Currently 40,000 feet in the air, flying home to my babies, and already mentally making a list of everything I need to get done before I turn around and leave again for another work trip. I wasn’t kidding when I said August 3rd opened the floodgates on the rest of the year. It has been GO GO GO GO GO since Monday and I have a feeling it’s not slowing down anytime soon.
Here’s the thing… we don’t go back to school for another month and I am not wasting a single day. End of summer is one of my favorite times of year and I have some very “Gaby coded” rituals that I look forward to. Three big things. Three things that make me feel like myself again after a summer of no schedule and absolute chaos. I LOVE A SCHEDULE. BRING IT BACK TO ME FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS!
1. The easiest cooking of all time
I am done with any and all ambitious cooking until further notice. We are talking things that come together in sub-20 minutes, recipes that require zero brain power, nothing on the stovetop. Grill only. Summer produce does all the heavy lifting.
2. Sunday family dinners
This one is near and dear to my heart because it goes back to my private chef days. The family I cooked for had a standing Sunday dinner aka no invitations went out, no texts, no RSVPs. It was just known. Friends knew to show up at 4pm, bring their swim gear and towels, and live it up. As their private chef, I’d handle the mains, everyone brought a side, and the table was majorly full. I have wanted to recreate that magic ever since. We’re not quite there yet, their kids were older and the logistics were easier than having two small kids, but we’re getting there. Smaller hangs with a few friends around the table on a Sunday nights. One day we will be standing invite and I can’t wait.
3. The purge
I don’t know what it is about purging but it does something for my brain that nothing else can come close to. I come home from a trip, I look around, and something in me just needs to clear it all out. Marie Kondo is a legend, obviously, but I do not have the bandwidth to pick up every single item and ask myself if it sparks joy. So I do my own version. One room a day. One area at a time. Before I left for New York I did the entire kitchen: pantry, junk drawer, pots and pans, utensil drawers, fridge, the whole thing. When I get home I’m moving on to the bedroom and bathroom. Then the kids rooms. My office… you get the idea. The linen closet doesn’t know what’s going to happen to it. NOTHING AND NO ONE IS SAFE.
Clothes get divided into three piles: donate, gift to my sister or friends, or toss. If I haven’t worn something in two years it’s gone. I am officially retired from saving anything for a themed party. That ship has sailed and I need the closet space. The only exceptions are the forever pieces. The jackets, the coats, the things I’d wear in a heartbeat if we ever actually made it to the snow.
Someone tell me why this gives me such joy? Is it because my brain is always running? Kids, businesses, Thomas, logistics, the next deadline, whatever TV show I am on … it never really stops. So in my mind, if I can control my environment, if I can come home to a space that feels mostly dialed in / calm / like everything is exactly where it belongs, I can actually chill. Suitcases get unpacked immediately. Laundry gets done. Things go back where they live. It sounds simple but I think I’d be a much different person if I didn’t roll this way.
Anyways, that’s whats on my mind. Lots of other things to discuss but before we get to some lists. Do we want to talk about working with brands / sponsored content next week? When I said the floodgates opened on Monday, I was’t messing around. I’ve been fielding a dozen brand requests for fall and I think it might be interesting to let you in a bit BTS. Thoughts?
Recipes on Repeat
Raw Tomato Caprese Pasta - insane. My bff Matt thinks this is the best recipe of summer.
Avocado Peach Summer Salad - cant get enough!
Cucumber Feta Salad - remember when this went viral a few years back? Gah I love it so much. Finn has been putting this down by the pound!
Sun Gold Caprese - are you sending a theme. ZERO cooking involved.
Where We Ate - spent the week in NYC and really did some damage!!
Scarr’s Pizza - perhaps my favorite slice I’ve ever had!
Joe’s Pizza - first timer! 10 outta 10!
Corner Store - omg get all the appetizers and a dirty martini. The steak was top notch too. Those pizza rolls - OMG
Corner Bar - breakfast of my dreams consisting of a ham and cheese croissant and 2 delightful latte’s
Odeon - an insane seafood salad and fries for the ultimate girl lunch!
What I’m Watching
We finished Agency finally. I NEED THIS TO BE RENEWED FOR A 3RD SEASON
Lioness. I’m in. I’m obsessed.
Influenced
I’m very into consolidating my tee-shirts right now and anything stained is obvi leaving the property. So I snagged this PERFECT tee-shirt made by 2 of my favorite friends in black and white. It’s all you need. GABY20 gets you a discount.
Got my first Argent suit and HOLY SHIT ITS PERFECTION. The red - stunning. The cut - perfect. I love this brand and how is it that I am just now learning about it. Prepare to be obsessed. The founder just gets it!
I ordered an adjustable cooling pillow and I cannot wait. Standby for a full review. It sounds heavenly!
I got a new crisp white button down for my trip across the pond next week along with this denim one!
Added this to my bracelet stack to give it a bit more femininity!
Things I Sent to the Group Chat
My two segments on Today Show OBVIOUSLY. Flank Steak up first and then a Chile Lime Chicken Salad
What an Interesting Thing to Say Out Loud
Someone left a comment on my most recent live say this (DIRECT QUOTE) “Happy to hear you are discontinuing the MEAT seasoning…. my least favorite.” Now, I feel like she said this because she is obviously excited about what is launching next week (asking Thomas to get it up this weekend just for anyone who is super on it) -. But like LOLOLOLOLOL. It gave me such a chuckle. We have collectively lost it.
Ok that’s it for me!! Love you
That was the most RUDE thing to say out loud. You are too kind (but the rest of us are very excited for the latest launch). She just told you which child was the ugliest. Move on “out loud lady”.
You were perfect on Today! That outfit AND you handle the rhythm of how fast you have to present. No easy task!🩷🍉