Happy Friday!
Well, Atlanta has been absolutely drenching us this week, and I have to confess — I am not mad about it. There is something so deeply cozy about a rainy week. The excuse to stay in, the sound of it against the windows while you sleep, the permission to slow down just a little. They do say April showers bring May flowers, and I am choosing to believe that wholeheartedly!
This weekend I am heading to Auburn for my brother-in-law’s graduation — so proud of him! If anyone has shopping recommendations in Auburn, please send them my way immediately. I am always up for discovering a new local spot!
Stay cozy, stay curious, and for the love of all things good, it’s time to get into the sunshine!
Until our next correspondence,
xx Lauren
P.S. Hill House is launching its American Girl doll collection on Monday at 9am EST! This is sure to sell out quick, so set your alarms!
P.S. I promise to always keep The Lauren Letter free as my little exercise of trying to make the world a bit more beautiful. If, in return, you could considering giving this post a “like” or share with a friend, it would just mean the world to me.
Wearing | Mersea Sunny Sailor Pajama Set + Molly Bed Coat
Can we please, please bring back the bed coat? I am putting my foot down and making it my personal mission. This set is so elevated and lovely — the kind of thing that makes you feel decadently pulled together even when you're entirely at home. These pieces are from MERSEA's collection in partnership with Selma Blair, whom I adore, and the collaboration shows. Every detail feels considered. Highly, highly recommend!
Eating | Cheesy Chicken Casserole
Look. I am lazy. The rain makes me want nothing more than comfort food and the least amount of effort. This casserole delivered on both counts. I asked AI to turn this recipe into a crockpot-friendly take — it took me not even ten minutes to get everything into the dish, and then I just let it do its work.
Reading | Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
Our very first Lauren Letter Book Club pick, and I am obsessed. I genuinely cannot remember the last time I felt this completely infatuated with a book. It has been so buzzy, and I know we are going to have so much to talk about. Head to my Substack note (below!) and leave your thoughts, questions, and musings — I want to hear everything.
Watching | Real Housewives of Rhode Island
I will be honest — I had my doubts. I braced myself for a copy-and-paste of New Jersey and prepared to be unimpressed. I was so wrong. So wrong. RHORI is fantastic, and I truly believe we are living in a Bravo renaissance. What a time to be alive!
Listening | The Queen and Her Presidents by Susan Page
With all the beautiful coverage of the King and Queen’s visit to the U.S. this week, I have had this audiobook on deck. It chronicles Queen Elizabeth II’s relationships with all thirteen American presidents she met during her reign — and the standout fact that will stop you in your tracks: she is the only person in history that all thirteen of those presidents had all met.
Trying | Listing on The RealReal
I have a handful of luxury handbags languishing in my closet — loud logos, not really my style anymore, some of them untouched for years. I finally listed them on The RealReal and it has been such a low-lift, easy process. I am genuinely excited to clear the space and make room for investments that actually align with where my style is these days. Highly recommend if you’re sitting on pieces that deserve a second life!
Champagne | Business and Pleasure Co. The Waterhouse Sofa
A dear friend recently outfitted her gorgeous backyard pool area with pieces from Business and Pleasure Co., and I became an instant, devoted fan. This sofa in particular — the Waterhouse — is simply dreamy. Put it on your back patio and suddenly every afternoon feels like Palm Beach.
Frites | Ebern Designs 4-Person Premium Patio Wicker Sectional Seating Group
An incredibly elevated look for an unbelievable price point. The lattice detailing is spectacular — it looks like it could have walked straight off the floor of a luxury home showroom. Outdoor entertaining season is upon us, and this is how you do it without the heart-stopping price tag.
Emily Ley
Emily Ley is the founder and CEO of Simplified, a premium brand of planners and organizational tools. She also runs one of the top Substacks in the United States, writing about womanhood, work, ambition, home, and the beautiful mess in between — for women who refuse to shrink in a world that expects them to do it all.
She is the kind of woman who builds something meaningful, writes about it honestly, and brings her community along for every chapter. Follow her. You will not regret it!
