In this post, wine tasting at our favorite Sonoma winery, some beautiful belts to spice up your wardrobe this fall and how I displayed meaningful art in my home.
Hello and whew! I just returned from a few days in Spokane WA with my younger daughter and it was hot in the PNC! We were there to get her moved into her new house (with no AC) before the University fall semester starts. Although we narrowly avoided heat-stroke, I loved being able to spend time with her and I’m glad she put up with me! Above are some views of the Spokane River from our evening stroll near her campus- once it was cool enough to go outside.
We returned home to the Bay Area to a broken air conditioner which added insult to injury. Thankfully the heatwave here seems to be subsiding, and we should have the AC situation resolved soon. If you live without AC in the summer, my condolences!
Wine Tasting at Gundlach Bundschu
Our wedding anniversary also happens to be this weekend, so my husband suggested a quick trip up to Sonoma to visit our favorite winery, Gundlach Bundschu. It’s one of the oldest wineries in California and their tasting courtyard is a beautiful place to spend an afternoon. With our Bacchus Club membership we get a free tasting four times a year, and we love a good charcuterie plate – who doesn’t? Since we’re only in Nor Cal part-time now we have to plan ahead to take advantage of all the membership perks! Wine tastings in Napa and Sonoma are getting more and more expensive, so if it’s something you enjoy doing it can be worth it to get a membership at your favorite winery (or wineries!)
The weather cooperated and it was a lovely 85 degrees – much more civilized than the 100+ degrees we had been experiencing over the last few days. We were treated to some great wines and a delicious charcuterie spread, plus we had a chance to catch up with one of the owners, a friend from our college days.
The courtyard outside of the tasting room is shaded by old olive trees and overlooks a large pond and the vineyards and mountains across the valley. It’s a really pretty spot.
The grounds of this winery are expansive, but we didn’t have time to wander around too much. I did snap a few pics of the patio area and the tasting room/gift shop. I also took a pic of the cheese fridge in the gift shop so I could remember the names of the cheeses we ate. I wish cheese was a health food. Sigh.
The tasting room and gift shop is full of interesting (and useful) Gundlach Bundschu merch. The winery is also super dog-friendly so there are treats and goods for fur babies as well.
We picked up a few bottles from our latest shipment to enjoy later at home. We particularly enjoy their Rhinefarm Rose and like to have bottles of it on-hand during the warmer months. I also came across a summer spritz recipe for their Dry Gewurtztraminer that I’m sharing below. This would work well with any dry light white wine, especially during the summer months.
There’s also a cool (literally and figuratively!) “secret” lounge behind the tasting room where they host lo-fi evenings and other fun events throughout the year. I love all of the Gundlach Bundschu family photos and artifacts displayed in the tasting room and this one. You really get a sense of the history of the winery.
In the past we have attended music festivals and other events at the winery with friends and we always have fun while we’re drinking great wine. Hard not to! In fact, we’re planning on visiting their sister property Abbot’s Passage soon with friends. Like I said, we have to take advantage of being so close to wine country while we’re in town!
Belt Shopping
When I first started researching this post, the iconic Gucci belt was top of mind. I’ve always (kind of?) wanted one. However, now that I’ve done a deeper dive into the world of belts, I now realize there are a lot of great choices to be had. Decisions, decisions! I tend to gravitate toward more classic styles, with buckles that add an interesting detail.
Black Belts
All of these belts caught my eye because of their buckles. I love the pop of gold detail on black leather, plus the fact that the Tory Burch 1” Miller Smooth and Valentino VLOGO belts (top) are reversible. Two for one! I really like the contrasting stitching on the TB one. The pearl buckle on the B-Low the Belt Joan belt (middle) adds a pretty feminine touch to an otherwise plain style. I own the Treasure & Bond Oval Buckle belt (bottom left) and have worn it frequently. The Raina Rocky Statement Belt (bottom right) has a gorgeous buckle that would look amazing on a simple black cocktail dress.
Brown Belts
I love classic brown belts. They have a little more of a casual feel than black belts, but are still versatile. Gold hardware looks fantastic against warm browns. The Christian Laboutin belt (top left) is gorgeous with its iconic red interior, the same red used on the soles of their shoes. The intricate gold buckle on the Raina stretch belt (top right) is gorgeous. I would wear it with a sweater dress and brown leather booties. The Frye Campus Leather Belt (middle) would work well to cinch your waist in a white button-down shirt or denim dress. I also love the YSL Logo suede belt (bottom left). It would pair well with jeans and a fall sweater. The studded belt by FRAME (bottom right) has a slightly western feel, but could go with a more preppy look too.
Sometimes an outfit doesn’t need a dark-colored belt and this is where a neutral color can come in handy. White or cream summery outfits don’t necessarily need a heavy dark leather belt, and this Reiss Elastic Woven Belt (top left) is the perfect lighter accessory. I love the round tortoise buckle. Another good choice for a lighter neutral leather is this Reiss Brompton Leather Belt. I like the sleek brushed gold hardware and taupe color. The Khaite Bambi Belt in beige suede with palladium plated brass is a luxurious looking accessory that will elevate an outfit. Gucci also has a nice neutral leather Marmont belt (bottom left) that I actually found pre-owned on Amazon! Lastly this timeless Coach Sculpted C Buckle reversible belt is very versatile and adds a classic look to any ensemble.
Fun Belts
Sometimes you need a belt that is has some personality, maybe for a concert or an edgier outfit. Belts with studs are a great option. This Free People Sola Studded leather belt is fun and relatively inexpensive. This gorgeous Celine Medium Triomphe belt (top right) is so subtle and elegant! The two wrap belts, by Ada (middle left) and AllSaints (middle right), are cool waist-cinching alternatives. I also believe everyone should have at least one animal-print belt, and this Khaite Benny Belt in Natural Python is a perfect neutral.
Using Meaningful Art in Our Home
We’re still in the process of “moving in” to our Bay Area home, and that includes finding art for the blank walls. In a previous post I shared how I used baskets to fill in a blank wall in our family room. I recently came across some small paintings that were done by my grandmother and my younger daughter. My grandma was a super special person in my life and I have many fond memories of her. She took up painting in her retirement and I have held on to some of her paintings for years. I decided that it doesn’t make sense to hold on to them if I wasn’t going to display them so I found a spot in our family room above our bookcase to hang a small gallery.
I love that my daughter’s painting (made in a middle school art class) is displayed next to her great-grandmother’s paintings. If you have children, you know that you quickly amass a pile of their “art”. I have a lot of it still stored away and my kids are now adults. It’s a fun reminder of when they were little.
I framed all of the paintings in plain black wooden frames without the glass so the texture of the paint shows.
They make me happy when I look at them and I think that’s what’s important. I have other personal family items in storage that I would like to display and I’m looking forward finding spots for them in both of our homes. I haven’t used these items over the years because the colors in them “didn’t go” with whatever color scheme I had going at the time. I’ve decided to embrace having things that “don’t match”. I think it makes a home more interesting and personal. What are your thoughts?
Below are some frame sources if you are looking to add some personal art to your walls.
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Thanks for stopping by! If you missed my last post about Turtle Bay on Oahu and other things, you can find it here. Have a great week!
