JUL 14, 2026

INSIDE: Free Time, Shopping Musts, and Finding Love from Within.

TODAY I WILL:

Remember that everything starts with one conversation, one click, one step.

The smallest details are making the biggest statements this summer.

• The flower brooch is having its main-character moment.

• The royal box at Wimbledon was missing one fan favorite. 

• This summer bucket list item just got a lot faster.

• The easiest kitchen upgrade starts at the sink. 

• Bold eye shadow is back—and Zendaya is leading the way.

Free Time Is Hot

There was a time when being busy felt like a status symbol. Packed calendars, unread emails, eating lunch at your desk, and casually mentioning how little sleep you got were all ways of signaling that you were important, in demand, and working hard.

Lately, that energy feels a lot less aspirational.

More people are questioning whether constant busyness is actually productive or just exhausting. Spending every waking minute optimizing, multitasking, and squeezing more into the day doesn't automatically lead to better work, better relationships, or a better life. In many cases, it just leads to burnout.

Instead, there's growing appreciation for things like focused work, realistic schedules, and even pockets of unstructured time. Finishing your tasks and logging off is becoming more impressive than answering emails at 11 P.M. Resting isn't viewed as a lack of ambition; it's increasingly seen as part of sustaining it.

The new flex isn't proving how busy you are. It's having enough control over your time that you don't feel the need to be productive for anyone else.

Try this today: The next time someone asks how you're doing, resist the urge to answer with "busy." See what happens when you describe how you're actually feeling instead.

There’s nothing quite like a morning at the farmers' market (especially when buying local might protect you from a certain parasite). From fresh flowers and seasonal produce to artisanal treats and local finds, it’s the perfect excuse to slow down and savor the little things.

1. Urban Outfitters Beaded Tote, 2. QUAY Sunglasses, 3. Cuyana La Toquillera, 4. Birkenstock Arizona Soft Footbed (Suede), 5. Vacation SPF Strawberry Lip Balm, 6. Free People Sundress, 7. Etsy Retro Milk Carton Vase, 8. VIVAIA Sneakerinas, 9. Anthropologie Ceramic Fruit Containers, 10. Reusable Produce Bags

For years, Julie LaPlaca helped create some of reality TV's most unforgettable love stories as a producer on The Bachelor. But while she was encouraging contestants to open up about their hearts, she realized she hadn't taken the time to examine her own. After experiencing burnout and walking away from a successful career, she embarked on a journey of healing that ultimately inspired her debut memoir, The Love Producer. 

We caught up with Julie to chat about what reality dating shows get right (and wrong), why she's trading "girl boss" for "girl moss," and what she's learned about rewriting the story we tell ourselves about love.

Was there a particular moment while writing the memoir that surprised you or changed how you viewed your own story?

Yeah, I think I was spending all these years producing other love stories at The Bachelor franchise, and during that time, my own five-year relationship ended, probably very much in part due to my being on the road all the time, amongst other things. And then I just dove more into my career, so just go, go, go, climbing the producer ladder, and ironically, I was spending all this time digging into other people's hearts, getting them to be vulnerable, talk about their desires in life and love and past relationships. There was this moment where I realized, “Gosh, I'm really good at getting other people to do this, but I haven't actually taken the time to reflect on that for myself.” 

Speaking of your time on The Bachelor, what's one misconception people have about how love stories are created on reality TV?

I think people right away think that it's scripted, and I'm here to say it is not. It's not scripted at all. We're creating a bubble, right? It's a social experiment. When you have your cell phones taken away, your job, and other outside distractions, and you just have this sort of dedicated time to talk about love, to talk about your desires, and to go on dates with this one person, and usually they're fun and exciting, and the oxytocin is being released naturally. You're growing and learning a lot about yourself and what you want out of a relationship, and so I really did see people fall in love, and you know that's the beautiful side of a show like this, in my opinion.

There have been so many fictional books coming out recently telling a behind-the-scenes story of a dating show. How do you feel about that?

Actually, I think they're really fun. I recently read Most Eligible by Isabelle Engel, and I interviewed her, and it's really fun to see how fans of the show creatively take their spin on these reality shows. 

After spending years watching relationships unfold on TV, how has your definition of love changed in real life?

Since leaving [the show] and embarking on my own journey for love, I've actually connected with the unconditional love that's available to all of us. In my opinion, love is a state of being, and when you can embody that and all that you do and come from a place of love in your day-to-day, then you're going to radiate that and attract it energetically. Whether it's romantic relationships, the people that come into your life, your job, everything, and to me that's that's love in its essence. 

Oh! What’s a Girl Moss era?