weekend meanderings

Weekend Meanderings- Rails Clothing, Fig Couscous, Succulent Pumpkins, & a Santa Cruz Home

October 21, 2022 By kimwheeler 30 Comments

On this Weekend Meander..my favorite Rails pieces for fall, a fig couscous to make right now, a succulent pumpkin craft, an exotic Santa Cruz home, and an historic San Francisco auction you won’t want to miss..

Welcome back to our little weekend roundup of fun things with Juliet and Elizabeth! I always have so much to share and the week I am squeezing a few more extras in because they are on sale now!

My Madewell Jacket

At the beginning of October, I shared this Larsen plaid blazer from Madewell on my Signature Style post about Fall Wishlists.. I was waiting for mine to come and turns out… I never checked out of my cart. No wonder it was taking so long! Anyone else ever do that? And here I was blaming the postal service..

The upside, yes there was one, was that I got it on sale at Madewell and I also added these loafers. The jacket came in two days and the loafers are pre-ordered so a few weeks away. It’s a good time to grab these things if you’ve been thinking about them!

I love this jacket!! I bought a small and I am 5’4 and about 137-8ish.. It’s slightly longer in the newer style, but not baggy. I paired in with my Anthropologie jeans (same jeans darker wash here) and my Resistance scarf from Claire V.

Rails California Clothes

A few weeks back I visited the Rails outpost in San Francisco. I love this California brand and they have just three shops in the U.S., the others are NY and Newport Beach, and I have a scoop that they are soon opening an outpost at Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto!

They had so many beautiful things and this Wedgewood blue dress with tan flowers especially stood out. I needed a long sleeve dress for fall and later in winter with boots and it’s an easy throw on and go fabric. It’s also on sale now until Sunday at Bloomies with code SAVEMORE.

The dress is also in a longer version here.

I also couldn’t leave without this butterscotch colored Steffi Jacket. I was taken in by the super soft feel, very pretty color and contrasting black buttons. It’s light and not stiff and a good jacket for California’s fall and winter. It’s also on sale here this weekend with the SAVEMORE code and 25% off.. I missed this chance to get them on sale, and it’s a nice savings.

After a few cool days here, I finally wore the jacket first time to meet Juliet for a working lunch on Wednesday and it was actually 90 degrees by time we finished! We both thought we were having hot flashes! I’m so ready to wear all these warmer things.. and still using my straw tote as my laptop bag and purse.. A very overheated me posing with the jacket.. Thank you Juliet for the pic..

Town & Country Village in Palo Alto

The day I met Juliet we decided on a halfway point to have a working lunch and I suggested one of my favorite spots, Town & Country in Palo Alto. This old school shopping center really has the nicest places for a bite and we had a French lunch at Douce France, and unassuming little bakery with great salads, sandwiches, coffee and pastries.

We both went for the brie, pear and walnut sandwich on a baguette…It felt like the perfect fall lunch and we loved it. I was thinking what a good girls’ lunch sandwich to recreate?

After we popped in one of the best consignment places, Fillmore & Fifth and we found Juliet a Maxmara Chanel style jacket, a Nili Loton blue stripe blouse, and this Annabel Ingall tote in Kelly green. I adore those totes and have one in yellow…

All the things she got were like new. I also found a brand new August Cashmere cardigan with leather buttons that had a $550 tag still attached for $50… SO it pays to go to consignment. Wherever you live, you need to find the good spots and frequent them. Upcycled clothes are the future and stylish and cool. I can’t wait to see Juliet share all she found. Below she is with the new bag..

Fall Fig Couscous Salad

Figs are still all over the stores here in early fall and so I thought I’d share my family’s favorite fig couscous dish. It’s great to bring to a potluck, or to serve with grilled chicken or fish, and a big green salad.

Pick figs that are not too soft, but have some give. If I’m at Whole Foods I like to mix the figs if they have several varietals of the same cost. Get fresh pine nuts. A sliced thinly shallot, cooked until slightly brown, almost black, gives a savory bit and counters the sweetness of the figs. A very important step is toasting the pine nuts. It makes all the difference in this!

Fig and Shallot Couscous

kimwheeler

a great side dish or potluck item for summer and into late fall.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Mediterranean

Servings 6

Ingredients

1/3 C. Olive Oil Extra virgin
1 box couscous
1 shallot
1 basket fresh figs mixed or of your choice
3/4 C Pine nuts
1 tsp sea salt to taste

Instructions

Add boiling water to couscous, cover and set aside. Toast pine nuts on the stove until just browning, set aside. Thinly slice shallot and cook in a tablespoon of olive oil until starting to brown and remove and let drain on paper towel. Slice figs into quarters. When couscous is ready, fluff with a fork and all olive oil, salt, and then gently fold in figs, shallots and pine nuts. Serve at room temp.

Keyword fig couscous

Succulent pumpkins

During 2020, our pandemic year, my neighbors and I did a fun project in my garage with succulents and pumpkins. If you have succulents growing around just snap bits off and use them.. You just need some moss, and a few other things. The original blog and instructions here. This weekend might be a fun time to do this with friends or kids and the pumpkins last a long time. They also make a cute gift and a darling centerpiece…

A Santa Cruz home in House Beautiful!

I spied this very cool Moroccan inspired Santa Cruz, California home in House Beautiful this month and had to share as it’s a renovation of house built in the 80’s…

I love to see someone’s unique vision. You are not wedded to the architectural age of your house! Interior design was by Alexandra Loew and photos by Roger Davies.

Many of the beautiful wallpapers in the home are Morris & Co.

Buy a Piece of San Francisco History at Ann Getty’s auction..

This week Cristie’s is finishing the auction of the Ann and Gordon Getty Collection. Ann was a longtime famous hostess and tastemaker and what a gorgeous collection she had. Ann grew up on a walnut and pecan orchard in California’s central valley and later attended UC Berkeley where she studied anthropology. Thanks to her job and friends at the Joseph Magnin cosmetic counter, she met her husband Gordon Getty.. More about her fascinating life and amazing taste and here on Airmail.

The live auction already took place and made 79 million! The online auctions end on the 25th, but you can still peruse the offerings and there are still some not too outrageous things to be gotten.. Ann’s handbags and jewelry is the most interesting to me, and many of the bags are less than the Real Real is selling them for. I mean that! There is also some of my favorite Ippolita jewelry.

Philanthropist Ann Getty, wife of millionaire oil tycoon Gordon Getty, decorating tables for a Christmas celebration at their home in Pacific Heights, San Francisco, USA, August 1979. (Photo by Slim Aarons/Getty Images)

The Art of the Table lot has ceramics, art and silver pieces.. and other beautiful one of a kind things! I love this green porcelain set which is private stock made for Tiffany in France.. All the proceeds go to benefit their foundation.

That is my weekend meanderings for this week.. Please check out Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs to see what good things they are sharing…

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

PINECONES AND ACORNS

Thank you for being here and I hope your weekend is great!

Kim

On last Weekend’s Meander..my fall front porch decor, more plaid jackets to consider, including Katie Holme’s latest, organizing your jewelry, a Christmas jewelry tree project to prep for, a French hair product you’ll love, and revisiting the legendary design of California’s Nut Tree restaurant.

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

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

Weekend Meanderings – The California Look Book, Plaid Jackets, and the Legendary Nut Tree

October 15, 2022 By kimwheeler 51 Comments

On this Weekend Meander.. my fall front porch decor, more plaid jackets to consider, including Katie Holmes latest, organizing your jewelry, a Christmas jewelry tree project to prep for, a French hair product you’ll love, and revisiting the legendary design of California’s Nut Tree restaurant.

It’s that time of the week where I share all that is on my radar along with Juliet and Elizabeth! The week seems to have flown by as the college son was here and already off, but we had some fun doing a day trip to foggy Carmel, and a little shopping for new pants..and sneakers. I made cookies and we had a nice lunch out.. And now I’ve got laundry and a quiet house again.. I miss him, so I got busy with the porch and things..

It’s fall on the porch..

Yes, it’s halfway through the month of October, but I finally got my front porch the way I want it. It’s simple, but has a little autumn vibe. I found my mums at the local Ace Hardware and used these seagrass baskets from Target that usually house my hydrangeas. Even the cat came out to inspect it..

Benjamin Moore Florida Keys Blue Front Door paint

I bought a dried leaf wreath from our local florist, Bunches. I love that the leaves are real and preserved so hopefully it will last a few seasons. I also like that it’s pretty simple.

I thought the rust color would pop nicely with the door. So far, Max’s spider has stayed in the garage rafters.. I am hoping he forgot about it!

Jewelry Seasonal cleanout and trends…

Since we talked about cleaning out the closet for fall and two weeks ago the beauty cabinet, this week I am tackled my jewelry drawer! So many of us have piles of jewelry and rarely go through it. Since this season trends have a retro feel, it’s a good time to shop your own jewelry drawer first! I have some of my jewelry on my dresser top so I remember to wear it, and the rest in my top drawer. (Back in 2016 I wrote this post about having fun displaying your jewelry.)

Go through what you have and separate by metals and then by type. I bought my velvet jewelry dividers at Homegoods a while back (similar ones here) and I love opening a drawer and seeing it all. If you can dedicate a drawer to your jewelry that is great. I have bigger necklaces on trays. This is also a cute holder if you don’t have a drawer.

I mentioned in my Signature Style Fall Edit post, I have been wearing a few pair of my mom’s hoops from the 80’s. I think they are made by Trifari and the others are Monet. Some of the older costume jewelry is fantastic quality, nothing like you find today.

Some of the newer trends are wearing many necklaces and bead necklaces along with your chains. Those 70’s and 80’s simple and twisted hoops our mothers wore non-stop are back also. I have also spotted vintage looking clips as well as dangly evening earrings with more tailored day looks… Whatever it is, if something speaks to you, dig it out and start wearing it again. Jewelry makes your look so have fun with it.

Madewell and J.Crew have lots of classic looking hoops if you need a pair for fall..I particularly love these from Odette New York in brass made by hand for J. Crew.

The Jewelry Tree Project

Some of you may remember this Christmas tree made of costume jewelry that was my grandmother’s that I now treasure. I adore it and fixed it last year with a few vintage buttons and things where it had lost a piece or two. These are so beautiful and I get so many compliments on mine, I thought it would be fun to try and recreate one myself..

I’m not a crafty kind of person, but I have been obsessed with these vintage holiday jewelry trees and I thought it would be a fun project I can share in November, but we need to start collecting pieces for this now..

Last year when I shared my tree, I had some others share their own jewelry trees that they treasure. Some are gorgeous. This was a trend in the 60’s and 70’s and one family was lucky to have one made for each kid that I shared on my Instagram from BB Hamilton…

They are unique things of beauty and could one day be an heirloom for your family… If you like the look of these, start looking for costume brooches, earrings and other bits that you might want to use in one of these. Buttons can work and any kind of jeweled bits..Check the local Goodwill or yard sales for pieces and start collecting.

The other thing you’ll need is a frame and some fabric you will want to do this on. Good choices are velvet, like my grandma’s or wool or other winter looking fabrics.

I will share more details in November when we can work on these, but start keeping your eye out now! You will find more inspiration and ideas on this Pinterest link and also here on Etsy where they are selling many vintage ones for a lot of money.

The California Look

I was a my local bookstore Kepler’s last weekend and spotted this beautiful book, The California Look. The book is the photography of Fred Lyons who knew Frances Elkins and Tony Hail, Michael Taylor and John Dickinson, who decorated with fresh modern looks in the post-war era, specifically, Northern California. I did know about Michael Taylor and his influence, but did not know as much about the others. This book is a peek into those beautiful homes.Many are from Atherton, Woodside, San Francisco and wine country.. One is even from Sugar Bowl!

I’m especially a fan of Michael Taylor’s beautiful aesthetic which is bright, light and mixes modern and natural elements so perfectly.. Do these not look like a home from today?? The man was ahead of his time. If you’re a Northern Californian, or just a fan of California casual with elegance, you will adore this book!

More plaid jackets

This week I spotted a stunning fall plaid jacket at Nordstrom.. If you’re still looking for a lovely piece for the fall wardrobe to give everything that Ralph Lauren vibe, this jacket by Alex Mill is gorgeous and I can attest to it’s quality. I tried it on and love the way this feels on, not stiff or heavy, with a lovely cream lining with stripes you can turn up. It’s not cheap, but it’s one of those pieces you’d have in the wardrobe forever..

I tried it on quickly as we were shopping for the son.. This was a small which was perfect and I am usually a size 8.

I ordered this Madewell one and it’s on the way, so if I don’t totally love it, I’ll return it for this Alex Mill one.

Katie Holmes was spotted recently in a plaid jacket..always giving the cool girl vibe with her under the radar pieces.and I love that! Not a label in sight on this girl.

Katie’s blazer is by Reformation, a sustainable brand that uses old stock material. I also love that.

katie holmes in Reformation plaid jacket

Phyto 7 Hair Creme

Years ago when I worked in the beauty department at Nordstrom, I used to be the rep for the French haircare line, Phyto. I grew to love this plant based line that had a cult following. I had forgotten about it, and recently found it again!

Some products were so popular, and hard to get people would come in and buy 12 tubes of their favorite, and back then, this stuff wasn’t cheap. Most popular were the Phyto Defrissant, for curly haired people, and Phyto 7 and Phyto 9, which are hair cremes you leave in after your regular wash/condition.

Phyto 7 was my favorite as I have fine, colored and damaged hair and it made a huge difference. The best way to describe it would be that your hair can have the shine and luster a child’s hair does. Phyto 9 is a heavier version for people with thicker, coarser dry hair.

I use about a dime size in my wet hair mainly on the ends and on the front strands when it’s towel dried and them comb through to distribute. It’s also perfect for a travel bag when you don’t know what kind of products you’ll find or if you must deal with a hotel blow drier from hell.. This stuff makes your hair look and feel beautiful. I also love to work it in and just let air dry sometimes! Phyto also has a sun line and the after sun shampoo is wonderful to take on a vacation. You can find the whole line here.

The lost age of the Nut Tree

If you are Northern Cal native near my age, you may remember the original Nut Tree roadside stop that once stood where the current hideous block of big box stores and fast food stops called the Nut Tree, now exists off Highway 80. The original fruit stand, which was very special, began in 1921, and was later transformed by the family and a visionary designer in the 50’s. In 1978, the San Francisco Chronicle called the roadside attraction an “oasis of taste.”

The Nut Tree original menu — The original Nut Tree menu designed by Don Birrell

I am often wistful for the original stop, as it was a memorable kind of wonderland on the way to Lake Tahoe from the Bay Area. My husband especially remembers the train and the small airport and airplanes that hung from the ceilings.. He does not remember the details I did, but it was designed to be a full on experience, from the plates to the food, as well as the beautiful architecture and furniture.

I recently came across an article about how this roadside marvel came to be in Sactown Magazine, by writer Leilani Marie Labong, and the history behind it is fascinating. The original Power family who owned it, found visionary graphic artist Don Birrell, a graduate of CalArts in LA, where many of the Disney illustrators like Mary Blair emerged, to help them create this nirvana. Birrell’s vision was implemented in every way, from the Eames furniture, to the flowers (the whole Nut Tree design was a forerunner to ‘flower power’), to how the tables were set and even how the food was arranged for recipes.

The menu was ahead of it’s time, with it’s own orchard, and very farm-to-table. According to the article:

The Nut Tree’s farmers tended 200 acres of fruit orchards and row crops to supply the onsite food programs, and in fact the train ride skirted this farmland on its route between the toy store and the airport. In 1978, former New York Times food editor Raymond Sokolov called the Nut Tree a “crucible of California style” and “the region’s most characteristic and influential restaurant.”
Sactown Mag

As a kid, one of the fun parts of a stop there, was taking the train to see the airport and back to the toy store. The gift shop even sold the Eames chairs from the restaurant and the Dansk dishes that were used.. There was also a candy store and a cookie stand where you could buy cookies as big as your head made from the family’s honey cookie recipe. I remember begging my mom for one and I think the answer was usually no..

The Nut Tree was what happens when you care enough to put thought into all the choices of a business. It’s so rare to see such a thing in today’s world of fast food and chain restaurants.

The Nut Tree gift Shop — The Nut Tree, 1958 – 1989 -Notice the kitchenware display on the wall.. Why does this remind me of Small World in Disneyland?

I wish there to be more places like this. Maybe it’s because I am a design obsessed person, but I know for many, the Nut Tree stays on in our minds. It’s a shame it’s gone forever, but the wonderful details, some that I never even imagined, live on in this beautiful piece that is a tribute. The writer Lelani Marie Labong won an award for it.

Does anyone else remember this magical spot? I wish my kids could have experienced it!

You can also buy the Nut Tree book, by one of the Power children, available at the Vacaville Museum and here.

That is my weekend meanderings for this week.. Please check out Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs to see what good things they are sharing…

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

PINECONES AND ACORNS

Thank you for being here and I hope your weekend is great!

Kim

If you missed last weekend’s post , I shared some new things I’ve added to the house this season, folding screens, puffy purses, a gorgeous book on home, and a way to help more people vote.

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

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

Weekend Meanderings-Folding Screens, Puffy Purses, and How to Get the Vote Out

October 7, 2022 By kimwheeler 29 Comments

On this weekend meander.. some new things I’ve added to the house this season, folding screens, puffy purses, a gorgeous book on home, and a way to help more people vote.

It’s our Saturday round-up of good things with Juliet and Elizabeth! Thanks for being here with us. I’m super excited because my college son, Griffin has a week off and is coming home this weekend. I’ve already made a batch of cookies!

Fall Home Additions

So since a week ago, I’ve added a few little pumpkins to my table along with my rattan one and my new candlesticks. I kind of like this low-key look ..

By the way, my Alamere Rug and the Malibu chandelier are 20% off right now at Serena & Lily’s Fall Home Event- use code HOMELOVE until 10/18.

I may add some gourds and mini pumpkins to my wooden bowl on the island like I did last year..

I love looking back and seeing what I did last year.. That is one nice thing about blogging.

In 2021, this was the front porch look for October.. I will change it this year..hopefully this weekend. Max is determined to put his HUGE spider out hanging from the roof! I try and get him to hold off until we are closer to Halloween. I prefer less out there..

Room dividers/screens

Have you ever used a room divider or folding screen? I think they can be so beautiful and some are stunning. It reminds me of the story Anderson Cooper told in his Vanderbilt book about his mom Gloria asking him to buy her a $50,000 folding screen for her when he got his first paycheck at CNN! I can’t even imagine. Anyhow, this isn’t that kind of screen.

I bought a simple cane and rattan screen for the front entrance, which I’m pretty excited about. I love having an all glass front door and the light from it-and we live on a small court that is pretty private. Occasionally when we are away, I would still love to have a little screen over the opening…So I thought I’d give this a try.

I found ours on Wayfair and I am digging the look, the texture and color it’s adding to the space, even pushed aside it adds a little something…

These screens are also good for a big room if you want a bit more definition or privacy to an area.

I also loved this screen from West Elm and may order it to use it in another space like my office… These just give a nice architectural feel and fill up a blank wall space nicely..

Urban Outfitters has this cute offering..

Other options for glass door people are to have a panel curtain to one side that you can pull over. So far, we haven’t needed anything like that. In Texas where a lot of people have gone to all glass front doors, many do this.

I’ve been loving all the browns in fashion and in home decor and was excited when my dear friends gifted me these beautiful tortoiseshell glasses. I’ve always been a big fan of this tortoise look and love the pop of brown in the bar as it adds some richness to the mix for autumn.

They are from Hudson Grace and they also have similar ones here.

I also got this darling rattan ice bucket that Juliet had first. I had wanted a very expensive one from OKA, but them Juliet told me hers was from Amazon. Love the quality for the price.

I shared on Instagram that I changed out my wire utensil holder for a planter from Anthropologie.

I love the texture and look of it on the counter. I got the idea from my friend Bari who has a huge collection of cooking spoons and tools in a very large planter on her counter. That was the only thing she could find to hold them all and it looks so cool. Consider using a planter for your kitchen spoons and things for a unique look!

The Mood book

I always read Canadian House & Home and designer Anne Hepfer was their designer of the year 2021.. When I saw she had a book out, I ordered it right away..

Mood is such a fun book. Anne grew up in Connecticut, but is now a Canadian who has traveled the world and it informs her design.

This book is a kind of mood board with recipes, playlists, and a wide selection of design styles in her beautiful spaces. If you’re a design lover, this book is for you.

A kitchen by Anne and a few pages from her book …

Puffy Purse Show Season 2

Puffy purse 2.0 is here. Well yay for that because I bought one last season and still love it. Now it seems to be even a bigger trend. So for those who waited, there are cute pieces to be had, and more options and price points.

I like these bags for their zero weight, and also the feel..They are soft and nice to hold. A sort of therapy purse if you will…

My friend Jeanne, who notices everything cool, said Gap had nice ones. I stopped by my local, but none were left. Looks like they are online here..in five colors, but the black and cream look the best to me.

I love an easy chic bag like this that you can take for travel, a day out and not worry about it- and it still has some serious style cred. You can tie a scarf on it, or a pin and make it unique, without breaking the bank. I will always love Gap. They still do style for the masses well with the occasional piece you’ll hold onto for 20 years!

Looks like my tote from last year is no longer at Bloomies, but there is this adorable shoulder bag from AllSaints.. and this bucket bag version too.

all saints quilted shoulder bag in black

Other soft options are this tote, this crossbody, and this pretty chocolate one at Anthro , this iridescent version and this tote that reverses to sherpa on the other side…which is the best of both trends…

Getting out the vote

I’m sure all of you all agree this upcoming November election is more important than ever. We need every American who is able to vote to do so! The 2020 election had the highest voter turnout ever and hopefully that is a trend. A friend shared a great organization begun in 2017 in Alabama called Vote Forward. Their mission is to empower grassroots volunteers to encourage their fellow citizens in underrepresented communities to vote.

They’ve got studies that back up the evidence that these handwritten letters work. On their last big push in 2020, 200,000 volunteers sent over 17 million letters to voters across 21 states. This time I believe they are aiming even higher.

It’s easy to write a few sentences on the partially filled forms they provide and you stay anonymous except for your first name. You can also make the envelopes personal and fun.. The notes stay non-partisan and are not political at all…

letters to voters on Vote Forward website

Max and I are going to write five a night and see how many we can get out before the end of October deadline.. More about this great organization and how to participate here... and follow along with everyone else doing it on their Vote Forward Instagram.

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Other Stuff

A reader reached out to me to ask for the link to my sheet and bedding post.. I wrote this pre-pandemic and recently updated it if you’re in the market for new bedding essentials or need a refresh.. All my favorites are there!

If you missed it, Cindy, Sarah and I shared our fall wishlists for our monthly Signature Style this week and I shared some fall looks I would love to recreate…

And Juliet shared a sneak peak of HGTV’s Urban Oasis in Nashville, which is really fun…

Well that is my weekend meanderings for this week.. Please check out Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs to see what good things they are sharing…

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

PINECONES AND ACORNS

Thank you for being here and I hope your weekend is great!

Kim

If you missed last weekend’s post I share my day out in San Francisco’s cute Hayes Valley, cleaning cosmetics drawers up, Bobbi Brown’s Jones Road makeup, the fun California brand Claire V., and an easy pasta to try with your last tomatoes of summer!

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

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

Weekend Meanderings- Skirts for Fall, Easy Pumpkin Noodles & More..

September 23, 2022 By kimwheeler 34 Comments

On this Weekend’s Meanderings..Skirts for your fall closet, skirted tables for home, a fascinating book on skirts in history, easy pumpkin noodles, and a drought tolerant yard update..

It’s time for our weekend chat and sharing of good things with my friends Elizabeth and Juliet.. We had some days of rain here this week in Northern Cal, which were wonderful and I even did some baking.. Now this weekend, we are back to the heat and though I wore pants and a jacket on Wednesday, by Thursday that was a mistake.

…So it’s a typical California Fall! Hold off on wearing those new sweaters yet friends unless you want to pass out..As my mom used to say, ‘layers and peel’ for a while yet.

In my SLOW fall rollout, I added one of the pretty pumpkins from PB thanks to my sweet friend Jill who gave me the cutest one.. They look great next to my candlesticks from Juliet!

I also love these woven frames from PB that just went on sale.. and would look cute next to these.

I’ve had skirts on the mind..of all flavors..

The Skirts Book

My friend Linda told me about Skirts by Kimberly Crisman Campbell, thinking I may enjoy it ! I ordered it straightaway and it’s so fun and interesting. If you like history, and fashion, you will really get into this engrossing book that touches on the skirt and fashion’s part in politics, sports, and women’s rights..

Suzanne and Queen Mary- National Portrait Gallery

I especially enjoyed the chapter on Suzanne Lenglen, the French tennis player who brought the short skirts, sport shoes( a forerunner to a sneaker), and sleeveless tops to tennis around 1920. Called a streetwalker by some for her unencumbered and chic attire she developed with the help of Jean Patou, she inspired a generation of women to dress more modernly and take up tennis. So many fascinating stories in this book! You can buy it here at Target or on Amazon or check a local bookseller!

Skirts on my Fall Edit..

I am thinking of adding a skirt or two to the closet for fall. This zebra stripe from J. Crew has been on my radar. Love the pleats and it’s an extra 50% off this weekend.

I also have been wanting a longer denim skirt with some flair that can be worn sort of slouchy with a sweater and sneakers and this Joe’s Jeans version is on sale now (extra 25% too ),

Other lovelies to add versatility to your mix are this Mother vegan wrap skirt, and this version by Joe’s Jeans…

..Also this denim maxi by Rag & Bone, this Veronica Beard Mini, and black denim by Wash Lab.

Also cool..this Chevron Style with a drawstring, this Madewell classic on sale, and this Old Navy Maxi in black denim.

Table skirts are back

Remember when table skirts were all the rage and everyone had one near the end of their couch with pictures and books? My mom had one made to match our chintz rose couch pillows (along with pink stripe couches of course), back in the late 80’s, and I have always liked them.

I have one right now in my office that I created using a table someone on our street was giving away for free. I wasn’t sure how well the wood worked in the house, so I threw one of my Pottery Barn table throws on it and it looks pretty, and I store more books under it too. As a nod to my mom, I added an ivy as she always had, and a few of my favorite books and a frame with my sons on a holiday..

I’m obsessed with entry skirted tables and I love the look and I am thinking of adding one in my large open space in the center of your home. You can make any round table of a smaller dimension become a skirted table by using a tablecloth or even any kind of throw or smaller blanket.

Pottery Barn has a nice selection and I have this one as well and I like this French Stripe version, this Suzani one. For one similar to mine, these on Etsy are very close. Mine was an older season from PB.

An inspiring and pretty home in AD

Well right away this Hampton’s home of photographer Mimi Ritzen Crawford in AD by Studio Riga had me with the darling entry and skirted table..Isn’t this beautiful? Love the trim especially..

I think what drew me to this home is the mix of patterns, unique objects, natural woven objects and overall light happy atmosphere.. You can follow the designer, Jenny Vorhoff on Instagram.

Love this pale pink dining room, these Serena & Lily beds in a fun bedroom.

I’m obsessed with the yellow gingham in the beautiful dining space!

More of the beautiful home here.

Our drought tolerant yard update…

So many people have been changing their yards up this year due to the heat, drought and climate change that is only getting worse. If you have been following the blog for a few years, you may have read how we changed our lawn to a drought tolerant landscape almost three years ago. It’s truly been the best decision and so easy to maintain.

Now three years on, a few of the plants need replacing, have grown too large and others need some big time cutting back. We are embarking on a small refresh this month and adding more of the DG (decomposed granite) ground cover… I thought I’d share it again as we have people every week stopping by by taking photos and asking about the plants, especially the past month! More about the journey and how a few of our neighbors also rebuilt their front yards during the pandemic on this post.

At first people were telling me it looked like an Arizona landscape, but it didn’t take long for the bushes to fill in..

before and at the start..

drought tolerant yard with decomposed granite

We use no pesticides or weed killers, trim it about every three months, sometimes less, and use minimal water. Since Max works from home most days, he’s got a full time bird and butterfly show out there. The small birds love the bushes and we added a birdhouse and a feeder on his office window so it’s a constant entertainment and a lot of fun.

Max has this bird feeder and getting fresh black sunflower seeds from our local bird shop really brought all the birds.

Pumpkin noodles

A few years ago my friend Debbie shared a wonderful pumpkin pasta recipe that crazy easy and a lot of fun and I thought if you tried our home made pasta from last week’s blog, you may want to try this as we are slowly.. getting around to pumpkin season!

The recipe is from food blog Wholefully…

The recipe is simply pumpkin puree (I used the Whole Foods one with only pure pumpkin), and flour, mixed by hand, turned out and cut into thin strips. You can let them dry a bit and pop them in a pot of boiling, well salted water until they float.

There is an accompanying recipe for sage browned butter which is exactly what you want on this plus a little fresh grated Parmeggiano-Reggiano. It’s the perfect fall dinner and total comfort food. To make it totally vegan leave off the cheese and use butter substitutes she recommends for the sauce. Full recipe and details here. My lower-tech version, without rolling cutter or drying rack above…. Still came out wonderful. I just forgot to take pictures!

…….

It’s been such a busy week, but I hoped you didn’t miss this gorgeous post about the Allure of Green Kitchens by Juliet! It made me want one!

Max and I have been watching the new Ken Burn’s documentary, The U.S. and the Holocaust. It’s excellent and while we thought we knew what happened, we really didn’t. I would encourage everyone to watch it. As with all his projects, so engrossing and well done.

Well that is my weekend meanderings for this week.. Please check out Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs to see what good things they are sharing…

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

PINECONES AND ACORNS

Thank you for being here! Hope your weekend is wonderful,

Kim

On my last Weekend Meanderings I shared Homemade pasta noodles, inspiration bulletin boards, a great book with some unexpected charcuterie ideas, and Madewell sale pieces you’ll want to add to the closet..and more!

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

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

Weekend Meanderings-Inspiration Boards, Charcuterie Ideas, the Best Madewell Fall Pieces & More..

September 16, 2022 By kimwheeler 22 Comments

On this Weekend’s Meanderings..Homemade pasta noodles, inspiration bulletin boards, a great book with some unexpected charcuterie ideas, and Madewell pieces you’ll want to add to the closet..and more!

It’s time for some chat and and fun things you might want to know about -with my pals Elizabeth and Juliet. We have been so lucky here in Northern Cal with days of 70’s temperatures here after a last week’s unbelievable heat. I even wore jeans and a cardigan today. I can’t believe fall is next week already. I am ready!

The Queen’s Service Coverage

Have you been watching the coverage of the queen’s funeral and all surrounding it? I’ve been catching a lot of it on SkyNews live stream on YouTube. It’s the next to best thing to being able to watch live BBC in the U.K. If you are in America, and don’t want to miss a thing, you’ll appreciate it. I’ve had it open on the computer non-stop and watching all of it. There are some wonderful stories on Sky..Like Eisenhower’s granddaughter sharing notes from the Queen and her special scone recipe she wrote out with a note for the President and other fascinating tales.

So many people queuing to see the Queen, it’s quite something isn’t it? I don’t think we’ll ever forget this. Princess Anne is the first female royal to be part of Vigil of the Princes, and walk and stand next to the coffin. I do like her in the pants, something we haven’t seen before.

Pumpkins and Fall Decor

Juliet and I have a thing about fall decor.. We both don’t like a ton of it and I do hate the pushing of it so much in every single store. There is only so much we need and people can go over the top.. I do have a few glass pumpkins I’ve had for years I’ll put out in October. I also buy real ones and leave them on the porch through Thanksgiving, but not until October!

I was complaining about the cargo ships loaded with this stuff and saying if I hear another thing about pumpkin spice… UGH! Well Juliet being the joker she is, gave me a little pumpkin mug as a gag (along with some gorgeous candlesticks .) Thing is, it’s my favorite mug now! I sent her this photo of me with it.. pardon my morning appearance.. Ha I love her!

That said… I kind am of thinking of breaking my no more pumpkin decor rule with these rattan pumpkins I’ve been eyeing at Pottery Barn. Don’t you think they are cute? One might be kind of cool mixed in with my real ones..I’m a lover of anything rattan. How do you all feel about the fall decor thing? Are you all in -or more like me? Would this be terrible? I know I’d keep them a long time, so that sort of justifies one?

Bulletin/Inspiration Boards

I am still getting my small office the way I want it, and we finally removed the big television we had and I now have another wall to play with. I knew I wanted a big bulletin board to pin all the things inspiring me. I had my eye on one of the Ballard Design boards.

They are well made with cork behind them so they work beautifully. I previously had a beautiful burlap version that I gave to my son. I know these are pricey so I looked all over for something similar in the same size and linen. Even going through Etsy, and making the same size board, it was near $600, so I finally went with the Ballard Linen version during a sale.

Inspiration board on linen pinboard in office

I am so happy I did. It’s really the focus of this extra wall now. I’m having fun pinning up some images that are inspiring me for autumn, and inspiring quotes..

I’m loving rusts, blues and hints of yellow for autumn 2022! I’ve also done boards in the mud room before with postcards from travels or all family photos. That’s what I love about these boards, you can treat it as a living collage of sorts and change it up when the mood strikes you!

The Boards Book

My sweet son Jackson gave me this book, Boards, for my birthday and it’s fantastic. There are a lot of charcuterie board books out there right now, but this one is different. It is by Elle Simon Scott, of America’s Test Kitchen, and she is a chef, food stylist and also a show-runner. Food is her passion though and she’s the genius behind this wonderful book.

Boards cookbook bay America Test Kitchen's Elle Simone Scott

Charcuterie boards have evolved from the big wooden board with a hunk of cheese. They are so much more now and almost a creative art that can be used from breakfast on and for almost all occasions. They make things casual and fun and encourage gathering, chatting and eating..

Because Elle is a food stylist as well as a chef, these board ideas are stunning. Just some of the ideas are breakfast taco boards, pizza parlor, martinis, afternoon tea, steak frites, shawarma, Octoberfest, pavlovas- and so much more.

What really makes this book though is the delicious recipes. This isn’t just pretty boards. She has a load of dips and fun foods to make. It’s a perfect book if you want entertaining ideas for the holiday season coming…

I also enjoy following chef Elle on Instagram here.

Homemade Noodles!

Last Sunday Max made homemade noodles. Fall makes me think of comfort food and I was remembering my mom and grandma’s own homemade noodles. I would love waking up and seeing noodles drying all over the counter as a kid. We don’t have a noodle attachment for our mixer, so we did them the old fashioned way like mom, just rolling the dough into tube shapes and then slicing and laying out for a while to dry before refrigerating.

We used a jar of Rao’s marinara because we had it on hand, grated fresh Parmigiano Reggiano on top and served it with a green salad and an Epi Baguette from the Los Gatos Farmer’s Market warmed up and we indulged with real butter. It was heaven! I ate the leftovers for lunch later in the week. I can’t tell you how good homemade noodles are until you try them. Full recipe here from Love and Lemons.

Max also used King Arthur 00 Pizza Flour which really worked well. If you haven’t tried it, I recommend it for home pizzas and other things you want sort of a chewiness.

Madewell Insider Sale

Madewell has so many good items for fall ! Of all the pretty things, I have a few pieces that I am considering adding to the closet…

You can also pin these collages if you want to save them..

Fall Madewell casual chic look with jeans and blouse.

The Puffy Transport Bag, in four colors is darling, so is the Piazza Bag in color and size options, this Glen Plaid Baseball Cap, this boxy Cashmere Cardigan, the Smocked Waist Top, these Mid-rise everyday jeans, these vintage wide leg crops jeans, the Corinne Lugsole Loafer, the Mindy Mule, and this cute two piece necklace set.

Casual Fall look from Madewell with jeans and cardigan.

You can also shop the pieces here..

My Closet Video

If you caught last week’s Signature Style with Sarah and Cindy, we did Closet Cleanout. To go along with that theme, I did a small video tour of my closet and how I organize it! I’m trying to get better about making these little clips..and I’m still learning, but you can catch it here on my Instagram.

Cute Personalized Stationery

I just wrote a few thank you and it reminded me I have been wanting to order personalized notes for a while. Its nice to order them before you actually need them!

I love the quality of Minted and they are a local Bay Area business and use small artists for their designs. They have so many artful styles to choose from.. I chose this design which kind of reminded me of Hawaii and is a bit modern. It also comes in other colorways..

I also love this poppy design, this modern circle design, and this bird one..

poppy personalized stationery from Minted.

Modern pretty pink personalized stationery from Minted.

bird theme personalized stationery from Minted.

You can see all the options for your own cards here.

Well that is my weekend meanderings for this week.. Please check out Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs to see what good things they are sharing…

MAKE MINE A SPRITZE R

PINECONES AND ACORNS

Thank you for being here! Hope your weekend is wonderful and you enjoy the first days of fall.

Kim

On last weekend’s meanderings.. Queen Elizabeth, a lunch at Juliet’s pretty house, some uber soft pajamas for hot nights, a luxe lipstick balm, and an inspiring Australian home book..

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

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

Weekend Meanderings- Queen Elizabeth, Juliet’s Pretty Lunch Party, a Luxe Lip Balm & More

September 10, 2022 By kimwheeler 24 Comments

On this Weekend Meanderings.. Queen Elizabeth, a lunch at Juliet’s pretty house, some uber soft pajamas for hot nights, a luxe lipstick balm, and an inspiring Australian home book..

It’s time for some chat and and fun things you might want to know about -with my pals Elizabeth and Juliet. And I must start with the passing of the Queen..

The Queen

Oh my goodness.. I woke Thursday to the news the queen was maybe gravely ill and I knew that wasn’t good. I think we all knew it might happen- someday, but that she actually passed right after welcoming the new PM, a day earlier, wow. It’s like she got all the unfinished business done before going. So her wasn’t it?

If you are near to my age, she has been on the throne our whole lives. The Washington Post said 9 in 10 living humans were born after she became Queen. That is mind blowing. I truly believe that she led a period that we will look back on as a New Elizabethan Age of sorts – a period of respect for institutions and honor and doing ‘the right thing.’ It feels like that has crumbled the last few years…

The Queen had what they called ‘soft power’ which was a magnifying presence and the ability to inspire the best in us. In her later years we were lucky to see more of that softer side and her humor. I loved her for ‘parachuting’ into the Olympics with Daniel Craig and the fun with Paddington for the Jubilee. She felt like our grandmother… at least that was how it was for me.

My grandmother had a little Coronation tin souvenir that I treasure and have now. I would bring grandma Hello Magazines from England when I got them and she loved to see what the Queen wore and what she was doing. They came up in the same time, the depression, the war, the 50’s and through all the incredible changes and advances of the 20th Century. They were of an age that was selfless, and put doing the right thing, above personal pleasure. There are few of their generation left, and it feels strange without her.

Washington Post Septmeber 9, 2022, on the Queen's death

Image: The Guardian

I think Liz Truss, the new Prime Minister said so fittingly in her tribute to the Queen. ‘She was the rock on which modern Britain was built.‘

Emanuel Macron said how so many of us all over the world feel, ‘To you, she was your queen, to us she was The Queen.’

Newsweek Cover of the queens passing September 2022

What do you think of King Charles? ( Seems funny to say that.) His speech was very moving. As much as I despise what happened to Diana, I think he is a good human and has evolved I hope. I think he cares about so many things that matter, he’s extremely progressive and it’s exciting to think how he may modernize the monarchy. We need to give him a chance. He may be a very good King. Can you imagine starting this job in your 70’s? Who know how long we will have him, but as someone said to me, looks like no queens for a long time, as after William there is George… so we were lucky to have this queen, who meant so much to so many. So very many articles and shows in tribute to her long life of service, but these pieces are kind of different..

This article in Vogue U.K. tells of all the jewelry that Prince Phillip had designed for the queen over the years..

The Washington Post has a story about the Queen’s corgis. She had over 30 in her lifetime and did leave some behind. She even had a breeding program at one point and they were how she calmed herself..

queen walking her corgis at train station

This is a great collection of photos of the Queen and Prince Phillip..

The queen with prince Phillip at polo 1950's

The heat!

Well we have had one heck of a week here in Nor Cal.. We have had over 100 degree days -and hot nights that don’t cool down. On Thursday when it was supposed to be cooler, it was still 109 here after dinner time. I just even more appreciate our normal California weather where A/C is an optional thing we use a few hours during a summer and never in the morning or night..

A super soft pj set for hot nights

My friend Ani has amazing taste and always sends me the best gifts and a box arrived this week with the softest pajamas. This was so timely as I’ve been dying at night with the heat…Not only do they feel good -almost cool, but they are very well made just for Nordstrom and have the prettiest piping and matching buttons. They look like a pair I had previously that were made in Italy. These are of Model which is a sustainably produced fiber. This cute set comes in Plus sizes too and in six different patterns/color, but I love the baby blue and brown in zebra..

They also come in full length and this cute green pattern.

Spaces for Living Book

Spaces for Living by Tamsin Johnson book on coffee table

I came across this gorgeous book, Spaces for Living by Tamsin Johnson, an Australian designer- and I am crazy for her style. This book is loaded with inspiring homes and interiors that are punctuated with textures, colors and objects…Think things that draw the eye in and still feel organic and inviting. I love this kind of decorating.

Tams sin Johnson kitchen with black bar stools

Estee Lauder Revitalizing Crystal Balm

I haven’t had an Estee Lauder product for a while, and had forgotten how nice they are.. My dear friend Elizabeth ( there Contessa),gave me this wonderful Revitalizing Crystal Balm for the lips that has a little sparkle and makes them feel amazing! I so loved this, especially on this very hot week. This balm comes in five colors and I have the Cosmic Crystal which can be layered over colors too. The case is beautiful with a magnetic click that is so satisfying! If you’ve never had this balm, it is a treat and great for those with dry lips.

A fun lunch at Juliet’s pretty home

Thursday Juliet kindly had a little birthday lunch for me at her lovely home and it was the highlight of this hellish weather week. I have been lucky to have been a guest at her place a few times, but it is so inviting and bright and even more stunning in person. I adore her decor, her garden and admire how she sets a table, and is a wonderful cook too. All the usual suspects were there and I am a little shy to share pics as it seems we just did this, but everyone was so sweet… and Cindy, my Signature Style pal drove all the way from Paso Robles.. Jim, Juliet’s patient husband snapped our pictures in the 100+ heat.

Juliet made delicious green salad with chicken and apples -perfect for fall – recipe on her last blog. I love her kitchen so much..

We stayed in Juliet’s pretty yard for a bit until and then moved indoors where it was cool..

Elizabeth made yummy parfait with yogurt and fresh berries and gluten free brownies! Elizabeth also brought a surprise guest our Instagram friend Linda that we both know- and she told Elizabeth about my blog years ago- so I have Linda to thank for connecting us! It was fun to meet in person. We all wore blue and Heidi brought orange flowers for us to wear.

That morning we heard about the Queen and my friend Elizabeth, (aka Contessa) had brought for me a incredibly special basket of commemorative Jubilee things.. and we couldn’t believe that coincidence..what timing..

Isn’t Juliet’s soft green table lovely? Just love the hydrangeas too..

Juliet has the best sense of humor.. love her bathroom guest napkins..and her cute menagerie..these guys have the life!

Juliet at her darling Dutch door..

Well that is my weekend meanderings for this week.. Please check out Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs to see what good things they are sharing…

MAKE MINE A SPRITZ E R

PINECONES AND ACO RNS

Thank you for being here! Hope your weekend is wonderful- and cooler!

Kim

Last Weekend’s Meanderings I shared an overnight getaway to San Francisco at Kelly Wearstler’s Proper Hotel, mirrored backslashes for light and sparkle, my newly recovered patio set, tennis bracelets, and more.

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

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

Weekend Meanderings -New Outdoor Upholstery, San Francisco’s Proper Hotel, and Mirrored Backsplashes

September 2, 2022 By kimwheeler 35 Comments

On this Weekend Meanderings.. an overnight getaway to San Francisco and Kelly Wearstler’s Proper Hotel, mirrored backslashes for light and sparkle, my newly recovered patio set, tennis bracelets, and more.

It’s time for some cool finds and things you might want to know about -with my pals Elizabeth and Juliet. I hope you are having a good Labor Day weekend and some time to rest and reset. Going back to school after August holidays is called la rentrée in France, and people welcome the resetting of rituals and daily life after vacations and being away. They are excited about getting back to their friends and familiar things. I kind of love that too.

I was born on Labor Day, which seems funny. My mom always joked about that. I love September, it’s my favorite month, and looking forward to fall! This Labor Day weekend we are staying home and having a little barbecue with our family. We did however do a little midweek getaway though…

The Proper Hotel in SF

Max planned for us to have our 26th anniversary dinner at Villon in San Francisco on Wednesday. When I realized it was at designer Kelly Wearstler’s Proper Hotel, I was super excited. I have been wanting to go see it in person for a while and shared about it on this post. The Proper is in an historic flatiron building that has been thoughtfully renovated with its original marble floors and architectural details kept and enhanced.

The Proper Hotel, a historic flatiron building in San Francisco — Photo: The Proper Hotel

We decided to stay there for the night, so we could have a drink at the pretty rooftop bar/speakeasy, Charmaine’s.. before doing the Chef’s tasting menu at Villon. We were surprised the tasting menu was $85 which seemed a great price, extra for the wine pairing, which Max did and it was really enough wine for two to share.

Max waiting for another course below, it was a lot of fun.. even thought he looks bored (He’s not good with long dinners..) I would recommend this for a special occasion night in the city!

Dinner at Villon in The San Francisco Proper Hotel

Love the rooms which were a black and white theme and had an eclectic mix of wallpapers.. and a smart little marble table to work on and a mini setee, and a chair.

Hotel room at The San Francisco Proper Hotel

The Proper is the perfect name, as it has everything you would want in a proper hotel- beautiful design, dreamy rooms, uber comfy beds and linens, two restaurants, Villon, and Banda-a tapas bar, a rooftop bar, and room service.

On top of Charmaine’s rooftop bar with the cutest little fire pits. I’m wearing one of my favorite easy dresses- this leopard t-shirt dress by Jenni Kayne ( on sale 20% off with code LDW20 this weekend), with my new Paige jacket I wrote about last week on the army jacket post..

Having a cocktail Charmaine's rooftop bar San Francisco

The public spaces are inviting, comfy and gorgeous. You can enjoy a bite or a drink, all day in the main lobby..

Villon, where we did the dinner and breakfast.. Isn’t my yogurt beautiful?

breakfast yogurt with fruit and granola in the Proper Hotel San Francisco

The Villon restaurant in The Proper Hotel San Francisco

The lobby at the Proper Hotel San Francisco

It’s a great spot for a little getaway for two. If you appreciate beautiful spaces and design, delicious food and great service, you’ll love The Proper. It’s a bit of a sanctuary from the bustle and bustle of the city.

I now want to get to one of the other Proper Hotels. There are also hotels in Downtown Los Angeles…

and Santa Monica ..in California..

Don’t you love how each hotel has it’s own design vibe? That is very Kelly Wearstler and if you aren’t familiar with her you can see more of her on her Instagram. She also has cool personal style and I find her dedication to design and dressing fascinating..

Aesop Skincare Products

Like everything Kelly Wearstler does, the bath amenities at The Proper were top quality. I was lightly familiar with Aesop Products, and loved getting to try the Geranium Leaf body cleanser gel, and Bergamot Rind shampoo and Bergamot conditioner, and I fell in love with this line!

I’m sensitive to smells, but these beautiful formulations are light and so fresh and natural. I also like how they left a pretty scent in the bathroom, but not necessarily on my skin, but enough for me to enjoy the essence in the shower without being overpowering. They are plant based and were formulated to solve skin issues. Aesop products are natural, cruelty free and a B Corp which means they do good by the earth and their employees.

I splurged a little and bought those three products before I left the hotel and I love how they look in my shower. No more mismatched bottles. I think these will last a long time- and it feels like a spa in my bath.

Aesop products sold at Neiman’s (I linked to the hair products there as they are out of stock elsewhere.) The line is also at the Skinstore where this weekend the entire line is on sale 25% off with code LABOR. I like the Skinstore and the brands they carry and have ordered many things from them. They also have a 12 piece gift bag with $130 purchase now. Most brands are included in the 25% off is you need other skincare or cosmetics.

My newly upholstered patio set

I was so happy my old nasty outdoor cushions I wrote about procrastinating on, were done in just under a month including choosing and ordering the Sunbrella fabric. The local spot, Krupp’s Upholstery could not have been more pleasant helpful and I can now verify they do beautiful work. They even made the cushions better by restuffing them and relocating the zippers so the cushions could be used on both sides. I also love the back cushions that they stuffed with an outdoor down alternative that has support, but feels great. Even Max said you could never buy already made cushions this nicely made..

Sunbrella Sea Salt on newly recovered outdoor ottoman and chair

This is the before..

This is the little patio area off of my office. I’m so glad I did not give this seating set away. I could not find the right size cushions and the all weather wicker was wearing beautifully.. after almost 10 years. I really almost donated it, but I’m so glad I chose to re-do the cushions.

On the base cushions I chose Sailcloth Salt and the accent pillows I chose Fretwork Pewter. Both are made by Sunbrella.

newly upholstered outdoor cushions in Sunbrella Sea Salt and Fretwork Pewter fabrics with all weather wicker and brick patio

I highly recommend this Krupp’s a father/son family business in Campbell. This is not a sponsored thing, just a wonderful local small business that I wanted to share.

Mirrored Backsplashes

I loved this piece on Thomas O’Brien, on Frederic this week and how his secret for bright kitchens is mirrored backplashes. They aren’t as disco as you would think and lend light and a sparkle to what can sometimes be a dark space. Look how great these kitchens where he employed the mirror trick are..

galley kitchen with mirrored backsplash by Thomas O' Brien

kitchen with mirrored backsplash by Thomas O' Brien

In this bar he did the same..

bar with mirrored backsplash by Thomas O'Brien

I also have a mirrored bar backsplash.. Mine is different in that it is tiles that are slightly glazed with a gold. I think it gives a bit of elegance to a modern shape bar and open shelving. It’s another trick to bring light to a space. I would totally do it again…

This is a shot of it. Sometimes with the tiles, it can be hard to photograph and looks busier in pictures than it does in person.

My bar has washed oak cabinets, dark gold modern pulls and floating shelves in the same material. The bar top is part of one of the two slabs of quartzite I used in my kitchen called Dolce Vita. It’s a natural stone that wears amazingly well. I have a hammered sink and dark gold faucet.

mirrored backsplash bar and brass giraffe fro Anthropologie holding tangerines.

Wet bar with accessories and mirrored backsplash

The backsplash tiles are called Yesterday’s Glass by Jeffery Court. I chose them as they reminded me of my parent’s dining room in the 1970’s. We had this glass mirror on one wall and back then you bought it the hardware store and I believe it had peel off backs! It was a DIY by my mom. She loved how it reflected her chandelier. I wish I could find a photo of that room.

I love this little brass giraffe guy I just bought at Anthro for the bar. Right now he’s holding citrus.

Anyway, mirrored backslashes are a great trick, that can look clean like Thomas did, or glam and are a fun often forgotten option.

U.S. Open

Have you been glued to the U.S. Open? This season really stared off with a bang with the big night honoring Serena. I hadn’t realized how long she has been playing…Seems like forever. I was so lucky to get to see her and Azarenka play one night at the Indian Wells tournament with friends. She and Venus are legends.. and a lot of people wanted to get a glimpse of her last matches.

Did you know the Arthur Ashe stadium is the largest tennis stadium in the world? I did not and the night they had her first match there was not one seat left! The game will certainly not be the same without Serena. She had a long run and great to see a woman still competing at the level she is after 40.

Chris Evert and her Tennis Bracelets

Chrissy Evert is back announcing many of the matches after battling Ovarian Cancer. A great article about how she detected it early which was very lucky here in NYTimes this week. It’s so great she is doing well! She inspired me to start tennis as a kid.

If you are a fan you remember her tennis bracelet and how they were once the thing and are now back. Tennis necklaces are everywhere too.

She was the first to wear them and now she is getting proper credit for them on a collaboration with jeweler Monica Rich Kosan, who launched a collection with her. They have a wide range of styles and prices.. I love the whole collection.

Monica Rich Kosan x Chris Evert tennis bracelets collection

Bloomingdales also has this more affordable version which looks pretty nice and Anthro has this tennis necklace which is a great fake.

Well that is my weekend meanderings for this week.. Please check out Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs to see what good things they are sharing…

MAKE MINE A SPRITZ E R

PINECONES AND ACO RNS

Thank you for being here! Hope your weekend is wonderful.

Kim

If you missed last week’s post I shared how army/cargo jackets can give a cool edge to all your closet staples, a Hawaiian take on banana bread, British home tours to binge and more..find that post here.

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

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

Weekend Meanderings- Army Jackets, Hawaiian Banana Bread, British House Tours & More

August 26, 2022 By kimwheeler 40 Comments

On this Weekend Meanderings.. why an army green utility jacket can give a cool edge to all your closet staples, a Hawaiian twist on banana bread, British home tours to binge and more..

It’s that time again for all the good things that we want to share with Elizabeth and Juliet.

Hi friends, how was your week? Well believe it or not, a day after I returned from Utah and wrote that self-care post (HA), I came down with some weird virus and literally have been feeling awful for nearly a week. Yesterday was my first normal day and I am thankful. No doubt I picked up something while traveling. I’m so glad to be normal today. Nothing like being unwell to appreciate the status quo right? I’ve been playing disco music and acting like I’ve won the lottery around here!

The army green utility jacket

Onto something more interesting, specifically fall clothes! I am a jacket nut, and today I’m focusing on the utility jacket.. often known as an army jacket. I have four and I am always looking at others.. These jackets give you an instant cool girl cred and just work with so much. They’re the piece you’re going to take on the trip, throw in the car and toss on when the night start turning bit cooler. They don’t need maintenance, rarely show dirt or wrinkles..They work over a white feminine dress in summer and over that chunky fall sweater you can’t wait to wear. Know this, it’s one piece that will pay for itself over and over again in your casual chic closet!

About a month ago when I was shopping for the conference with summer dresses on the brain, this cutie by Paige was next to the dresses and I grabbed it. I can’t resist a utility jacket in a new shape and I knew this might be gone next time I came.

Paige Pacey Utility Jacket in Vintage Ivy Green

I think I already shared that I wore this on the plane trips to Utah and Georgia..This jacket has some stretch which made it instantly comfortable. I also like the length, updated feminine shoulders, and cool buttons. The cuff has more buttons that can be undone and rolled back.

Some inspiration on how to style these from Kate Moss who has been wearing army/utility jackets from her early days and still is.. She shows the versatility of these jackets..I think it doesn’t hurt to have a casual version of this jacket and a more tailored one in your closet! I like how she goes to black as a foil for it. Truthfully though, this khaki green works with so many colors..

Naomi Watts in a casual look.. and Kate dressing it up..

And maybe my favorite is Victoria Beckham’s look..

I remember buying these at the army surplus stores in the 80’s.. Now seems everyone has some version of this.. What used to be the jacket of anarchists, Sex Pistols and Blondie is now mainstream!

Other offerings out there are this by Anthro (cute crop style with embellishments), and at right this more classic, Marrakech Ari Utility Jacket..

Liverpool Los Angeles has a pretty tailored look below left, and I love the vibe of this soft linen version from Michael Stars, right..

I also like this fun jacket with embroidered daisies and this blazer version by Free People.

khaki shirt jacket with daisy embroidery

One with unique embroidery by Sundance.. and below right an Army coat with that vibe, by Emerson Fry, that’s on my fall wish list. I love their coats!

And another I am adding here thanks to a reader Theresa, with a good eye..This cute and classic jacket is at Nordstrom and in a few colors. I like the details here and price.

So keep your eye out for these jackets when you start planning you fall closet edit. They can be found in all price points.. and online upcycled too at The RealReal, Thredup and other spots.

My stylish California pal, Cindy Hattersley had a fantastic post this week about jackets and had some good choices for cargo jackets so don’t miss her blog!

Hawaiian Banana Bread

I was really craving some banana bread the other day after pics popped up of the Hawaiian version I tried to replicate after our last trip to the islands.. It’s a riff on a simple, but excellent banana muffin recipe originally from Gourmet Magazine. We just leave the bananas a bit chunkier and add coconut flakes. Other variations are to add a few extra banana slices to the top, and to my version here I added walnut and chocolate chips. To make it more Hawaiian, add macadamia nuts in place of the walnuts and omit the chocolate..

Hawaiian Banana Bread

Kim Wheeler

A Hawaiian twist on the traditional banana bread..

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 C Flour
2/3 C Sugar
1 1/2 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
1 C mashed ripe bananas (about 2 large)
1 large egg
1/2 C=1 stick melted butter
1/4 C milk of your choosing
3/4 C coconut flakes for sprinkling top
3/4 C chocolate chips (optional)
3/4 C macadamia nuts or walnuts

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 F. Mix flour, sugar baking powder and salt in a large bowl with a whisk. In another bowl, mash bananas lightly with fork, mix in egg, milk and melted butter. Stir banana mixture into dry ingredients just until blended and stir in nuts and chips if using.
Pour into a prepared bread loaf pan (9 x 5 ish), bake 50-55 minutes. For muffins bake 32 minutes.

Keyword Hawaiian Banana Bread

British House & Garden Home Tours

One of my favorite things is to watch house tours on Youtube and British House & Garden magazine has the best ones. I also appreciate the way British people live in their homes. They are so personal, comfortable and inviting. Americans could take a few cues from them about things being less precious and more enjoyed. This tour of former Vogue editor Lucinda Chamber’s home is a great example and a fun one to watch..

Loot

My latest television obsession is Loot, with Maya Rudolf. I began while I was sick, and though I wasn’t crazy about the cast at first they really grew on me and this show was just heartwarming. It’s a good escape as well as feel good and I needed both last week.

-Also this weekend Serena & Lily is having 30% off rugs, so those who asked about my rugs, the new one in the dining room, Alamere and my living room Stella, as well as the kitchen runner – this is a good time to get them, if you want them arriving before the holidays- and on sale!

-For those who asked, I finally set up a more complete shop on my Liktoknowit , or now LTK and you can shop on that site’s app if you prefer here! You can always shop the tabs at the top of the blog as well.

Well that is my weekend meanderings for this week.. Please check out Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs to see what good things they are sharing…

MAKE MINE A SPRITZ E R

PINECONES AND ACORNS

Thank you for being here! Hope your weekend is wonderful.

Kim

If you missed last week’s Meandering’s post, I talked about making yourself a priority, skincare tips, improving your sleep, Salt Lake City, a book on moving to the French countryside and more.

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

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

If you want to save this post, you can pin it Pinterest below..

Weekend Meanderings-Giving Yourself a Fall Reset, Sleep and Skin Tips, the French Countryside & More..

August 19, 2022 By kimwheeler 29 Comments

On this Weekend Meanderings..making yourself a priority once fall and school season starts, skincare tips from a facialist, improving your sleep, a little about the charm of Salt Lake City, living in the French countryside and more..

It’s that time again for all the good things that we want to share with Elizabeth and Juliet.

We had a crazy week..We were in in Salt Lake City to help Griffin move into his first solo apartment for his junior year at the U. It started out a little rough though.. After hiking Mt Tallac in Tahoe, Grif was to drive the rest of the way to Utah with his full car. The night before, a mama bear, who has been roaming out Tahoe neighborhood with three cubs, smelled Griffin’s granola Max had made for him in the car. In their exhaustion from the climb, they forgot to check the car for food. They woke up to this..

Grif’s two side windows had been pried out and the passenger window broken. Bear paws scratched it all over the place. Needless to say, the granola was nowhere to be found, nor the extra banana I stuck in his side door! ( I know I feel badly about that.) Max and Grif had to push the window frames back to close, and they taped up the driver side window.

Grif drove seven hours back to Utah like that with limited visibility. At some truck stop in Nevada, he fortunately found noise cancelling earphones they sell for truckers!

We met him that night in Utah and spent three full days helping him move in, get his things out of storage, clean a grubby, but nice apartment with awesome views, and sort out the car repair thing, and a rental.

He took off Tuesday morning for a backpacking trip through Wyoming with pals, and we went home exhausted! He needs a table and a couch, but has a desk, a bed and a bike and a kitchen with all the necessities…He’ll figure the rest out as the year goes on. I’m excited for him.

The mountains and the church spire looks like Switzerland to me. I’m sure when they are snow covered it will be beautiful. He’s walking distance to the school and also has a bike and the city tram right below his place..

Mountains to the West, in his kitchen and to the East, in the corner..above.

Salt Lake City

Have you been to SLC recently? It’s a beautiful city with the most amazing mountain ranges on all sides. Things I really appreciate about it are the small little neighborhoods that are tucked into the town. Those little neighborhoods have cute independent shops and restaurants. Sometimes it’s only two or three of them, but it gives each little area a nice feel. You can always find an independent coffee shop to work in..And they aren’t in strip malls. It’s a thriving spot for small independent businesses.

I also adore the brick homes that have been left largely in their original state and just updated with paint and pretty yards. The streets are wide and they have big center strips with trees that make a hot area feel very leafy and green. Many homes have gardens and sunflowers in their front yards..

House with painted white brick and black door.

Eva’s French Bakery is always a must for us and it’s within walking distance to our go-to hotel, Hotel Monaco. The design of this darling bakery is like something you would see in Paris and you can get an authentic baguette sandwich and tomato soup, wonderful croissants and pastries..They also took over a vintage jewelry spot next door ( love that they left the marquee), and make their own crème glacée ice cream now too.

The airport is all new and the Delta terminal is beautiful with a stunning wall of glass that invites you to gawk at the goings on the tarmac and feels very jet age..I loved it!

Glass window wall at Delta Terminal Salt Lake City

The flight from San Jose is one hour and a half and most people come in the winter to ski all the resorts like Park City and others that are a short drive away, but it’s quite pretty in summer..and fall!

I wore my new Anthro blouse and my cord shorts from Carve to travel. I usually do pants in the airplane, but it was just too hot. I brought my J. Crew cashmere travel wrap (on sale now), in my bag and could lay that over my legs when the plane got chilly..

I love this Henley Popover shirt so much I am thinking of getting it in the stripe too.. Looks like the white is already sold out online, but may be available in stores.

Getting back to healthy eating – after travel

I am always so done with eating out after traveling. I really feel the need to sort of detox from all the processed and high sodium foods. I want nothing more than a fresh salad made at home from my own tomatoes. The night we got back we made grain bowls and then a salad with chicken the next..

When I’m over eating out, and I want a reset, I go to the grocery and get several boxes of different salad varietals, a roast chicken for protein ( mostly for Max), garbanzo beans, fresh berries, tomatoes, and avocados. I always have frozen brown rice and quinoa and we can make different variations on a salad for dinner with just that.

I always add some kind of nuts like walnuts or sliced almonds or pepitas and I shake in hemp seeds, chia, and flax too. I also like red onion slices or with the strawberries, fennel, which has a wonderful smell and taste..I find the fastest and easiest dressing is to just squeeze a lemon, a shake of vinegar, a drizzle olive oil and a little salt..

I love these O Vinegars in the citrus, orange blossom and pomegranate versions are my favorite and just a shake of them with this California Olive Oil are what I always have on hand and so good. I never buy dressings.

I also revert to water, water and more water. I’m always parched from traveling and from Utah, especially so, though I am hydrating non-stop. I pretty much drink water for all my liquids except my morning oat latte for a few days after returning. I love spring water for the minerals and try to buy a few bottles to supplement our purified tap water.

Skin and Dehydration- and Facials

The other thing I did to recover from three days of shopping and cleaning for the college kid, was book a facial for myself when I returned. I haven’t indulges in one for many moons and I thought after a summer of catering to everyone, this would be a good way to start back to taking care of myself a little better. If you haven’t had a facial for a while, it’s a nice thing to do for yourself after the kids are back in school, or just to reset for the fall. My aesthetician says a good way to care for your skin is to book a facial once with every change of season. I love that as a reminder! You can also do a home facial too!

One tip I learned from her today is that dehydration is almost always the biggest problem with all skin types, and especially as we age. Since I have rosacea and am sensitive, I am always wary of breaking out and probably do not hydrate enough for that reason. I shy away from thicker cremes and oils, but if they are good quality I should not. I also get blackheads and that is related to dehydration as the dry flaking skin, clogs the pores. I did not know that.

She recommended adding a few drops of my night facial oil to my day lotion, to amp up the hydration. I also need to use my hyluraonic lotion more, and not cleanse, but just splash with water in the morning. As usual… she told me, drink more water and eat better! I’m sure my high sodium food, dry weather and not enough water was showing, not to mention poor sleep.

Better sleep habits

On the Delta flight back to San Jose, I was wiped out from a few nights of rotten sleep and thought I’d zone out on the free streamed shows. I noticed there was a Master Class on sleep by author, and sleep expert Matthew Walker, so I blew through seven short episodes of his class while on the plane.

Matthew is professor of neuroscience and psychology at the UC Berkeley, and has written a best seller, Why We Sleep. I got so much out of this Master Class, though doing it while exhausted!

The biggest take aways were always go to bed and wake up at the same time, even on weekends. Drinking and caffeine are the biggest disrupters of healthy sleep and you should try hard to regulate your caffeine intake to morning.

If you’re sleeping after drinking, you’re not really sleeping per say, but are sedated, like surgery, and your brain and body won’t give you normal reset that it does with sleep.. You’ll wake up sleep deficient and your body can’t repair itself or download our memories, like it does during normal sleep. Also everyone needs at least 7-8 hours a night. Routinely sleeping less demolishes our immune systemand those who go with less actually have high incidences of cancers and other diseases like dementia. H

e has a lot of tips for sleeping better in his book and this little clip I found on YouTube had a lot of what I heard in the Master Class… He’s funny too, but his research is groundbreaking and this is something we should all care about if we want to live a healthy life..Matthew says,’Sleep is the elixir of life and mother nature’s best key to immortality..’

One bonus of kids out of the house, its I can’t stay up so late worrying about them!! It’s out of my jurisdiction now..

A beautiful and fun book..

While in Carmel last week, I bought, Coming Home, The French Art of Countryfication, at the Earthbound Farm Stand. I was enchanted with the photos, but I also love the content. There are recipes, decor, style and home tips and much wisdom and inspiration here..

This book documents the stories of Parisians who left the city for the country, how they adjusted and what they love about it.

A great book for anyone who dreams of moving to the country or is a Francophile…It really made me want to move to the country.

Well that is my weekend meanderings for this week.. Please check out Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs to see what good things they are sharing…

PINECONES AND ACORNS

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

Thank you for being here! Hope your weekend is wonderful.

Kim

If you missed last week’s meanderings I shared some fun ideas for Carmel day trips, an easy ladies’ lunch you can pull together, Sienna Miller’s English cottage and a great white shirt for your wardrobe for now and in fall..

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

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

Weekend Meanderings- Outdoor Throws, Makeup Tips and a Chanel Inspired Cardigan

August 5, 2022 By kimwheeler 28 Comments

On this Weekend Meanderings..Some outdoor updates with a solar sail, the perfect outdoor throws to cozy up with, a beautiful book on creating a memorable table, the best makeup tips, and a transitional summer to fall cardigan I am obsessed with…

It’s that time again for all the good things that popped up on our radars this week with Elizabeth and Juliet.

Hard to believe it’s already August and kids are starting back to school in a few weeks. Where did the summer go? Time to go out and grab those fleeting summer pleasures before fall sneaks up on us. Have you been to the beach lately? Have you had an evening ice cream cone or taken a picnic to the woods? Have you set out a chair and watched the stars at night with your family or enjoyed a summer gathering with neighbors? If not, get to it!

Backyard Update

Well before summer is over, we are finally getting a few things in the yard done.. Better late than winter right? That is so us!

We have an oddly shaped yard with a pool with a lap lane, that wraps around the house. Our patio, right off our main space, is almost like an island, surrounded by water. It’s an Ipe wood deck and while I love it, it can be hard to get all the furniture on it and also have a space for an umbrella…and with multiple ones it’s lame and crowded..

Earlier this year, I looked into a cantilevered umbrella, so we wouldn’t have the umbrella underfoot, but the walkway where it would go, isn’t wide enough. Max came up with the idea of a solar sail. I wasn’t sure, as it has to be stretched across the pool and anchored on a fence..

It came Saturday, and he put it up on Sunday! I am pleasantly surprised how much we love it. My only complaint is I would have preferred white, but he though neutral was a good color and ordered it without spousal approval.. Ahem.

We may order another in white. These sails are from Amazon and make the patio feel like an outdoor room, and gives us much more space, without the umbrellas underfoot.

We are enjoying it in the mornings more now out here as things don’t get so dewy. Max on his lunch hour…

I’ll try to get a whole yard photo, but you can kind of see how it’s working…

Amazon solar sail on over patio in beige

Throws and folding table at TJMaxx’s /Homegoods

Each year I seem to want to change up the throws outside. They get pretty beat. That said I also don’t want them to be too pricey. I think I may have found the best compromise at Homegoods (aka TJ Max), with these 100% cotton throws from Portugal…

Serena & Lily Pacifica Sofa and outdoor pillow

I love the slightly nubby weave on them, and the variety of designs in soft grey and blues. I have a few on the backs of the couch and more in a basket. Everyone likes wrapping themselves up them in the morning sipping coffee or at night. I like that they are from Portugal, where they have a lot of high quality textiles.

Also I found this Panama Jack brand folding wicker/wood outdoor table and I love it. It’s not online, but I noticed there are still a lot of them left in stores and they are $49!

Serena & Lily Pacifica Sofa in Driftwood — Our sofa is the Pacifica Sofa in Driftwood from Serena & Lily. It’s actually $1100 off now.. It’s a good time to get any outdoor items!

In the throws, I have this denim blue one , below and this stripe and this chevron one. They have some great ones in store that are similar with a small stripe. It’s a great time to grab these cotton ones as I see they are beginning to make way for the heavier fall and winter throws already!

Recovering Outdoor Furniture Pieces

I’ve had a furniture set for many years outside my office door that needs new cushions. I decided to recover them in new Sunbrella fabric and have the stuffing redone as well. It’s one of those things I’ve been meaning to do for two years. Isn’t that terrible?

Do you ever have a project like that and it just sits and for some reason you never do it? Well this week I did it! I’m so happy and I will have a nice little sitting area just for me, outside my office doors..

This is the sad state currently..

I found a local shop, Krupps Upholstery in Campbell, a family owned business with father and his son, a veteran that just did 8 years in Iraq, and is now studying business at San Francisco State. Super knowledgeable and kind people.

I loved their service and help with my set and I choose this Sunbrella Sailcloth Salt fabric, below left, for my three pieces- two chairs and an ottoman…

I also have them making two, 24 x 24 pillows in this Sunbrella fabric, above right , called Fretwork in Pewter.

Stay tuned and I will share the results. I just wanted to mention them in case anyone is thinking of reupholstering, especially older outdoor cushions.

A Loving Table book for entertaining inspo..

I’ve been meaning to share A Loving Table: Creating Memorable Gatherings , a gorgeous book I bought myself a month for so ago. It’s all about entertaining and creating a beautiful table. There’s a a wide range of styles in here and all are a feast for the eyes..

The book includes fantastic looking recipes as well. This is a great gift for a friend or anyone who enjoys entertaining and living well.

I keep meaning to take a cup of tea and grab a corner to indulge in every story and plan a few special meals.

My Mersea bag

I know summer is almost over, but I finally ordered one more woven bag for myself that was on my radar. I also spied a very chic blogger at our conference, carrying one, so I finally clicked and bought the medium Medina Market basket with the off white handles…

I love it and of course put my tassel on it. I mentioned this on the linen post too, but someone just asked so I’m sharing it again.

The small size is darling for a dinner date, the medium for an everyday tote, and the large for a travel bag or the beach or some people use it as a file holder on their desk. I love the saffron color and there is also a jade, indigo and black handle versions.

By the way, if you still want one of these cute tassels, they have them in fall colors as well. I am thinking of getting a new color for my fall bags..

Instagram Makeup Pointers ..

My new obsession on Instagram is Kate Albert, who has the best makeup tutorials that are simple for a pretty, not heavy makeup look.

Did you know you are supposed to press your foundation into your skin, not rub it or sponge it? Already using her tips, my skin looks so much more natural..

A Summer to Fall Piece to consider..

This hoodie/Chanel inspired sweater has made it’s way onto my radar and I’m thinking it could be my first purchase for my fall wardrobe edit. Could this be the sweater Coco would create had she lived in California today? I’m loving it. It would be pretty now over a black tank dress, and later on with white jeans, and come fall with black denim…

Anthropologie Maeve zip up Chanel inspired Cardigan

This week was also time for our monthly Signature Style -and if you missed it, it was all about linen clothes and chic pieces to add to your wardrobe.

Well that is my weekend meanderings for this week.. Please check out Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs to see what good things they are sharing…

PINECONES AND ACORNS

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

Thank you for being here!

Kim

If you missed my last Weekend Meanderings, I did a recap of my jaunt to Georgia, shared a great summer dress, my favorite new vase that looks like an art piece for $39, and my favorite kind of day out in Palo Alto for consignment shopping and lunch!

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

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

weekend meanderings

My Madewell Jacket

Rails California Clothes

Town & Country Village in Palo Alto

Fall Fig Couscous Salad

Fig and Shallot Couscous

Ingredients

Instructions

Succulent pumpkins

A Santa Cruz home in House Beautiful!

Buy a Piece of San Francisco History at Ann Getty’s auction..

It’s fall on the porch..

Jewelry Seasonal cleanout and trends…

The Jewelry Tree Project

The California Look

More plaid jackets

Phyto 7 Hair Creme

The lost age of the Nut Tree

Fall Home Additions

Room dividers/screens

The Mood book

Puffy Purse Show Season 2

Getting out the vote

Other Stuff

The Skirts Book

Skirts on my Fall Edit..

Table skirts are back

An inspiring and pretty home in AD

Our drought tolerant yard update…

Pumpkin noodles

The Queen’s Service Coverage

Pumpkins and Fall Decor

Bulletin/Inspiration Boards

The Boards Book

Homemade Noodles!

Madewell Insider Sale

You can also shop the pieces here..

My Closet Video

Cute Personalized Stationery

The Queen

The heat!

A super soft pj set for hot nights

Spaces for Living Book

Estee Lauder Revitalizing Crystal Balm

A fun lunch at Juliet’s pretty home

The Proper Hotel in SF

Aesop Skincare Products

My newly upholstered patio set

Mirrored Backsplashes

U.S. Open

Chris Evert and her Tennis Bracelets

The army green utility jacket

Hawaiian Banana Bread

Hawaiian Banana Bread

Ingredients

Instructions

British House & Garden Home Tours

Loot

Salt Lake City

Getting back to healthy eating – after travel

Skin and Dehydration- and Facials

Better sleep habits

A beautiful and fun book..

Backyard Update

Throws and folding table at TJMaxx’s /Homegoods

Recovering Outdoor Furniture Pieces

A Loving Table book for entertaining inspo..

My Mersea bag

Instagram Makeup Pointers ..

A Summer to Fall Piece to consider..

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