Destination - A day in San Francsico

I love visiting San Francisco.  I lived in New York City for 2 years while attending grad school and miss the energy and chaos of city life.
Our day in the city (that's what Northern California people call San Francisco) started with a quick coffee stop at Philz in Palo Alto.  Have you tried their Iced Coffee Mojito?  Divine!  Try it tomorrow!  Lunch at B Bar overlooking the skyline and enjoying the sunshine and truffle fries. 

What did I wear?  Layers were key because although it was sunny and clear the wind was feisty!  I actually wear this outfit weekly, I've always been a dress or skirt over pants kind of girl.  I'm always cold and I ride my biker everywhere in La Jolla, this is my way of smashing fashion and function together. 

Get the Look

Borelli wrap dress   /  Borelli active scarf in Bahamas green    /   Club Monaco black skinny pants   /  Sperry Topsiders in gold   /   Kate Spade Karen purse

Then TDH and I cruised Chestnut and Union to scout out stores and studios for Borelli. 
I could have spent hours in the the tucked away garden of Union Street Papery. 

Where I would live if we moved to the city, it was a block from the water and covered in seafoam green and gold accents. 

Where are your favorite spots in San Francisco?   

DIY - Global Coffee Table

For a few years now I've been saving bills from each country's currency I visit.  They don't take up as much space as coins and are super lightweight.  Every ounce counts when you are backpacking or living out of a carry-on for 5 weeks.  As a designer, my favorites are color and name driven.  Hong Kong is never one to blend in with the crowd and covers their bills in HOT pink.  Australia has been using Pantone's color of the year, Tangerine Tango for years.  Last but not least is India, for the sole reason I just miss paying in Rupees! 

 Instead of letting the bills gather dust we used them to decorate our drab Ikea coffee table.  Any glass top table with a layer underneath would work.  Plus it's a great conversation piece for your next dinner party.

                               A few more recipes for the dinner party I mentioned.
                                                  appetizer   /   main   /   dessert

Dig - DIY Bathtub Garden

Our rental in La Jolla came with a giant bathtub that was so unsteady we had to sign off in the lease we wouldn't sue in case it caused any bodily harm.  So after months of it sitting in the corner of our shower (our shower is larger than most NYC apartments) I asked the boys to move it outside.  I had been itching to plant carrots but they need a deep container.  The dogs and chickens eat anything we plant in the ground so a raised bathtub bed was the perfect solution! 

What you will need
- An old bathtub or large deep container.
- Good dirt, go for the organic stuff at your local nursery.  (Remember, you will be eating all this goodness and you wouldn't want to ruin it with cheap soil.)
- Compost from your kitchen and/or neighborhood chickens.
- Seeds.  Think about what you love to eat.  (I planted carrots, 2 types of kale and broccoli.  We feed the dogs carrots and I could eat kale 3 meals a day.)
- Gloves.
- Something to mix the dirt with, a shovel, stick or just your hands if you don't mind dirt under the fingernails.

Fresh picked kale from the bathtub

To do
1.  Find some large rocks or bricks for the bottom to ensure good drainage.

2.  Add a layer of dirt.

3.  Add a layer of chicken manure compost and/or store bought compost. 
4.  Mix it all together.

5.  Add another layer of dirt.
6.  Fill up your container a few inches from the top because the dirt will compress and sink in over the next week.
7.  Using a shovel or your hand create rows for your seeds.  Read the packaging labels for directions on spacing and planting seed depth.
8.  Add the seeds.  Cover with soil and water gently.
9.  Continue to water gently for the first few weeks.  Once the plants are set feel free to use the hose or your leftover pasta water (after it's cooled :).

age: 3 weeks

age: 5 weeks

age: 3 months

Have you planted in any crazy containers?  I would love to hear some ideas.  PS - My favorite seed catalog at the moment is Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds.

Let's Interview Jonathan Adler

While I was attending ALT Summit this year I met the talented Max Gillingham-Ryan from Apartment Therapy.  He interviewed me about my eclectic interior design taste inspired by traveling.  My interview is now in the running for a trip to New York where I would have the awesome opportunity to interview Jonathan Adler!

So, I have a favor to ask of you this week.  Please take a quick second and vote for my video, I will love you forever!

VOTE HERE

Video Friday - Beet Cake

Get whisked away this week with a gorgeous video from the husband and wife team behind Tiger in a Jar.

1st Annual Scarf Party Inspiration

I spent a good amount of time pinning and gojee-ing this weekend looking for inspiration for the week's festivities.  I am hosting a "Scarf Party" at my house.  What might that entail . . . I invited all the girls over to celebrate the holidays, sip Cava and shop our Borelli Scarves.  I'm considering it my company holiday party.  A fancy dinner for one sounds dreadful compared to a night with your closest girlfriends. 

The goal is to to turn our living room into a sparkly winter land boutique.   I'm really digging the rope lights out there this season, they give off the perfect amount of soft light. 

Links
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And don't forget the cocktails!
* I've never met a Pirate who wasn't the life of the party
* I'm not a fan of pumpkin pie but pumpkin vodka sounds yummy
* A friend just told me about this Swedish drink
* This one combines my two favorites, champagne and rosemary

Falling for Anthropologie

It's still 75* in San Diego but I can live vicariously through my East Coast friends.  Here are my favorite looks from Anthro's November lookbook and wish-list worthy items from their new line Terrain. 

 

shop the looks

Burlap Pressed Pot

Vertical Planter

Drop Glass Tillandsia Kit