I will admit I have gone a bit gold crazy. It wasn’t that long ago that I wouldn’t even think of it! My engagement and wedding rings are platinum and for years I would only wear silver or white gold accessories. Recently, I have thrown caution to the wind and dove into gold head first! I was so excited when I browsed on Moorea Seal‘s new online shop. It was overflowing with gold treasures! I gathered a few of my favorites, but honestly there are just so many it was hard to choose! I met Moorea Seal at the Altitude Design Summit in San Francisco. Her curated store is just over a week old! Pop over and check it out! “Do good, do great” is their motto. With each purchase, 7% of proceeds are donated to non-profit organizations. Nothing better than doing good while shopping!
Take a peek at mooreaseal.com. Which item is now on your wish list?
We spent less than 24 hours in Napa Valley this weekend. We didn’t arrive until 1pm on Saturday, but it was worth it! The summer brings large crowds on the weekend, yet the beauty of the valley somehow makes up for the “big business” of wine tasting. We started north in Calistoga and worked our way south toward Napa. Using Silverado Trail for much of the afternoon, we avoided the traffic and we were able to visit three wineries plus have lunch before 5pm. Then a quick rest and dinner in downtown Napa. Pictures tell the best story.
First stop, Chateau Montelena . Amazing grounds, historic chateau, and the winery that put California on the map of the wine making world in 1976. [If you haven’t seen Bottle Shock, rent or stream it tonight. It tells the story perfectly!]
Lunch in St. Helena. La Condesa. A girl can not survive on wine alone. Chips, guacamole, and tacos paired with the most refreshing margarita! It had me at cactus lemongrass-infused salt rim.
A quick jump over to the Silverado Trail and Rombauer after lunch. Red wine a hot day is tough, but the views from the deck cannot be beat. Rombauer is a great spot for a picnic! Tables are scattered throughout their gorgeous trails and grounds.
Mumm Napa was our last stop. We were able to grab a table on their patio [umbrellas and misters help with the heat] and we each enjoyed a glass of sparkling wine. We couldn’t have asked for a more relaxing way to end our afternoon of tasting. I highly recommend the Santana Supernatural Rose. Delicious!
After a thirty minute power nap at the hotel, we were off to The Thomas in downtown Napa. I will not belabor the point, but this place is top rate. Food, service, ambiance. The entire package. The dining room is cozy with an open kitchen. It is keenly decorated, with one entire wall displaying antique white table cloths and windows into their wine collection. In the heart of downtown on Main Street, The Thomas also has a roof top bar and deck which looks over the Napa River. I tell you-it is a must visit! While everything we ate and drank was outstanding, the warm cinnamon, sugar doughnuts with black pepper strawberry sauce put the meal over the top!
Our afternoon is Napa was the end to a great weekend in California. We had time together [just the two of us] and we were able to see our dear friends get married! A huge thank you to my mom and dad for holding down the fort and keep our boys fed and watered.
For my husband’s 40th birthday party, I decided to have a little fun with a press-on tattoo. I ordered temporary ink to wear the night of his party. Easily applied with a wet wash cloth {just like the tattoos you put on little kids}, it was a fun way to celebrate his big day. Aaron was completely surprised and not-so-secretly loved it! That makes me smile.
It is a great gift for your significant other on his or her birthday or your anniversary. Also, wouldn’t it be so sweet for a bride and groom to wear one on their wedding day that only their new spouse will see?
A recent trip to the Pike Place Market marked our first visit to Seattle’s Gum Wall. It is located in Post Alley under Pike Place Market. [Find Rachel the Pig and go down a short flight of stairs. Turn right at the bottom and you are there.]
Visually, it is striking. Colorful and textured. Standing back from it you almost forget it is chewed gum. Almost. The boys couldn’t visit without leaving their mark. Will jumped right in and stretched his gum long and left it dangling from a pipe. Little Man was apprehensive, but eventually went for it. He really wanted to shape his gum into the letter H because he had noticed that some visitors had spelled out their name or messages and left them on the wall. When it proved to be a tedious job he just stuck his next to his big brother’s. I delicately stuck my piece to a very small empty space on the wall.
Being a tourist in your own city is a great way to spend a summer’s day.
I have just started a two week intensive boot camp. It includes giving up caffeine, alcohol, dairy, sugar, and no refined white flour or white rice. It sounds torturous, and at times it feels like it, but it is an amazing group of women. Over 30 of us committed to health and supporting one another. There will be a lot of sweat, some grunting, a ton of laughing [and hopefully no puking!]
It means adding tons of veggies, healthy fats, balanced portions, and glasses and glasses of water. Our trainer suggests consuming half your body weight in ounces. I will admit it-I am the worst about drinking water. This will be one of my greatest challenges in the days to come. To stay the course, I am going to have to jazz my water up! Mixed fruit with ice may just do the trick. Lemons with raspberries or oranges with blueberries sound delicious and interesting. Plus, I am a sucker for mason jars and paper straws.
How much water do you drink a day? Are you a purest or do you jazz it up?
I am so happy to be able to share the rest of our favorites from our trip to Salt Spring Island and our travel tips. [Read my first post here.]
1. The food! We ate WAY too much on this trip and enjoyed every minute it. As you may know, my husband has Celiac Disease and eats gluten free. And this island was a gluten free haven. Every restaurant we ate at offered gluten free options, including gluten free breads, beer, pizza crusts, and buns. Most importantly, the food was amazingly fresh. Farms are abundant on the island and the cuisine is truly farm to table.
Our favorites: The Treehouse Cafe– Delicious breakfast. They even had gluten free french toast on the menu. I am sure lunch or dinner would be just as great! The cafe is built around a tree and is open air. Heaters at your feet and blankets keep you warm if there is a chill. My kids loved this place. [more on why in a bit.]
Burger Bar 537– Seriously one of the BEST burger I have ever had. Gluten free buns and beer for my man!
The Harbour House – The freshest meals are prepared using much of the bounty from the 15-acre farm that sits behind the hotel/restaurant.
2. The Elves A small door at the front of The Treehouse Cafe made this trip for the boys. Elves live on the island. There were pictures, in the treasure box, of small doors at the base of trees all over the island. Little Man spent a great deal of time searching for a door on our hikes! If you leave a note-they will send a reply. My kids were eager to write the elves questions and anxiously await their response.
3. Tsawaout First Nation Reserve A hidden gem!! A waitress gave us the lead on this amazing place. At the very end of Bridgman Road [on the way to Ruckle park], you find a simple marker and a narrow trail. It was the most beautiful place we visited. We did not see a single person on our hike and had the entire beach to ourselves! Simply breathtaking.
You may not go this summer or this year, but I highly suggest you put Salt Spring Island on your “must visit” list. I was not disappointed.
Travel Tips if traveling to Salt Spring Island:
Getting there: BC Ferries Crossing times vary depending on which ferry you catch. The crossing is beautiful, with amazing scenery and lovely views.
Stay: We stayed at Harbour House Hotel. It was not fancy, but it was very clean and the staff was incredibly friendly. You can visit the farm and the restaurant was amazing. Located in Ganges-the heart of the island.
My family packed it up and headed north to Canada over Memorial Day weekend. Our destination was Salt Spring Island, part of Canada’s Southern Gulf Islands. The island has been featured in Sunset Magazine [ here , here and here]. It has been on my “must visit” list for quite some time. We actually planned our trip last minute and I am so happy we did. It was the perfect place for our little family. Our trip was remarkable.
[a sunny ferry ride]
Here are our highlights and must-sees for Salt Spring Island:
1. Salt Spring Island’s Saturday Market Each Saturday, from Easter weekend (or first Saturday in April) through the last Saturday in October. From about 8:30am – 4pm, rain or shine. More than 140 artisans and food producers gather in Centennial Park in the heart of Ganges.
[Big W was drawn to the booth with rocks from all over the world.]
The road is narrow and bumpy, but this was chosen as the favorite outdoor activity by all three Thomas boys. It was pretty spectacular and well worth the drive. The morning we visited was especially misty. It blocked the spectacular view, but made the forest seem magical!
There are on-your-honor farm stands all over the island. Usually at the end of a long drive way, we saw stands offering baked goods, eggs, flowers, preserves, and coffee. Our favorite was the farm stand at the 15-acre farm run by the Harbour House Hotel.
Summer tanks and maxi dresses are calling out to be accessorized. There is nothing better than wearing simple earrings and a stacked wrist! I love that you can layer many kinds of bracelets together. Mix and match. The more the better. Scrounge around in your drawers and jewelry boxes and find bracelets that you haven’t worn in a long time. Play with different combinations until you find one you like. The stack can change with your mood or your outfit. It is all about having fun. Go for it.
Feeling inspired? Snap a pic and Instagram your stacked wrist. [Tag me. @seattlejune]
edgy stack from Target feminine stack from Biscuit boho stack [Pura Vida] from Metropark statement stack is [one fabulous, over-the-top piece] the Hermes Alchimie Bracelet
Road tripping this weekend? Me too! Comfort is key, but you need to look presentable once you arrive at your destination. Easy, cozy pieces [like yogo studio pants and a tissue tee] are essential for comfort. Throw on a few accessories and a jean jacket and you are good to go! Classic Chuck Taylors are casual cool and practical.
Team Thomas is headed to the Canadian Gulf Islands. I can’t wait! [Look for out and about posts next week.]
Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Joy Cho, from Oh Joy! I read her blog every day and I am blown away by her creativity and talent. Not surprisingly, she was warm, kind, and damn right cute! Her blog represents her perfectly.
Joy was hosting an event at the Seattle [Downtown] Anthropologie to celebrate the opening of their one and only, brick-and-mortar Petites Shop. Petite sections are usually miniscule. Anthropologie went all out. Jeans, dresses, tops, jackets! The choices are endless. [This girl has found her home away from home!] Champagne cocktails, shopping, and treats from Ballard’s Hot Cakes made for a great night out.
PS. Petite girls can rule the world!
I didn’t pack along my big girl camera, so the three images above were snapped with my iPhone. The beautiful images below were taken by Phil Chester Photography.
