I have to say, for several years, Cuyana has been the place I find special gifts for anyone on my list. I know they are care deeply about the quality of their products. Last year, I bought my mom the softest alpaca wrap – she wears it daily. Several other relatives received the awesome leather travel cases, which I have as well and they can be used for just about anything. This year I’m loving their new mini jewelry case, perfect for travel or bringing with you to work in case you need to make a quick jewelry change throughout your day! Cuyana’s philosophy of fewer, better things is perfectly aligned with my beliefs of giving quality over quantity. In addition, they have items from all over the globe. Many are made by family-run partners in Italy, Argentina, Peru, Turkey, and beyond. When you purchase something from Cuyana, you can find fewer better gifts and feel great about giving them! This year, I’m adding this stunning jewelry case to my gift-giving list, plus a few of my above favorites. Not only is it handcrafted magic, it also functions so well for traveling. Maybe that will be my excuse to book my next trip! This post is a partnership with Cuyana. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting sponsored posts that keep Sacramento Street doors open.

This year, my family and I are cutting back on the number of gifts we are giving each other this year. All of us feel we need less “stuff” in our lives. Less is always more in my eyes. So this year, I’m looking for gifts I know loved ones would use to be able to enjoy in their own home. One of my favorite design stores on Sacramento Street – March is my go-to spot for holiday gifts for both family, friends and clients. Every time I walk into this store, I want to go home and simplify my surroundings. New favorites at March were: Apple Butter (warning – this is addicting!) Fig/Sumac Jam Peppermint Loose Leaf Tea What I love about their pantry items is that they not only are things that people don’t normally purchase for themselves but they are something that make whoever you give them to think of you when they use them. I love having little hostess gifts at the ready and all of these are perfect, thoughtful gifts that are sure to be enjoyed! Photos taken by Ashley Kane, Edited by me

This holiday season, we went to Oregon to visit family and friends. It was nice to get back and catch up with the people we love. One thing I decided to do this year, was to do all of my holiday shopping for my loved ones in Portland while I was there. Thanks to all of you readers, I got some great recommendations on places to visit. To avoid the hustle bustle and fight over limited parking, I decided to pop around town using Uber. It was great to be able to move around town using scheduled rides and not have to be fumbling for quarters for the meters, or circling the block looking for a coveted parking spot. I could just jump out of my Uber and enjoy my day of shopping. I had such a fun shopping day and hit all of the places I had hoped to visit. Here are some of the places I was able to go to using Uber. SPARTAN SHOP I thought I had died and gone to heaven when I walked into Spartan Shop. I found all kinds of home décor items for my family. I wanted to move into the space with the ceiling to floor windows and soaring ceilings! SAMMY’S FLOWERS Sammy’s Flowers is where we always bought flowers when we lived in Portland. I just love the well-curated selection of items in this flower shop. I have been known to bring all kinds of pods and dried flowers back with me to San Francisco. TEA BAR I’m always in favor of a place specializing in tea. I’m a committed tea drinker and Tea Bar was a great place for a goodie and a delicious cup of tea. ALDER & CO. Alder & Co. has been one of my favorite home décor stores in Portland. I never get out of this place without a bag of beauties! They have an extensive selection of Astier de Villette and other handmade items that are perfect for gift giving. WM GOODS I have to admit, I stopped into WM Goods for me. It was so fun to see all of their beautiful clothing. I bought a great navy blouse that I’ve been wearing way too much! SCHOOLHOUSE ELECTRIC I love popping by to see the lighting and other items Schoolhouse Electric has in person. I order from their catalog all the time, but having the chance to look at things in person was great! Consider using Uber to get your shopping done efficiently and painlessly. I had a great day and loved checking out shops in Portland! This post is a partnership with Uber. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting sponsored posts that keep Sacramento Street doors open.

With the holidays in full force I’m already beginning to think about how the New Year is just around the corner. It is always a time of reflection of the past year, a time to purge, and a time for a fresh new start. I’ve been a long-time fan of smudge sticks. When we moved into our apartment, I used them to clear the energy and start fresh. Whenever I use them, I feel as though their is a sense of positive energy that flows through our home and that translates to our daily life. I usually use them once a week. This season, I partnered with Natalie to create a simple DIY holiday smudge stick that you can all create on your own. They smell incredible using a little bit of holiday greenery. Read on for more details from Natalie herself! What was your inspiration behind creating these holiday smudge sticks? The definition for the Latin word for sage (“salvia”) is “to heal”. The act of burnin sage will ground your home and bring a cleansing of the of the energetic properties in your home. And, if not thing else, it makes your home smell good. I burn sage and palo santo sticks in my home daily. I find that it clears the space and redirects our attention be triggering our sense of smell but of course it also goes beyond that. I find that the act of making the sticks can be very meditative. I think this is the perfect time to burn the sticks, as we approach New Years and think about intentions for the future. What did you use to create them? Sage is the base element you want to use as it has the energy cleansing properties. They key is to find earthy fragrant elements that dry well. I like to mix in other elements that bring in the season and what is accessible. I used cedar in these sticks and often use rosemary. Lavender is a nice touch as well as gomphrena and celocia. When I made these the first time, I used what my Mother had growing in her garden in the same patch as the sage. There are many different varieties of sage. My favorite is “Grandfather Sage” (also called “Montana White Sage”) which his what my mother grows. What is your step-by-step process for creating your own smudge sticks? 1. Gather your materials and cut stems in similar lengths 3-5” long. 2. Bundle stems together and start to wrap with baking twine from the base towards the top. 3. Pull your twine tight and add more stems are you reach your desired thickness. II find at least four stems of your main elements works well. Pull the string as tight as possible as it loosens while it dries. 4. Add in more delicate elements such as rose buds. 5. Let it dry for a few days. 6. Burn! You can use the same stick multiple times. When you burn the sage use a feather or your hand to move the smoke around. It can also help to move the smoke in a circular direction leading it out a window or door so that you bring the energy outside and release it. How long do you have to wait until you use them? Do they have to be completely dried? You only have to wait a few days for them to be dry enough to burn. It doesn’t take long and they last for nearly forever. This was such a fun project to work on with Natalie. I love finding ways to create items that you can easily do yourself. To get inspired by Natalie’s past flower posts – click here. Flowers by Natalie Bowen Designs | Images by Caitlin Flemming for Sacramento Street

This month marks a very special celebration in our house – our tenth year engagement anniversary. On Christmas Day ten years ago – during a horrible snowstorm Eric proposed. I’ve partnered with The Shane Co. to share how we will be remembering all of the milestones we’ve gone through as a couple since we’ve been together. Eric and I have been together since high school – yes, you heard that right. You don’t hear about high school sweethearts very often anymore. We’ve been through so many incredible moments together but this one in particular feels extra special since it marks the moment we knew we would be spending forever together. Every Christmas, Eric gives me a gift meant for our anniversary. He chooses a different restaurant each time for us to celebrate our time together. This year – being our tenth anniversary – he added a beautifulRose Gold Pavé-Set Diamond Wedding BandandFreshwater Pearl and Diamond Earringsto the mix. And always wanting to surprise me, he decided to also surprise me by hanging the ring directly on the tree. He then texted me to find a surprise on the tree. When I found it, the tag told me to dress warmly for a ride on his scooter for dinner. The Video Finding a way to bring a sense of wonder into a marriage is always a good thing. And what person wouldn’t want a lovely piece of jewelry for a gift? I found so many pieces at The Shane Co. that would add a sense of wonder for everyone. This post is a partnership with The Shane Co. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting sponsored posts that keep Sacramento Street doors open. Photo by Andrea Posadas for Sacramento Street

This post is a partnership with World Market. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting sponsored posts that keep Sacramento Street doors open. Since having children, I have always looked forward to shopping for fun table settings for the holidays. I love being able to start traditions with my own family, along with carrying on the ones my husband and I had as children. One of the first things I do is try to figure out what our holiday table will look like. It’s one of my favorite things to create for the holidays. This year, I went with the theme of winter wonderland. I find World Market the perfect place to find fun and interesting items for the holidays. This year, I went with a black, gold, and white theme and in the end, it reminded me of a snowy day in Switzerland. I started with black plates. From there, I added black and gold candlesticks, a gold, silver, and white runner with a winter motif, gilded glassware, and gold beads with simple flowers in the center. But what made it the perfect winter wonderland, were the wooden chalet ornaments I placed at each place setting. They are just about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. The great thing about World Market, is that you can layer the table and not go broke doing so! I found everything there for this perfect table scape and I know we will be using it for years to come during the holidays. Jackson loves the snow village on the credenza and jumps up and down with glee when he sees it. There are many other items there to create your own layered table and begin new traditions for the holidays. Photo by Andrea Posadas for Sacramento Street

I try to take a trip down south to Los Angeles to source for design projects every quarter to get a shot of inspiration from design studios and stores. One of the most important stops for me is Hollywood at Home. There is so much to get inspired by in this exquisite showroom. I also tend to find pillows already made with the Peter Dunham fabrics. This particular trip I was focused on finding pieces for Jackson’s room. I chose two different prints for Jackson’s room makeover –add The Globe print (LOVE) and The Mombasa print. In addition to the pillows, probably one of my favorite items I chose to layer into his room was a hand-woven bed cover I used to drape on the bed frame. It completely transformed the bed! I love it so much I’m considering buying another one to use on our dining room table for the holidays. Made in India, the design is so perfect. You can see the full room reveal here! I also find their fabric displays to be easy to look through and filled with some of my favorite names – Peter Dunham, Carolina Irving, Lisa Fine, and so many others. I always come home inspired with new ideas for the rooms I am designing. There is also the added bonus of great smalls and furniture at Hollywood at Home that can sometimes work perfectly in a home. I’ve found several items for my own home there! If you are in Los Angeles, make one of your first stops Hollywood at Home!

It’s time to kick off the holiday season with one of my favorite things to decorate for during the holidays – beautiful tabletops! The holidays are my favorite time of year. I feel like there is a little magic in the air. When CB2 reached out to me this season to collaborate on a holiday tabletop I jumped at the chance to work with them once again – I worked with them on the CB2 Apt a few years ago. This season, CB2 is partnering with influencers across the country to have them design a holiday tabletop that will be displayed in their local CB2 store. One of the best parts about this partnership – this entire tabletop for eight will be given away to one local reader here in the Bay Area. Details on how to enter are below! The winner will be announced the next day and everything will be shipped right away to enjoy for the holiday season. TO ENTER Visit the CB2 store in San Francisco’s Union Square location any time between today and Wednesday, November 29 and ask an associate where you can enter! You’ll see this entire tabletop displayed in store. Also, join me this Wednesday, November 29th for a holiday party in store! More details to come. This post is a partnership with CB2. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting sponsored posts that keep Sacramento Street doors open. Photo by Andrea Posadas for Sacramento Street

It’s the weekend many of us have been waiting for when it comes to holidays sales – I have a love, hate relationship with it. But ultimately, who doesn’t love a good sale? Plus, you can sit back on your sofa with a big cup of coffee and avoid the lines. Some of my favorite places to shop are have HUGE sales now through Monday and I’ve round all of them up for you. So here we go! SHOPBOP Shopbop is place to shop for ALL wardrobe essentials is having one of their biggest sales – up to 75% off with code MORE17. I’ve been loving this puffer jacket, these jeans, and these booties. 20% off orders of +$200, 25% off orders of +$500 and 30% off orders of +$800 code: MORE17 NORDSTROM Who doesn’t love a little Nordies damage? I’ve had a list of pieces I’ve been waiting to go on sale for myself and loved ones. My FAVORITE boots are on super sale – they are the best winter boot! JENNI KAYNE Each season I buy a few key pieces for my wardrobe from Jenni Kayne – I adore their sweaters and I’ve been eyeing their new slippers. Now is the time to invest in a pieces because they are 20% off with code BLK20. J.CREW J.Crew is one of my go-to spots for gifts each holiday season – I love their socks and small accessories as stocking stuffers! Everything is 40% off with code THANKU MADEWELL Need I say more? We all need a little Madewell in our lives. They are offering 25% off with code DONTSTRESS. ANTHROPOLOGIE Each season I head into Anthro for the dose of holiday magic. Don’t their store displays give you the holiday fuzzies? They do for me. Every item is 30% off! Photo by Andrea Posadas for Sacramento Street

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays – probably because it’s the official start to the holiday season. House start getting festive and there is magic in the air. One thing I love about the Thanksgiving holiday is the ability to play around with the tabletop – there are so many different branches, flowers and objects you can add to a table that are unexpected.Natalieand I came together to put together a simple, yet striking arrangement anyone could do – just snip some branches from you backyard, add in a few dried pieces and some roses from the store. Read on to see howNatalie was inspiredfor this stunning arrangement! When it comes to pulling together an arrangement for Thanksgiving what should people look for? The first point of inspiration I find is to coordinate with the other elements going on the table. Whether it is a family heirloom table cloth, your blue willow place setting, or even your beeswax candles, finding a color palate jumping point from the table is an easy way to start. My other tips are, keep your arrangement low if it is on the table you are eat at, or skip the table arrangement and do a statement piece on a side table and let the food be the main show of the table. What did you use in this months Blooms in Season? quicksand roses rosehips rainpod dried grasses I feel like texture and color play a huge role in a Thanksgiving centerpiece – what are your thoughts on that? I love something that feels very seasonal and isn’t overly floral. Using elements that are dried and non-floral remind us of the changing season. With each arrangement, you design you tend to have an element of surprise. Is this something you try to do to make them unique? I love hearing that because that is something I take into consideration. With every arrangement I make I like to include something simply beautiful (in this case the rose) and either an unexpected element (the dried pieces) or a beautiful line found in the natural shape of the branches or leaves (the rose hips). I find people engage with an arrangement when there is a moment of wonder or surprise. Any tips for readers that are pulling together their own centerpiece this week? Use what you have in your garden or is easily accessible to you and then add one special feature bloom. You don’t have to buy a lot of components to make something special. To get inspired by past Blooms in Season posts – click here. Flowers by Natalie Bowen Designs | Images by Caitlin Flemming for Sacramento Street