Academy of Science

The Academy is my favorite place on a cold day. The aquarium rivals Monterey Bay and the steamy rain forest makes you feel like you're in Hawaii. I will miss living a few blocks away. There's nothing like it and my daughter loves the playroom. Love to the people who put it together.





Under water ballerina...

Bucket List#1 Napa Valley

We recently took advantage of Napa Valley being only an hour away. It seems hundreds of miles away when you are in wine country. It was sunny, calming and the food delicious. The day was a gorgeous summer one and perfect for a picnic and wine tasting on the lush grounds of some special wineries. Napa and Sonoma are on our bucket list and will not be scratched off until we leave. There is so much to explore up there.

View of the Moma

This is the lovely view from the Metreon in Yerba Buena Gardens of the Museum of Modern Art (Moma). Not bad for a movie theater view. The building is gorgeous from afar and even better inside.



I love how even this touristy movie theater has compost bins. It inspires me to compost again. I gave up after a battle with gnats, but will try again.

Clarion Alley Murals

There is great deal of art in the city, and not always in the museums. This colorful alley off Valencia Street caught my eye. It was a drab alley and the artists brought some light to this part of the city. It is a unique creative outlet for some local artists and I believe the building owners had the right idea of how to deal with graffiti.

Mission Dolores

This is the church door of the Mission Dolores. We were sitting below this and I almost missed the beauty of the details, until our heads turned up.

San Francisco- love to you

It is time to embark on a new kind of blog. This is the first post in a new series of love for San Francisco. It is a reminder that I should be thankful for where I am in life and to try to live more in the moment. I hope you love where you are right now.

Gruyer or Sheep's Milk Brie

After tasting some local cheeses last week in Napa, I looked into pictures from a Paris trip. I found the most incredible shop (pictured). It was a pungent heaven. So many classes I've never heard of and wanted to try. Locally, I like to keep my eye out for the same. Sonoma Cheese makes some wonderful California cheese as well as the Cowgirl Creamery (located in the Ferry Building).

We were sitting outside a cafe in Paris and noticed a dog waiting patiently on a motorcycle. The white haired pooch was comfortable wearing glasses. I thought that was strange. I guess you can say that French dogs are chic and bike ride, maybe they sip wine and eat a little fromage also, who knows.

Cameron Diaz Ad

062609_V60_Mert&Marchus_spread3
Originally uploaded by hudson_jeans

I kind of like this ad I found on Flickr. How Madonna of Cameron Diaz. The Madonna I saw as my first concert experience at Dodger Stadium, many moons ago for the Who's That girl Tour. Go Cam.

Napa in the Fall

I went to Napa (and started in Sonoma) in a limo full of girlfriends last weekend. We sipped some well crafted wines at a handful of vineyards, ate wonderful cheese with sparkling wine at Domaine Carneros and brunched at Boont Fly in Carneros.


Domaine Carneros (above)


Fall is one of the most beautiful times to visit wine country. The leaves are changing and the weather is still relatively warm. I can't wait to go back again soon and discover more gems in Napa like Goose Crossing. Lucky me, the most stunning wine region is only an hour north of San Francisco!






Vines at Goose Crossing

Kara's Cupcakes in the Marina district, San Francisco

Mmmm Kara's Cupcakes

Kara's Cupcakes in the Marina district, San Francisco
Originally uploaded by beastandbean

If you're ever visiting San Francisco, Kara's are the best cupcakes in the city. I have been on a cupcake kick and they have the most delicious coconut cupcakes in my opinion. They have mini ones that keep me guilt free.

Beautiful Rose

...
Originally uploaded by { andrew }

I came across this artful photograph on Flickr.
It seemed sad yet pulled me in. Enjoy!

Leopard Prints

cheetah cheetah everywhere
Originally uploaded by hudson_jeans

I thought these were fun. I love a good animal print, especially in color.

As the Leaves Change

As the leaves fall off the trees and the air turns crisp and chilly, I am reminded of the wonderful summer we had.





This was a great weekend in North Lake Tahoe, and yes the water is so clean you can see the rocks clearly on the lake front beaches. You are so high in elevation that 70 degrees feels like 80. I live for the warm weather when the sun heats your body, when sand gets stuck in places it shouldn't. With time change approaching I have to relish in the summer we had and prepare to plunge into the next wet season of Northern California. Lake Tahoe is quite magical when draped in snow, but the summer in my eyes, is the best.

Halloween and Chucky

Fashion Week NYC
Originally uploaded by nancydowd

Halloween is right around the corner, what will you be this year (or your little one)? These Chucky dolls would make me run in the opposite direction but I thought together they look like some kind of humorous and strange evil child gang. Olivia will be a cat this year...unless I can get a hold of a chucky head.

Don't just sit there

Hipster
Originally uploaded by Joel Bedford

Photo by Joel Bedford

If you're just sitting around this weekend, you'll miss out on some great music at the Hardly Strictly Blue Grass Festival in San Francisco. I went earlier this evening, and listened to Lyle Lovett croon on the Banjo stage. My little Olivia ate fresh corn on the cob and organic hot dog. She up-chucked on the way home, but had a ball eating the foot long corn stick. Go if you can!

fashion week, nyc

fashion week, nyc
Originally uploaded by { andrew }

Georgia Jagger

GMJ2
Originally uploaded by hudson_jeans

Georgia Jagger is the new face of Hudson Jeans, she is the daughter of Mick Jagger as you can see by the lips. Gorgeous girl, very Bridgette Bardot.

Washington Square

What is it about New York. I went there last week for work and stayed in Grenwich Village, a half block from Washington Square park. It was balmy and my skinny jeans stuck to my legs as I walked throught the city in the evenings. I was constantly sweaty and slightly uncomfortable but it felt great to be warmed. I was blocks from some of the best restaurants in the city and one of my favorite neighborhoods to people watch and soak in the energy of the area. It was warm still and the city looked so green and alive. I was visiting for Fashion Coterie and loved every second of it.


Washington Square
Originally uploaded by verphotoman

Upcoming Bay Area Dance Performances

Tango Dancers
Originally uploaded by -N-Root-

The dance season is coming underway and I am very excited to see some wonderful talent in the bay area in the next few months. Lines Ballet, ODC, Company C and Margaret Jenkins are a few companies that will take the stage soon in addition to SF Ballet. In the meantime, I thought this shot of tango dancers interwined is inspiring and so sensual.

A Day In California Wine Country

A quick jaunt over the golden gate bridge and you reach bountiful wine country. It is my favorite way to escape...north...for sunshine, open land and fresh oxygen via the best greenery. We skipped over most of Napa, except for Domain Chandon for sparkling wine and the most beautiful grounds. I love anything covered in creeping ivy. We followed up with Alexander Valley at Geyser Peak and ended at Simi, among the most stunning tree-scaped grounds and my favorite white wines.