The other day I went hiking in the hills above Montecito in an area that had been devastated by the Thomas Fire of late 2017, and then released as the harrowing Montecito mudslide that followed in January 2018. I hadn’t been up there since, and for some reason I was drawn there with Napper that day. Walking on the incredibly green and lush trail with wildflowers blooming all around us, we began to notice the blackened tree trunks that dotted the landscape.
Read MoreAs I have shared on social media, the early morning hours of January 9, 2018 forever changed my life. Surviving the Montecito mudslide was a miracle - and let's be clear, mudslide is so not an accurate description of what really happened. Landslide, mountain falling, boulder dumping... The extreme nature of what happened was unimaginable. The sheer force and speed at which the mountain literally fell and closed in on us. Six weeks later the shock is wearing off and the aftermath of the trauma is manifesting.
Read MoreMoving up to Santa Barbara from LA was a dream that we made happen a year ago. Can't believe it has already been a year! Finding our dream house in our budget was not going to happen on that timeline. Having survived two renovations since our marriage ten years ago, we were pretty determined to NOT do another one. However, when we discovered this 1890s farmhouse with a pool and a guesthouse and a tangle of gardens (woods?!) on a little lane in the heart of Montecito, we starting rethinking.
Read MoreA month later we are still basking in the glow of toasting the launch of our signature aromatherapy based scent, The First, with friends and family. There was such love, a lot of clinking glasses, and much spritzing in the magical garden at Somerset in Santa Barbara! What a way to launch this perfume, summer and life up in Santa Barbara.
Read MoreMaking time for ourselves is harder and harder with kids, husbands, and jobs. There is something magical that happens when women take time for themselves- especially to connect with other women! Being with 11 of my best friends from Princeton to celebrate our collective 40th birthdays was an absolute blast. We let our hair down out on the Chesapeake Bay-- we boated, swam in the Bay, ate oysters, drank too much, laughed, cried, rode bikes, did yoga, got massages, and talked into the wee hours.
Read MorePark City has been a favorite getaway for us the last few years-- it is super easy to get to from California, incredibly quaint, and offers a plethora of skiing options. As all of you who are parents know, time away (alone!!) is hard to come by. When a visit from our mother dovetailed with Napper wrapping up a business trip in Salt Lake, we were quick to accept Lucy and my mother's generosity to stay with Ever while we had a much needed romantic ski weekend.
Read More
