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Tops & More for Video Calls and Working From Home

April 8, 2020 By kimwheeler 8 Comments

So many of us are now doing video conferencing – often multiple times a day. It is nice to have something pretty and polished up on top for the camera, and something comfortable and soft on the bottom half.

One idea is go through the closet and cull some of the more colorful and fun blouses, sweaters and tops you already own. Take a look at the condition and if they are decent and still feel good, and seem appropriate, put them in one spot to grab right now for working at home. Nothing says you have to remain in a sweatshirt all day, and with a bright or pretty top half you’ll feel more professional and pulled together. Do the same with a few fun earrings and necklaces. Play around with what you may not have worn for a while- even some more evening things like a larger or sparkly earring or velvet top. The things you wear to work may be more basic, but this is a good time to infuse a little color and flair to your work look that will translate to some style over video.

If you’ve canvassed the closet and are still coming up empty, here’s a few good tops and comfortable bottoms that can get you through the next few months of this.

This Anthro T shirt caught my eye with its feminine and fun sleeve with comfy appeal of it being a tee.

This pretty cotton tie-dye button-down comes in a cool blue, a bright pink and citron color. This blouse would be a nice transition piece into your summer wardrobe too.

I love Liberty and this new J.Crew popover is TDF. It’s now 50% with code REFRESH. This feels like spring and I adore the ruffled collar.

Some cute details on this simple and pretty black blouse from Loft. Sale now 40% off with code Spring.

I love this blue floral blouse with a unique peplum back- also on sale at Loft.

Adore this blouse, which looks like the top of a 1940’s tea dress.

J.Crew has a sweater blazer that has been a long running customer favorite and if you are chilly at home it is a perfect compromise between polished and cozy. Layer your favorite t-shirt under add a cute pair of earrings and you are video ready.

I also found this appealing puff sleeve top with whimsical prints in several colors. You can wear it buttoned up also.

Let’s talk bottoms now. So if you have some sweats that feel decent maybe you are fine. It might be nice to add a pair of black or neutral elastic waisted pants though that have pockets to the mix. Those will feel as good as sweats, but look a bit more polished for work at home, and even for travel someday. I found these highly rated ones which come in petite and plus sizes as well.

Loft has a cute pull on wide leg pant that is chic and modern and these are now 40% off with code SPRING.

I like this version of a soft cropped cargo pant in carbon, which also comes in a khaki and off white, is on sale now for $58 from $98.

These Eileen Fisher Crop Stretch knit pants are beautifully made and if you work from home all the time, you should have a pair in your wardrobe. People swear by these for travel too. Also 25% off now.

In the accessory department, just a few ideas to add polish.. How about using a scarf tied around a pony tail- a chic and easy thing to do when you haven’t done your hair. You could also try this scrunchie I love from J.Crew.

Madewell has many cute barrettes and hair accessories like this stone one.

This hair pin reminds me of the 70’s ones made of leather..

These hoops would add some sparkle and movement to your look.

Something with a modern shape and sparkle..

These flower earrings would pop on video and come in a pretty blue and tortoise color too.

I have these hoops in the crystal version, but the blue is lovely too.

Something about these resin hoops in ombre I really like. They also come in an aqua.

I also like the white enamel on these beaded hoops from Madewell.

You may want to get out of socks and slippers as the weather warms up and for comfort at home, Birkenstocks are the next best thing. These white Siena Sandals will be cute enough to wear on the outside world when we finally leave home.

These eyelet sneakers would be nice look paired with any of those black pants. I love the silver, but they also come in pink, khaki and white.

Have any other ideas for work from home dressing that you can share? How is everyone managing this? Liking it or not? I know my husband is and his group are really getting used to it and actually liking it.

I am thinking of you all now. How are you are managing being in and taking care of you and your families? More helpful posts in the pipeline. I will post on Instagram daily things too.

Take care and hang in there everyone.

Kim

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Uplifting Spring Tables

April 2, 2020 By kimwheeler 11 Comments

Today I’m joining a group of bloggers to share uplifting tables for springtime. Though we may be sheltering at home, people will still be having Easter, Passover, birthdays and anniversaries while inside. Why not try and make the time we have at meals with each other a little bit special? I have been adding a few votives each night to the dinner table since we all are together once again and cooking. A candle or two and even a little flower in a small cup can elevate the mood. A pretty table is always cheering and who couldn’t use a little uplifting about now?

I did not have any flowers at home, and was obviously not able to get to my usual haunts for blooms, so I thought I’d use what was on hand for my table, in this time of making do. I did though, have many small green plants throughout the house so they were my starting point for my spring table.

My table is black, so that this image from my Pinterest was my inspiration. I loved the green plants and the mix of gold, black and rattan. Mostly it was the colors here that inspired me, but also the mood.

I have beautiful cream linen napkins from Williams-Sonoma that I haven’t yet used and I thought they’d brighten up my black table. I added some creme napkin rings, white plates, woven mats and gold flatware.

The plants needed a little something more so I searched about the house and found a a few books for height, a rustic wooden bowl and some glass beads. (Another option would be filling the bowl with natural moss and colored eggs for a modern Easter basket.)

This table is a California casual look. This is about as fancy as we get. The linens aren’t ironed and I left out a tablecloth so it would feel modern unfussy, but still luxe thanks to the materials. The pops of gold dress it up a bit and the water jug is a bottle green which keeps the color story going. I went simple with the plates and glasses so the focus would be on the plants. I especially love the Chinese Money Plant, with its round leaves I found at Trader Joe’s a month ago.

I think it’s a fun challenge to use what we have at home with this pandemic happening. Go through your home and see what you have in the yard, or lurking in cabinets that can create your own unique spring tablescape!

Sources for my table – Grey woven placemats, Jasper gold flatware. –linen napkins. woven carafe, decorative beads also here, rustic wooden bowl (similar)

Please visit my friends and talented bloggers in our roundup for more uplifting ideas you can use to bring spring inside while we are sheltering at home right now.

Kim

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Spring Dresses for a Mood Boost

April 1, 2020 By kimwheeler 6 Comments

Hello my lovely friends. I thought I’d veer off the usual topic today and go a little crazy with some spring dresses. This week I made a decision to thoroughly shut down the news and did a deep dive into books, good shows and it’s been somewhat restorative.. The pretty California weather this week has really helped my mood. I also cut out the nightly ice cream habit my husband had gotten us into since quarantine and even began a little ballet workout besides my two walks. Maybe it’s spring and the lighter days, but is anyone else feeling some optimism? Even the announcement that we will be doing this for another month was fine with us. I don’t think we are eager to give up this slower pace of life just yet.

In my happier mindset I gathered a few dresses to consider. I know some of you said you’d be open to looking at some spring fashions also. We will be out and about someday soon. Why not get the closet cleaned out while you have time and add a pretty thing to look forward to wearing?

I have not done any shopping except for a few books since I’ve been in. I just wasn’t in that mindset, but doing this post I realized retailers are hurting now. Clothing is dramatically reduced now and you may get a dress for a song. Most of the items linked here are on some sort of sale, so look for the sale codes.

This simple shift dress at Anthropologie caught my eye. The texture, simplicity and pockets make it a cute dress for running about in warmer weather. I would love this with brown leather flat sandals, hoop earrings and a ponytail- the look many moms wore summer days in the 1970’s. It’s classic chic and perfect for a BBQ or date night.

I was attracted to the print on this blue midi dress. This looks so easy to throw on and I’d pair it with a crochet tote and some slides and you could be set for lunch out or a candlelit dinner at your own abode.

If you don’t have a midi-dress this is the season to try one. I personally like the shirtdress style of this Anthro dress below, which feels like everyday wear and can even be worn with boots in cooler months. The pattern is particularly cute and retro. Most of the Anthro dresses come in options for plus sizing and many in petite.

I have always love Marimekko patterns since I was young and this tunic would be a classic to keep for years. It can be worn without the belt for more of a shift look.

Madewell has this cute wrap midi dress and it’s sweet.

I’m a fan of denim dresses and Madewell has a lot of them now. This one is my favorite, but check them all out here.

This linen shift by Tory Burch has retro detailing.

Back in February, I ran to Target to get paper towels and found this white denim dress at the same time I found that cute top from the previous post. I snapped this pic in the dressing room, but it shows how cute this is for a inexpensive dress. It comes in plus sizes also. I bought a size medium so it was a little longer and not tight. It’s sitting waiting on a hook in the closet, but I know it’ll get some wear this summer.

As long as we are at Target, I also love the red of this long dress. It comes in a black with polka dots also. I just think this would be cute for poolside or out to dinner with a big beaded necklace.

Anthro’s shift dress has a fun California boho feel.

This pretty Diane Von Furstenburg dress is in silk and is something that would flatter most any body type. I’m also just in love with the blue tone and roses.

Something about this little print crepe dress is so appealing. I love the necklines and sleeves and the green botanicals.

I think white is such a flattering color and everyone should have one pretty summer white dress in the closet. This See by Chloe dress is charming with its ruffle cuffs.

This J. Crew shirtdress would be a top ten in my closet during summer with its pockets and you could add a belt to change it up. Right now it’s 40% off with code SPRING.

I keep going back to this red floral dress also by J. Crew. I love the ruffled collar and again casual feel with the pockets. This comes in black as well and is the thing we could all use to pop on and go.

This halter dress from loft is darling.

Trina Turk also has a cute halter style with its Sunglasses Dress. Love this print and the yellows.

I also fell in love with this Doen number..

A woven tote or purse is another thing to think about adding charm to spring looks. This Bali Classic Tote caught my eye..

I adore a delicate flat sandal and this Daydream Strappy Sandal ticks all the boxes here..

I hope you find this a little hopeful and distracting right now with all that is happening. I have also been requested to do a jeans and white button-up post..so that is coming! This week I plan to get to my closet and began pulling out my spring things and see what is a keeper and what’s to go.

I finally shared a video tour of our bathroom remodel on my Instagram if you want to check it out. I’ll be doing a post soon on all the materials. Please follow along on Instagram where I post daily and for fun, Pinterest.

Hoping you are all coping okay and taking care of yourselves. A lot of us are also doing double duty caring for an extended family group. It can be a lot, so be good to yourself and take time for you, so you don’t get run down.

Kim

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Meanwhile Here at Home…

March 26, 2020 By kimwheeler 33 Comments

Well here we are on almost the third week of quarantine in California. How are you all faring?? We’ve settled into a routine pretty well and are not feeling angry about it, just a little uncertain. The future and what will happen is causing more anxieties than the actual being in with each other. We got away to a quiet beach not too far away on Sunday so the guys could get a hike in and we could all get some fresh air.

It was good for all of us. We had a car picnic after.

We drove past Santa Cruz and West Cliff Drive, a big promenade and people were NOT social distancing. It was worrying.

I’m a homebody at heart, so I can do this shelter thing no problem. I am always my happiest when everyone is in the nest. Knowing though that some of us should be out and about doing other things, life, school, etc makes me sad for them. I also miss seeing my dad in person. We talk twice a day, but it’s not the same. We exchanged Swiss Chard from his garden and some groceries this week- via the porch drop thanks to the youngest who needed to bust out for a bit, if even just for a drive.

I am enjoying the cooking with the fam. We were telling the boys at dinner that three meals a day at home is how we grew up. People weren’t running to Starbucks, or Taco Bell when they felt like it. We are eating all the leftovers and using up all we have now. So good for us and my kids to learn too. To be frank though, this kind of life is taking up a LOT of my day in the kitchen. My routine is cook, clean, rinse and repeat. Anyone else feeling the same?

French toast with seeded bread. It’s what we had on hand though everyone grumbled about the seeded bread at first, it was yummy especially with pears and walnuts.

I am pretty optimistic, but yesterday morning someone sent me this Pooh and Piglet thing and for some reason I just started crying.

Not sure why. It’s the uncertainty I guess and the night before I was feeling more despair after watching the White House news conference. I decided to stop watching the news at dinner time. Last night I started playing all my vinyl albums on the turntable while cooking instead. The mood was decidedly happier and upbeat at dinner and I think my kids appreciated it. I am relying on the local newspaper and PBS Newshour which I record and can watch later in the evening if I choose.

Making Marcella Hazan’s famous three ingredient sauce- one stick of butter, one can of stewed whole tomatoes ( DiNapoli is my new favorite) and one onion sliced in half. Cook for 30 minutes or so covered on low and use an immersion blender and you have the best sauce ever. No salt or other additions are needed. So good!

I said I’d share more of my favorite blogs with you and three of my dear friends, Mary Ann, Cindy and Annie did a wonderful roundups this week sharing cool Instagram accounts. This is the perfect time to visit their blogs which have links many cool accounts to follow…

Mary Ann, writes Classic Casual Home, from her hilltop apartment in San Francisco, but has lived all over the world. She always has the best tips for entertaining and is a very busy and in demand interior designer. I enjoy her recipes and great finds for the home she generously shares.

Cindy writes Rough Luxe Lifestyle, is also a designer who lives in the countryside near Carmel and shares her amazing eye for home styling, remodeling and beautiful tablescapes. She writes the best posts about travel packing, wardrobe shopping and I especially love her monthly posts with Elizabeth, the Antique Goddess featuring Q&A with people with personal style.

Annie writes Most Lovely Things, lives in a small New England town near the water and defines how one can live simply yet beautifully, creating many of the cool objects in her home. I have learned so much from Annie- great recipes, amazing gift ideas and styling tips. Annie created one of the most popular pins ever on Pinterest with her home made advent calendar with darling brown bags.

More fun blogs to dive into while you have time..

Design Indulgence Decorating, remodeling and chic design

The Gardener’s Cottage Living simply and beautifully with less and vegan cooking

Sincerely Loree Slow living on the island of Malta with great books, writing and lovely photography

Cote De Texas Deep dives into the history of cool homes, royalty and more

Le Catch Always fantastic fashion trends and finds

The Mom Mystique Living mom life with style and inspiration

Life Around My Table Cooking, life and beautiful photography

Are you getting out for walks like I am? I missed one as it was hailing and another day I spent doing some house cleaning, but I’m trying to at least do a 20 minute workout or so. Here’s another to try..

Tracy Anderson’s 15 minute Cardio Dance. This is who trains Gwenyth. Looks like fun which motivates me.

If you read my last post with the original Jane Fonda workout, the link had a few issues, but I think it’s fixed and the complete workout is now on there. If you need a good one- that’s amazing.

Another little distraction for you with cute Alexa Chung and French gal Caroline De Maigret, who chat about how French woman age and skincare tips..

On the French theme, I just found Dinner in French, and from what I can see on the Amazon preview, it hits all the notes with delicious classic recipes and gorgeous photographs of France sprinkled in as well.

I’m going to need more dinner ideas as I’m cooking everything I know with what I can find… and how many times can you make the same stuff?

A month or so ago, before this pandemic happened, I was invited to a girlfriend lunch at a friend’s home and was so excited to find this lovely blouse at Target of all places, to wear. It is from their Prologue line, which is kind of cool and modern shapes and the fabric feels like a raw silk . I love the puff sleeve and the slightly curved longer back which gathers. I paired it with my old Zara skirt, but it would be sweet with denim cropped flares in its pretty ice blue color. I never shared it and I thought I’d pop it in here. Not sure how many people are even thinking about spring clothes right now.

I’m hoping you are all taking care and being safe. Stay inside so we can beat this. It’s the best we can do now for all of us.

I’ll be back with a little more of my house updates- the bathrooms specifically, and also a spring dress post if you are in the mood… I hope that won’t be tone deaf, but a little distraction right now. Let me know what you think.

Hugs,

Kim

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Checking In & Some Silver Linings

March 21, 2020 By kimwheeler 23 Comments

Good morning dear friends. How are you coping? I hope you’ll start thinking of this blog as a good space. What I am going to share with you all regularly will be some things to get your minds off what we cannot control right now. I don’t know how helpful that is, but it’s what I can do with this space right now, so I’m trying it.

For those who may be just starting sheltering in, it’s not all bad. I have to say there is some good to it. The slowing down of life is really nice. I appreciate our governor taking the stance he did so early on. I feel like in California we will all be a little safer.. Now if the young people could just comply..

Yesterday I sat in the yard and we had the most amazing clouds and beautiful sun. I tried to soak up some warmth. The birds were singing away and not a car or mower was to be heard. Truly peaceful.

Our wisteria has began its annual bloom..as someone said, “Spring is not cancelled.’ I’m trying to find the good.

On the bright side, I am not homeschooling, my kids are older. For those mom’s that are in the thick of these young years..OMG! This would be me..

Sorry I couldn’t resist a little laugh, we need to take them where we can.

It has not been easy being a mom of a teen now either. I have to constantly fight for the youngest to stay in. He loves to be out, the opposite of my older one. We keep telling him this is all for the greater good. It’s not just about us, but many of our young people have been being raised that it is only about them. The sooner we impress upon them this matters, the better for us all. It isn’t fun.

On the bright side, we had a wonderful family meal last night, where no one rushed off. Another bonus, my husband is starting to take charge of meals or being a big part of prepping them. This yummy parmesan chicken he made this week was a hit. We have had good conversation and a family feeling of being together at the table that we haven’t had for a while. I will take it for now.

If you are like me, with four adults under one roof, a family pact, or some house rules will likely be needed. It’s not that my kids are jerks, but they need reminders. Also one of them, not naming names, said this week, “Well mom why do we need to vacuum.. it’s kind of your job.’ WHAT?? He regretted that comment. For my own sanity, I crafted a few house rules. We will see how this goes over..

I cannot play tennis now, but I need to do something to keep feeling happier and not like a sloth. Regular neighborhood (social distance from others) walks with my kids and hubs where we’ve been appreciating spring and having some nice chats have helped.

The original 1982 Jane Fonda Workout which found it’s way back into my sphere. It’s actually an excellent workout! Jane was then 45 and as inspiring as she is now. I remember being in high school when my mom had the VHS tape and I sometimes did it with her. The video I originally linked here no longer works so try here :

From Instagram I found a daily live half hour program I’ve been doing at 10:00 a.m. Pacific. DanceFactoryFitness has a different workout every day and you access it by hitting their profile photo for most recent workout for the last 24 hours. Wednesday had a dance centered one which included a great arms workout using soup cans from your cabinet! My arms were actually burning. Thursday they had body sculpting, so check them out if you can fit a 30 minute workout in. Not fancy, but what we can use right now!

Other ideas on things we can do now..

I grew up in a family full of gardeners, and my dad is an extra gifted one. I have a personal goal each year to be a better gardener like him. I want my yard to be as pretty as his, but I never have time to spend as he does.. Guess that excuse is out! This pandemic came at a the perfect time to start your veg garden and get your yard pretty for summer. It’s heaven to be outside now with the blooming trees and vines, soft bird sounds and way less traffic noise and very fresh air. This book, A Garden Can Be Anywhere is a good one for those interested in starting your own garden by a gal who creates them for chefs and others. She believes they should be as pretty as they are useful.

We should try and use some time each day to time to delve into books and get away from the internet. The Elements of Home is a rabbit hole you can take a deep dive into. A blog follower friend sent me the suggestion and I couldn’t be more excited. It has fun and interesting stories that go along with the history of so many things we use daily. I can’t wait to take this and a nice cup of tea to a cozy corner, something we don’t do enough. Thank you Marla!!

You may have seen my last post about Beauty Secret videos from Vogue. Those are fun and I have already watched a few more today and learning a lot from the young gals to the older ones. I especially like people closer to my age like Amber Valletta and today I watched 80’s model Joan Severence, who is funny and real. A lot to learn on this page!

Beginning today , I’m going to share some of my favorite blogs with you. Each time I post I’ll give you some more to follow. I learn more from blogs than anything. They’ve almost replaced the magazine for me, and it’s good to get tips on clothes, cooking ideas, home decor, travel and just about everything..from real people, not celebs don’t you think?

Some bloggers just have a way they live that I aspire to and one of those is my friend Elizabeth, aka Contessa who lives like an Italian royal in Orinda with her cute pets including a full sized pig named Banksy. I adore her house, her love of life, her way of entertaining and connecting, and her kindness. She’s always sharing some wonderful find or person and there is no comment this woman has not answered and she has so many followers and fans!!

Dani, a Canadian friend I have been fortunate to connect with, lives in a beautiful way. I have enjoyed her Mop Philosphy posts which seem to touch on the little things that make every day beautiful and just what we need even more of now. You’ll love her excellent taste (she just bought and redid a pretty stone house), clothing color stories, recipes and positive affirmations on life. Even her post today about missing her Miami vacation has a upbeat feeling that makes me not want to complain, but carry on with hope. Love her…

More blogs coming ..

I leave you with a piece of fluff, a new obsession this blouse from Loft. I bought it on my last day before quarantine. I was with friends and we didn’t know we were living dangerously out shopping.. I have been wearing it with this belt I bought also. It is just the thing I need now as it feels springy and feminine, but still has long sleeves. My housemates say it looks nice…LOL.

Keep up the faith and good cheer friends. Know we are in this together.

Hugs and be safe,

Kim

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About Now.. and a Few Things to Distract

March 15, 2020 By kimwheeler 15 Comments

Hello everyone, how are you all doing? It’s been a crazy last few days and I think we as a nation are realizing how the serious the threat of this corona virus is. Yesterday we heard my high school senior will be home now for at least three weeks and the college kid is coming home too- for how long, we are not sure.

Today Max and I went to the store and bought a few weeks worth of food for the freezer and the pantry. We delivered some things to my 80 year old dad also- left on his door. We don’t want him exposed to us or going out now.

All we truly know right now is that we have one sure defense and that is to keep isolated with our families to prevent this thing from growing. That can only really be done by staying in. If we can all just do this for a few weeks we can change the outcome. Even if you aren’t afraid of catching this thing, you need to do this for others. Like vaccines, this only works if we all do it. When we all do it, we lessen the chance of carrying it and we will protect the most vulnerable among us by slowing the spread and not overwhelming the hospitals.

My biggest challenge right now is trying to help my 18 year old son understand he needs to stay in the house, not fun. We are having a real struggle and I’ve tried to explain that we, his parents and grandpa, are vulnerable as we are older, and we are scared. At this age they are very self-centered and I am sure right now, this also is such a disappointment to him. This is his last part of his senior year, which is supposed to be fun after all the hard work he has done. He has Hawaii and ski trips planned, grad night and proms coming..all that unsure now. The college kid is another thing. He worries about nothing and thinks we are all hysterical.

To save our sanity, Max and I have been walking every day in the immediate neighborhood, away from people, but taking in all the lovely blossoming trees and flowers. I’ve been sharing many photos of our walks on my Instagram. What has struck me on these walks is the unusual quiet in the air. I hear almost no traffic noise now and a whole lot more birds. It’s amazing and wonderful.

We also have been planning out our meals and making some nice dinners in- tonight lasagna. It’s not been all bad having a sous chef and willing dishwasher around. We are trying to enjoy the slower pace that has suddenly happened on us all, lighting candles, playing some music, turning off the news for a while.

So how about you all? Are you hunkering down like us? If so, what things have you done to get ready to self-isolate? Are you also concerned for your older family members? Are you having challenges working from home or figuring how to deal with kids at home too? I’d like to hear from you guys.. Also advice or tips you want to share would be great. I want to make this a space to help and support one another. Can everyone leave a note below also with one great book, show or even a project they recommend to everyone else while we are all stuck in? I would so appreciate it and others will also.

A few things to distract you right now, if you need ideas on what to do with yourself- read my previous post,What to do When You are Staying in Because of the Coronavirus.

This is the time to get into a few good books. We all spend so much time online and we forget how great it can be to get consumed by a good book. One of the most awaited new books, you may have already heard about, that I just ordered is Untamed by Glennon Doyle. It’s about self-love and how we need to start listening to the voice within us and stop trying to live up to the expectations of the world. I can’t wait to read this.

We all may be looking at a lot more nights of cooking in. I know I am always searching for recipes that are new, using mostly fresh ingredients and simple. For that reason I love anything from the Half-Baked Harvest blog. Everything Tieghan does has a different twist on the usual and is pretty as it is delicious. Her new book, Super Simple, is for those looking for uncomplicated and yummy meals that get you out of a cooking rut.

I will share more about the remodel and what we’ve done lately, soon, but I wanted to let you all know that my dear Serena & Lily is having their Spring Design Event and everything is 20% off until March 16 if you use code, FreshMix. So if you have been considering any of their beautiful things, this is the time to get them. My favorite latest home additions were these darling Edgewater Lounge Chairs, seen here in my main room. We love the look and comfort of them! They give the room some California feel.

My other recommendation would be their beautifully luxe bath towels- especially these Healdsburg towels with the darling fringe. Love them! They kind of make my bath area. Their new outdoor collection is super pretty too.

With all the uncertainty right now for retailers, there are a lot of sales happening and a few that caught my eye..

The new J. Crew California Dreaming Collection. Fresh colors I really love and it’s now an extra 30% off many of the items until the 16th with code GOSHOP.

I’m also crazy for this darling floral silk dress from their special collection series. This looks like something my mom once wore.

Cropped white jeans that are not tight on the leg, are on my list for spring and these Vintage Straight Jeans really look cute. I don’t think they are part of the sale, but just what I am looking for.

Banana Republic is also having a Friends and Family 50% off sale. My picks for the sale would be these leather sneakers with the pink sole, ( I have them in black super comfy), and this polka dot pleated skirt ( so fun for spring and summer-worn so many ways).

Other distractions that I can share here are the series Outlander, which I have gotten almost all my friends hooked on. I may have talked about it here before, but mentioning again because it’s a lot of hours and would be a good one to get into right about now! Thanks to the wonderful strong characters- a WWII nurse and a hot Scottish highlander from the 1700’s that have amazing chemistry it’s very transporting. I’ve also learned a ton of history from it. (Warning also steamy- not for family viewing.) My husband and I also really enjoyed The Kominsky Method about the struggles, funny and real with Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin. It features many of my favorites like Jane Seymour and other greats making cameos. I got my dad hooked on it too.

I also am rereading my old books still in my library like The Shell Seekers and September from Rosamund Pilcher ( who knew we’d have time), and am enjoying this fun book, Ze French Do it Better, a lifestyle guide. I am also working through Gail Collin’s book, No Stopping Us Now, The Adventures Of Older Women In American History.

Another rabbit hole to jump into is the huge amount of Beauty Secret Videos posted by Vogue. There are 145 videos to learn from! This one is Cindy Crawford’s morning routine. So many here to watch and a few tricks to learn on each one.

That’s all for today, but let’s stay in touch here on my little page. I want you all to know this is a space you can come to for support and to vent and share through this whole crisis. I am here for you friends and I’ll try and keep updating things here and please follow on my NorthernCalStyle Instagram and subscribe on the sidebar if you want to get my posts in your email. If we have to be stuck inside, so let’s hear from each other here and share what is helping.

Hugs to you all,

Kim

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What to Do When You’re Staying in Because of the Coronavirus

March 9, 2020 By kimwheeler 16 Comments

Maybe this post will only resonate with Californians, but we are entering our fourth week or so of this alert about this virus and a lot of people are making the choice to stay in. In some cases this is wise as we really don’t know that much about it. Our local paper today – The Mercury News, said that local hospitals are NOT testing people as they do not have the kits. They can request a county department of health person to come administer a test and UCSF and Stanford are trying to develop their own tests, so it’s probable more people have this virus and are not confirmed. It’s understandable, and smart if someone older -over 70 especially, or immune compromised, or has lung issues- chooses to stay in now. This post by an epidemiologist who studies infectious diseases among populations was very helpful and sane and some of the best advice.

I traveled last week to San Francisco to Design Influencers’s Conference and it was about two blocks from Chinatown in San Francisco, which has been much maligned as a case surfaced there. The scares in that area were overblown. Some may have been thinking I was taking my life in my own hands, but I joined friends and about 100 or more others ( I’ll share more in another post), and stayed in the hotel there two nights. The hotel did an excellent job of holding all our conference meetings in a large ballroom and had hand sanitizers about every 5 feet. It felt pretty safe and we had fun though the streets of San Francisco were usually quiet.

At the conference last week with my friend’s Cindy and Mary Ann,

At home here, people have cleared out many of the stores and stocked up on supplies. My husband’s company has told him not to come in and work from home until further notice! Business trips are cancelled, vacations are off and spring break plans are on hold. I planned to go to the BNP tennis tournament in the desert this week it has been cancelled as a case surfaced in Coachella Valley. That is the largest tennis tournament in the world, besides the grand slams, so it was a big deal, but mandated by the county and the state. Other precautions aren’t happening though. As of right now our airports are not checking anyone flying in from anywhere – another issue someone raised today. People are fully walking though customs, no health questions asked.

Empty streets from my hotel room overlooking Union Square.

So what does that mean for us right now? Well on a more positive spin, people are staying in and, as a result doing things they normally don’t or can’t do because they are dashing off to commute. Right now we may see the biggest experiment ever on working from home- how much will the Bay Area change if a huge amount of people are employed at home and off the roads? How about the typical cold and flu? Will the excellent hand washing we are now employing render the common cold and flu lowest it has been in years?

There are other benefits too.. Time to delve into what you haven’t. More time for lunches with your spouse and possibly being home to cook dinner with the kids. If you don’t work you have even more time if you are stuck in. Sure you can binge watch all the shows that are out there, but why not take this unexpected break to do what you never get to? I think it’s a lost opportunity if we don’t and I thought I’d throw a few ideas out there..

While Your Staying In…

Organize those photos and school papers. You know what I’m talking about .. those boxes lurking in the closet that you mean to get to one day. Take a damn box and sit down with your favorite music on. Go through those envelopes and throw those duplicate horrible pics out along with the negatives and keep just what you love. If you don’t now, one day your kids are going to pitch the whole thing in the trash. No they don’t have time to go through each envelope from the Grand Cayman trip or the family reunion in Kentucky. Make some executive decisions, label them in envelopes and pitch the rest. If you have very old family heirloom photos, one of a kind, make some digital copies while you are at it. This can now be made with your own phone camera, in the correct light. That way if there is a fire, you have a copy for the family. Then check the pic, adjust if needed and send digital copies to all the family members. If you have boxes of school papers, select some original and special pieces and save them in a manila folder or snap pics of cute and funny things to treasure and share. If the kids don’t want them, feel good about pitching them. They are doing you no favors taking up dust for another decade..Don’t leave this junk for your family to sort (aka throw away) one day.

Clean the pantry and refrigerator. Take this opportunity to do a deep cleanse of the food situation in your home. Great kitchens to be inspired by in our Pantry Perfection link up in January. Check you frig and the cabinets for expired items, vacuum and wipe out the cabinets and the refrigerator and note what needs replacing of staples. If you had to be home for a while what can you use the most? I’m not for huge stockpiling, but most people have their favorites. For us it’s a certain rustic bread, oat milk, our beloved Kleenex, pasta and for my son, cheese sticks and protein bars. Think of a few things you can freeze. Our generation has slacked off on using the freezer, and I’m guilty too. I got turned off by a grandma who had a freezer in the middle of her living room and froze everything.. I think we can do a fraction of what their generation did and make life easier. It’s a no brainer for bread, tortillas, pizza crusts, pastry dough, fruit and berries and meats. I also like to freeze bananas when they brown for smoothies and baked goods like cookies, etc. My grandma even used to freeze milk, and lettuce, but I can’t condone that!- update -( A kind reader, Rosemarie, sent me a note from up in Vancouver that she freezes milk and it thaws perfectly, so there you go.. More options!)

Beauty Cleanout. Here’s a day to devote to you. Think of it not as a chore, but more an old school spa day. Dig out those masks you never use- or make one with an avocado, one tablespoon of honey, one tablespoon of olive oil. (More DIY kitchen masks to try here – they are under-rated and no bad chemicals!) Slather that sucker on a clean face and get to work purging those bathroom drawers. Get a big bag and be ruthless. (Make sure you recycle those plastic containers. ) Anything you have had more than a year probably needs to go. Try to think how nice it would be to open your drawers and see less, and only what you need, life can be so much easier. If something is strongly scented that is usually a give away it’s gone bad. Be aware of fragrances, they can get killer strong. It can actually get offensive if it’s old and you may not notice. Get some nice things and simplify. Less, but better. Concentrate on moving to less toxic products! I have a good mix, but love things from Beauty Counter a wonderful place that has higher standards than the government for what we put on our faces and body.

Closet Purge. It’s the perfect time of year. Get in there and pull out everything and try stuff on. Think about what you want to see when you walk in the closet. Make a curated closet that feels pretty like your favorite boutique. Bag up for what to donate and resell anything that is nice at a local place like Crossroads Trading or if you don’t want to leave the house, try a clean out kit from Thredup. They send you a prepaid bag and you send your things back in it. Once you figure out what you need, make a list then try and buy something nice for the closet as a reward for purging. Instead of many outings to Target, Homegoods, etc why not spend that on one nice item- a bag or shoes more costly than usual, but with staying power. This is smart shopping and what the Italians do. All those small shopping trips can easily add up to a pair of Gucci loafers in a month, but you’d never spend the money all at once like that right? Now is the time to think how you can spend smarter. I have my eye on this pair and I’m seeing how much I save this month by not shopping.

Find a Home Workout. If you have to be home, why not get in some great shape? It’s also better for your all around mental health. Now’s the time to find options for when you are stuck inside. If you have any kind of cable, there are fitness channels and if you only have your computer you can find everything on YouTube. Just entering home workout in the search bar, I came up with a range of videos on barre, pilates, yoga, HIT, dance and more. If one peaks your interest, click on that and more will load. There is something for everyone. – Another thought is getting a Peloton. A friend just got one and if you can’t or don’t want to attend classes with others, you can do spin and other classes in your own home and watch them live. They have a special right now where you pay $58 a month for three years, no interest. The classes that go with it are an extra $30ish a month. It may be less than a health club and they deliver it by white glove service apparently! The nearest Peloton is at Stanford Shopping Center for us.

Drop a Note or Write a Letter. Do you have an aunt or family member that is far away? Nothing is kinder than a written hello or note. I love how my friend, Elizabeth, aka the Vintage Contessa uses postcards from her travels to drop a note or thank you to people. I have a huge collection of cards from my travels and I thought what a great way to actually use them, and share the beauty of them with others. So take the time to spread a little joy to those who appreciate such things, especially any older folks you may have in your life.

Get Your Garden Game on Early. This is an excellent time to tackle those weeds by hand, clean up the garden and freshen up the paint situation at home. I find just an hour out there on a Saturday makes the yard look awesome, but I rarely have the time to do it. This is the time to start fertilizing citrus and trim other plants. I do think a visit to the garden center can be inspiring and as it’s outdoors, maybe not too hazardous. Redoing planters and starting seeds pots to plant later in spring is a good thing right now. My dad has his tomato seeds starting on a heating pad right now. More tips on this time of year garden to do’s here. It will be worth the time spent when you see the results. Plus gardening feels so great right about now with all the buds blooming and the birds about!

Books- Catch up With Your Stacks. If your like me I always have a pile I’m working through. This is the time to find a cozy corner and work through those babies. Amazon is the original option and right now all the spring releases can be at your door in a day sometimes. Right now this memoir by Go-Go’s bassist, Kathy Valentine, is in my cart.

I hope some of these pretty basic ideas inspire you if you are housebound. Please share in the comments if you have ideas I can share with others too.

Take care of yourselves!

Kim

What To Pack for a San Francisco Conference

March 5, 2020 By kimwheeler 15 Comments

Every year there are multiple conferences for bloggers and design people. One of the best, the Design Influencer’s Conference was held in San Francisco this year so I took the chance to go and meet up with my pals- Annie, Cindy and Mary Ann and learn a few new tricks and see what’s next for bloggers and influencers.

As with any conference, you want to pack efficiently and smart, but as this one focused on design and creative people, it was important to add some flair to my look. It’s a networking opportunity and your appearance is your only impression to many of the people there, so standing out a bit can only help. I did this with different shoes, more color than a usual conference, and some fun pieces like a moto jacket and a leopard print coat.

San Francisco is typically a mild weathered spot, with temps ranging from high 40’s in the evenings to the 60’s in daytime most of the year. You need to pack for foggy mornings and cool evenings, even on the warmest days, so layers are a good idea. I find also that conference rooms are either over-heated or too cool. Scarves and a jacket are the way to go with comfy shoes being a priority.

What I packed for a 3 day San Francisco conference:

2 pairs of pants- one Madewell jean and one black crop pull on pant with pockets.

1 silk/or polyester shell in white

2 blouses- a navy and a floral one

1 camel blazer

1 motorcycle jacket

1 statement coat

1 tan trench

1 black sweater – a cashmere turtleneck,

4 pairs of shoes- one beige bootie, a low white bootie, one wedged oxford, and a pair of cool sneakers.

pajamas and a pair of black workout leggings for lounging or the gym.

2 t-shirts- a long sleeve black, and a short sleeve white for layering and comfort.

1 or more scarves -a big soft scarf as a wrap or use as a

For luggage, I have three things I almost always bring, a Tumi hard carry-on size case I have had forever, a Longchamp carry-on tote that holds almost all the shoes, beauty and hair items I need and more, and my LV Neverfull tote. That tote can carry some serious weight and never shows any wear or strain after many, many trips. It holds my laptop, books, and whatever I can pile in. The dark brown never shows any dirt. I have found these three items are always just about right for almost any trip. The Longchamp Tote balances nicely over my suitcase so I can pull them both with one hand. I also try to squeeze in a small crossbody for evenings out or excursions where I don’t want a big tote.

A friend recently gave me an Eiffel Tower Blu Bag set that holds three bags and they are amazing for travel. I can fit all my lingerie in one, shoes or pajamas in another and have an extra for jewelry, laundry or whatever. I love the ability to be more organized in the suitcase. Cute too!

As far as beauty, one thing I brought that I can recommend is a face spray. I have this Pommisst by Jane Iredale and it was wonderful during the conference to mist my face during breaks and at night with the dry hotel room air! San Francisco can be very dry in spring and fall so bring a good moisturizer and a hand creme too. I still cannot live without Weleda Skin Food for my hands!

To combat hard water I bring my own hair products and I pack an inexpensive hair dryer brush because you never know what kind of hairdryer your hotel will have. With these new brushes you can use a regular dryer for a few minutes and switch to the brush to finish your hair and make it look like a good blowout with minimal skill! I got mine at CVS or something. The same one can be found here for $18!

What I wore..

Day 1- Black slacks, a Trina Turk floral blouse and the camel jacket with my white booties.

Day 2- A pleated skirt, black sweater, moto jacket and a scarf. I wore beige booties for half the day and switched to wedged loafers after lunch for walking through the city.

Day 3- Jeans, navy blouse and leopard coat with the white boots felt comfy and good for the drive home too.

This group of clothes could be mixed up in many different ways, but thanks to the unique pieces that I added they make the basics look more chic.

I do hope these tips have helped you planning for conference dressing. Please stop by my stylish friend’s blogs who also joined me at the conference and have more great ideas and advice for you!

Cindy at Rough Luxe Lifestyle

Annie at Most Lovely Things and

Mary Ann at Classic Casual Home

Kim

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Leanne Ford’s Collection and Spring Standouts at Crate & Barrel

March 5, 2020 By kimwheeler 10 Comments

I just returned home after three packed days at the Design Influencer Conference in San Francisco. I’ll be sharing more about all the deets later this week. I met my blogging friends, Cindy, Mary Ann and Annie there which made it even more fun. During the conference we made a field expedition to the Crate & Barrel in Union Square to investigate the Leanne Ford collection. We discovered so much to love there now. It’s a fresh look for them and really appealing. (Photo above thanks to my pal Annie @mostlovelythings.)

Leanne in a gorgeous cane chair that is part of her collection. I’m down with everything cane related! The Fields Chair is beautifully made and also comes in a cool black with black cushion. It’s comfy too.

Mary Ann, myself and Cindy perusing the collection and a few other items. I bought the hurricanes on the top..you’ll see in a moment.

I am in love with this footed bowl by Leanne, for my island. It also comes in a white and a clay color. I can’t decide which color I want. Isn’t it Picasso-esque?

There are many unique objects and accessories by Leanne. Mary Ann, who took the photo below, bought one of the candles. She will be writing more about it on her Classic Casual Home blog and I am excited to see how she styles it in her home. Mary Ann lives in a classic San Francisco home with views of the Golden Gate and has excellent entertaining ideas and beautiful home style. I always get great tips from her blog.

My second favorite thing of Leanne’s was this sand fringe throw which was sublime in person. Felt amazing and very pretty on a white bed…

It’s also here on Leann’s Arched Canopy Bed. I’m obsessed with this and the retro inspired pieces that they have with it here…the wall, the colors.. Can I live in this photo?

The Cane Bar, is another fabulous piece in the collection that is will no doubt be a collector’s item one day. It comes in natural hue too.

The Wonky Weave Baskets would be good in a bath, or with a plant by the doorway or even as an oversized vase if you fit another glass one inside it. Love the shapes and material.

There are other things to adore at CB now, besides Leanne’s things. We raced around to see as much as we could of the three stories they have in the Union Square store. Annie below, checking out the baskets with me. I’ve coveted so much of Annie’s home. She’s a master of using black and white and simply cool objects styled to get that chic collected look on her Most Lovely Things blog. I love all she does!

This is the year of the plant, if you haven’t already figured it out. Some of us have always been plant people- just saying. Crate has the makings here for an easy air plant terrarium, and many cool pots..

It would even be cute just popping an air plant on a long wooden tray like the one Cindy is checking out here.. You know Cindy is the master of using rough bits like that and making them look a million buck..hence her blog, Rough Luxe Lifestyle. I have really learned so much from her home style and taste.

Mary Ann showing me how she used some of the very believable ferns they have in a client’s home she did. These are excellent, so real.

They would look modern and springlike in one of these hip vases on your dining table, the middle of an island or on your mantle for a refresh no? The pink vase is really fun.

Need some new dishes? How about Caspian Blue? Totally California to me and the blue ombre glasses too.

If you want to go with more springlike tones you can check out their blush stoneware and Mavi Plates (on clearance now) and cute Mesa Glasses.

The ceramics behind the plates, are all over CB. They are killing it in the vase/planter category right now. Modern and elegant objects are everywhere there.

I went home with these black metal hurricanes with gold interior. I bought the large and medium to hold wooden spoons, etc. I thought that would look fresh next to the stove, and I can reuse them in summer as lanterns on my outdoor table! I like the bit of black with my black kitchen plates I have on the open shelves.

If you are still loving black like I am CB has this collection too..

The cool Sloan Black Plates with white edges and the Kyoto bowls and platter.

Thanks for the shopping along with us! I hope you enjoyed this little peak of what is out there for spring from Crate & Barrel.

More coming on my conference tomorrow, so stay tuned. If you don’t already subscribe to the blog you can on the sidebar and follow on my NorthernCalStyle Instagram where I post a lot more about shopping, travel, recipes and some of my little discoveries daily on my stories, so come hang out with me there!

Kim

Red Fashion -Not Just for Valentine’s Day

February 14, 2020 By kimwheeler 12 Comments

Happy Valentine’s Day! Do you have fun plans today? Tonight we are cooking a family dinner with the sons and doing our chocolate fondue tradition. When my boys were small we would do Valentine’s night dinner as a picnic on the floor by the fire with chocolate dipped strawberries we made together. My own mom always made Valentines special for us with a small gift like socks, a little money and chocolates by our breakfast plate. Valentine’s is the day I got engaged 24 years ago and on that same day my sweet niece Veronica was born. It’s one of my favorite days of the year.

I wanted to share a few lovely discoveries in the fashion world I came upon this week in red, just in time for Valentine’s Day and beyond..

Red has never been my favorite, but I needed a pair of red shoes to wear to a Valentine themed lunch and came across a suede pair of sandals at our local and darling She She Shoes. Feeling a little thrilled with the red, and how pretty it looked, I walked over to Banana Republic to see what they had in the shade, and found this very lovely high necked blouse in lipstick red. I’ve already worn them both in many ways this week. Just these two red pieces are making the bland winter closet staples like my camo pants, dark jeans, camel blazer and brown handbag pop! Thanks to Valentines the closet got a little boost and everything feels reinvented and fresh. I guess it is good to go out of your comfort zone and try a little color, especially this time of year when we can use a little injection of bright with the wardrobe classics.

Above and below, you can see my friend Jeanne’s darling red booties she wore to the lunch. SO COOL! I once saw a woman in Paris with almost the same boots and a trench coat and it was perfection. I adore Jeanne’s fun outfit. Her Diane Von Furstenberg lips knit skirt is darling and I have always liked the mix of pink and red.

If you can’t get to She She Shoes, my red suede sandals can also be found here and here. Similar red booties to Jeanne’s are here, here and here. My jeans are Madewell Cali Demi Boot.

Banana also has this darling XOXO sweater.. How cute is this in black or grey? It was hard to choose, but I bought the black. I know it’s cute enough to wear it all year long. Right now it’s 40% off this weekend and I think they have free shipping also.