Holiday Card from Minted

Created on minted.com


For years I've been loyal to Tiny Prints for our holiday card creation, but this year I decided to mix it up by trying out Minted. I found that Minted had a much larger selection of non-photo cards which is exactly what I was looking for this year!

Oh Christmas Tree

Photo by J. Mears

The holiday season is in full swing so we purchased the teeniest tiniest Christmas tree for our little San Francisco apartment! 

For those with limited space and the enthusiasm for a real Christmas tree, might I suggest checking out the selection at Whole Foods (of all places)! That's where we found out little Charlie Brown tree.

Happy Holidays friends!



Happy Thanksgiving!

Photo by J. Mears

Happy Thanksgiving friends!

We have had a wonderful and busy few weeks. First, we had our dear friends Chad and Natalie in town over the weekend from Chicago and now we have Justin's parents here to celebrate a family Thanksgiving!

It's hard to believe that the holiday season has officially started (although, I have been secretly celebrating since right after Halloween night). I have so much to be thankful for this year, starting with my amazing friends, parents and family and of course Jay who makes me feel so incredibly loved every day. I have wanted to live in San Francisco as far back as I can remember, so I truly feel like I'm living my dream!

I hope everyone has a wonderful day and a little time to reflect on the happiness in their lives!

Nutcracker with the San Francisco Ballet

Photo by Carl Johnson

Last year was the first time I had the opportunity to see the Nutcracker live and also learned that San Francisco was the first city to bring the Nutcracker to the U.S. We went to a Christmas Eve matinee performance just hours before we flew out to Michigan for the holidays. It was such a special way to spend our last afternoon in the city before Christmas!

We loved the experience so much, that this year we decided to go to opening night. I can't wait! It's the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. We are thinking of making a tradition of it!


Weekend Wishes

Photo by R. Mears

Happy Friday friends!

The weather took a turn for the cold over here in San Francisco. But I must admit I am enjoying the change. It feels like holiday time and for me, it's the best time of year!

I am looking forward to enjoying the build up to Thanksgiving, followed by Christmas. And I can't wait to see Market Street decorated with lights and the holiday decorations in the stores lining Union Square.

Did anyone notice the holiday cups are already out at Starbucks?! It'll just be a few more weeks before the peppermint mocha is back! Sometimes it's simply the little things that put a smile on my face.

Have a cozy weekend! Stay warm!

Dandelion Chocolate

Photo by K. Mears

In our quest to cook more at home and use in-season ingredients, Jay and I have been trying to dedicate Saturday mornings to the Noe Valley Farmers Market. While we mostly purchase fruits and vegetables, we couldn't help but stop by the new dark chocolate stand, Dandelion Chocolate!

We purchased all three "bean to bar" chocolates currently available: Venezuela, Costa Rica and Madagascar (named after where the bean originated). Each bar has a unique flavor since the chocolate is made in small batches and are just chocolate and sugar - nothing else.  Although I'm still consuming extra sweet calories, I don't feel as bad eating this chocolate knowing literally who made it (we met them at the stand!) and that there aren't any extra preservatives in the chocolate.

I must admit though, it didn't take Jay and I very long (less than 5 days, eek!) to polish off all three bars. So for now, we will be skipping the stand and only venturing by for special occasions (or every other Saturday, which ever comes first)!