Saying Goodbye

As children, my parents used to drive us past the San Francisco apartment they lived in before moving to the burbs.  They stayed there during my oldest brother’s first year of life.  My mom, who is not a crier, said that she wailed the day they left that little spot in the city.  As a child, I never understood why she cried.  And yet, here I sit, absolutely confident that life will repeat itself; that I am my mother’s daughter and the tears will come by the boat load as we say our goodbyes to our San Francisco apartment today.

The photos from our previous apartment don’t tell the full story.  Our last apartment was cramped, filled to the brim with stuff; it was loud, with forever clanking and unpleasant whiz of the bus right outside our door; it was sterile, with a landlord that made sure you followed all the rules at every second.  It nearly drove us out of the city, prematurely.

I will never forget walking into our current apartment for the first time.  We were the last couple the landlord was to show to and we just squeezed in a viewing before she made her final decision.  Immediately, we both knew this was a place that we would love to live but we didn’t know how it would fulfill us.

We didn’t know that the small bedroom off of ours would hold our baby tight at night; with the womb like size of the room, she could stay safe, wrapped up all on her own.

We didn’t know that the deck would be the ideal spot for us to learn to garden and to learn how to sustain plants.

  

We didn’t know the sunroom off of the deck would be the most amazing place to sit and read while the sun blazed through the french doors and wrapped us in warmth.

We didn’t know the kitchen would be the best size for impromptu dance sessions while Pandora surprised us with one hit after another and we wore out our dancing shoes.

We didn’t know some of our best conversations would come from the tiny kitchen nook on a little west elm desk with tired antique chairs, squeezed between the laundry machines and my closet.

We didn’t know that our bedroom off of the kitchen would provide us with the solace and silence needed to recharge our batteries and face life with energy.

We didn’t know that I would take a pregnancy test between the walls of the bathroom that would seal our fate as the lucky ones with a growing family.

We didn’t know that the formal living room off of the bathroom would feel cozy and provide comfort for when the fog rolls in so fast that the windows rattle and collect mist.

We didn’t know that the dining room would be a happy spot for family gatherings and for friends to come together to laugh, to love and to story tell.

We didn’t know that the small office would supply some big ideas; it’s tucked away feeling giving me fuel and an outlet from my, at times mundane, mom duties.

We didn’t know that the long hallway would be where Josie would take her first steps from Graham’s arms to mine.

When we signed the lease, we didn’t know that our landylady would not only be wonderful to us, but that she would become a part of our family.

We didn’t know that the walls of this apartment would be the place we are most proud to show off as the memories between these walls have nurtured us, challenged us and watched us grow beyond stretches we though possible.

Beyond these walls and stretched to the city limits, lies the ground where I met my husband, birthed our first child and conceived our second.  I think of 24 year old me, who moved here semi-reluctantly yet simply by giving San Francisco a chance, the city gave me more then I could have ever asked for.

Why must we leave such a joyous location, these nurturing walls?  I’m afraid life would turn into a grind as we squeeze in another body.  The feeling of pride I get when I walk to my front door would turn to dread as I contemplate how to carry two kids and their stuff up the many stairs.  Our sweet neighborhood that we cherish would be faced with groans as I circled for parking time and again with double the tears in the back.

And so, just like many greats before us, even the likes of Seinfeld and Cheers, we must leave while the going is good.  We must turn the key one last time with bittersweet tears and take with us the memories to a new home where will again build a happy life.

While we are sad to leave, we are filled with hope for our new home and we can’t wait to see the stories it will tell.

The Wheels are Turning

Thank you for all of your awesome comments and support for the glider.  With your added push, I’m without a doubt going with the chair.  Once we move, I’ll actually purchase it so that it doesn’t show up before we do.  I’ve heard that Walmart pieces can come really quickly.

With the chair as the starting point, my wheels started turning.  Now, I’m officially obsessed with making the perfect little home (nursery) for Baby B.  I want to go Chinoiserie Palm Beach Prep because that’s what makes me very happy and I’ll be living in the nursery.  Plus, we’re having a girl so bring on the prep again.

Here’s the schemes ruminating around my head…

 

Now, lets see what pieces actually make it into the nursery.  It’ll probably be some combination of the three.  We will for sure have the chair, a beautiful hand me down bassinet and this pillow that I’ve fallen in love with.

 

And So It Begins…

I’ll admit that I haven’t spent as much time obsessed with nursery planning with this little baby as I did with Josie.  What with the upcoming move (in just two weeks) and the newly walking older sister, I’ve been a little preoccupied.

But, I want to make this nursery really special for Baby B and so it’s time to get working.

Like last time, I think that the chair will be the jumping off point.  I thought about recovering a vintage chair again (like how I did for Josie).

There actually was a chair I was seriously considering for $50 off Craigslist that I would then take to my upholsterer and I was planning on recovering it in a navy and white ticking stripe.  Well, said chair, is deep in the East Bay (a trek for me) and then picking out the fabric and lugging chair to the upholsterer felt like a lot of work, on top of a move.

I was going for a look kind of like this but with a chair that glides (so is skirted).  I have found that I like to rock my babies.

So, I went onto trusty Pinterest and typed in ticking stripe glider and I found this bad boy.  It’s not as great as the Ethan Allen one posted above but it’s got just about everything I’m looking for…

 

 

Chic, petite, ticking stripe glider with a contrast welt.  It’s pretty much what I would have done custom, except I would have gone with a tufted tight back.  But hey, pretty similar.  Especially, when I found out that this glider was from Walmart of all places!  I’ve never purchased from Walmart but this got 90 positive reviews and it’s about half of what I would spend to go custom and 1/10 the amount of energy.  Win win.

Houston, I think we have our starting point for the nursery.  And so it begins, another nursery to put together.

What do you think?  Am I off my rocker (or should I say glider) for shopping Walmart?

 

Check My Self

One thing I’m excited for in the new house is the very small landing at the bottom of our stairwell.  I don’t have any pics of it as we aren’t living in the house yet (sorry).  I really enjoy decorating tiny spaces.  You can give them a bit of unexpected punch.

I have grand plans for the place, starting with my trusty watermelon console table…

I usually hang art above the console table but this time around I absolutely must, without question, put a mirror above it.  You see currently, we have this mirror right above our stairwell that the previous tenants put up.  It wasn’t ours to begin with so it’ll stay with the apartment.

But, said mirror, has saved me from walking out the door with unbrushed hair, makeup smirrored under my eyes, baby throw up down my shirt, mismatched socks, you name it.  Sometimes I’m in such go mode that I get Josie all ready and completely forget to make myself semi-presentable until that miraculous little mirror reminds me.  Nope, Kate, back it up and brush yo hair.  I get to check my self.  And we don’t want me to be the crazy lady of Hillsborough.  So a mirror is in order.

I was absolutely hooked on this Ballard Mirror but I found out when ordering it for a client that it’s discontinued.  BOO!!!

Back to the drawing board for me.  I would love you forever if someone found this exact pair of mirrors at an estate sale for like $60 and thought “these are so Kate” and just lugged them home for me.  I would hug you, squeal with delight and give you dinner and a bottle of champagne.  So, please do keep me in mind when you are perusing estate sales.

 

PBR Lights

I’ll readily admit that I don’t like knock offs.  I think that’s the bummer about the internet – nothing can remain hidden little gems that are truly unique.  Someone will find it on the internet and the next thing you know Target has knocked it off.  I find it especially hard when I have a client pay big bucks for truly special pieces and then the next thing you know a big box store has made basically the same thing for 1/10 of the price.

Getting off my soap box now, it’s time for me to play hypocrite.  These knocks offs are just so good.  And, let’s face it, I have Clicquot taste on a PBR budget.  So, my only choice are the PBR lights – but if you can splurge on the Clicquot lights, I say go for it; they are more special, with the added custom touches!

I have been a long time fan of all Colleen and Company lights.  They are fantastic, preppy and a bit girly – plus you can custom color it in any way your heart desires. – Scalloped Flush Mount – $1175

Pottery Barn Kids just came out with their own version and it’s pretty dang cute, if you ask me. – Scalloped Flush Mount – $119

Colleen and Company Isabell Lantern for the win – $1,850.

Shades of Light for the budget minded – $289

I’m not going to lie, I feel a little bit guilty about this post.  But, hey, a girl with a beer budget needs to have cute lighting too, right?

On that note, Happy Friday – hope you get to have some beer or champagne tonight under fabulous lighting!

Erin Glennon Interiors

I love finding out about new (to me) designers.  It’s always great to have new images to look at, aesthetics to aspire to and inspiration for new creativity.  Erin Glennon Interiors sparked all of those feelings as I browsed through her portfolio with delight.

Let me introduce you to Erin Glennon, based out of Charleston – who is also the nicest person ever.

Love her mix of antiques and contemporary pieces, her use of color and the most fabulous fabrics that she chooses…I spy some of my personal long time favorites in pillows.  Her look feels classic, preppy and perfectly curated.  Check out more of Erin’s work, here.

Our Little Treasure

This pregnancy has not been easy on me.  Although, honestly, wallowing in the drudgery (morning sickness and exhaustion) makes me feel wracked with guilt.  I highly doubted we would be blessed with two children and yet here I sit, typing away, literally, barefoot and pregnant in my kitchen.  A dream come true.

I guess in some ways, I still find it hard to believe that we have been blessed again.  And I’m afraid of jinxing it.  In other ways, I’m just plain out nervous about handling two kids 18 months apart.

But, while I write this post, I’ll allow myself to imagine…imagine the beauty that lies ahead with two little GIRLS in our family.  That’s right GIRL.  We are having another baby girl!

I can see them now…

Sisters splashing around in a bath, scrambling for the best toys.

Sisters chatting away in their matching twin beds (ahem, more on those beds at a later post)

Sisters playing house, dolls and, hey, some Tonka trucks too.

Sisters giggling until they fall to the ground in fits of laughter.

Sisters sharing their deepest darkest secrets with one another and comforting each other like no one else can.

Sisters fighting out their battles as they adjust and become strong beautiful women.

Sisters venturing out into the real world independently but always with many, many phone calls back and forth.

Sisters falling in love and finding the right match for themselves.

Sisters starting their own families and discovering that there is no greater, deeper and more rewarding blessing then motherhood.

Yes, currently the days are long for me.  But in just four short months, I will be holding my little treasure.  Our huge blessing.  Our baby girl.  I know in my heart, without having met her yet, that she is very special.  I can’t wait until the day that we meet our baby and introduce her to her sister.

 

 

Celerie & South

Surely, most of you know Grace of Grace Happens.  She is a Virginian living in San Diego with her adorable family and I love how she takes her southern roots and mixes that traditional sense with the california relaxed vibe.

A few shots of her gorgeous home –

 

Grace is not currently working in design as she is home with her two stylish, adorable children.  They are very fun to follow on Instagram, by the way.  Well, she recently announced that she has opened a small monogram shop: Celerie and South, and it is delightful!

Green Linen Hemstitch napkins

Dish Cloths

White Hooded Towels

Turkish Terry Towel

And, not to mention, the prices are refreshingly affordable.  Things are selling out fast though!  I was lucky enough to snag a pair of these for our new home just before they sold out…

Linen Guest Towel 

Happy shopping!!