Adventure: Muir Woods & Lookout

Some days just call for adventure.  

Adventure just calls for the "real" camera. 

The real camera just calls for a long photo blog post.  Get ready.

Mill Valley is like 15 minutes from the San Francisco city limit, and Muir Woods is RIGHT there. I grew up around here and hand no clue that woods like these were so accessible!! Yesterday, we wanted a little family adventure without having to battle our sweet little toddler's resistance to long drives (this is where having no car during the weeks works against us.. for Maggie, it's kind of the stroller or bust!). For some reason, my husband- who did NOT grow up around here, but knows his geography- suggested it because of its proximity to the city, and off we went!  

We grabbed lunch before leaving, ate it on picnic benches before getting inside, and then started our little hike! It's an incredibly manageable hike with two little ones. Perhaps it's because our lifestyle is to walk a LOT, but the kids walked themselves most of the way to the end! The massive trees, creeks, bridges, and general gorgeousness were perfect for my girls. S and Brian went a bit off-road hiking on a high trail, while M slept in her little Maclaren stroller (which, by the way, is totally fine for the easy trails).  

Stinson Beach was totally nearby too, but pretty packed considering it was the BEST weather, so we just drove up to Muir Woods lookout and enjoyed the insane views of the ocean, city, and mountains! All in a little days' adventure. I'd go again in a heartbeat. 

It's funny, because before we left, I sprawled lazily out on my bed and said "ehhhh, let's just rest at home todayy (with a bit of whine), and when we got home from our adventure, I felt more rested and grateful than I've felt in ages. Sometimes you just need to get OUT of the house/neighborhood/norm, and get a little extra dose of nature and family time to be invigorated! :)

What a (beautiful) week

What a week, what a week.  

First: the weather recap (in my childhood dreams, I would become a weathergirl. Good news is that in reality I didn't, because Apple products- Siri in particular- have totally messed with job security there).  

It rained- real rain- on Monday and Tuesday. I know that basically everywhere except CA gets rain year-round, but we just don't. It was very strange and kind of cozy and I wasn't sure if I should turn on some Christmas music and start wrapping gifts. It was weird.  

Then came Wednesday and I went outside early to a crazy warm, humid strangeness. I was in Haiti once, ages ago, and it felt just like that. In San Francisco. Yes, crazy but kind of awesome at the same time. I like a bit of variety.  

Now it's hot. I want to go jump in a pool, but no one in the city has a pool for the two weeks of the year that temps reach 90. 

So now that we have the weather all summarized, I'll move on... 

Sophie has told me she prefers to be called Sophie because that's her name, not Soph. She also dressed herself in a NOT crazy outfit, totally neutral outfit this week that made her look like she was 8 instead of 4 and both situations made me feel like she's such a big kid. Then today she put polka dot red pants, a striped multicolored skirt over, striped neon shoes, and a sparkly striped long sleeved tee with a brown sweater and a red flower headband over it, and I loved it. She IS still my little girl. 

Also this week, Brian and I went to another Ben Folds show at a sweet venue called Mountain Winery. Our good friend works & tours with them, so it was kind of a no-brainer to drive down to Saratoga and hang out on a gorgeous day and listen to good music. We got there very early, so it felt like vacation to just enjoy the grounds for a bit. (Work? What's this "work" you speak of?) Yes, it was about the most ideal Wednesday you can have.

I'm feeling quite old this week because I've been giving that knowing, very mature "mmm" when I see quotes that I like on Pinterest. I've always held myself to a higher standard than to be the one repinning quotes and sayings, but turns out, I'm just like the rest of us. I "liked" a few and screenshot a few, and next thing I know I'm going to hit the "inspirational sayings" tab and go to town with my "quotes" pins. Ack, such a grown-up thing. But seriously when I see: "gratefulness changes everything," I actually do believe it does deserve to be bookmarked and written and framed. I'm 30 and it's showing more & more... 

Speaking of something that should be framed... this gem may need to go in a future yearbook for these girls ("mom, what is this 'yearbook' you speak of?"). I mean, they're clearly artists, preparing to fly off to a place where they can make music and wear tutus and twirl their days away- nap and chore-free days, I might add.

Anyway, I'm sure you're aware that it's Friday and I'm in a mood and it's a good one. It's hot, (did I mention that?), and I'm wearing a dress, which Sophie lovingly pointed out to her daddy "mommy is wearing a dress because she wears enough jeans and she should wear her dress today..." which says a lot about why this blog is called styleSMALLER and not simply STYLE, because it would imply that more effort is made on my end than actually is.  

As much fun as I'm having typing the girls' nap time away, I really need to vacuum... you can probably tell from the above photo.  

Happy Weekend!  

Kate

PS. Follow on Bloglovin'!!! Google reader will be no more very soon, so carpe diem folks, seize the day.  

Chatting with Strangers

Sometimes I get into a cab and I'm friendly, and the cab (or Uber, or whatever I'm using on a given day), the driver is VERY friendly.  

That's great... kind of...  

I mean, I'm all for small talk for a minute or two, but there's a tricky balance... it's kind of like the airplane chatting... between small-talking just enough, and small talking way.too.much. Like, if you start discussing with your drivers the of ups and downs and personal careers and cab paychecks, it means they've quite possibly crossed the line.

And then I think to myself, well perhaps they've been at work for hours and just want a lovely little chat with another adult (by all means, as a stay-at-home mom, I can relate to that right?), and then I find out I'm their first call of the day. 

The airplane chat is even trickier than the cab ride, because a cab ride is generally not more than 15 minutes! Have you ever embarked on the plane, sat, and said friendly hellos... then gotten trapped in endless conversation? Ohhh, when I flew cross-country a TON in my young 20's, it seemed I would never learn. I recall making small talk and then having the person beside me start looking WITH me at my magazine when I came to the point of being done with said chat... I had to pull the "I need a nap" card. At 3pm? Yes, at 3pm.

My last straw was the time I sat beside some who casually mentioned he had just been released from prison that morning. Slightly unnerving for a 21-year-old, traveling another four hours alone beside said individual. Sometimes that's what it takes to learn.

So! Say a friendly hello, then pretend you have to look down for a minute and read something or other. When you know there is about 3% of your drive or flight remaining, choose THAT moment to strike up a conversation with a stranger. 

Annnd this is the tried and true best method for chatting with strangers. ;) Brought to you by "potentially useful Thursdays tips from Kate."

Sunshine

Missing from pictures: the three toddler tantrums and nap time negotiations.   

Seriously though, have I mentioned how much I love summer? Ahhh...

Summertime Favorites for Girls

clockwise from top left: 

Romper || Shorts || Sandals || Swimsuit || Shoes || Tank || Top || Shorts

Date Night

There comes a point when you have children that you just need a date. The past couples months have been reeeallyy busy for us, and generally our babysitting hours have been spent being social, so this was a past-due date night. There is nothing like taking a moment to breathe, enjoy the fresh air, and look up and not down chasing cute little kiddos and keeping them from trouble.... and eat without bibs and spills. ;) 

I benefitted from Brian turning 30 last year, and we got to use a gift card from his birthday to La Mar this weekend. If you're going to San Francisco and need a REALLY good date for dinner, it's definitely a great option (there are a lot of great options here though... I want to make a giant list of favorites soon)! I could have eaten the "cebiche nikei" all night. SO GOOD.

We were able to chat about anything and everything and really just take our time with it all. I definitely didn't appreciate dates before children like I do these days.

How often do you get on dates? I'm always curious if once in a month- like we've had lately- is a lot or a little as compared to other couples. I really admire the people who can date weekly. It sounds so ideal.  

HERE is my little Vine video from our date (love this guy!).

xo, 

Kate

 (also, there are always simple cheap date ideas here)