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.
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