When I’m not writing or teaching literature classes, I’m drawn to things that restore me—music of all kinds (particularly jazz—both old and new), time spent in art museums, antique markets, and wandering through places shaped by history. I love old films and classic books, and I find great pleasure in decorating my apartment, especially in the fall and at Christmas, which have always been my favorite seasons.

I write for women who want to shape their lives with intention. Women who care about their homes, their inner lives, and the way their days are arranged. Women who choose simplicity and elegance in a noisy world and who value meaningful time with those they love.

The ideas I write about have been shaped by my own life experiences —both joyous and painful —and the wisdom I've gained along the way: through change, letting go, and learning to build my life thoughtfully rather than reactively.

I’ve learned that a beautiful life isn't built all at once. It is shaped slowly, through daily choices and quiet discernment about what belongs—and what no longer does.

“A beautiful life is not created overnight;
it is shaped over time.”

—Alexandra Stoddard