Microadventures

While I've been able to travel abroad a couple times in the last few years, I've had many more local adventures checking out what the Bay Area has to offer. There are still times I feel like I'm on vacation, even though I've lived here almost five years. I suppose it's a combination of being in a lively city, and having the surroundings that just beg for a hike, or a trip to wine country, or whatever. I would still like to keep traveling the globe, but the world close to home isn't bad to check out, either.

I came across the term "microadventures" in a recent article on simplicity and instantly loved it. That outing last weekend (finally) to the museum across town that I'd been meaning to go to? A microadventure, just a couple hours' worth of appreciating art I could never create myself. (Bonus part was meeting up with friends there.) Bringing my brother to the pop-up dinner that a friend had introduced me to a few weeks earlier? A delicious microadventure. A quiet walk through a different neighborhood with coffee on a sunny morning? An eye-opening microadventure. Not all adventures are farflung or require time off work; they can be had in discrete amounts of time and location. 

Resolution

SF MoMA

In a lot of ways 2016 was personally great (loved ones got married, engaged and brought babies into this world; my husband and I both transitioned to new aspects of our jobs; I got involved with a wonderful organization, and I generally got to enjoy another year of good health and fun adventures in California) but I was still happy to see it go. My friend had the brilliant idea of going out with a bang, in the form of a wonderful feast with friends. So on NYE we had a private dining room at a San Francisco restaurant, filled with 9 fantastic people, amazing food and delicious wine. I will always remember that meal and am grateful my friend thought of putting it together.

And now, we're fully in 2017, not just feet wet but hair dunked, body temperature acclimated. There aren't any totally new habits I want to do this year that I didn't start on already- eating healthy, exercising more. All the usual self-care, wellness and fitness habits I know to do but need to actually do. The hosts and guest on my favorite podcast Another Round were discussing the difference between telling people you'll do something (like going to the gym) and actually doing it. Anyway, as I get older, self-care moves to front of mind so that I can be in good shape to take care of other things.

And those other things? Well the 2016 election taught me I can't take democracy for granted. So in 2017 I have to keep learning what's going on, finding ways to make my voice heard and find a way to make an impact where I am. Last summer thanks to a friend's suggestion, I started working with a children's organization in San Francisco; this was meant to help underprivileged kids right in my city, but it has already impacted me immensely. 

I also want to remember to speak up more, in different channels. For a long time I did not put political views on social media; in fact I have had a tenuous relationship with social media and like to think I should just be living IRL. But I'd like to learn how to use tech to advance democracy. This is one article in WSJ that I found suggesting some nonpartisan tools to track government. I also downloaded Countable, an app for tracking government, and am finding it easy to use. I joined the Women's March in San Francisco this weekend - again, thanks to brilliant friends - and resolve to keep the inspiration and energy from the event in my heart going forward, and to continue to turn it into action.

photo from Buzzfeed

And finally on the fun side, I want to do more West Coast exploring this year and am starting to make those plans. I also have loved ones getting married this year so I'll be traveling to celebrate with them (I've got one bridesmaid dress ready and am about to order another one). So among other things, there will be a lot of fun in 2017.

Decisions, Decisions

I turned another year older this month, and along with celebrating my birthday with loved ones, I was thinking about a couple ways in which I've been trying to grow. One theme that has been inescapable this year is the presidential election, but with that, I've been paying more attention to state- and local-level politics.

National political figures always fascinated me with their legacies and personalities (starting with the fairy tale of the Kennedys' Camelot as well as the People Power Revolution in the Philippines, up to the Obamas). More recently I realized that I needed to pay attention to the policies that impact my community and me at more local levels, since these changes would probably have a more direct impact on me. This was partly driven by having moved to California, where there are dozens of state and county/city propositions on the ballot, and the devil, as usual, is in the details. I'd also like to avoid voting on the wrong side of history.

One weekend a friend actually rented out a church basement one weekend afternoon and summarized the ballot measures for folks. And thanks to the Twitterverse, I was directed to http://www.peterates.com which summarized and gave recommendations for the state proposals. I've been reading up on the San Francisco country proposals as well and am looking forward to casting my vote. Although I probably will never enter politics myself, I feel more empowered doing my civic duty and trying to become a more informed citizen and voter. After all, voting is a privilege, so I don't want to take it for granted.

.@gridmonte @anildash UX Designer Peter Stahl's guide is always a treat https://t.co/4KaerKaOiP

— Steve Portigal (@steveportigal) September 27, 2016

Life Lately: Around the Bay

Crissy Field

The past few weeks have been filled with a little of everything: a visit from my brother when he was finally introduced to the glory of Philz Coffee; another tubing trip down the Russian River when I got a little too much sun; a visit to Everlane; a viewing of Beautiful the Carole King musical, which I had been wanting to see back East on Broadway but was pleasantly surprised to learn had actually started in San Francisco; a day at a beautiful spa with girlfriends; and of course outings around San Francisco (finally) enjoying our Indian summer. Here's a round up:

Life Lately: F is for Fog

Is it fall?

#Fogust Activities: As summer wraps up I've been enjoying myself around San Francisco - riding a bike through Crissy Field and over the Golden Gate Bridge over to Sausalito, cheering on the Giants at home games, and hanging out at the Pistahan festival. Some days I have to wait a little longer for the fog to burn off to see the summer sun, and sometimes my outfit screams more autumn than summer, but overall it's a champagne problem, so I'll take it.

Finding (or Faking) Balance: NYMag's "How I Get It Done" series featured San Francisco's own Audrey Cooper, editor-in-chief of the Chronicle. My favorite quote:

“Gosh, you look really tired,” and I’m just like, "No, I’m just not wearing eyeliner." - NYMag

Food: I've fallen in love with these pancakes that need just 2-ingredients: eggs and bananas. They are ridiculously easy to make and are just sweet enough that you don't need syrup on them, either - though of course you may still want the syrup. I make a couple days' worth of breakfasts and reheat them each morning for a protein-packed meal. The recipe gets points for being Whole30 compliant, too. Check it out over on The Kitchn. 

Finances: This article on how Hillary Clinton became the breadwinner early on in her family life was something I really appreciated, in the sense that she wanted them to have security and wasn't just relying on someone else to fulfill or provide for that need. I'm sure a lot of people have a complicated relationship with money, though fortunately they won't all have to be written about in a major newspaper.

On a less serious note, I heard a great story from a Bay Area couple with kids. They were in a store buying sports equipment for one of them, but one of the items wouldn't scan correctly and the mom was investigating via her smart phone what the correct price should be. But her kid, frustrated at how long it was taking, insisted that they just buy it at whatever price since, as the kid said, "Mom, we are perfectly wealthy!" We were all howling. The mom, of course, did find the right price online, and the store honored it.

Workouts & Wellness: a ClassPass Review

one of my favorite stretches

Like many social media sites/apps/other tech innovations, it's almost hard to believe that ClassPass has been around for only a few years. The gym pass subscription service was started in 2013 by a couple genius women who understood that people want the variety available with all these specialty workout classes springing up, but may not want to be tied down to one boutique studio at a time (the post from Ignite Your Health is good to keep in mind). "Wellness" is a booming business now in addition to just being an all around healthy concept for your life.

Last month, there was an awesome promo and I finally took the opportunity to sign up. The deal for the 10-class edition for the Bay Area (normally $115 but $30 for 1 month with the promo) was too good to pass up. To quote a friend's usual joke, "You can't afford not to buy it!"

My recent exercise regimen has been jogging and weekend Pilates, so I used ClassPass to extend this to other types of exercises. Turns out the website is an amazing search engine for gyms, boutique studios and classes - I knew San Francisco was into fitness but on ClassPass I found so many studios I'd never heard of before. The studios and classes I attended were:

• Core 40 - 1 Foundation class
• BodyRok - 1 Sculpt class
• FightFit Training Center - 1 Krav Maga class, women only
• Row Club - 2 classes: RowGa (rowing & yoga) and regular rowing
• Body Chemistry - 1 Pilates class... but I've gone to this studio a lot, so it was out of habit, not exploration
• Rogue & Saint - 1 Board to Ball, cross-training class
• OMpower - 1 TRX class

Now that was only 8 classes, because I went to 2 other classes outside of ClassPass: another Pilates class at Body Chemistry with a friend and also, my very first Soul Cycle class, which I went to with a bunch of friends, including a couple other newbies - endorphin addiction is best shared, after all.

How did I pick the first batch of classes? Since I enjoy "regular" Pilates, I wanted to try Core40 and BodyRok on their megaformers. I'd always wanted to learn rowing, since one machine provides a full body workout. The cross-training class at Rogue & Saint was pretty cool and it had been a while since I last took a TRX class, which I really like. Finally, I chose the Krav Maga class so I could start learning something practical, too. All the classes were fast-paced and challenging, and while I would want to pay more attention to form and technique as I go on, the classes would be good cardio and strength-training sessions.

It wasn't always easy making it to class - but it's just a fact of life now that you really do have to schedule time for yourself and for your workouts, and not just watch celebs work out on Snapchat. It was fun trying out so many places, but since I am also running more often now and have some travel coming up, I put my ClassPass membership on hold for August ($19/mo to hold). At first I was incredulous that I had to pay for the hold, or risk a hefty reactivation fee, but then I realized the $19 "hold" still allows one class for the month. That was reasonable enough for me, although, if and when I do cancel ClassPass, the reactivation fee pretty much deters me from ever coming back. But for now I do plan to come back, and I'll just switch to the 5-class model afterward to accommodate my own non-ClassPass workout plans. Accommodation - another fact of life.

I've written before how I like switching up my workouts, so I think ClassPass can make that easier. I could see myself eventually settling on one or two studios, however, once I find the instructors I like best and the schedules that mesh with mine. I've gone through periods of busyness/laziness when it comes to fitness, but over the past few months I've tried to be more consistent and I've noticed results in my health and energy, so I'm using ClassPass to leverage this momentum. Any class or workout suggestions are most welcome in the comments.

tl:dr: Pros of ClassPass: good search feature; access to a variety of studios; pricing can be good if you're going to utilize it; month-to-month flexibility in changing membership level; ... Cons: limited in how many times you go to one studio each month; frequently being 'new' at studios; learning the styles of new instructors; watch the pricing, beware of the class cancellation and reactivation fees

Life Lately - Summer Edition

This has been a summer of somewhat "firsts" - first time going to the San Francisco Opera, trying out Paniq Room (an escape room group game), sailing in San Francisco Bay, taking some new exercise classes, and spending a couple days in Bend, where I went stand-up paddle boarding on my own for the first time. I probably won't do most of these things frequently, but it was fun to give them a try.

I also hit up some area restaurants for the first time: Old Bus Tavern (new-ish gastropub in Bernal), Pampalasa (Filipino food in SoMa), and The Conservatory @ The Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay (we were going to hang outside on the terrace but the summer fog got the better of us). All were tasty and places that I'd been meaning to try for some time now... Pampalasa in particular for the link to my Filipino heritage and Old Bus for being written up all over local press. Both spots are undergoing changes but I hope they'll be area mainstays for a while.

On another note, this has been a crazy summer around the country and the world. Who knew US politics could get this crazy? Who knew hate and violence could spread around the world so fast with our technological advances? There have been times, watching the news, where I've felt helpless as to what's going on. But out of recent tragedies, and from watching the DNC speeches over the past week, I've also been more motivated to pay attention and be more participatory in our political system, and to encourage others to do so, so that our voices are heard and have an impact.

Finally, this month marks my four-year anniversary of living in San Francisco! I'm not sure I thought I'd be in the city this long. It is one more year than I lived in New York City (after college) and two more years than I lived in Washington, DC. In each city I've taken time to explore neighborhoods and see what they had to offer, but even after four years here, there are times when I still feel like a tourist in San Francisco. The city has the added bonus of being an easy home base for my West Coast adventures. It's so nice to be in a city that still makes nature and travel accessible. I suppose all of that is a part of what's kept me here for four years and counting.

Pokemon Fever (Yes, I'm a Grown Woman)

Pikachu x1000 (Vox article)

I just didn't get into the Pokemon craze at all when I was younger. When I heard about the game coming out I wasn't surprised, but I also didn't pay much attention (for example, I thought it was virtual reality, not augmented reality). Then last Friday, a friend at work said she downloaded it at a family party, and that the Pokemon were even in our office. Later that day, I saw someone on the bus with the game open, apparently searching for Pokemon along our shuttle route. So later that night, after coming home from happy hour, I downloaded it, registered, and found a freakin' Pokemon perched near my armchair.

For much of the weekend I was tagging in at Pokestops and catching Pokemon while walking around San Francisco and even while riding Muni. And I realized how weird and kind of depressing the whole Pokemon story is, but hey, they are oddly cute and the game is oddly addicting. Like many others I enjoy the accidental/not-accidental social aspect of the game. Unlike other apps, you don't connect to social media accounts (yet) to find friends but since the game involves, literally, the real world, you come across a bunch of other people playing it. I was with my husband, standing on the sidewalk (it was empty, we weren't blocking anyone!) and showing him how the game worked. I was catching a Pokemon, and then a car pulled over. He teased me and said the folks in the car would laugh at me, but I knew what they were up to - we all held up our phones with big smiles, excited to be catching these cartoon creatures. I've exchanged quite a few knowing glances with other city dwellers in the last few days. Technology does bring us together, folks.

My favorite feature is the in-depth linkage of the Pokestops to city landmarks. Not only have I found new ones tucked away around San Francisco, but I now know the names of murals, sculptures and buildings that I pass by regularly. The Pokestops are even cooler, in my opinion, than the Pokemon (but I've only just reached Level 5 and haven't started with the gyms yet, I know, I'm lame).

You know what would also be good as augmented reality smartphone games? Monopoly. Mall Madness. Hungry Hungry Hippos. I hope there's some startups out there thinking of these.

Who knows how long this craze will last, or how many new Pokemon names I'll actually remember, but this was fun and made me feel like a kid again.

Ode to Style & the Canal Saint-Martin, Paris

Canal Saint-Martin attracts sundry crowds. Model-types pose along the canal’s banks while unshaven philosophers ruminate waterside and demure couples dine at brightly colored boulangeries. Canal Saint-Martin’s conspicuous lifestyle contrasts its residential attributes—simple rectangular windows scale the neighborhood’s utilitarian apartment buildings. As a place to see and be seen, Canal Saint-Martin is especially popular with angst-ridden university students—it’s the perfect setting for finding oneself while watching others. - Airbnb

the Canal

view of the Canal from our Airbnb apartment

That Airbnb description is perfect. The area around the canal was full of students, hipsters and young families.I loved hanging out in the Brooklyn of Paris, and I would go back again in a heartbeat. What's great about the Canal Saint-Martin (and the surrounding 10th arrondisement) is that it's very close to busier, more commercial areas of the city, but it's more chill, and serves as a respite from all the city crowds. I found my favorite bar in this neighborhood, and all the folks there - rocking all sorts of styles - could've filled an entire fashion blog.

I snapped the photos below on my last day in town, on a Sunday late afternoon, while having aperitifs along the canal. (I enjoyed a few moments pretending to be like Bill Cunningham.) Everyone passing by looked casual but stylish, effortless without being sloppy or ascetic. The weather was neither too warm or too cold, but everyone looked prepared for city micro-climates, something I appreciate as a San Francisco resident. There was much to be inspired by, especially for a summer in SF, in the few examples below.

inspired to buy a sweater coat

again, inspired to buy a sweater coat

floral and sneakers

always appreciate an easy grey sweater

USA! USA! (pretty sure she was a French kid)

I didn't buy any clothes while in France (despite lots of boutique exploration), but when I came back home I felt inspired when I came across some great items (all on sale!), such as:

this embroidered top by The Kooples

abstract floral top (Vince Camuto) at Nordstrom Rack

patterned sweater coat at Anthro

I've been working them into my wardrobe already - for me they make sense both for work and for fun. It might be something about summer, but I enjoy (somewhat) brighter accents to my neutral basics this time of year. The blouses are versatile in that they work with multiple pieces in my closet - and the Kooples one is great quality. The jacket is useful especially in the mornings when I'm commuting, when it's actually kind of chilly and foggy out - it's a heavy but also loose knit so it's also airy.

I'm probably done shopping for a little while, as I work these and other new pieces into rotation and rediscover other items that have been in my closet. So who knew a side effect of vacation would be a wardrobe refresh, but it's a side effect I'm enjoying as summer continues.

Oscar de la Renta at the de Young Museum

the de Young museum

I spent a rainy afternoon checking out the de Young Museum's retrospective on Oscar de la Renta. They had dozens of gorgeous dresses and items from throughout his 50+ years working in fashion. The designer's work was the epitome of elegance and glamour - and yet, practical: even in the '60s he was making ballgowns with pockets. The exhibit, curated by the inimitable Andre Leon Talley, featured pieces worn by notable women such as Dede Wilsey (head of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco which includes the de Young), Hillary Rodham Clinton, Laura Bush, and today's red carpet stars such as Amy Adams (love her), Taylor Swift (of course) and Nicki Minaj (pleasantly surprised).

As much as I love wandering through museums, I think the last special exhibit I attended was the (New York) MoMA's Tim Burton exhibit, and I forgot how popular (crowded) they can be. I splurged for the audio tour which helped me focus among the crowd, as well as learn more about the history of the items in the exhibit and the designer's inspirations. The sources of inspiration included Spain and flamenco, which brought back some study abroad and college memories for me - I was dressed nowhere near as elegant as these mannequins, though. Perhaps one reason the exhibit felt like such a treat is that since moving to the Bay, I hardly have any reason to truly dress up. My only disappointment at the exhibit was that you couldn't touch the fabrics or try the dresses on... I mean, I know I was in a museum, but still I dream.

Apologies for the blurry iPhone pics, here are some choice pieces from the exhibit:

New York, New York :)

dresses from: http://www.vogue.com/865470/asia-major/

the dress that Marie Antoinette-era Kirsten Dunst wore in Vogue...

http://www.vogue.com/slideshow/761290/

The look that I totally want to copy:

More links:

The exhibit goes through May 30: https://deyoung.famsf.org/exhibitions/oscar-de-la-renta-retrospective

Vogue: http://www.vogue.com/13414187/andre-leon-talley-lynn-wyatt-oscar-de-la-renta-de-young-gala-2016/

The Effort in Being Effortless (related: Favorite SF Brands)

my Cuyana tote

Now that it's spring and the weather has been nicer, it seems like there's a lot more to do (which is not new to me, apparently). This month I've had two weekend camping trips, a jazz show, a drag show, birthday parties, wine country, and friends visiting in town. I've been outdoors as much as possible when not stuck behind a computer screen. 

One small way I find simplicity in busy times is to rely on a more streamlined style that fits wherever I go. After all, wardrobe style is part of lifestyle. And I've adapted a style over the first decade or so of adulthood that I really rely on. 

For me, part of 'growing up' was developing my own style (in professional settings, this would be referred to as 'creating your brand and image'). In grammar school and high school I wore a uniform, so my classmates and I would express creativity, or not, with accessories. I was very excited to build out an everyday wardrobe once I hit college and over a few years amassed so. many. clothes. It didn't help that I came of age along with fast fashion, so it was almost too easy to play around with different styles and trends and you know, really "find myself". (insert winking emoji here) Even friends would remark that I had an eclectic style and would even say "that's totally an Ingrid type of [whatever item]" when we were out shopping.

In the last few years, once I hit the later 20's, I started to pare things down a bit and stick to more of the same looks, if not a strict uniform. This also came about with lifestyle changes - new cities, jobs, activities. I wanted to focus less on the activity of shopping and instead on buying higher quality pieces and feel more like my grown-up self.

Luckily this train of thought came along the time that minimalism and capsule wardrobes also became more mainstream. (I don't know about anyone else, but after reading a ton of blogs I feel like I should be able to develop the perfect minimal capsule wardrobe, even if I don't want to.) I've still had some hits and misses, but overall I see my wardrobe becoming more streamlined. Even now I know I have more items in my closet than I truly "need". But my truth is that I still want the choices to play around with style a bit, while of course still looking and feeling "effortless".

There's the sophisticated, gamine, French-girl image of being "effortless". And there's the "groomed" kind of effortless - I know women who admit they straighten their hair and put on makeup so they're perceived as professional, or hardworking, or whatever. Then there's the stereotypical Silicon Valley "effortless" of hoodie, jeans and backpack. (Now despite the Bay Area being known more technological innovations there are some great companies catering to the more fashionably-inclined part of the population, which I'll get to in a bit.) I knew I had to come up with what kind of "effortless" style I wanted for myself. 

As much as I enjoy fashion, what l appreciate most are clothes and accessories that let me live my life, not get in the way of it. Therefore, my aesthetic has evolved in line with trying to simplify a fairly busy schedule that is probably familiar to other 30-year-old urban professionals: commuting to the office, figuring out after-work plans, packing in as much as possible on the weekends and of course, making exciting travel plans, preferably with friends. For all of this I want clothes with forgiving cuts (I just love a draped sweater or blouse), colors and prints that go together, and versatile basics that stand up to everyday wear. Also on my list of demands: clothes that don't make me feel guilty for adding to the human rights and environmental problems that fast fashion has fostered. Luckily, besides checking out some good consignment shops in the Bay Area, I've found some companies that answer this call with the clothes they manufacture. And I've realized that quite a few of my wardrobe staples come from them. Over the last few years I've become a loyal fan of these local brands:

• Everlane - The first of the local brands that I tried, I appreciated Everlane's 'luxury without the markup' and 'transparent supply chain' strategies. I started with their t-shirt, then bought a couple silk tops for <$100, and most recently their wallet. Here's a referral link if you want to try them out: https://www.everlane.com/r/y2nkha
• Cuyana - They first caught my eye with their lean closet movement and fewer, better motto. They also provide the story of where they source their materials. I was doing periodic closet purges and bringing bags of my unused items to Community Thrift. I first purchased a bag from them, not for myself but for my mom (who now has two, go figure). Finally this past Christmas my gift to myself was one of their classic tote bags (above) which I use nearly every day. I'm also interested in some of their clothing items for when I need to replace some wardrobe items.
• Amour Vert - I love the variety of cuts and prints by Amour Vert. They have a couple shops in the Bay Area and are distributed by some department stores. Over the last couple years I've collected silk/cotton mixed media tees, cotton tees, a silk pineapple-print tank, and silk printed pants.
• Betabrand - Dress pant yoga pants! (I wear the cropped version which hits my ankles) They  really are a dressy-enough material to not get called out as leggings, and they really are very comfortable. This is a fun company that crowdsources designs and makes most of their stuff right in SF. Again, a referral link: https://www.betabrand.com/referrals/landing/friend/?r=70dH (they also have student discounts)

These brands have gotten press elsewhere so they don't need me to sing their praises, nor do I wear them exclusively, but I did want to call them out since I was happy to find them close to home. Everyone has different brands they like and not everyone even cares so much about what's in their closet. I still care what my wardrobe is made up of, but in a different way than I did when I was an excited college student. Below is some more reading on this topic, I'd be interested if anyone else has more suggestions.

Ethical Shopping on Refinery 29
Local Fashion Labels on SFist

Mission Murals

Here are some murals from around the Mission, one of my favorite neighborhoods in San Francisco. I spend a good amount of my weekends walking around the area, and these are only a few examples of the great artwork that can be found there. Whether they're bright and simple icons or complicated images across entire building facades, I appreciate them all (I don't always 'get' public art but I get that it's important). I don't know much about their creators, but I have some links to further reading and tour info below.

More reading:

http://www.sanfrancisco.travel

Precita Eyes

7x7
http://dirt.asla.org/2012/10/15/why-public-art-is-important/

Life Lately: Rainy City

a little Paris in San Francisco

It's been raining a lot in San Francisco the last couple weekends, so I've been spending more time indoors. Some of my friends joked how they appreciate the excuse to not go out, which both resonates with me and makes me think about why we feel this way yet still want to live in cities. My generation insists on living in cities (small and big ones) and paying to be so close to other people, but also reserves the right to choose how to be active in our cities. Plus, my friends and I have pretty much lived for a decade or so in various metros. Perhaps for us, it's age (almost all of us have turned 30, so I myself am a granny millennial) that turns us into little urban homebodies.

I've been using my time at home - on the couch, if we're being honest - planning upcoming travel to France. Now I don't speak French, so the research itself is an education (I downloaded Duolingo and am browsing YouTube videos to get familiar with the language). It's also inspiring me to go back and read books and watch movies set in France. Even walking around in the rain has made me look forward to walking around in Paris (hopefully not in the rain but I'd still take it).  

 Pampalasa

I still have gone out a little bit though, running errands and meeting up with friends for a comedy show and a movie. One friend lent me her umbrella as I had to keep walking after she got in her car (she did offer me a ride but I really wasn't going far to my next destination and it would've taken more time driving just a few city blocks). Having to walk led me to snap the picture above outside Pampalasa, a Filipino restaurant that I'd heard of but never actually located. "Have you eaten yet?" is something my Filipino father asks me all. the. time. and even though it was pouring I had to smile at remembering my childhood. I look forward to going back to the restaurant and actually going inside.

Abalone at Cala

One restaurant I did go into was Cala, which could be the Best New Restaurant in the country soon enough (my husband and I have also enjoyed Liholiho Yacht Club so I'm cheering for either SF-based spot to win). It reminded me of traveling in Mexico and other Latin countries with its delicious seafood-based dishes. One California-based item was the abalone, which I've only had once before in my cousins' kitchen up in Mendocino. Cala's version was smaller and farm-raised in Santa Cruz, but just as delicious. Like State Bird Provisions, everything that came out felt like such a treat. Since (a big) part of my vacation-planning is setting our budget, I probably won't go to Cala again anytime soon, but it was totally worth it. 

Late Winter Livin'

Winter in San Francisco is something I still haven't gotten used to, which is fine because then I've felt extra-grateful whenever it was 70 degrees out and I realized, yup it's February. Sure I still carry around a jacket and/or scarf like it's any other time of year in SF. But I'm peeling off clothing layers while enjoying a hike with an amazing view of the coastline, eating lunch on the patio outside my office, or sitting on grass watching a college lacrosse game. It's just easy to enjoy the outdoors almost any time of year in the Bay Area.

Around the city, I've been wandering the Mission, getting a reflexology massage in Russian Hill, eating dim sum in the Richmond, and catching up with friends in Hayes Valley, the Tendernob and the Dogpatch. I love how our neighborhoods have such distinct, descriptive and somewhat whimsical names. I've been spending a lot of time walking and brought visitors from out of town to Dolores Park. They loved the views, of course, and the people watching.

Dogeaters & a "Big Weekend" in the Bay

Lands End

SB50 has taken over the Bay Area. Even though the game itself was about an hour's drive outside of the city, street closures started in San Francisco more than a week ahead of time. Aircraft were flying low, one of the teams' bus caravans got in a fender bender on the highway (typical for the 101), and media descended upon the city. It's funny but everyone I know who actually lives in SF was expecting the worst in terms of crowds and traffic, and therefore avoided downtown as much as they could. I'm glad that so many people have been interested in the festivities, but personally I stuck to my favorite everyday neighborhoods.

Mission Street

Thankfully there wasn't much traffic outside of the Soma/FiDi area. And it's been pretty warm out so it's been so nice to walk through the city. This morning, we walked through the Mission up to Hayes Valley for brunch (surprisingly with no wait for a table) and last evening was spent with a nice walk from Russian Hill through the Marina to Fort Mason.

I went to Fort Mason's Magic Theater to see a new play, Dogeaters. I'd read the book when I was younger since it was a contemporary novel about my native country, the Philippines. I hadn't even known it was adapted to the stage until a friend shared it, but a few of us went to see it in previews (it opens this week) and it was good. The story takes place in 1982 Manila, when the country was still under martial law. A few scenes were really intense and overall it was probably darker than the usual portrayal of the Philippines but I think having an ensemble cast of characters lends itself to portraying a more comprehensive picture of the urban culture at that time. There were young people flocking to the city to chase success in careers and in love, folks in various kinds of businesses/hustles, politicians putting out self-serving spins on reality, families reuniting and being torn apart, and overall people looking to make their own way in and their on mark on a chaotic world. It was exciting to watch and it's been getting press, so I hope it does really well. 

personal photo

I still went to a fun Super Bowl party at a friend's house, but I think getting my culture on at the Magic Theatre was actually the highlight of the weekend.

Productive Relaxation, Recent Inspiration

It was so nice to have a three-day weekend soon after the holidays. The extra free time quickly got filled up and I tried my best to be productive while taking time to hang out with friends. After all, I am happiest when my free time matches up with my loved ones'. Luckily winter here is pretty mild so being outside and getting around the city is still pleasant. Yoga and a short hike, both with friends, made physical activity even more fun... though probably did not fully make up for the good food I had this weekend. :)

Recent jaunts around San Francisco:

• getting a post-holiday facial at Credo, an organic beauty boutique/spa that opened in the city last year (thanks to a former Sephora exec). I've been here a few times in the last year and every time has been so relaxing and good for my skin. For anyone interested in cleaning up their beauty routine, check out their site!

Tata Harper Spa at Credo

• catching the views from Twin Peaks... slightly cloudy on the day my friends and I went, but you could still make out the bay, the ocean, and the bridges and see how gorgeous the city is:

view from Twin Peaks

• picking a wonderful charity to benefit from a happy hour organized by a friend:

the samfund

And lately I've been reading...

• different perspectives on the recent (kinda scary) activity in the markets: by Schwab and by NYMag
• a millennial's take on getting a financial advisor 
• after watching the movie Joy last month, a friend recommended this article on selling on the QVC network 

Back in San Francisco

NYMag

Happy New Year! (Can I still say that?) I didn't make a New Years resolution but that's mostly because I don't have anything 'new'*, I just need to continue aiming for the things I've been trying to work on: being healthy and productive and having fun. That's about as detailed a manner as I want to conduct life right now. So now we're almost two weeks into 2016 and I've just spent some time just refreshing the things around me and getting back into the flow after the holidays:

Cleaning up: 

I cleaned up my phone by deleting the apps I don't use, ~1,000 photos (after backing them up, duh), texts and the media still embedded in them. I freed up 4+GB's of space which is pretty awesome since my phone is two years old now and I want to keep it for a while longer. I also went through my closet and cleared out items to donate. It's funny that I've spent a few years supposedly paring down my wardrobe but still had a bunch of stuff that I don't wear anymore. 

Shopping:

Related, I'm putting myself on another shopping hiatus for the month (11 days down!). I still keep a running list of 'wants' on my phone, so this will give me time to consider what I should actually buy. I did have 'new sneakers' on there for a while, but I got a gift card for Christmas so I was able to get them. I still have some gift card funds left, so I'll use those on the 'wants' that still make the cut when my hiatus is over.

Eating:

I did a big grocery run with the aim of planning/making more meals and filling the kitchen with healthy snacks. I spent one afternoon making a pot of bolognese sauce and meatballs, and they came out wonderfully. I also gave up coffee... and succeeded for a weekend, because on Monday I accidentally ordered a cup along with breakfast. The habit is strong, apparently. But, I'll start over and see if I could skip it for the rest of the week, then maybe reward myself with some good SF coffee this weekend.

Relaxing: 

I started/finished both seasons of Mozart in the Jungle which is really enjoyable. I'm happy for GGB winning the Golden Globe, and counting on Amazon saying yes to a third season. The show is quirky and kind of like a Wes Anderson film turned into a modern-day sitcom. Reading-wise, I've started a couple books in the past month - Gloria Steinem's My Life on the Road and Aziz Ansari's Modern Romance: An Investigation. Enjoying both so far but not really rushing through them, so maybe I'll write more later on.

Finally, I've started catching back up with friends since getting back home, and walking around the city. Travel plans are being dreamed up. In the short term, hiking/brunch/yoga plans are actually being made. I'm excited to have some friends and family visit soon, too, so I can share what I love out here and see my home city through their eyes.





*In case it sounds really boring to not have anything new, last year I went camping and ice skating for the first time, and those weren't planned out resolutions, so I'm not worried.