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Have you missed me? The tomboy and I snuck off to Guerneville for a romantic Mother’s Day minibreak in a riverside cabin. We’ve loved Dawn Ranch Lodge since it was Fife’s and little has changed with the ownership – the grounds are still lovely, the meadow is still lush, the spot where M & I skinny-dipped at 1AM back in 2005 is as it ever was. Even the bonfire ring has endured!

We made the best of the storms we weren’t expecting by cozying up under the covers with a variety of movies to play on the laptop and procuring super indulgent, artisan cheese plates to-go from our new favorite place to eat in town, Boon Eat + Drink, all enjoyed while the rain played on the cabin’s tiny roof overhead. We also traded in our beach plans for a Mother’s Day rose garden tour and champagne tasting at Korbel (they have an organic brut and a reserve blanc de noir that I liked, plus their guest house is HAUNTED which is so exciting), and picked up desserts to nibble on in bed at night. It was a much-needed distraction from the fact that the petite is far, far away on a school trip and we had to spend Mother’s Day without her. I hope y’all were good to your mamas!

These photos, however, are from before the little trip. The weather wasn’t quite warm, but not quite cold, otherwise known as quintessential San Francisco. The solution? Leggings. Little jacket. Layers. I am still obviously in love with these nude pumps and nothing screams, “Actual temps be damned, it’s SPRING for heaven’s sake” like a perky, bright yellow floral.

Skirt, French Atmosphere
Sporty Black Tank
Bib Necklace, Buffalo Exchange
Denim Jacket, True Beauty
Leggings, Dance Boutique
Shades, Le Tigre
Nude Pumps, Madden Girl

You’re DYING to know what I’m reading, right? I had a gift certificate from CHRISTMAS to burn through at Border’s (seriously, it said Feliz Navidad on it), so I picked up the first issue of The Gentlewoman (leaving only one on the shelves), since Geometric Sleep raved so fondly about it. It’s fabulous. I’m not even through with it yet. I also grabbed Elle and my Vogue and W had just arrived in the mail, so I’m up to my eyeballs in ladymags. I also succumbed to this lesbian novel written in the early 80s, set in Lake Tahoe and with much acclaim on its back cover. Lucky for me, I scarcely had any opportunity to read this weekend, so I’ll have more to say about Curious Wine soon, I’m sure!

ZOMG, THIS BELT THING! When I first saw it at modcloth.com, it kind of reminded me of a cross between a sweet, worn-in leather gun holster and the Zana Bayne leather harness Laia over at The Pop | Geometric Sleep wore so effortlessly awhile back. I will try wearing it as originally intended, but I love this idea – slinging it across one shoulder and packing the pouch with night-out essentials: ID, Besame’s darling and elegant lipstick bullets, blotting papers, cash. Period. I’m sure many femmes can agree: Sometimes not having to carry around a bag or purse or clutch or tote is freeing and happy, and not ALL dresses are made with – or are even practically made at all – pockets.

Plus, it’s inexpensive.

Plus, it’s real leather, which smells good and is super fun to wear in.

Plus, because I said so.

Also, I cannot wait to rock this scarf (also from modcloth.com) even as it warms up. It’s not quite sheer, but wafer-thin and moves nicely. I can see it dressing up a wifebeater, cutoff shorts and cowboy boots, I can see it giving a pop of color to a lightweight cotton tank dress, I can see it at Baker Beach with a 50s pinup swimsuit and some truly excellent shades. For now, it shall keep my neck warm, and prettily!

It’s been a lovely, sunny 55 degrees or thereabouts here in San Francisco lately. While not quite as warm as, say, Puerto Rico (82-85, according to the awesome Geometric Sleep), it’s definitely warmer than Atlanta and certainly New York, so I shan’t complain at all. The light was so lovely that we decided to go shoot outside, even though this is really just a mostly plain and relaxed outfit (and so sorely needed after Saturday night’s shenanigans). The silver sequins strewn in heart form across loose-fitting, skin-tone silk is really the icing on the cake.

We weren’t the only ones out yesterday afternoon! Meet “Scab”, one of our neighborhood cats. He’s a surly-looking guy who likes to watch M out in the garden or hang out under cars, bossing Boots around. I scorned him thoroughly until a few days ago, when we realized he hasn’t got any tags and responded so enthusiastically to a little bit of attention, so I watered and fed him. Now we’re old pals!

Last but not least, M made an amazing panini from scratch yesterday.

Come back tomorrow, for I have a very pressing femme question to answer from a dear reader! XOXO!