Ring Protectors by Anamu

The creator of the blog Anamu has also been working away on a ring protector called The Ring Cozy. Such a genius product! Ring Cozies, which can be per-ordered now for shipping on July 31st, will be available in pink, gray and teal. The website has a size chart to help you identify whether you need a size small, medium or large cozy.

To all my fellow adventurers, yogis and new-to-this-rock-on-my-finger brides - Happy shopping!

Holiday Weekend and a Big Announcement

Hello, darlings! I hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend! The beau and I opted not to take Friday off work, so it wasn't a long weekend for us, but it certainly was an eventful one! 

First of all, I have a big announcement... no, not as big as the last one, but perhaps more surprising... We're moving to Kansas City! And we're doing it in two weeks! That means the countdown has officially begun - the countdown of days left at work, of plans made with friends, of boxes to pack, and of wedding tasks to complete before we hit the road. 

I never could have imagined this year would be so full of huge life events, but what a delightful year it has been. Talk about finishing out my 20's with a bang, eh? 

Thursday we decided to spend one last holiday with my family, enjoying a perfectly summery dinner at my parents' house followed by fireworks downtown - the same ones I've been watching light up the skies over my hometown for 29 years. We ran around waving sparklers with my nephews in the same dead end street where I learned to ride a bike and climb trees.

Saturday we met up with my family again, this time at the Oakland Zoo. My fiance hadn't been to a zoo since he was a kid, so we decided that was a good item to put on the "lasts" lists for the countdown of days left in the Bay Area.

 

Sunday the beau and I spend the morning hiking at Mount Tamalpais. I got my first sunburn of the year. It is his favorite place in the Bay, so he really wanted to go one last time, and even though I'm a local, I had never been to the peak before, so it seemed worth a go.
 

We finished up our weekend with an award-worthy bargain shopping trip to the North Face Outlet in Berkeley. You know how much I love a good sale! We managed to pick up two snow jackets, three hoodies, one pair of gloves, and a beanie for... get this... $230. I kid you not. We added up the regular retail prices on all of our items and it totaled $830. *Patting myself on the back*

Favorite Things

Here are a few things I've been majorly crushing on lately that you should probably be aware of. 

How did I not hear about The Skimm until last week?! Kind of amazing. I always enjoy receiving in digest form anything I don't have time or patience for, and appreciate when it can be done in a humorous way. If The Skimm can make me chuckle about the DOJ violating the AP, they're worth a shout out. The only mistake I've found so far was their questioning why Bea Arthur posed for a controversial topless portrait, when the very article they linked to stated that she didn't actually pose for the painting. I'm not sure who spends their time imagining what old ladies' boobs look like, but to each their own, I suppose, and I'm not mad at The Skimm for such a tiny oversight.

I bought my Ray Ban Folding Wayfarer sunnies last year, but am still appreciating them to the fullest this year. I swoon for the big Jackie O throwbacks as much as the next girl... they're just so chic! But they come with massive cases that are only portable when carrying a massive purse, which I also swoon for, but recognize as impractical in certain situations. Have you tried to go on a sailboat or to a fair or on a bike ride with a tote large enough to be confused with carry on luggage? Sometimes you need something more like a small cross-body messenger, and if you also need sunnies, you need small sunnies. These fold up. Twice. And fit in a tiny case that also fits in your tiny bag. It's love.

I'm forever discovering wonderful services, places and things on Living Social, but this particular discovery was via Gilt City. I paid $40 for $80 worth organic groceries from Luke's Local, and it was worth every penny! Orders are placed through Good Eggs, where you can purchase goods from a variety of local suppliers. I got the seasonal veggies, fruit, salad greens, herb mix, honey, gluten free sourdough bread, pizza dough, cheese of the month, lunch and breakfast burritos, and a meal kit for chicken enchiladas. While some of the produce wasn't stuff I'd normally choose, it was all fresh and beautiful. My favorite was definitely the gluten free sourdough warmed up and smothered in the honey... so, so tasty. I opted to pick up my goods, but for just a couple bucks they deliver as well. Pick up sounded more practical but trying to park on Mission Street to pick up groceries from a bar was not ideal, especially considering the fender bender I endured. Not Luke's fault. Just not ideal.

Restoration Hardware Sale

I absolutely adore Restoration Hardware, but being the savvy bargain hunter I am, I don't wind up swiping my credit card there all too often. I mean, honestly - $500 chairs and $100 slippers? Give me a break. Well, for the holidays, that's exactly what they did.

A couple of weeks ago I found myself fingering through the RH winter catalog and about fell out of my chair when I saw the markdowns. So while I was in Walnut Creek doing some shopping with a girlfriend last weekend, of course I popped in to grab a few more stocking stuffers.

I can't tell you exactly what I bought since some items are Christmas gifts, but here are a few deals you can still get on their website, in case there isn't a location near you. I will tell you though, I regret not snagging one of those travel Scrabble sets, and if one showed up in my stocking on Christmas morning I wouldn't be upset about it... ;)

 

Slippers: $19, Throw: $79, Scarf: $29, Wine Bag: $9, SF Stamps: $13, Travel Scrabble: $24

Victory Regalia Launch Party & Artist Reception

Last night a girlfriend and I dropped by the Victory Regalia Launch Party & Artist Reception at Heath Ceramics, a little shindig to celebrate the launch of Christine Schmidt's Victory Regalia Collection for Schoolhouse Electric. Thanks SFGirlByBay for the heads up! 

We RSVP'd on Eventbrite but it didn't seem to matter much, as the door was open and the bars were pouring without any "checking in." There were a few dozen folks mingling and enjoying hors d'oeuvres and cocktails. We hadn't attended the event as a "work thing," but were elated to find bar tenders making gin cocktails with gin from Portland's New Deal Distillery and... Anchor Steam!

 

La Pink Mobile Boutique

Food trucks have been all the rage in California metros for years now, so it only makes sense that fashion boutiques have started to pick up on the trend! 

A hometown friend, Gabbie Biedinger, spent her summer having a box truck gutted and remodeled, and hit the streets of the Central Valley as La Pink just last month. She has already gotten tons of great press and admits this has turned into a far more booming business than anticipated. 

As much as I'd love to keep La Pink as my own little secret for scoring fabulously fashionable and reasonably priced items, I'm too excited for Gabbie's insta-success to not rave about her... and who am I to withhold delicious deals from the masses? You're welcome. 

Here are some photos of La Pink in front of Versailles in Tracy last weekend (shameless plug for my hair salon and the brilliant Kari Potter, holler!). I snagged an adorable blue dress with exposed gold zipper, which I'm planning on wearing to Thanksgiving with my camel colored leather boots.

 

Gilt Warehouse Sale

A girlfriend and I went to the Gilt Warehouse Sale at Fort Mason on Saturday. Any serious online discount savvy fashionista is familiar with Gilt, so naturally the thought of a Gilt warehouse sale was thrilling! I have been to a zillion trunk shows and fashion events in the city, but this was my first real warehouse sale. I expected it would be some cross between other events I've attended and a day-after-Thanksgiving Nordstrom Rack rush.

We scored free curbside parking a few blocks down and eagerly paced over to the Fort Mason Fleet Room. Our wave was 12-2pm, and at ten till noon there was a line of fifty or so shoppers leading up to the door. Around a quarter past we got to the entrance where we were asked to check our coats and purses, and then were let loose on a relatively small and heavily packed room full of racks of clothing; women's on the right, men's on the left, and an assortment of other items on tables down the center. Just inside the entrance was a complimentary Veev cocktail bar, a display of Vita Coco waters and a Benefit table. At the far end of the room was a table pouring La Marca Prosecco and a tented off "dressing room." The promised KIND bars, Popchips and Fiji Water were nowhere to be found, but everyone was too busy rabidly thrashing their way through piles and racks to even notice.

We started with the clothes racks, which, to our grave disappointment, were filled mostly with damaged dresses. I found three to try on while my friend, still empty handed, moved on to the shoes. I headed toward the dressing room. The attendant brushed aside one corner of the large heavy curtain and I stepped inside. There were two dozen half naked women guarding mounds of clothes on the floor while fighting for space in front of two large mirrors propped up against the wall. I made my way to the back of the dressing room and used my foot to clear away some space. Unable to squeeze into the mirror, I abandoned one dress and carried out two others, hoping they looked as good as they felt. If I'd been able to think more strategically at the time, I should have rummaged through the layers of clothing covering the entire dressing room floor, as no doubt that's where the most desirable items were tucked away.

My friend and I reunited at the La Marca table and rejuvenated ourselves with two glasses of sparkling wine before diving back into the chaos. Our second sweep of the clothing racks was more fruitful for her, but I stuck with my previous finds. Perhaps some of those hidden gems from the dressing room floor had made their way back to the racks by then. We picked through the accessories table before getting in the checkout line, but considering it was a mound of mismatched oddly sized bikinis, underwear and broken jewelry, we came up empty handed. 

I suppose I can't complain, having scored over $300 worth of dress for $95, but the event certainly didn't meet my expectations. I mean, come on, it's Gilt! Too bad the selection was more like along the lines of a Beverly Hills Goodwill. I think I'll stick to my trunk shows filled with high quality local designer's wares.

South African Dinner Party in Sonoma

A dear friend and coworker is completing her master's degree in marketing this semester - hurray! Her thesis is in the form of a coffee table book, showcasing a hypothetical fine imports store based in Nashville. I certainly hope this store is brought to life at some point, because she's thought it through so beautifully, it would be a shame to never see the concept grow out of the pages of her book. 

Last weekend she hosted a South African dinner party at another friend's home in Sonoma, the table setting and overall ambiance reflecting the theme of her thesis. Being from South Africa, she blew our minds and taste buds with a self-prepared, three-course meal of traditional foods.

I don't generally eat meat, but having spent two summers in South Africa myself I knew what to be prepared for, and I so willingly savored every bite! There's a time to break any diet rule - and this was certainly one of those times. 

First Course:
Biltong (raw, dry cured beef)
Butternut and Barrel Aged Feta Salad (Arugula, roasted butternut squash, barrel aged feta cheese, pumpkin seeds, olive oil, balsamic vinegar) 
Wine: Haute Cabriere Chardonnay Pinot Noir

Second Course: 
Potjietkos (lamb shank, carrots, potato, butternut squash, chutney, spices slow stewed over fire/coal)
Vetkoek (Afrikaans fried biscuit)
Wine: Raka Shiraz

Third Course:
Malva Pudding ala mode (warm, Afrikaans cake made with brandy, apricots, caramel. Served with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.)
Wine: Diemersfontein Pinotage

I Love a Good Bargain!

I'm admittedly a shopaholic, which I generally justify by my love of bargain hunting. Sure, the actual purchase is always quite fulfilling, but no shopping excursion gives quite the same adrenaline rush as discovering something beautiful, something fancy, something expensive, but for an unbelievably low price. Not every woman has the patience to dig through piles and racks to find a gem, but for me, it's the only way to shop! 

I have yet to decide if it is a wonderful blessing or a devastating curse that there is a Nordstrom Rack within a mile of my work. Michael Kors and BCBG are Kryptonite to my checking account, but Nordstrom Rack generally carries a decent selection of both. I found this insane bargain on a MK handbag yesterday! Can I get a high five! 

 

The Big To-Do SF List

It always drives me nuts when people say they hate the city, because there's so much to do here outside of the clubs and tourist traps! For being "the city," San Francisco is relatively small, and is made up of very unique neighborhoods. There really is something for everyone, whether you're a tatted up hipster shopping for vinyls or a sorority sister looking for a good place to be seen sipping wine spritzers. In San Francisco you can take a jog on the beach, a hike with a view, catch an indie film, watch your favorite band play, order world class cocktails, finger through the racks at thrift stores, stroll through a museum on a rainy day, enjoy food from every corner of the world... How can anyone not be a city person?

I'm loving 7x7 Magazine's list of 100 things to do in San Francisco before you die! 

How many have you done?

1. Listen to your friends’ first gig at Hotel Utah
2. Walk under the waterfall at Yerba Buena Gardens
3. Shop for urban menswear at Rolo
4. Be a woman among men and go dancing at the Stud
5. Feather your nest at 411 Vermont Street (Obsolete, Blackman Cruz, Therien & Co.)
6. Have some watermelon wheat beer at 21st Amendment
7. Rush the sales at Jeremys
8. Meet your match over a glass of wine at District
9. Soak in the art and some Blue Bottle on the new SFMOMA rooftop
10. Have a quiet moment in the Contemporary Jewish Museum plaza
11.Pick up some Italian roast at Graffeo Coffee
12. Remind yourself that Tommaso’s old-school pizzas are still some of the best
13. Attend a reading at City Lights
14. Grab the perfect gift for your girlfriend at Eden & Eden
15. Light a candle in memory of someone special at Sts. Peter and Paul Church
16. Have pumpkin ravioli at L’Osteria
17. Catch a show at Bimbo’s
18. Take a seat at the counter for a meatball sandwich at Mario’s Bohemian Cigar Store
19. Climb the Filbert Street and Greenwich Street steps
20. Don’t miss the Coit Tower murals
21. Use the general password (“books”) to drop into the library at Bourbon & Branch
22. Do dinner and view a show from the balcony at the Great American Music Hall
23. See what’s on display at the Shooting Gallery
24. Hang out in the smokers’ cage at Rye
25. Grab a Vietnamese sandwich from Saigon Sandwiches
26. Sing and clap on Sunday morning at Glide Memorial
27. Get a lap dance at Mitchell Brothers O’Farrell Theatre
28.Shop for cool kicks at Huf Shoes
29. Then cross the street and have dinner at tiny Canteen
30. Watch naan being pulled straight from the tandoor at Shalimar
31. Do dinner at A16 and a movie at the Presidio Theatre
32. Load up a Let’s Be Frank grass-fed dog with devil sauce
33. Fly a kite at Crissy Field
34. Be a lady who lunches at Balboa Café (but get the burger)
35. Get hit on at the MatrixFillmore
36. Find a deal at My Rommate’s Closet
37. Make friends with someone that owns a sailboat
38. Conduct an ethereally quiet wee-hours grocery run to Marina Safeway
39. Have a beer on the back patio of the Tipsy Pig
40. Follow up a run through the Presidio with a hearty brunch at Rose’s Café
41. Reserve a private karaoke room at Doremi Music Studio
42. Find a drop-dead, Aussie-designed dress at Elizabeth Charles
43. Check out the southern view from the top of Alta Plaza Park
44. Get a taste of the Mission at Pizzeria Delfina
45. Grab a free poster after a show at the Fillmore
46. Take your laptop to the Grove and pretend to work
47. Get naked at Kabuki Springs & Spa
48. Indulge in an almond croissant from the original Boulangerie Bay Bread
49. Check out the adorable puppies and kitties up for adoption at Pets Unlimited
50. See how many times you can jog the Lyon Street Steps
51. Choose from the 50 selections on tap at Toronado, pair it with a beer sausage from Rosamunde
52.Time yourself at Kezar Stadium’s track
53. Play fetch with the dog at Buena Vista Park
54. Order an old-fashioned at the Alembic
55. Get a T-shirt designed by local artist Sam Flores at Upper Playground
56. Have barbecue and sake at Memphis Minnie’s
57. Catch an indie flick at the Red Vic
58. Take advantage of happy hour at Uva Enoteca
59. Shop for quality vintage wear at Held Over
60. Be a tourist and snap a pic of yourself at the convergence of Haight and Ashbury streets
61. Find love over fixed gears and coffee at Ritual Roasters
62. Drink rosé at Dolores Park
63. Buy a heap of cheap avocados at Casa Lucas
64. Shop for emerging artists on a minigallery hop at Creativity Explored, Needles + Pens, Adobe Books, Michael Rosenthal and Jack Hanley
65. Drink a cheap, 16-ounce margarita at the Latin American Club
66. Wake up to a bowl of bread pudding at Tartine Bakery
67. Ogle the mid-century chandeliers at Monument
68. Have a breakfast of huevos rancheros at Los Jarritos
69. Buy something beautiful at the Bell Jar
70. People-watch on a warm afternoon at the Revolution Café
71. Check out a gay-fabulous flick at Castro Theatre
72. Wait in line for a Superman sandwich with dirty sauce at Ike’s Place. Follow with Tums.
73. Sit at the piano and sing along with the boys at Martuni’s
74. Spend Sunday trying to keep count of the all-you-can-drink-for-$6 mimosas at Lime
75. Shop for feather boas and tool belts at Cliff’s Variety
76. Strike a pose at Friday’s happy-hour dance party at Badlands
77. Catch a concert at Café Du Nord (or a little acoustic at the adjacent Swedish American Hall)
78. Have a 3 a.m. post-clubbing breakfast at Bagdad Café
79. Pick up some social criticism at A Different Light Bookstore
80. Hook up over coffee at Café Flore
81. Watch the surfers at Kelly’s Cove
82. Browse the art books at Park Life
83. See a double feature at the 4 Star Theatre
84. Be thankful for Green Apple Books, the ultimate independent bookstore
85. Pick out a fish from the tank for dinner at New May Wah market
86. Have a bowl of ramen and listen to the Shitones at Halu
87. Jockey for position at Pizzetta 211
88. Drop in on a seisiún (a kind of Irish open jam session) at the Plough & Stars
89. Bike the length of Golden Gate Park on Sunday when JFK Drive is closed to cars
90. Check out the California Academy of Sciences and the de Young
91. Rent an obscure European film from Le Video before video stores are extinct
92. Order a Rotten Robby at The Pizza Place on Noriega
93. Build a fire at Ocean Beach
94. Read the Sunday Times and have blueberry pancakes at Park Chow
95. Go with a big group for dumplings and beer at San Tung
96. Buy a custom silk-screened T-shirt at Mollusk Surf Shop
97. Snack on Nick’s fried fish tacos at Underdogs
98.Get freshly roasted coffee at Henry’s House of Coffee
99.Pick up some magic tricks at Misdirections
100. Take a couple of kids to the SF Zoo

Style crush! The Short Braid Scarf

How excited am I about this online store I just stumbled into?! Definitely ordering the short braid in heather gray for myself! The awesome thing about shopping small designers' websites is they're usually really willing and able to customize their products for you, and this lovely lady openly offers. The only downside is you have to pay with PayPal, and I'm not a PayPal fan, but for anyone who regularly shops Etsy or eBay I'm sure that's not an issue.

Happy Holidays!

Every year I try to have all of my Christmas gifts purchased and wrapped by Thanksgiving so that during the long weekend I can buy a tree and decorate the house. This year was no exception! While everyone else was braving the black Friday madness, I was cozy on my couch sipping cocoa and watching old movies. Okay well, I'm not going to lie, I did venture over to Cost Plus World Market for the 50% off sale on the below faux fur throw I've been eying. Can you blame me?

Favorite Things

I always love Oprah's favorite things holiday episode, top picks blog entries and the like, so I figured I'd share some of the products I enjoy, and maybe you'll get some good gift ideas out of it for your Christmas shopping! Have you started? With the exception of two gifts that are currently in lost in the USPS system thanks to either a glitch with Amazon or my slightly senile landlord, I'm already done and wrapped!

Elbow patch blazer by H&M, Suede round-toe pump by BCBGeneration, Chance by Chanel, Bangle by Hermes, Infinity scarf by Steve Madden, The Diana lomography camera, Moisture Surge moisturizer by Clinique, wooden colored pencils by Anthropologie, Fedora by Jessica Simpson, Wall hangs by Urban Outfitters, OPI nail polish, "K" wall hang by Urban Outfitters

Loving these major falls deals!

This is what happens when I go to discount fashion stores in search of supplies for my Halloween cakepops... Sometimes they have festive sprinkles and such in their baking section and I was having a hard time tracking down a couple of things.

But seriously, come on now, how could I not! Literally two fall seasons have come and gone as I have hunted for reasonably priced boots like these - Riding boots generally run $300+. I found this pair by Chinese Laundry on clearance for $70 at Nordstrom Rack (their store on 9th in SF is stellar!). And this blouse? It was meant to be! I walked up to the baking isle and blam! There is was hanging from a rack of pans, size Medium, oh so Kimberly in bone and sparkle with a clearance tag of $15. It would have been a crime not to take it home. And if it helps my case, I did buy sprinkles too.

Staying Warm in the Sunset

I live in the Sunset neighborhood of San Francisco where it's cold all the time. Literally, all year around I wake up to my car dripping wet and fog so thick sometimes I can't see past my block. I'm pretty stingy on utilities so I try to find practical ways to stay cozy in my little flat without turning on my heater. 

Here are some of my favorites... 

Socks and slippers galore! I live in my white booties. They're oh so cozy! But my knock-off Ugg slippers and those thick knitted socks sure get a lot of wear too. Cooking and baking is an easy way to warm the place up and it forces me to eat real food instead of living off of take-out. Hats! I've never thought of myself as a hat person, but for a long time I didn't think I could pull off big earrings either (thanks Kirstin!). My favorite place to shop for cheap, fun winter accessories like hats and scarves is definitely H&M.

Speaking of scarves... They're my fall weather obsession. I've got a drawer full. My favorite black one was stolen a few months ago and I've been on the hunt for a replacement ever since. I've also been trying to find extra long ones that wrap around several times instead of hanging down in the front. I've seen them in photos but never been able to track one down for myself, so I was thrilled to find a long, black one at Nordstrom Rack on my lunch break last week! And for so cheap! I'll have to keep checking back there to see if any other colors come in.

Labor Day Weekend in Amador County

I spent Labor Day weekend in Amador County, one of my favorite Northern California gems! My grandparents have lived in Jackson (yes, there's more there than an Indian casino) for 20 years, so I have plenty of wonderful childhood memories there. But it has been especially delightful to explore the area in new ways as an adult.

Thanks to a LivingSocial Escapes deal, I stayed two nights at the St. George Inn in Volcano. The LivingSocial deal came with a bottle of local wine, two $20 vouchers to the Jackson Rancheria casino, and a discount voucher for dinner in the St. George restaurant.

A scenic 15 minute drive away from the St. George is Sutter Creek, a quaint town known for having the most thriving boutiques and antique shops in Amador County. My favorite is Tomorrow's Heirlooms. They carry the most darling women's clothing and paper goods! Another favorite is Tea Eras. Their menu allows you to choose from a variety of tea, pastry and lunch items, and their gift shop guarantees you won't leave empty handed.

While Jackson doesn't have quite as many shops, don't overlook their downtown. There's a great kitchen store, candy and ice cream shop (we're talking troughs of salt water taffy, people!), and a handful of unique boutiques and antique shops. I would also recommend popping by the Kennedy Mine. It's a great piece of California history!

Two must-sees that I didn't hit last weekend but did enjoy while I was in the area a couple months ago, are Daffodil Hill and Indian Grinding Rock. Daffodil Hill is seasonal, so be sure to check online before you visit to make sure the flowers are in bloom. Grinding Rock has tours but can also be explored on your own.