On this Weekend Meanderings..Some outdoor updates with a solar sail, the perfect outdoor throws to cozy up with, a beautiful book on creating a memorable table, the best makeup tips, and a transitional summer to fall cardigan I am obsessed with…
It’s that time again for all the good things that popped up on our radars this week with Elizabeth and Juliet.
Hard to believe it’s already August and kids are starting back to school in a few weeks. Where did the summer go? Time to go out and grab those fleeting summer pleasures before fall sneaks up on us. Have you been to the beach lately? Have you had an evening ice cream cone or taken a picnic to the woods? Have you set out a chair and watched the stars at night with your family or enjoyed a summer gathering with neighbors? If not, get to it!
Backyard Update
Well before summer is over, we are finally getting a few things in the yard done.. Better late than winter right? That is so us!
We have an oddly shaped yard with a pool with a lap lane, that wraps around the house. Our patio, right off our main space, is almost like an island, surrounded by water. It’s an Ipe wood deck and while I love it, it can be hard to get all the furniture on it and also have a space for an umbrella…and with multiple ones it’s lame and crowded..
Earlier this year, I looked into a cantilevered umbrella, so we wouldn’t have the umbrella underfoot, but the walkway where it would go, isn’t wide enough. Max came up with the idea of a solar sail. I wasn’t sure, as it has to be stretched across the pool and anchored on a fence..
It came Saturday, and he put it up on Sunday! I am pleasantly surprised how much we love it. My only complaint is I would have preferred white, but he though neutral was a good color and ordered it without spousal approval.. Ahem.
We may order another in white. These sails are from Amazon and make the patio feel like an outdoor room, and gives us much more space, without the umbrellas underfoot.
We are enjoying it in the mornings more now out here as things don’t get so dewy. Max on his lunch hour…
I’ll try to get a whole yard photo, but you can kind of see how it’s working…
Throws and folding table at TJMaxx’s /Homegoods
Each year I seem to want to change up the throws outside. They get pretty beat. That said I also don’t want them to be too pricey. I think I may have found the best compromise at Homegoods (aka TJ Max), with these 100% cotton throws from Portugal…
I love the slightly nubby weave on them, and the variety of designs in soft grey and blues. I have a few on the backs of the couch and more in a basket. Everyone likes wrapping themselves up them in the morning sipping coffee or at night. I like that they are from Portugal, where they have a lot of high quality textiles.
Also I found this Panama Jack brand folding wicker/wood outdoor table and I love it. It’s not online, but I noticed there are still a lot of them left in stores and they are $49!
In the throws, I have this denim blue one , below and this stripe and this chevron one. They have some great ones in store that are similar with a small stripe. It’s a great time to grab these cotton ones as I see they are beginning to make way for the heavier fall and winter throws already!
Recovering Outdoor Furniture Pieces
I’ve had a furniture set for many years outside my office door that needs new cushions. I decided to recover them in new Sunbrella fabric and have the stuffing redone as well. It’s one of those things I’ve been meaning to do for two years. Isn’t that terrible?
Do you ever have a project like that and it just sits and for some reason you never do it? Well this week I did it! I’m so happy and I will have a nice little sitting area just for me, outside my office doors..
This is the sad state currently..
I found a local shop, Krupps Upholstery in Campbell, a family owned business with father and his son, a veteran that just did 8 years in Iraq, and is now studying business at San Francisco State. Super knowledgeable and kind people.
I loved their service and help with my set and I choose this Sunbrella Sailcloth Salt fabric, below left, for my three pieces- two chairs and an ottoman…
I also have them making two, 24 x 24 pillows in this Sunbrella fabric, above right , called Fretwork in Pewter.
Stay tuned and I will share the results. I just wanted to mention them in case anyone is thinking of reupholstering, especially older outdoor cushions.
A Loving Table book for entertaining inspo..
I’ve been meaning to share A Loving Table: Creating Memorable Gatherings , a gorgeous book I bought myself a month for so ago. It’s all about entertaining and creating a beautiful table. There’s a a wide range of styles in here and all are a feast for the eyes..
The book includes fantastic looking recipes as well. This is a great gift for a friend or anyone who enjoys entertaining and living well.
I keep meaning to take a cup of tea and grab a corner to indulge in every story and plan a few special meals.
My Mersea bag
I know summer is almost over, but I finally ordered one more woven bag for myself that was on my radar. I also spied a very chic blogger at our conference, carrying one, so I finally clicked and bought the medium Medina Market basket with the off white handles…
I love it and of course put my tassel on it. I mentioned this on the linen post too, but someone just asked so I’m sharing it again.
The small size is darling for a dinner date, the medium for an everyday tote, and the large for a travel bag or the beach or some people use it as a file holder on their desk. I love the saffron color and there is also a jade, indigo and black handle versions.
By the way, if you still want one of these cute tassels, they have them in fall colors as well. I am thinking of getting a new color for my fall bags..
Instagram Makeup Pointers ..
My new obsession on Instagram is Kate Albert, who has the best makeup tutorials that are simple for a pretty, not heavy makeup look.
Did you know you are supposed to press your foundation into your skin, not rub it or sponge it? Already using her tips, my skin looks so much more natural..
A Summer to Fall Piece to consider..
This hoodie/Chanel inspired sweater has made it’s way onto my radar and I’m thinking it could be my first purchase for my fall wardrobe edit. Could this be the sweater Coco would create had she lived in California today? I’m loving it. It would be pretty now over a black tank dress, and later on with white jeans, and come fall with black denim…
This week was also time for our monthly Signature Style -and if you missed it, it was all about linen clothes and chic pieces to add to your wardrobe.
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!
Kim
If you missed my last Weekend Meanderings, I did a recap of my jaunt to Georgia, shared a great summer dress, my favorite new vase that looks like an art piece for $39, and my favorite kind of day out in Palo Alto for consignment shopping and lunch!
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Morning Kim 😊 such a lovely post to wake up to and read with my morning coffee in the sunshine.
As always, so much to love here! You always find things that I love ( and not just me I’m sure! ) The Chanel style hoodie is inspired …such a great style! I hope it looks as good on as it does online. I must take a look next time I’m in the Bath store and see if they stock it.
We’ve been considering sails for shade for ages now … longer than 2 years lol but I also fancy some sort of oak pagoda to attach them to so at the moment we’re using cantilever parasols which I’m really happy with. Gorgeous Portuguese throws … great fabric! I bought a pile of grey and white Hamman towels that I use on the sofas, mainly as protection from sand and sticky little fingers lol but they look great and wash so easily.
I can’t believe it’s August and Autumn / Fall is just around the corner … I love that time of year but still feel sad that Summer and all it brings, passes so quickly.
Have a great weekend Kim and thanks again for your wonderful posts … I love starting my weekend with your happy meanderings ❤️
Rosemary xxx
Good Morning Rosemary! I know I was thinking I need to pop by the Anthropologie store here and see if I might be able to try the hoodie on too! So far the solar sails have been great. I wish we had a pagoda or something to attach it to.. I love the cantilevered umbrellas. We just didn’t have space for the huge base. I love the ideas of towels that you can just throw in the wash and I have done that to protect the couches. I have something like that now. I can hardly believe summer has passed so quickly..in fact the whole year has! Hope you have a lovely weekend Rosemary! So nice to wakeup to your note! xo
Your backyard looks likes a resort with such great seating and the pool!Your choice of fabrics for the pieces on your own little patio space will be fabulous. I particularly love the one with the pattern. Be sure and show us when the results are in. I am inspired to go look at Homegoods for some outdoor throws. I have never used them in my courtyard because I’m usually only out there when it’s warm enough not to need anything additional to be comfortable but these look too good to pass up. I hope my local HG store has them. You featured some pieces from there last year from Portugal that I was able to find locally. Score! Lastly, the pompoms are such a fun little detail. My best find in Paris in June was a woven bag that came with it’s own pompoms in matching colors. They are made out of some kind of fiber rather than yarn. I get comments on the purse all the time and I’m so glad I bought it (I almost didn’t).
Happy weekend to you and Max~
Wren, I saw you found the throws and they look amazing in your cute yard! Love your patio space. I will share after about my new cushions! You have to share a photo of your Paris bag. It sounds adorable! I also like buying bags on travels. It’s a great way to have a useful souvenir.
Hope you’re enjoying the weekend too!
Good Morning Kim,
Your back yard is warm and cozy. I love what you created. The sail shades fit so many purposes. My hubby put one up to protect our rose garden. The blazing summer sun would probably send them to rose heaven if we did not have the sail shade up. The rose
garden is a constant labor of TCL as you know. I am not a gardener but luckily my honey is, so I’m the lucky recipient of roses during a part of the year. The fabrics you selected for your chairs outside your office are so pretty very peaceful colors.
Thanks Katherine.. I’m working on it. What a great idea for roses! I am a actually thinking next summer to have one over our tomato garden. I think they keep the heat in, and things won’t get scorched or burned! How nice your husband is the gardener. It’s a lot of work, but to have roses in the house must be so nice!! xo
Another fab post. Glad you got that straw bag. I am definitely considering it in the Gator orange!! But i have a wall of straw bags by the back door that keeps growing. So handy to have here though all year round. Going to order a tassel, too. And I just started following the make-up tips lady.
Thanks.
Mary Ann, remember we saw it in the elevator?? Maybe I need mine hanging by the door too. I bet it looks great. Love the Instagram account with the makeup tips!xo
Kim, you would have thought that we had talked before we posted! Great minds think alike my friend! I loved your linen post, you have the best style and you always look beautiful and effortless. I love Chanel! I need that hoodie! I am going to check it out as soon as I leave here.
Your new sail cloth looks beautiful! What a difference in the patio. This is such a serene oasis. I can see why you love it.
Love love love the new cushion fabric! Cannot wait to see it finished.
Have a wonderful weekend, I hope that you are relaxing and enjoying the waning days of summer.
xo Elizabeth
Isn’t that funny Elizabeth? We were on the same wavelength!! I hope the new cushions come out okay. Loved your post and I am checking out all the cute things you found at Target! xo
Loving those throws, Kim!! 100% cotton is always my go to!! And that hoodie for fall is so good!! Love the new sail cloth too! Have a wonderful Saturday, sweets!! xo
Tracy they are such good quality I had to share them! Hope you have a great weekend too. xo
So much great stuff today, Kim … and I just ordered a bunch of stuff from your links. The book (I’ve meaning to so thanks for the reminder), the tote (with indigo handles), and two tassels (I’ve been searching for them to hang on my hutch). I’m now following Kate and realizing I do my make up all wrong. Oof. It’s never too late to learn new things. Love the Chanel inspired hoodie. Oh, and I almost forgot. Your backyard! I think it was marvelous before, but the sail really is nice. I’ve seen these used all over the place and what a great solution … no more tripping over umbrella stands. I’m going to ask Jim if we could do this over our little alcove where our table sits. The umbrella drives me nutty … but can’t live without the shade. Hope you have a great weekend. xo
Juliet,
Your post was fantastic too! I’m glad you liked the tassels and the bag is so good for the price right? Check out the sails.. It might be perfect for that space. xo
Happy weekend Kim! Just the thought of fall weather makes me want to jump for joy! I’m exhausted from this horrid valley heat. Max had a brilliant idea with the solar sails, and I think the neutral color looks so pretty and give a little color to your patio. You’re so right about all the umbrellas making your patio look quite cramped with the furniture. The cute tote makes a great bag to take to the beach. Ok, I’m checking out the other weekend meanderings!
Hi Karen, I know I am kind of excited for the change to fall. Thank you about the solar sail! Finally we figured out what to do. Hope you have a great weekend!
Kim,
I love the look of the modern solar sail. I like how it filters the rays rather than blocks them, making the lighting look magical!
That book looks so interesting, and I love the idea of using that bag with file folders on my desk. I would never have thought of that! I love the little tag!
xx
I know the light is kind of my favorite thing about that sail! I want more of them. Annie, I knew you would like that tag on the bags.. I know cool file folders!! xo
Hi Kim,
I was sharing with Barry (my hubby) about your sail shade that you now have. Ours was purchased through Amazon as well. To construct a sail shade for your tomatoes Bear was telling me what he did for our rose garden. He purchased 7” feet fence posts at Home Depo they are very solid, rangers use them to run around cattle. The posts are buried 2” feet underground.
Also put grommets on the sail shade. We have had our sail shade for maybe close to four years. Considering our AZ temperatures can get up to 115 and beyond the sail shade has held up very well, plus the strong winds at times. On a side note not that you have asked or need my opinion. I really like the yellow that your husband selected. It adds color and will not show as much dirt as white. Barry offered to send you a photo of our sail shade protecting our rose garden if you would like to see it.
Hi Katherine! That was so nice of you to share that! I am going to show this to Max and he can maybe go check out Homedepot. I think he can definitely rig something up. You were so smart to do this in Arizona! I know the yellow for neutral color is growing on me. I was also thinking hit might not show the dirt as much too. If you send a pic maybe I can share with others on the blog to show how these work. Thanks so much! You are very kind to share!!
I love your backyard. I think it looks very chic. I started off with a list of things we should do in our yard and, since it got hot really early this year, we never got round to doing them. We will now probably have to wait until September or October, which is a bummer but better late than never.
Lorna, Do you have warm weather into fall? At least you can still enjoy your patio for a few months. I feel like this is us, just before the season turns, we do things! At least a lot of the yard stuff is on sale now!
So many great things here…I did not know your pool was that big! The sailcloth is a great idea. We have two big heavy market umbrellas from Pottery Barn but it gets pretty windy every day since we are up on a hill and I have to run outside around noon and lower them because they blow over on occasion. We even have an extra 50 lb. weight on one!
Our patio is a sad state of affairs but we won’t bother doing anything until we remodel in a couple years. Retaining walls need to be redone, etc.
I was so excited to find a lucite butterfly stool at a garage sale the other day for $85.00. Normally retail for $1200.00. The woman was a former antiques dealer and she had so many great things. It has a chip on top but we are using it as a side table so I put so a couple books on it. My husband even likes it!
Linda, I often have to do the same with the umbrellas here! I have even fished one out of the pool! I always have to order the extra 50 pound weight too. You guys might look into the solar sails. They hold up in the wind and the prices are pretty good. I assume we will remove ours in the winter.. Wow what a great find the butterfly stool was! You are going to have fun styling that. Love a good yard sale. I also got lucky a few years ago with the sale of a designer! So many cool things I have from her. Have a good week!
I enjoyed your post and learning about the new sail shade, as we have contemplated one for a while now. I’m also a sucker for anything Portugal so will check out the blankets. I’ve been following Kate for makeup tips for about a year and have learned so much! Even though she is young, I appreciate that she suggests tips and makeup products for all ages, even for those of us who are a bit older. My 56-year old skin just can’t do certain products anymore!
Kim, Those blankets are really nice quality. I agree anything from Portugal seems really nice quality..Kate is great that way. We are the same age and she has a lot of great practical advice for skin that is mature like mine. We are the same age and I agree I am getting more sensitive!
HELLO MAX!
I LIKE YOU COLOR PICK……..it looks yellow to me?
I feel like I’m on vacation when I see photos of your CASA!
I have those tassels………but BIGGER!NO surprise there!!
That book and its plates!!!THAT FISH PLATE TO DIE FOR……..once again you are getting so much done!I need to be in your BASKET BAG AND TAKE TIPS!
XXX
The color of the solar sail is growing on me! I know you were the original tassel person, I just copied you! Isn’t that fish plate pretty and the whole setting? I’m excited to have you here. xo