On this post, a few fun Valentine ideas, estate sale finds, and Mikel Welch’s Cotswolds inspired home..
Happy Saturday. I hope the weather is getting warmer where you are. I know how hard it’s been in some parts of this country, so I almost feel guilty about the false spring we had this week. It got me inspired enough to get out into the garden and muck around and do a little winter clean up. I was even motivated to grab some of the Trader Joe’s tulips and replant them in my terracotta pots for the front porch…
I harvested a ton of lemons and put some on the front yard to share.
Valentines Day!
Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays. I have such happy memories connected with it. My mom Sue always had a little mini box of chocolates, and some money, and a pair of socks or something similar waiting for us on our breakfast plates. We grew up thinking Valentine’s was not just for romance, but for doing sweet things for special people in our lives. I loved making special Valentine’s for friends and teachers and grandparents when I was small.
When our boys were small, we would have a little picnic dinner by the fire at night for the family. Jackson and Griffin liked making placards and chocolate dipped strawberries for the dessert. One year Griffin and I made heart bow and arrows for his classmates with cinnamon gummy hearts and pretzel sticks. I just came across these photos again from 2012! A fun activity to do with kids.
A few years ago I had a Galentine’s lunch. Why not throw together a little impromptu lunch or dinner, or instead tea and cakes for girlfriends? It’s such a nice way to show you love your friends or neighbors. Details for it all this post.
Valentine’s is also the day Max and I got engaged. I cannot believe it’s been 30 years!
I think on Valentine’s, Max and I will do a picnic, as it’s a Saturday. Hopefully, it will be sunny and we can add a walk or hike to that. I plan to make these chocolate chia seed raspberry hearts (recipe on this post) that are so easy- plus some sandwiches, potato chips, and bottles of tea. (If you make these, freeze them overnight or longer so they stay together for your picnic.)
If you need ideas for a picnic and walk, Max and I like the Palo Alto Baylands or Shoreline for a nice stroll and bird watching (both on this post) and this is another of my favorites in SF along with a good brunch spot.
My first niece, Veronica was also born on that day! She will be 30 and time has flown. I adore her. I just ordered her a monogrammed mini-totes that Juliet shared on this post. I plan to add a scarf to it like she did. I love mine!
Estate Sales
Are you one who follows estate sales? I am not a regular. Last Saturday we were up the Peninsula with friends and my friend Erin, who does follow them, mentioned there were many that weekend. We decided to swing by one nearby Menlo Park and I am so glad we did. We came after lunchtime, but there were still so many treasures to be had. The owner had moved, but her family was clearing out her charming cottage of collections. It was one of those sales that you won’t forget. She had money, taste, -and shopped a lot!
The home had lovely wallpapers and beautiful upholstered sofas. She collected so much, but especially Italian and English pottery and dishes, she loved gingham and also Ralph Lauren. So much was unused, still in their packaging or like new. It was overwhelming. My friend Erin scored a set of handpainted Italian dinnerware that was super cute. I bought a plate for my wall and an Italian pitcher, and a blue bowl. The plate looked like Juliska, but said ‘handpainted Oxford England 1996’ on the back. I put the pitcher on my bath counter and I think it will be cute for a little flower. The blue bowl I’m using on my desk for odds and ends.
This lady had rooms of ribbons, Valentine, Easter, and other holiday themed hoards of new things unopened. She had boxes and boxes of beautiful brand new greeting cards, place cards, table runners, and overflowing boxes of new rubber stamps. In the yard there were unique terracotta and stone pots for miles. I also came home with some lovely bolts of new ribbons for my wrap drawer, a new heart dishtowel from Austria, and a heart rubber stamp. All of my things came to less than $40. The money went to a charity league she was part of.
I am so thrilled with my purchases, I think I may try and get to more of these. Ours was found on EstateSales.org where you can narrow the area and kind of sales you want to be notified about. Not all estate sales are like this, but some are worth exploring. You can usually tell by the photos posted, but not always. I do think it is great way to add more unique things for your home- and many are better quality than you can buy now.
Is there a great find you have from an estate sale? I am always looking for cool art too!
On My Radar.. Valentine Things…
A few things that charmed me this week….
How adorable is this teeny heart sweatshirt? These charming napkins would be fun for a Valentine dinner, or anytime they are so cute.
I was sent this wonderful Uni body serum (a cross between a lotion and a serum) and I didn’t expect to love it so much! I feel like it’s making my skin look better too. Uni makes ‘ocean powered’ bodycare products that are good for the earth and people..
If you’ve ever wanted a heart charm necklace, Roxanne Assouline has the coolest options where you can build your own, or just get a small one like this pink one. I LOVE them all!
Mikel Welch’s Cotswold’s Inspired L.A. Cottage
I had this on hold to watch for a week and finally got to escape for a bit and absorb this whole lovely tour. Mikel is a designer and is also on the Drew Barrymore show as a design expert. What I enjoyed so much was his choice to keep this Tudor cottage just as it is, quirks and all. He used color, wallpapers and inspiration from his trips to the English countryside to create something special. Wait until you see his bathtub in the garden!
You can follow Mikel here on Instagram and his book, The Forever Home, is here.
This week in America
It’s been a hard week hearing the worst of the Epstein Files. It’s unconceivable that Trump is in them more than 38,000 times and claims he is absolved by them. We now know what kind of men are currently running this country and it’s dark.
Friday’s racist tweet by Trump depicting the Obamas as apes was something that was left up for 12 hours and his press secretary Karoline Leavitt said people need to stop the ‘fake outrage’ while it was still up.
Right now I can’t feel good about being an American. I also feel powerless.
I wore my Lingua Franca ‘I miss Barack’ sweater on Friday. I was so glad to have it as I wanted to yell this from the rooftops. They have so many good resistance sweaters and sweatshirts. The latest ones here.
There are some things we can do though to hurt those wealthy men like Bezos, Tim Cook, and others who are kissing the ring, and making this awful man more rich and powerful…. We can use our dollars. Women control 85% of all purchases and 91% of home item buying. We hold the power of the purse and can move mountains as a group.
Don’t use Amazon, and get off Prime. You may not know that Shopbop, Zappos, and Whole Foods are also owned by Bezos. Try getting off Prime for one month. That is the challenge and it’s not as needed as you think it is. WHY would we want to continue to make this man the wealthiest? It is all us and our choices that are doing it.
I drove to Whole Foods this week as I really needed something only they carry. Just as I was parking, as if from the universe, someone sent me this video of the Washington Post staffer talking about how Jeff Bezos gutted the paper this week , including foreign coverage. The paper, whose motto was, “Democracy Dies in Darkness,’ has succumbed to just that, with narcissistic Bezo’s at the helm. What a loss for journalism and this country. I turned the car on, and never went into the store. Turns out, there are a lot of things I can live without, especially those things making Bezos more powerful.
Last week Juliet shared Scott Galloway’s month long targeted boycott to hurt this administration and how they are doing it:
Americans are feeling powerless to thwart the Trump administration’s assault on our nation’s values. Praised by tech CEOs, (like Bezos) surrounded by sycophants, and enriched by his return to the White House, the president’s actions march on unchecked. Americans, however, have a powerful weapon that has been hiding in plain sight.
First, we must recognize that the president is unfazed by citizen outrage, the courts, or the media. He responds to one thing: the market. The most potent weapon to resist the administration is a targeted, month-long national economic strike — a coordinated campaign that attacks tech companies and firms enabling ICE — to inflict maximum damage with minimal impact on consumers. In sum, the shortest path to change without hurting consumers is an economic strike targeted at the companies driving the markets and enabling our president.
– Scott Galloway
Let’s do this!
Go to his page to see what companies we can take action and unsubscribe from. This is one way to shake things up.
The Olympics!
I am so excited to watch these winter games from Milan and Cortina. We need the escape. I love the winter sports and our family was glued to the tv watching Olympics as kid. They say this is the best American Olympic team we have had in decades. I love the figure skating and skiing the most.
Italians do everything with style, and the opening ceremonies were gorgeous. I think it’s so fun to see these locations more in depth. I am looking forward to some feel good stories. We could really use them right now! How about you? Are you an Olympic fan? I think Lake Placid was my favorite Olympic games, but my kids remember the Salt Lake one and Shawn White so much. He’s a commentator this time!
WWD has a look here at all the uniforms by nation and some are pretty cool. More fantastic pics and updates here on NYTimes and the NBC Olympic site is very good with all the event times, videos, articles, and blogs to get your Olympic fix and not miss a thing. Photo below NYTimes…
If you missed last week’s post, a floral inspired Piedmont home, flower pins to add to your looks, a Quince jacket I love, the best lemon pound cake, and more non Estée Lauder company cosmetic options to consider.
Happy weekend and thanks for being here,
Kim
Please stop by Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs for more good things…
PINECONES AND ACORNS
MAKE MINE A SPRITZER
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Kim, what a terrible week for our country. My husband & I had a short little overnight trip to a jazz concert & were having the best time. Then at breakfast on Friday morning, he asked if I’d seen the news yet. My heart sank, without even knowing what I was about to hear because I knew it would be awful. There is no bar too low for trump or his supporters. It’s absolutely appalling and disgusting.
I’m currently attending a book study through my local Indivisible group & we’re reading Joyce Vance’s Giving Up is Unforgivable. Last fall, we read Democracy in Retrograde by Sami Sage & Emily Amick. Highly recommend both. We may not “fix” all of this through a book study but it’s comforting to be with like-minded people and it’s an excellent way to discover or rediscover ideas for what we as individuals can do.
Thank you for bringing some joy to this weekend and for also sharing the terrible things happening. We can’t pretend this isn’t happening.
Michelle, it was maybe the worst week yet. We are only one year into this Trump term. Funny I also was off social media on Friday and Max told me about the overnight Obama tweet. Every action is more unbelievable, and lower than before.
Thank you for mentioning Joyce. I also am reading her great book and follow her on Substack. I will add Democracy in Retrograde to the list! Sami is good to follow on Instagram too.Thank you for these.
I love that your Indivisible has a book club. I think I need to start or join a resistance book club. It should be for couples maybe as we need more men in the fight. You are so right, that being with like minded people helps and feels good.
Take care Michelle. xo
It’s awful that some many companies are supporting this regime and ICE in all these ways! Disgusting. I’m guessing you follow Kris and Dave, too! For those on a tighter budget, Etsy has several small shop sites that make very similar embroidered sweaters, sweatshirts, and tees. Mine came surprisingly on a great navy Quince cashmere and says in lovely script, “practice radical empathy”. Love it.
Missi there are so many. Yes Kris and Dave are so good. Thank you for mentioning Etsy. I know Lingia Franca is all made in the US and doing charity, but still very pricey.
I was just on Etsy last night. It is fast becoming the best way to shop with all these small creators and more affordable. I love that empathy quote!
Going to look for it now. xo
Thanks, as always, Kim–for mentioning the important stuff along with the fun. The Olympic opening ceremony reminded me that, indeed, most people are embarrassed, horrified, & outraged at what is happening in the U.S. Some athletes even spoke about how they are there to represent their families more than they are the U.S. because they are so conflicted with what our country is doing to its own citizens (and the rule of law, and the world order, including global security and PEACE.) It was refreshing to hear from the chosen presenters the messages of global peace, acceptance, and good will. The music was incredibly beautiful.
Estate sales used to be big in Kansas City, small ones still operate, but it is hard to know when they occur. The biggest company, Brown Button, went to an online-only platform. That means you try an outbid an unknown competitor for something you cannot see in person (or inspect.) It used to be so fun to and look at everything in person and buy a piece here and there, now it is just difficult. If you win (usually the computer outbids you in a matter of seconds) the product (upon receiving) is not as described and is poor quality. I quit doing it.
Erica, I was listening to some of the athletes yesterday. It’s sad they have to represent when our president is making sure we are doing all we can to harm and hurt others. USA Today’s Christine Brennan said there was real worry our athletes would be booed. Luckily it just seems it was JD Vance and wife, which I am okay with. Still, Trump has harmed the goodwill of the world we once had. I also loved the messages of peace and the music! So beautiful.
Darn about the KC estate sales! That stinks. I don’t want to bid online at all. Like you said, you need to see things in person. That is not fun. I hope that doesn’t happen here. x
Hi Kim
Love your sweater subtle and tasteful all in one! We used to do a lot of estate sales and auctions back in the day. What fun to find some treasures. Have a good week in spite of all that is going on if possible.
My husband and I are taking a Scandinavian cruise this summer and almost by the day, I’m becoming more concerned about what kind of reception Americans are getting overseas, just as some of our athletes have. The irony is I’m from Canada and my husband is from England but we’ve lived in the US for 40+ years. I’ve actually been looking for anti Trump buttons that we can wear to show that not all of us voted for this, whatever ‘this’ is.
Barb, I think most people will know we are NOT Trump supporters. Your cruise will be wonderful I hope.
Yes the button would be a good thing! I just tell people we are from the West Coast or Californians. Try that! xo
As someone married to an Italian guy (ie, we visit Europe 1-2X a year), just accept in your heart and head that we are not in control of electing the U.S. president. We each have one vote. We can detest that person, but no one thinks you are the reason he is in office, and many countries are close to a 50/50 liberal/conservative split and dealing with similar issues as the U.S., with policy decisions see-sawing from election to election.
Yes, Bezos is an amoral pig, selling his soul to the highest bidder. Scary that for many uber capitalists, it is never enough. The more one has, the higher the bar becomes… That is the truly scary part of our best traditional news resources being owned by uber-Capitalists these days…
On a gentler note, I love your estate sale finds, and am happy to know about the online listing to look up sales in one’s own neck of the woods. I thought your plate was Juliska, until you said it was English. Perhaps there is no copyright on the design, or it expired bc it is historical?
Joan, Gosh thank you for this. It is good to hear that other nations don’t think we are okay with what is happening.
Bezos has shown it’s not enough..What a super rat. We have a whole pack of them! The news is a real issue too. Thank god for PBS.
Thanks to a reader Jane here, my plate turns out to be a Deborah Sears. Her company is in the Cotswolds called Isis Ceramics and she has done a line for Juliska that is based on that.
I am now hunting her pieces down on EBay and other places!
Hi Kim,
Love estate sales and we have had some wonderful finds in the past. Your pottery is beautiful! TG for the Olympics and some focus away from Trump and his cronies. The latest racist stance on Truth Social is just so terrible. I am going to dream of Italy…and a better way of life.
Francesca, The best place to find cool things.
Oh can I go to Italy too? It looks so good their way of life. x
Hi Kim,
You did so well at the Estate sale, your table runner, just everything. Like you I love love love ribbons and cards. I bet that was a treasure along with everything else, sounds like the lady had excellent taste.
Congratulations on celebrating your 30 years of engagement. Enjoy your day, a great day to get engaged. You have a wonderful guy, and Max is blessed to have YOU too. Your first niece, Veronica sounds very special. A lovely and thoughtful gift you sent her, I’m sure she will love it. Born on Valentine’s Day is so special.
I remember your Galentine’s Day luncheon you had for some of your gal pal friends last year, how beautiful it was, and your table setting. With all the bad stuff going on this year I decided to invite about 15 girlfriends for a luncheon on Galentine’s Day. To my mild let down only three can attend. They all had plans or are away, attending weddings, engagement parties, etc. . It’s all good, I just hope that I don’t have a fall out with only three coming. I’m going to make a heart shape white cake, and on the exterior going to place strawberries on the outside. I baked this one for an evening dinner for two couples and it was a hit and turned out pretty too. Kim, I did try to print out your Chocolate Chia Seed Raspberry Candies but unable to do so, shucks! Would you kindly (please) send me the written copy over. I would like to make these too. I always have chia seeds in the house.
Your Miss Barack sweater is spot on in the biggest way. I was horrified at such a racist post, nothing should ever surprise me coming from the 34 Felon. The most hateful, mean, evil person that has ever been in office. His press secretary, Karoline Leavitt makes me gasp, can’t stand her, his mouth piece, so pathetic. Two peas in a pod, with the rest of them.
We need the Super Bowl, and the Olympics, I love the Olympics, the opening ceremonies were so good. Classy, Andrea Bocelli has always been a big favorite of mine, his voice is still super strong. His son following in his footsteps.
I’m still processing our Savannah Guthrie and her mother’s abduction. It’s totally heart wrenching. I keep hoping and praying for her safe return. It’s not looking good. I’m a huge fan of Savannah’s, I read her book too. She is such a good lovely person to the core. I don’t understand evil people, they scare me. I’m trying hard to practice not to absorb other peoples issues and problems, a work in progress. This one is very HARD.
Katherine, Thank you so much. I know I am lucky. I hope you have a great Valentine’s day with Bear.
Oh your party sounds perfect! I will send you the chia seed recipe. I am sorry I didn’t see it before.
We do need the Olympics. I hope this week was more uplifting with it all. Love the Opening Ceremonies too.
Thinking about Savannah’s mom every day. Hugs to you. xo
Hi Kim!
First of all, I just love the pics of your home and seeing that bowl of homegrown lemons made me smile! I love lemons. But also because I am a Southern California native. We moved to PA when I was nine (my parents moved to CA right after they were married and we moved to PA in 1971) and it was devastating for me as I absolutely loved California. To this day, I miss it terribly and dream of moving back when my hubs and I retire in a few years. I have a lot of family in both southern and northern CA. I have first cousins in your area and I adore visiting them. Such a beautiful area!
I am so angry and sick of what that man in the w.h. has done to our country. His racist post is despicable. And why can’t anyone stop him from robbing from this country and our tax dollars?? He has enriched himself 3.4 billion dollars since taking office.
I love your “I miss barack” sweater! And I love your posts!!
Hi Susan!
Aw thank you. Gosh you are a California girl at heart still! I hope you get back here to retire. It’s a great place to age!
I am angry still about the Obama post. He’s making so much money and now suing our government for billions more for ‘damages.’ What a criminal.
Aw thanks so much! Glad you are here.
xo
Wow, Kim, I would’ve loved to have been at that estate sale with you!! It sounded amazing!! As you described it, I thought I hope I don’t end up taking an old lady who has just a great estate sale, with hordes of stuff everywhere! You got some beautiful things. One of my favorite things is a beautiful old mirror. I got at an estate sale in Marblehead Massachusetts over 35 years ago.. I have all sorts of things from estate sales, but my mirror is one of the things I love the most!
It is nice to have the Olympics to take our minds off the news!
Martha, We would have had a blast. I may end up the same…but it could be worse!
Wow I have to see your mirror! They are always so beautiful if they are old.
Yes yay for the Olympics and good news. x
They are lovely finds at the estate sale Kim! The picture depicted on the plate reminds me a little of a temple in the grounds of Stowe School, which is not far from Oxford. So pretty.
The post from Trump was just vile wasn’t it. I do think that most right thinking people can see him for what he is though and there is still a warm welcome overseas for American visitors.
Love all the Valentines/Galentines ideas as well!
Have a great week Kim. X
Hi Lesley! I wonder if the temple is from the Stowe School as I found the artist, Deborah Sears is based not far from there!
The world has been good to us, and forgiving of the transgressions we have made. I hope they can forgive us all that is being done while Trump is here.
Hope you had a good week and Valentine’s. xo
Isn’t your Barack sweater just the best? Yes!
Linda I wear it so much! Max is like again the Barack sweater? LOL! AT this rate, I might wear it out. xo
Good afternoon Kim,
I hope that you are having a lovely weekend friend. I read this post yesterday then came back today to read it again and comment. How kind of your to share your citrus bounty with the neighbors! I would love to have a home grown lemon! I am sure the taste is different than from the store.
Please share some of your favorite lemon recipes? Do you make preserved lemons? They are great for tagine, salads and yes even desserts.
I forgot all about the raspberry chia seed desserts, I haven’t made them in sometime, thank you for the reminder.
Your valentine celebration looks beautiful. I am sure that your friends loved it! Will you be having one this year as well?
The weather here is chilly today but one day this week will be 67 and then back to regular temps.
Have a beautiful and restful week Kim. THANK YOU for sharing your light with the world, you make is a better place.
xo
Elizabeth, I hope you are feeling better! Meyer lemons are so good from the yard. I wish I could share.
No Galantines this year, but going to a friend’s celebration if I can.
Love that raspberry dessert too.
Hope you had a better week! You are sweet. Take care ! xo
Kim! I’m a huge fan of Valentine’s Day too. My dad brought home those cute little See’s boxes and I can’t see them without getting hit hard with nostalgia. I love to celebrate the day for all … friends, relatives, kiddos and of course romantic partners. I’m not sure I knew you got engaged on Valentine’s Day. Happy 30th engagement anniversary … so fun to have it fall on a Saturday. Although in my school and office years I preferred weekdays. Ha! Thanks for sharing the estate sale link. Every time I drive by an estate sale I wish I’d know early on … they’re so much fun and what treasures to be had. Anyway, I signed up to receive notices for my area. It was a fun weekend watching the Olympics, although heartbreaking for Lindsey Vonn. Ralph Lauren’s team gear is so good. And the Super Bowl half-time show was another highlight which brings us to the state of our country. Imagine being opposed to Bad Bunny’s (an American citizen – but we’ve no problem with non-citizen performances in the past … all 13 of them) creative celebration of his Puerto Rican heritage … it was beautiful, fun and uplifting. I don’t know what to say about the hate spewed from the White House, other than we must continue to resist, unsubscribe (thank you, Scott), and keep pushing for a return to decency, empathy, mature behavior (imagine having to say that) and leadership worthy us all. xo
Juliet, I cannot think of Valetines without See’s candy! It’s a California thing. I still get little chocolates there for Max and the boys and my dad. Max gets me some too.
We need to get to an estate sale together.
I agree with all you said…Scott is doing so much good with the unsubscribe. xo
You scored at the Estate Sale with your beautiful blue and white scalloped plate. It looks like a hand-painted Deborah Sears/Isis Ceramics plate from Oxford. They are still being made but are difficult to source in the states other than on eBay and 1stDibs,. The Juliska pieces are modeled after these. Check it out: https://isisceramics.com/ Enjoy!
Jane thank you so much. I went down the rabbit hole with Deborah Sears! No wonder they looked like Juliska. I cannot believe my $11 plate is worth about $195! In doing the research I found a beautiful blue ginger jar of hers and just bought it from Etsy in the UK ..and it’s on the way! I guess I am collecting now as I am obsessed.
Thank you for the information. I would have no idea what it all meant on the back of my plate.
xo
Hi Kim. I love estate sales, although these days they are generally held in auction rooms, but have bought some really lovely items over the years, usually as gifts. It is a fun way to source something unique and special.
Am taken with your outfit and am wondering where the jeans and shoes are from. Very casual, yet polished. Perfect for our lifestyles (well mine at least)
I made the lemon cake and it was a real hit
Hi Susan! I much prefer the estate sales in the home. I am not much of an auction person! I do agree it’s the best way to find neat things.
Oh gosh thank you about my look! I am pretty casual. My white jeans are a few years old from Mother. I love them as they are heavier jean, not tight, and more near mid-rise. This is the closest they make now to them. They have added pockets to the front which is cute…
https://go.shopmy.us/p-42949181
The loafers are old Tory Burch driving shoes.
These from Quince are similar..https://go.shopmy.us/p-42949745
Or these https://go.shopmy.us/p-42950226
Oh I am so happy the lemon cake was a hit! x