Hi there, I’m Sheridan.
I’m sick right now, so if this feels a little chaotic, it’s because my throat feels like crispy chicken tenders, and I’m writing this under five blankets with a mug of tea I’ve already microwaved twice. But I wanted to start this newsletter anyway… real-time, unfiltered, nothing polished. Just life as it’s happening.
So, what’s been going on?
My younger sister got married on April 11th. I drove from the East Coast to Minnesota with just me and my two dogs in the car. And no, I didn’t stop and get a hotel like my parents begged me to. I told them I would call when I was ready to stop for the night, and my dad would use his Hilton points; he has about a billion.
But if you know me… I didn’t call. I pulled over at a sketchy-ass truck stop in the middle of nowhere, took a three-hour nap, and woke up to frantic texts from my mom saying, “I hope you’re just snoozing at a sketchy truck stop and not dead.”
And honestly? It worked out. I woke up, still in the driver’s seat, in driving position, ready to go. No check-out. No wasted time. I swear by it.
Traveling solo with two dogs is a full production. Shadow has epilepsy, so I always keep a small jar of peanut butter in my purse to sneak him his meds — nothing gets past him except peanut butter.
I’ve turned my car into a rolling dog lounge. Big hammock in the backseat, their favorite blankets, toys, and their dog beds. I keep two seatbelt clips, one up front and one in the back, so when they want to stick their heads out the window, they are seatbelted in, and I’m not having a heart attack thinking they’ll launch themselves into traffic.
I keep a to-go cup and water bottles on hand at all times, and their food rides underneath the hamper in the backseat legroom so it stays temperature-safe. Not in the trunk, it gets too hot or too cold. Everything has a place.
Everything has a backup plan. It’s chaos, but it’s controlled.
I stayed two nights at my little sister Sophie’s college house in Winona, Minnesota. It was me, two dogs, and a bunch of college girls. I haven’t been in college in an actual decade, so it felt kind of hilarious. I forgot how chaotic it is. Zero structure, random kitchen supplies, everyone’s sleeping schedules are scattered as if it’s a shift job they’re alternating. It was weirdly nostalgic — like stepping into a version of myself I barely remember.
Also: I packed way too many clothes. But how am I supposed to know what vibe I’ll feel in five days? Or five hours? I need options. Comfy, hot, casual-chic, mysterious but approachable… all of them had to come. I wore like four things total.
Then we headed north for the wedding. Sophie rode with me. It was in central-northern Minnesota at this beautiful venue surrounded by little cabins. We each had our own cabin next to the venue, and it felt like something out of a movie. I was a bridesmaid. Sydney was glowing. Hunter looked like he’d been waiting his whole life to see her walk down the aisle. The whole thing was peaceful, warm, and just really… great.
Of course, no wedding happens without a little chaos. I somehow ended up on my hands and knees, steaming my mother’s mother-of-the-bride dress like it was my full-time job. No one assigned it to me. I just assumed the role. It’s the eldest daughter in me, unpaid labor, and wrinkle removal.
There were a lot of people there from the small town I grew up in. Some I was really happy to see. A few, I fully avoided. Let’s leave it at that.
I did my own hair and makeup for the wedding, obviously. I don’t trust anyone else to match my face vibe, and to be honest, I have to be extremely picky. After modeling throughout my teens and early twenties, my skin reacts to just about everything. It’s overly sensitive now, and I’ve learned the hard way that most products either make me break out or break down emotionally. So I’m meticulous.
Everything has to be clean, minimal, and non-irritating, and if it’s scented? Absolutely not.
I didn’t use concealer because I react to almost every single one I’ve ever tried. Instead, I went with BareMinerals’ Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer, which gives me just enough coverage to look alive without suffocating my face. To finish it off and cut the shine, I layered on NYX’s Can’t Stop Won’t Stop mattifying powder — it’s one of the only powders I’ve found that holds without turning into chalk.
For hair, I kept it simple. I sectioned it into four horizontal layers and curled it with a half-inch barrel, one piece at a time. Once everything cooled, I sprayed it, gently brushed it through with a wide-tooth comb, gave it a shake, and then sealed it all with Aveda’s Air Control light-hold hairspray. It held up through wind, humidity, and bridal party chaos without turning crispy or stiff. I felt like myself, just more photogenic.
After the wedding, I drove to Tennessee to stay at my parents’ house for a few days. I was barely unpacked before I realized I was sick. My throat’s been killing me, I have no voice, and I’ve mostly been curled up in bed trying to drink enough tea to survive.
The good news is that my dogs are thrilled to be here. They have a huge yard, no city sidewalks, and no leashes. And honestly, it’s kind of perfect timing. If I had to be sick, I’m glad it’s here and not in our East Coast home with a very small backyard.
I was hoping to drive back tomorrow, but I’m not sure that’s happening. I feel like trash. So we’ll see. Maybe Friday. Maybe when I can talk without sounding like a dying Victorian child.
xo,
Sheridan Guerrette
WhatSheridanSaid.com
Life Behind the Artist: Wed at 9/8C
