Welcome to Jettset 🐾 — my bi-monthly(ish) newsletter named after my sweet pup, Jett, where I share new essays and travel guides, postcards from Portugal, and all the things I’m loving right now.
Olá Amigos 🥰
It’s been a little while, hasn’t it?
I hope you’re all settling into the cozy autumn season.
If you’ve been wondering where I’ve disappeared to lately — I promise it wasn’t far.
I’m finally on the mend from a gnarly cold that had me sipping tea and homemade soup all week long.
I didn’t mind too much, though. It gave me the perfect excuse to curl up and rewatch some of my favorite classic movies — the kind that never fail to soothe a sniffle and warm the heart.
In other news, Jett Rose has fully recovered from her surgery (hallelujah!) but now has a bout of (what is essentially) tennis elbow, which we can only hope subsides soon. 🙏🏽🤞🏽 Who knew dogs could even get that!?!
The silver lining to all this downtime?
It’s given me space to pour my energy into something special I’ve been quietly working on behind the scenes — which I’m so excited to share more about soon.
Until then, you’ll have to wait with bated breath.
In the meantime, however, here’s a look at today’s itinerary:
New & Noteworthy 💡| Sipping & soaking.
Postcards from Portugal 🇵🇹 | New terrain.
The Love List 🩷 | An oldie but a goodie.
Without further ado, let’s dive in!
New & Noteworthy💡
Hot off the presses: Wine these days is for more than just drinking.
Have you ever considered soaking in it, too? 🍷
That’s right — the wine wellness scene in Portugal is having a moment, with everything from wine baths; to grapeseed scrubs; to treatments that promise relaxation, rejuvenation, and a hint of indulgence.
If you’re curious, I wrote all about it for Vacayou Magazine.
Naturally, I had to experience a few of these spa rituals firsthand — purely for research purposes, of course. 😉
Hey, it’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it.
Postcards from Portugal 🇵🇹
A few weekends ago, we rented a car and finally ticked off a nearby city that’s long been on our Portugal bucket list: Ponte de Lima.
Portugal’s oldest chartered town, this tiny city sits along the Lima River, anchored by a nearly 1,000-year-old medieval bridge (which it’s named after).
Cobblestoned streets, lined with beautiful trees, are all a buzz on Sundays with vendors selling everything from cured meats and aged cheeses to handmade crafts.
Amid the bustle, Gothic churches and antique stalls add to the town’s historic charm.
The best part?
Towns like these are peppered all over Portugal. While the bigger cities will always dazzle, these little gems are where you get a real feel for local life.
The Love List 🩷
FOOD | LET THEM EAT CAKE!
Our friends from France recently invited us over to their beautiful new home for a housewarming gathering last weekend.
It was the perfect excuse to make a pistachio cake, which I’d be craving for months.
I found this recipe online and I have to admit, this might have been the best dessert, I’ve EVER made (full disclosure, I added a dollop of store-bought pistachio cream to both the batter and the frosting making it *chef’s kiss*).
If you’re looking for a treat that’ll wow at your next get-together, this is it.
QUOTE | Songbird
I saw this quote not long ago, and it landed with a thud.
So often we think we need to be “perfect” — to have all the degrees or all the experience — before we venture into something new.
But the truth is, sometimes all it takes is showing up exactly as we already are.
And with that, have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
With only more love,
Sam
Questions, comments, tips or suggestions?
🛝 into my DMs below!
I love that quote ❤️