Fall Bucket List Favorites

This past weekend was the fall equinox – can anyone else feel the shift energetically?In nature, it’s a time of abundance, so maybe that’s why I feel compelled to reflect, collect, and potentially invest in everything from new boots to bucket-list travel. Here’s a few things I’m excited to read, make, do, and possibly buy this cozy season. 

Read 

I’m certainly not alone in loving HNTFUYF, a cult-favorite Substack from Valerie Monroe, a veteran beauty editor who spent 16 years writing for Oprah magazine. Come for the product recommendations and pro wisdom on taking care of your skin, but stay for advice on aging, loving oneself, and the charming bits she shares about her granddaughter. While it's a paid subscription well worth the $40/year investment, she’ll generously comp a subscription if your budget doesn’t allow it.

I keep re-reading this article about pushing yourself in midlife. I think women are made of strong stuff by the time we get to peri/menopause, and we’re capable of extraordinary things. My own story of (somewhat crazy) bravery: Several years back I decided to train for a triathlon without any background in swimming, biking, or running. It was a challenge for sure. But I loved every bit of it and ended up finishing 23 of them at various distances, even competing at the National Championships in 2015. I’ve had to take a step back from training to launch my brand, but this article reminds me it's never too late to push yourself in a new direction. And keeps me optimistic about how I’ll challenge myself next. 

What are you making for dinner this week? I always need new ideas.

Make

I love cooking and baking. I find the time spent chopping ingredients meditative (although washing dishes, not so much). For me, fall is the time to bring out the hardy soups and versatile dishes to keep weeknights easy. Two recipes I’m planning for this week:

It’s not often that a soup course is the star of a dinner party. My friend recently served this French lentil soup, and I begged for the recipe afterward. It’s super flavorful and basically impossible to mess up.

These turkey meatballs have been a household favorite for the past six months – like on weekly rotation. They’re delish with spaghetti and marinara sauce or as a center plate protein with veggies on the side. They’re perfect for busy weeknights when you need something you can throw together quickly. Some mornings, I even prep the ingredients before work so when I get home at the end of the day, it’s quick to bring the meal together. 

I’m more of a tea or cappuccino person than a #PSL person. What’s your favorite fall beverage?

Buy

Do I need ivory boots? No. Do I want ivory boots? Likely. I fell in love with this splurge-y Veronica Beard version last year, but couldn’t commit — mostly because I wasn’t sure how to style them with last year’s skinny jeans. Now I’m inspired to wear them with this season’s long dresses, wide-leg pants, and boot-cut jeans, but they’re no longer available in my size. If you happen to have them in a 7.5 and want to sell, please let me know! In the meantime, I’m eyeing these or maybe even this knee-high option. 

I covet this trench coat. It’s gorgeous in black, but I’ve added my name to the waitlist for the cream version in hopes that they bring it back. Cuyana is about fewer and better, which feels more me than fast fashion. This style is classic and basically trend-proof, so I could wear it for years to come. 

Swoon! The colors! Courtesy of Cottler-Fox. 

Do

Is there anything as glorious as enjoying the fall colors? As a kid, I would have rather done homework than be forced to stare at leaves. But at this age, I confess that I love leaf peeping. This idyllic retreat is on my bucket list for a fall getaway. I’m not sure I’ll get there this year, but a girl can dream. It’s known for incredible views, amazing food, great hiking, and a spa that screams quiet luxury. 

As many of you know, the next few weeks will be among the most exciting of my life as we prepare to launch Phosis, my line of skincare for women in peri/menopause. Truly it ranks up there with the birth of my children. In a couple of weeks, I’ll be traveling to New York to meet with as many beauty editors as feasibly possible in four days. Some of these appointments will be held “deskside” — as in by the desks of said beauty editors — but others will happen at restaurants, coffee shops, and cafes throughout the city. One of the places I am most excited to visit is the new Blue Box Cafe at Tiffany’s. My love affair with the iconic blue boxes began early at age 12 when my mom took me to the Chicago store for matching bracelets, and it was a full-circle moment when I helped my daughter pick out her own a few years ago. 

I digress, but I’m feeling buzzy with the excitement of traveling to the city to try new restaurants, wear some new fall finds, and finally get Phosis out of my brain and into the world. Stay tuned; I’ll share details from the trip in an upcoming Substack.  
Cheers to looking and feeling your best, 
Susan Campbell
Founder and CEO, Phosis