Currently: April 2026
I started this post on a Sunday morning from bed in my Houston hotel; I was there for the last weekend in April. 2 nights for 2 work events. And, as exhausted as I was when I got there on Friday night, I found a little solace in being there. It was quiet. I slept like the dead both nights. I was energized by my Houston team. Friday night, I had dinner at my favorite restaurant, and I took my team on Sunday before I left. While my shopping was unsuccessful, I did enjoy wandering around the Galleria Houston for more than a few miles. (It wasn’t crowded and it wasn’t hot and humid like it was outside, lol.) So, I relished the silence each morning and wished it could last longer. Things are a bit chaotic and in flux at work, so I’m learning to be patient and wait.
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How do you write like you need it to survive?
How do you write every second you’re alive?
Every second you’re alive? Every second you’re alive?”
“Every day you fight like you’re running out of time
Like you’re running out of time
Are you running out of time?”
Eating & Drinking:
I’ve had a myriad of work events every weekend since mid-March that have been punctuated by entertaining, both socially and professionally. We’ve hosted friends and colleagues for dinner more than a few times. I threw a going away part for one of my staff members. We made it to wine dinner at our wine storage facility one evening. My cousin celebrated her retirement and her birthday, and we were able to celebrate with her. At times, it’s felt a bit strange because it’s been such an all-or-nothing schedule.
It’s been really fun to share our wines with people who enjoy them. Tom has taken to printing out tasting notes for everyone, which definitely enhances the conversation about wine. Again, good wine is meant to be shared. We love being able to share the benefits of our travels (and our wine collection) with people we love.
We’ve also decided that I’m going to take my WSET Level 2 this year. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with the certification, but it does give me a goal (outside of work) to focus on.
Listening / Watching:
Confession: I’m not a bandwagon person. I have to come around to things in my own time. Stubborn is my middle name, and I’m not afraid to admit it. I’m also a huge musical person who has been wildly disappointed by the translation of musicals into movies… and I generally refuse to watch them now. Over Easter weekend, we finally saw Hamilton (live and in person). IT WAS SO GOOD. One, the cast was just insanely talented. That has to be a given. Two, the music is catchy. So catchy that I immediately bought the soundtrack… and it’s been the only thing that I’ve listened to in the last 6 weeks. (Non-Stop is my entire personality right now.)
I will not be watching the movie.
Pro Tip: TKTS London offers an insane value if you love theater and are in London. Our tickets were about $70/person for 15th row left orchestra. Those same tickets in NYC were $370/person, and I don’t think that included the Ticketmaster fees. I love you Broadway, but we’ve got to find a way to make you accessible again.
Wearing:
It has been an unseasonably cool spring, which has been lovely for walks and for getting our yard in order. It’s made a longer season for my lightweight Teddie sweaters though! My cousin has been helping us with our yard, and I can’t even believe how quickly she’s made progress. (I DO NOT have a green thumb in any capacity.)
All this time outside has me in a spring mood. (Florals for spring? Groundbreaking.) This Erdem floral dress is what spring dress dreams are made of though. My wedding dress could not be strapless, and I was always amazed at how flattering the off-the-shoulder v-neck was on me. When I saw this Self Portrait polka-dot dress with a similar neckline, on to the wish list it went. And, La DoubleJ, designer of my favorite fringed Fall top, has released a beautiful aqua top and matching skirt that I’m obsessed with.
Also – just FYI – my favorite belted Oscar de la Renta shorts have been showing up on TheRealReal lately! The pink shorts that I love are also starting to show up. These both are staples on my packing list for France every summer. It’s super easy to dress them up or down. I’ve officially sold all but 2 dresses I sent to TheRealReal last fall, and it makes me so happy to know my clothes have gone to someone who will love them as much as I did! (That is particularly true for the three formal gowns that I no longer needed!)
If you’re thinking about trying a pair of Sarah Flint sandals this summer, you can save $100 with my referral link. I actually realized that I packed the wrong shoes for my work event (hence the trip to Galleria), and ultimately, I decided that nothing would be as comfortable and well-worn as my Sarah Flint shoes, so… I wore the wrong shoes anyway. (No one noticed but me.)
Travel Planning:
Our favorite restaurant owner in Paris has invited us to visit Beaujolais with him this summer. He has planned a fantastic 3 day itinerary from Lyon to visit small producers in one of the lesser appreciated wine regions of France. We are VERY excited to go with him. We had a nice time in Lyon this past winter, and we’re excited to visit in the warmer months.
I am planning to take another week of pastry school at the Ritz Paris this summer. While it was really hard to choose which class to do this summer, I opted for the one that had some of the more traditional French pastries. The timing of it is causing some chaos in terms of how I want to structure my summer, but I actually think it will work out really well in the end. I just need to start figuring that all out because it will be here before we know it!
