Happy New Year everyone! I hope the holidays brought you days of joy and evenings full of celebrations. I was fortunate enough to visit family in Panama City Beach, Florida so it's safe to say I got my dose of sun, sea and most of all relaxation. You may have noticed that things have been awfully quiet around here and for good reason. In the coming weeks, I will be releasing a brand new site design. While most archives will live in a different place (figuring out url changes is not an easy task) I'm ready and excited to begin a new version of Sunshine Daydream for 2016 to allow even more light and loveliness in. Stay tuned!
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Have you ever wondered how to style and decorate your cocktails in a modern, pretty way? Perhaps you're throwing a festive soiree and would love to make swoon worthy cocktails but aren't sure where to begin. When it comes to drinking pretty, I have all the elements you'll need to create the most beautiful cocktails and decorated glassware. Plus I'll even show you how I added the beautiful text overlay like the imagery above (because making blog posts pop is just has fun as making cocktails pop!) Won't you pour yourself some bubbly and stay awhile?
Gone are the days of dull plastic razors and over-fragrant shaving cream! Today I am introducing a wonderful northern California company that is changing the way us ladies stay smooth and fresh. Her Shave Co. is a monthly subscription service which sends you brand new razor blades, a few full size products and general happiness for your bathroom!
In the midst of the festive season, where days become long and holiday evening events seem endless, I was beyond excited to discover Shop Azil, a local jewelry shop here in San Francisco that encompasses my personal style of minimalist pieces all the while offering a perfect array of sparkly jewels perfect for the holiday season! With locations in Russian Hill and Hayes Valley, this shop is a must stop for the modern San Francisco woman.
With November coming to a close and December creeping in, there is a great chance you'll be attending or hosting several holiday gatherings over the course of the month. From candles and name holders to perfecting your most favorite recipes, 'tis the season of gathering, toasting and celebrating with friends and family. Often times, tablescapes can be inspired by the elements you already have in the home, which can relieve a good amount of time and stress when setting up for your dinner party or casual cocktail hour. By combining elements found in nature, purchasing fresh, quality tea towels, creating handmade name holders and using elegant housewares, I'm sharing my tips on where to gather the items you need and how to create a perfectly balanced tablescape for any type of celebration. Oh! And party favors are always a nice touch...
While I've never been one to discount the importance of timeless tradition and the moments spent over the Thanksgiving holiday, being located in Union Square on the daily has got me jump started into the spirit of Christmas weeks before years past. With snowflake lights hung along market street, string lights along Maiden Lane and ice skating sessions already in full swing, it's as if I blinked and there was a giant Christmas tree right smack in from of Macy's!
When it comes to beauty, it's all about what's on the inside that counts. When it comes to beauty products, it becomes even more important! With healthy eating, comes a healthy lifestyle but many people consciously or subconsciously don't realize how harmful the ingredients in some skincare, beauty and hair products can be. There is something wonderful about supporting smaller companies that live and breathe safe, sustainable products to help create a more simplistic regiment without sacrificing performance. Today, have the great pleasure of introducing White & Elm, a Colorado based brand that is anything but traditional when it comes to the way their product are made. Did I mention these would make wonderful gifts?!
Fall in the vineyards is the absolute most enjoyable time to spend up in wine country. The green trees and grapevines begin to transform into stunning hues of golden yellow and burnt orange, making you just as excited for the fall as you once were for the summer during the spring months. A short hour drive to Sonoma County holds wineries upon wineries accompanied with a casual vibe. While there are plenty of wineries to sip at in Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley and Russian River Valley, there are a few special spots which are situated along the most beautiful vineyards with fabulous wines.
As you probably know, autumn is my favorite time of the year to embrace new styles, trends and to bring on the layers! While ladies have booties, thick blanket scarves, geometric jewelry and earmuffs to add to our wardrobe, men's style during the autumn is just as strong. With bow-ties, patterned socks and boots, the men in your life have an equal chance to embrace the season's best styles.
One of my favorite aspects of autumn is the golden hues, hot apple cider and the cozy gatherings that take place during the season. Despite the craziness and often over booked schedules, finding a time to connect with friends and family makes the stress of the holidays worth it. The significance of spending quality time together in a beautiful environment is becoming more and more important to me with each coming year. To make an event extra special, I love the idea of giving guests a take away item to represent the memories made on the occasion. I absolutely love gold everything during these months and I never grow tired of succulents, so why not merge the two to create the perfect party favor? These adorable and super simple potted succulents in hand painted mini-pots make for a beautiful gift for your friends, family, co-workers and party attendee's alike.
Dirt roads, s'mores, sleeping under the stars, a crackling fire and all that goes along with camping happened to be the perfect Labor Day Weekend getaway. Sure, we could have stuck around the city for a staycation or even could have stayed close and taken advantage of the beaches that dot highway one, but this particular weekend was meant to be in the mountains...
A misty, relaxing weekend afternoon spent strolling along the Great Highway, exploring the bluffs and capturing the glowing light was just the perfect Sunday I had in mind to experience with Lauren of Bohemian By The Bay. The day was spent nourishing our bodies at Judahlicious, keeping our eyes open for prevalent succulents nestled between the native plants and essentially bringing our own sunshine to the streets of the (fog filled) outer sunset. The lighting was as bright as our smiles, and the mix of warm air and a cool breeze kept us comfortable all day long during our time spent in this sleepy neighborhood.
Happy Monday! How was everyone's weekend? Mine was simple and quiet, aside from a few photo shoots, I spent the days taking care of myself with facial masks, scrubs, heck I even slept in! In support of all the relaxation I had over the weekend, I am sharing my new favorite apothecary company that helped me celebrate well being and sustainability. Everything PLANT Apothecary creates is quality (take my word, I've tried close to everything) and I'm in love with the clean product design too. Based out of Brooklyn, New York- this California girl is especially hooked on three specific products and one could be yours!
Deep in the forest along Mt. Tamalpais ridge, tucked away in the tress with splintered sunlight casting a golden glow around all is The Tourist Club. A private location that is part of a worldwide club for visitors and tourists alike, this unique place in Mill Valley is a celebration of German traditions and great company. As you park and hike into the club, you soon notice the colorful hanging flag banners off in the distance and hear the sounds of the musicians playing for the crowd.
It wouldn't be a proper blogiversary without a giveaway! Today and through October 12th, you will have the opportunity to win a whole box full of goodies I have curated in appreciation for the love and support of Sunshine Daydream! Included in the perfectly packaged giveaway box includes products from some of my favorite beauty brands. Read on to get all the details to enter and for a deeper look into all the special items in the #sundreamgiveaway collection!
As the seasons change and the crisp autumn creeps into, everything else adjusts with it. From evening activities ending earlier as the sun touches down to wardrobe adjustments, we also have the opportunity to embrace new opportunities and cook with the produce that is most in season. Figs and kiwis replace summer's juicy strawberries and it will be some time before we get to slice open that perfect watermelon. The changing of season's often times encourages us to stay warm and cozy up in our homes and make a prepared meal to enjoy with good company. I am so fortunate to live in a city that celebrates culinary originality, where no restaurant is the same and the chefs are true masters of their skill.
For the next installment of my blogiversary series, I am sharing my tips, tricks and experience on connecting with brands for sponsored posts through Instagram and outreach. Whether you choose to monetize your blog, feature brands on your page in exchange for products, or keep everything sponsor-free, there are a few ways I use to connect with brands (and other bloggers) on my favorite social media platform, Instagram. You will find all my tips on how to collaborate with companies you are interested in and why you don't always have to wait until they contact you!
...because it's my blogiversary and there is a lot to celebrate! The past two years solely operating Sunshine Daydream has been nothing short of fun, fabulous and a lot of late nights editing photographs. I am so fortunate to have met a handful of blogger friends, worked with a variety sponsors and having the ability to document and share my significant life moments and adventures have been the most rewarding aspects of blogging. This week and into the next, I will be continuing the celebration with a giveaway of products from my favorite brands, a look back into the archives, a DIY project, blogger shout-outs, how I've connected with companies on Instagram and more! Won't you come along and celebrate with me?
While New York may be have been under the spotlight the past weeks during New York Fashion Week, we Californian’s are nothing short of a fashion forward group ourselves. Fall fashion has always been my absolute favorite. The ability to mix accessories with a thick scarf (which could be mistaken as blanket), fresh pairs of boots and of course those simple details to accent the chunky sweaters and tights make my closet that much more glorious during the fall months. While the rest of the country is prepping for fall, we San Franciscan’s get the best of both worlds as the golden days of summer stay a bit longer.
Last Friday Brit + Co held their 3rd annual Re:Make conference and festival here in San Francisco and I was so excited to have the invitation extended to me. The brightest colors I've seen with the brightest face paired perfectly during the last day of San Francisco's heat. After I grabbed a cup of Ritual Coffee, I knew it was going to be a good day when I sat down at the table to find watercolor paints, brushes and a large notebook in front of me. I learned so much more than I could have thought at Re:Make and also got to meet up with old blogging friends while meeting new ones to learn how technology and creatively collide.
Golden hour at one of the Mission's hottest and most beautiful restaurants was the perfect way to wind down after a 90 degree day in the city. Yes, you read that correctly! Stunning flower arrangements complimented the open aired space at Central Kitchen as the sun set through the windows, keep us warm long into the night. Chef Thomas McNaughton made all my foodie dreams come true with five courses each paired with a specialty MillerCoors beer. These items were no small affair might I add. Each course was presented with stunning precision and the large portions left me and John anything but hungry...
Raise your hand if you are ready for the long weekend! ...And while we're at it, does anyone else feel like September is in complete full swing already? Even three days in, my monthly calendar is reaching full capacity and I can't wait to kick it off by retreating in the Sierra Mountains for a weekend of recharging in the woods. No cell service, no text messages, and (sadly) no instagram, but quality time spend with my man, my family and my friends are high my highest priorities for #daydreamescape. For most, the upcoming long weekend will call for backyard BBQs and gatherings, which means any excuse to bring a beautiful and scrumptious dish or cocktail is always a good one! So in honor of one last summer hurrah and the end of wearing white jeans until May (technically, but I won't tell if you do), I've gathered my favorite recipes from a some seriously inspiring bloggers, makers and chefs to share some serious girl approved dishes to class up any backyard fling. Hungry for more? Please do, read on...
For many of us, the end of summer often brings a degree of sadness. While pumpkins, a turkey feast and a glistening tree are on the horizon, summer never seems to last long enough. The sun tucks away earlier in the night and the brisk air becomes more apparent each passing week. Fortunately, us San Franciscans get another month or so of high temperatures during our ''Indian Summer." With Labor day coming up next Monday, I can't wait to get out of the bustling streets to recharge among nature. That's right! This city girl is spending the long weekend hiking to waterfalls, cooking over a stove fire, bathing in a swimming hole and falling asleep to the sounds of a river underneath the stars! As a final hurrah to end the traditional summer months, a camping trip seemed to be just what the doctor ordered. For all you city girls like me, I've put together a comprehensive packing guide (glamping items and all) for your reference! In addition to all things you'll be needing, you will also find my favorite breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert recipes perfect for camping. All you need now is to pick a destination (list of great locations below) and embark on a camping trip of your own. No excuses!
As twinkling lights hang by string and the sun casts a golden glow, I couldn't help but fall in love with San Francisco again. Everything in the city seems to continually match up with my personal taste. Although I guess it would be more fair to say that my taste is matching up to SF's, no? ;) Accompanied by good wine and and of course, good cheese and hearty paella, Wednesday evening at Cheese School of San Francisco certainly lived up to it's event name (the especially happy hour!)
Stunning houses, charming wine shops, waterfront dining and skyline views are some of the essentials which make the small town of Tiburon a sparkling gem along the bay. From San Francisco, head over the Golden Gate Bridge via car or make a whole day out of it and take the ferry! The pastel blue sky was big and bold on this particular weekday evening. The sun was still high up in the sky around 5pm and the ocean breeze made for the perfect Marin county adventure from the big city.
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