Time passes by in such a crazy way, that back to school season is already upon us. With that, comes tons of online content about kids and their families making the most of the last days of summer. One of the most peculiar end of summer activities I came across was the concept of a ‘yes’ day. What is a Yes Day? It is exactly how it sounds. It is a random day where a child wakes up, and is told that for that day only, everything they ask for has to be met with a yes. There are limitations of course, because kids can get real creative, and they also haven’t quite grasped the concept of money yet.

The yes days that I had the pleasure to watch all were very wholesome, filled with all kinds of sweet treats, funky, expressive outfits, Target hauls, adventures, and more. The part I found most interesting was that the children’s requests were never quite as elaborate as their parents would have expected. And it was things that the families really enjoyed, more than they even thought they would. It made me realize that the things we want most are more simple and accessible than we realized.

I felt inspired to give myself my very own Yes Day. Isn’t that what we all thought adulthood would be like when we were kids anyways? When I was a kid, I remember always thinking to myself: when I grow up, I’ll enjoy all the fruit snacks I want, and stay up as late as I can every single night. Cue to the present and I almost never buy fruit snacks and aim to be in bed before 9 pm most weeknights.

When I think of what my perfect Yes Day would be, I would still get up early and probably head to a work out class in a new outfit. I would come home after and take an everything shower, then make an elaborate, snack-plate style breakfast and enjoy that with my coffee. I would take my dogs for a long walk with my fiancé and then I would head to the spa for a facial and massage with my mom. I’d enjoy a lunch by the pool before heading home. I’d get sushi with my fiancé, and then we’d meet our friends either out or at someone’s house. We’d all hang out and play games or do some karaoke. Then we would come home, door dash a sweet treat and eat it in bed, watch an episode of whatever reality tv show I was into at the moment and fall asleep cuddling with our dogs.

So awesome! But what if I thought even bigger? What about a Yes Life? I started to wonder what my life would be like if I really did just start saying yes to everything.

I have approached 2026 in that way. Because of that, I have experienced so many new things. This year alone, I have gotten a new dog, been a bridesmaid in 4 weddings, attended Coachella, gone to the Bahamas with my family, went to Japan and got engaged, starting planning a wedding, moved houses, gotten promoted at my job, and still have even more exciting things lined up. I have had to be way more uncomfortable, whether I feel stretched super thin, or felt uncomfortable with new foods and places, or just had to go to things I really didn’t feel like going to. I’ve had to spend money I didn’t really want to spend, and use my time in ways that I wouldn’t have chose for myself. The largest realization that I had was that we deserve to give ourselves ‘Yes Days’ every once in a while, but the most meaningful and fulfilling yes comes from saying yes to others. I said yes to Odin, a puppy that needed to be rehomed and has now become my favorite snuggle buddy and best friend. I said yes to all of my friends, and have had the honor of being a part of pivotal times in their lives, from promotions to baby showers to weddings. I said yes to spending the rest if my life with my fiancé, which has led an indescribable kind of happiness. I said yes to spending quality time with my family, something that I am so lucky to do. I said yes to new experiences, which has shaped and reshaped and molded me into a more interesting person.

The underlying truth within all of the ‘Yes Day’ videos that I watched was that the people being able to say yes, enjoyed the days more than the people who’s requests were being fulfilled. We can only design our own perfect Yes Day based off of things within our comfort zone. We will pick things that we already know and have already experienced. When we say yes to others, the possibilities are endless, and things can turn out even better than we imagined.

Thank about it xx

The only reason a person could reasonably like summer is because you are younger than 17 years old and you don’t like going to school. Another reason would be that you are insanely rich and you have a summer house in the most ideal place possible and sorry your opinion just isn’t welcome here. You have to be rich also because for anyone who lives in one of those ideal summer places year-round, that is your busy, most hard working season.

For just about everyone else, we are still working, except the heat is unbearable and everywhere is crowded. This weekend, I finally had one of my first free weekends in a long time. On Saturday, I wanted to go to the farmer’s market, get a bagel from my favorite local bagel spot, and pick up an iced coffee from a drive through. A simple, easy, effortless morning. It took me three hours after traffic and lines, I sweat through my clothes, my coffee melted, and I had a headache all day. My bagel was good, but after waiting in the hot, crowded bagel shop for 45 minutes, I felt too nauseas to eat the whole thing. The farmer’s market should not have even opened in the first place. The vendors all had cold towels on their heads and were hiding under the tables in their booths for a scrap of shade (still 90 degrees even in the shade btw).

That is when I had just about had it. Why do we create this perfect idea of summer in our heads? We expect this time of year to be the most fun. It is supposed to include tons of outdoor activities and spontaneous memories, but it ends up being the opposite of that. I spend most of the summer stuck in my house, and a lot of summer plans include extensive planning.

But what about the longer, sun filled days? Well I haven’t taken a walk outside in over 3 months. Even when I have traveled, every time I am outside walking around, I can’t help but yearn for the next moment that I will be cooling off in an air conditioned room. Dry heat feels like your skin could catch fire at any moment, and humidity means trying to cozy up to the idea that you are going to be slick with sweat all day long, while breathing air that somehow feels thicker than the marshmallows I expected to be eating by a campfire with friends. There is nothing perfect about summer except for the idea of it. This is the season where we are given glimpses of pure ecstasy. There is nothing better than climbing out of the water and drying off in the warm sun, or drinking a spritz on a rooftop. The real truth is that summer is 5% really great moments, and 95% overstimulation and pangs of melancholy.

The other weird part of summer that I feel privy to mention is that it sucks so much, that people start pushing fall up earlier than it actually is. Why are we selling Halloween decorations already? We can’t force pumpkins to be in season no matter how miserable we all are. I won’t be able to wear a cable knit sweater until November, and I’m not making soup when it is 114 degrees outside, ‘Augtober’ or not!!

We are in a toxic relationship with summer, and I am here to finally break it off.

If you need me, I’ll be sitting here hoping that August slips away like a bottle of wine.

Sincerely, a girl who misses walking, biking, hiking, swimming in a crisp cold pool, being outside, not sweating through her clothes, being able grill, being able to park more than 2 ft away from a destination, keeping chapstick that doesn’t melt in my car, etc.

Think about it xx

My workday started with a 9 AM department meeting after a long, 3 day weekend. I got started on work 30 minutes prior just to get ahead and not feel that extra pang of stress when my meeting ended at 10. The meeting starts. There is chatter about what everyone did over the long weekend and then we jump into the usual updates. My attention is piqued when we start discussing the importance of using the correct audios on our reel content. To preface, I work for a social media agency. One of our clients, trying to post Instagram reels on their own, accidentally uploaded a Reel thinking the audio was approved and was not copyrighted. It was, and that small mistake potentially will cost a company thousands of dollars. It got me thinking…

Social media was initially marketed to be a casual, interactive way to connect with friends, create a digital scrapbook, and share all of our favorite things. Now it just feels like a chore. My friends and I love to get cute, go out to eat, and take pictures. But we all dread having to send each other the pictures, sift through them, make edits, sift through those, curate the post, add a caption, pick a song, tag everybody, click post, and wait for the same 200 or so people to interact with it. Don’t get me wrong, I love being able to look back at posts and reminisce on my year, my decades, my life. I love to see what everyone is up to, and I genuinely believe it has inspired people to be a bit more creative in some ways. But over the years, things have definitely changed.

Once everyone realized there was real money to be made on social media, it feels as though a heavy grey cloud is looming over the concept of posting online. Seeing random people who posted dancing videos in their bedroom back in 2020 show up in ensemble movies and at A-list events really did a number on many people, including myself. Posting online just for fun almost feels weird. While scrolling, I see a girl I knew in high school announcing that she is having a baby, a random influencer posting live from a private jet with her 12 closest friends (fully paid for by a brand), an ad for Hello Fresh, an extremely try-hard branded post comparing how millennials and gen-z would react to their product, and some kind of bleak news-related post where the headline is meant to scare you a little bit so that you read the article (linked in bio). It’s…a lot.

The scariest part is when I catch myself having a good time and feel the need to grab a couple video clips, or snap some pictures..in case I want to post about it. I feel genuine pressure to ‘capture content’ on my day-to-day outings or on my (what’s supposed to be relaxing) vacations. I don’t even post reels on my social accounts! Which is also something I’ve stressed about. Reels are the new go-to way to post, and the best way to create engagement. But I don’t even want that! I like just posting pictures. I love my privacy and genuinely wouldn’t want to accidentally go viral and deal with the hateful comments. Meta is always changing and so are the algorithms, so even the way you post can started to feel dated if you don’t keep up.

Back to my original point, posting casually online has stared to feel odd. I’ve noticed some of my friends decided to opt out of posting all together. Some of my friends pages are completely blank, with just a profile set up so that they can still use the apps without actively participating. Others joke about making their annual post, just to keep their accounts slightly updated and remind everyone they’re alive and well. A good amount of people I know post causally like I do, but aren’t trying to become an influencer or anything. Somehow that feels wrong though. My theory is that the ‘creator economy’ has created a pervasive hustle culture. I feel as though I have a pretty great day-to-day life, and I often catch myself thinking, “If I could just find a way to capture it.” The truth is that online posting is highly competitive, and similar to a sourdough starter, the algorithm needs to be fed pretty much every single day to create relevancy and healthy engagement. Creating content takes genuine skill now too. It’s more than just snapping some pictures and calling it good. The quality of content has risen dramatically, and a lot of the videos we consume without even thinking, actually are a result of an entire production process.

The biggest factor is the idea that all of our skills, hobbies, and leisurely time can and needs to be monetized online. It has created a “side hustle” culture that makes young people, including myself, feel as though the simple act of walking along a gorgeous lake, or enjoying a coffee, without capturing it is a missed opportunity. In an unpredictable economy, where even a typical 9-to-5 income doesn’t exactly cover the price of well, everything, there is an added pressure to ‘get crafty’ and make money off of your other skills. Small businesses needing to leverage social media is a whole other topic I can’t even get into right now.

I have found some amazing travel recommendations, the best recipes, and genuinely inspiring content thanks to social media. I have a job because of the need to market on social media. But I can’t help but wonder: is there a way for posting to still be fun and stress free? Will I ever be able to truly enjoy myself without looking back on events in my life and wondering “if I had captured content, would I be in a different tax bracket by now?”

I am truly not sure.

Think about it xx

So what would make this cookie so special that I was willing to make such a sacrifice, my precious Saturday morning. On a holiday weekend! Is it enough to say that it has a Michelin star? Probably not. How about that the chef was from my hometown, and had moved to the South of France at 23 years old to attend pastry school, and then worked in Paris for several different pastry chefs for two and a half years, before becoming a chef in Dubai and then moving back to my hometown to open his very own pastry shop? Cool, but still not quite enough.

I had plenty of time to think during this grueling, sweaty, 3-hour wait. I began to consider that part of the reason I was so willing to participate, is because I had just gotten back from Japan. A fun little fact about the Japanese: they LOVE to wait in lines. In Japan, a line is an example of social proof, In some cases, people will pop in a line without even knowing what the product or experience may be. A wait means that something high-quality, exceptionally good, or exclusive will be earned. However, that’s not all. Waiting in lines is a way to maintain social harmony, respect, and fairness. It is the ultimate form of equality, because a good thing can only come to those who wait. We had spent two whole weeks waiting patiently in lines, and being more than rewarded for the outcomes, from fluffy pancakes, to salty Waygu, and the most decadent matcha lattes.

To some, waiting at the crack of dawn before a store even opens is worth it. A couple people had arrived as early as 1:30 AM. To others, waiting months for ‘the hype’ to die down is a better option. To my fiancé and I, arriving at the 3 week old boulangerie one hour before opening, and waiting two additional hours in line afterwards, was sufficient enough. The truth is that we had wanted to try the mouthwatering, golden-brown croissants and the French hot chocolate, but by the time it was finally our turn to order, the only items left was two chocolate chip cookies. To our surprise, we were the final people that were served that day. It had opened at 8 AM and was closed and completely sold out by 11 AM. There were dozens of people still in line behind us, and for several moments, we had wondered where exactly the line was going to cut off. It had been at us. We decided to share one cookie, and let the family of four behind us, with two, extremely patient, well-mannered daughters who were no older than seven years old have the final cookie. To have the opportunity to see how excited and happy the family had gotten, after being told they had done the exact wait as us, and had just accepted the fact that they weren’t going to get to try anything, before then realizing their fortune had changed, alone made it worth it to us. But it was actually much bigger than that.

When I had first moved to what would become by hometown at just one years old, it looked a little different than it does now, 24 years later. The little downtown, along with the rest of the community, had grown drastically. Just on the street by my house alone, what had once been tons of farmland, a Blockbuster, a singular Circle K, a Fry’s, a rock shop (that I was obsessed with), and a local bar and grill called Teakwoods, had now become one of the most sought-after neighborhoods in the state. If I had decided I wanted to raise my family in the exact same house my parents raised my brother and I in, I couldn’t afford to buy it back. The downtown also looked much different. What was once a cute street with a local BBQ restaurant, a yummy boutique lunch place, and the little run-down studio where I had attended my very first ballet class, had now become a $500 million dollar powerhouse of a destination, filled with parking garages, tourism, and Cheesecake Factory Incorporated-owned restaurant concepts. There is still a lot of local charm, which is what makes it so attractive to people, but slowly diversity and locality has been fading away, giving the area a chain-like feel. That’s the main reason why this French pastry shop, opened by a local who is dedicated to his craft and is committed to using authentic, high quality ingredients, has created the turnout that it has. Locals all over my town have flocked to this new shop, ready to try something new, fresh, and the complete opposite of mass-produced. It warmed my heart to see so many individuals willing to rally around a brand new local shop enough to bring in social media hype and news coverage. It sends the message, one that I am more than happy to be apart of, that people want local, hard working people with a dream to open up shops in our beloved downtown, rather than recreating a cookie cutter (no pun intended) shopping and dining center that can be found elsewhere in my state.

And to be fair, sharing a warm, gooey, chocolate chip cookie with melty dark chocolate chips, dollops of fresh peanut butter, and flaky sea salt with my fiancé also made it worth it, too.

Think about it xx

With that being said, the list of things I want are endless, but I’ve gathered together a list of 5 solid, practical items that you might decide you need as badly as I do.

1. A Louise Carmen Notebook

   1. I cannot stop thinking about this overpriced notebook. They are so beautiful, but I am struggling to justify the price. I watch videos of people designing their notebook in France nonstop, and I would love one. I even went down an Etsy rabbit hole to see if I could order a similar version at a cheaper price point, but there’s something so stunning about the Louise Carmen one. I just imagine myself journaling about all my adventures and using it as a little planner and keepsake for sentimental items.

      

2. A Small, Good Quality Backpack

   1. This is actually an essential for me, because the only two backpacks that I owned joined the trip to Goodwill and were my old college backpacks given to me by my sorority. They were very worn in and also I don’t need to be 25 years old repping Delta Zeta. I almost bought a brand new leather crossbody backpack by Wrangler in Sedona last weekend, but decided to keep looking. I need one that I can use at music festivals, carry on for flights, and for walking around cities.

      

3. An Overpriced, Mid-Length Dress (Preferably Flowy & Floral)

   1. Every single spring I convince myself that I need brand new dresses that I can just throw on and look incredibly chic instantly. Dresses are very comfy and easy to style, which makes them great for travel. Shopping for them online can be incredibly difficult in my opinion. For a good dress, it’s all about texture and the way it flows, which is hard to perceive online. I’m thinking Doen or Free People but like half the price.

      

4. Nice Sneakers

   1. The perfect cool girl look you ask? A dress or skirt with some low-profile, retro inspired sneakers. Examples would be Sambas, Alohas, Puma Speedcats, and Onitsuka Tigers. I have Sambas, but I need a new, more unique pair that are similar because they are pretty worn in now. They are just so comfortable and look good with everything. I also love that you can customize the laces and add charms to them.

      

      

      

5. Fun, chunky jewelry, hand chains, and belts

   1. I am getting together my outfits for Coachella, and no look is complete without accessories. Boho, free-spirited style is so much fun to play around with, and I’ve been loving turquoise and chunky jewelry lately. My main concern has been not wanting to invest in nice jewelery to wear to a festival because my chances of losing and breaking pieces are high.

What are some things that you are absolutely dying to have, especially for spring?

Think about it xx

When I reflect on both the best and worst seasons of my life, a clear pattern emerges. While I’ve certainly faced real challenges (as everyone has since 2020) the difficulties themselves aren’t what define whether I was “having a bad time.” The periods I struggled most were the ones when I wasn’t surrounded by friends. On the flip side, I consistently thrived when I had people to talk to, make plans with, and simply exist alongside. I’d argue many people would say the same. If you think back on the happiest times in your life, you’ll likely notice how much community surrounded you then.

I would even go as far to say that college is romanticized for this exact reason. It is a period in your life where meeting up with friends can be effortless or accidental because of close proximity and loose schedules.

My freshman year of college, however, was rough. I had just come off an incredible senior year of high school, where I was part of a group of over twenty girls. We were constantly in touch, always had weekend plans, and I saw my teammates nearly every day through sports. Then college came, and suddenly I was starting from scratch. My boyfriend was long-distance at another school, my friends were scattered across different universities, and outside of classes and sorority events, which often felt awkward and forced, I had no idea how to build something new. Things only got harder when my second semester was spent quarantined at home, staring at Zoom screens.

There were moments of joy, but life didn’t truly improve until junior year, when we returned to campus and I lived with three close friends. Our apartment became a hub and we hosted people over 2x a week. We went out, had silly convos, and were rarely alone. I was thriving again. That didn’t last forever. After graduation, I moved back in with my parents to save money and adjusted to a 9–5 schedule. I worked from home and didn’t have a single friend within thirty minutes of me. Making plans felt like a chore, and loneliness set in quickly.

Thankfully, this was a short lived time in my life and I was able to move into an apartment. Guess what! I was back to seeing friends regularly and making plans. Now I am in a time in my life where I have a close circle, a medium circle, and a large circle, and I couldn’t be happier because of it. It’s also the unfortunate adult phase where being a good friend is wildly inconvenient and expensive (my bank account truly cries every time I’m asked to be a bridesmaid). But I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

I felt especially validated listening to Michelle Obama’s appearance on Call Her Daddy this morning, because it turns out the former First Lady agrees with me.

In a time when screen time averages seven to eight hours a day, it’s no wonder people feel disconnected. We no longer need to just prioritize “touching grass,” aka logging off, reconnecting with reality, and getting outside to gain a reasonable perspective; we also need to make a conscience effort to connect with the people in our lives.

Michelle Obama touched on many topics including womanhood, feminism, societal expectations, fashion (and yes, she successfully convinced me to read her book), but what stood out most was how firmly she emphasized that friendships are not optional. They’re essential.

“The thing that I want young women to know, is that the value of cultivating friendships is important. It’s as important as the job tile and the salary and the dude you’re trying to catch, or the length of your veil on your wedding dress. All that stuff comes and goes. I don’t even remember my wedding, you know, I have the pictures. It was a wonderful day. But my friendships, those relationships are important.”

She expresses that we are being told online that wealth, success, and material things, are the key to happiness. And that these things can be reached by spending a lot of time on a digital device:

“In the advent of technology and social media, it’s almost like we’re telling people: You’re ok by yourself. All you need is your phone, some apps, and success. And what I’m saying is no, you need friends, and you have to work on that. That means you have to be a good friend. That means you have to put down your stuff and prioritize your friendships. If you want to have them.”

She is essentially telling an audience that she knows is massive: DO NOT ISOLATE YOURSELF. There is no reason to Doordash a meal when you are perfectly capable of going out and getting it yourself. It is not a waste of time to spend a whole weekend out with friends. It is not financially irresponsible to spend some of your hard earned money on having fun.

And beyond happiness, friendships matter because you need people to challenge you. To share opinions with. To be blunt, you will actually suck to be around if you are just internalizing all of your own opinions and not getting other points of view, especially when algorithms cater to confirmation bias by feeding you opinions that you like.

If you’re someone with a close circle, you’ve probably been nodding along to everything I’ve said. But I know there are also people reading this who don’t feel like they have solid friendships right now, or who are going through an especially isolating season. The good news is this: a lot of people feel this way. I’ve felt this way. And in my experience, it has always been temporary.

Pulling yourself out of isolation isn’t easy. It takes intention, vulnerability, and effort. There will be awkward conversations and uncomfortable moments, and you may feel discouraged at times. But I promise you, putting yourself out there is worth it. Take a class. Start a new hobby, reconnect with an old friend, or simply put more effort into the relationships you already have. Community doesn’t usually appear overnight, but when you nurture it, it has a way of changing everything.

So from one random person on the internet to you: inconvenience yourself today. Touch grass, log off for a bit, and pour some energy into your real-life friendships.

Think about it xx

Each year, we feel pressure to reinvent ourselves. This leads us to set lofty goals that usually fall flat roughly 2 months in. Even worse, it may encourage us to over-consume, underdeliver, or end up disappointed. There is a whole other conversation to be had about how the ‘new year’ starts in the literal dead of winter, creating the illusion that we need to pick back up and get busy again when we’re supposed to be recharging. But I digress because despite it all, I do believe that goal setting and reflecting can be a positive thing.

With that being said, I am excited to share just a few (not all, 🧿) of the things I want to continue to do or start this year. Hopefully this inspires you to join me in some of these goals, or come up with a few of your own. :)

Things I will start

1. Tennis

   1. I want to take tennis lessons very badly and I have decided that this is my year to do it. Similar to Pilates, tennis is an activity that I can do for a long time that is great for the body and mind. When I play Pickleball, I have a fun time, but I find myself wanting more. As someone who played sports very competitively growing up, I feel that tennis is right up my alley.

2. Piano

   1. Beginning to learn piano this year is probably my most challenging goal. I find myself yearning to express myself in a way that only playing a musical instrument will fulfill. The flow state that I enter when trying to learn a song is euphoric, and I believe that something as challenging as learning piano will be great for my brain health, especially since my only musical experience is the violin in elementary school.

3. Scrapbooking

   1. Going analog in 2026!! No but seriously, I want to have a physical way to look back at my memories and document my 20s. I also think it will be a creative, relaxing activity to do in the evenings. I am aiming to start making a page for each month of this year. It will also be fun to make scrapbook pages for my friends as a gift.

4. Golfing

   1. This is a goal that I have mainly because golfing is something my boyfriend loves to do, and it will be fun to do with him. He has been helping me with my swing, and I am determined to get better. It’s also been a nice way to enjoy the sunshine and relax.

5. Decluttering

   1. I want to be very intentional with what I buy, and get rid of basically half my stuff by the end of this year. I am not a minimalist because I love a good trinket and appreciate lively decor, but I really do not like having too much stuff. It stresses me out. I want to aim to have less things, while making sure that everything I do have is high quality or special to me.

Things I will continue

1. Pilates

   1. I cannot stress enough how much Pilates has helped me grow stronger and manage my stress levels. It is something I look forward to and it makes me feel GOOD. I want to try Lagree this year and change up the classes I take, but I definitely will continue to do Pilates classes all year long.

2. Learning French

   1. I took French for several years in school, and continue to practice on Duolingo. This year I want to start watching movies in French and really focus on improving because I enjoy it. It’s also great for my brain. One of my best friends moved to Paris so I can’t wait to impress her when I visit!

3. Reading

   1. Reading books is something I encourage anyone ad everyone to do. I was in a major reading kick 2 years ago, and fell into a bit of a slump last year. I am aiming to read at least 2 books a month this year, which is definitely do-able.

4. Cooking

   1. I LOVE cooking and my skills have improved so much. I even took a cooking class last year that was very informative. My focus this year is on whole foods. I want to cook really delicious meals with simple, seasonal ingredients.

5. Running/Walking

   1. I work a 9-5, so hitting 8-10k steps a day is very important to me. I also recently got an Oura ring which has led me to really focus on my heart health. I want to be able to easily run 3-4 miles at a steady pace. I also want to go on plenty of relaxing, long walks this year, especially with my pup.

Obviously, I forecast tons of quality time with friends and family, many weekend trips, a bunch of lazy days at home, and inevitable ups and downs. Ultimately I am proud of who I am and who I am becoming. I am grateful to have the opportunity to grow, improve, and get better each day. I especially feel grateful for this little community on Substack, and hope to continue to inspire and be inspired on here.

What are your 2026 goals?

Think about it xx

I wish I had a better picture of this pie, but it gets eaten so quickly that I never have had the chance.

Three years ago, I decided to take on the challenge of trying to make the Milk Bar Caramel Pumpkin Pie for Thanksgiving. Despite not being super into baking at the time, and it being one of the first pies I’d ever made, it was pretty incredible. However, it was A TON of work and took days to prep. I love sticking to my families traditional recipes as well as trying new ones each year, so I just don’t have time to be spending days on a pie leading up to Thanksgiving. The part of the recipe I DID decide to keep was the pumpkin ganache filling and the caramel layer, which I’ve subbed for a decadent salted caramel to offset the easy graham cracker crust I’ve also subbed in. In my own recreated recipe, I will share with you how I make my version of a deliciously sweet pumpkin pie that my family asks for year after year. It’s simple, actually fun to do, and offers a fun spin on a traditional Thanksgiving treat.

There are four parts to this recipe, but for half of them I take the lazy route and buy them from the store. It is completely your own prerogative to make them from scratch and probably would make this pie that much better.

You Will Need:

• 12 graham cracker sheets

• 2 tbsp granulated sugar

• 6 tbsp salted butter

• 1 jar of salted caramel sauce

• 2 15 oz cans of pumpkin puree

• 1/4 cup heavy cream

• 1/3 cup glucose (or corn syrup)

• 5 tbsp unsalted butter

• 2 1/2 cups white chocolate

• 3 tsp pumpkin pie spice

• 1/2 tsp kosher salt

• 1 can of whipped cream

The Key Elements to a perfect Salted Caramel Pumpkin Ganache Pie:

1. Step 1: The Crust

   1. For the crust of this pie, I use a simple, classic, and buttery graham cracker crust. Mix together 12 graham cracker sheets, 2 tbsp. granulated sugar, and 6 tbsp melted salted butter in a food processor and then press the mixture into a 9-inch pie plate. Bake for 10 minutes at 350°F and let cool completely.

2. Step 2: The Salted Caramel

   1. For my own sanity, I buy a really good premade salted caramel from the store. However, you can definitely make it homemade beforehand and use it when the pie is ready to assemble.

3. Step 3: The Pumpkin Ganache Filling

   1. For this delicious ganache filling, you are going to start by spreading both pumpkin puree cans on a parchment lined baking sheet and roasting the pumpkin for about 20-30 minutes at 325°F. The puree should reduce to about 2 cups when done.

   2. Then, you are going to add your heavy cream, glucose (or corn syrup), and unsalted butter to a small pot and bring to a boil.

   3. Add your white chocolate to a heat safe bowl and pour the boiling mixture over the top. Allow the chocolate to melt by letting it sit for 1 minute.

   4. Add in the roasted pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, and salt to the bowl and use an immersion blender to blend all the ingredients until it’s silky smooth.

   5. Note: You can also mix the white chocolate and boiling mixture before adding it and the remaining ingredients into a blender if you do not have an immersion blender.

   6. You can literally pour this ganache into ramekins and serve it on its own with whipped cream. It’s that good.

4. Step 4: The Whipped Cream Topping

   1. Typically, I buy classic Reddi Wip from the store, but by all means, whip some fresh whipped cream up for this recipe.

Assembly

1. Pour room temp (or slightly reheated) salted caramel into the base of the baked graham cracker crust so the base is fully covered and level. Place the crust into the fridge to allow the caramel firm up for 20 - 25 minutes.

2. Pour the ganache over the caramel and quickly spread using a spatula or spoon to make sure all of the caramel is covered with ganache.

3. Place the pie in the fridge ASAP, covered, overnight or for 8 hours minimum. (I usually assemble that morning so it’s ready by the time dessert is served, but it’s probably wise to make it a day ahead). The ganache should feel firm to the touch, should not stick to your fingers, and feel solid all the way through.

4. Serve the pie cold, directly out of the fridge. Top with whipped cream, of course. I like to sprinkle a little extra pumpkin pie spice on top if I want it to look extra festive.

And voila! You now have the perfect pie to bring to your next autumnal gathering.

Think about (making) it x

It is a common belief that a person’s frontal lobe, the part of the brain that is responsible for things like decision-making, impulse control, and planning, becomes nearly fully developed by age 25. I turn 25 in December, and throughout the past year, I have experienced many moments that have led me to believe I’m almost there.

Sometimes, it’s the little things I notice, where I catch myself reacting differently to a situation I hadn’t handled as well in the past. Sometimes, it’s just realizing I have a different, more compassionate perspective on something from my past or a current event I would have previously judged. Sometimes, it’s super obvious, adult-like realizations like, “I should start taking my job more seriously,” or “Wow, I am responsible for making my life the way I want it,” and even, “Damn, my parents were right.”

I’ve also become more fearful of adrenaline-related things and realized that I could die if I act too recklessly, something that never truly occurred to me as a teen or in my early 20s. I’ve started to hate hangovers more than I like chasing a shot with, you guessed it, another shot! I’ve also found a new form of appreciation for the act of creation, from gardening to baking to pottery. I’ve even come to the crazy realization that owning things for the sake of owning them is pretty pointless, and that having things that represent you or come with a story or memory is so, so much better.

However, what I experienced today has been the icing on the cake. The past few days have been extremely rainy in my home in Arizona. Storms like these have been long overdue because the past, I’d say, four years at least have been completely dry. We’ve been devoid of a monsoon season, making for extremely miserable, often depressing summers (and the rest of the seasons, too). Yesterday, rain came pouring down, hailing at certain times even. Today, I got to wake up to rain as well, so I got to hear the peaceful taps of it on my house as I got ready for my nail appointment. I took my dog with me to drop off at my parents’ house to play with their dogs during my appointment.

I was in my car, patting my beloved puppy on the head, listening to one of my favorite, most nostalgic feel-good songs of all time: All Too Well (10 Minute Version) by Taylor Swift. As I was already enjoying what seemed like a perfect Saturday morning driving down the highway, I noticed how insanely gorgeous the mountains looked after a desert rain. The sky was completely clear, and the mountains’ outlines were crisp and tinted blue. It was one of those scenes where you can’t even try to snap a picture because you know a camera wouldn’t do it justice. Some scenes are just meant to be appreciated in that moment.

I was overcome with such a warm, fuzzy sense of gratitude. Gratitude for my life, for everything I had, for who I am, where I’m at…all of it. I was genuinely grateful to be alive. Just happy to be here. I remember thinking to myself, “Gosh, I have so many gripes about humanity and what we’ve done. There is so much that disappoints me, and things can just be so unnecessarily hard. But I am grateful to be here. And I’m happy to be alive.”

I was so overjoyed to be experiencing that emotion. So glad to be able to see such a gorgeous view. Smell the air after a desert rain. Feel my dog’s soft fur in my hands. Listen to a song that brings me so much comfort. To fly down the highway in a car that holds so many memories. Have so much control over my day, my life, ahead. I remember thinking about how, as a teen, I would never have realizations like this. I had felt gratitude and joy and all of those things, but I had also joked about “not asking to be born,” and had fallen victim to the self-deprecation that teens (especially in 2016) were enamored with. I had never truly been able to grasp the feeling of, “Man, despite it all, I am just happy to be here.”

I actually teared up in the car. My emotions made me realize that this has to be part of my frontal lobe development. I grabbed a cookie butter iced latte from a drive-thru (yum), dropped my dog off, chatted with my parents, and was off to my nail appointment.

My nail tech was a super sweet lady, and I was actually obsessed with the final result of my nails (navy blue with white polka dots!). She was not reserved in sharing her opinions about my life decisions with me, which I actually appreciated (in the past, no thank you). I shared actual truths about my life and my current situations, didn’t try to sugarcoat or lie or breeze by it. We ended up having a great conversation, and she ended up venting to me about some things that were making her unhappy in her life for most of the appointment. When she finished my nails, she even told me she was grateful to share those things with me, because there was nobody in her life she felt comfortable talking about those specific things with.

If I hadn’t come to the realization that:
a. I don’t give a fuck about what others think about my life, and I’m happy to be open about just about anything; and
b. most of what people say to you is just a projection of whatever they have going on,
I never would have had the chance to hear out someone who deserved to be heard.

So yay! I’m growing spiritually and my brain is almost cooked! Aging is a gift. Perspective is earned. Life is finite. I am happy to be here. Even when there are moments where it seems like everything sucks.

All this to say: things get better. Even when they already seem pretty good and especially if they don’t. And it doesn’t have to be as transformative as your brain literally developing into its adult form. It can be a simple decision. A mindset switch. One hundred days of trying your best. Ten days even. One emotional moment filled with gratitude.

Think about it xx

On this somewhat sluggish Tuesday afternoon, I’ve decided to dream up some of the things I think are incredibly chic for some unexplained reason. These are things I actively try to participate in, not only because I like them, but because they make me and other people around me seem both admirable and elegant.

1. Talking to your grandparents on a regular basis

This one can be a challenge, largely because, to be fair, your grandparents kind of have to be chic, too. Luckily for me, my grandma is. We write letters back and forth, and she gives me endless book recommendations. Both she and my grandpa have amazing stories about their travels and lives, and they even run a seasonal peanut brittle business during the holidays (cute!!). Inheriting their knowledge through casual conversations has felt like peak chic. If your grandparents are no longer with you (or, let’s be honest, you lost them to Fox News), I highly recommend befriending someone much older than you.

2. Being openly passionate about something (bonus points if it’s niche)

There is nothing cooler than a person who has a niche interest and is outspoken about it. Those are my favorite YouTube rabbit holes to fall down. It’s obvious that this would be chic because how can you not be the most interesting person in the room when you have lore.

3. Having a recipe your friends/family always request

Okay, I have been actively trying to make this happen. I think the reason I find this so chic is because it can be hard to do. If you are someone who always gets requests to make the same recipe for every event, congrats. I envy you.

4. Paper thin wine glasses

I love a chilled white wine, and nothing makes me feel more like the lead character in an artsy European film than sipping from a wine glass so thin I could bite it like a potato chip. I have done the liberty of linking my favorite wine glasses of all time.

My favorite wine glasses from Crate & Barrel

5. A signature scent or lip color

I mean, yeah. Possibly the chicest thing of all time. Nothing exudes confidence, intention, and personal style like having a scent or lip color that makes others immediately think of you. There’s a confidence and intentionality in having a “signature.” It’s giving style. It’s giving mystique. It’s giving: She has her life together (whether or not you do is beside the point).

6. Shopping local, rocking lesser known brands

Nothing elevates personal style better than unique pieces. Especially if they’re locally sourced, hand made, crafted, things of that nature. Having things that are 1 of 1, or simply just something that not everybody has or is familiar with, is a great conversation starter and is just naturally interesting.

7. Being familiar with classic literature

When someone can effortlessly reference the classics…C H I C. Especially now, in a world where digital attention spans are shrinking and literacy rates are slipping, reading actual books (gasp!) AND remembering them, feels rebellious and weirdly sexy.

8. People who offer an interesting drink or sweet treat to their guests

One time when I was a teenager, I was at a friends’ house and her parents offered me a homemade chai tea. It was delicious and inspired me to do the same thing when I had a place. Now, I always offer my guests a craft coffee, tea, or a fun seasonal drink. This summer, I always had homemade lemonade in the fridge and lately I’ve been making sourdough treats. I always remember the people who offer me something unique and lovely when I visit their home. It’s such a small gesture, but so memorable.

9. Sending handwritten letters and invites

There’s something so special about a handwritten note or a REAL invite that I can hold with my two hands and pin up in my kitchen. Digital is much more convenient, but actually mailing something is much more chic. Also, there’s something so intimate about seeing a person’s handwriting.

10. Cooking with seasonal foods

Cooking and eating foods that are synonymous with the current season is just so fun and tasteful. It’s a great way to enjoy a variety of foods, keep things fresh, and try new things. Eating seasonally is cost effective, better tasting, reduces your carbon footprint, and makes it easier to support local. Chic!

My favorite resource for seasonal cooking

My final thoughts

Chicness (how many times have I used the term ‘chic’ now??) isn’t always about what you wear or own. It’s about how you move through the world. It is the rituals you create and the thought you put into the little things. In the end, it always comes back to mindfulness.

And sometimes it’s just about drinking wine from a paper-thin glass while writing letters to your grandmother in a lipstick you always wear.

Which is, in my opinion, the chicest thing of all.

For my birthday last year, a Zach Bryan concert was conveniently happening in my city the very same week. He was one of my top streamed artists at the time. His music was beautiful, raw, relaxing, and had quickly taken over most of my playlists. Right before I planned on buying tickets, news about his breakup began to surface. It wasn’t the typical breakup drama though. His ex-girlfriend who he had briskly intertwined his life with via pets, property, and plenty of public exposure, came out on a podcast and admitted that he had tried to pay her 12 million dollars (yes 12 million) to never speak about him or their relationship. It was also exposed that he had done something similar (at lower price points) to all of his ex girlfriends, including his ex wife whom he allegedly cheated on while she was deployed (and sent her divorce papers in the mail.)

Suddenly, the guy whose lyrics painted him as tender, self-aware, and emotionally grounded didn’t feel so inspiring. In fact, the contrast between the art and the person behind it was jarring. I stopped listening. I removed his music from my playlists. And honestly? That opened the door to finding even better artists, ones whose values and messages felt more aligned with my own.

I hadn’t thought about Zach Bryan in a while, until a TikTok crossed my feed.

A 14-year-old girl had waited outside one of his concerts, hoping to catch a glimpse of him as he left the venue. She said in the video she was disappointed that he didn't even roll his windows down or wave at the fans as he was leaving. He saw the video and commented saying something along the lines of ‘after a 2 hour show he doesn’t owe anybody anything.’ And then he commented GOMD (Get Off My D*ck). This is just one example of his attitude toward fans. If you were to ask me, your fans are a reflection of you. If you’re a disrespectful, messy person, those are the people you attract. Because you’re asking people who still listen to you to look past things that a lot of good people won’t.

This entire disappointing online interaction really got me thinking.

If art is a window to the soul… what do we do when the soul behind the art turns out to be unkind, hypocritical, or uninspiring?

I know that cancel culture is rampant right now and I want to go on the record to say that I don’t agree with commenting and DM-ing hate to people online. I believe that the best way to engage with something you don’t agree with is to not engage with at at all. Which takes me back to my original point. Should we support art made by people who don’t inspire us, even if the art does?

We’ve all heard the phrase, “Separate the art from the artist.” Some people swear by it. They argue that art should stand on its own, that genius doesn’t require goodness. But for others (myself included), it’s hard to un-hear the lyrics when you know who’s singing them.

Some artists are messy, complicated, or even controversial, but they challenge us, stretch our perspective, or bring something emotionally true into the world. Others are just… messy. There’s no growth, no reflection, no intention to elevate, just damage control and fans being asked to look the other way.

Personally, I’ve come to believe that who someone is matters. If their work asks us to feel deeply, then their life should at least attempt to match that depth. Art can still move me, but I’m no longer interested in being moved by people who refuse to grow.

Consider this: the art we gravitate toward often acts like a mirror, reflecting who we are, and subtly shaping who we become. Consuming sad music all the time, for instance, can reinforce sadness, especially if you tend to ruminate, while upbeat music can lift your mood and energy. Likewise, reading only history books may cement a backward-looking mindset, while immersing yourself in future-focused narratives can nurture forward-thinking vision. Even decorating with only neutral or muted tones, say, beige artwork, can influence your emotional baseline and daily approach, perhaps calming but also under-stimulating.

That doesn’t mean you need to agree with every aspect of an artist’s life or ideas to enjoy their work. But your favorite creators, whether in music, books, or visual art, should challenge or elevate you in some way. Ideally, they inspire growth, new emotions, or deeper reflection. If everything you engage with reinforces comfort zones, unexamined beliefs, or emotional habits, consider diversifying. Research shows that art that moves us often does so because it contradicts or expands our internal narrative, not just reinforces it.

If you still have those few people that you know are problematic but you can’t help but love them, I get it. But at least start to consider how this will effect you, and start being more intentional about other art in your life.

The air was crisp and cool, but the bugs lingered, leaving behind a final trace of the hot, humid summer months. Even today it felt like August had left scraped nail marks on the Earth when noon had heated her cheeks and left sweat trickling down the back of her neck. Crickets and cicadas performed a symphony that swirled through the now chilly apple scented breeze.

She pulled her pilled, river blue flannel in closer as she began to toss pine wood chunks into the fire pit. Flecks of bone white dust sprang up as the wood landed roughly into the pit. In an hour or so, her friends would arrive. They would gather around the pit and merrily tell summer stories, talk of future fall adventures, and pine over the endless Halloween costumes they could choose. As if it were a dance, they would step back and forward, unable to choose the sweltering heat of the flames on their faces or the lonely cold just a mere 3 feet back. Sticky sweet s'mores would appear, and there would be playful arguments about how burnt a marshmallow should truly be. The flames would perform their usual charade, flickering and cracking & moving in a way that only fire itself has mastered.

Late into the night, when the fire starts to unwind and the bugs perform their coda, they will begin to tell their most bone chilling tales. The temperature will feel as if it dropped 10 degrees and everything will still, including the thick smoky air. Old itchy blankets will feel more cozy as white knuckles pull them against their faces. But even the scariest story couldn't ruin this moment for her. Friendship and fall and everything that lay in front of her held too much promise to be jilted by a good storyteller. So after everyone said their see-you-tomorrows, she snubbed out the fire and crawled into bed. She slept more soundly than she had in months; even with the window cracked, inviting whatever ghouls and ghosts they had conjured that evening. Nothing could beat sleeping in a 60 degree room filled with cozy blankets & twinkling lights.

a sunken living room of musings, muses, and mildly unhinged takes

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