The Grocery Store Theory
Because Good Design and Good Snacks Are Equally Important
Not just the kind we live in but the kind we make.
The quiet pockets of time where we can just be. The space to breathe, notice, and reclaim even the tiniest bit of joy. And if you’re reading this at midnight, over your morning coffee, or while hiding from your inbox, you probably feel it, too.
The endless news cycles. The pressure to keep up. The sheer exhaustion of it all.
But here’s the thing.
Your home, your routines, the way you create comfort for yourself? That’s not just self-care. It’s survival. It’s a way to root down instead of disappearing into the chaos.
Speaking of chaos, my son turned 6 this week. SIX! I don’t know how that happened.
We spent the day at a local children’s museum, then wandered a new market, ice cream in hand. And honestly? I think he might have loved the market more than the museum.
I get it.
I’ve always loved fresh markets and grocery stores. Something about the ritual of it, the rows of produce, the comfort of knowing everything is in its place.
When I was in my early twenties and feeling homesick, I’d go to the grocery store just to feel “normal.” Maybe it’s the connection between food and love, or it’s just the act of choosing something simple and good for yourself. Either way, my son seems to have inherited this, and I selfishly kind of love that.
But this week, time caught up with me. That familiar feeling of wanting to slow it all down. I wonder if I’m doing enough. If the little moments are adding up the way I hope they are.
And maybe that’s why I love a good market. Not just for the fresh bread and overpriced imported butter but for the reminder that the simplest things, a meal, a space, a fleeting moment, can still be highlights of our days.
This week, I want to talk about that. About home as a feeling, about food and design, and the tiny shifts that make life feel softer.
Because in a world that moves too fast, the best thing we can do is pay attention.
🍽️ Food & Design
A well designed space should invite you in the same way a good meal does.
Plating Like a Designer:
The first thing you ever notice about a dish is how good it looks (maybe smell, but for this example to work, let’s stick with sight!), and then you taste how good it is. The same principles apply to interiors: balance, contrast, and negative space. Try serving dinner on oversized handmade ceramic plates (look for The Citizenry or Costa Nova), and let the food be the art.
Tablescape = Living Room Styling
Open shelving should hold things you actually use, not just display objects.
Stack wooden bowls
Keep fresh herbs in Stoneware Mugs
& let that imperfect French market tote full of lemons casually lean against the counter. Life isn’t a showroom, it’s better.
The Kitchen Should Feel Lived In
Open the curtains. No overhead lighting allowed!
Swap out harsh bulbs for warm, dimmable bulbs to make your space feel like a boutique hotel.
Slowing Down with Food
Not every meal needs to be an event, but small, intentional touches can turn an ordinary Tuesday dinner into something that actually feels like life.
The Fancy Butter Ritual: Buy one indulgent butter (like Rodolphe Le Meunier Beurre de Baratte or Bordier), serve it in a tiny dish, and sprinkle with flaky salt.
The Good Napkins Rule: Stop saving napkins. If you have linen napkins, use them. They instantly elevate even a simple egg on toast moment.
A Weeknight Cheese Board: You don’t need an occasion to throw together a little cheese and fruit situation. Aged gouda, some Marcona almonds, and a sliced pear? That is dinner.
A Pot of Tea, Not a Mug: Brewing a whole pot of tea (vs. just a single mug) forces you to slow down. You'll get bonus points for using a vintage teapot or a Japanese cast iron one.
The Murray’s Cheese Edit
Because Cheese Deserves Its Own Section 🧀
Walk into Murray’s for a simple wedge of brie, and next thing you know, you’re leaving with 3 types of gouda, a perfectly aged cheddar that you suddenly have strong opinions about, and a newfound expertise in “cave-aging.”
What to Buy, How to Pair It, and the No Fail Cheese Board Formula 🧀
Follow the “3 3 3” Rule
3 kinds of cheese – Something soft (brie, burrata), something sharp (aged cheddar, gouda), and something funky (blue, washed-rind).
3 Carbs – A thin cracker, a rustic baguette, and something unexpected (like rye crisps or parmesan crisps).
3 Add-Ons – Something sweet (honey or fig jam), something salty (olives, prosciutto), something tangy (cornichons, pickled onions).
Go for Odd Numbers
Always arrange in groups of three or five. This design trick works equally well on a coffee table and a cheese board.
Low effort, High Impact Cheese Board
3 Cheeses Max – One soft (brie), one sharp (aged cheddar), one funky (blue).
Unexpected Crunch – Skip the standard crackers. Try Marcona almonds or thin baguette slices.
A Pop of Acid – Cornichons or balsamic drizzled strawberries cut through the richness.
Unexpected Pairings
Parmesan + Dark Chocolate – Sounds odd, but trust. The salty sweet balance is unreal.
Blue Cheese + Honeycomb – Funky + sweet = elite.
Goat Cheese + Pistachios – Roll a log of goat cheese in crushed pistachios for texture.
Aged Cheddar + Apple Butter – A perfect balance of sharp and sweet.
🛒 The Murray’s Cheese List
Marieke Aged Gouda – Aged, nutty, crunchy A must try.
Moses Sleeper (Jasper Hill) – Like Brie, but better. Soft, creamy, perfect.
Challerhocker – Swiss, caramelized, slightly funky, melts beautifully.
📌 The Under $15 Cheeses
Beecher’s Flagship Cheddar – Sharp, crumbly, deeply savory.
Humboldt Fog (Mini Wheel) – That famous California goat cheese with the gorgeous ash line.
Point Reyes Blue – Creamy and bold, it works on everything from steak to salads.
🥂 And Because Cheese Needs Wine… (A Few Pairing Hacks)
Sharp Cheddar + Sparkling Wine – The acidity cuts through the richness.
Brie + Chardonnay – Keep it creamy, keep it classic.
Blue Cheese + Port or Sauternes – Sweet wine balances the funk.
Goat Cheese + Sauvignon Blanc – Bright, zippy, fresh.
“Grab a few cheeses, slice up some bread, pour a glass of wine, and just be for a second.”
In My Search Bar
Music, art, and powerful women.
💤 Nodpod Eye Masks at Bedtime – Like a weighted blanket, but for your face.
🏺 Ceramic Vessels as Trash Cans – Because even the ugly parts of life deserve good design.
🧖♀️ Matouk Towels – The kind of towels that make your bathroom feel like a 5 star hotel.
🌳 30 Minutes Outside Every Day – Fresh air fixes more than you think.
☕️ Washington Style Iced Americano – White chocolate, espresso, ice, cream—like an espresso martini, but socially acceptable at 9 AM
🍸 Paper Thin Glasses – The thinner the glass, the better the sip
✨ Jane Fonda – Because she’s always unapologetically herself
A Little Nudge & A Lot of Good Stuff
You know that moment when you finally sit down after a long day, take a sip of whatever you’re drinking (wine, tea, a very specific iced Americano with just the right amount of white chocolate), and suddenly everything feels a little bit better?
That’s what I want this space to feel like.
Not another email you skim and delete. Not a perfectly curated “how to style your bookshelf” tutorial that makes you wonder if you should buy another candle you don’t need. Just a place where things feel warm, easy, a little indulgent—but never out of reach.
So, if you’ve been reading the free version (thank you!), loving the recs, and quietly thinking, “Should I upgrade?” This is me, giving you the nudge. The best niche, “Where has this been all my life?” stuff is waiting inside the paid edition.
And because I love a good excuse to celebrate:
For the Next 24 Hours Only—A Little Something Just for You
Paid subscribers get $50 off a one on one design session.
Just hit reply with “Design Please,” and I’ll send you a discount code. No forms, no fuss, just a little gift from me to you.
Not ready for a full session? This week’s paid edition is worth the upgrade alone:
“🔎 The Design Rabbit Hole You Actually Want to Fall Into—Secret Finds, Tiny Upgrades, and the Little Things That Make Life Feel Good”