The City Sage

Happy Mother's Day!

My mom and I have had our rough patches--who hasn't?--but there are moments when I realize I'm like a mini version of her and there's nothing better I could possibly hope to be. Sometimes, for example, I'll be cooking and it's like I'm watching her hands on the cutting board, not mine. Or when I'm putting together the perfect grey sweatshirt/jeans combo, it's her in my brain. 

So aside from a few bits best left forgotten (walking a cat on a leash?!) I'm sending this one out to my mom. She taught me more than I can possible hope to retain about botany (that's her day job); she taught me an awful lot about style (see above for her virtual gift list); and she taught me how to swim, both literally and metaphorically. Love you mom!  

Shopping Guide: 1. Scarf 2. Incense 3. Cutting Board 4. Glass 5. Espadrilles. Images: 1, 5. My personal files. 2. 3. 4. 

Thursday Song: Emmylou by First Aid Kit

Isn't it funny how the right songs find us at the right time? Or perhaps, how we turn songs, stories, poems, into what we want them to be in our moments of need? I've known about the singing sister duo First Aid Kit since they first slipped onto the scene with a haunting Fleet Foxes cover (they were just girls then!) but it's their latest single Emmylou that has me forever a fan.

The two come to us from Sweden but their influence is decidedly American folk, and it's been fascinating to watch them evolve. 'Emmylou' is perhaps the most mainstream of their radio releases, and it will get into your blood with its steady beat, smiling steel guitar, soaring harmonies, and seductive promises of sweet, simple love everlasting.  

It's those promises, that lyrical offer of hope, that have me hooked here. Because aren't we always fascinated by history's couples--the Emmylous and Grams, the Johnnies and Junes--who seemed to radiate in each other's presence? "Just sing, little darling, sing with me." Was it that easy for them? Can it be that easy for us? Yes. In snippets and in moments it can, and this song is one of them. 

Images: 1, 8. First Aid Kit. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 9. 10.   

Video: Rue Magazine for Privet House at Target

Oh hey. I've said it before but I'll say it again. One of my favorite things to do at Rue is make our fun little video vignettes. So I was over the moon when Target asked us to do one for their just-launched Privet House at Target collaboration. Basically it meant this: gather some best friends for a day in the garden and catch it on film. Don't have to tell me twice!

Step 1? Call up the boys from Shark Pig, masterminds behind most of our Rue videos. In this case Son of Shark Pig worked his directorial wiles. Step 2? Invite ourselves to the home of Disregarden for some vintage furnishings and props magic. Step 3? Tap the kitchens of Whoa Nelly Catering for a feast of epic proportions. Toss in help from Rebecca Buenik Styling and we were golden!

What pulled it all together was the boxes of fun Privet House at Target stuff that we got to play with for the camera. From tableware to planting supplies to stationery and beyond, I was genuinely excited to see these goodies in person and get a chance to style with them. Our guests loved 'em all, too; they're in Target stores and on the website now. Only question: When can we do it again?!

Shopping Guide: Notebooks, Storage Bin, Stamps and Cards, Watering Can, Scented Candle, Trays. Photos: The Why We Love on Instagram.

Mother's Day Giveaway: Flowers from Olive & Cocoa

Pop Quiz: What are you getting mom for Mother's Day? Yeah, I dunno either. Well the lovely folks at Olive & Cocoa want to help us out. They're giving one lucky reader these flowers just in time to send to any mother (or heck, any non-mother too!) anywhere in the US. And everyone else gets 20% off the same arrangement. Holy lifesavers, batman!

I adore the Lillia arrangement from Olive & Cocoa (Oprah's a fan of this wonderful gift website too). It comes unassembled, so there's room for your own creativity. I had such fun trimming a few cherry and jasmine blossoms to add to the ranunculus and hyacinth of the Lillia. Just don't tell my neighbors about where I found those extra blossoms, okay?    

Knowing my mom, who I happen to take after (sometimes too much), she likes to put her own spin on things as well. Plus it's refreshing to receive something that requires a little participation, isn't it? To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment on this post and tell me who you'd send the Lillia arrangement to, and how you think she'd style it. And hey, it's okay to say yourself! 

Some extra info: Receive 20% off the Lillia arrangement using the code SAGE at checkout. Get an extra giveaway entry by following @oliveandcocoa and tweeting the giveaway, just be sure to let me know about it in the comments. Oh, and these gorgeous photos? They're the work of the amazing JetKat Photo. Happy Monday everyone! xoxo 

Rue Issue 11 Is Live!

It's that time again! Another issue of Rue is ready for your perusing pleasure. As usual, we went all over to get the best under one digital roof; from Napa to Nashville, Seattle to San Diego, we're tickled pink (and mint, and periwinkle) with the geographical diversity in this month's issue. You'll see plenty of familiar faces, and lots of new ones too. Now go dive in!

Photo Credit: Erika Dufour for Rue Magazine, Styled by of Brandon Frein and Arlene Matthews of TwentyThirtyForty.net

Palette Inspiration: Citrus and Sky

There are exceptions to every rule, but one that will always hold true is this: the sweet, juicy flash of orange and grapefruit, lemon and tangerine, will always look fresh contrasted against the sparkle of sea and sky. Perhaps it's the promise of summer in the offing, or maybe it's just the basic fact that orange and blue are opposites on the color wheel. Whatever the reason, I'm hooked.   

Make it happen at home. Serve clementine sorbet in bowls the exact shade of a Carribean lagoon at noon. Wear a chambray button-down with your punchiest poppy-hued pants. Host a baby shower in these gender-neutral tones, and serve lemon poppyseed cake or key lime pie (or heck, why not both?). Or, like me, just stare at these collages with wistful vacation thoughts in mind..

Images: 1, 3, 5. Anthropologie. 2. designlovefest. 4. Canelle et Vanille. 7. 8. Wear Color.

Magical Afternoon: Kinfolk Dinner Series in San Francisco

I recently had the sheer and utter pleasure of attending the latest installment of Kinfolk Magazine's Dinner Series. Held in San Francisco last Saturday, this springtime brunch was, quite simply put, the highlight of my year thus far. With its homespun aesthetic and thoughtful prose, Kinfolk celebrates the simple art of entertaining; and this gathering was like the publication's dreamy pages come to life.

Heirloom Cafe graciously opened their softly lit space to the fifty-or-so hungry diners who strolled up in the sun. The Kinfolk kids did a truly impressive job of rounding up the Bay Area's brightest and best partners to help the event happen. From baked goods via Tartine and Batter Bakery, flowers by Studio Choo, decor courtesy of Enjoy Events...the list goes on. It was happy sighs left, right, and center.

True to the Kinfolk creed, the best part was the folks who joined together in the shared meal, the laughter, and the appreciation for the artisans who created the experience for us. I caught up with the Remodelista team, hugged Kinfolk founder Nathan, and tried not to act starstruck around Heidi from 101 Cookbooks. Outcome? I felt such abundant gratitude for my hometown and my community! 

Beautiful photos by Laura Dart. More on the Kinfolk website!

Get Dressed: Floral-on-Floral with J Brand Jeans

The week before last we talked about this spring's florals-on-florals trend. Then I decided that if I'm going to blog about it, I'd better take it for a test drive. But I left my babydoll dress, with its black and pink roses, back in 1993 where it belongs. So J Brand's grey floral capris--the perfect neutral take on the look--are right up my alley!

Since I was in a garden mood, I kicked it up even farther and went for a floral pointelle V-neck. I guess I felt like thumbing my nose at those bright and bold blooms we're seeing everywhere! Really, why can't we put our own spin on every fad that comes our way? Why can't we dip our toes in but still make something our own at the same time?

I didn't need this blazer to tie the look together, because the tone-on-tone shades of the outfit were taking care of themselves just fine--but it was nice to have some clean, architectural lines to offset the more feminine sensibility of the sweater and jeans. Pointy-toed snakeskin flats added a dash of sass and made for perfect dancing shoes too. Result? Totally owned those florals!

Photography: Nathan Michael. Shopping Guide: Jeans, courtesy of J Brand. Sweater, Sandro. Jacket, Helmut Lang at Feature Boutique. Shoes, Loeffler Randall. Bag, Coach. Watch, vintage.

San Francisco Design Bloggers' Decor Picks on Refinery29

San Francisco is a blogger hotbed lately. It tickles me pink to see my home town fostering such community spirit amongst design afficionados and content creators. And it's even more wonderful to see big-time media outlets recognizing it--so I was delighted when Refinery29 asked several of us design bloggers us to share our lists of decor hits for Spring 2012!

My Rue co-founder Crystal and I stuck to our usual roles (she's more of the glamour girl and I stick to the softer side of things), and we didn't even plan it out beforehand. I love putting together shopping wishlists like this. They're a snapshot of my mindset at a moment in time--a blast to put together, a story that unfolds before my eyes. Catch the rest of the bloggers' roundups here!

Soft and Striped: Autumn Cashmere Spring 2012

There. Is. Nothing. Better. Than. Cashmere. (Truth.) Cashmere socks, cashmere sweats: I wear that magical fiber probably a little too much. And now with summer coming and these lightweight, stripey-stripe tees and dresses from Autumn Cashmere on my radar, there's no end in sight to the soft and fuzzy power of knitted awesome. 

How to wear and where? How and where not to, that's the question! With jeans, skinny or wide. With shorts, a skirt, over a dress. Prancing in your panties at home on a breezy afternoon. To the farmer's market Saturday, to brunch Sunday, to the office Monday, out to dinner Tuesday. This is all-occasion dressing with pieces you'll have for years. So snuggle in and bring on the sunshine!

Fashion Images: Autumn Cashmere. Other Image Credits: 1. 2. 3. 4.