Sharing a few of my favorite things

Wearing my vintage necklace three days in a row

This weekend I was feeling so grateful for the little things. I had a moment where I thought to myself, Is there anything I’d rather be doing right now? The answer was no.

So I’m inviting you into my little world where small things mean a lot.

ONE: Loving something old that’s new again

My list of delights starts with my vintage crystal heart necklace. My ex-husband is an antique dealer and this necklace came through his hands probably around 1978 when we lived in LA. I made a point of claiming it for myself. It’s quite fragile and I wore it only occasionally. Many years later I had stashed it in a pretty box when I packed my belongings to move with Russ to Sonoma twelve years ago. I’d thought about it and looked for it but to no avail. Last month when I just happened to open the box that it had been hibernating in I was elated! My heart is so much happier now. Wearing this necklace is a generous reminder that all is well and life is beautiful.

Vintage heart necklace has captured my heart

TWO: Discovering a new book

Books are my weakness…or are they my strength? I LOVE books. I ordered Parisian Chic Look Book: What should I wear today? by Ines de La Fressange and Sophie Gachet (Flammarion, 2017) and it arrived on Saturday. Russ and I were off to grab some lunch on the Plaza and I had to bring it with me.

I travel with books every moment even when I’m in situations where it’s highly unlikely that I’d get a chance to sit and read. They’re my security blanket. I’m anxious without them.

This book is full of visual outfit ideas for what to wear to all the things we do, like grab drinks with girlfriends, have dinner with a lover, go to a garden party, head to the airport, all of it! I think it’s brilliant!

Wearing my wide pants and enjoying favorite things on Saturday

A great book to give you outfit ideas

THREE: Getting a manicure and being able to say Topless and Barefoot (that’s me!)

I got the best news from my manicurist on Saturday. She said it’s hard to give yourself a manicure. Now that was my personal experience but to hear her say it brought me some solace. I thought it was just me. When I do it myself I get these weird little bubbles in the polish. When she does it there are no bubbles.

My nails aren’t the greatest so I prefer nude shades and this one from Essie, Topless and Barefoot #665, is my current fave. Topless? Barefoot? What’s not to love?

Topless and barefoot, not me, Essie nail polish

FOUR: I love my body creme by Juara

Whenever I’m in San Francisco my daughter Erin drags me to Credo at 2136 Fillmore Street. It’s full of lotions, potions and makeup that’s all good for you. That’s where I discovered Candlenut Body Creme by Juara. I’d been on a search for a body lotion that wasn’t greasy or full of fragrance. I have dry skin and the person who was helping me said, “This is the best body creme. It’s great for people going through chemotherapy.” Interesting, I’ve been there. How had this product eluded me? Evidently ladies come from nearby CPMC (California Pacific Medical Center) where they’re getting treatment and buy it up. That’s why they’re sometimes out of it. That’s when I’ve gone on Amazon to buy it. It’s a miracle worker for dry skin.

My favorite things includes the tray!

FIVE: My guilty pleasure is a good crime series 

Maybe I attribute this guilty pleasure to my bestie from high school, Patricia. I was visiting her in Duluth, MN and we were trying to find something to watch on TV. Her friend had recommended a series called Spiral. It’s French and takes place in Paris. We were so hooked on it. We were binging like crazy.

Since then I’ve been through other crime series from other countries. I loved Shetland which takes place in Scotland. I loved Bordertown which takes place in Finland. I got through both of those this spring and started searching for my next prey. I went on Netflix and chose The Doctor Blake Mysteries which takes place in Australia. The minute I press publish on this post, I’m taking my iPad to bed with me and watching another episode.

Nearly done with season one of Doctor Blake Mysteries

Handsome Dr. Blake solves mysteries

SIX: The British version of Harper’s Bazaar magazine

To go along with my love for the BBC and all things British, it’s pretty predictable that I’d love the UK’s edition of Harper’s Bazaar. You know what’s great about it besides all the UK references? There are no perfume strips! Spending time paging through this month’s issue has been delicious. And look! There’s a fox on the front! My nickname to my kids and their friends is Mommyfoxy. I’m feeling all Zen with this cover!

I love getting my hands on the UK’s edition of Harper’s Bazaar

SEVEN: My version of sweats as defined by a stranger in a coffee shop

When I first bought these super wide frayed jeans last winter there were a couple of members of my family saying to each other, What was she thinking? Even I started to wonder that. When I ran into someone in town visiting from Santa Cruz I complimented her on ones she was wearing and told her I owned a pair. “Oh, aren’t they wonderful?” she said. “I wear mine all the time. They’re like sweats.”

Me in my “sweats”

More and more I am slipping into these first thing Saturday morning. They’re so comfortable! I imagine they are like sweats even though I haven’t owned sweats in decades, if ever. I lost some pounds over the winter and I think they look better now. They’re easy with platform sandals like these by Dr. Scholl’s from Nordstrom.

I had a lot to smile about as I was getting my mail. I’m wearing my favorite new/old necklace, my nails were freshly painted, I was picking up mail from my P.O. box which is so old-fashioned and charming and I was spending time with my sweetheart. I felt like I was having a romance with life.

Do you have those kind of weekends? Tell me what they look like for you, okay?