It’s Weekend Meanderings time with Elizabeth and Juliet, and our chance to share some cool things that have come to our attention this week! I hope your week has been good. I finally am back out after my Covid bout and safely able to leave the house. That felt so good after after more than 10 days in.
The new CB2 at Santana Row
One of my first adventures out was to the new CB2, at Santana Row. For those unfamiliar, CB2 is Crate & Barrel’s sister store and a bit more modern. It carries generally the same things minus the appliances and has a more design centered merchandise with a bit of fun.
Prices are similar. I had a blast exploring this beautiful new outpost where the former Z Gallery was. It’s been beautifully redone and I can’t believe it’s the same store. I left with two white vases, but took a ton of photos and am considering a rug, pillow and a few other things from them.
If you are into plants and vases, they are your go-to with a huge offering of options. I bought this Tier Vase for $17 ( on sale now) and grabbed these tulips at the grocery. SO much impact from a $17 purchase. They made my tulips look like an art piece!
I also kind of fell in love with this little guy, the Celia White Vase. Isn’t the shape fun? Something about it was really appealing. I think this would be cute on a bedside table or with a rose in the bath on a tray. All their white vases here. I have a little drop-in faux fern in it, above.
Then the tabletop/bar area .. You must go! Beautiful serving bowls, dishes and how about this pretty china? I LOVE this Chelsea dinnerware, a collaboration between Goop and CB2. Did Gwyneth have something to do with this?
As my hubs is a bird person, I may get some the pieces! I just think it’s quite pretty. I’d love to have some of these plates for a ladies’s luncheon. See all of CB2 merchandise here! They have great outdoor furniture, sheets, bedding and towels, beautiful rugs and more.
Eating Better
Max and I have been trying to eat better and not diet, but change habits and get rid of things like chips and having afternoon ‘treats’ or evening snacks. It’s not been easy, but we are doing pretty good. One of the things we do it buy a ton of veggies on Sunday-celery, radishes, big bunches of colorful carrots, and cut them all up. It make two big containers to munch on for the week and we’ve been loving this hummus..Sicilian Lemon. I also love Justin’s peanut butter with the celery.
We also buy a giant box of dark greens and that I add handfuls of to everything – sandwiches, pastas, whatever. We also get a roasted chicken and shread it on Sunday and boil eggs. Having the shreaded chicken and boiled eggs on hand to make easy lunches like a green salad with chicken, or an egg and avocados in a salad is so easy and good
My typical lunch is a green salad with a handful of shredded chicken, walnuts and I sprinkle hemp, flax and chia on it along with sunflower seeds. For dressing I squeeze a clementine or lemon or whatever citrus is in the garden and a drizzle of olive oil and a little Maldon salt. That’s it.
Somedays I’ll have avocado toast with a pile of salad on top.
For snack we have clementines and a piece of dark chocolate. We’ve been liking these healthier chocolate chips from Guittard.
We pretty much drink water all the time, but will occasionally have a drink on the weekend. We are trying to incorporate this, and more densely nutrient meals as our regular thing. Dinners are grilled fish, salad and the occasional pasta.
A healthier pasta
When we do make pasta, this is my favorite old recipe I used to make for my kids- white bean pasta. You get the feel of an Alfredo, but without the fat, and with fiber from the beans. I love the new Barilla gluten free rotelli made with corn and rice which I could not tell is gluten free, it’s so good. .
After I boil the pasta according to directions, I take a rinsed can or carton of cannellini beans and a couple a spoonfuls of milk ( I used oat), you can also use water, and whirl in a mini-prep or blender until creamy. I add a a good squeeze of a whole lemon, a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of sea salt, and a smallish 1/4 c of fresh parmesan cheese grated. Add this to the hot pasta and stir and top with a 1/4 c julienned basil, a 1/2 to 3/4 cup of walnuts roughly chopped, drizzle olive oil and more parmesan cheese and serve. It’s really yummy. You can add the zest of the lemon if you like too.
Speaking of cooking has anyone began the Julia show? I had no idea it was the first cooking show ever on television and the crazy logistics that went into figuring it all out. How they were going to cook something that took two hours in 20 minutes and all that! It’s a great show, great acting and I can’t recommend it enough.
The Perfect Little Dress
Just reviewing my closet while I was home, I realized the things I’ve been wearing in warm months the most are easy dresses. This Brightside Dress from Madewell, is exactly that and the perfect dress to pack for a weekend away or vacation. ( Dress also here at Nordstrom if sizes are out at Madewell.)
It’s totally versatile! With the ruffle on the bottom, it’s a little more frilly than your usual tank dress and feels updated and feminine, yet casual in material (mostly cotton with some polyester which will be prevent fading and wrinkles.)
I’m showing two ways you can make this dress work. A day look…add comfy flats or slides, a woven tote or crossbody, and hoops. ( By the way did you know hoops are back? Think the gold and silver ones our mom’s wore in the 80’s.)
Madewell Brightside Dress/ Bembien Margot Tote/ Charley Double Strap Slide Sandal/ Hoop earrings
Here’s the same dress ready to go out for dinner or a party with a darling clutch, (I’m in love with this bag), earrings and a heel. The nice thing about this dress is your accessories can shine…
Madewell Dress/Loeffler Randall Willa Clutch/Intentionally Blank Kamika Sandals/Goddess Earrings
The dress would be cute with a wrap or jacket over it for cooler times. Just a good design with a lot of posssibilities.
I can’t believe Mother’s Day is next weekend! I haven’t had a chance to pull together gift ideas, but Anthropologie has a nice collection as always here. I always tell my kids just time with them is what I want- and sometimes new pajamas! I’m coveting these right now and these..
A Santa Cruz Charmer
This darling home caught my attention this week. I occasionally peek at the listings in Santa Cruz and this gem was so charming I had to share. The price is good for here, under $600,000, and while not super close to the beach it’s not too far. It’s in the woods, but look at this.. the ivy, the windows and crunchy gravel yard!
Can you imagine having this as your snug home for gardening and having dinners with friends in the garden? It’s something right out of a Ralph Lauren dream. It needs a little updating, but what doesn’t? The whole listing here on Zillow..
Well that’s my meanderings for this week now please pop over and see what great ideas my friends Elizabeth and Juliet have for you…I’m always learning so much from both of them!
PINECONES AND ACORNS
MAKE MINE A SPRITZER
Wishing you all a beautiful weekend.
Thank you for being here!
Kim
If you missed last week’s post with the table throws, market tote bags, earth day, a great fish taco recipe and more you can read that post here.
If you’d like to get an email when I post, please subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox a few times a month! Thank you so much, as Bloglovin seems to have stopped working and I no longer post as much on Facebook and plan to do less there.
Some links may generate a small commission. Thank you for supporting the blog!
This house! In Santa Cruz! So very tempting!!! Love the peek inside CB2. I had no idea it was connected with Crate & Barrel. Makes sense. I love Santana Row too. And haven’t been for at least a couple of years. Its time to venture South for a look see … thank goodness for online because that’s how I’ve shopped CB2 in the past. Your little black dress two ways is adorable. I love how you choose accessories … you’re so creative. Two fun but sophisticated spring summer looks. So tempted by those Anthro jammies. As usual I will send your post to Jim to help him with ideas … after all, dog/cat mom’s count too! Happy weekend, Kim! xo
Oops, I also meant to say that Jim and I try eating healthy too. Rather than dieting. We try to eat what we want in small quantities and pack in a lot of good stuff. We also eat early when we can … sort of like intermittent fasting. For me that helps a lot. We also do the cut up veggie thing. I’m going o look for this hummus. Jim loves hummus. And it really does help get all those cut up veggies down the hatch. Great idea for pasta … I may give it a try! xo
I know eating less and in a shorter time soon is good too right? I try to start eating around lunch usually except for my latte, and then stop by 7 at the latest..I’m so glad you guys are trying the same. Better than diets, just change the what things we choose and less. We find we aren’t missing the chips, cookies, etc.
Juliet isn’t that cottage darling? We have to go check out Santa Row. I know I had never been in a CB2 as it was only in the city. Great things though. It’s an untapped resource for home design. I’m glad you liked the dress.. Funny thing is my neighbor just texted me and she has the dress – and the slides! I am telling Max I want these jammies too or I get See’s candy which is nice, but not nice for my figure. Yes dog/kitty mom’s so count!!! Have a beautiful weekend. Off to read your post. xo
Thank you for a very inspiring post!! I love the ideas for better eating and the recipe. And the outfit ideas are perfect for summer. Love it all.
Thanks so much Rita! have a great weekend!
Fun post! We like baking with dark chocolate chips as well. Trader Joe’s has an intensely dark fair trade option @ $2.99 which is great in brownies & Target has a great organic dark option that is a bit sweeter @ $4.99 and which we use more often, but before Target offered those I also used Guittard. I will have to try that pasta. We love Alfredo too, but are always on the lookout for healthier ideas, so this white bean option is genius. We have made one with cauliflower, but this one looks better and I could easily trick the kids who find beans unappealing! I love the house you shared- we always keep our eyes open because we hope to retire in Northern California and while things will continue to go up, it’s fun to stay hopeful that there could be really great options within reach ahead and fun to dream! I agree that CB2 is a very fun and affordable place for really unique home decor. We have a few things and I do love that vase! That dress IS adorable, but I am pear shaped and have found things with that kind of hem draw attention to my biggest areas, but I do think it’s a great piece for many and very versatile! Have a good weekend!
Hi Nicole! Thanks for the heads-up about the other dark chocolate options. Trader Joe’s always has good things. Yes this pasta is so good and the beans are also healthy for the gut besides the extra protein. Isn’t that cottage cute? I hope you get to retire here. There are occasionally good things- and not all outrageous. I’ll try to share when I see them. I hear you about shapes. I did see some others rate this good with diverse shapes.. it’s hard isn’t it to know what is flattering. This dress seems to be a forgiving cut. My issue is the chest and stomach.. Ugh. Anyway, thank you and have a lovely weekend!
Oh and another fun brand is the Hu gems if you prefer coconut sugar. After alot of research surrounding being as healthy as possible- I don’t think I believe in dieting or all these new fad diets myself unless there is a legitimate health issue requiring it. There is something good and bad about most foods (even some really good foods have cons if eaten in excess!) and of course the truly bad stuff is obvious and should be avoided! I think moving your body however you can as often as you can teamed with an anti-inflammatory, nutrient dense and colorful diet is best with the things they recommend avoiding in moderation and extremely limited added sugars. I found though, that in denying myself anything sweet at all I became very miserable over time and I really did stick to it for over a year, so now every couple weeks I bake a little something with healthier ingredients and we just enjoy it!
So glad you are feeling better and can go out and play! great post – love it all. 🐝
Hi Karen! Me too. Thanks so much!
Hi Kim, So happy to know that you can be back out in the world. No one in my family has yet been sick but it’s probably only a matter of time. I love Santana Row and the way it’s laid out with the beautiful median, residential places above the retail. I can almost pretend I’m in an European city when there (which isn’t often enough). Really like both Crate and Barrel and CB2, also West Elm. Cute dress but too youthful for me these days, sadly.
Have a great weekend~
Hi Wren, I know feeling grateful to be near normal and out! Isn’t Santana Row lovely? I do enjoy it too. I will try and share more dresses soon. Have a great weekend! xo
YOU have 4 or 5 photos not showing up.after the JULIA RAVE!I have watched it and LOVED IT!
I grew up with it and would always watch in the AM if I was sick at home on the end of my MOTHERS BED!
I was sick a lot back then……………..UMMMM!
Julia ended up in MONTECITO by Santa Barbara in the same rest home as my AUNT.
CARROTS I recently saw a photo of carrots with their TOPS still on stuck in a glass vase with LEMONS in the water and then a few Flowers inserted with the carrots!!
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL…………..
THAT HOUSE IS GORGEOUS in Santa Cruz!But I did notice it is wood………which would be a BIG NO NO from the ITALIAN as it will cause major problems down the road!
Thats it from me today!Must go sit in the garden and soak up some VITIAM D!
XXX
Hi Elizabeth, If the photos don’t show up, try reloading the page. Sometimes that helps. I do remember my mom watching Julia on PBS as a kid too. Wow she was in aa rest place with your aunt. Did you ever see her there? I love the Santa Cruz home !! Yews maybe there’s a lott of wood, but is he worried about termites? Where is it a problem? Enjoy the garden. xo
Great ideas for healthier eating! And those Kamika sandals, oh my goodness!
We are loving Julia. We weren’t sure another show about Julia Child was worth exploring, but Sarah Lancashire is so good! And Bebe Neuwirth– such a class act.
So glad to read that you’re back out in the world. Thanks for your terrific ideas!
Sarah, I love those sandals! Aren’t they cool? So different. I agree, I didn’t even really think about watching Julia until friends raved about it. I think the actors are so good. Sarah and Bebe are so good and David Hyde-Pierce! I’m so glad to be back out too. xo
Hi Kim
Love your favorites this week! I am dying to see the CB2. That trip will probably not be happening any time soon now that we are moving!! That hummus sounds yummy and what do you think is wrong with that house? The price just does not sound right!!
Kim,
Thank goodness you are feeling better!
I always love your posts! Cb2 has so many beautiful things. Now that I live in a small village I have to do all of my shopping local or online. I am really trying not to buy anything( not working) because we have TOO MUCH STUFF!
As for eating, I have always liked to eat early, I would eat dinner at 4:30 if my husband would. As I age I find myself more and more intolerant to certain foods. I rarely eat dairy and I try my hardest not to consume gluten. I obviously do but when I eat too much of it, I cannot bend my fingers I get inflammation so badly.
I have never been a person that lives to eat, I eat to live. The only thing I refuse to give up is my morning hot chocolate.
Everything in moderation and eating healthier 80% of the time is a good way to eat. Healthy fruits, veggies, and fats is alway a great idea.
I love your Little black dress ideas! I think we all have a part(s) our body that is a challenge. I have an hour glass figure and I do not like to wear jeans/pants. I prefer dresses.
I cannot wait to try this pasta dish, it looks scrumptious!
Have a wonderful day Kim.
P.S. That house is adorable, but I agree with Cindy, something must be wrong with it because it seems very inexpensive.
Hi Elizabeth! I know it was nice to have a CB2 after not having one near. Maybe it’s easier being far away from shopping! I’m with you and I could eat very early too. Not my husband though. I can totally tell when I’m eating poorly. I get swollen too. I can barely eat crappy food anymore, and I am especially sensitive to sodium and sugar. Moderation is a always the best idea. Extremes never work long term right? I think the house needs structural work possibly?
Do you feel like you have that kind of inflammatory reaction with any other foods? My MIL went through this and after eliminating gluten, she would still have joint pain from time to time. Her other culprits were white wine and nightshade products. Sometimes the sulfites in baked goods which are also in wine and nightshade products (among many other things) cause arthritis like symptoms or joint pain. If you can kick those, that can help. Then again- it truly is the gluten for some folks. Good luck!
P.S. You might like one of these other scents. https://margotelena.com/collections/library-of-flowers
Thanks so much! xo
Beautiful read! Some great recipes, thank you and cute dress!
My mouth is watering!!! Love CB2. It was a frequent goal of mine to walk there in the City!!
I know love them -so many good things!
Kim! A house in Santa Cruz for $600K SO darling! Love that vase with tulips! You’re right, that’s a lot of bang for your buck at $17!
xx
I thought so too Annie! Wasn’t the vase cool? xx
What a fun little house. I also like the LBD although I’m trying to avoid anything with straps as I’m getting a bit conscious that my upper arms aren’t what they used to be. Have tried to do some exercises with weights but my left shoulder and been so painful these past few weeks that I’ve given up. Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment.
Lorna really enjoyed your post and the cupcake recipe I am going to make! I hear you about upper arms. I play tennis, but still mine aren’t toned looking. Gosh I hate that..you try and get in shape and some ailment prevents it. Seems like a common issue. Take care and feel better! xo
Hi Kim,
You always find the best things to share! I need to come for dinner when you make that pasta the next time! Ha ha.
I actually throw a lot of things together in a similar combination, the walnuts really add a lot! Love the crunch and just walnuts in general.
I remember watching Julia on TV with my mom back in the day. I read a very good biography that came out a few years ago, it was interesting to read about her early life and how the cookbooks and TV show came to be. I don’t need another thing, except maybe another little black dress! This one is great, so fun!
Hope you have a great weekend!
Xo Heidi
HI Heidi! I will make that pasta for you. I agree walnuts are my thing and to me everything can be improved with walnuts! Oh I love everything about Julia too. What a interesting life. I can see you in this dress! xo