Effortless Is Expensive
The exhausting truth behind "effortless" living
INSIDE TODAY:
The secret psychology behind “slow living” aesthetics
5 last-minute Easter hacks that actually work
The $0 ChatGPT prompt that saved me $117
For members: The $23 bathroom lighting trick everyone's talking about
Remember when we were told “hustle culture” was toxic?
Apparently, the antidote was to make the hustle look effortless.
“Slow living” isn't about actually slowing down. It's about making six figures without anyone seeing you sweat.
I learned this the hard way this week...
This week, I had an impromptu jam session with my six-year-old. Do I play piano? No. Can I sing? Also no. But did it significantly improve my mood?
Yes it did.
I won't lie and tell you I jumped out of my seat for this; in fact, my running list of to-dos almost strapped me down to the chair. But the looming light I could see from my door (the one he set up as the spotlight), the oversized leather jacket, and his bright green glasses... how could I ever say no?
Then, as soon as we started, the world paused for a moment. The stress lifted, and I was reminded of the reason we are here. It wasn't bought. It wasn't curated. But it felt like oxygen.
I often dream of a time where we can slow down, set down the race, the dream for more, more, more... but it seems nearly impossible without a mountain of investor cash.
And that's what we never talk about. Why? Because we don't have the time. The illusion of chasing a slow life in a world that never slows down.
I don't have the answers, but I do promise to spend every day trying to find them and sharing it all with you. So if my design advice is mid, stay for the future reveal of how I finally conquered that slow life that also provides financial stability.
If your space feels a little “off,” let’s fix it.
No overhauls, no overcomplicating, just small, intentional tweaks that change everything.
I’m opening up a few design sessions, and if you’ve been thinking about it, this is your sign. We’ll get on a call, go through your space, and I’ll give you clear, actionable changes that actually make sense for how you live.
It’s easy. It’s fun. And it’ll make your home feel right.
Spots are limited, so if you want in, now’s the time.
💛 The Good Stuff
A surprise jam session in the loft that reminded me why we even do all this
The smell of lemon zest and sunscreen lingering in the air like a pre-summer teaser
That one ray of afternoon light that hit the kitchen floor just right and made everything feel cinematic for 7 seconds
We're collecting moments, not things. Unless the thing is a vintage match striker. Then it's both.
The Overlooked
5 Things to Prep the Week Before Easter
Last-minute floral arrangements
Here’s the trick: Don’t fight the grocery store. Just lean into it with confidence and a bundle of carrots.
The Vegetable Vase Hack:
Pick up a bunch of whole carrots with the greens still attached (bonus if they’re multicolored).
Drop them into a wide-mouth glass vase with a little water and a single floral stem or two.
Let the carrots be the statement. It’s rustic. It’s fresh. It’s real.
I once did this 20 minutes before guests arrived, using $5 produce and one leftover flower, and got more compliments than on any $45 bouquet I’ve ever bought.
Saves: $50+ per event. Feels like a dinner party flex.
Bathroom quick-fixes for guests
People always notice bathrooms.
Swap out hand towels for spring colors, add a small potted plant, and place a basket of individually wrapped hand soaps as both decor and party favors.
The 10-minute tablescape
Layer a neutral runner with scattered egg-shaped candles and glass jars filled with jelly beans. Add name cards tied to twigs with raffia for a Pinterest-worthy table with minimal effort.
Emergency basket fillers
Keep a stash of wooden eggs, watercolor paints, and twine. When you need a last-minute gift, paint a quick pattern, attach twine, and call it “artisanal Easter décor.”
The clean-only-what-matters strategy
Focus energy on the entryway, bathroom, and wherever food is served. Everything else can be “artfully lived-in” (it's a design term, I promise).
✨ Current Obsessions
Why Your Bathroom Should Be a Little Unhinged
Your bathroom is the one place you can go completely wild with design without regrets.
Here's the truth: We spend an average of 416 days of our lives in the bathroom, yet it's the last room most people invest in. The ROI on bathroom happiness is astronomical.
Here's why you should let your wild side out in the bathroom:
Statement wallpaper that would be too much anywhere else
Dark florals, geometric patterns, or even vintage maps. The bathroom can handle what your living room can't.
A crystal chandelier over a clawfoot tub or vintage sconces next to your mirror can transform a basic bathroom into a conversation piece.
Floor-to-ceiling drama
Try patterned cement tiles, painted floors with stencil designs, or even a penny tile floor (literally made of pennies, cheaper than you'd think).
My Beautiful, Functional Breakdown
As I write this, a cold front is rolling through Texas (yes, in April), and something about the cold wind feels like a reset.
Listen, I don't like budgeting. I like strategy. And this one feels like cheating in the best way:
💡 Copy + paste this into ChatGPT:
I want to plan five dinners this week using only what's in my fridge: [insert your random leftovers here!]. Include one vegetarian meal, one cozy soup, and one dish that feels like a restaurant order.No grocery run. No food waste. No takeout spiral at 6:42 pm.
Savings so far? $117 this week alone.
Newsletter? Paid for. Emotionally and financially.
First, thank you for trusting me with your inbox AND your money. I don't take either lightly, which is why I'm delivering my most valuable bathroom hack right out of the gate.
The $23 DIY Bathroom Upgrade That’ll Save You $357
The Problem:
Most bathrooms have horrible lighting.
Builders install those cheap overhead fixtures that cast shadows down your face (making you look tired/older), or they put those dreaded Hollywood-style globe lights above your mirror that create harsh shadows and make everyone look... well, terrible.
When I was consulting on a bathroom renovation for a client last year, their designer quoted $450 to install “architectural cove lighting” around their vanity mirror. The result was stunning: a soft, indirect glow that made everyone look airbrushed in real life. But the price? Criminal.
What we can do instead is below ↓