Tag Archives: san francisco

San Francisco Hike with Kids

June 15, 2017 Aubrey 1 Comment

It was definitely NOT a sunny gorgeous day, but it looked like the rain clouds were going to stay away and I had been wanting to take the kids out for a hike in San Francisco. Specifically I wanted to check out Lands End and the Sutro Baths. I was very excited to be making the trek with my boys, because despite being a Bay Area native, I had never been…AND I’ve always wanted to see these historic sites first hand.

All in all, Land’s End Trail is about a 3.5 mile loop, it’s a very popular (tourist) destination and it offers fantastic views of the Bay/Pacific Ocean and has tons of pretty wildflowers along the trail as well. The day we went out for the hike, whales could be seen in the distance – with the help of binoculars!

My boys took to the walk right away, there were all kinds of trees, hills and rocks to keep them occupied.

Our first stop was to the Lands End Labyrinth, which I kept saying was a “maze,” however on this hike I learned a labyrinth has one shared entry/exit point, while a maze may have multiple entrances, exits and dead ends…who knew?! If you’re hiking with smaller children, you’ll want to hold them tight while getting down tot the labyrinth. It’s a pretty steep slope to get down there, and it’s a dirt staircase which can be on the slippery side too. Nonetheless, we made it…however I got quite the work out going down and back up!

My boys also busied themselves on the hike by looking out for sticks to collect along our route…

Our last stop of the hike was to see the Sutro Baths. Per wikipedia:

The Sutro Baths were a large, privately owned public saltwater swimming pool complex in the Lands End area of the Outer Richmond District in western San Francisco. The Sutro Baths were opened to the public in 1896, as the world’s largest indoor swimming pool establishment.

So, on the hike you can still see the ruins and there is also a cave you can walk through, where the tide goes in and out, that the kids think is pretty cool!

After the hike, if you’re hungry or want to grab a snack, there are a few options that overlook the (Sutro Bath) ruins, and we chose Louis’..it was a the perfect way to cap off the afternoon hike! All in all, this was about a 2 hour outing, and time well-spent!

Food

Gilroy Garlic Fries with Mickey D’s

August 14, 2016 Aubrey 2 Comments

I’m not sure if the idea of “garlic fries” will resonate with people outside of Northern California, but if you’re familiar with the area and/or are a garlic lover, I’m sure you’ve heard of Gilroy. At any rate, yesterday I had the opportunity to be part of a special blogger event in San Francisco to celebrate Gilroy Garlic Fries at McDonald’s.

I have been very interested to get a taste of these fries and it was a bonus that I could bring my family with me…I didn’t have to twist the kids arms to much to get them to visit the golden arches with me! 😉

It was also nice to meet other bloggers from the area, since I don’t know too many out here, or I only see them online.

A very fun part of the experience was actually going behind the scenes aka behind the counter at McDonald’s and getting to make my own batch of fries. I didn’t actually fry the fries, but I did put on all the super special seasonings, homegrown at Christopher Ranch (garlic), to fill my belly! I even did my first FB Live broadcast…totally spontaneous!

All in all, good times and we’re definitely “Lovin’ It!”

News

ivivva Coast to Coast in San Francisco

July 27, 2016 Aubrey 1 Comment

Girl power was on full display in the city by the Bay this weekend, as the ivivva Coast to Coast Festival popped up in San Francisco at the scenic City View at Metreon. More than 250 active, stylish and energetic tween girls showed up to engage in the festivities, including the POUND workout, making it the largest class of tweens they’ve ever led!

If you’re a fan of lululemon athletica, know that ivivva is cut from the same cloth. The brand was inspired by active girls and celebrates them, with stylish, sporty athletic wear and experiences that connect young girls through movement and aims to inspire them to dream big!

Over the weekend in SF, ivivva offered locals fun in the sun with a tribal marker artists, a hair braiding team, photobooth, music, yoga, acro yoga, and more!

The event also featured a yoga class co-led by 11-year old Sydney, one of the youngest certified yoga instructors in the country, and local teacher Heather McKenzie, as well as inspiring speakers from ivivva’s Dreams & Goals program including ivivva Director of Brand & Community, Allison Forsyth.

Additionally, the girls participated in a POUND workout, the world’s first cardio jam session inspired by the infectious, energizing and sweat-dripping fun of playing the drums. So much fun for a Saturday in San Francisco! I love the idea behind this new line and I think it’s great that the younger set can be just as stylish and encouraged to workout, as their female role models (i.e. Mom, big sisters, etc…). Now if I only had a little girl…sigh! 😉

Mommy 101

SB50 NFL Experience in San Francisco

February 1, 2016 Aubrey 6 Comments

When the Super Bowl comes to your city, it’s an exciting time. There’s a huge influx of visitors, all kinds of events and happenings around town, plus the fanfare that comes along with pro sports and star athletes. Yes, there’s extra traffic, congestion, street closures and other inconveniences, BUT seriously, it’s only for a short period of time and you might as well roll with it, rather than fight it and complain, right!?

I have been lucky enough to cover the Super Bowl as a part of the “media” in Miami, Tampa and Arizona – all of that pre-mommy, so this time around, as it hits the San Francisco Bay Area, I’m taking advantage of what it has to offer from a parenting perspective. I think the NFL does a really great job of community outreach with the youth, as well as providing programs and ways for the younger generations of sports fan to get involved and be a little closer to the game.

All that being said, we took our youngin’s to the NFL Experience at Moscone Center on the 2nd day it was open, and had a family day at the event. There are so many different items of interest for just about every age level and ability. From running, to throwing, kicking and “tackling,” lots of physical activity to indulge in..and that my boys did! Toddlers they are, but on this day, they felt like they could “run” with the big boys…

The NFL Experience also had many designated “Play 60” areas, exclusively designed to fit “small frys.” It’s had all the kick, pass, run, jump drills..as well as an area for arts and crafts and (video) gaming. It was refreshing to sit back and watch our boys enjoy being in the mix of things. Lots of high fives and praise for doing their best and having fun!

Obviously it helps to be a football fan, but that’s not a requirement to enjoy what the “experience” has to offer. There are Hall of Fame and Museum type exhibits and all kinds of memorabilia and displays for all things pro football. Lots of facts and history and visuals to get you pumped about the game! Our toddlers certainly got a kick out of everything RAIDERS and some of the other team stuff they recognized too.

The event also includes all kinds of special sponsor booths with their own spin on the big game and incorporating their branding…did I mention plenty of giveaways too? My boys became obsessed with the Hyundai vehicles on display, as if they were going to be able to drive off with one.. And honestly, I think that was their favorite attraction! LOL…go figure!

Haute Moms

Haute Mom: Olia Kedik

January 7, 2016 Aubrey 3 Comments

Name: Olia Kedik
Child & Age: Yana Mirabell, 2.5 yrs
Hometown/Current Location: Moscow, Russia, currently living in Sacramento as well as San Francisco
Quick Bio: I am originally from Moscow, Russia. I moved to the U.S. in 2003 with one suitcase and many dreams. I worked in every aspect of hospitality as I earned my second degree in Advertising at AAU. While working in hospitality I met my husband, Andy, with whom I opened our first restaurant together, Skool San Francisco. We have been in business for six years and are a few weeks from opening our second location in downtown Sacramento – www.skoolonkstreet.com. My desire for fashion has always been present and influenced by my European background and worldly travels. My passion and entrepreneurial background led to the creation of my fashion blog, Oliamoda which is rapidly gaining steam. On this blog I share my outfits, current trends and hopefully inspire other women. Two and half years ago, I received the biggest gift of all, I became a mommy to little miss Yana. She is beautiful, funny and loud. It has been the most challenging and rewarding job so far. With everything my husband and I have going on, parenthood comes at a challenge sometimes, especially now that we are in the lovely terrible two era, but I would not trade it for anything. Among everything going on, I am hoping for another baby some time soon:)

Q: What is your favorite piece of advice to new Moms?
A: My favorite piece of advice to a new Mom, is do not worry! Women are born to be moms, so no matter how many horror stories you will hear from other moms about parenting or childbirth, you are going to have your own experience. If you go with it with a positive mind, it will be the most perfect experience any one has had. I work in restaurants and I remember having to filter all the advice everyone off the streets had for me, my pregnancy, my delivery, my baby. It is only your journey and a positive mindset makes anything a smooth sail. 🙂

Q: How do you incorporate fitness into your daily routine?
A: I am an athlete at heart, but being a young mom, you do not find much time to keep up your hard workout routine. When Yana was very little I made sure I worked out at least five times a week for no more then 15 minutes during her morning nap. Very light and minimal excerise. I followed the bodyrock.tv you tube videos. They are great, they really helped me get the jumpstart. Then I joined a boxing gym and committed to three times a week. Now I am so busy that if I do a set of sit ups or what ever I can when ever I can, I am happy. Anything counts in my book. I am unhappy if I go too long without any exercise, so I make sure to do something whenever possible. I even bought Yana one pound weights so she can join my 15 minute routine at home.

Q: Share something you have learned about yourself since you became a Mom.
A: My husband and many of my friends consider me a very strong personality, I learned the opposite. I learned my love and my patience for my child has no boundaries and a much higher tolerance then anywhere else. I have learned a different level of love, love for your own child. It is so beautiful.

Q: Describe your “Haute Mom” (fashion) style!
A: I am fashionista, I always have been. My fashion blog www.oliamoda.com is a reflection my style. My style is edgy. Maybe one can call me a risk taker? I have always been the one to wear a hair style no one else dares to or pull off very bright and loud clothing items. Motherhood has only taught me that I need more time getting ready. I love dressing up and making sure everyone in my house hold leaves the house put together. It brings me joy.

Mommy 101, Uncategorized

Holidays 2014: 5 Memorable Moments

January 6, 2015 Aubrey 6 Comments

I enjoyed a really wonderful Christmas and New Year holiday week, with my family on the West Coast recently…and while it’s back to work and back to reality, I can’t help but continue to bask and smile at how awesome it all turned out! I mean the term “holidays” often conjure up visions of stress, fatigue and even panic – especially as parents, along with all the warm, fuzzy notions of the magic of the season.

Well, this time around we decided to pack it up and fly west for a week to be with my side of the family and friends. We purchased air tickets at a premium (holiday) price, which already had me feeling like is this really worth it, then when it came time to depart, we faced multiple flight delays and a standby fate at our original airport and the one we rerouted to…so when we eventually made it to our desired destination, a full 24 hours later had passed! Talk about a Mommy’s travel nightmare. I kept thinking I was going to run out of milk, diapers and food for my toddlers…not to mention my toddlers had to endure LONG wait times in the gate area of just hanging around while the clocked tick and we waited for our names to be called.

To their credit, my boys did exceptionally well, I think I was more of the wreck, worrying if we’d make it to the family Christmas Eve gathering, disappointed with the lack of info and options on how to get where we needed to be, frustrated at the delays (and layovers) I had hoped to avoid, etc… Luckily when we finally got to where we were going, it was nothing short of an amazing family vacation.

So, here are my top 5 most memorable moments from the 2014 holidays:

Jake and the Never Land Pirates Ship

We stayed with my baby sister Alison during the trip and she pulled out all the stops for my boys to make them feel right at home, starting with a pop up play tent, themed after Jake and the Never Land Pirates! I couldn’t get over how cool this thing was…where were these when I was a kid? My photo probably doesn’t do it justice either…there was even a basketball hoop on the mast!

San Francisco – Pier 39

The day after Christmas we took a trip into the city and did the “tourist” thing at Pier 39. It was a beautiful day, with crystal clear skies and not “cold” at all by San Francisco standards… We attempted a picturesque family photo by the Bay, my two sisters came to hang out….

I mean they have a playground right there too, next to a marina with a view of the SF Bay – it doesn’t get any better, and my boys also got their ice cream fix with Aunties.

Golden State Warriors Game

We had a family outing to a Golden State Warriors game. Basketball is big in our family, we grew up on it, we play it, we love going to games… Right now the Warriors are a top team in the NBA and we got all of us together to go to a game. My family, each of my siblings and their significant other’s and my Mom! These gatherings are rare and it was SO much fun for the boys.

Raef had a huge container of popcorn and loved every minute of eating it…ALL!

New Year’s Eve Slumber Party Shin Dig

For NYE, we got together with some of my closest and oldest (meaning since elementary school) friends to ring in the new year. It was good times with all the families together in one house, the kids running around and taking care of each other, while the adults socialized and enjoyed ourselves too.

Playdates

However, the most memorable moment of the holiday vacay – and technically it’s moments, were the several play dates and visits we had with close friends. It’s so fun and really heartwarming to meet the children of the people I have been friends with since childhood and college….the pre-Mom days. And — to see our children all interact together is THE BEST!!

Haute Moms

Haute Mom: Mary Jane Remo Ng

December 4, 2013 Aubrey Leave a comment

Name: Mary Jane Remo Ng
Children & Ages: Ava (6), Stella & Preston (20 months)
Hometown/Current Location: San Francisco, CA
Quick Bio: Happily married for 7 years now, a stay at home mom and an entrepreneur. As a young girl I always dreamed of being a mommy and having 3 kids which included a set of twins. I’m proud to say my dreams have become a reality! Having twins has put an amazing dynamic into our family life and definitely keeps us on our toes! I recently partnered with the Dr’s who created Proactiv in their new skincare company, Rodan + Fields Dermatologists. With this business I’m able to be at home with my children and witness all the milestones of their early years. I dedicate part-time hours for full-time pay.
Website: www.maryjaneng.myrandf.com
Instagram: mommymj

Q: How do you balance being a Mommy and keeping your sense of self?
A: Starting my business has definitely fulfilled my need to interact with adults and socialize with other women. Being a stay at home mom takes a toll on you physically and mentally. This opportunity has been such a blessing in my life. For the first time I’m actually doing something I absolutely love and I’m creating financial freedom for my family while doing it.

Q: What is your favorite piece of advice to new Moms?
A: Set a schedule as soon as you can. Whether you have 1 baby or 3, get their routines down so you can plan out your day and know exactly when your breaks will be.

Q: How would you describe your parenting style?
A: I’m very affectionate and understanding. I’ve learned each child’s individual needs. What works for one child won’t always work for another.

Q: What’s your most memorable Mommy moment to date?
A: I recently put Stella down for a nap without her sleep sack. An hour later I went to check on her because she was fussing and to my surprise, she had her pants off, diaper off and pee’d all over her crib!!!

Q: As a Mommy what is it that you feel you do “right”?
A: I like to raise my children to be very independent. Yes, it means they grow up a little faster but it makes me proud to see that the twins can brush their teeth, feed themselves, settle themselves to sleep in their own room and that my 6 year old showers herself and gets straight to her homework after school. I also talk to my kids in a calm voice, especially when they are fussy. You always want to lead by example.

53 Weeks