Guess Where We Went This Weekend?

Disney, Real Life : Alix

I’ve been down in LA for a week and half freelancing. It’s tough to be away from my boys, but this weekend they drove down and it was SO GOOD to see them! As a special treat we took Wolfie to Disneyland on Sunday. Normally we plot our trips there around the “good” times to go (aka, when the crowds are low). This being Presidents Day Weekend, however, was not one of those times. The joint was PACKED. Greg technically isn’t as enamored with the Disney experience as I am, although having a child has made him appreciate it so much more.

Me? Well, it’s one of my favorite places to go. When I lived in San Diego as a kid (before moving to Michigan), we would go pretty much once a year and I have SUCH fond memories. It wasn’t nearly as crowded as it is these days. I admit, I love the “old school” Disney most. But even Greg remarked that pretty much everyone who works there is super friendly and even all the park goers are all in a good mood! Despite the long lines, we never saw anyone getting cranky. I also love the attention to detail at the place and the fact that’s it’s pretty amazingly CLEAN.

All the pics in this post are from the Tyler family photo album and are some of my favorites! That one up on top especially…

Here’ s me and my pops hanging out in the tea cups:

I love this photo of my mom, she looks so cute. I’m also impressed because I think she’s wearing platform sandals….oh, and yep. That’s lil ol’ me kickin’ back in my polka dot stroller.

This photo (from a few years later) kills me too….me and my mom in our plaid pants. My mom looks like a groovy modern day hipster with those cool shades! My whole family loves Disneyland, and I’d love for my brother Karl to join us there one day. Wolfie would love it!

I’m writing up a Guide to Disneyland (which I’ll probably post next week, once I’m back up in San Francisco) so if you have any questions about traveling there with (or without!) kiddos, just leave me a comment! I promise I’ll try to answer ’em all.

Kiddo Fieldtrip // The Closest I’ve Been to Johnny Depp

Kiddo Fieldtrips, Real Life : Dottie, ,

We always try to make the most of three day weekends.  A couple of special breakfasts like blueberry pancakes or biscuits and usually a fun trip somewhere out of the ordinary.  And going to see the tall ships at Jack London Square this past Saturday certainly fit the bill!  The tall —the Hawaiian Chieftain and the Lady Washington—came to Jack London Square and we were lucky enough to get a tour of these magnificent water vessels.

Founded on October 20, 1986 by Grays Harbor citizens, the Historical Seaport built and launched the brig Lady Washington. Since 1989, more than 200,000 students and over a million people have all walked her decks. They learned how 18th century mariners explored Grays Harbor and the west coast in search of wealth for the new nation of the United States.  The Lady Washington is a replica of the original Lady Washington. She also a bit of a movie star, and was featured in Pirates of the Caribbean.

And man, there is a lot of rope involved with these ships!

We were greeted by the amazing volunteers who dress in costumes which really helps bring the whole experience to life!  Somehow she has developed a liking for pirates and announced herself as one as soon as she boarded the ship.  Of course, the Peach was all over that ship and determined to see every nook and cranny of it.

We really appreciated the fun crew of volunteers who spend two weeks in training and then get to takes these beauties out on to the sea for months at a time. Truly the experience of a life time to say the least.  Definitely one for the old bucket list!  If I were a volunteer, I would totally learn how to do these amazing knot mats.

And I totally wouldn’t mind spending some time in this room…

Unfortunately, the adventure sails were sold out, but I really wanted to go on the a battle sale, which includes both ships, as they maneuver around each other in 18th century fashion and fire real cannon with real gunpowder (no cannon balls) at each other. Guests are encouraged to verbally taunt their adversaries. In both Battle Sails and Adventure Sails, guests have a chance to take the helm of a real tall ship and help raise a sail.

Well, the Peach is a bit young for that, but she enjoyed just marching around the boat.

(Her dress is from Tea Collection and her shoes are Livie and Luca.)

 

Friday Link Hootenanny :: Fun Things To Read

Link Hootenanny

It’s Friday! I’ve been down in L.A on a freelance assignment. The agency is really cool, but it’s def hard being away from home for 2 weeks. Usually when I go to L.A. it’s for a shoot or for editing—and our days and nights are filled with obligations and client schmoozin’. This is much more solitary. I’m just kind of chilling out in the hotel room. Eating dinner alone. Reading. It’s nice but weird. Lucky me, however, because my guys are coming down to meet me for the 3-day weekend! We have some fun plans in the works. In the meantime, here are some snazzy things that caught my eye over the week. HAPPY FRIDAY everyone!

 

1. HOLLY WOULD.

Jen, of Honey Kennedy, currated some super charming looks, inspired by old hollywood movies. See them here.

via modcloth blog

2. SHOW SOMEONE YOU CHAIR.

Hearts aren’t just for Valentines Day, you know. How fun is this mid-century themed desktop wallpaper? Download it for your laptop here.


via how about orange

3. OUT ON A LEDGE.

This installation from Buenos Aires-based artist Leandro Erlich is rather amazing. Mirrors and optical illusion make it look as thought visitors are climbing a Parisian building.  See how it really works here.

via: Black Eiffle

4. I SEE YOUR POINT.

This clever bag over at CRAFT is both stylish and relatively easy to make. How fun! I also love those colors. See for yourself here.

5. WHAT IF I NEVER TOOK THESE?

I often struggle with the question, is blogging interring with life (we’re so busy documenting life, are we actually enjoying it?) or is it enhancing life? (We often push ourselves to try new and fun things and capture moments we might otherwise never had in the past!) Jenny at Dos Family celebrates those special little moments she caught. See them here.

6. MAN VS OCTOPUS

Eartha, my love, you are so very clever. I love this adorable pepper octopus! See how to make it here.

via ranch dressing

7.  ROCK YOUR BODY

I featured a skeletal cake back during Halloween, but now someone has taken that idea and done it one better. A “body parts” themed birthday party. The eyeball pinata is particularly awesome. See more here.

via tiny reads

8. CUDDLY COTTAGE.

Aye. So sweet this little set from Alice Apple. She’s currently out of stock but will be updating her Etsy shop soon. Browse her other goodies here.

via charlotte’s fancy

 

9. DOWNTON GIRL FASHION

I discovered Downton Abbey late in the game and quickly devoured the entire first season. SO GOOD. I haven’t started Season 2, but I’ve been recording them and I can’t wait! Victoria came up with a genius collection of clothing inspired by the show. And it had me grinning. See it all over here.

via sfgirlbybay

10. DEEP RED FLOWER PARTY.

This little Valentines party from CAKE is sooooo pretty. The color of those flowers. Wow. Even the wine was coordinated.  See the entire event here.

BONUS VIDEO

Finally, Holly posted this video for Valentines and I thought it was so pretty. Paper cutting is such an art. Enjoy!

via decor8 

Meet Stella, our Weekly Kiddo!

Weekly Kiddos

Oh, there is so much to love about Stella! Her marvelous curly locks, her laugh that demands to be joined with equal joy. And her clear charm and wonderful style which is so perfectly San Francisco and well, perfect for such a free spirit as Stella.

And Stella’s fashion is just as delicious and multi-layered as her fair city. For example Stella already knows the power of a good red dress and topped it with the most divine green scarf belt. How perfect and unique. Just like Stella, who refuses to be in the same room as Santa, but can sing beautifully in front of a crowded auditorium.

Like most kids born and bred in SF, our girl Stella knows a thing or two about practical comfy shoes and the importance of layers.  And who wouldn’t want shoes as awesome as these sweet red boots?

OK–I want to wear this outfit. Would you check it out? The playful birdie skirt with just enough match in the lovely hot pink flats. Well done, lady!

What is there not to love about this girl. This super super girl!

Oh, you are super, Stella!

I asked her mommy, Tiffanie to give more deets about this darling girl of hers.  Here are a few:

  • Stella is a big reader. Avid reader. LOVES to read.
  • She knows San Francisco like the back of her hand. Loves to go out and explore the city with her Mom.
  • Stella loves musical theater and saw Wicked twice when it was running SF! Lucky girl! She is active in a drama class that she likes very much right now.  Expect to read her name in a Playbill in the future, folks!
  •  If not on the stage, perhaps the future will find her in the kitchen as she loves to play fake cooking shows in her kitchen. Hmmm… Maybe a show on Food Network is in her future as well…
  • Stella has a massive collection of miniature Japanese toys, which she and her family like to build block houses and restaurants and shops for. She has a dollhouse her handy Mommy built for her which she likes to play with.
  • Also, she loves ANYTHING pretend. “Pretend we own a restaurant” or “pretend we’re a greeting card factory” are two of her absolute favorites (especially card factory).  OK, maybe back to being in a Playbill…
  • She is spearheading an effort to get recycling bins on her play yard at her elementary school.  That makes me smile ear to ear!
  • On Saturdays, her favorite thing is to stay in her jammies as long as she can and eat sweets and read. She loves that Saturday morning is for the family to eat some giant sticky buns and sit around and pretend like she is not smack dab in the middle of San Francisco.
  • This girl LOVES hotels. She has picked staying at a hotel over birthday parties for the past few years.  Stella is clearly my kind of girl, as there is nothing more wonderful in my book than staying in a nice hotel.

But one of Stella’s absotively posolutely  favorite things ever is just time out with just her mommy.  She and her Mom call them ladies dates, and they only get them once a month or so, due to her little brother being around (he’s Oliver and he’s 2 1/2). She and her Mom will see some theater and go out for tea, or pedicures and lunch, or ice skating and window shopping.  That does sound like heaven!

Stella, San Francisco is tickled pink to call you one of its own!

To find out more about Stella’s adventures in SF and beyond, I highly recommend stopping by Tiffanie’s highly addicted blog, Corner Blog.

Vintage Book Shelf :: Science Books Get Groovy

Vintage Books



It’s time for another edition of the Vintage Book Shelf! Sometimes the coolest books come in the most unexpected forms. Like these science books! You wouldn’t think a book on math would have the most interesting graphics, but here’s where the vintage masters prove us wrong! I mean, the text is arguably a tad dry…but the illustrations and graphics? Soo excellent! I walked past this book 5 times, trying to resist its lure. But that cover, with it’s hypnotic pink and blue futuristic swirly bob had me under its spell! Let’s take a lil look-see at some of these cool books. I think you’re gonna love ’em as much as I do!

How amazing is that inside cover?? I love it. The illustrations in this one were mostly black and white drawings, but sprinkled throughout are cool images.

I love the kids here, especially the boy’s cool little socks…and that little magnet in his hand!

Speaking of magnets, for some reason I have a small collection of magnet books. And each one is SO good!

The top book is from the 70s and has very cool looking Euro kids. Purple and green living room? Why yes please!

The next one is from the 60s and has simple drawings in the best colors:

And even though the last book only has simple, black and white drawings, they’re by Bernice Myers (one of my favorites!) and they are super fun. I especially love the hands:

If you’ve never seen Bernice Myer’s work before, you’re in for a treat! I posted her book, The Pear Shaped Hill a while back and it’s sooo awesome. You can see it here! My book collection is getting a little outta control, but I really can’t resist a vintage kid’s book, ya know? They’re one of my all time favorite things to collect!

What do you think? Are you as taken by these scientific treasures as I am??