I officially pulled out my hat and gloves this week, so it felt like a good time to post a winter trip itinerary. This trip is a little unusual because most people who travel to Wyoming in the middle of winter want to go skiing and this is a ski-free itinerary. However, there are plenty of spots to sub in some time on the slopes, if that’s your thing. (After dog sledding? Instead of snow tubing? Skip the Champagne bar?)

This is a great trip for those looking to get a quick taste of this charming Western town and enjoy some serious snow. When we went last January, the weather hovered in the single digits most days—and in the negative ones once the sun went down. You have to dress accordingly and even then just mentally prepare for that kind of cold. (The Southerner in me could never quite get there.) But it does make a bubbly hot tub and cocktails by the fire all the more enjoyable.

Thursday

12 pm: Arrive and Uber to Mountain Modern Lodge to check in/drop bags. (Highly recommend this hotel for its walkability to everything in Jackson.)

1:30 pm: Uber to lunch at Piste Mountain Bistro. (Reservations required and must have proof of reservation to purchase Bridger Gondola sightseeing tickets to transport to restaurant.)

4 pm: Champagne cocktails at Fahrenheit 47 seasonal champagne bar under an igloo just off the bottom of the slope.

5 pm: Ice skating in Teton Village before Ubering back to hotel to get ready for dinner.

7:30 pm: Walk to tapas and wine dinner at Bin22 (they don’t take reservations, but you can peruse the wine shop—and enjoy a bottle—while you wait).

Friday

8:30 am: Half-day dog sledding adventure with Continental Divide Dogsled Adventures. They pick you up at your hotel lobby, and the excursion includes transportation, time to play with the dogs, and dog sledding, followed by lunch in the lodge. (Dress VERY warmly. Like, layer your socks level of warm.)

3 pm: Dog sled transport directly to Spa at Four Seasons in Teton Village. (Be sure to arrive a few minutes early to enjoy time in the hot tub and by the fire before enjoying a massage on muscles that will definitely be sore from the sled ride.)

5 pm: Drinks by the fire in the Four Seasons lobby where there’s often live music and a fun apres ski crowd. Uber back to hotel.

8 pm: Walk to dinner at Snake River Grill (reservations required, order the famed steak tartare pizza).

9:30 pm: Walk to post-dinner drinks at the famed Million Dollar Cowboy Bar. (Sit in a saddle at the bar. Obviously.)

Saturday

9 am: Walk to breakfast at Persephone Bakery.

10 am: Explore downtown Jackson Hole (There are a ton of shops and more than a few places to stock up on your Stio and Patagonia, but for something a little less REI-esque, check out Pearl Street Market, MADE, Roam Mercantile, and Bella Cose at the Cloudveil)

12 pm: Lunch at Jackson Drug.

1:30 pm: Walk (20-ish minutes) to Snow King Mountain for tubing, “Cowboy Coaster,” and gondola to the top for amazing views of downtown.

5 pm: Walk (10-ish minutes) to post tubing drinks at Snake River Brewing Co.

7 pm: Walk to King Sushi back in town for dinner (reservations required for this tiny restaurant with shockingly good sushi for being hundreds of miles from an ocean).

Sunday

8 am: Return to Persephone Bakery for breakfast. (It may feel like I’m being a lazy itinerary writer by suggesting Round Two, but this place is so good you’ll want to go for multiple days. They also have great souvenirs if you need something last minute.)

9 am: Uber to the airport for flight back home. 

With parents who are UVA grads, Charlottesville has a lot of happy childhood memories for me. But I’ve loved this beautiful college town even more as an adult (maybe it’s all the vineyards?). If you’re looking for luxury, Keswick Hall is beautiful and The Clifton ranks in my top five stays ever, but neither are walking distance to town—and I think it’s a great town for exploring on foot. 

There’s no bad time to go to Charlottesville. Summer can be nice for the relative quiet without thousands of college kids, but I especially love fall—both for the energy around the university and for the crisp and colorful nearby mountainsides.  

Thursday

3 pm: On the drive into Charlottesville, stop at Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards for cheese and wine on the patio.

5:30 pm: Arrive in Charlottesville, check in to Dinsmore Boutique Inn. (This convenient spot in downtown has the cutest unique rooms. I loved the Meriwether, and the Library Loft is very cool.)

7:30 pm: Walk down Main Street for dinner at Oakhart Social (reservations recommended, and don’t skip creative veggie sides like the roasted broccoli with fish sauce caramel).

Friday

8:30 am: Breakfast at Farm Bell Kitchen. (Purchase the inn package that includes breakfast at this charming street side restaurant on its ground floor. And be sure to order the crab beignets at least once.)

9:30 am: Depart for a hike at Humpback Rocks Loop, half an hour away (4.2-mile, moderately challenging trail with gorgeous views—especially during peak leaf season).

1 pm: Lunch at Blue Mountain Brewery (15-minute drive from trailhead with great patio views).

2:30 pm: Return to town to walk down Main Street and around the University of Virginia campus (be sure to stop at the new-ish Memorial to Enslaved Laborers).

6:30 pm: Dinner at Public Fish & Oyster House (reservations needed, remarkably good seafood for this far inland).

8:30 pm: Drinks at The Alley Light (cozy French vibe and amazing craft cocktails).

Saturday

9 am: Breakfast (again) at Farm Bell (Have you ordered the crab beignets yet?).

10 am: Driving service pick up for vineyard tours. (Unless you have a friend who wants to play DD.) There are so many great vineyards that it’s hard to pick, but I love going west of town to Stinson and King Family in Crozet (a polo match at King is still on my bucket list), followed by Veritas and Afton Mountain in Afton (have lunch with your tasting at Veritas, reservations recommended).

7 pm: Dinner on the Quirk rooftop (reservations recommended). 

Sunday

9:30 am: Coffee and pastries to-go from Farm Bell (unless you still haven’t tried the crab beignets).

10 am: Visit Monticello. Be sure to leave time to explore both the house and gardens. Or if you’re trying to work off some of the previous day’s wine and not especially interested in Thomas Jefferson, take a walk on the easy 4.3-mile Monticello Saunders Trail, which offers beautiful views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. 

12:30 pm: Lunch at Michie Tavern. Just a half mile down from Monticello, this is a historic tavern (ca. 1784) and it’s a period restaurant serving Southern fare (think fried chicken, black-eyed peas, mashed potatoes, lagers, and ales). It’s an experience everyone should do at least once. 

2 pm: Return home. 

This itinerary hits all my favorite vineyards without making you trek all over the valley. (I also really love Scribe Winery in Sonoma and Sam’s General Store is the cutest coffeeshop ever in Calistoga, but those are long drives.) 

If you needed to sub in other nearby vineyards or wanted to spend one more day in wine country rather than SF, Cakebread Cellars, Mumm Napa, and Turnbull would be my three suggestions. Not everyone loves a red eye (ok, no one likes red eyes), so you could always tag on that night in San Francisco at the end and leave early Wednesday. I just always find I’m ready to head home and detox by that point in the trip. 

Of note: This trip is undeniably expensive. You may not be staying at the Four Seasons or eating at French Laundry, but everything in Napa is expensive and this itinerary includes some top restaurants and vineyards. 

Friday 

5 pm: Arrive at SFO.

6:30 pm: Check into Grand Hyatt Union Square.

7:30 pm: Dinner at Liholiho Yacht Club (reservations required, short walk from hotel, order the spam fried rice and enjoy the hip hop music). Alternate option: Good Good Culture Club has the same owners, similar great food and fun vibe, but requires a drive (reservations also required).

Saturday

7 am: If you’re still on East Coast time and can’t sleep, catch an Uber and take a walk from the Presidio to the Golden Gate Bridge for gorgeous early morning views of the bay and bridge without the crowds.

9:30 am: Walk to breakfast at Grand Creperie at the Ferry Building.

10 am: Walk around the Ferry Building’s Saturday Farmers Market and down the bay and back to see the sea lions at Fisherman’s Wharf.

12:30 pm: Lunch at Hog Island Oyster Co. back at Ferry Building. (You’ll have to wait in line—they don’t take reservations, but it’s always worth it. Order the oysters, obviously.)

2 pm: Catch an Uber to Mission District for shopping (Topdrawer, Serendipity, Dog Eared Books) and people watching/skyline views at Mission Delores Park. 

4:30 pm: Uber back to hotel to change for dinner. 

5:30 pm: Uber to drinks at the rooftop View Lounge. 

7 pm: Uber to dinner at China Live (reservations required).

Sunday

8:30 am: Walk to pick up rental car at nearby Hilton Union Square.

9 am: Depart San Francisco.

9:30 am: Stop for breakfast at Equator Coffee in Sausalito and walk around charming little town. (Cute shop next door called Karl the Store.)

11:30 am: Arrive in Yountville and check in to the Napa Valley Lodge. 

12 pm: Lunch at Restoration Hardware Yountville (reservations required, just down the block from the hotel). 

2 pm: Wine tasting at Stewart Cellars (reservations required) tasting room across the street from RH.

3:30 pm: Uber to Domaine Carneros (reservations required) for wine and cheese tasting on the patio. (approximately 30-minute drive—this is the furthest distance to a vineyard on this itinerary, but worth it).

6 pm: Uber back to Napa Valley Lodge.

7 pm: Walk to dinner at Bottega Napa Valley (reservations required).

Monday 

8 am: Take a bike ride through town and the nearby vineyards with one of the hotel’s complimentary cycles

9:30 am: Walk to breakfast at Bouchon Bakery (you’ll wait in line, totally worth it).

10:30 am: Uber to wine tasting at Hall St. Helena (reservations required).

12:30 pm: Uber to picnic lunch and wine tasting at V. Sattui Winery (reservations for tasting required, not for lunch from on-site market). 

3:30 pm: Uber to Bubble Bar Mondays at Domaine Chandon.

5:30 pm: Return to Napa Valley Lodge.

6 pm: Walk to tapas dinner at Coqueta Napa Valley (Reservations required, and order the warm citrus and fennel olives.) 

Tuesday:

7:30 am: Explore the eastern side of town by bike. If you get there early enough, you can watch the colorful hot air balloons taking off.

9 am: Breakfast poolside at the hotel.

10:30 am: Uber to Nickel and Nickel (reservations required) estate tour and wine tasting on the porch. 

12 pm: Uber to Oakville Grocery to pick up BYO picnic lunch to have in the garden with your wine tasting at Tres Sabores (Special reservations required for this experience at the vineyard. Possibly my favorite thing I’ve ever done in Napa. Also, if you can work in a little extra time at Oakville Grocery, it’s fun to explore and they have a small Napa Valley museum.)

12:30 pm: Uber to Tres Sabores for lunch and tasting. 

2:30 pm: Return to Yountville and enjoy afternoon at leisure for the poolside hammocks, more bike riding, and getting packed. 

6 pm: Begin drive back to SF, stopping for dinner at Gott’s Roadside in Napa. 

8 pm: Arrive SFO and drop rental car.

9:30 pm: Depart SFO.

Continuing on my itinerary sharing streak, it seemed like a good time to share this one for a trip I took last fall to Maine. Reading back through it I’m realizing this trip was mostly dedicated to eating lobster. This was an easygoing and fun long weekend that included a little bit of activity (one bike ride and a ton of walking), and a lot of time on patios with amazing views and food. We went in late September, and it was perfect crisp fall weather. But I think this trip would also work well for a summer weekend escape or a cozy late fall getaway.

Thursday

11:15 am: Arrive in Portland, Maine

12 pm: Check in/drop baggage at Canopy on Portland waterfront.

1 pm: Lunch at Duck Fat (In Old Port, reservations not available, 15-minute walk from hotel. Order the duckfat fries, obviously). 

2 pm: Walk around and shop in Old Port (Charming cobblestone streets in a historic neighborhood. Stop in Blanch + Mimi.) 

3:30 pm: Uber to have a beer on the patio at Allagash Brewery. 

6:30 pm: Uber to return to Old Port for Dinner at Eventide Oyster Co. (Reservations not available, order the lobster roll trio and the oysters.) 

8 pm: Post dinner drinks at Blyth & Burrows (Speakeasy-esque cocktail bar with sailor themed cocktails in Old Port).

Friday

8:30 am: Grab coffee and donuts at The Holy Donut (Gourmet house-made donuts from Maine potatoes.)

9:15 am: Take ferry to Peaks Island.

10 am: Rent bikes to explore the island. (Take the loop the entire way around the island—it’s not that far and the views are more than worth it.)

1 pm: Stop for lunch at the picnic tables overlooking the water at the Island Lobster Company. (Lobster rolls from caught-that-day lobsters and whoopie pies.)

2:30 pm: Catch ferry back to Portland, pick up bags at hotel, Uber to Kennebunkport. (Note: Once you get to Kennebunkport, Ubers are hard to find. Ask at the Inn for driver recommendations, and be sure to schedule something for your return trip to the airport.)

4 pm: Check into The Kennebunkport Inn, walk around Kennebunkport, drinks on the rooftop at Batson River Brewing & Distilling.

7 pm: Dinner at Earth at Hidden Pond (Reservations required and prix-fixe menu. It’s pricey, but totally worth it just for the gorgeous experience.)

Saturday

9 am: Grab breakfast sandwiches and coffee at HB Provisions. (I really loved this little general store and ended up here every morning because I’m an early riser and it was the first spot in town to open.) Explore and shop in downtown Kennebunkport and Dock Square. 

11:30 am: Walk down towards Walker’s Point (2.3 miles along the water).

12 pm: Stop at Mabel’s Lobster Claw (Make reservations, and order the clam chowder and the lobster roll.)

1:30 pm: Continue on walk—cute shops across from Mabel’s (Happynest and Dannah), gorgeous beaches and homes along the walk, turn around at Walker’s Point.

3 pm: On the return walk, stop at the historic Colony hotel for a snack/drink by the pool overlooking the water.

4:30 pm: Continue walk back to the Inn, and enjoy drinks and music on the patio of the Inn (or by the fire, depending on time of year).

7 pm: Dinner at Hurricane (Reservations required—this place gets VERY busy. The baked stuffed lobster is just as amazing as it sounds.)

Sunday

9 am: Breakfast bowls and coffee at Fiafia.

10 am: Leave Kennebunkport for Portland airport.

12 pm: Depart Portland.

As noted all over this blog, I love traveling. I also love researching a destination and planning a trip—down to the details. I know not everyone has the time or the interest for that though, so I thought I’d start sharing some successful itineraries I’ve used in this space.

I’m starting with one of my favorite semi-recent trips—an easy four-night girls trip to Zion National Park last summer. It was a lot of hiking and outdoor activities, but also some relaxing time by the pool and a fancy dinner or two.

Below is our itinerary, which I’d definitely recommend. If I was going to change anything, I might spend the first night in Springdale rather than glamping. While it was very cool, it was a long drive that didn’t feel totally worth it. (I also wrote an article following this trip that provides some additional details.) Hope this inspires you—and enjoy the miso sea bass at Nobu for me.

Wednesday:

8 am: Apply in lottery for permit to hike Angels Landing (everyone in group enter)

11:11 am: Arrive in Las Vegas

11:30 am: Pick up rental car, drive to Zion (I-15) 

12 pm: Stop for lunch at In-n-Out at 2765 East Craig Road, North Las Vegas

3:30 pm ish: Stop for coffee at Perks! in St. George and pick up groceries to pack next day’s breakfast and lunch

4 pm: Find out if we won lottery to hike Angels Landing. 

5 pm: Drive through Zion on the way to the hotel

6 pm: Dinner at Cordwood on the way 

8 pm ish: Check into East Zion Resort 

Thursday:

7 am: Drive to Zion Canyon Visitor Center

8 am: Assuming you won lottery, catch shuttle to hike Angels Landing (5 miles total hike, strenuous and exposed—bring sunscreen, water, and lunch). 

2 pm-ish: Catch shuttle to hike The Narrows (bottom-up). 

5:30 pm-ish: Catch shuttle back to Zion Canyon Visitor Center

6 pm-ish (straight from hiking): Dinner at Zion Pizza and Noodle

7 pm-ish: Drive to Kanab from Springdale

8 pm-ish: Check into Timber and Tin Airbnb

Friday: 

10 am: Breakfast at Kanab Creek Bakery

11 am: Explore Kanab, go on a hike around Kanab like Wire Pass Trail to Buckskin Gulch (5.6 miles there and back total, considered easy) or Belly of the Dragon

1 pm: Lunch at Peek-a-boo Canyon Wood Fired Kitchen

5 pm:Sunset ATV tour of Peek-a-boo slot canyon

8 pm: Dinner at Sego

Stay at Timber and Tin Airbnb

Saturday:

8 am: Drive to Bryce Canyon (1 hour, 20 minutes)

9:30 am: Hike Navajo Loop to the Queens Garden—taking the Wall Street trail. (3.2 mile loop that takes about 2 hours)

12 pm: Have picnic lunch at one of the roadside overlooks (maybe Natural Bridge)

1 pm: Drive to Las Vegas

5 pm: Check into Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Curio Collection by Hilton

7:30 pm: Dinner Reservations at Nobu 

Sunday:

8:30 am: Drop off rental car

9:55 a.m: Catch flight back to CLT

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When my dog Rosie died a few years ago I decided I wanted a painting of her—something that would both look nice on my living room shelf and remind me of Ro. After a lot of digging around, I found an artist on Etsy and placed my order. I loved it. And so, when Pawley passed away last summer, I returned to the artist for another portrait.

I liked them so much that I decided I wanted to go ahead and add Winston’s painting to the mix. I already have a spot in mind to hang these three happy faces in my new home.

Anyway, I really just wanted to share the artist: Allison Gray at Go Gray Artwork. She’s been amazing to work with—and each one is better than the last. She’s in high demand though and her custom pet portraits go super fast. So, keep an eye on her Etsy page and sign up for email alerts if you’re interested.

I recently read this New York Times article on aphantasia. Never heard of it? Me neither until now, but, like me, I’m sure you’re familiar with the concept.

Aphantasia is the inability to form an image in your head and apparently somewhere between 2 and 5 percent of the world’s population falls into this category. The rest of us are on a spectrum with a very small group being able to go so far as to essentially replay an entire movie in their minds.

I’ve referenced this concept often in the past year as I’ve been building a home and constantly been forced to imagine spaces that don’t yet exist. I can see a lot in my mind’s eye. When I am grasping to remember a piece of knowledge, I’m picturing it on a page or even imagining the scene I was in when I learned it. I remember book plot lines by the scenes I created in my head. When I speak, I’m often picturing written words in my mind. This all feels completely normal to me.

Here’s where I get weird though: I can picture the faces of most people I’ve encountered—the lady who served me coffee this morning, a work acquaintance, my yoga instructor from last week—but I cannot picture the faces of the people I care about the most. I can’t see my mom’s face. I can picture photographs of her and I can get glimpses like choppy videos of her walking or giving me a hug. But I can’t see her face.

I’ve tried. Really hard. It’s a strange gap. But this weekend I was talking to my parents and it turns out my dad is the same way. (My mom, on the other hand, is mildly offended that I can’t picture her face.) My dad can also picture faces of other people, but not the ones he really knows and loves best. From what I can tell, science hasn’t dug into this part yet. (The condition of aphantasia only got its name in 2015 so we’re still early on this stuff.)

So, what about you? What can you picture in your mind’s eye? An entire room? A movie? Your loved ones? Now I’m so curious about where other people fall on this spectrum. It’s such an intrinsic part of how we all exist and we never talk about it. Anyway, now that small talk is returning (file under: Things I didn’t miss during Covid), consider this a good convo starter for your next cocktail party chatter.

I’m headed to the beach today for a long weekend and have very carefully chosen Mary Kay Andrews’ The Newcomer, John Grisham’s The Reckoning, and Katy Birchall’s The Secret Bridesmaid as my check-out-of-real-life- while-I-lounge-on-a-hammock beach reads for the weekend. I didn’t want anything that made my brain work even a little.

If you’re also on the hunt for some hammock—or beach, or pool, or just lazy summer afternoon on the couch—reads, I’ve put a few of my recent favorites below.

For juicy, gossipy fun… Where the Grass is Green and the Girls are Pretty

Remember how reading The Devil Wears Prada made you feel like you should wear stilettos, be a size 2, and work for Vogue? This is that exact same concept except now the author (and the rest of us) has aged 15 years. So, this is set in wealthy suburbs and involves a lot of Botox. This is the kind of book that pairs perfectly with a pool and a cocktail.

For a little suspense… The Last Thing He Told Me

This reads like a mix of chick lit and mystery, which may be my favorite genre for a beach read. It’s hard not to reveal spoilers in this one, but the premise is basically that a woman’s husband disappears, leaving her with a cryptic note and a lot of questions. It’s fast-moving and fun, and feels a little like something you’d watch on Lifetime.

For a lot of suspense… Win

I really like Harlan Coben books in general (and if you’ve never watched his Netflix miniseries, it’s time to break out the popcorn now), but this may be my favorite one of his characters yet—which is good news because apparently this is the first in a series. This story is full of plot twists around a murder in a penthouse, the kidnapping of a wealthy heiress, and a domestic terrorism case. Which is all very fun. But the most fun is Win himself who is both brilliant and very likely a sociopath.

For memoir (and Dazed and Confused) fans… Green Lights

I love memoirs, but I wouldn’t recommend most of them for beach reading. But this is Matthew McConaughey. His stories are mostly light-hearted and fun. I listened to this book on Audible and highly recommend that version because it’s read by McConaughey himself. Not only are you listening to his famous Texas drawl the entire time, but in true actor fashion he adds a lot of emotion to the text—including even the occasional laugh.

For seaside self-improvement… Think Again

I’ll really read anything from Adam Grant. If you want a quick taste of his writing, I loved this recent NYT column on Languishing. This book was about the idea that the most successful people have the ability to unlearn and rethink. As a person who is quick to draw conclusions and slow to change my mind, this was a bit uncomfortable to read. But I think that was the point.

When I was hitting the dance floor at Señor Frogs on my high school senior trip to Cancun, I really never imagined that I’d return to the area more than half a dozen times over the next few decades. I also never imagined that culture on the Yucatan Peninsula—or really anywhere—could get better than tequila shots taken to the classic tunes of the Ying Yang Twins at Señor Frogs. It was a different time.

Anyway, these days I prefer to travel south once I fly into Cancun and, like a lot of Americans, it was my first international stop post vaccine. So, in case you’re joining the masses headed to Mexican beaches these days, I thought I’d share five of my favorite spots for a bite around Playa del Carmen and Tulum.

La Cueva del Chango for Lunch

Located in the center of the town of Playa del Carmen, this is a great post-airport stop on the way to Tulum. Or, if you’re staying in Cancun, it’s perfect for lunch during a day trip to the cenotes or Mayan ruins. The restaurant is all open-air seating in a lush jungle-like setting that belies the fact that you can walk down to the street market after lunch. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve ordered here (guacamole and margaritas are obviously a must), but they have a dish on their lunch menu that I dream about sometimes. It’s a poblano chili pepper stuffed with cheese, corn, beans, and rice that is everything I love about Mexican flavors all on one plate.

La Reyna de Michoacan for Snacks

It’s in a part of Tulum not frequented by as many tourists, but this ice cream and popsicle shop is worth a stop. The paletas (fruit popsicles) are made with real fruit—think chunks of coconut and tart citrus flavors. If you’re there any time soon (read: the hot, hot summer months) these sweet chilled treats are a perfect afternoon snack.

Agave Azul for Dinner

Ok, it may seem a little odd to recommend a sushi restaurant in Mexico, but you’re going to have to trust me on this one. The Rosewood Mayakoba has really done things right with this gorgeous Asian restaurant set over a lagoon. This is one of those everything-is-perfect kind of restaurant experiences. The fish is fresh and delicious. The drinks are refreshing and creative. And the setting is stunning. Plan to get there early or stay late for a drink at the stylish Zapote, just across the lagoon.

Posado Margherita for Dinner

Yeah, I know, Italian food is also not a typical Mexico trip rec, but this charming beachside restaurant in an Italian-inspired boutique hotel in Tulum somehow makes perfect sense. They incorporate local seafood and vegetables into traditional Italian recipes. The bread is baked in house, the wines are Italian, and even the gelato is made in house. So, just embrace the idea of eating some of the best pizza you’ve ever had on a beach in Mexico.

Gitano for Drinks

Honestly, it’s been a bit since I’ve spent a night in Tulum so there are likely some recent additions I don’t know about. But I really felt like this spot had the best cocktail bar I’d been to in the region. If you’re into Mezcal, look no further—they have a selection of more than 50 from Oaxaca. But even if you’re not (I’m not), these cocktails made with local fruits and herbs are amazing. And the setting may be even better. The design was inspired by the idea of a room hidden in the jungle for the last century and the result is enchanting.

It’s come to the point in the home building process where I’m starting to pick out finishes—so, the fun stuff like lights and tile and shelves and mirrors. Which means that I have spent A LOT of time looking at both home decor magazines/blogs/Instagram posts and home furnishings websites in recent weeks. And I’m here to report a serious disconnect.

Every home decor magazine and blog is all like “this year is all about pops of color!” and “check out this bold wallpaper!” and “why don’t you have jewel-toned fabric on all your walls yet?” If I look at some of my favorite designer Instagram pages like @charlottelucas, @barriebenson, and @maalleninteriors (shown in order below), I feel like my home should look a little like a suitcase packed for Woodstock in 1969—the more orange, pink, and patterned, the better. And if you don’t have French wallpaper with vines and birds, and at least three emerald green furnishings, what are you even doing?

Meanwhile, over on the home page of every major home furnishing site, there seems to be a competition for who can create the beigey-ist beige room possible. Here’s Crate and Barrel coming in strong with a room that includes exactly one color. In this room, you’re so pure, you just drink water and sit in the sun with your one blanket.

Pottery Barn is kind enough to add a few blue hues and a cup of coffee to the scene.

But don’t get too comfortable. Over at Lulu and Georgia, you can sit on your couch and look at your one brown bowl.

Serena and Lily is my all-time favorite home site—primarily because I love all of their blues and greens. And while they have more color than anyone else, even they’ve gone with the “we live in a world of beige and golden hues” theme.

Finally, West Elm is my favorite. They don’t even show furniture. They’re just like, here are some food groups that match the theme.

You see my dilemma? It’s really impossible to know what’s in style right now. (Side note: Someone should really psychoanalyze what it means that in a year with so much turmoil and unrest, American home furnishing stores are like “here are the most warm, comforting, and bland furnishings ever—buy this soft beige blanket and soothe yourselves.” But that’s a post for another day.)

Anyway, it’s really hard out there for a human who enjoys bright whites and colors in softer hues. And so all of this has been leading up to a confession: It turns out that my current favorite home furnishings/inspiration site is Pottery Barn Teen.

I refuse to feel ashamed of this. I blame the industry on the fact that my home is going to look like a 14-year-old girl decorated it. Perhaps if there’d been more options and variation, I could have found inspiration elsewhere—maybe even in a place that includes kitchen decor because adults use kitchens. But this is where we are and so I’m embracing it. And it really only feels awkward when I’m scrolling through items and there’s something like a random Harry Potter themed owl clock thrown in.

Anyway, this is the latest update on my home building. And I’d like to respectfully ask that if you come to my home in the future, you just settle into your bean bag chair next to the porcelain unicorn diffuser and keep quiet about it.