My girl on THE CHALKBOARD

Helen Johannesen is the reason I can stay sane.  She is the Operations Manager of both Animal and Son of A Gun restaurants.  So basically she keeps my husband in check.
THANK YOU THANK YOU HELEN!

Helen is one of the most gracious and stylish people I know.  Total East Coaster with that fancy preppy flare.  I love it.  Need I mention her other half Zach Frechette who is the man behind the ever popular Quarterly Co.

The Chalkboard has a home tour with Helen on their site today.
Check out her wonderful new digs in Hollywood and what she fancies for a snack.

Sarah x

Traveling with the tot.

Once again we were off.
this time with our little man.

Many flights in August and September
2 of which were international
all with a crawling and almost walking baby...

Not looking for a medal or a monument but the husband and I rocked it.  Full disclosure.
We traveled internationally with my family.  So we had some help keeping him entertained.

I will start with the mantra EVERY CHILD IS DIFFERENT.  So some of what my little Mister likes I am sure your little one may not.

But, when traveling I say try it all!!!  This post aims more towards kids that are over 6 months.

SNACKS
most people who know me well associate me with with snacks.  I ALWAYS have them.
(Like for me, not the kid) Having the baby has double the snacks.  The plane ride was made a lot easier because of the list below.  It is in no particular order.  Some of the snacks I break apart into smaller pieces.

Mum Mums
That's It Fruit Bars
Happy Baby Munchies
Plum Organic Packets

Side note: international styling...In Denmark our guy ate what we ate. Finding things that he was accustomed to like yogurt and a banana were easy. But, eating the food specific to the country(Danish bread and butter were amazing!)  made the trip fun!

WHAT ELSE?
I brought a gallon size ziplock bag with toys.
Stacking cups, shakers, wood teether's.  Small books.  Of course on the plane he loved playing with the light button, headphones, blanket and everything else he could put in his mouth.

He is going to walk soon and I normally don't put shoes on him.  So these moccasin's are the BEST.   The Nowali Knit Moccasin

Other items I swear by:

The City Mini stroller
the easy PULL TO FOLD is key in all travel scenerios

aden and anis swaddles
I think Sonny will have these when he is 12.  They can be a blanket, a cover for the stroller or wipe up any mess.

Patagonia Diaper bag
Its not really marketed that way but I figured it would work.  Converts into backpack plus tote and also folds super small into it's own pouch!

So that is some of my travels tips...any specific questions leave a comment or email me.
Stay tuned for more fun travel, food and fashion posts.

Enjoy the weekend everyone!

Sarah x

Crack Kills

When I say I am addicted to something that means I literally need one everyday.
These Crack Caramels which I found at the fabulous HEATH  store are insane.

Some of the best I have EVER had anywhere!

Made with lots of butter and cream these caramels are melt in your mouth delicious.
The lollipops are a little harder and last a little longer..but not by much.

So get them and eat them right away.  Seriously, that is what they say to do.

Sarah x

PS...Baby Travel Post coming soon.....

Get Away.....

(photo of Redd Wood from SFGATE)

Made it back from my weekend in Napa with the husband.  No little man.  First time leaving him.  It was hard but honestly so fun.  Of course I came back to a slap in the face reality check:  little man has a nasty cold.  And hello I am home.  Mom style.

The food rundown in Napa/Yountville/St Helena is some of my "must have" favorites, new hot spots and fancy fancy firsts.  Plus bonus extra treats....

MUST HAVE FAVORITES

Mustards Grill (have to get a Bloody Mary. Have to.)

Taylor's Refresher aka Gott's Roadside (it's fun and good)

Bouchon and Bouchon Bakery  (bakery equals perfection and the restaurant is just delicious)

NEW HOT SPOT

Redd Wood (great design and good pizza)

FANCY FANCY

Meadowood  (awesome awesome awesome would say spend the cash and go here skip Laundry.  Gasp! I know.  Full disclosure: Chef Chris Kostow won Food and Wine Best New Chef with my husband in 2009.  So we are lucky to call him a friend).

The French Laundry

first time...it was beautiful.

PS...

Because my husband and I are nuts we also went to Oakland on the way to NAPA (to eat lunch) and then went into SAN FRANCISCO on the way home (to get snacks for the plane and freeze some croissant's when we got home)

so here are our two stops:

Oakland

Boot and Shoe Service (the pizza and small dishes are damn good)

San Francisco

Tartine Bakery (the best bakery in the USA and I totally stand by them words)

and yes I think I gained at least five pounds.

Sarah x

New Restaurant New Obsession

Photo on Flickr

OUT OF CONTROL GOOD!

MB POST in Manhattan Beach has me hooked.  If you are in the area go get some.

I had never been to the restaurant but read wonderful reviews about their delicious food.  I recently got to attend a charity dinner there for Common Threads.  A great organization teaching kids the importance of eating healthy and cultural diversity.

I can't stop thinking about these biscuits and the maple butter.
Delivery service?  In my dreams.

Sarah x

Martha & Staples

Had to go to Staples for the typical home office supplies.

Saw the Martha Stewart collection with Avery.
What?

Looking through all the fun organizational sticky notes and binders
I decided on some kitchen labels.
My mom brain mixed with fresh homemade baby food means I sometimes forget how many days it's been in the fridge....

So these have come in handy plus look great on top of our Weck jars.

Martha once again bringing her OCD to the masses.

Sarah x

My 10

You all wanted to know some things that keep me sane as a new mom?

Here ya go...

My 10 on beso.com

Thanks to one of my dearest Andrea Aria Devoe. 
Also special shout out to my loves Sonny and my wonderful husband Vinny.

Hope all of you have an excellent weekend.

Sarah x

It's time to GO!! Grab the kid!!

(top photo: in front of cherry trees in Golden Gate Park, middle photo: Dad and baby waiting for lunch at Boot and Shoe Service, bottom photo: little man Sonny playing on his mat)

 Traveling with a baby is fun...and what I mean by fun is,
"HOLY SH-T you have to bring a ton of crap!"
 Now some might say travel light...but I am of the people that say:"better safe than sorry".

Car ride...different than.... plane ride.

Car ride...can entail more stuff because you have no restrictions except space.
I was not going camping or traveling to the middle of no where...so I knew if we NEEDED it we could find it.

As I realized quickly,  if you can rent an apartment or score a washer/dryer....do it.
So worth it with a wee little one.

Not going to write the whole list of what we brought..
If ya really want some more specifics on clothes, food, products feel free to email me.

Here are SOME of my MUST HAVES:

LOTS OF WIPES
Huggies 

BAGS
Ziploc or just recycle plastic bags from the grocery store or drugstore 
when you are in a hotel room or someone's home it is smart to bag a dirty diaper before throwing it away.  You don't want the whole place to...well, ya know where I am going with this....

MY DIAPER BAG
Patagonia Lightweight  Travel Tote (love that it can be a backpack or a tote)

NOT A NECESSITY BUT CAME IN HANDY
Car Bottle warmer 

GREAT FOR ANYTHING THAT IS PERISHABLE
Igloo Cooler Bag

BEST ALL AROUND TOY
Skip Hop Owl

EASY ORGANIC BABY FOOD
Earth's Best

FEEDING SPOONS
Green Toys Feeding Spoons (love these)

BLANKET FOR FLOOR OR PLAYMAT
Skip Hop Activity Mat (we just brought the blanket part)

FLASHLIGHT
LED mini (it came in handy when I had to check on the little man)

BEST OVERALL JACKET
Patagonia Synchilla (he has used this since he was 2 months old.  He is wearing it in the top photo with the matching hat)

PORTABLE CRIB
The Go Crib (This one is great.  Takes a few times to master but is a great pack/play option)


Sarah x

SF family style

 

Photo of Locanda via Grubstreet and our little family

We made this a family trip.  I know I know "how the hell did we eat all these places with the baby?"  Well, we didn't.  All dinner's were sans little one.  Thanks to helpful babysitter friends BILLY (Manny shout out) and Meghan (new friend shout out)
Also there was a lack of shopping or cultural activities.  Though I was so psyched to make it to the De Young Museum with the baby.

I will also do a post on baby travel.
We DROVE to SF.  Six fabulous hours on the 5 freeway.
So I know what to pack.

Gotta say we love San Francisco. 

Sarah x

FOOD:
Una Pizza Napoletna
dinner
Did a pick up and brought back to hotel to eat and watch the little one fall asleep.

Slanted Door
lunch
A must on any of our SF trips.
I honestly have never had a bad meal here.  GET the Vietnamese crêpe.

Cotogna
lunch
Lunch here was delicious.  A bounty of produce from the local markets and ingredients from all over the surrounding Bay area.

Saison
dinner 
The husband's "must try fancy meal" of the trip. It's super cool location made for a very interesting dinner.  Everything on the menu is touched by the wood fire burning in the front of the restaurant.  This one is a doozy in terms of price so be prepared.

Boot and Shoe Service
lunch
Man...they just get it right.  From the geniuses behind one of my favorite U.S. restaurants
Pizzaolo in Oakland comes there second stellar restaurant.  Enjoy EVERYTHING.

In Canto
dinner
This place is fun.  Packing them in like crazy to eat all parts of the animal.
Pasta dishes were fabulous.  This place is an institution for head to tail eating.

Mission Chinese
dinner
Lots of hype and a long wait but we did it.  No ice for the drinks but a killer soundtrack of hardcore hip hop and rap.  The food was damn tasty.


Locanda
dinner
Absolutely best meal of the trip.  I can't even list all the things I enjoyed because it was pretty much the whole meal.  Book in advance for this place.

Tartine Bakery
breakfast/lunch
As mentioned before in another SF post will not and can not leave SF without getting me some pastries.  Sticky Bun and a Croissant. The husband must eat the Ham and cheese Croissant.  Done and Done.

Blue Bottle
daytime treat
You would think they were handing out free $100 bills at this place.  But, the product stands for itself. 

Cow Girl Creamery
daytime treat
You diary free?  Don't even walk past this place at the Ferry Building.


CULTURE:
De Young Museum
One of my favorite museums in the country.  The museum is smack dab in Golden Gate park.  We made it to the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit that had JUST opened.  It was pretty damn good.  They used live imagery on the mannequin's faces to look as if they were speaking to the audience.  Think of it as an updated Disney version minus the creepy animatronics.

SF posts coming soon...

Posts from our family trip to the city by the bay....
SAN FRANCISCO coming soon....
Give me a minute.....we just got back last night!!

A little taste.....

LOCANDA was my favorite meal of the trip...
Fried Castelveltrano olives???  I had a dream about them last night.

Sarah x

Colorado Chip Time...

I felt like I should do a "current favorite snack" update...
Boulder Canyon makes these tasty chips...
For all those concerned with things like Gluten and fiber...
well you are in luck....
They got's the fiber and they don't got's the gluten.

Made with the popular Adzuki bean(Chinese red bean) and some Chipotle cheese seasoning it packs quite a punch.

Available at Whole Foods or through Boulder Canyon. 

Snack away...

Sarah x

It's a big baby BOY!

It's a boy!!!
Sonny was born last week.
Sept 21 at 7:29am
A BIG MAN!!!
8.5 LBS 20 IN

Holy Cow is right.
He is an eating champ.  Shocking I know...
Lots to write about and discuss but for now I am relaxing and enjoying this dude.
Promise to write more soon.  Just give me a minute.

I can tell you some things:
The word PLAN and the sentence GIVE BIRTH does not really go together for my birth story.  Breastfeeding is fun, tiring and hurts but I enjoy it.  Ummm yes I do realize I am one week in.

So pictures to come and more birth, baby, houseware, vintage, food and fun stuff ahead!!
Sarah x
(cupcakes from JOANS ON THIRD.  Thanks Sam.  My special BF who sent two great care packages to our house when I returned from the hospital!)

New England Travels-Beantown

You still with me on this??
Boston holds a special place in my heart.  I went to college at Emerson and enjoyed my time in this fine city.  So on my husband's first New England adventure we had to make a
major stop in Beantown. Food scene is great, weather was pretty good(I would not go in the winter!  Summer was great...Fall is the BEST) and the people are unique.  Bruins won and they caught the mobster Whitey Bulger. All when we were in town!
Perfect.

Here we go.....

BOSTON/CAMBRIDGE

Boston Food:
Anything and everything Barbara Lynch. 
You want a to hear about a successful woman in the food industry?  Look no further.
The woman is unstoppable.
We went to:  Butcher Shop, Drink, Sportello and B&G Oysters.

Also working their magic in town are Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette.
We enjoyed meals at Coppa and Torro

The dinner I wish I could have eaten raw fish:
O Ya

Beacon Hill:
The Paramount.  Stand and wait like everyone else.
Best Blueberry pancakes!

Louisburg Square one of the most historic and beautiful parts of Beacon Hill.

Places to walk, talk and check out on a nice day:
Newbury Street, Boston Common, the Boston Public Garden and The Esplanade.

The North End:
Neptune Oyster
Maria's Pastry Shop

Cambridge Food:
For a great dinner...
Hungry Mother
Bondir

Cambridge Bakery:
SOFRA 

Cambridge Daytime Activities:
Found our way and wandered around Kinsley Park and Fresh Pond Reservation

Muesums:
Isabella Stewart Gardner (A MUST!)
MFA Boston(caught the Chihuly exhibit which was awesome)

Gallery:
Panopticon (Inside the Hotel Commonwealth and upstairs from the large Eastern Standard restaurant)

Places to stay:
XV Beacon or for total central access Copley Square Hotel or the Marriott

Will follow up this post with MAINE. 
Sarah x

drink up and be smart

Ok....
I really will get to the New England road trip...
Just stay with me...

I have to bring you my latest obsession.  Baby on the way aside...this stuff is good.
Mamma Chia.

I stumbled upon it at my local...wait for it....Whole Foods Market.
An employee was putting them on the shelf and I asked if they were any good.
He opened one right there and said, "try it".
Also showing me that it has 2000mg of Omega-3 plus a whole host of nutritional benefits.

A quote from their website:

These extraordinary seeds offer a complete nutritional profile of omega-3, balanced dietary fiber, complete protein, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Unlike flaxseed, they do not need to be ground in order to absorb the nutritional benefits. Chia really is one of the world’s healthiest whole foods!

I was sold.  Some people are scared off by the floating Chia seeds.  I don't like Boba Tea's  but this is fine.  Or I just deal with it because I know this stuff is good for me.  You can also just buy a bag of the seeds and sprinkle them on anything and everything...
You can find them here...

Had to bring you a healthy post...feeling smarter already from all the Omega-3's!!
Maybe not but hopefully my baby will be!!

Sarah x

NY for fancy and just plain good

How may you ask does one go to Eleven Madison Park and Grimaldi's in one short NYC trip?  Easy...

For the Pizza, have best friends that live near the best Grimaldi's location near the Brooklyn Bridge!!  Do take out!! If you have never had a slice from Grimaldi's while visiting NYC you MUST get one.  I personally think that the one under the B. Bridge is the best.  Also so much fun in the summertime to grab some pizza and walk around the area.  Set up shop by the park near the water looking at the Manhattan skyline.  Does not get any better.

Eleven Madison Park is another story, situation whatever you want to call it.
When we (the husband and I) go to NYC we never eat fancy. 
Always sticking to the neighborhood joints.  But, this trip we changed it up.
Super fancy.  This is one of those meals that you talk about for years to come.  Listen, I was 6 months pregnant and ate this food.  I missed some of the incredible raw seafood dishes and still had a delightful time.  The room is just beautiful.  The staff and service is superb.  As it should be.  But, this is a pricey adventure.  Also not one for a so-so food lover.  You have to want to have this kind of meal.

Overall a fun few days in NY.
Then we were off to visit family in Connecticut and Long Island.
After that it was road trip time to Massachusetts and Maine.

More on those locations later...
Sarah xx

Let's start with Philly

Our East coast journey started in Philadelphia.  My husband and his business partner were there as part of a wonderful charity event to benefit Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.  The Great Chef's event took place in the Urban Outfitters headquarters at the Navy Yard.  Amazing location and a fantastic evening raising over $800,000!!  Excited to announce they will also be part of the events happening in LA and NY over the next few months.

We spent few days in Philly.  Here is my breakdown:

ICE CREAM and CANDY
yes and yes...these guys are awesome.  Old ice cream shop.  They just bought one of the oldest candy stores in the country and are going to open soon.
The Franklin Fountain and Shane Confectionery

LADIES WHO LUNCH
Had a sweet little lunch at PARC off Rittenhouse Square.

NIGHTTIME MEALS
Zahav
Amis

BRUNCHY, BREAKFAST GOODNESS
Honey's Sit N' Eat

Off to NY next....

Sarah x

back and ready to post

Gave myself the weekend to unwind from my travels.
Will be posting this week about our New England adventures.

Sarah x

Yes...I love pickles.

My dear chef of a husband brought me home pickles the other night.
He said he just knew I would want one.  Man, he was right.
McClure's pickles. If you have not had one.  Find them and enjoy.

The garlic dill are out of this world.
Pregnant or not a must for summer bbq's.

Sarah x

what I am loving..right this minute

Zuckerman's Cherries

Zuckerman Farms is selling their super, incredible Asparagus.
Also just bought their Cherries this Sunday. Amazing.

New favorite pant/sweatpant/ legging type thing...
J.Crew's slim knit pant.  Go a size or two up. 
Reminder: I need to go up in size due to baby on the way. 
But, I feel they run small.
They are on SALE!

Sarah x

sweet treat overseas

Thought I would give a shout out to my friend Ashley in Paris.  She launched a little cake company called Petit Pois Cakes. The little cake that could has landed itself at Selfridges food halls in England.

Gluten and lactose free, these little guys pack a veggie punch.
Wish I could eat some right now!!

If you have friends in England, send them to Selfridges to "let them eat cake!".

Sarah x