City Living: Taking a Ferry to Sausalito

It's Friday. Yes. A legitimate Friday with a weekend to follow! Last weekend, my husband worked, so it feels like this has been the most continuous, long week ever.

Monday, we decided we needed an adventure. A friend was in town and invited us to go on a ferry ride to Sausalito and I had thoughts of Kate Beckinsale in Serendipity circa 2000, taking in the perfect city as she flawlessly looked into the distance, so we agreed to go. "We" is two little tag-teaming troublemakers directly prior to lunchtime, until approx. after naps. It was chaos of epic proportions, let me tell you. Sometimes I think I'm more capable than I actually am.

Our sit-and-stand stroller was a dream for about four months. Things began going south after that... a broken basket below, foamy pushing surface falling off, and our final straw... a wheel that falls off when we lift for any reason. As you can imagine, we lift our stroller up and down excessively, so... yes, it's a little embarrassing when I have a runaway wheel. On this particular day, our trusty Maclaren single-stroller went to work in the car with my husband, so I had no choice. To the north bay with a testy stroller we went. The wheel fell off more times than I can quite remember, and if I didn't have a conscience for my fellow humans, I would have abandoned that beast on the side of the road. I'm being quite literal.

I took a lot of pictures that look like the entire experience was straight-up bliss. It was definitely fun, but my lack of prep and "make-do" mentality way more stressful than I would have thought! If you are going to be taking a ferry in San Francisco to Sausalito alone with two kids, please heed this advice so you can most thoroughly enjoy the beautiful experience:

• Take the lightest weight stroller ever. There are stairs on the ferry that you'll have to maneuver once each way.
• If it's windy, mentally plan on sitting inside. It looks waaaayyy better outside, but the kids were literally blowing away from me. No bueno.
• Remember to feed your children prior to leaving the house.
• Dress in layers because you'll freeze on the ferry, then likely get really warm in Sausalito.

All that said, it has the potential of being an easy jaunt if you're well prepared. Sausalito is such a charming little town, with little cafes, delis, tourist shops, candy shops, and most importantly: an ice cream shop. Everything comes with a side of an amazing view... it's undeniably gorgeous. When we go (generally by car), we always feel as if we've been teleported to a whole new world of vacation mode, even though it's literally less than 15 minutes from the city.

Here are a few pictures from the ferry. :)

Happy Weekend!

Love,

Kate

PS. If you can recommend any amazing city strollers that have those stand-on features for bigger kids, please let me know! We are in the market for a new stroller, for obvious reasons. xoxox

Happy Valentine's Day!

 Happy Valentine's Day!! Cute kids everywhere are getting pancakes and french toast cut in the shape of hearts, and little notes in their school lunches. Men are scrambling to figure out exactly what their wives really want so they can grab it for them, and women have our expectations cut out for them...

I'm in love with Valentine's day.  My mom has always been big on hearts and making special meals and giving us extra love on the holiday. My dad would always get mom flowers and make her the happiest girl alive. It never made sense to me that people would hate the holiday. We have holidays to remind ourselves of significant events and people in our history, and this is a holiday to remind us to be loving and sweet to one another... to remind us to do thoughtful things for our friends and for our spouses (shoutout to Brian, xo!!), and shower our kids with sweet gestures. It's only when we make the holiday about our expectations of what others owe us that it becomes a problem.

We will be celebrating love today... oh, and making those last-minute Valentines to pop in the mail for friends... belated Valentine's? Who does that? ME (I'll let you in on my secret: mailing things is a huge failing of mine).

Happy Valentine's day to you!

Love,

Kate

Photos by Caitlin of SugarSnaps. 

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs... love never fails..." (1Cor. 13:4-5, 8)

Bookish Small Style

My children are in love with reading. It makes me so happy. They'll sit with a pile of books almost every day before naps, and read their little hearts out. I've caught Sophie with all her dolls and animals in a semi-circle around her as she reads her books and shows the pictures. Maggie gets a little quiet time in her crib every day with a pile of board books and she sits with them on her lap and turns the pages. It's the most adorable thing ever. When I was a kid, I loved books so much that my brother & sister used to say that I would have the kids that would spend all their time reading books like me (because isn't every child identical to their parents?), and it mortified me because it meant I was a straight-up nerd kid... but I couldn't help it... I really, really liked books.

All that said, what they predicted might just be true... and I might just be very happy about it. Let's be honest: the nerd look is actually pretty darn adorable. Floods, chucks, cardigan and bookish scarf? Perfect. Hopefully it goes along with good grades in their futures.

And hey, tomorrow is Valentine's day. Let's throw in the best little hairclip ever: Sweetheart Clip by Hello Shiso (my favorite of all hair accessory brands).

What are our favorite books around here, you ask?

1. Curious George. We got a six-pack of George one day for like $4 and it has paid off in excess. We read these books like none other. Sweet & entertaining for any pre-schooler.

2. Dumbo. Sophie is a very big fan of Dumbo. She requests to watch it on Netflix and holds her book on her lap, turning pages as the events occur on screen. If you ask what her favorite book is, right now it's all Dumbo.

3. This is Not My Hat. This is my personal favorite. It's about a small fish stealing a hat from a big fish and let me just say, I laugh every time.

4.You Are My Cupcake. Maggie's personal pick. It's the first book she ever loved, and we all (S included) love reading it to her, affectionately saying "Maggie you're my mushy little pea" or "my chubby little pumpkin" as we turn pages.

5. Llama Llama Books. Maggie said "llama" as one of her first words... my favorite version is Red Pajamas. I like reading books that rhyme to the girls.

6. Pat the Bunny. Honestly one of the best books of all time. I wrote a post about it, that's how much I love it.

"Read on, my little ones," that's all I have to say about that.

Photo Credit for all photos of Sophie goes entirely to the talented Manus Chau Photography.

PS. I'd love suggestions for more good kid's books, by the way. Feel free to leave a comment with your recommendations!

Love,

Kate

What I've learned from 6 Months of Blogging

So our first milestone has been reached. Six months together in a little online space I affectionately call StyleSmaller. I feel like it's important to write this post about the learning I've done in order to remind myself, as well as as inform anyone thinking of starting a little blog themselves... caution: I have a lot to say on the subject!! :)

Be Confident.

When you create a blog, you are putting yourself out there. It feels vulnerable. When I started this blog, I hesitated to share anything with anyone in case they'd see it and not like it. I am not the type to want to sell anything to anyone, but when you blog, you're essentially trying to get people to click on your site and comment on your posts, and it can be intimidating to maneuver this social media world where we live.

The reality of it is... what are you losing by putting yourself out there a bit? Some will like what you do, others won't, but you're not going to lose friends over it. Don't sweat it. My tip: the more confident you are in what you're writing and putting out there, the more others will believe you have something good enough to click. Don't post things you don't believe or love.

Be Bold.

Ahhh, I declare it's necessary but I'm not very bold at all. Erin is VERY good at putting herself out there and boldly contacting people, but I am so terrified to put myself out there! I don't like to hear no's. Without Erin, we'd never be writing on the Honest blog... we would probably be stuck at 20 twitter followers, and my family would be the only one ever visiting this little online space. :) She has taught me so much about putting myself out there, so it's becoming much more natural for me, finally. I've found that I love working with people when they do say yes, and I've enjoyed so much the friends I've made through this blog, so really... why not put yourself out there a bit?

​Be Social. 

Some people naturally can tweet, facebook, instagram, pinterest, luv, keep, vine daily and not go insane. I cannot. I cannot even talk and text! It all takes time and adds up. I focus on three social medias: Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and try to be consistent during the week. Once or twice a week, I'll visit other social networks and "keep" something or "vine" a video, but I don't allow myself to obsess over it. It's also really important to remember that the number of follows and likes in my life does not define me. Not even close. God made me who I am and I can share only who I am, not who I am not.

It's good to work with other bloggers and build friendships with people doing things similar to yourself. It's like having "friends at work." It's one of the reasons I am absolutely loving profiling other moms on Mondays also... I LOVE getting a glimpse at the girls behind their work and blogs, and insight into what they do and love in real life. I also have been guest-posting on other blogs (if you want to see where, check the "Also Seen" tab above-- I need to update it!), and that is great for community as well. ALSO, some of my favorite posts on my blog have been guest posts from friends, such as the Toms shoes makeover and the DIY Paint Chip art brilliance pictured below:

Be Organized.

Write every single idea that comes to your mind, and keep all the ideas in one place. I have my iphone yellow notebook, which is definitely not amazing, but at least I know where it can be found at all times. When you  have opportunity to do a post, you don't want to be using quality time to be trying to remember those ideas you had. Also, I like to be somewhat organized by days on my blog. Mondays are for profiles, Wednesdays for small style, and Fridays for life and links. I give myself flexibility on Tuesdays and Thursdays based on what's inspiring me to post, but I like knowing things will be totally consistent three days of the week.

Be Yourself.

I'm not a true DIYer. If I tried to make things every day to share, my blog would probably be amazing, but I would be totally miserable. It's important that you do the things you love and not things just because everyone else does them. When I started this blog, I tried not to say too much because kid's style was the focus, but it totally wasn't "me" to just post some pictures and a few words and leave it at that. I've realized that it's my own little space on the internet, and writing my thoughts is a big part of the way I operate, so now you get longwinded essays and it's more a blog about lifestyle than just style inspiration. :) What's funny is that the writing posts that often take me the least time to compile often are the most popular posts as well. People like us for who we are, not for who we try to become for others through a screen.

Be Observant.

Try your best not to obsess over your stats, and when people don't enjoy a post you've worked hard to create, BUT be sure you're noticing what your readers enjoy and do not enjoy! If your stats are reeeallly low on a post, figure out what is missing from it. Maybe you didn't put your heart into it and it shows, or worse: maybe you DID and no one likes it. Chin up, fellow bloggers. I've heard it happens to all of us. Always note the time you're writing your posts and when you're telling your social networks... some times have better responses than others, simply based on the convenience of the time you posted!

Be Present.

When you're in "blog/work mode," be focused. Don't get distracted by social media or what everyone else is doing. Do what you do as well as you can, and be done with "work." Personally, I have a window of opportunity to blog during nap time, which is about two hours start to finish. It is the best use of my time to confidently write a post. It is not the best use of my time to see what everyone on Twitter ate for lunch, or how many people liked or didn't like my post on Facebook. There's no better way to deflate the passion behind today's post by looking at past posts that were not as well-received. FIRST work on what you're doing, THEN check on your social medias and read blogs for inspiration and fun, not for competition!

On the other side of that coin, don't use your time with your family to be distractedly thinking about your blog or work. It's great to take pictures of good times, and fine to take a couple minutes here and there to tweet or something, but do what you can do to enjoy your personal time and try not be distracted.

Ohhh I could write on and on and on about this whole blogging world. It's so interesting to see how the internet has changed in just five or six short years! Truthfully, I love learning. I definitely recommend to anyone who has a desire or passion to start a blog, just go for it. Every single person has a different worldview that will resonate with different audiences. Some will get big and great fast, others will slowly and steadily gain readers.

Also! You don't need to buy all the expensive amazing programs to create a pretty post. I spent a few dollars on a moodboard app that gets the job done just fine. Is it perfect? No. Do I have a designed site? Nope, not yet. BUT, just focus on content and learning, and if you're really passionate about it consistently, then invest.

Happy six months and a big THANK YOU for reading and being a part of my little world.

LOVE,

Kate

Mama Profile: Jeanne Chan of Shop Sweet Things

Jeanne Chan is a San Francisco based blogger with background in interior and retail design... and it shows. Her style at home and in beauty are impeccable, and she has been featured on the Glitter Guide, Gap StyldBy, Rue Magazine and Refinery29, to name a few. We are delighted to share a bit about the fabulous Jeanne for you today. Be sure to visit her beautiful blog Shop Sweet Things as well!

What are your favorite characteristics of your daughters? 

My oldest daughter is 2.5 years old and she has so much character right now! It's really hard to pinpoint my favorite. She's pretty silly and makes me laugh all the time. I suppose I really like that she's starting to have her own opinion now. We are actually communicating through words and sentences which is pretty amazing. My one-month-old daughter is just a snuggle bug. She's too young to develop any distinct characteristics, but she does love being cradled and recognizes my voice from a distance, so that makes me really happy.

What motivated you to start your blog?

After I had my first daughter, I really wanted to stay home with her, but also wanted to find work I could do from home. I started researching the types of things I could do and that's when I learned about blogs and blogging as a business. It was completely new to me, but I was inspired by all the blogs out there, particularly those with a design and lifestyle focus.

What was your line of work before you started your blog? Was it a difficult decision to quit your job when you had children?

I was in the retail and interior design industry for 10 years before I started blogging. I began with sales and then went into visual merchandising and operations. From Banana Republic to French Connection to Louis Vuitton, I loved it all (especially with all the employee discounts and perks). When it was time to move on from the retail life, I looked into other opportunities that were fashion/design related. It was through referrals that I landed administrative positions in a few interior companies including textiles, furnishings, and interior design (Tucker and Marks). It was a perfect transition since I've always loved interior design and it was wonderful that I was able to get into that field. I wouldn't say it was difficult to quit my job because I've always loved entrepreneurship. It was the perfect opportunity to start something on my own. I would say the only challenge to quitting my job is making things work financially, especially with a growing family.

What has been the most exciting opportunity or collaboration you've had since becoming a blogger?

Being in the Target Inner Circle has been one of the most exciting opportunities. It's a selected group of online influencers that get to collaborate with Target exclusively on creative content for the blog and other social media platforms. I am so honored to be a part of this because I've always admired Target's brilliant marketing and business model and to be able to work with them on this level is like a dream come true for a blogger.

How do you balance your work and motherhood?

Before I had my second daughter, I tried to have a 10a-6p work schedule. Now that I have a newborn again, having a specific schedule is just not going to work. I have to be very flexible with when I can work and I try not to beat myself up too much if I can't get something out on time. I do, however, try to reserve my Fridays and weekends to be with them.

What is the best part of the day for you?

The best part of the day has to be when my husband gets home from his job and we all get to spend family time together. With the kids' early bedtime and my husband getting home late from work, we really only have 1-2 hours a day to spend as a family, so I really look forward to it.

What is your style uniform?

Unless I have a special event or occasion, my style uniform is pretty laid back. I love an oversized chambray button down with skinny jeans or leggings. I either wear it with my oxfords, loafers or a pair of classic sneakers. Lately, I'm in love with my Superga sneakers. I'm a tote bag girl, so I either throw in a pretty graphic canvas tote or a simple black leather tote. I never leave my house without touching up my eyebrows and my blush.

What are your favorite places to shop for yourself and your girls?

For myself, I do enjoy hitting the everyday stores like H&M, Target, Gap, Madewell, J.Crew and Zara. When I feel like checking out more unique and splurge-worthy labels, I love visiting shops like Steven Alan, Scotch & Soda, Unionmade, Mill Mercantile, and Barney's. For my kids, I love doing their shopping at Gap and H&M. They're so young right now and they outgrow their clothes so fast, so I like to stick with these two brands - one for their high styles, and two for their wallet-friendly prices. Once in a while I do splurge on specialty labels and organic handmade products I often find online.

Do you have any tips for new bloggers?

Having blogged for just two years, I still consider myself pretty new. I think running a blog these days takes more than just creating content. Not only do you need to be original and have an authentic voice, but you also need to know how to market yourself and use different social media platforms to maximize your exposure. And don't use social media just to self-promote. Use them to connect and support other bloggers and brands you really admire. One motto I learned recently is "promote yourself once, promote others twice."

How's that for a little Monday beauty and inspiration? I want to go clean and redesign my home right about now. Thanks so much Jeanne!

XOXO, Kate & Erin

Photo Credits: Glitter Guide, Refinery 29, Traci Griffin Photography, and Jeanne Chan

Monday through Friday

This Friday isn't as exciting as most because my husband plans to work this weekend, whompwhommmp... but somehow Fridays always still get cred for being awesome just because of their name.

This week I took a lot of pictures. I always do, but usually my Rebel is away unless it's some special occasion and all my pics are with my iphone. This week, I brought the Rebel everywhere and my poor children were subjected to a camera in their face at all times. It was reeeally fun, and it makes the week look so much prettier in photos, but I can't keep it up for my kids' sake... "okay, look up riiiigght NOW..." and "stop having fun for ONE second and then I'll be done!"

I got these pink shoes from Urban the other day for $10. They are so so cute, but they are score zero on comfort. Sophie informed me when we were leaving for the park the other day that my park shoes are not cute and I should wear the pink ones instead. I'm already embarrassing my children with my style and they aren't even in school. Good news is that I agree that new flats are in order, just not ones that will require an evening foot massage every time I wear them. Maybe I should go big-time and spend $20. ;)

The toy of the week around here was the Honest box/boat. Maggie is so fearless about things, so she'll just dive right in head first to get in the boat. Soph makes little contraptions so that she can pull strings (aka my robe belts) through to make them pull-able. That box has gotten so much play-time this week and I think we might make a low little boat out of it so it's a tiny bit safer. I did cut hearts out of the box and attach them to headbands for Valentines for friends, so it's definitely getting good use.

In other news, the pacifiers- that I have somehow consistently kept track of- have been disappearing like crazy this week. We had a looong search at naps yesterday, and then at night another one. I was about to take a cranky trip to the store muttering about how I'm losing my mind when Sophie said "oh! I know! It's in my purse in my bike!" And indeed it was. She had packed it. See, so there is a reason the pacifiers disappear on the regular.

Now I have for you some favorite things of the week around this great world wide web... why is it so fun to say world wide web? I don't even know.

PS.. that little crafty headband under the "Friday" category is a slice of craftiness for you on the Honest blog today. Go over HERE and see the other little ideas I have for your Valentines. XO

LINK LOVE

We are SO close to the cutest holiday of the year, so let's get ourselves some links to get in the spirit:

1. Pink & Red shoes for a little Valentine.2. Pom Pom Flowers spotted (with a 10% discount) on A Subtle Revelry. 3. Multiple Choice Valentine Card. Perfect. 4. Recipe for heart waffle sandwiches (and a hello apparel sweatshirt that I love)! 5. Pretty two-tone leather clutch on sale... 6. Green tights with hearts for little girls just like mine. :)

Happy Weekend!

Love,

Kate