Between Us, vol. 11
Things I pack for every trip that I don't typically share, Shepherd & Co's Service Suite, Nordstrom Sale picks, 3 summer outfit ideas, sunscreens & tinted moisturizers I swear by, and so much more!
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Hi friends! Happy Mother’s Day weekend! I’ve been enjoying a really slow, leisurely weekend with all of the boys. It’s been quite rainy here so it’s been nice to lay low and catch up on things around the house — especially as May is literally like the busiest month EVER for parents, ha! We have Louie’s VPK graduation this week, which is wild, while also planning Lawson’s 1st birthday party.
I weirdly had an emotional week. May 8th always makes me think of Fish because it’s the day we met 16 years ago and it made me miss him all over again.
And, then, earlier in the week, we went to Louie’s Kindergarten registration while we’re really happy with where he got in and what we chose for him … it also feels like such a big decision and I can’t help but think ‘oh gosh, I hope this is the right choice’. We think it is but I just really hope he loves it. Any other mama’s have those same thoughts?
Afterwards, John and I enjoyed a date night, which was nice. John is a big meat guy so we enjoyed dinner at Fogo de Chao, which I’ve only ever been to once. It was nice. Honestly, it was just nice to get out on a week night.
On the work front, I know I’ve been quite MIA on Instagram. But, I finalized my first full-service client itinerary, which took a lot of time … and I was such a happy little soul just completely immersing myself in creating this beautiful digital itinerary. It was so satisfying putting all of the details I organized into it and scrolling through seeing how effortless their trip will be with it at their fingertips. All of the transfer details, restaurant reservations, tour confirmations and details … all right there. And they loved it!
This is the thing I knew I wanted to do and now I’m actually doing it, which still catches me off guard. And, I’m loving it which is really nice because, I didn’t have this feeling when I started doing astrology & human design readings or when I did the podcast. I thought the subject matter of all of those was wildly fascinating but doing it for work … didn’t thrill me.
But this does … I love immersing myself in places, making recommendations I know are worthwhile and working with incredible suppliers that can make some seemingly impossible experiences come to life for people.
I am still working on certain elements behind-the-scenes but, I mostly just can’t wait to continue to do this for people who believe in the service.
Excitingly, I have finished Shepherd & Co’s Service Suite, which outlines each of the services we offer clients and what each of those services entail. If you’d like to check it out, I’ll leave an image below with a QR code that allows you to review the Service Suite from the comfort of your phone. You can click on the service you’d like on the Services page, and it’ll take you to our intake form. Or, you can click on the Intake Form button on the final page to submit your inquiry.
I’d truly love to help you bring some of your trips a reality.
And, as a bonus for being a subscriber, the first five of you to move forward with Shepherd & Co. will receive 25% off your planning services.
If you are on your phone currently, and can’t scan the QR code, you can simply submit your contact details above as a client of interest and I’ll email it to you.
For now though, I’ve been in a good groove, summer is creeping in, and this week’s issue has some things I’m really excited about. Nordstrom Savings Event, my current beauty lineup going into the warmer months, and three outfits I had a lot of fun putting together.
Let’s get into it, here’s what I have for you guys in today’s newsletter:
+ Nordstrom Savings Event Picks
+ Top 5 Beauty Must-Have’s Going into the Summer
+ What I’d Wear To: Date Night, A Day in Sonoma & a No Plans, Vacation Day
+ Summer Packing: The Non-Obvious Things I Always Bring
Here’s what I have planned to share this week on Substack:
+ Why Would I Use a Travel Advisor? As a nod to Shepherd & Co’s soft launch, I am sharing some insights into what travel advisors do, what their value add is, and why more travelers are choosing to work with one.
Nordstrom Savings Event Picks
one shoulder dress | pointed slide heels | maxi skirt | striped pants | tie waist dress | a-line dress | rms eye brightener | ruffle top | Jo Malone perfume
I’m less enthralled by sales these days. It takes a lot for me to care enough to sift through and see what might be waiting to fill a gap in my wardrobe. BUT, I will say, Nordstrom always does include some great options in their Springs Savings Event. I find it has really good deals on the brands I’m already buying anyway, which makes it feel less like frivolity and more like, okay, now is just a smarter time to do it. This is my justification and I’m sticking to it.
The ruffle detail on this top is a Doen lookalike. I love that it feels delicate and feminine and gives you more personality than a basic summer top. It pairs naturally with the striped pants without competing with it.
Navy and white stripe, wide leg, linen … screams summer to me. When you have nowhere [or everywhere] to be and all day to enjoy it, this is the pant you want to be in.
A pointed toe slide at this price point is just a good get. If it were up to me, in a dream world, I’d wear these every single day from now until September.
This perfume was my Mother’s Day gift from Louie. It’s been a long-time favorite of mine.
My favorite under-eye brightener by the incredible clean beauty brand, RMS Beauty, is also included. Stock up now, ladies!
Anything in the sale you have your eye on!? Let me know in the comments.
Top 5 Beauty Must-Have’s Going into the Summer
Colorscience Powder SPF | Flawless Filter Foundation | OSEA Body Oil | Alastin Tinted Moisturizer | RMS Sunscreen
My routine gets a pretty significant overhaul when it warms up. I want things that are faster, lighter, and can hold up when it's hot outside [my Florida girls know EXACTLY what I mean]. I've been in a really good place with my current lineup so far and these five have been on constant rotation. A few I've had for a while, a couple are newer finds, but all of them have earned the top spot on my bathroom shelf.
RMS Sunscreen: Leaves you with the prettiest glow on days where you can’t be bothered to do a full face of makeup. I’ve been wearing it constantly. Everyday, everywhere.
Colorscience Powder SPF: For reapplication, I’ve used this for YEARS and am still obsessed with it
Alastin Tinted Moisturizer: THIS is, hands down, the best product if you want to look like you have a more evened out skin tone but don’t want to put on a full face of makeup
Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter Foundation: Perfect for glowy coverage in the Summer
OSEA Body Oil: The ultimate for hydrated skin. Put it on after you get out of the shower. I know it’s scary, but I promise it isn’t oily for long. It completely absorbs into your skin and it smells like the spa. Seriously incredible.
What I’d Wear For…
A few weeks ago I had so much fun putting together looks for European summer destinations and it kind of spiraled into me wanting to keep going. SO, I thought, why not do the same thing but for the summer scenarios that don't require a passport? Same energy, closer to home.
Date Night
navy linen dress | gold cuff bracelet | glazed brown earrings | suede bag | Diptyque perfume | brown heels |
Date nights have looked a little different lately. Sometimes it's a proper dinner out, sometimes it's just finally getting a night without the kids where you want to feel like yourself again. I wanted this look to feel sophisticated without looking like you agonized over it.
» Navy just works for a night out. The linen keeps this dress feeling seasonal and the embroidered hem detail is what makes it feel like more than just a simple dress.
» I've been wearing this perfume a lot lately. It's musky and warm with a hint of mimosa. It’s different from anything else I have and wears really close to the skin which I love.
» This bracelet is a showpiece - one cuff, nothing else on the wrist, and you have yourself a pulled together look. Bonus that it works just as well with a simple dress as it does with something more layered.
Day in Sonoma
maxi sundress | brown sandal | raffia bag | sunhat | earrings | sunglasses | Jo Malone perfume | Charlotte Tilbury lip liner | Charlotte Tilbury lipstick |
…or Napa or Paso Robles. Regardless of where your pallet takes you…there is something about wine country that entices you to want to dress a certain way. You’re outside, you’re walking, you’re sitting at long tables for hours, and you still want to look good in the photos.
» This is the kind of dress I'd want to be in all day. You're outside, you're moving around, the afternoon turns into evening without you realizing it and this just works for every phase of the day.
» I love this bag for a day where you're carrying sunscreen, a light layer, maybe need to stash a bottle opener or snacks. The raffia is right for the setting and the twisted handle is a nice little detail.
» The narrow oval shape on these is a little different from what I'd usually go for and that's exactly why I like them. They work with the whole look without competing with it [remember our heart to heart about accessories?]
No Plans, Vacation Day
eyelet shift dress | sunglasses | necklace | ballet flats | suede & rattan tote | lipstick | bronzing drops |
This one is my favorite, honestly. A day with zero obligations is its own kind of luxury and it deserves an outfit to match. Nothing that requires effort, nothing too slouchy, just the sweet spot of feeling comfortable and most like yourself. The vibe is the kind of day where you might end up at a coffee shop or a beach walk or absolutely nowhere at all, and the outfit works in all situations.
» A mini shift dress is such a good option for a day like this. It's easy, it's summery, and you're out the door without a second thought. Very low effort, very high impact.
» I love this bag for a no plans day. When you find yourself meandering through the shops it’s roomy enough to throw in all your new treasure and easy to carry around all day. Raffia is the texture of the season and the monogram option is a nice touch too.
» The woven raffia and the little bow detail on these flats are so good together. This flat makes a simple dress feel like an actual outfit, and the color goes with everything you'd be wearing this time of year.
Summer Packing: The Non-Obvious Things I Always Bring
cashmere socks | ear plugs | electrolytes | laundry spray | thank you notes | travel insurance |
This idea popped into my head after last week’s Between Us and I feel like I’ve learned this the hard way … but sometimes it’s not obvious things that make or break a trip [sans forgetting your makeup bag, I dream about this all the time … thankfully I’ve never actually done it].
These are a few of my unsung hero’s —
Travel insurance: Travel can be so unpredictable and as a way of protecting my investment, I will usually use Faye travel insurance. It’s one of those things I don’t take a gamble on, especially for bigger trips. It’s also something I highly, highly recommend for my travel clients.
Blank thank you cards: I love to leave one for the housekeepers at the end of my stay, and with anyone who really stood out from a hospitality perspective while I’m there. Working in hotels can often feel like a thankless, invisible job, so it’s something small I try to do when I can.
Laundry spray: I always throw this in, especially for longer trips. It’s great for refreshing clothes, and if you don’t have access to an iron or don’t feel like dealing with it, it helps clothes look like they haven’t been sitting in a suitcase for hours.
None of these are super glamorous, but it’s always going to be the small things you didn’t think to pack that you end up wishing you had.
That’s Vol. 11 in the books! Thank you as always for being here and for reading.
If something in here resonates or you end up loving one of these picks, come tell me.
I mean it. See you next week.
x H.
Alyson Haley is a longtime style and travel writer focused on helping you create a wardrobe you love and travel more confidently and competently. After 10 years of living between and just outside of London, she shares curated recommendations and insider insight on her favorite city and other destinations she knows and loves. She is currently building a bespoke travel boutique centered around beautifully designed, meaningful escapes. For more, be sure to follow her on Instagram.