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Keep your head down, work in silence, worry about yourself, and let what you create bloom.
Do you all remember last week when I shared this little reminder I always come back to? Well, this week I’ve been living it.
As I type this, I’m wrapping up another week in Austin for a photoshoot. Even after spending so many weeks here over the past several months, this one felt different. I’ve been working alongside some incredibly talented, supportive people who have encouraged me in ways I’ve never really allowed before, and it’s been such a rewarding experience.
The first couple of days took a little adjusting. Sometimes everything clicks right away, and other times it takes a minute to find your rhythm. I realized I was letting my desire for everything to be perfect get in the way of actually creating. I was so focused on making everything look exactly as I’d imagined that I wasn’t allowing myself to simply be present.
Then, somewhere in the middle of the week, something shifted.
I let go of the pressure I was putting on myself, trusted my instincts, and everything started to flow again. Isn’t that usually how creativity works? The more we try to force it, the further away it seems to drift.
By the time I head home to Miami, I already know I’ll look back on this as one of those weeks that leaves you feeling tired in the very best way — the kind of tired that comes from giving something your full heart.
And honestly, I’m so excited to just be home for a bit. I’m looking forward to cleaning and organizing the house, seeing my family, taking evening walks with my mom, and settling into a good planning week.
My mind is definitely starting to drift toward fall and Halloween (I can’t help myself!), but I’m not ready to let go of summer just yet. There are still plenty of peach recipes to make, late August dinners to enjoy, and warm evenings to soak up before the seasons begin to change.
I think that’s what I love most about this time of year. For just a little while longer, we get to enjoy the best of both seasons.
1. Things I’m Loving
Wearing: My wish list is actually much smaller than it usually is, which feels a little surprising. I barely had time for my usual late-night scrolling this week! Right now, The Pina Knit Dress from Jacquemus is just so beautiful and a dress I’d want to wear to a summer dinner somewhere.
And then there’s The Elder Statesman Striped cashmere and silk-blend robe. I don’t even wear robes, but this one looks so incredibly soft that I keep going back to it. Maybe it’s the start of a new morning ritual.
In reality, I’ve been living in my Vuori Sedona Classic Full Zip. It’s become my uniform for long days on set, especially with how cold the studio always is.
For dinner this week, I pulled out my favorite pair of jeans, the Low Curve Jean in Milkshake from AGOLDE. They’re the perfect white jeans.
Listening to: Packing is a whole system for me, so I’m always interested in hearing how other people do it too. I really enjoyed the Summer Travel and Packing Guide episode from the girls at Lipstick on the Rim. It got me even more excited to start planning and packing for my upcoming trip. I even picked up a few new ideas along the way.
I’ve recently started listening to The Dr. Mark Hyman Show. I don’t tune into every episode, mostly because some get a little over my head with the number of doctors and the science behind it all. But this week’s episode, How Brain Inflammation Drives Alzheimer’s Disease, Depression, and Parkinson’s Disease, was incredibly informative. I learned so much about the connection between inflammation and overall brain health. It’s worth a listen if you’re interested in wellness and understanding how our everyday habits can impact long-term health.
Dreaming of Going to: Portugal and Spain have been on my mind all week. A friend recently took a solo trip through both and couldn’t stop talking about how much she loved it.
It has me in my own Eat, Pray, Love era. I don’t know that I’d ever actually travel solo, but I always say you can never say never. Especially with me.
There’s something really appealing about wandering beautiful streets, finding vintage stores, discovering little cafés, and not having to manage anyone else’s agenda.
Then, that very same night, this guide to the Balearic Islands was published. It feels like a sign to at least start planning the trip. Already have the hotel picked out — Torre Vella Menorca!
Around my home: I already hinted at this last week, but I couldn’t resist Anthropologie’s Halloween collection. Every year I tell myself I’m going to wait, and every year I do the exact opposite. I’ve learned that if I don’t order the pieces I love right away, they’re almost always backordered by the time the last week of September rolls around — which is when I finally let myself decorate.
The piece I’m most excited about is the Stoneware Pumpkin Mug. My morning coffee is one of my favorite parts of the day. I always make two Americanos with an extra shot of espresso and pair them with a high-protein breakfast. It’s such a simple ritual, but it’s one I genuinely look forward to every morning.
I have this silly rule that the Halloween decorations can’t come out until the very last week of September. Once they do, though, this mug will definitely be in constant rotation.
I also picked up two of the Honeycrisp Oakwood Candle. Honeycrisp apple is one of my favorite scents for fall, and I already know these are going to be burning from September all the way through Thanksgiving. I couldn’t resist these Pressed Floral Glass Pumpkins either. They’re so pretty and will be perfect mixed in with the rest of my fall decor.
Beauty: This summer I’ve really simplified my routine, and my skin has never been happier.
About a month ago, I started using May Lindstrom’s Blue Cocoon again, and I immediately remembered why I love it so much. It’s become my little cure-all for dry patches, tiny cuts, and anything that needs a little extra moisture. I brought the travel-size jar with me to Austin and used the entire thing in just one week. It’s definitely an investment, but a little goes a long way, and for me, it’s absolutely worth it.
I’ve also been using the Tata Harper Restorative Eye Cream every night. It feels so smooth and nourishing without ever irritating my skin. In the mornings, I switch to the Pure Radiance Supreme Eye Cream because it’s a little lighter and layers perfectly under makeup.
Hair has become my newest project. Mine desperately needs a cut (Miami friends, send recommendations!). But I’m also making it a goal to grow thicker, healthier hair. I’ve been taking Nutrafol and applying their scalp serum every night after I shower. My dad decided to join me, so now we’re comparing notes every week — it’s actually been kind of fun. He’s also talking about trying the BON CHARGE Red Light Hat, so I’ll keep you posted on that too.
And then there are scents. Candles will always be my first love, but lately I’ve been lightly spritzing PHLUR’s Mango Mood Body & Hair Fragrance Mist. And I mean very lightly because I’m incredibly sensitive to fragrance. It smells like summer without being overpowering, and that’s exactly how I like it.
Watching: Us Against the World has been on my watch list this week — a fitting watch for a week that’s been all about tuning out the noise and focusing on what matters most.
