Happy Weekend

And... we're off!!  Goodbye San Francisco, helloooooo Carmel by the Sea!

Happy weekend all!

Weekend Trip: Monterey & Carmel

This weekend Kris and I are headed to Carmel by the Sea - a sweet town on the central coast of California.  I am looking forward to foggy mornings and the salty ocean air... unwinding outside of the city, cozying up by a big fireplace, and falling asleep to the sounds of crashing waves.

I'm all packed up, and while these outfits aren't an exact replica of what I've packed, they are darn close, and good inspirations for any cool weather fall getaways you might have planned!

Fireside Drinks at the Moss Beach Distillery:
This is our first stop on our ride down tomorrow.  We'll be driving along the coast, and stopping at the Moss Beach Distillery in Half Moon Bay for sunset drinks by the firepits, and an early dinner.  This place is supposed to be haunted, and with the cloudy weather we've had, I'm looking forward to a great sunset.

Fireside Drinks by beckyc1923 featuring wet seal

Pink top, $73 / Chloé cape coat / Citizens of Humanity jeans / Splendid genuine leather boots / Dooney & Bourke crossbody handbag / Mulberry / Wet Seal

Sea Kayaking:
One of the things that I'm most excited for is sea kayaking on Saturday.  I have a feeling that we are going to get a little wet (even just getting in the Kayak you drip water) so I plan on wearing clothes that will dry quickly, but that will still keep me warm.  I am loving the down vest - I compare it to sleeping with one leg out of the blankets.  You are still warm, but feel refreshed.  Tell me I'm not the only person who does this!

Sea Kayaking by beckyc1923 featuring allsaints

American Apparel t shirt / The North Face north face, $160 / AllSaints / NIKE lightweight shoes / Linda Farrow Luxe

Beach Bonfire:
Unlike summers at the cape, bonfires on the central coast are cold - very cold - and I can pretty much think of nothing worse than cold sand in your toes when it's about 50 degrees out.  Tall boots are a must for keeping my feet dry and warm, and my leather jacket really is one of the warmest things I own.  A cozy infinity scarf will help keep me toasty and a beanie will help keep my hair under control.  Since we'll be having dinner beforehand, a slouchy sweater and fun necklace dress up dark jeans a bit.

Bonfire by beckyc1923 featuring a vintage leather jacket

Over sized sweater / Jofama vintage leather jacket, $400 / J Brand skinny fit jeans / Sperry Top-Sider top sider shoes / Michael Kors box chain necklace / Monsoon circle scarve / Knit beanie hat

Touring the Aquarium:
Kris turns into a 10 year old boy at the mention of the aquarium - probably his obsession with surfing (and sharks), but there is no way we are going to Monterey without hitting up the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  If it were up to me, we'd be going on a hike to the thermal springs, but he is pretty dead set on the aquarium.  This means a cozy sweater (belted, so I don't look like a slob) comfy flats, and a big tote to carry all our "tourist for the day" stuff.

Playing the Tourist by beckyc1923 featuring a zippered tote bag

Printed cardigan, $145 / American Vintage fitted white shirt, $52 / Current/Elliott skinny fit jeans, $140 / A|Wear gold ballerina flat, $40 / Zippered tote bag, $145 / Leather Jewelry Hermès Brown

Weekend in Napa

Happy Monday and what a wonderful weekend it was!  The Bay Area was experiencing a heat wave, and I was loving every second of it!

Making the most of the sunny warm weather, I headed up to Napa with some co-workers for what we like to refer to as an "offsite".  To clients this reads as, we-are-not-checking-email-so-if-you-have-any-questions-hold-them-till-Monday.  

We arrived at the fabulous Bardessono Resort in Yountville, and settled in.  This picture does not even do this place justice - this eco (and dog) friendly resort is hands down the nicest five star hotel I've ever seen - each room has a bathroom the size of my living room, outdoor showers and bathtubs in your private garden, a lovely patio for early morning coffee... need I go on?  The rooms themselves are airy and bright, with lofted ceilings, fireplaces, and gourmet treats to snack on.  Don't even get me started on the fancy toilets, swanky beauty products, and "smart technology" (the rooms literally know when you're not there and shut lights off, air off, etc to stay green).  Dang!

Anyways... a quick cocktail by the pond and we were off to the Kuleto Winery and Estate for some wine tasting. 

Unlike most popular wineries up in Napa, this one is off the beaten path (nearly 20 minutes off the beaten path to be exact), and it was well worth the drive on the very narrow winding road to the top.  Pat Kuleto (owner of famous SF restaurants Boulevard, Farallon, Jardiniere, Epic Roasthouse, and WaterBar to name a few) started this winery in 1992, but it feels like its been there forever.  It felt like I had driven an hour out of San Francisco, and ended up in Tuscany - magical!

The grounds were absolutely stunning - rolling hills of wildflowers, huge grassy areas for lounging and picnicking, and even a lake with a boat in it (what villa is complete without a lake?!)  The views were incredible, and most importantly, the wine was fabulous.  I'll definitely be going back :-)

Take a look at the tasting area - lovely long tables under a raw wood arbor - in the summer its fully shaded from the vines that take over (can't you just imagine a small romantic wedding here??)

We didn't go into the barrel room, but they do tastings in there on cold rainy days.

You can kind of see the small man made pond down below - what you can't see so well is the amazing antique wooden Chris Craft wooden boat in it.

Just look at those views!! In the distance, there is a larger lake - perfect for boating and fishing - and beyond that is the bustling valley (which we returned to all too soon)

That night, we dressed up and headed to dinner at a new restaurant that recently opened in Yountville - Redwood, the sister restaurant to Red was amazing - I WISH I had a picture of the food we ordered... we were tipsy and really hungry, so I think our eyes were bigger than our stomochs.  Luckily, that meant left-overs (which I love).

We ended the night with drinks on the porch at Bottega, Michael Chiarello's restaurant, where he works nightly.  Proof?  He came over to check on us - twice.  We are kind of bff's now :-)

The next morning, I woke up early to make the most of my Napa stay.  I sauntered over to Bouchon - Thomas Keller's bakery - where the line was already out the door by 8am.  I got there just in the nick of time - there was maybe 6 people in front of me when I got in line, but when I left 15 minutes later, the line was about forty people deep - down the block.

Take a look at these pictures and you can see why - the assortment of fresh pasteries, sandwiches, cookies, and little goodies is mind boggling.  I somehow managed to spend $50 on just myself.  Of course I had to get a few treats to bring back to Kris :-)

Can we also make note of the Kate Gosslin lookalike in front of me?? That hair!!  I could not stop staring!




After breakfast, and a delicious latte in the early morning sunshine, I headed to the spa for a massage - it was SOO good.  I was sore for the rest of the weekend - just the way I like it :-)

After my massage was a bike ride through the surrounding vineyards (no I can't even make this stuff up) - it was hot and sunny, and I got to test out the resort's new electic bike - SO COOL!  The motor kicks in on the hills, making for a super easy ride.  I could have kept at it all day!

Before hitting the road to get back to the city for my dad's birthday celebration, I took to the cabanas at the pool, had a little lunch, and soaked up as much sun as I could.

Such a fabulous mini get-away.  I left feeling relaxed, happy, and very well fed :-)

Hope you all had a great weekend too!!