Life, Lately: The Case for Soft Momentum

A book I couldn’t put down, Malibu reno progress, and a bronzer giving spring glow.

Today’s post is free for all thanks to our partners, Nutrafol and Bonne Maman—two brands I love and that you can read more about in today’s post.

My default setting is momentum. Full-tilt, calendar-stacked, let’s-GO momentum—and honestly, I’ve always loved that about myself. I genuinely love to create, I embrace risk, and I get really excited about what’s next. It’s just kind of who I am.

But lately I’ve been experimenting with something different. I’m calling it “soft momentum”—the idea that you can still be moving, building, and showing up, without the white-knuckle grip. My best ideas often arrive when I’m not trying so hard. In the shower, on a walk, somewhere totally offline.

I’m also learning that not every season is meant for expansion. Some are for integration. For letting things settle and actually take root. That’s growth too—just quieter.

Here’s the thing: I’m feeling genuinely high-energy this spring. Wanting to write in the mornings, feeling inspired, getting excited about new things. But I’m also keeping a close eye on my calendar and actively resisting the urge to fill every blank space. Because I’ve noticed that when I protect some white space, I bring a completely different quality of energy to everything that comes next. Less scattered, and more like myself.

Okay, here's what I've been reading, watching, and loving this month—drop yours in the comments.

(Update: I’ve opened comments to ALL subscribers — free and paid — because the conversations that have been happening in my inbox lately are honestly some of my favorite moments. Come say hi down there!!)

The Clarity Issue

ICYMI, the spring issue of our digital magazine, The EDIT, is out, and it’s full of the most inspiring articles that you’re gonna love. Adriene Mishner is our cover girl, and I can’t think of anyone more fitting to explore our theme of CLARITY. I love creating these issues with our team each season—it really takes me back to the analog feeling of slowly flipping through my favorite magazines, and feels like a nice antidote to the doom scroll.

The One-Minute Reset

Something I’ve been practicing lately: treating transitions as micro-resets instead of sprinting from one thing to the next.

In my workdays, I’d fallen into a habit of finishing a Zoom call and immediately opening a new tab, then rushing to school pickup without ever coming up for air… then wonder why I felt so scattered by 4 pm. Now I’m trying to take a pause in between. Even for just a minute, to close my laptop, step outside, and let my nervous system catch its breath. When I come back to work, I'm a completely different person.

What’s Changing My Hair Health

Let’s talk about the all-too-real hairline thinning that seems to happen to so many of us once we hit 40. (OR in postpartum, or the seasonal hair shedding that can just happen in the spring.) I think that many times we just cross our fingers and hope it’ll work out, but spoiler: that doesn’t actually change anything.

What HAS been working for me is being more intentional about supporting my body from the inside out, especially during seasonal transitions when stress, shifting hormones, and schedule changes all converge at once. Nutrafol has become one of my daily non-negotiables. It's not overnight magic, but more like giving my body what it needs to actually do its job — and a few months in, my hair genuinely looks and feels different.

Use my link for $50 off 3 months or $106 off 6 months of Nutrafol.

Making lunch a moment

I’ve been making a real effort not to be that person eating lunch at the counter between meetings, barely tasting it, and already thinking about the next thing on my list. Instead, I’ve been making myself a simple, satisfying meal that I really savor in the middle of the day.

One of my favorites lately: this elevated open-faced PB&J. The key is choosing the best ingredients—thick-cut toasted sourdough, high-quality nut butter, and Bonne Maman Concord Grape Fruit Spread. It’s made with simple ingredients and real fruit, and the Concord grape flavor is sweet, jammy, and nostalgic in the best way.

A finishing sprinkle of flaky salt or crushed pistachios adds the perfect crunch. It takes five minutes and somehow tastes like something you’d order at a really good café.

But here’s the thing: I sit down to eat it. Taking a few minutes to actually taste something instead of inhaling it over my keyboard feels like a small act of reclaiming the day. Also — April is officially PB&J Month, so consider this your sign to grab a jar of Bonne Maman and put this one on rotation.

Reading, watching, & listening to this month

READ:

4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman has been sitting on my nightstand for a while, and I finally picked it up. It’s about the radical idea of actually accepting the fact that our time on this earth is absurdly brief. Assuming you live to be eighty, you have just over four thousand weeks…and it forces you to ask, what are you going to do with them?

I also finished the novel Little One, by Olivia Muenter, which I heard about from Brittany on our team, who always gives me the best recos. It was that perfect balance of addictive read-meets-actually good writing that kept me absolutely riveted until the end. The story of a woman whose carefully-crafted life is turned upside down when a journalist uncovers her hidden past as the daughter of an insidious cult leader. Can’t stop thinking about the ending, and I need y’all to read so we can discuss.

Really enjoyed this article: Mastering the Art of Relieving Tension. Need to stock up on some magnesium spray stat.

WATCH:

I watched Eric Dane’s final interview last night, and I was conflicted about whether to recommend it here. Mainly because it is so very sad, and I couldn’t stop crying as I tried to go to sleep. But the more I thought about it, I’m glad I watched it. Dane recorded it knowing it would only air after his death—and what he chose to say with that time is something I keep thinking about. I’ve realized that I need these regular reminders of how fleeting life is to remind me to live mine to the absolute fullest. To be present, to never miss a chance to hug the people I love, to turn away from all the distractions that keep me from paying attention to this one beautiful life we have. Did you guys watch it? Let’s discuss in the comments.

Really enjoyed watching Harry Styles. One Night in Manchester, where he performed his new album start to finish. I feel like Harry is in his absolute prime right now, and the show was a total joyful celebration of music and dancing and great songs.

Anddd currently obsessed with the second season of Drops of God as well as Love Story (of course!!!)

LISTEN

Marie Forleo’s podcast episode “How Should You Spend the Rest of Your Life” is a 5-minute listen that will really make you think (and yes, I’m noticing the theme of mortality throughout this newsletter, too!).

And Emily P. Freeman’s “Reset List for Your Soul” episode includes some great journaling prompts for the season. Her voice is so calming, and the prompts unlocked some deep personal insights for me:

1. What is ending and what is beginning?

2. What brings me back to myself?

3. What brings connection with God?

4. How do I name good and evil?

5. What are your non-negotiables for the season?

What I’m cooking

My sourdough era has officially peaked. My cousin Sarah sent me this recipe a few months ago, and my family has declared it the best sourdough I’ve ever made. I’ve been chasing that airy, Gjusta-like texture for YEARS, and I’ve finally found it.

And while we’re on the topic of low-effort, high-reward food—Suruchi’s No-Bake Ricotta Cheesecake Squares are the best dessert you’ll make this spring. Pistachio crust, ricotta and honey filling, zero oven required.

If you need a new delicious snack, app, or light lunch in your rotation, this blood orange burrata toast is hard to beat.

Clean slate energy

If you’ve been following along with our years-long Zuma Beach House renovation, you know that we’re officially in the 90-day countdown to completion. I just published a post on the site about how we designed all the organizational spaces in the house with California Closets. There’s something about getting the storage right that makes a whole home feel different, and with spring cleaning season officially upon us, it felt like good timing to share exactly how we’re doing it.

Daily uniform

Let’s talk about the Daily Drills oversized crew, which you’ve probably seen me wear in multiple colors. It's perfectly oversized and just feels so good on the body—I’ve been wearing it with leggings on my morning walks almost every single day. They gave us a discount code you can use on the site: DAILY10 for 10% off all DAILYS pieces through the end of March.

Trend updates

I can’t tell you how much joy it brought me to see this NY Times piece on the return of the side part. I switched mine back a while ago and honestly—so much more flattering. I tried, but the middle part never did me any favors.

On a less encouraging note, turns out we can’t all “get” the Carolyn Bessette look (such a good take on personal style though).

Fresh spring glow

I have loved Counter’s (formerly Beautycounter’s) products for years, and their new formulations and packaging are even better. Just got their creamy blush (in chai) and velvety bronzer (in honey bronze), and they give that effortless, I-woke-up-like-this glow that I’m very much here for as we head into the warmer months. Also, should mention that I put on the Sheer Genius Conditioning Lipstick in Petal every single morning—it’s been my go-to for years.

On trading busyness for peace

Leaving you with a quote that stopped me mid-scroll this week. Save it, share it, let it inform how you spend your time:

Lots of love,

Camille