My in-laws are living abroad this summer, so along with Boy Sam graduating medical school, the timing of this trip felt so perfect. Literally 12 hours after Sam accepted his diploma, we were en route to the Vegas airport. Our first destination: Padua, Italy. We flew into Venice Marco Polo (VCE) and took a taxi back into Padua, where my in-laws were Airbnb-ing for the month.

Padua is a very lowkey university town wrapped in so much art and history. We spent 6 days in Padua: morning walks to pastry shops, day trips to Venice and Lake Garda, 10pm dinners, town square markets, private cooking classes, trying to get the slightest idea of speaking Italian (helloo I only learned Spanish in school), endless gelato, etc !!!

Up next, Florence, Italy. (Spoiler, it was my favvvv !) We packed up and trained down to Florence for a few days. I really had no idea what to expect but it was so beautiful and welcoming. And thanks to our absolute GEM of a hotel / apartment find, we stayed in a quiet neighborhood pocket. I truly don’t have enough good things to say about this hotel (price, location, aesthetic, security, all soo perfect for what I wanted).

This stint was 4 days, 3 nights.

I honestly could have stayed in Florence forever and will probably stay longer the next time I go, but the next stop on our tour-de-Europe: Rome, Italy (3 days, 2 nights). I hate to be the one to say this, but it gave me Midtown Manhattan vibes on our first day there (read: overcrowded, stinky, dirty streets). Exhibit A…

Day two was better, with a walk around The Collosseum and gardens. If you’re not catching on, put me in a garden and I’m the happiest I can be.

We stayed at Hotel Quirinale & I’d stay there again. Hotel staff was fab and the aesthetic was great for the price point. (Aesthetic is of course 90% of what makes me click “reserve room”.)

At this point we still had some of our more exciting stays ahead, and I think I speak for both Boy Sam and myself when I say we were ready to leave Rome. In my opinion it’s a see it once and you’re good situation. Although if you have a different opinion, I would loovve for you to comment because I could be convinced !

Ok, then Pompeii, Italy. We trained south from Rome to Naples, checked our luggage in at the train station, and then took a train from that station into Pompeii. Be prepared for more of a ~subway surfer~ (yes the game) type of vibe for the train to Pompeii. Covered in graffiti with some random individual serenading the tourists for 40 minutes lol.

Growing up you always hear about Pompeii and you’re like yeah that’s crazy but then you go to Pompeii and it’s actually CRAZYY. What I mean is the condition of the 2000+ year-old ruins, the casts of humans whose lives were taken from them in an instant, the bread found still in the oven, the poppy-lined streets, the murals they’d painted on the interior walls of their shops and homes. Walking through the town feels surreal and you can just picture day-to-day life as ours is now. I highly recommend going if you have the chance (we did the audio tour which is fab so you can go at your own pace / explore what you want to and nothing you don’t want to). We stayed for about 4 hours before heading back to Naples.

This was one of our most chaotic travel days because we’d been in Rome, Pompeii, and Naples and we had a hotel in Ischia, Italy that night. Soooo, we took a taxi from the Naples train station to the Molo Beverello port. Honestly the port was kind of confusing, we didn’t know what building we were supposed to go to to get our tickets and by the time we got there our next option was like an hour and a half out. We ended up waiting and took a ~50 minute ferry ride to the island of Ischia.

When we were initially planning this trip, I had the Amalfi Coast in mind for this stretch of 3 days / 2 nights. But I am sooo glad we chose Ischia. After all of the hustle and bustle and tourists up to this point, I was overdue for a no-one-sitting-next-to-me-while-I-eat-french-fries-and-lay-out situation.

Our hotel: Hotel Pagoda. Gorg ! Incredible food ! Private beach ! Ocean access ! An 8-minute walk directly from the port where the ferry brings you ! The color palette alone healed me. I really feel like the photos speak for themselves.

We did a little bit of exploring around the island; I know there’s a lot we didn’t see as well as nicer hotels and restaurants tucked in along the coast. But truly I just wanted to watch the waves roll in all day. This is another place I would go back to because there’s more to see & do. Also on my list is Sardinia !!! (Another, larger, more “stuff to do” island off the coast of Italy.)

36 hours later we were en route to a 7-day stay in Grindelwald, Switzerland. We ferried from Ischia to the Naples port, taxied from the port to the Naples airport, flew Swiss Airlines into Zurich, Switzerland, and drove a rental car to our Vrbo in Grindelwald. (Just typing that all out makes me tired lol the logistics were a huuuuge part of everything going so smoothly, and I tip my hat to Boy Sam for handling literally all of it.)

As you might imagine I was overwhelmed by this being my first time in Europe, let alone visiting sooo many different cities, and choosing hotels was stressful because I didn’t want to pick the “wrong” place. Well our Vrbo in Grindelwald couldn’t have been more perfect. The owner lived right next door and she was truly the nicest and most thoughtful host (highly recommend if you’re going any time soon) ! This was the view out our door…

We spent the week eating crepes, taking really steep cable cars and trains, eating crepes, adventuring through caves, hiking up to waterfalls, and oh did I mention eating crepes. I can’t say enough about the beauty in this area; the waterfalls were breathtaking, the cowbells just tinkering in the wind, flower fields forever !!! I’m so beyond grateful to have been able to experience this with Sam. We’ll never ever forget our time in Switzerland.

Last but CERTAINLY not least: Paris, France. One quick note before we continue, however………if you are ever in our exact situation of needing to drive back to the Zurich airport from Grindelwald, give yourself plenttyyyy of extra time. There was a road closure (not shown on Apple Maps, Google Maps, Waze, literally anywhere) and 1.5 hours into our drive we had to completely backtrack to our starting point and take a different route that added 2.5 additional hours onto our travel day.

So we drove back to the Zurich airport, dropped off our rental car, then took a train from the airport to Paris. It was about a 3.5 hour train ride. (In case you’re wondering, yes, at this point we were like okay I think we’re good to be done carrying 6 suitcases onto every form of transportation on earth. Call me crazy but I think a driver will absolutely be in the cards for a future Europe trip.)

Ok PARIS ! As a lover of fashion and beautiful things, I had very high hopes for Paris and truly they were all exceeded. I lovvveeeedddd Paris. Beyond shopping, which we’ll get into, the energy was very West Village (& well maybe West Village is just wannabe-Paris energy).

We stayed at The Eiffel Yard Hotel, a 5-minute walk from the Eiffel Tower. I think because of that, it was technically a good location. But next time I’m thinking I’d stay in the 3rd arrondissement to be closer to the shopping / restaurants / Louvre.

a few musts !!!

• matcha @ white

• lunch @ dumbo, justin for the most divine chicken caesar salad, chocolate mousse, and lemonade

• vintage shopping @ nuovo, tilt vintage, kanelle vintage, the parisian vintage, the vintage

• pajamas and the best vibes @ rubirosa’s

• all the good displays @ le bon marche

• don’t miss an in-person alohas or longchamp moment

& just like that it was time to fly back home—sooo bittersweet to be returning to a completely new phase of our lives: moving to Nashville. I’m SO endlessly grateful for the opportunity to experience (a tiny sliver of) Europe for the first time, this way. I came away with a renewed appreciation of a slower pace, giving more intention to the details, late-night mealtimes, languages I’d never heard before, andddd people that travel non-stop because WOW !!!

A few notes I want to include because I think they’re really important…

#1. I felt safe truly the entire time. There is so much fearmongering around traveling, especially internationally. I was told to be hyper-aware of pickpockets and not wear nice things. (I do want to caveat with the fact that I am a very observant, risk-averse person to begin with and you won’t find me walking unfamiliar streets at night by myself.) But my advice is to go into a trip like this feeling positive and open to the magic that can be felt and found. Honestly WHAT a waste of time to fear traveling. You will be fine ! Have funnnnn !

#2. Because of the above-mentioned fearmongering, I did in fact opt to wear this ring all month instead of my wedding ring. What’s funny is since being back I’ve continued to wear this instead, it’s seriously perfect !

#3. Use AI to help plan logistics. As I said before, Boy Sam literally did all of our planning—WITH the help of Gemini. He was able to sort out train schedules, learn what over-touristy view points to avoid / which sites were worth the chaos in each city, and map our itinerary in a clear and concise way. Don’t skip this if you’re a newbie like us !

#4. Take a million photos ! This is one of the many instances where I’m grateful my job is social media because I’m constantly getting content. Truly have no idea how many photos & videos I took but I’ll always have them and be able to share with friends, family, compile in a scrapbook, etc—truly priceless !

OOTDS — everything and more is linked here in ShopMy but comment if there’s something you’re missing and I’ll get it to ya !

A few styling recs + must-pack pieces if you’re heading to europe (or anywhere) this summer…

• you are going to want a close-toe shoe, trust meeee. might I suggest these scrunch sneakers, a mesh flat, and these loafers for comfy, walkable options that are still chic

• lovvvee a breeezy white top. I wore this tank and this dainty little number multiple times

• an everyday purse you can wear crossbody OR as a shoulder bag. (this especially applies if you’re doing a real on-the-move trip like we did; I’d recommend more stylish pieces if you were doing the resort / winery thing)… I’m still borrowing this chanel double flap from vivrelle, but I also lovedd this nylon tote for a more casual option. these were my go-tos ! let the record show this is my next investment piece omg and it would be gorggg for any trip ! anywhere !

• bring a trench ! this gorg silk trench is still on rotation for me, even in july

• everything in the graphic is linked here !!!!

The truth is I grossly overpacked because I didn’t know what I would need and can honestly justify anything clothing / accessories-related. For a trip like mine, bring some good, white denim and a fun blue denim; cotton pants (also these) + tees, black sunglasses because they go with everything, a colorful sandal to add interest to any outfit, if you’re into a dress do it like this, and a simple bikini. Voila !!!!!!!

If you have any comments, questions, concerns, comment them below ! And of course my DMs are always open ! I hope this is helpful for even one person planning their dream Europe trip. I already can’t WAITTTT to go back !

SH

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I’d never been to hawaii but had always wanted to go. we considered oahu (saving for next time !), kauai, and maui—and ultimately decided on maui for a blend of resort/beach vibes with lots of natural beauty and outdoorsy opportunities.

we stayed at the westin maui resort & spa in kaanapali. the room itself was really nice, we did a king room with a mountain view and it was gorg ! very spacious with a big bathroom and a cute little patio. also, because this is important to me and probably important to you…lots of closet and drawer space ! (after some recent NYC hotel stays I feel like I’m living lavish in a hotel over 150 sq ft lol)

I only have good things to report about the hotel, but I will say the absolute best part about it (& what sets it apart from other hotels in the area) is whaler’s village: an everything you need outdoor mall situation literally 2 minutes down the boardwalk. when I tell you we went every day, I’m not kidding !

we came off of an all-inclusive trip to cancun just a couple weeks prior, so it was a bit of a whiplash paying (a lot) for food every day. go in expecting to spend a lot on food, but also expect realllly good, fresh food ! it all balances out.

food recs !

• island vintage coffee (@ whaler’s village) — matcha, acai bowls, and the ham egg croissant

• ululani’s for the besttt shave ice, add mochi !

• sale pepe pizzeria e cucina — late night craving turned one of our best meals in maui, incredibly authentic and fresh italian

• maui matcha — banana bread matcha ! a little cart at the wailea outdoor mall (stop into bottega while you sip)

• ono tacos — we went to the one in kahuli after a hike ! guac is out of this world and they had diet coke hallelujah

other honorable mentions !

• (hotel pool bar) this chicken caesar was soooo good

• (whaler’s village) taco zone food truck quessabirria tacos

• (hotel market) fresh cut pineapple (almost daily !!!)

we planned on snorkeling while we were there and boy sam was intent on us bringing our own gear—this is what we bought (fins, goggle/snorkel) ! we were able to snorkel right off the beach near our hotel, but we also ended up booking a legitimate snorkeling tour to molokini crater (highly recommend !!).

our weather was beautiful (water still chilly though, I paid the extra $12 for a wetsuit); we stopped first at turtle cove, just off the coast of wailea. sooo many sea turtles just bopping around and swimming next to us. our boat also had this fun, and incredibly fast lol, water slide situation & yes we both went down multiple times !

our second stop was molokini crater. soo many beautiful fish and we also randomly saw one of the most rare seals on earth, only ~1300 of them left ! it was such a special memory and I’m so glad we did it.

we took a whole day to do the road to hana (also highlyyy recommend)…however I do not recommend taking two dramamine because I was literally delirious 3 hours in…on the upside I didn’t get nauseous so perhaps it was worth it ! absolutely download the shaka guide app; it’s $20 and is an audio tour that goes by location. below is our itinerary of stops !

• twin falls — maybe like a 30 min hike (very easy) & you get to see two waterfalls. you do have to cross a small stream, so be prepared with either extra shoes or just water-friendly shoes

• aunty sandy’s banana bread — drive a little past it into the ka-anae peninsula to sit @ the volcanic rock beach while you eat (pictured bottom right)

• wai'anapanapa black sand beach — reserve a timeslot online a day or two before you go

• hana — stopped for lunch, just look for the big red “restaurant” sign ! we had burgers & fries sooo good after hiking

• wailua falls — 80ft+ waterfall, sneaky little trail next to the bridge but easy to get to; boy sam scampered down rocks and swam at the base

• pipiwai trail — didn’t make it through this whole hike (*dramamine crash lol*) but this was really pretty and also has a bamboo forest + more waterfalls throughout

one of our travel hacks is using turo to rent a car—we’ve literally only had good experiences. we rented a tesla in the hamptons, a volvo in malibu, & this jeep wrangler in maui ! so easy, we pick up & drop off at the airport and handle it all in-app.

I’d always wanted to go to a luau so we kind of last minute decided to buy tickets to the luau at our hotel—in my opinion it was overpriced ! sorry ! like it was cool but you can also stand outside the rope on the backside of the hotel and see the cool parts (the dancing, flame throwing, etc). just my personal opinion !

I’d recommend doing some more research and finding one that isn’t as expensive. I also didn’t like that you are sat with random people at a table; like you’re there for 3 hours and there’s a LOT of downtime for small talk.

on our last full day, boy sam convinced me to do a really beautiful hike (waihe’e ridge trail). yes, it’s basically a stairmaster all the way up BUT I will say it was worth it.

the views on this hike are actually insane, you feel like you’re on another planet ! there are times you can see both sides of the island, and there are also times where you’re in the clouds, just all around a really beautiful hike.

other things I had time for…selfcare !

& lotsss of outfit changes, let’s dive innnn

I hope this is helpful if you are considering / planning a trip to maui ! let me know (or even tag me I’d love to see) if you end up going with any of my recs !

as always, let me know what you want to see more of on my substack, or on my other socials ! til next time !

x, SH

I obviously side with the notion that learning and curating your own personal style is very important: the clothes you wear should feel natural and authentic to your personality, lifestyle, etc. However, after countless conversations with many people in my personal life (& all of you), I also know that the vast majority of us are simply looking for pieces that WORK—foundational pieces that make getting dressed effortless.

This is where I come in. To find the balance.

As an avid white tshirt & jeans repeater, I am always on the lookout for the best of elevated basics. So let’s jump right in !

Tees + Tanks

No matter the season, a simple tshirt does the trick for me. It’s the foundation for a million outfits. You absolutely need a white, grey, & black. And you can switch it up / elevate with a structured silhouette to give more shape. While you’re at it, make sure you have a goooood white tank—aka high neck, ribbed, fitted, like this.

Denim

I love a breezy, versatile pair of jeans as we get into warmer months. I want to wear jeans but I also want to be comfortable. These are my go to lately (I sized down one). Dark denim isn’t going anywhere but a light wash will get you farrrr this spring and summer. I’m still anti distressing on the pant leg; in my opinion it’s a slippery slope to cheapening a look, so be aware. However, I stand behind a raw hem !!!

While we’re here—THE denim shorts of the year (not pictured)
Still Here NYC
Parke

Non-Denim Pants

Because who wants to wear jeans everyday ?! I’m currently living in white cotton poplin and linen pants with no end in sight. I also love a trouser look for a more elevated moment. At the end of the day, I just want to be able to dress up or dress down a pant and these all fit the bill.

Dresses + Skirts

Truly just keep it simple. If you don’t already have, let me recommend some LBDs: full length maxi or this one that doubles as a swim coverup.

I also just ordered this from DISSH and you can never go wrong with this silhouette for a skirt. Pencil skirts are also very much so on my radar, wore this last week !

Shoes

My current lineup + some shoes I’m eyeing below ! I really feel like this covers all possible situations.

Outerwear & Accessories

Layers are so so crucial for transitional seasons. These are my GO TO jacket selects—easy enough for everyday and incredibly versatile.

I didn’t know how bad I needed an everyday pair of sunglasses, but lo and behold these have not left my face since opening. They are worth every penny and I feel like CBK wearing them.

Some other honorable mentions for a bold tortoise moment (big but not massive) and a wire aviator that never goes out of style.

On My Wishlist

I’m honestly spending most of my “shopping” time on Pinterest, looking at home things because YAY we move in June !!!! A few things on my brain:

1. De Rococo grey long sleeve logo tee

2. Shell necklace…every time I see a white or black monochromatic outfit with one of these I stop in my tracks. I need !

3. Red ! Flip ! Flops ! These are inspired by The Row but honestly look more comfortable and for $55, duh.

4. This McGee & Co rug is just really good. I’m going with solids and jute rugs for our new place but this could easily convince me, it’s the perfect subtle something.

5. The Tibi boat & tote bag OMG I’m obsessed.

6. Raffia cowboy hat ! I have been considering this purchase for a while and I think it’s time to pull the trigger.

7. This one’s cheating because I already ordered it but I love this sheer oversized tee. I’m 5’3” and will absolutely be able to wear it as a swim coverup/dress situation. But I also love how it’s styled.

8. These Peche flats ??!! Shared on my IG story and safe to say we all love. They also come in black but this pale green is soooo good.

WOW WOW WOW, I am so excited to get this to all of you (if you’re still reading, thank you !). Between traveling for the past 4 weeks straight (and moving every 30 days for the last 8 months), I feel like I’ve been drowning a bit ! To say I am excited for our move and to finally feel settled would be the biggest understatement. Don’t get me wrong, we have truly had some of the most wonderful experiences over the past year, but the nomad life is not for the weak ! Can’t wait to lean into my creativity more over the next few months.

I hope this is helpful for you, and as always, my DMs are open ! Let me know what you want to see more of here (but also IG/Tiktok-wise !).

x, SH

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There’s no perfect way to begin, but maybe we start from the beginning? I was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. It shaped me in every single way, really. My love for songwriting and the country music industry; my draw to southern hospitality and hosting; my addiction to all things interior design and well-kept spaces.

I didn’t grow up around many of the things that I love today & I’ve always been in pursuit of a life bigger than what I was exposed to.

I had the privilege of attending magnet schools from kindergarten through senior year. And although this meant I didn’t have some of the “normal” school experiences like a football team (until college), I honestly never cared. I was very driven and ambitious when it came to my education. I’ve always loved learning and asking questions; I’ve always acted older than I am; and I’ve always had a strong distaste for surface-level conversation.

After graduating high school, I moved to Utah for college.

At first I thought I wanted to major in International Relations (the high school Model UN thing really got to me I guess), then I considered Interior Design. I was baffled by the amount of real stuff they wanted me to learn about and the sheer lack of Pinterest boards and just jumping right into the creative part. I ultimately settled on getting a business degree and graduated in 2022 with a Bachelors in Marketing. Which, thank God I found.

(There are many things we’re skipping over such as me marrying my best friend and working for a record label for 2 years, so we’ll have to get back to those things another time !)

During my time at BYU, I gravitated toward and ultimately directed the Women in Entrepreneurship program. This was perhaps the most formative piece of my college experience; I was able to meet and learn from countless female founders, many of whom I am still close friends with to this day.

One of those relationships led to my first full-time role out of undergrad. We (begrudgingly on my part) moved to Las Vegas in summer of 2022 for my husband to start medical school. I worked remotely for a women’s jewelry and accessories startup, where I was the only marketing hire.

I learned SO much in the role—everything from creative direction and graphic design to email marketing and brand strategy. After a year or so at the company, I was laid off due to a personal shift in my boss’s life. At the time it was the most devastating thing—I was (and still am) the sole income provider for our household. The pressure and stress I felt was the worst ever, but it was truly the best thing to ever happen.

I slowly leveraged my contacts from college and beyond to start freelance consulting. I honestly did whatever was asked—I had no idea how to build a website and built 3 in the first 6 months of my business. It’s true what they say: necessity breeds innovation !!!!! My favorite service I offered was brand strategy & creative direction.

After almost 2 years of consulting other people on their brands, I turned toward my own personal brand. I’d always felt a pull to share on social media—and had dabbled in it here and there—but suddenly in October 2024 I felt such a shift in myself and how I wanted to spend my energy. I realized I wanted to do for myself what I had been trying to teach others how to do.

So here I am now, January of 2026 !!! I've been posting on TikTok/Instagram consistently for just over a year and it has been the most incredible, challenging, wonderful, broadening experience of my life.

I think most people would be surprised to know that fashion has been more of a “in the background” thing for me. I was never exposed to the idea of fashion as a legitimate career that I could explore. However, throughout my life I have been known as the fashionable one in my family and I am absolutely the go-to for a closet edit/reorganization/styling session. I’ve really come into my own over the past 2 years and continue to be inspired and evolve my style.

When people ask me what I want my career to be / look like, the first thing that comes to mind is that I still want to be doing “this” when I’m 82. Instead of chasing super specific goals or ideas of what my career should look like, I’m following the feeling. Every day looks different and I don’t know what the next year will bring…but here is my vision board for it ;)

Some pieces are specific, others are representative. But here are a few things I’m manifesting for 2026:

• Attending a fashion week/fashion week festivities

• Curating the best vibe in our new home (city and housing type TBD hahaha)

• My first Chanel bag, but pre-owned

• Building out my brand new styling business

• Spending intentional time & traveling with Boy Sam

• NEW & MORE FRIENDS. wow I have soo much to say on this topic but I am really craving aligned friendships with girls who inspire and challenge me

• Antique / vintage things

Ok, vision board tangent over—but seriously manifesting and affirmations have 100000% changed my life over the past 12 months. Highly recommend.

As far as what you can expect from me here…my Substack will be an extension of the content I share on Instagram and TikTok. So expect predominantly fashion and styling content with a bit of beauty added in. I also want to explore interior design / curating intentional spaces, female entrepreneurship and brands I love, as well as social causes close to my heart. I’m also excited to gauge interest and hear your feedback as I get started. I want this to be a place where you get to know me better and where I can share more.

To end my first ever substack (!!!!!)…let’s get into my top 10 favorite things I loved in 2025

1. this de rococo quilted carry all tote ! fits my laptop, a sweater, makeup bag, and a million other things while looking so chic, plus its comfy to wear & perfect for travel

2. the crown affair hair towel ! it’s actually magical ! dries my hair so fast and my air dry frizz is reduced 80% seriously !!!!! (code SAMANTHA15 for 15% off)

3. roz milk hair serum ! I use after every single shower, especially fabulous before blow drying and styling. hydrates, detangles, reduces frizz, etc etc etc

4. the most comfy long sleeve boxy white tee by organic basics ! I’ve worn this more times than I can count

5. my alexa leigh pear studs ! no words needed, they’re just so gorgeous and perfect (code SAMANTHAH15 for 15% off)

6. the aritzia slouch coat ! (although if I’m being honest, I could stand for it to be 4 inches longer like this Jacquemus one or this boxier grey coat)

7. rhode eye patches ! call it what you want but these are so good. I’m trying these next & justifying the price tag with my vision board

8. the versed skin tint ! OMG had to include this. it’s dewy, buildable, spf 40, and so lightweight. I use shade 6O !

9. chicest sunnies by krewe the rampart folds ! the color, the silhouette, the FUNCTION. I also got the blue light lens for them, we love !!!!

10. TALL BLACK KITTEN HEEL BOOTS ! my exact stuart weitzman boots are trickyyy to find in stock, but these by staud, these by tony bianco, and (obviously) these by khaite are sooooooo good too.

eeekk can’t wait to see what my 2026 favorites are going to be !!!!!!!!

thank you SO much for being here & for supporting me—this is just the beginning.

xx

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