#weekendmeanderings

Weekend- The New Evereve Store in Nor Cal, Toile Pieces for Spring, and Woven Bags

March 17, 2023 By kimwheeler 22 Comments

On this post, checking out the first Evereve store in Northern Cal, a vegan restaurant, toile pieces for spring, some beautiful woven bags, a book on J.Crew’s history, and more..

How’s your week been? I returned from a sunny three day getaway in the desert to see tennis at Indian Wells with friends and its was like being in summertime after this dark winter! We loved the two days and nights of tennis and even managed to sneak in a morning and lunch at the La Quinta Spa before we flew out on Saturday afternoon.. I updated my BNP blog with all the details if you want to know more about this tournament, the wonderful spa (like paradise), plus pics of some cute spectators we spotted with great style too.

I hated to leave and not to be negative, but time change has been a real bummer. Anyone else feeling the same? Both my husband and I said we felt a bit tired and off all week.. I do like the lighter nights though!

I noticed on one of those ‘On this day’ things that my wisteria was in full bloom this week last year. This year- not even a bloom! That never happens. I also usually have baby daffodils in my grandmother’s tureen in March and I couldn’t even find them anywhere. Settling for a green hosta plant for now.

My buried cabin!

You are all probably wondering why I never post about our Tahoe cabin, but sadly this year we haven’t had one weekend to go up there, that didn’t have the potential to be stuck up there with highway 80 closed. Another storm is coming Sunday. I am worried about the cabin, but we have two cameras and neighbors who live there full time that we are in touch with.

This is a photo on right, that the young guy Austin, who is digging the cabin out this week sent us. This is the front – you can barely see the top. .and we have at least 20 feet of snow and he is standing in the front yard.. And a previous year below left!

New places to check out in Palo Alto

On Thursday I met my pal Jeanne at Town & Country Palo Alto where we had lunch at a new vegan restaurant Wildseeds. It’s lovely inside and has a unique menu. We shared a mezze platter and I had a salad. She had the burger… A wonderful spot to try if you want to eat plant based beautiful food and drink. There is also one in San Francisco. This took the place of the Mayfield Cafe at T&C.

Afterward we checked out a new retail chain called Evereve. I had heard they have an eclectic collection of casual contemporary brands. This is their first outpost in Northern California and they have a huge emphasis on customer service and it shows. All the ladies there were wonderful and they have the prettiest changing rooms ever. If you are near Town & Country it’s worth checking them out!

They also have some of their own brand and I bought this white sweatshirt with the cutest sleeves…

I love sweatshirts so much lately. They are not as hot as sweaters, yet comfy and can be dressed up too. Evereve has quite the selection, which goes with their casual vibe. I also have my eye on this one and this one.

On my radar..

This COS toile dress popped up this week in an email and I clicked right away to COS which has a mini toile collection here. I love everything toile am glad to see it is having a resurgence. There are also shirts and a shirt dress and black toile pieces as well.

I just got Kingdom of Prep this week and was sucked in right away with the J. Crew’s origin story of how this small campus outfitter run by a father and daughter, became the first company to sell a lifestyle through its catalogue. In it are the stories of the struggles, backstories, and also the company’s visionaries like Jenna Lyons. Not forgotten are its phases through 90’s minimalism to outfitting Mrs. Obama to now. Really enjoying it! On that note, if you are a J.Crew fan going way back you might enjoy the Lost J.Crew Instagram, which is great inspiration from the company catalog 1983-1997, pre-internet age. I love it! Everything was simpler and looked so good.

Madewell has a gorgeous new woven leather bag collection. The green tote is a stunner and the perfect shade and the crossbody is a great piece, with a retro 80’s vibe in the blue and an assortment of other colors including the green. They are both 25% off now.

I love the brand Kule and they have a trench that is so darn cute -classic with a modern twist. Love the stripes on the belt and cuffs. With all the rain this year, I could use a trench coat that can stand up to the wet and look good thrown over jeans and a t-shirt. This is a bit of an investment, but a beautiful piece. Everyone needs a good trench. I also like this khaki classic single breasted look.

The 83 Year old Irish Knitting Sensation…

If you missed it there was a wonderful article in the NYTimes about Irish knitter Delia Barry who knit the sweaters for Colin Farrell in the Oscar nominated film, ‘The Banshees of Inisherin.’ She began knitting as a child and more recently in 2010 after her husband died. She studied 1920’s Irish Fisherman style sweater photos with a magnifying glass and made each sweater in a week. She has become something of an internet sensation on TikTok with young people trying to replicate her knitting designs which she does without patterns!

Have you seen this film? I sort of want to see it just for the beautiful setting..

Home Tour to inspire..

I need to get back to my California home of the week..In the meantime I found this home shared on The Sunday Times Living With Style section. The owner presenter Laura Jackson has a very personal and pretty home. Her kitchen is what made me share this. It’s everything I love down to the plants and drawers full of jammed un-ironed linens. This is the kind of home I adore..

This week Cindy Hattersley and I had our Signature Style posts and this month was Resort Wear. If you have a sunny getaway in your future check our posts out!

If you missed last weekend’s meander, I shared a block print dress for spring and travel that will be a go-to, a lipstick that helps the endangered species and is also a beautiful treat, the best tote organizer, a fun podcast and more..

Thanks for stopping by and have a happy weekend!

Kim

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

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

PINECONES AND ACORNS

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

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

Weekend Meanderings-Halloween Fun, Fall Weekend Looks, a Vintage Aptos Home & More

October 29, 2022 By kimwheeler 24 Comments

On this Weekend Meander..Some ideas for your Halloween night- food, treat bags, plus persimmon season, fall napkins, two fall casual outfits, and a untouched 1973 Aptos home for sale that’s a gem..

Welcome back to our little weekend roundup of fun things with Juliet and Elizabeth! Well the month flew by did it not? I am not sure I’m ready to think about Thanksgiving yet.. I did however find these cute napkins at Homegoods and I love how they look on the counter with my grandma’s soup tureen. The bit of blue always looks nice with pumpkins and harvest tones.

I found the napkins a few months back.I think I’ll be using them for Thanksgiving this year. I like to find one element and use it as my jumping off point for a table. Do you do that? I can’t find the same napkins online, but these pretty Serena & Lily ones are now on sale at the tabletop sale and a similar tone. They also have a cornflower yellow in gingham...and I’m digging this gorgeous Grove green, which would also be so good for Thanksgiving with some brown transfer plates and greenery and later at Christmas with reds..

Gold saffron yellow napkins from Serena & Lily

Gingham yellow napkins from Serena & Lily

Halloween goody bags

Do you do this for your neighborhood? I have a blast making little bags of things for the neighbor kids..Yes we get fewer and fewer, but I still do it and every year we do get some new kids on the street and coming by. We always did a pumpkin carving on the street with all the kids when they were young the weekend before Halloween! I miss those days. My kids love to still dress up when they are home and answer the door.

Halloween Goody Bag ideas for Trick -or Treaters

I make sure there are some fun bits in these bags like old school wax lips or teeth, spider rings, candy corn and a pencil or something like that beside a couple of candies and tie them up. It’s a blast seeing the little ones come by.

A great Halloween dinner/snack

I always make chili and piles of quesadillas on Halloween night for whoever stops by so they can grab a bite and go. When the boys were young, having a big pot of chili and mugs out next to it, made them more likely to take a minute and eat something before heading out to the neighborhood. I also had the quesadillas piled on plates so their friends could grab a few on a napkin and go.. Because when kids are ready to hit the streets, good luck getting anything in them besides candy!! This year we have no kids home, but we still do this and have some red wine on hand if any of the other empty nesters want to pop by. Usually my dad does too!

Missing these two. This was one of the Halloween’s we agreed they were going as their true selves.. A moody teenager and a hustler! The picture says it all..

Persimmon Season is here!

Grab them as soon as you can. The farmer’s market is the best place to find them. I visited our farmer’s market last weekend. Look for Fuyu persimmons that look more like an apple in shape. Pomegranates are also in season. They pair well and I use them in salads with pears and toasted pumpkin seeds!

shopping for persimmons at the Farmer's Market

Trader Joe’s has the best toasted pumpkin seeds and they also have a mixed pears in a bag that are excellent too.

I love using what is in season and I don’t use tomatoes and cucumbers again in salads until they are back in the garden. I truly believe there is something about what each season provides and that you should eat the bounty of that time of year. Just like oranges and citrus in winter. Maybe our bodies need these things when they are in season?

fall salad with persimmons, pears, pomegranates and pumpkin seeds

Try a mix of these things in a salad or charcuterie board! Persimmons and pears are excellent paired with cheese and crackers. I did this a few years back with persimmons….

They also make the perfect decor touch to a fall table or just on the counter in the kitchen! I used them on my fall table two years ago..

And last year on my counter in a bowl…

Casual outfits for a California fall/winter weekend..

A few ideas for casual looks for fall and winter..

I want these new slouchy boyfriend jeans that are cuffed and I love this reversible Teddy jacket – perhaps layered with this forest sweater. I added this Sydney Crossbody bag and these Birkenstock Mules which look so cozy and these classic Ray-Bans. This is a great weekend outfit for a fall and winter trip to Carmel, Monterey, to Tahoe, or to pick apple in the foothills… I think these jeans could also be cool with heels and a Chanel style cardigan.

Another weekend look for a trip to San Francisco – maybe to a museum or shopping and lunch. I like these Cali demi-boot crop jeans, this reversible quilted coat, (on sale now ), this same soft turtleneck in black, and these new high top Veja sneakers and black leather cross body and Dior sunglasses. You could reverse the coat and wear the camel color side out and add loafers for a dressier look..

California Fall weekend museum/shopping outfit

I hope these little outfit collages are helpful! I get questions all the time about what to wear when people are planning a trip out to California. I tried to choose some quality basics with some style that can be worn for a long time in many ways.

California Home for Sale of the Week

I thought it would be fun each week to share a California home for sale that caught my eye and has a California feel or unique style.

This week this vintage home built in 1973 popped up for sale in the lovely beachside town of Aptos, near Santa Cruz. This house has been with the original family for 49 years and it has been beautifully cared for. If you appreciate lots of light and mid-century style, this is a treasure that is intact! The location cannot be beat- near trails that lead to a fantastic state park and beaches are also nearby..It’s selling for $1,798,000 which seems like a steal to be honest. All the details here.

soft moss green entry door mid-century home.

beautiful open mid-century California home

If you prefer something more updated, this home– also in Aptos, is super cute and has a California vibe I love.

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

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

PINECONES AND ACORNS

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

Kim

If you missed last weekend’s post, I shared my favorite Rails fall pieces, a fig couscous to make right now, a succulent pumpkin craft, an exotic Santa Cruz home, and an historic San Francisco auction you won’t want to miss..

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

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

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

October 7, 2022 By kimwheeler 29 Comments

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

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

Fall Home Additions

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

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

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

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

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

Room dividers/screens

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

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

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

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

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

Urban Outfitters has this cute offering..

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Mood book

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

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

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

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

Puffy Purse Show Season 2

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

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

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

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

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

all saints quilted shoulder bag in black

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

Getting out the vote

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

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

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

letters to voters on Vote Forward website

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

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Other Stuff

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

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

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

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

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

PINECONES AND ACORNS

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

Kim

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

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

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

Weekend Meanderings- A Day out in Hayes Valley, Cosmetics Clean Up, Jones Road Beauty, Claire V. Bags, Roasted Tomato Pasta & More…

September 30, 2022 By kimwheeler 18 Comments

On this Weekend’s Meanderings..A day out in San Francisco’s cute Hayes Valley, cleaning your cosmetics drawers up, Bobbi Brown’s Jones Road makeup, the fun California brand Claire V., and an easy pasta to try with your last tomatoes of summer..

It’s time for our weekend chat and good things with Elizabeth and Juliet. This week flew by, so I barely got this post pulled together.. I have been watching the hurricane coverage all week and my heart goes out to everyone. I have cousins who live on the West Coast of Florida and they were lucky not to have damage. If you want to help this article on USA Today has many great agencies on the ground helping. Juliet also mentioned World Central Kitchen which is wonderful and on the list too.

We were in Tahoe last weekend attending to the cabin, working on new doors, and trees that needed removing.. A lot to share and all of that is on my Instagram and if you missed it, stored under my Tahoe story bubble. I’m hoping to show you the new doors soon!

I so recommend this early fall time in Tahoe. It’s just beautiful in the 70’s and empty of crowds. We did some walks and did a nice kayak through the West Shore..had drinks at Sunnyside. All in all, very relaxing- except for the to do list!

We came back Monday, and I started the week a bit behind the eight ball..

Beauty Clean Out

I should have written this post earlier, but Thursday the universe told me to clean out my makeup drawer and when that happens I listen….as the last time was in 2020. Yikes.

I am not as good keeping up with the beauty drawers as I am with the closet. I bought a few new items and that was my motivator to do a deep clean. I wiped out all the drawers with the Method Lavender cleaning spray which made everything smell so fresh. I also repurposed a few trays from other places and ordered a couple of these Madesmart Beauty trays.

This is a great thing to do as we enter fall.. and actually in theory, each season. Get a big bag and toss anything that is crumbling, old, and taking up space…out of date!!

I used to sell cosmetics at Nordstrom, so I know a little about the shelf life. Generally, things have an expiry date. For skincare, they just lose their effectiveness. Color cosmetics can go off and it’s just a good idea to let go of things that you’ve had longer than a year or so..

It feels great to open the drawers and see everything looking fresh. Piles of powdery cosmetics that are smudged and smeared is not a good way to live. Take it all out and wipe the drawers and wash the trays with soap and water.. If your drawers are beat, line them with pretty paper.

Your brushes need to be attended to as well, an it is important for your skin. Toss hard brushes that feel sharp, and ones that are not holding up. There are so many good ones that can be found affordably. Ecotools has excellent brushes and they are sold at Whole Foods and here..

Wash your brushes with shampoo. Lather them and rinse until the water runs clear. Gently squeeze your brushes out and lay the brushes flat to dry, not upright -as the water can loosen the hairs from the handle and rot it.

I lay mine on a towel and give them about 24 hours to dry. Occasionally you can condition the brushes lightly just as you would your hair. I learned all this being a makeup artist for a few years during college and after. We had to wash our brushes every night so I got really good at it.

Bobbi Brown’s New Jones Road Makeup & Credo

If you’re on social media at all, you may have been inundated with ads for Bobbi Brown’s new makeup line, Jones Road. She sold her old line years ago to Estee Lauder and is back with a line that is totally clean, cruelty free and has been streamlined into the minimal amount of products a person needs. Many are multi functional and I love that.

On day out in Hayes Valley in San Francisco, my friend and style guru, Jeanne and I popped into Credo, a chain that calls itself, ‘The cleanest beauty store in the world’. They have very high standards and lines they carry must be made with clean products and be cruelty free as well as ethical.

Jones Road is carried exclusively at Credo, so if you want to try in person, they have two stores in SF and one in Los Angeles, and in a few other states.

I bought The Face Pencil, in shade 3, which is a great concealer that can get in the corner of eyes and is the perfect consistency. It easily blends in and stays and is in 25 shades.

I also bought the Lip and Cheek Stick, which is a great idea in Mauve. They recommend tapping it in or using a brush. I love this color and for a soft neutral lip too.

Also popular and on my next time list.. is the foundation called What the Foundation which is a balm and a foundation in one…and Miracle Balm, which is comes in blush colors, highlighters and also in bronze tones.

Credo also carries my favorite mascara, Limitless Lash by Ilia. It’s hard to believe it’s a clean mascara as it wears beautifully, easy to remove and lasts all day. I love it.. and it also comes in a small travel size too.

All of Bobbi’s Jones Road line is here at Credo as well as all the other clean beauty brands and their mission and standards.

A day out in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley

Hayes Valley is one of my favorite neighborhoods in San Francisco. It has a park that is a great gathering spot with businesses that are run out of containers and other improvised structures. The surrounding streets have some of the coolest shops, many small and independent and also some good smaller brands. My friend Jeanne and I did a little jaunt up to check out the shops and have a bite.

First up we made a beeline for the Claire V. boutique. It’s off the park down a cute half closed street.

Claire V.

Claire V. is a smaller handbag and accessories line that has its roots in California, but with a French flair. It’s really become the bag of the coolest girls and is a nice alternative to so many pricey labels. I love the colors, the stripes, the unique patterns and textures and options. Creative types can totally customize a bag to your own look..And if you’re a Francophile there is so many sweatshirts and hats and things with cheeky French phrases..

Jeanne got this tortoise resin strap for the Mirabel black crossbody. I forgot to take a picture, but the black with tortoise together is lovely for fall.

You can also get monograms. Most bags come with straps and these are extra add-on straps. Here are some other color options in her same bag combo…

I bought this strap for my Claire V. tote, but they say try it on other bags, so I’ve been using it on a smaller black bag for some flair.

All the Claire V. straps here.

I own the Simple Tote in a green leopard, which was a special edition, but they have it in so many cool combinations, it would be hard to choose. I do love this army color with the stripes.. and this grey with gold studs...

We also both bought this Resistance scarf, that is cool tied around a bag, a pony tail or under a blouse..and is very timely. 30% of all proceeds go to Planned Parenthood.

I also bought her fragrance Angie I fell in love with! It is the name Claire V. is known by to her family and has notes from the places she has lived- green notes from France, bright citrus from Italy and a hint of California chaparral. It’s very unique!

Next we hit the darling kid’s shop Fiddlesticks. I have never been in a cuter boutique. They have the tiniest things and adorable clothes as well as toys and books…

Jeanne has a new grandbaby so we had to get Kyler some cool stuff. He is set with a knit beanie and some shirts.. I bought the sweetest Halloween book about a kitten for some little friends.. Yes we spent too long in there.

They even wrap it with bags that have the SF skyline!!

Next up we were getting hungry so we had an alfresco Italian lunch at A Mano which was perfect. We shared a margarita pizza and burrata that was TDF, and the cauliflower bagna cauda. This is a nice place right in the center of the action and kitty corner from the park. You can easily find one of many seats outdoors or inside..

A Mano restaurant Hayes Valley San Francisco

burrata at A Mano restaurant Hayes Valley San Francisco

Lastly, we went to Rails, another California company and one of our favorites. They have very few boutiques, but they are opening a new one soon in Palo Alto!

This is a beautiful store with the nicest people and we bought a few pieces for fall..Since this post is already so long, I will save Rails and what we chose for next week..

If you go to Hayes Valley, there is a good parking at The Performing Arts Garage on the corner of Gough and Fulton, just a few blocks off the green space. I just touched on a few things, but other good places are MAC clothing, Absinthe Brasserie, Miette Patisserie, many other bakeries, chocolate shops and sushi spots.. and clothing places. Definitely a fun day out and much more to explore than you can ever get to in one day..

Roasted Tomato Pasta

My garden was slow to start this year and in the last month I stopped watering it and dry farmed. Still I got many more cherry tomatoes and we could never eat them all, so I decided to finally try roasting them and serving them over fresh pasta. We did this last week and it was delicious.

I cut them in half, tossed in olive oil and added sea salt and pepper and roasted at about 400 for around 20 minutes. After cooking fresh fettuccine, I added the tomatoes and all the juice and oil to the pasta. I gently tossed, added more olive oil and some fresh basil. You can add more salt if you wish. We just added fresh grated Parmigiano Reggiano.. If you have some of these late tomatoes and are running out of ideas, it’s so good – and simple.

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

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

PINECONES AND ACORNS

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

Kim

On last week’s meanderings I shared skirts for your fall closet, skirted tables for home, a fascinating book on skirts in history, easy pumpkin noodles, and a drought tolerant yard update..all here.

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

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

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

September 10, 2022 By kimwheeler 24 Comments

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

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

The Queen

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

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

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

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

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

Image: The Guardian

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

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

Newsweek Cover of the queens passing September 2022

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

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

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

queen walking her corgis at train station

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

The queen with prince Phillip at polo 1950's

The heat!

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

A super soft pj set for hot nights

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

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

Spaces for Living Book

Spaces for Living by Tamsin Johnson book on coffee table

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

Tams sin Johnson kitchen with black bar stools

Estee Lauder Revitalizing Crystal Balm

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

A fun lunch at Juliet’s pretty home

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Juliet at her darling Dutch door..

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

MAKE MINE A SPRITZ E R

PINECONES AND ACO RNS

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

Kim

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

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

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

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

July 30, 2022 By kimwheeler 29 Comments

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

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

Georgia

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What I packed..

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

The other dress was this new one from Pilcro..

Pilcro blue print tunic dress. — With Mary Ann in her pretty MaxMara dress she bought in Europe!

Haven Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. — With Mary Ann in her pretty MaxMara dress she bought in Europe!

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

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

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

New Pajamas!

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

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

My latest vase obsession

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PINECONES AND ACORNS

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

Thank you for being here!

Kim

If you missed my last Weekend Meanderings, I did a special travel themed post with a beautiful resort fashion book, links to trips to London, Hawaii, Bora Bora, packing tips, and advice for taking kids to travel abroad, like we did for many years!

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

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

Weekend Meanderings- Travel Edition!

July 22, 2022 By kimwheeler 25 Comments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PINECONES AND ACORNS

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

Thank you for being here!

Kim

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

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

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

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

July 15, 2022 By kimwheeler 25 Comments

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

My New Pendants!

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

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

Summer bath refresh..

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

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

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

Easy summer white dresses

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

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

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

White accent for the home

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

A pretty San Francisco Townhouse in Frederic magazine

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

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

The cutest summer totes

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

Chantecaille Future Skin Cushion Skincare Foundation

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

Supergoop family size pump

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

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

The Lady Di Look Book

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

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

Micro Weddings

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

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

PINECONES AND ACORNS

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

Thank you for being here!

Kim

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

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

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

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

July 8, 2022 By kimwheeler 19 Comments

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

Ulla Johnson in AD

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tahoe

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

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

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

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

Tahoe Hikes

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wimbledon

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

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

Wimbledon Spectator Style

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

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

Some of the other celeb looks I liked..

Other cool things..

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PINECONES AND ACORNS

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

Thank you for being here.

Kim

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

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Weekend Meanderings- a California Road Trip Cookbook, Dining Room Refresh & More

June 18, 2022 By kimwheeler 24 Comments

Hi and welcome to my Weekend Meanderings with Elizabeth and Juliet. This month has been flying by. I have been loving our June weather and some of these cooler days. I can hardly believe it’s Father’s Day weekend already. Are you doing anything special? We are making Max a breakfast of French Toast per his request and then a BBQ with my dad and my boys.

On Sunday Max is meeting up with his guy friends to Circumnavigate Lake Tahoe for Science. This is a public kayak event and part of UCDavis TERC or Tahoe Environmental Research Center. The trip is a 7 day thing, but Max is just joining friends for one day of it. It’s meant to celebrate the beauty of the lake, raise awareness of threats to the lake, help do some research, and hear from scientists. Funds help raise money for Tahoe. You can read more about it here. Sounds really fun and if you can’t do this year, maybe next time? I love this organization dedicated to preserving Lake Tahoe. They also have an Instagram page to follow, so you can stay on top of events.

Nigella’s Madeira Cake

Both Max and my dad love this cake, so I will be making it for our barbecue. I am sure I shared it before, but it’s the easiest and one of the most delicious cakes. It is also spectacular served with fresh strawberries in summer.

This comes from one of my first and most favorite cookbooks, Nigella’s How To Be a Domestic Goddess. I don’t think it worked for me, but I did dutifully work through a lot of the recipes and the Madeira cake, which is basically a lemon pound cake, the first recipe in the book and a winner. The crust is amazing and this cake tastes even better the second day..if it lasts that long!

It’s an easy cake to lug to a gathering. It’s lovely for tea or a birthday and makes a sweet gift too. Go to Nigella’s site for her exact recipe that is printable, and make sure to toggle to US measurements if you need cups vs. grams. If that seems tricky, this is a screen shot of the recipe from my Cookery Bubble on my Instagram from the book.

I see on the comments someone has tried this cake with oranges as a stand in for lemons and I will try that next time! The Domestic Goddess Book is now 20 years old, but still ahead of others with its modern look and simple recipes accompanied by great stories. Still one of the best!

The Forest Feast Roadtrip Cookbook

Speaking of cookbooks, I also just bought the wonderful new Erin Gleeson Book, Forest Feast Roadtrip, chock full of recipes from all the best spots in our amazing state.

Erin lives in the Santa Cruz Mountains, but traveled the state during the pandemic with her young family and stayed in California’s most gorgeous places. Some of my favorite spots like Humboldt, Tahoe, Sea Ranch, Santa Barbara, and Palm Springs and others are featured in her book. Yummy recipes reflecting the tastes of those areas and along with the stunning photos in cute Airbnbs make this a must have in your California cookbook collection!

This book has over 100 vegetarian (not vegan) recipes all I am excited to try! If you’re not familiar Erin has a whole collection of her Forest Feast cookbooks, which are a treat with her watercolors, photography and healthy recipes. You can follow Erin on Instagram too.

Erin’s Santa Cruz Mountain home and her fantastic cookbook library. #goals

We’ve been making the date shakes non-stop from this book this month and they are delicious!

Dining Room Refresh

I’m slowly working my way through the house things I’ve been putting off and I thought I’d share a small change I love in the dining space..

I had a light wool rug I moved to our living room and to replace it, I had bought a darker polypropylene rug, which was supposed to wear well, but hated it. The space just felt dark. I knew I wanted something lighter and prettier here with my iron and steel table.

I found the Alamere rug on Serena & Lily. I like this for three reasons, it is a jute/wool flat weaves, the price was not outrageous, and it is reversible. I’ve been stalking it for a while and I am really pleased with it. I think it improves the space and lends a luxe look the other just couldn’t thanks to the soft colors and a raised pattern.

I also was in need of window help here. We had light woven panels, but they gave little privacy and we needed more sun filtering on hot days. I just ordered custom linen Roman style shades for some other windows (more on that soon), but custom made drapes for this long expanse start above $2,500! As I just spent money on the shades, I had to save somewhere else. I was going to order some basic white panels from Pottery Barn, but then happened on these unique panels at the Cupertino Homegoods.

I’m not a huge Homegoods fan, because I am always looking for quality, but sometimes they have just the thing. Something about these just spoke to me, and they were nice. They have a raised ogee shape that is a bit fringy. They are a dark smoky blue and are even marked down. They are Rachel Ashwell brand. Up close, this photo is making them look grey, but they’re more smoky blue.

I brought them home and four panels worked with my space. I also kept two of the woven panels for sheers in the center when I want just a little light diffusion. The panels are 96 inches and puddle a bit, which gives it even a more romantic feel and look….

So for a total of $80 I now have new drapes too. I guess you’d say this room is a little high, little low, but that’s kind of my favorite way of decorating! You can find the panels here. You can find more pretty curtain styles by Rachel Ashwell here. Her things seem to be of a nicer design and quality.

Flutter Sleeve Tops

On the hotter days I have been wearing a few flutter sleeve tops that feel pretty and feminine. I have found some here and there, and though I don’t have the most toned arms, I hope the pretty shoulder details make up for that. I just spotted this Flutter Blouse from Cloth & Stone, one of my favorite brands and it checks all the boxes for me with soft material, looser fit and well stripes..I love the fabric.

Persuasion

I was very excited to see a new film of Jane Austen’s Persuasion is out this July in theaters starring Dakota Johnson. Persuasion was the first Austen book I ever read. I remember the exact summer I read it, lounging in my parent’s yard as a college student… and it’s a wonderful book. I don’t know if the film does it justice as I see they’ve added some modern language to it.

Either way, it looks like a fun film and if you’re looking for a different summer read, this is a great time to read or reread the novel, before the film comes out.

Black Outdoor Pillows

I’ve been wanting to refresh the outdoor pillows and though I shared this post with many outdoor pillow choices, I still needed something with black to go with my yard. Annie Selke had these cute modern ones which will give my patio a graphic pop.

There is also this fun pattern on One King’s Lane, and this dotted one at Annie Selke which reverse to the opposite pattern.

The post a few weeks ago with more outdoor pillows here!

Juneteenth

Did you know this Sunday the 19th is also Juneteenth? This year will only be the second time we as a country celebrate it as a national holiday. Biden signed it into law last year, but people have been celebrating this date, marking the emancipation of African Americans from slavery in Texas for a long time.

I just found this great list of films to stream that better show the reality of being black in this nation. I think it’s a great time to take a few nights this summer to watch some of these..and share one of those films with family as well when kids are home.

Also on Instagram I follow the most eloquent woman Lynae Vanee, who does a weekly rant in her parking lot. She is funny and straight up. She’s a scholar in African American studies and I love her take on the state of the world and history and she is one to follow if you want to understand better the black experience in America. Love her and you can follow her here.

Well that’s my meanderings for this week. Please stop by my lovely pals Elizabeth and Juliet’s blogs and see what’s happening in their spaces!

PINECONES AND ACORNS

MAKE MINE A SPRITZER

Thank you for being here. Have a lovely weekend,

Kim

Last week’s post had my summer go-to’s in sunscreen, shorts, body lotion, the best warm weather jacket, a beautiful pink kitchen, easy summer dress and more.

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

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

#weekendmeanderings

My buried cabin!

New places to check out in Palo Alto

On my radar..

The 83 Year old Irish Knitting Sensation…

Home Tour to inspire..

Halloween goody bags

A great Halloween dinner/snack

Persimmon Season is here!

Casual outfits for a California fall/winter weekend..

California Home for Sale of the Week

Fall Home Additions

Room dividers/screens

The Mood book

Puffy Purse Show Season 2

Getting out the vote

Other Stuff

Beauty Clean Out

Bobbi Brown’s New Jones Road Makeup & Credo

A day out in San Francisco’s Hayes Valley

Claire V.

Roasted Tomato Pasta

The Queen

The heat!

A super soft pj set for hot nights

Spaces for Living Book

Estee Lauder Revitalizing Crystal Balm

A fun lunch at Juliet’s pretty home

Georgia

What I packed..

New Pajamas!

My latest vase obsession

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

My New Pendants!

Summer bath refresh..

Easy summer white dresses

White accent for the home

A pretty San Francisco Townhouse in Frederic magazine

The cutest summer totes

Chantecaille Future Skin Cushion Skincare Foundation

Supergoop family size pump

The Lady Di Look Book

Micro Weddings

Ulla Johnson in AD

Tahoe

Tahoe Hikes

Wimbledon

Wimbledon Spectator Style

Other cool things..

Nigella’s Madeira Cake

The Forest Feast Roadtrip Cookbook

Dining Room Refresh

Flutter Sleeve Tops

Persuasion

Black Outdoor Pillows

Juneteenth

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