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#earthday

Earth Day, the New Ethos Stores, and a Charming San Diego Beach House

April 22, 2023 By kimwheeler 29 Comments

On this Weekend post- Earth Day, a new Ethos stores, the perfect spring and summer sandal, an empowering book, a charming San Diego beach house, and thoughts on the Brooke Shield’s documentary.

How has your week been? Some exciting news is my dad got a new cat! His sweet cat passed away a month or so ago and he’s been missing her. We’ve been sort of looking, but this week we went to the Humane SSV Shelter in Milpitas and came home with a new pal. So it’s been a busy week helping my dad and his new cat get acclimated.

The Humane Society of Silicon Valley

I didn’t know how beautiful our new shelter is and I was blown away by the beautiful space and the way the animals are treated. I was used to seeing animals in shelters in cages, and it is not like that there. The HSSV is the world’s first model shelter -attaining all the standards put forth by shelter vets. I loved seeing the big field for dogs to run and play outdoors. When you go in animals are in rooms with windows, not cages and also have other recreational spaces. There is so much natural light. This video shows more if you don’t know about how special it is..

Meet Herbie! Dad and I walked the cat area and we were walking back when we noticed Herb. He had a key outside his door which meant he as friendly and you could visit him, so we went in and found he’s a real sweetheart. He is five months old and is just getting used to dad’s home now. I will keep you all updated. If you’re looking for a new friend, shelters all over the country are full and reaching a crisis point this year.

A fun San Diego beach house

If you haven’t seen it, the king of beautiful blue interiors, Mark D. Sikes updated a long time family beach house on the San Diego coast that is French Normandy style and is as charming as you would expect.. See the whole house and story on AD online here and in the magazine this month..

Earth Day…

This weekend is Earth Day and it’s a great time to rethink ways we can all make a difference in our small habits. We don’t have to do everything, but small things add up. I also feel a responsibility as a blogger, as I recommend things to buy. I try hard to choose things that you will have for a long time in the closet and home. I’m very much advocating for building a wardrobe and home that you will love for years with quality things as the building blocks and occasional updated accessories.

It’s been a game changer for me thinking this way. I also want us all to look at what we already have and use it in new ways. Shopping vintage and resale sites is the way to fantastic way to get gorgeous pieces and have more style- with things that are already on the planet

This is my original 50th anniversary Earth Day post filled with the story of how Earth Day origins and all kinds of things you can do to make an impact in small ways.

More Earth Day Events around the Bay Area here, Golden Gate park’s big Earth Day event, and I also liked this on the origins of Earth Day.

Did you know that within five years of that first Earth Day we had the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act , the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and also the EPA put into place?

At the same time, the movement went after congress members who had the worst environmental offenses and voting records calling them the ‘dirty dozen’ and largely got them defeated on the next election. We could be doing so much more than we are now, if we were as motivated as the founders were.

Just looking at this photo of the original Earth Day is inspiring…

The New Ethos Stores- Just in Time for Earth Day!

Have you heard of Ethos stores? These stores are low-waste living shops that focus on curating refillable and reusable alternatives that minimize our impact on the planet. This is one in Capitola and we just got one in Los Gatos. I was super excited so I ran down there Thursday afternoon to check it out for you all. This is the store we have been waiting for..Finally a place where you can buy in bulk. You may bring your own containers or purchase there. No more plastic containers ! We need these shops everywhere.

Not only is it good for the earth, the products are nice quality and affordable. I took a walk through the store which has all the soaps and cleaning products you use, plus beauty things like shampoo, cleansers, body and face creams and sunscreens, hair treatments, and even tooth products. You can buy brushes and reusable towels, wraps, and cottons for your face.

There is so much good there! Please stop by and check them out. Even though I had no containers, I decided to buy a micellar water and a sprayer and a wool dryer ball.. The water cost me $3 and the container was about the same.. So the prices are good and the water worked well and smelled great. Next I plan to get some hand soap and dish detergent and counter cleaner… You can follow them on Instagram where they share what they are all about. Have you been to one of these bulk stores near you and what do you think?

On My Radar

I need new sneakers and I wanted something stylish and comfortable I can wear all day. These these Top Spin Sneakers by Cole Haan will be comfy, have a little heel and come in a pretty navy too. These would look great with so much -slacks, dresses. I just can’t decide what color. More options here.

I’m not a big H&M person, but occasionally I will cruise through and see what’s happening there. This cotton/linen shirt dress stood out is part of their greener initiative and is of recycled fabric. I loved the sleeves which make this dress stand out. The quality and sewing was nice and I bought a Medium which hit me right above the knee at 5’4. I think this will be a great dress for the beach and warm weather days with slides. The black and pink versions are nice too.

I also spotted these adorable sandals that have a modern feel and a bit of a retro 90’s vibe. I feel like I had a similar pair of these from J. Crew back then. I love the tube like straps which are comfy and the block heel. They have a nice foot bed and feel like a pricier shoe, and are a classic style that will last. I hate heels, so these are an option when flats are just not dressy enough. These feel so good on I am considering the beige/nude color too before they are gone.

The Brooke Shields Doc- What are your thoughts?

I just finished the Brooke documentary. So if you haven’t watched and plan you may want to skip this paragraph… Come back and let me know your thoughts if you are a woman of our age.

I was shocked watching the first part. It brings back the misogynistic culture we grew up with. Objectifying women and all that..

I remember hearing about the Pretty Baby film, but had forgotten the facts around it. Putting an 11 year old girl in that film, playing a prostitute make me feel ill, and those who allowed it to happen in the name of art and a famous director, were all culpable. That would never fly now- thank God. Same with Blue Lagoon and Endless Love. Those films! Of course I saw the Blue Lagoon.. we couldn’t wait my friends and I.

Brooke’s time in college helped her gain confidence to make her own decisions and get validation that she was more than her appearance. Later, how she jumps into a relationship with another controller, Andre Agassi. I had no idea about him..She also admits to being raped by a famous producer and yet has never revealed the creep. I wish she would…I had also forgotten how Tom Cruise shamed Brooke for talking about her postpartum depression and getting therapy and meds for it. Wow just mind blowing he did that. I commend her for writing a book about something so horrible to struggle with, and that many had little information about at the time.

A lot of what happened to Brooke, happened to a lot of women of our ages. Women were valued on their looks, no apologies. If we had forgotten that age, we are reminded on this show. It’s hard to watch the cringy commentary and questions from people like Mike Douglas and others.

Brooke beyond all odds has remained normal, well adjusted and down to earth. She still looks like herself and natural. You see her paddling around her house on this show, with glasses and yes wrinkles and spots and not trying to look like 30 year self, unlike others in her field.

Perhaps the most memorable is the discussion she has at the dinner table with her very normal daughters. They say the films she made as a child, would not be okay now. She agrees and then proffers that many young women are choosing to exploit themselves on TikTok and Instagram, exposing very much, while very young, for more likes and attention. Sadly true.

Will we one day look back one day at all that in the same way we now view what was done to Brooke?

I’d love to hear what you all think if you watched it. The documentary is on HULU and I had to subscribe, ( I did the cheaper option with a few commercials), and you can cancel after.

An Empowering Book

Speaking of women, I saw someone recommending Claim Your Confidence this week. I read the reviews and it’s supposed to be uplifting and a fun read with a lot of good stories of the author. This book is all about finding courage and building confidence in all parts of your life. Someone said make sure to share it with another woman afterwards. I just ordered mine.

On last weekend’s post, the best blueberry muffins ever, Tahoe, updating old cabins with paint, some new J. Crew winners and the Brooke Shield’s documentary.

I hope you all have a sunny weekend,

Kim

Please visit my pals Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs..

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

PINECONES AND ACORNS

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Filed Under: Earth Day Tagged With: #californialiving, #earthday, #springstyle, #weekendmeanderings

Weekend Meanderings- Table Throws, Earth Day, Woven Market Totes, a Fish Taco Recipe & More

April 22, 2022 By kimwheeler 22 Comments

It’s Weekend Meanderings time with Elizabeth and Juliet, and our chance to share some cool things that have come to our attention this week! I hope your week has been good. I’m on the mend from Covid, which I came down with on Easter.. Thankfully I tested before my dad popped over for Easter Brunch. I thought I had allergies! It’s smart to do a test if you’re gathering and feel as thought you have seasonal allergies..You never know right now.

Have you used table throws?

I was sad to take down my Easter table, but I had bought this Marrrakesh Embroidered Table Throw from Pottery Barn a few weeks ago, and was excited to use it. I love how the clementines and the wood bowl warm it up. Having a black table is nice, but sometimes I feel like a pop of bright.

Have you used table throws? I kind of like that they show some of the dining table and have a more casual feel than a full tablecloth. I can use them on my outside table too as they can go on any size which is convenient. Pottery Barn seems to have the best collection and about 18 of them here.

I really like the lovely embroidery on this one.

Earth Day

I love Earth Day and also this yearly reminder to try harder to do the right thing for the planet.

On 2020, I wrote a blog about the history of Earth Day on it’s 50th anniversary and its founder Gaylord Nelson, who has connections to my alma mater, San Jose State, and Wisconsin.

Read all about Earth Day, it’s history and more small ways to make a difference each day on my post here!

You can join in this weekend’s Earth Day events that are happening all over the Bay Area! I wish I could get to the Earth Day Festival in SF. This weekend there are clean up days, talks, fairs and celebrations here all detailed here.

If you can’t get to one, grab a bag pick up trash on your local beach or walk, start using your own shopping bags, water bottle and coffee mugs and say no to straws and plastic bags and bottles as much as you can! It’s the little things done by us all that make a difference. Buy used and upcycled and less and better quality when you shop.

Straw Totes

In the Earth Day mindset, I though sharing a few great woven market totes might be in order. During the pandemic a lot of us fell out of our wonderful habit of carrying reusable bags to shop. People got weird about it, and frankly there never was a lot of proof that Covid was carried by bags at all, but at the beginning we didn’t know did we? Can we all please go back to bringing our bags? That made a HUGE impact on the earth.

A great idea is to use a cute market bag as your purse. I did this all last summer with this inexpensive woven tote, just like the French women do. I lined the bottom of it with a few of my favorite nylon shopping bags folded up, and voila, I always have shopping options. If the tote can’t fit all my groceries, the bags in the bottom will.

I use mine for travel, tennis and as my handbag. Great for a day out at the Farmer’s Market too. They come in so many sizes. Choose a one that will work for your budget, but also that you feel comfy to carry on a daily basis.

The straw bag has style cred and the girls carrying one that costs $20 are as equally chic as Gucci logo one in my opinion. Have fun and personalize it with a scarf or a tassel if you want. For the big open totes, I throw my wallet and keys in a zipper pouch and toss in. Some of these have pouches that come with them or fabric inserts that tie on top if you like…

Here’s a few that I thought were lovely..

Palm Leaf Tote $99
Monogram Tote $89
Stripe Seagrass Bag $109
Leather Handle Circle Bag $99
AllSaints Straw Bag $129
Alohas Woven bag $195
Jackson’s Jute Tote $128
Staud Mercado Tote $395
Ulla Johnson Surfside Tote $495
Vanessa Bruno Sequin Raffia Tote $340
Double Handled Moroccan Etsy tote $30
Mango Raffia Tote $119
Trina Turk Parisian Market Tote $128
Mango Jute Shopper $59
Mersea Medina Totes $68-$88

Just like my collection of white shirts, I think it’s kind of nice to also have a little collection of straw bags. Look at this great display of my Instagram pal, La Dolfina’s home. She has a vintage shelf ( maybe from a department store) and her bag collection! Some gems in there. She’s one of my favorite antique hunter/collectors and her account is here.

And don’t forget our friend Contessa and her fab collection of totes that go with her caftans we shared on this post. By the way, she’s in the caftan business now and is selling beautiful monogrammed ones! Go check out her site and see before they are gone on this post.

White Shirt Foundations..

If you caught post this week about my love for white shirts, someone asked what to wear under them. A good skin-toned bra is ideal and is okay if it shows a little, depending on your comfort. Getting a bra as close to your natural skin is the best and my favorite that has support, and a lot of comfort and a nice smoothing back is this Wacoal Bra, below. This option by Chantelle is also highly rated for under t-shirts and things and this by Spanx has more skin tone colors.

If your white shirt is extra light and sheer, you can opt for a silky camisole, or a thin white tank or in something like a slub cotton for comfort and breathability. They are an important wardrobe staple you can layer. This from Banana Republic is the softest tank, not tight, and just the right length and weight for layering under something and comes in more colors. Hanro also makes excellent pieces and has this cotton seamless tank and this cotton v-neck camisole. All three below…

A new fish taco recipe

Looking for something fresh to cook? Well this week Max has done all the cooking and always loves trying new things. Today he made the best fish tacos from Once Upon a Chef, one of our go-to cookbooks. This recipe is totally different to us. He made a delicious crema for it and also pickled his own onions for it, which made it outstanding. He bought fresh cod and we thought this is one for our regular rotation – and so colorful!

The recipe is not on her site, so I am sharing here. Find the recipe in her book, Weeknight/Weekend.

Many more wonderful recipes on her website.

National Parks on Netflix

Have you seen the new Netflix series, Our Great National Parks? It’s produced and narrated by former President Obama and the first episode takes place in Indonesia, where Obama’s mother moved them for a few years the he was young. It’s so good and I can’t recommend it enough. Our world is unbelievable.

Guncle

If you’re looking for a new book that’s funny as well as heartwarming, read The Guncle! It’s the story of a gay uncle who is a former sitcom star living in Palm Springs who ends up caring full time for his young niece and nephew. The dialogue is hilarious and he is a fantastic character. I really am enjoying it.

I’ve been on the mend from Covid, but improving every day. I just feel fortunate to have not gotten this for almost two years, and now with the vaccine and booster it’s bearable. I have had three days where I took Advil for aches and fever and sore throat. I drank many mugs of tea with fresh yard lemons and honey and lots of chicken soup. I also sat in the sun as much as I could. I hope you are all staying well!

Well that’s my meanderings for this week now please pop over and see what great ideas my friends Elizabeth and Juliet have for you…I’m always learning so much from those two!

PINECONES AND ACORNS

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

Wishing you all a beautiful weekend.

Thank you for being here!

Kim

If you missed last week’s post with the Mark D. Sikes collaboration with Anthro, Liberty x J. Crew home collection and a great California playlist, 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! 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.

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Filed Under: weekend meanderings Tagged With: #earthday, #fishtacos, #markettotes, #obamanationalparks, #onceuponachef, #potterybarn, #Strawtotes, #tablecloths, #thegunclebook, #weekendmeanderings, #wovenbags

Earth Day -Why it Matters

April 23, 2020 By kimwheeler 14 Comments

I hope you enjoy this post written on the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. As a Californian, this day has a lot of meaning for me. I’ve been excited about ‘saving the planet’ since I was a kid, and each year this day comes around, it gives us a chance to rethink how we are living and what we might do to make a few changes to help!

2020 was the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day . Jane Goodall said it’s the decisions we make every day that will save the planet. Small things, done by all of us, can change the the future.

I love some of these images from the first celebration back in 1970. If you are close to my age, you might remember the big things then were pollution and not littering. Now we know there are so many more ways we can help!

Way back when my youngest was in kindergarten, a friend asked me to start a Green Team at our elementary school. I have no idea why they asked me, but I may have been griping about the lack of recycling or something so they figured I was a good candidate! I never have thought of myself as an eco-warrior type, but I later realized that I had been largely raised in what would now be called a green or granola kind of family.

Growing up in Northern California, we always had a garden thanks to my father. I had green beans strung over my windows in the summers as my window overlooked his large vegetable garden. Dad was always growing something and had a greenhouse and compost bin filled with worms.

We grew up eating all kinds of vegetables (not always cool then), and anything dad planted. We even raised chickens and got fresh eggs way before it was a thing. My dad was in 4H and Future Farmers when he was young and his father grew up on a farm in Mt Ayr, Iowa.

My grandmother was raised in the depression and never threw things out and showed us how to sew, repurpose things and be thrifty. I figured everyone did those things, eating swiss chard for dinner (!) and having my clothes sewn at home by my mom or grandma. Actually a lot of people did this in the 70’s..

 I had no idea what I was doing for the school Green Team, but I liked the chance to help my sons be more green and learn how our choices were affecting us all on earth. My friend Aimee, (above with our friend Marico), came on board to help and we hobbled through the elementary years holding fairs at lunchtime with invitees like Whole Foods, the water district and the library.

These Earth Day fairs were fun ways for families to learn more about things waste-free lunches, reusable containers, water bottles, recycling and composting. Sometimes the parents would bring a picnic lunch and make a day of it.

After a few years we began a school garden with some other wonderful parents. The biggest accomplishment was getting kids to recycle at lunch, which seems like a no-brainer now, but it was a real struggle as the school claimed it was too much to ask! The kids loved helping with the garden and adding pretty plants around the school too.

Eventually, the students got so good at recycling they helped teach the younger ones and even managed the program and when they moved on to middle and high school they demanded better recycling!

I highly recommend doing this at your child’s school if you have young ones. It was a small amount of time, but a good way to get kid’s caring about the planet and think about their choices.

It’s great to recognize its founder, Gaylord Nelson. Nelson grew up in Clear Lake in Northern Wisconsin and was a three term senator and governor there. He founded Earth Day in 1970 and always wanted it to become a grass-roots movement put in motion by small groups and it has been.

He was an amazing human who we have so much to thank for. The University of Wisconsin, Madison has a Nelson Institute for Enviromental Studies named for him and you can read about the history of Earth Day and all Nelson did on their wonderful archive and website . I did not know he did his undergrad at San Jose State, my alma mater. He was ahead of his time and a truly a great American.

As a Californian, being thoughtful about the earth is part of life here! I love that. Still I see so many people being lazy about their choices. It’s killed me during this pandemic to see so many people buying huge flats of plastic water bottles at Costco. They are one the worst thing and the quality of the water in them is questionable. It’s simpler to get a Brita water pitcher and fill reusable bottles for your refrigerator. Even my sons get upset when they see people give out plastic bottles at events and elsewhere.

If we all try to our part, our habits will become second nature and we are giving an example to others. Instead of being perfect, do what you can. Each small thing done by us can bring change!

A few places to begin..

Being home during this pandemic, many thought is was the perfect time to start a garden. People are calling this the new Victory Garden era. During the past two world wars, people were encouraged to garden to ensure fresh food and 20 million home gardens produced 40% of the nation’s fresh vegetables during WWII!

There are many online tutorials to begin a garden and I also recommend this book, A Garden Can Be Anywhere, which is a guide for design, plants and all different types of gardens. There is nothing better than your own tomatoes and vegetables and if you start now you can have food through the summer and fall.

The bonus of having food in your own backyard during this pandemic can not be overstated. Get your kids involved too. My college kid took his own kale and broccoli plants to college, which made me pretty proud.

This website – The Horticult is so inspiring and helpful, also A Way to Garden, The Freckled Californian, Golden Gate Garden, are a few good ones and inspiration from The Conservatory of Flowers, one of my favorite spots, Kew Gardens in London.

Plant a low-water yard with natives and replace grass with easy care plants. This helps the earth with less water use, no fertilizers, pesticides or mowing and blowing- all pollution causing. We recently replaced our large lawn on our front yard with a low water landscape of Mediterranean plants, succulents and California natives. The ground cover is decomposed granite.

It’s been a wonderful change, and though it started out slow, the plants have taken off and our low maintenance yard needs, very little trimming, and minimal watering. The best part to us, is seeing all the birds who love to hop about the flowering bushes and the hummers and butterflies who visit daily. We love never having to mow the lawn and I feel like we’ve built a new eco-system of sorts!

Always carry your own water bottles with you throughout your day. We have multiples here at home and never go on a trip or almost leave the house without our bottles. The Swell bottles are my favorite, last forever and are nearly indestructible.

There many great options now, so have a few for each person in your home, and you’ll save money and the planet by never, ever buying plastic single use bottles. If you entertain, instead set up a jug with water and if you must have disposable, then paper cups or ones that you can write names with wine writers that just wash off with soap.

Obviously reusable bags are the thing now. I think it’s the single biggest thing we’ve done in California and I’m so proud of us. Keep bags by the front door and a few in the car and also small ones in your purse.

I have heard people complaining about hygiene with reusable bags. They can be washed in the laundry and also wiped out with alcohol if they are stiffer. I usually also buy my produce with reusable net bags and don’t use a plastic bag – just put my avocados etc on the checkout counter bare. They all have to be washed at home anyway, and who knows who has touched them or if they’ve fallen on the ground previously, so putting them is a plastic bag, isn’t keeping them any cleaner.

The best bags are these by Apolis a great company that is dedicated to improving the lives of those who make their bags. You can see I have two, in my entry-one is four years old. I just bought a new black one.

We now know most plastics aren’t be recycled as we thought, so anytime you can buy things in bulk, in reusable containers or bigger packaging (like a salad or drinks) or no packaging at all, like bulk nuts, oats etc, it is so much better. Packaging is one of the biggest problems with so many plastics ending up in the oceans, chocking sea life and polluting fish and sea life.

While we are at home, convert your yard and home to be free of pesticides and chemicals, if you haven’t already. I am shocked to see people have subscriptions to places like Thrasher and other pest services in this day and age. With all we know, there is no way I’d have any part of my yard or home sprayed with chemicals. Those chemicals linger and get into every living species on your property.

Eliminate pesticides and herbicides and use natural fertilizers. Even yard fertilizers can have things like Round-up in them and even just an occasional spritz on your yard lasts years and flows to the neighbor yards and to the watershed. There are so many non-toxic alternatives out there. Do your research. When you need to kill a bug or weed you can make your own spray vinegar and there is even one you can buy. Also the new weed torches work great and leave to residue to hurt birds, butterflies, and bees.

Use cloth napkins and towels instead of paper. Back in 2014, I made the decision to stop buying paper napkins and instead start using the cloth ones we had amassed unused over the years. It’s been the best decision and I have never looked back. We have one deep drawer with all the napkins by color, un-ironed, and a small basket on the counter for used ones. We do a load of them once a week on hot and everyone folds them when I leave them on the kitchen island.

They are useful for kitchen spills and things too. Obviously I have some fancier ones as well, but I have loads of the everyday ones (which some were formerly unused fancy ones) and they just get softer over time. I still get paper towels for the gross things, but we generally use towels most of the time. Only Americans are so obsessed with paper and most other nations use cloths.

Speaking of cloth, try and air dry and care for your laundry (my usual load of cloth napkins and towels above), with non-toxic products which do go in the water system afterwards. I love this timely post on Beautiful Living With Stefanie Wall on how to care for your clothes and be eco-friendly at the same time! Of course I appreciate the dryer right now for towels and the kitchen things, but some heavier things like denim I lay outside in the sun, and blouses and nicer shirts get hung in the breeze. You can save a lot of energy just by using the sun and wind and your clothes will look better and wear much longer.

Lately I’ve also become a fan of Patrick the Laundry Evangelist thanks to my pal Juliet. Follow him and you’ll find the best way to wash your clothes and things is also using less product, and things like laundry flakes which eliminate a those big plastic jugs filling the planet, and also natural things like vodka and vinegar..

One of the biggest changes that will make an impact is less meat and dairy consumption. This article in The Guardian says that avoiding meat and dairy is the single biggest way to lessen your footprint on the planet. We are not vegans, but I have switched myself to using oat milk and plant butters. Start with small changes if this seems hard, and see how much dairy and meat you can do without. You may be surprised.

Hugely impactful, try to buy less, shop better and buy upcycled clothes and furnishings, as portion of what we consume each year. Fast fashion is fun, but when you survey your closet, most people will tell you it’s those cheaper pieces that end up in the donation pile.

If you have to have a shopping fix get to know stores like Crossroads Trading where you can get upcylcled fashion and Thredup. Those places have some great buys and many are new with tags and not found anywhere else. If you love a particular brand, say Tory Burch, you can put that name in your Thredup search and find all the Tory things in your size. I have gotten some beautiful pieces that way, and it’s one less garment in the world going to waste and one less new one bought. The less new we buy, the less made. Vintage and upcycled is the future of fashion.

We should aim for a closet of things we love for a long time and think quality not quantity. Nordstrom has been really progressive with their sustainable initiatives and has a goal to eliminate plastic bags from all their stores this year, and has long-range goals to 2025, including getting customers in the habit of recycling, not buying and dumping.

They now have Rent the Runway in stores and believe that is one of the main ways retail will evolve if it is to remain relevant and survive. Look today at your favorite retailer’s site and see what they are doing for the planet which should be on their main page today. Choose companies that align with your values!

Finding unique things for your home from yard sales, thrift and home consignment, and even on Facebook Marketplace and Nextdoor, is another way of doing good for the planet. A well made chest of drawers or set of chairs add loads of character and charm to your home, and are undoubtedly much better made than anything bought at IKEA, or Homegoods. Think how to integrate a mix in your house, and even better -use family hand-me downs if you are lucky. My favorite kind of home is a mix of old, some new and collected and found pieces that give your home a unique character and vibe! There is beauty in the old like this etagere I found a a yard sale..

Vote for representatives who put climate change and the protections of water, clean air and wild life as a priority, over corporate priorities and lobbyists. This list is congress’s top takers of oil and money gas. This list is those who have pledges not to ever take money from big oil. There are people of both parties on these lists. Look for your people and vote accordingly.

Walk, bike, take public transit and buy electric vehicles! I know this sounds old school, but biking and walking is another of one of the single biggest thing that we can all do. Try just one day a week walking to get something – or biking is huge if we could all do it. I would love to see more cities have one day a week designated for just bikes and pedestrians downtowns and more roads closed off on certain days. The more we get people comfortable on bikes, as they are in Europe, the more we will do it.

Also we need more safety lanes built to make people feel secure biking on roads. One day a week taking public transit helps. Take it as a break to work or read if you can. Electric vehicles are wonderful and hugely popular in California and hopefully soon, all over. Having less cars on the road during the pandemic has given the earth a reset, and also the sound pollution is so much better a bonus.

These are just a few ideas and tips- and so many more that I didn’t touch on! I hope this inspires you in some way and I know you might have some great tips and ideas to add in the comments! Please do.

Thanks for being here and I hope you got out and enjoyed our beautiful earth today!

Kim

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Filed Under: Earth Day Tagged With: #earthday, #earthday50, #ecofriendly, #gaylordnelson, #greenlife, #greenteam, #nordstrom, #sustainableliving

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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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  • Carmel Getaway to Bernardus Lodge, a Rails Capsule for Summer, Pretty Pots and more..
  • Carmel Getaway to Bernardus Lodge, a Rails Capsule for Summer, Pretty Pots and more..
  • Make Air Dry Clay Garden Markers | Most Lovely Things
  • green summer salad
  • Rails capsule wardrobe for summer
  • wearing a Rails jacket at Bernardus
  • Carmel Getaway to Bernardus Lodge, a Rails Capsule for Summer, Pretty Pots and more..
  • Carmel Getaway to Bernardus Lodge, a Rails Capsule for Summer, Pretty Pots and more..
  • Carmel Getaway to Bernardus Lodge, a Rails Capsule for Summer, Pretty Pots and more..
  • Carmel Getaway to Bernardus Lodge, a Rails Capsule for Summer, Pretty Pots and more..
  • Carmel Getaway to Bernardus Lodge, a Rails Capsule for Summer, Pretty Pots and more..
  • Carmel Getaway to Bernardus Lodge, a Rails Capsule for Summer, Pretty Pots and more..
A little reel of the pretty @bernarduslodge in Car A little reel of the pretty @bernarduslodge in Carmel Valley. We try and get here at least twice a year for a little weekend retreat. 

It’s in the perfect location as you can enjoy all the charms of Carmel -and soak up the sunshine while you’re at the resort just up the road from the coast. The rooms, pools, gorgeous gardens, and mountain views are soothing. It’s my happy place and if you are near Carmel, I can’t recommend it enough. 

#carmelvalley #carmel #carmeltravel #centralcoast #bernarduslodge #northerncalifornia #northerncalstyle
On the weekend blog I shared my favorite summer gr On the weekend blog I shared my favorite summer green salad. It’s the traditional with a few twists to make it have more flavor and crunch. A nice option for a Memorial Day barbecue if you’re having one today.. Link with details in bio.
@northerncalstyle 

We had houseguests and now a free day, but the weather has been dark and cool for this summer kick off.. 😕 Hoping you all get some time to enjoy this extra day off. 

I am thinking today of all those who gave their lives for our nation and democracy. ❤️ Their families are especially on my mind. 

#summersalad #californiatable
On the Weekend blog.. a @rails Summer capsule! I b On the Weekend blog.. a @rails Summer capsule! I brought some of these beautiful pieces with me on our weekend away in Carmel and loved how well they all work together!
More deets on the blog plus where we stayed and some pretty snaps of Carmel in bloom.

Don’t forget to visit my pals Elizabeth and Juliet too.

 Our links as always, in our bios or stories:
@northerncalstyle 
@makemineaspritzer 
@pineconesandacorns

Have a beautiful weekend .
This is a perfect time for a trip to Carmel-Monter This is a perfect time for a trip to Carmel-Monterey Bay as everything is blooming and the magic carpet in Pacific Grove is at its peak beauty! 

The beautiful flowers in the charming towns and the on cottages make it such a treat to visit. We had a fun two days and I’ll do another little reel on our pretty hotel in Carmel Valley. 

Have you been to Carmel in the springtime? It’s a bucket list item! 🌸

#carmelbythesea #carmel #pacificgrovemagiccarpet #pacificgrove #montereybay #ourgoldenstate #visitcalifornia #flowerstagram #californiadreaming
I splurged and bought myself this pretty planter f I splurged and bought myself this pretty planter for my favorite plant. This is from @beachwoodhome in Carmel which has beautiful things. It’s in the Carmel Plaza and I always love popping in there to see what’s new when I’m down there.

This plant is a peperomia plant which is so easy to keep alive! Yay. It loves to grow in cool shapes and needs just a few ice cubes here and there..

Hope you’re all having a good start to the week! 

#easyplants #houseplantsofinstagram #bluepottery #carmelbythesea #californialiving
Have you been to Tahoe in the summer? It’s just Have you been to Tahoe in the summer? It’s just magic. These are a few snaps of my Tahoe look, but on the blog I have more ideas and great pieces for you to consider when planning a summertime getaway there. 

You will find it’s very relaxed with an old school charm. Chill is the vibe and it’s all about comfort and California casual. Tahoe is all about enjoying the incredible nature and beauty up there! 

Find it all on my what to pack post with six of my friends sharing their destinations too..
Link in bio @northerncalstyle 
More on stories also!

#tahoe #laketahoe #whattopack #californiatravel #californiatrip #westshorelaketahoe #lakelife #oldschoolsummer #ourgoldenstate #californiadreaming #visitcalifornia
Hard to believe it’s almost summer, and are you Hard to believe it’s almost summer, and are you all ready for a vacation ?  I have the perfect blog for you today..a fun collaboration with six others, sharing their packing tips and outfits from their special spots in the country.. We’ve got Tahoe, Napa, Valley, Paso Robles, Santa Cruz, Florida, New York City, and North Carolina! 

These packing lists and outfit ideas plus favorite spots not to miss, make these posts savers! 

My blog is what to pack and what to wear for summertime in Tahoe- which I can’t wait for. 💙

All our posts are linked in our bios.. 
me/Tahoe @northerncalstyle 

Annie/New York City @most_lovely_things 

Juliet/Napa Valley @makemineaspritzer 

Dawn/SantaCruz @fashionshouldbefun 

Cindy/PasoRobles @cindyhattersley 

Elizabeth/North Carolina @pineconesandacorns 

Mary Ann/Florida @classiccasualhome 

See what my friends recommend to pack and do for your summer getaways! 

#packingtips #whattopack #travel #traveltipsandtricks #tahoetravel #californiatravel #ourgoldenstate
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mamas and to all t Happy Mother’s Day to all the mamas and to all those who mother and nuture! 💐I hope everyone is getting appreciated and spoiled today.. I spent some time at a lovely lunch with the family yesterday and am enjoying the garden today.. except for the hurricane winds! 

I can’t wait until my youngest Griffin is back home for a bit from college. My favorite days are the ones when we are all together as a family again.  I love being with Jackson and Griffin more than anything and they just make me laugh so much!  I feel so lucky to have very kind sons …except they make me feel so short 🤣..and I couldn’t be prouder. 💛
On the blog today.. How to style white denim!  I’m excited to partner with some lovely ladies today and we are all sharing our ways to wear the closet classic- white jeans! 

I am showing what I’ve been wearing lately and some of my favorite pairs as well as a few cool options that have come on my radar!  It’s all about finding what works for your body and choosing the right fabric etc.. 

Are you a white jean fan??

Please visit my friend’s blogs ..All our posts are linked on our bios..
@northerncalstyle - me!
@most_lovely_things - Annie
@classiccasualhome -Mary Ann
@cindyhattersley - Cindy
@sherryhdesigns - Sherry
@lavieongrand - Noelani

#whitedenim #whitejeans #whitejeansoutfit #whitejeanstyling #whitejeansforever #whitejeanseason #californiastyle
If you miss the weekend post and still need some M If you miss the weekend post and still need some Mother’s Day gifts I have some fun ideas for you.. I love market totes- especially with flowers in them, beautiful wraps, some inspiring books for summer living, and a few other little luxuries.. 

If you need some local fun, I will be a the Palo Alto @Rails store on Saturday where they are having a Mother’s Day event with 20% off and a gift with purchase! Stop by and say hi.

Pop on by my blog post for all the details and more gift ideas… 

Don’t forget to visit my friends, Juliet and Elizabeth if you miss their weekend posts too..
 Our links as always, in our bios or stories:
@northerncalstyle 
@makemineaspritzer 
@pineconesandacorns

#mothersday #mothersdaygift #giftideasforher #californialiving #momsday
Do you love @rails beautiful California clothing? Do you love @rails beautiful California clothing? I don’t know what your weekend plans are, but on Saturday the new Rails at Stanford is having a fun event with 20% off, light bites, and a little gift with purchase.. 

I’ll be there for a few hours to help you pull together looks for summer or shop for a Mother’s Day gift - maybe for yourself? 

If you haven’t been to a Rails store, they are so inspiring and have the whole collection for women and men. It’s great to see the clothes up close and how gorgeous they are. 

Please pop by if you are at Stanford  Shopping Center and say hi! I would love to meet some of you.  I’ll be there 11-12:30, but the event is on all day and the Rails team is so great! 

Maybe a fun day out to shop with a friend or your mom and have lunch after at Stanford? 

Looking forward to this and meeting some of you! 

#rails #stanfordshoppingcenter #paloalto #railsclothing #californiastyle #californialook
It’s time for May’s Signature Style and Cindy It’s time for May’s Signature Style and Cindy and I are sharing our Summer Wish Lists.. ☀️My wish list has one shoulder tops, longer skirts and the super flattering small jacket- plus some other cute finds and accessories.

I’m sharing it all on the blog and Cindy is too..

As always links are in our bios and stories..
@northerncalstyle 
@cindyhattersley 

Looking forward to seeing you there!  If you want the links they are on the blog or I can send you the link in a DM.

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