SIMPLE PLEASURES

have a beautiful weekend


xoox
catherine

image found: here

BLACK FRIDAY SALES

I put a little wish list together... for me. Yup. My wish list. It sort of turned into this as I was thinking about where you might like to shop today and I realized, this is of course also where I would like to shop...so then I really dialed in on the things I've had my eye on. I hope you find a few things to add to your wish list.  

If you are shopping for others (I commend you) you can also find more shopping lists to the right in my sidebar.



clockwise from top left: 
(all these retailers are having major black friday sales... just dive in and don't forget to use the codes!)

I am kind of over the whole fancy party dress thing.  I like this one with tights and an a wedge ankle boot or a little sassy pair of heels.

I am slightly obsessed with these Karen Walker sunnies

Bien. Good.  Life is good. A little reminder to be thankful for the good stuff. 

I thought I was done with ankle boots but this one with its $261  $151.99 price is calling my name. The aptly named Need Supply Co. is one of my favorites. 

I have ordered, tried on, sent back, searched hard for an over the knee boot that is perfect.  Lots of tries later I am reporting back that really, this one is the only one that makes the cut in my book.

I am a collector of sweaters exactly like this one. Slouchy, cashmere, light but warm. Throw it on with skinnies and your new over the knee boots... insta-comfy.

Happy shopping!






HAPPY HAPPY

Wishing you a very cozy, warm and ful-filling (couldn't resist)

THANKSGIVING


with gratitude
and warm wishes
catherine







THIS IS MY NEPHEW

Hi everyone.  We are working hard to keep the letter writing going. If you haven't stopped by the blog lately this is Ryan and he needs the FDA to hear us.  If you have written a letter already, thank you thank you thank you.  

If you are just tuning in...


This is my sister's youngest Ryan. My sweet nephew. Cousin to my boys.  

A simple pleasure for Ryan is jumping in the waves, or running with his brothers. 

Ryan is fighting a brave battle against Muscular Dystrophy and these simple pleasures are becoming harder for Ryan to enjoy. 

He is fighting for his life. 

The sad thing is, he's fighting the FDA.  

And I am asking for your help. 
What am I asking you to do? 

Simple: cut and paste a letter and send it to the FDA asking them to approve a drug and continue clinical trials that will help Ryan.

If you want to cut to the chase and email the FDA now, this is a letter you can simply cut and paste, with address instructions 

Simply title the email  'SAREPTA' - I did it in 1 minute. Cut, paste, send. That easy. 

If you would like to read more background about why it is so urgent that Ryan needs the FDA to hear us, you can read more about Ryan's story

HERE

and

more info on the issues
 HERE

Thank you for your support and share share share this on Facebook if you are so inclined.  

with gratitude,
xoox
catherine


HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR HER

And now for the girls.  Moms, sisters, friends or perhaps you... share this list if you see something you like.


clockwise from top left:

FOR THE DECOR/FASHION OBSESSED: you can't go wrong with Vogue

FOR THE JET SETTING GIRL: swanky cool headphones 

FOR THE TRAVELLER: a fresh weekender for the girls getaway

FOR THE GIRL WHO ALREADY HAS LOTS OF JEWELRY: a great statement piece from Kelly Wearstler

FOR THE GIRL WITH THE PRETTY DRESSING TABLE:  a monogrammed jewelry box for the 'daily wears'

FOR THE NEW MOM: a little trinket with baby's initial

FOR THE SISTER/MOM/FRIEND WHO IS ALWAYS COLD: infinity scarves are a cozy fix

FOR THE DREAMER:  make a wish with this pretty wishbone

I hope you see something you like and this has made your gift gathering a little more interesting.  I am going to leave the lists up in the sidebar until the holidays are over so you can check back in whenever you are ready to shop.  Easy peasy.  




HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR THE HOSTS

It is always nice to show up to a holiday gathering with a little something unique for your host. Adding a monogram or picking something uniquely 'them' adds extra thought that lets your hosts know how much you appreciate them. 



clockwise from top left:

FOR THE HOST WHO ALREADY HAS A MILLION CANDLES: this candle snuffer is perfect


FOR THE HOST TO CARRY STUFF TO THE NEXT POT LUCK: monogram this bag (I gave this last year!)

FOR THE HOST WHO ALREADY HAS A MILLION CANDLES: a diffuser is something new

FOR THE HOST WHO LOVES FARM-TO-TABLE GATHERINGS:  Kinfolk is amazing 


Stay tuned for more ideas tomorrow!

HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR HIM

And so it begins... the mad dash to find just the right gift for family and friends. I've started my lists and thought I would share my favorites with you. I know there are a million gift ideas out there... I hope you find something interesting here. Lets start with the fellas, since they are often the hardest to shop for.  




clockwise from top left:

FOR THE CREATIVE TYPE:  a Lomography camera for a unique perspective

FOR THE ALCHEMIST: a beer making kit - a big hit I promise

FOR THE TAILGATE  FAN: slip a little flask in the cozy jacket on a cold day

FOR THE FREQUENT FLYER: always a great travel companion

FOR THE ORGANIZED GUY:  zip it, store it, travel with them, take them to the gym

FOR THE WOODWORKING GUY:  a little old school bag for the essential tools

FOR THE MacGYVER GUY: everyone needs a multitool, especially one with a bottle opener

The price range for this list is $16 - $299.  I hope you find something unique and fitting for the fellas on your list.


NEW ARRIVALS: A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

Hello! We are back from our 'run away from home' long weekend and I thought I'd pop in with a few new favs from Canvas Interiors. And by pop I mean pop... major catching up to do, one little person home sick (XS), trying to throw dinner together and keep S and XS from eating cereal out of the box like ravenous animals while I throw dinner together.  



Lets jump right in shall we?  

clockwise from top left:

The delightfully beautiful Cassandra chandelier - so stunning.  

Did I tell you we have a new custom bed program

I keep shooting pictures of this setting - it is so nicely styled and I love the Renaissance cloverleaf mirror.  The Magnolia lamp sits nicely in any setting without taking up too much visual space.  And my absolute favorite Briland chandelier is reflected in the background.

These Cathedral candlesticks add a touch of patina to your home - an easy way to add texture without a huge commitment. With the holidays coming we will be talking a lot more about candles and other quick fixes to add twinkle. Get a head start by checking these out. 

Thanks for checking in today!  I finally have a post up at 5:45 pm that I have been trying to get to since 8am. Wow. Hopefully the dust will settle tomorrow and I'll have a bit more time to play in blogland. 


ADVENTURE TIME

Goodmorning and welcome to Monday.  I post realtime each day ... kind of whatever sparks my fancy that day. Which means when I'm out of town I don't have a library of pre-written posts to schedule. Today Mr. K. and I are on a mini road trip.  Last minute, not sure what we'll find but we are of to Asheville and Highlands and the back roads in between.  So I'm going to enjoy the day to day with Mr. K and blog about it when we get home.  Today its off to tour the grand Biltmore in Asheville.
I'm a sucker for a good historic house tour.

I'll be back later in the week, in the meantime I hope you are having a good one. 


SPOTLIGHT: KELLY REEMTSEN

Way (way) long ago at my first 'real job' at Chiat\Day LA,  I met some amazing people. It was the perfect time to be making no money and working til midnight, surrounded by art and creativity. The place was dripping with both and to this day still my favorite job ever.  It was here I met Marcy and her sister Kelly.  Two dynamic sisters one of whom worked at Chiat (Marcy) and the other pursuing a career in art (Kelly).  

Fast forward many years (I'm not going to say how many) and check out Kelly's latest exhibition at the De Buck gallery. 

She has been published, collected, and has exhibited in both group and solo exhibitions. Most recently she has published a coffee table book of her work. Women in demure vintage dresses holding a chainsaw, a wrench, a garden hose.  I love the narrative Kelly creates in these paintings. Thought provoking and pretty.  A very powerful combination.    




























See more of Kelly's work on her website: here where you can also pre-order her book which releases November 15th. 

Check out the De Buck Gallery here - the exhibition opened last night and runs til December 21st. 

Congrats Kelly on your amazing body of work, gallery show and new book! 



TOTALLY RANDOM

Hello, and welcome to this week's

TOTALLY RANDOM TUESDAY



1. I recently checked back in to A House in the Hills and found myself wanting to catch up on all things Sarah Yates. She has a wonderful eye, and a way of sharing life's day-to-day that is utterly charming. 

2. My thinking is still in skirt mode for holiday ensembles... this one with a white T will work for the extra fancy. Or you may like this matte black sequin skirt which i would do with a grey T.

3. Next up on the calendar chez K is Mr. K's college homecoming weekend. Excited to be in some cooler weather and pull out some chunky sweaters like this and a poncho like this.  We are headed to Asheville after the homecoming festivities which I am really excited about as I have been wanting to check it out for quite some time. 

4. The one DIY thing I actually enjoy doing is playing around with gold leaf.  I think it is the messy unpredictability of it that I like.  Check out how to do these place settings on Cupcakes and Cashmere







HIP'TIQUE

This summer I joined the dynamic Firestone sisters on their first retreat.  I met a wonderful group of talented, ambitious, smart, kind and funny women. One of whom is Christine Berardi, owner of hip'tique in Santa Monica. It was a pleasure getting to know her and I am inspired by her creativity and drive.  

Her new idea? Add a men's boutique to the hip'tique mix. She has fabulous taste, loves to get her hands dirty and build stuff, and had a party this past weekend to celebrate the opening of the Man Cave. Wish I could have been there!  The store looks amazing and I love this idea.  

Check out the hip'tique site - its shopable and a very well curated shopping list!








Deep Dive

I am finding with extra time at home I am becoming more of a shopping sleuth. I have shopped on Amazon forever, but never really for 'fa...