Crochet by Kim:

      Random fact, I was way into Student Council while I was in high school. I loved planning the decorations and themes for school functions and all the wonderful people that I got to work with that I would have otherwise never met. This is when I first met Kim, she was our class secretary and I was the publicity officer. Little did I know that years after high school, Kim would be designing amazing knit wear! I never knew what an artist she would become but these days Kim designs and hand knits amazing scarves and even bow ties! (Like the gray one she is wearing in the above image) She even custom designs pieces specifically for her clients with the ideas of quality and comfort always in mind. You can view more of Kim's warm and cozy scarves at her website by clicking here! She designs for both women and men and you can view color swatches to design your own scarf by clicking here as well!

      I hope you will enjoy browsing Kim's site as much as I have for the perfect holiday gift or just something to keep yourself bundled up for the holiday!

Yours,

Nico

DIY: Nautical Centerpieces

      My dear friends Bianca and Johnathan got hitched recently and I was lucky enough to attend their fabulous wedding that was full of love, good cheer, and many blessings! I was also asked by Bianca to create some adorable table centerpieces for the big day as well. The wedding was right here in Santa Cruz and the bride and groom decided on a nautical theme for their special day. Vases wrapped in sturdy rope were off set by delicate flowers as well as a simple starfish and the centerpieces were perfect for the occasion! The best part? They were inexpensive and easy to assemble, here's how:

Supplies:

- Vases (The ones I used were scored at goodwill for just a few dollars)

- Starfish 

- Floral Foam

- Hot Glue Gun (With glue!)

- Flowers of your choice 

- Rope

Getting Started:
1: Begin by using the hot glue gun to glue rope around the entire vase. When you get to the top of the vase, cut some additional rope and insert the tattered and cut end into the vase where it won't be seen. 

2: Add small pieces of floral foam into the bottom of the vase, then add water into the vase as well.

3: Arrange cut flowers in the floral foam to your liking. I used gerbera daisies for this project.

4: Repeat assembly process until all centerpieces are complete. For the finishing touch, glue a starfish to the side of the vase!

      I had a lot of fun putting together these centerpieces. I was even more proud to contribute my creativity and time to Johnathan and Bianca on their special day (which also happened to be my birthday... which made the celebration even better!) I hope that this project inspires you to get creative too!

Yours,

Nico

Menswear Monday:

      A couple weeks ago I introduced a feature called "Menswear Monday" here on SatinAndSalt.com and today I am continuing that trend. I am happy to say that my friend Steven is being featured along with one of my own jewelry designs! Stephan is the lead singer  (and sometimes tambourine player) for a local Santa Cruz based band called "The Red Light District." The band specializes in edgy rock music, stellar live performances, and killer style. You can check out the band's facebook page for upcoming show dates by clicking here. Maybe I will see you at their next event!

      Stephan is wearing a basic black button up which (in my opinion) is a staple for most men and makes for the perfect backdrop for a unique necklace. I believe that the right accessories are essential for both women and men. What would Jimmy Hendrix do without his feather boa? Or would Steven Tyler have as much flare if he didn't tie scarves to his mic stand? I constructed this necklace using dyed agate, turquoise, and apatite chips making this piece the perfect accent to an otherwise basic black woven shirt. 

      I'd love to know, what are your thoughts on men's style? What is your favorite men's accessory? And I hope all you guys out there will stay tuned for the next "Menswear Monday" feature!


Yours,
Nico

Roam SF:

      This past Saturday I was lucky enough to enjoy an indulgent afternoon of consignment shopping and a delicious lunch in San Francisco with my boyfriend, Shahin. After walking out of Filmore & 5th (a fantastic sister store to Crossroads Trading  that specializes in designer labels and quality fabrics with budget friendly price tags), we spotted Roam and hungrily walked right in. We got lucky with this casual dining run in for sure! I can never resist a delectable cheeseburger and Roam's "build your own burger" option was high on my priority list once the fragrance from the kitchen hit me. I ordered a swiss cheese burger with the works: spicy mayo, ketchup, jalapeno relish, butter lettuce, a sliver of red onion, bacon and (for the ultimate grand flourish) truffled parmesan cheese fries! You can witness my excitement while devouring this meal by visiting this post from a couple days ago.  A cold IPA and a side order of french fries finished off this all american classic quite nicely as well. The atmosphere is cozy and casual, the food is amazing, the beer is ice cold, but the best part about this killer lunch spot? Roam actually cares about using the tastiest ingredients and that means preparing their meals with sustainable produce and meats including 100% grass-fed beef, free range poultry, and organic veggie burgers. And that is something that I am always happy to recognize in the food industry! You can view more of Roam's green practices by clicking here. But if you are more interested in food porn, continue on:

Yum!

None of these perfectly blonde french fries got left behind, they were so good!
Potato tender on the inside, crisp on the outside!

*Note to self: don't have a beer with lunch and then go shopping.

(Some girls get a manicure before they go wine tasting but I like
 to make sure my nails look great right before a french fry endeavor.
Lately I have been wearing Chanel's Rose Exuberance) 

      

     I love burger joints that allow you to customize like Roam does. What are your favorite condiments and toppings? 

Yours,

Nico 

*Social Tip: Whenever I am amongst new people and don't really know what to talk about, I always end up asking what would be on their perfect burger! It always breaks the ice and gets conversation going!

Black Velveteen:

(Dress- American Apparel)

     This is one of my favorite dresses that I have owned for a long while now. The sturdy (and shape slimming) velvet fabric has held up surprisingly well over the years while still looking soft and luxurious. This dress is just fine and lovely on it's own but I like mixing it up by wearing this leopard jacket over it or instead maybe a pop of color with this bag. A simple and elegant black dress will never go out of style... and I hope that every girl already has one (If not, then you have an excuse to window shop for the perfect option!). What do you like to wear with your little black dress?

Yours,

Nico

PS: This dress always reminds me of the Lenny Kravitz song- Black Velveteen

*All photos by Igor