The Duchess of Sussex spent Wednesday evening at Godmothers Bookstore in Summerland, California, joining author and lifestyle creator Courtney Adamo for a warm and candid live conversation — and a reunion more than two decades in the making.
credit: Godmothers Substack
The event, which was streamed live on Substack, was titled “Compare Notes on Creating a Home That’s Filled With Joy” and celebrated Adamo’s new book, The Family Home. The discussion offered an intimate glimpse into Meghan’s approach to entertaining, motherhood, and friendship — all through the lens of authenticity and connection.
Meghan and Courtney’s friendship began during their freshman year at Northwestern University, where they became sorority sisters and fast friends. During the event, Meghan reminisced about their college days, sharing a fond memory of “backpacking through France on spring break,” complete with crepes and carefree laughter.
credit: Godmothers Substack
Their bond, which started in those early years, has clearly stood the test of time — grounded in shared values of family, creativity, and intentional living.
credit: Godmothers Substack
Meghan shared her simple secret for putting guests at ease when entertaining at her Montecito home: bare feet and an apron.
It demystifies,” she explained. “People walk in and go, ‘Oh, she’s in this with me.’ And what are they drawn to? Your kitchen. They come right in, and suddenly everyone’s a little bit softened.”
credit: Godmothers Substack
Rather than serving tea, Meghan said she prefers to have something cozy simmering on the stove — like a hot toddy or cider — so guests can serve themselves while music plays softly in the background. It’s a scene that perfectly captures her philosophy of warmth, hospitality, and grounded elegance.
Moderated by Godmothers co-founder Victoria Jackson, the discussion touched on parenting, creativity, and the balance between structure and spontaneity in family life. Meghan and Courtney, both mothers, spoke about “the value of boredom” for fostering imagination, and the importance of genuine laughter — or as Meghan described it, “deep belly laughing with your friends” instead of just sending a “laughing emoji.”
credit: Godmothers Substack
The evening also reflected a philosophy Meghan has spoken about before — the “Rose & Thorn” practice. It’s a simple ritual of sharing the highlight (the rose) and the challenge (the thorn) of one’s day — a way to encourage openness, gratitude, and reflection.
During the conversation, an audience member added another layer to the idea — the “bud” — representing something new you learned or are looking forward to. Meghan smiled at the mention, embracing the addition as a lovely way to continue growing, both personally and within family life.
credit: Godmothers Substack
In true Meghan fashion, guests were treated to bottles of her As Ever wine following the event.
A look at what Meghan wore for tonight’s event.
She wore a brown silk top and matching trousers with a belt. It could even be.a jumpsuit. I’m still on the hunt for these pieces.
Meghan had on her Cartier ‘Love’ bracelet and her pear shaped diamond ring we’ve seen so much of recently.
I was trying to get a closer look at Meghan’s earrings during the event. At first, I thought they might be her Guzema flat disc studs, which she’s worn recently. However, on closer inspection, I believe these are another familiar pair — round gold studs featuring a delicate diamond detail across the center that were never identified.
credit: Godmothers Substack
Speaking of As Ever…
Earlier today, Meghan’s lifestyle brand As Ever shared a new Reel on Instagram teasing, “Save the Date — October 28, 2025.” Could this mean a home goods drop is on the way?
The timing certainly fits — especially with her upcoming With Love, Meghan Holiday Special set to debut on Netflix. Maybe we will finally get the flower bucket we’ve seen in other posts.
In the clip, Meghan wore a black sleeveless midi dress, white cardigan and boots.
The black dress features a v-neck and is belted at the waist. I will update the post if we’re able to identify the dress.
Her cardigan is from Brochu Walker ‘The Cropped Cardigan’ in Salt White, $368.
I was not able to see any clear details of the boots other than that they are low heal – possibly chunky. They could be her Hunter boots or something new.
Her necklace is the Cartier ‘Juste Un Clou Torque’, small model, diamonds, $18,700.
