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Weekend Meanderings, Thrift Finds, Outdoor Pillows, Lemon Shortbread & More

May 7, 2022 By kimwheeler 42 Comments

It’s Weekend Meanderings time with Elizabeth and Juliet, and our chance to share some cool things that have come to our attention this week. It has been a week hasn’t it?

Thursday night we went out to grab Mexican food at one of our local favorites in Los Gatos, Zona Rosa. We couldn’t believe how many people were on the streets, beautiful weather and Californians seem to be so ready to be out and about again. Max and I said it was the most people we have ever seen out since the pandemic around here! Things felt almost normal again.

What do you grab if you have to evacuate?

Anyhow, we went home and at 2:45 a.m. I was woken by popping sounds and bright lights. I thought we had lightening, which is pretty rare, and then got up and noticed the electric wires above my neighbor’s home that runs along our backyards, looked like a firework display and after huge sparks and noise, was on fire!

Actual photo by my neighbor’s husband Ben of the power line.

This is the second time this has happened in a year. Anyhow fire came immediately and PG&E a half hour later, but we were out on the street, in our pjs with the neighbors until 3:30 in the morning. My poor friend whose home it was behind, took shelter in her car with her young kids. We just didn’t know if this was one of those power line fires that would move rapidly through our neighborhood or not.

There was no weather to speak of that day and they later determined it was rats or squirrels gnawing on the line that caused this! I’m a big proponent of getting the lines buried We have less than 18% in California.

Anyhow, if something like this occurs again, I need to think fast and I need to grab my photo albums and family heirlooms.. I was thinking I need to have all the albums in bags that I can just grab and go. They need to be more accessible, like very easy to reach, not in the gallows of the house.. I am committed to having what really matters easy to go at a moment’s notice. As Californians with the wildfires and things, we all need a backup plan. Max has emergency water, flashlights and other supplies in a spot in the garage, but I haven’t figured out the valuable stuff yet, but I am and will share. Do you all think of that? Do you have precious albums and things easy to grab and if so how?

Outdoor Pillows

It’s getting the lovely time of year and I have been working on getting my garden started and my yard spruced up. The one thing that didn’t do so well over the winter was outdoor throw pillows. I’m in the market for new ones that will clean easily and won’t fade. I figured you might be too about now, so I rounded up a few that caught my eye..

This Etsy Shop, CalifornialivinHome seems to have the coolest selection of outdoor pillows and they are custom made in California!

An idea for thrifted finds..

I’ve been determined to buy more things for the home that are upcycled, vintage and unique and so when I am downtown in my town of Los Gatos, I will pop into the American Cancer Discovery Shop if I have a few extra minutes. I try to do this whenever I’m near any thrift or antique store. The last two times I saw nothing and then today, I popped in there again and right away I spied two very heavy and beautiful glass urns. I knew I could use them in so many ways and they were just beautiful and for $20 each a good price.

When I came home I washed and shined them and played around with using them to hold a candle, utensil holder, even limes at the bar. Then I remembered I had two faux ferns (you can get them here) and some moss, that would make a fresh little spring look that I wouldn’t need to water. Just add some moss, drop in your fern and top with more moss.

You could do this with a large vintage goblet, glass or any kind of old urn or vessel that isn’t huge. When you are out thrifting, look for silver, heavy glass and other objects with shine to give a bar a bit of elegance. That’s where I put these two for now, but they would be pretty on a spring table with masses of white votives, white plates and pretty glasses or crystal and green napkins of some kind don’t you think?

Madewell Sandals

I’ve been loving my new Charley Slides from Madewell. I had them on the blog last week on the casual outfit look. They come in black, cream and I went with the tan with the contrasting black sole. These were comfortable right out of the box. They are 20% off now with code WARMUP.

Update: A few inquiries about my little Longchamp bag I am wearing above.. It’s the best and can hold a full wallet, phone and tons more. this bag was on my mind after Juliet shared she had one on this post.. Mine is the nylon version and it was found at The Rack, I can’t seem to find the same one online, but the leather version here and more options in comments below. (Also a nearly exact same J. Crew blazer as mine is now at J.Crew factory here in camel and navy. )

Lemon Glazed Cookies

My friend Jeanne is an amazing baker and she made me the most wonderful light shortbread lemon glazed cookies. I have been eating mostly healthy ( trying :/) , but these tiny shortbreads were small and so fresh and delicious with the addition of the glaze from yard lemons! Since we all have so much citrus now, I thought you could use another great lemon recipe. Original Source here.

American Viscountess

Are you an anglophile? A fan of Downton? Well you may enjoy American Viscountess Julie Montagu and her Youtube channel. Julie is an American girl from outside Chicago who married the Earl of Sandwich. They are in the process of renovating their Mapperton Country estate, which she raises money for, but she also visits other stately homes and meets interesting aristocracy. She’s a likable gal, also a yoga instructor and narrates specials on CNN like the latest one on Princess Diana. It’s a fun escape and you can find her channel and many episodes to binge here..and also follow her on Instagram here and here.

Serena & Lily 20% Off

This Serena & Lily sale is a great time to get things and I have to mention the 20% off when it happens as it’s the best time to buy. Use the code GOFORIT to get the discount. One of the best things on this sale is their Seaview Runner for hallways, bath and kitchen that I have here.. Mine is grey.

More of the Serena & Lily things I love and have in my house on this post.

Well that’s my meanderings for this week now please pop over and see what great ideas my friends Elizabeth and Juliet have for you…I really enjoy what they share every week.

PINECONES AND ACORNS

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

Wishing you all a beautiful weekend.

Thank you for being here!

Kim

If you missed last week’s post with healthy eating ideas, a plant based pasta dinner, the perfect black dress and more you can find it here.

If you’d like to get an email when I post, please subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox a few times a month! Thank you so much, as Bloglovin seems to have stopped working and I no longer post as much on Facebook and plan to do less there.

Some links may generate a small commission. Thank you for supporting the blog!

Weekend Meanderings- the New CB2 at Santana Row, a Little Black Dress, Healthy Pasta & More

April 29, 2022 By kimwheeler 32 Comments

It’s Weekend Meanderings time with Elizabeth and Juliet, and our chance to share some cool things that have come to our attention this week! I hope your week has been good. I finally am back out after my Covid bout and safely able to leave the house. That felt so good after after more than 10 days in.

The new CB2 at Santana Row

One of my first adventures out was to the new CB2, at Santana Row. For those unfamiliar, CB2 is Crate & Barrel’s sister store and a bit more modern. It carries generally the same things minus the appliances and has a more design centered merchandise with a bit of fun.

Prices are similar. I had a blast exploring this beautiful new outpost where the former Z Gallery was. It’s been beautifully redone and I can’t believe it’s the same store. I left with two white vases, but took a ton of photos and am considering a rug, pillow and a few other things from them.

If you are into plants and vases, they are your go-to with a huge offering of options. I bought this Tier Vase for $17 ( on sale now) and grabbed these tulips at the grocery. SO much impact from a $17 purchase. They made my tulips look like an art piece!

I also kind of fell in love with this little guy, the Celia White Vase. Isn’t the shape fun? Something about it was really appealing. I think this would be cute on a bedside table or with a rose in the bath on a tray. All their white vases here. I have a little drop-in faux fern in it, above.

Then the tabletop/bar area .. You must go! Beautiful serving bowls, dishes and how about this pretty china? I LOVE this Chelsea dinnerware, a collaboration between Goop and CB2. Did Gwyneth have something to do with this?

As my hubs is a bird person, I may get some the pieces! I just think it’s quite pretty. I’d love to have some of these plates for a ladies’s luncheon. See all of CB2 merchandise here! They have great outdoor furniture, sheets, bedding and towels, beautiful rugs and more.

Eating Better

Max and I have been trying to eat better and not diet, but change habits and get rid of things like chips and having afternoon ‘treats’ or evening snacks. It’s not been easy, but we are doing pretty good. One of the things we do it buy a ton of veggies on Sunday-celery, radishes, big bunches of colorful carrots, and cut them all up. It make two big containers to munch on for the week and we’ve been loving this hummus..Sicilian Lemon. I also love Justin’s peanut butter with the celery.

We also buy a giant box of dark greens and that I add handfuls of to everything – sandwiches, pastas, whatever. We also get a roasted chicken and shread it on Sunday and boil eggs. Having the shreaded chicken and boiled eggs on hand to make easy lunches like a green salad with chicken, or an egg and avocados in a salad is so easy and good

My typical lunch is a green salad with a handful of shredded chicken, walnuts and I sprinkle hemp, flax and chia on it along with sunflower seeds. For dressing I squeeze a clementine or lemon or whatever citrus is in the garden and a drizzle of olive oil and a little Maldon salt. That’s it.

Somedays I’ll have avocado toast with a pile of salad on top.

For snack we have clementines and a piece of dark chocolate. We’ve been liking these healthier chocolate chips from Guittard.

We pretty much drink water all the time, but will occasionally have a drink on the weekend. We are trying to incorporate this, and more densely nutrient meals as our regular thing. Dinners are grilled fish, salad and the occasional pasta.

A healthier pasta

When we do make pasta, this is my favorite old recipe I used to make for my kids- white bean pasta. You get the feel of an Alfredo, but without the fat, and with fiber from the beans. I love the new Barilla gluten free rotelli made with corn and rice which I could not tell is gluten free, it’s so good. .

After I boil the pasta according to directions, I take a rinsed can or carton of cannellini beans and a couple a spoonfuls of milk ( I used oat), you can also use water, and whirl in a mini-prep or blender until creamy. I add a a good squeeze of a whole lemon, a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of sea salt, and a smallish 1/4 c of fresh parmesan cheese grated. Add this to the hot pasta and stir and top with a 1/4 c julienned basil, a 1/2 to 3/4 cup of walnuts roughly chopped, drizzle olive oil and more parmesan cheese and serve. It’s really yummy. You can add the zest of the lemon if you like too.

Speaking of cooking has anyone began the Julia show? I had no idea it was the first cooking show ever on television and the crazy logistics that went into figuring it all out. How they were going to cook something that took two hours in 20 minutes and all that! It’s a great show, great acting and I can’t recommend it enough.

The Perfect Little Dress

Just reviewing my closet while I was home, I realized the things I’ve been wearing in warm months the most are easy dresses. This Brightside Dress from Madewell, is exactly that and the perfect dress to pack for a weekend away or vacation. ( Dress also here at Nordstrom if sizes are out at Madewell.)

It’s totally versatile! With the ruffle on the bottom, it’s a little more frilly than your usual tank dress and feels updated and feminine, yet casual in material (mostly cotton with some polyester which will be prevent fading and wrinkles.)

I’m showing two ways you can make this dress work. A day look…add comfy flats or slides, a woven tote or crossbody, and hoops. ( By the way did you know hoops are back? Think the gold and silver ones our mom’s wore in the 80’s.)

Madewell Brightside Dress/ Bembien Margot Tote/ Charley Double Strap Slide Sandal/ Hoop earrings

Here’s the same dress ready to go out for dinner or a party with a darling clutch, (I’m in love with this bag), earrings and a heel. The nice thing about this dress is your accessories can shine…

Madewell Dress/Loeffler Randall Willa Clutch/Intentionally Blank Kamika Sandals/Goddess Earrings

The dress would be cute with a wrap or jacket over it for cooler times. Just a good design with a lot of posssibilities.

I can’t believe Mother’s Day is next weekend! I haven’t had a chance to pull together gift ideas, but Anthropologie has a nice collection as always here. I always tell my kids just time with them is what I want- and sometimes new pajamas! I’m coveting these right now and these..

A Santa Cruz Charmer

This darling home caught my attention this week. I occasionally peek at the listings in Santa Cruz and this gem was so charming I had to share. The price is good for here, under $600,000, and while not super close to the beach it’s not too far. It’s in the woods, but look at this.. the ivy, the windows and crunchy gravel yard!

Can you imagine having this as your snug home for gardening and having dinners with friends in the garden? It’s something right out of a Ralph Lauren dream. It needs a little updating, but what doesn’t? The whole listing here on Zillow..

Well that’s my meanderings for this week now please pop over and see what great ideas my friends Elizabeth and Juliet have for you…I’m always learning so much from both of them!

PINECONES AND ACORNS

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

Wishing you all a beautiful weekend.

Thank you for being here!

Kim

If you missed last week’s post with the table throws, market tote bags, earth day, a great fish taco recipe and more you can read that post here.

Some links may generate a small commission. Thank you for supporting the blog!

Weekend Meanderings- Table Throws, Earth Day, Woven Market Totes, a Fish Taco Recipe & More

April 22, 2022 By kimwheeler 22 Comments

It’s Weekend Meanderings time with Elizabeth and Juliet, and our chance to share some cool things that have come to our attention this week! I hope your week has been good. I’m on the mend from Covid, which I came down with on Easter.. Thankfully I tested before my dad popped over for Easter Brunch. I thought I had allergies! It’s smart to do a test if you’re gathering and feel as thought you have seasonal allergies..You never know right now.

Have you used table throws?

I was sad to take down my Easter table, but I had bought this Marrrakesh Embroidered Table Throw from Pottery Barn a few weeks ago, and was excited to use it. I love how the clementines and the wood bowl warm it up. Having a black table is nice, but sometimes I feel like a pop of bright.

Have you used table throws? I kind of like that they show some of the dining table and have a more casual feel than a full tablecloth. I can use them on my outside table too as they can go on any size which is convenient. Pottery Barn seems to have the best collection and about 18 of them here.

I really like the lovely embroidery on this one.

Earth Day

I love Earth Day and also this yearly reminder to try harder to do the right thing for the planet.

On 2020, I wrote a blog about the history of Earth Day on it’s 50th anniversary and its founder Gaylord Nelson, who has connections to my alma mater, San Jose State, and Wisconsin.

Read all about Earth Day, it’s history and more small ways to make a difference each day on my post here!

You can join in this weekend’s Earth Day events that are happening all over the Bay Area! I wish I could get to the Earth Day Festival in SF. This weekend there are clean up days, talks, fairs and celebrations here all detailed here.

If you can’t get to one, grab a bag pick up trash on your local beach or walk, start using your own shopping bags, water bottle and coffee mugs and say no to straws and plastic bags and bottles as much as you can! It’s the little things done by us all that make a difference. Buy used and upcycled and less and better quality when you shop.

Straw Totes

In the Earth Day mindset, I though sharing a few great woven market totes might be in order. During the pandemic a lot of us fell out of our wonderful habit of carrying reusable bags to shop. People got weird about it, and frankly there never was a lot of proof that Covid was carried by bags at all, but at the beginning we didn’t know did we? Can we all please go back to bringing our bags? That made a HUGE impact on the earth.

A great idea is to use a cute market bag as your purse. I did this all last summer with this inexpensive woven tote, just like the French women do. I lined the bottom of it with a few of my favorite nylon shopping bags folded up, and voila, I always have shopping options. If the tote can’t fit all my groceries, the bags in the bottom will.

I use mine for travel, tennis and as my handbag. Great for a day out at the Farmer’s Market too. They come in so many sizes. Choose a one that will work for your budget, but also that you feel comfy to carry on a daily basis.

The straw bag has style cred and the girls carrying one that costs $20 are as equally chic as Gucci logo one in my opinion. Have fun and personalize it with a scarf or a tassel if you want. For the big open totes, I throw my wallet and keys in a zipper pouch and toss in. Some of these have pouches that come with them or fabric inserts that tie on top if you like…

Here’s a few that I thought were lovely..

Just like my collection of white shirts, I think it’s kind of nice to also have a little collection of straw bags. Look at this great display of my Instagram pal, La Dolfina’s home. She has a vintage shelf ( maybe from a department store) and her bag collection! Some gems in there. She’s one of my favorite antique hunter/collectors and her account is here.

And don’t forget our friend Contessa and her fab collection of totes that go with her caftans we shared on this post. By the way, she’s in the caftan business now and is selling beautiful monogrammed ones! Go check out her site and see before they are gone on this post.

White Shirt Foundations..

If you caught post this week about my love for white shirts, someone asked what to wear under them. A good skin-toned bra is ideal and is okay if it shows a little, depending on your comfort. Getting a bra as close to your natural skin is the best and my favorite that has support, and a lot of comfort and a nice smoothing back is this Wacoal Bra, below. This option by Chantelle is also highly rated for under t-shirts and things and this by Spanx has more skin tone colors.

If your white shirt is extra light and sheer, you can opt for a silky camisole, or a thin white tank or in something like a slub cotton for comfort and breathability. They are an important wardrobe staple you can layer. This from Banana Republic is the softest tank, not tight, and just the right length and weight for layering under something and comes in more colors. Hanro also makes excellent pieces and has this cotton seamless tank and this cotton v-neck camisole. All three below…

A new fish taco recipe

Looking for something fresh to cook? Well this week Max has done all the cooking and always loves trying new things. Today he made the best fish tacos from Once Upon a Chef, one of our go-to cookbooks. This recipe is totally different to us. He made a delicious crema for it and also pickled his own onions for it, which made it outstanding. He bought fresh cod and we thought this is one for our regular rotation – and so colorful!

The recipe is not on her site, so I am sharing here. Find the recipe in her book, Weeknight/Weekend.

Many more wonderful recipes on her website.

National Parks on Netflix

Have you seen the new Netflix series, Our Great National Parks? It’s produced and narrated by former President Obama and the first episode takes place in Indonesia, where Obama’s mother moved them for a few years the he was young. It’s so good and I can’t recommend it enough. Our world is unbelievable.

Guncle

If you’re looking for a new book that’s funny as well as heartwarming, read The Guncle! It’s the story of a gay uncle who is a former sitcom star living in Palm Springs who ends up caring full time for his young niece and nephew. The dialogue is hilarious and he is a fantastic character. I really am enjoying it.

I’ve been on the mend from Covid, but improving every day. I just feel fortunate to have not gotten this for almost two years, and now with the vaccine and booster it’s bearable. I have had three days where I took Advil for aches and fever and sore throat. I drank many mugs of tea with fresh yard lemons and honey and lots of chicken soup. I also sat in the sun as much as I could. I hope you are all staying well!

Well that’s my meanderings for this week now please pop over and see what great ideas my friends Elizabeth and Juliet have for you…I’m always learning so much from those two!

PINECONES AND ACORNS

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

Wishing you all a beautiful weekend.

Thank you for being here!

Kim

If you missed last week’s post with the Mark D. Sikes collaboration with Anthro, Liberty x J. Crew home collection and a great California playlist, and more- find that post here.

Some links may generate a small commission. Thank you for supporting the blog!

Easy Chic for Spring/Summer with White Shirts

April 21, 2022 By kimwheeler 34 Comments

Hello, I’m on my fourth day of Covid as I write this and though I could be resting, I’m feeling grateful today for sunshine and getting better and I wanted to share something I am passionate about- white shirts!

Today I am joining a stylish group to talk spring and summer fashion and at the end you can hop over and visit their blogs and see their thoughts too.

White shirts were top of my mind when I think of lighter dressing. I love a white shirt and now that warmer days are on the way, I’ve pulled out all my white blouses, laundered them, and have them front and center in my wardrobe.

Why are white shirts so chic?

They are universally flattering. It’s like one of those photography umbrellas held up to the face, but by your shirt!

They go with everything.

Layers! Need I say more?

They flatter much more than a t-shirt as they skim the body!

Classic style.. Katherine Hepburn, Diane Keaton, Lauren Hutton, Sharon Stone..the list goes on. ( I almost forgot Carolina Herrera!! She is the white shirt queen.)

I love seeing all my white shirts together..

Nothing beats a closet clean-out. DO this before you shop. Try on every piece too. I love collecting pretty pieces..Some I have had for a long time..

I personally love to wear my eyelet and lacy blouses with something tougher like distressed jeans or a leather or camo pants..

Some of the newer shorter and fuller shapes can be fun too.. Less tucking, and they look good with high waisted pants and skirts. If the sleeves are too big, just roll them up. Details like the poet’s sleeve and wider cut shirts can give you an updated look while still being a classic piece..

My most favorite white shirt currently is this which has poet’s sleeves. It’s a newer look with jeans and a sweater over the shoulders for cooler days. It can also work as above (tied with a knot), with a skirt and slides for spring/ summer. They no longer sell this shirt at Banana, but a nearly identical one is here at Anthro, my Seychelles Slides here, and the skirt I’ve had for a while. (This pink look was going to be my Easter outfit before I got sick… I’ll trot it out again.)

Some street inspo

Let’s see some inspiration and ideas for styling your white shirt.

All these images and more on my Pinterest Board, White Shirt Style.

A few I like below…

I chose a few classic and also some newer styles and shapes. You need classic, modern, and feminine white shirts to round out the closet. If you’re in the market, these are a few good ones..

The other button-ups I really like are from Grayson. I have their Hero shirt in tissue cotton, but it comes in many different white fabrics here. I love their fit and quality.

A reader reminded me also of AYR, a wonderful California brand that has the Deep End Cotton Oxford, below, that has a brilliant design for a half-tuck, or not. I am ordering this! I also LOVE their denim which you choose your rise, length etc. I recently bought The Pop jeans.

I hope you are rethinking about how to style your white shirts. Look for inspiration and play around and don’t be afraid to raid the guy’s closet for an oversized look… Most importantly, clean out for spring, purge what no longer works and see what good pieces will update everything and last! Think less things and better and shop consignment and vintage. Some of the best pieces are like new and beautiful additions to a unique look and wardrobe!

By the way, I’m doing okay after three hard days of Covid. I’m thankful I was boosted and vaxxed. I can’t imagine this without it. I haven’t been sick in years and I’m grateful to be nearly normal on the fourth day…My husband most likely brought it back with him on a recent trip out of state. Take care everyone!

Thanks for being here.. Please visit these style bloggers who are also doing Spring/Summer fashion today and I know will have some fun things for you..

CLASSIC CASUAL HOME
CINDY HATTERSLEY DESIGN
MOST LOVELY THINGS
AGE OF GRACE
SARAH LONDON STYLE
SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY

Have a great rest of the week and see you Saturday for my ‘Weekend Meanderings’ post.

Kim

Some links will generate a small commission. Thank you for supporting the blog!

Weekend Meanderings-Mark D Sikes for Anthro, Liberty Sheets, a California Playlist and more..

April 15, 2022 By kimwheeler 24 Comments

It’s Weekend Meanderings time with Elizabeth and Juliet, and our chance to share some good things that have come to our attention this week! I hope your week has been good. Here’s what’s been filling my head..

I’ve been working on my Easter table for our brunch and finally got my flowers. Now I have to iron the napkins and arrange the bowl of flowers that I just plopped in the center. I snapped a pic as it is now to share.

Since it’s just four of us this year with my oldest and my dad, we are having fun and making Hawaiian pancakes, a fruit salad and a few other simple things for our late morning brunch. I have been craving coconut pancakes that we had in Hawaii, so for a change we are giving that a go. Maybe we’ll take a walk after or play a game. I want things to be relaxed and fun, and I’m not stressing myself about any of it.

I used my mom’s vintage Spode dishes, this tablecloth, my Anthro pink champagne coupes (thank you Ani), and gold flatware (this beautiful set is what I’m going to upgrade to), and an assortment of vases and pitchers with rattan. I can’t remember where I got my bunny!

My dear grandma Jody always made a labor intensive Easter coconut bunny cake, from my generation to my boys. Grandma loved Easter and brunch and we always had a very special hunt at her house. She liked us all dressed up in our Easter best.. I love this photo of her with her kids, my dad, uncle and auntie at Easter in the 1950’s, and this with my sons when they were small.

I’ll be thinking of my mom and grandma so much this weekend.

Mark D. Sikes for Anthropologie

I’ve been waiting every week for the Mark D. Sikes collection for Anthropologie to arrive. I had seen a few pieces of it trickle into my local store, but I was awaiting the full collection to drop to share it on here and it’s quite lovely. If you are a fan of Mark, his ‘Beautiful’ books and the color blue, you won’t be disappointed. Mark named the collection after his darling dog Poppy.

My picks of all the pretty offerings ..

blue floral runner/floral dishes/ lamp/ dining chair/ modular chair/blue floral plates/blue ottoman.

A few things I also like that were added to the collection after I made this collage are this blanket, which would be fantastic at the end of a bed or over a couch to curl up with at night, the napkins and rings, and stemless wine glasses .

Much more than I can share in this spot, see the whole Mark D. Sikes collection here. If you are unfamiliar with Mark, his latest book, More Beautiful is a good one. I also love his Instagram account. He’s a true gentleman and has old school taste and class.

Liberty London x J.Crew Home Collaboration

I’m a huge fan of Liberty of London the exclusive and historic London department store and textile maker. Liberty has been making their own printed fabrics since the 1800’s and their florals are especially famous. My first Liberty purchase was a set of sheets and they are still the nicest ones I own, so I was excited to see this Liberty home collaboration with J. Crew. Now we can get their beautiful sheets and fabrics without traveling to London.

I am sort of disappointed they do not carry the sheets in California King, but I am going to go with a King Duvet and make it work. I just can’t decide which print to choose. There are also tablecloths and placemats, and napkins . All the collection here, which will no doubt go fast.

White Jeans for Spring

Speaking of J. Crew, I had the chance to run to the mall this week and thought I’d try all the J. Crew white jeans on and see if any work. To me this was this jean was the winner, not too tight, perfect thickness of fabric and a mid rise at 9′ inches and hits just above the ankle. They did not have my size in Petite so I just ordered a pair and will report back. Love the raw edge and the demi-boot shape of these.. They also have this in a light blue wash. Note that this jean runs small, so size up if you’re between sizes.

What’s on your California Playlist?

DO you listen to Forum on KQED? This week they had a great show about the California soundtrack. It’s a fun episode with people calling in and giving their personal stories of how a song became special to them or marked a certain time in their lives and you can listen here. On the show they also shared that the New York Time’s crowdsourced list of the songs that represent living in the Golden State here. Once I began looking Spotify had many labeled NYTimes California Playlist, but this is the original and it’s up to 200 songs!

As a native Californian, so many California songs touch me. The top ones are ‘California Dreaming’ by the Mammas and Papas, ‘San Francisco, (Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair)’ by Scott McKenzie, and ‘Lights’ by Journey and all the Beach Boy songs. I would love to hear what yours are!

What to watch- First Ladies

Next up on my watch list is this new series from Showtime, First Ladies. Starring Viola Davis as Michelle Obama, Michelle Pfeiffer as Betty Ford and Gillian Anderson as Eleanor Roosevelt, this anthology series goes deeper into their lives and struggles. You can watch the trailer below. Looking forward to knowing more about three amazing American women.

Well that’s my meandering for this week now please pop over and see what great ideas my friends Elizabeth and Juliet have for you…

PINECONES AND ACORNS

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

Wishing you all a beautiful weekend, and a good Easter, Passover or Ramadan if you celebrate.

Thank you for being here!

Kim

If you missed the last Weekend Meanderings, on pretty pillows, some cool slides for summer, walking the golden Gate Bridge and more you can catch that post here. I also posted my monthly Signature Style blog this week on what to wear to a wedding here.

Some links may generate a small commission. Thank you for supporting the blog!

Signature Style- Wedding Guest Dressing

April 12, 2022 By kimwheeler 22 Comments

Hello it’s that time again for our monthly style report with Cindy and Sarah. This time we thought it might be helpful to chat about wedding guest attire since 2.5 million weddings are happening this year in the U.S… the most since 1984, according to the NYTimes. So many of you may be attending a wedding this year. Since I begun this blog in 2011, the question I get most persistently is, ‘what to wear to a wedding?’

I haven’t been to a wedding since before the pandemic. Here with Max above at an outdoor wedding in Carmel Valley. I wore a one shoulder dress which felt chic and perfect for the day. (Dress was Ralph Lauren from a few years ago similar here, here, and here.)

Invites often tell you the attire, which is helpful, and can be stressful, so let’s navigate shall we?

Cocktail is the most common and a step below semi-formal, but now there are destination weddings, beach nuptials and more. First of all, take into account the venue. If you need more, this chart by Bride’s magazine and accompanying article will help you decode the particulars. This kind of says it all.

Start by planning ahead!

Take the time to pull looks together at least a month before.

What we all want most of all, is to be appropriate, look good and be comfortable. It’s wonderful if you can find something in your closet that is lovely and hasn’t seen an outing in the past few years. Try on all you have in a good full-length mirror. While in that mirror, take some pictures of you in the outfit with different accessories. Often what I like in the mirror, I dislike in the camera. It’s good to evaluate. Maybe all you need is an updated pair of sandals or a clutch. If you own beautiful things, rewear them!

Here I am in three dresses I love that have been gathering dust in my closet. I made these work for a daytime wedding with the addition of a clutch ( I have a little collection of them) and some nicer sandals and dressy earrings. I added my tribal pearls I have had forever, which dress things up. Obviously it looks like I gravitate toward pink and florals..

Sometimes though, we just need new or updated. You may have avoided shopping the past couple years, like many of us and even stopped shopping, like a few friends have confessed. If so, it’s time to add something to your wardrobe you will hopefully wear more than once, so go for classic and quality!

A few tips

Classics that will work for a cocktail to semi-formal and beyond are dresses that hit knee or a bit above or midi. What always flatters are pretty colors and patterns or florals. Try to avoid white or the color of the wedding party.
If you go with a printed dress, go with simpler accessories and shoes. . And on the same note, a simple dress could be made fun with a printed clutch, a cool shoe or flamboyant earrings.
Ask yourself is this an elevated look? It should feel special and not something you’d wear day-to day.
Stockings are optional now, but wear what feel good to you. Examine your look for the need for support like Spanx. Some dresses definitely look better with support layers.
Expect pictures will be taken. It’s nice to have a memory of these special days so bring your best you and get your hair freshened up, do your makeup, nails and so on.

For cocktail as well as day ceremonies..

I’m trying to give options that work for all body types and ages. Here’s what stood out to me of recent collections. Feel free to comment and make suggestions!

I love this bell-sleeved crepe dress by Caroline Rose, which comes in three colors. I have a beautiful crepe dress like this with almost identical sleeve and it still is the nicest dress in my closet. Crepe always is your friend and skims the body, falls beautifully and flatters. This shape is modern yet still dressy and the price is good for a closet classic at $295.

I also love this Trina Turk one shoulder Dress, and Rickie Freeman Shirtdress..

This Milly Brushstroke Dress, and Eliza J Ruffle Dress..

Also nice is this Eliza J floral number, and this cute Cece tie sleeve shift in 6 colors in Plus sizes,

I kind of think this gold dress could be nice for mother of the bride or groom, and this pink one is lovely too.

For formal affairs and black tie

I have zero experience with this kind of wedding, but my stylish pal Juliet does. She just attended the weekend wedding festivities of her stepson Kyle and she documented it all including her events and all the accessories. You can find Juliet’s post here if you missed it. I love her look here- long dress and the gold jacket topper! California chic.

There are many formal choices curated here at Neiman’s and also at here at Bloomingdale’s for fancier weddings and events. A few formal looks that caught my eye – this dreamy dress by Ramy Brook and this blue Chiara Boni dress…

The countryside/ beach or casual wedding

These weddings are growing in popularity and many have opted for small more impromptu weddings the past year or so. The nice thing is you can get more festive with your look and go floral, boho, long or short. You can feel more free to be creative with your ensemble at these types of weddings.

Some choices in this category this Cinq a Sept in blue and this colorful look by Staud..

..a tiered color block look, and a one shoulder Santorini dress.

From Anthro offerings are this square neck maxi from and this one shoulder look …

This pretty floral dress below, can go from casual to dressier. Everyone should have something like this in the closet as a go-to. All the Anthro dresses I showed here, and many others include plus sizing and petite. Anthro also has the most wonderful wedding looks for brides, attendants and guests- which you can find here.

Another new brand that I like is Ba&sh (not a typo), which has some lovely dresses like this below, and also has a borrow option, so for example you can borrow this dress for $69 and return after or have the option to buy. Very cool idea and so much greener than buying things you might not wear again, and easier on the budget

I also love Tuckernuck for very girly dresses and cute accessories. This Ulla Johnson dress is darling.. All the Tuckernuck wedding looks are curated by venue and with accessories here.

Let’s talk accessories

Good news the block heel is in and they are lot more comfy than your old school stilettos which I don’t even think I can or wish to wear anymore. These block heels work with dresses of all types so I am choosing to highlight them as they can be worn on many occasions and are a modern update for your closet as well…

Stutz block heel / Dolce Vita sandal/ Staud sandal/ Ully block heel /J.Crew rosegold sandal.

I rarely wear heels, so last year I saved my money and splashed out on Valentino Rockstud slides. I saw a woman wearing these with the prettiest maxi dress and they looked so elegant, I though they could be my new shoe for dressy events. Love them! One of my favorite items in my closet, comfy and they travel well too.

I also love a pearl for weddings and these pearl hoops kind of bridge the modern and formal, these flower earrings in many colors, and these drops and these inside out Nadri hoops come in many sizes and gold or silver, and these cultured freshwater pearl drops, and raffia/pearl drops.

A small bag or clutch is important and can make your look. Don’t try and bring a tote or your everyday bag. This is the time to look sleek and holding a pretty jewel of a clutch is fun.. A few that are worth collecting….

This Chrysanthemum Clutch by Trina Turk, Sondra Roberts Woven Clutch, Loeffler Randall Mini Clutch, Staud Small Bean Bag, Cult Gaia Rattan Box Clutch, Crystal Gathered Clutch, Aqua Checked Box Clutch, Sondra Roberts Metal Mesh Clutch, Wicker Wings bag.

Well, thats my small take on wedding attire… I will update this post as we move through the wedding season!

Please go see what my lovely pals have for you about spring wedding today on their blogs. I always love what they share..

Cindy Hattersley

Sarah London Style

Thanks for being here!

Kim

You might also like last month’s Signature Style post on Sunglasses and Readers.

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Shop some of the looks I mentioned and a few more..

Weekend Meanderings-Pretty Pillows, Cool Slides, Block Prints & More..

April 8, 2022 By kimwheeler 24 Comments

It’s Weekend Meanderings time with Elizabeth and Juliet, and our chance to share some good things that have come to our attention this week! I hope yours has been good. Here’s what’s been on my brain..

Pretty Pillows

I have been wanting to do a little refresh with my sectional pillows and found a well rated and lovely Etsy shop that makes some beautiful pillows like this..

Then I noticed she sells combinations of pillows as well, which makes it easy if you want to pull a look together. Two combos I really like- on left, and on the right.

The whole collection of pretty pillows here.

My favorite inserts, which should be 2 inches bigger than your pillow, are these which look like feather, but are synthetic down, made in the U.S. and karate choppable if that’s your thing. They have weight and feel great. I have replaced almost all my pillows with these…

Block Prints

Looking for a sweet small gift or to just give your morning routine a little upgrade? These block-print mugs at Anthro caught my eye right away! So lovely and they make a cute gift for a friend or teacher and you can add a gift card or some treats. Anthro is getting on the block-print bandwagon and if you are a fan check out their whole block print home collection.

I also love Emerson Fry’s India block print collection… (A company committed to zero waste, organic fibers, plant and non toxic dyes, and other great things.)

Beeks

Slides seem to be all I wear now and a new to me shoe brand with many slide options is Beeks. They sent me the prettiest catalog with the above photo and I was hooked! Begun by two California women, who met at Quicksilver, and were industry veterans, they wanted to create footwear that feels great and looks even better over time.

This is just a glimpse of a few of the sandals which come in all colors and heel heights..

Each pair, designed in California and made in Mexico, and takes over 48 hours to create. Beeks is also committed to helping end child hunger and have focused on feeding at-risk kids in the United States. For every pair of Beeks sold, they donate the equivalent of five meals, through the Childhood Hunger Strategy with the Second Harvest Food Bank. Shop the whole collection here.

Walking the Golden Gate Bridge

If you follow my Instagram, you might have seen that I walked the Golden Gate Bridge last weekend with Max and my oldest son, Jackson. It’s been on Max’s bucket list for a long time, and even though I am a native Bay Area girl, I hadn’t done it either or brought my kids. I just always thought it was a long hike and how to get back and all that…

Turns out it is easy and not a big deal, and so worth doing. We didn’t even leave particularly early, got there about noon and found a parking spot at the Battery East Parking (great map here),which is right across from the historic homes of the Presidio..

From there it’s an easy saunter up to the bridge, with photo op spots, a warming hut/park bookstore, a bathroom and an historic cafe. From there you can catch more trails to explore on foot or bike. We chose to walk to the middle of the bridge which took about an hour and 20 there and back with many stops.

We snapped lot of photos and saw a whale, seals, pretty sailboats and the cityscape of SF. Seeing the bridge and the infrastructure of it up close is incredibly impressive! I loved the historic plaques. Even the lights are beautiful on the bridge. Know that it can be loud, and you are close to cars, but separated by a metal divider. You could go all the way over to the Sausalito side or alternatively, begin there. We felt we saw a lot just going to the middle. It can be foggy so we waited until after morning and chose a nice day weather wise. You will need a jacket as it’s cool and windy on the best of days, so dress appropriately.

More information and photos of the day, on my Instagram . Under my profile click through the ‘Bay Area Favorites’ story bubble to see it all.

After we had some great sandwiches at the cute Round House Cafe with bridge views, and then we headed to the city for ice cream at Salt & Straw and walked around the square in the charming Hayes Valley neighborhood. This a great spot with cute shops, a park and places to enjoy your treats and people watch.

Salt & Straw Ice Cream

On a side note, if you haven’t ever had Salt & Straw ice cream, it’s unbelievably good and the flavors are unlike anyplace else. They are a phenomenal company begun by two cousins and they use only organic and pure ingredients and support local suppliers and manufacturers. They do a huge amount of community care, support and outreach and donations. They pay good wages and try to make an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.

They just opened a branch in Valley Fair by the outdoor shops.

“We make ice cream about the ingredients we use and the farms and artisans they come from. About how we cook and freeze and candy and sort and burn and smash and hand-drizzle and ribbon and spoon and sprinkle all of our ingredients in intriguing and unexpected ways.“

That explains what kind of ice cream they serve.. and right now they are featuring flavors inspired by their Rad Readers series with Scholastic to take kids imaginative stories and turn them into ice cream flavors! How awesome is that?

All the flavors here and all about them and locations here. If you can’t choose a flavor, you can’t go wrong with their salted caramel -SO good!

Betty White’s Carmel Home

Lastly, many of you may have seen this, but I just love Betty White’s home that is now up for sale in the most lovely part of Carmel. Betty and her husband Alan Ludden bought the property in 1978 and built it from scratch on the undeveloped plot that cost just $178,000.

The pictures make it look so open and bright and quite ahead of it’s time. I’m sure it was staged for photos, but I could see living in it just as it is. The wooden peaked ceilings, the curved brick fireplace in the bedroom, and the skylights in the main area and expansive windows are fantastic. I hope someone doesn’t take a wrecking ball to this.

It overlooks Monastery Beach, and the mountains of Big Sur. The beach here is popular for scuba diving as the Monterey trench is right there which after a few feet in, drops to extreme depths. It’s also the steep and extremely dangerous to walk along, but the views are amazing and you can wander south to Point Lobos State Reserve, another stunning spot. The listing is here in LATimes.

Well that’s my meandering for this week now please pop over and see what great ideas my friends Elizabeth and Juliet have for you…

PINECONES AND ACORNS

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

Wishing you all a beautiful weekend, and thank you for being here!

Kim

If you missed the last Weekend Meanderings, on spring tables, my Hawaii getaway essentials, talented South African designer Sue Bond, you can read the full post here.

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Weekend Meanderings – Spring Table Ideas, Hawaii Travel Essentials and More..

April 1, 2022 By kimwheeler 23 Comments

Spring Table Ideas

Have you been thinking about Spring tables and gathering? Easter and Passover are on the same weekend this year and I am trying to plan my Easter brunch table setting ahead of time for once. I’m usually rummaging for my bunnies and tablecloths the day before… How old am I? I am still attempting to adult better at my age!

The last two years, we have been in the yard, but I think we can safely be inside with our small family, so in an effort to better adult, I just bought this lovely tablecloth from a great site called Furbish. They have many fun choices in tablecloths, and the quality is very good. How cute is this print for summer alfresco dinners as well?

I am still playing around with the mix of napkins and plates and thinking along the lines of soft pink and spring green colors using my mom’s pink Spode dishes she bought for Easter many years ago at Horchow. I will be thinking of her when I use them. I may add another one plate on top or green napkins.

They also have napkins and placemats in the same fabric. Check out Furbish for darling home things and spring table items! I love their whole site. Right now they have a 20% off all tabletop with code SPRINGREADY.

Also on my radar for Easter- the new gingham tablecloths from Serena & Lily. I love the baby blue and spring green colors. In case you missed them they are lovely. When I was a girl one Easter in the 70’s, I had a long pink gingham dress and I will always associate gingham with springtime!

Two years ago, at Easter, I used a vintage fabric remnant of my grandmother’s for the table with eggs, tulips and moss for the centerpiece.

I’m noodling the centerpiece, but loving the look right now of massed glasses or containers of flowers and plants..

Sue Bond and her tablescapes

The most gorgeous and inspiring tablescapes can be found on South African designer Sue Bond’s account. I found her through Cindy Hattersley, who had a great post here about her. Sue just moved to London and her house and tables are stunning. There really isn’t anyone comparable who has such fantastic style. More is more with Sue and it works. This is her Mother’s Day table in the U.K., but I think it could work for spring and Easter in a similar version of sorts.

You could do white vessels and vases, many small daisies or greens in pots. I love her bunny too and all the shades of green. It’s a lovely mix, not perfectly matched and how beautiful it is! Follow Sue’s gorgeous account and homes on her Instagram.

We just got back from a quick four night trip to the Big Island of Hawaii to celebrate Max’s 55th birthday. We really are so lucky to be so close in California and we arrived at 9:30 a.m. on a Friday after leaving here around 7:30 a.m. ,and the days there felt really long. It was just the right size getaway for two. We did a lot of reading, relaxing and just soaking up all the beauty there. I am still so thrilled with the flowers, the scents, and the amazing birds and nature every time we go.

I wrote more about what to pack for a trip to Hawaii last year when we did a larger family trip here, but on this kind of small jaunt, you just need some good basics- swimsuits, a couple of coverups, a hat a few sundresses and you’re set!

My essentials for short Hawaii trip..

Supergoop Glowscreen SPF 40 sunscreen for the face is my new thing! This is all you need on an island getaway. I just gather my hair into a bun and wear just sunscreen most days. The aesthetician who did my facial in Hawaii, said she loves it for the glow, no white pallor and good ingredients.

Kai eau de Perfume, a cult classic and created to evoke the scent of creator Gaye Staza’s childhood in Hawaii, it has a tropical and gardenia scent and I love it for a trip there.

I ended up getting in this swimsuit from J. Crew, in Safari and is now on sale for $69 -(I’m tempted to get the peach too.) This suit is beautifully made and holds you in, but still looks sleek.

This BloqUV Sunblanket is something I use so much! It can be a pareo or laid it over my legs while I’m under an umbrella, or wrapped around my neck and shoulders when the sun gets too much. It has a cooling feeling and the SPF 50 blocks 98% of the UVA/UVB rays. I go nowhere in the sun without this. It folds up very small and can always be in your handbag too. There’s an array of colors to chose from.

Last year I bought a black Banana Republic hat that I have worn everywhere and now they have a new version. These hats are so nice and don’t crush with travel.

My little woven Pot du Miel from Claire V. is my favorite for nights out and I bring a strap if I want to take it on a day of exploring. It’s back in stock and this cutie comes in a couple new colors. It’s the perfect spring/summer evening bag and travel buddy. I pack my hat in my carry-on upside down and put this guy in the crown and stuff it with socks and small things, so they both keep their shapes.

A long white gauzy dress is a perfect item for coverup and evenings too. I like the new longer coverups and I noticed so many younger women are opting for long versions and larger hats too. I can’t find the same white one I have, but this J. Crew one is close and comes with a slip, or wear it without the slip and it’s a coverup- and it’s 50% off with code SPRING.

Eberjay has the prettiest nighties and one of these would be comfy and easy to pack and perfect for a warm destination.

Right before I left I was excited to get a mani/pedi for the trip in Ole Caliente from Essie! A fresh manicure was so nice after rarely getting them in the past couple years.

A great new show

I have just begun, As We See It, is about Jack, Violet and Harrison, three twenty somethings on the autism spectrum trying to figure out life, jobs and love. It’s funny and uplifting and the three main characters are played by autistic actors which I think lends to the authenticity of this show which has 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and can be found on Amazon Prime here.

Well that’s my meandering for this week now please pop over and see what great ideas my friends Elizabeth and Juliet have for you…

PINECONES AND ACORNS

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

Wishing you all a beautiful weekend, and thank you for being here!

Kim

If you missed the last Weekend Meanderings, on melon colors, a Magnolia Home for Target finds, a great blondie recipe and more, you can read the full post here.

Some links may generate a small commission. Thank you for supporting the blog!

Weekend Meanderings-Melon Colors, Magnolia Home Finds, a Blondie Recipe & More..

March 26, 2022 By kimwheeler 24 Comments

It’s Weekend Meanderings time with Elizabeth and Juliet, and our chance to share some good things that have come to our attention this week! Let’s get started shall we?

Peaches and sherbets have been popping up all over and this vintage photo of Amanda and Carter Burden’s New York home by Horst for 1965 Vogue has those colors and brings memories of my grandmother’s fresh mid-century California home in the 1960’s. My grandmother’s home was decorated by Breuner’s Furniture (anyone remember them?), and had a long slightly curved sofa in a nearly identical or the same fabric as below, which was actually more peach than gold.

I think this is so lovely- them, the room, everything. I’m into that whole fruity vibe now and there are beautiful offerings in these tones in so many things. Some I’m loving below..

Cantaloupe and Melon colors to love in home and fashion..

J.Crew ruched one-shoulder peach swimsuit , Rose Uniacke Mohair Velvet fabric in peach shown on a sofa., Floral Blazer, Maeve Lace Buttondown, Percale Crochet Sheets in Peach, Pacific Scrunchy Sandals, Louise Wine Glasses, Archive’s Ochre and Peach Pillow and Tom Ford’s Bitter Peach.

A hot new biography

Are you a fan of biographies like I am? I just ordered Truly, Madly about the torrid romance between Vivian Leigh and Lawrence Olivier which has gone to the top, with much acclaim. I just read some of the excerpt and the writing is excellent as well as the amazing love story and her struggle with undiagnosed bipolar disease.

New Magnolia Home at Target

I love refreshing the kitchen with the seasons and I have found a few cute things to add to my mix at Target from Magnolia’s Hearth & Home Collection , of course. How darn cute are these striped appetizer plates? I bought all they had at my local Target. For $3.99 they are perfect for nibble and small snack (and if I ever entertain again.) I also like the mugs and pitcher. I have a thing for stripes and the colors here work with everything. Other new things to update the kitchen from them are these striped napkins, stackable glass tumblers in two sizes, and a darling set of bud vases and a cute new doormat, which technically isn’t kitchen, but I’m including it.

Mind Blowing Blondies for your next gathering

It’s that time of year for those end of year school gatherings, and hopefully more outdoor dinners and you need some crowd pleasing recipes in your rotation to take to those kind of events. I just added a new one to my desserts, thanks to my pal Bari, who brought these mind-blowing blondies to a tennis gathering. Bari is sort of our dessert guru, and she masters things like Kouign-Amann, that most of us wouldn’t even try. I have been lucky to have been the recipient of some of her baked goods!

These blondies take a lot of chocolate chips, but that is what gives them a very dense texture, and almost a fudge consistency. I promise you will have a lot of fans.. and as Bari noted on her recipe, they are even better the next day.

My photos and the recipe.. Thank you Bari!

A Modern Santa Cruz Surf Home

Lastly, I always love to share an inspiring home and this one is in my favorite area of Santa Cruz and was built in the mindset of a ‘professor that surfs’. It was in Coastal Living this month, which isn’t online, but you can see the all photos also here on Dwell by Joe Fletcher. I love the surf garage/bar and the whole house was built of reclaimed Monterey Cypress!

That’s it from me this week! I’m writing from Hawaii on a short getaway to celebrate Max’s birthday. I will share some of our quick trip to the Big Island on next weekend’s post.

Please pop over and see what ideas my friends Elizabeth and Juliet have for you this week..

PINECONES AND ACORNS

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

Wishing you all a beautiful weekend, and thank you for being here!

Kim

If you missed the last Weekend Meanderings, on gallery walls, a pretty blue sundress, a cool tote and more, catch that post here.

Some links may generate a small commission. Thank you for supporting the blog!

Weekend Meanderings, Gallery Walls, A Pretty Tote & More..

March 18, 2022 By kimwheeler 18 Comments

It’s Weekend Meanderings time with Elizabeth and Juliet, and our chance to share some cool things that have crossed our radars this week! Thank you for being here. I feel like I blink and we are here again and this week with the time change..WHY? But on to business..

Today I’m sharing a few tips on creating a gallery wall. When we did our home remodel, right before the pandemic, we removed the big interior wall to let more light flow from the front to the back of the house. Doing that left us with a long wall in the main living space. I wasn’t really sure how to deal with it, and for a good year or so, we left it blank. The idea of a gallery wall seemed to be a way to fill the long space with some personal pictures and art. My worry was how to make it look good?

Let me say I am slightly shy to share this as I am still tweaking it and filling the blank spaces, but I do think the overall tones and idea work for my white and earth toned house with black accents.

How to Create A Gallery Wall

-Find a statement piece for your center. I had a black and white art piece that was my focal point that I worked around.

-Gather other art or objects that can work with the main piece. For me, that was a San Francisco print of the Golden Gate, an ink drawing of a Victorian House, and a modern art print- all black and white and one with some tan.

-Choose 2-3 colors to go with to pull it all together. I kept it all black, white and tan or a light wood tones to unify these pieces.

-Add in family photos made to look arty. I had a cool vintage black and white photograph of my husband Max as a teen, taken by his mom for a photo class. Going with that cue, I used a photo of my boys as teens in a kind of surly (truly), pic from a vacation in France. It sort of looked like an album cover. I used the IPhone filter and changed it to black and white and did the same with photos of their faces. I cropped the pics to half their faces, and printed them all out on our regular printer. This is an easy trick and can make your photos look vintage and your wall will be unique and personal, but still look like ‘art.’

-Choose frames that pull it all together. Since all the photos were black and white, I went with a few in black, but mostly light wood frames from Target, to add an earthy, warmer feel and stay in our 3 color scheme.

-Collect your art and objects and lay them on the floor to find a harmonic look. I still felt the need for objects that were softer, so I added in a few woven discs . You could do this with round mirrors or anything that adds more texture and another shape to your grouping.

-Begin to replicate it on the wall starting with the largest object and work out from there. I used Command Strips for some things, but small nails for most, with my husband helping. Yes there were a few holes and pencil marks left, much trial and error to be honest.

-Remember this is a gallery look, so it doesn’t need to look perfect. Free form and and off-center is okay.. Perfectionists, this may not be the thing for you. It’s an organic look.

-Add to your gallery and change it up over time as your find new things. Just this past month I changed the main picture to this big black sea fan print. I also added in a new basket from World Market and removed another. I’m also going to enlarge some of the frames with the photos. Before the new pieces..

If you’re looking for wall baskets, Pottery Barn has this lovely collection, below.

I hope this helps! Have fun and give it a try.

My First Spring Dress Purchase

One thing I could use more for the warmer months is dresses that are easy and pretty. This FarmRio dress came in my email this week and I ordered it for a little getaway coming up. I loved the print and fortunately being 5’4 it didn’t swamp me and hit at ankle length in size small. It’s comfy and roomy and I think it will be a piece to wear for years to so much. The quality and fabric and pretty ties with beading, make it even more lovely in person.

A Pretty Tote

More pretty blues! I love the idea of a lightweight tote to take on vacation that can double as your day bag as well as at the beach. This H&M Jacquard tote fills the requirements, has a fun holiday vibe and isn’t some expensive bag that you need to worry about while you’re swimming, at the beach, or at the park with your kids. (It does kinda has the Dior vibe though!) I love the palm trees. I can see using this all spring and summer with sundresses and sandals and well everything.

OKA

Are you familiar with this wonderful British home decor site OKA? They have some beautiful things that would give your home some of that eclectic English vibe. I’m in love with this pouf, or floor cushion as they call it, in the prettiest pattern and lapis color. I just think it would be wonderful by the fire or just about anywhere you want to be able to put your feet up…

EXTRA STUFF..

I just bought this beautiful book, San Francisco Cocktails for the husband’s upcoming birthday. This is a beauty packed with history! Did you know San Francisco has a big connection with Lima, Peru, where most ships stopped coming through from the east around Cape Horn? The Ghiaradellis and others started there, and brought some traditions with them. This book has great photos and craft cocktails from the coolest SF restaurants and all the way down to the San Jose (yes you heard that right), and even Los Gatos. Definitely one for your bar or for that person who loves the Bay Area, San Francisco and it’s history.

I know a lot of you are Serena & Lilly fans and they just notified me that they extend their Spring Sale Event until next Tuesday, 3/22. You can get 20% off everything except sale. My friend just ordered this beautiful pendant for above her dining table.

I also have this version in my entry. A great time to get beautiful quality lighting or rugs.

If you’re in the market for pendants, Mary Ann of Classic Casual Home, wrote a great post this week,

13 Great Pendants to Update Your Kitchen. All of them are gorgeous, and she has some good advice as always!

Ukraine is on the top of my mind everyday and in Juliet’s post today she mentioned and linked to a Frontline documentary, Putin’s Road to War. I saw it this week and I can’t recommend it enough about the madman and how we got here. Please take the time to watch it. I also follow many Ukraine Accounts like Eyes on Ukraine with daily news on the situation from the ground, and the official account of Ukraine on Instagram, and NATO. Arnold Schwarzenegger made a 9 minute plea to Russians this week which we can only hope gets out to them, and I thought it was so good.

Thanks for being here. Please pop over and see what ideas my friends Elizabeth and Juliet have for you this week..

PINECONES AND ACORNS

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

Wishing you all a beautiful weekend, and thank you for being here!

Kim

If you missed the last Weekend Meanderings, on tennis clothes, entry rugs, a pretty home and more, you can read it here.

Some links may generate a small commission. Thank you for supporting the blog!

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What do you grab if you have to evacuate?

Outdoor Pillows

An idea for thrifted finds..

Madewell Sandals

Lemon Glazed Cookies

American Viscountess

Serena & Lily 20% Off

The new CB2 at Santana Row

Eating Better

A healthier pasta

The Perfect Little Dress

A Santa Cruz Charmer

Have you used table throws?

Earth Day

Straw Totes

White Shirt Foundations..

A new fish taco recipe

National Parks on Netflix

Guncle

Why are white shirts so chic?

I love seeing all my white shirts together..

Some street inspo

A few I like below…

Mark D. Sikes for Anthropologie

Liberty London x J.Crew Home Collaboration

White Jeans for Spring

What’s on your California Playlist?

What to watch- First Ladies

Start by planning ahead!

A few tips

For cocktail as well as day ceremonies..

For formal affairs and black tie

The countryside/ beach or casual wedding

Let’s talk accessories

Pretty Pillows

Block Prints

Beeks

Walking the Golden Gate Bridge

Salt & Straw Ice Cream

Betty White’s Carmel Home

Spring Table Ideas

Sue Bond and her tablescapes

My essentials for short Hawaii trip..

A great new show

Cantaloupe and Melon colors to love in home and fashion..

A hot new biography

New Magnolia Home at Target

Mind Blowing Blondies for your next gathering

A Modern Santa Cruz Surf Home

How to Create A Gallery Wall

My First Spring Dress Purchase

A Pretty Tote

OKA

EXTRA STUFF..

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