Happy Love Weekend!
As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to adore Valentine’s Day more and more. There’s something so whimsical about this holiday—like a prequel to spring. Decorating our home with vintage silver, spray roses, greenery, and the occasional oxblood candle or dish towel feels romantic and refreshing.
I think my love affair with Valentine’s Day started not just because I’m, well… betrothed? (I’ve been reading too much A Court of Thorns and Roses), but because of the simple acts of luxury and care—both for myself and for my husband—that I associate with it.
For me, that means long baths with my favorite bubbles, decadent brown butter chocolate chunk brownies, slow and intentional movement, and a really great sweater (a Valentine’s Day gift to myself, of course). For him, it’s all about feeling cared for. I’ve found that men are simple at heart—they work hard to provide, but they don’t want to come home to another kind of work. They want home to feel like an oasis, a place of solace. And sometimes, that’s as simple as making a great meal, keeping things in order, or just telling them how much they’re valued.
That being said, my guy has been traveling all week for work, so all he wanted this weekend was a quiet Valentine’s at home. The celebration actually started early, since Thursday was his birthday! Blake’s love language is the opposite of gift-giving… and mine is, well, exactly that. So over the years, I’ve had to finesse how to make his birthday feel special in a way that resonates with him.
This year, that meant baking cookies for him and his team on Wednesday, setting out a little something with a note for him to wake up to on Thursday, and making his favorite birthday dinner—Snake River ribeye, fresh sourdough, a big Caesar, and steamed broccoli. (Along with a gift, which he actually liked this year! The secret? Sticking to what he already loves (he has it in long but needed a short), keeping it high-quality and functional, and making sure he actually needs it.)
Friday was a deep clean and market run—picking up all sorts of goodies for the weekend (Chilean sea bass, local steaks, escargot & puff pastry to recreate Bouchon’s), and finally baking Broma’s brown butter brownies for dessert tonight. With fresh strawberries, of course—did you know strawberries have two seasons, and one of them is right now?
I’m writing this while on a mid-afternoon treadmill walk, and tonight is still TBD—either Bavette’s or a cozy dinner in. Totally up to B.
Tomorrow will be just as relaxed—B will make us coffee with fresh Boxcar beans, then it’s off to the farmer’s market, a stop at Agora to pick up meat for the week, lunch at Le Colonial, and maybe a little shopping on Oak. I’m thinking Pretty Women for a movie night, followed by a candlelit dinner at home.
I hope you’re embracing all the love this weekend—whether that’s love for yourself, your friends, or your partner. Give it a little extra this week. Xx
Sight
I’m writing to you in the midst of a beautiful February flurry. Our space—what Deb and I like to call the Jenni Kayne Ranch in the Sky—sits right on the lake, meaning we get the full force of the weather, for better or worse. But when it comes to snow, that just makes it all the more magical. It feels like living inside a snow globe! I’m loving the contrast of winter’s chill outside and the early signs of spring indoors—persimmon-hued tulips, creamy hydrangeas, touches of greenery, and fresh herbs. Cozy yet refreshing.
Lately, I’m having a major oatmeal moment. I’ve never been much of an oatmeal girl—unless I’m at 26 Grains—but something about it feels especially nourishing and comforting right now. I’m indulging in it in more ways than one: as a calming face mask, wrapped in my favorite cashmere set, and even in a soothing bath soak. And I suppose I’m eating it too, in the form of granola bars?
I am loving the look of scallops lately — on linens, ceramics, and most importantly, stationary. I loved the idea of my Valentine’s being scalloped cards paired with forget-me-nots embossed on the top. Enter Iron Leaf Press, who customized the sweetest cards for me. She is amazing and will do whatever you want to make your letter writing even more special!
Taste
Bavette steak, crispy sourdough with Gruyère, sautéed spinach and mushrooms.
Steak and mushrooms go together like PB & J—truly a perfect pairing. If you’ve been following me (and my eating habits) for a while, you already know my love for Bavette steak (and the restaurant named after it). It’s a rare find and often mistaken for skirt steak, but the two couldn’t be more different. When cooked properly, Bavette is beautifully marbled and packed with flavor. It’s a bit more textured than a filet, but the depth of flavor makes up for it tenfold. Hot take: I don’t like filet. Highly overrated.
We love getting our Bavette steaks from Slagel Farms (which you can find at Agora Market). I prefer to sous vide mine for the best flavor and an easy meal. I season it lightly with salt, pepper, and a pat of butter, then sous vide at 120°F for two hours. When it’s time to eat, I get my stainless steel pan (better for browning than cast iron) hot and sear the steak in butter or avocado oil for about a minute per side. Absolute perfection.
For the spinach and mushrooms, you can go classic with button mushrooms or mix it up. I love an exotic blend—shiitake, oyster, maitake, and lion’s mane if I have it. I brown the mushrooms in butter (lid off so they don’t get soggy), then add chopped garlic after they’re mostly cooked to avoid burning. A splash of tamari, generous seasoning, then toss in the spinach. Lid on for just a moment to let it wilt, and that’s it.
And the bread… I’ve been making this with a loaf I baked earlier this week using Colorado wheat, so it’s a bit denser than traditional sourdough with a nice, wheaty depth. It pairs beautifully with Gruyère. I slice it thick, spread on French butter, grate Gruyère over the top, and season with salt and pepper. Into a 450°F oven for about five minutes until the cheese melts and the edges crisp up—just enough crunch, but not too much.
When you make this, be sure to assemble open-faced bites with a little bread, steak, and mushroom. The perfect trio.
Hear
This meditation is truly transformational. It actually started playing by accident while Blake and I were having our morning coffee, and he immediately said, “Can we start this over and do this?” We did—and loved it so much that I made a whole playlist around it. Start with the meditation, then let the playlist carry you through your morning. Highly recommend.
Feel
Silk for spring. In every form. A silk-cashmere blend hat for those lingering chilly days. Silk pajamas for cozy movie nights at home. Silk underpinnings—because luxury starts with the underneath. Flowing silk dresses for warm-weather getaways (I have this in a buttery yellow and it’s a staple). Wide-leg silk pants paired with a thin cotton top while cooking dinner, fresh from a post-Mountain Pine bath—sensual, grounded, effortless. Silk scrunchies, because even the smallest details matter.
And let’s be clear—we’re not talking satin (which is often overpriced & very synthetic). We’re talking pure, timeless, lived-in luxury. The kind that only real silk can bring.
Smell
SMELL
A soak in the tub with Susanne Kaufmann’s Mountain Pine will transport you straight to Aspen—windows open, muscles tired from a long day of skiing, steam rising from the water. It’s incredible. You know that feeling of sinking into a hot bath on a freezing day (hair up and out of your face with this claw clip)? One of life’s greatest pleasures. This bath soak makes it even better—an experience in itself.
There’s something about the scent of this hand cream that takes me back. I think my mom had something similar when I was little? It’s fresh, feminine, and perfectly womanly—the kind of scent that feels like a quiet luxury as you smooth it over your hands before bed. We always talk about falling asleep to sounds, but I love curating every sense before sleep. Right now, this is my scent of choice.
The Sixth Sense, Intuition
Lately, I’ve been leaning into my intuition more—paying closer attention to those quiet nudges, the little moments of knowing before knowing. It’s been showing up in different ways:
• Morning stillness. Before reaching for my phone, I take a few hours in the morning (I’m ruthless) to set the tone and get quiet. How do I actually feel? What do I need today? It’s a small shift, but it changes everything.
• Noticing patterns. When the same idea, word, or person keeps appearing in my life, I take it as a sign to look deeper. What is it trying to tell me?
• Trusting first instincts. If something feels off, it probably is. If something lights me up, it’s worth pursuing. No overthinking, just trust.
• Following the pull. Whether it’s an urge to reach out to someone, take a different route, or pause for a moment longer, I’m learning to honor those impulses without overthinking or questioning why.
The more I tune in, the louder my intuition gets. And honestly? Life feels more aligned because of it.