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Fun Kitchen Styling Tips!

February 10, 2021 By kimwheeler 33 Comments

Today I am joining a talented group to share some ideas for styling your kitchen space. Most of us have had a LOT of time at home and the new year is a great time to change things up. Have you had the same things on the counter for the last month, years- or more? Well maybe it’s time for a lift…

My Top Tips for Styling the Kitchen..

Declutter. You need visual calm and that means less. Store oils, spices, etc out of sight if you can.
Choose 2-3 colors and repeat them in the accessories in this space.
If you’re going to have a lot of things- i.e plants, cookbooks- try to group them together.
Use unusual and pretty catchalls or baskets to bring a little style to utilitarian items.
Replace kitchen towels often, and try to stay in a color way or two.
Add a piece of art to the kitchen to bring a homey feel, less scullery.
A small counter lamp adds a warmth and an ambiance to the kitchen overhead lights just can’t.

First of all, do you have a lot of clutter? Things that you use daily, but you have them on the counter? Try putting some of them away for a while, for some visual calm. Yes I use my olive oils and salts daily, but they are in the cabinet. Less clutter means more zen and less to manage/dust too. If you need those within reach, maybe rearrange cabinets and drawers? The new year is a good time to clean each drawer out, throw away things that haven’t been used in the past few years, (egg slicer I’m looking at you,) and generally rethink the space usage in your kitchen. There are no musts, only possibilities. We get stuck in ruts. Break out and reconfigure the kitchen drawers. You can change!

Start with what inspires you and add it to the kitchen. Maybe it starts with something pretty you see you adore. I fell in love with this vase, brought it home then searched my cabinets and pulled out a cheese board with grey-blue tones, towels in the same color and a pitcher with blue to give the kitchen some cohesiveness. The vase gave me my starting point and got me excited to change things up.

Cookbooks are great and I have a lot, but I usually have just a few out I am currently into. They are good to give height to things with open shelving too. You can place a bowl on them like I did here with an easy air plant, or lemons or a clipping from your yard.

I have a big serving board that is hard to store, so my solution is to keep it on the island. It makes the plant and a bowl with some citrus have more impact and height. The ceramic bowl is a special gift from a dear friend. I think styling the center of an island is tricky. People tend to have large things in the center, but as we eat on here a lot, I like to have something that’s moveable.

I like plants for the natural element.This asparagus fern is what I have now with a pot from my local OSH store. Below I had a plant from a shop in Santa Cruz previously.

I have my utensils corralled in this container from Target. Many of these are olive wood spoons from trips in France and are dear to me. I think finding a unique crock is a way to show some flair in the kitchen. Last year I was using a large black lantern from Crate & Barrel. I have also used pots from the garden section, baskets, garden urns and silver pieces. Whatever holds what you’ve got and works with your decor. I have even seen small waste baskets that could work too. Get creative!

On the open shelving I have plates from the Joanna Gaines collection from Target in black and off white and a set of nested baskets I use frequently for serving bread, etc. The plant picture I think keeps the California feel.

I just added the faux plant to fill in space at the top left where nothing else would work. I am generally not a faux plant person, and intended to rip the plant out and just keep the pot, but it seems to look kind of cute here so I left it. Faux plants are great in those spots with little sun and are hard to reach.

My corner sink has a space for plants and they love the light here and extra splashes of water! I tried to keep them in white and light colored pots to unify the space and make it visually cleaner.

I’ve been using this basket for our paper towels since the day one accidentally fell in there and fit perfectly!

On the other perimeter counter I have a Serena & Lily tray with towels and lemons, a bust planter from Anthropologie and my lamp. I sometimes move this tray to the top of the stove.. It’s another space we don’t utilize and it can look cute with a tray and a vase of flowers even. Just remember not to use them on a warm stove!

UPDATE: I found a source for these cute towels that were a gift from Ireland. They are by Ulster Weavers and can be bought in the U.S. at British Importer, The Bee’s Knees . Ulster Weavers has a shop on Amazon, but currently the towels are not in stock, yet they have a matching tea cozy.

A small counter lamp adds warmth to the kitchen. When the cooking and cleanup are done, this light is on and the overheads are off. I can’t stand the surgery bright cap lights on, and they destroy any ambiance in the house in the evening too. They are great for tasks and that’s about it. In the early mornings it’s nice to have the warm light and in these dark afternoons as well.. Look for a one that can fit on the counter and find a lower warm wattage bulb to bring a cozy feel to your space. Lots of great small lamps here.

I have tried to generally stay in the same blue-grey and chartreuse type tones with the kitchen towels. I go with the Marie Kondo stacking method when I am motivated!

My two rugs are the hardworking Serena & Lily Seaview Runners in grey. I just ordered the second one for the other side of the island. They clean so easily and take a lot of wear.

One other thing that makes things look cleaner is hiding outlet covers. I do so using vases, cutting boards, etc like below…

This was fun and I hope I didn’t drone on about the kitchen. I’m never sure if I am sharing too much or not enough! I am no expert, but I do enjoy making the space look nice. I am working on a separate page with all the house materials from the remodel coming soon to the blog!

If you have questions about today’s post, here a few of the things I used or are similar to my kitchen…

Lillian Medium Vase, Grey Seaview Runner, Spinnaker Tray, Balboa Counter Stools, Caravan Linen Tea Towels, Gold Utensil Holder, Stonewear Dinner Plates, Bust Planter, Amara Table Lamp , Footed planter ,Teak Spatula and Spoon Set, Ceramic Stoneware Bowl, Braided Handwoven Bread Basket,

More ideas for styling your kitchen today on these wonderful blogs..

CINDY HATTERSLEY DESIGN

Kim

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Winter White Jeans for an Uplift

January 4, 2021 By kimwheeler 13 Comments

Have we all now spent about a million hours in our leggings and sweats? I’m not saying to totally abandon them, but just about now we may need a sea change in the clothing department. I have been cleaning out the closet as I always do about this time, and I actually had to dust my clothes. How sad is that? I am not wearing leggings for another 30 days straight again.

One kind of pant that I always want to wear in January is the white jean. I wore this combo above today from the back of the closet! I’ve done a few posts about this and I never fail to be motivated by the boost a little white gives the wardrobe. No doubt you have a pair or two. If you are in the market for some new ones, the current look is straight leg with less stretch. Look for thicker material, little or no stretch and a less tight fit for a current feel. I like to pair them with loafers, sneakers or even a boot. Paired with some luxe fabric like a chunky sweater, a tweed jacket, shearling or faux fur and you have a simple California winter chic look.

Below is some inspiration for you to change up that January look. Notice how all these jeans are not tight and are on the thicker side. The less or no stretch versions keep their shape and look more tailored.

Vogue editor Tonne Goodman wears white jeans with a dark upper half every day…

Don’t be afraid to pair contrasting dark shoes or boots to white jeans to make them work in the colder seasons.

Normally I like to go into the store and try on several pairs before I write about them. This year I went on reviews and photos to recommend some pairs that will work for winter.

The classic choice for white denim are these by AGolde for those who like a 11.5 inch rise and mostly cotton…

A classic by Frame a little longer length. Love the quality of all my Frame jeans.

This pair by AGOLDE are 100% cotton. You know they will hold shape.

I also like this wider leg look by Joe’s – 99% cotton.

Others to check out are are these 7 for All Mankind Crops, another pair by Frame, and these lovelies by Rachel Comey.

These white jeans by Old Navy are 99% cotton and seem to have the right shape and length and a raw hem which I like.

I also have these Vintage Straight Jeans by J. Crew and they are a heavy jean that holds its shape.

If you have a nice oversized cable knit or oversized man’s sweater, try that out with your jeans. Don’t be afraid to raid the men closets in your life. So many good sweaters are likely there waiting to be loved!

Other good pairings with white denim … this cotton mock neck sweater. This is a classic piece that would look terrific and very Ralph Lauren with white jeans and a pair of loafers.

This Jeni Kayne chunky knit sweater has been on my radar too. Love the way they show it with these jeans and boots.

I’m a fan of the loafer and white jean combo. These Veronica Beard loafers just got marked down…

I also love the Tory Burch loafer with the horse head chain.

And her backless loafer.

And of course Gucci loafers are a great investment. I think they cost about three times the other loafers, but they will look even better with wear and I would expect this shoe to be something that would look good for a decade at least. So if you want investment pieces for the closet, a classic loafer will never fail you.

They come in a cool off-white now too.

Have a great week and have fun breaking out of the legging rut if you can.

Kim

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Fall Tablescape Inspiration

October 8, 2020 By kimwheeler 26 Comments

Today I’m honored to join a talented group of bloggers on a fall table inspiration collaboration! We all came up with fun tablescapes to give you new ideas for autumn decorating and dinners.

With the cooler weather upon us I’ve started thinking about Thanksgiving and how it might be this year… With so much cancelled and not possible, it seems many people will do just a small immediate family Thanksgiving. Are you thinking of Thanksgiving or fall entertaining at all?

I’m really a unfussy person when it comes to table settings and I like a simple look. I left my black table without a tablecloth, as it is a great foil for those rustic warm colors. I found my steel and iron table in Ojai a few years ago and love it..

I knew I wanted to use two pretty striped fall toned throws. I laid one on a chair and folded the other in the center of the table..

I found these beautiful flowers ( I think they are called Caspia), and black vase at my local Bunches floral shop in downtown Los Gatos.

I love these napkins found on Amazon and a snip from my new olive trees, tied with black cord.

Aren’t persimmons pretty? My family likes them in fall salads and just sliced up for snacks.

I luckily had some golden drinking glasses that I added here to this harvest mix. I used my heavy stoneware Magnolia plates from Target and couldn’t decide if I wanted to use cream or black, so used both. The whole table is casual and easy. I didn’t iron my napkins, and wanted it to feel pretty, but not formal, a very California..

The grey woven placemats add in some more texture and the gold flatware a bit of sparkle. I bought this flatware last year at Crate & Barrel, but they have not worn well. I want to eventually replace it with a better quality set like this Fortessa set at Pottery Barn.

On Sundays we try to do a nice dinner and have my dad over. Max often does the cooking and I fuss with the table and make dessert. It gives my sons more time with my dad and I appreciate them actually sitting down long enough to have some conversation! Music is nice too and I love to make a seasonal playlist. This year there is a lot of the same all the time, so it’s nice to make things feel a little extra special some nights!

Now for more inspiration…

Please visit these blogs to see what these talented gals have brainstormed for your fall table…

Cindy Hattersley Design
Classic Casual Home
Most Lovely Things
Housepitality Designs
Gwen Moss
My Soulful Home

Check my Instagram stories today for more of everyone’s table looks! Thank you for coming along our collaboration!

Kim

A few of the items I used and similar to get the same look…

Serena & Lily Stella Rug, Pinstripe Napkins, Mendocino Linen Throw, Burke Handmade Ceramic Vase, Stoneware Dinner Plates, La Brea Reactive Black Vase, Fortessa Flatware, CB2 Flow Glasses, Grey Rattan Placemats

Posts may sometimes generate a small commission. Thank you for supporting the blog!

Summer on Lake Tahoe’s West Shore – My Favorite Spots

August 29, 2020 By kimwheeler 22 Comments

Many of you followed along on Instagram our recent four day getaway to Lake Tahoe, and liked the photos, so I thought I’d post about our first real family getaway in the time of COVID. It was wonderful to finally leave the house for a few days after months of staying put. We squeezed it in just before the youngest son left to began his freshman year at University of Utah.

We are living in such unprecedented times, who knows what is safe and what is risky right now? Each family needs to decide for themselves. A road trip to Tahoe and staying in a rental seemed fairly safe to us. The challenge was avoiding the summer crowds of Tahoe, so we did takeout, cooked in our rental and ate at outdoor restaurants with good safety protocols. We wore our masks all the times we were out among others, did an extra cleaning of the rental upon arrival and left the windows wide open for a full day after we arrived.

As a girl, my family took us to Lake Tahoe for vacations and I have the best memories of those simple summers. My parents would rent little cabins or A- frames often at a beach area called Chamber’s Landing. I have a special affinity for the West Shore of Lake Tahoe thanks to those times. It has a lot of history, many charming old cabins and homes and the most beautiful beaches. I love the gorgeous trees and pine smell that hits you as soon as you arrive and the incomparably blue lake never fails to stun me with it’s beauty.

On this trip we started our days with a morning activity and then hung out afternoons at the lake, swimming, reading, paddle boarding and some sunbathing. We cooked some dinners in and also went out two nights. The highlight of this trip was renting a speed boat the last day and letting the guys try waterskiing. It was a slow and relaxing vacation with a lot of downtime, beautiful sunsets and just what we needed before taking the youngest off to college. I even brought my watercolors to work on. I’m just a beginner still, and I need a lot of help, but it was fun to try painting in the open air.

A few snaps of the trip…

Our rental was in a group of houses with a private beach and shared pier.

Our lawn and beach area. I love the Adirondack chairs that everyone has in Tahoe!

Our coffee spot in the morning. The rental was pretty worn, but it did have a great location.

I loved walking down this beach to see all the lovely lakefront homes. The rocks on this side of the lake beautiful, but very deep and hard to walk in!

We enjoyed a few happy hours on the end of our dock and watching the pretty boats go by..

Some of my favorite musts when on Tahoe’s West Shore..

Tahoe House– a combo of a Swiss Bakery, Deli and gourmet food shop, this treasure has been a mandatory stop on a Tahoe trip for years. I always buy a souvenir for the kitchen or one of their wonderful jams or sauces to bring home as gifts for house or pet sitters. Their lattes I dream about!! We were fortunate to get coffee there a few morning on this trip.

Fire Sign Cafe has outstanding breakfast and also lunch on an expansive lawn that has distancing while you eat under the pines. You can get food to go at their window here too.

Chamber’s Landing is an iconic Tahoe institution. Situated on a beautiful beach, the bar here was the first boat house built on Tahoe in 1865. The beach is used by the many who have vacation homes in the adjoining development. There is now a grill to have the most delicious (best of our trip) outside dinner- socially distanced, with a fantastic lake view. Many people like to come before dinner and take photos with boat house and sunset in the background. Save this for your last night and you won’t regret it!

Next to our rental was the SWA Watersports which rents speedboats, jet skis, paddle boards, private charters, fishing boats and lessons. They have a great protocols during cover- everyone wearing masks, sanitizing and keeping groups separate. We felt good about renting there and recommend doing this or chartering a boat if you don’t want to drive one yourself while you stay in Tahoe! There is no better way to see or experience the lake!

My Apolis market bag was perfect for this car trip and boating!

West Shore Sports Carries bikes and SUP or stand up paddle boards to rent right in Homewood, also with locations in Sunnyside and Sugar Pine Point. They are open every day weather permitting.

Jackson paddle boarding. Mornings and evenings are the best time to try as the water is calmer- same with water skiing.

West Shore Cafe & Hotel is located right next to the SWA Watersports and has a great deck to grab dinner or a cocktail over the water, located right across from Homewood Ski Resort. The cute red umbrellas are busy all day with boaters coming in, but they are very good with masks and well spaced tables.

For a hike with a view, Ellis Peak is easily reached from the West Shore and is of moderate difficulty, but has panoramic views. Griffin and Max did this hike and took a few beautiful photos. More on the hike details on the All Trails link.

Sunnyside is another don’t miss Tahoe stop with an enormous deck to have one of their famous drinks or Hula Pie! During winter months there are cozy spots to have a hot drink by the fire inside. Reservations are helpful as it is one of the most popular places.

via Sunnyside https://www.sunnysidelodge.com

Rafting down the Truckee River is a tradition that families have done forever. It’s an easy five mile float down the river where at the end you can have a lunch at River Ranch Lodge on a patio over the river. We chose not to do this as the river was choked with people when we drove in and we thought it wasn’t smart during COVID. Hopefully when the summer crowds thin or this pandemic is over, you can do this more safely. (photo via Truckee River Rafting.)

There is much more to see on the West Shore by driving south on highway 89. There are parks like The Hellman Ehrman Mansion at Sugar Pine Point State Park, (also a fun place to kayak and picnic) and historic Camp Richardson. Vikingsholm is a particular favorite of mine, a Scandinavian style home built in the 1920’s with materials from Tahoe using old world craftsmanship.

Vikingsholm is built in a medieval style home and if you take the tour you learn more about the style, furnishings and its owner Mrs Knight. It’s set at the bottom of a steep one mile hike on beautiful Emerald Bay. Mrs Knight, built another small house on an island in the middle of Emerald Bay to take her friends for tea. The home fronts a public beach that has a view of this island and is a nice place for a picnic before you do the hike back up to the parking lot. This is something to do very early in the day on warm parts of the year as the hike back up can be strenuous. Tours may be closed during the pandemic, so check the website for Vikingsholm.

One day we went into Tahoe City to shop for souvenirs and get lunch. The Granlibakken Taco Truck has awesome street tacos and authentic Mexican and we took our lunch across the street to Commons Beach. This beach is great for families as it is very shallow for a very long way out. It also has a playground (closed during COVID) but can be crowded. There is a great little local artist co-op fronting the beach there called ARTIsan Shop. It’s a non-profit for local artists and a great place to pick up art, photography, glass woven things, ceramics and so much more – many Tahoe themed.

Also in Tahoe City the Pineapple shop is a go-to for cute Tahoe tote bags, jewelry and home decor things in the Cobblestone Center. I also LOVE Kalifornia Jean Bar which has locations in Truckee, (a charming nearby village if you have time), and in Squaw Valley Village. They sell this sweatshirt with the cool Tahoe spots and many adorable Tahoe shirts.

Where to Stay on Tahoe’s West Shore..

Airbnb in Tahoma/Homewood and the West Shore.

These VRBO rentals are the ten closest to Chamber’s Landing of their listings.

Granlibakken Resort is another place that I hold dear in my heart. I learned to ski on their crazy steep Olympic training hill back in late 70’s and my kids spent many winters sledding here and having hot chocolate at the hut at their sled hill. All the condos here are independently owned and nestled in the prettiest forest locations. There is also a lodge, restaurant and bar as well as a conference center. It has a super location just off 89 in Tahoe City. When renting here ask for an updated condominium. The breakfast buffet cannot be beat before a day of boating or skiing.

West Shore Cafe & Hotel, as mentioned above also has a great lakefront suites and rooms and a hopping restaurant and bar, located just across from Homewood ski resort.

The Cottage Inn is on a fantastic stretch of beach and looks funky and charming. I’ve never been, but their video makes me want to go for a weekend!

Sunnyside is also great lodge with a restaurant right on the lakefront.

On the way into Tahoe you will pass the Olympic Village from the 1960 games. There is a lovely resort- Squaw Creek near the entrance which has all the resort amenities and a huge pool, shops and places to eat and a lot of beautiful hiking as well as proximity to Squaw Valley Village. Plump Jack Inn is also near the village here and is a luxury boutique hotel. (Note: It is currently closed until winter due to the pandemic.)

Please leave any Tahoe favorites of your own in the comments! I’d love to hear what memories you might have of this magical spot.

Thanks for coming along. More on Tahoe in winter on my older posts about Squaw Valley and Plump Jack Inn and also – My Winter Lake Tahoe favorites.

Kim

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A Little Memory of My Grandma

May 1, 2018 By kimwheeler 41 Comments

Last Saturday we said goodbye to my Grandma Jody at a celebration of life we held at her church she went to since 1939. It was a bittersweet day, because she had a wonderful long life ( almost 101!), yet we loved her so much, it was hard to say goodbye. I was so busy last week getting things ready for the celebration I hardly had time to think too much.

We had a beautiful service and a catered lunch after in the church hall and lounge. It was really lovely and we decorated with pink tablecloths, pink tulips and in the church we had her favorite plant – pink fuchsias. We made sure the food was overflowing as a sort of tribute to her. She loved to entertain and feed people! Last week my father found more fabulous photos of his mom and I used them to make two great big collages with the help of my son Griffin and my son Jackson made a slideshow for the lunch.

It was nice to hear from so many who appreciated her and loved her and some cute stories about her too. I was doing pretty good until the end of my piece I read about my life with grandma. I got choked up thinking about the cute phone messages she’d always leave me.

Here is what I read and some of the newly discovered photos of her…

1930’s

“I came across a card recently that said, ‘The day you were born, the world had to make room for a little more fancy.’

That struck me as a fitting tribute to my grandma Jody. She was what my kids today call ‘extra,’ She appreciated the pretty, the fancy and the beautiful in life. Looking back on her photos and making these collages with my son Griffin, she was one to wear hats, sparkly shoes, gleaming fabrics and bright colors and prints. As a kid she was fascinating to me. I loved spending hours with her at her house where she would let me choose what lipstick color of the day would be from a drawer full of 30+ colors immaculately ordered in rows by shade. Her closet was a kaleidoscope of dresses by color and her shoes sat above in plexiglass boxes by heel and type. She was hugely organized and every drawer in her home had a purpose and a Martha Stewart look to them. She had a wrapping station above her washer and dryer before such things ever existed, with satin ribbons on a bar crafted for her by my grandfather. She even had an overnight train case packed for adventure ready to go at any moment. When she came to babysit my brother and I, she brought that case along with an array of beautifully flowered swim caps we could choose for her to wear with matching swim suits when she swam with us in our pool. She loved swimming!

With her son Ray, (my dad), myself and baby brother Pete, 1967.

Summer days as a child spent at her home could consist of learning how to make a chef’s salad, misting many of her hundreds of house plants, brushing one of her seven cats who lounged about her home and its atrium, learning how to set a proper table for lunch, and sometimes just watching her soap opera, ‘The Edge of Night,’ with her while we drank gallons of sugar sweetened Lipton instant ice tea.

She was an accomplished seamstress and many hours were spent making special outfits to wear to family birthday parties, for Easter ( a holiday she went all out for ) and even making small tennis dresses for me while I played in her huge button box. She dearly wanted me to sew like her, but sadly I never did. She loved a party and was a fantastic hostess who worked on events for weeks, and had recipes in the quadruples for big parties and church events. To her the biggest sin you could make was sending someone home with an empty stomach. She claimed if there was just enough food for an event, that meant someone went home hungry!

Probably dressed for some sort of party!

I have been very lucky to have been very close to my grandma Jody my entire life. When I was born, I was the first grandchild and she was younger than I am now, only 48 years old. She was an enthusiastic grandmother and had my mother and I with her for a week after I was born and when my brother Peter came along 16 months later, she had two cribs in her home at once for us.

My own earliest memories with her are doing something she called ‘having one of those days together,’ where I would go along while she did errands, and she would put me in the front seat of her metallic tourquise Buick Riviera with my own specially made booster seat that matched the silver leather interior. We would pick up her dry cleaning, drop things off at the cobbler, stop at the pharmacy, and so on while I popped protein pills from Jack LaLane she kept in the glove compartment. Later we would have a ladies lunch out, something I never got to do at home and I would order the diet plate which made her laugh and consisted of cottage cheese and half a pear or peach. Sometimes we would go by a children’s store and I would get to choose something special like a pretty umbrella or a frilly slip, things that were an indulgence of sorts, and I would not normally get, but only after we had visited her friends in the nursing home.

Easter dress in the 50s.

This was one thing I learned early from my grandmother- to care about the elderly and be present and spend time with those who are lonely or ill. She was so dedicated to her older and ill friends. She spent many years helping the elderly ladies at her church get there and when they couldn’t go, visiting them. Her church’s spring tea and other events like that became a huge part of her life, especially after my grandfather died and she made sure to include us too. I always knew that the church tea was coming or it’s annual bazaar and it was important to her. I credit my own mother, Suzanne who is no longer here, to helping me be close to my grandmother. I often got the call, even when I was young and busy with my own life saying, “Grandma is hoping you’ll be there,” and “Grandma is looking forward to seeing you.’ So I thank my mother so much for that.

As a child of the depression, she learned to appreciate everything she had. Her attitude could be described as Pollyanna like and she always saw the glass as half full. She never talked of her years as a kid as hard, though when the depression hit she had to go along with her family who moved with the harvest every year packing fruit and vegetables. She attended high schools in Oregon, San Jose and El Centro, but saw the time as fun.

She also absorbed all she learned from the many summers she spent in Lake Chelan cared for by her dear Grandma Eaton. Her grandmother taught her how to garden, make healthy foods from scratch – like sauerkraut from a big barrel in the yard, and she learned sayings like, ‘Beauty is as beauty does,’ and ‘You’ll get more flies with honey.” Those she also shared to me more times than I could roll my eyes at.

It is hard to imagine life without her. I never thought I’d be age 52 and still have a grandmother. She’d always say, ‘Kim I want you to write that down, so people will remember these things.’ So yes I remember much of what she went through. The world changed probably the most during her lifetime. The phone, the radio, cars, television, flight, the internet – all came about during her lifetime. She has stories of listening on the porch to the radio when Lindbergh crossed the Atlantic, and also hearing about Amelia Earhart.

The things though I will remember the most are what she imparted to me without saying. Those things are, spend quality time with those you love, make an effort everyday, in how you dress, how you eat, and how you treat others. Also -appreciate what you have and keep the good thoughts in your heart and enjoy being with people. Grandma was the ultimate extrovert and after a family gathering or a church party would call me a day later, often leaving a voice mail if I wasn’t there and say, “Honey I am still in a rosy glow from it all,'”

I think this may be the day she got engaged. She is holding a ring box and has her ring on. She was married in 1937.

Grandma left with her mom Edith and sister Nora.

Snapped on the street shopping with her sister Nora in San Jose, 1930’s.

With daughter Wendy.

With my dad Ray in the early 40s.

Camping at Seabright beach, early 50s with my Aunt Wendy.

Family shot early 50s.

With my Aunt Wendy and her dolls and a cat. Love the Spanish style home with it’s succulents- Fullerton, California 1950s.

Their newly built in pool, San Jose 1950’s. Love the matching swim suits and rubber flip-flops!

With my aunt, 1950s.

Hosting a backyard pool party.

A black tie event 1960s. I love her white flocked tree which you can see on the corner here. One year she had a pink one.

Horseback with my dad, 1940s.

Family photos from the 50s. Note my dad’s flat-top below. he says that was cool?

Possibly in their first home, downtown San Jose, 1930s. I love the curtains in the arched entry!

Thanks for letting me share her with you all. She always enjoyed all the comments from years past.

Kim

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California Weekends- What to Pack for Carmel and Monterey

May 6, 2012 By kimwheeler 13 Comments

What do I wear- and pack? That is the first thing on my mind is when I am planning a getaway to the Carmel/ Monterey area. It can be tricky as it’s a California coastal area, but more often than not can be chilly, though sunny. Because it is California so you’ll see a lot of cool looks that are stylish like this outfit above worn by Ashley Olsen, which is so Carmel to me, with a casual luxe vibe.

The original post on this was written in 2012, after a little getaway to Carmel to celebrate my husband’s birthday. It has become so popular I have updated it over the years. As a Bay Area and Northern Cal gal we get there a lot, so I feel qualified to advise. The photo above, in Pebble Beach, was from my latest trip there, October 2019. Fall is actually a warmer time than summer often!

You’re going to love this area and if you pack the right things, enjoy it too. This updated post has some newer links and photos to help you plan a trip in 2021 and beyond!

Carmel is one of the most gorgeous places on the planet and I am continually thrilled by its beauty on each trip. I am so fortunate to live here in Northern California and be so close. When I say Carmel, I also mean the whole Monterey Peninsula area, which encompasses Carmel by the Sea, Monterey, Pacific Grove and Carmel Valley in the hills to the East.

You could be staying in the warm and sunny Carmel Valley, but will most likely end up at some point in the foggier and cooler town of Carmel, too. For this reason you need to pack for two climates! I kid you not . If you don’t believe me try spending a day in town here and you will see how many Carmel sweatshirts are sold to tourists. It’s not unusual to see winter coats and sweaters worn here especially during summer time. Carmel Valley, up the road about 20 minutes from Carmel is a warm wine region and not unlike Napa and Sonoma. So you really have to think before packing.

Most of my visits to Carmel I have wandered around like Jennifer Aniston above, with sandals, yet burrowed up in a big sweater!

Carmel is a cosmopolitan place where people dress very well, but casual. Carmel Valley tends to be a horsier set where as Carmel by the Sea, is a little more luxe. Monterey where the aquarium and Cannery Row are, is super casual.

Bottom line…This is the capital of casual chic. People dress well, even though they are dressed down.

What to pack for a weekend in Carmel and Monterey. . .

White jeans. Even in winter. They look great with heavy sweaters and pea coats.

These slouchy white Boyfriend Jeans from J. Crew are my current favorites.

Alternatively, khaki or black jeans.

These Madewell black jeans– are cute and versatile -with sandals or boots.

Blue jeans of course…

I love this relaxed version and this one.

I love the mix of straw bag and sweater – and sweater plus sandals..A little summer and winter together works by the sea.

I love this classic straw bag with a leather handle by J. Crew – the perfect tote to pair with your sweater and for travel.

This woven leather bag is another casual tote that’s luxe looking.

Button down shirt in white or denim for day. Great for layering with chunky sweaters. Can also double a a cover-up by the pool if it’s longer.

A great classic white button down here. And great quality by Frank & Eileen.

Comfy flats. I always have a pair of ballet flats and a cute pair of tennis shoes.

I love a good white sneaker and Vejas are so California classic and neutral in all their variations. Perfect for up and down the hills of Carmel and a day of walking. Also more Vejas here and here.

These suede Pumas are another cute option too..

And these New Balance are quite popular..and also a neutral.

Ballet flats are another good thing to have on hand and a good a sneaker alternative. Love the look and shape of these Sam Edelmans, which come in a few colors..and also these classics by Tory Burch and these are a modern update on the ballet flat with many pretty shades.

Flip flops for the pool or beach. I have this pair of Tory Burch that have lasted three years. For the cost they make everything look California casual chic and upgraded. Great to wear to the spa or breakfast as well.

If you want to go a little more luxe this Gucci pair is very Carmel…

Throw in a pair of heeled sandals for evenings if you feel like dressing up. Streets are hilly in Carmel by the sea. Heels can work for dinner only if you aren’t walking there . Heels will look ridiculous during the day and are impractical with the hills here and the beach.

Cozy cardigan or wrap for cool days and around the room as a robe over your night clothes. Any cashmere wrap is also perfect for that and layering! This sweater is similar to below..

Even warmer light quilted or puffer jacket, moto jacket, blazer or trench to layer. These Herno puffers are gorgeous and very popular in Carmel. If you need something less pricey Uniqlo has other great options.

Here I am a few years ago with my son wearing a scarf and my trench coat in late summer!

A cashmere wrap is a wonderful idea for this area to ward the chill off in evenings and for an extra layer. This one by J.Mclaughin is lovely and will be a travel piece you can count on wherever you go.

Swimsuit. I always prefer a tankini or a bikini with a rash guard to layer. This is a flattering tank I love and another by Tory is a classic and beautifully made suit and this is universally flattering and and cute.

Cute cover-up, ( I love this shirt style , in so many pretty prints from J. Crew and also this shorter one ) hat for the beach walk and tote for the pool or spa if there is one. I have this hat I always take to Carmel and a close copy is here.

For dinners dress warmly. Almost all evenings are cool in Carmel, once the fog rolls in. A pretty blouse paired with black pants or even a soft sweater is the norm.

I think you can’t go wrong with a black pant/ sweater combo for dinners – chic and warm.

A chunky cable-knit or similar sweater. Cute with shorts- or jeans, depending on the day.

One casual skirt or shorts should the weather turn warm. One of my favorite looks is denim shorts and a long-sleeved T or sweater. Perfect for places by the coast where the weather is sunny yet cool. This Anthro khaki skirt is cute with sneakers or sandals, as would be this embroidered denim cutie.

One handbag that can go from day to night. A cross-body could do double duty.

Cozy pants and soft T-shirt for lounging around the room. PJs could also work. I do like to have something cute and warm with me to wear to breakfast without getting dressed for the day yet.
Yoga pants or leggings and a wrap sweater could work with a soft T for breakfast. Add boots to your leggings and a swingy sweater or poncho and you have an outfit…

This Barefoot Dreams Coastal Cardigan is a nice option and layering piece, especially for Carmel. This sweater jacket from J. Crew is a chic and warm, also their cashmere poncho.

Boots are worn year-round in Carmel. I didn’t pack mine last August and was so mad at myself. All the gals wear them in summer too. Of course people have Uggs, but a classic tall black boot like this, in black looks chic and preppy too. Also this Frye brown boot is very Carmel Valley.

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