• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Californians at Home
  • Home & Decor
    • Our California Remodel
    • Shop My Home
    • Lake Tahoe Cabin Style
    • Books I Adore
  • My California Closet

Northern California Style

Northern California Style

  • Home
  • About
  • Californians at Home
  • Home & Decor
    • Our California Remodel
    • Shop My Home
    • Lake Tahoe Cabin Style
    • Books I Adore
  • My California Closet
  • Shop My Home
    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

#nordstrom

Tips for the Nordstrom Sale and More!

July 15, 2021 By kimwheeler 10 Comments

Hello friends. Our summer is in a bit of a lull here and I have been dealing with a few things .. Someone is raising turkeys in our neighborhood. The people aren’t even regular neighbors, but family staying with an elderly neighbor and their kid is in 4H, but he’s not caring for the turkeys and guess what happened? The entire neighborhood has become inundated with flies like you would not believe. They are everywhere.The parents claim they are telling the son to clean it more regularly, but when flies are waiting to get in your home at every door, and making one neighbor unable to even go in her yard anymore, or hang out her laundry, and they are all over me while I work in the garden -it’s ruining summer! I’m one of those people who will try to listen and mitigate, but it’s getting worse if that’s possible…

In better news, I hope your summer is enjoyable and you’ve had time to make a summer bucket list! One of my list items, a San Francisco trip, happened last Saturday. We had a late afternoon high tea at a cute spot called Lovejoy’s Tea Room in Noe Valley. It was something my husband sweetly found for me as I was dreaming about travel and tea rooms..

We loved it ! They have vintage mismatched china and excellent cucumber sandwiches and scones and desserts. Across the street is their Lovejoy’s Attic shop with hats, tea and china and antiques to purchase. We had a good trek around the darling neighborhood of Noe Valley, which has some cute shops and homes and restaurants. We discovered the fantastic Noe Valley Bakery and took home a wheat bread and a seeded levain bread that was so good I had probably eight sandwiches this week. I love discovering new neighborhoods when we go to the city. Parking and getting out there on foot is such a great way to know an area better.

Now about the Nordstrom Sale. Honestly it’s pushed so hard by everyone, I am sometimes a bit reticent to even mention it, but as a former Nordstrom employee I know there are some good things to be had. It’s changed a lot over the years. It was originally begun as a way to sell things during the dog days of summer when retail was VERRRY slow, and people wen’t shopping all the time, as they seem to now.

My personal tips for the Nordstrom Anniversary sale..

–Look first at what your wardrobe and if you can clean it out during summer and see what is missing – And what you keep buying that you need to stop buying!Think about it a bit and you shop smarter.

-If you can get to the store even better. They have a lot that is never listed on the sale. They also have most of the summer stuff marked down and on sale racks.

-It’s the middle of summer, but do you need another pair of booties? If you’ve put them away for the summer, maybe pull out the boots. You may have forgotten what you own. Last year I bought two pairs of booties only to realize I had two similar pairs. Take stock before you buy.

–My top things to buy at this sale are outerwear, jackets and jeans.

–Underwear is a good buy, but the bras I’ve bought always seem to be off. I’ve repeatedly bought my favorite bras on the sale, only to have them arrive and fit and cut seem off. It makes me wonder if the ‘sale’ versions are seconds. I can’t recommend the bras from my own experience.

–Cosmetics can be a good if you need a new regimen or a great gift sets.

-Ask yourself before you buy anything- would you buy this if it was not on sale?

Below are my choices of some chic classics from the sale that every closet can use..

Top of my list are this blazer by Zadig & Voltaire – a cool classic piece with a bit of rock & roll to it with the stars on the shoulder, (also this one with a skull on the back ), these Rag & Bone Boyfriend jeans -which can work for summer too and booties later, with the crop hem, this Bernardo wool coat, this Vince Chunky Wool Blend Sweater, this quilted double-breasted Ralph Lauren coat, this Claire V. Simple Tote ( I bought one at last year’s sale in green leopard), this Gorjana Coin Pendant necklace, the Simplehuman 5x Sensor Mirror (I bought this last year and I don’t know how I lived without it ), this classic and understated pebbled crossbody wallet bag from Tory Burch, and this convertible one, this cute Kurt Geiger Straw Tote is a great buy at $89, these Blondo Waterproof Slip-ons will be wonderful for winter in house and out, and I always get a few of my favorite Natori Bliss Perfection underwear.

And all the beauty special deals here– so much this year!

I plan on doing a big closet purge next week so I’ll post about it soon, and my skincare favorites I’ve been using this summer.

One other thing I wanted to share is a great recipe for making your own falafel. Max did it last weekend and it was so delicious. It was worth the extra work- making them from scratch. The key is not using can chickpeas and soaking them overnight. The falafels were amazing with fresh cucumber from my dad’s garden and tomatoes from our farmer’s market. Recipe here from Once Upon a Chef. Jenn’s recipes are always so good!

I’m hoping to do a day trip to Carmel this weekend – another summer bucket list item, in between swatting flies.

Happy Weekend!

Kim

For those who want to subscribe and get my posts in a weekly email go to this link.

Links may sometimes generate a small commission. Thank you for supporting the blog.

Filed Under: Fall Wardrobe Picks, Friday Fun Tagged With: #falafel, #falafelrecipe, #noevalley, #nordstrom, #NordstromAnniversarySale, #nordstromsale, #nsale, #Sanfranciscotravel, #summerrercipe, #tearooms

My Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Picks

August 19, 2020 By kimwheeler 6 Comments

I’m away in Utah moving my son in to college, but I wanted to share some of my own picks from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale which begins for the general public today. This is a once a year event and the best time to get some great pieces to add to the wardrobe. I usually buy a few of my favorite bras and panties, a pair of jeans and any cute fall thing that might catch my eye..

Tops on my list are theses cute Madewell jeans. I have these in black and have lived in them the past two years. This wash and mini-flare of these Cali-Demi Boot Jeans will be cute with ankle boots as well as flats and sandals come late summer. I love the quality of these jeans and how they hold their shape.

I’m also a fan of these cropped black Kut from the Kloth jeans for fall with their raw hem. I know I would wear these a ton with white button ups and big sweaters in cooler months!

This ALLSAINTS drape top has cool details and would be a chic with jeans and cool sandals and work for fall with its pretty russet tone.

I also love ALLSAINTS sweaters and I noticed this cashmere Tara Sweater in many lovely colors. It’s oversized, so I would order a size down. Their sweaters are like butter and last for years. The two I have have been my favorites forever.

I really need no shoes for fall, but I have been missing a black bootie in my wardrobe and the Cole Haan Val Bootie has have cute details and the right heel height. They also come in a pretty rust and off-white.

I also love the Vince Camuto snake print which is a good neutral…

These Soft Brand Slipper Mules would be my daily go-to come fall. I love the ease of slide ons!

A pull on bootie is another thing I know I’d wear a lot and would be super comfy as well as a modern update to my closet. This Blondo Bootie is a good buy, so cute in this color- and a few others. People say this runs narrow on reviews..

This Sam Edelman Trench has lovely details and it’s single breasted – something that’s not always easy to find and a lot more flattering on most people that the double-breasted trench. It reminds me of my Burberry I bought on this same sale many years ago and sadly lost.

If you can splurge for the Burberry they have this Kensington Trench on the sale in a tan or black taffeta which is a nice lightweight coat for all seasons especially good for travel. The Burberry Trench run tight and smalls so you should order up if you haven’t tried one on before.

This Sam Edelman dress is a pretty cute piece for the price..

I also spied this cute pair of leather Adidas. If you don’t yet have a pair of white leather sneakers, these have that tennis look and a reflective heel and logo for a little flair..

Another great buy is this set of Diptyque set of 5 Travel Size Candles. Cute for holiday gifts too!

All the beauty exclusives – many made just for this once a year sale for Nordstrom can be found here.

Hope you all are having a good week. I’ll share about our four day Tahoe trip and all about Utah coming soon!

Kim

Links in this post may sometimes generate a small commission. Thank you so much for supporting the blog.

Filed Under: Nordstrom, Uncategorized Tagged With: #nordstrom, #NordstromAnniversarySale, #nordstromsale, #nordstromshoes

Weekend Finds

July 25, 2020 By kimwheeler 21 Comments

Hello! Just a quick post to share some goodies I found this week! Max and I started the weekend by venturing out to a small restaurant in town we love. It was the first time we have gone to outside dinner in our busy town of Los Gatos. The restaurant had tables well spaced, and we wore masks until we were eating, but still there was a lot of foot traffic about. We enjoyed actually being out, but I felt a little stressed about the whole thing. I think we might stick to take out in the backyard for a special nights, and try to support our favorite restaurants that way. What has been your experience with dining out?

I did notice everyone was dressed up! People are clearly making the most of their outings. I felt the same and wore a new top that has been gathering dust.

I have been trying to do more online shopping so I decided to try a new company, Faherty which has very cute summer things. I could use a few summer dresses and I find it difficult to find easy, light things. So many dresses I notice are of heavy fabrics, not something you want in a summer frock! This brand was started by two twin brothers from New Jersey and its growing. Their dresses are made of beautiful light fabrics and they are committed to sustainability and quality!

This dress is the Gemima dress and I bought it in small. It is light and soft and feel great on for a hot day. It has pockets! I may have been able to go down a size, but I like the length and the looser feel. I guess that is a personal preference. I think the quality of this is just tops- sewn beautifully and excellent fabric. So if you need a few more summer dresses – check them out. This is the same Gemima dress in different fabrics and also the sleeveless Isha and the Hana linen shirtdress. All darling! Now that I know Faherty and it’s quality I hope to add another dress this summer to my mix.

Nordstrom is getting ready to have their Anniversary Sale with fall items, but before that happens there are still some great buys on nice summer things. There are some serious discounts this year on account of people shopping so much less – so this is the time to grab any summer items you might want before they trot out all the fall looks.

I’ve been trying to notice the things I wear the most and replace those or get something similar and these Tory Burch sandals are on sale now so I am going to add these to my summer collection. My other pairs from her are 5 and 3 years old and they still look good.

These Roxy Oceanside Linen Beach Pants are also marked down to $29 are and something I’ve been needing in the wardrobe. Many nights I want to get comfy and my sweats and pjs are too warm, plus I think these would be good for the short trip we may take to Tahoe later this summer where I’ll need my legs covered at night. Looks like they run small from reviews, so I am ordering up a size.

I also just bought this light summer lotion that gives a little sheen for bare legs and shoulders…

Also adorable in the summer category is this Tommy Bahama coverup dress. I love the white and the pockets and would probably wear it as a regular dress too. I always like the quality of their things…

If you’re thinking the off the shoulder look isn’t for you, my stylish friend Cindy Hattersley did a post this week on off the shoulder looks. If the question was can you still so this look at a more mature age, the answer is absolutely! Cindy shows how great she looks in a lot of lovely looks- all chic and showing a little shoulder!

Cindy inspired me to pull out some of my own off the shoulder tops this week and I realized I cannot get through another summer with the lame strapless bra I have. I ordered this one from Spanx. It’s highly rated and people claim it actually stays up thanks to some smart grip technology – so I have high expectations! I’ll report back…

On the lingerie, subject the Faherty dress is very light and so I added a slip that I had from under another dress to make it less transparent. I think with the very light linen dresses, you may want to add a slip. You want a slip that isn’t heavy or tight fitting. This adjustable slip from, believe it or not, Amazon, seems to be the perfect size and weight for summer dresses.

Lastly, this film Summerland, opening next week looks appealing.. It’s coming to theaters and on demand. I could use a good British film about now!

I miss the whole theater experience.

Happy weekend!

Kim

Links on this blog may sometimes generate a commission. Thank you for supporting the blog!

Filed Under: Good Finds- Summertime Edition, Uncategorized Tagged With: #cindyhattersley, #faherty, #nordstrom, #offtheshoulder, #summerdresses, #summersales

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!

Today is the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day . Jane Goodall says 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 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 too.

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!

That showed we made some progress at least in their mindsets, which was worth it all. 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.

So on the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, it’s great to recognize it’s 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. Hope that’s not preachy, but 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, it is the perfect time to start a garden of your own if you don’t already have one. 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

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

Black Friday Picks

November 29, 2019 By kimwheeler 8 Comments

Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving. We have family visiting and it was so nice to host now that the remodel is done. The day after we always go for a family hike or walk and never shopping. I do like to peruse the deals on Black Friday online though and last year actually got a few great things and a jump start on my Christmas shopping which was nice.

Many retailers began their sales early this year, so I’m linking to a few of my favorites and some of the best buys I like. These sale prices are varying- all are on Friday, some longer. My recommendation is to not hesitate if you like something, as things go pretty fast.

J.Crew is having a blow out 50% off most things on site. This jeweled button popover is just one of a ton of darling things at this fantastic sale.

This ruffle neck sweater (so many colors) is another cute item. Use code FRIDAY at checkout. The men’s area is loaded with cute sweaters for gifting too. Many cute J.Crew items from this post may be on the sale.

Serena & Lily is having their Thank You Event and on this blog post I shared some of the best things and my own purchases.

I have my eyes on is their gorgeous pillows– especially this Bayview Pillow.

Lamps are a good home investment and they have the prettiest collection. I’m loving this Bari Lamp so much!

Other good buys on this sale from them are (below from left), the Seaview Rug, the Henley Wool Throw, the Dalton Flannel Robe the Healdsburg Bath Towels and the darling Bedford Tray– all these and everything you love from Serena & Lily is 25% off with code Thankful right now!

Madewell is having 30% off your purchase with code GIFTWELL. This Mercer sweater is darling in all its shades- a best seller.

It’s a great chance to pick up a pair of their amazing denim! The Cali-demi boot jeans are so flattering.

Trina Turk is also having 25% off on Black Friday. I’m loving this Boscage leatherette dress.

Trina Turk is a super place to get a special occasion holiday dress or top during the sale. Check out their collection of cocktail looks.

Neimans has a few gems, especially in the handbags…

This Tory Burch clutch is so chic for evenings and for travel. It’s marked down to $166 for Black Friday Sale and for every $200 spent you get $50 off including beauty items, so you could add a fragrance or a regular item you buy during this time and get another $50 off!!

This Coach 1941 bag is $120 off at $375. Love the style and the crossbody strap.

This Rebecca Minkoff Suede Tote is the prettiest blue and $203.

Neiman’s Mens Black Friday Sale here.

Nordstrom has some terrific buys on their sale:

This Avec La Filles Moto Coat is adorable with the details and a nice closet addition for $219- 30% off.

This Barbour Plaid Scarf is 50% off at $34! So cute for a guy or gal.

I think Ugg Slippers are one of the nicest gifts that last forever and right now this cute style is 30% off at $69 and comes in tan also.

This pink is pretty cute too, especially for young gals you might need to buy for, and it comes in an orange version also.

This Soft & Cozy Pj set comes in a bunch of cute colors for $49.

Love this Madewell sweater in all its colors- regular $98 it is $58 right now..Cute for a sister, mom or friend.

These Ugg Jogging pants are nice for hibernating at home this winter. Love this color and they are $52 – 40% off.

Gorjana Necklaces are nice and this pendant is 50% off at $34.

Something about this Ted Baker Stripe Sweater is really attractive and it’s marked down 40% to $92.

Love this Baja Poncho Hoodie for the special beach bum in your life by the wonderful brand Faherty, now marked down to $112 from $188.

For the young guys in your life this RVCA Packaway II Hooded Anorak is perfect for throwing in a backpack, but ready to repel rain and wind and is just $39 right now marked down 40%.

I like to get my husband a Bonobos Shirt every Christmas as they fit him so well and he likes the whimsical designs. This Slim Fit Dinosaur Shirt is 30% off at $54 and that is a great price for the quality of these shirts.

Bonobos also makes this slim fit t-shirt with ski jumpers $40, 30% off. I know my sons would love it.

This Vince Classic Fit Stripe T is also a good deal at $65 it’s a 40% savings.

More of the Black Friday and Cyber Sale at Nordstrom here.

Nordstrom is also having their Buy 3 get 1 Free Mascara Event on Saturday the 30th. Pick any 3 mascara, any brands and get the third one deducted off the bill. All the Mascaras here.

Another approach to Black Friday is where a company decides to give to a charity instead of give you a price break. I love that Everlane is giving $10 for every purchase on Black Friday. Since 2014, Everlane has raised over $800,000 for initiatives that help improve the lives of factory workers and clean up the environment. This year they are donating to Oceana to help end single use plastic.

Their Square Silk Shirt is a classic and beautifully made.

I also love this lightweight jacket which comes in many pretty colors. The unique pockets and oversize design is nice.

Their Mac Coat is another great item in other pretty colors as well as this fun blue check.

Go to Everlane’s site to read more about their giving. Their men’s gift guide has sustainable cashmere and jackets as well.

I hope these give you a few ideas and a head start on your holiday shopping! I know things can go fast, so I’ll check back and make sure items are still available. Most of these sales, are for the weekend, but some are just Friday, so check that.

I’ll be back with Cyber Monday post and a Thanksgiving recap! Wishing you some quality time this weekend with nature, family and friends.

Kim

Filed Under: Black Friday, Uncategorized Tagged With: #blackfriday, #blackfriday2019, #blackfridayfashion, #blackfridaypicks, #everlane, #jcrew, #madewell, #neimanmarcus, #nordstrom, #serena&lily, #serenaandlily

Cashmere, Smoothies and a Great Fall Dish to Make

October 28, 2018 By kimwheeler 6 Comments

Happy weekend! We had a great day at our Trina Turk event and I’ve posted pictures on the Northern Cal Style Facebook page with all the gals who came by and kindly modeled for us! More about Trina’s fall styles and link to her site on my previous post. I felt so lucky to do this event and Suzanne and I had a lot of fun.

It looks like fall in my yard!  It’s warm, but the leaves are turning amazing colors this week.

I’ve been obsessing on a few things like cashmere ponchos-I bought a small cashmere topper at a boutique in Los Gatos and I just have worn it non-stop this week. The boutique is called Kismet (isn’t that cute?) and they’ve been in business 16 years. Nice people and if you cannot get to their shop, I looked for the same thing online to share here. I haven’t had much luck finding the same chambray like color and small sized topper.

I did however notice this similar style right now at Nordstrom in many colors. Ponchos seem flattering to everyone and why is it a gal with one of these on always look so chic? I especially love them in fall with jeans and boots, especially here in California where they can be just right for autumn temps.

 

Speaking of cashmere, I had an opportunity to check out the Cashmere Sale pop up while I was in Burlingame this week. It’s a few blocks off the avenue and runs until December 10. It’s a great place to get some wonderful pieces like new versions of your winter staple- the cashmere pullover, in some darling designs. I came back with this fun oversized stripe version I will wear a ton this winter.

They also have gorgeous capes, wraps, scarves and ponchos and even track suits! I was drooling at all the fabulous choices!!! We had fun meeting the lovely ladies who run it and they dressed us up – me in a wrap and Suzanne in a beautiful sweater coat. If you are in Burlingame, stop in and see what they have. It’s while supplies last so things are gone, they are gone, so go soon.  More info on their Instagram account.   

Keeping in that fall mindset, I made a dish last week that was a huge hit in our house and that doesn’t happen often. It’s Baked Penne With Butternut Squash and Sage.  It’s perfect for right now as it’s comfort food and smells like fall. Bear with my feeble attempts at food photography..

This was before baking… and after, below paired with a fall spinach, kale, pear and pomegranate salad with toasted walnuts.

 Everyone from my pickiest son to my dad loved it. It makes a great lunch the next day too!  (Recipe at the end of this post.)

Pears are fantastic right now and often get overlooked. Go to your market and feel the top by the stems. If it gives slightly they are ripe and a pear adds so much to salads and cheese plates. If you don’t love pears, persimmons are another go-to for fall. I also am crazy for those big bags of organic kale. The curly bits make great soup toppers and a good addition to salads and smoothies. Do you make your own dressing? I always do and my favorite fall dressing is a good olive oil, champagne vinegar, a squeeze of lemon, a few turns of pepper, malden salt and a teaspoon of real maple syrup and some minced shallot if I have it.

On the subject of smoothies, I’ve never been a big fan, but I have to say I am now a convert. I succumbed to a headline about the Protein Packed Smoothie Jennifer Garner swears by. I was intrigued because first, I love Jennifer and the ingredients looked pretty good, especially the chocolate coconut collagen   protein powder. I found it at Whole Foods…

  It is $39, which seems pricey, but it makes the smoothie which tastes delicious without the strange aftertaste many protein shakes have. You only use a scoop in the smoothie which typically makes enough for 3 of us in the morning. My 16 year old loves it too and I honesty feel energetic and not at all hungry until after lunch if I drink this, possibly because of the mix of good fat, protein etc. My family like it with a banana added. Recipe here on Camilla Styles.
Are you ready for Halloween? I was in Bunches, my favorite floral place in town and I love to see their selection of special pumpkins. It’s hard not to buy a few for decorating the table or the porch. I always use mine until Thanksgiving, do you? I just love the look of them around the house.

I think on Halloween night we will make our usual a big pot of chili and a few piles of quesadillas in case kids bring their friends by or friends or neighbors stop in. We have had many a Halloween with parents crowded in the kitchen having a glass of red wine and a quick bowl of chili before running out to chase the kids, and goblins trying to jam a quesadilla in before heading out for treats! I love it.

Below is my recipe which was torn out of a magazine that looks pretty old. I have modified it and I honestly do not know where it came from originally so if anyone knows, I’d be happy to give credit. I was just searching through my recipe binder to look for recipes with butternut squash as my dad is harvesting a bunch of it now. The butternut squash is so easy to cook quickly when you slice it, peel it and place the 1 -2 inch cubes on a big tray tossed with olive oil. It cooks perfectly when baked at 400 for 20 minutes to add to the pasta.

Baked Penne With Butternut Squash and Sage

1 pound penne pasta

3  T fresh sage chopped

Olive oil

Salt & pepper

2 T flour

2 C milk

2 C of Italian Blend Cheeses (usually found in a bag shredded- Pecorino, Fontina, Parmesan, etc will work)

Bread Crumbs or coarse bread for crumbs

Parmesan for topping

Bake cubed squash tossed with olive oil, sage, salt and pepper on a sheet pan in oven at 400 F for about 20 minutes or until tender. Remove and set aside.

Cook penne according to directions for al dente, cool with ice water and toss with olive oil.

Make a roux – melt butter in sauce pan over low heat, slowly whisk in flour then milk. When it begins to simmer, add cheese while whisking continually to prevent lumps. When all is smooth, remove from heat and add salt and pepper to taste.

For the topping, grind 2-3 slices of bread to crumbs, mix in 2 tablespoons of melted butter, 1 tablespoon of sage and 1/3 c parmesan cheese.

Add cheese sauce to pasta and mix then transfer to a 9 x 13 baking dish or oval casserole dish. Sprinkle with topping and add sage leaves to decorate top. Bake at 400 F for 15 -20 minutes.

Enjoy!!

Half Moon Bay a few weeks ago!

 

All photos NorthernCalStyle.com unless noted.

SaveSave

SaveSave

Filed Under: fall inspiration, Uncategorized Tagged With: #cashmereponchos, #cashmerepopup, #falldishes, #jennifergarnersmoothie, #nordstrom

Primary Sidebar

Featured Posts

Dining Room Refresh Ideas, San Francisco Homes, and Cosmetics I’m Loving Now

Spring Colors, White Jeans, and Skin Cleansers

Fun Kitchen Styling Tips!

Asian Noodles & Other Main Dish Salads

Loving Rattan and Serena & Lily

Tennis Style -Your Guide to the BNP & Indian Wells

Get My Posts by Email!

Find Me on Facebook

Northern California Style

Archives

Categories

Footer

Don’t Forget to Follow!

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.

Currently Pinning

  • Have you tried smashed potatoes? | Most Lovely Things
  • Signature Style- Resort Looks and Packing Tips
  • Signature Style- Resort Looks and Packing Tips
  • Signature Style- Resort Looks and Packing Tips
  • Signature Style- Resort Looks and Packing Tips
  • Creative Wall Decor Part 1: Art and Gallery Walls
  • Why We Love Our New Solo Stove | Most Lovely Things
  • Weekend – Cool Readers, Spring Things, J Crew’s New Direction & More
  • Weekend – Cool Readers, Spring Things, J Crew’s New Direction & More
  • Weekend – Cool Readers, Spring Things, J Crew’s New Direction & More
Well after all this weather, and so much indoor ti Well after all this weather, and so much indoor time, I’m officially sick of everything and I am ready to give the home a little refresh. Homegoods and TJMaxx have some great spring items and a promotion with items from France, Italy, etc. They can be a good source for outdoor pots, new pillows, rugs and decorative bits. It’s good time to find a ‘few’ emphasis on few, new things for the home. They carry unique items, many one offs, but you have to be a discerning shopper.. What to look for and what to avoid on this little clip. 

I’ll be taking more about how to shop smart at these sort of places on the upcoming blog as well. What’s been your experience at these stores? I have had good luck and bad and I think you have to be smart about what you choose and don’t fill a home with these things. 

I’d love to hear your thoughts on shopping there. 

#californiahomestyle #springhomedecor #homegoods #homegoodsfinds #homeaccesories #northerncalstyleblog
A little spring in the kitchen while another storm A little spring in the kitchen while another storm rages. Met a friend downtown and we had to dash as the storm hit and power was out minutes later. Stay safe everyone!
I thought I’d reshare our pool bath/powder room I thought I’d reshare our pool bath/powder room today as my builder @mikemccloudconstruction shared it too. I still love the way it came out! I had saved many inspiration pictures of how I wanted this to look. I was lucky Mike helped me make this happen. A good builder who listens and has ideas as well, helps so much. I’m sharing some of  the extra details up close. 

I loved this blue sort of organic watery tile for a pool bath. I also knew I wanted an open shelf for all the pool towels so people could grab them on the way out the door. The @serenaandlily mirror definitely has that nautical almost porthole, sort of look and picked up the unfinished oak color. I used an RH pendant light and the sink is Victoria and Albert. The counter is from a slab of @vadaraquartz that I spilt and used in the laundry as well as the boy’s bath. I choose an inexpensive cement tile for this space and the connecting laundry/mud room which works with drippy pool feet!  It’s been almost four years and all still looking great! 

DM me if anyone wants details I left out! I thought I did a post on this, but maybe not! I need to do that with all the baths. 

Hope you all have a good week and get some nature in the first day of spring! 

#californiaremodel #poolbath #poolbathroom #powderroom #serenaandlily #mikemccloudconstruction #northerncalstyle #lunabaytile #vadaraquartz
On the Weekend post.. Do you love toile? I adore i On the Weekend post.. Do you love toile? I adore it and I am sharing some pretty toile pieces, beautiful woven leather bags in fun colors, cute sweatshirts, a trench coat that stands out, the new book about the story of J.Crew, and more! 

Juliet and Elizabeth have great things to dive into this weekend too…

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

Have a great weekend! Hope you got a little sun while it was out. ☀️

#weekendpost #bayareablogger #paloalto #evereve #toile #cos #madewell #jcrewbook #northerncalifornia #californiastyle #trenchcoat
Do you stress about what to pack for getaways and Do you stress about what to pack for getaways and resort vacations? This month’s Signature Style is for you! Cindy and I are sharing our tips and favorite sources for warm weather looks.  You need a few good pieces like a great linen jacket, a swimsuit you love, a couple of coverups, and a pretty dress and you’re nearly ready. More ideas and suggestions on our blogs! 

Hope there is a sunny getaway in your future!☀️
As always links are in our bios and stories..
@northerncalstyle 
@cindyhattersley

#resortwear #resortdress #resortpacking #whattowearresort
Just a little clip of some of the stylish looks se Just a little clip of some of the stylish looks seen at the @bnpparibasopen . I always love to see how people mix it up including the guys! Nice to see so many cute looks and cool hats. Loved the Day Glo brights and florals the best. Hope you get some ideas if you are going to this tournament or doing something fun in the sun soon! ☀️

Thank you to all the sweet people who kindly let me share their looks ! 

Also, due to weather..the Signature Style resort dressing post with Cindy is postponed until tomorrow. Sorry I had no Internet here in Los Gatos yesterday and 89 mile an hour winds so I have been unable to work! Back at it today. Hope you all are doing okay after yesterday’s storm! 

#bnp #bnpparibasopen #tennisparadise #whattowearbnp #tennis #tournamentlooks #indianwells #northerncalstyle
How beautiful is this? We are the embodiment of lo How beautiful is this? We are the embodiment of love in our actions.  This is a wonderful account and @yung_pueblo ‘s book ‘Lighter’ is top of the NYTimes list too. 

Happy Monday. 💛
Are you watching the @bnpparibasopen ? I just got Are you watching the @bnpparibasopen ? I just got back from three whirlwind days with pals and we had a ball. It was so good to be in the sun and and warmth -with snow capped California mountains as a backdrop.  We went in the beginning part of the tournament which we always do, and got to see Andy Murray, Sabalenka, Zverev, Raducanu, and so many fantastic other players. We basically eat, slept and breathe tennis for two days straight and we loved it!  You can still catch play on the @tennischannel 🎾

I will share another Reel of all the stylish people.. Something about tennis brings out the sharpest dressers and there was excellent people watching. 

If you love tennis, this is a bucket list tournament. They call the fifth slam and it’s getting crazy popular so plan a year ahead of you want to go. We reserved our hotel that was walking distance a year ago. More tips on my BNP post that I update each year. 
Link in bio! 

#tennisparadise #bnpparibasopen #indianwellstennisgarden #bnp #bnptips  #andymurray #zverev #raducanu #sabalenka #tennis #californiatennis #discoverpage #tennislove #tennisgirl
I separated the sectional and sort of like it apar I separated the sectional and sort of like it apart. This RH couch is a LOT of maintenance and can look pretty deflated after a weekend of hanging out. In hindsight, I’d buy a couch that does not require so much fluffing and cushion alternating. I snapped this pic because it was one of the times I had the pillows looking nice on it. You also need a lot of pillows to not get swallowed up by it. I call it the great white.

The local RH actually has a cleaning team that steams and fluffs their couch and I’ve seen them before the shop opens. I found it hard to get reviews on this couch before buying because RH does not have them online and if you notice they don’t do social media… so I’m just putting it out there. I will share what I love here,but I think it helps to be transparent about what is a disappointment too. 

#rhcloud #whitecouches #livingroom #californiahomestyle #thecaliforniahouse #cloudcouch #restorationhardware
The weekend post is up and I’m sharing things on The weekend post is up and I’m sharing things on my radar this week -like cute ballet flats and a darling spring bag, an eye brightner with sunscreen, and cool readers. Also the new head of design at J.Crew @olympiamarie and her fun account with styling inspiration and vintage J. Crew gems. Plus what to do with those tangelos, and lemon almond scones.

It’s all on the blog! 

Don’t forget to stop by Juliet and Elizabeth’s..our blogs- links as always, in our bios or stories:
@northerncalstyle 
@makemineaspritzer 
@pineconesandacorns
Have you ever made a rustic style scone? These are Have you ever made a rustic style scone? These are the only kind I’ve ever made and it all started when I had one in Paris at the @rosebakeryparis years ago. My sweet mom later bought me their cookbook. I was thrilled and have made scones with their fantastic recipe ever since. 

I was missing my mom and thinking about her as today is her birthday, (actually tomorrow she was a Leap Year baby) and made these yesterday.  She also loved lemon so I tried a variation adding Meyer Lemon zest and juice and lots of almonds and it was SO good!  These are a great treat for a rainy afternoon with tea. ☕️ Recipe is on my story.. and I’ll add it to my cookery highlight. The Breakfast Lunch Tea book from Rose Bakery is a treasure if you can still get it with many delicious recipes using whole grains and healthy ingredients. 

It’s raining cats here! Def scone weather!

#sconeday #sconerecipe #rosebakeryparis #breakfastlunchtea #teatime #sconehome #lemonalmondscones
Daffodils.. so much spring packed into a tiny flow Daffodils.. so much spring packed into a tiny flower. Loving these $1.99 bunches at @traderjoes and seeing the little guys on my walks too. 💛 

We have more storms this week! Winter 2023 is feeling very long to this Californian.

Copyright © 2023 · Northern California Style· Blog Design by Little Blue Deer