m.davis xoxo

Latest

New Decade, New Beginnings

I turned 31 yesterday. I had an incredible weekend celebrating with my closest friends, but I came home to the news of Kobe Bryant’s death. At 41. Exactly 10 years older than I am now. I’m not a huge basketball or Kobe fan more so than the average person, but the news left me speechless. There are a few things I’ll never forget from my 31st birthday and this is one of them. In a way, it made my birthday a little sweeter. I’ve always been one to celebrate birthdays big, but I felt especially grateful yesterday to have made it another year.

In the spirit of living to our fullest every day since we don’t know when it’s our last, I wanted to share with my faithful readers that I’m retiring my blog indefinitely.

For a few years now, I’ve had a life goal of writing a novel. I loved creative writing as a kid and filled notebook upon notebook of stories and dreams. I shared them with my family, my teachers, my classmates, my friends. It was my biggest passion and I want to take that back. So I’ve decided to use the time I was spending on my blog instead to focus my efforts on writing my novel. We aren’t guaranteed another day, so why wait?

It’s actually very apt that I published my first blog post in 2010 – which at the time was called An Apple A Day (for my maiden name Appleton). I started out simply by sharing the uncomplicated musings of a college student and then it grew into book reviews and my favorite easy/delicious/somewhat healthy recipes (that I know a couple in Washington state will miss!) and travel picturebooks and life lately and being a safe space to be vulnerable about my grief when my dad passed away.

I will miss this blog so much and the joy of writing it and reading all of your comments and how it impacted you. I never once wanted this to become a “job” or a way for me to make money, and it never did. It was simply a scrapbook of my life from 2010-2020 that I can’t wait to look back on for years to come.

This isn’t to say the blog will never return. It’s just the right thing for now. Sometimes you have to leave things behind in order to make space for something new.

Still want to know what I’m reading, where I’m traveling + where I’m drinking wine next?! Follow me on instagram @milledavis.

Cheers to a new decade and new beginnings.

xo xo,
Mille Davis

Posted by milledavis | January 27, 2020 | Categories: Life | Tags: 2020, 31, birthday, new beginnings, new decade | 2 Comments

life lately

N Y C

[terrific trip with our “central park” squad – perfect fall weather, tattoos, peloton, amazing food + drink, comedy club, broadway and more!]

H A L L O W E E N

[“why’s the carpet all wet, TODD?” “I don’t know, MARGO!”]

[annual hayes halloween party!]

T H A N K S G I V I N G

[1st annual Thanksgiving PIE Social!]

[smaller thanksgiving this year, but just as thankful for this family and those not here <3]

xo xo

Posted by milledavis | November 30, 2019 | Categories: Fall, Life | Tags: fall, halloween, life, life lately, NYC, thanksgiving | Leave a comment

Book Reviews: 1 to Read, 2 to Listen + 3 to Ponder

Three Women – Lisa Taddeo: If you want a book that will surprise you, punch you in the gut and make you think about it long after you’ve finished reading, this is it. The non-fiction work is derived from a journalist’s eight-year journey across the country to understand real women’s desires and their stories. The power in Taddeo’s storytelling is it reads like fiction, and all three women’s narratives will captivate you.
Grade: A

Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don’t Know – Malcolm Gladwell: Gladwell can do no wrong in my mind, and this book was just as fascinating as his others in a completely new way. He examines our interactions with strangers, through the lense of history, pop culture + psychology, to try and make sense of why and how we invite misunderstanding into our lives. Though not a “self-help” book to teach us how to talk to strangers it does give us unique perspectives, which we could all use a little more of.
Note: highly recommend this one on audiobook, you hear the actual interviews, media clips + historical re-enactments
Grade: A

What Happens in Paradise – Elin Hilderbrand: The second in Hilderbrand’s current series, this is such an easy, great read. There’s mystery, romance and it’s set in a tropical paradise. What more could you need?
Grade: A

The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery – Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile: If you’re not sure what the enneagram is – pause, google it, then come back. If you’re new to this whole enneagram business and want to actually learn more (vs just following meme accounts on Instagram) this is a great book to get you started. It offers some history, a little depth on each number, details on wings and access, and provides great real-life analogies to help you understand yourself better as well as those around you.
Grade: B+

The Dutch House – Ann Patchett: I’m obsessed with this book, and it will most likely be my book of the year (followed closely by Where the Crawdads Sing). The story seems so simple – it follows a brother and sister through the typical ebbs and flows of life across five decades, with the house they grew up in (The Dutch House) as an unsuspecting framework for their lives. I don’t want to say much more, just read it or listen to it …
Note: highly recommend this one on audiobook, Tom Hanks narrates and is just fantastic (because obviously, it’s Tom Hanks) Also, yes I’m getting into audiobooks lately!!
Grade: A+

The Family Upstairs – Lisa Jewel: Such a strange, twisted, dark story about an orphan who inherits a house when she turns 25, which leads her to a horrifying discovery about her birth parents. It’s a little slow to start and the characters lacked depth, but the story was so bizarre and surprising it kept me reading.
Grade: B+

xo xo
You can read all my book reviews here.

Posted by milledavis | November 27, 2019 | Categories: Books, Reviews | Tags: ann patchett, book reviews, books, elin hilderbrand, malcolm gladwell, talking to strangers, the dutch house, the family upstairs, the road back to you, three women, what happens in paradise | 1 Comment

life lately

[celebrated this || a gorgeous wedding with gorgeous friends!]

[cheered on this || tailgating szn has officially begun]

[hosted this || 4th annual fall party with the best cheese + charcuterie board ever]

[eating this || all the pumpkin flavored things, thanks to the best day trip to Trader Joe’s]

[enjoyed this || work travel from Florida to Canada!
You know what they say – Work Hard, Play Hard ❤️]

xo xo

Posted by milledavis | October 13, 2019 | Categories: Fall, Family & Friends, Life, Travel | Tags: canada, fall party, florida, life, life lately | 1 Comment

10 Things: July, August + September

J U L Y

Pedialyte popsicles are game changers.
Even if you like Black Box wine, don’t even think about trying the whiskey.
Bottomless mimosa brunch is always/never a good idea.
13 years later, Veronica Mars has still got it. #TrueLoVeForever
People are legitimately divided on the purpose of a koozie.
Find someone to take on their first 2am Waffle House experience.
Have a beer with your parents’ childhood friends.
You can do yoga poses while holding wine.
Take your birthday off work.
Jump in the pool.

A U G U S T

It doesn’t matter if it’s “dry heat”, 105 degrees is too.freaking.hot.
Traveling hungover is the absolute worst.
3-year-olds will ask you questions you’ve never even considered before.
Be bold and take yourself out of a situation you don’t want to be in.
Sometimes an ice luge is purely for show.
Meet your significant other in another city.
Be EXTREMELY clear to said significant other about what flight you’re on.
Go see an Illusionist and allow your belief to be suspended, if only for 1 night.
Don’t let the tiniest thing ruin your evening.
Be patient; it is a virtue after all.

S E P T E M B E R

PSL Cold Brew is the best drink Starbucks has ever created.
Never let me eat Taco Bell in the car.
Buy a newly engaged couple a bottle of wine – even when you don’t know them.
Let celebrities enjoy time with their families.
Trust, but verify.
Key lime pie is always better in Florida.
75% of adults are magnesium deficient.
Mix prints and just go with it.
Open the Veuve on a random night.
The bigger the charcuterie board = the better.

xo xo

10 Things: Jan + Feb, March + April, May + June

Posted by milledavis | October 1, 2019 | Categories: Family & Friends, Inspiration, Life, Summer | Tags: 10 things, august, july, september | 1 Comment

life lately: summer edition

The blog is back from summer hiatus! Here’s a snapshot of our summer – from NYC to LA to everything in between. ❤

N Y C
[spontaneous meet-up in my favorite city]

[I flew in from phoenix, he flew in from bentonville + after lots of delays and a comedy of errors, we finally found each other at la guardia at 1am]

[found the cutest lunch spot with lobster rolls + aperol spritz]

[the best live DJ ride with robin + DJ john michael
350 rides for me + 400 rides for husband!!]

[mind seriously BLOWN by Dan White, the Magician – highly recommend]

[explored williamsburg: smorgasburg (a foodie’s dream come true), brooklyn brewery + the william vale rooftop]

[sunset sails are my absolutely favorite]

[greenwich village: dinner at palma + snuck in to smalls jazz club]

L A
[labor day weekend]

[soaking up the sun in manhattan beach]

[exploring santa barbara + contemplating how to retire here]

[the national at the greek theatre – 9.2.19]

[room views + hotel pools]

[ended the trip at my favorite places with my favorite people]

E V E R Y T H I N G. I N. B E T W E E N.

[LE event of the SUMMER – Stephen and Jaimie get MARRIED!!!]

[celebrated my favorite guy’s birthday with concert, cake + daquiris]

[celebrated Becky’s 30th on the lake #thirtyAF]

[hosted family + showed them some of our fave spots around town]

[attended my very first national sales meeting with this awesome crew in phoenix]

[dinner + a show with the fam]

[it’s a hard knock life/summer without this squad]

[sunset sails, whether on the hudson river or beaver lake, never disappoint]

Summer was delightful, but now on to my favorite season of all – F A L L !
xo xo

Posted by milledavis | September 9, 2019 | Categories: Family & Friends, Happiness, Life, Summer, Travel | Tags: LA, labor day, labor day weekend, los angeles, New York City, NYC, peloton, summer | 1 Comment

life lately

[enjoying this || a perfect summer evening with tap dance, tacos + beer]

[celebrating this || our 8th anniversary with a special drink + handwritten letters]

[soaking in this || the start of summer fridays]

[loving on this || blushing bride-to-be]

[eating this || so much food at bite x2]

[dancing to this || girls night out to see our favorite 90s cover band]

[relaxing like this || the most chill 4th of july weekend with my favorite people]

Alright friends, I’m signing off for the summer!

Enjoy the longer days, the extra time with family + friends and take some time just for YOU (preferably with rosé).

I’ll be back in September with life lately summer edition, alllll the book reviews + more travel adventures! ❤

xo xo

Posted by milledavis | July 10, 2019 | Categories: Family & Friends, Life, Summer | Tags: life, life lately, summer | Leave a comment

Book Reviews: Summer ’19 Edition

I’m so happy with how much I’ve been able to read this summer – 10 books in 2 months. Check out my reviews below and let me know what you’re favorite book has been this summer!

No Exit – Taylor Adams: This was a perfect vacation read – quick and suspenseful with twists and turns until the very end. The premise is ridiculously creepy. A girl gets stuck in a snowstorm and has to wait it out at a remote highway rest stop. She makes a horrifying discovery – in the back of the van parked next to her car is a little girl locked in an animal crate. With no cell service and no exit, she has to unmask and unwit the captor inside.
Grade: A-

Why We Sleep, Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams – Matthew Walker: I’m already fascinated by sleep and dreams, and this book gave me everything I wanted and more. If you’re not already as interested as me, it might feel a little repetitive, but the author says in the beginning to jump around, read the chapters that interest you, and even (you guessed it) fall asleep reading! Ha. Read this book and you will never think about sleep the same way again … and you’ll become a sleep nazi to everyone around you!
Grade: A

Summer of ’69 – Elin Hilderbrand: I’ve only started reading Hilderbrand’s novels in the last year, and I’m ready to go to the library and check them all out for my summer reading list. Her latest follows her typical formula, and draws you in to the stories of every member in the family – their secrets, their love interests and their personal struggles while also intertwining the national climate (Vietnam War, Woodstock, Apollo 11) during the summer of ’69.
Grade: A

Lock Every Door – Riley Sager: I devoured this book in 2 days. Set in a mysterious, famous residence in the Upper West Side of NYC, I was immediately drawn in. Sager’s writing is efficient yet captivating, and has the right amount of twists and turns to haunt you throughout. Want a quick beach read that will keep you guessing? This is it.
Grade: A

Where the Crawdads Sing – Delia Owens: This was the first audio book I’ve ever listened to as an adult (Mom and I used to listen to them all the time growing up – picked them up at Cracker Barrel on road trips, ha!). I felt like I was late to the party on this Reese Witherspoon pick, but I’m so glad I joined. This book has the most fascinating main character and an intriguing plot. While there’s an underlying mystery, I found myself not as concerned with solving that and more interested in life in the marsh. A very unique book that I think will soon become a high school reading list staple.
Grade: A+

The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living – Meik Wiking: Hygge n.(pronounced HOOH-GA) – a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture).
I am currently all in on living my best hygge life. This book is part self-help, part Danish culture and part happiness psychology. Not only did I learn a lot, but it provoked a lot of introspective thinking. This is a perfect little gift for someone, and a perfect side table book to pick up when you’re feeling down and want to learn how to be happier.
Grade: A+

The Golden Hour – Beatriz Williams: My least favorite book of the summer – it starts out a little slow, but picks up as the character’s stories across countries and decades start to weave together. I was hoping for another Along the Infinite Sea (one of my favorite books of 2016), and though it felt similar in ways, this didn’t have the same intrigue and sparkle. Historical fiction set in WWII era-Nassau, it follows a love story, the glamorous Duke and Duchess of Windsor and a mysterious crime.
Grade: B-

When Life Gives You Lululemons – Lauren Weisberger: The quote-unquote sequel to The Devil Wears Prada, this is a quintessential summer pick. Though I never read the former, I obviously know and love the movie. In the book, you’re immediately entertained by Emily’s new job post-Miranda Priestly, and you quickly get swept away in the drama of the housewives of Greenwich, CT with their neighborhood gossip and never-ending happy hours, all while wearing lululemon.
Grade: A

Final Girls – Riley Sager: I’m now officially a Riley Sager fangirl and have read all of his books (yes it’s a him, under a pseudonym), this one being his first. Three girls are part of three separate unthinkable tragedies and are the only ones left behind. This thriller is about how they cope separately, until another tragedy hits close to home. It’s full of so many twists, is seriously creepy and a terrific debut.
Grade: A

My Friend Anna: The True Story of a Fake Heiress – Rachel Deloache Williams: I can’t say this book was written well, or didn’t get a little lengthy about mid-way through, but I can say the story is FASCINATING and I can’t wait for HBO show (it’s already in the works.) The true story of a Russian girl who conned New York City’s wealthy, you’ll be questioning how she did it the entire way through.
Grade: A-

xo xo
You can read all my book reviews here.

Posted by milledavis | July 6, 2019 | Categories: Books, Reviews | Tags: book reviews, books, summer | 2 Comments

10 Things: May + June

M A Y

Celebrate anniversaries, even if it’s just with champagne on the patio.
Something you loved last year might not be something you love this year.
Celebrities – they’re just like us.
Put your mozzarella in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes before eating it (trust me).
Watching series finales is more fun with friends.
A themed party is a better party.
Sunscreen DOES expire.
Wine hack: never order the 2nd cheapest wine on the menu.
Add coffee grounds to your hydrangeas to turn them blue.
There’s no place like home.

J U N E

Visit/call/send postcards to your grandparents.
Las Vegas sun is different than Arkansas sun.
Wash your hair immediately after smoking a cigar.
Don’t let your husband go to the dealership to just “test drive”.
Long weekends are not the same as a week-long vacation.
Sports can actually be fun if you have money riding on the game.
You can make a delicious drink out of (accidental) frozen wine aka breakfast sangria slushie.
If it feels like fate, take the leap and go for it.
Don’t break in new shoes in Las Vegas.
Take the bet; you have to risk to get the reward.

xo xo

10 Things: Jan + Feb, March + April

Posted by milledavis | July 6, 2019 | Categories: Life, Summer | Tags: 10 things, 10 things: may + june, june, may | 3 Comments

Vacation Picturebook: Reno + Las Vegas

R E N O

We had the best start to our vacation visiting Kyle’s grandparents in Reno! They took us to Virginia City (old western town), we explored downtown Reno, and we had lots of late night wine in grandma’s gorgeous garden.

Then we took an amazing day trip to Lake Tahoe – one of my favorite places of ever!

L A S V E G A S

Night 1: We love the Cosmopolitan + Absinthe!! If you haven’t seen the show, we highly recommend, but warning it is VERY raunchy.

Pool days are the best days!

Night 2: We still love the Cosmopolitan and didn’t leave – found amazing live music + food at Rose. Rabbit.Lie, the coolest speakeasy behind a barbershop + late night milk bar cake (and secret pizza, obviously).