connective tissue, bone & gut health

Raw Liver Capsules

•   Vitamin A, B12, D3 & heme iron
•   Active factors, nutrients & enzymes for your liver

Best For: Optimize hormonal profile & liver detoxification

Fish Oil + Cod Liver

• immunity and joint function
• Promotes healthy skin

Best For: heart, joint, immune health

Kion coffee beans are still my favorite. I also take their omega, creatine, and aminos every day.

Dahlias! Found some in the prettiest shade of orange

I want this gorgeous Chanel bag. Screenshot from Kendall Jenner Instagram story!

I am so happy! It’s been too long since I’ve had my sauna blanket. In Colorado, I would use this every single night. Excited to get back to it.

The benefits:

• Boosts mood and helps reduce stress
• Increases blood flow and circulation
• Promotes glowing skin and supports muscle recovery
• Helps support the body’s natural detoxification process

Dad’s dahlias in the Contemporary Tumbler I was talking about earlier

I think I’ve taken screenshots of all of Emma’s quotes this week

Beautiful gardens of wild flowers.

Miami is so pretty at sunset

6. Inspiring Me.

7. Favorite Links.

The Gilmore Girls House Is on the Market

Jeremiah Brent and Nate Berkus Craft a Family in Rural Portugal

A Rustic Hudson Valley Retreat Gets a Soul-Preserving Makeover

Removing “Visual Noise” Transformed My Home

8. The Nordstrom Sale Is LIVE: my edits.

Style

Beauty

Home

9. This Week’s Dinners + Weekend Eats.

Monday: Skillet Burst Cherry Tomato White Wine Garlic Pasta

Tuesday: 30 Minute Al Pastor Tacos with Smashed Avocado

Wednesday: Dill Pickle Salt and Vinegar Chicken Salad

Thursday: Thai Turkey Meatballs

Friday: Tomato, Peach, and Burrata Salad 

Saturday: Easy Ginger Blackberry Peach Cobbler

Sunday: Pistachio Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches