I’m writing this week’s Sunday Slate from the kitchen table of our cozy family cabin in the Pennsylvania mountains. If you’ve been following along on Instagram, you know I spent the week up here with family. I almost skipped the trip—running a small business sometimes makes it hard to step away—but I followed my gut and I’m so glad I did. The break was exactly the fresh air and reset I needed.
After Pennsylvania I headed straight to Colorado for a photoshoot with Purely Elizabeth. I’ll share outtakes from that session in next week’s Sunday Slate. It was a whirlwind week full of creative work and little adventures.
1. Time in Pennsylvania
Most of last week I spent at my family cabin, originally built by my great-grandparents in 1930. We try to visit once each summer to enjoy that storybook charm. I’m planning a longer Storybook post soon, so I won’t go into every detail here, but this little cabin is one of my most treasured pieces of family history. For now, here’s a sneak peek.
2. Candle making and my favorite fall scents
I’m somewhat obsessed with Anthropologie candles—they smell amazing and I rarely leave the store without one. I usually spend $30–$40 on a candle and I’ll admit it’s a guilty pleasure. I love lighting candles during a focused “computer afternoon” or after I finish tidying the house, lighting one in each room for a cozy finish.
This fall I’m curious to try making my own candles. I watched a DIY video recently that inspired me and I’m thinking a candle-making party is in my near future. If DIY isn’t your thing, I’ll round up my favorite fall candle picks in an upcoming post.
3. Outfits for Paris
Next month I’m going to Paris for a week—just because. I made a promise to myself to take an international trip each year during my twenties, and so far I’ve kept it. This time I’m traveling with my assistant Abbie; neither of us has been to Paris before, so we’re planning what to see, what to eat, and most importantly, what to wear. I’ve already started assembling outfit ideas and can’t wait to share them.
4. Dining room makeover sneak peek
We renewed our lease for a second year, which gave me the green light to start nesting and planning small home projects again. Our dining room is tiny but somehow becomes the hub whenever we entertain, so I’ve been collecting inspiration to make it cozier and more inviting.
5. Food styling props I’m loving
Over the next month I’ll be doing nearly 50 recipe and food photoshoots, which is both thrilling and a little exhausting to think about. When I have that many shoots lined up, I refresh my prop closet so each setup feels distinct. I’m adding a few new pieces to my cart—textured bowls, wooden boards, linen napkins, and a few vintage plates to mix into upcoming shoots.
6. Getting pie-prepared
I’m starting early this year because I’m already excited for Thanksgiving. I’ve been collecting pie inspiration and recipes I want to try, from mini pumpkin pies with brown sugar meringue to chai pumpkin pie with maple whipped cream. Other favorites on my list include a peach blueberry pie, brownie pecan pie, pumpkin pie with a gingersnap crust, and a salted caramel apple pie.
7. New video
I published a new video this week: “6 Favorite Dinner Party Tips and Tricks.” It’s packed with easy ideas to make hosting less stressful—and there’s a funny blooper in the first ten seconds that had us laughing on set.
That’s the roundup for this week’s Sunday Slate. I’m feeling refreshed, inspired, and excited for the projects ahead—especially the Paris wardrobe planning, candle experiments, and all the upcoming shoots. See you next week with photos from Colorado and more updates.