Winter Neutrals

LOCATION: TOPSAIL BEACH, NC • FEBURARY 5th, 2021

Outfit Details: Jenni Kayne Sweater (cashmere version here), Artizia Pants, Sam Edelman Sandals, Celine Sunglasses

It’s no secret that I love neutrals and tend to gravitate toward them in my everyday wear. My usual colors of choice are cream or camel, but this year it is all about oatmeal! Monochromatic styles remain classics and are suitable year-round; it is the easiest way to create a simple, effortless, and chic outfit.

This cotton sweater has become one of my most loved WFH sweaters. The fisherman style is always such a classic and has a good thickness to it without being bulky which makes it ideal for layering. Always a plus for living in the Bay Area! Jenni Kanye also makes a cashmere version and there are plenty of other colors to choose from.

We drove out to Topsail Beach last month and rented this adorable Airbnb during our stay. The place had plenty of room for all of us to work during the day, acknowledging that we are all very fortunate to be able to WFH. D’s cousin recommended Shaka Tacos and it was soooo good we got takeaway from them almost everyday for lunch!! I would also highly recommend the fried oyster po’ boy from Sear’s Landing, Lewis Seafood Shack (don’t forget the key lime pie!) and The Daily Grind. For dinners, we bought fresh seafood from Surf City Crab and took turns learning new recipes. I think I have now perfected spaghetti alle vongole (linguine with clams) after this trip.

Picnic Perfect

LOCATION: PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA • August 7th, 2020

Outfit Details: Floral Dress, Jacquemus Hat, Vivi et Margot Tote

The weather here in Palo Alto has been gorgeous, so D and I headed over to the park across from our apartment for a little picnic. We usually take daily walks through the park in the afternoon, so this was a nice bit of change to our routine. I packed all of our favorites - a baguette, berries, madeline cookies, and ingredients for a mini charcuterie board.

As a child of the 80’s, I have a deep love for dresses with large, romantic sleeves (think Ariel or Cinderella) and truly believe that the bigger the puff, the better! I might have even sent my Maid-of-Honor pictures of Giselle’s dress from Enchanted as my wedding dress inspiration. Luckily she talked me out of it, but I’m thrilled that puff-sleeves are totally “in” right now!!

I’ve actually been wearing more dresses during quarantine, which has been a big deviation from my regular yoga pants and quilted jacket in the Bay Area. The combination of people dressing way more casually here and it’s always cold at night has led me to wear fewer dresses than when I was living on the East Coast. I’ve always been a bit of a girly-girl when it comes to clothes so I’ve taken full advantage of the work-from-home by wearing as many dresses as possible!

One of my favorites has been this smock-styled dress with it’s large puff sleeves and dreamy floral print. Linen is the best fabric for warm weather as it is light-weight and very breathable. I love the soft, romantic, vintage look of the smocking detail and how it allows the dress to be stretchy and comfortable, yet very flattering. I like to think of it as yoga pants but in dress form!

A Force for Positivity & Ways to Help: July Edition

LOCATION: SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA • July 24th, 2020

How are you doing? What is something that made you smile this week? I’m sharing a new post of things that inspired me, made me laugh, and brought me joy these past few weeks. In case you missed past month’s Positivity & Ways to Help posts, you can find them here, here, and here. Feel free to add yours to the comments!

CAUSES THAT ARE MAKING AN IMPACT

Donate Plasma or Blood - If you have fully recovered from COVID-19, please consider donating plasma! Convalescent plasma is currently being investigated for the treatment of COVID-19 and there is evidence that it might help individuals who are currently recovering. The American Red Cross and many hospitals are also offering free COVID-19 antibody testing to all donors due to the current blood donation shortages. The FDA has more information and resources listed here and you can also check with your local hospital.

Broadway Cares - We have been playing the cast album of Hamilton non-stop since the show’s release on Disney+ and we just watched it again last night too! Music theater has been on our minds a lot as a result so I wanted to highlight Broadway Cares’ COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund in support of those in the theatre community who are facing healthcare crises and other needs while Broadway remained closed due to the pandemic. 

As the pandemic continues and schools are likely to remain closed for the fall, No Kid Hungry continues to provide free meals to children who are at risk of going hungry and have previously relied on school meals. They have also launched a texting hotline to let parents know about emergency food distribution sites within their neighborhoods.

FOR SOME JOY & INSPIRATION

Virtual Bouquet to Art 2020 - The de Young museum in San Francisco is currently hosting their annual Bouquet to Art event online now through Sunday, July 26th. The museum hosted their first Bouquet to Art event in 1984 and has become so popular that many museums have their own show too. This was one of my favorite events at the de Young last year and it even inspired us to become members of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. I will definitely be tuning into their Sunday event as they host a bouquet-building workshop! Their daily floral programming is also recorded and available if you missed the live stream.

The cover image of Viola Davis for Vanity Fair’s July/August issue was shot by Dario Calmese. He is the first black photographer to shoot a cover photo for the 106-year-old magazine. Vanity Fair publishes about 12 issues per year and has run since 1913. Long overdue? Yes, but the progress is newsworthy nonetheless. Davis will portray Michelle Obama in Showtime’s upcoming series First Ladies, you can read the full interview here. Dario Calmese’s interview on making history as VF and how his cover image is meant to be a protest with the Times here.

Speaking of Hamilton, I recently discovered this series of videos, How Hamilton Works, analyzing the music behind the hit show. The creator breaks down the chord progressions of various characters and discusses how rap, hip-hop, and theatre influenced Lin-Manuel Miranda to write Hamilton. I love how he explains the music theory in a really simple way and even shows you the chords on a keyboard as you follow along.

*Photos from Bouquet to Art 2019

Napa for Our Anniversary

LOCATION: NAPA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA • JULY 17th, 2020

For our fifth anniversary, we decided to plan a two-day stay in Napa Valley. We love that wine country is less than two hours away from Palo Alto and while we have been to Sonoma a few times since moving to California, this was the first time we stayed in Napa. We made a reservation at Hotel Yountville, which has been at the top of my list and it definitely lived up to our expectations. I loved their relaxed, farmhouse decor with high vaulted ceilings, and our room had a gorgeous four-post bed with curtains. I already can’t wait to go back!

I did a lot of research before booking our trip to make sure that the hotel we stayed at was following local county COVID-19 regulations and we could visit safely. Hotel Yountville had the option for contactless check-in and you could choose the level of room cleaning and turn-down services depending on your comfort level. Guests were required to wear face masks on premises at all times in the common areas.

We tend to be explorers and love to fill our day with lots of different activities. We choose to take our time on this trip and planned very minimally so we only booked reservations at one winery, Domaine Chandon. All of their wine tastings took place outside and you could also order a picnic to go with your tasting. Since they were by reservation only, all food and wine had to be booked in advance. The grounds were lovely and we were still able to walk around the vineyard. Tours have been paused at the moment, so I will definitely come back in the future. Hopefully next time it will also be with a large group of friends so we can also have a party on the lawn.

We made a reservation at RH Yountville for brunch and I have never seen such gorgeous decor in a restaurant before! You really feel like you’ve been transported to Italy - drinking bellinis under the olive trees, listening to the sound flowing water. Not to mention that the food was excellent and well matched the ambiance of the place. Apparently I’ll be adding ‘a sunroom with olive trees, fountains, and chandeliers’ to my list of must-haves for my future home!

Outfit Details: Caroline Constas Top, Madewell Jeans, Sam Edelman Heels, Cult Gaia Bag

Stopping by Bouchon Bakery for croissants and coffee is a must in Yountville and we loved that it was a short walk from our hotel so we could bring breakfast back to our room. I will caution you that the lines were very long since only they were limiting the number of people who could be inside at any given time, but the breakfast sandwiches and pastries were worth the wait.

We spent a lot of time by the pool, relaxing and cooling off, which felt great in the summer heat. We felt perfectly safe lying poolside as all of the other guests acted respectfully and the hotel restricted the use of every other cabana to allow for social distancing between groups. They also meticulously wiped down each cabana in between uses, including the umbrella poles and the legs of the chairs.

One of the highlights of our trip was our anniversary dinner at Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch. They have expanded their outdoor seating by setting up tables in their garden. Everything we ordered, from cocktail to dessert was incredible. and D swears it’s the best pork chop he’s ever had! Definitely do not miss their cheddar biscuits!

Outfit Details: 
Banana Republic Dress (floral version here), Sam Edelman Heels, Jacquemus Hat, Missoma Necklaces

These are the Most-Loved Gifts from Our Wedding Registry

Crate & Barrel Utensil Holder, Aspen Dinnerware, Shun Knife Set, Le Creuset Dutch Oven, Grand Hotel II Flatware Set, Shun Knife Set, Riedel Glass Set, All-Clad Cookware Set, Kyocera Ceramic Knife Set, Miele Vacuum, Epicurean Cutting Board Set, Glass Prep Mixing Bowls, KitchenAid Stand Mixer

Whether you are married, engaged and planning your registry, or simply love to cook and entertain - these are the gifts we use the most and LOVE! I spent a lot of time curating our wedding registry and these are our most used items in our five years of marriage - most of them we use on a daily basis and I can’t recommend them enough!

Pots & Pans

Our All-Clad cookware set was the thing we were most excited about from our registry and it is a staple in our kitchen. We have family members who received a set for their own wedding and have never had to replace a single pan. The pieces are a little on the heavy side, but they are oven-safe and heat extremely evenly.  They take less time to bring a pot of water to boil than our other pots. I didn’t realize how versatile the Le Creuset dutch oven was until I started using one! I love being able to brown meat or make stews in it and then sticking the whole thing in the oven to finish the dish off. You can also use it to fry chicken or bake bread! The dutch oven comes in an assortment of colors and the quality and craftsmanship is so gorgeous that I leave mine out as decor!

Knives & Cutting Boards

These Japanese style Shun knives are thinner, lighter, and sharper than their German style counterparts (Wusthof) which makes them our favorites. It’s important to practice good cutting techniques by curling your fingers on your non-knife hand so the blade rests against your knuckles. This allows you to chop quickly and prevents accidents; you are also more likely to injure yourself with a dull knife. If using a really sharp knife makes you anxious, then I highly recommend getting a ceramic knife. Ideal for produce and boneless meats, a ceramic knife holds it’s sharp edge a lot longer than steel, but the shape of the edge makes it so it’s harder to cut through skin.

Over the years, we’ve owned a lot of cheap cutting boards and it wasn’t until we started using these that I understood why having good cutting boards are so important. This Epicurean cutting board set is made with eco-friendly material, is dishwasher safe and won’t dull your knives which is really important if you have good knives. These also double as a trivet so we don’t have to worry about potentially burning and melting the boards.

Dinnerware & Flatware

I really wanted a practical, yet classic style and shape for our everyday dinnerware and silverware so I’m so happy we went with Crate & Barrel. I really love how the beadwork in the flatware gives it a classical look and white plates never go out of style.

Baking

Our pink KitchenAid stand mixer is probably my favorite thing in our kitchen! I love to bake so we use ours quite a bit, but I would also recommend a hand mixer if you are looking for something more compact. We received the pasta attachment as a Christmas gift last year and we’ve been having so much fun making fresh pasta for dinner. Kneading the dough in the stand mixer and then using the pasta attachment makes it so easy - the pasta is done in under an hour and my hands aren’t tired at all!

Prep Bowls

I like to prep all of my ingredients before I start cooking so this set of 10 nesting glass mixing bowls are ideal for that purpose. I found that I use the small ones often enough that I also bought this set. We also use them as serving bowls and the tiny ones are great for sauces. 

Miele Vacuum

I love our Miele Canister Vacuum so much that it’s one of our favorite home appliances and I never thought I’d say that about a vacuum cleaner! D actually enjoys vacuuming because the Miele is light-weight and relatively quiet which makes it so easy to use and maneuver around our small apartment. The engineering is so great that my parents and siblings all own one too; my parents have had theirs for over 10 years! We opted for the ‘Complete’ line which includes a HEPA filter and is recommended for hardwood floors, low to medium-pile carpets, and area rugs.

Decor

If you are looking for a set of classic stemware, then I highly recommend this Riedel set which includes 4 red and 4 white wine glasses. We also love how chic the Homestead Utensil Holder looks on the counter, unfortunately the one we have is sold out, but similar ones are here, here, and here.

What are your favorite wedding registry items, do tell in the comments below!

XO,
Tiffany