Today on Weekend Meanderings a much anticipated book release, the best facial cleanser, a catchall roundup and Sarah Horton, my current design crush.
Happy Weekend Friends!
It’s time for the weekend post with Kim and Elizabketh.
Our weekly roundup of inspiration and goings on.
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Hello March!
Anyone else wondering how we blinked and got here?
Daffodils make me happy and they’re blooming everywhere.
I have to remind myself to stop and take pictures because they come and go quickly.
In eight days we spring forward, and it’s official spring 10 days after that.
St. Patrick’s Day, Easter … life comes at you fast.
And with that in mind, let’s jump in.
THE LOWDOWN ON OUR CARIBBEAN CRUISE ADVENTURE
In case you missed it, my review of our Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection Caribbean cruise is (finally) signed, sealed and delivered. It’s a behemoth of a post. The size and scope, combined with frustrating inter-web issues created a level of difficulty exceeding anything I’ve done thus far. Anyway, it’s a text book case-study of over-promise-and-underdeliver. Ha! Suffice to say, no one is happier than me that it’s done.
All my Instagram stories from the trip are saved in a highlight called RCCruise … including a tour of our cute little suite.
HOME AT LAST: ENDURING DESIGN FOR THE NEW AMERICAN HOUSE
On Wednesday afternoon, Gil Shafer’s latest book Home at Last landed on my doorstep. And I mean landed … with a thud. This is a substantial book …in addition to being a fabulous book. I’ve barely been up off the sofa since it arrived. Okay, I’ve eaten and slept … a little. But seriously, my nose has been buried in its stunning pages for three days and I haven’t even started to read the text.
Home at Last: Enduring Design for the New American House
Since writing his first two books, Gil has become a husband and step-father expanding his view of what it means to design a family home. Ha … I’m sure it’s been an eye opener!
Home at Last is Gil’s third book in a trilogy that includes The Great American House: Tradition for the Way We Live Now and A Place to Call Home: Tradition, Style and Memory in the Great American House
CATCH ALL ROUNDUP & FOYER UPDATE
Finding the perfect catchall isn’t easy. Since buying our new foyer console table on 1stDibs I’ve been search of one. The perfect one. First I exhausted the options that I already owned. A small wood bowl/tray from Elise Green and marble tray from Pottery Barn were contenders, but not exactly what I had in mind. Last week I shared a small rattan tray I bought while Kim and I swanned around Emily Joubert. It seemed ideal, but when I got it home the woven tray on the bamboo table seemed like too much of the same. And then it dawned on me … the larger of a set of blue and white nesting trays that Kim gave me might be just the thing. Guess what, it is! Thanks, Kim, for solving my latest decorating dilemma.
My inter-web search for catchall turned up these favorites ~
Of course, you can always use a favorite bowl or small pretty plate … they do the trick nicely.
As our foyer project inches forward, Jim’s working to minimize the unsightliness of the lamp cord using zipties. He had it right, then I moved the table so it needs to be adjusted again. He also put the lamp on a timer and added a dimmer socket. I’m on the lookout for a soft LED lightbulb. It’s crisis mode over here as my prohibition era lightbulb supply runs dangerously low.
My coastal art is by Heidi Michelle. It’s a commissioned piece and evokes a favorite spot in Santa Cruz. I had it framed (if you’re local, I love Anthony’s Custom Picture Framers) and propped it on an iron easel.
In other entryway news, I experiment with moving our current too-small area rug under the front door to see if it will open over it. It does, catching slightly in one spot. So I took a chance and ordered the same rug in a larger size. I love everything about this rug including the price and its ideal for a heavy trafficked (by humans and pets) area. It should arrive today or tomorrow so we’ll know soon enough. If it does work, let’s call the entryway done.
Shop the Look ~
NEW FAVORITE FACIAL CLEANSER
Recently I’ve shared a couple of skincare products added to my routine. This is groundbreaking news because I’m a creature of habit and rarely change things up unless – quelle horreur – a favorite product is discontinued. It happens a lot more often these days. And in recent years, I reevaluated the cost of some of the products I’d been using. I’m taking to you Le Mer.
My recent additions are Osea Advanced Repair Eye Cream and Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask … both are definitely reorder worthy. As a matter of fact, I just reordered the lip mask, not because I ran out but because I learned there’s a grapefruit scent. Is it a scent or a flavor? I’m not sure because it’s so very subtle. I have to stick my nose in the jar to get just a hint of it and once applied its barely (not even) perceptible. As for calling it a mask, that’s a little misleading. I use it as a lip balm during the day too.
Click image to shop ~
Today I continue my era of beauty experimentation with Amore Pacific Treatment Enzyme Peel Cleansing Powder. A few years ago I acquired a handful of individual use samples of this dry powder. It sat in my drawer for a year, maybe longer before I finally broke one open and … wow. It took a while to work my way through the massive supply of sample product. When I finally ran out of it I ordered the standard size. It’s not cheap. That said, I love it. Here’s why …
Amore Pacific Treatment Enzyme Peel Cleansing Powder
A small amount of powder (the directions say the size of a quarter, I probably use a dime or nickel size) when wet turns into a gentle foam. While it’s said to have an exfoliating effect, it’s not at all abrasive. In fact it’s the opposite, smooth and gentle. It leaves my skin feeling fresh, clean and hydrated. My serums and moisturizers glide on and absorb beautifully leaving my skin feeling rosy and glowy. Do I look rosy and glowy? I don’t know … what matters is that’s how I feel.
I alternative the powder cleanser with my long-time favorite hero-product Liquid Neutrogena. It’s gentle, fragrance free and the price is right.
SARAH HORTON – MY CURRENT INSTAGRAM / TIKTOK CRUSH
Meet my current design crush, Sarah Horton. I’ve been holding onto this one for a while waiting for the right time and terrified that Kim or Elizabeth would beat me to it. A few weeks ago I saw that Sarah had filmed a tour for Homeworthy and I knew I had to wait a little bit longer until the tour was released. And it was this week.
Last summer Sarah popped up in my TikTok scroll. I don’t spend much time on TikTok so I started following her on Instagram for daily doses of happiness and light. Sarah lives in a next-level charming 425 sqft Newport Beach apartment. She has a very Nancy Meyers-on-the coast aesthetic and I can’t get enough. Her apartment is a mix of high and low, new and thrifted, traditional and eclectic. Same with her wardrobe and I love her outfit inspirations every bit as much as her apartment styling. Sarah’s Reels and Stories take us inside her magical life on the coast … traveling, shopping, thrifting, styling her home as well as her cute outfits. She’s an incredible host using her enchanting deck, overlooking the Newport coast, as a dining room. I should stop talking and let Sarah’s photos and videos speak for themselves. If you don’t know Sarah, be prepared to fall hard.
And at long last, the piece de resistance … Sarah’s Homeworthy tour …
Odds & Socks ~
Favorite blogger, Preppy Empty Nester, and her Mister became grandparents this week! Baby Lucy is doing fine and you can read all about her arrival here. Congratulations to the Adorable family!
Wallpaper is used so creatively in this Mediterranean style home for sale in my neighborhood.
Catch Stefani Bittner on the Slow Flowers Podcast. You’ve heard me yammer on about Stefani and her company, Homestead Design Collective, who established our raised bed, edible garden last year. Co-author of the about-to-be-released (March 5) book The Fragrant Flower Garden: Growing, Arranging, and Preserving Natural Scents
Current Favorites ~
And that’s what I have for you today.
Let’s visit Kim and Elizabeth to see what’s inspiring them.
If you missed last weekend’s post, you can catch up here.
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Until next time, cheers from Snowberry!
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