Projects + Preparing

I have been busy the past couple weeks working on projects around the house (including a shelf inspired by this), spreading the word about my new Etsy store, and preparing for house guests. I would love to say that we have an amazing guest room, but the rental market in San Francisco is not so generous. The little lady has been with family during her summer break so her room has become the landing place for projects in transition and visitors from out of town.

via

via

After having a few visitors over the past several months, I have learned that there are a few things that you can easily do to make a space feel more accommodating.

Hello + Happy Friday!

It's a bit overcast in San Francisco today and I am craving some sunshine and warm temps. This scarf would be perfect for a pop of color on a dreary day. For nonstop cheerfulness at home, maybe a pink counter top would do the trick? We plan on checking out the Silent Film Festival tomorrow and we might escape the city for four a few hours of warmth on Sunday. Hope you have an amazing weekend! 

see more inspiring images at my Pinterest page

clockwise from top left 1, 2, 3, 4

become part of my journey

subscribe | facebook| pinterest | instagram | twitter

If you use or pin any photos, please link back to wonderlustblog.blogspot.com - thanks!

Mad Over Molly M

On my way back from hiking in the North Bay last weekend I stopped to pop in Trouve, a little boutique featuring vintage home decor, new jewelry, and art. Jewelry by local San Francisco designer, Molly McGrath, immediately caught my attention. Her geometric and organic laser cut forms are right up my alley. At top of my wish list are her superwax necklaces.

I took the time to check out her site once I got home (and couldn't get her necklaces out of my head) and was really inspired by Molly's story. While in school for architecture she began considering how much she could do with the laser cutting machine she used to build her models. I am sure that Molly would have been an amazing architect, but I think she definitely found her calling with the jewelry and home decor she creates.

A Midweek Thought

I have been staying super busy playing tourist with my mom in town and while walking from the Financial District to Chinatown yesterday I came across this incredibly random building addition. 

It goes to show that you never know what you are going to discover when you allow yourself to really absorb all of the sights and sounds around you. 

P.S. I would love to know more about it so if you do please let me know! 

Update: A friend sent me this article after seeing the post. Local designer Jenny Chapman created the cabin from reclaimed wood from an old barn in Ohio. Read more about it here.

become part of my journey

subscribe | facebook| pinterest | instagram | twitter

If you use or pin any photos, please link back to wonderlustblog.blogspot.com - thanks!

My Mom's Comin' to Town!

It's been about six months since my move to San Francisco and the day before we drove out of Atlanta was the last time I saw my mom. She had recently discovered that she had thyroid cancer and underwent one surgery a couple weeks before I left, and then another to remove the remainder of her thyroid just after. It was hard not being there when she got out of the hospital the second time. She is the sweetest, most loving person I know and I cannot wait to give her a huge hug.

Me + my mom on Easter, many moons ago...

Always stylishly feminine, she is a rocking a polka dot dress with a ruffled peplum-like detail.

Starting the Weekend Off Right

My spring cleaning has turned into summer purging and I spent last night going though my dresses and skirts in order to streamline my closet. What I decided not to keep I sorted for donating and re-selling. It's amazing how long you can hold on to a piece of clothing because you have good memories attached to it. I suggest enlisting someone close that isn't scared of being honest to help you with your wardrobe cleansing.

photo from Santa Cruz

become part of my journey

subscribe | facebook| pinterest | instagram | twitter

If you use or pin any photos, please link back to wonderlustblog.blogspot.com - thanks!

Instagram: A Visual Journey

I have blogged in the past about my love for Instagram and after reading a post by fellow San Franciscoan, Anne Sage, I started thinking about what makes the platform so successful. The appeal for me is the simple creation of a visual diary logging my journey through the everyday.

Here are a few recent snapshots from my "diary"...

Cleaning House

With the little lady gone for the summer I have turned my attention towards purging and cleaning our home. Apparently it's not officially summer for 19 more days so I can still call this spring cleaning. As we have settled into the space I have learned what does and doesn't work in regards to the furniture we brought from Atlanta. I want to make room for our custom shelves and some new pieces that will suit the space better. It's funny how you become attached to things... 

Day Trip --> Santa Cruz

A couple weekends back we sought out warmer temps in Santa Cruz. We made our first stop at Henry Cowell Redwoods park for a short hike (one of the few parks in the area with dog friendly trails).

Beautiful Science

This past Saturday we headed to Golden Gate Park to check out the California Academy of Sciences. The combination museum / planetarium / aquarium / rain forest was pretty amazing. It was busy but not too crowded to relax and thoroughly enjoy the experience. There is a vast amount of information to absorb (it is a science museum after all) so allow yourself plenty of time to explore so that you get the most out of your visit. My favorite part, the planetarium, is the largest in the world. 

West Coast Adventures

One of the best things about living in San Francisco is our close vicinity to so many other interesting cities and destinations. The little lady will be spending the summer with family and we plan to take advantage of our adult time to do a little (well maybe a lot) of exploring. It just so happens to be unseasonably cold in SF during the summer so it will be nice to escape to some warmer temperatures on the weekends.

Blithedale Summit trail, Mount Tamalpais in the North Bay 

Style - Hair Bungees

Selecting a new hair salon is never easy, especially when you are new to a city. It's even more difficult when you seeking a cut for under $60 from a well reviewed salon. I stumbled upon Mes Amis and decided to give them try. Fortunately, I made a good choice and my stylist, Jerry, turned out to be both friendly and knowledgeable. So thorough that he almost immediately pointed out that my hair was damaged due to my affinity for ponytails and buns. Eeks! Not something a girl wants to hear. Ironically I often wear my hear up to avoid damage from heat styling. What did this mean for my morning routine? What about those extra windy days when gusts from the Pacific make wearing my hair down a nuisance?

Source: prettystuff.tumblr.com via Melanie on Pinterest

I think I can. Wait - I know I can.

Wow - I cannot believe it is already Friday again. The job hunt took priority this past week and I have been busy researching local companies and available opportunities. I have really enjoyed having some extra time to get settled in San Francisco, but I am very ready to get back into the office! Until then I am focusing on doing all of the things that usually take the back burner: painting my nails every few days (currently a fun shade of pink!), reading, deep conditioning my hair, trying out new artistic endeavors, replacing that random missing button, and so on.

Style - The Scarf

It seems that scarves have become a prerequisite to my daily ensemble here in San Francisco. So much so I am already beginning to tire of my decent-sized collection. Until I find a job in the city my budget is slim and I welcome any ideas to reinvent my current wardrobe. You can imagine my delight when I happened upon this fantastic video via Aussie Blue from Wendy's Lookbook.

Enjoy!

Thank you for stopping by!

Missing Atlanta (just a bit!)

source

Here are a few things I have been a bit homesick for...

Date Night + A Little Culture

We recently had our first date night in San Francisco at SFMOMA. The museum was the perfect choice, they are open late on Thursday, the artwork encouraged conversation, and it's only a couple blocks from our place. We had just enough time to grab a bite to eat at Pazzia before exploring the museum.

Spring in the Bay

I was a little worried we would be rained in during spring break but fortunately the sun came out mid-week and we got to spend a few days exploring the city.

The Presidio

Lush greenery and picturesque views of the Golden Gate Bridge

Treasure hunt at  El Polin Spring (it was the perfect activity for a curious kid) 

Spring + A Little Indulgence

image via

The little lady is on Spring break this week and we have our first house guests arriving on Tuesday so I may be away from here for a few days. Today we are heading to the Jelly Belly Factory about an hour north of San Francisco to take a tour and do a little taste testing... not a bad start to the week at all :)

Instagram + Ink361 Snapshots of Life as it Happens...

Fort Funston (dog heaven)

Living in a new city feels a little like traveling because everywhere you go is like a new adventure. I have been a total tourist in San Francisco, snapping photos left and right.

Green Abode - Building REsource

We have been on the hunt for reclaimed wood to use for shelves in our dining room / office since moving into our new place. On the weekends we drove to Oakland, Berkeley, and a few places around San Francisco exploring the available options. We even considered using Ikea counters or shelves but persisted on because we knew that we wanted something more unique (and environmentally friendly). After reading some raving Yelp reviews for Building REsources in San Francisco we decided to check it out.