Happy Sunday, everyone. Didn’t we tell you last week was going to be filled with awesome content? Well, this week, in our humble opinion, is just as exciting. Emily is currently exploring the great outdoors with her family, so you’re just getting the team today, but we promise the links are VERY good:)

This week’s house tour is a beautiful renovation done by designer, Cynthia Abi-Naked. The before and afters are SO good and the outdoor library is a total dream. Check it out here!

Here’s this week’s Carriage House YouTube in case you missed it!

From Caitlin: Earlier this week, I found myself glued to my sofa while binge-watching all 6 episodes of Netflix’s new series, Hitmakers. It’s a quick, easy watch that follows some of the world’s leading songwriters through three different writing camps. I LOVED IT. I worked in a recording studio in a past life and had never seen the creative process documented so accurately – it felt like I was back in a room, pitching ideas and phrases. It was a BLAST, and the show reminded me how fun it was to tap into that creative, collaborative energy! (PS. Here’s the biggest hit that my team wrote – the demo was spun up during the 2012 World Cup. The original chorus was actually just the Olé chant over and over, but it was tweaked to a “real chorus” when Avicii cut the track. Can you tell?!)

Also From Caitlin: This might be TMI (read: it’s definitely TMI) but post-pandemic, I typically wear a sports bra every day – I hate wires, am constantly dealing with spillage at the top (why are my boobs shaped so weird?!), and a lot of the straps on the 36F offerings make me feel like I’m 90, not 33. So when one of my trusty sports bras bit the dust last month, I figured I’d try out this $34 bralette alternative.  GUYS, IT’S MIRACULOUS. It looks toddler-sized – I literally laughed when I picked it up – but it somehow holds my girls in AND up. (I mean, it’s not a push-up bra, but there’s a definite difference. I got it in the XL!) I wouldn’t recommend any of Skims’ other bras -I  have tried almost all of them, none work for me personally – but I find myself turning to this baby-sized bralette every day. It’s been through multiple laundromat washer/dryer cycles with no issues, and it’s infinitely more wearable than my sports bra alternatives. If this recommendation can help one other wire-hating, comfy bra-loving gal, I will be thrilled!!!

From Jess: While at my dad’s this past weekend, he was very excited to show me his new wax fire pit. It’s an eco-friendly alternative that doesn’t make any mess and is cute! You don’t need any wood because it’s powered by 100% biodegradable vegetable wax. He loves it because it’s perfect for his small patio, gets 8 hours worth of burn time, and again, he doesn’t have to clean up after it. It can also act as a stool when you’re not using it. A perfect way to stay outside as long as possible:) Here’s a link to the refills where there’s a citronella option too. See ya bugs!

From Mallory: My favorite sports bra is easily this one from Lululemon (been wearing it on repeat for over a year now), and I could not love it more. I have it in white, and then I also snagged it in a mauve and (got the matching shorts) and they’re SO cute – wear it all the time!! I typically size up in Lulu sports bras (I got a 6) fyi:)

From Arlyn: Once my knees started sounding like a bag of popcorn in the microwave, I looked into introducing some collagen into my life. I tried Vital Proteins and liked it enough but to be honest, I’m not even sure what “liking” a collagen powder is supposed to look like. But I’ve been using Bubs Collagen Peptides for six months since I found it through a Facebook ad and it’s great! Yes, my knees still crackle like Rice Krispies in milk, but they don’t really hurt anymore so that’s a plus, yeah? Mostly, I’m glad to squeeze in 18 grams of extra protein in my morning coffee (it’s heat tolerant), which is a huge win for me in general!

From Marlee: This is one of my fave heavyweight sweatshirts ever – I’ve had the same one for 5 years at this point and I’m still loving it. It’s super plush and the perfect oversized – I’d say it’s pretty true to size and has a super big hood that is so nice for lounging around in (I hate when sweatshirt hoods are small/tight, but if you don’t like it oversized, this might not be for you). It’s definitely worth the price IMO, considering I’ve worn mine nearly every week for the past 5 years. Cost per wear has got to be pennies at this point! This one is more of a slouchy, straight down the torso fit, but if you want it a little more fitted/tapered at the waist, this one is also a great choice:) I just have black, but they both come in super cute colors.

From Gretchen: I picked up this super cute, tiered swing dress from Old Navy the other day, and I really like it! It’s not anything too groundbreaking. It’s a lightweight fabric and very breezy, and the reddish brown plaid just feels like me. The sleeves hang nicely, and I like that you can wear them on or off the shoulder. But mostly, I just appreciate that it’s as easy to throw on as a t-shirt–stretchy, no zippers, plenty of flowy fabric. I wore it the other day with a cropped hoodie over top and was surprised at just how cute it looked together, but I’ve also enjoyed wearing it with no layers and just a cute pair of sandals. Affordable, adorable, and easy!

This last week, we saw the devastating news that photographer Bethany (Nauert) Mendez’s husband unexpectedly passed away. She’s a photographer EHD has worked with and loved. We have no doubt everyone reading this has seen her incredible work. As I am sure many of you know, costs add up so fast after a loss so if you are able to donate to Bethany, here is a GoFundMe that was set up to help her.

Thanks for taking some time to hang with us and see ya tomorrow for the post we’ve been WAITING to show you:)

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: The First Tour Inside Our 1850s Carriage House – Let The Restoration Begin!!!!!