Best Day Ever?!

Core Memories

Jul 18, 2026

Last weekend, the stars aligned and I was able to experience what I’m calling The Best Day Ever. You’re lucky to experience The Best Day Ever a few times a year. Obviously, it’s subjective, but for me, it involves swimming, tennis, al fresco meals, and laughing with friends. I’ve described a version of this day many times in questionnaires and interviews, but it’s rare to pull the damn thang off IRL. I actually love that “What’s your best day ever?” question and would like to hear what yours is! Let it rip in the comments!

So, here’s my Best Day Ever…

We wake up in Ojai, it’s the finals of Wimbledon, my baby has slept through the night. Already off to a great start. My dad is visiting us, so we take him to Rory’s Other Place for coffee, scones, granola, and my usual order of their daily quiche. While we’re there, we chit chat with some nice people, it’s early and not too crowded. Then, all of a sudden, it’s time to get home to watch the tennis!!

We gathered around the TV and watched as my favorite player, Jannik Sinner, wins Wimbledon for the second year in a row. Thrilled! Things are going my way. Because we were dialed in to the tennis for nearly 4 hours, we missed the farmer’s market, but that’s ok! Saving some fun for another day. Tennis, Check.

Next, we were invited to meet up with our lovely friends visiting from Charleston, Brooks and Erin Reitz. They invited us for a chill lunch and swim at a beautiful ranch where they were staying. If you don’t already follow these two, you must! Brooks writes one of my favorite newsletters, A Small and Simple Thing while also being one of Charleston’s best restaurateurs, which is how we met nearly 10 years ago! Erin is a delight of a human being who makes supremely beautiful shirts under the label E.M. Reitz. Any time spent with them and their son, Hoyt, is fun, fascinating, and delicious.

Brooks whipped up the perfect lunch for a scorching afternoon: asparagus with tonnato, a tomato + paneer salad, a snap pea + pistachio salad. We brought the 3 B’s: Baguette, Berries, and Bubbles. (Lorenza Rosé Bubbly is ideal lunch wine if I do say so myself! It’s sold out but still avail in our Summer Set). We talked about restaurants, movies, and the enduring appeal of an antique stove. Then we took a walk down to the pool for a swim with the baby, more chats while absorbing the magical nature of Ojai. Homemade lunch followed by swimming, check.

Then we went home and took a quick rest before heading over to Ojai Valley Inn for an early dinner with some of our dearest friends, Lauren and Matt, who actually introduced my husband and I! If browsing real estate and design is a hobby of yours, definitely check out their IG. The hospitality at The Inn is really top notch and they’re really accommodating for kids. We had a delicious bottle of champagne and dinner at The Oaks before watching the kiddos run around as the sun set. FYI, a putting green is one of the best surfaces for a 7 month baby to crawl on!! We made some s’mores and wished out loud that we lived closer to each other. Al fresco dinner, check!

Then it was time for Miss Baby to go to sleep. I snuck in a lil episode of Love Island with my nightly cup of Rest and Digest tea. And I declared to my husband, this was The Best Day Ever! It was a seemingly simple itinerary, made so special by the most darling friends, beautiful surroundings, some of my favorite activities in the world, and spending time with my family. Life with Lucia is so very sweet and getting to spend a weekend with her and my dad was what the kids are calling a ‘core memory’. So, with that said, what does your dream day look like?

I’ve been lucky to have some epic mail days recently… Must have been a very good girl in my past life! Here are some of the things I’m obsessed with…

Amuse Bouche

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