a day in the bay

puppy

ferry building

divisidero

golden gate

marin

rodeo beach sunset

Liberty of London

We had a gorgeous day bike riding in Sonoma and on the way home I convinced my hubby to stop at Target so I could check out the Liberty of London launch. I had seen that my local Target was almost sold out so we ventured to one near Sonoma which turned out to be the smart thing to do! I picked up some adorable dresses and a top for our upcoming trip to Mexico. Love!

I got this pink ruffle halter dress and this blue smocked top maxi dress. Both will be perfect for sipping margharita's by the ocean.

Light Me Up

Spotted on Design is Mine

I've been looking for a new light fixture for my front hallway because the one that is currently there is a bit traditional for my taste. I think this one would look really pretty.

"It look like she is wearing someone’s sheet."

I love the Oscars. Thank you Famecrawler for this hilarious post.

Image from Famecrawler.com

Bonjour Coco

My lips are naturally very red and so I find myself rarely wearing lipstick as the color never looks the same in the tube as it does on my lips. I've been obsessing lately however, over the new Chanel Coco Rouge lipstick ad campaign starring Vanessa Paradis.

image from Stylefrizz.com

She is the perfect Chanel woman in my mind and the image of her singing from her perch in a giant birdcage from their 1992 campaign is forever ingrained in my mind.

I think I'm due for a new look and some bright, gorgeous lipstick just might do the trick. A stop at the Chanel counter sounds like a good plan for tomorrow.

Perfect Mornings

Recently I've stopped drinking coffee and eating most pastries (I guess I overdid it in Paris?). I needed a little pick-me-up this morning however and I decided to head to my favorite new hang-out, the Woodlands Cafe. It's heaven. It really is. I tried the blueberry scone which was fresh out of the oven and it didn't disappoint. Happy Friday!

I ♥ Macarons

Today's Wall St. Journal had an article on the rising popularity of macarons and it featured the new Chronicle Book, I ♥ Macarons.


I love when they are a little bit dense and slightly chewy and not too airy or creamy. On a recent trip to Paris, I am proud to say that I visited Laduree daily and it didn't disappoint. The quaint little green jewel of a store was like something out of a highly stylized movie and I loved it. Each box was carefully packed with all the colors of the rainbow and they would bring me an unexplained feeling of joy. Now, if only they'd open in San Francisco...

I Wish I Had Dinner Parties

I've never been the person who hosted fabulous dinner parties - but I'm going to be. To help facilitate that New Year's Resolution though I need a new dining room table and chairs. I've been looking for a round table that could fit 6 people and I think I've finally found it at Z Gallerie of all places. Introducing the Harper table
and the Lola Side Chair in Pewter. You like?

Happy Birthday Weekend

Last month we celebrated my hubby's 35th birthday with a ski trip to Lake Tahoe and then a secret getaway to Calistoga - we called this combo the Ski n' Soak. One day you're swooshing down the slopes, the next you are floating in a natural hot springs pool. Ahhh... California.

It's Fall! It's Fall!

I get so excited when the leaves start to rustle and fall from the trees, the light turns a golden yellow and the days are warmer (at least in San Francisco!). I just want to run around and play! I think Rufus agrees.

Last Minute Holiday Gift

Happy Holidays everyone! Even though Christmas has now come and gone, I'm sure some of you will still be visiting friends and family in the next few days and need something to bring as a gift. This was my favorite treat to give my co-workers and neighbors this year and it takes less than 10 minutes to make.

ToastnCandy's Easy Holiday Bark

1. Get a bag of 60% cocoa dark chocolate & a prepackaged bag of fruit & nuts from Trader Joe's. I used a mix of almonds, pistachios and dried cherries but you can use whatever you like.


2. Boil a pot of water.

3. Place the chocolate chips inside a mug and set inside the pot of boiling water.


4. Stir the chocolate until it is melted.

5. Pour the chocolate onto a tin foil-lined baking sheet and spread it out so it's even.

6. Sprinkle your nut mixture on top.

7. Let sit overnight to harden.

8. Package in pretty bags, tie it with a bow and voila! Easy (and yummy!) holiday gift.

Pretty Stationery

I'm so pleased with my new personalized stationery (a gift from my hubby for our 5 year wedding anniversary!) that I had to share. It's from the lovely ladies at HelloLucky! here in San Francisco. If you live in the city, definitely stop by their offices on Howard St. & 6th to say "hello", you won't be disappointed.

Tree Jewelry

What a happy thing to find on a Friday! I'm not sure why, but I just love this TREE JEWELRY. Can't you picture it gleaming in your backyard on a hot sunny day?

The view on my morning bike ride

Mmmmm... Poutine.

On the road

Greetings from Philadelphia! We're heading to Ottawa to see my family
for a few days and we're enjoying a relaxing layover in Philly. Here's
my hubby chillin' in a rocker - the airport is full of them.

The 80s in Canada at it's best

Springtime munchies

My kitty doesn't like anything except chicken. Max Cat Roasted Chicken
to be exact. So when I brought home a little pot of kitty grass the
other day, I thought it was the next to find itself snubbed by Miss
Misa. To my surprise, this kitty grass has had magical effects on my
cat. She lazily lounges beside it, gazing at the fresh green pot as if
she were madly in love. Now that's one happy cat!

iPhone test

A friend just taught me how to post from my iPhone!

Ode to Yellow Shoes

This fall when I went to Barcelona I had visions of finding some beautiful yellow heels. I searched high and low and even dragged my hubby clear to the other side of town to a little shop rumored to have designer shoes at bargain prices. Alas, they did have designer shoes and the prices were just north of bargain but they were a little too er... European for me. Zippers. Odd colors and high heeled boots made of plastic and mesh. Sigh...

I just received a mailer from the clever people at Piperlime for 20% off my next purchase. Egad! These are the shoes from my visions! Maybe my hubby will find them a suitable Valentines gift?