The first thing you should do when visiting Waco, the prettiest dress for spring weddings, and a Yuzu juice cocktail. All this and more in today’s Weekend Meanderings.
Happy weekend, friends!
It’s Saturday and I’m joining Kim and Elizabeth for Weekend Meanderings.
Our weekly roundup of inspiration and goings on.
This post includes affiliate links for your convenience at no additional cost to you. You can read my full disclosure policy here.
We had another week of incredible, stormy weather.
This year is one for the records books.
Its been sunny and (relatively) warmer the past few days.
A nice respite while we brace for the next storm tomorrow.
Did you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?
I skipped the corned beef and cabbage.
And took my new favorite green bag for a spin.
Let’s get to the good stuff.
DON’T PUT OFF LIVING YOUR BEST LIFE
Don’t put off living your best life, and if you need help – get it! If you’re over 40, over 50, or 60, like me, whatever your age, striving to live the best and fullest life possible is more important than ever. I don’t know about you, but I still have big dreams, and goals, that I intend to accomplish in my life. And while I plan to live a long, long time … I’m more aware than ever that time isn’t infinite. So if not now, when?
I’ve mentioned the Kym Showers Reinvented After 40 Podcast several times. I’m a huge fan and I think you will be too. And that’s the reason for everything I share here. Kym also has an uplifting Instagram page where she posts daily doses of wisdom and encouragement for women in the second half of life. In addition to being a podcast host and an Instagram sunny spot, Kym is a life coach. I first learned about her through influencer Kristy Wicks. I think Kristy and Kym are related, or something, by marriage. But that’s neither there nor there. I’m just grateful for being pointed in Kym’s direction and I look forward to Thursday’s when her weekly podcast drops.
Want to know a secret? I joined one of Kym’s coaching groups. The group started in February and meets once a week via Zoom for six months. There are nine other women in the group. But I won’t say more to protect everyone’s privacy. Kym has another group starting later this month. I’m not sure there are spots available, but I know she’ll have more groups starting in the future. And, she’s hosting a retreat in May for all her past and present clients. I’m going! It’s a little out of my comfort zone, and I’m super excited.
Anyway, I highly recommend Kym’s podcast (start at the beginning), following her on Instagram and, if you’re interested, check out group coaching options on her website.
SPRING WEDDING GUEST DRESS
If I were going to a spring wedding – sadly, I’m not – this is exactly what I’d wear. When this dress popped up in my text messages a few weeks ago I fell head over heels. Side note – have you noticed that retailers are no longer satisfied with your email address? Now they want your text too. Enough already. Anyway, this text from Tuckernuck turned out to be a happy one because I adore this dress and I can’t wear it to a spring wedding, maybe you can.
Floral Dress | Platform Sandals | Clutch | Earrings
Last year, when Jim and I felt like we were full-time wedding guests, I admired Loeffler Randall shoes again and again. They come in many gorgeous styles and colors. Truly, they’re the ultimate wedding guest shoe. We’re going to a summer wedding in Italy and I think it’s my chance to acquire a pair. I need to find a summer-wedding-in-Italy dress first. But, back to the spring wedding guest dress.
Tuckernuck paired the dress with Loeffler Randall’s pleated platform sandal in emerald green. I like their velvet platform sandal, in spruce, too. If you read my post last weekend, you know I’m in a green phase.
To complete my fantasy spring wedding guest ensemble, I added a canvas clutch embellished with crystals, and silk and leather orchid earrings. Since we’re talking about Loeffler Randall, and weddings, they make wonderful clutch bags too. Like this one and this one. And I adore this Cuyana little bow bag too (maybe for Italy).
OSCAR LOOKS – NAILED & FAILED
Did you watch the Oscars last Sunday? I did, for the first time in years. That said, I was slightly distracted and didn’t give it my undivided attention. Thank goodness for the internet. I intended to include some of my favorite and least favorite looks today, but it’s 9:00pm and I’m running out of time and steam. And why reinvent the wheel when the amazing Joni Webb of Cote de Texas nailed it in her post the morning after the awards. How on earth did she do that? Probably stayed up all night. So without further ado … in the event you haven’t already read it … Joni’s brilliant Oscar recap.
And for what’s it’s worth are some of my favorite and least favorite looks.
Yes!
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- Jamie Lee Curtis in Dolce & Gabbana
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- Lady Gaga in Versace
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- Zoe Saldana in vintage Cartier
Images: Mike Coppola via Vanity Fair
No.
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- Jennifer Connelly in Louis Vuitton
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- Florence Pugh in Valentino Couture
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- Nicole Kidman
Images: Mike Coppola via Vanity Fair | Arturo Holmes via GETTY IMAGES | Mike Coppola via Vanity Fair
These gowns were popular best-dressed vote getters, from reliable sources. For me … while both women look stunning STUNNING … these looks scream Dynasty. Too soon. But I see the direction we’re headed and I need a little more time to get on board.
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- Angela Basset in Moschino
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- Cara Delevingne in Elis Saab
Images: Mike Coppola via Vanity Fiar
That said, I loved this dress. Maybe because there are no giant shoulders. This might even be my favorite dress. See, I’m coming around.
Stephanie Hsu
Image: Arturo Holmes via GETTY IMAGES
And let’s hear it for them men! They’ve gotten a lot more creative in their award show style … plain black tux no more.
Yes, please!
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- Austin Butler in Saint Laurent
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- Samuel L. Jackson in Giorgio Armani
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- Jay Ellis in Fendi
Images: Mike Coppola via Vanity Fair | GETTY IMAGES via People | Mike Coppola via Vanity Fair
No, thank you.
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- Riz Ahmed in Prada
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- Lenny Kravitz in Saint Laurent
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- Brian Tyree Henry in Dolce & Gabbana
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- Paul Dano
Images: Mike Coppola via Vanity Fair | Arturo Holmes via Vanity Fair | Kevin Mazur via GETTY IMAGES | Arturo Holmes via Vanity Fair
Well, I guess I got a little carried away. Still, I know nothing, this is just my uninformed opinion.
VISITING WACO? DO THIS FIRST.
Are you planning to visit Waco? Every week when I see friends posting fun videos and pictures from The Silos at Magnolia – and all over Waco – I’m reminded of my girl’s trip to Waco in 2017. So much has changed in the six years since I visited. Tons of new shops and restaurants and places to stay. I’d love to visit again and see how it’s grown.
There are many articles and blog posts about planning a trip to Waco, including this recent post from Leslie at My-100-Year-Old-Home. She renovated a darling house in Waco and you can stay there. During our trip we stayed at the Hotel Indigo (popular with Baylor parents) which was a great location for walking to the Silos and all over downtown.
The best – and first thing – we did on our trip to Waco is take a Waco Tour. This is something I rarely see mentioned in the myriad of articles written about visiting Waco. Waco Tours is co-owned by David Ridley, who you may remember as ‘the bachelor’ in season one of Fixer Upper. In fact, David, greet us at our hotel as we boarded the sprinter van for our two and a half hour tour. David is every bit as charming – and handsome – as he appears on the show. He’s married now, with two little girls.
Our tour took us through the Baylor campus (gorgeous), where we stopped for coffee at Heritage Creamery, owned by another Fixer Upper couple from season one. Our fun tour guides shared the history of Waco while continuing on through some beautiful Waco neighborhoods (passing by several Fixer Upper houses), with additional stops at Clint Harp’s wood working shop and Cameron Park. The tour lasts about two and a half hours and we did it first thing in the morning on our first day there … I recommend doing the same. We were returned to our hotel late morning and set off on foot to the Silos for lunch.
Since our visit, Waco Tours has expanded and now includes a river cruise tour, private tours and special Christmas experiences. When I go back, the river cruise will be first on the agenda.
Our Waco Tour was not only the first thing we did on the trip, but our favorite thing as well. Have you been to Waco? What was your favorite thing?
With David Ridley of Waco Tours
YUZU MEZCAL MARGARITA
Last night – after a long pause – Cocktail Night at Snowberry returned. I made Yuzu Mezcal Margaritas. What’s Yuzu? Good question … I recently learned about the grapefruit sized, floraly citrus fruit from this article the Citrusy Ray of Sunshine Your Winter Cooking needs. Grown in east Asia, the fruit is not widely available in the states, but the juice is. And it’s currently popular with chefs at some very high end restaurants … on their food and beverage menus. They look more like rough skinned lemons to me. Yuzu can be added to anything you’d add lemon to … including water, iced tea, or a spritzer! Think marinades and vinaigrettes … even cakes and pastas.
Jim came up with the Yuzu Mezcal Margarita. It’s delicious and refreshing just like a regular margarita. But the mezcal adds a bit of depth and smokiness. I’m not usually a fan of mezcal, but in this drink … I’m all in.
You can see my Yuzu Mezcal Margarita video here.
Yuzu Mezcal Margarita
Ingredients
- 1 oz Mezcal
- 1 oz Reposado Tequila
- 1/2 oz Fresh Lime Juice
- 1/2 oz Yuzu Juice
- 1/2 oz Simple Syrup
- 1/2 oz Agave Nectar
- Lime Wheels for garnish
- Rimming salt, if desired
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake well and strain into chilled glasses over ice.
- Garnish with a lime wheel.
- If you like a salt rim for your margarita, you'll like it for this version too. Totally optional.
This is the juice I ordered from YUZUCO … they offer several products and I found the options a little confusing. I placed an order for 4 small bottles and they arrived within a week and included a sample of the concentrate. It looks like they’re currently a couple weeks delayed in shipping. Likely the result of the WSJ article. You can also find Yuzu juice (not the YUZUCO brand) on Amazon … but, again, I found the options confusing.
I hope you give Jim’s Yuzu Mezcal Margarita a try. And let me know what you think.
By the way, I’ve been making large format ice cubes for cocktails … they keep drinks cold longer and they melt more slowly so your drink won’t get as watery. I like my cocktails COLD and it takes me a while to drink them. You can buy round ice cube molds or square ice cube molds. Jim prefers the round, I like the square. Since I’m the maker of ice cubes at our house … guess what kind we have?
So there you have it.
My weekly favorites.
Let’s see what’s inspiring Kim and Elizabeth.
Odds & Socks ~
I adore Suzanne of Crazy Blonde Life, and her recently posted arm workout is the best.
Suzanne’s post also mentions the horrors of crepey skin. A side effect of age plus sun damage. Sigh. I glommed onto a reader comment (thanks, April) saying that as a young nurse this Fruit of the Earth Vitamin E Skin Care Cream was recommended to her by her nursing supervisor to sooth her hands after endless washing. She’s used it ever since, all over her body, and her elderly mother uses it as well with great results. (She says she adds rose rip or plain rose oil to the cream.) Well, of course, I ordered it immediately. It’s incredibly inexpensive, the packaging is lackluster (it’s sold in packs of 2 – 4 oz jars), but it’s lovely in texture, scent and my skin feels baby soft after just a few days. Of course, I have no idea how or if this will in any way address the crepey skin I’ve noticed on my upper arms. Quel horreur. But we’ll see. I also bought this fancy pants cream. I’m going to try it on my thighs, another horror story, and compare the two.
Planning a spring break getaway? This week Kim (Resort Looks and Packing Tips) and Cindy (Best Resort Wear for Women Over 50) shared resort-wear tips on their Signature Style series.
Designer extraordinaire Heather Chaduck Hillgas, she’s also Colonial Williamsburg’s designer-in-residence, collaborated with Chairish this week to share her historic picks and favorite things from the site. I swooned over all her choices, including a console that might work for my foyer!
Jansen Home’s just-arrived Spring collection launched yesterday! I’ve purchased so many favorites from the photogenic sisters of Jansen Home. And their stuff frequently sells out … I say having learned the hard way.
Current Favorites ~
Catch up on last weekend’s meanderings here.
And all my Weekend Meanderings posts are collected here.
Follow along for more fun on Instagram and Pinterest.
As always, I appreciate your visit and welcome your thoughts in the comments below.
Cheers from Snowberry!
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