Happy Sunday and Happy October everyone! The week started off a bit rocky after Em and her family were stranded at a concert on Sunday night. But everyone got home safely and had a big week of filming ahead of them (we can’t wait to show you more of River House!). But in the meantime, we hope you loved seeing Cousin Jess’s nursery because there are so many great ideas for any room, no matter the age! Ok for the links…
This week’s home tour may have you redefining the term “new construction.” Pierce Jordan, a Dallas residential builder, worked with architect Juan Carlos DeLeon to build the European-inspired home of his dreams. His main request from his designer, Evan Krenzen, was “I want to incorporate things I got from my grandmother or my mother.” Let’s just say we think mission accomplished Check it out here!
From Emily: Clearly I’m not alone in talking about the new hit comedy Nobody Wants This. Hopefully the numbers prove to the network gods that we need more of these (I mean – execs, have you ever seen the numbers in those rom-com books we’ve all read???? HUGE!!). If you haven’t heard about it before, it’s Kristen Bell and Adam Brody playing a podcaster and a rabbi, respectively, who are dating despite some serious obstacles. The dialogue is really funny and charming, and the relationship feels healthy and supportive. Noah (Adam Brody) feels like a sophisticated modern man which may be rare, but it’s certainly nice to see him on the big screen. I’ll watch any romance, you know, but I prefer sentiments that show healthy relationships with the normal downfalls. Watch Nobody Wants This now on Netflix (8 30-minute episodes, so you can start and finish tonight).
From Mallory: I’m finally a cargo pants girl, y’all! I got these bad guys for only $30 at Nordy’s Rack, and they are silky, green, and so much fun. If baggy pants aren’t really your thing, this might convert you too
From Caitlin: This week, I was really moved by the new Netflix documentary Will & Harper, in which Will Ferrell and Harper Steele (of SNL fame) navigate not only America, but also a changing relationship (Harper came out as a transgender woman in 2022). Four of my best friends are now adults (including my best friend, Billie!), so Will and Harper’s relationship really touched my heart – it’s so nice to see a documentary that approaches the subject with love and care rather than fear and condescension. . To the hilt: If you have a politically correct or socially unacceptable question about trans people, it’s answered in this documentary. And if you’ve never met a trans person before, this is a great place to learn! I would really love it if you had the chance to check it out. (P.S. If nothing else, it has a 99% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes… so it’s a pretty good movie, to boot!!!)
Also from Caitlin: On the topic of good movies – have you seen Megalopolis?! Dennis and I went to the amazing Grauman’s Chinese Theater for the IMAX screening last Sunday (that’s right – two LA locals went to the Walk of Fame, on purpose) and MAN. what was that??? (Dunn is a big movie buff, and his review was this: “It was a movie.” The set design of roman and biophilic was pretty neat, at least? But really — what the heck?!)
Not only did Target come out with some cute fall decor, they just launched this adorable pet set called The Cuddle Collab. If you own a cat or dog (or know someone who does) check it out!
Colorful dog collar | Pet Sofa Mat | Canvas cat cave tent
Katiserie Cat Toy Set | Striped and Woven Pet Bed | Duffel bag for dogs and cats
From Gretchen: It’s come to my attention that I’m an Apple collector. I’ve got my own iPhone, which is a real necessity, but I also manage and maintain a work iPhone (another must-have with the amount of content I collect on a daily basis). Then there’s my work laptop and the older but still absolutely essential laptop that I only use for video editing. I’ve been very good at wearing my old Apple Watch – there aren’t a large number of steps one can log on a day of photography or shopping – and it still works amazingly many years later. And I’m happy to report that the expensive Airpod Max headphones I’ve been strapped to forever have been getting a lot of use. Of course, I still have my old Airpods, which are really just backups that I never use because they hurt my ears. And then we can’t forget the iPad and Apple Pencil which are heavily used anytime there is a mockup or doodle that needs to be drawn to work. It’s a lot to manage and charge. The cord dilemma is very real and I realized that it was essential for me to have a station and system where I could plug the whole family in at the end of the day, and have it ready for the next day. Next to my bed, I have a great charging dock for my three personal essentials: my phone, my watch, and my headphones. If I don’t eat this trifecta overnight, my morning walk won’t happen. Before I invested in headphones, I used and loved this charging dock for just my iPhone and watch, and it’s affordable too. Then, on my desk, I use this organizer to create a “work-only” charging station for the rest, with shorter, less tangling cords that stay put and dividers that hold my work phone, an iPad, and an extra battery pack or two. I will say that this device is a bit visually noisy, but I appreciate that everything lives together and for homes with multiple iPads or Kindles, this could be a game-changer for keeping everything together!
For the past 13 years, our main article friend, Sarah Chappell, has also been running the hugely popular Instagram account, Taylor Swift Styled where she posts exact fashion pieces photographed for Taylor. Sarah’s investigative powers are magical. But the biggest news is that she got a book deal because of it, delving into the songs, lyrics, and behind-the-scenes insights! She spent two years working on it and we couldn’t be happier or prouder. The good news is that you can pre-order it today and have it in your hands within a couple of days when it officially goes on sale. So, if you have a Taylor Swift fan in your life (we all sure do :)) then this book, TAYLOR SWIFT STYLE: FASHION THROUGH THE ERAS, is the absolute perfect gift. Congratulations Sarah!!!
From Arlyn: There was a week or two where it felt kind of like fall in LA, and now of course it’s 100 degrees again on the east side. But I know the cold will come soon, and perhaps it has already arrived in some places. I just wanted to give a shout out to one of my favorite “staple” brands that I like to reach for every few years when the weather changes and I find myself in need of some new undershirts, outerwear, sweaters, etc. Uniqlo is great for these types of things and I think they are a good match between quality and price. I’ve gotten many things from there for years, and my husband loves the jogger + sweatshirt combos they offer. He’s worn it so much that I can’t believe it hasn’t ended up in a pile of loose threads by now, but it’s still going strong. Their HeatTech line is great (it helped me on a trip to Quebec in December) and I’m looking forward to a new packable jacket because the one I loved nearly five years ago no longer fits. darn.
From Jess: Guess who’s trying out the new shampoo you love?? I! Mary, my favorite hairstylist on TikTok, was raving about this font, Typebea, and lamented that it didn’t get the hype it deserved (I agree because it was my first time hearing about it!). But this shampoo in particular is what she was talking about. Anyway, it smells great, cleans/exfoliates my scalp, and has a hair growth stimulating ingredient which I’m always here for! 10/10 so far if you’re looking to try something new.
Thanks again for stopping by and see you tomorrow for the River House reveal post!! xx
Editorial Image Credits: Design by Rebecca Butler | Photography by Veronica Crawford | From: EHD Nursery Alum reveals DIY ideas so good that adults will want to steal them, too