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Summer is here! I was out on a walk the other morning, and the elementary school in our neighborhood had a sign counting down the days until summer break. It was so cute, and such a good reminder to think a little more like a kid this time of year.
Of course, as adults, we canโt completely let go of our day-to-day responsibilities, but a little more fun in the summer is good for both the mind and body. I LOVE these long days, the sunshine, and the carefree feeling summer bringsโeven while running a business and juggling all the things. Just like the holidays, thereโs something magical about summer.
I bought my first watermelon of the season this week and served slice after slice to my little brother, Oslo. Watching him enjoy every last bite, with juice dripping everywhere, brought me right back to some of my happiest childhood memories. It reminded me how important it is to appreciate the little things and to find beauty in each day, even the hard ones.
Positive energy really is infectious, and I think thatโs one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselvesโand the people around us.
On that same walk, I passed a USPS mail carrier. The second I stopped, she turned to me with the kindest smile and said hello. I asked how her morning was going, and she replied, โItโs been great, thank you for asking!โโthen asked me the same. I was honestly caught off guard by her genuine happiness. I remember saying, โWow, you are one happy mail carrier!โ And she simply said, โWell, everyoneโs been kind, and itโs just a great day!โ
Such a simple moment, but it stayed with me. It felt so genuine, so light, and so full of gratitude. She was simply happy people had been kind to her. Happy to be outside in the sunshine. A deep appreciation for life.
That interaction really reinforced the way Iโve been trying to move through these past few months. With more gratitude and more awareness of how lucky I am.
Iโve always found it easy to notice the small things that bring joy. Sunshine, flowers, a sunset walk, lighting a new candle, cooking something special to share with the people I love (and all of you). These things cost almost nothing, yet bring the most happiness.
Of course, I do love a little splurge every now and then too. A beautiful hotel always makes a trip feel extra special. A gorgeous pair of shoes. A bag Iโve had my eye on. Or a unique piece of jewelry.
Right now, Iโm just really excited for summer and everything it brings. Iโll be spending time in Florida on and off. I have some fun travel planned, and weโre already working on exciting collaborations for this fallโand even next year.
To recap the week, I returned from Austin and jumped right back into cooking and brainstorming recipes for the months ahead. Weโve had such beautiful weather lately, and itโs only been inspiring me more in the kitchen.
Dinners, desserts, entertaining ideas, cocktails, easy weeknight mealsโall of it. Planning summer recipes is always one of my favorite times of year, and I canโt wait to share everything weโve been working on with you.
1. Things Iโm Loving.
drinkingโฆthe new Ballerina Farms Strawberry Crรจme Farmers Protein. Creighton, Oslo, and I are all loving this new summer flavor. Itโs basically like a strawberry milkshake!
usingโฆBranch Basics cleaning products and loving them. Theyโre plant-based, fragrance-free, and human-safe. I even got my mom hooked on their laundry detergent. Sheโs so picky about her laundry products, so she was surprised to find how well it works.
makingโฆMarinated Cherry Tomatoes with Burrata.
alsoโฆloving the Flamingo Estate hand soap. I have it in my bathroom and love the look, but the formula is even better. It doesnโt irritate my skin at all!
everything in my cart (low)โฆtheย KAWS x Uniqlo + Warhol UT Graphic T-Shirt. This one is personal to me. Growing up, my mom would read me Groverโs Bad Awful Day anytime I was feeling anxious or had a hard day. Itโs one of my favorite childrenโs books, and this tee is the cutest reminder of Grover.
listening toโฆWhat You Donโt Know About Brand Beckham.
travelโฆCopenhagen. The video on their homepage is so pretty! Copenhagen looks incredibly beautiful in both the summer and winter. A holiday trip would be cute! I want to explore there soon!ย
travelโฆmy brothers and cousins live not too far from Newport Beach. We visit them every so often. Next trip, we should all do a staycation here at The Resort at Pelican Hill, so peaceful and pretty!
eating atโฆMandolin Aegean Bistro in the Miami Arts District. Iโve been wanting to go foreverโweโre finally going to make it happen. I love their menu. Itโs all authentic Greek cooking, set in a restored 1940s home with one of the most beautiful gardens and outdoor patios in Miami. The menu focuses on traditional Greek and Turkish coastal dishes, using local ingredients with Aegean techniques.
bakingโฆSmashed Raspberry White Chocolate Layer Cake.
readingโฆSense of Place.ย Interiors that directly echo their landscapes, with designers sharing how location shapes every choice. Such a beautiful design book. Itโs all about making a house feel like a home.ย
planning forโฆ4th of Julythe ! I want to do a fun spread this year! I am thinking a lot of burgers, easy sides and drinks!
shoppingโฆat West Bourne and trying their Starter Pack. A set of Organic Extra Virgin Avocado Oil and Organic 100% Pure Avocado Oil for finishing and cooking. The packaging is so pretty too, made with 100% recyclable glass. I also just ordered founder Camilla Marcusโsย book,ย My Regenerative Kitchen: Plant-Based Recipes and Sustainable Practices to Nourish Ourselves and the Planet!
everything in my cart (beauty)โฆIโm outside so much living in Miami, so Iโve been trying to be better about sunscreen (and finding a hat I actually love). I always question sunscreen ingredients, but I finally found three I really like: the Sofie Pavitt Face Non-Comedogenic Hydrating Sunscreen SPF 30, the Rejuvenating Moisturizing Primer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 from Eighth Day, and the U Beauty Multimodal Defender SPF 30.
I also love the Cyklar Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Body Spray for smoother summer skin. And if you havenโt tried the Osea Undaria Algae Body Butter, you have to have it for glowing summer skin. Itโs wonderful. Oh, and the Agent Nateur Body Balm. Love this too!ย
alsoโฆMeet Maderoterapia: The Colombian Wellness Ritual that Banishes Bloat, Sculpts the Skin, and Stimulates Lymphatic Drainage. I dry brush every night, but I would love to do my own Lymphatic Drainage using De la Heart The Body Tool. Not sure I could really keep up with it though.ย
lastlyโฆif you want to upgrade your skincare, every product from Dr. Diamonds Metacine line has been amazing. This is a big investment, so try one product at a time. None has ever irritated my skin. My favorites are the Hydr/o Bioactive Hydrolipid Barrier Moisturizer, InstaFacial Infusion Biomimetic Microcollagen Matrix, andย InstaFacial Plasma Duo Bioactive Growth Factors.
everything in my cart (high)โฆThe Chanel Spring Summer 2026Maxi Flapbag. Anything Chanel, always!
makingโฆa lot of homemade granola.ย
2. My Favorite Summer Drink Recipes.ย
Most Popular: Frozen Aperol Peach Margarita
Runner-up: Spicy Cucumber Margarita
Also have to mention: Blueberry Lemon Thyme Smash
Fun Frozen: Frosted Watermelon Rosemary Frosรฉ
And if you are baking: Easy Blackberry Peach Cobbler
3. The Sales To Shop Today.
Anthropologieย
Lulu and Georgia
Pottery Barn
Away
4. Photos โ 10 things.
Back to Miami after a week in Austin.
The New Lauryn Bosstick x Pvolve collection is the perfect intro workout for building strength and mobility.ย
My candle collection is so good right now. This is a Poured New York Candle.
Morning walks.
Marthaโs new book, The Martha Way, is your guide to creating a beautiful home.ย
Made with plain sheepโs milk yogurt, Jamagansett raspberry jam (amazon link), fresh apricots, strawberries, blueberries, Whole Foods 365 organic almond butter, sprouted pumpkin seeds, and hemp seedsย
The last bit of warm sun.
The stories you share with me are a constant reminder of my โwhy.โ Please never stop sharing your stories, and how the recipes or words touch you and your families.
Freshly picked.
Miami sunsets.
5. Summer Questions for You.
What are you most looking forward to this summer?
What podcasts are you listening to most on a summer day?
Whatโs on your summer menu right now? Whatโs on tomorrowโs menu?
On that note, what new summer recipes would you love to see?
What was the highlight of your week?
6. Inspiring Me.
7. Favorite Links.
The 10 Best Summer Weekend Getaways From NYC
Textile Art Is Having a Moment
The Martini Trolley Is Having a Glamorous Revival
A Backyard Lunch With Camilla Marcus
Hereโs Everything Coming to Netflix in June 2026
Iโm a Fashion Editor and Overpacker โ How I Travel Without Sacrificing Style
8. Memorial Day Weekend Style Sales.
Nordstrom Style under $250
J.Crew
Abercrombie
9. This Weekโs Dinners + Weekend Eats.
Monday:ย Chicken Shawarma Hummus Bowl with Crispy Quinoa
Tuesday: Easy Skillet Mexican Lasagna
Wednesday: Crispy Turmeric Chicken Tenders
Thursday:ย 30 Minute Herby Lemon Garlic Steak And Rice
Friday:ย Roasted Tomato Ricotta Pasta with Crispy Prosciutto
Saturday: Momโs Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bars
Sunday: Iced Peach Matcha Latte
This post was originally published on May 24, 2026
Hi!
Your recipes are fun.. Iโd love more vegetarian or recipes that donโt mix meat and milk. It seems like so much of yours are both lol
Thanks so much for your feedback, Tamar!
I love the picture about the person enjoying comfort food from your cookbook. It is nice to be reminded that we can love our friends and family with food!
Totally agree with you, Ginger! Thanks for taking the time to read today!
Will check out the sunscreens โ Living in S Florida since 1975 I have tried many โ My favs are Chanel for the face and all Shiseido โ love the stick you can carry with you and apply over makeup and I do use some SuperGoop โ love the Glow Screen when just running errands and too lazy to put on makeup. Great for S Florida. Havenโt made Salsbury Steak in a long time โ Might have to this week โ Also, if you go to Trader Joes โ check out their local corn โ If itโs from Belle Glade as ours is โ you can eat raw as itโs so sweet. Not sure where Miami TJโs gets their corn.
Hey Gail,
Thanks so much for reading and sharing your favorite sunscreens to use, I am sure you have tried a lot! I will definitely have to get some corn from Trader Joes, thanks for the recommendation.
Have a great week!
Love the patriotic pic at the top, girlfriend!! When was that shoot?! Did I miss a new one?!
Thanks so much, Amber! That shoot was from last year:) You can view that here.
Have a great Sunday!
Sweet Tโฆ
Youโre in the south now, seemed appropriate! Youโre precious, so happy to see how happy you are in Florida. Kinda funnyโฆ we had a home in the panhandle, miss it everyday. Now one in Pagosa/husband CO native. But HTown/Katy is our home! Hope you make your way to Round Top during your time in Austin. So much to enjoy in the Hill Country! And trek on over to Cajun country/my native land, for some Cajun gumbo love๐
Love all your recipes and style!
And your big beautiful fam! Have an amazing summer. No hurricanes allowed!
Always love reading your nine favorite things. Read that some of your family lives near Newport Beach. I live in Newport Beach and love it here. Beautiful beaches and great weather
Hope you do a meet and greet or something similar here soon. Are you working on a new cookbook?
Hey Rebecca,
Thanks for taking the time to read each week! How awesome that you live in Newport Beach, it looks beautiful. I would love to do a meet and greet, maybe in the future! Happy Sunday!
Hello!! Thank you for everything you do!! I read your 9 favorite things today and loved it!! So glad that you are continuing to post them! The one post regarding the gentleman with dementia resonated with my current situation but couldnโt find the Salisbury Steak recipeโฆis there a way to get that recipe??
Hey Lisa,
Happy Sunday and thanks for reading today! So glad you enjoyed the post:) The Salisbury steak recipe is in the HBH Quick and Cozy Cookbook.
Have a great week!
Your Iced Peach Matcha Latte looks amazing! Thank you for your amazing recipes and the inspiring quotes too. Happy Sunday!
Thanks so much, Susanne! Let me know if you give the matcha a try, I hope you love it!
Have a great Sunday!
I made your Chicken Cesar Salad Pizza for dinner last night. My husband & I both loved it! Delicious!! Definitely will be in our rotation!! โค๏ธ
Love to hear this, Patti! Thanks for making the pizza, so glad it was enjoyed!
Happy Sunday!
Great post, as always.
Iโm looking forward to summery recipes and eating outside again. Family time too. Have a great week. Xx
Hey Kelly-Jane,
Thanks for reading today and sharing the things you are looking forward to most this summer.
Have a wonderful Sunday!
Hi Tieghan,
I just wanted to take a moment on this Sunday to send a quick note of appreciation. Your weekly newsletters have truly become one of my absolute favorite parts of the weekend, and they bring so much genuine joy to my routine.
Not only do your recipes completely inspire me to get into the kitchen, but your weekly links are truly bar none. I find myself looking forward to seeing your design, fashion, and lifestyle recommendations just as much as the food!
Thank you for putting so much heart, and hard work into what you do. It makes a beautiful difference in my week.
Warmly,
Autumn from cold Alaska
Hi Autumn,
I truly appreciate your thoughtful message and taking the time to read each week, it means so much to me! Wow, Alaska? Thatโs pretty amazing! Thanks for making so many recipes and following along.
Hope you are enjoying your weekend!
Why are you shooting in Austin and not in your new Miami home?
Iโd love more seafood recipes.
Hi Rue! The space in Miami is not easily suited for shooting recipes, but I am doing a mix of both! Testing everything here, shooting some here and some in Austin. Itโs fun!
More seafood coming!
Hope you have an amazing summer! Happy cooking with all the fresh produce!
Living in New Hampshire, we always look forward to fresh tomatoes and corn!
Thanks so much for your kind message, Lori! Enjoy the summer tomatoes and corn:) Happy Sunday!
Loved the upbeat Sunday post. Would love to see simple meals with minimal ingredients that are quick and effortless, yet tasty. As the chef in our household I find myself making the same recipes weekly. We also have a picky toddler. Would love to see more kid friendly meals/inspiration from your recipes.
I got my veggie garden planted, and our bees are buzzing around. Itโs been such a fun hobby this summer and Iโm constantly learning!
Would also love to see more travel inspiration vs. very expensive items that many of us probably canโt afford.
Have a great week ahead.
Hey Emily,
Thanks for taking the time to read today! I appreciate your suggestions for simple meals with minimal ingredients, I will definitely be more mindful of this. Thatโs exciting to hear about your veggie garden! Hope you enjoy your Sunday!
Morninโ! Copenhagen-weโve been twice in the last 2 years. Itโs amazing, so much to see & do. Go! Stay as long as you can. We saw the DโAngleterre from the outside but did not stay there.
I teach English as another language & usually have my students make a summer bucket list. Itโs a simple list, with 3-5 items of things that easily done in the summer. I do it with them. It encourages them to get out and about, use their English and listening skills. I left off eating ice cream this year but added teaching the dog to ride quietly in the car!
Summer food-fresh produce. We have the best Farmers Market here, 2 in fact. The one I usually go to is on Sunday, only local producers. I can park at my studio and walk over, I love talking to the farmers. As a long time vegetarian, I really appreciate the good, fresh quality!
Hey Dale,
Thanks for reading today and sharing about your time in Copenhagen, sounds awesome!! Love that you encourage your students to make a summer bucket list. I hope you enjoy the farmers market this summer, itโs always so nice to get fresh local produce!
Have a wonderful weekend!