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This outfit was a dream because I actually did dream of it. Meant for another evening with another backlit backdrop per slide 4 on my Canva-made Mallorcan itinerary, I was supposed to wear this sparkly see-through number on the swanky rooftop bar of Hotel Jumeirah. However, to avoid a hike up the hillside and a meltdown from my five-year-old, we settled on a well-reviewed paella spot along the pedestrian pathway, savoring the golden hour with gelato afterwards, my extended ar

A therapist unpacks the invisible labor of planning a beautiful family trip to Mallorca — and everything hidden inside one word: "nice."

You Don't Need a Party. You know I love a birthday — my own especially, being a Leo (of course) — but really, I love the ritual of celebrating. A birthday is an anniversary of a life, and like any anniversary, it can be both inspiring and overwhelming. As a therapist, I know they quietly prompt reflection, introspection, motivation, and sometimes loss. As a hostess, friend, mother, and daughter, I know they come down to one thing: making someone feel seen. And feeling seen is

There's a word for the opposite of a trigger, and almost no one uses it. We all know what a trigger is by now — the term has fully escaped the therapy room. A trigger is a cue that drops your nervous system into threat: the tone in an email, a certain song, the smell of a hospital. Your body reacts before your mind has voted on the matter. The lesser-known truth is that the same system runs in the other direction. The polyvagal researcher Deb Dana gave that direction a name:

The Tradwife Novel That Blames Women.

Excerpt: 8 tips for styling a maximalist buffet table that looks abundant without feeling chaotic — from fruit towers and silver serveware to caviar with potato chips.

My child asked for a pirates and cheese themed birthday party—And I delivered

Travel truly reinvigorates us, and despite my penchant for finding the most storied and beautiful places around the world, most of what I am looking for actually exists less than two hours away. Short excursions are an underrated luxury I find as I scroll through Instagram, my eyes dazzled by yet another glamorous beach off the rugged coastline of Italy with the promise of the best linguine alla vongole you’ve ever had. And while I might sound like a complete and total hypocr

Growing up in Chicago I lived for summer. For three months out of the year we could reliably count on good weather—along with some humidity and summer storms but also genuinely warm nights spent completely outside. Come June all the sudden everyone is Chicago had a convertible, every restaurant boasted patios larger than their insides and boats on Lake Michigan magically appeared along the sparkling city skyline. With an August 12th birthday, everyone always was eager to cele

I sit here this morning, writing at 5:30am on a Wednesday, before my son wakes up, and I start seeing back to back therapy patients. This is the only time of day I have the wherewithal to form a fully fledged thought and make a plan for my weekly content on now several social platforms including Instagram, Substack, Shop My, Pinterest and my original blog turned brand website, MonicaGisele.com. The things I like to share range from detailed accounts on why I chose a hotel roo

We found a truly feminine countryside retreat in the Napa Valley! Located right across the street from Bouchon on Yountville's main road, sits one of the newest editions to the valley's high bar for hospitality. I felt like I was on set of a Nancy Meyers film about a feminine girl finding love in wine country! The design is whimsical and feminine, a nice addition to the typical earthy and refined palletes we are most accustomed to seeing in the Napa Valley region. I loved how

Yountville is officially my favorite place in the Napa Valley! I have been to Napa twice before, both times the main purpose being a wedding and so didn't really get the chance to explore much. So when Parker's spring break came around I figured the drive north into wine country would be an esay retreat and I am happy to report it truly was. Since Arthur has been busy with work, my mother and I decided to take Parker ourselves to Napa Valley, to explore the charming town of Y

Arthur and I had the pleasure of attending an event last week with perhaps the best theme yet–Retro Riviera! Of course my mind instantly went to Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor and Sophia Loren. Summer travel for me will always be inspired by the culture of Italian and French Riviera in the 50s and 60s. A time well captured in film of these movie stars; conjuring images of a vintage convertible swirving through the sparkling coastline of the Mediterranean through chic villages.

Like photography, floral arranging is something I've been taking amateur shots at for a while now. And I can't imagine I am the only one! It's both a practical and beautiful skill to have, a practice you can completely immerse yourself in—no screens required! So I decided to throw a floral arranging party for my son's school fundraiser and the other moms and I had such a great time gathering with one another and learning new skills from the talented Jelena from Viola Floral

I am now on ShopMy!

This year I spent Valentine's Day with Arthur and Parker in Mammoth and had the best time skiing in the California sunshine, après-ing each afternoon in the hot tub and staying cozy in the village. My full recs for Mammoth are soon to come in a city guide but before then I wanted to share fit links and more importantly some details about what I love wearing for ski vacations. Here are some of the things I've come to love each season, enjoy! xx My Favorite Ski Fits I feel most

A place so nice, I had to go twice. The was hands down my favorite spot in New Orleans. It felt moody and maximalist, a bit of Paris and NYC meets the south. The space was beyond colorful, bold and warm, which is what I love. They had an easy menu of elevated snacks and craft cocktails, the staff were extremely welcoming and the space was a perfect size for a cozy lounge; not just a hotel bar which can often feel cramped and oversold. Some detail shots of the fabulous Salon S

She wants a brand new episode of RHOBH, Hillstone on a silver platter, and 45 minutes of no human contact until she’s fully defrosted... Just kidding! Here's what she really wants from you, from a therapist's perspective. TIME TO DECOMPRESS Life can be super busy and overwhelming, for better or worse. Regardless we are all more apt for romance, connection and goodtime when we truly feel restored. Sometimes the gift of time to recollect ourselves is priceless; whether it’s a l

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