everything I've read, loved, listened to & find worth the $$ so far this year

2026 it is fun. It is fresh We are doing a little mid-year check-in and I wanted to talk about like just some of my favorite things from 2026 I got engaged. I got an ipad. Those are equal. That's the same thing Also, i've just been loving butter yellow Anything my whole closet at this point is butter yellow this butter yellow that like it is kind of out of control I don't know what it was in the water Like the first eight weeks of 2026 banger after banger after banger and then yesteryear I heard all about it I did not think I was gonna like it But again, my same friends that always give me my book recs were like trust me. It's worth it There's another thing this year. I wanted to get better at doing my own hair moving on to like products that i've been loving So this is like makeup skincare hair care products the real actives cleansing balm That is the best cleansing balm i've ever used like if you guys are a hobbyist girl a serial hobbyist yourself Like this is what you need. Hi house guests. Welcome back to my home This week we are doing a little mid-year check-in which feels absolutely insane I don't know how it's like actually the middle of the year 2026 has actually been good. It's been like fun and fresh You know what? I mean? Like I have had my first good year in a long time. So i'm feeling good about it We're going through like favorite products favorite podcast books that i've read Projects hot all of the things like we're just recapping the entire year so far It's a fun little chatty solo episode that I think you guys are going to love so without further ado Welcome to my home 2026. It is fun. It is fresh We are doing a little mid-year check-in. I talked to you guys earlier this year. We made our vision boards together I think my vision board was mainly curating my dream wardrobe Okay, and friend of mine growing and guys. Oh my god those things friend of mine is up almost 600 right now Which is insane. I'm finally having just a good year in almost all aspects like I deserve this. Okay. I've really been through it and finally this year has just been so good I got engaged obviously, which we have spoken about a billion times Um, my grandma is getting married. Actually if you guys as you're watching this, she got married last weekend She got engaged got married. So amazing maiga. We love her my sister got married My cousin just gave birth to the first baby and like that group of cousins like we are just really We are in a good place like good things are happening I'm feeling good and I wanted to talk about like just some of my favorite things from 2026 so far I got engaged. I got an ipad. Those are equal. That's the same thing. I also have cured my unhealthy um back and forth kind of toxic relationship with ipads in general like I would Wake up i'm like I have to have an ipad like I absolutely need to have an ipad right this second And then I finally would like crash or I would crack I cannot speak I would finally crack and I would go buy one Then I would use it for three weeks and then it would die and I would forget that it existed completely like that happens to me a lot i'll be like Oh like even back in the day when I was like i'm gonna start dating like i'm dating i'm dating is happening And then I would one day just wake up and like it wouldn't come to mind and then it would not come back to my Mind for the next four months and I would have literally no idea that I even had that intention to begin with anyway Got an ipad. Um, macy and I we made the big purchase In new york city, we became ipad moms and i've actually really kept up with it I have this cute the case is ugly. I have it with me, you know, if you guys are watching on youtube I've had this before the keyboard case that is really where this thing is amazing, especially for travel and like work stuff however, the case is ugly, so i'm gonna have to figure that out, but Anyway, 2026 fabulous year so far. I want to get into it I mentioned already that one of the most important things to me this year was curating my dream wardrobe because how you dress really does like Obviously affect you day to day like that makes a big difference And also I just like for me like getting dressed as like a form of self-expression I love clothes and I love doing it and I just felt like I had this amazing closet that I loved But I was just so overwhelmed and I wasn't like taking even 30 seconds to pick out something that like I really liked or to Like invest in pieces that I really liked that would carry me through For example, I felt like i've never really had shorts that I loved on me or just like in general I would just like never loved them and guys I found One the perfect pair of denim shorts are actually from Abercrombie I will have all this stuff linked below If you are someone who doesn't like denim shorts doesn't you don't like denim shorts on you and you don't want them to be like Halfway up your butt and like ripped and all the things like I wanted like a very like classic looking pair of denim shorts and I Have found them for us. So that was amazing two reformation shorts. I have purchased four pairs of their shorts in the past like Probably month and i'm living in them I have a green stripe pair. I have the pink pair that i'm wearing right now And then I have these two like silkier like butter yellow and pink also guys The butter yellow has taken over my life. Like it really And it had last year but this year more so than ever If you guys didn't know I at the beginning of the year I sat down with y'all on youtube and we made a vision board of what I wanted my like dream wardrobe to be This actual exercise was so helpful because one I'm a visual person and I felt like I thought I knew what I liked But as I like made the pinterest board over like a month leading up to that and I was just saving things It really helped me figure out like exactly what I do actually really like which is like statement bags I love a ballet flat. I love a chanel ballet obviously, but that's not gonna be like every single pair obviously Um, I love butter yellow. I loved a green sequin bag. I'd pinned so many of those still haven't gotten that Um, there was just like I love a lot of french. I loved a french bag There's a lot of things like fall and winter that we haven't like gotten into that yet um, so I went and I donated a lot of clothes I like sold them back for things and It was just great and it's really it's coming along. So I realized I love ballet flats I love like tennis bracelets tennis necklace and I like colored as well I love like the rings. I haven't really done that yet I got um this tennis bracelet and then I have a matching tennis necklace from ori So I got a great deal on that their lab And then they also like ori has like great prices and then they have sales a ton So I got that I have pearl earrings that I wear like every day I do want a pair of like nice diamond But these are things that i'm obviously going to be collecting like over time like this is not going to happen like all at once But it has made me realize like really what I like. I love butter yellow also this top like I like things that are just really like Classic looking almost but like this is like really colorful and fun It's just been so nice and so fun like getting dressed. I love it I have these butter yellow ballet flats from margo Speaking of guys so I wanted to treat myself for the engagement and I was like I want to buy myself like one pair of Chanel shoes everything that I buy from chanel, by the way is secondhand besides Yeah, everything I yeah, everything I bought has always been secondhand actually from chanel Um for ballet flats and stuff like the markup is not it's not that much more expensive Unless you get a really good deal on chanel shoes Um, it's not that much more expensive for like the ballet flat in store as it is compared to like when you get on the Railroad or whatever, which I didn't even realize until recently Um, anyway, I was going to treat myself to a nice pair of like these white Block heels from chanel. This is like a very out of touch conversation. Okay, I know but hear me out It was from my bridal era. Okay I have worn the same like block heeled two-tone shoes from sam edelman that are like the chanel knockoffs For what three or four? No It was actually before I even moved in this house. So probably yeah like four years I would say I have worn those into the ground. They are falling apart. I have them in another color. I Love those shoes. I actually like those better than the chanel ones because the block is the perfect height Love those but those are like cannon black Anyway, I was thinking like maybe i'll treat myself because I obviously have worn those into the ground Like over the past couple of years i'll wear them a lot and it'll be like a nice like Like present to myself for like the engagement period whatever I went in we tried them on the block was just too high They like weren't the nicest at the uh where we were And it was just like a stressful time. It was I think it was like a stressful day for them. Whatever I'm sure they like meanwhile was just like stressful And the block heel was like too high whatever they didn't have my size. So I was like, okay, whatever not a big deal Whatever we left and then I came home and margo I totally forgot was gifting me literally the shoes that I tried on but like the margo version of it. It's m-a-r-g-a-u-x They have my you know, butter yellow chanel flats that I love so much. They gifted them to me I tried them on guys when i'm tell when I tell you look these are the most comfortable shoes I have ever ever ever worn Margo is like the new thing. Look I am Such a fan. Okay, so I got the white and black like you I've actually been wearing them my past two episodes the white and black like block heel Also, they're a little bit shorter than the chanel ones. They're a little taller than the same metal ones I like them to be short, but I just oh my god. I love them. I love them. I love them Um, so that was like a love letter to margo apparently if y'all haven't tried skims yet let this be your sign I have been wearing skims for years and years and years and years I wear their cotton robed pajamas to bed most nights. I have them in I think eight different colors at this point I wear the fits everybody like triangle bralette pretty much every single day That is like my comfortable bra when i'm wearing like t-shirts or honestly even dresses like I wear it literally all the time the skims fits everybody collection at skims.com is Just the absolute best. No one does basics like skims I have the best underwear and the best bras that i've discovered all from skims and I just am so passionate about them So i'm obviously needing to share it with y'all The fits everybody collection from skims is truly like nothing i've ever tried before I've never worn intimates that fit and feel like this It molds to your body and it feels like you're wearing literally nothing at all in the best way possible I actually have a bigger chest so I don't love bralettes half the time because they're either not comfortable I feel like they don't give me enough support. They just don't look great Like it's not always my go-to but the fits everybody triangle bralette is actually Incredible. I don't know what kind of magic they put into it But I truly have never had a better bralette in my life So y'all can shop skims fits everybody collection at skims.com After you place your order be sure to let them know that we sent you Select podcast and the survey and be sure to select our show in the drop down menu that follows I am not kidding when I say there is not a day that goes by that. I don't have at least one thing On my body from skims whether it be a tank top a t-shirt Underwear bra like at all times at any given moment I am wearing something from skims at all every single hour of the day like that is how much I love skims So again, y'all can shop skims. It's everybody collection at skims.com Also, i've just been loving butter yellow like anything my whole closet at this point is butter yellow This butter yellow that like it is kind of out of control whereas at one point I feel like it was chocolate brown and pink and now it is all butter yellow like it is It's everywhere and it doesn't stop. Okay, it's out of control. I got a really good deal on a bag So I have like a cute like patent big yellow chanel that i'm wearing like every single day, but it was like an insane deal The chanel saga guys. I don't even this is the most out of touch episode But we're running past this stuff soon I don't know if you guys are following along for this, but I found This bag When I was searching actually like around the time because I was starting to like go try on like the white shoes at chanel Whatever so I googled the hours because we were there and like they weren't open yet And guys I was served the most beautiful Butter yellow patent like big chanel bag and I was like, this is insane. It's also like 75% off Like why is it 75% off? That makes no sense I'm, like i'm not gonna do it someone else should buy it. Whatever I have like once a margarita on a bar and I buy the back obviously Couldn't believe it and then everyone's like wait, why is it pink? And I was like, no, it's like it's butter yellow We didn't talk about this with amanda and alexa. It's like what are you talking about? So anyway, there's a follow-up. Thank god It is butter yellow and it was painted and that is why it is so discounted I don't care because it's the perfect color and it's amazing Um, so that bag was butter yellow. I can confirm. Thank god Anyway, i'm trying to move past my like annoying chanel stuff right now the or8 stack. Oh my god I've been living in cozyland pajamas. I also love hill house pajamas the hill house pajamas I just got a new pair because caroline and I always get a new pair when we're on our trip Or like any of our trips like we get like matching set of pajamas and I love them wore them left them in the hotel Perfect. We stayed at the dewberry in Oh guys get this we stayed at the dewberry in charleston So cute and I called them because alexa's like oh just call them they'll ship it. I was like really? So I didn't call them charlie calls them and They have this thing where you can just be like I lost my stuff.com And I guess if it connects to the hotels you can like submit that Anyway, they didn't find it like, you know, they tried their best. They're so nice. So I will have to be um You know fixing that we also launched the garden collection through a friend of mine and the green gingham overalls I was wearing them this morning They are the best thing that we have ever worn. I like them even better than our denim overalls Which are my favorite item in my closet. I wear them all the time They are the most flattering overalls that have ever existed the green gingham. They're just so soft. They're so fun like The tag everything about them. I just i'm obsessed with those I also got a really cute like i've just been like investing in things that I really like and i'm trying to not do impulse buys Even though like I did just say I bought that chanel after I had once of margarita on my rug That was like obviously very very different um, but i've been limiting impulse buys because I have been like making and looking at my vision board So if I see something and i'm like, oh that's really cute I I like want to buy it and be an idiot when I shouldn't be buying that I'll think back to like, you know, i'm not gonna do that because I made my vision board anyway, I probably shouldn't have started with the clothing stuff because it is very like You know, whatever. Let's move on to let's move on to books. Okay, let's have a little bit more of a holistic well-rounded well-rounded approach I read banger after I don't know what it was in the water Like the first eight weeks of 2026 banger after banger after banger five star reads like seriously It was insane. Number one the women kristin hannah If that is one of mine, if not my favorite book of all time It follows a woman going to vietnam like obviously during the vietnam war. It was incredible Like that book I think about multiple times a day. I went down like a crazy vietnam rabbit hole My grandpa is a vietnam vet so i've heard about like we've talked about like this has been like a thing in my family, you know, but Oh my god reading that book it was Insane and my friend chrissy chrissy. Donnie across chrissy's table. Love her She went to vietnam And she brought harrison and I back like like the sweetest gifts like oh my god Like hearing I went over for dinner when I was in new york and the caring about her trip to vietnam was just like unbelievable I want to go. I really really want to go but Yeah, it's just it was such a crazy Time. So anyways, the women kristin hannah if you haven't read that also I am a changed woman guys. I got engaged. I got an ipad and I now read historical fiction That's all you need to know. That is all you need to know about me. I'm officially really mature and fully grown Okay, I do feel like i'm 17, but i'm officially fully grown. I'm describing myself like you would a dog Okay, so i'm i'm an adult is what i'm saying Anyway, kristin hannah is obviously like the gateway to historical fiction I just couldn't stop so once I read the woman i've obviously read the nightingale then I started the great alone Which is kind of vietnam adjacent because the dad in the books here in the book. It's not a series but in the book It's kind of vietnam adjacent because the dad was a prisoner of war in vietnam So like it's kind of like the effects of vietnam if you will, but it's not Take it's not taking place. Like obviously the war is over at this point. Um Incredible so good like kristin hannah. Oh my god I really want to bring back Houseguest book club and do it with like the authors and then we like do all the questions or whatever Like i'm just I need kristin hannah on this podcast. I need it. I need it I need it desperately. I also read the correspondent by virginia evans that I think should be required reading for everyone It is such an amazing book. It follows sybil who is the main character and she is an older woman She which is so nice and she's flawed and you don't love her all the time You don't even like her most of the time if you are wanting the fastest sleep upgrade ever You need bull and branch. I'm very passionate about sleep But sometimes just talking about improving your sleep can be so overwhelming because it's like do I need a new mattress? Do I need a sleep tracker? There are supplements like do I need the blackout curtains? Like everyone online is saying so many different things and then suddenly it becomes this massive project But the truth is most people aren't sleeping poorly because of their mattress. 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She's a big letter writer, right? So you read it through her letters. I wouldn't have thought I would have liked that like writing style Unreal like seriously So good cannot recommend enough I also oh my god atmosphere taylor jenkins read guys I don't even know what to say about that book other than like It was insane again a book. I did not think I was going to like my like friends that I work out with every morning We always talk books and we're always like sending recs and stuff and they had all three of them had read it But like you have to read it. I'm like, I do not want to read a book about space No offense, like I don't care and I also just listened to Project hail mary, which is also an incredible book But I was like, I just feel like there's too much of this going on right now Like i'm not i'm not so nasa, you know what I mean? Like I need to be come back. I need to come back to like Maybe we're like on a beach on nantucket. Like that's kind of where I want it to be personally Um, no, it was so incredible. It was So good, like if you haven't read that book, you need to read it awesome As far as audiobooks go i'm a big audiobook girl. I love an audiobook like memoir I'm listening to emma greens right now. I just downloaded I actually started hating panettieres I cannot wait because I love her. We also have so many weird Things in common like bizarre things in common that are just like so odd and more than I thought we did too after like reading this um, but I did listen to the what remains carol rods will Audiobook i'm only laughing because all my friends are like the fact that like you don't watch bravo and you listen to her audiobook Is insane But it followed this is when I was watching love story and it's like i'm so anything that's like kennedy adjacent kennedy Like whatever obsessed like I just Need to consume all of it. She was married to jfk jr's cousin Uh, and she loses her husband obviously jfk jr and then like her boss was caroline beset all in the span of three weeks and it's such an It's such an amazing book. Like it is so Wild that woman has gone through hell. I don't really know anything about her like and her I don't watch bravo So I don't know anything about her and like her life since then but the book was just So good. It's just so crazy. Like all the connections. I went through a really Really went down. I feel like also being kennedy obsessed is like a thing period like everyone just goes down that rabbit hole But I think like growing up in dallas I just find that you're a little bit extra because obviously the association was here So you probably grew up going to the museums and doing all the things I literally did I know i've talked about this so many times but guys I just need to bring it up again because it was so crazy Whenever I was in the second grade, I was just one of those kids who I read a lot as a kid Okay, believe it or not. I was actually shy back then so I just spent all my time reading And I got to school and I just like they would just give me busy work, right? So they gave me like extra products to do or whatever. They gave me an extra project and they assigned lee harvey oswald who literally You know, I don't know if I can say that on these things. Uh, jfk So that was crazy. Imagine me in the second grade when you have the computer rooms, but ours was like in a closet So i'm like in our computer closet like do do do do Googling all this stuff writing a report of my little brother because again i've told this story so many times My poor little brother had to go to school dressed up. He was my prop Okay, I had him literally in a striped old navy black and white pajama set He was like an inmate like it's just crazy I was in the second grade like you can't blame me because I was a child But like looking back at that that was insane. So anyway, yeah the whole like jfk of it all I also actually kind of liked love story But I just am someone Like I always want a sequel to something because I just want to stay in that world I don't care if it's good or bad. I really don't care. I just want to see like Gilmore girls good example year in the life personally. I loved I loved year in the lights. I'm, sorry I just wanted more like I don't even care that it's bad. It's not going to ruin it for me I just want to be back in that world. I don't care once i've decided that something Like means something to me. It's always good. It doesn't matter I also kind of like things that are bad. Like I like bad tv. I like I don't know like I don't like when i'm in a movie trying to always say this like when we're in a movie that like Critically acclaimed gonna win every single award Whatever like that's not the kind of movie that like I necessarily am like connecting to like it almost needs to be a little Bit bad and i'd be like that was amazing. You know what I mean? So love that. Oh also on my tbr I've since reading all these five stars I then read a bad thriller and it just set me off in a spiral and i've not been like at my best with reading Um, but I did start the four winds by chris and hannah Normally, I would fly through these books, but I just like can't focus. I love it. It's not the book It's just like I need to sit down and read it. I know i'm gonna like it My friend said it's her favorite of chris and hannah book. So I need to get to it and then yesteryear I heard all about it. I did not think I was gonna like it But again, my same friends had always given me my book recs were like trust me. It's worth it So I want to read it because I was like I don't really want to read anything That has to do with an influencer like that is like too close to home for me. Like i'm not interested um Like I would read like a memoir but I don't want to read like a fictional book like, you know When you're watching a movie, there's like text bubbles like I don't like that. So Anyway, as far as hobbies go i'm back into gardening. The garden is looking insane. I'm also back into cooking I got this mediterranean like high protein cookbook or whatever because charlie loves mediterranean food and he's so healthy And we've been cooking out of that and the recipes are unbelievable. I'll be sharing some with you guys because they are So good. I'll link that cookbook too. If you guys are trying to like eat healthy this summer Everything we've made from this cookbook has been amazing and also like relatively simple I had friends over for dinner a couple weekends ago and they were like this is the best meal i've had in forever and like I actually agree for once like we really killed that one. So that's been good Um, okay friend of mine updates. This has been our biggest year yet. It's so exciting. I'm so happy We like relaunched needlepoint. We had done a small needlepoint drop like two years ago Just some canvases our partners basically just like ghosted after that and we like couldn't get anything done They like went under Um, we couldn't get anything done. So finally after forever we have gotten like we have it down. Okay, so we launched Needlepoint I could have never imagined it would have taken off in the way that it has I really thought it was going to be like a passion project for me Within friend of mine and it wasn't going to be like a huge thing for the business We are up almost 600 percent. We can't keep anything in stock. It's so crazy. Like i'm just so Grateful because it's allowed for us to like one grow the company and make hires and to like be able to do so many other like amazing things with you guys and like Make this stuff that you really want to see like we finally I feel like for so long I had such a big vision for but we didn't have the money like i've still funded the whole company It's all my money. Like I have done all of it. So we needed Like we needed this really and it's just been incredible because now we're able to do so many other things like the stitch tour Which is really exciting and i'm so excited for that to be like happening all summer we've got so many other things that are like happening in the needlepoint world that like I actually Like could not believe like I cried a couple of the emails when I got them I couldn't believe it because it is so insane And thank you guys so much to anyone who's like supporting friend of mine. It is truly just like I I can never Say thank you enough. Like it is my dream come true and i'm just I'm, so happy like i'm just so happy with it. I'm so inspired I'm, so excited all the time, which I have been but now i'm able to like do more things because we are growing so much And like i'm just i'm so grateful. So thank you so much Oh, we also got to shoot our first photo shoot. Um in carmel like on location outside of dallas A lot of the stuff we've just been shooting here shooting at my house We like went big with the garden shoot and the photos turned out so sick It was just oh my god. I also want to do a lot of bridal stuff I want to do a bridal needlepoint collection We've already been working on a couple things that are like more unique to that Um that I just like had wanted to do but i'm really excited for all that. I also have like I don't know. I have so many ideas in that realm So i'm really happy. Okay moving on to like products that i've been loving So this is like makeup skincare hair care products. I've been doing my own blowouts this year Doing my own hair today. I actually like curled it because I blew it out And then it was like super my hair just like fell. I don't know what was going on there I love colorado products that has not changed the colorado mousse Best thing ever the colorado dream coat best thing ever Live for that die for that the divi scalp serum. They are not kidding about the divi scalp serum Okay, that stuff is so good. Like my hair like it's gotten so much thicker and healthier I love putting it on it feels so good on my hair I've been consistent with it so I can say like I know for a fact it works It is so good So if you guys are having any sort of hair loss I was experiencing hair loss and like my hair was just coming out in clumps And then I started using divi and like my hair does not do that at all anymore so I cannot recommend that enough like it was when I say like it was falling out and like it was just I mean, honestly, it wasn't as bad as i'm making it out to be but it was definitely falling out The scalp serum has saved me. Okay the in beauty moisturizer. Oh my god guys So I wanted to get better. It was another thing this year. I wanted to get better at doing my own hair Um, not that I have my hair done every single second I would of course had a driver membership, but I just like wouldn't do my hair I just like wouldn't like how it was styled. I just wanted to be Better at doing it and doing it more regularly and now I used to hate doing my hair and now I actually really like it It's like I bring my ipad in I put on a podcast and I like it now It's like kind of a form of self-care. I use my microfiber towels. I have all the product that I love I just I love all that stuff Support for today's episode comes from square the system that fixes one of the biggest headaches in running a business Starting a business. It's exciting running. 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It's a makeup for me It was a makeup by kellyanne rack because I was just oh I was saying I wanted to get better at hair I also wanted to get better at makeup And I needed a better base because I was just using my primally pure like bomb that I wear every single day And that is not good for under makeup. It's an amazing It's like I use it every day like because I don't always wear like face makeup and stuff Um, but I use it every night. It's so moisturizing primally pure is still my favorite skincare Like I still use it all the time But as far as skin prep, that isn't like good makeup prep. So finally I was like, okay, I need to fix this Got the end beauty moisturizer. I ran out completely today. I couldn't use it today And it is showing okay, like it really does make a huge huge difference It is the best skin prep i've ever used and I immediately I found out I was completely out of it this morning And I placed an order like before I even got up because it is so good Like I will have that on hand forever. It's in beauty. I in in beauty I'll have all this linked though, but just in case you're like trying to think of it later in beauty So good. Also speaking of like skincare and stuff The real actives cleansing balm guys. Oh my god. I like I said, i'm really loyal to For the most I really just use primally pure for like mostly everything Um the real actives cleansing balm. That is the best cleansing balm. I have ever used I went on a trip to charleston recently, like I mentioned alexa macy and I were sharing a room and We all like we're just getting our products out doing stuff all three of us brought out that like cleansing balm that's how you know because it's three influencers who just have a ton of stuff that has been like sent and gifted like We are all loyal to this cleansing balm it is so so so good I'm, actually like worried that i'm running low on it because i've been using it for a little bit Um, but it's my favorite cleansing balm i've ever used. It's unbelievable I really it takes a lot for me to like switch up when i'm using skincare wise I love the primally pure like oil cleanser as well though. That's a different thing though. That's a cleanser That clear that balm. Oh my god. It is so good cannot recommend enough Um, the costas lip liners been dying for another thing too that i've kind of started using That was a macy recommendation is a burgundy like eyeliner and mascara I don't have the mascara on right now, but I have green eyes so that like makes my eyes pop more So i've been doing that that was a macy wreck um podcast episodes I mean, there's nothing else to talk about besides the morgan stewart show. I have been dying for that I'm such a die-hard morgan stewart girl. I love the podcast. I love the show. I love what she's doing Something that I thought was really cool about Something she said in an episode and I think this is just a cool trait across the board. So she Going on her podcast and she's like look i'm coming here to be real to be honest There's no point if i'm not saying you know what I should be saying Whatever she went on jackie shimmel's podcast like her friends and they were talking about like the alex and alex drama and she said I don't even really remember what she said, but it was Not like defending alex cooper and it wasn't it was just kind of her being like this is bad for both of them I don't know whatever then the next week she gets on her show and is like I just want to come on here and say like I do not like how I handled that I don't like how I acted I know alex cooper. We are friendly. We've gone to dinner. It's like it was just cool because she went back and it was like Just owned it and was like, yeah, I don't like that. I want to change She's also been like I don't feel like I would as open with you. I want to change I don't feel like i've done like it was just really cool um that she was able to do that and I liked that and I also feel like we are about to I feel like I Am entering a very new era of my life and we are Doing some refreshing things around here with the show and i'm really excited I feel very similar to how morgan's been feeling because I feel like for so long like it's just For honestly a long time my life was just so dark that I was like I don't even really know what to talk about at this point I don't know who to have on I don't know what to do I felt like just kind of very lost And now I feel like i'm like i've kind of gotten a grip and i'm like no This is what I want to be doing. This is what I want to have on the show I want to like I just have like a vision and i'm like excited and I have all these different things that I want to Do and I was like, yeah, I liked that, you know So anyway, I loved that and then as always my favorite is world first podcast. That's all I listen to Summer always makes me rethink what i'm reaching for every day It doesn't just make me rethink it forces me to because I live in texas. It's really hot You guys know I hate the heat i'm actually working on it I was talking to someone earlier today and i'm like i'm just gonna i've tried this before but i'm gonna continue to try to just Gaslight myself into thinking that I love the heat. So I was standing outside and I was like look I love the heat It's perfect, but I was actually coincidentally wearing 100 european linen pants from quince Okay So it really does make you rethink but it also forces my hand a little bit into what i'm reaching for every day Lighter fabrics better materials pieces that make me feel good the moment that you put them on and also look effortless And that is why I keep coming back to quince They focus on high quality essentials like breathable linen soft organic cotton washable silk, which is huge for silk But without the luxury markup, it's that rare balance where everything feels elevated But still easy their denim is soft and easy to wear and their organic cotton sweaters are perfect for layering on cool summer nights Everything at quince is priced 50 to 80 percent less than similar brands quince works directly with ethical factories and cuts out the middleman So you're paying for quality and not brand markup and it's not just clothing quince has Really become a destination for elevated essentials across home kitchen bedding and beyond I also love a lot of their home stuff making it easy to bring a more premium feel into everyday life Elevate your summer wardrobe go to quince.com slash house guest for free shipping on your order in 365 day returns now available in canada too. That is quince Quince.com slash house guest for free shipping and 365 day returns quince.com slash house guest Okay, I did like miscellaneous things number one the gucci chair saga Obviously if you guys didn't know this my aunt Got these gucci chairs for me discounted like in like they were like 300 she works for gucci So she had like this insane thing and they're in my closet and they're just amazing and i'm obsessed with them It was really just like a whole A whole moment that I took you guys through and that was amazing Um my ipad, of course I put that on there savannah, georgia, okay guys I went to charleston and I went to savannah and I can't really Fully say because I definitely saw a lot more of savannah than I did of charleston and I loved both cities like In general, I will say also the weekend that I was in savannah had a lot better weather than the weekend I was in charleston So i'm sure that would influence And also like i'll probably get married in one of those two places like we want to do a destination Like we're gonna at least tour venues there But I will say like I really think I like savannah better than charleston And I need to go back to charleston and like see more things I don't feel like I saw everything but savannah was So sick, and I just like it's very underrated like savannah has been a favorite of mine this year It definitely has my backyard refresh the patio. We finally did landscaping out there. Come on guys. Finally Finally, how long have I been talking about that a long time? That was another thing I wanted to get done this year and it just looks so much better Like before it looked barren and ugly and now it's like wow She's giving fun and fresh. You know what I mean? Um, oh, I also got this chair. You guys have probably seen it on tiktok It is a chair that you would lay out on and there's a hole at your head, right? So like if you're laying on your stomach, you can still see through so it's good for reading and it's good for needlepoint And like I think for the first time in my life, I might actually get tan I don't want to speak too soon naturally tan That is and I don't know if the front of me will be tan because I will just be laying down needle pointing I've already been doing it like the back of me will definitely be tan. I don't know about the front of me I really don't but that chair charlie got them for us We have two and he like reads and I needlepoint and like call like a history podcast or something on It's a dream. Like if you guys are a hobbyist girl a serial hobbyist yourself, like this is what you need. Okay? Um things i've watched. Oh god. I can't even talk about it. You guys know I've talked about this before law and order organized crime very sore subject for me because I Love that show I die for elliot stapler We were on the last season and I was already like oh this sucks like You know I don't want it to end And then I see on instagram that they didn't renew a season and I was like, oh, that's fine Like we at least have a season left. I was on the last episode Yep, name a worse feeling exactly. So anyway Loved organized crime. We're really into law and order We also have been like dipping our toes back into like a scandal rewatch I love scandal. My dog is named after fits fit like president fits Love it need to get back into it. I know charlie's gonna like it I've definitely been watching a lot more tv than I have recently one because of charlie and two because of like needlepoint So that's been good, but I don't I have to like really be in the mood for that show i'm, not somebody who can just like sit down and watch anything like I feel like i'm in prison That's what that makes me feel like is that like I have like i'm chained and like I have cuffs on and I can't get Out and I like I hate it. Hate it. Hate it. Hate it Um, but law and order like I can watch it. No, i'm like god. I wish I was watching law and order, you know Hi y'all. I'm really excited because friend of mine my home and hobby brand is hitting the road this summer We are doing a summer stitch tour and we are popping up in five of our favorite cities and we are doing exclusive campuses Some of our core collections some of our just like normal friend of mine core products We're gonna be hanging out stitching. We'll have like depending on the venue We're gonna have like coffee carts hopefully and all the different things. It's going to be So much fun and I cannot wait. I need to give you guys the schedule I like do have it memorized but like I can't lead you guys astray Okay, if you are coming, please rsvp at shopfriendofmine.com under stitch tour. It is completely free to come It just helps us a lot if we have a general idea of the amount of people coming to like run a better event So so the first stop is in dallas, texas, of course on june 27th at mimi's needlepoint Our next stop is in nashville on july 11th at nashville needleworks The next stop is in chicago on july 25th at third coast stitches Then we have our name tucket stop on august 8th at erica wilson, which is like so insane and last but not least We have august 29th at pennyland in roeighton, connecticut We are so excited like the campuses i'm sure you guys have seen these on our instagram at shop friend of mine They're so cute. They're so perfect If you're not even into needlepoint totally fine Like we will have so many other things happening and just like it's a fun hang So anyways, if you guys are in the area, please come you guys make sure you rcp once you rcp We're also able to send you text updates and all the things about the event. But anyway, I hope you guys come I'm, really really excited. Okay, so that has been it for my little 2026 mid-year check-in this was you know, maybe not the most Product like this was just like these are the things that i've been loving I I wouldn't say this is like gonna change your life and like make you be like, you know the second half of the year and Keep going with your dreams and your goals and whatever like I just wanted to chat, you know, look i'm tired I really am. So anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this episode um, we have One more episode after this. I haven't talked about this at all. But let's just let's sit and talk about little updates Okay We have a refresh coming Very soon. We have one more episode in this room as you guys know it and then there will be some things happening We're bringing back some stuff. There's gonna be structure There's gonna be like I am very excited for like where this is heading And I feel like of course part of me is like oh we're changing things all the time We're really not and also like the show i've had for like six seven years Like of course It's gonna like grow and evolve and all the things but you guys tell me what you guys want to see on houseguest Who you want to see if you like this stitch with us episodes if you like book club I really do want to like be consistent with book club and like I I want to do that Like I think that is like such an easy way for us to like all be You know aligned and connected and like be doing the same thing every month or every six weeks Or whatever it is I think we need to be doing that or a meeting for book club and like we have like I i'm pretty set on that But just let me know like what you guys Want to see if you like more solo episodes if you like guest What kinds of guests you want to see I want to head more in the like author like Hobbyists like more of like the martha stewart world obviously in that And then also I want people who are you know above the age of 80 at all times Like that's really what I need. That's kind of like my niche personally. So I was like what i'm looking for So anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed without further not without further ado. We're ending this episode I love you guys so much and I will talk to you next thursday. Bye