On this post a few looks to go with the sneakers I shared, Menlo Park’s Allied Arts area, sustainable and old world over Amazon hauls and, and more
How has your week been? It’s been very cold and rainy here. The little Tahoe cabin has gotten so much snow it’s nearly to the roof. We have to get up there. Sadly the tragic Tahoe avalanche that happened was not too far from us and is where Max and Jackson snowshoed just a few weeks ago. My heart goes out to all those families of the women who were lost, and the guides.
Have you been glued to the Olympics? We have been hunkering down with the fire on and snuggling with the cats. Some of us don’t understand personal space, but we are working on it.
I really have been enjoying the glimpses of Milan and the little villages and restaurant clips. There is only so much ski jumping tricks I can watch! I am impressed there are so many ways to twist in the air on skis. I was so excited for the American women’s hockey team to win gold, and the bobsledder Elena Meyers Taylor, become the most decorated black winter Olympian who is rasing two deaf sons. Wow.
I was thrilled to see Oakland native Alysa Liu win gold! I loved her story of leaving a very restricted (almost borders on abuse) and controlled life after she finally experienced joy and freedom during the pandemic. She took years away to be a student, a kid, and enjoy life. When she decided to come back on her terms she said she would do it for the joy, no pressure and under her rules. I cannot emphasize enough how rare it is for a child raised like this, to break from this kind of life. Now her music, outfits, unique hair and face piercings reflect her style. Her message to girls- ‘Wear your hair anyway you want, and I don’t diet.’ We need more of this for kids to see. Her joy is visible when she skates and it was uplifting to see the camaraderie among all the women from different teams. What a change from decades before.
This sport is so rough. Years of dedicating your life can be wiped away with a fall or shaky landing. I felt for Amber Glen who said she would try and be more like Liu, as she is a perfectionist and hard on herself. That’s more the norm and you could see it with male skater Ilia Malin who also had huge pressure on him.
Photos NBC and Yahoo.
I wish we could encourage more parents to think about sports culture. Where I live, there is a huge amount of pressure on young kids to excel early, do travel and club teams as young as second grade! We hardly see the kids on our street thanks to their travel sports schedule. I’m not sure how good it is for them. When do they get to just have free time and be kids? One mom told me, if we didn’t do that, they would be on screens. I think there needs to be a better way.
Norway, is a small powerhouse a fraction of the size of the Bay Area population wise, and yet they have more Winter Olympic Medals than anyone. You might be surprised to know Norway prohibits kids from doing competitive sports until teen years. This article about Norway’s kid’s sports and their Children’s Rights in Sport document they abide by.
Artisan over Amazon and Circular Style
For every influencer pushing Amazon hauls or dupes from places, there are growing tribes of people highlighting artisans, old world techniques, upcycling, and the circular economy. Finding every one of these people has been a learning experience for me and a joy. For every cheap find and ‘dupe’ I pass on, I am saving money for better things- hopefully unique things of quality. It’s a relearning process in a nation that values sales and deals over almost anything.
How do people build beautiful wardrobes and cool homes? They do it slowly, by embracing things collected over time, handed down, and discovered on travels. I’m so glad I have kept pieces from my grandma, mom and older furniture I bought when I was young and scraping by.
Maybe the discovery last week of Deborah Sears and her Isis Ceramics on accident, and going down the rabbit hole of her revival of 17th century techniques and painting got me even more energized to find such things like my estate sale plate! My ginger jar I found from a Etsy dealer in the UK came and I am so pleased with it. I spent a good while unwrapping it and wondering where to put it so kittens won’t harm it? I figured my kitchen island is wide and it cannot get knocked over. Plus the cats aren’t allowed up there… I went to snap a photo for you and guess who also found it. Sigh.
Doing the good work
On this journey of finding better, I discovered Indré Rockefeller this week whose Instagram teaches about circularity and she shares stories of those doing artisan and handcrafting. She also runs Still Got It, which is dedicated to stories of things that last, and The Circularity Project. She’s a fun follow.
She highlights places like Old Stone Trade with handmade clothes by artisans like Andrea, a kilt maker!
Watch the video on Instagram. I want a kilt now!
Allied Arts in Menlo Park
On Saturday Max and I were up the Peninsula and I asked if we could pop over to the Allied Arts Guild in Menlo Park. A few weeks ago I went to an estate sale nearby and saw this historic property that was tucked into a neighborhood. This special spot has artisan studios, shops and a cafe. We popped into a gallery, a floral shop, and the ceramic studio of Joy Imai, where I bought this mug for my morning latte. If you haven’t been, it’s a lovely spot to roam about. All proceeds benefit Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital.
Sneaker and Mid-Winter Outfits
On Tuesday Cindy and I shared sneakers for February’s Signature Style. I had a good time taking a deep dive into what is new. I pulled a few outfits together to go with some of the cute pairs I found. Links below the photos and more sneakers on the post.
Blouse, Ba&sh Jacket, Madewell Bag, jean, blue Adidas, suede Vince sneaker.
Polo Sweater, jeans, scarf, (shoes top to bottom-) P448 sneaker, Cole Haan Sneaker, suede sneaker. heart necklace.
Green shirt, drawstring jean, Ulla Johnson tote, black jacket, (shoes top down-) Cole Haans, Blondosuede sneaker,Vionic sneaker.
Jacket, jeans, earrings, sweatshirt, Chalet jacket, bag, (shoes top down-) brown suede, Puma suede, pink suede.
If you want more of the sneakers, my post is here and Cindy’s great as always, –is here.
Other Things…
Last week Juliet shared Nancy Meyer’s daughter, Annie Meyers-Shyer’s new book. She also has a great Instagram account I have followed. On her Instagram saved stories she has her favorite places to shop and go-tos for her house are. I love her and her mom’s taste.
If you read/share one thing this week, a good one is how Amazon’s Federal Tax Bill Plunges 87% Even as Profits Soar to $90 Billion, thanks to Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill. Another reason to finally get off Amazon if you still haven’t.
I just reordered a wonderful camomile tea with lavender called Serenitea from Sacramento’s Tea Cozy. Kristin had bought it for Christmas for us and we have been enjoying it in the afternoons. No other camomile is as good, so I tracked it down. Everyone says it is so good for Camomile which can often taste like hot water.
The Newport Beach 1940’s cottage of designer Casey Hill is lovely. The soft celadon tones and vintage pieces make it fresh. I adore that she kept the architecture quirks like the sunken family room and open fireplace and the small size. The backyard’s laundry/potting shed is a cool idea too. It doesn’t look like any other house. We so much of the same lately…
If you missed last week’s post, I shared the pretty Swiss chalet of UK designer Emma Sims Hilditch, my estate sale find and its connection to Juliska, and the Norwegian red hat movement.
Happy weekend!
Kim
Please stop by Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs for more good things…
PINECONES AND ACORNS
MAKE MINE A SPRITZER
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LOVE your new jar. Such a good point about buying something Not Fast. I just got an oyster plate on Etsy that makes me happy.
Great outfits, Kim.
I love that Mary Ann. SO true. x
Totally agree with your opinion on Amazon. We need to find another source. They monopolize shopping on line. Another good post-always
Interesting and relatable. Thanks.
Thank so much Sheila. xo
Great post, as always! Love mug and her pottery studio. Unfortunately, she is on an Etsy vacation 🙁 I will revisit her when she returns for the gingko leaves. Have a great weekend!
Hi Holly! Oh she is? Well I hope she comes back. I should have linked to her Etsy shop, but I am glad you found her since you must not be nearby.
I also collect mugs from Elaine Y Shore who displays her ceramics up at the Gallery in Trinidad in Humboldt.
My kids are up there now and are supposed to bring me back a new mug.
Hope you have a good weekend! x
I ordered the Madewell barrel jeans. I really like the side seam detail and that that aren’t an extreme barrel. I think they will be a very flattering pant. The dark denim fills a spot in my closet right now.
Susan Thank you.
I hope you like them! I love these and am ordering a pair. They didn’t have my size when I looked before. Juliet has a pair and they are great on her.
Not too big at all, just cute! xo
Thanks for another wonderful post — I really look forward to reading them and love that you cover all kinds of topics. Your cats really amuse me. I have a couple of characters here who would definitely also have found the (breakable) ginger jar on the (forbidden) countertop! I am also an Alysa Liu fan! I watched her with a big smile on my face and was thrilled to see her win. Her joy is contagious, and she seems much wiser at age 20 than most people ever are. Thanks for another beautiful and thought provoking post.
Susan, Wow thank you.
Aren’t my cats funny? Oh you get it with cats. They have a sense of these fragile things!! Rascals.
I agree Alyssa seems to be an old soul. If only I could have had that wisdom at her age. Let’s hope more kids catch it!
Happy weekend! x
I love your focus on artisan/handmade. Although it does take time to gather a collection of these types of unique items, a visit to the International Folk Art Market (which happens in Santa Fe every summer https://folkartmarket.org/tickets) is a great place to purchase unique hand made art objects, rugs, clothing, jewelry and more from artists all over the world. Your purchases also greatly impact the lives of the artists and even the villages and communities from which they are from. It is a true feast of one’s senses. I think you would really enjoy going!
Laura thank you for sharing this! Had never heard of it.
I am doing a deep dive on that now. Putting it on my list.
I bet there are more events like this! x
Oh shoot! We are going to Santa Fe in August for a mini family reunion on my husband’s side so we will be there too late to attend. 😕
I so enjoy your posts. I grew up going to Allied Arts in the 1960’s….. I think my mom volunteered there and I remember a little restaurant – I haven’t been back. I also remember we had a cookbook with recipes from ladies involved with the guild – one of those collective recipe collections.
Loving the olympics.
So many companies have tried to (an accomplished) make life so easy, and easily entertained without having to leave our homes, that is hard to let them go – Amazon being the number one. We have to live our lives without them and support local and artisans. Oh how I agree! CBS, Paramount, Amazon…. Adios. Thank you for the reminder of all the amazing artisans near and far –
Hi Dianne! Oh I think that cafe has been there for ages. It may have changed a bit and is now called Cafe Wisteria – https://www.cafewisteria.com
I can imagine what the cookbook was like. My grandmother had a few of these sort of ‘Ladies Cookbooks.’ They were some of the best things!
I think you are right. They have made it easy for us to never leave the house, shop, get to know our local shops, etc. What we gain in convenience, we lose human contact, the feel of handcrafted things, and also knowing our neighbors, our towns. We get cheap products fast, and claim they are a ‘deal.’ No wonder things are feeling more and more empty.
I am inspired about this movement away from all that. xo
P.s. great to get off all these platforms.
Thanks so much for your wonderful post. Love your style, ideas, and politics. Feel very aligned with you and it’s so refreshing for me being that I currently reside in a deeply red state. Look forward to all your posts.
Hi Lisa thank you for your note. You made my day.
Sending you hugs out there in the red state. Things are changing! xo
Hi Kim, congrats to the US Women’s hockey team!
I’ve been reading but not commenting – we leave tomorrow for a 5-week trip to Australia and New Zealand, so I’ve been researching like crazy! It was supposed to be a cruise from Auckland to Sydney, but we cancelled and are going it alone: 2 1/2 weeks North Island, then the same amount of time from Sydney to Brisbane. I’m trying so hard to pack somewhat minimally, but failing miserably!
Oh Patricia how awesome! I get the packing stress. Even when I plan, I still get packing angst.
Just tell yourself you can repeat outfits and also buy things there if you need too!
Can’t wait to hear! x
Love your posts. I look forward to watching the Newport Beach cottage tour. No Amazon for me.
Yay Linda. That tour is good. x
Hi Kim,
Lovely post thank you. Just devastating about the group of women losing their lives in the avalanche in Lake Tahoe. My heart goes out to all the families and the Tahoe community.
Alysa Liu was extraordinary on ice and in her mental approach to life all I can say is wow!!! So freeing…I said to my husband after listening to her in interviews, “I want that carefree love of life” and I loved what she said in interviews about keeping away from social media. I had an inkling her leaving the sport was about parental pressure. Have a beautiful weekend Kim.
Francesca, I feel the same about these families and women.
I felt the same about Alysa! Can we bottle that feeling?
I’m glad she had the bravery to change her life at such a young age.
Hope you have a great weekend too. xo
Love reading your posts. I will be getting the chamomile and lavender tea from Serenitea. I know it tastes delicious.
I did want to mention that on January 24th post you mentioned you would share two (2) t-shirts you purchased from Anthropologie. I hope that you will. Enjoy looking at the clothing that you buy.
Thank you and keep up the good work!
Annette, It’s the best tea! I hope you get to enjoy it too.
I somehow spaced on those two shirts! Thanks for reminding me.
I will add them to the next post. I bought this long sleeve t-shirt with a butterfly print in small (roomy)…https://go.shopmy.us/p-44076208
and this white pintucked t-shirt..https://go.shopmy.us/p-44078661 . ( It is also cute in black.)
Aw thanks.
Hope you have a good weekend! x
I love your blog! Thank you for the work you put into making it such an amazing place to spend some time.
Thanks Cathy. What a nice thing to say. x
Kim, your post today brought me so much joy! I always love what you have, but this one really hit home for me. Your kitties, the Olympics, boycotting Amazon from life, artisan shopping – it is just all things I loved! Thank you for the bright spot in my weekend.
Aw thanks Janet! I’m so glad you are here. x
So many lovely things in your post Kim! The ginger jar is a real find and I hear you about the kitties. I spend most of my time looking for higher places to put things out of Mabel’s reach. She is a tiny wrecking ball but so cute I can’t stay annoyed with her for long! I have just been reading about the awful avalanche near to you. Such a terrible tragedy. My heart goes out to all involved. I must have missed the sneakers (‘trainers’ in this part of the world!) so off to enjoy that. An extra treat!
Lesley, How is Mabel? Aw a tiny wrecking ball is spot on for these guys.
Hope you are having a great week. xo
Kim, I love your new jar and those books look interesting too! I always love your thoughtful little vignettes and moments you create in your home. You know how much I appreciate vintage! I think that’s why I love having my little shop… knowing that people can buy a little treasure from the past, not a crappy copy that won’t last.
Your mid-winter outfits are so good!
Loving the Olympics and all the uplifting stories!
xx
Kim! Allied Arts looks like an amazing place – for a good cause. How nice to have something like that nearby. We have so many cool things here in the Bay Area and I love that we’re still discovering them. I enjoyed your sneaker post, especially seeing a pair of Reeboks that brought back a lot of fun and funny memories. I’m watching the closing ceremonies after getting up at the crack of dawn to watch the men’s ice hockey game. I’m so sad the Olympics are over, but I feel the same way about all the variations of ski jumping. Ha! Speaking of jumping, I’ve given up trying to keep Abby off our counters. She goes where she goes and does what she does … she has me well trained. On a sadder note, what’s happened in Tahoe this week is one tragedy after another. It’s devastating. xo
Good afternoon Kim,
When I saw the story on the avalanche I was wondering of it was close to you. Heartbreaking for the families and their community. I remember another year, maybe two years ago when you got a lot of snow up there or was that last year?
Kids sports is over the top, I cannot believer the programs some of these kids are in, traveling the country every weekend and playing and practicing all week. How do they have a childhood. As for Olympic sports, I cannot imagine the pressure. Alysa is an amazing role model, how wonderful art she spoke up for herself!
The Olympics were so fun to watch, I loved every minute and am sad that we have to wait another 4 years.
Your kitties are adorable, I know I say that every week but they seem so friendly and cuddly which has not been my experience with cats.
As for your new ginger jar, perfection! I am a collector of things and my house is collected with layers of things I have found from traveling, estate sales, auctions, family. My house tells a story just like yours.
We live in a village so shopping local is easy and I always find so many interesting things.
Thanks for sharing your small business finds Kim, I always love checking them out.
Have a wonderful week!
xo
P.S. Loved the sneaker posts and now have several in my carts.
Hi Kim — Another great post! Your new ginger jar is spectacular! Cats always love to sit in a basket, don’t they? I have loved every minute of the Olympics. Italy did such a great job. The men’s ice hockey win was the icing on the cake. Hard to believe that they haven’t won gold since 1980. And that today was the exact same date as our last win. It was gratifying to feel some USA pride over the last two weeks. I am always sad when the Games end. Love you “mid winter” outfits that look more like late spring outfits here, ha. Have a great week!
Catching up on my blog reading…great post! Allied Arts looks like a fun excursion, can’t wait for my husband to retire so we can venture out more. Haven’t watched as much of the Olympics as my husband has. Too busy planning an unexpected trip for a few days. It’s always up to me to make the travel arrangements. And we lagged on getting our REAL ID’S so it was a rush to the DMV to try and get one in time. Great suggestions for sneakers and what to wear with them. That’s my problem… I have a couple pairs but not a whole lot to go with them. Love the Madewell polo shirt.
Your kitties are so cute and getting so big! Still thinking about getting a dog, we have a trip coming up in August so maybe after that. It’s been almost 4 years without one now.
Linda
Hi Kim,
I’m tardy in responding, an engaging weekend. The Tahoe avalanche was so tragic. Lives lost is the worst. Too close to your adorable cabin and to where Max and Jackson snowshoed. I would think you are always happy when they return back home. Life is so precious.
Loved the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympics. They were outstanding, the artistic director and costume designers were creative imaginative in every way, the lighting. YES, our Oakland native, Alysa Liu is personality plus, fun, liked her hair, artistic, suited her to a tee. Talented, like her mind set, has her cookies together for such a young lady.
Your Ginger Jar is spectacular, what a great find. I hope Rico and Alfie do not think it’s a play toy for them to bat around.
Smart you to keep things from your mom and grandma. They are deeply treasured. The view things I have from my parents and Grandparents mean the world to me. I have my Grandmas wedding ring I wear on my left finger. My other grandma I never was privileged to meet I have a gorgeous vintage onyx with a diamond on it. She worked in the cannery in Oakland, had a HARD life and raised five kids on her own. Grandma caught on fire from her stove, and landed her in the hospital as I understand it for years. It was awful. My Papa loved and adored his Mama. They had very little. His mother had a strong back bone, nothing seemed to break her. Died so young at 65 from a heart attack, my Papa did the same exact thing at 65. Tragic. Miss him dearly.
Did not mean to ramble and get into all this. We all have our stories to share.
Leaving on a positive note, the pic of Rico sprawling out onto Alfie I thought was funny. What a character, king pen.
Have a great week, and stay safe out there.