Happy Sunday everyone! Hope you had a wonderful week soaking up the last moments before school starts (well, if you have school-aged kids or you are in school that is). We loved getting to reveal a river house space (the patio!) and did another very fun shoot this week that we can’t wait to show you. Ok, let’s get to the links!

This week’s house tour is definitely a unique space. First, it was designed by the ever-incredible Studio Shamshiri where every room is exploding with unique details and a big dose of glamour. And second, it’s your average “home”. The owner is based in Los Angeles but owns a female-driven musical theatre production company but wanted a space in New York to be a creative hub. So this space is “part workshop, the dwelling serves multiple functions as a place for read-throughs, cast meetings, and gatherings of every sort.” What a DREAM for any artist to get to be creative here. Oh, and you HAVE to see the shower. You’ll know which one we’re talking about when you see it.

From Caitlin: We’ve tested a lot of rechargeable lights over the past few years, but I was BLOWN AWAY a few weeks ago by these. We had a few of them (the Doppia, the Tepa, and the Mina) shipped to the Mountain House and were lucky enough to experience them in person – they are leaps and bounds above anything I’ve seen to date. They last for 12 hours (!!!), they’re EXTRAORDINARILY weighty, and they even come in floor lamp models (a dream solution for anyone who wants to avoid cords in the middle of their home). They’re splurgy, but the quality/construction is unmatched by anything else I’ve tried – they’re gonna last for the long haul.

From Arlyn: Last weekend, I went out with a friend and my daughter for a “girls’ day” and before lunch, we weaved our way in and out of cute shops on the main drag of where we were. I popped into this pretty stationery store and picked up a few P.F. Candle Co. candles to sniff and immediately fell in love with the Amber & Moss scent. I’m fairly certain this is the same candle Sara (of EHD photo fame) used to burn in our shared office back in the day and I forgot how lovely it is. After swearing off candles for a few years for all the yucky stuff I didn’t realize I was breathing in, I feel much better about these because they’re 100% soy wax, vegan, and free of phthalates, phosphates, SLS, etc. etc. etc. I’ve been burning it at the table I work every afternoon and I love my newfound ritual.

From Mallory: It’s so warm here in LA but I’ve been wearing this sweater at any chance I get because it’s SO comfy. I purchased it during our Abercrombie try-on haul along with these jeans. They’re so cute and comfy!!

From Gretchen: After a couple of weeks of sharing hair products and cute shoes, I finally have some home decor to link up! Well, kind of. Last week my friend Annie came to visit and while she was here she opened my eyes to a number of things I “just needed to buy”. The first thing on that list? A squatty potty. Yes, we’ve all heard of them and their transformative power, but I have always refused to join the club because they’re just so darn plastic, bulky and ugly. Or so I thought. I was curious if there were any more aesthetically pleasing dupes on the loose and sure enough, there are a million! To make my sweet house guest (and myself) all the more comfortable, I caved and bought this one which not only looks so much better in a wood finish AND matches my other bathroom cabinets, but it FOLDS—meaning I can stash it out of the way whenever I want to appear mysterious or “very demure” (Anyone else bombarded with that TikTok sound this week? I love it) Regardless, it was a great buy for me but would also make a hilarious-yet-thoughtful gift for your squatty potty-less friend, assuming you have that sort of relationship.

From Jess: I have a pregnant friend who is having a bit of a hard time emotionally. I mean, I can’t imagine why (JK!). Another friend of mine, while going through her last trimester and was also dealing with a ton of anxiety and stress, told me that this gratitude journal legitimately helped her mindset. She actually gave one to me too because she was so happy with how it helped shift her brain. We all need a little help sometimes, right?? I loved how simple and quick it was. I’m sadly not a journaler so the pressure of long entries was never going to work for me. I’m sure I’m not alone in that. All this to say, I sent one to my currently pregnant friend with the note that there was NO PRESSURE to use. She could send it back, regift it, light it on fire, whatever she wanted. It’s really hard to know how to help a friend in need. You just want to fix all the pain but that’s not how it works. If only! So in case you or a loved one might need a little help refocusing to get into a better headspace, this is a great option. In a similar vein, Velinda also wrote this incredible post about “grief gifts” in case you’re feeling at a loss of what to give or how to help something going through a really tough time.

As always thank you for reading and see you tomorrow! xx

Opening Image Credits: Design by Emily Henderson | Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: River House Patio Reveal – The Case For The “Matching Set”