Yearly Archives: 2009

Happy Holidays! Rob staged this year’s annual Christmas card photo in Golden Gate Park and enlisted the help of Margaret. It was a gorgeous late fall day right after a big rain storm. We are off to celebrate with my family down in San Luis Obispo and will return home to a whirlwind of packing.…

It’s nearly Christmas and time again for the “Comments for Cans” fundraiser. For each comment left below, I’ll donate a dollar to the San Francisco Food Bank. Last year, your comments turned in to $1,350 worth of food for the hungry. You have until January 4th to comment – one per person please. I think…

All my gifts are wrapped and packed up in bags for the trip home later this week. Gift wrapping is one of my a favorite holiday activities. All that paper, ribbons, cards and tags. It’s my favorite thing for December 21st!

This was one dynamo of a weekend! We kicked things off with two company Christmas parties on Friday night. First, Rob’s company celebrated at Bacar. We only managed to get through wine, appetizers and a calamari frisee salad before having to dash across town in a cab for my company’s event at Rosewood. My boss…

Charity is one of the best things about the holidays. I try to do a mix of volunteering, donating to charities and giving to someone I know in need during December. It’s especially vital this year, with the demand much greater and resources much lower due to the recession. My office is volunteering at the…

I loved – loved! – having a dollhouse as a little girl. My sister and I each had one and had a lot of fun with the miniatures, decorating rooms, throwing “parties.” And my grandmother – when she was in her 80’s – readopted the large family dollhouse from a cousin, kept it in her…

This simple garland made of woven palm leaf stars has become one of my favorite Christmas decorations. You can see a strand in action in my apartment here. At $11 for two 14 foot sets, they’re an easy and affordable way to brighten your home during the holidays. Plus, they’re made in Bangladesh through a…

Anchor Steam Christmas Ale is brewed right here in San Francisco. It’s the exact right drink for the holidays. Hearty with a dash of juniper and nutmeg. It’s my favorite thing for December 17 and a great stocking stuffer for a beer connoisseur on your list.

With no time to dash down and join the throngs of shoppers at Union Square, I’ve finally joined the Etsy holiday shopping craze! I’ve been ordering amazing things from creative folks all around the country. Including the lovely NoraJane – who sells adorable stamps and pillows and is expecting twin girls next year. {family members:…

We had a great time last night at Amber’s apartment. A new mom who has her hands full with twin boys – Amber was an excellent hostess. For our activity, she provided us with ribbon, glitter, paint, paper, porcelain ornaments and glass ball ornaments to decorate. I made one for a colleague and one for…