The past week has been warm – I’m talking sandal and tank top weather! It has been pure bliss! And what better way to start off the weekend than a little outdoor gathering with friends. Living in the city I crave outdoor space and it’s rare to have. Thankfully, a dear friend has a beautiful home overlooking the city and Golden Gate Bridge. She welcomed us into her home. After a long week of work, I love getting together with girlfriends for a little wine and cheese – who doesn’t? When brainstorming setting the mood for this gathering, I wanted to go outside my usual neutral color palate. I decided that since it’s the beginning of our summer here in the Bay Area I’d go big – I’m talking pops of teal and orange. Luckily Horchow was here to help with the tabletop – from the beautiful glassware(that inspired the pop of teal), to the crisp white bistro plates – everything on their site is perfect for entertaining outdoors. Now, when thinking about what to serve I always start my evenings off with a stunning cheese board filled with delicious bites everyone will enjoy. I personally think they are the best thing to make when having friends over. It’s quick and easy. In order to create what I call the perfect cheese board you need just a few key things in your fridge and pantry. Sometimes, I feel like some people are intimidated by a cheese board, but they shouldn’t be – that’s why I’m sharing go-to tips on creating the perfect one. • Be sure to include a mix of fresh, aged, soft and hard cheeses. Personal favorites are goat cheese, Manchego and Brie. • Try adding fruit like pears, grapes, apples or figs. Each compliment a different cheese. • Add nuts from your pantry – almonds, walnuts or spiced pecans. • If they have them in your cheese department – a mix of olives is always a favorite among guests. • And soft baguette and a crackers to spread these delicious cheese on are a must. Style it all on a long cutting board or tray (like this weathered wood tray from Horchow) and you’ll have guests smitten by this beautiful presentation. The best part? It only takes a few minutes to put together before they arrive! I hope all of you can enjoy the last taste of warm weather before fall arrives and the sun starts setting earlier. We have to the cherish these moments before it’s too late. Now start planning your next outdoor gathering and don’t forget to pop over to Horchow to see how they can help make it extra chic! This post is brought to you by Horchow. Visit Horchow.com to see more items you can use in your own home for outdoor entertaining. Thanks for supporting posts that keep Sacramento Street doors open. Photos by Caitlin Flemming #entertaining

This weekend we were graced with summer-like weather. While everyone else across the country is celebrating the beginning of fall, we’re rejoicing in these rare 80 degree days. It’s such a pleasant feeling being out in the city knowing you don’t have to have layers in your purse. Although the fog did roll back in Sunday night, it felt as though Karl the Fog(yes, our fog has an instagram account) was telling me to get home to get ready for my busy week ahead. I took this picture Friday night as we took our family out to dinner in Sausalito. It’s quite funny, I’ve never stopped at this lookout point and we randomly pulled off since there was no line to get in. It was beautiful to take in the city that I call home – it’s such a beauty. Cheers to the new week the lies ahead and be sure to pop back here for some fun posts this week! Photo by Caitlin Flemming #lifestyle

Are you ever on the hunt for something vintage to bring into your home? I always am! Adding vintage elements brings character and a richness to a home. Vintage pieces also have a story behind them – whether it’s the way you happened upon the item or the history behind its design. I truly believe every home should have vintage pieces in them. That’s why I’m excited to spread the word about a new vintage marketplace – Chairish. If you’ve ever found yourself sifting through pages upon pages of ugliness on Criaglist, or find that 1st Dibs is a little too high end for you, then Chairish will be your new best friend. It’s person-to-person, individuals selling to individuals, which gives sellers the opportunity to reach many more buyers than they would using a traditional consignment shop from the convenience of their home. Luckily for us, Chairish has a team of curators that sift through the items before they even hit the site – you can find that long lost Eames chair you’ve been searching for, stunning Lillian August tables, mid-century furniture as far as your eye can see, and much more. It’s like being at the Alameda Flea market, but better because you can shop in the comfort of your own home. Here are some of my favorites that I’m coveting for clients and our new apartment. One / Two / Three / Four / Five / Six / Seven / Eight / Nine Lucky for us, Chairish is giving away $500 towards anything on the site. One lucky Sacramento Street reader will be able to bring in a touch of old to their home! To enter the sweepstakes, click here. Once you’ve filled out the form you’ll be entered to win. Wishing all of you good luck and if you want to comment below on where you would put the $500 towards, I’d love to know! Giveaway Details: Please complete the entry for a valid submission Winner will be contacted via email. This sweepstakes closes at 11:50pm PT on Friday, September 13th. This post is brought to you by Chairish. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting sponsored posts that keep Sacramento Street doors open. #interiors

With New York Fashion Week just a few days away I’m excited to bring you a little slice of fashion here. I met The Podolls about five years ago when I worked at Erica Tanov. I remember when they first started out with their organic cotton t-shirts – let’s just say, all of us were obsessed with the graphics. Fast forward to now and the Lauren and Josh Podoll have made a huge name for themselves in the ready-to-wear industry. Who doesn’t love silk pants in stunning prints? Or blouses you can throw on with a pair of jeans and feel put together. They have created an effortless line that carries you through from one season to the next. I was thrilled to have the chance to sit down with both Lauren and Josh to hear about the two masterminds behind the brand. Photographing their beautiful workspace was so inspiring – I wanted to walk away with everything in sight. 1. What inspires your work and how is that manifested in your workspace? One of our favorite things about our studio is the garden access. The home office is small but has double doors to the deck and garden for moments when we need to take a break to ground ourselves, or brainstorm without the buzz of computers and cell phones in our faces. The greatest ideas often pop up when you allow yourself some time to relax, breathe and be quiet. 2. How would you describe your style and brand? The Podolls has been making handcrafted garments here in the USA since 2004. We have remained committed to sustainability and our motto is ‘tread lightly on the earth without sacrificing the delight of creativity.’ We aim to design versatile, modern silhouettes that fit well, last a long time and bring the wearer some joy. Textiles are an obsession of ours and we choose natural fibers, often hand spun and hand woven, to make our clothing. We design our own prints every season to create supple sand washed silk dresses, tops and pants, which have become a signature. The woman we design for is discerning, conscious, and young at heart. 3. What is your favorite piece of decor in your workspace? Lauren: The Astier de Villatte white owl who watches over us. Josh: Our Dan Attoe painting. 4. How was the transition from an out-of-home studio, to an in-home office? It was a bit challenging at first to down size from our spacious studio in the Dogpatch, but ultimately we embraced the practicality of working from home with a young baby. We miss that space and how it enabled us to separate work and home life but appreciate how a home office supports flexible hours around Dashiell’s schedule. In reality, when you have your own business you’re always working anyway and there’s a great deal of overlap between work and home. 5. How has living in San Francisco influenced your career? A huge influence! We met here, started our line here, and continue to manufacture the collection here. The Bay Area has such a long history of entrepreneurship and is generally super supportive of local businesses. There must be something in the water here that supports such amazing innovation in technology, food, design, etc. We just feel fortunate to be part of such a thriving creative community. 6. What do you want people take away from your design and your brand as a whole? The ultimate goal is making our customers feel comfortable, confident and happy in our clothes. We try to make effortless, beautiful garments that simplify dressing rather than complicate it. Life provides plenty of challenges; getting dressed doesn’t need to be one of them! 7. What is your design process like? How do you begin and bring your ideas to life? For us, the design process doesn’t have any set parameters. We might be inspired by a trip to Kyoto (Spring 2011) or a visit to the textile collection at the Deyoung (Fall 2013.) We also like to hang out and people watch at interesting cafes like Intelligentsia on Sunset in LA or The Mill on Divisadero in SF. We’re very inspired by street fashion and the way people put themselves together. 8. Aside from your office, is there anywhere you go to get inspired and get work done? When we’re starting to design a new collection we love to step out of the office and visit a museum or botanical garden or simply take a long drive together and brainstorm. Inspiration truly is everywhere. It helps to create space for it to strike. 9. What have you learned from being small business owners? Do you have any advice for people who are just starting out? The value of perseverance! Stay focused on your own ideas and goals and as cliché as it sounds, believe in yourself. 10. What are your future plans or dreams for the future? We’ve been dreaming for awhile about opening our own retail store for The Podolls and we’re happy to announce it’s coming true! We just signed on a space in Burlingame and are in the midst of the build-out. We’re so excited about this new chapter for our brand. The brick & mortar store will give us an opportunity to interact with our fans directly and merchandise our collection the way we envision it. And there are a few other fun projects in the works scheduled to coincide with the opening . . . think childrens’ wear and collaborations and exclusives. Come visit us in October for the grand opening! A big thank you to The Podolls for letting us get a glimpse of their workspace. If you live in the Bay Area be sure to keep an eye out for when their store opens this October! Photos by Caitlin Flemming #lifestyle #interiors

A few weeks ago I had a knock at my front door. It was Grant with another delicious recipe he tested. He couldn’t decide if he should make guacamole or hummus – so he decided to mix them together. Genius! I couldn’t stop eating it. The mix of avocado, cilantro and chickpeas was mouthwatering. You can’t just have one or ten . . . I ate the entire bowl. I highly recommend making this for when guests come over! Guacamole Hummus Ingredients 1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained 2 handfuls of fresh cilantro 1 garlic clove 1 ripe avocado 2 tablespoons water 3 tablespoons- extra- virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon or lemon or lime juice salt/pepper Directions 1. In a food processor, add in chickpeas, cilantro, garlic, and avocado. Pulse until finely chopped. 2. With the machine running, slowly add in the olive oil, lemon or lime juice and water, until the mixture is smooth. 3. Season with salt and pepper and serve with tortilla chips or carrots sticks or whatever you like. Recipe by Grant Gibson | Photography by Caitlin Flemming #cooking

While I’m sad to see summer go, my favorite season is about to begin. There is something about fall that gets me all giddy inside – the fashion, the layers, and the crisp weather. It feels like the beginning of a new year with everyone home from vacation and school back in session. Aren’t you excited for cozy knits layered with leather jackets? Or wearing those soft scarves that have been in hiding for the last six months? I certainly am. With a new season upon us, what better way to kick it off than with a little shopping. I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite deals + sales for you! – Shopbop just added some beautiful new pieces to its sale section. I’m coveting this silk blouse. – Want to spice up your home? Serena & Lily just added more home accessories to their summer sale. – Bloomies is having their BIG brown bag sale – 20% – 65% off! – Looking for a new rug? Zinc Door is offering 40% off all Surya rugs until September 16th with promo code LABORDAY. – I’ve been scoring big time of items I’ve been coveting at Madewell. They are offering an extra 30% off sale items with code BYESUMMER. – Lastly, Nordstrom is having a 40% shoe sale – I’m lusting after this pair of Frye riding boots and these Chio booties. They also added more to their sale section. Speaking of fall fashion – we have a Freda Salvador giveaway winner – a HUGE congrats Kate Collins! I know you’ll be sporting these Freda shoes this fall. I’d also like to welcome two new sponsors to Sacramento Street. Please welcome Blueprint Modern and Project Bly. I hope all of you enjoy a little time off today – I’m off to do a little fall shopping. Photo from here #lifestyle #style

This summer we’ve shared a bounty of summer recipes that I hope have graced some of your tables. I wanted to take a look back at what we’ve made because with September right around the corner, we will be delivering a fresh new take on our recipes. New veggies and produce will be coming to the farmers market or greeting you in your CSA box. Lentil Salad with Roasted Vegetables Risotto with Chard and Wild Mushrooms Peach Gazpacho Herby Lentil Salad Gluten Free Carrot Cake Oyster Sliders with Spicy Slaw Basil Parsley Pesto Mint Watermelon Salad Fig Cheesecake Carbonara with Poached Egg With that being said, I’d love to hear what type of recipes you would like to see more – sides, desserts, healthy lunch options? There are so many possibilities that we can cook up for you. Leave a comment or email me at info@sacramentostreet.com. Recipes by Susan Whang and Grant Gibson / Photography by Claire Giffen #cooking

After a weekend surrounded by friends in Seattle, I’m ready to kick this week at a fabulous new workshop about bringing your brand to video. I’m one of those people that has always avoided being on camera – I hate it. II don’t mind public speaking, but when a camera turns on and I’m in front of it, I freeze, so this should be interesting. I find that facing your fears is something you have to do in order to grow, so I’m taking a stab at it. What’s inspiring me this week – my new Clare Vivier messenger bag. It’s one of my favorite styles and I couldn’t resist getting it in black for this fall. It’s going to be great in London and Istanbul. This week I’m excited to share a brand new workspace feature, a few fall favorites, a Freda Salvador giveaway winner (be sure to enter) and more! Have a wonderful last week of August. Photo by Caitlin Flemming #lifestyle

There’s a new shop in town! Welcome Blu Dot to the hottest block in town – it’s across from Bar Tartine (dangerous!). San Franciscans are going to find this as their new favorite place to shop for furniture when they are sprucing up their homes. I’ve been a long time fan of with Blu Dot with their sleek designs and glossy finishes – they can be placed in just about any home. Yesterday I had the pleasure of touring the new shop with Vice President Medora Danz. At first glance I couldn’t believe all of the product they had – yes I go onto their site regularly, but seeing it all in person made a huge difference. With a stunning exterior that is bound to have bikers distracted as they drive by, to the beautiful wood that divides up the 5000 square foot space – there are so many elements of the space that I loved. Blu Dot wanted to keep the space clean and not add a lot of accessories because they want the pieces to be the center of the show. They definitely accomplished that goal. And with a furniture runway down the front window that will change every few months – I guarantee there are one or two or ten pieces you’ll want to add into your home. Doors open tonight at 5pm for the opening party, which all of you are welcome to attend. But if you can’t make it I would add it to your list of places to visit this weekend. I already have a wishlist going for our new apartment – especially the sleek Strut console. Blu Dot 560 Valencia (between 16th & 17th) San Francisco, CA opening party 5pm – 9pm Photos by Caitlin Flemming #interiors #lifestyle

Have y’all seen the J.Crew’s fall collection? This week they debuted their new catalog on Pinterest – a first ever for a retailer. It has all of us coveting fall layers, beautiful knits and the shoes(I have shoe envy!). With their stunning collection on my mind I thought I’d share a few of my favorites with all of you. 1. Marlie Purse in Suede 2. Crystal and Stone Row Earrings 3. Merino Tippi Sweater 4. Collection Valentina D’orsay Pumps Be sure to check out the shop for more of my favorites. I hope this inspires you back to school shopping! #style