Today on Weekend Meanderings history meets charm in Old Town Auburn, refreshing Aperol Margaritas, recovering chair cushions DIY and a just-released book giveaway.
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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How was your week?
Mine was full of house maintenance and repair.
Starting with unclogging our backed up kitchen sink.
Semi-annual HVAC maintenance.
Annual tankless water heater maintenance.
And all three happening at exactly the same time.
Update: For those asking, we highly recommend Leap Frog Plumbing & Moore Mechanical (HVAC/water heater work).
Order is restored and I managed a few fun things too … and a DIY.
DAY OUT WITH THE NIECES IN OLD TOWN AUBURN
Niece Shelby and I took a short road trip to Old Town Auburn to meet up with her sister, my niece Sophie. And Sophie’s two littles. Haddie, almost three, and Rett, just turned one. A couple of years ago I shared Sophie and Chad’s beautiful, intimate family wedding.
We met up at one of our favorite spots, The Pour Choice. A popular local hangout and a great place to stop on the way to and from Lake Tahoe.
I always order the biscuit with butter and honey. Shelby had avocado toast, which is Jim’s favorite too. And Soph had the prettiest little deviled egg combo and some sort of breakfast sandwich. Haddie and Rett shared a poppy seed muffin, but I think most of it ended up on the floor to the delight of a cute little dog that escaped from her table to assist with clean up.
Old Town Auburn is a totally charming gold rush era town dating to 1849. It’s fun to walk around soaking up history and wandering in and out of the eclectic mix of shops.
Haddie wanted to visit ‘the rock store’ otherwise known as Back Country Jewelry where she got some hands on experience.
Across the street, The Front Porch is a popular home store … currently packed with fun Easter and spring related kitchen and decor items. Haddie selected three bottle brush style little chicks and was very proud to carry her own shopping bag.
We walked thru Ragged Glory Trading Co. full of vintage clothing, handmade goods and local art.
The Historic Courthouse is a beautiful landmark building. A guided walking tour of old town meets at the courthouse Saturday’s at 10am. You can also take a self-guided or virtual tour.
Niece Sophie has become an expert sourdough bread baker and brought loaves for me and Shel. Maybe I can talk her into sharing her recipe and method with us.
UPDATING AN OLD CHAIR
Don’t be shocked, I did a DIY. It doesn’t happen often, but this is one of those rare occasions. I recovered an old chair. Jim helped. A lot.
This sweet little chair is a family heirloom and functioned as my nightstand in the late 80’s/early 90’s. And it was in the late 1980’s that I last reupholstered the seat cushion. I remember picking out and ordering the fabric (which I still love), and somehow figuring out how to get the job done. There was no YouTube back in the dark ages.
Fast forward 30+ years and this little cutie had fallen on hard times. About three years ago I resurrected her and dragged her into my office where she’s been sitting ever since waiting for me to figure out what to do. About once a week Jim asks ‘what are you going to do with that chair?’ Well, this week it came to me. There’s a perfect spot for her in our bedroom … and I’ve been holding onto a small remanent of Schumacher’s Sinhala Linen Print fabric used for our bedroom Roman shades. I told Jim my idea. Astutely realizing that his efforts to send my little treasure to the dump were futile, he went the the garage to get a screw driver and staple gun. An hour later, voila … my sweet little chair has a new life.
If you’ve never recovered a chair, it’s easy. Obviously … because I (we) did it. But it was my idea.
Here’s a simple tutorial from HGTV. I ordered cambric dust cover fabric as a finishing touch for the underside of the cushion (to be attached with upholstery nails or staple gun).
COMPARING POWDER FACIAL CLEANSERS
In last Saturday’s post I shared my newfound love for Amore Pacific’s Treatment Enzyme Peel Cleansing Powder. I received a comment from reader Deb that DHC has a very similar facial cleanser, Face Wash Powder. Of course, I Googled it immediately and decided to order a bottle to compare.
For the past two mornings I’ve used the DHC Face Wash Powder and it pains me to say that it feels very similar to Amore Pacific’s Treatment Enzyme Peel Cleanings Powder. Why do I say it pains me? Well … the Amore Pacific product is $68 (for a 1.9oz bottle) while the DHS Face Wash Powder is $13.50 (for a 1.7oz bottle). Yikes, that’s quite a price difference. The Amore Pacific is slightly larger quantity, but hardly justifying the must larger package and price. The Amore Pacific products feels just a tad bit smoother and has a wonderful, subtle scent. The DHS has no detectible scent. DHC recommends their facial cleansing powder as a second step in their double cleanse regime.
Previously unknown to me, DHC is a Japanese skincare brand that’s been around about 40 years. Amore Pacific, founded in 2003, is a Korean brand focused on the benefits formulating green tea extracts as a ingredient in their skincare products.
Here’s what each has to say about their facial cleanser.
Amore Pacific –
Our best-selling powder-to-foam gentle exfoliating cleanser is infused with Hyaluronic Acid and green tea probiotic-derived enzymes* that help hydrate and helps strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier while cleansing for radiant, smoother-looking skin.
*Enzyme extracted from green tea lactobacillus ferment lysate.
Benefits: Helps to gently lift away dirt, dead skin cells and unclogs pores to reveal skin that’s visibly smoother and more radiant.
Immediately after use:
– Cooling Effect:
∙ Skin temperature decreased by 39.74°F temporarily after washing*
– Cleansing effect of ultra-fine dust:
∙ 93.7% cleansing rate of ultra-fine dust pollution particles2
∙ 66.5% decrease in the amount of ultra-fine dust on the skin*
- Gentle yet effective exfoliation
- Skin appears visibly smoother
- Visibly brightens skin tone
- Helps to eliminate clogged pores
- Hydrating after cleansing
Full ingredient list: MANNITOL, SODIUM COCOYL GLYCINATE, SODIUM LAUROYL GLUTAMATE, ZEA MAYS (CORN) STARCH, SILICA, BETAINE, ALLANTOIN, POTASSIUM LAURATE, FRAGRANCE / PARFUM, WATER / AQUA / EAU, DEXTRIN, TREHALOSE, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, DISODIUM EDTA, DIPOTASSIUM GLYCYRRHIZATE, BUTYLPHENYL
DHC –
Just add water to this powder formula to create a luxurious foaming lather. Protease enzyme gently exfoliates for a smoothing complexion. Lavender flower and licorice root extract calm while honey and sodium hyaluronate leave skin feeling soft and hydrated. Gentle enough for daily use, this face wash is great a second step of the Japanese double cleanse regimen (after cleansing oil).
Benefits:
- Gently exfoliates and hydrates for a smoother complexion
- Softens skin with honey and sodium hyaluronate
- Calms with lavender flower and licorice extracts
- Lightweight powder formula is great for travel
- Gentle enough for daily use
- Suitable for all skin types, especially oily and combination skin
- Foams into a rich lather when used with Foaming Mesh
Full ingredient list: zea mays (corn) starch, maltitol, potassium myristate, sodium cocoyl glycinate, sodium cocoyl isethionate, sorbitol, protease, dipotassium glycrrhizate, glycyl glycine, silica, water/aqua/eau, alcohol, honey/mel/miel, sodium hyaluronate, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) flower extract
After all is said and done, I’m sticking with the Amore Pacific cleanser. It feels and smells a little more luxurious. That said, the price difference certainly gives me pause.
THE FRAGRANT FLOWER GARDEN BOOK GIVEAWAY
Stefani Bittner and Aletea Harampolis’ beautiful new book is out … The Fragrant Flower Garden!
I’m giving away one copy! Enter to win by subscribing to the blog and leaving a comment below with your favorite garden flower. Drawing on Tuesday, March 12th … I’ll email the lucky winner!
APEROL MARGARITA
Jim found a simple and totally delicious Aperol Margarita recipe at @cocktails … did you even know there is such a thing?!
We made them last night … check out my how-to-make-it Reel here! By the way, you can find my cute Shoreline Cocktail Shaker at Ivy Cove. And get 20% off site-wide using code SPRITZER20.
Recipe for Two Drinks – 4 oz tequila, 2 oz Aperol, 2 oz lime juice | Add ingredients to ice filled cocktail shaker. Shake well. Strain into crushed ice filled glasses and garnish with lime. If you like a salt or sugar rim, by all means go for it. I used this Golden Demerara Sugar. Jim prefers salt.
Odds & Socks ~
Filoli debuted a new podcast – Morning in the Garden
We’re approaching the home and garden tour season! One of my favorite tours is the Lafayette Juniors Lifestyle tour coming up on May 4th. Tickets on sale Monday, March 11th.
Last week I shared the fabulousness that is Gil Schafer III’s latest book, Home at Last. It was serendipitous when I stumbled upon a wonderful PBC Design in Mind episode featuring the architect … Unlocking the Mysteries of Place.
Not only is it Spring Forward weekend, but it’s Oscars weekend (Sunday at 4pm). Will you be watching? Print your Oscar ballot from link in this article.
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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