Still from the movie, Thief of Baghdad. A light skinned woman with dark curly hair looks down. She is wearing an intricately beaded top with gold accents and a white skirt. — Still from the Thief of Baghdad film.

Hello friends,

Fall is my favorite time of year! According to a recent poll on my Instagram stories (which is a totally scientific and accurate process, lol) it’s your favorite, too. Well, 96% of you.

And fall always makes me wanna get cozy on the couch (or even better, in bed!) with a good book, warm afternoon sunlight steaming through my window, mug of tea on the table next to me… I mean, it doesn’t really happen that way very often, but I do manage to squeeze in some show watching / reading time right before bed almost every night.

It’s pretty much a non-negotiable part of my day ever since I started getting insomnia several years back and needed a structured wind-down routine. I’m sleeping better now, but I’m sticking to the the show watching / book reading end cap to my day.

So, below are some of the recent things I’ve read and watched and listened to and loved. I think you might love them, too!

1) The Thief of Bagdad (1940)

I finally watched this classic last week with Kirk and the kids and we all loved it! It’s pure magic! Ingrid and Lars were complaining when I picked it out because it’s an old movie and they said it would be boring (and I kinda wondered the same thing myself, haha). But I said we had to give it a try and man, those kids were soon glued to the screen and honestly, so was I! Such a good story, full of adventure, gorgeous colors, sets, costumes…

Hint: It’s streaming on the Criterion Channel right now.

2) Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

I’m late to the game with this one, too. This novel won all kinds of awards when it came out in 2001, but if you’re like me and missed it, it’s definitely still worth picking up!

I had been reading lots of non fiction and needed a novel as a palate cleanser and this one is so well written and suspenseful and a wonderful study of character and love. I’m actually still in the middle of it, but I’m loving it so much I wanted to share!

(Oh, I saw this book was made into a movie last year but that it wasn’t very good, unfortunately, so I’d stick with the book.)

a blonde woman wearing a vintage light blue cowboy suit and cowboy hat with sunglasses is standing in front of a bunch of palm trees. — Brooke White, photo by Kat Borchart

3) Calico by Brooke White

It’s no small feat to put out an independent record in this day and age, and my friend Brooke White traded her blood, sweat, and tears to do that very thing. I’m so proud of her and in awe of her talent! It’s a country album in the best way possible and I love her 90’s country and 60’s/70’s California influences…

(Also you know I love that she got some records pressed in yellow vinyl… should be getting mine any day in the mail now. Can’t wait!)

4) The Durrells in Corfu

Have you been watching the final season? I’m on episode 3 and loving it like always and I know I’ll be sad to see it end.

I want to move into that house! SO dreamy. And I love how dysfunctional yet loving the family is. And Spiros and Louisa — what’s going to happen?! (No spoilers if you’ve already finished it!)

two white men wearing hoodies run while holding hands. It's night and there are lights reflected all around.

5) Good Time

Oh wow, such an intense movie. Robert Pattinson’s performance is so amazing it made me re-think (again) all my Twilight prejudices against him. This is one that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time and also made me think.

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That’s it for now… I’d love to hear what you’re loving, too! (You can just hit reply to this email if you want.)

I post about things I’m loving all the time on Instagram, so if you want to hear more, make sure you’re following me there. :)

WORK / What have I even been doing? ;)

So what have I even been doing, work-wise? I’ve been freelancing exclusively as a creative director for one client who has two different brands. I’m also working as a co-founder / creative director of a brand that’s going to be launching next spring! And of course, I’m doing my best to keep getting my book, Paris by Design, into as many hands as possible because I really do believe it’s an awesome book, ha!

Exciting (and sometimes exhausting) stuff! But nothing I can really share yet (except for the book, bien sur) although I will as soon as I can. But in the meantime, I love sharing art, design, travel, lifestyle, and especially PARIS tips and inspiration with you (mostly over on Instagram).

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Hope you’re all doing well! Feel free to hit reply—I’d love to hear from you!

x Eva

p.s. Did you see my post that went viral this past month, lol? If not, I’ll give you a hint: “Excellent!”

This post was originally a Letter from Eva sent on October 10, 2019.