Japanese Tea Garden San Francisco

wearing: gold hoop earrings / stripe dress / scarf / nail polish / caramel top handle bag / sneakers /

The Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco is located in Golden Gate Park and dates back to the world’s fair in 1884. It’s a peaceful garden filled with well-kept vegetation and beautiful koi. Despite visiting on a holiday weekend, we were able to enjoy the peaceful vibe and take in the beauty of the garden.

After walking throughout the garden, we stopped and had a relaxing cup of tea. I enjoyed the Jasmine tea. It was brewed just right. Love!

You can see my 4th of July blue glitter nail polish above, despite being a holiday weekend, we were able to enjoy the gardens and easily find a seat in the teahouse to enjoy our tea.

One really cool thing about the Japanese Tea Gardens is that they limit how many people can enter each hour, so it keeps the crowds down and allows you to enjoy the setting. Pro tip: 9am-10am is free Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Be sure to book tickets ahead of time online through Golden Gate Park.

After visiting the Japanese Tea Gardens, we walked over to the California Academy of Science and enjoyed the exhibits and aquarium. I recommend checking it out; even my college age kids loved it, so did us adults.

It gets foggy, as you can tell from my photos. So, make sure you bring a sweatshirt, scarf or light jacket.

Thanks for stopping by and stay tuned for more summer coverage!

XOXO

Cathy

BAF Weekly List

BAF Weekly List from top left: knit top / lipstick / Hermes summer nail polish / Chanel summer nail polish / Dior summer nail polish / chocolate brown dress / fragrance sampler / caramel top handle bag / suede high heels / canvas tote / black boots / belted tote /

Nail polish is hot this year! As soon as Chanel released their summer nail polish, the collection sold within days. Thankfully there are still a handful of colors left online here. But, if you love a color, snap it up now because they are selling fast!

It’s amazing how popular nail polish is in 2026. I am not used to nail polish collections selling out within a week after being introduced. It isn’t just Chanel selling out, Hermes and Dior have had sell outs as well. If you have trouble locating a color, let me know. I can try and locate it for you in stock; of course, no guarantees. If you see a color you love, snap it up right away!

In addition to nail polish being hot, the anonymous handbag, investment dressing, and heavier fragrances are all hot right now. Yes, that’s right, heavier fragrances. I have even heard rumors that leaving a fragrance trail behind is coming back in style! It was how we wore fragrance in the 1990s, and it seems to be making a comeback. Think gourmands and woody fragrances.

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Thanks for stopping by and stay tuned for my picks from the upcoming Nordstrom sale! It will have summer must-haves as well as pre-fall treats. Love that!

XOXO

Cathy

Bare nails are not a thing

pictured: an alternative to bare nails, sheer nails. / Chanel Affirmee nail polish for summer 2026 /

Bare nails are not a thing. Don’t believe everything you see on the internet. The people touting bare nails on social media as luxury and the current trend, don’t live in a luxury world. They are just promoting their own personal opinion which is not reality.

When people have bare nails, it is for a number of reasons. Some of those reasons may include a person is between manicures, or the polish chipped and they didn’t have time to repaint before going out so they opted to remove the polish, or someone is working on something that may chip their nails so they are paint-free, or for religious reasons, or they simply don’t like nail polish; and many more explanations. It has nothing to do with luxury, and everything to do with choices and lifestyle.

If you are wondering about luxury and nail polish, and what the correlation might be, you’re seeking an answer to something very individual. Nail polish is something artistic, and everyone expresses themselves in different ways. Some people prefer long nails, some short. Some people like nail art, others prefer one color. The list goes on.

I know “looking rich” or “looking wealthy” is a current internet and social media trend, but what is that trend really? It doesn’t matter if you try to look a certain way outside of your tax bracket, you will still look like you. Looking like a tax bracket above yours, isn’t about the bag you carry, the nails you have painted, or the colors you wear, it is a vibe and how you carry yourself. It is a lifestyle you can afford or not afford. So instead of seeking to look a certain way which doesn’t represent your bank account, how about dressing for yourself and reflecting your own personal lifestyle and vibe. You will feel more secure and luxurious than you ever imagined.

Oh, and have fun with your nails! Paint them any color you are in the mood for, don’t let some random social media account tell you bare nails are a thing, because they are not a trend, just a choice.

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy