451: Nine Favorite Things.

Hi from Florida! I’ve been home this week—my first full week home in what feels like forever—and I really needed it.

Every morning when I step outside and feel the sunshine on my skin, it instantly wakes me up and gives me the most vibrant, abundant energy. I keep finding myself walking down the street thinking, the sun on my shoulders feels so good.

I catch myself almost every morning just feeling genuinely happy to be outside. The warm air, the green trees glistening in the morning light, my feet on the ground. I’ve really been appreciating the moment, the time, and simply being here. I love it.

And with fall approaching so fast—like, so darn fast—I’m getting excited! My favorite time of year, as we all know. This week I dove even deeper into planning, and I cannot stop thinking about fun recipes for game day, warm and cozy soups, and, of course, spooky Halloween treats.

And after a poll with you all on Instagram, the verdict is in: spooky Halloween cocktails are coming back!

If you could see me right now, I am the girl emoji shaking her hands with excitement. That’s me. I’m so excited.

With my mom here in Miami this week too, we nailed down so many calls, plans, and upcoming projects. The thing about my mom versus me? She can take call after call after call.

But me?

One call and I’m like, OK, no more for the day, right?

On the days I’m in the kitchen cooking and testing recipes almost all day, I try to schedule zero calls. As you can imagine, those are my favorite days.

But we have a handful of projects we’re building out right now to make the website even more valuable and useful for you guys, and those projects require calls, planning, strategy, and a lot more time sitting down at the computer.

I’m stepping more into the business side of things, and I’m learning so much. I really enjoy tapping into this other side of me that I know is there, and I think it’s her time to shine.

I’m so used to thinking creatively all day—recipes, photos, stories, ideas. Building more of the strategy and business behind everything we’re creating is a whole new challenge for me.

And I like that. It feels exciting to be learning and pushing myself in a different way while still protecting the kitchen days I love so much.

That’s been this week. Lots of cooking, lots of planning, lots of learning, and so much to look forward to over the next few months. I hope you’re all feeling some of that excitement too.

What are you most excited for this September?

1. Things I’m Loving.

Wearing

Truly, I am not trying to jump ahead of the seasons and make time move any faster than it needs to. However, with all the Halloween, Thanksgiving, and even Christmas emails already hitting my inbox from almost every website I frequent, I can’t help it. I’m excited for my favorite season. I shine my brightest during the final quarter of the year!

Most of the pieces I’ve been adding to my wish list—and even buying—are more transitional pieces to take me from summer into fall. At Zara, I love this basic linen Henley t-shirt. It’s light, but has that cozier September feel and can easily be worn well into fall. Their contrast polo shirt has that same transitional feel, but I especially love the fall-like color. Super cute!

And of course, I LOVE all the autumn fleece jackets and coats. Don’t we all? I’m getting this pullover fleece from Halfdays. They started out as more of a ski brand, but they’re launching more and more pieces each season, and I’ve been loving what they’re doing.

I added these new ASICS Gel-Kayano 14 Sneakers from FWRD this week too. I try to get new sneakers for walking every few months to protect my feet, and I love this pair.

But what I’ve spent the MOST time doing this week is scrolling for the perfect eighteenth birthday and off-to-college gift for my sister, Asher. Her birthday is a week from today, and then she’s off! I really want to make this one special.

Asher appreciates a good vintage find, so right now I’m thinking about a vintage bag or shoes. If I were going to go really BIG, I would find something vintage. She’d definitely love this Gucci Hasler Hobo Bag too, and I also found this Fendi Leather Shoulder Bag. I’d lean toward the Fendi. It feels fun but still special, and it’s such a good size! Both are timeless pieces she could have forever.

She’s also been looking at cameras, and after chatting with my brother, I ordered this Canon PowerShot G7, which I actually have and really love too. My idea is to put the camera and a sweet note inside a bag. But I’ll probably go with something like the Beis bag. I have a million ideas for how to package this all up, but I have to hold myself back a little. I always get too excited when it comes to gifts.

And since I literally can’t stop, I found a few things for my mom too. She is a COZY girl and loves a beautiful sweater, possibly even more than me. I might grab her this Acne Studios Hooded Sweater. Ralph Lauren also has this sweater and this soft alpaca-blend wrap. I know she’d love any of them!

Listening to

I’m really excited because I found a new podcast this week, A Really Good Cry with Radhi Devlukia. I actually found Radhi on Instagram first and really liked her approach, so naturally I started listening to her podcast too.

She has a background in nutrition and Ayurveda, which is something I’ve known about for years but have recently felt really drawn to learning more about. I took a good amount of time away from work this week just to read, listen, and learn. I’m definitely at the very beginning and have SO much more to understand, but I’m finding it fascinating.

More than anything, I like how simple some of the practices can be. Even the smallest things I’ve started incorporating have helped me slow down, reframe my thoughts, and feel a little more grounded. I think that’s why I’m so interested in continuing to learn. This episode was one I especially enjoyed.

I also really appreciated Melissa Wood-Tepperberg sharing her personal experience with coming off stimulants. As I’ve shared, I’ve struggled with anxiety and ADHD for as long as I can remember. My mom likes to say I was born anxious, which honestly might be true.

I’ve been prescribed different medications over the years, but personally, they’ve never felt quite right for me. Hearing Melissa speak so openly about her own experience felt like a breath of fresh air. Not because anyone else’s experience will necessarily be the same, but because I appreciated hearing someone talk about hers so honestly. The wellness space can feel incredibly overwhelming, and sometimes I just want to hear real people talk about what has and hasn’t worked for them.

Then, completely switching gears, I loved listening to Kion founder Angelo Keely talk about the products he’s created. I use their aminos, creatine, Omega-3, and dark roast coffee beans, so I was curious to hear more about the thinking behind everything. His episode with Arielle Lorre was especially informative. I loved hearing their conversation and learning more about Omega-3s and their role in the body.

Clearly, I was in a major learning mood this week. I love weeks like this, when one thing leads me to another and suddenly I have ten new topics I want to read about. There is always more to learn!

Travel Thoughts

I feel like everyone is traveling this month! My family usually takes a trip together sometime in July or toward the end of August, right before school starts. Then my nephew and my cousins’ kids head off to preschool, fall schedules kick in, and suddenly everyone gets busy again.

We’ve been really lucky to travel all over together, from Mexico and the Caribbean to Europe and Korea. This year, some of my family went to Ireland. Some of my family visited Tangiers, Morocco last Thanksgiving. But it was just a day trip over from Spain.

I recently found Tamuda Bay, and it looks so beautiful. I honestly don’t know too much about Morocco, which is part of what makes me so curious about it. It could be really fun to go somewhere completely new, explore, learn about the culture, and, of course, experience all the food (Asher said one of her favorite meals was in Tangier).

That said, I’ve also been hearing SO much about Croatia lately. Our travel agent, Emily Lutz, shared this beautiful resort in Stari Grad, off the coast of Split. You never know—we might all end up there instead!

Travel isn’t always the easiest for me, especially when it takes me far outside the US and away from my usual routines. But whenever I push myself to go, I’m almost always so glad I did. I come home with a fresh perspective, new ideas, and usually a very long list of places I want to visit next.

Around my home

Basically, I can’t stop looking at all the fall new arrivals. From Anthro to Pottery Barn and Terrain, all of my favorite stores are already rolling out fall, Halloween, and even holiday collections. It’s hard not to get excited!

I’m not buying too many home pieces right now because I don’t know exactly where home base is going to be for me. But someday, when things work themselves out, I want to be that girl with chic board games sitting around her house. I mean, how cute? Tic-tac-toe is the easiest game ever, but this board is so pretty. Anthro actually has so many beautiful games, from vintage-inspired pieces to marble chess sets. They’re almost more décor than games, which I love.

In the meantime, I’ve been doing some home shopping through my cousin Abby. She recently moved and was looking for a new dining table and dresser, so I told her to start looking on Wayfair. We found a dining table and chair set that will look so cute in her new place, along with a dresser that fits perfectly in the nursery.

She’s been sending me photos, and I’m so excited for her! I genuinely love helping other people find pieces for their homes. It’s fun to see everything come together.

I want to get them this Boll & Branch Percale Hemmed Duvet Set. I love their bedding. It gives a bed that crisp, fresh hotel-bed feeling I’m always trying to recreate at home. The percale is especially nice if you like your bedding to feel cool and fresh. These sheets will be perfect for bringing a new baby home!

Speaking of fresh, I’m also trying their new Lemon Scented Eucalyptus & Rosemary Essential Oil Laundry Wash. Apparently, I’m having a very specific moment with anything that makes home smell clean, cozy, and just a little bit more like fall.

Around my own space, I switched up my flowers this week and have been arranging sunflowers in this pretty pitcher. I’ve realized I really love simple bundles of a single flower type instead of big arrangements. The sunflowers are so happy and feel just right for this in-between moment when it’s still very much summer, but I’m starting to crave fall.

Next to them, I’m burning the new Fig Candle Flamingo Estate launched for fall. It has this warm fig scent with woods, spice, and cardamom. It feels like such a September candle—warm, but not full-on fall just yet. And it looks so pretty next to the sunflowers.

In the kitchen, I’ve been making all my salads in these Handcrafted Wood Salad Bowls. Even the simplest salad somehow looks so much prettier served in one. I love pieces like this that are useful but still feel special.

And lastly, with fall coming, I really want an Infrared Sauna. I use my sauna blanket all the time, but having an actual sauna at home sounds like a dream, especially heading into the cooler months. Adding this one to my someday-home list too.

Beauty

At this point, I have some very solid beauty staples that I come back to again and again. iS Clinical, MUTHA, OSEA, Dr. Dennis Gross, Tatcha, Tata Harper, RMS Beauty, Eighth Day, Rare Beauty—and currently, I am loving Oak Essentials SO much. Honestly, there are too many good ones to list!

Anything from Blue Lagoon always seems to work well for me. They just launched a new Lip Renewal Mask. Of course, it’s already on the way. I’ll report back!

I’ve also been using Dr. Diamond’s Metacine Instafacial Plasma Bioactive Growth Factor Serum every morning. Actually, I’m using the full Metacine lineup right now and really enjoying it. The serum is formulated with bioengineered growth factors and peptides, which is what initially caught my attention. I love learning about the science behind these products, but mostly, I love when something is easy to work into my everyday routine.

From My Kitchen

It was a full week in the kitchen. For whatever reason, I haven’t had much motivation to pick up my phone and film or even take photos lately. I’ve mostly just wanted to cook, which has actually been really nice. But that definitely doesn’t mean we haven’t been eating well!

I’ve been cooking a lot of game day-inspired food lately. Sunday night was a quick chicken chili served over cheddar corn polenta with a dollop of yogurt, avocado, cilantro, and cheddar. It was SO good. I purposely made extra chili because I knew I could turn the leftovers into another dinner later in the week.

Monday night I made tostada stacks. Super delicious, and I’m very excited about this recipe! It’s one of those fun dinners that everyone can get into.

Wednesday was homemade sweet potato pierogies with grilled sausages and brown butter sauce, plus a huge salad. I’ve been really into using good olive oil on my salads lately. I love this Olive Oil + Balsamic Vinegar set, and I always have Flamingo Estate’s Heritage Extra Virgin Olive Oil in my cabinet. A really good olive oil makes even the simplest salad so much better.

Then Thursday, I pulled out that leftover chili and turned it into big, smothered enchiladas. SO GOOD. Chili is always better the next day anyway, and I love when I can make one dinner work twice without it actually feeling like leftovers.

Friday night we had friends over with their two kids, and I had the best menu. I made a slow-braised red wine pot roast with lemon, garlic, and burst cherry tomatoes, then served it with simple parmesan basil orzo and a big salad topped with homemade polenta crispies. Those crispies made the salad!

For dessert, I made my mom’s Special K Bars. Always a favorite.

And burgers over the weekend. A very good week of dinners!

Eating

Popup Bagels on repeat. Every week I get a half dozen bagels plus schmear. Our favorites are the pretzel and sesame. Loveee them.

And now, naturally, I want to bake a pumpkin spice bagel. I’m thinking a warm pumpkin spice bagel with homemade pumpkin spice syrup. And then a Starbucks-style pumpkin latte alongside it. Very September. I need to make this happen!

I’ve also been eating a lot of Ancient Organics salted ghee. It is SO good. Rich, buttery, a little salty—I’ve been putting it on everything lately. Their ghee is traditionally kettle-cooked, which gives it that deeper, almost caramelized flavor.

And now that September is almost here, I really want to make this Buffalo Chicken Chili. Clearly, game day food is already on my brain!

This Week’s Little Joy

The morning sunshine has been so pretty lately. I’ve been noticing it more and more. It’s still SO hot here, but the light is starting to change, and no matter where you are, the sun has a way of telling us fall is coming. I appreciate this soft morning light so much.

Looking Ahead

Just over here daydreaming about a little something we’re hoping to announce this fall. I can’t share anything just yet, but it has me SO excited. Fingers crossed it all gets the green light! I’ve been dreaming up all the little details and ways to make it feel extra special. More soon!

2. Late Summer Recipes.

Popular: Crockpot Hamburger Helper

Runner-up: Cheesy Poblano Chicken and Rice Skillet

Also have to mention: Easy Apple Butter Zucchini Bread

Peachy Favorite: Jumbo Caramel Peach Cobbler Muffins

Best Back to School Recipe: Crockpot Brown Butter Tomato and Ricotta Pasta

And the Roundups: 45 Breakfast Recipes for Back to School, The Best Late Summer Recipes, Popular Back-to-School Recipes, 31+ Recipes To Cook In August 2026

3. Anthropologie Home for Fall.

4. Ask Tieghan

Stephanie

I missed you moving to Miami? I thought you were remodeling your Colorado home? Have you and your family all moved to Miami?

I’ve received this question a lot, understandably so! Yes, we are still remodeling both our studio space and my home in Colorado. With everything going on there, I’ve been spending time in Miami, which honestly has been really needed.

The truth is, I’m figuring things out. I don’t have all the answers right now, and I’m just taking things day by day.

Over time, living in the mountains, while absolutely beautiful, started to become hard for me. The long winters, harsh weather, and isolation were things I began to struggle with more than I had in the past. Thankfully, I’ve been able to take some time away, experience a new place, and give myself the space to think about what feels best moving forward. I don’t know exactly what that looks like yet, and I’m trying to be OK with not knowing.

As for my family, they are nonstop and always on the go! They love to travel, and my mom, who is also my business partner, is able to work from anywhere in the world. So even when we’re traveling, we’re still working together and keeping up with the business at the same time. I feel very lucky that we have the flexibility to make that work while we figure out what comes next.

And I will absolutely share more of the studio remodel. It’s definitely a process, and there is still a lot happening there, but I’m excited to show you more as things come together!

I hope this clears things up, even just a little. I don’t have everything mapped out right now, and I think that’s OK. Life changes, things evolve, and sometimes you have to give yourself the time and space to figure out what comes next.

I’ll continue to bring you guys along and share more as I go.

And remember, you can ask me anything—recipes, entertaining, travel, style, work, or whatever you’re curious about.

Leave your questions in the comments below, and let’s see where this goes!

5. My Week in Photos.

Paige Paul has the prettiest light

Inspired always by Emma Grede

I love these SET Active pieces! Living in this bra.

Words from Dr. Mark Hyman

6. Inspiring Me.

September

7. Favorite Links.

4 Last-Minute Labor Day Weekend Getaways for the Perfect Send-Off to Summer

7 Reasons to Eat This Cheese Rich in Protein, Calcium, and Probiotics

The 9 Major Benefits of Walking After Eating

The Wellness Industry Is Entering Its Anti-Optimization Era

Your Ideal Fall Weekend Activity, Based on Your Zodiac Sign

Newport Travel Guide: My 4-Day Coastal Grandma Weekend Itinerary

8. New Fall Style under $200.

Under $200 Shopbop

Under $200 Nordstrom

J.Crew and Reformation

9. This Week’s Dinners + Weekend Eats.

Monday: Crockpot Chicken Meatballs with Creamy Zucchini Orzo

Tuesday: Mix and Bake Chicken Taco Casserole

Wednesday: Crockpot Thai Basil Beef

Thursday: One Pan Chipotle Honey Chicken and Rice

Friday: Stuffed Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta Shells

Saturday: Jumbo Caramel Peach Cobbler Muffins

Sunday: Lunchroom Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars