The Best Part of My Day + More … It’s Weekend Meanderings

Happy weekend, friends.

It’s time to meet up with Kim and Elizabeth for our weekly favorites.

This week went by in a flash.

I had a lovely lunch in town with our favorite Contessa.

Joined the ‘big time’ bloggers to share main dish salads.

I made Asian Chicken Salad.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of hosting Ashley, of Modern Glam Home, for lunch.

I served – surprise – Asian Chicken Salad.

But forgot to add the chicken.

Fortunately, I caught it before it was too late.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again.

I’m not an effortless entertainer.

I also neglected to take pictures.

Ashely looked so pretty and stylish in pink.

She was probably wearing pieces from her shop, Flaunt.

Ok, enough about me.

Let’s get to my weekly favorites.

(Haha)

DEAR ALICE PODCAST

If you love podcasts like I love podcasts, discovering a new pod is E X C I T I N G! When I say new, I mean new-to-me. My latest pod discovery is Dear Alice: A Lifestyle Approach to Interior Design. An interior design podcast hosted by Jessica Bennett and Suzanne Hall of Alice Lane Interior Design. The witty banter between these designing women is so natural and fun. You can tell they’re friends as well as colleagues. Their projects are high end, but I always learn something that I can apply at (not high end) Snowberry.

Garden Cottage / Alice Lane Interior Design / Builder: Jackson and Leroy / Photo: Josh Caldwell

Recently I hopped onto their website to peruse their design projects. Oh my gosh … amazing. I’m smitten with their Garden Cottage project (pictured above). Let’s have a look inside.

Garden Cottage / Alice Lane Interiors / Builder: Jackson and Leroy / Photos: Josh Caldwell

Swoon. I love the use of a garden stool indoors. I’m big on garden stools, if you hadn’t noticed, and shared a few of my favorites here.

Their Somerset Tudor project is pretty awesome too.

Somerset Tudor / Alice Lane Interior Design / Photos: Lindsay  Salazar

If you’re not into podcasts, you may enjoy their Instagram page. They have an online shop too. Their stuff is pricey. But it costs nothing to look.

 

THE BEST PART OF MY DAY

When someone tells me they don’t eat breakfast I’m stunned. DON’T EAT BREAKFAST?! It’s my favorite meal of the day. If I skipped it things would get ugly. Don’t ask Jim. My breakfast generally consists of two slices of toast, or a bagel, with butter. Whipped butter. And a mug of hot cocoa as you probably know because I talk about it so much. Occasionally I worry I’m not getting enough protein, so I scramble an egg. Recently I changed things up by switching to cinnamon raisin toast. Not just any cinnamon raisin toast. Boudin Bakery’s cinnamon raisin toast. I don’t know who needs to hear this but, oh my gosh, this cinnamon raisin toast is so good. And it’s not the small, thinly sliced loaves sold at the grocery store. These are big loaves with thick slices. Taking in the cinnamon aroma wafting around the house while the bread toasts is the best way to start the day.

If you live in the Bay Area, or have traveled through SFO, you’re familiar with Boudin and have probably eaten in one of their cafes … and certainly enjoyed their famous sourdough. Their Walnut Creek café is a favorite of my nieces and that’s where I go to buy the raisin bread. Two loaves at a time. I freeze one.

I didn’t know this but at their flagship store at Fisherman’s Wharf they have a demonstration bakery where you can watch all the goodness being made. And enjoy lunch, or dinner at their waterfront Bistro Boudin. I think a field trip is in order.

You can also order their famous sourdough, cinnamon raisin bread and other baked goodies online.

By the way, my oversize cup and saucer is New Italian by Spode purchased from Replacements. It’s sold out but they have a similar one here. I get asked a lot … ‘is it big?’ Yes, it’s big but it holds my 12 oz morning cocoa beautifully.

 

DOVE DEEP MOISTURE BODY WASH

One of the blessings and curses of getting older is dry skin. When I say blessing, as someone who struggled with oily skin in my younger years (and beyond), moving past it is something to be thankful for. But sometimes skin can be too dry. When an annoying itchy patch sent me running to the dermatologist in fear (I’ve already had one Mohs surgery so I’m hyper-vigilant paranoid about it), she gave me a prescription cream and recommended that I switch from using soap in the shower to a body wash. Specifically, Dove’s Deep Moisture Body Wash. I was a little skeptical. Does body wash get the job done? Well, I can attest that it does. I’ve also gotten better about slathering my entire self in moisturizer while still wet from the shower. I like CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion, which was also recommended by my dermatologist. For Jim I still keep soap in the shower. A gentle, fragrance-free oatmeal soap that’s supposed to be good for those with sensitive skin. Anyway, I really like the body wash in lieu of soap. And it’s gentler on your shower tile and glass too. Win win.

 

TARGET PORCELAIN SERVING PLATTERS AND BOWLS

Last summer I organized an outdoor event for a lot of people. It was catered but the food was to be delivered on biodegradable trays. I wanted the food table to look elevated and decided to buy matching white platters and bowls. Renting was an option, but I thought it would be smart to own a nice set of platters for home. And it is. I’ve reached for them many times since. I didn’t want to spend a fortune, so I searched Home Goods first. They had several options but not the simple, plain white I had in mind. Next, I went to Target and to my surprise they have an entire aisle of white, porcelain platters and serve ware, in all shapes and sizes. As with most things at Target, the price was right and the quality good. I may have gone a bit overboard, but if you need help hosting an event I’m prepared.

 

Last week I joined a group of bloggers to share recipes for main dish summer salads. I served up my Asian Chicken Salad in one of my new, big serving bowls. I could have opted for a platter, and I love having choices. It makes me feel so chef-y.

On the salad front, Kim and I were thinking along the same lines, and she made Asian Noodle Salad. It looks delish and I’m going to make it this week.

 

A LOVELY LIFE

Melissa Michaels, of The Inspired Room fame, has a new book out this week. A Lovely Life: Savoring Simple Joys in Every Season. I pre-ordered months ago and look forward it landing at Snowberry early next week. Melissa’s written many books. I read her first (I believe it’s her first), Love the Home You Have, earlier this year. Like her popular blog, her easy, conversational writing style translates well to a longer format and I’m eagerly anticipating this new release. Here’s what the Amazon page has to say –

Home-decorating expert Melissa Michaels invites you to experience the peace and joy that come from a well-balanced life that nurtures your home and soul throughout the year.

You might think that you need to make big changes to create a better life but it’s often the small, intentional, everyday decisions that shape our environment over time and bring sustained contentment and well-being. Savor the process.

 Amazon

Sounds good to me. Last week I told you about Melissa’s recent blog post on Coastal Grandmother style … that again. And I also mentioned that her new home is in the same neighborhood as our Fidalgo Island house. You can see it from her front porch. I get such a kick out of this. If we had stayed there maybe I’d be sipping my morning cocoa on the deck with this famous blogger. In my dreams. We’ve already established that Coastal Grandma style has nothing to do with living on the coast or being a grandmother. But, in this case … Melissa does live on the coast and her new home has the Coastal Grandma vibe.

I can see the windows of our den in this photo. Oops, I mean former den. I still feel so protective of our old house.

Here’s a photo of our Fidalgo Island living room. Miss that view.

Anyway, I’m excited to get my hands on Melissa’s new book!

So, there you have it.

Now let’s visit Kim and Elizabeth to see what’s on their minds this weekend.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA STYLE

PINECONES AND ACORNS

In other news …

• The baseball cap washing frame recommended by Patric Richardson (the Laundry Love book) STILL hasn’t arrived. I checked on my order status and it isn’t expected to ship for another couple of weeks. Maybe there was a run on them after Patric’s appearance on Live with Keli & Ryan.
• Bosch is back! We binged the 7-season detective series, Bosch, last year. As with any good series, we were sad when it came to an end. But not to worry, Harry Bosch is back with season one of Bosch: Legacy on Amazon Freevee. Mimi Rogers (Tom Cruise’ first wife!) returns as Honey ‘Money’ Chandler as does Madison Lintz as Bosch’s daughter, Maddie. The first six episodes are available now with four more to come. And it’s been renewed for season two.
• The Serena & Lily sale is still on! Take 20% off everything, including new arrivals, with code GOFORIT.

As always, I appreciate your visit and welcome your thoughts in the comments below.

Cheers from Snowberry!