Emma Style: 01
I'm starting a new series here. It's called Emma Style. Emma is my cousin Erin's 4-year-old daughter who has some serious style, and I'm going to share it with you. Just the look, where to get it (or similar), and we can all be inspired together. Look for it every Sunday and pin your little hearts out.
Lucky you and me.
xo,
Kate
photo credit: Silvana di Franco
I Love Instagram: 01
I have a love/hate with most social networks, but the one that I almost always LOVE is Instagram. I love taking pictures, I love viewing pictures. Pictures are the way to my little heart. Obviously, following my friends is my favorite... I can always see what they're up to and how cute their kiddos are... BUT I also cannot get enough of the bloggers, artists, and photographers I follow on Instagram. There is no end to the talent out there, and it kind of feels like we get a glimpse into the "real life" of people whose work we so admire.
Here are just a few Instagramers I think you should follow:
(clockwise from top left)
1. ShopSweetThings- Bits of home, events, kids, food & all beautiful.
2. ModernKids- San Francisco photographer with a modern eye for design.
3. ChloeFleury- An illustrator who creates pretty paper masterpieces. I love the cheerfulness of her feed.
4. Pomverte- Everything is in French, but the styling of her every photo is impeccable. No one could make the word "hello" look more lovely.
(again, clockwise from top left)
5. SilvanadiFranco- She manages to make everything that is ordinary look extraordinary. She has that photographer's eye so many want, but so few have.
6. PetitsFournier- Photos of handmade perfection, lovely shots of products in process, travel, watercolor, and Anabel's life. The knitters are lovely ladies from Bolivia, and make their living creating dolls, toys and beauty.
7. SophieandLili- My favorite sketch-artist's instagram. Her doodles in notebooks should be in frames and her watercolors are perfection. Did I mention she makes dolls? So much good stuff here. Her Instagram also includes glimpses of her adorable daughters and "real life."
8. TeaandKate- Ohhh, such beauty in little things. Bits of life and Kate's children, their travel, and everything just gorgeous.
Happy Friday!! Enjoy your weekend!!
Love,
Kate
Ps. Feel free to follow me on Instagram too! xx
"Emergency"
So... do you guys ever freak out suddenly about- well- nothing?
Last night, Sophie woke and was holding her tummy and yelling that it hurt... and I insisted that she go to the ER. I was pretty sure it was appendicitis. I mean, I didn't even google which side is problematic or anything (spoiler: NOT the side she was holding). She has had tummy aches a million times before and I've never freaked out about them. I think people actually think I'm a little TOO chill when she has any issues or falls or anything.
Last night though... I got it in my mind that it had to be appendicitis. My loving husband insisted on being the one to take her, and I sat at home thinking about how terrible it was going to be that she'd probably be having surgery or something and we probably wouldn't sleep all night because we'd be at the hospital... SERIOUSLY, you guys. I was a mess for no reason, whatsoever. At the time I blamed mother's intuition... today I know it was actually just my own personal crazy, letting my imagination run free.
And really, this so-called "mother's intuition" that other moms totally swear by is totally faulty for me. I have none! How am I the mother with no intuition? When I was pregnant with both girls, I thought they were boys. Last night, I didn't even think we had enough time to call my doctor cousin for tips before taking her to the ER. This was an emergency, folks...
My husband returned home at 1am with a sleepy, happy little girl, stickers-in-hand, raving about the doctor's adventure in the middle of the night. He was sweet enough to tell me that the doctor didn't call him cray before sending them home.
Next time we'll try prune juice.
XO,
Kate
Flying
Flying.
Jacket || Similar Tunic || Leggings || Moccasins
SF Loving: Ballpark
You know how some days, you expect to be good, and then they're way better than you even expected and you didn't know that was possible?
Sophie has been requesting for weeks to get to go to a Giant's baseball game. She watches games in the evenings with her daddy, and asks lots of questions about baseball to be sure that she can stall her bedtime.
We rode in a bus the other day, and the bus driver was a fast driver (for a bus driver), so when we disembarked, she said "oh mommy, that bus driver drove really fast. I guess it's because he's wearing a Giant's hat." We're teaching her exactly right. She's been thinking about the Giants every day since the season started.
we maybe should have given the camera to someone who realized we wanted to actually BE in the shot. :) you can see maggie's hand at least.
So it happened. Finally. This weekend, we went to a Giant's game. It was every bit as wonderful as expected, and more. Warm weather, all the right smells and snacks to go with the experience. What we didn't expect is for Maggie to enjoy herself quite as much as she did. She giggled and squealed as we walked up the ramp to our seats. We somehow got last-minute seats right at the foul pole, so we got to take a picture with Lou Seal, the mascot, and Maggie gave him a high five and gazed at him and touched his whiskers. She also clapped on cue for the first inning. That was it.. she fell asleep in her stroller right after, but it was something.
There's something about the ballpark that is magic for little kids. We ate at Tres before the game, so we didn't even get the hot dogs and garlic fries, but the whole experience was just the way it should be. AT&T park is hands-down the most gorgeous park ever, and has a whole section in the back devoted to the little Giant's fans, and this was our first time ever taking advantage of it.
Sophie slid down the coke bottle, and then entered the children's ballpark. Kids line up on the bench to hit the ball. Sophie got up to the plate, showed the pitcher her swing, then came the pitch... first pitch and a hit. Her whole face was beaming and she ran the bases as fast as she could and ran directly into her daddy's arms. They hugged like she had just won the world series. One of those moments you want to never, ever, ever forget. Totally melted my heart. And I got a good picture.
We celebrated with Ghiradelli ice cream. As it should be.
Also, the Giants won. As it should be.
Gone on a Little Vacation
Just a little Monday in Pebble Beach! :)
Happy Mother's Day!
So endlessly grateful to my dear mother, who taught me about kindness and joy, who is sunshine on a cloudy day, and whose scandinavian culture has created a baking genius in her. She is still the one I want to come make everything alright when I am sick, and she is still one of the first people with whom I want to share any good news. She is a listener, and a supporter, and one of the best friends I have.
There are no words for the privilege it is to be a mother. that moment my first bundle was handed to me, to hold, to teach, to love until the end of my life... I was a mother. I had another little joy handed to me again nearly three years later... I wish I was writing at those stages of life. These girls captured my heart. They're their father and they're me and they are THEM. Individuals with passion, with emotions, with differences, with perfect imperfections. To be their mother is an honor.
Mother's Day. So grateful. So honored.
Happy Mother's Day to all of you who are mothers and mother-figures to people in your lives. You are so very loved.
Lately
Sooo, what did you do this week? Well, funny you should ask. What DIDN'T we do this week? It's all mixing together in my mind, but in the past couple weeks, we've had about ummm two little evenings home. SO, here's an explosion of pictures for you, rather than 1,000 words. Well, let's be honest here... you may also get 1,000 words when you come here. ;)
(This is the cutest little niece there ever could be. Four months already, and beautiful as ever, just like her mama.)
what's better than making a home of giant cardboard boxes?
this little rainbow climbing thing in Diamond Heights was like a million feet off the ground and terrifying. I got to go "save" her from it after taking the proud pic. HA. I call it "healthy fear," which normally my overly brave girl doesn't have. ;)
I've mentioned these crab rolls before... in THIS post.
We were all over the map this week. I mean, from this end to that end of the city!
Brian and I were able to attend my cousin's wedding and it reminded me how much I adore my family.
We helped a good friend move. By "help" I mean that Brian helped and the girls and I created legit homes out of giant cardboard boxes- which I believe is an essential part of childhood.
We got a bit of quality time with my little niece Camille, who gives me major baby fever.
My in-laws came into town, and we are eating and exploring our way through the city and beyond.
In a nutshell, it's been a beautiful, chaotic, sweet, and BIG week. I'm thrilled that our plan this weekend is to chill... AND watch the Warriors. Which is not chill, but TOTALLY thrilling!
Ps. I know my comment/likes thing is totally being glitchy. It's in the process of being fixed, but please feel free to "like" and "comment" regardless! I love it when you do!
Love,
Kate
Be Hiip
So you know I'm not reeeeallly into being in front of the camera... I'd way rather be taking pictures of my children... BUT I have a good friend named Nicole. And Nicole started a business. I believe in her business and I believe in its mission, and I took pictures for hiip, and I want a hiip bag, so I figure you might too, and so I'm going to tell you all about it...
hiip= helping individuals in passing
I pass individuals who need help constantly. And I'm pretty sure you do too. Whether you live in a city or suburb or country, there are needs. For every hiip bag sold, a "hiip kit" is provided for an individual who is homeless and needy. Nicole created each kit based on the needs that her homeless friends in her neighborhood shared with her. Socks, shampoo, lip balm, etc. to take care of some basic needs, and more than that- spark a conversation to lead to friendship with people who are outcast, with people who are friendless, who have been through hardship after hardship. I mean, what if these people were part of your family, and landed in a state of homelessness... and you lost touch? Wouldn't you be praying that someone would come along beside them and be their friend? And give them hope? The mission of this business is a beautiful thing that I can actually STAND behind.
SO I literally am standing behind and for it. I couldn't pick which bag I loved best, so I basically have tried them all. They're amazing for park time because you can just strap all the essentials to your hip and be hands-free, or you can do the messenger style if you're not up for a modern fanny pack ;) If you need an evening bag, you can fancy it up for a night out on the town and use it as a clutch.
Stylish for days and nights. Be hiip with us. Tell all your friends, pin it, blog it, love it.
xoxo.
Kate
And while I'm at it- promoting my friends and all- photos are all taken by the talented duo we love so dearly: Pictilio... they're everything you'd want in a photographer: sweet, funny, efficient, and GOOD. and they travel! :)
Follow Pictilio: FACEBOOK || TWITTER
And nope, this isn't a compensated post and I did not receive anything for free. I simply love the brand and felt strongly enough to write about it.
