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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.

Salt Lake City views

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.
Salt Lake City home with garden

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.

Eva's Bakery Salt Lake City
ham and butter croisssant
Eva's wallpapered bakery

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.

Anthropologie Henley stripe popover

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..

hummus and chicken avocado bowl
strawberry fennel salad
quinoa bowl

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.

O vinegars

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.

Kiehl's recovery facial oil

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!

Why We Sleep Book

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..

Coming Home to Nature book

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

Coming home to nature book
Coming Home to Nature -  the French art of countryfication.

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!

Filed Under: weekend meanderings Tagged With: #facials, #fallreboot, #frenchcountryliving, #salads, #saltlakecity, #sleep, #utahtravel

Weekend Meanderings-Sienna Miller’s English Cottage, Carmel Day Trips, an Easy Ladies’ Lunch & More

August 13, 2022 By kimwheeler 30 Comments

On this Weekend Meanderings..some fun ideas for Carmel day trips, an easy ladies’ lunch you can pull together for friends, Sienna Miller’s English cottage, a great white shirt and more…

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

How has your week been? Ours has been busy helping Griffin to move back to University of Utah for his junior year..and we squeezed in a mini trip to Carmel for our anniversary, though it’s not until the 31st. We just love going in August for a few days and this weekend seemed to have a few rooms available, so we went for it.

Carmel

If you haven’t been in a while, it’s always a nice escape. You can’t help take in the natural stunning beauty and the charm of the town! This summer they’ve been having some wonderful weather, not the usual cold and fog. It’s been in the 70’s and low 80’s and so lovely.

Poolside Bernardus Lodge , Carmel valley
Rose Garden Bernardus Lodge
Rose garden at Bernardus Lodge, Carmel Valley
Bernardus Lodge, Carmel Valley
Bernardus Lodge, Carmel Valley

We have been going to Bernardus Lodge for our anniversary for so many years, I can still remember Max complaining when the prices went over $200 a night.. HA! Those were the days. Now it’s a splurge and we try to go in the off season, but for our anniversary we try and make it happen. It’s one of my favorite spots and a great couples’ getaway in the sunnier part of Carmel, Carmel Valley.

We love doodling around Carmel for the day having lunch out and exploring the beaches and then heading back to Carmel Valley to sit and read by the pool and have dinner.

Two day visit ideas for Carmel..

One of the best things to do in Carmel, is take a beach walk at the main beach, which is gorgeous and very long and and then walk up the hill to town and have lunch and do a bit of shopping or poking about the shops..This time we found a new lunch spot in downtown Carmel I highly recommend, La Bicyclette. This charming bistro run by a Belgian family with the best food and darling atmosphere.. It is Michelin rated..so a reservation for lunch can help. We got lucky someone did not show for their reservation so we got in. You can also get on the waitlist and shop around.

Pizza at la Bicyclette

I loved the pizza and their home made Calabrian chili oil ( it did that heart by itself!), which is not hot. They also have many amazing specials and sell their own bread and are lovely people. It’s in an old 1920’s Spanish building that was built for a doctor that is so cool. This whole spot is the very essence of Carmel..

Carmel California Spanish building
La Bicyclette Carmel, Ca
Caprese salad

Afterwards, you can explore the shops and grab a cappuccino or a treat at one of the bakeries. At the Carmel Plaza, a small outdoor mall, there are many new shops and one that Max made a beeline for like a zombie (seriously), was Dutch Door Donuts, where they cook to order and serve them hot. He was in heaven and the pink cactus pear one was our favorite..

Dutch Door Donuts Carmel

Also in the Plaza is one of the best curated home stores, Beachwood Home. This store has beautiful items of all prices. I never go home without something and this time I bought a pretty bracelet for $20..

Beachwood Home Carmel
Beachwood Home Carmel

Another great day in Carmel area is to stop at The Earthbound Farm Stand to pick up some sandwiches to go.. This is the cutest farm stand ever with a flower shed to buy the fixings for your own creation, fire pits and fresh produce and artisan goods. I also love the home area and the cool books and textiles..

Earthbound Farm Stand
Earthbound Farm Stand Flower shed

After you have sandwiches, head down the highway and go to Asilomar Beach..We love this beach that is in front of The Inn at Spanish Bay and in the smaller less crowded town of Pacific Grove. The beach here has wonderful tide pools and you can take a long walk along the road to all the little inlets or along the shore. Many people surfing here or boogie boarding.

boardwalk on Asilomar beach
beach flowers
Asilomar beach Pacific Grove

If you wander along the long beach you can also trot along the long wooden walk they have built in front of the links golf course and see flowers and hiding deer. We love having a picnic here and exploring..It’s rarely crowded and so lovely.

An easy ladies’ lunch

I’m sure you are all familiar with my friend Elizabeth, aka Contessa, if you have followed the blog for a while. If not read this post all about her and her home. It was her birthday in July and we finally got around to having a celebration lunch here.

It was easy for me to host thanks to my friends Juliet and Heidi. Juliet brought the gorgeous mini appetizer boards… She did fig jam, two kinds of cheese, nuts, crackers and a little fig with cheese and prosciutto on each pretty board..

mini charcuterie boards
mini charcuterie boards

Heidi made a delicious cobbler with fresh fruit..and fresh whipped cream for dessert.

fruit cobbler

All I had to do was make two salads !

I made a green salad with toasted walnuts, shredded chicken (bought a roasted one that morning at Whole Foods) and pears. Salad dressing was olive oil, this vinegar, fresh juice from half an orange, a bit of mustard and a bit of maple syrup and Maldon Sea Salt.

pear and walnut salad
mozzarella caprese with heirloom tomatoes

I also threw together a caprese with my dad’s heirloom tomatoes.

I served my house drink, an Audrey Palmer- my twist on an Arnold Palmer, just with equal parts tea ( I used Teajava) and fizzy lemonade from a bottle and a slice of citrus, sprig of mint for fun if you have it.

We wanted to eat outdoors and I had a piece of fabric that was really cute. I cut it to fit the table (umbrella issue), and layered the pieces over each other…I used my glass plates and pink napkins. Little favors were watermelon lip balm from San Francisco’s Elizabeth W. wrapped in extra fabric and on the plates..

Floral tablecloth and pink vases
floral tablecloth and pink napkins

I also grabbed two pink vases at Safeway, (which is getting the best floral area now),and did a mix of green hydrangeas and pink flowers.

It was casual, but it was fun and that’s what matters, being with pals and celebrating our dear Contessa… Don’t you love Elizabeth’s caftan with her pig Banksy embroidered on it? She sells these caftans on her blog and you can read more here.

Vintage Contessa in a Catan

Sienna Miller’s English cottage in the new AD

Sienna Miller has great style and her English country cottage is just as chic with a thatched roof, cozy rooms and lovely gardens.. It’s a wonderful escape and you can read and enjoy ten pages of it in the September AD.

I have to admit I often dream of an English cottage. This is a great issue with loads of good spreads and pretty homes..Photos by Simon Upton and decor by Gaby Dellal.

You can watch a little video that has a tour of her fantastic property that dates from the 1500s. Love this and after watching I an sure you will be wanting oversized white jeans and a black sweater for fall…

A great Anthro white blouse..and ring

While I was in Carmel, I made a quick dash into the Anthropologie there and came home with this fun Henley Popover Shirt.. Love the button neckline and also the button cuffs that give it more style than your usual white blouse. I already love wearing it with my cord shorts and I think it’ll be great for fall. I also bought one of these new chunky silver rings there..

Anthropologie Henley white popover blouse
Anthro Henley Popover

Other Cool Things..

The Anthro Sweater I shared last week appears to have promo markdown right now for the weekend..If you haven’t grabbed this cute Chanel inspired zip hoodie, check it out here. Anthropologie is also having an extra 30% off all sale items this weekend only.

At our ladies’ lunch, Juliet gave us the cutest little gifts, mini stoneware colanders with her home grown tomatoes…I love the idea of this and wrapping them as she did to give away..Similar ones here.

tomatoes as a gift in colander
Small berry colander

Since we’ve been chatting about Carmel, did you hear Brad Pitt bought a home there last week? According to Architectural Digest article about it, the home was designed by famous architects, Greene & Greene in 1918 and uses locally found stone. More about the home in WSJ which is in the Carmel Highlands, near the Highlands Inn. Apparently at 40 million it is one of the most expensive homes ever sold in Carmel. Photo below from Hello Magazine..

Brad Pitt's Carmel home.

Speaking of celeb homes, have you read Joni at Cote de Texas’s post this week about all Johnny Depp’s properties? I’m not a fan of him, but her deep dive and details with photos of his boats, island and amazing art deco apartments in Los Angeles was interesting.

And for a great perspective on this, Back Row writer Amy Odell, this week published a post on how Dior, with their ‘We should all be feminist’ t-shirts, has signed Depp to a new contract as their fragrance spokesperson, despite some pretty awful things the man has said about women. Apparently there is no backlash for Depp from that?

On the streaming subject…Has anyone else started Severance on Apple TV? Max and I heard great things about it, but it’s pretty dark so far. It has a huge raves and it’s directed by Ben Stiller and stars Adam Scott, who I love..and Patricia Arquette.

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 my last Weekend Meanderings, I shared some outdoor updates with a solar sail on the patio, the perfect outdoor throws from Portugal at a great price, a beautiful book for entertaining inspo, my favorite Instagram account for makeup tips, and a Channel inspired hoodie for transition to 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!

Filed Under: Carmel, entertaining

Lillet Spritz – A Light Summer Cocktail

August 10, 2022 By kimwheeler 21 Comments

Today I am joining a few others to share summer drinks. If you haven’t had a little gathering, this is your chance to have a summer happy hour before September hits! We all have a few fun ideas for you..

My cocktail is a Lillet Spritz. I love this drink because it’s light and fruity. I’m not a big drinker and I like something with less alcohol, especially in the heat of summer. This drink is simple and you can make a batch before your guests arrive. Gather some pretty garnishes and lovely glasses and you’re all set.

What is Lillet?

Lillet is a French aperitif that is traditionally served over ice with a lemon twist. I remember my first time having it, a Croatian boyfriend ordered me one, when I was 23 and I was instantly in love with its honey, orange and floral notes. I still think about that cocktail and feeling so grown up having one with its pretty lemon twist.

My friend Elaine, recently had us for a summer dinner party. I brought the makings for the drink of the night. E had found the recipe and had these lovely dried oranges from California that she wanted to use in the drink.

Lillet Blanc Spritzer
Don’t you love her pretty daisies in a glass that make her outdoor bar pretty?

You can also use fresh oranges slices or lemons as we did and a sprig of mint.

There is also a new version of Lillet, called Lillet Rose which has hints of strawberry and you could swap Lillet Blanc for that and float a few strawberries in it.

I brought this cute pitcher bought at my favorite local home store, Home by Ling Interiors in Los Gatos -and you can also buy it here online. It’s called a Cannes Rattan Pitcher and I have the medium.

Lillet Blanc cocktail

Elaine has serious bar style and the perfect outdoor entertaining set up which I plan to share on a future post. Don’t you love the tray and her cute straws and napkins?

Her enamel tray she found at CB2 and is part of their bar collection. I love the Tiffany blue color and it’s so cute on her bar. They also have a white version that’s slightly different. I love the idea of propping it up against the back of the bar or having it with fun napkins and straws in a glass as Elaine styled it.

CB2 white enamel bar tray
CB2 tiffany blue enamel bar tray

This recipe could not be simpler.. It’s two bottles, one of Lillet and one of prosecco. Surprisingly both fit in this medium pitcher. I try and choose a decent prosecco or Cava. If anyone has a favorite, please comment below. If you’re unfamiliar with Lillet, it can be found here at Total Wine.

Lillet Spritzer

Kim Wheeler, Northern California Style
An easy and light summer batch cocktail
5 from 4 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

  • 1 bottle Lillet Blanc
  • 1 bottle Prosecco, Cava or other sparkling wine

Instructions
 

  • Mix bottles in a pitcher. Add slices of oranges and fresh mint sprigs and stir. Add 3-4 ice cubes in a glass, pour over spritzer and garnish with more mint sprigs and orange slices.

To make it for one..

I experimented and made myself a single version of this, but lightened it up a bit more. For a single serving, just combine equal parts of Prosecco and Lillet over ice with slices of citrus and mint sprigs. To make a light version, I just do one jigger of Lillet with fizzy water, or for a tall glass one jigger of Lillet, one of prosecco and fill the rest of the glass with bubbly water, depending on how light you like it. You can also substitute ginger ale for the Prosecco.

LIllet and Prosecco

An easy appetizer to pair with your cocktail..

One easy appetizer I love to make late summer is figs with goat cheese and walnuts drizzled with honey. These couldn’t be easier and are so delicious.

Make sure you get figs that are firm, but have some give, slice them in half and place a small spoonful of goat cheese on each side. I like Laura Chenel Thyme & Rosemary, a local cheese, but any chèvre will do.

figs with goat cheese and walnuts

Place a dollop on each half, top with a walnut and drizzle the plate with a thin stream of honey and a tiny pinch of sea salt.

figs with goat cheese and walnuts

You’ll find these go perfect with the Lillet Spritzers, or any frizzy drinks!

A few things you may need…

Save this post by pinning it..

Now please check out these other great blogs for more summer drink ideas…


MOST LOVELY THINGS

CINDY HATTERSLEY DESIGN

CLASSIC CASUAL HOME

SHERI SILVER

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

MY SWEET SAVANNAH

You can pin this graphic to Pinterest to save all our drink ideas…

Summer Cocktails & Mocktails

If you missed our last fun food collaboration, Appetizers Inspired by Travel, I shared caprese bites and the others had delicious ideas as well.

Thanks for stopping by! So happy to have you visit my California blog.

Kim

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!

Filed Under: entertaining Tagged With: #bloggerroundup, #entertaining, #figappetizer, #food, #summercocktails, #summermocktails

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..

L-shaped in ground pool

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…

outdoor Solar sail from Amazon on Patio

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!

outdoor cotton throw
Cotton throw from Portugal
TJMaxx Throw from Portugal

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…

Sunbrella Fabric  in Sailcloth Salt
Sunbrella Fabric in Fretwork Pewter.

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..

A Loving Table book

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..

Rust and white table setting.

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.

pink and blue table with fish plate
black marble table and  black candles

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…

Mersea medina Market Basket Tote

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.

Mersea medina Market Basket white
Mersea medina Market Basket

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.

Mersea medina Market Basket

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..

Wool purse tassels on Etsy.

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..

Kate Albert Makeup tips Instagram

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!

Filed Under: weekend meanderings Tagged With: #californiahomestyle, #californiastyle, #serenaandlily

Signature Style- Chic Linen Pieces You Need

August 2, 2022 By kimwheeler 41 Comments

It’s time again for our monthly style report with Cindy and Sarah and we are talking about linen. Linen pieces are a chic choice to upgrade your closet, last for years, and feel good too.

Linen is one of those fabrics that looks luxe on the hottest days and even when wrinkled. I love the look of a linen button up on women and men. Nothing looks as Katherine Hepburn, or Diane Keaton (aka Coastal Grandma) as linen shirts, and white linen suits, linen pants..

Diane Keaton in white linen suit  in Something's Gotta Give.
Diane Keaton in white turtleneck and jeans in Something's Gotta Give.

Once you begin wearing more linen or linen blends, it’s hard to wear synthetics. I just love the feel of a linen t-shirt in summer. I even sleep in one in winter as they breathe and get softer with each wash. Linen dresses and pants are also the most cool and breathable.

Linen is better for the planet

If you want to build a wardrobe that is more sustainable, long lasting and looks luxe, linen is a fantastic choice!

Did you know linen comes from the flax plant and has been around since ancient Egyptian times and perhaps longer? The nice thing about linen is it uses less water and pesticides than cotton does in the growth process. It’s much better for the planet and it is fast dying. The best way to care for it is to wash in cool water with a gentle detergent and never use a fabric softener on it which will coat the fibers ( It’s generally good to never use fabric softeners anyway.) If you care for your linen it will last and get better over time!

Why linen may have a bad rap..

Did you wear linen the 80’s? Some of us remember it had a big heyday then, and particularly in oversized linen pleated pants and blazers. The linen look back then was ironed and starched within an inch of its life. It was a lot of work and the minute you wore it, it looked bad. That turned a lot of people off linen, including me, a person who hates ironing…The linen of now is worn softer, slightly if at all ironed, and has a casual vibe.

I started collecting linen pieces again the last time we were in the south of France. I noticed all the women wore linen tunics and tops and bottoms there were tons of it in the shops and big stalls of linen dresses at the Provencal markets..

I bought a white dress and the man there told me never to iron, or bleach, wash gently and smooth dry with your hands and lay flat to prevent it from yellowing and to keep the linen fibers soft. I try not to iron and if I do, just lightly without starches.. The soft slightly wrinkled look is modern and feels better too.

I snapped a photo of this chic lady in a linen ensemble at Isle Sur la Sorgue..our favorite market..And next to it my dress from the same market with my guys in 2018..

What pieces do you need?

Pieces I use over and over again in my closet..

A linen blazer

women's white linen blazer

(mine bought at consignment, but similar here and here and here.)

Linen t-shirts.

My latest is this by Tahari. I have a few and they all hang beautifully and look great. A perfect layering piece and for travel!

I will be wearing this with my new Paige jacket I bought for fall and white jeans.

I found a few similar t-shirts here at Eileen Fisher on sale.

Majestic Filatures is also a great brand that has some fantastic linen pieces. This layered white t-shirt is on my list..and Banana has this nice one in many colors..

Majestic Filatures Linen layered t-shirt
Banana Republic Black Linen scoop neck t- shirt

I also like linen tanks for layering and J. Crew has this and Banana Republic has this with a scoop neck.

Linen pants..

I have these Maeve linen blend pants, ( above with the white blazer) and they are my favorite pant this summer. They can be casual or dressed up. They come in a few different colors and they have a bit of cotton/vicose in them too which makes them feel light.

Madewell Lakeline linen popover
Maeve  linen blend pants

Madewell also has a relaxed linen/cotton trouser here, and this popular Frank & Eileen pair is on my wish list and comes in 6 colors.. The blouse on the left is also a linen blend from Madewell ( runs large fyi- I bought xs.)

Madewell Lakeline linen popover
Frank & Eileen linen trouser white.

Linen is also in many drawstring and relaxed elasticized type of jogger/lounge pants. My favorite plant to travel in are these Camo linen pants by Sanctuary, which are still being carried by Nordstrom. I have had mine for years and they’re super comfy and show no dirt which is nice on a trip, and look cool for a day exploring with a sweater or a tank top, depending on the time of year..

These also caught my eye at Anthro.. Pull on surf pants in linen blend..

Linen button ups

It’s hard to find a linen button-up that is a classic and regular proportioned, but this Tommy Bahama one is about as close as I can find to a perfect linen button-up. It comes in 7 colors and I think I may order the sand color, but there are a lot of lovely colors to choose from.

Tommy Bahama white linen button-up.
Tommy Bahama linen sand button-up.

Anthro also has this linen button up with a cool ruched sleeve detail in eight colors by Maeve..

Maeve linen button down in lilac
Maeve linen button down in sky.
Maeve linen button down in mint.

Rails also has a nice selection of linen button ups in stripes and I also like this Jocelyn top..

And thanks to a reader, Laura, I almost forgot to mention J. Crew’s Irish linen shirts, which come from one of the best makers of linen in Ireland are now marked down! It’s a good time to grab a nice one for the wardrobe..

J. Crew Irish Linen top in light blue.
J. Crew Irish Linen top in navy.

A linen or linen blend dress..

I have added two linen dresses in the past month to my closet that are turning out to be great additions that feel good and kind of bridge that gap between dressy and California casual..

This Angelina Dress from Rails ( love this California company), is easy, feels light and look polished for anything.. I’ve worn it just to do errands as well as a day out like last weekend when we stopped by the big art show at Filoli to see my friend Heidi and view her art for sale..

Rails angelina dress at Filoli art show

I topped it with a white denim jacket when it got windy. ( I just received my new market basket from Mersea and added my tassel.)

Really nice about the Rails pieces, you don’t need a slip with most of their dresses as they have a lining in the bottom half or a double layer of fabric like this dress does.. It doesn’t wrinkle, and has a soft feel that I LOVE! It’s a great piece to travel with and I am taking it to Carmel next week too. I bought this in a Medium and it is longer on me at 5’4 than the model here..

Rails Angelina Dress

I also have this Rails Jasmine dress with a longer sleeve. Similar fit and love the comfort.

Rails Jasmine dress in white

I tried their Tara dress in the black and I wish I bought it. It’s super flattering, with a bit of stretch, and feels great. All of these pieces work for so many different kind of occasions..

Rails Tara Dress in black.

Another option in linen dresses is this Jenni Kayne t-shirt dress I’ve been eyeing for a while. I like that it’s linen which is less clingy than a typical t-shirt dress..You could do so much with this.. layer and wear it in fall with an unbuttoned white blouse, or with a sweater over the top..

Jenni Kayne linen t-shirt dress
Jenni Kayne linen t-shirt dress

Etsy is a fantastic source for linen pieces and many are made in Lithuania or like this account Simply Grey, which its out of Slovakia.. How cute is this dress and beautiful blouse? The account is SimplyGreyLife.

Rust linen women's button up.
Gingham linen dress

Some of the items mentioned in this post..

I’d love to hear your thoughts on linen! Do you have a brand you love or pieces that are your favorites?

If you like this post you can pin this photo on Pinterest..

Signature Style- chic linen pieces you need in your wardrobe

Now please pop over to see what Cindy and Sarah have to say about linen…

Cindy Hattersley Design

Sarah London Style

Thanks for being here! 

Kim

You might also like July’s Signature Style on packing and travel. 

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! Thank you so much, as Bloglovin seems to have stopped working and I no longer post as much on Facebook and plan to do less there.

Some links will generate a small commission. Thank you for supporting the blog!

Filed Under: Fashion, Signature Style Tagged With: #fashion, #linenpieces

Weekend Meanderings- Georgia, Summer Dresses, Consignment Shopping & More

July 30, 2022 By kimwheeler 29 Comments

On this Weekend Meanderings..my trip to Georgia, a great casual dress you need, my favorite new pajamas and more..

I’m back with Elizabeth and Juliet. I hope your week has been good. Last week I was away at the Haven Conference in Atlanta, Georgia and it was really a great time in a new place and I learned so much..

Georgia

This was my first visit to Georgia and it exceeded expectations! I truly have never encountered so many nice folks. I also was wowed by the food, and how green and pretty it is there ..Very different from our golden hills here in summer. Our view flying into Atlanta below. I marveled at the huge lawns..

Very green Georgia from the sky.

The plan was for Juliet and I to meet up with our friends and fellow bloggers, Annie and Mary Ann at the conference. Juliet got Covid, a few days prior and then Annie also came down with it the next day! I felt so bad for both of them. Mary Ann and I debated about still going and then she said, ‘Let’s do it!’, so I knew then I had to get it together and travel alone without Juliet, but I made it and it was great.

Our stylish Atlanta pal, interior designer Sherry Hart ,took us to the best Restaurant, South City Kitchen where we had fried green tomatoes, fried chicken, trout, cornbread, biscuits and we ended with a peach sundae! I wish I could take Max, who is from Kentucky. He would have been over the moon. This is a fabulous spot if you are in Atlanta..

fried green tomatoes
Cornbread muffins

Sherry with Mary Ann and I ..If you are not following Sherry you are missing one of the best interior design accounts! She is so funny and real and I adore her.

California Stye long black maxi dress

We loved our pretty hotel, The Grand Hyatt in Buckhead. My room had a fantastic view of the city and the green beyond. Mary Ann had a double room with a window in the bath that was so lovely.. They also had peach everything and we tried the peach flatbread and peach spritzer, so delicious!

Grand Hyatt Buckhead Atlanta

The conference was good and we learned a lot of new things so we can stay relevant blogging and on social media..i.e. Instagram. We also met many cool people, many influencers doing DIY accounts, and some gifted women flipping (refinishing) furniture or couples flipping homes. Lots of future Chip and Joanna Gaines were in attendance and so darn talented. I will try and share some of those accounts on my Instagram stories this week in case you want to follow them!

What helped me going alone on this trip was to not overthink it. I just packed, and went. Uber was the scariest thing to me, a bit of an unknown, but I wandered the airport, found the pickup spot, clicked the phone and my driver, whisked me to the hotel. We even had a good chat about politics and next thing I knew, I made it!

If I can do it, anyone can. It’s good for us to get out of our comfort zones and I definitely need to do this more.

I have this on my pinboard and look at it when I need encouragement..

Georgia O'Keefe Quote 'I have been scared..

I come from a mom who had a huge fear of flying. I know in my brain flying is safer than driving around the corner to the grocery store! Still, every time I ever took a flight my mom was like, ‘You’ve been a great daughter..’ Seriously! So it’s taken me time to get okay with flying.

Traveling alone was not bad either.. In fact, it might even be preferable. You can check out, read, rest and binge shows with no guilt. I LOVED it. I read my whole book, The Guncle and binged the best show, Hotel Portofino. I adored both.

What I packed..

I bought a few summer dresses for the trip and I will share the two of the dresses this Tuesday as we are doing a linen post on Signature Style.

The other dress was this new one from Pilcro..

Pilcro blue print tunic dress.
Haven Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.
With Mary Ann in her pretty MaxMara dress she bought in Europe!

This Anthropologie dress is a good choice for travel and humid climates. It’s made of a heavyish cotton/linen blend and though feels light, it holds its shape, never needed ironing, even after the suitcase, needs no slip and..has pockets! It has a pretty, but casual vibe..

Pilcro Blue Puff Sleeve tunic

I loved the rough hem and white stitching that gives it an almost denim feel.

It also comes in a soft pink and a pretty orange floral and in Plus and Petite sizing… This is a dress that will flatter a lot of figures. I bought a small and I an 5’4 and 135ish.

Pilcro orange floral dress.
Pilcro pink puff sleeve tunic.

New Pajamas!

kate spade pajamas

I don’t know about you, but when I travel, I like to have something nice to sleep in and you never know who will want to pop by for coffee or chat in the room when going with pals right? While at Bloomingdales last week, I saw these uber soft and cute summer pjs by Kate Spade and bought a set.

I like that they have pockets and cute piping on the pant bottoms. I bought the colorful dots, but I’m thinking I want them in the black now too. They ran slightly large and I bought XS. I am in love with these!

My latest vase obsession

CB2 Voir Clear dotted vase.

I fell in love with another vase from CB2. I had my eye on this Voir vase at the Santana Row store, and when I went back this week, I noticed they have just a few left and it’s marked down, so I grabbed it for $39. I am loving it with protea, but it’s even pretty empty.

I think it would be gorgeous with white flowers. Each piece is unique as they are hand blown.. Right now CB2 has their summer sale with 30% off many things and 40% off their outdoor, so a good time to get pieces for the outside!

A day out in Palo Alto – lunch and some consignment shopping..

A great day out with a friend is Town & Country in Palo Alto. I love all the shops there and met my friend April- ( she used to write the Ms B in the bay Area blog) this week. I love Cafe Douce France, a charming little bakery started by two friends from the Alsace region of France, it has the flakiest croissants and wonderful lunch and coffee. .

Cafe Douce France Palo Alto
Fillmore & 5th consignment in Palo Alto

Afterwards, I love to stop at my favorite consignment Fillmore & 5th to see what is new. This is a great place to go if you aren’t used to consignment or shopping vintage. They have clothes and accessories from some of the nicest parts of the Peninsula, so you can always find a gem or two. This time I found a ‘new with tags’ Frank & Eileen button up for $37.

aviator glasses California
Vintage Frank & Eileen button-up

If you haven’t shopped vintage you need to start. All the cool kids do and it’s so much better for the planet..I just met a new friend in tennis class and we were all gawking at this gorgeous Prada bag she had. I’d never seen one like it. She said she only does vintage and collects things others don’t have..

She is going to give me tips, so stay tuned. I may be sharing soon. Make it a goal to get to one of these stores if you haven’t. If it helps you feel more comfortable, bring a friend like I did!

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 special travel themed post with a beautiful resort fashion book, links to trips to London, Hawaii, Bora Bora, packing tips, and advice for taking kids to travel abroad, like we did for many years!

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!

Filed Under: Uncategorized, weekend meanderings Tagged With: #anthropologie, #CB2, #pajamas, #vases, #weekendmeanderings

Weekend Meanderings- Travel Edition!

July 22, 2022 By kimwheeler 25 Comments

It’s time for our Weekend Meanderings with Elizabeth and Juliet. I hope your week has been good. This weekend I am away at the Haven Conference , so I thought this would be a good time to share all my best travel themed posts..

First I want to share a beautiful book Resort Fashion, that was a gift from my friend Erin who loves travel too. It’s vintage from 2007, but a wonderful book filled with gorgeous photography from Toni Frissel, Louise Dahl-Wolfe and others. There are sections on stripes, all white and color, and other themes and it’s probably one of the loveliest photography books I’ve ever had… You can still find it on this link and here.

This is my most popular post ever, What to pack for Carmel and Monterey. I try and update it every few months.

This was the last Signature Style on Travel, and what to pack and how to do it.

This edition of weekend Meanderings had what I pack for Hawaii..

This post was How to Bring a Hawaiian Vibe to Your Home..

This was one of my all time favorite posts –Traveling Abroad With Children .. I think it’s a wonderful idea. We did it and loved it. Some of my tips and photos of the trips we have done over the years with my sons in Europe are on this and I’m so glad we started them out traveling young. Grif below in London!

This was my post on our 25th Wedding Anniversary trip to Bora Bora …

And lastly, written right before the pandemic, A Week in London. London is my most favorite city in the world!

I’ll be back to my usual weekend posts next week… Please stop by Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs and see what’s on their minds this week..

PINECONES AND ACORNS

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

Thank you for being here!

Kim

If you missed my last Weekend Meanderings, I shared a white dresses and decor pieces, my new kitchen pendants, a San Francisco townhouse that is a beauty, my favorite sunscreen and summer foundation.. read the 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!

Filed Under: travel, weekend meanderings Tagged With: #boraboratravel, #hawaiitravel, #London, #londontravel, #resortfashion, #travel, #travelingabroadwithkids, #tripplanning, #vintagetravel, #weekendmeanderings

Weekend Meaderings- Summer Whites, Kitchen Pendants, a Sunscreen You’ll Love & More

July 15, 2022 By kimwheeler 25 Comments

It’s time for our Weekend Meanderings with Elizabeth and Juliet. I hope your week has been good. Mine flew by, but there’s a few new things around here so let’s get to it..

My New Pendants!

I wrote the week before last about finally making a decision for new kitchen pendants and these Serena & Lily small Headlands Bell Pendants seemed like a fun choice and the price was great (still on sale for $278). They came quickly and Max was able to put them up for me one night this week! I wasn’t sure if they would be too beachy, but I actually LOVE them. I’m very happy with the look and they kind of soften up the kitchen which has a lot of sharp angles. At night they give off a pretty look to the ceiling too.

If you’re looking for pendants or a light for a room, they come in a few different sizes and shapes also in a black and the quality is very nice for the price!

Summer bath refresh..

I recently added a few new things to our main bath and one was this little ladder towel bar and a vase from Target.

Serena & Lily has one of these ladders, but they can also be found here at Anthro, here and here. Mine was a Homegoods find.

They no longer have this vase (or not online that I can find), but this is a similar one I also have from Target and I love the texture. Since this is under a skylight, and get a lot of sun, I added a dried faux eucalyptus branch in the little vase..

Easy summer white dresses

I am getting ready to go to a conference in Atlanta next week with blogging pals, Juliet, Annie and Mary Ann and was trying to find light dresses to take. I know it’s going to be very warm and humid..I was forced to do the mall thing and actually fell in love with two dresses, this unique shirt dress by Club Monaco with pretty stitching, a unique gather in the back and cool pockets.

I also found this Rail’s Jasmine dress. I am normally not a fan of these elasticized waists, but this dress has a relaxed fit and the prettiest details and a built in slip on the bottom.

Below, I’m in the Rails dress…and a bit sweaty and wrinkled..I had just gotten back from an outdoor lunch when Max snapped this, but you can see the length. It’s a nice run about dress and to take for travel. The skirt has a built in slip. I bought a small. but I’m usually a medium. I’m 5’3 and 135. I’m wearing my favorite Tory Burch espadrille slides I bought a year ago. They no longer have them, but I am considering these which are this year’s version of her espadrille slides..so cute!

White accent for the home

This shorter version of a garden stool popped up on Amazon and reminded me of my grandma’s 1960’s home. I like the shorter look and how nice to pop a plant on, or have two flanking an entry door, or to hold a pile of towels in a bathroom, or maybe two under a console table? Just a few ideas for this cutie.

A pretty San Francisco Townhouse in Frederic magazine

I love Frederic magazine by Schumacher and they always have inspiring homes. This 1920’s San Francisco townhouse in the Presidio Heights neighborhood by SF designer Allison Caccoma  and updated by architect Andrew Skurman is one of them!

The owner is a lifelong collector of unique pieces and had Pinterest boards of how she wanted every room. With the most gorgeous arched windows and pretty terraces, it’s a dream. I’m crazy for the terrace above, with its the brick laid on the side in a zig-zag pattern and the beautiful doors. The owner has a mix of things from all periods and styles, which is very modern and personal.

The cutest summer totes

If you aren’t familiar with Mersea and their Moroccan totes, they are worth checking out. They are beautifully made and come in three sizes and a few colors and designs.. I love the white versions of their Medina Market basket. The small is perfect for a little handbag, the medium for a tote to hold more for a day out or a trip and the large is great even for storage and many use it for files! Love the cute details on the leather tab too..

Chantecaille Future Skin Cushion Skincare Foundation

In summer I really don’t want to much makeup on and I am also lazy. I found this light compact foundation that also has decent coverage and makes my skin look so nice. I just puff it on quickly with the sponge and use a fingertip for areas I want a bit more coverage. It’s a water-based foundation formula with smoothing and anti-pollution skincare ingredients that blur imperfections. It also comes with one refill for the compact. I have been using the Vanilla color. This is the perfect summer foundation! For each cushion compact or refill sold, a bottle of milk for a baby elephant is bought at the wildlife refuge Chantecaille supports -another lovely thing!

Supergoop family size pump

My friend Stacy who I play tennis with, always knows the latest and greatest and told me about this wonderful sunscreen by Goop Play Sunscreen SPF 50, which is so good and comes in a family size pump. It’s a fast-absorbing, non-greasy, water and sweat-resistant, and broad-spectrum SPF 50 lotion for the face and body.

I now have it in the pool bath/mudroom space where everyone uses it on the way out. I love how it feels on, not sticky or thick and is easy to rub in. It smells good, doesn’t leave a white residue, and everyone seems to like it. So important because I want us all to use more sunscreen here in California!

The Lady Di Look Book

This isn’t in the white theme, but I had to share this new release which looks very good..

This new release, The Lady Di Look Book: What Diana Was Trying To Tell Us Through Her Clothes, by Eloise Moran looks to be a really fun read.. and a must for any anglophile and Diana fan. It takes a deeper drive into Diana’s clothes and finds the meanings she was trying to convey, plus many interesting tidbits about her life we didn’t know before, added in with beautiful photos. There is a sample on the Amazon link and it looks great. I’ve already pre-ordered. It comes out next week!

Micro Weddings

Are you a fan of small weddings? The last pandemic years have encouraged so many to go small instead of the usual big overblown and pricey bashes. I personally love an intimate wedding and we had one too. This year especially a lot of people have chose to go small thanks to date and venue shortages, and they are just tired of waiting. I think you can have a stylish and smart wedding with all your dream details for a small group. Micro weddings are the latest things and Juliet is on it! Her niece just had a very chic and sweet ceremony and reception for twenty with so many good ideas that Juliet wrote about it this week. Cute Sophie and Chad, below..

Well that’s my meanderings. Please stop by Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs and see what’s on their minds this week..

PINECONES AND ACORNS

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

Thank you for being here!

Kim

If you missed last week, I shared designer Ulla Johnson’s beautiful Montauk home and her fashions, Wimbledon spectator style, Tahoe hikes to try, 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!

Filed Under: weekend meanderings Tagged With: #bloggerroundup, #californiahomestyle, #californiaremodel, #californiastyle, #fredericmagazine, #pendantlighting, #sanfranciscotownhouse, #serenaandlily, #summerwhites, #towelladders, #weekendmeanderings, #whitedresses

Weekend Meanderings- Ulla Johnson’s home, Tahoe Hikes, Wimbledon Spectator Style & More.

July 8, 2022 By kimwheeler 19 Comments

It’s time for our Weekend Meanderings with Elizabeth and Juliet. I hope this holiday week has been a break and you’ve found some downtime. We were away for a few days up at our tiny cabin in Tahoe. I’ll share a little about that and a few other good things that popped in my head, so let’s start..

Ulla Johnson in AD

I know I shared Nancy Meyer’s California remodel from Architectural Digest last week (like everyone), but I wanted to recommend the July/August issue of the magazine as it has got so many unique and fun homes! This is a keeper issue if you can find it…Even the cover is so cute.

Ulla Johnson is one of my favorite designers and her Montauk home is lovely. She has collected cool objects from her world travels that figure prominently. Part of that comes from being the daughter of archeologists, and her mom also painted and collected folk costumes which influenced her. The house has a very Californian feel to me. I like the mix of natural elements and blending of light earth tones…

She used fabrics remnants from her 2022 collection for the outdoor cushions. I am digging the overgrown look and told my husband I’d like to do this ..Max just rolled his eyes..
AD Photo

Ulla in one of her dresses. All the photos and more on the AD article.

Ulla’s clothing is gorgeous. Her shapes, details, and fabrics are especially pretty and unique. I own a blouse, but I have my eye on a few other things.

Some pieces of Ulla’s I love.. this blue blouse, Samara Dress, Cari Beach Dress, Nerissa Tunic and Sea View Straw Tote. More of her collection here. I know they are pricey, but they are gorgeous and I just had to share. I would splurge on one of these for a special event. You can also find her things on consignment occasionally or upcycled online!

Tahoe

We spent a few days at our little cabin in the west shore. Our cabin is small and in a very under the radar neighborhood which we love. It’s an old Tahoe kit cabin as are most of the cabins and there is a lot of open space and nature. It’s just good for the soul to get back to being in nature. I feel a big sigh when I’m up there breathing fresh air and having my coffee looking over the forest.

Our cabin needs some things and slowly we are getting to them. A big tree is dying and needs removing and we ordered new doors a few months ago. I can’t wait to have doors with half windows which will bring light in and update it. I also pitched some old rugs this weekend and added my Liberty bedding from the J. Crew x Liberty of London collection to our bedroom. I also simplified the kitchen open shelving, keeping only what we use.

I’m seriously considering painting the log walls of this cabin a soft white and keeping the ceilings and accents their natural wood. It would be an undertaking, but could brighten and update it a lot. Something like this.. ( Sorry can’t remember where this photo came from!)

We also want to move a hot tub, add a fire-pit and update windows, so stay tuned. We are doing this slowly and the more we use it, the more we know what we want there.

Tahoe Hikes

If you’re in Tahoe, there are so many trails to explore. My husband is a big hiker and last weekend we did two new ones with Jackson and his girlfriend Kristin. Though it was a holiday weekend neither trail had hardly anyone on them. Hiking is a great way to avoid crowds if you’re up there at a busy time.

The Gnome Trail is a fairly easy trail that starts from west shore. We brought snacks from the West Shore Market and had a tailgate lunch before setting off. We walked about a mile in until we got to the area with a little stream where the gnomes were all over, hanging from trees, tucked in branches and even a gnome wedding on the valley floor. A few kids were there and delighted to discover them all. You could spend some time finding all the gnomes!

The hike also passes through a beautiful meadow and some of the prettiest wildflowers are here.

Chickadee Ridge is less of a hike, more of a destination, but on the drive up the road you’ll pass some amazing panoramic overlooks to see the lake. If you park at the marked spot, you need to have downloaded the map to use GPS to walk up the hill in an unmarked trail to a ridge spot about a mile up where chickadees feed out of your hand. We brought bird seed from CVS, as that is all we had, but they prefer black seeds that are in the hull. Wear shoes that can take dirt and some to change into after.. We met a family that did this during the winter by snowshoeing in. It’s a popular spot to feed them in winter. Wouldn’t that be a fun winter day out and picnic idea?

Max promised me lunch afterwards at one of the best spots on the lake, Gar Woods. We usually make an online reservation in the morning the day we want to go as it can be a real scene in the summer. You can sit on the deck overlooking the lake, but it’s less crazy if you ask to sit upstairs where the views are better and it’s less crowded. It’s a quintessential Lake Tahoe experience and view and the food is good too. I loved watching the little boats from here. Many people boat over here for lunch from other spots on the lake…

You can see there was still some snow on the surrounding peaks..

Wimbledon

Well, things certainly have shaken out differently this year with the Wimbledon play, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching the change the last two weeks and will be sad when it’s over. My favorite match so far was Thursday’s women’s semi-final between Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur and Germany’s Tatjana Maria. They played some of the most exciting tennis I’ve seen in years with a lot of net play and crazy points. It’s notable that both these women are remarkable. Tatjana is the first mother of two since Margaret Court in 1975, to reach the semis here. She is also 34 years old and one of only a few to reach it at that age. She gave birth to her second daughter in April last year is ranked 103 in the world.

She was beat by the number two Ons who is known for her kindness and is the first Arab woman, and first from Africa to reach a final at Wimbledon. After the match she made sure her friend got recognition for her Cinderella sweep to the semis. Both women are so inspiring and show kindness and toughness can go hand in hand. The message this week from Wimbledon is it’s never too late to see your dreams come true! I can’t wait for Saturday’s final with the adorable Ons, below right.

Getty Images and Tennis.com

Wimbledon Spectator Style

I couldn’t let a year of Wimbledon pass without some mention of the spectator style which is almost as fun to watch as the matches. People dress so lovely and it’s fun to see the fashions- many preppy and tennis inspired, but mostly classic and lovely.

Princess Beatrice has my vote for favorite dress and Kate looked amazing in her blue polka dot and today in the final in a stunning yellow..

Some of the other celeb looks I liked..

Mary Berry
Trinny Woodall
Michelle Dockery
Anna Wintour
Karwai Tang

Other cool things..

Vogue’s photographic diary of this year’s Wimbledon has some beautiful photos.

If you missed it, I did a post on travel and packing yesterday for this month’s Signature Style.

I bought this Serena & Lily gingham linen robe, on sale now, for summer and loving it ! Perfect weight and for travel and I love the pockets. they are also having their summer tent sale which is a green time to grab a lot of summer themed pieces for the home.

I loved Annie’s home office and she’s inspired me to print out all my favorite quotes for my own pin board!

I also thought Mary Ann’s office and Cindy’s were beautiful work spaces!

This 1973 t-shirt shows your support for Roe and five dollars is donated for each shirt sold to National Institute for Reproductive Health.

Well that’s my meanderings for this week. Please stop by Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs and see what’s on their minds this week..

PINECONES AND ACORNS

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

Thank you for being here. 

Kim

If you missed last week’s meanderings I shared Nancy Meyer’s home remodel, a day out in Danville, tennis fashions at Wimbledon 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!

Filed Under: weekend meanderings Tagged With: #architecturaldigest, #cabinstyle, #californiahomestyle, #tahoecabin, #tahoehikes, #tahoeliving, #ullajohnson, #ullajohnsonstyle, #weekendmeanderings

Signature Style- Travel!

July 8, 2022 By kimwheeler 34 Comments

Hello it’s that time again for our monthly style report with Cindy and Sarah.  This month we are talking about travel and packing and what to wear. We are finally getting back to nearly normal travel and it feels like the whole world is going somewhere. This pic above right was the last time I was in Europe, Fall 2019 at Heathrow in London. I’d love to go back right now! Right now I have two trips on the horizon, a conference in Atlanta in July ( should be a challange to choose the right things with high temps and A/C), and a fall trip to France with Max if all goes well. That’s still in the planning stages.

I love travel more than almost anything, so just thinking about what to pack gets me excited. We have traveled a fair amount and I’ve gotten better at this art of packing. I really enjoy having my travel essential all ready to go. I have a system down and it takes the stress out of it!

Travel essentials are my TUMI case I’ve had now almost ten years. It never fails me and though has some exterior wear, works like a dream and I can really overload it if I have to with its expandable sides. This suitcase and my carry-on are probably some of the best investments I have made. Neither aren’t cheap, but they have paid for themselves many times over. I can’t tell you how many cheaper cases and carry ons I have gone through before I bought these. I can’t see needing to change them ever! Good investment pieces.

My bags for the last conference I attended prior to the pandemic..

My carry-on is a Longchamp large Le Pliage Tote that that I bought at Heathrow in Harrod’s duty free and I wouldn’t go anywhere without it. It’s tough, lightweight and I can get tons in it. If I’m limited to a carry-on and the suitcase, I’ll take it as my one personal piece and tuck a crossbody purse in it.

If I can check a bag, I take the Longchamp and a tote purse. If it’s a beachy destination, I’ll bring a basket bag as the tote with a crossbody in it. For travel involving trains, transit and multiple hotels, a small carry-on is less slogging and so worth packing efficiently in two pieces.

I stack everything vertically in this tote, so I can see it.

In this I fit a crossbody bag, my makeup bag, two to three pouches, an extra pair of shoes, a book and magazine, a cashmere wrap and a hat upside down with another scarf. I do the same with any handbag tote I may bring.

One of the best crossbody bags I have ever had is this Bombe bag by Tory Burch. IT is ultra light, has two zip pockets that can hold a good amount. . It now comes in many colors, but the black I’ve had for years and it is still so easy to pack and take..

I love zip pouches and packing cubes. Have you gotten on the packing cube bandwagon? Some people love to pack with full outfits in the larger ones. So far this is what I do..

My zip pouches hold-

1) Cords, chargers, plugs and convertors.

2) Kleenex, face/hand wipes, hand sanitizer, Tide wipes, masks, sunglass readers, extra earbuds with cords for movies, and an eye mask for sleeping.

3) A pair of black leggings, a black tank, and a long sleeve t-shirt, a pair of underwear, and a pair of socks. Love this from Target (orange pouch ) that fits those easily. (I like having an extra outfit or emergency pieces in case of a bag being lost or spilling on the flight.)

4) Jewelry roll. I try and keep to basics and just an extra necklace or ring and a pair of dangly earrings. I have a few jewelry cases. The box ones seem to be more popular now and I love this one by Cuyana and this by Mark & Graham.

5) Cosmetic/skincare bag. I love this Everlane bag that was a gift from a friend. It has many side pockets that hold products vertical and is well designed.

My suitcase packing method.

I have done the pants flat out on opposite sides forever and it works to prevent wrinkles- ( demonstrating below). I then fold shirts and dresses stacked together placed on the center, and then pant bottoms folded over all that.

On the zippered side of the suitcase, I use my packing cubes (love these eiffel tower travel bags ). I use one for underwear, another for pajamas and swim, and another for shoes or workout clothes. Everything else on that side is rolled.

Packing cubes are hugely helpful and I want more. I also just ordered these from Mark & Graham which come in three shades and can be monogrammed..

A less pricier option, Target has this nice smaller set online.

What to wear on the plane..

For the plane, I have a formula which is cotton tank, jacket, jeans, and a sweater. That makes me feel polished and gives me a jacket to wear when there. Once I sit on the plane I fold my jacket and store above in the overhead and wear my sweater. I wear slides usually and take my heaviest shoes in the carry on. If it’s winter, visa versa.

The jacket will vary.. This is one look with a navy jacket I own and a map scarf. I’ll wear a white tank and jeans or camo pants.

I have this heavier black Veronica Beard blazer for cooler times and the sweater gives me options and warmth on the plane. My new Mother jeans are the right length, leg width and comfort for this kind of trip.

The Cinq a Sept black top above is a light silk top with grosgrain trim and is perfect for all year layering. It feels great on and goes well under a blazer and pairs with pants and skirts.

A few different ways I wear a jacket traveling.. Always with a sweater for options. Right now in summer I love this linen Tommy Bahama jacket I bought in Hawaii. Going to Hawaii, I’ll bring the linen one or a black windbreaker from Lululemon (similar here.)

These jeans are Veronica Beard with elastic waist which are super for flying. I also have my eye on these Kinsey Cropped Boyfriend Stretch Comfort Jeans by AG that are the right pant width and look and sound good for travel. I also bring a pair of black pants or jeans in my bag.

Pack outfits, not items.

I pack outfits for each day, and not just pieces. In my head I make a mental plan of what I will wear each day to avoid overpacking and if it’s a longer trip, I will try all my outfits on in a mirror and take photos to remember what I’m wearing. To those outfits, I will add sleep clothes, a swimsuit, something to workout in (just in case), undergarments, a cozy cashmere wrap, a small robe ( I just got this) and socks. I also try and stay to 4 pairs of shoes.

A few pieces to consider

I love a good summer sweater for such trips and Banana Republic Factory has this light stripe in navy,(like I’m holding above) or tan. J.Crew has this beach sweater I have in antique white -on sale now. It’s a good option to wear on the plane and on chilly nights.

Button ups are good for coverups and to layer. This top from Anthro left, looks like a great material for travel and can dress up or down. This J. Crew one center, is a pretty option in chambray, white or navy and this button down can be layered with leggings or under a jacket or tied with a skirt. Speaking of leggings, my favorite Lululemon ones still look like new and I’ve had them five years and I take them on all my trips.

Another versatile travel piece recently bought is the pull on Savannah skirt with zip pockets from Athleta. It feel so light and would be perfect for city travel. Here I have it with the tank and the crossbody. You can pair it with a tank and jacket, or dress it up in the evenings, or down with sneakers and a sweatshirt.

A few more of the items mentioned in the post here..

I hope this has been helpful and I hope you have some travel in your future.

If you liked this post you can save it on Pinterest below.

Well, that’s my take on travel packing, now please see what Cindy and Sarah have for you in travel tips! I can’t wait to see their ideas. They always inspire me. Please share any travel tips- packing or style wise in the comments!

Cindy Hattersley Design

Sarah London Style

Thanks for being here! 

Kim

You might also like last month’s Signature Style post on lipsticks, with new favorites and ones I have loved forever.

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! Thank you so much, as Bloglovin seems to have stopped working and I no longer post as much on Facebook and plan to do less there.

Some links will generate a small commission. Thank you for supporting the blog!

Filed Under: Signature Style Tagged With: #packingtips, #signaturestyle, #signaturestyletravel, #travel, #traveloutfits, #travelpacking, #travelstyle

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Blogger, writer and explorer sharing about my native California, and parts farther afield. Join me here where I chat about things to love in the worlds of design, fashion, home, travel and culture.

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Do you wear red? ❤️How do you feel about addin Do you wear red? ❤️How do you feel about adding more to your look? Are you partial to certain tones like poppy or burgundies? It’s a great time of year to pull those red ( and dark pink) pieces out of the closet and have some fun.

This quick clip is to share more about what’s happening tomorrow for this month’s Signature Style with Cindy and I and of course we are talking all about red. 

I’ve had fun gathering red pieces in my closet and seeing how I can make my everyday pieces pop a little more with the addition of some red accessories. 

On the blog, I’ll have more ideas for you like styling red with other colors, and how to wear red like a French person ! I’ll also have some great red items I love if you need a chic accent piece for your wardrobe.  Don’t forget to check @cindyhattersley and my @northerncalstyle posts tomorrow! 💗❤️

#red #redaccessories #redaccents #redfashion #fashionhomework #signaturestyle
Spring has sprung in San Francisco with the plum t Spring has sprung in San Francisco with the plum trees blossoming in the Parnassus Heights neighborhood. We did another fun walk through SF yesterday starting in Cole Valley and walking up to the Mt Sutro Forest that borders this beautiful area and winds back around through Twin Peaks. 

I loved that the city was giving off early spring vibes even though it was a bit drizzly and windy.  Before the walk, we had the best brunch with Jackson and girlfriend Kristin who is on a short break from school.

On this reel you’ll notice all styles of homes. There are colorful homes like the blue one with its matching kayak and the cottages mixed with the sleek new builds. The road we walked up to Sutro Forest is all brick in the center, and at the top of the stairs sits a cottage where the French Consulate General lives. It’s a small cottage with a top of the world view. 

I will share all the details for this hike, and all the stairs and little parks with views that dot this area on the weekend blog…It’s a great time of year to explore the city and get your steps in. Of course I can’t resist sharing all the pretty houses on the hike as well! 

#sanfrancisco #sanfranciscowalks #prettycitysanfrancisco #northerncalifornia #ourgoldenstate #visitsf
The weekend post is up and there’s a few Valenti The weekend post is up and there’s a few Valentines pillows, Jennifer Aniston’s favorite salad, a transitional dressing idea inspired by Princess Diana, a few California houses of the week, my Northern Cal playlist, and a great book/show about the American woman who broke codes and saved so many lives. 

It’s all on the blog!

Check out Juliet and Elizabeth‘s posts too..
Link in our bios or stories:
@northerncalstyle 
@makemineaspritzer 
@pineconesandacorns

Happy Sunday !
Today, on the blog, some Valentine fun. 💗I’m Today, on the blog, some Valentine fun. 💗I’m joining a group of talented women and we all have some Valentine ideas for you. My blog is about an easy Valentine or Galentine‘s dinner you can recreate. I tried to make this super simple because the whole point is gathering with your people and having a good time. 

I did make ahead dishes and used pink items already in my home for the table. I added primroses from the hardware store for extra prettiness and for take home favors. 💕

Stop on by the blog to get all the details. 
@northerncalstyle link in my bio.
And don’t forget to go to these lovely blogs:

@most_lovely_things 
@cindyhattersley 
@classiccasualhome 
@makemineaspritzer 
@sherisilver

#valentines #valentinestablescape #valentinesdinner #galentinesparty
Styling idea of the week…February dressing inspi Styling idea of the week…February dressing inspiration from Princess Diana.. Try a puffer vest or jacket paired with ruffles or florals and a skirt. A pretty transitional look with a romantic February vibe. 💗 Maybe you already have these items in the closet? See what you can create!

This pic is from the fun account, @lostinvintagefashion which is a wonderful rabbit hole to drop into should you need some sartorial inspiration.

Happy first of February friends!

#winterdressing #stylingideas #princessdianastyle #puffervest
The weekend post is up with chat about the trendin The weekend post is up with chat about the trending colors for 2023 in home decor and fashion.. Did you love the 80’s? If so this is perhaps a more sophisticated version with sherbet tones and bits of magenta, greens and navy.  Here I added a bit of these Easter tones to the coffee table with a grass cloth box, one of my books and a candle. I think the best way to update things is to add touches to the home and closet that appeal to you and mix them in with neutrals.. 
What do you think of these colors? I think they’re fun. Some clothing pieces bring me back to my Esprit loving days. It could be fun to add a shirt, shoe or bag in these tones and I selected a handful to consider..

Also on the blog, a few good white jeans, skin cleansers you may need and more! 

Stop on by our blogs- links as always, in our bios or stories:
@northerncalstyle 
@makemineaspritzer 
@pineconesandacorns
 Happy Sunday!

#color2023 #springcolors #trending #serenaandlily #coffeetablestyling
A January PSA- get in your closet and get those wh A January PSA- get in your closet and get those white jeans out! I found mine at the bottom of my closet today in a basket and thought -yes! I love the look of a classic white jean, paired with a chunky sweater or turtleneck in black, beige, tan, creams-  neutral colors always look fantastic. Today it was warm enough that I could go sockless and wear my Madewell loafers with them and a little jacket I have from Anthro. Get your white jeans out. it will give your winter wardrobe have a little kick. White jeans can be worn all year and they even look great with winter boots and coats. 

This is also a great time to look at your white Jean inventory. 🤍If you don’t have a pair that’s comfortable and straight leg, in a thicker material…this might be a good time to look. I’ll share some on the weekend blog as well.

if you missed our LIVE this morning, you can watch it on Juliet’s @makemineaspritzer Instagram and I’ll link to it on my stories ! Thank you everyone for tuning in in for the fun questions and comments. We love doing this with you all weekly! Let us know in comments if there are any other topics you want to hear about. Today we talked trending colors, exercise classes .. finding art and pillows and more..

#whitejeanseason #januaryclosetremix #winterwardrobehacks
I love the sunshine in the morning streaming throu I love the sunshine in the morning streaming through the kitchen.. My baby daffodils are blooming to make it even happier. This is one of my favorite things about the new year, the bulbs and daffodils and California poppies that hint spring it on the way.💛 If you don’t have a few blooms in the kitchen, maybe you can add a few?

Hope your having a beautiful week!

#kitchensun #californialife #januaryincalifornia
I love this of Liz Taylor at her first wedding to I love this of Liz Taylor at her first wedding to Richard Burton in 1965. She’s wearing a empire, knee length dress and orange blossoms in her hair, which must have smelled heavenly. I want yellow in my closet this spring!

This is the center of my spring vision board! 💛 Link to all Elizabeth’s wedding dresses on the weekend post -and a few yellow things I added to the house if you missed it! 

#yellow #yellowaesthetic #liztaylor #thebrideworeyellow #springfashion #spring2023 #vogue
Sunday beach trip… We made it to Santa Cruz to c Sunday beach trip… We made it to Santa Cruz to check out the coast after these rough last weeks. Aptos looks pretty good and poor Seacliff is terribly battered. So sad to see what people have lost. My heart goes out to them.

We had the beach to ourselves and the weather was winter perfect. ☀️Cold and sunny. We had a picnic of sandwiches from Zoccolis deli and took in the sun and sea air while watching surfers and birds.

This song just seemed to fit -and relatable as I could not sleep last night! No idea why. Isn’t it maddening? 

Hope you get a chance to take a winter beach walk.. They are the best. 

#santacruz #aptos #california #northerncalifornia #winterbeachwalks #seacliff #norcal #seascapebeach
Happy Sunday! The weekend post is up and I’m sha Happy Sunday! The weekend post is up and I’m sharing a few good ideas for a dining room refresh, pops of yellow, my favorite winter skin care essentials right now, a beautiful and unique San Francisco house in @archdigest, online yoga, and the story behind a historic San Francisco home I came upon last week.. Head to the blog for all the deets! 

I hope its a wonderful weekend.☀️

Don’t forget to visit Juliet and Elizabeth blogs ..links as always, in our bios or stories:
@northerncalstyle 
@makemineaspritzer 
@pineconesandacorns

#northerncalifornia #weekendpost #yellow #diningroomdecor #bernardmaybeck #sanfranciscohomes #architecturaldigest #potterybarn #serenaandlily #californiastyle
Our dear friend Contessa @contessa_and_her_pig has Our dear friend Contessa @contessa_and_her_pig has been seriously sick and fortunately is back home now, but still struggling with pneumonia. If anyone wants to send her a snail mail note please dm me and I will share her address. She loves unique cards and pretty postcards you’ve saved from travel, so she would be thrilled to get a little note!

It seems like just yesterday we were in her gorgeous yard taking photos for my Californians at Home series. It’s still one of my favorite photo shoots and if you want to read it again -or missed it I will link to it in my bio today. She’s one of a kind, so let’s get her well soon and bolster her spirits!!💛💛

#californiacontessa #californiansathome

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