September 2025
September in Review
September was the month of Margaux Elaine. She was supposed to arrive on September 2nd, but decided to make her grand debut on September 10th, much to my dismay. Alas, she arrived right on time, and she has been an absolute delight ever since.
It still feels surreal to say this out loud: I am a mom of two girls. Two! I don’t just have a child anymore… I have children. My daughters. The thought of it makes me squeal.
I’m currently on maternity leave, which feels like the most incredible blessing. How lucky am I to have this window of time to bond with my baby, while knowing that when the season shifts, I’ll return to work I love and a team that rocks?
With Charlie, I had no idea what to expect, and as a result, maternity leave was one of the most anxious times of my life. She would cry every few hours, and while sometimes I got the algorithm right, more often than not, I was left wondering why I couldn’t crack the code. I couldn’t imagine how people had more than one child. My mantra with her was: love her like my one and only, but raise her like my third child. Easier said than done.
This time, though, I feel 10x more equipped and capable. With Margaux, I’ve been able to loosen the reins a bit and really focus on simply enjoying maternity leave. Yes, the nights are long, my body is still healing, and my nips are raw af (just being honest), but wow, oh wow, is it sweet to have just one responsibility right now: to snuggle my baby and soak up this fleeting, magical season at home with her.
Around the House
Beyond caretaking, pumping, and trying to keep up with the endless piles of laundry, September also gave me the chance to play homemaker. We received a few furniture deliveries, and I spent time simply living in our spaces to feel out what belonged and what needed to go. I hung art and photographs on our walls, bringing the house to life with pieces that hold our energy: vintage prints of our grandparents, works from independent artists I adore, and even my quirky collection of old cell phones — now framed in shadow boxes and hung in our guest room like a mini museum exhibit. Add in the Hollywood bathroom, and our home is officially full of conversation starters.
Looking Ahead to October
As the season shifts, I’m most looking forward to settling into Fall Core: cozy sweaters, crispy air, leaves turning colors, and weekend trips to the pumpkin patch. On my bucket list this fall: trying my hand at sourdough, perfecting an apple pie, and sneaking in as many Peppermint Mochas as my heart desires (ICYMI: Starbucks serves them year-round).
Most of all, I’m beyond excited to celebrate Charlie’s second birthday! She is two, holy crapola!!!
We’re planning a Halloween-themed costume party complete with a “Ghost in the Graveyard” egg hunt in the backyard (picture styrofoam tombstones from Lowe’s and a few spooky touches), followed by pumpkin painting and lunch from a food truck. Charlie’s favorite song is Happy Birthday, so I can’t wait to see her little face light up when it’s sung just for her.
Alright, that’s my wrap-up. But before I go, I’d love to know: What are you most looking forward to this October?
Favs From the Month
Fav Book: I started reading Ultra-Processed People, a book about nutrition, the rise of ultra-processed foods, and what they are doing to us. I’m really enjoying it so far… It’s not for everyone, but for someone looking to better understand this world, and make better choices, it’s seeming like a promising read.
Fav Podcast Episodes: I loved the Bossticks’ 2-part Q&A (part 1, part 2) mini-series this month. Their banter feels so real, and I appreciate how openly they share that their relationship isn’t perfect, but it works for them. One thing Lauryn mentioned that stuck with me was how, on panels, she’s often asked about ambition but rarely about her softer side, like making her home an oasis, being intentional with her kids, and managing their proximity to technology. I thought that was such an interesting point: I love career-focused podcasts, but I also know that when I’m just hanging out with friends, we’re usually swapping ideas on potty training, sharing a new furniture score, or trading easy weeknight recipes. It made me think there’s probably some interesting whitespace for women like Lauryn to speak more on topics like motherhood and wifehood. Do you have any good podcast recs along those lines?
Fav Streams: Breastfeeding means my hands are tied up and I have to sit still, which makes it the perfect time for binge-watching. Lately I’ve been rewatching Gilmore Girls (nostalgia!!!) and started No One Wants This. Side note: Adam Brody will forever be Seth from The O.C. in my mind. Fun fact: did you know he married Leighton Meester (a.k.a. Blair from Gossip Girl)? I went down a little internet rabbit hole after watching, and honestly, great choice, Adam. I loved her as Blair.
Fav ChatGPT Prompt: I’ve been using ChatGPT to refine what I hope will be my content direction for 2026. My focus will continue to be writing “recipes” for ambitious women, covering wellness, career, lifestyle, and of course, actual food recipes. ChatGPT helped me clarify who I am writing for, what my content pillars are, and what my tone is, while also giving me ideas for extending my writing into social media content. We’ll see what post-maternity leave brings, and whether I can actually stick to my ambitions to post more regularly while stepping into my new “working mom of two” identity.
Fav Recipes: Last month I focused on meal prep, so this month I’ve had plenty of food on hand and haven’t needed to cook much during Margaux’s first weeks earth-side. That said, I still love discovering new recipes, and this month was no exception. Ronnie and I have a black-tie wedding coming up in November (my little brother’s!), so we took a little shopping trip, he needed a tux, and I needed a gown. While we were out, we had the most fabulous lunch, which started with a Kung Pao Brussels Sprouts dish that blew us away. I asked our waitress if she could convince the chef to share the sauce recipe, and she delivered! Now I have a new go-to recipe for Kung Pao Brussels that I can’t wait to make on repeat. The other recipe I have to brag about this month is my Cobb Salad, which I made for Ronnie and my mom for lunch, and it blew both of them away. It’s soooo hearty and delish... My god it is good.
Finds
Fav Pantry / Fridge Item: This month I am so excited to share my pantry and fridge favs on Locker, I am still curating this, but it’s off to a great start. I think my favorite pick of the month is Noosa’s Seasonal Pumpkin Yogurt. OMG, yum!
Fav Thing I Bought This Month: I am really excited about this gown from Nordstrom for our black tie affair in November. It fits my changing body so well and is giving me the much needed body confidence I need to step into a room of beautiful people 8 weeks postpartum and feel like myself.
From my iPhone
Below is the most shameless dump of photos from the last month. It’s like every moment felt monumental, from the moments of our last few days as a family of three, to the first few days as a family of four, to my older brother getting engaged (even though I missed it because I was 2 days postpartum), my phone was OUT to capture the goodness of it all. I love, love, love how obsessed Charlie is with Margaux, and how from the time she wakes up until the time she goes to bed, she wants to “Hold her?” “Hold her hand?” “Give baby sister bottle?” “Margaux need paci?” and of course, try on Margaux’s clothes (which, in reality, were once Charlie’s, so I get it, but these days, are a little too tight — see pic of Charlie holding Margaux’s hand in a flowered onesie for evidence, lol).
