Northern California Style

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Signature Style- Summer Wish List

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On this month’s Signature Style, Cindy and I share our Summer Wish Lists! These are some of the pieces I’ve been coveting, trends to consider, and possible options for your warm weather capsule wardrobe..

Wow has this year flown by fast? I can hardly believe it’s May! love these sort of posts I’ve been keeping a running inventory in my head of the things I want to add to the closet for the warmer months. Doing these posts has actually helped me shop better. Finding things I really love online for the blog, has helped find items I truly love- versus just shopping what is available in the stores..

This year I am really into small jackets, longer skirts and dresses, one shoulder looks, metallic pieces, woven bags, and lots of green tones and blue.

Before you make your own wish list, pull out all your summer and warm weather items and try them on, evaluate and see what is missing, what you no longer love or looks good, and what you might add to make what you already have work!

Start with beautiful basics and to begin, everyone needs some lightweight jackets ..

Let’s talk small jackets

I’m mad for these small jackets ( i.e short jean jacket size), for warmer months and they could not be more flattering. I did a little Instagram PSA on them here. I have a linen color, one in khaki, a white and also denim versions… I like cardigans, but a lightweight shorter jacket is going to be more flattering and more chic. Here’s why they look so good…

  • They give a sharper line than a cardigan.
  • They help give a more defined figure i.e. waist.
  • They hide bumps, back bulges and all of that and give a smoother look.
  • They are great to make your dresses daytime casual and less bare..
  • They are perfect for travel- and day to night wear.

You need a few of these in your warm weather closet so let’s look at a few options and some ways to style them. I love them with a longer skirt and t-shirt like I am wearing here with my Tommy Bahama Two Palms linen jacket that looks great after so may years and wears… and a new short jacket from Anthro..

Some current options to consider…Photos are linked.

I love these JCrew lady jackets.
I have this love it. Runs small.
A black version of same.
Cute & affordable from KUT.
Fun color from KUT
A relaxed Paige with raw hem.
A pretty green and love the white enamel buttons.
A light one great over a tank.
I have this pretty detail

Longer skirts

No matter your height or age, the longer casual skirt is another piece that’s going to be a workhorse in your closet. If you find a few that are comfy with elastic waists, (and even better with pockets), you are going to want to wear these all the time. You can pair them with just a nice t-shirt or tank and a jacket like above, or with a white cotton or denim button down- tied at the waist. I adore the feeling of a light long skirt on a summery day with pretty sandals and a straw bag..

A few to consider..some longer and some mid-length.. I like this denim one as it looks relaxed..Links on photos.

Elastic with pockets in 3 colors.
A classic that you can wear all year.
A fun cargo option by Anthro.. Nice travel piece.
Beautifully made by Faherty
Pretty pull-on skirt by the LOFT.
Love this new one by Faherty.. Also a pull on.

Fun tops

I love the one shoulder trend .. fun options like this one in three colors..

More elegance and layering options with this one shoulder top – and these Target camisole matte satin tanks are great pieces .. color options here and here.

Woven Bags

I love the Zara white one, this fun Tory Burch tote in multiple colors, and the classic H&M woven bag looks good with everything for $25.

A few cute dresses..

I love to get a new dress or two for the summer and when you see cute ones grab them as they tend to go fast.. This one shoulder dress by Madewell is a great look for $69. If you’re concerned about wearing a strapless bra with these.. You needn’t! I wear a regular bra and tuck the exposed shoulder strap in the side of the bra.. So much more comfy.

A few other fun ones..like this green floral in two styles…Maxi and a spaghetti strap version- and this pink SZ Blockprint dress… ( All cute under the mini- jackets!)

I’ve also had my eye on the Two Palms linen dress by Tommy Bahama that is a perennial best seller like my jacket. I just can’t decide which color – so many good ones. I love the raw edges and cute neckline- and pockets. This is the perfect vacation dress and no you won’t need to iron this.. It looks great natural.

If I had somewhere special to go, I would consider this dress from J Crew Collection..

Swim

I love this Tory tank suit with the clips.. and the original tunic coverups she made when she started are back and this green would be a dream with it..

This J Crew stamp print coverup and matching suit are adorbs…

I also adore this one shoulder ruched suit from J.Crew. I have the safari green which is on sale with a few others now for $59, and all these one shoulders would be darling with a pair of white beach pants or beach skirt.. I want another color and thinking the yellow or stripe is fun.

I also am finally going to order myself a pair of these Birkenstocks...

Loving these sunglasses in the olive and the buff colors…

I hope this gave you some ideas for 2023 warm weather trends and ways to work some of these pieces into what you already have..I’ll try and add more items as we move through into summer- if it ever gets here!

If you want to save this for later you can pin this image on Pinterest…

If you missed last month’s Signature Style I shared casual chic dresses you need for spring and summer and my favorite brands.

Now stop by Cindy’s blog to see what she is sharing…. always some gorgeous things and great ideas…

Cindy Hattersley Design

Thanks for being here!

Kim

If you’d like to get an email when I publish, please subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox a few times a month and every Saturday for Weekend Meanderings.

Some links will generate a small commission here, which helps make this blog possible. Thanks so much for your support!

Earth Day, the New Ethos Stores, and a Charming San Diego Beach House

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On this Weekend post- Earth Day, a new Ethos stores, the perfect spring and summer sandal, an empowering book, a charming San Diego beach house, and thoughts on the Brooke Shield’s documentary.

How has your week been? Some exciting news is my dad got a new cat! His sweet cat passed away a month or so ago and he’s been missing her. We’ve been sort of looking, but this week we went to the Humane SSV Shelter in Milpitas and came home with a new pal. So it’s been a busy week helping my dad and his new cat get acclimated.

The Humane Society of Silicon Valley

I didn’t know how beautiful our new shelter is and I was blown away by the beautiful space and the way the animals are treated. I was used to seeing animals in shelters in cages, and it is not like that there. The HSSV is the world’s first model shelter -attaining all the standards put forth by shelter vets. I loved seeing the big field for dogs to run and play outdoors. When you go in animals are in rooms with windows, not cages and also have other recreational spaces. There is so much natural light. This video shows more if you don’t know about how special it is..

Meet Herbie! Dad and I walked the cat area and we were walking back when we noticed Herb. He had a key outside his door which meant he as friendly and you could visit him, so we went in and found he’s a real sweetheart. He is five months old and is just getting used to dad’s home now. I will keep you all updated. If you’re looking for a new friend, shelters all over the country are full and reaching a crisis point this year.

A fun San Diego beach house

If you haven’t seen it, the king of beautiful blue interiors, Mark D. Sikes updated a long time family beach house on the San Diego coast that is French Normandy style and is as charming as you would expect.. See the whole house and story on AD online here and in the magazine this month..

Earth Day…

This weekend is Earth Day and it’s a great time to rethink ways we can all make a difference in our small habits. We don’t have to do everything, but small things add up. I also feel a responsibility as a blogger, as I recommend things to buy. I try hard to choose things that you will have for a long time in the closet and home. I’m very much advocating for building a wardrobe and home that you will love for years with quality things as the building blocks and occasional updated accessories.

It’s been a game changer for me thinking this way. I also want us all to look at what we already have and use it in new ways. Shopping vintage and resale sites is the way to fantastic way to get gorgeous pieces and have more style- with things that are already on the planet

This is my original 50th anniversary Earth Day post filled with the story of how Earth Day origins and all kinds of things you can do to make an impact in small ways.

More Earth Day Events around the Bay Area here, Golden Gate park’s big Earth Day event, and I also liked this on the origins of Earth Day.

Did you know that within five years of that first Earth Day we had the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act , the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and also the EPA put into place?

At the same time, the movement went after congress members who had the worst environmental offenses and voting records calling them the ‘dirty dozen’ and largely got them defeated on the next election. We could be doing so much more than we are now, if we were as motivated as the founders were.

Just looking at this photo of the original Earth Day is inspiring…

The New Ethos Stores- Just in Time for Earth Day!

Have you heard of Ethos stores? These stores are low-waste living shops that focus on curating refillable and reusable alternatives that minimize our impact on the planet. This is one in Capitola and we just got one in Los Gatos. I was super excited so I ran down there Thursday afternoon to check it out for you all. This is the store we have been waiting for..Finally a place where you can buy in bulk. You may bring your own containers or purchase there. No more plastic containers ! We need these shops everywhere.

Not only is it good for the earth, the products are nice quality and affordable. I took a walk through the store which has all the soaps and cleaning products you use, plus beauty things like shampoo, cleansers, body and face creams and sunscreens, hair treatments, and even tooth products. You can buy brushes and reusable towels, wraps, and cottons for your face.

There is so much good there! Please stop by and check them out. Even though I had no containers, I decided to buy a micellar water and a sprayer and a wool dryer ball.. The water cost me $3 and the container was about the same.. So the prices are good and the water worked well and smelled great. Next I plan to get some hand soap and dish detergent and counter cleaner… You can follow them on Instagram where they share what they are all about. Have you been to one of these bulk stores near you and what do you think?

On My Radar

I need new sneakers and I wanted something stylish and comfortable I can wear all day. These these Top Spin Sneakers by Cole Haan will be comfy, have a little heel and come in a pretty navy too. These would look great with so much -slacks, dresses. I just can’t decide what color. More options here.

I’m not a big H&M person, but occasionally I will cruise through and see what’s happening there. This cotton/linen shirt dress stood out is part of their greener initiative and is of recycled fabric. I loved the sleeves which make this dress stand out. The quality and sewing was nice and I bought a Medium which hit me right above the knee at 5’4. I think this will be a great dress for the beach and warm weather days with slides. The black and pink versions are nice too.

I also spotted these adorable sandals that have a modern feel and a bit of a retro 90’s vibe. I feel like I had a similar pair of these from J. Crew back then. I love the tube like straps which are comfy and the block heel. They have a nice foot bed and feel like a pricier shoe, and are a classic style that will last. I hate heels, so these are an option when flats are just not dressy enough. These feel so good on I am considering the beige/nude color too before they are gone.

The Brooke Shields Doc- What are your thoughts?

I just finished the Brooke documentary. So if you haven’t watched and plan you may want to skip this paragraph… Come back and let me know your thoughts if you are a woman of our age.

I was shocked watching the first part. It brings back the misogynistic culture we grew up with. Objectifying women and all that..

I remember hearing about the Pretty Baby film, but had forgotten the facts around it. Putting an 11 year old girl in that film, playing a prostitute make me feel ill, and those who allowed it to happen in the name of art and a famous director, were all culpable. That would never fly now- thank God. Same with Blue Lagoon and Endless Love. Those films! Of course I saw the Blue Lagoon.. we couldn’t wait my friends and I.

Brooke’s time in college helped her gain confidence to make her own decisions and get validation that she was more than her appearance. Later, how she jumps into a relationship with another controller, Andre Agassi. I had no idea about him..She also admits to being raped by a famous producer and yet has never revealed the creep. I wish she would…I had also forgotten how Tom Cruise shamed Brooke for talking about her postpartum depression and getting therapy and meds for it. Wow just mind blowing he did that. I commend her for writing a book about something so horrible to struggle with, and that many had little information about at the time.

A lot of what happened to Brooke, happened to a lot of women of our ages. Women were valued on their looks, no apologies. If we had forgotten that age, we are reminded on this show. It’s hard to watch the cringy commentary and questions from people like Mike Douglas and others.

Brooke beyond all odds has remained normal, well adjusted and down to earth. She still looks like herself and natural. You see her paddling around her house on this show, with glasses and yes wrinkles and spots and not trying to look like 30 year self, unlike others in her field.

Perhaps the most memorable is the discussion she has at the dinner table with her very normal daughters. They say the films she made as a child, would not be okay now. She agrees and then proffers that many young women are choosing to exploit themselves on TikTok and Instagram, exposing very much, while very young, for more likes and attention. Sadly true.

Will we one day look back one day at all that in the same way we now view what was done to Brooke?

I’d love to hear what you all think if you watched it. The documentary is on HULU and I had to subscribe, ( I did the cheaper option with a few commercials), and you can cancel after.

An Empowering Book

Speaking of women, I saw someone recommending Claim Your Confidence this week. I read the reviews and it’s supposed to be uplifting and a fun read with a lot of good stories of the author. This book is all about finding courage and building confidence in all parts of your life. Someone said make sure to share it with another woman afterwards. I just ordered mine.

On last weekend’s post, the best blueberry muffins ever, Tahoe, updating old cabins with paint, some new J. Crew winners and the Brooke Shield’s documentary.

I hope you all have a sunny weekend,

Kim

Please visit my pals Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs..

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

PINECONES AND ACORNS

If you’d like to get an email when I publish, please subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox a few times a month and every Saturday for Weekend Meanderings.

Some links will generate a small commission here, which helps make this blog possible. Thanks so much for your support!

Tahoe Faves, Updating Cabins, New J.Crew, and Brooke Shield’s Documentary

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On this weekend’s post, the best blueberry muffins ever, Tahoe, cabin updating, some new J. Crew gems, and Brooke Shields’ new documentary.

How has your week been? We had a lovely Easter last weekend with my dad and Jackson comin ag by for brunch. Afterwards we played tennis at the public courts which were empty and enjoyed the beautiful day! I hope yours was good too.

Dad and Jackson.. and our low key brunch with French toast, fruit, and muffins. We were all missing Griffin who was away at school.

Easter table with Ikat fabrics and vintage plates.

For the table I used the new Pottery Barn Ikat runner and napkins, my woven placemats (similar here)and my mom’s vintage pink spode dishes.

The Jordan Marsh Blueberry Recipe

I don’t know if you caught it on Instagram, but my oldest Jackson and I did a little cooking story making a blueberry muffin recipe I saw on Catherine Pla’s Chouquette Kitchen Instagram. It’s the Jordan Marsh department store recipe from the NYTimes. It involves smashing a portion of the blueberries with a fork- something about this makes them extra good.

This recipe is not too sweet, which we liked and of course I made my own changes to it by adding about a cup of sliced almonds and we topped each muffin with a teeny bit of raw sugar. I love cooking with my sons and I try hard to and encourage them to cook for themselves more- and not Door Dash and fast food, but you know kids and telling them what to do.. I try!

Jordan Marsh blueberry muffins

You can find the recipe on Catherine’s Instagram post. You will enjoy following her. She is a cool Californian chef and mom and she just cracks me up. She is married to a Frenchman and cooks with him and his mother occasionally, which is fun too. She’s very relatable.

Tahoe

My tiny cabin…

Tahoe west shore cabin buried in snow 2023

Well finally after almost four months, got to our tiny Tahoe cabin! When we left before Christmas, I was sure we’d be back in January and February..I even left the Christmas decor up! Well that didn’t work out as we had the incredible barrage of storms that hit us until just a few weeks ago.

Normally the front looks like this in winter…

small tahoe west shore cabin in snow

We have so much snow, it’s hard to describe. The street height is about 20 feet right now. We had our cabin roof cleared and dug out by the door, but still there is no where to put all the snow. My neighbor’s small cabin is invisible…So what am I doing this weekend? Putting away the Christmas decor, and swatting away cobwebs and all that- and killing a few spiders. Max is trying to dig out the propane tank as we are just about empty and they won’t deliver. We have leaks from ice dams that have to be fixed as soon as the ice on the roof melts..Cabin life things…It’s not glamorous.

I am excited that my new doors are in. There are two- the new front door and one in the kitchen which replaced dark solid old doors. Both have windows and are bringing in a lot of light! We need all we can in a small cabin. They weren’t quite finished when I came in fall, and now they are done, well one still has plastic on the outside- as the snows came early in fall, it didn’t get varnished. These windows make a huge impact on the light in such a small space!

Tahoe log cabin with glass doors.
Small log cabin with updates and windows.

I was slightly nervous about having windowed doors up here in the snow, but the builder said almost all new doors they put in now have windows- even up here in Tahoe. It took over a year from ordering these to getting them in… I hope to do more, but things move slow up here. I want to paint some of the walls white and leave the natural ceilings and and all that.. Sort of like these photos, but keeping the log cabin feel still..

log cabin painted white
rustic cabin decor with white walls

I feel badly that I don’t know where I got these images. I’ve had them a while so if anyone knows, I will credit them! (NO animal heads for me, maybe a faux one.) This below from The Cottage Market.

Two more options below from Pinterest..

Below photos of a project from designer Jen Stouffer and are very pretty.. The white ceiling could be an option.

So far Max is not a fan of this look. You know I am all about bright and light and in small spaces especially. That said once you paint a log cabin inside, there is probably no going back. It would have to start in a small area. Follow my Tahoe Cabin board where I am collecting images and ideas as I go through this journey trying to keep the charm and update this little bolt hole.

Our favorite things to do up here..

When just Max and I get up to the cabin we have a little routine. Usually we leave the Bay Area around 6 a.m. and get up here, which is just past Tahoe City toward Homewood, by 10:30. We get settled and both work a little and then have lunch at our nearby favorite Swiss bakery, Tahoe House. They make the best sandwiches with their homemade breads. My favorite is the rye levain which we also buy a loaf of to take home to toast and get a pound of the coffee too. We might get an almond marzipan cookie . We eat our lunch in the cozy room with the fire, or if it’s summer out on their patio.

We usually go back and work and Friday night we love to go to our new local tavern and pizza place, Dog & Bear in Tahoma. It has a very neighborly vibe, great bar to grab a beer and the food is fantastic. We get one of the salads and pizzas which are super. Sometimes in summer they have love music in the adjoining park on Saturday nights. Also just up the road, is Palisades with its charming ski village with so many great eating spots and shops.

Saturdays we do something like ski or take a hike or a drive. We often go to Truckee to have lunch outside and check out the shops. Other times we take a drive to one of the trails over by the Sand Harbor or grab lunch at the charming Garwoods on the lake.

Sometimes we just take walks in our neighborhood as we are next to a place called Ward Creek which is a sort of preserve and has a nice trail through it. We also walk to our beach or bike in warmer weather. we have had picnics on the beach in 40 degree weather.. It’s pretty low key and I always think a day here feels like three.

Do you have favorite places in Tahoe you love? Winter is different than summer, but can be just as fun and the shoulder seasons even better!

On My Radar

J.Crew is doing a collaboration with Saint James and I have always loved their classic French stripe shirts. The navy shirt is a classic that would be so good with white denim ! There is also a pretty apple green and a blue, white and red combo.

J. Crew also has the most flattering designed stretch chino short and you can choose your length. The colors choices are fantastic. I love the tan and khaki, white and stone.. I personally think the 7 inch is the most current looking with the longer shorts and jackets trending and it’s versatile. You can always cuff them up if you want.They are on sale for a limited time for $39.! The khaki would look great with this shirt!

And as long as we are on J. Crew I am considering these Menorca ring toe sandals! These would look darling with everything and come in a fab jungle green and black, but I think I am torn between the tan or silver.

I finally put out my outdoor cushions and noticed I need a few pillows. I should do an updated post on outdoor cushions, but these caught my eye in this pretty dark blue.

Brooke Shields

Have you had a chance to watch the Brooke Shield’s documentary, Pretty Baby? I keep hearing great things about it. I feel a real connection with Brooke as we are the same age and I sort of feel like I grew up with her. She’s funny, bright and super talented, but she grew up being only valued for her outside appearance. I think this story will resonate with any of us who grew up in the same era and how women were and- still very much judged by their appearances more than almost anything. This is next up on my watch list..

This week was this month’s Signature Style, and if you missed it, I did casual go-to dresses that are the workhorses of my closet. Cindy shared some fantastic wedding looks that are so good if you have one coming up!

Juliet shared a perfect spring luncheon salad and pretty table!

On the last weekend post , I shared a walk through Golden Gate Park, a few items to consider for your warm wardrobe update, Pottery Barn things and more.

I hope you all have a great weekend,

Kim

Please visit my pals Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs..

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

PINECONES AND ACORNS

If you’d like to get an email when I publish, please subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox a few times a month and every Saturday for Weekend Meanderings.

Some links will generate a small commission here, which helps make this blog possible. Thanks so much for your support!

Weekend Meander- a Dreamy Montecito Home, Easy Tortilla Soup, and Spring Yellows

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On this weekend, an inspiring Montecito home in AD, pretty spring yellows, an easy and delicious tortilla soup, and how to take action on gun violence near you.

How are you all coping this week? It has been another heartbreaking week in America again with gun violence. I feel at a loss and want to lose it especially when small children lives are gone. I know we all feel the same and want change now. I am going to a meeting about it this weekend for Mom’s Demand and I will share more in case you want to help too, at the end of this post.

California Dreamy

I got my AD in the mail and it was filled with pretty home ideas. This Montecito home of Jamie Mizrahi, a fashion stylist is dreamy and has all the California feels with the prettiest details. She had help with the decor from designer Mike Moser, photos by Billal Taright. All the details here and more ideas on how to get the look, in this month’s AD magazine.

The bench seating and table are so adorable in this kitchen and I love the brown floral couch in the tv room.

How gorgeous is the kitchen backsplash tile? The pool house above with Jamie and sons.

I also adore the bottle green bar, the caning backsplash and this entry table and light fixture.

What a yard! They are living the Montecito dream.. Love the blue chairs and all the pots.

On My Radar …

I love following Nonna Pia on Instagram and her home cooking, so I was intrigued to hear of the book, Pasta Grannies. This looks so good with stories and recipes from all sorts of lovely Italian Nonnas.

It’s tulip season and Trader Joe’s has these $8.99 peony tulips and I am obsessed with them. This greenish yellow is so perfect for spring tables!

These Ikat Napkins from PB are beautiful and much more expensive looking than they are. How pretty for a brunch or dinner. I love the yellow, green and blue. For $40, for a set they look luxe.

I love this oversized linen blazer in soft yellow from Madewell. I can see this with white pants or a floaty skirt or shorts and a tank for spring through summer, and these fisherman sandals in a buttered scone ( they had me at that), color are pretty and versatile for your warm weather wardrobe!

Good writing..

Katrina Kenison, is an author I love to follow. Her books ‘Mitten Strings for God’ and ‘The Gift of an Ordinary Day.’ were very centering and calming books for me when raising my boys and reminders not to hurry through life. She periodically blogs and just wrote entry about her past year and as always, her writing touches on the joy and beauty of life and the struggles.

An Easy and Super Good Tortilla Soup

This week I sat in the grocery store parking lot waiting for a huge deluge of rain to stop and at a loss for what to cook for dinner, I Googled tortilla soup and happened upon a decent sounding recipe. They had me at easy! Shows you what kind of cook I am. This was a lucky find because this soup is one of the best I have made. Both Max and I loved it.

Besides coming together fairly fast, a bonus was it had enough spice for Max, and not too much for me. I thought it was perfect. It could have something to do with the fact that I did not add the jalepeno. What really makes this soup is the homemade tortilla strips and the fresh cilantro and lime. I added avocado chunks and sour cream and a little sprinkle of cheese on it too.. Full recipe here.

Mom’s Demand Meetings

If you watched my LIVE this week with Juliet, we addressed the continuing problem of gun violence in America ( and only America). I also shared my thoughts on this Instagram post that had over 100 comments.. We need change and one way is getting involved with the powerful organization Moms Demand Action, which is non-partisan, has chapters in every state and is 10 million supporters strong. Over 300 Moms Demand volunteers ran for office last year and 140 won.

This weekend they will hold a meeting at the local Jack Fisher Park in Campbell on Sunday and I and will attend with Max. They also have a monthly meeting at the Bean Scene in Sunnyvale. You can find your local chapter and also online gatherings too. Find more details here about how to donate, get involved and what they do. By the way, these meetings are for everyone who wants to end gun violence in this country, not only moms.

On Friday it was Max’s birthday, so we are going up to SF on Saturday to have a little hike and lunch out while the sun shines! I hope to visit a new area and will share next week.

If you missed last weekend’s meander, I shared tips for shopping Homegoods, an easy one pot dinner for weeknights, white jeans, a great moisturizer, a book and more..

Wishing you a sunny weekend,

Kim

Please visit my pals Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs..

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

PINECONES AND ACORNS

If you’d like to get an email when I publish, please subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox a few times a month and every Saturday for Weekend Meanderings.

Some links will generate a small commission here, which helps make this blog possible. Thanks so much for your support!

How to Shop Homegoods, An Easy Weeknight Dish and White Jeans

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On this week’s meander, tips for shopping Homegoods, an easy one pot dinner for weeknights, white jeans, a great moisturizer, a book and more..

It’s time for our weekend meander with Elizabeth and Juliet..Can you believe it’s spring already? The weather felt like Tahoe this week, and it’s still raining with more to come, but let’s see what we can do inside to make it feel like springtime.

When I am sick of looking at things, the first thing I do is mix up my throw pillows. For spring, I take out the wool or fleece pillows and put out my cotton florals and brighter cotton throws stuffed in the closet.

I will put a green plant on the coffee table or island and maybe change up the books I have around.

A succulent plant on a kitchen island
This plant is so happy in any location. I don’t know what it is!

In the bedroom change up your duvet cover and maybe the throw? Can you add pretty pillowcases or use brighter ones in your closet? Add a throw and a small posey next to your bed.

When it’s time, I put a new plant by the front door and add a pillow by the bench at the entry. I had done this a month or so ago, but the storms were too much for them and I will try again soon.

I was really craving some color in my neutral main space so I added these blue pillows from Homegoods I found this week.

The Edgewater Chairs and Stella rug (super marked down) are both on sale 20% off now at Serena & Lily.

Tips for Shopping Homegoods/TJMaxx

When we are sick of looking at the same thing indoors for so long, it feels good to add a few new things. You can move stuff from other rooms around and try them in different spots. When I just need something fresh to inspire me, I will occasionally hit Homegoods at this time of year. During seasonal changes they get big shipments and it can be the best time to peruse their offerings.

I found the Vogue book and the box for a spring update for my rattan tray. ( On sale 20% now.) Someone told me the box looks like one of the Aerin pieces!

Serena & Lily Beaufort tray with a book and plant

Why go to Homegoods? Sometimes the answer is simply, it’s not at the mall, and it’s nearby. No other place has so many home related items plus clothes. You can find some good things and I did a small PSA on it on my Instagram this week, but you need to be smart about how you shop there. Mixed in with some real finds is also a lot of junk, to be frank. At times it can look like a cyclone hit it. Other times it’s a treasure trove.

A few tips:

  • Go with a mission. Know what you need or it can be overwhelming and you’ll bring home stuff you don’t need. Last week I went for pillows and a box for the coffee table remotes.
  • Look for name brands and nicer looking pieces. Homegoods buys a lot of one-offs and that is something I like. It’s a bit of a hunt and if you are into that kind of thing, you can have luck here. You need patience. Often you will need to make a few passes on an aisle to see something, often under other stuff.
  • Search out pieces that bring your certain look to your home. Could this be found at a nicer boutique? Does it feel special and something you will like for a long time? These are the questions I ask myself before buying.
  • Certain times of year they have promotions like Treasures of Asia, World Traveler, Made in Europe and such. These are times to get some quality pieces that they have small amounts of. Right now the Provence promotion is on. I also look for items made in America.
  • When shopping for throw pillows, find cotton or linen pieces sewn nicely with zippers that allow you to replace the inserts. I found some beautiful block print pillows this time for $20 each. I keep my eye open for them everytime I go, and I snagged them. They haven’t had them since last summer. If you replace with your own inserts, (I love these and I buy 22 x22 for the 20 x 20 pillows), they look custom. Avoid synthetic materials. Beach towels from Turkey are amazing, so are the decorator and coffee table books.. and the rugs- many good ones. Look for wool and name brand rugs.
  • What to avoid… I have learned the hard way the furniture is not a good purchase. Two outdoor wicker sets failed me within a year, an indoor bench lost its leg and broke. Sheets seem to be hit and miss and often not sized right or poor quality. Seasonal things – i.e bunnies and hearts, signs with sayings, fake florals and wreaths – just say no to all those. Stick with nice accessories and try not to overbuy. Your goal is to not change up the whole house with new stuff, but find one to two things that inspire and freshen things up with what you already have! Remember quality not quantity.
  • Locations can vary hugely. Right now the Almaden location is loaded with things, but a day later I stopped by the Cupertino location and they had none of the items I shared. Some may get their shipments later, or a completely different mix.

You can also buy online and they update their site daily. Right now some quality offerings that caught my eye..

This Fortessa (great brand) hobnail glass set, Floral Goods cotton pillow, this pretty blue ceramic vase, , grey ginger jar, this yellow hand block cotton pillow, and and this Kinfolk Travel book I want.

Fortessa hobnail glasses in blue
floral goods tan cotton pillow
light blue Chinoiserie vase
Grey Ginger jar
yellow block print pillow
Kinfolk Travel book

On My Radar..

Epicurean Hydro Plus moisturizer
How We Show Up book by Mia Birdsong
Sheers to You Treat Color nail polish By Essie
white Madewell Perfect Vintage jean
vintage brooches on a handbag

This week I had a facial.. I try and do that at least quarterly and it’s a nice re-set for the new season. The aesthetician recommended Epicurean Hydro Plus Moisturizer... I am sensitive and dry and yet can’t do heavy. I am so happy with it and my skin loves it too.

I caught an NPR talk this week about self care and setting boundaries, and many people praised this book by Bay Area writer Mia Birdsong. They call, How We Show Up the most inspiring and uplifting book they have read in a long time. Another person said their book club was obsessed with it. With that endorsement, it’s my next read.

I have been getting many compliments on this Essie nail color, Sheers To You, which is pinky with a bit of reflection and makes your nails look fresh. The Treat and Color is also good for your nails.

These Madewell Perfect Vintage Straight Leg White Jeans are highly rated and come in Petite and Tall sizes and 25% off now. I love the look. Comparable, but with mid-rise are these by Rag & Bone (also on sale now!)

A friend sent me this link to the darling Flower Magazine and this article about using vintage brooches on handbags, clutches, headbands and other ways. I found it inspiring and am digging out my colorful brooches to see what I can play around with.

An easy weeknight dinner

Max and I often buy boxes of dark baby greens and use them in sandwiches and meals all week long. One easy dinner I often do is tortellini cooked and then drained. I sauté mushrooms, (sometimes zucchini too), and then add the cooked tortellini, and add a bit more olive oil and grated fresh parmesan and a bit of salt and pepper. I serve it on a big bed of the greens and top with toasted walnuts. The night I took this pic I added some leftover tomatoes and sliced almonds. This is a good end of the week meal to make with the veg left over in your refrigerator and some frozen tortellini. A one dish meal with all your greens.

Tortellini and mushrooms on a bed of greens

If you missed them, Juliet did a great spring table idea post, and Elizabeth shared 13 Self-Care Ideas for Spring.

On last weekend’s post, I checked out the first Evereve store in Northern Cal, and a vegan restaurant, toile pieces for spring, some beautiful woven bags, a book on J.Crew’s history, and more..

Thanks for stopping by and have a happy weekend – with some sunshine I hope!

Kim

Please visit my pals Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs..

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

PINECONES AND ACORNS

If you’d like to get an email when I publish, please subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox a few times a month and every Saturday for Weekend Meanderings.

Some links will generate a small commission here, which helps make this blog possible. Thanks so much for your support!

Weekend- The New Evereve Store in Nor Cal, Toile Pieces for Spring, and Woven Bags

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On this post, checking out the first Evereve store in Northern Cal, a vegan restaurant, toile pieces for spring, some beautiful woven bags, a book on J.Crew’s history, and more..

How’s your week been? I returned from a sunny three day getaway in the desert to see tennis at Indian Wells with friends and its was like being in summertime after this dark winter! We loved the two days and nights of tennis and even managed to sneak in a morning and lunch at the La Quinta Spa before we flew out on Saturday afternoon.. I updated my BNP blog with all the details if you want to know more about this tournament, the wonderful spa (like paradise), plus pics of some cute spectators we spotted with great style too.

I hated to leave and not to be negative, but time change has been a real bummer. Anyone else feeling the same? Both my husband and I said we felt a bit tired and off all week.. I do like the lighter nights though!

I noticed on one of those ‘On this day’ things that my wisteria was in full bloom this week last year. This year- not even a bloom! That never happens. I also usually have baby daffodils in my grandmother’s tureen in March and I couldn’t even find them anywhere. Settling for a green hosta plant for now.

My buried cabin!

You are all probably wondering why I never post about our Tahoe cabin, but sadly this year we haven’t had one weekend to go up there, that didn’t have the potential to be stuck up there with highway 80 closed. Another storm is coming Sunday. I am worried about the cabin, but we have two cameras and neighbors who live there full time that we are in touch with.

This is a photo on right, that the young guy Austin, who is digging the cabin out this week sent us. This is the front – you can barely see the top. .and we have at least 20 feet of snow and he is standing in the front yard.. And a previous year below left!

New places to check out in Palo Alto

On Thursday I met my pal Jeanne at Town & Country Palo Alto where we had lunch at a new vegan restaurant Wildseeds. It’s lovely inside and has a unique menu. We shared a mezze platter and I had a salad. She had the burger… A wonderful spot to try if you want to eat plant based beautiful food and drink. There is also one in San Francisco. This took the place of the Mayfield Cafe at T&C.

Afterward we checked out a new retail chain called Evereve. I had heard they have an eclectic collection of casual contemporary brands. This is their first outpost in Northern California and they have a huge emphasis on customer service and it shows. All the ladies there were wonderful and they have the prettiest changing rooms ever. If you are near Town & Country it’s worth checking them out!

They also have some of their own brand and I bought this white sweatshirt with the cutest sleeves…

I love sweatshirts so much lately. They are not as hot as sweaters, yet comfy and can be dressed up too. Evereve has quite the selection, which goes with their casual vibe. I also have my eye on this one and this one.

On my radar..

This COS toile dress popped up this week in an email and I clicked right away to COS which has a mini toile collection here. I love everything toile am glad to see it is having a resurgence. There are also shirts and a shirt dress and black toile pieces as well.

I just got Kingdom of Prep this week and was sucked in right away with the J. Crew’s origin story of how this small campus outfitter run by a father and daughter, became the first company to sell a lifestyle through its catalogue. In it are the stories of the struggles, backstories, and also the company’s visionaries like Jenna Lyons. Not forgotten are its phases through 90’s minimalism to outfitting Mrs. Obama to now. Really enjoying it! On that note, if you are a J.Crew fan going way back you might enjoy the Lost J.Crew Instagram, which is great inspiration from the company catalog 1983-1997, pre-internet age. I love it! Everything was simpler and looked so good.

Madewell has a gorgeous new woven leather bag collection. The green tote is a stunner and the perfect shade and the crossbody is a great piece, with a retro 80’s vibe in the blue and an assortment of other colors including the green. They are both 25% off now.

I love the brand Kule and they have a trench that is so darn cute -classic with a modern twist. Love the stripes on the belt and cuffs. With all the rain this year, I could use a trench coat that can stand up to the wet and look good thrown over jeans and a t-shirt. This is a bit of an investment, but a beautiful piece. Everyone needs a good trench. I also like this khaki classic single breasted look.

The 83 Year old Irish Knitting Sensation…

If you missed it there was a wonderful article in the NYTimes about Irish knitter Delia Barry who knit the sweaters for Colin Farrell in the Oscar nominated film, ‘The Banshees of Inisherin.’ She began knitting as a child and more recently in 2010 after her husband died. She studied 1920’s Irish Fisherman style sweater photos with a magnifying glass and made each sweater in a week. She has become something of an internet sensation on TikTok with young people trying to replicate her knitting designs which she does without patterns!

Have you seen this film? I sort of want to see it just for the beautiful setting..

Home Tour to inspire..

I need to get back to my California home of the week..In the meantime I found this home shared on The Sunday Times Living With Style section. The owner presenter Laura Jackson has a very personal and pretty home. Her kitchen is what made me share this. It’s everything I love down to the plants and drawers full of jammed un-ironed linens. This is the kind of home I adore..

This week Cindy Hattersley and I had our Signature Style posts and this month was Resort Wear. If you have a sunny getaway in your future check our posts out!

If you missed last weekend’s meander, I shared a block print dress for spring and travel that will be a go-to, a lipstick that helps the endangered species and is also a beautiful treat, the best tote organizer, a fun podcast and more..

Thanks for stopping by and have a happy weekend!

Kim

Please visit my pals Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs..

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

PINECONES AND ACORNS

If you’d like to get an email when I publish, please subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox a few times a month and every Saturday for Weekend Meanderings.

Some links will generate a small commission here, which helps make this blog possible. Thanks so much for your support!

Weekend Fun- An Easy Dress, Beautiful Lipstick & the Bag Organizer You Will Love

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On this post, a block print dress for spring and travel that will be a go-to, a lipstick that helps the endangered species and is also a beautiful treat, the best tote organizer, a fun podcast and more..

How has your week been? You over the rain yet? I almost feel bad telling you I am lucky to be in a sunny locale…I am on my first girls’ getaway since the pandemic at the BNP Tennis tournament in Indian Wells. It’s a big tournament and they often call it the fourth slam because all the big names go. I am with my dear friends Bari and E, who are also tennis lovers. We haven’t done this for four years due to Covid and such.

It’s two straight days of – watching practices, doubles and singles.. The Indian Wells Tennis Gardens are a tennis lovers paradise with tennis shops, and cute places to eat and drink and more. It’s everything tennis and tons of tennis crazy people. We are also doing a little spa treatment and then back home..

You can follow along on my Instagram for more pictures and I’ll have more to share next week. For that reason this post is a bit brief today.

On my radar this week …

I came across This Old Thing, a clothes centered podcast with Brit Bay Garnett who was at British Vogue and stages fashion shows for Oxfam, and is called ‘queen of thrift.’ She chats with people who also love clothes and vintage. She talks favorite outfits from childhood, thrifting and great thrift treasures, tips and more. I especially enjoyed costumes designer Sandy Powell’s episode. You can listen on Spotify or where you get your podcasts. Bay says you can’t build a beautiful wardrobe without second hand

Emerson Fry has the prettiest collection of India Block prints always and this dress and here in blue, would be great on everyone. These are light and great to pack for a getaway or hopefully be worn on repeat someday when it is warm and water isn’t falling out of the sky!

With tennis on my brain this week, I spotted this cute canvas tote from Scotch & Soda, with a vintage tennis vibe..A fun one to use as a light purse on sunny days out or to fold and bring as a shopper.

Chantecaille is one of my favorite brands for their products which are cruelty free, vegan, but also very luxe. They are committed to helping the planet and their Wild Meadow Collection is the latest committed to help a region, this one being the Carpathian Mountains and meadows in Romania which ‘ripple with wildflowers, butterflies, and 200-plus bird species, are among the most biodiverse in Europe.’ This area holds some of the last of their species and is being infringed upon by agriculture. This lipstick is a bit pricier, but one of a beautiful collection that gives back and helps. I just adore the tube and the colors Crocus or Carpathia look pretty in this super hydrating lip color.

Beautiful product by a local Bay Area mom..

My friend Lauren has a company she started called Tote Savvy. A mom of three, she created her organizer when she realized she did not want to carry an ugly diaper bag. I so remember that feeling! Her smart organizers fit in most regular bags and she has expanded to three sizes. They took off and they are super popular not just with moms, but with people who love to be organized.

These inserts can easily moved between your bags and have a place for everything. I just ordered the Mini Tote insert for my trip. You can buy them on her site along with travel accessories and other cute bags, and darling gifts for mom and baby too. More ideas on how fans style them on Tote Savvy Instagram.

This week Juliet, Annie, Mary Ann and Cindy all did posts on refreshing your house for spring..All chock full of fun ideas.

If you missed last weekend’s post, I shared cool readers, spring things, rustic scones, J Crew’s new direction, a little about my mom and more..

Thanks for being here!

Kim

Please visit my pals Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs..

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

PINECONES AND ACORNS

If you’d like to get an email when I publish, please subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox a few times a month and every Saturday for Weekend Meanderings.

Some links will generate a small commission here, which helps make this blog possible. Thanks so much for your support!

Inspiring Home Books, a Pretty Spring Top, and a Rattan Lamp I’m Loving..

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On this post..home books that are inspiring me, a pretty spring blouse, a rattan lamp, a foundation you will love..and better options for your purged clothes.

Well this sure won’t be a winter we will forget here in California. We have snow! Our nearby surrounding hills are covered and our highway to the coast, just a few miles from my home, was shut down due to snow- a lot of it. I’ve lived here my entire life and we only had snow once in 1976. (I was in fifth grade and it melted by morning recess!)

I’ve been grateful for my long puffer coat, and my Ugg sneakers…my Tahoe clothes. I could only describe the wind as Chicago level cold! The cat and I have been holed up here by the fire and I’ve had her cat heating pad on non stop.

Cat by fireplace. Town & Country gas fireplace

My pic of the hills I took.. and Caltrans pics on our Highway 17! I just had to share..

San Jose Mountains topped with snow Feb 2023
California's Highway 17 covered by snow 2023
Highway 17 covered by snow 2023

On my radar this week..

Urban Decay hydromaniac foundation
daffodils in a white Pottery barn vase
Liz Lange's Hampton Remodel
PB Marion rattan lamp
Mille stripe blouse

I’m forever searching for the perfect foundation and Urban Decay’s Hydromania Tinted Hydrator exceeds expectations. . I would venture to say like this better than my La Mer fancy foundation- it’s THAT good for $30. I bought light neutral and my skin has never looked better. It’s also a clean brand and vegan.

Trader Joe’s daffodils are bringing me joy at $1.99 a bunch, especially with these dark days!

If you love houses, Joni of Cote de Texas did a deep dive on Liz Lange’s renovation of her famous Grey Gardens house in the Hamptons. This is post is cram jammed in Joni style with history, architecture, two designer’s vision of the house – Mark D. Sikes and Jonathan Adler, and no detail left behind.. Read it here.

I’ve been a fan of blue stripe blouses forever and when this Mille blouse popped up on my feed, with its pretty sleeves and neckline, this will be a top to love for many seasons.

Can we talk about this Marion Rattan Lamp?! I love this… for a kitchen counter, side table or maybe darling in a bedroom.

New design books that are inspiring!

I need spring home inspo and magazines aren’t cutting it. Magazines are getting rarer and rarer sadly. Some great books at my local Books Inc. that I could actually browse through..so I bought a few new ones :

Home Therapy

A different approach to home, Anita was a therapist who recognized a lot of her clients issues stemmed from how they were living at home. I like the unique approach and also the inspiring spaces. There are ways to bring more light, better sleep and even air to your home. Just a lot of fresh ideas here I’ve not seen before in a design book, this is chock full of good ideas and pretty spaces too.

Home Therapy Book by Anita Yokota

House Beautiful Live Colorfully

Live Colorfully is a visual treat and is packed with so much inspiration. For those who want to add more color to the home, how to mix it with neutrals and also paint color suggestions for every tone.

House Beautiful Love Colorfully book

Remodelista The Low Impact Home

A gem and guidebook for living mindfully and in style. Besides homes and family stories, this book has cool design ideas using unique things. I especially like the recommendations in the back for mattresses, sheets, rugs, home goods, paints and everything you can ever need for living a healthier life, and considering the planet while you are at it.

Remodelista The Low Impact Home book

Julia Morgan- An Intimate Biography of the Trailblazing Architect

I love California and am always trying to learn more about homes and history. This wonderful book on Julia Morgan has been on my radar. As one reviewer said:’ “A closer look at the woman who helped build the American West. . . . as the patron architect of California.” 

Besides showcasing her work, this book tells of her growing up in California, attending Berkeley, and her time studying in Paris. You also read of her family, her kindness to her employees and so much more we never knew. Julia Morgan is an oft forgotten genius who influenced so many and was the first female American architect.

Julia Morgan: An intimate Biography of the Trailblazing Architect book

Closet Stories – what are you purging/ keeping?

If you’re still following along my closet journey…This week I had a bit of a lightbulb moment when going through the bags I was purging.

California Closets light grey closet organizer in home.

I noticed almost all of the clothes were marked down items I had bought on sale, on impulse and thrown into the cart on a shopping trip because they looked cute and were inexpensive.

The things I have kept are things that I mostly have paid full price for. The point being I guess, is I bought the things I wear the most, with intention. Sometimes, I have bought something that was a stand-in for the item I really wanted, at a lower cost. Those never become my beloved pieces! I know we all do this.

Anyway, a little something to consider when you are purging and creating your perfect capsule wardrobe.. Look at those bags, were they impulse buys or sale things? Were they the item you dreamed of owning ?

Look at what you have kept? Are they things you adore and still do? That is how you should build the closet with less, slowly and with your ‘dream’ items of pretty things.

The truth about Goodwill donations…

Let’s talk about where those clothes are going now that you might have purged. I shared last week that I took some of my things that weren’t super pricey to a local consignment chain, Crossroads Trading. They gave me cash and half of the items I still have.

The fastest way to deal with purged closet and home items is Goodwill or Salvation Army trucks or drop-off, but you might be surprised to know that places like Goodwill keep the clothes on the sales floor for just 4 weeks. Great piece about it all here. ..More reasons not to buy that $10 t-shirt.

Greener Options…

For some of your items consider your local charity places like American Cancer Charity Shops or local charity shops in your community. Locally places like Happy Dragon(benefiting the EMQ charity), Dress for Success, One Warm Coat ( so needed this year), Front Line Communities, Sacred Heart Charity, will use your clothes to lift up people in struggling life and economic situations. I love all these charities and if you have others please share!

Other options are give to friends who would appreciate them. I also have the kindest ladies who help clean my house monthly and they often want my bags of things which makes me happy someone will enjoy them.

If you have pricier things you just don’t want to easily give away..

–Have a party with your friends. My friend blogger Suzanne Bell does this every year with her girlfriends and they all bring their nicest items and swap and make an evening of it.

–Have a neighborhood or friends yard/ tag sale and see what you can get. Usually the price you get for these things aren’t the best, but you often make connections with people coming to these sales and I have felt great about selling things at a lower cost that I know are going to a person who will love them.

Selling to an online consignment store.

The Real Real is one of the simplest and they will give you a point person who verifies what you have, send you a label and can even schedule a pickup. If you have a lot of things, they can even send someone out. They are picky and will only accept certain things. They also aren’t rated the highest as far as payout percentage, but they do do a lot of the work for you.

Vestiaire Collective pays a better rate, but you’ll need to measure and document and photograph what you have, so a bit more time and investment.

Poshmark is another option, as is Ebay and even Etsy. ThredUp, is another and will send you a bag to fill, but they won’t pay you much.

What if we did a blog tag sale ?

jeans stacked in a closet

Our friend Elizabeth, aka Contessa suggested a blog tag sale. As Juliet has some nicer things also, so we were wondering what if we did something like this quarterly? We could share the item, say a price and take offers for some select nicer things… Would that be a good idea? I’m just throwing it out there to see. . I like the idea of making a connection with people who read the blogs as Elizabeth mentioned. Let us know your thoughts!

If you missed last weekend’s post I shared the John Singer Sargent in Spain show at The Legion of Honor, more San Francisco Stairs to discover, early spring outfits and more.

Wishing you a great weekend and I hope you all stay cozy!

Kim

Please visit my pals Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs..

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

PINECONES AND ACORNS

If you’d like to get an email when I publish, please subscribe to the blog here for a post in your inbox a few times a month and every Saturday for Weekend Meanderings.

Some links will generate a small commission here, which helps make this blog possible. Thanks so much for your support!

Daffodils in a Pottery Barn white vase

Early Spring Outfit, Sargent at The Legion, and More SF Stairs

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The John Singer Sargent in Spain show at The Legion of Honor, more San Francisco Stairs to discover, early spring outfits and more

How was your Valentines week? For Valentine’s I made Max dinner using our bounty of lemons. He loves this Martha Stewart Chicken Piccata recipe, I have made forever. I also made the Nigella Madeira cake I have shared before here.. ( SO easy and fantastic.) I would have taken pics, but I was flustered making three courses and the dessert all at once.. This is my pic from summer time..

Max brought me these tulips and I’ve been enjoying the color with all my citrus..

Sargent in Spain at the Legion of Honor

For our Valentine date, Max for my took me to the Legion of Honor in San Francisco last Sunday to see Sargent in Spain. It documented American artist John Singer Sargent’s many visits to Spain over thirty years and his love for the art, architecture and culture.

Beside his works done in and inspired by Spain, it had mementos he collected and works of great Spanish artists he studied and emulated, beside his own. Two of those were El Greco, and Goya. The museum shared how this was part of Sargent’s ‘dynamic visual practice’ in which he expanded his repertoire to include so many diverse styles and mediums of art.

Sargent’s paintings of his sister and friend.. The two of them under mosquito nets they invented themselves.

We bought tickets to the exhibition ahead of time, and arrived around 11:30. We had an early lunch in the cafe, and wandered the Sargent rooms for an hour and a half. I thought it was a wonderful exhibition.

I loved this woman’s green coat and matching bag..so beautiful with her hair. Museums always seem to have the most stylish people! Her little bag is from the Super Mini Slouch bag from Anthro. My stylish pal Jeanne just bought it in orange. It includes a tiny zip pouch and comes in many colors and is a pop of color for your spring look for $46.

The Bowles Porcelains

Afterwards, I walked through the amazing Bowles porcelain collection. The collection was donated by Mrs Constance Bowles Peabody, who amassed a unique collection that spans countries and centuries. There are some exquisite pieces and the natural light of the beautiful all glass room really shows them to their advantage.

The story of Mrs Constance Bowles is interesting. She was a California native whose Irish immigrant father who worked the SF docks as a child and founded what became a huge global shipping enterprise. She married Henry Miller whose great-grandfather owned the largest amount of American land ever held. He was a rancher who once bragged he could drive his cattle from Mexico to the Oregon border without leaving his own property! Mrs Bowles family also donated two islands off the coast of Marin to the government that are now bird sanctuaries. More about Constance and these two California pioneer families in her obituary from 2016 here.

…. Those were just the two exhibits we took in that day. There is much more to see at the Legion. We also walked the grounds of lovely Lincoln Park and took in the sea views. The museum is perched over the ocean and though it was sunny, the fog was hugging the edge of the cliffs and the fog horns were sounding.

If you pay for entry to the exhibit, you can use the cost ($56 for two of us), toward a membership. I did that when I bought a few souvenir posts cards. The yearly membership is $119, so that shaves some cost off and you can revisit with a guest as much as you like to both The Legion and the De Young and also get invited to special previews and events etc..

The John Singer Sargent exhibition ends May 14, 2023, and moves on. This is it’s first stop !

More San Francisco Stairs

Afterwards, we found another of San Francisco’s famous stairs nearby. These are the Lincoln Park Steps and they are particularly pretty, and adjacent to Lincoln park, which leads to the museum.

At the museum bookshop I spotted this book which would be a good one for those who wish to explore more of San Francisco, Stairway Walks in San Francisco: The Joy of Urban Exploring. I just ordered one for Max. This staircase was on the cover!

New Jeans for Spring

While I was at the museum two people asked about my jeans. They are by Mother! I was shopping last weekend with my pal Jeanne at Stanford and saw them..I loved this new shape and that they have less stretch, but are very comfy.

They sold out of them already at Anthro, but they still have them here.. I also loved these Mother Jeans below right. Both slightly different. The one at the right has a bit more stretch and runs smaller.. I think both have an updated feel.. The wider pant being fresh and modern and the straight leg great for an everyday jean that will only get better over time. I try and buy these domestic made jeans. Mothers are made in California and though I do have inexpensive jeans too, these better made ones always seem to last me years and feel so good on.

After I bought the first pair, I went back and got the other. Since I am going for less in the closet and better, and had some money from selling clothes I had purged…I justifed both as a good 2023 wardrobe investment. Two pairs of jeans in different styles that fit and feel great will pay for themselves in amount of wears over time!

Closet Stories

Last week Max moved to Jackson’s old closet where he also has his office. It was his idea as he gets up at 5:30 many mornings to bike and it is hard to not turn on the lights, etc.

I was thrilled to have the whole remodeled closet to myself and instead of spreading out and taking up all the space, I decided this was a great time to truly purge and create a smaller wardrobe I have always wanted. I just want less and to make life simpler.

With more space I can really see what I have now. I have talked about closet cleanup many times before, so y’all probably don’t want another run down on that.. However, one thing that struck me as a good way to clean out is not to try on everything, but instead ask yourself this one question, ‘Will I choose this?’ I know with so many items in my closet the answer is ‘no.’

Let’s be honest, we all have things that we bought that still look great, were expensive, or still in style, but if you are bypassing them every time you get dressed, you should say goodbye to them. They are taking up space in you closet and your life! I think that has helped me this time more than ever.

We all have a lot of clothes and choices, and if we know we are going to choose something else, don’t hang into things just to have them. The less you have the better you dress. You also buy less. It’s quite freeing and I purged a lot.

What to do with those clothes? On my Instagram I shared my experience taking the clothes to the Crossroads Trading Company, which buys back your clothes and gives an immediate payout, unless you have something quite pricier, then they send you money when it’s sold. All the steps to do this are saved in my Closet Stories story highlights..You can also try The Real Real for selling designer items.

Early Spring Styling Ideas

After cleaning out the closet I have been thinking about what was missing and that was jeans that have a current look and straight leg and some long sleeve light tops for spring. I did a little collage with my two new pairs of jeans I linked to above..

I love this gauze cotton blouse from J. Crew which comes in pretty colors, but I like the black and white especially. The COS top has a super cute modern shape and bell sleeves I want it in white, black, but this blue would be fun with the tiny Anthro bag in green. The Chanel look sandals in a tweed and the leather slides from Madewell are great additions to update my shoe wardrobe for spring… and the small COS black shoulder bag is coolest shape to tuck under the arm or carry by its strap.

Houses of the Week- Pacific Grove

This week I wanted to highlight the charming and under the radar small town of Pacific Grove. Pacific Grove is located between Monterey and Carmel and famous for its Monarch butterflies. Steinbeck lived here for some time and most of its homes are walking distance to the rocky beaches and coast. It has a tiny downtown and homes feel more old Cape Cod than glam beach house.

The two homes I picked to share went on the market this week and darn it, both are already contingent, but I am keeping them on here anyway..

This home is surrounded by oaks and faces a pretty park..Beautifully updated.

The other is a cottage and I love the charm of this home and especially the Dutch door, the kitchen and the shelves in the only bedroom. It also faces a park…How clever is the wineglasses stored in the chandelier? The kitchen is darling!

You can peruse more Pacific Grove listings here.

If you missed last weekend’s post I shared a San Francisco brunch spot and hike, some new books, cute khaki pants, my new porch flowers and more..

Wishing you a great weekend and thanks for stopping by!

Kim

Please visit my pals Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs..

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

PINECONES AND ACORNS

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Signature Style- How French Women Wear Red

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It’s time for the monthly style report with Cindy! Since it’s February we are talking about color -specifically red. Red can add some French chic to your look and brighten up your wardrobe this time of year…

Start by looking at your closet! I have red things, but I forget to wear them. If you get them all together you can look the options. What are other ways to wear these things? How can I use them to punch up my neutrals a bit? Can you use a sweater as a scarf? Can you layer a red dress with a sweater or over jeans? Even just a red t-shirt can add a little sass to you winter every day items.

For the sake of fashion science, I thought I’d play with my red pieces. I wore my red sweater as a scarf over a pink sweater and khaki pants (just bought these at Anthro), and pink Vans.. I also paired it with my camel coat for a day in San Francisco with the family.

When I think of red clothes, I always think of the French, Parisians most notably. The French use red as a sort of punctuation to their look with red scarves, shoes, hats, and coats. They love to go natural with makeup, but you will see them sport a red lip or a red nail.

I am always enchanted by how they use just one red item to really make an outfit. I tried it with a pair of poppy red suede heels that have been gathering dust the last few years… I put them with a pair of slightly baggy jeans with a casual cuff roll, then a black turtleneck and my dressier Veronica Beard jacket.

Just the addition of the shoe made this whole look feel Parisian. I will try this with jeans and a sweater too. You can do this with any heel, but the red just sort of look very on purpose and fashionable.

We all could use a red shoe in the closet!

Three Ways to Wear Red Like the French…

  1. My favorite way- in a shoe. Walk anywhere in Paris and you will see looks popped with red shoes. Red boots with a neutral look is so chic. I love strappy flat red sandal with jeans. Red sneakers are always adorable, especially with a skirt. So many ways to have fun with red footwear..
  2. Bring in red accessories like a cashmere scarf, a red handbag or backpack, a vintage red rhinestone pin or beads. I love a red beret or brimmed felt hat. Don’t forget red lipstick ( I like this and this) and a pretty red pedicure or manicure always looks chic.
  3. A red coat – whether wool, a puffer or a trench, you see them all over France.

Colors to wear with red…

One of my favorite looks is red with tan or camel. Something about that combination is so classic and also why a leopard print can look fantastic paired with it.

Pink and lavender are unexpected partners for red and fun. So is orange.

Another lovely combination is aqua or teal with red.

A soft baby blue can also look great as does cream..

Let’s look at some sartorial red chic for inspiration…

Red pieces to consider..

I hope this post encourages you to add some red to your life! Be experimental and try some red pieces on next time you shop! Don’t overlook those red handbags and shoes as they can make your closet basics look way cooler and chic.

If you missed January’s Signature Style, it was all about on leisure and comfort wear. I shared my favorite workout pieces, cozy go-tos and pjs I love.

…Now please pop by Cindy’s blog to see what she is sharing…

Cindy Hattersley Design

Thanks for being here!

Kim

Photos via my Pinterest. You can follow my Seeing Red Board with links to all the images.

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