The Rich Life on the Go

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Seven for Saturday

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Happy Saturday!

For my first Seven for Saturday post since the end of March, I thought I’d share 7 noteworthy things that happened during my blog break.

1 ~ Kayla and Forest Got Married!

Kayla, Bill’s oldest daughter, and her longtime boyfriend, Forest, tied the knot in early June in Cloverdale. What a wonderful, unique and fun-filled wedding! What was unique about it was its location on top of a mountain at a gorgeous, secluded and hard to reach 600+ acre ranch. The drive to get to the wedding was straight up on a one lane, very curvy road and it took 30 to 35 minutes to get to the site. Such a special place.

Photo by Jessie Holman Photography

Bill and I arrived Wednesday to settle into our hotel room at Geyserville Inn and relax a little bit before we went up to the ranch to help set up the following day.

Kayla and Forest invited 180 people to the wedding so there was much to do in preparation. I won’t bore you with all of that stuff but I will say we all got quite the workout and the suntans in the days leading up to the main event. Who knew assembling chairs in rows could be so complicated and sweaty?

The ceremony itself was just so lovely and touching. They wrote their own vows and chose such a scenic setting to exchange them.

After they were declared husband and wife, the big party began. We had so much fun! It was a blast of a wedding – dancing, mingling, laughing and just having the time of our lives. I wish we could do the wedding day all over again.

Photo by Jessie Holman Photography
Photo by Jessie Holman Photography

I couldn’t help but tear up during the father-daughter dance. Kayla picked out the song she wanted played for this very moment many, many years ago when she was a teen of about 16. It’s called Cinderella. Whenever she heard it on the radio as a kid, she would always say, “This is the song I am going to dance with Dad to at my wedding.”

As mothers and stepmothers often do when their kids marry, I really fretted over what to wear to the wedding. I knew it would be hot but I wanted to wear a maxi dress even though a tea length would have been a cooler option. I must have ordered 25 dresses before I settled on this one.

Until Kayla and Forest get all their photos back from the photographer, I only have this one picture showing my dress. The photo is pretty blurry but I love seeing all these Shubin gals together.

As you can see, it’s sleeveless, and floral print. It was very light and not hot at all. I love the empire waist and little ruffles at the shoulder.

From L to R: Haley (Ryan’s wife), me, Tori, Jennifer (niece), Hayley (niece), Debbie (sister-in-law), Danielle (nephew’s fiancee)

Hopefully we’ll get more photos from the wedding that I can share with you. It truly was such a wonderful wedding. Bill and I are so thrilled to have Forest as a son-in-law and couldn’t be happier for the newlyweds!

2 ~ Camping in Bodega Bay

Back in May we had the opportunity to borrow Bill’s younger brother’s fifth wheel trailer while he and his wife were out of town. As I mentioned in my last post, Bill and I are thinking about getting an RV and were curious about fifth wheels. Borrowing Rob and Debbie’s was a way to testdrive one, so to speak, and see if it’s something we want for ourselves.

It was a great to get away but ten days is a long time to be in one spot. I admit to being a bit restless on more than a few occasions. Foggy days that brought strong winds and chilly temps didn’t help much. But I will tell you, when the sun shines in Bodega Bay, it’s gorgeous! We hiked whenever the sun the came out and a couple times when it didn’t.

One day during our camping trip, Bill went ocean fishing with a friend who owns a couple charter fishing boats that are docked in Bodega Bay. They had a successful outing and Bill brought back a LOT of fish and crab. It was awesome! I still have some fish in our freezer.

We are still up in the air about getting a fifth wheel. Cramming us and four dogs into a pickup truck and driving for long periods does not sound appealing to me. But once you’re all set up in your spot, fifth wheels are fantastic and so roomy. So we’ll see!

3 ~ Pismo Beach Trip

Haley and Ryan, Bill’s son, were married in early April in Cambria on California’s Central Coast. We decided in early June to head down the coast to visit them and tour the area a bit.

We stayed at the most wonderful hotel in Shell Beach, right next to Pismo. Inn at the Cove is our new favorite place to stay when visiting the Central Coast. And it’s dog friendly so we were able to bring our two little dogs with us for small fee.

The view from our balcony at Inn at the Cove

We took lots of walks, visited Pismo and nearby Oceano Dunes, looked at RVs, spent time with Haley’s family and ate lots of good food.

We also logged in quite a bit of time on our ocean view balcony, watching the pelicans – there are tens of thousands of them in that area – seagulls, seals, and even bunnies!

I always say that I could live on the Central Coast when I visit that area and I am not kidding! It’s just so laid back and beautiful. I doubt we will actually ever move there but taking an RV to the Central Coast for an extended period might be a possibility someday.

4 ~ New Fences

We are beyond grateful we didn’t lose our house in last fall’s wine country fires. The only things that were destroyed were our fences in the backyard. The fierce winds we had the night the fires began took them down. After seven months, we finally had new fences built and they look so great!

They are taller than the old ones by over a foot and they’re made of beautiful redwood. We love them! It’s motivated us to start thinking about other ways to improve the appearance of our backyard.

5 ~ TIPS Roadside in Kenwood is Open for Business

In my last Seven for Saturday, I shared some photos from our fun experience being menu taste testers for our friends Susie and Andrew who own Tri Tip Trolley and now their new restaurant, TIPS Roadside.

When we attended the test dinner, the dry wall wasn’t up yet. Fast forward three months and they are open for business and we are thrilled! It’s so close to our house, we could walk there in about 5 to 10 minutes.

They have been open for a few weeks – since the beginning of June – and we have already been for dinner 6 times!

We love the atmosphere, décor and the food! We are always welcomed by the staff with big smiles and fantastic service. My favorite dishes lately are the tater tots and tri tip cubes with 3 dipping sauces.

If you’re local or planning a visit to Sonoma County, be sure to follow TIPS Roadside on Instagram to stay up to date with their latest news.

6 ~ Medlock Ames Bell Mountain Ranch Tour

Bill and I were invited to Medlock Ames to take their Bell Mountain Ranch Tour. Located in Alexander Valley, near the charming town of Healdsburg, Medlock Ames has a tasting room on the outskirts of Healdsburg and a 338-acre ranch several miles from there.

We visited the former which is known as Bell Mountain Ranch. We took a group tour which was led by Chelsea, our friendly, knowledgeable, interesting and effervescent guide.

Chelsea first gave us a small glass of their 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, which is estate grown like all their wines. Then we were off to explore the ranch with her. We visited the olive grove, the huge one acre vegetable garden, and the original Merlot vineyard that was on the property when Chris James and Ames Morison purchased the ranch in 1998.

Chelsea told us the ranch is solar powered and that all wine grapes, fruits and vegetables – including olives – are certified organic. That’s my kind of winery!

Once our walking tour around the property concluded, we were taken to the fermentation room. I have been on many, many wine tours and I must say, Chelsea explained the grape fermentation process better than anyone!

Our tour concluded with a lovely seated tasting where we were treated to a wine tasting of four other wines that were each paired with local cheeses and wonderful jams made with fruit from the ranch.

Bill and I decided to buy a few bottles to take home, along with a bottle of their estate olive oil.

I highly recommend the Bell Mountain Ranch Tour at Medlock Ames. It was one of the most informative and interesting wine tours I have taken. The property is gorgeous and the wine is delicious and the tour is only $40 per person.

Visit the Medlock Ames website for more info and to schedule your tour.

7 ~ Bill’s Birthday

Bill celebrated a birthday last week and while he said he just wanted to go out to dinner, I had other ideas. I convinced him to take a birthday trip to Lake Tahoe and booked three nights at Hyatt Lake Tahoe at Incline Village.

It has a beach, a fabulous restaurant called Lone Eagle Grille that is has gorgeous views of the lake, and nice big rooms. We upgraded to a family suite and invited Bill’s brother, Rob and his wife, Debbie to join us. We had a total blast! I splurged and got us all a lakeside beach cabana for Bill’s actual birthday.

He and his brother also rented paddleboards for an hour while my sister-in-law and I floated in the water in pool floaties. It was one of the best trips and non-stop fun. Bill was sure happy we turned his birthday into a three day celebration!

Enjoy your weekend!

 

Disclosure: Our two tickets for the Bell Mountain Ranch Tour were complimentary. All opinions expressed here are my own, as always. 

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Seven for Saturday

by 14 Comments

Happy weekend and welcome to this week’s Seven for Saturday!

1 ~ Float Pod 

In last week’s Seven for Saturday post, I mentioned my friend Michelle and I would be going on another “Michelle & Adrienne’s Excellent Adventure” this week. Last time we tried cryotherapy. This time we’d be floating in salt water in our own private float pods.

We did our floating at Theta Wave Float Spa in Sebastopol. Float therapy is meant to relax parts of your brain while stimulating others, namely the creative right side of your brain. Some refer to this type of therapy as sensory deprivation. You can read more about the benefits of floating here.

Michelle and I arrived a few minutes before our scheduled sessions. We were greeted by the friendly owner who gave us a tour of the spa and showed us to our rooms. Each room has a float pod, shower and changing area. We were asked to take a shower first – washing our hair with shampoo but no conditioner – then climb into the pod when we were ready.

The pod has a blue light that you can leave on or turn off and gentle spa music plays underwater. You can also turn that off if you prefer or play music from your phone instead.

There is a lot of salt in the water which is what keeps you afloat. We were advised to use the earplugs provided to prevent salt from entering our ear canals, which we did. You also don’t want to let the water get on your face. That sounds like a challenge but surprisingly it’s not. Your head floats easily in the water.

Once I showered and put my ear plugs in, I got into the pod and began to float, spending some time getting aquatinted with my pod.

You just don’t know how loud and annoying that inner voice can be until you’re inside a float pod alone with ear plugs in. The incessant chattering! Most of my time was spent trying to shut the voice up and relax but you can imagine how well that went. I did have moments where my mind relaxed and wandered, in a good way. But then the inner voice would notice and well, it went on like that throughout the hour.

Thankfully I did not have any anxiety being inside the pod like I thought I might. I left the door open most of the time. When I did close it, I got a little too hot for me. I also left the overhead light on in the room. Next time, I will turn that off. I think because I am familiar with how the therapy works, my next visit will be more relaxing.

Even with my busy mind, I was able to still feel relaxed in body. The floating sensation of suspension is really quite something. I felt as though I was cradled by a solid material, but of course it was only water.

After the 60 minute float, I showered, washed my hair again (this time with conditioner) and met up with Michelle. Then we went out for a delicious sushi lunch across the street.

I would recommend trying float therapy and am looking forward to trying it again soon! I wish there was a way to leave that inside voice at home 😉

2 ~ New Cheery Vase

I was shopping online for a gift earlier this week and visited Nordstrom. The first thing that showed up on my screen was an announcement about their new Anthropologie Home line.

I love Anthropologie and since we are in the midst of redoing our two guest rooms, I thought I would have a peek at the selection of home decor.

What gorgeous things! I really wanted to go crazy buying all sorts of things, but decided to only buy one item for our second guest room. I thought this vase was so darling and cheery.

I like the bright colors and its imperfect shape. The color is a little redder than it looked online – I had hoped for more orange – but it still works in this room.

One of these days I would like to replace some of the throw pillows that came with our new couch. I love many of the pillows in the Anthropologie collection and may start slowly replacing the boring ones we have with something more interesting and fun. I’m thinking about starting with this pillow.

Have you seen the new Anthropologie collection at Nordstrom yet?

3 ~ Wedding Countdown 

Two weeks from today, my stepson and his fiancee will be getting married! It’s hard to believe the day has crept up so fast. It will be a very small wedding with close family in attendance only. I have still not decided what I will wear. It’s a casual daytime wedding outdoors so I will wear a maxi or midi dress with a wrap or light jacket.

Bill and I are very much looking forward to celebrating this special day with Ryan and Hayley and family. And we are thrilled to welcome Hayley to the family, officially!

4 ~ Lighting Me Up 

I have had low levels of vitamin D for many years. My test results are usually in the mid to high 20s and they really should be more like 50 to 70. I take 2,000 I.U. of D a day but it’s not enough and taking mega doses does not agree with me. After doing some research, I decided to try using a light therapy lamp every morning. I bought this one.

I wanted a lamp that had an adjustable strength. Measurements of illumination are called lux. This device starts at 3500 lux and goes up to 10,000 lux, which is the ideal strength from what I read. I use about 5,000 to 10,000 lux and sit with it for 30 to 50 minutes while I read or write.

I have not had any side effects like headaches or anything but the higher range for longer than 30 minutes did make me feel a little queasy at first. I have used it for about 4 days now and no longer have that issue.

Yesterday I was getting ready to go visit Bill’s father in Marin and was in a bit of a rush. I didn’t think I’d be able to get in my light session. I decided to take it into the bathroom with me while I did my hair and makeup. I set it face up on the counter near my body and it worked great! Ten or 15 minutes of light is better than nothing.

I like that it’s lightweight and easy to move to different locations. And it has a timer on it that let’s you set it in ten minute intervals from 10 minutes to 60.

So far I like it and am looking forward to a vitamin D retest in a few months to see if it’s helping. My only regret is that I didn’t get one of these months ago when the days were short.

Have you ever tried light therapy?

5 ~ Photo Cards

My friend Elizabeth Wilmore is not only a maker and designer of beautiful leather and pearl jewelry but she is an accomplished professional photographer as well. Elizabeth makes her own cards and sells them around the Bay Area at various businesses.

Elizabeth suggested I make my own cards with my photos and even gave me all the materials I needed to do so. I picked out some of my photos that I thought would look nice on a card and had them developed. The other day, I finally sat down and made my first card. It was so easy to do and I am looking forward to making more to send to friends and family.

Thank you, Elizabeth, for sharing your ideas, talents and materials with me!

6 ~Rollin’ 

Last November I mentioned a foot condition I have developed over the last year called metatarsalgia. It’s an overuse injury that affects the ball of your foot, usually just below your second and third toes. Mine was never painful, per se, just annoying and uncomfortable as it causes numbness and tingling. It constantly felt like I had a big wad of cotton stuffed in my shoe.

Since I stopped wearing heels, my too tight running shoes and mostly stopped running on the treadmill in favor of brisk walking, my condition has improved greatly. But I still have it and notice that cotton wad feeling even though the wad is much smaller.

I decided to start my own DIY foot therapy program. I have been using a the little ball in this kit for months but it’s not easy to focus it on the area I want (feels great on my arch though!).

I have now incorporated the big roller in the kit which can be used hot or cold. It’s a simple exercise I can do while reading, writing or just watching tv. I don’t have to think about maneuvering it as much as I did the ball.

I hope the cotton wad feeling will go away completely one of these days with these exercises.

7 ~ Spring Wardrobe Purging  

Even though I did a massive closet purge after the fires last fall, there is still lots of stuff to sort through. My spring and summer clothing and accessories need to be culled as I see sunny weather and higher temps are in next week’s forecast. I plan on tackling that today since I have the day to myself.

I don’t enjoy wardrobe edits. The task often brings up negative feelings. I become angry at myself for spending money on something I rarely wore. And coming across beautiful clothes I can’t wear due to midlife weight gain can be a downer. But once the purging is done, it feels so freeing!

I am making a real effort from now on to be much more selective about the clothing, shoes, jewelry, and so on that I allow to take up space in my closet. While packing suitcases during the fire evacuations, I was astonished at how much stuff I owned.

Frantically rifling through two closets both filled to the max with clothes, trying to find the items I wanted and needed, was frustrating. My ideal closet is be filled with only things I want to keep and wear. I shouldn’t have to dig for them. So that’s my goal today. We shall see how that goes!

Have a lovely weekend!

Disclosure: Affiliate links have been used in this post. Clicking on them may result in my earning small commissions but has no impact on the prices of the products.

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Flowery Additions to my Spring Wardrobe

by 12 Comments

It may not feel like spring yet where you live but rest assured, spring is on its way! While I like winter clothing I also adore the light, breezy and often colorful and fun fashions the spring season offers. Today I am showing you a couple of flowery additions to my spring wardrobe from Soft Surroundings.

Both are feminine and flirty pieces made with lighter weight fabrics, which make them ideal for our anticipated warmer temperatures.

The first piece, a dress, has more subtle floral design while the second is bursting with vibrant flowery beauty!

Calli Crinkle Dress from Soft Surroundings

The moment I saw this embroidered blush dress with an empire waist on the Soft Surroundings site, I knew I had to have it. I love the soft pink color and floral embroidery.

It’s a boho, peasant-style dress so I decided it needed a cool boho hat. I wore my favorite one from Montecristi Panama Hats in Napa Valley. For footwear, I chose taupe peep-toe booties with a heel (similar).

This dress has two side pockets – I always appreciate a dress with pockets – and it fastens at the bust with hook and eye closures. The 3/4 length sleeves have an elastic hem and can easily be pushed up if you prefer.

I feel so confident in this dress. I find the vertical embroidery flattering and the structure allows me to conceal some of my middle-aged mid-section and I think the length is perfect.

My new dress will be getting lots of wear this spring and summer!

Meadow Shirt from Soft Surroundings

The second piece I selected from the spring collection at Soft Surroundings is the Meadow Shirt. This shirt just makes me happy, it’s so vibrant and colorful!

What I like most about this shirt is its color palate – it’s bright, fun and spring-y. The front and back shoulder area is embroidered while the back panel is a rose printed fabric.

This shirt is made with lightweight material and has princess seams in the front and a high-low hem. The metal buttons are a lovely detail. I am especially fond of the blue crystal button at the top.

You can leave the sleeves long or roll them up and secure with the button tab.

My new shirt looks great with jeans or you could wear ankle pants or thick leggings too. I styled my shirt with Gap jeans (similar), off-white booties, my favorite hat and a Neverfull GM tote from Louis Vuitton.

The Meadow Shirt is full of fun, colorful personality. It’s sure to be a conversation starter.

Shop the Looks 

[show_shopthepost_widget id=”3051170″]

I am so thrilled to learn that Soft Surroundings is opening a store in Santa Rosa this spring! The space is located in Montgomery Village and will open sometime in the next couple of months. I can’t wait to shop Soft Surroundings in person!

 

Disclosure: The Calli Crinkle Dress and Meadow Shirt were given to me by Soft Surroundings in exchange for my review. Affiliate links have been used in this post. Clicking on them may result in my earning small commissions but has no impact on the prices of the products. All opinions expressed here are my own, as always.

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Celebrating a Birthday at Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant

by 8 Comments

Today I want to tell you all about how I spent my 50th birthday, celebrating at Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant in Russian River Valley, about a 30-minute drive from our home.

My original birthday plans included a 17-day trip to France with my husband. But the fires began three days before our flight to Paris was to leave. Needless to say, we canceled our trip. By the time my actual birthday arrived, the fires were out and we were able to return to our home.

We decided we would still celebrate my birthday but rather than get on a plane somewhere, we wanted to stay local for a couple of reasons. First, we didn’t want to be far from our home, friends and family. And second, we wanted to keep our travel dollars here in Sonoma County, supporting local businesses.

Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant

I have always dreamed of staying at Farmhouse Inn so when Bill suggested it, I was elated!

Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant is family-owned by siblings Joe and Catherine Bartolomei. Their family goes back five generations in Sonoma County! That is remarkable in itself. What is also remarkable is the number of prestigious awards Farmhouse Inn has earned including 2017 #1 Best Hotel in Northern California by Condé Nast Traveler. Their restaurant, located onsite, has been given a Michelin Star annually for the last 10 years.

We checked in at registration, greeted warmly by the welcoming and friendly staff. They gave us a quick run down of the property then we were shown to our gorgeous King Deluxe room.

The Property at Farmhouse Inn

Farmhouse Inn is tucked away on a secluded property surrounded by woods. Once you’re on site, you feel as though you’re miles away from everything yet you’re just a short distance from world-class wineries, restaurants, shopping and entertainment. Since we live in the area, we spent most of our time on the property but we did venture out, as you will read later, to visit some premier Russian River wineries.

I adore the architecture at Farmhouse Inn – it’s modern farmhouse style. An enticing pool is located in the center of the property, surrounded by a stone wall. The pool area has a few chic seating areas, fire pits and a hot tub.

Bill and I sat by the pool one afternoon and ordered some sandwiches to enjoy on our lounge chairs, then took a dip in the pool. It was so lovely and relaxing!

Farmhouse Inn Restaurant

I could not get enough of the breathtaking roses, some as big as your head, dotted throughout the grounds. The roses were magnificent and the vibrant pinks shades were just gorgeous.

I rarely passed them without either leaning in for a sniff, taking another photo or both.

Farmhouse Inn Restaurant

Farmhouse Felines

I grew up with lots of cats and always had kitties throughout my life. With 4 dogs, adding a new kitty to our family is not in the cards right now. Because I am feline deprived at home, I squeal with delight when I see a cat. And if that cat happens to be at an inn where I am staying, well forget it. I will go to great lengths to find and befriend that cat, or in the case of Farmhouse Inn – cats, plural!

Farmhouse Inn is home to three adorable kitty cats and I want to tell you a little about each one.

Charlotte, the black kitty, is the head cat at Farmhouse Inn. She is the oldest and loves to sleep in the guest rooms, usually on the bed snuggled up next to you. The three nights we were at Farmhouse Inn, Charlotte slept with us. Charlotte is a friendly cat but can be rather aloof. You get the feeling when you’re in her presence, that it’s her room and she’s just letting you sleep there.

Then there’s Fitz. We first met Fitz when checking in at the reception. He looks just like our last kitty who was also a Tuxedo cat. Fitz is also friendly, has a confident air about him and loves to curl up on the fluffy towels at the pool and take naps.

Finally, there is Giles – Goofy Giles, I call him. He is an orange and white tabby and loves belly rubs, baby talk and brief stays because he is always on the go. He acts like he wants to be in your room to hang out with you, sniffing around and checking things out, then quickly changes his mind and darts outside. Speaking of hanging out, Giles’s tongue is always hanging out, as in permanently. He is definitely the most animated of the three Farmhouse felines.

Farmhouse Inn Restaurant

Our King Deluxe Guest Room

Our room was stunning and so spacious! I fell in love with the neutral tones, the light airiness, and the comfy bed and furniture. There is something so inviting and comfortable about the inn’s décor. It was luxurious and decadent but not stiff or stuffy. It was easy to relax and feel at home.

A few weeks ago, when Bill and I were talking about redecorating our home, he asked me to name a hotel we’ve stayed in that I would want to emulate. Without missing a beat, I said, “Farmhouse Inn, of course!”

Farmhouse Inn Restaurant

Farmhouse Inn Restaurant

Farmhouse Inn Restaurant

Farmhouse Inn Restaurant

Farmhouse Inn Restaurant

Farmhouse Inn Restaurant

Farmhouse Inn Restaurant

Farmhouse Inn Restaurant

Farmhouse Inn Restaurant

Farmhouse Inn Restaurant

My 50th Birthday!

My 50th birthday started out with a few of my favorite things: a bubble bath in the jetted tub accompanied by chilled French bubbly, then a mouthwatering breakfast in the dining room at Farmhouse Restaurant.

I opened gifts from my husband, wrapped with used fire maps, and was delighted to discover he bought me a Louis Vuitton Neverfull and a bottle of Dom Perignon, that I’ve stashed away for a future celebratory occasion.

Farmhouse Inn Restaurant

Farmhouse Inn Restaurant

Farmhouse Inn Restaurant

Farmhouse Inn Restaurant

Private Wine Tour

After breakfast, we returned to our room to get ready for a day of wine tasting with a personal guide. We booked a private wine tour through the inn with Randall of Randall’s Wine Tours.

Bill and I rarely go wine tasting unless it’s for a blog story so it was fun to wine taste without having to worry about documenting our experience. We also didn’t even need to pick out which wineries to visit or book the appointments. Randall handled it all! He did all the driving, of course, and kept us right on schedule. Plus, he knew the wineries we visited and the wines we tasted inside and out and the staff at all three wineries knew him by name.

Russian River Valley is known for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines. All three wineries we visited specialize in those varietals. They were all superb and we purchased a lot of wine to bring home with us. Much more than we anticipated – there were so many fantastic wines, it was hard not to bring them home.

Our first stop was the world-famous William Selyem. I can’t believe it’s taken us so long to experience this phenomenal winery!

Farmhouse Inn Restaurant

Next, we went to a seated tasting at Lynmar Estate.

Farmhouse Inn Restaurant

And lastly, we visited Freeman Winery.

Farmhouse Inn Restaurant

Fall is such a gorgeous time of year in the Russian River. The leaves in the vineyards were shades of bright yellows, oranges and reds. And the flowers at Lynmar put on such a colorful show for visitors while we were there.

Farmhouse Restaurant

Our last night at the inn, we had dinner at Farmhouse Restaurant, the onsite Michelin Star restaurant. It was such a special birthday dinner! Every course and every morsel was culinary perfection. The plates were not only a delight to eat but pleasing to the eye as well. The romantic lighting made photos difficult but I really wanted to focus on the experience anyway. My birthday dinner at Farmhouse Restaurant ranks as one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had, possibly the best.

Farmhouse Inn Restaurant

I hope to return to Farmhouse Inn again and again. It is quintessential wine country luxury and so relaxing and peaceful. Plus, those kitties!

Farmhouse Inn Restaurant

Farmhouse Inn & Restaurant, 7871 River Road in Forestville, California. Visit their website for more information or call 707-887-3300.

For private wine tours, contact Randall at Randall’s Wine Tours or call 707-888-1551

This post is not sponsored in any way. We had such a wonderful experience at Farmhouse Inn and with Randall on the wine tour that I wanted to share it all with readers. I enjoy supporting Bay Area businesses, especially when they are family-owned and offer superior products and/or services.

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How I Wear My: Red Hot

by 13 Comments

Welcome to October’s How I Wear My!

Have you have noticed how the color red is everywhere these days—from clothes to accessories to jewelry? Jill of Everything Just So and I wanted to get in on all this Red Hot fun so we decided to devote this month’s “How I Wear My” to everything scarlet and crimson!

Let’s get things started with my How I Wear My partner, Jill!

JILL OF EVERYTHING JUST SO

“I have more red accessories than clothes and one of my favorites is my Hermès Jigé clutch in Rouge Vif, which is my favorite shade of red. This bag is in fantastic shape and it is over 25 years old! I almost forgot I owned this fun lipstick print cardigan by L’Wren Scott for Banana Republic, but now that I rediscovered it I plan on wearing it a lot this fall.”

SUZANNE OF SUZANNE CARILLO

“I didn’t fall in love with red until last year. This red dress is thrifted and although it isn’t vintage it was simply too good to pass up. Talk about drama!” 

Suzanne Carillo

SHELBEE OF SHELBEE ON THE EDGE

“I fell in love with this pretty red and white vintage style dress from Rosegal the first time I spotted it.  One of my favorite color combinations with red is blue and white.  I couldn’t help but go all out retro in styling this pretty dress!”

 MALLORY OF VINE LIVING

“I love the color red, it’s always been a favorite of mine probably because of my dad and mom. My moms favorite color is red and my dad would always say how he loved red nails on my mom, starting my love affair with the concept of red nails. I only paint my toes red to pay homage to my dad. I use red as more of a pop of color in my outfits, hand bags, shoes, tops…. but a gorgeous red dress is something I’ve yet to shoot! So instead I bring you. How I accessorize with RED! It’s the best pop of color!”

LAURIE OF VANITY AND ME

“These bright red tailored flared trousers are made of heavy crepe, so they hang really well, and I like the detailing at the waistline, which is quite high. In the winter months, I will wear a cream or light coloured jumper. And these will be great for Christmas wearability (Oh gosh there’s that word already!).”

RENA OF IT’S ALL FINE. WHATEVER TICKLES THE FANCY.

“Picking up on the bit of red in the plaid of my jacket are these red shoes that I’ve had for many, many years.  Most times, I prefer to use red as an accent rather than as a feature color in an outfit.”

GREETJE OF NO FEAR OF FASHION

“I love my red peplum top because of its colour, the fabric and the shape. I had it custom-made and I do not wear it enough.To me this piece is timeless.”

YVONNE OF FUNKY FORTY

“I like to wear red as booties – always a statement maker regardless of whatever else I am wearing!”

Yvonne of Funky Forty

NICOLE OF HIGH LATITUDE STYLE

“I love dark cold shades of red. They sort of work like a neutral. Here I styled my summer dress for fall by wearing a matching cabernet red cardigan as a top. To define the shape, I added a belt that picks up the color of the polka dots of the ‘fake’ skirt. The red is repeated in the heels of the nude shoes. To stay warm on the bottom bikers and a half-slip underneath are a must in Interior Alaska in fall.”

DEBBIE OF FASHION FAIRY DUST

“I honestly don’t own a whole lot of red; it just isn’t a color that I gravitate towards. With that being said, I do have big love for red footwear. Red shoes or boots really pack a punch and they add a shot of ‘wow, to pretty much anything that you pair them with.”

ELIZABETH OF THE VINTAGE CONTESSA

“I happen to have a photo of me in the red opera coat I bought in Vallejo years ago. This was the coat that was shot at the Louvre with me in it and the chickens! We were copying the Duchess of Devonshire. I paid $100.00 for this coat and had no idea when or how I would wear it! It sat in my closet for years until that photo shoot with Carla Coulson in Paris with my two sons! You see I had closed my Antique~Vintage business of 12 years and had a little left over money sitting in the bank. What better way to spend than to take both sons to Paris and have a photo with them in the Tuileries and the Louvre! They had never been to Paris. Who better to show them Paris than their mother the first go around. A trip of a LIFETIME.”

CARRIE OF LIBBY SIMONE MOBILE BOUTIQUE

“Red! All from Libby Simone mobile boutique in the Napa Valley.”

NORA OF JACKET SOCIETY

“I am wearing Jacket Society Black Plaid Shirt Jacket, Heather Grey Side Twist Top and Black Suede Necklace with Silver Pendant. I have styled these pieces with my Zara ripped black jeans, Sam Edelman Circus Booties and for the red part I added my Prada bag as a pop color. The jacket, top and necklace are available in our shop.”

ANA OF MRS. AMERICAN MADE

“I have a pair of red pants and they are fun but I do like to tone them down with more neutral tops such as this vintage #madeinUSA plaid blazer and a classic plain white button front shirt. I probably should wear this color more since it inspires confidence in me, but for me, it is one piece at a time.”

SUSAN OF UNE FEMME D’UN CERTAIN AGE

“Wearing red lipstick always makes me feel a bit bolder. I tend to wear a lot of black, so a red lip adds some brightness to my face. And it gets noticed; you can’t be invisible in red lipstick!”

ROSEMARY OF DISTINCTLY SOUTHERN STYLE

“This bright red swing top is so much fun to wear. It makes an ordinary day feel like a holiday! My favorite shade of red …. Candy Apple.”

TERESA OF DENTON TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY

“I’m wearing a red wool jacket by Pendelton Mills.”

NANCY OF NANCY’S FASHION STYLE

“Red, red, red, and a little odd by wearing a black bracelet!”

Nancys Fashion

PAULINA OF SHENSKA

“I believe this hot red dress from SHEIN is so beautiful on its own that I decided not to wear any shoes with it, haha. 😉 In all honesty, I think such a gorgeous and romantic dress is a must in any woman’s closet. It also doesn’t hurt it’s under $35! I accessorized it with simple gold jewelry because once again, this little red number didn’t need much else.”

CHERYL OF NORTHWEST MOUNTAIN LIVING & STYLE

“Every fall I start the season by pulling out my red leather jacket. I got it at a consignment store many years ago and have gotten a lot of use out of it. It is beautifully made and 100% leather so it is soft and comfortable. I wore it with black jeans, OTK boots, a colorful bell sleeve tee and I am carrying my Adora clutch.”

NANCY OF JODIE’S TOUCH OF STYLE

Quote from Jodie:

“Nancy, the 60+ model, is wearing a red top with her red scarf worn as a bracelet. Nancy always loves to wear red, and has a ton of this color in her closet. She paired it with black for this outfit and even matches the embroidery on her pants!”

CLAUDIA OF HAPPYFACE313

“I like red and the upcoming season is a good time for wearing this color. I don’t like to dress in red from head to toe. But I like it to highlight with red. In the evenings my clutch might be red.”

MY LOOK

You can’t get much more Red Hot than Fire Engine Red! My husband’s fire department SUV sits in our driveway when he’s not using it for work. I thought it would make a great backdrop for October’s theme.

I don’t own much in the way of bright red clothing aside from the red sundress I wore for August’s How I Wear My and another red dress I wore to the first Wine Country Blogger Gals Brunch, both purchased this summer.

I do have a few accessories that are red and I like wearing them with neutral looks to create interest and add color.  This red leather wrap bracelet from Large Leather in Sonoma is my favorite red accessory. It can be worn wrapped twice around your wrist as a cuff or as a choker.

Adrienne

I wore my red leather cuff with my new Stella Carakasi chiffon tunic and black camisole. The tunic is from Stella’s newest fall collection and can be worn open like a duster or buttoned up.

I wore my favorite black pants – the most versatile and comfortable pants I own – and ankle strap pumps. I also wore my brand new Gucci sunglasses, a total impulse buy I don’t regret and and early 50th birthday gift from me!

I also wore red lipstick. I finally found a shade that works for my skin tone. My friend Julie from Paris sent me a small tube of Chanel Coco Rouge in Arthur. I thought it might be too warm for me, usually reaching for blue tones instead, but it works!

Adrienne

Thank you to all the stylish participants this month. Jill and I love your Red Hot looks! 🔥

***And now for November’s theme!

It is hard to believe 2017 is beginning to wind down but the closing months of the year also mean it’s time to pull out all those great fall items you had to store for the summer—like your blazers!

So join us in November for “How I Wear My: Blazer.” Whether you prefer it solid, patterned or striped, whether you wear it with jeans, trousers or a dress, we want to see how you style a wardrobe essential!

Send your photos to us at howiwearmy@yahoo.com by November 6, 2017 and be sure to include a description of your outfit, which we will use directly in our posts. Visit the How I Wear My page for more information. 

Head over to Jill’s to nearly two dozen more stylish Red Hot looks! 🔥

Disclosure: Stella Carakasi clothing featured in my look were given to me in exchange for my review. All opinions are 100% my own, as always. 

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