The Five Senses
A Springtime Reflection on Awakening All Five Senses
It’s Thursday evening, and I’m wrapped up in my sauna blanket in our living space, the door open, letting the fresh air pour in. Today was all about refreshing our home—Blake gets back from a business trip midday tomorrow, and I want everything to feel fresh when he arrives. But let’s rewind a bit because, honestly, it felt like the weekend started early this week.
Last night, I hosted one of my dearest college friends for a girls' night. The timing was perfect—both of our partners were traveling, so she made the trek into the city, and I cooked. I spent the day perfecting (overthinking) every little detail, so I thought it’d be fun to break down the small touches that make hosting a simple dinner feel extra special.
A Thoughtful Menu
Plan your menu a couple of days in advance so you can source ingredients with intention. What do you need to pick up and from where? What can you prep ahead of time? I’m a big fan of menus that allow for 90% of the prep to be done before guests arrive. That way, you can actually enjoy their company, serve the meal on time, and minimize post-dinner cleanup. Here’s what I served as our main course:
Petit filet
Roasted mushrooms
Shaved Brussels sprouts
Fresh sourdough with French butter
Simple, fresh, and delicious!
Set the Scene Early
Freshen up your space and set the table earlier in the day—this takes the stress off when it’s time to cook. I kept things classic and cozy with a cotton tablecloth with eyelet details, raffia chargers, a small bunch of wax flowers, and two tapers in pewter candle holders.
Always Have Hors D'oeuvres
No questions asked. Even if you think no one will eat it, they will. It gives everyone something to snack on while sipping a cocktail (or in Maddy & my case, a Topo Chico) while you finish up dinner.
I made shrimp cocktail, but please—do not buy pre-cooked shrimp or store-bought cocktail sauce! It’s so easy to make from scratch:
Shrimp:
Peel & devein (yes, this takes 10 minutes in itself, but trust me, it’s worth it).
Bring a pot of water to a boil, add a generous amount of salt, and drop in the shrimp.
Boil for exactly 2 minutes, then transfer immediately to an ice bath.
Cocktail Sauce:
¼ cup ketchup
1 tsp horseradish
2 tbsp tomato paste
A squeeze of lemon
Salt & pepper to taste
Mix it up, let it chill in the fridge for a few hours, and you’re set. The flavors develop beautifully!
A Sweet Send-Off
I don’t love serving dessert at the table—I prefer sending guests home with it. Maddy made this easy by asking for my energy bite recipe earlier in the week, so I prepped a batch, packed them up with the recipe, and included a little thank-you note for making the trip to see me.
That said, holidays and birthdays are an exception—celebratory dessert is a must!
If You’re the Guest…
Never show up empty-handed, but also—never bring food. Let the host handle the menu! Some of my favorite hostess gifts:
This olive oil (I know, I know.. But what’s good is good!)
This flat server
This double oven mitt
These placemats
(AKA anything from Casa de Suna!!)
&& to more effortless, special nights filled with good food, great company, and thoughtful hosting.
Back to the RSP (Regularly Scheduled Programming)…
This weekend is sure to be a very chill one. I have a feeling B is going to want to have dinners in and early bedtimes after his week away. I’m prepping a loaf of sourdough this eve for us to have with dinner on Friday night — Sea bass, sourdough, a big salad (greens, shaved carrots, olives, avocado, balsamic vin), maybe some steamed broccoli? Good, clean food. And we’ll catch up & connect on our weeks and likely do a bit of this workbook we’ve been loving. I’ll prep a fresh batch of granola bars tomorrow (I feel like I’m always making these but we fly through them). We’ll do the MCA followed by lunch at Marisol on Saturday & the Farmer’s market on Sunday (updates to come on my raw milk journey because it’s starting then). That’s it! A relaxed weekend in the city.
TASTE
Broma Brown Butter Oatmeal Date Cookies
The other day, my mom reached out to me and asked if I had a great oatmeal raisin cookie recipe. I was baffled that I did not. Needless to say, the next day I got to work, and we all know Broma never fails me. However, I searched high and low for raisins, and I came up dry. I didn’t know they were so.. rare? Lol. I decided to pivot and use dates, and I’m so glad I did.
These cookies are shamelessly addictive. Perfectly chewy in the middle and crispy on the outside. The dates add this delicious jammy texture that you just don’t get with raisins. Don’t forget to top with maldon and use Daphne Oz’s Method, always. Optional but encouraged: enjoy with a small glass of milk.
Note: A small glass of milk with dessert? Très chic. A large glass of milk with dinner? I’ll be running in the opposite direction.
SMELL
Le Prunier Sunscreen is the only sunscreen I’ll touch with a 10 foot pole for many reasons. The texture is absolutely divine — it’s silky and not chalky at all and the one that doesn’t make me crabby. It has skincare built into it so it feels like a twopher. It’s slightly tinted so it gives you a glow but it’s not too tinted where it feels like you’re wearing makeup. But, most importantly, it smells perfect. In fact, the scent is super nostalgic for me, and I finally pinpointed what it is: PB&J. Now, don’t get your hopes up, because I’m not talking classic PB&J. I grew up in a granola home (to say the least) so this was more like a freshly ground almond butter on sourdough with blackberry preserve type deal. At the time, I just wanted a normal kid’s sandwich, but now, I’m grateful for it—and apparently, I even wear sunscreen that smells like it.
Plum oil in general (which is what LP is formulated with). I’ve been using the one from Loli for years (which now I can’t seem to find in stock online?!) It feels luxurious on the skin and the scent is divine — there’s something about plum that’s just so nourishing, too.
Roz Santa Lucia Hair Oil smells like spring—fresh breeze, open windows, and lily of the valley. Lately, I've been obsessed. Not just for my hair, but also on my décolletage for a gorgeous collar bone accentuation and scent. Adore.
I’m burning Nette Sunday Chess and I FINALLY found a scent that’s reminiscent of Big Sur. This is it. Woodsy, sweet, slightly earthy. Take me back!!
LISTEN
Healing Harp, nonstop in this household! Light, airy, and fresh—it sounds like spring. Grounding, yet a bit more lively than my usual energy clearing playlists.
The sound of the birds! I was en route to meet
for our coffee walk this AM, and the birds were tweeting and the sun was shining — it was picture perfect! The sounds of (very early) spring.TOUCH
Cashmere tanks or tees under lightweight sweaters. A cozy layer that keeps you warm (because it’s not that warm… yet) but still allows you to pull out your lighter sweaters as we embrace a springtime state of mind.
These cotton cashmere featherlight pants.
A serum-balm consistency. Very apparent in the Malin & Goetz Lip moisturizer & the Mr Smith Hair Serum — both of which are in my Top 5 products ATM.
Since we moved, it has been my one and only mission to get our bed to feel like an absolute cloud. I think I need to do a whole substack breaking down the art and science of a perfect bed, but for now, I’ll leave you with this truly lovely mattress topper. Trust me on this — we’ve tried them all. From wool, to down, to synthetic, to everything in between. And we ended here. If you love your mattress but want to make it a touch more hotel cloud soft, this one’s for you.
SEE
If you’ve followed me for a while, you know about my adoration for Alexandra and her book Living a Beautiful Life. Is it dramatic to say it’s been a guiding force in my life? The crazy part is that I came across that book right when we moved to Chicago at a small used bookshop. Kismet! It’s remained a favorite since, and I re-read it about once a year.
I also read Alexandra’s newsletter every month, and recently I snagged a copy of Living in Love. It’s and thoughtful and intentional, as all of her work is. It dives into her and her husband, Peter’s, decision to live in love as partners, and build a beautiful life together.
I’m on the fifth and final (so far!) A Court of Thornes and Roses and I am HOOKED! This is absolutely my favorite one (besides 2, duh). It’s really good and I can’t wait to continue my fantasy with the next series. The real question — Fourth Wing or Throne of Glass? LMK.
M+G had the best lip moisturizer! And candles!
Can’t wait to try the cookie recipe! Thank you xx