I’m currently sitting on our back porch with a glass of crisp white wine, a breeze in my air drying hair, and I’m looking at some boats cruise throughout the Charleston Harbour. It’s sounds great until you see my dinner… pizza bites. Like the ones you buy in the bag. But I saw them while doing my online grocery order and I thought…

…You know what? Nothing would honestly hit harder.

So I’ve been really sick this past week. It’s been awful — like truly the worst thing I’ve ever had. I considered taking myself to the ER at a couple points, but held back. I thought I had meningitis because I couldn’t put my chin to my chest without intense pain shooting down my back, but talked to an ER doctor who didn’t think my timeline of symptoms fully aligned. It was a headache like no other I’ve ever had (and I grew up with migraines), intense muscle aches and pains, extreme exhaustion, and probably something else I’m forgetting at the moment. I tested negative for flu, covid, and well, pregnancy. Had a nurse come bring an IV concoction of fluids, electrolytes, vitamins, Toradol, and glutathione. (This was my first time utilizing HomeRN Charleston and won’t be my last. They come to your home and even do Urgent Care visits, too.) Happy to report that I seem to have turned a corner today! So incredibly thankful for good health. Spending an entire week in my bedroom away from my children definitely put things into perspective for me.

Did y’all watch The Five Star Weekend? I watched while under the weather… twice! Honestly considering watching it again. I just really want Jennifer Garner and Timothy Olyphant to date in real life. They are cute together!

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Now for some fun links!

This silverware set looks gorgeous (very This Oak House) and you will never believe the price.

Also came across these tassels that I love to hang on my lamp finials! You can also just stick them right on the on/off switch.

Still stand by my claim that this is the best bra ever.

MacKenzie-Childs’ Barn Sale started and I have all of my favorites saved here! The Barn Sale in 2019 was the first time I acquired a MC product. My mom and I were in NYC and stumbled into their store there. I picked out a few pieces for my birthday from my parents and still love them.

This looks like the perfect weekly notepad. I do have a few really good ones already, but I am a little list-obsessed so there’s always room for more.

One time we stayed in a VRBO with the most amazing pillows. I looked at the brand and they were by The Company Store. Ordered these during their summer sale and hoping I chose the right ones!

My favorite robe of summer! It’s so structured and doesn’t get too hot, yet comfy at the same time. And I love the color.

Aside from a spring break manicure, I have tidied up my nails only at home throughout 2026. My nails are so unbelievably strong because of it. I love this shade for a super long lasting, clean nail look. It’s the perfect nude! You need the coordinating base coat and top coat, so if you buy that polish, make sure you pick up the Mini Starter Set, too!

This tray would be so cute in a little boy’s bathroom.

WeGym just started a sale! (This is the prettiest at-home gym equipment company.) It might be a good time for me to pick up this cream weight bench. I also love their weight sets and own this one. This is a pretty one in collaboration with Sculpt Society — and it’s on sale, too!

A very chic dress that could be dressed up or down whether you chose a flat sandal or a heel! + I love it with this necklace.

The kicker is that our brains use life landmarks to measure the passage of time. So to me, having slow weeks with not much going on makes for a fast year because all of that time compresses into a huge blur. (A “Where did the time even go?!” kind of thing.)

On the contrary, my experience is that a slower year is one where there’s a lot happening in life to really fill up the weeks. Each month has several benchmark moments that stand out, making the year feel like it had a lot of life to it. The problem here is that this often means the days & weeks are super busy and therefore go by fast and can feel frazzled.

So what do we want—to slow down the years or slow down the weeks? Do we want a full life or a slow and present life? And can we have both at once?!

Oh, hi! …and welcome to my brain.

I got started thinking about this because, well, it’s honestly on my mind all the time. But it has especially been a present thought when thinking about the summertime and how quickly my children are growing. I want to slow down time as much as possible… and what better season to try to do so than the summer?

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The dream is a slow, but lively summer. BBQs with friends, restful days, farmer’s markets, swimming pools, and toes in the sand. But the reality is that the rest of life doesn’t stop. There is still work, chores, places to be, and oh yeah—kids! And they are around all. the. time. Because of that, those easy days suddenly aren’t quite so easy. There’s more laundry, more messes, and more daily schedules to plan. But I love having my kids in the house with us as much as they want to be there. And you better believe we’ve implemented a pretty great chore chart system this summer, which helps.

Two summers ago, we had our children do a lot of camps to keep them having dedicated fun and to give us all a little routine, but they honestly got fatigued by always having to be here and there. Last summer, we skipped the camps entirely and did six combined weeks of travel thanks to being able to work from anywhere, but then we headed back to school not really feeling like we got to enjoy the slow paced ease of summer that we all crave.

So this year, we are staying put a good bit and trying to strike that balance.

With the exception of a few two to three night trips sprinkled throughout, our days are here at home with honestly no big plans. And I’m so excited about it. We actually had a trip to Italy booked and canceled it last week to help foster a simple summer. No camps (except a last minute one the other week for Rosie that she wanted to do), just a whole lot of playing in the neighborhood, scraped knees, and corndogs for lunch on paper plates.

You honestly might not even notice, but I’ve chosen to cut my workload down quite a bit in terms of campaigns I’ve agreed to during the summer months. This is hard for me to do because when you run your own business and aren’t working, then no income is coming in, but also, I genuinely love all of the brands I get to work with and as a creative person, I think it’s actually super fun to create content for them. But my hope is that this gives me more chances to soak up my kids, especially without the distractions of nonstop travel, camp after camp, or work getting in the way (too much, at least). I’m also imagining that this will open up my heart and mind a bit, take a load off, and allow me to do more of the creative things that I love, like writing here on Substack.

My summary is this... Time doesn’t feel slow when you’re doing less. Time feels slow when you’re making memories. The really good ones. But those memories don’t have to be extravagant. They can be simple markers of time that still feel very special.

Our theme for summer 2026 is to create meaningful markers of time without the fuss of overpacked schedules.

Our days have looked a lot like this so far — We’ve been enjoying having slow mornings, lunch and an activity out a few days per week, followed by naptime for Patrick, and then trying to get out in the late afternoon once he’s up. Sometimes that’s visiting the bookstore, going to pick out beads for necklaces at the local craft store, going to swim practice, etc. An early, routined bedtime has kind of gone out the window, but that’s what summer is all about, right? The kids have been playing with neighbors until dark and then after getting all ready for bed, we’ve been watching an episode of Survivor as a family after Patrick goes down. I know this might seem like an odd show to watch with your 10 and 8 year old, but they are both into it and it’s something we can turn on every night, giving us an hour of dedicated couch snuggles—something we rarely get during the busy school year. They are both into adventure and are really getting into learning about the alliances on the show. It’s random, but fun, and honestly reminds me of my own childhood. I think I started watching it with my parents around the same age! (But just a heads up, mute the commercials!) We’ve also been loving America’s Funniest Home Videos!

So yeah — that’s the bulk of our summer so far.

I love having trips planned and new experiences scheduled on the calendar, but I also know that this doesn’t equate to a full life. Now don’t get me wrong, when an opportunity feels worth taking, like a last minute vacation or fun event, I plan to maximize it with intention. (Just like I did last week when given the chance to join some friends on Harbour Island for three nights!) And the truth is, we would like to plan one week-long family trip this summer but don’t have anything figured out yet. It would end up being last minute, but honestly those are my favorite trips to put together.

There’s no true way to slow down time. It’s passing no matter what we’re doing, but I do believe that a full life happens when we we are in control of our days. We do this by noticing parts of our life and enhancing more of what we love about it.

Ok, that’s all. No huge climactic ending, but just some thoughts to put out there into the world.

Cheers to making the most of our days, whether they are ordinary and slow, or filled to the brim with adventure. They are both really sweet… and we honestly need both.

So with that said, here is everything I took with me for our anniversary trip to Paris!

AIRPLANE —

OUTFIT LINKED HERE. I wore my favorite travel pants because the fabric is cooling and non-wrinkle, plus they have an elastic waist. Perfect for sleeping on the plane and yet feeling presentable when arriving at the hotel. They do something great for the legs, too. Super flattering.

These pants also dress up beautifully! As shown here during a trip to NYC last fall.

In summary, even though I call them travel pants, I don’t just wear them for travel. They are just the most versatile pants I own and I’m far too obsessed.

By the way, if you are interested but wanting to try a great dupe, try these! They are literally $20 at the moment and have the EXACT SAME fabric composition.

My blazer has brown and blue in it (size up, by the way. this is an 8 and it fits like a 4) so I wore it with these incredibly comfortable flats. This t-shirt is a favorite! (Everything is linked at the “outfit linked here” button above!)

PARIS DAY ONE —

OUTFIT LINKED HERE. This outfit was an easy “throw on” during a jet lagged, yet really exciting day when we wanted to hit the ground running! I wasn’t sure if our room would be ready upon arrival (it was!), so I always pack something in my carry on that doesn’t need steaming. These pants naturally have a textured look to them, so any wrinkles from sitting just sort of blend in with the crinkly look of taffeta. By the way, these sunglasses make you feel really cool. Links above!

PARIS DAY TWO —

OUTFIT LINKED HERE. I was so excited to wear this look in Paris. It’s the perfect springy mint color and feels dressier than what I’d typically wear in Charleston. My bag is borrowed from Vivrelle (my code MEGANSTOKESS gives you your first month free) and I love it so much that I actually bought one for myself while in Paris!

I wore a t-shirt underneath the blazer and wrapped an Hermes scarf around my waist. Glad I did because it got HOT around lunchtime! It was definitely our warmest day.

DINNER NIGHT TWO —

OUTFIT LINKED HERE. These pants are truly my favorite evening slip-on when I don’t want to wear a jean. I probably have five colors of them.

PARIS DAY THREE —

OUTFIT LINKED HERE. I was thankful I planned these mesh flats for my outfit this day because the Chanel ones I wore the day before, which are typically so comfortable, did get a little uncomfy after 20K steps. These mesh ones feel like walking barefoot, honestly.

Okay so this coat instantly makes me feel more chic. It’s satin but yet all weather, so it’s not only beautiful but also completely functional. I love love love this AYR shirt because the collar is unique. These are the same pants as the green ones I wore on day one. Oh and I cannot recommend these sunglasses enough. I really don’t splurge on sunglasses anymore, but these were worth it to me. (Stop! they are 40% off right now!)

DINNER NIGHT THREE —

OUTFIT LINKED HERE. This outfit is full of pieces that separately get worn all. the. time. This oversized blazer sort of makes it! My necklace is on sale and my ring is under $60!

PARIS DAY FOUR —

OUTFIT LINKED HERE. I planned to wear my Chanel flats with this outfit but they honestly gave me such blisters after all the walking on day two, only made worse by my high heel choice both nights before this for dinner. (Both of these shoes are typically so comfortable, but again it was just a lot of walking.) So anyway — I wore these sandals to save my heels.

The Hermes coat isn’t linked, but this similar one is by a luxury brand I really admire and it’s a GORGEOUS forever piece.

These white jeans are my favorite ever. I wear them all the time.

DINNER NIGHT FOUR —

OUTFIT LINKED HERE. I saw this jacket in person on our first shopping day in Paris and bought it because I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It ended up being the perfect thing for this dinner look… I needed a short, somewhat cropped black jacket to keep warm. I have this one at home — if you’re looking for something similar that serves the same purpose, I highly recommend it. It’s 30% off right now!

PARIS DAY FIVE —

OUTFIT LINKED HERE. I re-wore a few pieces this day... The same jeans as the ones worn the day before that I somehow didn’t get dirty at all. My satin jacket that I adore. I did add a Nadaam cashmere sweater, but that’s the only new thing! (BTW, it’s such a great, lightweight cashmere that is under $100. I travel with it a lot, as it’s great to toss over the shoulders or layer over a t-shirt pending weather.)

Heading home, I just swapped the jeans for the same pants I wore on the airplane to go to Paris! Thinking about it, this is my ideal capsule wardrobe. A lot of these pieces mixed and matched… the blazer could have carried me through every evening (except I ended up buying the short cropped one and used it the last night instead) and my daytime jackets and coats were used multiple days. It’s enough color for me without feeling busy. And you know I love tone on tone looks, especially creams and neutrals. This was a fun trip to dress for because the weather was just so beautiful.

Okay that’s it — signing off, while still dreaming of springtime in Paris and all of these outfits as I’m currently in yoga pants!

I asked for your questions in an Instagram Q&A and since so many of you were wondering the same things, I rounded up the most-asked questions and am answering them below!

Where did you stay?

We stayed at a house called Foxy Lady in Foster Hill, a private enclave located on the southern end of Great Exuma that is owned by a wonderful family with long-standing ties to the Bahamas. There are five gorgeous rental homes located within Foster Hill that sleep anywhere from 4 to 16 guests. All of these homes feel very private from one another, yet act as a unit all at once. It brings a comfort to have other families nearby no matter where you are, but especially in a different country. All of these homes share a marina in the center of the property where you can keep a rental boat or be picked up for a tour. While we never met our neighbors or even saw them, we heard that two of the houses were rented by people from Charleston, which felt really cool and comforting. The Foster Hill houses are separated in a way that each one has an incredible view and privacy galore. Each one has a pool and also include access to a small private beach at the foot of the property where there are paddle boards, kayaks, etc. to use at any time.

You can rent any of these homes through their booking company, The Good Life Bahamas. We rented Ballymena when we went last time and couldn’t have loved it more. We actually have stayed in Peep’s Cottage before as well, as we stayed there the final night of our trip last time. (Only because we wanted to stay an extra night and Ballymena was booked!)

If we go back somewhere twice, you know it’s good! Oh and to top it off, the houses are very upscale, with gorgeous finishes and interiors. I truly have never loved a vacation home more than these, so it’s safe to say that I cannot recommend Foster Hill more.

Are there good restaurant options for dinner nearby?

I really hope I’m not overgeneralizing, but plain and simple - no. (But I have a solution for you!)

I mean, I’m sure there is a spot to have a nice dinner on Exuma somewhere, but not on the end of the island where we stayed, at least. An exception that I know of would be Stocking Island, where the beach clubs are, but you’ll need a boat to access those and only certain ones would be open at dinnertime.

Last time, we expected to dine out for dinner, which is what we always do on Harbour Island, but we quickly learned that’s it’s just not the way to do Exuma.

Instead, we hired a chef for each night of our trip. (The booking company can arrange this for you! They offer a concierge service!) Especially if traveling with another family, we found that it ends up being about the same price as what you’d spend at a nice restaurant. Many of the chefs also offer drop off meals, which costs a lot less. We actually did this for our first night and then had the chef come cook at the house the other nights, which was an entertainment that our children really loved.

Specifically, I cannot recommend Chef Olivia more. Her company is Liv Caters and this is the second trip we’ve hired her to prepare dinners. She does onsite cooking, drop off meals, “picnic basket” style of meals for the boat, party trays, grocery drop off, and more. She stays really booked out, so contact her early!

How do you get to Exuma?

We flew from Charleston (CHS) to Charlotte (CLT) to Georgetown, Exuma (GGT) via American Airlines. Our flight out of Charleston was at 6:34am and we were on the ground in the Bahamas by 11:50am! On the way home, we connected in Miami instead of Charlotte.

Once you land in Georgetown and go through customs, there are taxis outside of the airport ready to take you anywhere you need to go! We prearranged our taxi — we used Patrick at 1 (242) 464-1411 on WhatsApp. It’s about a 30 minute drive from GGT to the house we rented, which ended up being a $110 taxi drive each way. (Much less than renting a car and we knew we wouldn’t need a car during the other days! However, if you’re not renting a boat, then you should probably just rent the car because you can drive into Georgetown and then take water taxis to the beach clubs from there!)

Did you bring the baby?

We did not. (Also, I love that this person called Patrick a baby because I still do even at 2.5!)

I missed him so much and really struggled with this decision, but it was the smart move. The house has a pool and we were traveling with five other children that I knew would be running in and out, keeping the pool access wide open. I wouldn’t have been able to relax for a second at the house for that reason, nor would it have been fun for him. Patrick doesn’t love being on a boat either, and I knew we would be doing a lot of that.

Honestly, I think he would rather live with my parents than with us (ha!), so by us leaving him behind, he got to have some special time with grandparents. As the third child, the one-on-one time was wonderful for him! It also gave us a chance to really devote our time to our older two, which is extremely important to me as I’m seeing their little faces become so very grown at rapid pace.

How does it compare to Harbour Island?

Just… so different!

Water: As someone who truly adores Harbour Island, I have to say that the water is way more beautiful on Exuma. It’s the combination of the shallow depths of the water mixed with the pearly white sandy seafloor and the lack of water pollutants. It just makes the water look brilliant. As in, the water glows in a way that I haven’t seen anywhere else.

Dining: We’ve already discussed the dining scene. Harbour Island is heavy on the swanky, stylish restaurants and Exuma just doesn’t have that. You just have to decide if dining out is important to you or if being relaxed in the evenings after a big day on the water is more important to you!

Size: Harbour is a tiny island and Exuma is much, much bigger. Getting from point A to point B is more lengthy. For that reason, you don’t see golf carts on Exuma the way you do on Harbour Island.

Boating Population: There is a big boating population on Exuma. And definitely a big sailing population! You see sailboats moored all over, much like you do in the Virgin Islands. It’s so fun! Harbour Island doesn’t have a big “boating for pleasure” scene, even though you do see yachts and large fishing boats at the docks. While there are some great boat tour excursions you can take on Harbour Island, I’d say Harbour Island moreso has a yachting scene and then a fishing scene, if that makes sense.

Beach Clubs: Exuma has these great beach clubs on Stocking Island! Most have boat taxi access, if you don’t have a boat rental and want to hop over on a quick boat ride from Georgetown. More on this below!

Shopping: There are a few little shops and craft stands in Georgetown, but that’s really it that we noticed. During this trip, I didn’t buy a single thing except a dress and t-shirt for Rosie from Coconut Club. On Harbour Island, there’s an art gallery, beautiful high end boutiques, basket stands, etc.

If I had to really summarize the difference, I would say that Exuma is all about boating and island hopping amongst the prettiest water you’ve ever seen, whereas Harbour Island’s draw is more focused on the beach and the charming island itself. Harbour Island is more “see and be seen” and Exuma is more chill. Both are amazing for each of those reasons, but again, just different!

Did you rent a car?

No. Last time we rented a Polaris, which is like a heavy duty, high speed golf cart. But we knew we weren’t going to need it since our house concierge was pre-arranging grocery drop offs for us and we also had the boat rented. We took a taxi from the airport to the house and then back again at the end of the trip, but that was our only time in a vehicle during the trip.

Is there a market to buy groceries?

Yes! There’s a big grocery store (big for Bahamas, at least) in Georgetown. If you stay at Foster Hill, they will shop for your groceries and deliver them to you for a 20% concierge fee. It’s about 20-25 minutes, I think, from the grocery store to the house we rented, so this is a service that is worth it!

What is transportation like?

Mostly boats! You can rent a car as well or take a taxi anywhere you need to go. You don’t ride golf carts around on this island. It’s just too big and spread out!

Did you rent a boat or go on a tour?

We went the tour route last time and had them take us to see the swimming pigs and igauna island, but we rented a boat this time through SunSplash Rentals because we wanted to have fun on the water at our own pace.

I will say that I think you need to be at least a somewhat experienced boater to maneuver the waters on Exuma. Some areas can get very shallow with the tide changes — so shallow that the boat might not be able to get through if you don’t hit the tide just right. Just something to be aware of and know how to time your boat outings around!

What was your itinerary?

Thursday: Arrival around noon. Got settled into the house. Had some welcome cocktails while the kids swam in the pool. Took it easy! Chef Olivia arrived with our drop off meal, which was chicken piccata over alfredo pasta with a caesar salad and garlic bread. We also ordered a crab rangoon dip, crudite platter, and a spinach dip. Delish!!

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday: Woke up and cooked breakfast at the house, had coffee overlooking the beautiful view, then got ready to go boating! Headed out to the beach clubs and boated all around so the kids could swim. Came home, swam in the pool, showered and had Chef arrive to prepare a beautiful dinner at the house. Played mahjong and then it was bedtime!

Tuesday: Packed up and were picked up at 11am to catch a 2pm flight back to Charleston. So sad to leave!

Have you been to the Virgin Islands? How does it compare?

Yes, and honestly… so similar! If you go to Virgin Islands, you want to be out on the boat and it’s the same for Exuma. I even said during this trip that Exuma reminded me of the Virgin Islands of the Bahamas.

What beach clubs did you go to?

Coconut Club: Possibly the most instagrammable place I’ve ever been!? Just take a look! We absolutely loved our time here. They have tons of water toys, like slides and inflatable climbing walls out in the water. A dream for the kids!

Baymahni: This is a newer resort that has a great beach for pulling up to, a pool, and a beach bar. It feels elegant.

Peace & Plenty Club: Not my favorite, but they have these great swings in the water. It’s next to Baymahni, so I would set up camp there and then walk over to Peace & Plenty to check out the swings and maybe grab a quick cocktail!

Chat N Chill: A true dive bar scene! An Exuma classic that is rustic and tons of fun. Reminds me of Soggy Dollar on BVI.

Grand Isle: We didn’t visit here but it looks beautiful!

In summary…

Exuma is one of those places you leave feeling truly rested. It offers a kind of disconnect that’s hard to find anywhere else.

If you’re into boating, I would recommend Exuma without hesitation. If you prefer a more traditional resort experience, you may want to explore one of the resorts on Exuma so that you truly don’t have the need to leave the property—or even consider another island. There’s nothing overly glamorous about Exuma, but that’s part of its allure. That said, the homes at Foster Hill are incredibly elegant and high-end, offering the perfect balance after a day out on the water.

If your ideal beach vacation looks like slow mornings at the house, a boat day (or two), and relaxed evenings back home with a private chef or a simple dinner in, then Exuma is absolutely for you. It’s easy in the best way. But if you prefer to get all decked out in your finest and hit the town for dinner each night, you might feel like something’s missing on Exuma.

We had the best time on this trip! It was our friends’ first time on Exuma and they loved the slower pace as well. I know I’ll always remember our evenings on the porch overlooking the water with a glass of wine in hand, spending time with our people.

Okay… did I forget something!? Let me know if you have any other questions in the comments!

As I start to browse all of the cute warm weather things popping up all over the internet, I’m gathering my favorites & sharing what I’ve bookmarked so far with you below.

shop everything above right here!

shop everything above right here!



ps. Can this fit in an Easter basket? …or better yet, a carry on? ha!

Grandparents were available and our schedules miraculously opened up, so we booked a last minute trip on a Thursday and were in Jamaica just a few days later. We do a February trip every year, just us two. It’s always a nice chance to decompress after the holidays and thaw out from the cold, but mostly to discuss the year ahead and plan out action items. Achieving multiple big, important conversations at home honestly feels impossible sometimes. I’m so thankful to my parents for giving us these 3 - 4 nights every winter because, outside of the work planning component of it all, it’s really just so good for our relationship and I look forward to it every year.

Round Hill Resort:

Round Hill has been on my radar for quite some time. It just oozes timeless, barefoot luxury. Designed and partly owned by Ralph Lauren (amongst a small list of other villa owners), it operates as a boutique hotel with 1950s Caribbean charm.

I should mention before typing this that we paid for our trip at full price and they don’t know who we are or that I’m writing this! I normally don’t do full on reviews of properties, so I wanted you to know up front that there is absolutely no bias at all. We actually booked our trip through Emily West, whom we book most all of our travel with these days. She is a high-end travel advisor and always knows the best new spots, the old classics worth visiting, and all of the insider tips & tricks of traveling to each specific place. Another plus is that you get lots of perks through booking with her, like daily breakfast, a resort credit, etc. Also, how cute is her website?

This beautiful resort (yes, it’s a resort even though it feels like an elegant boutique property) made such an impression on me, so of course I wanted to fill in all of my people. :)

Getting there:

We flew from Charleston to Charlotte (about 35 minutes) and Charlotte to Montego Bay (3 hours). From there, it’s a 25 minute taxi to the hotel.

We pre-arranged a private car (taxi) from the Montego Bay airport to Round Hill. Emily arranged this for us, but it’s also offered directly by the hotel and is added to your final bill. It’s $50 each way (this covers up to 4 people). I highly recommend this! We’ve done a good bit of island hopping and I always find the taxi situation to be such a pain because you never really know if you’re getting swindled (happens more than you’d think), so having a prearranged taxi that is affiliated with the property brought peace of mind.

Another thing to note is that the hotel offers a third party service called Club Mobay, which is like a VIP fast track service through customs and security at the airport. They greet you off the plane with a sign with your name on it, then guide you through the various checkpoints. It’s $50 per person each way. We denied this service because we didn’t think it would be necessary and can now confirm that we are happy with that decision. The Club Mobay lines were honestly about the same as the regular lines. While the Montego Bay airport is way bigger than any other Caribbean airport I’ve been to, it was very easy to navigate and not overcrowded at all. However, peak travel times, like during spring break, might be a different story and it might could be worth it then!?

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Accommodations:

There are hotel rooms, suites, and villas on the property. We booked a one-bedroom suite that was atop the hill and had a plunge pool. It was fantastic!

Just to note, there are no TVs in the rooms, but I promise you don’t miss it.

Activities + Experiences on Property:

They’ve got a pool and a private beach area with tons of water toys, like kayaking, paddle boarding, snorkel gear, and more. There’s also plenty of tennis and pickle ball courts, basketball, and a really beautiful gym. A Kids Club is also on property!

Every day at 4pm, they set up a beachside tea under the terrace. Complete with little english cookies and clotted cream, homemade doughnuts, tea sandwiches, crudite, freshly popped popcorn, and various drink options like tea, coffee, etc. This was quite the hit! Some come still dressed in their bathing suits, some freshly showered for an early dinner. We would take our mini mahjong set everyday and play while enjoying sweet treats and coffee before going back to our room to freshen up for dinner.

There is also a beautiful spa on property. There aren’t amenities (as of now, at least) that include things like a sauna or steam room, but the massage I had was the best I’ve ever had and the setting couldn’t be more beautiful, as many of the rooms are on an upstairs terrace that overlooks the bay.

We walked the jogging trail, which goes around the property, every morning before breakfast and it was such a highlight!

Dining:

We really looked forward to meal time because the overall experience of it all was so nice. The food was consistently tasty. The Round Hill team grows their own micro greens on property, so it was something I noticed in most recipes, even just as a garnish.

There are lots of places to eat on this very small property! Within a fairly small area, there’s an upstairs open-air dining room, a seaside terrace and bar area, a beach bar, and a pool bar — each with a different food menu. The various menus almost overwhelmed! (We had just gotten the hang of what was on each menu when it was time to go… ha!)

When it comes to dinner in the upstairs dining room, which is the fine dining option on property, the menu changes nightly to go along with whatever the theme for the evening is. You can preview the menu schedule for the week on their website and also see the menu for each evening displayed in the lobby every day.

Breakfast was such a highlight for me, but I am just a big vacation breakfast person. It’s the only time I ever sit down for breakfast. I love orange juice but it’s the only time I ever drink it. I love the stillness in the air and impending excitement about the day. I just love every little thing about breakfast on vacation—and Round Hill’s breakfast totally set a new standard for me. It’s a white table cloth service, which felt very special in juxtaposition to the salty, open-air view. The coffee is served in a Ralph Lauren tea pot, with matching cups and saucers. The menu was large and delicious! In addition to both of our breakfast meals, we ordered something to share on two of the mornings—the french toast and the smoothie bowl. GET THE SMOOTHIE BOWL. Wow, just wow.

Service:

The team at Round Hill was the friendliest group of people I’ve come across while on vacation. They were so lovely and welcoming. (I can’t always say the same when it comes to other islands.) When we left, I genuinely missed seeing their smiling faces and hearing their warm hellos. It made the whole experience!

A few final tips and thoughts:

We stayed 4 nights and it was honestly perfect. I would maybe go for 5 nights but I don’t think I would book for longer than that because it is a small resort, after all, and there’s only so much to do. We enjoy breaking up longer trips by trying different off-site lunch spots, for example, or shopping around the area. While there wasn’t any of this happening in or around Round Hill, we didn’t miss it at all since we were just there for 4 nights. (However, we maybe would have yearned for some daily action like that had we stayed for longer.)

If you’re traveling with just your significant other and don’t have an overly lengthy flight to get there, I would even go for just 3 nights! Since you’re staying in place at the resort and there’s no reason to leave, I really think you could leave feeling like you had a very full long weekend.

In summary, this beautiful resort really made an impression on us. It has such a point of view and we really loved our time there. For the first time ever, we were already planning a return trip before we even left. We want to bring our children because I know they’d enjoy it as well.

It’s a truly special place and I highly recommend it, but I’m sure I forgot something. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments! x

As I look forward into what I hope 2026 will be, I have a few goals in mind myself.

• Fewer, better. This is something I already do as of late, but want to continue on a broader scale.

I clear something out of our home literally every single day. Even if it’s an old spatula or some old hair products I don’t use anymore, removing things that don’t work for us anymore is a mission I’ve been on for the entire last year. I can proudly say that I’ve removed around 60% of my wardrobe since I started this. I want to have fun with buying and wearing new things, but I’ve also learned that I feel overwhelmed by too many things. Instead of 25 pairs of denim, I want five really good pairs. Since I’m buying significantly fewer things, I’ll admit that the price tag of the things I am buying has risen, but that’s because I’m buying less amounts and honestly, if it’s not an upgrade to whatever I already own, then I don’t need it or want the clutter that it will bring. This is a hard balance for me because part of my job (the really fun part!) is to shop & find new ideas for others, so purchasing new things is always just part of it.

So! Things to continue: a “one in, one out” rule and having lots of intention behind what I purchase. This also goes for home decor, kitchen tools, children’s toys, and all aspects of my life! I recently cleaned out Rosie’s small playroom and WOW, have I learned through her eyes that it’s so much more exciting to live with fewer really amazing things than lots of mediocre things that end up cluttering up your space. She did not need six Baby Alive dolls that are scratched and have their hair all in a mess when she has a few beautiful American Girl dolls and nicer baby dolls that are meaningful. She wasn’t even playing with her nice things because of the clutter. And don’t even get me started on the Barbies. This is just one example of many, but she is now so thrilled and proud of her space now that we’ve done a massive overhaul.

• Walk outside more. Go for three 30-minute walks outside per week.

I used to LOVE walking outside, but since 2025 was my year of getting back into hot yoga, I’ve almost entirely stopped my walks! Also, when I’m outside with Patrick, he wants to play with his toys and not ride in the stroller. Time to change that because my mood is noticeably lifted after a walk outside in the sunshine.

• Having hard stops with work. Figure out my “office hours” and stick to them.

As someone who doesn’t have an office, I sort of live in this grey area all the time where I rarely have sole focus on my work and likewise, I’m guilty of not always having 100% focus on my kids. Physically yes, but my mind always is thinking about what else I need to do. I’m going to really try to compartmentalize my work away from what matters most… my family. I don’t quite know how I’m going to do this (maybe finally hiring an assistant to help) or skipping a workout in return for an extra work hour while the kids are in school, but I’m determined to put my phone and computer down and not think about work during the times of day that I’m with my family.

• Create engaging content. And be consistent with it!

I’m here to serve you guys! And I want to create content that leaves you feeling like you really got something out of it. Is there a series of videos you’d like me to create for you? Let me know in the comments if so!

• Cook more. Create 3-5 go-to meals that my family loves.

It’s not that I don’t like to cook, but it’s usually not something I enjoy because of the planning required—planning I fail to do! Around 4pm, my brain usually feels like it has decided enough things for the day & physically cannot take on another task, so creating a meal in my head just isn’t in the cards. Luckily Brandon has really taken to cooking, but he only has a few go-to meals. So if I could find 3-5 go-to meals that don’t really require much brain power at all, then we would be set!

• Limit screentime. Because my screen time report is scary!

Sometimes I pick up my phone just out of habit. Going to try leaving it in a different room and finding a new pre-bed ritual that doesn’t require scrolling.

• Reduce postponing. Stop adding things to the to-do list that I could just do right away.

I’m the queen of postponing things. I’ve gotten into this mindset of thinking that if I write a task down on a list, then surely I’ll get to it one day & that’s good enough. But often, I wait too long to get to these things! I know this won’t work for nearly everything, but my goal is to just do tasks right away (if possible) and don’t even put it on a to-do list!

Of course there are plenty of more minor tweaks I’m always working on, but here are a handful of bigger goals that I have for 2026. Do you have anything on your resolutions or intentions list? Last year, my two goals were to get back into hot yoga and eat lunches at home. I may have had more, but those were the two I accomplished - ha!

outfit details //

jeans (On sale! Also available here. You can go with the smaller of your two sizes!)

shirt

shoes

blazer (here’s a great looking dupe that is under $50!)

sunglasses

1. I went to NYC on the hunt for an earthy brown coat and within minutes inside the first stop of the trip, I laid my eyes upon this RÓHE Double-Faced Wool Scarf Coat (also linked here). It can be worn different ways — with the scarf worn loosely across the neck in the traditional way, with the scarf worn down & layered on top of the collar, or remove the extra scarf layer all together. She’s also so chic in a very Mary Kate & Ashley way. I thought about it throughout the rest of our time in New York and ultimately purchased it. I know the price tag isn’t great (and I apologize for that!), but after a huge purge of my belongings over the last year, I’m really focusing on not overloading my closet back with stuff. I’m trying to go the “fewer better” route as much as I can when it comes to elevated basics. Even though there are always going to be exceptions to that desire, this one feels like a forever piece and is something I’ve thought about for a long time!

I did just spot this very similar coat at a price tag that is less than half!

2. This Anderson’s belt is the most beautiful color that goes with black or brown. Because of its versatility, I find that I wear it more than any other belt that I own. Just feeling it in your hands confirms any question you had on the quality—it’s buttery and exceptional. Now, in hopes of expanding my Anderson’s collection, I have my eyes on this one.

3. This Julietta Necklace stopped me in my tracks & became an instant order. Worn with a black sweater now or a simple shift dress later, I think it will bring such a chic, sophisticated twist.

4. Very into these TWP Next Ex shirts. I feel like I live in a button down as my usual “uniform” and this is a fun, yet classic, way to mix it up.

5. These earrings will go far beyond the holiday season. They are big and statement-making, but timeless at the same time. They are also on sale now!

6. I bought these Roger Vivier heels in NYC. Burgundy is definitely a neutral in my eyes this fall/winter, so I think I’ll be wearing them all the time.

7. Been waiting for chances to wear this oversized Staud satin overcoat. The fun colored fabric will dress up any dinner look.

8. I also picked up these Roger Vivier flats while in NYC. The tortoise shell buckle detail is really eye catching and they feel so comfortable. Runs TTS.

9. If you haven’t tried Marguax shoes, you must put them on your list! I’m such a fan of these Phoebe flats and own them in leopard and brown suede.

10. A straight leg jean is what I’m constantly reaching for these days and I’m constantly searching for the best one. These Anine Bing Kate jeans are the current winners!

11. The newest Jennifer Behr x Julia Berolzheimer collection launched last week and it’s everything 70s Bohemia. I picked up this ochre tassel necklace that also doubles as a belt, as well as the ever popular Tatiana necklace with these beautiful multi-colored beads.

12. OMG - have you tried the Spanx Air Essentials line? This turtleneck top is light as can be, but still so cozy. I know a photo just makes a piece look like any other top, but trust me that this one is top tier. I now want all the colors! I wear a small.

shop it all here!

shop it all here!

shop it all here!

shop "gifts for her" here!

ps. This link above will be updated throughout the holiday season! Please keep checking back if you’d like even more ideas. x

shop it all here!

shop it all here!

I will be updating the link above with so many more gift ideas for little ones, so keep checking back! To note, this gift guide link is part of my“Holiday Shop” on my ShopMy page, where all other gift guides will be posted as well!

I like Substack for its ease and ability to do just that. It almost feels like a diary I can turn to without the worry of making anything aesthetic. It’s just writing. And I can do that somehow without thinking that anyone else is actually going to read it. (Ha. Joke’s on me.) The words flow a little better here… but then there’s panic as I hit the post button when I remember this newsletter goes out to a lot of people. That’s the way blogging started for me (eons ago!) and I think that’s the fun of it all.

This season of life just feels like a lot to me. My friends say I’m always so calm… and maybe I am on the outside, but I simultaneously have my figurative duck legs moving a mile a minute under the water.

These are champagne problems, by the way.

Since we got back from France, life has just come at us fast. There seemingly is always some problem to figure out—each week, another big thing. We came back home from a trip that honestly was pretty exhausting (in a good way) and had two broken AC units and just days to prepare for our big estate sale. These are just a couple of what felt like a huge list of hurdles. Then it was back to school… then Patrick had Hand Foot & Mouth, which put us out of commission for at least 10 days… then the dust settled on the back to school events and the million and one September birthday party invitations arrived—and we had a birthday in our family! Patrick turned two, sandwiched in between our cat and our dog’s birthdays too. Oh and our house got struck by lightning! Still figuring out things that don’t work as a result but the list is big. Okay then 4th grade homework entered the equation—pun intended. Every night I feel like a failing balancing act while trying to go from school pickup, to gymnastics, to homework, to dinner and bedtime. And wait - where is the playtime for the kids? And which one of us is going to keep up with Patrick!?

Bedtime is always a three hour adventure for us. Bath time and showers are all happening at once, then I rock Patrick for a while and get him in bed while Watson and Rosie brush their teeth and get settled for bed with Brandon. Then I go upstairs and lay with the kids until they fall asleep, then Brandon moves Rosie to her room. Sometimes it takes a good 1-1.5hr for them to fall asleep after we’ve already been at it for 1.5hr! So by the time I exit the room, it’s usually 10pm. (We are unsuccessfully working on them going to bed alone, by the way.) And then I go downstairs to the duties of picking up the house so we don’t wake up to chaos, having a moment to myself, and trying to fall asleep before midnight. I mean, a 9pm bedtime sounds nice but will that ever happen? Not looking like it.

And then there’s work. I used to feel like I was in such a good place with what I did and now I feel like there are a million people who do it better. And honestly I get sick of social media myself. There’s so much more to life, yet it’s entertainment that I will admit I feel some sort of addiction to. I don’t really watch TV too often, so I justify the mindless scrolling and wish I didn’t.

We as human beings in 2025 just have a lot to manage. The social accounts, excelling at work, taking care of other humans if we are parents, remembering to follow up with your doctor about the lab results that are off (hi), picking up presents for the 3 birthday parties that are taking place this weekend, scheduling the dental cleanings, penciling out a time to see friends, keeping the house cleaned, remembering to give the hermit crabs their special treated salt water concoction (also, hi)… just all the things! I mean, that doesn’t even scratch the surface of the daily things going through our minds… am I right?

I say all of this with the most gratitude in my heart. Truly. These are wonderful problems to have. These problems tell me that I have a full life. Children who need me. A job that keeps me challenged. Friends I love. The ability to see good doctors. A house to clean. And they are a reminder of how thankful I am for a husband who really does take the half (if not more than that) of this load off of my shoulders.

You get the drill.

But this is also a place for letting the feelings flow. To let you know that you’re not alone in the normal things we all experience.

Even though there is currently nothing substantial happening that is affecting my life (which I am endlessly thankful for), there can still be a thousand little things that really add up and can feel heavy. And if you feel that way too… if the throes of life sometime feel a little hard, I’m right here with you, friend. We all are.

Adding this picture below of my little “wire - wire.” (Firefighter) He was snuggling on my bed while I was packing this week and the next thing I knew, he had nuzzled himself in the pillows like this. While I sit here and hopefully connect with you over all the little things, these are still days I absolutely wish I could freeze time. Because time… there’s just not enough of it.

I also want to update this post, now a few days later. (I decided to let these feelings sit a little bit before sending it out.) And honestly, I think writing it all out was super therapeutic for me. I then asked myself, what, out of all of this, can I control?

Bedtime.

It was finally time to work on tucking Watson and Rosie in, reading with them, giving them love and then walking out. And guess what, we did it! After years of trying, it just somehow clicked. That’s a huge weight off of my shoulders because that frees up an additional 45min - 1 hr every evening for me. It also gives the kids a sense of freedom. When Brandon and I are at dinner or away, they don’t have to feel all of this anxiety over us not being there during bedtime. (This is actually why we rarely get a sitter at night because they can’t fall asleep without me being there.)

It’s also a new school week for Watson and while last week felt absolutely horrendous with three tests and more hours than I could count at the table studying with Watson, this week felt normal again.

Just a reminder that when things feel like a lot, take control of what you can and eventually there’s a little glimmer of light that makes the rest of it start to feel better.

Happy Friday, friends.

Outfit #1 —

jeans, t-shirt (wearing size large), necklace

Outfit #2 —

jeans, t-shirt (wearing size large), necklace

Outfit #3 —

jeans, t-shirt (wearing size large), necklace, blazer

Outfit #4 —

jeans (took my larger size), t-shirt (wearing size large), necklace

Outfit #5 —

jeans (wearing the larger of my two sizes), sweater (wearing a small), belt, flats (mine are chanel but these are a $60 dupe!)

Outfit #6 —

trench (wearing a 4), jeans (chose the large of my two sizes), sweater (wearing a small), belt, flats (mine are chanel but these are a $60 dupe!)

Outfit #7 —

jeans (chose the large of my two sizes), sweater (wearing a small), belt, flats (mine are chanel but these are a $60 dupe!), blazer

Outfit #8 —

jeans (chose the large of my two sizes), t-shirt (runs big. wearing a small.), belt, flats (mine are chanel but these are a $60 dupe!), blazer

Outfit #9 —

shoes (runs TTS), trench

Outfit #10 —

jeans, top (wearing a small), blazer, belt

Outfit #11 —

sweater (tts - wearing a medium), pants (size down - wearing a small)

This set also comes in navy!

Outfit #12 —

pajamas (wearing a medium)

Outfit #13 —

jeans (chose the large of my two sizes), t-shirt (wearing a large), flats (mine are chanel but these are a $60 dupe!), blazer (wearing a small)

Outfit #14 —

belt

I'm often asked about my antique jade ring that Brandon and the kids gave me for Christmas. The back story is that we had gone into Croghan’s Jewel Box during Thanksgiving weekend to let the kids each pick out their new ornament for the year—a tradition we do annually at Croghan’s. The jade ring was in the estate case and it was truly staring at me, so of course I had to try it on. The moment I put it on my finger, it felt so special and like something I would wear daily… and I do! Brandon ended up calling later that day and had them set it to the side for me. It ended up being a Christmas surprise under the tree.

While it was a one-of-a-kind estate purchase, here are others (both rings and pendants!) that look just as special.

Shop them all right here!

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Today is Patrick’s first day of “Mother’s Morning Out” and gosh, I’ve had a lump in my throat the entire morning. I couldn’t even pour a cup of coffee because my nerves were so palpable and I knew the caffeine would be the last thing I needed. The actual drop off didn’t go very well (lots of tears), so to say I already can’t wait to pick him up is the biggest understatement!

Okay — what are we watching on TV? Brandon and I love to have a show to watch at night once we get in bed, but I feel like there hasn’t been anything great out in the longest time. I’ve enjoyed The Summer I Turned Pretty and Love Thy Nader, but those aren’t exactly Brandon’s cup of tea.

These heels are a great alternative to the much more expensive Loeffler Randall ones. I actually own both! I have the LR ones in tan and a black pair in this inspired pair. The less expensive ones are a tiny bit heavier and therefore don’t fit to the foot quite as seamlessly, but otherwise they are very, very similar. I did just spot these heels by Quince and I think I might need to order them! Under $70 for Italian leather, along with the perfect heel height. Sign me up.

If Rosie were a tiny little girl again, I’d purchase this for her and save it for Christmas. And speaking of gifts, for the guy or gal who has everything… this leather playing card set.

Speaking of littles, have you seen this fabulous children’s shop owner on social media? I am put in a trance in the very best way every time I see her pop up on my screen.

Can’t stop thinking about the color of this jacket. And this scarf looks like an exact dupe of an Hermes one!

I end up with a lot of cords under my side of the bed and it drives me wild. I bought one of these pretty baskets to keep everything tidy and I love it! Just bought another for Brandon’s side.

This bag is on my brain for fall. I LOVE these bags because they feel very high end, but the price point isn’t obnoxious.

These jackets by soeur are something else I’m eyeing for the new season ahead. I have one of their jackets in chocolate brown from last year, but would love a black or lighter shade to add to my wardrobe this year. Instant chic.

Each of the main Provencial villages is pretty spread out from one another. I’m talking an hour-ish each way, so we did all of our exploring by day and then spent the evenings back at home.

We’d pick up groceries daily from this fabulous little area called Les Commerces de la Bastide. Oh how I wish we had something like this in Charleston. Picture an unassuming little courtyard, yet it’s full of these amazing gourmet food stores all in one place. A butcher, a cheese and wine shop, an Italian grocer, a sweet little general food mart, a french pharmacie, a chocolatier, a pastry shop, a produce farm stand, a wood-fired pizza cart, and more. One stop and you’ve got all the best food you could ever want.

So this was our daily stop. We’d pick up a new cheese of the day, charcuterie, a fresh baguette, the juiciest strawberries you’ve ever seen along with vanilla bean chantilly for dessert, and a bottle of wine. Bliss.

Now let’s get into the different villages we visited…

Aix-en-provence

Aix is actually a city and it was the closest destination to our house. We went there two days because we loved it so much. It’s quiet but still buzzing with energy. It has a great mix of high end luxury boutiques and small market vendors, wonderful food, and stunning architecture.

If you go, you’ve got to try Le Ramus. While they have a full french menu, the burger was the standout to us! So good we went there twice! The outdoor seating area is adorable.

This is also where I scored at Hermes! I bought a belt and a pair of sneakers, then was given the opportunity to purchase a Picotin bag, which I’ve had on my list for a long time.

L’Isle sur la Sorgue

This beautiful town is known for its antique shops! The Sorgue River runs through it—you can spot big historic waterwheels throughout. It was so hot while we were there, so we stopped to put our feet in the water just like the family you can see in the photo below. It was freezing and so refreshing!

We also visited Collegial Notre Dame des Anges, a noteworthy church built in the 12th century.

There are lots of outdoor restaurants on the streets to grab a bite and tons of ice cream shops! It’s such a cute spot.

Gordes

Gordes is a hilltop village that is a sight to see! There’s not a ton to do in Gordes, but the views alone are worth the visit.

There, we ate one of my top favorite meals of life (yes, of my life) at Clover Restaurant. You might recall this restaurant from Emily in Paris, when Gabriel and Emily were in Provence.

I had a lobster ravioli and then we ended with the best churros EVER.

We also toured the inside Chateau de Gordes, a 1000 year old fortress in the center of town.

Just a few km down the hills, there’s an ancient monastery named Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque. We didn’t go inside because Patrick had fallen asleep in the car and honestly we were all pretty exhausted from a busy day, but I would have loved to! The lavender field outside filled the air with the most lovely fragrance.

Saint-Rémy

We went to this adorable village on a busy market morning, so it was absolutely packed, but such fun. I only wish we would have had more time to spend there.

I bought this great embroidered jacket that I can’t wait to wear. I picked up the bangles I have on in the photo below at a market in Aix.

Château d'Estoublon

While this is not a town, it is a 300-hectare estate between vines and olive trees. Our travel advisor, Emily West, mentioned that it’s her can’t-miss tour, so I knew we had to make it happen. You can visit the estate for lunch and tours, and it’s also available for booking weddings and events. It’s not far from Saint-Remy, so we did both spots on the same day.

We ate a beautiful lunch outside at their restaurant, where we got our first taste of the amazing wines and olive oils that are harvested on the property. The setting was beyond gorgeous. The chocolate mousse — yep, still dreaming about that one. You can see the chateau’s olive oil at the bottom.

After lunch, we had a tour and tasting booked. It started on the golf cart as we toured the vast property out there and saw the gardens, olive groves, and vineyards.

We ended with a wine and olive oil tasting. They even had sparkling juices and macarons for the kids.

Some extra thoughts…

Another huge favorite was visiting Pascale Mestre’s beautiful pottery studio. I purchased so many treasures that I have now received back at home. They make me so happy and are the perfect reminder of our time as a family in Provence.

Another fun thing we did on our last day was visit a huge zoo called Zoo Barben. It was definitely better than any zoo we’ve ever been to in the US! I was impressed by how much room they give each group of animals. Elephants, giraffes, every wild cat you can think of, hippos, and way more. Be prepared to do a ton of walking!

All in all, it was the most wonderful week. If I’m honest, I think we were a little worn out from our flash frenzy in Paris and then a week of crowds and beach clubs in St. Tropez, so Provence was the absolute best reprieve. In total, we did 2 nights in Paris, 7 nights in St. Tropez, and 7 nights in Provence. If I could do the full trip over again, I’d probably do it in this format below. (Figured this might help if you’re planning a similar trip!)

3 - 4 nights in Paris

4 - 5 nights on the coast, visiting Nice, St. Tropez, and Eze (rather than staying in St. Tropez only. I could have seen it all in 1-2 days)

5 - 6 nights in Provence

Ending with a few extra photos of our week. I will hold these memories dearly in my heart!

When we came back to the states, we stayed a night at the TWA Hotel! I don’t think I ever even mentioned that on Instagram. We got into our room around midnight and left at 6am, so it was short lived but very cool!

We were supposed to be at Sea Island for Labor Day weekend, but Pat Pat wasn’t feeling very well and the weather there was looking really bad, so we canceled our trip. While he’s almost back to 100%, he is also missing his first day of Mother’s Morning Out today, although I think he’s happy about that one!

Charleston’s weather has truly been crazy lately. I haven’t experienced anything like it in my 16 years of living here. It’s either the most beautiful day you’ve ever seen or it is a torrential downpour — no in between. Honestly, the sheer amount of rain we’ve had in the last 30 days has left me questioning whether or not we should start building an ark. Record breaking rain. It definitely makes you savor the pretty days, that’s for sure.

We went on a late date night on Sunday to our favorite restaurant in Charleston, Halls Chophouse. I wore this outfit and honestly I’m really loving it. As sad as I am to officially say goodbye to summer, I’m ready for fall clothing! I needed the blazer in the restaurant, so I’m glad I had it. But really it’s just a tube top underneath.

Not me trying to figure out who makes these cute coffee cups. hahaha! My cup was too full to look on the bottom, so I had to take a selfie picture like this. After lots of searching, they are the Libbey Slenda 8oz Royal Rideau, if anyone is curious. And I am officially a psycho.

I’m going to London next month along with a few women in our Charleston creator community. Having never been, I am especially excited to see a city I’ve always dreamed of visiting… and to experience a true fall! I’ve already invested in this jacket and these boots specifically with this trip in mind. I also ordered this sweater, this cardigan, and this little bag. All such steals for the quality. I’ll only be gone four nights including flying there through the first night, but I know I will be ready to get back to my babies. Though, I have considered taking the train to Paris afterwards to spend just one solo night there, but then my nerves get the best of me. Should I do it?!

I got my nails done on Saturday for the first time in like four months. I’ve gone the natural look all summer, but I guess I just wanted to feel a little more glam during our rainy Saturday. I went rogue and got Builder Gel. I didn’t even know what that was, but it’s supposed to be better for your nails because you don’t get it soaked off with acetone each time, but rather get a fill in. It’s basically gel polish, but the polish is a gel (more like acrylic gel, but better for you) that hardens with the UV lamp.

Okay so I went and honestly I’m not very sure whether I like them or not. My tech couldn’t have been kinder or more patient, but I think it’s just different for me to see my nails so thick and a little longer. (By little, I mean maybe a millimeter longer, haha!) The next day, I reshaped them on my own to be a little more oval and ended up liking them a lot more. They are just so thick! That’s what is throwing me off but I think I can get used to it.

My nail tech took this for his own portfolio and airdropped the picture to me. The pretty color he used is called “Inner Peace” by DND.

Then here’s after I reshaped them at home to be slightly more rounded. For the record, he shaped them just the way I asked, but I don’t think I realized until later that they were still too square. This very slight change feels more like “me.”

Jury is still out if I will do it again! My pre-tip total was $70 vs the usual $40 for gel polish, so these nails are going to have to really impress me when it comes to how long they last.

I binged Love They Nader last week. It’s on hulu and gives me vibes of the early seasons of Keeping up with the Kardashians. I saw Brooks and Sarah Jane in Paris at LouLou over the summer. The show follows these two (along with their other two sisters) throughout their buzzy NYC lives, but weaves in their southern roots regularly, too. I genuinely loved the show and hope they do a season 2!

Another show I really have loved (along with everyone else) is The Summer I Turned Pretty. I adored season one but hated season two, so I really wasn’t even sure if I was going to watch this latest season. I’m glad I stuck through the first few episodes because the ending of the season is just so good. I can’t wait to watch the last few episodes.

It ended up being such a beautiful weekend after Saturday’s rain, so we set up the baby pool on the back porch for Patrick. We handed him a water hose and he had a BLAST for two days straight! His little pool is on clearance right now, by the way.

I’m thinking of painting our foyer a really bold color! Maybe chocolate brown… maybe something more dark khaki. The walls of this foyer won’t really change during our renovation, so I don’t think it would be a waste of money to do right before a big renovation. And honestly, if we don’t like it, then we will just repaint during the reno. I asked Chat to show me what it would look like (with no specific color mentioned) and this is what I got back. I think it looks darker than it actually would look in real life, because Chat also colored the hallway to the left and the room to the right. I think we would also keep the upper crown white. Stay tuned!

Here’s my inspo!

Okay, that’s all I’ve got! Happy week, friends.

When we woke up, this was our view!

Where did we stay? After a few busy days in Paris with the kids, we knew we would want the space to spread out and allow ourselves to feel more settled. We booked a rental home through Le Collectionist, a luxury vacation rental company that has properties all throughout Europe. Had it just been Brandon and me, we definitely would have gone the hotel route, but with five people, we would’ve needed to book two rooms which would have been more expensive than the house and much less convenient since all of our children are under 10.

I will be up front and share that this house was a big splurge but when I started researching accommodations, we thought we might share this trip with another family and so we were looking at bigger homes. I started worrying about renting a home in Europe from a random company, especially a home that was a little off the grid in an unfamiliar area — Would it feel safe? Would the photos accurately depict the condition of the house? I knew from years of day dreaming and browsing that Le Collectionist heavily vets each of their properties, so booking through them removed these worries. We actually had our travel advisor, Emily West, do the booking for us and it was wonderful to have her as a liaison to do all the communicating with them in preparation of the trip.

Our villa was technically in Grimaud, which looks across the harbor to St. Tropez. (In the photo above, St. Tropez is a little further left and not visible from this angle.) While Grimaud to St. Tropez is only a 7 mile drive, the traffic was very bad while we were there—it’s peak season and there’s really just one or two ways in/out. So some days, that 7 mile drive would take an hour each way! With three kids piled in the car, this got old pretty quickly... I’m not going to sugar coat that. The internal dilemma when trying to decide whether to put up with the traffic or stay back at the house was that we loved our villa and wanted to hang around and enjoy it, but also… we were in St. Tropez!! We could get a beautiful view anywhere, but this was our first time in the South of France and we wanted to explore the town. I feel like we balanced this pretty well. There were two days we didn’t go into St. Tropez at all, and instead opted to hang around the pool and visit closer villages. (Spoiler alert: those days ended up being our favorite parts of the week!)

We absolutely loved our house and I would recommend it totally! With the exception of the traffic getting into St. Tropez, everything about the house was perfect for us.

Where did we eat?

We ate breakfast at the villa each morning and about half of the lunches/dinners out. We did have a much busier food itinerary, but I ended up canceling 3 or 4 reservations and instead cooked at the house.

Les Moulins de Ramatuelle: The most beautiful and charming setting under the olive trees. We loved the cocktails but honestly hated the food. Not one of us liked our dish, but maybe it was an off night because our friends went the night before and absolutely loved the food!

L’Artichaut Barigoule: I know this is random, but this is a random sandwich and ice cream stand in the main square of St. Tropez where we ate hot dogs a couple times for lunch. While it wasn’t phenomenal, it definitely did the job. Here’s the thing… the sit down meals just take forever and we didn’t want to have two sit down meals daily (again, another “traveling with kids” thing) in addition to spending two hours in traffic (daily roundtrip). That said, this little spot was a life saver! We ate there for lunch a couple times while we were in St. Tropez proper. The hot dogs were served on french baguettes, not buns, and had a spicy dijon that I loved. (The kids just went with ketchup, don’t worry!) There’s no seating, so you get your sandwiches in a paper bag and can go sit on a bench nearby. They also have delicious ice cream!

Le Club 55: A classic! We had the most fun on Bastille Day here with our friends. It was very crowded (to be expected) and hot under their covered seating area, but this is the original St. Tropez beach club and is a must!

Cybele Ramatuelle: The most beautiful beach club we went to and the food was amazing! It’s also right on the beach, so you can rent a sun bed after and stay for a while!

Restaurant Saint Joseph: The best pizza we’ve maybe ever had!? This is in old town Grimaud, which is a must visit in itself.

We had reservations at Gigi, Indie Beach, and Lily of the Valley that we canceled in lieu of cooking at our villa, a decision that ended up creating the best moments of our trip!

What were the highlights and favorite activities?

We rented this boat one day with friends who happened to also be in St. Tropez. This was such a fun experience! We took an hour long boat ride to some of the most beautiful blue water I’ve ever seen.

Another day, we went to Grimaud’s Acrobatic Adventure Park because we wanted to do something special just for the kids — they LOVED it.

Another day we went into old town Grimaud and it was truly such a treat. They have a market on Thursday mornings that I’d definitely recommend… then go for pizza at Restaurant Saint Joseph!

We also enjoyed spending one free evening walking around Port Grimaud. I wouldn’t say it’s a “must-go” because this area was built in the 60s and doesn’t have that same authentic historic charm, but it was fun to see! Lots of little souvenir shops and bistros. This is also where I went to a pharmacie to pick up some beauty products—it wasn’t the biggest, but had enough of a selection for me to have some fun browsing!

The market in St. Tropez! It’s on Tuesday and Saturday mornings from 9am - 1pm, I believe. I recommend going early because it gets crowded.

And on that note… shopping in St. Tropez!

I think that covers our time in St. Tropez! After a week there, we drove to Provence, so that post will come next!

Brandon snaps photos like this all the time without my knowing. He likes to take pictures of “me being me,” so he says, which is really a sweet thing to do.

A last look at our hotel before checking out… Hotel Le Grand Mazarin has a lot of pizzaz!

Our train out of Paris wasn’t until later in the afternoon, so we had a good portion of the day to spend in the city. It went too quickly, but we did manage to get a little shopping done. Rosie picked out a fun pair of Nike Jordans and I enjoyed browsing Hermes a little.

Ginori was a fun little pop in. Didn’t leave with anything, but enjoyed seeing the full collection in person!

Then we walked to Palais-Royal.

This area is so beautiful!

We really enjoyed this little toy store called Si Tu Veux and only wish we had more time to peruse every single special treasure.

A few snaps throughout our walk…

Later that day, we took an uber to the train station. Had to take a chaotic snap noting our first time taking a train!

The train station was… exhilarating. Yeah, let’s call it that! Once we figured out which platform to be near to catch our train, the crowd started really filing in.

Once they opened the gates, it was a mad dash! We didn’t know exactly how long we would have until the train would leave (although we knew it wasn’t long at all), so we basically ran with all of our luggage. That is… two checked bags, four rolling carry ons, five personal items, three children, and a stroller! You have to load it all onto the train + up the tiny train stairs on your own, which was an interesting adventure.

Brandon’s face after we sat down says it all. By the way, it was HOT.

However, Pat was living life!

So what did I think of Paris?

As a Paris first-timer, I couldn’t stop thinking it was the perfect blend of New York City and Savannah—a busy, bustling city (NYC) with lots of green space and no skyscrapers (Savannah). Of course with any city, there’s going to be dirty and unsightly areas, but all in all, the architecture was beyond stunning to take in. I do think I should mention that I probably watched too much Emily in Paris leading up to this trip and maybe expected more English-speaking people to be around, but that’s on me… ha! (Actually I’m watching the show while writing this and literally everyone speaks English, which is truly hilarious to me now!)

I absolutely loved our meals. Loved the shopping—the little bit that I was able to do with three children in tow, at least. But honestly, I didn’t love Paris. For this trip at least! I couldn’t really explain why in the moment, but now that some time has passed and I’ve thought more about it, I think I know why...

Paris was never meant to be a big part of our France trip. It was supposed to be more of a slightly extended landing spot before starting the real vacation. Still, our time there feels like such a blur! Part of that is the jet lag, but a big part is only having two nights to really squeeze it all in. I think if it had just been Brandon and me, two nights would have been enough, but we all know that the pace is definitely much slower with kids due to their little legs that tire more quickly. Especially when that slower pace is paired with lots of ice cream stops and toy store visits. :)

Because of that, I feel like there was always a rush in getting to the next stop on our itinerary. (Side note: I detest a packed itinerary on vacation, but we definitely had places to be since our time was short!)

And on that note, here is a quick list of everything I personally wanted to see while in Paris:

La Maison d'Isabelle (award winning croissants)

Deyrolle (Famous taxidermy-esque shop to see.)

Ralph’s Restaurant (lunch)

Officine Buly (Shopping for personalized comb)

Le Bon Marche (Shopping)

Jardin du Luxembourg (sight see - Toy Boats)

Pl. de l'Estrapade (sight see - Emily in Paris square)

Eiffel Tower (sight see)

La Fontaine de Mars (dinner)

Si Tu Vieux (Toy Store)

Palais Royal (sight see)

Le Marais (shop and sight see)

Lourve Gardens

Jardin des Tuileries (sight see)

LouLou Paris (lunch)

Hermes (shop at 1st location)

Arc de Triomphe (Sight see)

Carette (hot chocolate)

Girafe (dinner outside with view of ET!)

To manage all of this, it was a LOT of walking for the kids — everything we wanted to see was so spread out. And many times, we’d opt for a little reprieve for them and book an Uber, but we had to laugh because the time in the Uber was always just as long as the walk would have been.

Those aren’t downfalls of Paris, though, but just in us trying to cram so much into a short period of time.

While we did plenty of fun things that we all enjoyed, I wish we had more time to sit down in the parks and relax, to stop at a little corner cafe to have hot chocolates, to stop into random little shops with cute windows, and so forth. I feel like those things are the magic of Paris! We had long breakfasts at the hotel, as well as lunches and dinners out, so honestly it just didn’t feel like there was time for the more leisurely things in between those long meals.

So in summary, I would have loved to have either had more time in Paris as a family (4 nights would have been ideal!) or I would have loved to have been there without our kids. I think in either of those circumstances, our Paris leg would have felt like the perfect start to our French adventures and not like a huge blur.

Of course looking back at photos now, I wish we could do it all again! My thoughts on the city as a whole are so much greater now that we’ve had some space away from it and I’m actually so excited to go back again one day. (With just Brandon or with girlfriends, though!) I mentioned previously that next time I’d love to stay in a different area of the city. I also think I’d love to go in the fall or early winter when we could bundle up just a bit.

Next up… a week in St. Tropez and a week in Provence! I will try my best to squeeze those recaps into just one post each by just sharing the highlights. Thanks for reading along. :)

Silly me.

After arriving our first day, we really hit it hard and went to bed at the normal time that we would back home. (The parents’ bedtime, however.) I fully expected to get my 7ish hours of sleep and wake up feeling ready to go. I rarely set an alarm these days because Patrick is my 7am daily wake up call. However, Patrick is used to getting 12 hours of sleep, so not setting an alarm was a big mistake.

Brandon woke us all up at 11:30am. I was horrified! There is one thing about me and it’s that I absolutely hate to sleep in. It feels amazing, but waking up missing the morning really bums me out because mornings are my favorite hours of the day. Especially on vacation when I can enjoy a hotel breakfast and fresh squeezed orange juice while anticipating the fun day of exploring ahead.

Not on this day.

It was almost noon and I truly felt delirious waking up. My heart skipped a beat and then sunk down into my belly as I remembered… RALPH’S!!!

We had a lunch reservation at Ralph’s Paris in the courtyard at noon. A hard reservation to get that I had been looking forward to for months! Even if we jumped out of bed and tossed on a quick outfit, the restaurant was still going to be a 30 minute Uber from our hotel, so it just wasn’t going to be possible.

I absolutely panicked and called the concierge, who luckily was able to get us moved to a 1:30 reservation, but not in the courtyard. That part was a bummer, but I was so thankful the restaurant was able to move some things around to accommodate us.

The bright side is we got to fully enjoy the interior of the restaurant, which is always going to be stunning at any Ralph’s property. The final downside… by the time we finished our lunch, it was 3pm and most of our day was already gone! This was honestly pretty disappointing to me because I knew we only had such a short period of time to explore the city. Darn jet lag. But the show goes on!

We then walked to Luxembourg Garden and got ice cream for the kids.

My dress is linked here!

Then we continued walking into the 5th Arrondissement and visited the square where Emily from Emily in Paris lives. We also saw Gabriel’s restaurant! This is one of my top favorite shows EVER, so this was truly a highlight to take in!

Continued on to find La Maison d’ Isabelle, which has been voted best croissants in Paris. I’m honestly not a plain croissant girl, but just wanted a few bites to say I tried it. It was so buttery and yummy!

Had to make sure we walked by the Notre-Dame Cathedral. Look at that architecture!

That evening, we enjoyed Girafe for dinner, which I have to say was one of our favorite meals in France the entire trip! I mean, the views just don’t get any better!

We had a long dinner that was so enjoyable outside looking at the Eiffel Tower. I ate a truffle pasta that was to die for. The kids also loved their pasta and said it was the best ever. We had several desserts afterwards. All top tier!

Dinner started at 7pm and we finished around 9:45pm. Knowing the Eiffel Tower might start sparkling for the first time of the night at 10pm, we stalled for 15 minutes to have the perfect view of it. Unfortunately, it didn’t sparkle at 10pm and the servers mentioned it was going to start at 11pm that night.

Well… you’re only in Paris for the first time once! Our big kids agreed they wanted to stay up late to see the tower sparkle, so we opted for the long 45 minute walk home along the Seine.

My full outfit is linked here!

And then, it happened!

Our late wake up on this day allowed us to have a late night… and honestly, it all worked out better than it ever could have. Because this view right here (and the excitement I know they felt in their little bodies) is true magic to me.