May Recap
from writing in the Cotswolds to “End of School” Season in NYC and everything in between
My bags were packed, unpacked, and repacked again and again.
Very early in the morning, after my best friend from high school’s epic 50th bash at Balthazar – where I busted out my full ’90s Love Story-inspired outfit, which for some reason felt completely appropriate for the occasion – I boarded my first of two flights to London last month.
Off To The Cotswolds
I was en route to my writing retreat, The Open Page, hosted by Jessica Fellowes and Emma Defries. Set in the absolute pinch-me-I’m-in-a-storybook English countryside village of Chipping Campden.
While it is always so hard to step away for a week (let alone the beginning of May when a million things are going on), I am so glad I dedicated the time to think, write, be inspired, expand my thoughts, and experience this incredible week surrounded by amazing people.
We were in a wonderfully historic family home with so much history on the walls, we ate like royalty too- gorgeous garden lunches, round table dinners and cocktails and drawing room fun, only the Brits know how to do best.
And then back home for the weekend…
Movie Date
I got home at midnight on Friday in time for a Saturday Devil Wears Prada 2 movie date at Sag Harbor cinema and Sag Pizza. It was so fun to be brought back to that time on screen, but also to a full and Sag Pizza bustling theatre. That same night/weekend my mom, and numerous friends also ALL went to the movies too.
I have also enjoyed reading the thought articles about the film and cultural relevance like the ones from Financial Times and NY Times.
What also hit deeply, was the loss of shared experience that used to be the norm.
Huge Photoshoot
And then back to the city to step right into an ENORMOUS full-day photoshoot at my apartment, with merely two days to prep with my favorite collaborators!
(which also required James and me to sleep at a hotel the night before- another bag packed).
Sneak peek coming soon in July!
Speaking, Substacking, and Hosting
While it took me more than the rest of the week to recover from the exhausting shoot, I powered through the week: hosting an Entreprenista “office hours” on Wednesday, a Substack Live with Celia Chen of In the Pink on Thursday.
Celia and I got into the importance of laundry and home cleaning products, my aromatherapeutic approach with The Fill Club, and the advanced batching system that protects both your skin and your clothes.
Then two hours later, I hosted a French themed dinner party for 10 with my favorite chef Megan Huylo for my YPO (Young Presidents Organization) dine around.
I pulled hor d’oeuvres and aperitivo inspo from one of my favorite gifted books to be “Drinking French” by David Lebovitz.
Menu: “Drinking French”
Aperitifs:
Citronnade Gingembre-Romarin (non- alc welcome drink- however some added alc!)
Tangerine Spritz
Aperitivo Snacks:
Warm, Marinated Olives
Radishes w/Radish Greens Butter
Baked Camembert with Walnuts, Figs and Whiskey Gastrique
Deviled Eggs
Dinner:
Little Gem Lettuce Salad with Shaved Fennel, Soft Herbs & Champagne Vinaigrette
Beef Bourguignon with Pomme Puree and Haricoverts
Dessert:
Strawberry Vacherin with Lemon Curd and Chantilly Cream (a slightly deconstructed version that is essentially an Eton Mess, but keeps with the French theme!)
French Manhattan paired digestif
Gifts:
Rosemary Bar Nuts bundled for takeaway
And of course, A Laundry Bar
Cape Cod Hen Party
The next morning I was packing up the impossible carry-on bag prepared for all weather options heading to Cape Cod for my Cornell roommate’s/bestie’s Hen party weekend.
We got incredibly lucky with the weather cooperating for our beach bonfire and a gorgeous sunny day to enjoy my first true Cape Cod weekend. We even squeezed in some much-needed cold swims too.
It was the perfect celebratory girls weekend Hen Party for our favorite almost 50 year old bride!
Then this fabulous article with Sarah LaFleur and The M Dash came out the following week.
The M.M. LaFleur team so graciously gifted me the Milo pants in cream that I wore here for the shoot – and I continue to LOVE them!!!
May was also the month of musicians and polymaths.
All of us at The Open Page were polymaths of sorts, new to the craft of pen on paper after one or a few primary other chapters. One of them was Dhruv Kent, a Singapore-based Indian former investment banker turned musician, singer-songwriter, and all-around rock star. His newest release HERE along with his full collection HERE.
I am not particularly musical, so it was somewhat unusual that one of our very first plans in London was a concert. This time, it was another polymath, Tom Cherry.
Tom, a former British skier turned sports marketer and fitness expert, picked up a guitar during the pandemic. He has been writing, singing, and strumming ever since! You can enjoy his music HERE.
We were lucky enough to be part of his first sold-out headline show! Which somehow found James and me feeling super groovy in Shoreditch on a Friday night – effectively clubbing! 🙂
Onward
And on top of it all, I had a handful of meetings with exciting people and brand collaboration partners. I’m working on FILLING some new products too!
And then, on Wednesday, two new bags packed again (one for London, the other for St. Tropez), and I was back to JFK!
Next week I will unpack my St. Tropez suitcase here!
Stay tuned.
xo
Loved our conversation and how good my sheets smell now. Thanks for sharing all your incredible insights with my readers.
What a busy bee!