On this Weekend Meander..my favorite Rails pieces for fall, a fig couscous to make right now, a succulent pumpkin craft, an exotic Santa Cruz home, and an historic San Francisco auction you won’t want to miss..
Welcome back to our little weekend roundup of fun things with Juliet and Elizabeth! I always have so much to share and the week I am squeezing a few more extras in because they are on sale now!
My Madewell Jacket
At the beginning of October, I shared this Larsen plaid blazer from Madewell on my Signature Style post about Fall Wishlists.. I was waiting for mine to come and turns out… I never checked out of my cart. No wonder it was taking so long! Anyone else ever do that? And here I was blaming the postal service..
The upside, yes there was one, was that I got it on sale at Madewell and I also added these loafers. The jacket came in two days and the loafers are pre-ordered so a few weeks away. It’s a good time to grab these things if you’ve been thinking about them!
I love this jacket!! I bought a small and I am 5’4 and about 137-8ish.. It’s slightly longer in the newer style, but not baggy. I paired in with my Anthropologie jeans (same jeans darker wash here) and my Resistance scarf from Claire V.
Rails California Clothes
A few weeks back I visited the Rails outpost in San Francisco. I love this California brand and they have just three shops in the U.S., the others are NY and Newport Beach, and I have a scoop that they are soon opening an outpost at Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto!
They had so many beautiful things and this Wedgewood blue dress with tan flowers especially stood out. I needed a long sleeve dress for fall and later in winter with boots and it’s an easy throw on and go fabric. It’s also on sale now until Sunday at Bloomies with code SAVEMORE.
The dress is also in a longer version here.
I also couldn’t leave without this butterscotch colored Steffi Jacket. I was taken in by the super soft feel, very pretty color and contrasting black buttons. It’s light and not stiff and a good jacket for California’s fall and winter. It’s also on sale here this weekend with the SAVEMORE code and 25% off.. I missed this chance to get them on sale, and it’s a nice savings.
After a few cool days here, I finally wore the jacket first time to meet Juliet for a working lunch on Wednesday and it was actually 90 degrees by time we finished! We both thought we were having hot flashes! I’m so ready to wear all these warmer things.. and still using my straw tote as my laptop bag and purse.. A very overheated me posing with the jacket.. Thank you Juliet for the pic..
Town & Country Village in Palo Alto
The day I met Juliet we decided on a halfway point to have a working lunch and I suggested one of my favorite spots, Town & Country in Palo Alto. This old school shopping center really has the nicest places for a bite and we had a French lunch at Douce France, and unassuming little bakery with great salads, sandwiches, coffee and pastries.
We both went for the brie, pear and walnut sandwich on a baguette…It felt like the perfect fall lunch and we loved it. I was thinking what a good girls’ lunch sandwich to recreate?
After we popped in one of the best consignment places, Fillmore & Fifth and we found Juliet a Maxmara Chanel style jacket, a Nili Loton blue stripe blouse, and this Annabel Ingall tote in Kelly green. I adore those totes and have one in yellow…
All the things she got were like new. I also found a brand new August Cashmere cardigan with leather buttons that had a $550 tag still attached for $50… SO it pays to go to consignment. Wherever you live, you need to find the good spots and frequent them. Upcycled clothes are the future and stylish and cool. I can’t wait to see Juliet share all she found. Below she is with the new bag..
Fall Fig Couscous Salad
Figs are still all over the stores here in early fall and so I thought I’d share my family’s favorite fig couscous dish. It’s great to bring to a potluck, or to serve with grilled chicken or fish, and a big green salad.
Pick figs that are not too soft, but have some give. If I’m at Whole Foods I like to mix the figs if they have several varietals of the same cost. Get fresh pine nuts. A sliced thinly shallot, cooked until slightly brown, almost black, gives a savory bit and counters the sweetness of the figs. A very important step is toasting the pine nuts. It makes all the difference in this!
Fig and Shallot Couscous
Ingredients
- 1/3 C. Olive Oil Extra virgin
- 1 box couscous
- 1 shallot
- 1 basket fresh figs mixed or of your choice
- 3/4 C Pine nuts
- 1 tsp sea salt to taste
Instructions
- Add boiling water to couscous, cover and set aside. Toast pine nuts on the stove until just browning, set aside. Thinly slice shallot and cook in a tablespoon of olive oil until starting to brown and remove and let drain on paper towel. Slice figs into quarters. When couscous is ready, fluff with a fork and all olive oil, salt, and then gently fold in figs, shallots and pine nuts. Serve at room temp.
Succulent pumpkins
During 2020, our pandemic year, my neighbors and I did a fun project in my garage with succulents and pumpkins. If you have succulents growing around just snap bits off and use them.. You just need some moss, and a few other things. The original blog and instructions here. This weekend might be a fun time to do this with friends or kids and the pumpkins last a long time. They also make a cute gift and a darling centerpiece…
A Santa Cruz home in House Beautiful!
I spied this very cool Moroccan inspired Santa Cruz, California home in House Beautiful this month and had to share as it’s a renovation of house built in the 80’s…
I love to see someone’s unique vision. You are not wedded to the architectural age of your house! Interior design was by Alexandra Loew and photos by Roger Davies.
Many of the beautiful wallpapers in the home are Morris & Co.
Buy a Piece of San Francisco History at Ann Getty’s auction..
This week Cristie’s is finishing the auction of the Ann and Gordon Getty Collection. Ann was a longtime famous hostess and tastemaker and what a gorgeous collection she had. Ann grew up on a walnut and pecan orchard in California’s central valley and later attended UC Berkeley where she studied anthropology. Thanks to her job and friends at the Joseph Magnin cosmetic counter, she met her husband Gordon Getty.. More about her fascinating life and amazing taste and here on Airmail.
The live auction already took place and made 79 million! The online auctions end on the 25th, but you can still peruse the offerings and there are still some not too outrageous things to be gotten.. Ann’s handbags and jewelry is the most interesting to me, and many of the bags are less than the Real Real is selling them for. I mean that! There is also some of my favorite Ippolita jewelry.
The Art of the Table lot has ceramics, art and silver pieces.. and other beautiful one of a kind things! I love this green porcelain set which is private stock made for Tiffany in France.. All the proceeds go to benefit their foundation.
That is my weekend meanderings for this week.. Please check out Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs to see what good things they are sharing…
MAKE MINE A SPRITZER
PINECONES AND ACORNS
Thank you for being here and I hope your weekend is great!
Kim
On last Weekend’s Meander..my fall front porch decor, more plaid jackets to consider, including Katie Holme’s latest, organizing your jewelry, a Christmas jewelry tree project to prep for, a French hair product you’ll love, and revisiting the legendary design of California’s Nut Tree restaurant.
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The Madewell jacket is popular! I ordered a couple weeks ago and they cancelled my order saying it was out of stock and unavailable! Trying again today just in case (before the discount runs out!) 🙂 The jacket really looks great on you!
Eric, I didn’t know it already sold out once. Looks like it’s back in stock..Thanks I was happy with it and I think the plaid is pretty in person and the fit is great, not too tight. Thank you.x
Those Green plates are Beautiful!
I have blue anyone want to Trade?!!!
Think her name was ANN not ANNE .
She did wonderful things in the city while I was growing up!I forgot she was from Grass Valley up North!
Town and Country shopping centers!
We had one in Mill Valley!
The structure brings back fond memories!!
I spent a lot of time there as a child!
Xxx
Aren’t the plates gorgeous and the marks on the back are handwritten and so beautiful!! Thank you I will fix the Ann. This article said she from a Central Valley nut farm, but maybe that is the same thing..or they don’t know the difference?
We had a Town & Country too made into Santana Row.. and we still have a similar one near here they are proposing two make high rise housing, a hotel and some retail.. and it makes me sad. This is such a great spot with many beautiful shops and it’s a great gathering spot for people. Now if it had been turned into high rise apartments and a hotel, like they are proposing here, I doubt people would love it nor would it be the gathering spot it is now!
Ha! So funny about not checking out…I can see myself doing that too. The blazer looks great 👍 a keeper. I wish I had the consignment stores that you do …great finds.
Jackie.. I’m glad I didn’t just keep checking the porch for the package! LOL. Yep that is one of the good consignment spots, but I find even good things on Poshmark and even ThredUp. You just have to go back and do a little check for brands you like often.
Oh my goodness, Kim! Where do I start? I love that blazer and the short plaid jacket too! Pinned! Your succulent pumpkins in muted colors are my favorite! I love your style Kim, head to toe!
Annie right back at you.. I think we have similar taste! You also adore blazers I know. I’m just so glad they are back and there are a lot of choices as they are much more flattering than a cardigan! xo
Hi, Kim —
Lovely finds, as always! I ordered the Madewell jacket after you first featured it. I like the colors of the plaid in your picture, which appear quite different from the Madewell website! Mine is scheduled to arrive Monday, so time will tell. Glad to hear that yours is a keeper! It has suddenly gone from the 80s, shorts-weather which went on much longer than usual, to 50s and rain here in Portland. It usually stays like this until May, or maybe mid-June, so I’m not sure how much chance I’ll get to wear the plaid blazer. Oh well!
Would love to find a good consignment store nearby. I knew of one in a former neighborhood. I should go by and see if it’s still there. My current neighborhood is a bit of a style desert, although I scored a great summer dress recently at Goodwill amid the mostly polyester fast-fashion. Worth the $8 splurge!
Julia I hope you like the jacket too! I agree, in person the jacket has some pretty tones that don’t quite come through on the website. I hope you get to wear it a bit before the rainy season! I hear you about style deserts.. I have better luck in Palo Alto than near where I live. keep checkin online places too. And yay for good ol’ Goodwill that also has gems if you look often! Love that.
Love that blazer on you, Kim…so cute! Just pinned your couscous recipe. Wish I had a fig tree!!!
Thanks Mary Ann! I know I keep meaning to plant one! xo
I’m so glad you like the Madewell blazer, and it looks really good the way you styled it. Not trying to spend all your money, but while the sale is on you might take a look at another Larsen blazer in spiced raisin windowpane. There is dark navy running through it and it looks good with a white shirt and jeans. I know this because I’m a blazer fiend and I bought that one, too. I’ve got to stay off the Madewell site!
LOL Thanks Lisa.. or not! I’m on it and checking that out now. Blazer fiend .. we are already of the same mindset! xx
Hi Kim,
I so enjoyed your post. Stanford Shopping Center was always one of my most living favorite places to be. I love Palo Alto. There you go again making me home sick. 🙂
I so enjoyed reading your post. You and Juliet are such adorable “gal pals,” Looks and sounds like you had a swell time and even got some work done. The hunt paid off at your upscale consignment store, sounds like you both purchased some great items.
Kim, I meant to acknowledge your post of last week. At least I don’t think I did. I got so busy baking all weekend for my Bear. The Nut Tree triggered such fond memories. My wonderful grandmother took me there. It must had been 1960 something if I recall correctly. It’s so nice to see that they still exist and looks like are thriving.
Have a lovely weekend.
Oh Katherine.. I have a real love for that shopping center. I also worked at the Nordstrom there for a year after college. I would say the clientele was eclectic and very cosmopolitan! I had the most interesting customers including Shirley Temple and some people with dogs that were huge and ill-behaved, but I digress… It’s always a dreamy spot to walk around!
I love that you went to the Nut Tree with your grandmother. I wish it was still here..It isn’t, but people remember how special it was.. and no worries abut commenting! I hope you had a nice week baking.xo
Hi Kim,
Reading your post, and also Juliet’s, makes me want to go consignment shopping! (with you!)
Have a great weekend,
Julia
Julia we should meet up and go in Santa Cruz!xo
Yes that would be great, text me when would be a good day! xx
Julia we will plan! xx
Good morning, Kim! We remain in sync … I love that blazer. And yes I have also cursed the postal service only to find I never hit the purchase key. Sigh. Anyway, how did I miss this blazer … it was perfect for my stripes and plaid looks. I love it on you. And I love the Rails dress … in the longer version. Your jacket is adorable and I was lucky to see you in it in person. Who knew it was going to heat up like it did. Well, one must suffer to be stylish I guess. Ha ha. I’ve pinned and printed your couscous recipe … looks delish. And I remember your beautiful succulent pumpkin party … your pumpkin was a work of art. I just took a stroll through Ann Getty’s jewelry and bags. Quite a collection of Birkin’s and Kelly’s. That Christmas photos is amazing … looks like the Palace Hotel or something. Ann was one of a kind and a SF icon. And oh my gosh, that Santa Cruz house … the pool! Love it … ready to move in. Well, it’s quite a bit cooler than it was a few days ago … hope you’re weekend’s off to a grand start. Great post today … I enjoy everything. As usual! xo
Juliet don’t you love the you don’t push the purchase button? It’s much cheaper that way…! Ha. I thought you might like the Rails dress in the longer version. The blue would be pretty on you too. Don’t you love Ann’s Christmas tables?? Fun to see and all her beautiful items.
It’s nice and fall like today! Hope it’s cooler there too! xo
Kim that jacket looks fabulous on you! I love the Madwell loafers but I just know they would not fit over my bunion, dang it! That fig couscous looks delish, I love fresh figs. Always know there could be something that could get me in trouble here!!
Thanks Cindy.I know still waiting on the loafers..Fingers crossed they feel good on! I adore figs too.
Hi Kim,
We talked about blazers recently. This one looks so good on you with the way you have it styled with the scarf at your neck. I also must say, the picture of you and Juliet shows you with the best smile I think I’ve ever seen you wearing. I know of the Town and Country shopping center with its beautiful low buildings covered in ivy (at least if memory serves me right). As always, lots of fun things you found to cover today!
Aw thanks Wren! That sounds like Town & Country..I do think they all used to be ivy covered. xo
Kim,
I love that jacket on you! It looks fabulous! Madewell has some great pieces.
I love consignment shopping, so many great deals. The bag you found for Juliet was a great deal and a beautiful color. Did you get the cashmere jacket?
That house is beautiful!
Love the succulent pumpkin, I think I am going to try to make one.
As for the Getty auction. I read a story about Ann a few months ago and found her fascinating. The pieces at the auction are so beautiful. And you are right some are less expensive than the Real Real. Although I think they will go much higher.
Love seeing you and Juliet together! You both look great.
Have a wonderful weekend Kim.
xox
Elizabeth
Wish you were able to go with us Elizabeth! I did not get the cashmere sweater.. I have one at home so similar. know wasn’t the auction something? xo
Just purchased the jacket today, it looks great on you. Didn’t know they had sold out previously…hopefully my order will go through okay. I just love those pumpkins. It would be a fun project to do with my granddaughter.
Have a great week.
Linda
Linda, Hope you enjoy the jacket! Yes the pumpkins are a very fun project to do with kids too! Enjoy.xo