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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Enjoyed all of your meanderings with my coffee this am so thank you for sharing.
Thanks so much Carolina! Happy weekend.
Hi Kim,
You always cost me money! You have so many good leads (my J Crew swim suit arrives today) that I end up buying! Emerson Fry was never on my radar and now the Beeks sandals look amazing. As well, we are saving the map that you show for the walk across the bridge since we will be there in June. My BF is a SF native of many generations and he wants to show me his secret spots in the city and we will try to walk across the Golden Gate. I love how your posts enhance my leisurely Saturday morning coffee time. Thank you for always finding things are are of interest!
Hi Wren! I am sorry… We just happen to be simpatico with our tastes maybe? LOL! I hope your J Crew suit is to your liking! So far a lot of raves for it. Oh how fun your BF is a natives san Franciscan. Yes fun thing to do together! Aww thanks for your kind notes always. xo
Happy Saturday, Kim! Those pillows! As a serious pillow freak, I love the idea of pillow collections. Sometimes I get so confused about what pillows work together and this takes all the guesswork out. Love. I may order some of your favorite pillow inserts. We have three large pillows that came with our section, and work as function pillows, but the inserts are crud and need to be replaced. It’s time! I’m seeing these cute sandals everywhere but didn’t know the brand. It feels so good to wear cute slides and know the brand is doing good work too. You knew I’d go nuts over those Anthro mugs, didn’t you! And the dresses. Jim is groaning as I read your posts wondering if he’ll ever be able to retire. 😉 So fun to see more of your GGB adventure. We really need to do it and I appreciate all the additional ideas for making a day of it. Those homes on the Presidio are worth a trip all their own. Wish you the best weekend! xo
Happy weekend Juliet! I kind of loved the pillow collection idea also.. It can be overwhelming. The inserts are great. They look like expensive dow, but without poking feathers or allergies. I love the Presidio houses too and wish I could go in and see them and the history.. xo
Hi Kim,
Always so much fun to read your weekend posts!
I love to walk across the bridge, halfway across is good enough and by then the wind has done me in! The views are always so worth it!
Ice cream , yum I love it and will look for this place next time I’m nearby. Fun slides, such pretty colors. I think we’re all ready for some bright color after the last couple of dreary years. Good to support companies that are doing the right thing, too.
Hope you have a great weekend!
Xo Heidi
Hi Heidi.. You are so right the winds are strong!I do agree the pretty colors of Beeks are so appealing! Yes and try the ice cream.. It’s amazing. xo
I want all those colorful sandal! My Florida. Loser would look so happy!!
Ha. I tried typing that on the citybus! My closet would look happy!
Yes! Mary Ann I can so see you wearing a lot of these in Florida.. Oh your closet! So exciting. xo
Kim, I loved seeing you on Instagram walk across the SF bridge, it looks and sounds so much fun! What a great way to spend the day with your family. I agree with Juliet, so many fun finds. I love the pillows although I have to be honest I have pillows and covers coming out my ears. Sadly no place to put them so they are in boxes in the garage. The slide sandals are fabulous! I love the orange ones. Betty Whites house if so beautiful, she was ahead fo her time that is fo sure. What an amazing view. Love using all of the fun things you get up to in the city and that you discover. I am off to check out the mugs, I might need a new one for my morning chocolate.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Elizabeth
Elizabeth, that walk was a lot more fun than I expected! I know pillows are one off my weaknesses too.. I have a few closets full. Aren’t the mugs cute? Have a great weekend. xo
Hi Kim, lovely post, thank you – I’m bookmarking it in case we ever get to San Francisco!
Hi Patricia, thanks so much. I should have made one of those pinnable things.. Maybe I’ll add it to the post. They are helpful if you save itenieries on Pinterest. I hope you get to do this! If you come this way, I have lots of ideas for you. Have a great weekend! x
Hi Kim, thanks for this post full of so many interesting things. Coincidentally, I just got my first pair of Beeks
(a very lucky find at Nordstrom Rack) – the Gallito slide in Poppy. They are absolutely beautiful and incredibly comfortable. The pop of color they provide is so uplifting, and surprisingly versatile. I very much enjoy your blog, especially your outstanding fashion and styling posts!
Hi Caroline! Thank you. I appreciate your kind note!
Wow how great you found a pair of Beeks at the Rack! I love scores like that.It’s great to know they are as comfy as they are pretty as I haven’t gotten mine yet. I adore the poppy color and a pop of color on the feet. French women always have red shoes and sandals I notice. I need to break out of my neutral rut! xo
Kim! Now I’m dying to walk over the Golden Gate Bridge. We’ve done the bridges here in all kinds of weather and the views are stunning. Your day sounds perfect!
I love those slides. And an interesting story about two women from Quicksilver that started it! And Betty Whites home…OMG, how gorgeous! Such a fun and interesting post!
xo
Hi Annie! Yes you absolutely have to do it next time you are here. My all-time favorite is still the Brooklyn Bridge walk. You ares so lucky to be near so many cool things. Aren’t those sandals cool? I am off to read your post.xo
Thank you for sharing your Golden Gate Bridge experience. It was interesting to me. Such beautiful views! And I enjoyed the section on Betty White’s former home. How lovely!
Thanks Linda! I know I was hoping sharing it would encourage more people to try it. Have a great weekend.
Great post, especially on walking the GG bridge. Didn’t know about the cafe and parking, etc. I bet it is windy up there! We have a Salt & Straw in Del Mar about a 30 min drive from here. Need to go back now that the weather is warming up. Love Betty White’s home.
Hi Kim
We have never walked the Golden Gate Bridge either! Isn’t it funny how you aren’t always the best tourists in your own area. I am smitten with beeks as well. I found a pair on Ebay and am on the hunt for a second! Of course I always want the ones that have been discontinued! That ice cream looks deadly and I love your pillow picks!
Cindy I think you guys should try it someday! Beeks are the coolest. How great you found some on Ebay! Smart. I know the ice cream spot is so good. xo