What a difference a year makes. Last summer before Dahlia started Kindergarten, we went to Austin, Texas. I then convinced my husband to take a day trip out to Waco […]
Day Trip to Waco, Texas: Magnolia + More
Joanne
Travel
Joanne
Travel Tuesday: Austin, Texas with Kids
Joanne
What a crazy time it has been, right? I haven’t blogged in a really, really long time and if anything good has come out of this quarantine, it’s me getting […]
2018 Year in Review
Joanne
l
Travel Tuesday: Family-Friendly Trip to Palm Springs & Joshua Tree National Park
Joanne
Happy Travel Tuesday! Right after Memorial Day, we headed out on a quick getaway to Palm Springs for a birthday trip for Dahlia and Babymoon for me. I was actually […]
Travel Tuesday: Visiting the Color Factory in San Francisco
Joanne
In April, we checked out the Color Factory in San Francisco. Tickets went on sale again and we took the opportunity to see what all the hype was about and […]
Travel Tuesday – Local Edition: Family-Friendly Alcatraz Night Tour
Joanne
Happy Tuesday! A couple of weeks ago, my family and I ventured out to Alcatraz. We missed a few people, but there were a total of 11 of us and […]
Foodie Friday: Birthday Dinner at International Smoke
Joanne
A couple of weeks ago, we hit the town to celebrate my husband Jason’s birthday at Ayesha Curry’s International Smoke. We had gone to her quick serve cafeteria style restaurant […]
Travel Tuesday – Local Edition: The Perfect Day in San Francisco along the Great Highway
Joanne
I’ve lived in San Francisco all throughout college and loved every minute of it. Coming from a small town, I thought I could live the big city life and now […]
‘Make it’ Monday: Drawing Inspiration from the Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco
Joanne
Happy Monday! During this second pregnancy, I’ve run into some obstacles and will be homebound for the remaining few months, which means I need to stay put and find things […]
Travel Tuesday: Visiting Muir Woods National Monument and 13 other Stroller-Friendly Hikes in the Bay Area
Joanne
Happy Tuesday! Spring is here and that means it’s just about time to enjoy the outdoors. I know as a parent with a toddler and one on the way, doing […]
Happy International Women’s Day!
Joanne
“Behind every successful woman is herself.” Happy International Women’s Day on this #TBT. Phuket, Thailand. September 2011. #travel #wanderlust #seetheworld #phuket #phuketthailand #twinpalms #internationalwomensday #bucketlist #twinpalmsphuket
Foodie Friday: Marugame Udon Makes it’s Debut in San Francisco
Joanne
If you love Japanese Udon and live in the Bay Area, you’ve probably heard that Marugame Udon opened it’s doors last month at good ol’ Stonestown Mall in San Francisco. […]
Foodie Friday: I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for the Museum of Ice Cream
Joanne
Hooray! We finally got a chance to partake in the coveted Museum of Ice Cream which opened in San Francisco last year. Tickets are nearly impossible to get and I’ve […]
Foodie Friday: Tea Time for Two – 11 Different Tea Houses to Try in the Bay Area
Joanne
Happy Friday! I loooove me some tea. I’m definitely not a coffee drinker and every time I try I end up with a massive headache and shaky hands because caffeine […]
Travel Tuesday: Family-Friendly Weekend Getaway to Denver, Colorado
Joanne
Each year, my husband and I try to travel to somewhere new that we’ve never been before whether that be nationally, locally or abroad. This year, we wasted no time […]
Travel Tuesday: Journey of Discovery: Go Big on Culture and History on a Family Vacation
Joanne
Guest Post by Jenny Griffiths Kids grow excited at the thought of a vacation. They are thinking beaches, amusement parks, and breaks from school and the normal routine. However, you […]
Travel Tuesday: An Eventful Three-Day Weekend Getaway to Santa Barbara County
Joanne
Labor Day weekend is our weekend — it’s the weekend we got married and a three-day weekend, so it always means we get to take advantage of having that extra […]
Travel Tuesday: 72 Hours in Arizona — Scottsdale, Sedona, Tempe
Joanne
Happy Travel Tuesday! We went on a recent trip to Arizona to explore desert life. Truth be told, we actually wanted to plan a trip to Palm Springs, but it […]
Travel Tuesday: Weekend Getaway – 48 Hours in Orange County
Joanne
You can also find my article here on bayarea.com: https://www.bayarea.com/things-to-do/things-to-do-in-orange-county/ Summer is finally here, and while I still can’t quite figure out what the Bay Area weather will be like […]
Travel Tuesday: An Hour-by-Hour Guide to a Day in Monterey
Joanne
You can also find my article here on bayarea.com: An Hour-by-Hour Guide to a Day in Monterey Just an hour and a half away from San Francisco and San Jose, […]
Travel Tuesday: Local Edition – Exploring the Lovely Glen Park Neighborhood
Joanne
Happy Travel Tuesday! A few weeks ago, I went exploring in the City and came across this amazing little neighborhood, Glen Park. In about a 2-block radius and right across […]
Travel Tuesday: 48 Hours in Portland
Joanne
Check out my article here on bay area.com too: https://www.bayarea.com/things-to-do/weekend-getaway-48-hours-portland/ Weird? Some may think so, but Portland, Oregon is a city of many names and faces. It’s a food town and brew […]
Travel Tuesday: Five Best Lake Tahoe Resorts for Snowboarding
Joanne
Happy Valentine’s Day <3 Love is like snowboarding: the rush you get when your falling is unexplainable… You can also find my article here on bayarea.com: Best Tahoe Resorts for […]
Travel Tuesday: 8 More Things I Never Knew About Disneyland as a First-Time Parent
Joanne
In 2015, we took Dahlia to Disneyland for the first time and were amazed by how much we were actually able to do. And now that she’s a year older […]
Travel Tuesday: Weekend Getaway – 48 Hours in Las Vegas
Joanne
You can also find my article here on bayarea.com: https://www.bayarea.com/play/travel/weekend-getaway-las-vegas/ Travelling to Vegas with Kids? No problem! Find my kid-friendly Vegas article previously posted here: http://www.dearestdahlia.com/?p=1861 Some people hate Vegas. […]
Foodie Friday: The Best Ramen in the Peninsula & South Bay
Joanne
Find this article here on bayarea.com: https://www.bayarea.com/eat/best-ramen-san-jose/ Like this article? Check out my Favorite Ramen list here: Foodie Friday: The Favorites List — Ramen Wow! Is it getting chilly, or […]
Foodie Friday: The Best Steakhouses in San Francisco
Joanne
You can also find my article here on bayarea.com: https://www.bayarea.com/eat/best-steakhouses-san-francisco/ “Where’s the beef?” When you’re in San Francisco, you may find yourself asking this same very question. With the […]
Travel Tuesday: Local Edition – Free or Cheap Destinations to take Visitors this Holiday Season
Joanne
Check out my article here on bayarea.com: https://www.bayarea.com/things-to-do/free-things-san-francisco-holiday/ Ah, yes, it’s the holidays, and the relatives are uber-excited to come visit you in the Bay Area — which means you’ll […]
Wellness Wednesday: Indoor Workouts to Keep you Healthy this Holiday Season
Joanne
Find my article here: https://www.bayarea.com/play/work-out/indoor-workouts-bay-area/ Holy smokes. Can you believe that it’s already December Where did the time go? Before we know it, we’ll all be getting ready to celebrate […]
Foodie Friday: The Best Small Plates to Share for Date Night on the Peninsula
Joanne
Find my article here too: https://www.bayarea.com/eat/small-plates-date-night/ The weather is getting cooler and the rain has started to fall more regularly. It’s the perfect time to get cozy with bae (does […]
Travel Tuesday: 48 hour Weekend Getaway to Seattle
Joanne
Check out my article here on bayarea.com: https://www.bayarea.com/play/travel/weekend-getaway-seattle/ Bay Area, hasn’t the rain been a nice change of pace? I have always loved rain and, because of California’s water shortage, […]
The Bay Area Finally has a Din Tai Fung: So, What’s All the Fuss About?
Joanne
Also find my article here on BayArea.com: https://www.bayarea.com/uncategorized/din-tai-fung/ Reservations only? Long lines? Check and check. It’s been several months since the opening of the popular Taiwanese/Dim Sum chain restaurant Din […]
Why I’m Excited for the Golden State Warriors Season to Begin
Joanne
Click Here for the Full Article: https://www.bayarea.com/play/sports/golden-state-warriors-season/
Wellness Wednesday: Exercise the Brain & Escape the Bay Area Escape Rooms
Joanne
Get in the Halloween Spirit with these Bay Area Escape Rooms Also find my article on BayArea.com: https://www.bayarea.com/play/halloween-bay-area-escape-rooms/ Even if you’ve never considered trapping yourself in a room with some […]
Travel Tuesday: Fall Fun in Half Moon Bay
Joanne
I love Fall. ??? And I may be a little bit biased because I was born in the Fall, but I really do — the crisp, cool air, the changing […]
Travel Tuesday: Ten Tips for a Fun Family Day at Universal Studios
Joanne
Road trippp! Last month my family rented a 15-person van ?. So, we packed up and headed down south for some amusement park adventures. There were 13 of us in […]
Football Sunday: Where to Watch your Favorite NFL Team in the Bay Area
Joanne
Also, find my article here: https://www.bayarea.com/2016/09/24/sports-bar-nfl-football/ Football season has begun and for our Bay Area teams, it’s looking like an optimistic start despite all the controversy. Growing up in […]
National Dog Day: Top Bay Area Destinations for Dog Walkers
Joanne
If you’ve ever walked your dog around city streets, you know it can be frustrating. For one, you may never find grass and secondly, you might just step in a […]
Foodie Friday: 6 SF Eats on the Peninsula
Joanne
Move over San Francisco — it looks like the Peninsula’s got some good eats too. Oh wait, on second thought, they’re actually the same ones. Womp womp. That’s right, the […]
Travel Tuesday: Family Fun on da Big Island of Hawai’i
Joanne
Hello World! Yes, it has been a while, hasn’t it? We’ve been very busy with the finishing of our Kitchen remodel, celebrating Dahlia’s 2nd birthday and also traveling. Each […]
Happy Father’s Day
Joanne
Happy Father’s Day to my husband. This photo makes me realize how lucky Dahlia and I are to have you in our lives. More blog posts to come soon…
Travel Tuesday: Travel Guide to Family-Friendly South Lake Tahoe
Joanne
Happy Tuesday, Everyone! All this rainy Spring weather must mean there’s still a few weeks left to play in the snow. Living in Northern California, it’s always nice to know […]
Travel Tuesday: 8 Things I Never Knew About Disneyland as a First-Time Parent
Joanne
Happy Tuesday! This crazy, stormy weather makes me think happy thoughts! And what’s happier than the ‘Happiest Place on Earth’? Over the Thanksgiving Holiday break, we road-tripped down to Disneyland […]
Holiday 2015 Wrap Up – 10 Fun Things I Did During the Holidays
Joanne
As my first full week in 2016 comes to an end, I keep thinking about all the fun I had during my 11 day Holiday break and wish I had more […]
Happy New Year! Foodie Friday: My Favorite Meal of 2015 – Birthday Dinner at State Bird Provisions
Joanne
NOTE: Yes. I am back. It has been a little over 2 months since I have blogged & the break was partly because I lost my SD card that held […]
Travel Tuesday: Kid-Friendly Las Vegas
Joanne
Gone are the days where Vegas was known as an “Adult Only” playground. Believe it or not, there are kids that live in Vegas and so, there must be things […]
Weekend Wrap Up: Labor of Love | Celebrating Marriage this Labor Day Weekend
Joanne
Happy Labor Day, Everyone! Labor Day weekend has a special meaning to me as it was the weekend my husband and I got married 4 years ago. We’ve also celebrated […]
Foodie Fridays: San Francisco North Beach Italian-Food Tour
Joanne
Happy Friday, Everyone! About a little more than a month ago, I set up a Team Building Event for my co-workers and I to go on an Italian-Food Tour in […]
Travel Tuesdays: 12 Beach/Pool Essentials for Baby
Joanne
Summer is in full effect so bring on the beaches and pools! I wanted to make sure I had all the essentials for the beach/pool so I created this […]
Travel Tuesdays: Ten Things to See, Do, or Eat in Downtown Seattle
Joanne
Happy Tuesday, everyone! Last week, we spent a few days in Seattle with my niece, Jennalyn & her dad. We went to celebrate her 8th grade promotion and her 14th […]
Weekend Wrap Up: Celebrating Josh’s Birthday at Lemos Farm + a Play Date with Avery at the Cherry Blossom Festival
Joanne
Happy Monday Everyone! Hope you all had a great weekend! Here are some photos of our weekend wrap up! Josh’s 4th Birthday Party | Lemos Farm | Half Moon Bay, […]
Foodie Fridays: 5 Kid-Friendly & Pet-Friendly Bay Area Breweries (with Food Options)
Joanne
Hello all! Happy Friday! This Bay Area weather keeps getting better & it’s making me think about a nice cold beer (ah!), but I’ve got a baby and some pups. […]
Weekend Wrap up: Celebrating a Birthday, a Wedding + Easter, Oh My!
Joanne
This was a very busy weekend for us as we celebrated Jason’s Birthday, his cousin Cathleen’s wedding celebration & Easter Sunday with my family as we road tripped from the […]
Travel Tuesdays: On our Bucket List – St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago, Il. & the Top Ten Things to See or Do
Joanne
I have been to Chicago a couple of times and both times enjoyed it very, very much. While on an architect river boat tour on my 2nd trip, the tour […]
Travel Tuesdays: Local Edition – California Academy of Sciences | San Francisco, CA
Joanne
The California Academy of Sciences is one of my favorite museums, period. It’s not only baby-friendly & kid-friendly, but adults of all ages can enjoy it too! If you’re looking […]
Travel Tuesdays: Top Ten in Barcelona | Spain
Joanne
Before we had Dahlia, my husband and I had done much traveling. Two Summers ago, we traveled to France + Spain & also decided to try for a baby. The […]
Wellness Wednesdays: The Tools of the Trade of Self-Massage
Joanne
No time for a massage? No problem! It’s no secret that massage and myofascial release should be a part of your daily wellness routine. If it’s not, you should definitely […]
Foodie Fridays: RAMEN – The ‘Favorites’ List (According to the Sato’s)
Joanne
I’m now sick. Baby is getting over being sick. And I just want a good bowl of Ramen to make it all better! Believe it or not, I had never […]
Wellness Wednesdays: At-Home Exercises with (or without) Baby Routine #1
Joanne
Happy Wellness Wednesday Everyone! Can you believe it’s already mid-January?! Lemme ask you, have you had time to hit the gym so far this year? No? No problem! Here is […]
Travel Tuesdays: Baby-Friendly Maui
Joanne
All this cold & windy weather has me thinkin’ bout the sun! Ohhhh…that Maui sun. Last month, we took a trip to Maui for my birthday and Dahlia’s first […]
Weekend Wrap Up: Playing Tourist in San Francisco the Budget-Friendly, Kid-Friendly Way during the Holidays
Joanne
Hope everyone had a great weekend and got some last minute shopping done! I know we did! This weekend was very rare as we didn’t have anything planned, which means […]