friday finds 1.27.23
it’s evergreen pear season in santa barbara, and it’s one of winter’s little joys here.
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hello, friends! my spirits are so uplifted by a recent long stretch of heavy sunshine in my neck of the woods, and there is something about getting outside and letting the warmth hit my face, even in the middle of a crazy work day, that makes everything seem like it’ll be a-okay. these glorious, delicate white flowers in the photo are evergreen pear, and they are a seasonal gem of winter living in santa barbara. the trees explode in white flowers, much like cherry blossoms in the spring or jacaranda trees in may, and they dot our streets with a burst of floral beauty, signaling that spring is so close we can almost touch it. I hope you love this week’s finds.
each friday, this space will be dedicated to five pieces I’m loving for the week across the worlds of home decor, lifestyle and wellness, with at least one (but hopefully at times all) featuring a local small business, artisan or maker I love. in an effort to keep these recommendations in line with my own efforts to stay authentic as a content creator and my greater efforts to be less wasteful as a human being, I will only recommend pieces that I own or have owned personally, focusing on brands whose sustainability practices and company ethos I can get behind. here are my finds for this week…
organic airy gauze blanket from quince
quince is one of my more recent brand obsessions. they are known for offering affordable luxury, taking items like european cashmere, silk, linen and other items that are often a heavy splurge and offering them at very economical prices due to the elimination of the middleman in their supply chain process. I have been a fan of their clothing but I only recently started trying out some of their home goods and this blanket is one of my favorite discoveries. it feels reminiscent of parachute’s cloud linen gauze blankets, but at half the price. a beautiful layer for any bedroom.
parfum in moena 12 | 69 from carta fragrances
fragrance is so evocative, so romantic in nature that when I heard carta founder heather d’angelo’s story of this fragrance “moena 12 | 69,” of her adventures in the peruvian amazon sourcing this rare essential oil from the moena tree, I was immediately swept away by the story and the meaning behind it, even before I smelled its intoxicating scent. her company’s commitment to sustainability through every thread of carta’s practices (from the agricultural practices of the farms she sources from down to the teeny, beautiful eco-friendly cork she bottles her samples with in a commitment to offer a truly zero-waste experience) is an inspiration and model for others in the industry. moena 12 | 69 is lush, earthy and complex all at once.
white helix match cloche from skeem
though I am dreaming of spring, the reality is it is still the heart of candle season and this sculptural match cloche truly brings a special ritualistic touch to the lighting of candles on a cold, winter night. the matches simply strike on the back of the cloche and they are incredibly high-quality matches. this is a pretty and functional addition to any coffee table vignette.
sweet paris from frank adrian barron
funny story: I met sweet paris author frank and his lovely husband while I was on my honeymoon in greece. he very sweetly — on a cliffside in sifnos, no less — offered to take our photo and many greek pastries and freddos across the island later, I knew frank was the epitome of fabulous. it wasn’t till later that I learned that frank was a prolific american baker living in paris, and he published his first cookbook last year. not only is it the most gorgeous cookbook ever, but it is also a love letter to pastry and paris and frank’s stunning creations across all four seasons. if you are in any way a fan of baking, you must check out frank’s collection of inspired recipes with parisian flair. you won’t regret it.
marble hexagonal coasters from threshold
these are my favorite coasters on the planet. the marble provides a clean, beautiful contrast against the gnarled wood backdrop of a vintage coffee table, and the beveled edge elevates it past the many marble coasters out there. they are also super sturdy with little felt feet so your surfaces are truly protected. a great way to spend $13.
