On this Weekend Meanderings..making yourself a priority once fall and school season starts, skincare tips from a facialist, improving your sleep, a little about the charm of Salt Lake City, living in the French countryside and more..
It’s that time again for all the good things that we want to share with Elizabeth and Juliet.
We had a crazy week..We were in in Salt Lake City to help Griffin move into his first solo apartment for his junior year at the U. It started out a little rough though.. After hiking Mt Tallac in Tahoe, Grif was to drive the rest of the way to Utah with his full car. The night before, a mama bear, who has been roaming out Tahoe neighborhood with three cubs, smelled Griffin’s granola Max had made for him in the car. In their exhaustion from the climb, they forgot to check the car for food. They woke up to this..
Grif’s two side windows had been pried out and the passenger window broken. Bear paws scratched it all over the place. Needless to say, the granola was nowhere to be found, nor the extra banana I stuck in his side door! ( I know I feel badly about that.) Max and Grif had to push the window frames back to close, and they taped up the driver side window.
Grif drove seven hours back to Utah like that with limited visibility. At some truck stop in Nevada, he fortunately found noise cancelling earphones they sell for truckers!
We met him that night in Utah and spent three full days helping him move in, get his things out of storage, clean a grubby, but nice apartment with awesome views, and sort out the car repair thing, and a rental.
He took off Tuesday morning for a backpacking trip through Wyoming with pals, and we went home exhausted! He needs a table and a couch, but has a desk, a bed and a bike and a kitchen with all the necessities…He’ll figure the rest out as the year goes on. I’m excited for him.
The mountains and the church spire looks like Switzerland to me. I’m sure when they are snow covered it will be beautiful. He’s walking distance to the school and also has a bike and the city tram right below his place..
Mountains to the West, in his kitchen and to the East, in the corner..above.
Salt Lake City
Have you been to SLC recently? It’s a beautiful city with the most amazing mountain ranges on all sides. Things I really appreciate about it are the small little neighborhoods that are tucked into the town. Those little neighborhoods have cute independent shops and restaurants. Sometimes it’s only two or three of them, but it gives each little area a nice feel. You can always find an independent coffee shop to work in..And they aren’t in strip malls. It’s a thriving spot for small independent businesses.
I also adore the brick homes that have been left largely in their original state and just updated with paint and pretty yards. The streets are wide and they have big center strips with trees that make a hot area feel very leafy and green. Many homes have gardens and sunflowers in their front yards..
Eva’s French Bakery is always a must for us and it’s within walking distance to our go-to hotel, Hotel Monaco. The design of this darling bakery is like something you would see in Paris and you can get an authentic baguette sandwich and tomato soup, wonderful croissants and pastries..They also took over a vintage jewelry spot next door ( love that they left the marquee), and make their own crème glacée ice cream now too.
The airport is all new and the Delta terminal is beautiful with a stunning wall of glass that invites you to gawk at the goings on the tarmac and feels very jet age..I loved it!
The flight from San Jose is one hour and a half and most people come in the winter to ski all the resorts like Park City and others that are a short drive away, but it’s quite pretty in summer..and fall!
I wore my new Anthro blouse and my cord shorts from Carve to travel. I usually do pants in the airplane, but it was just too hot. I brought my J. Crew cashmere travel wrap (on sale now), in my bag and could lay that over my legs when the plane got chilly..
I love this Henley Popover shirt so much I am thinking of getting it in the stripe too.. Looks like the white is already sold out online, but may be available in stores.
Getting back to healthy eating – after travel
I am always so done with eating out after traveling. I really feel the need to sort of detox from all the processed and high sodium foods. I want nothing more than a fresh salad made at home from my own tomatoes. The night we got back we made grain bowls and then a salad with chicken the next..
When I’m over eating out, and I want a reset, I go to the grocery and get several boxes of different salad varietals, a roast chicken for protein ( mostly for Max), garbanzo beans, fresh berries, tomatoes, and avocados. I always have frozen brown rice and quinoa and we can make different variations on a salad for dinner with just that.
I always add some kind of nuts like walnuts or sliced almonds or pepitas and I shake in hemp seeds, chia, and flax too. I also like red onion slices or with the strawberries, fennel, which has a wonderful smell and taste..I find the fastest and easiest dressing is to just squeeze a lemon, a shake of vinegar, a drizzle olive oil and a little salt..
I love these O Vinegars in the citrus, orange blossom and pomegranate versions are my favorite and just a shake of them with this California Olive Oil are what I always have on hand and so good. I never buy dressings.
I also revert to water, water and more water. I’m always parched from traveling and from Utah, especially so, though I am hydrating non-stop. I pretty much drink water for all my liquids except my morning oat latte for a few days after returning. I love spring water for the minerals and try to buy a few bottles to supplement our purified tap water.
Skin and Dehydration- and Facials
The other thing I did to recover from three days of shopping and cleaning for the college kid, was book a facial for myself when I returned. I haven’t indulges in one for many moons and I thought after a summer of catering to everyone, this would be a good way to start back to taking care of myself a little better. If you haven’t had a facial for a while, it’s a nice thing to do for yourself after the kids are back in school, or just to reset for the fall. My aesthetician says a good way to care for your skin is to book a facial once with every change of season. I love that as a reminder! You can also do a home facial too!
One tip I learned from her today is that dehydration is almost always the biggest problem with all skin types, and especially as we age. Since I have rosacea and am sensitive, I am always wary of breaking out and probably do not hydrate enough for that reason. I shy away from thicker cremes and oils, but if they are good quality I should not. I also get blackheads and that is related to dehydration as the dry flaking skin, clogs the pores. I did not know that.
She recommended adding a few drops of my night facial oil to my day lotion, to amp up the hydration. I also need to use my hyluraonic lotion more, and not cleanse, but just splash with water in the morning. As usual… she told me, drink more water and eat better! I’m sure my high sodium food, dry weather and not enough water was showing, not to mention poor sleep.
Better sleep habits
On the Delta flight back to San Jose, I was wiped out from a few nights of rotten sleep and thought I’d zone out on the free streamed shows. I noticed there was a Master Class on sleep by author, and sleep expert Matthew Walker, so I blew through seven short episodes of his class while on the plane.
Matthew is professor of neuroscience and psychology at the UC Berkeley, and has written a best seller, Why We Sleep. I got so much out of this Master Class, though doing it while exhausted!
The biggest take aways were always go to bed and wake up at the same time, even on weekends. Drinking and caffeine are the biggest disrupters of healthy sleep and you should try hard to regulate your caffeine intake to morning.
If you’re sleeping after drinking, you’re not really sleeping per say, but are sedated, like surgery, and your brain and body won’t give you normal reset that it does with sleep.. You’ll wake up sleep deficient and your body can’t repair itself or download our memories, like it does during normal sleep. Also everyone needs at least 7-8 hours a night. Routinely sleeping less demolishes our immune systemand those who go with less actually have high incidences of cancers and other diseases like dementia. H
e has a lot of tips for sleeping better in his book and this little clip I found on YouTube had a lot of what I heard in the Master Class… He’s funny too, but his research is groundbreaking and this is something we should all care about if we want to live a healthy life..Matthew says,’Sleep is the elixir of life and mother nature’s best key to immortality..’
One bonus of kids out of the house, its I can’t stay up so late worrying about them!! It’s out of my jurisdiction now..
A beautiful and fun book..
While in Carmel last week, I bought, Coming Home, The French Art of Countryfication, at the Earthbound Farm Stand. I was enchanted with the photos, but I also love the content. There are recipes, decor, style and home tips and much wisdom and inspiration here..
This book documents the stories of Parisians who left the city for the country, how they adjusted and what they love about it.
A great book for anyone who dreams of moving to the country or is a Francophile…It really made me want to move to the country.
Well that is my weekend meanderings for this week.. Please check out Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs to see what good things they are sharing…
PINECONES AND ACORNS
MAKE MINE A SPRITZER
Thank you for being here! Hope your weekend is wonderful.
Kim
If you missed last week’s meanderings I shared some fun ideas for Carmel day trips, an easy ladies’ lunch you can pull together, Sienna Miller’s English cottage and a great white shirt for your wardrobe for now and in fall..
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I lived in SLC for a few years and really enjoyed having Trader Joe’s and independently owned restaurants and stores. SLC is really dry even in the winter. I would drink the Alkaline water that Trader Joe’s makes whenever I did a short run or did air travel. I had my Utah attending university kids stock up on it to help with migraines. So many hikes and delicious restaurants. Tony Caputo’s Deli has a huge selection of artisan chocolate and even a few chocolate makers are in Utah. Thanks for your post!
Hi Mimi! Thanks for the tips! I did notice a lot of people are into Alkaline water there! I have to get to Caputo’s deli next time!
Great post Kim!
Lots of really good information…now go take a nap;)
Vikki (henryavenuedesigns)
Right? Ha thanks Vikki have a great weekend!
Griffin’s apartment is fabulous! All those windows plus a corner view. The photo from the airport’s wall of windows is breathtaking. I had no idea of how beautiful Utah is. Makes me want to visit. Thank you also for the book suggestion by Matthew Walker. I am sleeping only three hours a night and need some help. Great post for today, many thanks.
Laura, I agree. I am blown away with the beauty of Utah! I hope the book helps with your sleep. I am working on mine too. Have a good weekend!
WELL THAT SLEEP VIDEO WAS VERY INFORMATIVE!!!
THANK YOU AM SENDING TO A FEW PEOPLE I KNOW WHO HAVE ISSUES.
MY ITALIAN GETS ABOUT 5.5 hours A NIGHT.HE WILL BE DROPPING DEAD SOON!
IT ALL MAKES PERFECT SENSE…………
THE IPAD IN BED IS VERY INTERESTING AS WELL IN THE Q&A PART AFTER!
SALADS LOOK DELICIOUS AND I KNOW AS I RECENTLY HAD ONE!
GRIFFON LOOKS LIKE HE HAS A GREAT VIEW………AND APARTMENT!
CANNOT BELIEVE THE MAMA BEAR AND HER TENACITY!
There was more I wanted to say but cannot remember now as I got up at 4 this AM!!!
XXX
LOL You are cracking me up.. It was slightly disturbing. Especially those who bragged about very little sleep, like Regan and Thatcher who both got dementia later.. I am seriously working on sleeping well now! Can you believe about that bear?? Gosh we are lucky to have bear wires around our cabin! The neighbor across the street found mama and three cubs in his house when he came home from work .. He needs the wires. I am off to read your post. xoxo
Love your blog! Great book and clothing recommendations!
Thanks so much Tara!
Great post. Thank you so much for the sleep information.
Thanks Rita! I thought it was helpful..
Really great post, Kim. The reference on book and video by Matthew Walker, PhD is excellent info. Your healthy salads look delish, and a good reminder to eat mainly plant based. What a wild week for you with Griff off to college, and the car break-in by Mama Bear! Hope you are able to get some good sleep this weekend.
Karen, I know can you believe it? A wild start for sure-in more ways than one! I’m working on that sleep too. xo
Kim, I haven’t seen you in person in so long but I want you to know I absolutely love reading your posts. They always make me feel happy and inspired!
Hi Jill! Wow so nice to hear from you! Thank you for the kind note. You made my day. Hope your cute family is doing well. We will have to connect! xo
Kim – I love your blog! Always great information on such a variety of interesting topics. I will have to look for those O vinegars. Wow the bear stories this year have been all over. We have them up here in Amador County mostly in the higher elevations – but I think the fires have made them more aggressive and hungry which is sad. Bummer about Griffin’s car but glad it’s fixable. The sleep info is a great reminder of how important it is for our overall health. We’ve been trying to improve our sleep quality but lately we have a little intruder who likes to sneak into our room past the doggie gate and she snores – a lot !
Enjoy you weekend and stay cool.
Michele, Thanks.. It’s stuff that I myself am trying ! Love those vinegar they are so good for making the salads yummy. You have had bear issues too? I know it’s so dry the poor things. I think we have them all over and this little family is sadly clearly desperate.I know we are lucky to have insurance.. Oh we have the same thing with our cat..And when we are gone, she decides to start yelling at us around 2 a.m… Aww doggy snoring! Hope your weekend it great too. xo
OH my goodness, I cannot believe a bear attacked your sons car, that is crazy. Thankfully he was no where near it when it happened. And that you were able to get it repaired. Grifs’ apartment has an amazing view, perfect for inspiration.
I love Salt Lake City, one of my favorite places to visit. We use to stay at The Perry Hotel whenever we visited.
You and I have very similar taste, I wrote about that same French book a few weeks ago. There was a really great article about it and the people who wrote it.
Your salads are amazing, I love salads and my favorites have lots of nuts and seeds and butternut squash or sweet potatoes on them.
Do you subscribe to Master Class? It is fabulous, we purchased a membership during the pandemic and have been watching classes ever since. So many interesting people teach on there.
Have a wonderful weekend Kim, welcome home, get some sleep and take care.
Elizabeth, It’s getting worse with bears because of droughts and things and homes have to have bear wires around them to deter them from busting in. He was lucky to get a nice apartment with views. He applied for a corner spot last spring. Gosh I am sorry I missed that you mentioned that book! I will look fro the article. Love butternut squash in bowls with grains in the fall! We don’t subscribe to Master Class.. Maybe worth doing? Also I will check out the Perry Hotel. Thanks resting up now that I’m home. xo
Hi Kim,
I was so taken back what happened to Griffin’s nice SUV. What a shock to wake up, you just don’t like surprises like this. Griffin was so brave to drive to Utah with not the best visibility. I can imagine how badly you and Max felt. So wonderful of you both to go to Utah to get him all organized and set up in his new nest. A nice view and SLC looks like such a nice pretty place to live. On a side note Griffin is such a handsome young man. Thank you for sharing your visit with us, the store fronts look charming, even their airport is unique.
I always embrace anything on sleeping issues, it’s something that so many of us struggle with. I do all the right stuff and still deal
with the required amount of sleep recommended. I really like Matthew, he’s extremely knowledgeable. I respect anything backed up by science.
An excellent post, in appreciation for all you shared.
Katherine, Can you believe it? Well, he’ll never forget that start to school..He was brave. It was raining too and he could hear nothing! I don’t know if I could have done it at his age. We felt lucky we had planned to go and help him! Aww thank you.. he’s growing up so fast.SLC is a pretty place and has been a really pleasant surprise to us. We are glad he chose it! Gosh isn’t sleep the issue we are all struggling with? I sure am and will try anything to make it better. I hope Matthew’s ideas help a little. Good luck to you too! xo
Oh my gosh. I didn’t realise bears could be so tenacious. I guess they really wanted that granola. I’ve been to SLC a couple of times. It’s nice but so hot in summer. We had also spent some time in Park City on our last trip out west. I liked it better than SLC , probably because it was cooler up there.
HI Kim.
Russ’ family is mostly in SLC, he was born there. We’ve been a few times. I was struck by the beautiful mountains all around. It really is something in the winter when there is snow.
Last time we were there it was still a little tricky to get a coffee or beer or glass of wine, lots of that has changed! It’s more diverse there now and not just a home to LDS folks.
That book looks fabulous. Do I need another book? Of course not, but this one is coming home with me!
I’m working on my sleep. I’ve been waking up earlier every year. But I do stick to a sort of schedule, and don’t really drink and never take my electronics into bed with me. I think that helps. What sleep I do get has usually been pretty good. Lately stress is interfering and taking it’s toll, i need to work on that.
BTW I love that blouse, the white is sold out ( I checked from the first time you shared it) but the blue and white stripe is cute, too.
You always post such interesting and different topics. It’s fun!
Xo Heidi
I read Matthew Walkers book this time last year after hearing him on a podcast. I’m such a stickler for regular sleep hours that I’ve almost given up going out at night 😂 …the things you do to feel good as we age ! Great blog Kim, love that you need to make yourself and your health a priority!
Sarah I bet you shared Matthew’s book and I missed it! I am so impressed with all your great habits and things you do to live healthy. You are always inspiring me! xo
Wow…so scary about the bear…she was STRONG. Interesting about the sleep advice…going to listen! And that book sounds great too!
A little late commenting here…wow that is quite a story about the bear and that she could pry those windows open! Poor Griffin.
The SLC airport looks so cool…those windows! I haven’t been in it since 1982 for a stop for a few hours on my way home from Montana. Went to visit some guy in Missoula I had met here in San Diego. (realized quickly I had made a mistake and I couldn’t WAIT to get home lol)
I make all my salads/dressings from scratch. My husband and I have a new salad favorite similar to yours with the strawberries. It has pecans and goat cheese with balsamic dressing. So good!
Hope you are having a great week!
Linda
Kim! So much good stuff as always, but first…the bears! So was the granola in the car with the windows up? That’s crazy! U’m glad you made it and got him all settled. I can’t believe Griffin is starting his junior year!
That book looks so interesting! I want it!
xx
annie