Happy Sunday, everyone. First and foremost, we want to say how grateful we are that there are judges who are fighting against taking away necessary programs from people in real need. However, that doesn’t mean people and organizations serving those communities still don’t need a lot of help, especially since SNAP benefits may be heavily negatively affected regardless. There are thankfully so many wonderful organizations to donate to. Emily will talk about one close to her heart, and here is another one in Kansas City. Please drop the ones you know and trust in the comments! Figuring out how to balance content that gives you a break from all the atrocities happening and talking about them is not something we are perfect at. But as we go into the holiday season, where there is so much spending and consumption (and heavy promotion to do so, we know we are a part of that too), consider how we can help our neighbors – locally, nationally, and globally.

This week’s house tour is both magical and feels very much like real life happens there. A wonderful vintage home among the California redwoods. Your cortisol levels will lower when looking at this beautiful home.

From Emily: With the SNAP benefits possibly ending (at the time of writing, it was set to end Nov. 1st), I wanted to personally recommend a resource for those who are in the position to help others. Family Promise of Tualatin Valley is the family shelter that we work closely with up here, and they house 100 families who are all experiencing extreme economic challenges (not to mention trauma). They have asked for donations to help offset the SNAP benefits. They are a great organization and will accept any amount (year-round, really), so if you are feeling like you don’t know where to give or how to help, I can personally attest to them. You can donate HERE.

From Jess: If you like the idea of lip stain but want a glossy look, then do I have the recommendation for you! After seeing this hydrating lip stain from VIOLETTE_FR on my friend, I knew I needed my own. I got the shade Bêtise, which is described as a “warm berry”. It’s so pretty, and you can go light or you can apply more applications for a darker look. It feels amazing on, and I don’t have to worry about my lips drying out. 1000/10

From Arlyn: My sweatshirt game is lacking going into this fall and winter season, but I’m slowly rectifying it. A woman I follow on Instagram posted about this fantastic oversized quarter snap sweatshirt from Aerie, and I immediately went and grabbed one. It’s on sale right now (at least it was when I wrote this a few days before you read it), but be sure to Google around for other promo codes because I locked in another 15% off by signing up for emails. Word of caution: When it says it is oversized, they MEAN it. I’m usually a large/x-large in most tops, and I sized down to a medium and wish I had gotten a small, tbh. My body doesn’t wear oversized things well since I have a large chest and end up looking like I’m wearing a mumu, so keep that in mind.

In case you missed our first gift guide of the year, click here!! It’s all about fashion and beauty:) And if you want to see more of Emily’s and the team’s gift recs, we are SO proud of our new, very shoppable gift guide page. We aren’t doing as many gift guide posts (we know we all max out on those kinda fast), so instead we spent hours upon hours designing and creating this very fun (at least we think so) shopping experience. Go check it out and bookmark it because we will be adding more as the month goes on and we find more wonderful gift ideas<3

From Mallory: Halloween is over, which means it’s officially Christmas, and yes, I already bought my first piece of holiday decor. How cute is this little A-frame house?! It would also look super cute next to this A-Frame house (which looks just like the mountain house – Em, you need this!!) Also, if you live in Southern California and haven’t been to the Rodgers Gardens at Christmas time – PUT IT ON YOUR CALENDAR THIS YEAR. It’s absolute magic!!

From Caitlin: I recently found myself on the East Coast, where you’re all seemingly experiencing something called “fall.” (It was 90 in LA this week, for comparison.) My lone pair of ankle-baring pants were no longer cutting it against your 40-degree temperatures, so I caved, hit the mall, and grabbed this pair of wide-legged pull-on pants from Gap. I’ve broken my self-imposed “shop small or not at all” rule a handful of times this year, but these pants were worth it – they’re 100% cotton, supremely comfortable, easy to adjust, and I think they have nice proportions! I’m looking forward to layering them with my fleece-lined leggings this winter – there’s a ton of room in those wide legs to bundle up. Bless all the Gen Zs who brought back big pants! (PS. Also, the pockets feel enormous. That might not be important to you, but as a frequent “no purse, just pockets” type, it’s a big green flag for me.)

From Gretchen: I took a few days off to run away to Hawaii (my first time there) and spent it in total vacation mode: sunbathing all day, eating everything in sight, drinking Mai Tais like they were coming straight from the tap. But l also spent a good chunk of my time catching up on some reading. Just before I left, Kaitlin, our photographer, lent me this book, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and said I just HAD to read it. And I did. I devoured most of it in a day and saved the last little bit for the flight home. It was SUCH a fun read, especially for someone like me who secretly loves to gobble up all of the latest gossip headlines–this story is a good reminder that news media can be so distorted (and really always has been). I know this book is pretty well-known already, but I hadn’t heard of it and was just so delighted! A tale of many different kinds of love, heartbreak, Hollywood, and a look back at Evelyn’s legacy. It had me wishing she were a real person so I could go dive even deeper.

From Marlee: Up here in Portland, everyone in their mother wears Keen shoes – I’ve shared my Keen Jaspers before, which have a sort of fun, funky silhouette and come in a TON of colors. I just picked up this pair of their Jasper Zionic sneakers, which are a sportier, more classic silhouette. I got them in this fun blue/grey/white neutral color, but I LOVE the chrome tongue – it makes them so fun, especially with the laces that they come with. Both of these shoes are incredibly comfortable and so fantastic for days around town, walks through the neighborhood, and even hikes. I love that they have a sporty vibe but feel more playful than a typical walking shoe. I highly recommend!

Thank you for spending time with us today, and see you tomorrow for a reveal we’ve been WAITING to show you. xx

Opening Image Credits: Architect: Anne Usher | General Contractor: JP Macy of Sierra Custom Construction | Interior Designers: Emily Henderson (me!) and Max Humphrey | Styling: Emily Henderson | Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: The River House Game Room Reveal (The One Everyone Wants To Be In)