Golden Gate Bridge Adventure

Birthdays. 

I remember my fourth birthday clearly, and not another until seven. Sophie's fourth birthday was spent on a plane. I put a stick that said "happy birthday" in every meal she ate that day, and we had a grand time traveling cross country together. She requested Thai food for dinner on her birthday, then fell asleep, jetlagged, at the table. Safe to say that she may not remember that day when she is an adult.

We set out for FIVE to be a memorable birthday. One of those that she can remember in her 30's and beyond. My husband picked the perfect bike for our big girl, and she could hardly speak when she saw it... she just whispered "it's beautiful!" and ran to her daddy's arms. We spent thanksgiving morning riding it here and there and everywhere... and then we thought about making the day MEMORABLE, and took it a step further. 

My sister sent me a link to 101 things that kids growing up in San Francisco should do, and it's about time: we needed to walk across the bridge. We loaded the car and took a drive to the beautiful landmark. Sophie biked on the walk side, so we were rule-breakers a little, but she was giggling and blissfully happy. What took us so long to get over there?

What a gorgeous, amazing day. 

This weekend was big and dramatic and increased the thankfulness levels tenfold. One trip to the ER and one significant car accident for family {everyone is FINE in both cases} shook us up and made us recognize the incredible blessing that is our health. I'm finding myself a bit extra protective for my loved ones and wanting to hold them close and kiss them extra and tell them how much I love them. 

Happy Thanksgiving weekend and now welcome to December! Ahhh how I adore the Christmas season. 

xoxo.

Gift Guide

Rufflewood // Hiip // Darling Clementine Shop // Amelia //

Zuzii // Chewing the Cud // Honey and Bloom // Fawn Shoppe

It's small business Saturday!! Support small businesses and take advantage of the deals around the internet! It's a win-win!

This has been the fullest and most beautiful Thanksgiving weekend ever. Hope you're enjoying the holiday cheer in your corner of the world too! 

xoxo.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The thankfulness levels are at all-time highs today. We're celebrating five years with this darling little ray of sunshine.

Happy Thanksgiving dear friends!

xoxo

Advent

Today I'm taking a break from the gift guiding {here are gift guides one & two} and sharing a little inspiration for advent that I created with my dear friends/photographers Pictilio!

There are twenty-five beautiful days in December leading to the celebration of Jesus' birth! Growing up, my grandparents got advent calendars for us every year, and my cousins and I strategically picked our favorites at Thanksgiving {my family is big on traditions, so I'm talking every year until we were practically in college!} 

SO. You better believe we're carrying that tradition to our kiddos, with a little twist! Every day of December, we're making a conscious effort to come up with a little family activity we can do or chat about together, to really be remembering the reason for Christmas and not get consumed with distractions. I mean, we're definitely filling the boxes with treats about half of the days, but we're also going to have some fun ideas of how we can GIVE to others, and how we can remember this year. Here are some we'd like to do in our home:

1. Bring a meal to a family who could really use it. Maybe a friend with a newborn, a family in the middle of a move, or someone who is sick or in the hospital.

2. Draw a picture or write a letter to someone who has made you smile this year.

3. Bake cookies together and bring them to a neighbor or two.

4. Make a mini holiday video as a family, and do this one every year!! How amazing would it be to be able to watch a minute video celebrating Christmas traditions for every year as the kiddos grow? (videos are my new favorite thing since the day I tried using iMovie and realized it wasn't as hard as it looks!)

5. Read the Christmas story together with a fire in the fireplace.

6. Choose a gift to donate to families in dire need {there's a little video on the right to show kids how it all works!}

We're pretty excited about this. It's also SO simple to do the box idea, because they're basically already wrapped. You can find packages of boxes at any craft store. Ours are from Paper-Source. Just add a little sparkle with a ribbon, and you're good to go! 

Also, Pictilio has more ideas for filling the boxes on their blog today! 

Thank you so much to Pictilio for the beautiful photographs! xo

Gift Guide: For the Ladies

Modcloth Fingerless Gloves // Forest Necklace //

Rifle Paper Calendar // Monogramed Wristlet //

C.Wonder Cake Stand // Madewell Transport Tote // Brika Bracelet

Another day, another gift guide. Dun Dun Duuuuunnn, all the sales are coming in 3.5 days!! If there ever was a time for guides on gifts, it's now. I assembled a board for the ladies using picks from friends with good taste {and I couldn't resist adding that gorgeous bracelet from Brika!}

Here are today's gift guiders... follow their blogs, follow their magazines, shop in their shops! You won't be disappointed:

PJ Feinstein- blogger at Bunny and Dolly, mama to Levi, living in Omaha. Follow @bunnyanddolly.

Melissa Sanchez- blogger & photographer at Savvy in San Francisco, mama of three, and a great friend. Follow @savvyinsanfran.

Amanda Gomes- my sister!! Creator of Delighted Magazine, mama to Camille, and the best. Follow @delightedmag.

Erin Austen Abbott- Owner of my favorite online shop, Amelia, mama to Tom. Follow @ameliapresents.

Brittany Bishop- Blogger at Life of Charmings, mama to Maddalena. Follow @beebeebishop.

I may get some more gift guides up this week... OR I may get all sentimental about Sophie turning five and share all my thoughts about any and everything "growing up" and such. Stay tuned and find out. Ha! 

xo.

Kate

Gift Guide: For the Men

'Tis the season: gift guide time!! 

We all have different tastes and styles, so I've asked some of my favorite friends on the internet to help with gift guides this year, so I can mix things up and give you variety! I'm starting with gifts for the MEN in our lives. They often are the trickiest so they get the shaft on gift guiding, so I'm flipping everything and showing our picks for men FIRST! Enjoy!

Destroyer Vinyl // Herschel Supply Tote // Fenix Flashlight // Nixon Sentry Watch // Sleeping Bag // Neat Flask

Who are the people making such fabulous picks, you ask? Let me tell you:

Erin Austen Abbott: Owner of my favorite online shop Amelia, mama to Tom Otis {more about Erin HERE}. Follow @ameliapresents

Brittany Bishop: Blogger at Life of Charmings, mama to Maddalena. Follow @beebeebishop

Erin Taylor: My cousin, friend, owner of Bustle Events, blogger at Pocket Stylist {more about Erin HERE}. Follow @bustledesigns