Greetings from Seabrook, TX!

I started writing this one at Mandarina picked it back up in the Hill Country, and then life happened. My summertime lovin’ series never got its moment, so we’ve pushed right on through to fall.

Let’s call it a renovation refresh delay! Hotel Libby has a fresh coat of paint and a brand new palette, so the Fall EDIT doubles as a proper tour.

When I started my newsletter, I wanted a way to reach my clients who aren’t on social media, and a place to share what I love outside of work. Shopping. Cooking. A really good cocktail. Great conversation. When I put it all together, it sounded an awful lot like a hotel and Hotel Libby was born. Here’s your map of the property:

The Concierge Desk holds my city guides, client itineraries, dream itineraries, hotel reviews, and all things travel. It’s where my expertise lives.
The Gift Shop is stocked with my go-to gadgets, in the kitchen and beyond. Beauty, my desk setup, and travel essentials from wardrobe to wearables.
The Kitchen is where my recipes live, including DNI: Date Night In.
The Spa is where the wellness woo-woo happens. Deep thoughts won’t come often, but when they do, this is where I’ll let them out.
The Lobby Lounge is where the fire is always roaring. Drink in hand, cozy conversation with some of my favorite people.
And a little Housekeeping note: this post is a wee bit too long for email so best to read on the Substack website or better yet the APP where you can discover more writers!

Fall looks very different this year than it has for the past 13.5 years.

As the temperature drops (we call it POODLE weather), we spend much more time outside on the glorious weekends we get to be home. Walks. Patio time. And until recently, starring one particular chocolate brown furball of love, ears blowing in the wind.

We said goodbye to that sweet boy, our beloved Axel, on August 31st. We are filled, and I mean FILLED, with gratitude for our exceptional time with him on this earth. But our heads have yet to catch up to our hearts.

I won’t wax on about how loved he was. BUT IT WAS A LOT, and by A LOT of people. He was quite the presence, and damn, we miss him.

As we fall into our new routine, without Axel's enormous presence in our home, we are amazed by the love shown to us over the last few months. Losing him was always going to be the hardest part of the greatest love, but we couldn't have anticipated the human element: the absolute kindness, empathy, thoughtful gifts, notes, and support from near and far.

A teary thank you to my clients, colleagues, friends, and everyone who loved our boy. You met us with such understanding, even in the midst of hardships of your own.

The greatest really is love. Thank you for yours.

Now pull up a chair. The holidays are coming, and I have ideas.

GLENEAGLES
Gleneagles, Scotland: the month's headline trip and why I love it for festive.

Start with a few days in Edinburgh, which I liken to a mini London that feels conquerable in a few days, though you could stay for weeks and never tire of it. Then a private driver takes you an hour north to Gleneagles, where you check into Braid House rooms, each with its own cozy fireplace. Shooting, falconry, gun dogs, even ferreting. But here’s my secret: the activities aren’t the star. Simply being there is.

The grounds are impeccable, and every restaurant is thoughtfully designed. Our favorite was The Strathearn. Picture Christmas dinner: silver domes lifted off roast beef and potatoes, champagne on ice. Then there’s Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, the Michelin-starred jewel, and the American Bar. Best part for families? Everyone is on site. The adults head to the American Bar, the kids order room service. A perfect pairing.

→ Read my Gleneagles guide:

Why the Concierge Desk is for paid subscribers

People often assume advisors travel for free. Not entirely true. Or at all, really!

Taft Travel is my own agency, complete with its own LLC, insurance, and an employee. (Yes, just the one. We are MIGHTY!) We’re an affiliate of SmartFlyer, a global travel agency with an office in NYC and outposts in Australia and Mexico City, and full HR, marketing, accounting, and partnerships teams behind us. Think agencies within the agency. We collaborate, communicate, and lean on each other for intel and support in this wild world of travel.

Outside of the occasional FAM trip, my hotels, meals, and conferences come out of my own pocket. Sometimes an agent rate, a comp night here and there. Airfare? Always full fare.

Every trip is an investment. I meet with partners to dig into what their product offers, whether it’s a hotel, a resort, or a touring or transfer service, and who it’s best for on my roster of discerning clients. Same with properties: if a place feels super boutique and cheery, I have a client in mind. But certainly not all of them!

That’s why discovery trips matter so much in this business, not to mention discovering entirely new destinations. Case in point: Gleneagles. I sell it year after year because I know it, and I know exactly who to send.

Paid subscribers get the full Concierge Desk: every guide, every itinerary, every hotel review. The full EDIT doesn’t land in your inbox very often (clearly, ha!). But Concierge Desk emails come more regularly: quick, honest reviews of hotels and destinations, straight from my notes.

Subscribe now

→ Up next, you won’t want to miss: Paris, my complete guide, plus the Round Top Roundup!

My 40s age skincare routine has changed drastically and I believe the phrase is HIGH maintenance to be LOW maintenance.

Here are my latest discoveries I L O V E love:

Products working overtime:

Dermalogica Pre-Cleanse and Cleanser - pump bottle only!
Pavise | Bioadaptive Stress Repair Serum - a pricey little gem I alternate each night which has basically removed all redness from my skin

All things Beauty Pie. I’m obsessed. The $69 membership gets you insane discounts on products from the same kind of labs behind the bajillion-dollar lines. Listen to founder Marcia Kilgore on How I Built This for the full story. My favorites:

Depuffing Eye Gels
Superluminous Tinted Skin Glow Serum — SO GOOD
Flawless Eyeshadow Primer
The Under-Eye Genius (has replaced my concelear entirely) and Brush 002 — made famous by Bethany, and it’s the OG
Superbrow Luxe Precision Brow Pencil
Intensive Lip Balm — lives by the bed, in the purse, on the plane
Happy Face 10% Azelaic Acid Skin-Clearing Gel Cream — wonder drug
Happy Face Extreme Relief Cica Moisture Cream — lightweight and perfect
WonderColour Longwear Eyeshadow Stick — everyday hero, especially on the go
Triple Hyaluronic Acid LipoPeptide Serum — a title beyond my paygrade, but it’s a beautiful moisturizing layer
Wrap Star Tubing Mascara
The Perfectly Puffy Organizer Bag — stays packed for overnights

Shop through my links and I may earn a small commission, at no cost to you.

What I’m into right now:

Listening

The Ultimate Guide to Divorce with James J Sexton, Esq: LOL typing that out was a jump scare, but DO not worry - there’s no question I am #blessed in the life-partner department. But I welcome expert advice on how to be better each day at listening, loving, supporting, and cherishing the gift of spending my life with the one I love. James Sexton is a super divorce attorney with a brilliant take on relationships. It all comes down to the small beats you can catch before they become mountains no one can climb.

Reading

Becoming Supernatural by Joe Dispenza: After the last few months, this book helped me zoom out, see the big picture, and live in the here and now. Not the when, why, who, what, and where. Just now. That’s where I’ve found the peace. And haven’t we learned by now we aren’t in control of ANYTHING?? Highly suggest.

Scrolling

justbritni on TikTok: the brightest and best. She makes me giggle and feel happy about people who are exactly where they were born to be.

Moving

Morning sunlight: Yes, it has stabilized my mood and my sleep. My favorite way to get it is a quick 30-minute walk with Enzo BEFORE looking at my phone. I KNOW!
The Class : a workout subscription I actually use weekly. I feel it settling my nervous system for hours, even days, after.

Substacking

The Sailing Board by John Dunaway, the man behind Paloma Blanco. Subscribe now, because the next EDIT brings a super special treat from our Paloma Blanco friends!
Curated by Kayla by Kayla Douglas: her Sunday series is a must if you’re a traveler of any sort. Kayla is a genuinely gifted writer, explorer, and lover of NYC (especially the West Village). She’s also SmartFlyer’s editorial director, thank you very much, and the voice that leads our brand’s travel messaging by a mile.
Speaking of SmartFlyer: Stay Awhile with SmartFlyer is an excellent read too.
The Jacy Edit by Jacy Cooper: Jacy gave me a little spotlight on her Substack earlier this month, and it was so fun to be part of! She’s a realtor, mahjong master, and restaurateur alongside her hubs. But what I love most are her cooking lists. She just inspired me to go to Central Market and basically buy them out of Greener Pastures chicken. And a LONG time ago, she had a blog with friends featuring a recipe I’m still obsessed with today:
- Shredded rotisserie chicken, avocado, lime, and cilantro, mixed well and piled on a Mary’s Gone Crackers seed cracker. You can thank Jacy later.

Thanks for being here and I’d love to hear from you! libby.taft@smartflyer.com

Make-believe stays at Hotel Libby. Real-life getaways at Taft Travel.

Falling Into Fall + Fireside at Gleneagles