Wine country getaways are always a good idea, so when I decided to celebrate my 25th birthday in Healdsburg, you can bet I was anxious and excited to stroll the square, sip on a variety of wines and experience the culinary goodness that is Sonoma's farm to table movement. We headed north around 11am from San Francisco and were happily checked into our amazing hotel and sipping wine by 1pm. From an urban city to a suburban oasis of easy parking, warm temperatures and a guaranteed good time, Healdsburg is the absolute perfect day trip or weekend getaway from San Francisco. Presented to you here, is your modern guide to Healdsburg.
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Any excuse to stroll around the Marina district in the middle of a beautiful day when the streets are drenched in sunshine I'll take. It was around one in the afternoon when I finished up with errands and just so happen to have my camera on me. I was free of plans for the rest of the day and found myself with an unusually lucky, meter free parking spot just off Union Street. I knew I had to take advantage of it and wasn't ready to head home. It didn't occur to me until I was photographing the yellow, blue and pink hues of the Marina District that my San Francisco neighborhood guide was in need for a new feature on The Marina! Although there are many other areas of this district worth nothing, Union Street is a better alternative to neighboring Chestnut Street. It's a little less hectic which makes it nice when you are free of plans and looking to simply browse the homes, shops and eateries in the surrounding area.
After almost fully recovering from a wrist injury, I am back in the kitchen and getting the chance to cook (and bake) once again! With this being said, I still need a little help with things like opening jars and such, but I am so thankful to have finally tried out Blue Apron during this time where excessive measuring is not ideal. I received three meals from the delivery service and I'm sharing my favorite recipe with you, the Turkey Chili with Avocado.
Hi there, happy Friday! Today I am spotlighting Lorena, florist and owner of San Francisco's Home Sweet Flowers by showcasing her Flower Arrangement class at WorkshopSF! It was a particularly warm Saturday morning and after a year of passing by Workshop without ever going inside, I was beyond excited to accept Lorena's invitation to learn about floral arranging, insider tips and techniques at the DIY school. The airy and bright space at Workshop is any artist, maker, or creative's vision of an awesome place to learn and work on their craft. As soon as I entered, the vibrant hues of flowers and foliage throughout the space caught my eye along with a massive, hanging chandelier of light bulbs and a large American flag at the front of Workshop.
Hi there! Today you can find me posting my experience, suggestions and overall praise of one of my favorite San Francisco restaurants on The Collaboreat! Hop on over to their website and read more about Padrecito in Cole Valley while browsing amazing food and travel features. And if you have yet to visit Padrecito, may I suggest that too?
On sunny days, North Beach shines even brighter than it does normally. Pops of pinks and greens surround you as hanging flower baskets and bright cafes line Vallejo, Stockton, Green and surround streets. It was a perfectly clear day and it was obvious the spring made a very early arrival into San Francisco with days in the mid seventies and even a few in the eighties. If you're reading this and not from the city, trust us when we say that those degrees are the warmest we're going to get. These are the kind of days that San Franciscans flock to the park and dig deep into their closet to locate shorts and skirts we've previously attempted to wear but were left with frigid bones as the blue skies tricked us into thinking it was actually warm. On days like these, we would rather bask in the warm sun than do anything else, preferably at the park with a bottle of wine and big sunglasses.
There is something magical when nature and skincare collide to form a perfect combination of good for you products. From cold process soap to bath bombs and body scrubs, Bare Bark Naturals is an earth and skincare friendly company beautifully made and packaged in Sacramento, California by owner Jessica McCabe.
As we close in on the final weeks of @Large, an exhibit by activist and artist Ai Weiwei, I want to draw attention to his colorful, significant and powerful pieces currently on display on Alcatraz Island. Due to Ai Weiwei's history of vocal criticisms of the Chinese government, he is currently not permitted to travel outside of China and as a result, was unable to visit his exhibit on Alcatraz in person. In any case, he developed the amazing and diverse works and planning from his Beijing studio. The exhibit has transformed Alcatraz's Industries Building into a public space to discuss individual rights, liberty and justice, as well as our personal responsibilities to address these subjects. After you have finished touring the main prison where you will experience Weiwei's Blossom and Stay Tuned pieces within the Hospital ward of the penitentiary, you'll then want to go to witness Refraction, the intricate With Wind displays (above), and the million Lego pieces used to create Trace. The seven site specific pieces will take your breath away and the exhibit is an added bonus when you visit The Rock!
One of my favorite aspects of blogging is having the opportunity to meet and collaborate with so many amazing companies and businesses within San Francisco. One of these businesses is Dermaplus Skin + Body boutique located in the heart of the Marina District on Union Street. A few weeks back I popped into their crisp, clean and perfectly designed space for a mid-day, custom facial by owner Andrea. Neatly organized products, extremely friendly staff, a feeling of instant relaxation, stellar service and the cutest make up bar I've ever seen were just a few lasting impressions Dermaplus left on me. Read on to hear more about my experience!
As you probably already know, yesterday was International Women's Day and I thought this would be the perfect time to celebrate an amazing company that is changing the way we understand South America's traditions by sharing their stories and selling one of a kind products products with the world. Inspired by long visits to Cusco, Peru and a desire to represent artist's craftsmanship rooted with heritage, Rock+Pillar Trading Co. was created.
It's not everyday that you head out on the rough seas to one of the most notorious federal penitentiaries in the history of the United States. The last time I visited "The Rock" I was barely entering middle school and all I could remember was how frigid it was, all day. Since it had been some time since I visited, I figured why not? Last Monday we departed on Alcatraz Cruises at 11:30am, which was perfect timing for us to get down to the Embarcadero and eat breakfast before the adventure begun. Although it was a Monday, the place was packed with tourists (not a bad thing!) eager to walk inside the tall walls of the penitentiary. This was an especially exciting trip because John had never been there before! Due to the current Ai Weiwei exhibit on the island, parts of the eerie and long hospital wing which are usually closed to the public were open for the exhibit.
When I first laid eyes on Sunnybrooke Artisan Candles on Instagram, I was instantly drawn to the simplistic design and intrigued by the scents of the Arizona based candle company. The patterns, colors and treasures of the southwest have always caught my eye and my apartment during the spring months reflect that. Sprinkled with dream catchers, an abundance of turquoise and succulent galore, the candles and soy wax melts could not compliment my current space any more perfectly. I'm also a lover of small businesses, and while you'll have to dig deeper into your wallet for handmade items, it's always worth it. When I began collaborating with owner Amanda, she just released her Spring In The Southwest scents, so the timing couldn't have been any sweeter to feature her candles!
Sometimes it's the tourist attractions and popular spaces in the city you live in that help you truly understand how lucky you are to call it home. For me, this city is San Francisco. A remarkable place that was not such an easy transition for me when I first moved into its wild neighborhood of Haight Ashbury. In the beginning, my journey in this city was one good day, then a few not so good ones. I'd take one step forward then take two steps back when it came to getting comfortable here and staying genuinely happy. I wasn't that person that instantly moved here and instantly loved it. A transition from the stunning, coastal town of Santa Barbara was filled with an abundance of friends, beach days on the regular, skipping class to stroll along pristine State Street sprinkled with palm trees and red tiled buildings. A place you could drive (and park) anywhere all in a matter of minutes and where the sun never stopped shining. So you can imagine what types of challenges I faced when I moved in the middle of August and didn't see the sun for two straight weeks. I've since fallen in love with San Francisco and everything that comes with it. Yes, even Muni rides.
If your weekends are anything like mine, then you know that a good balance between excitement and relaxation is key to recharging for the following week. I absolutely love to indulge in a little extra skincare treatments like doing a facial mask with my favorite tunes playing and the warm sun beaming through the large windows casting beautiful, natural light in my apartment. These types of days occur more regularly on Sunday, perhaps after a day trip, event or an adventure in the city. I had the chance to team up with a new natural skincare company (if you've browsed my blog in the past, you already know I'm making the switch to organic beauty.) Today I am introducing you to Posh Skincare, a Los Angeles based, made to order company started by two sisters Betti and Franziska Immel.
Valentine's Day weekend may have come and gone but that doesn't mean that the celebratory cheers and beautiful drinks have to depart us as well! There's something special about styling and creating beautifully crafted drinks. I initially shook up and photographed my Whisk(ey) Me Away cocktail to participate in SF Girl By Bay's and Women and Whiskies recipe competition all the while wanting to share it on Sunshine Daydream to live up to one of the blog's goals of including a few food and beverage features every now and then!
When Esselle SF announced they were going to throw a pop-up shop this past weekend, I knew it was the final push that I needed to visit the famous San Francisco Flower Mart. I've always wanted to go, but the far away address and the perfect local flower shop in my neighborhood always got the best of me. After a sleepy Valentine's Day morning, John and I ventured to the flower mart for a romantic stop where he quickly decided to select gorgeous deep red roses for me to be arranged by floral and event designer Nancy Lui Chin.
Yesterday I was definitely feeling the love...the love box that is! Today I am introducing you to a subscription service that you'll actually feel is worth the money. I discovered The Hip Humanitarian founded by Hayley Swindell, who is dedicated to join two worlds together. These two worlds are materialism and fair trade practices. By combining these two concepts, The Hip Humanitarian is changing the way of how purchasing products can affect the global economy by partnering with companies who participate in fair trade and ethically produced goods. The Hip Humanitarian is a monthly subscription service, but also offers an online shop full of goodies ranging from beauty to jewelry, food to entertaining, clothes and more. Did I mention just how friendly Hayley (pictured below) is?!
What happens when you gather a group of photographers, bakers, bloggers, artists, and all around creatives together in the cutest floral shop in San Francisco? You get mouth watering macaroons, endless giggles, new friends, colorful blooms and a pinterest worthy champagne bar sure to please! The lovely Annie of MontgomeryFest organized the evening Galentine's Day Soirée at Ampersand to mix, mingle and and celebrate Valentine's Day...ladies style. As soon as I walked through the bright blue barn doors, the scent of sweet flowers and twinkle lights embraced me as I was instantly greeted by new smiling faces. The party was so much fun that I only had the opportunity to snap a few photographs, but I'm sure you can imagine just how charming the atmosphere inside was.
Happy February! I don't know about you but I'm thankful January is complete so we can begin to look forward to spring, longer days and all around warmer bliss! With this month of course comes the holiday to shower your loved ones with a little extra appreciation and it's almost here, so why not get started a little early? Every year I attempt to make Valentine's Day more special than the last. From planning a day date and coordinating evening plans, to creating gifts for family and friends and adding pops of reds and pinks throughout the home, here's my guide to making the day and evening spectacular. Whether you are spending the day with your sweetheart or your celebrating Galentine's Day, my guide will help get you in the spirit by highlighting some Bay Area events, Do-It-Yourself crafts and gift ideas, delicious recipes and even some day date ideas to inspire you to plan something memorable this year.
When the opportunity arose to escape the city and head into the mountains there was no way I could pass it up. This past weekend I inhaled that mountain air only found deep within the forest and embraced the not so cold winter chill of the Sierra Mountains. The sun was shining, the trees seemed to stretch miles into the big open sky, and the crystal-clear evenings made for perfect stargazing. The cabin we rented was everything you would want it to be and more with a cozy fire stove paired with a contrasting Indians versus Cowboys theme. On Saturday morning we woke up and drove deeper into the Sierra Mountains to hit the slopes and snowboard at Bear Valley. An unfortunate fall due to unpredictable and icy conditions lead me to the emergency room and left me with a broken wrist that is predicted to take eight weeks to fully heal. With the help of everyone on the trip, I was able to make it that back to the cabin that afternoon to finish off the weekend enjoying each others company, good music, games and a few yummy family style meals.
This past Tuesday I spent the day in the East Bay and wow was it such an change from the cold chill of San Francisco. It was warm by noon, and unlike the city the sun rose and stayed well into the afternoon and into the sunset--fog free. By the time I was finished enjoying my lunch outside, I couldn't help but get excited for spring. I've always been that way, yearning for warmth and I must get it from my mother, who recently relocated to Florida to chase the sun and high temperatures. The other day I was remembering my time spent in Maui with her a few January's back. After we spent a week in Kauai, we island hopped to Maui to complete the Road To Hana, snorkel, standup paddle board and kayak the warm ocean waters. Despite it being January when we visited the Hawaiian Islands, the air was as warm as ever and I couldn't help but daydream of renting a tiny beach house and callin' it a day. I'm not one to throw it back on Thursdays, but on this Thursday- I'm am! Here is my photographic diary of The Road To Hana, Whale Watching and Maui Bliss...
Happy Monday and welcome to a fresh new week! I've taken a short break from photographing and creating content to improve the overall functionality of Sunshine Daydream. This past week I've been focusing on linking my blog posts instead of pages in all my categories. This makes my life much easier than having to create a post and a page which gives me more time to move forward, focusing on the new year and the new goals for Sunshine Daydream. This also means having the option to share thoughts and ask questions on past content instead of having to dig deep into the archives to access the original post to comment on (because you can't comment on my pages). I originally started Sunshine Daydream a year ago as a travel website focusing on San Francisco and California locations, but over the past year it has grown to be much more dynamic and even more of a blog. From collaborations and sponsorships with companies, dabbling in beauty posts, slowly growing my style section and sharing my European and Mexico adventures, I can hardly wait to see what 2015 brings. On this Monday, I'm sharing my weekly round up of things that have caught my eye, introducing you to fellow San Francisco bloggers and keeping you posted on a few Bay Area events that you may be interested in!
Short after the storm had passed, the snow had melted, and the streets had been drenched in splintered sunlight, it was time to make our way into "downtown" Ketchum. The small area within Giacobbi Square encompasses fabulous restaurants including mountain homestyle cooking at The Kneadery, a quaint movie theater with fresh popcorn, a few adorable shops and yes-- one of the only Starbucks that serves wine and champagne among couches, high beam wood ceilings and of course, a burning fire in an airy, dreamy atmosphere. Popping in at the upscale Sun Valley Wine Co. is a must for a romantic gourmet lunch.
Happy New Year! I am finally back and settled in San Francisco after spending two weeks in Ketchum, Idaho-- a beautiful and simple town to start a fresh new year in. Between the snow showers, shooting stars and endless picturesque beauty, a trip here will leave you feeling refreshed. Days were spend hitting the mountain snowboarding, breathing in chilly air and ending with the sounds of a warm crackling fire. A little past the main Sun Valley Inn is the small, mountain town I got to celebrate a very important birthday, Christmas and New Years. It was truly a winter wonderland, with snow covered trees, streets (and cars) and friendly folks everywhere I turned. Later this week, I will take you on a tour of downtown Ketchum, but for now, won't you take a walk with me in a winter wonderland?
When bath and body products meet romantic and luxurious vibes, a beautiful thing happens. This beautiful thing is Sea Grape Bath and Body handmade in Salt Lake City, Utah. Without using chemicals, synthetic dyes and preservatives, owner Maria has gone above ever so popular natural skincare by infusing her line with heavenly botanicals, sensual oils and moisturizing butters derived from the earth. By using these types of ingredients in place of the mainstream manufactured products laced with harmful ingredients, you get truly wonderful and rich products that treat your skin with love, care and pure goodness.
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