Hi friends. Just a quick little post to share a few good things. How are things in your neck of the woods? We have had the gambit here with the strongest storm we have had in years last weekend and now to warm and sunny again for Halloween. Guess this is fall in California!
It is persimmon season so don’t miss out on those. Just got this bunch from my sweet neighbor…
Last October, I did a fall table post and used the persimmons for the table. I tried to replicate something like it for Thanksgiving…
Anyway, I had a crazy few weeks, and went to see the son on a short jaunt to Salt Lake City. He goes to the University of Utah and it was nice to see his place and get to experience more of the city and also see cute Park City. More photos of it are on my Instagram under my Utah Story Bubble, under my bio. Utah is insanely beautiful and Salt Lake City is surrounded by snow-capped mountains right now. The town was a lot of fun and charming.
It was fun to travel for a weekend and I mainly wore white jeans, sweaters and these Paul Green boots all three days- which a few of you asked about on my Instagram. They were bought a while back, right before the pandemic and I am finally putting them to more use.
They have the nearly same ones still at Nordstrom. This is my first pair of Paul Green shoes and I know people rave about them- the quality and the comfort. I wore these in the snow in Park City and through the airport and all around town and my feet felt great! They were rained on and no marks left. It is definitely worth paying for better shoes that are going to be a go-to and workhorse in your wardrobe. I am wondering about a black pair too. All the gals in Utah wore combat boots with their pants and dresses and it looks current. Sometimes all you need is a great shoe to update everything. The coat is a classic I wear all the time from Emerson Fry.
Right before I left, I hosted a Bunco group. It was the first gathering we have had indoors since the pandemic. We don’t play anymore, just socialize. To make sure we all had space, Max and I spread the sectional and chairs far apart, and took up the whole main space in the house. Everyone was vaccinated and I made individual appetizer platters for each person.
I was hoping to find individual wooden charcuterie boards, from Target, but not having any luck, instead used these slightly larger trays.
What is fun on these individual boards:
- Consider the season and add a whimsical touch I added a little pumpkin shortbread cookie for an October vibe.
- Seasonal fruits – I went with grapes and clementines, but sliced persimmons, pears or apples could be good for fall.
- A triangle of brie, and some chèvre drizzled with honey, walnuts and pomegranate seeds.
- A variety of crackers (I like Raincoast Crisps, Italian breadsticks, and rosemary crackers.) Ask your friends who is gluten-free. I had a basket of two kinds of gluten-free crackers. I think it’s nice to have extra baskets of the other crackers nearby also as you never have enough with boards.
- A sweet side where I broke up bars of Ghirardelli Salted Dark Chocolate, chocolate powdered almonds and date bite cookies.
- A savory side which I added ribboned uncured Italian salami, English Cheddar slices, olives and almonds.
The pros about these size boards versus a smaller ones is you have a bit more room for balancing them on the lap. Cons are- they are bigger, so you need more food. I might have done too much, especially with women. My husband took a tray to his office to eat during the gathering and thought it was the right amount. Consider who you are entertaining! Using them next time, I would do less food and perhaps take up part of the tray with a cute napkin and individual knife rolled up and tied.
These trays are melamine, so they stack well for storage. I bought these with the dark green stripe to use at Christmas and in the summer outdoors, as they can take on a camping look. They also have this cute plaid! Think of the holiday possibilities!
Evening photos aren’t so great, but I had almost no time to photograph them after pulling these together!
One day before the Bunco gathering, I had the nicest lunch ever at Cindy Hattersley’s beautiful new home in Salinas. Cindy downsized from her huge home in the country that you may recall I featured here on Californians at Home.
Her new home was previously a rental for them. They moved to the most charming neighborhood and in swift time, turned this lovely Spanish style home into a sanctuary with the most inviting garden where she hosted six of us for a birthday lunch for Mary Ann and I.
You may have seen on my Instagram, some of the gorgeous pics and a fun Reel I made. It was the loveliest day and Heidi, Elizabeth, Juliet and Annie (all the way from Connecticut) were part of it too. Annie did a great post on the whole day with a lot of photos of Cindy’s gorgeous home and yard- and the pretty table- and fantastic food! See it all here on Annie’s blog. I felt so lucky to be with all these sweet ladies!
Cindy’s home was so inspiring and her fall decor especially, I wanted you to see… How beautiful is this?
Cindy blogs about all of it and has shown the progression of her new place on her blog, Cindy Hattersley Design.
These girls are so kind and generous and I got three books I am LOVING. They are all so enjoyable and true treasures for your library..and yes great gifts if you need some. Julia Reed’s South is wonderful if you are into cooking and entertaining with great stories and recipes. Athena Calderone’s Live Beautifully has some of the freshest and modern, but pretty homes and kitchens to inspire you. Romantics and Classics invites you into some of the beautiful historic homes never seen in the English countryside!
I also got the coolest wooden carved salad servers from Mary Ann. They would make a lovely gift for a hostess or friend with a block-print towel like this one.
I couldn’t wait to put them with my wooden spoon collection..
Also Cindy gave me the sweetest olive wood bowls from one of my favorite shops in Carmel, Tancredi & Morgan. I’m in love with them!
I’ve got the holiday season on the brain and have been trying to find small treasures like these before the holidays hit! Anthro has a nice collection of block-printed kitchen towels ..
Pairing a towel with a small thing like a candle- like the one below, or a small bowl- (like this one -also from Anthro), or candle holders or these little vases are all good and not too pricey gifts for girlfriends or hostesses.
I try and buy several and then keep them on hand for upcoming gatherings during the season.
Also, on my radar, if you are a tennis player as I am, and love design, you may have noticed the Marimekko tennis collaboration with Adidas..My friend Jeanne had one of the looks on the other day and it was SO cute! I want the skirt and there is also jackets, dresses and a shrug to protect the arms, as well as tennis shoes, swimsuits, sweats and more. The whole collaboration can be seen here, but has already sold out on some pieces, so don’t wait if you like it! Also more of it at Nordstrom too.
Lastly, I ended this crazy week with my first colonoscopy. I waited longer than most people because of surgery for a fibroid, and then the pandemic. I knew I wanted to get this done, as my dear friend Wendy passed away at age 45. I hate stuff like this, but I can say it wasn’t bad and the actual procedure felt like a small nap. The prep was the hardest part, drinking 64 ounces of Gatorade with Miralax in two separate sequences. I honestly couldn’t get it all down, but the procedure went fine, and not really any after issues
either. Colon cancer is one of the most treatable cancers if caught early, that’s why everyone needs a screening as early as possible.
Please friends, do not put this off. I now am good for ten years!
I hope you have a great Halloween weekend and some fun. We are making our usual chili and quesadillas and hoping we get a few little goblins after really missing them last year.
Thanks for stopping by!
Kim
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Kim honestly your post just keep getting better and better. I loved this so much good information as always! And we all need to get our colonoscopies so good that you remind us. Always love your posts.
Really enjoyed this post, Kim! So many great ideas! I’m hosting my college girlfriends next weekend and may do some of those charcuterie ideas! Loved the gift ideas, too! Glad your birthday was a good one!
HI Carol! Thank you..just a few bits. Yes the charcuterie boards will be a fun idea for your girlfriend gathering! Let me know how it goes and have fun! xo
Great information about the charcuterie boards. I would never have thought of doing individual trays. You did them really beautifully.
Thanks so much Loree. It was actually fun to do them! xo
I LOVED SEEING YOU AND SEEING CINDY’s NEW CASITA!!!WHAT a WONDERFUL DAY!
AS FOR THE COLONOSCOPY……I had one in JANUARY and he wanted me BACK in 6 months!I recall thinking THAT WAS STRANGE……….SO I ASKED DO I CALL YOU TO MAKE THE APPOINTMENT OR WILL YOU CALL ME IN SIX MONTHS?I marked my calendar to remind myself………well six months was in AUGUST and I still have heard ZIP!SO yesterday as much as I do not want to drink that stuff again I wrote him a NOTE!Telling him to review his notes on me and let me know!!!!
YOUR TRAYS LOOK FABULOUS AND I LOVE YOUR ASSORTMENT!
I love that you have shops downtown in your TOWN that are worth venturing into as well……….for me its a drive.I am finding I am doing MORE AND MORE on line which I really do not like but out of convince I bend.
I THINK ITS TIME I GET OFF OF FACEBOOK……………….I heard they changed their NAME and what I am reading lately is very ALARMING!Iam certain YOU can FILL ME IN!
A GOOD POST FOR US TO WRITE ABOUT WOULD BE WHAT THE HECK DID WE DO BEFORE SOCIAL MEDIA!!!!??I remember running from one thing to another of course we had BOYS to cart around to music lessons and soccer but how did we fill that down time?
BEAUTIFUL UPDATE ON A DARLING WOMAN!LOVED THE SELFIE!
XOXO
We had a fun day didn’t we? I felt so lucky to be with you all- and what a beautiful spot and lunch! Cindy has done it so beautifully. I am sorry you have to go back to get another colonoscopy, but it’s good they are watching you. Better than not I think? I just wish the prep was easier right? Thanks the trays were fun to do!
Elizabeth I am with you, wanting to do more and more shopping near to my home. Our mall is a real pain to get in and out of, almost like an IKEA. I will do it under duress. I have succumbed to more online shopping out of desperation. It’s not as bad as it seems and I am slowly finding more places I can count on to deliver fast and good things. I still love a good browse though and to touch things- you know?
As far as life without social media, it was better without it ! Weren’t we busy and happy with our boys? I miss that. I try to limit myself more and more to social media. I love the garden and cooking and projects. Don’t they bring so much more joy? xo
Your “Quick little post” wasn’t so quick or little but full of fun ideas and info.
Going into this holiday season, I feel so much more hopeful and happy. Thank you for adding to my inspo!
Hi Wren! Thank you so much. Your notes are always a bright spot of my day! Thanks for taking the time to comment. xo
Hello! Great post – my favorite so far! I love the doormat…where did you get it? Thx!
Hi Lauren, It was bought in Carmel at Beachwood Home. If you cannot get there I also found it at this cute place online. Don’t know anything about it, but looks identical..https://holistichabitatclt.com/collections/rugs/products/come-in-were-awesome
xo
Kim, I really enjoyed everything you had to share. Most of all I am thrilled that you had your first
colonoscopy. As you know the prep is the worst part, the forced liquids are so much fun, then to to
finish it off is so joyful. It’s wonderful to hear you do not have to come back for 10 years. I have had
several procedures, and they just become more challenging for me. I have to return in 5 years because
they found a polyp.
I love your front door mat, can you share with me where I can take a look see please?
Where do you find such yummy looking Italian Breadsticks? That looks like something Whole Foods would
carry. All your food that you arranged was so thoughtfully arranged.
Hi Katherine, I am thinking of you. I am sorry you have to go back more often. I guess one way to see it is you are lucky they know and are monitoring you, but having to do again, not easy. My neighbor recently did her prep with only pills, and that sure sounded easier to me.
Thank you about the door mat. I bought it in the Carmel, at a shopping g center in the plaza called Beachwood Home. If you aren’t in California or near, you can find it here: https://holistichabitatclt.com/collections/rugs/products/come-in-were-awesome
Also thank you about the platter. The breadsticks are yummy and my favorite. They are whole wheat from Italy, by Mario Fungo and I bought them at my local Lunardi’s market, but I see you can buy them at Eataly also. If you don’t have an Eataly ( we are getting one soon in San Jose), you can order them online
https://www.eataly.com/us_en/whole-wheat-breadsticks-7-1-oz
Hope that helps! Take care!
Kim, I love your charcuterie boards! They are so pretty! And your persimmons in that beautiful bowl! I love your table with dried flowers and persimmons too! And don’t you love the Marimekko collab wioth Adidas?!
xx
Thanks Annie! Your after school ones are genius. What kids wouldn’t love that! You are always coming up with a cool twist on things!xx
Such a fun post, Kim … where to start?! Enjoyed your photos of Utah … I’ve never been. It’s so close … I must go. Loved your Bunco snack boards. The tray size you chose is perfect for lap food. Adding a napkin to take up space is a great idea. But, don’t fret over too much food … better too much than too little.. Those plaid trays are fabulous. So glad you made it through your colonoscopy with a good report. The prep is dreadful … there’s got to be a better way. So fun to see you at Cindy’s. Her house is … well, it’s just so good. Happy Halloween! xo
Juliet thanks! I do think you’d appreciate the beauty in Utah. I loved your charcuterie boards on the small wooden servers so much! Both ways are fun right? Thank you. Feeling grateful about getting through the colonoscopy! xo
Always so fun to read your posts! Your charcuterie boards look so pretty and delicious, lucky ladies and Max too! I’ve really enjoyed seeing your gathering at Cindys lovely home! It looked like lots of fun and friendship! So nice you could visit your son and Utah is so beautiful.
Hi Kim,
Power on and off for the past few days, and no internet either so I’m late reading this but so glad I finally was able!
So many good things here, Our lunch at Cindy’s was so much fun. Set the tone for the rest of the week for me! I loved the photos of SLC, it’s such a pretty city. Russ’ family all live nearby and we used to go out more often but haven’t been in many years. The girls and I want to take a trip to Park City one of these days, it looks like our kind of place!
Love the ideas for the individual food boards, clever to do that now to stay safer.
Your ideas for little gifts has me marking ideas…for me! I see a few things I’d love. Like I need another thing! I do try to stock up on a few things here and there when I see them, but go out shopping less and less these days. There’s really not much around here and I refuse to shop at that monstrosity of a mall in SJ. I get lost and the parking, forget it. So, I’m happy when I find something and I grab it when I see it.
Hope you had a happy Halloween and hope to see you again soon,
XO Heidi