Good Finds- Summertime Edition Archives - Northern California Style

Hello! Just a quick post to share some goodies I found this week! Max and I started the weekend by venturing out to a small restaurant in town we love. It was the first time we have gone to outside dinner in our busy town of Los Gatos. The restaurant had tables well spaced, and we wore masks until we were eating, but still there was a lot of foot traffic about. We enjoyed actually being out, but I felt a little stressed about the whole thing. I think we might stick to take out in the backyard for a special nights, and try to support our favorite restaurants that way. What has been your experience with dining out?

I did notice everyone was dressed up! People are clearly making the most of their outings. I felt the same and wore a new top that has been gathering dust.

I have been trying to do more online shopping so I decided to try a new company, Faherty which has very cute summer things. I could use a few summer dresses and I find it difficult to find easy, light things. So many dresses I notice are of heavy fabrics, not something you want in a summer frock! This brand was started by two twin brothers from New Jersey and its growing. Their dresses are made of beautiful light fabrics and they are committed to sustainability and quality!

This dress is the Gemima dress and I bought it in small. It is light and soft and feel great on for a hot day. It has pockets! I may have been able to go down a size, but I like the length and the looser feel. I guess that is a personal preference. I think the quality of this is just tops- sewn beautifully and excellent fabric. So if you need a few more summer dresses – check them out. This is the same Gemima dress in different fabrics and also the sleeveless Isha and the Hana linen shirtdress. All darling! Now that I know Faherty and it’s quality I hope to add another dress this summer to my mix.

Nordstrom is getting ready to have their Anniversary Sale with fall items, but before that happens there are still some great buys on nice summer things. There are some serious discounts this year on account of people shopping so much less – so this is the time to grab any summer items you might want before they trot out all the fall looks.

I’ve been trying to notice the things I wear the most and replace those or get something similar and these Tory Burch sandals are on sale now so I am going to add these to my summer collection. My other pairs from her are 5 and 3 years old and they still look good.

These Roxy Oceanside Linen Beach Pants are also marked down to $29 are and something I’ve been needing in the wardrobe. Many nights I want to get comfy and my sweats and pjs are too warm, plus I think these would be good for the short trip we may take to Tahoe later this summer where I’ll need my legs covered at night. Looks like they run small from reviews, so I am ordering up a size.

I also just bought this light summer lotion that gives a little sheen for bare legs and shoulders…

Also adorable in the summer category is this Tommy Bahama coverup dress. I love the white and the pockets and would probably wear it as a regular dress too. I always like the quality of their things…

If you’re thinking the off the shoulder look isn’t for you, my stylish friend Cindy Hattersley did a post this week on off the shoulder looks. If the question was can you still so this look at a more mature age, the answer is absolutely! Cindy shows how great she looks in a lot of lovely looks- all chic and showing a little shoulder!

Cindy inspired me to pull out some of my own off the shoulder tops this week and I realized I cannot get through another summer with the lame strapless bra I have. I ordered this one from Spanx. It’s highly rated and people claim it actually stays up thanks to some smart grip technology – so I have high expectations! I’ll report back…

On the lingerie, subject the Faherty dress is very light and so I added a slip that I had from under another dress to make it less transparent. I think with the very light linen dresses, you may want to add a slip. You want a slip that isn’t heavy or tight fitting. This adjustable slip from, believe it or not, Amazon, seems to be the perfect size and weight for summer dresses.

Lastly, this film Summerland, opening next week looks appealing.. It’s coming to theaters and on demand. I could use a good British film about now!

I miss the whole theater experience.

Happy weekend!

Kim

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Happy Friday! We are having some crazy weather here in California. It’s raining in June! I’m loving it, but I feel for all the graduates today and the end of year picnics that were planned. I honestly can count on one hand all the times it rained in summer as a lifelong Californian. I remember one time my mom let us run outside in our bathing suits during a July rain. This is very unusual though for us and reminds me of the summer of 1973 when I spent time in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin with my favorite auntie and cousins.

So after the last post about less shopping, here I am talking about shopping again! However these are ideas for summer events and gifts one might need to get. Everyone seems to be in the summer mood here already. Many friends have already taken off on vacations while others are hosting grad parties. or invited to them. There are a few good things I stumbled across in the last week or so I thought I’d share…

Cost Plus is hitting it out of the park nowadays with so much of their merchandise. I went for potato chips (I didn’t need those either), and came home with two blouses, a scarf and some other goodies.

I cannot resist a feminine cotton blouse for summer, and I find them much more flattering and cool than any t-shirt. I’ve been coveting the whole Chloe collection, but unless I come into some money, I won’t be spending that kind of money on a summer blouse, so enter Cost Plus!

The racks of pretty cover-ups, caftans and blouses had me as soon as I walked into my local store. I zeroed in on the white blouses and the quality was quite nice. I also found a scarf in aqua and a packable hat for travel. If you cannot get to your local one they have most of the styles online here too.

Here I am with one of them on. (Look away from the cat beds and terrible carpet please.)

I really like the quality and look of this Lila top. There are also dresses, wraps and ponchos. Most of these are around the $30ish price range which seems fair and adds a bit of Bohemian vibe to the summer closet!

Are you going to any grad parties or summer gatherings? I love these special edition bottles of Chandon for gifts. Super cute even just to have on your summer bar counter! I think it’s only in stores, so grab some before they are out. I bought a few to bring to barbecues.

You can pair a bottle with one of these darling tea towels that are summer-themed…

I bought the popsicle one, but thought these posh pup version, below are adorable too.

Just some of the tea towels at Cost Plus below. Many have that Anthropologie vibe at half or less of the cost. Just saying..

I like their new woven placemats and napkins and table linens for summertime.

If you are giving a gift card or money this season, I love these little raffia wallets from J Crew to tuck them into. I bought a pineapple and a flamingo one for some gift cards. There are also striped ones and colorful leather ones that hook on a bag.

Are you a house guest at someone’s home this summer? The Picnic is a lovely idea for a hostess gift. It’s beautifully illustrated and full of great ideas for picnics and makeshift summer feasts. There are games, recipes and cool things to try plus the book is just so pretty and makes me dream about picnics, which is almost as good as the real thing. It would also make a sweet engagement present.

Love this book!!

We are fortunate to be invited to two weddings this year and the wedding gift can be tricky. However, my new favorite store Hudson Grace in Palo Alto at Town & Country Shopping Center is just the place to go for this. They sell the most basic and beautiful housewares and also a few luxuries. I bought one of their perfect white round bowls, which I am using for salads and everything. I’m obsessed with it.

I like to keep it on the counter with citrus or other fruits.

I also am in love with their Tart Kumquat dish soap which smells divine.

Hudson Grace was started by two friends. He was in design at Gap and she for Williams-Sonoma. Their collection is the practical yet beautiful pieces you want in your home- gorgeous white dishes and serveware, luxe linen napkins, big wooden bowls, beeswax candles and rustic serving planks. It’s just what you would imagine a California home to have -unfussy modern things. It’s a great store to choose a wedding gift. I’d love to collect these well designed pieces like this and purge the rest of the jumble I own someday.

There are other Hudson Grace stores in Montecito, Marin, San Francisco and Brentwood. You can read more about the founders, Monelle Totah and Gary McNatton and their own homes and style here.

Happy weekend to you all!

Kim