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
Budget-Friendly
Joanne
Make it Monday: DIY Door Mats
Joanne
Happy Monday! Lately I’ve been trying to fix up our patio as the exterior of our house tends to be ignored since we mostly focus on the interior. So, I’ve […]
Make it Monday: Getting Creative at the Children’s Creativity Museum in San Francisco
Joanne
Happy Monday! I took the day off a couple of Friday’s ago to take Dahlia on a day date to the Children’s Creativity Museum in San Francisco at Yerba Buena […]
‘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 […]
‘Make it’ Monday: Plastic Easter Egg Garland
Joanne
Happy Monday! Easter is a few weeks away, so, in preparation, I bought these Easter eggs at Target knowing that I wanted to make some decor for the house. Each […]
“Make it” Monday: Make Spring-inspired Art with your Kids at Scribble Me Happy
Joanne
Happy “Make it” Monday! Spring is almost here and what better way to celebrate than to draw, paint or make something with your little one. Today I wanted to share […]
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. […]
Make it Monday: DIY Marbled Clay Ring Dish
Joanne
Happy ‘Make it’ Monday! Over the holidays, I wanted to do this craft with my cousins, but we never got around to it because we played so many games. So, […]
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Joanne
Welp…
Make it Monday: Friendship Bracelets, Flower Pens and 20 other Non-Candy Valentine’s Treats for Kids and Teachers
Joanne
Happy Monday! Valentine’s Day is just two days away and while couples are making restaurant reservations, girl friends are celebrating Galentine’s Day with cocktails and others are buying chocolates, most […]
‘Make it’ Monday: Easy DIY Bath Products Made with Essential Oils that Make Great Gifts (Bath Bombs, Sugar Scrubs, Soap and Candles)
Joanne
I love using essential oils. So, last year for the Holidays, I wanted to make useful items with my essential oils as gifts and thought bath products would be the […]
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 […]
Wellness Wednesday: Upgrade your Workouts with U-Sox
Joanne
It’s a new year, which means everyone will be hitting the gym or better yet, starting that new year’s resolution to get healthy. For a Fitness Professional like myself, this […]
Make it Monday: DIY Frozen Inspired No-Sew Tulle Tutu
Joanne
Today on the blog is a quick and easy project Dahlia and I finished this past Saturday morning. I found this project while browsing the craft store looking for other […]
Make it Monday: DIY Slime Two Ways – Fluffly Slime and Glitter Slime
Joanne
I finally caved and helped Dahlia make slime. Not that she was bugging me about it but I knew at some point we’d make it since it seems to be […]
Make it Monday: DIY No-Sew Kids Teepee
Joanne
Our home is what you call cozy — a nice way of saying it’s small. We love it though and we’re always finding projects to maximize space, which is always […]
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 […]
Make it Monday: DIY Funfetti Soy Candle
Joanne
Happy Monday! Recently, I’ve been trying out different DIY projects and bought candle making items at Michael’s/Beverly’s craft stores. Dahlia asked me what I was making when I tried to […]
Make it Monday: Eight DIY Learning at Home Ideas with Bright Horizons
Joanne
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bright Horizons Early Education and Preschool for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine. Happy Make it Monday! Now that Dahlia […]
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 […]
‘Make it’ Monday: Make Customizable Cards with Basic Invite
Joanne
Happy ‘Make it’ Monday, Everyone! Today, I have something special for you! Most people know that when it comes to invitations and cards, I love customizing and making it my […]
Thrifty Thursday: DIY Plastic Easter Egg Wreath
Joanne
Find my article on craftbits.com here, too: DIY Plastic Easter Egg Wreath What you need Plastic Easter Eggs Wreath Ring Spanish Moss Burlap Ribbon Instructions Step 1 – Gather your items […]
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 […]
Foodie Friday: DIY Shabu Shabu
Joanne
Happy Friday! Lately, the weather has been a bit crazy and while we would normally eat out during the weekend, dinner at home may seem like a better idea. This […]
Make it Monday: DIY Heart-Shaped Hand Warmers/Ice Packs Made with Essential Oils
Joanne
Also, find my article here on craftbits.com: http://craftbits.com/project/diy-heart-shaped-hand-warmerice-pack-made-with-essential-oils/ This is an easy DIY project perfect to keep hands warm or ease the pain of boo boos. It is also a […]
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. […]
Wellness Wednesday: Updated – Five More Indoor Playgrounds for Kids (and Adults) in the Bay Area
Joanne
Last week’s El Nino weather was crazy I tell ya! So, we headed indoors to get Dahlia movin’. Here’s 8 awesome indoor playgrounds in the Bay Area, most of which […]
Make it Monday: Quick Craft for Kids – DIY Night Light
Joanne
Happy Monday, everyone! Hope you’ve all braved the crazy weather this weekend. You can tell Winter is definitely in full swing because this stormy weather is no joke! On a […]
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 […]
Make it Monday: DIY Chalkboard Ornaments/Signs
Joanne
Happy Monday! I hope you all had a happy Holiday season! I am at the tail end of being sick but had the best Holiday season watching my daughter open […]
“Make it” Monday: Easy Toddler Holiday Crafts for the Tree
Joanne
Happy Monday!! The Holidays are in full swing which means it’s time for some holiday crafts! And now that Dahlia’s a toddler, she can actually do some on her own. […]
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 […]
Make it Monday: DIY Felt Christmas Trees
Joanne
Happy Monday! Hope everyone had a ful-filling Thanksgiving! This year, our family craft was making these super cute felt trees perfect for decorating your home or even to make […]
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 […]
Make it Monday: DIY Stamp Gift Wrap for Kids
Joanne
Messy but productive. I’m sure if you asked my mom what I was like as a kid, this is what she’d tell you and really nothing’s changed. ☺️ Except now […]
Thrifty Thursday: Easy DIY Mummy Jar
Joanne
Halloween is almost here! Are you ready?! I’m not! ? Well, to tell you the truth, I have some decor outside, some inside and we’ve been so busy this month […]
Make it Monday: Super Simple DIY Donut Coasters
Joanne
Who doesn’t love a donut? ? In our house, I sometimes get Dahlia to do crafts to divert her attention especially if I feel a meltdown or a […]
Make it Monday: DIY No- Sew T-Shirt Tote Inspired by Re:Make Festival
Joanne
Hello night owls! This past weekend I went to the DIY re:make Festival presented by Brit + Co. and it was Ah-mazing! There were so many creative people everywhere and […]
Make it Monday: Quick DIY Pineapple Plant[er]
Joanne
Sometimes DIY projects don’t have to take long. And sometimes it just means marrying the right things together. I’ve been wanting to do this particular project for a long time […]
“Make it” Monday: DIY Sesame Street Themed 2nd Birthday for Dahlia
Joanne
This year, we had so much fun planning Dahlia’s 2nd birthday party with an obvious Sesame Street theme. It’s the one show we let Dahlia watch on TV regularly […]
Wellness Wednesday: My Go-To Healthy Meal – The Poke Bowl & Places you can find them in the Bay Area
Joanne
Find my article here: https://www.bayarea.com/2016/09/03/bay-area-poke-craze/ Sun shining, palm trees rustling in the wind, sand between my toes, and a warm bowl of rice with perfectly marinated ahi tuna poke placed […]
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 […]
“Make it” Monday: DIY Homemade Play Dough
Joanne
Yesterday, we went to Play Haven in San Francisco for a play date. It’s an awesome play space for kids that has everything — a rock climbing wall, an art […]
Kula Revolving Sushi Bar: Where Eating & Playing Actually Go Together
Joanne
If you are an avid sushi fan or lover of all things Japanese, you may have already heard of Kula. But if not, you have no idea what you are […]
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 […]
Wellness Wednesday: 8 Fun Indoor Playgrounds for Kids (& Adults) in the Bay Area
Joanne
Last week’s El Nino weather was crazy I tell ya! So, we headed indoors to get Dahlia movin’. Here’s 8 awesome indoor playgrounds in the Bay Area, most of which […]
Thrifty Thursday: DIY West Elm Inspired Dresser Makeover
Joanne
Happy Thrifty Thursday! Today I want to share one of my all-time favorite furniture re-do’s from when we first moved into our home, our West Elm inspired dresser. When we moved […]
Thrifty Thursday: $3 Easter Inspired Wreath
Joanne
A whole $3.00 and 5 minutes are all it took to make this Easter inspired wreath with items I bought from the Dollar Tree. In 4 steps, see how you […]
Thrifty Thursday: DIY Pink & Gold Baptism for Dahlia
Joanne
A couple of weekends ago, we celebrated Dahlia’s baptism. She did an awesome job and didn’t cry (woohoo) – she actually made us smile & laugh because she was so […]
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 […]
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 […]
“Make it” Monday: Pumpkin Decorating Alternatives
Joanne
‘Tis the season for pumpkin everything! This weekend, I hosted another Craft Night at my house and appropriately, we decorated pumpkins 3 different ways! I have done real pumpkin carving […]
Wellness Wednesdays: Play Center for 0-4 year olds | Diddalidoo | San Bruno, Ca
Joanne
Happy Wellness Wednesday, Everyone! As a Fitness Professional, I know how important movement is to me everyday and it’s important that I keep Dahlia moving as the weather gets cooler. […]
“Make it” Monday: DIY Monthly Chalkboard Sign for Baby
Joanne
Happy Monday, Everyone! This is by far one of my most favorite DIY projects and it’s easy to see why. Watching Dahlia grow the past 15.5 months has been amazing […]
Foodie Fridays: Mise | Signature Dishes From Local Chefs Delivered to You!
Joanne
Mise may be one of the newest kids on the food delivery scene here in the SF Bay Area, but their business philosophy and their dishes are a complete stand […]
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 […]
Thrifty Thursday: DIY Photo Booth
Joanne
Happy Thursday all! So, it’s no surprise that I love photography and I knew from the moment I was planning Dahlia’s First Birthday that I wanted to include a Photo […]
Weekend Wrap Up: Sunday Funday Birthday Parties!
Joanne
Today was a very busy day which means Dahlia is asleep early and mommy has time to blog! 🙂 We started our day in Fremont, California at Aqua Adventure Water Park for […]
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 […]
Thrifty Thursday: DIY Flower Crowns
Joanne
First off, I want to wish my now 14 year old niece & goddaughter, Jennalyn (shown above right), a Happy Happy Birthday! I hope you have a great day! She […]
Thrifty Thursday: Celebrating Dahlia’s DIY Garden Party Themed First Birthday!
Joanne
Disclaimer: So, let me start off by saying that this birthday party was many months in the making. With the help of my family, friends and my husband, we were […]
Dahlia Turns ONE: A Time Capsule Letter to my Dear Daughter
Joanne
Yes, she is turning ONE! I can’t believe it. I have also abandoned my blog for the month to prep for the birthday party we will be having for her. […]
Wellness Wednesdays: At-Home Yoga with (or without) Baby
Joanne
Happy Wellness Wednesday, Everyone! Can you believe our Dahlia will be 11 months next week?! I can’t believe it and I probably wont be able to exercise holding her for […]
Weekend Wrap up: Craft Night – How to Make Dreamcatchers
Joanne
This past weekend for Craft Night, we made Dreamcatchers. We had such a good time and though I thought this was going to be simple, it was actually pretty tough […]
Good Foodie Friday: Munchery | Gourmet Food Delivery
Joanne
So, my co-worker sent me an email for a $20 off coupon for Munchery. That day, I asked her about it, saw the food she had brought for lunch (from […]
Weekend Wrap up: Craft Night – Mini Canvas Paintings
Joanne
This weekend, I hosted another “Craft Night” at my house for some friends/co-workers. We decided to do it on a Friday night and it worked out perfectly! We decided on […]
Thrifty Thursday: Ten Free (or Mostly Free) Things To Do with Baby on Maternity Leave
Joanne
Dahlia’s got March Madness Fever playing at Gymboree Play & Music. Don’t be mistaken, maternity leave is not a vacation. Period. It’s a lot of work in the beginning and […]
“Make it” Monday: Just in time for Spring! – DIY Spring Floral Letters
Joanne
Spring is just around the corner and what better way to spruce up your home than with these super-easy & lovely DIY floral letters. I got this idea walking around Downtown […]
Wellness Wednesdays: Musical Play for Babies
Joanne
We all know wellness should encompass all aspects of your well-being, especially for babies! Playtime and music are an integral part of the first months of life. So, a […]
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 […]
Thrifty Thursday: Reupholstering & Revamping Old Dining Chairs
Joanne
BEFORE and AFTER Dining chairs are usually non-interesting pieces of […]
Weekend Wrap Up: Craft Night – Painting Drinking Glasses
Joanne
This weekend I hosted my first “Craft Night” at my house with a few ladies. The weather was very weird so a few couldn’t make it. Who knew that in […]
Thrifty Thursday: Repurposing an old TV Armoire for a Kid’s Closet
Joanne
I love re-doing old furniture and making it into something new and useful. We bought this old black armoire about 6 or 7 years ago when we were living […]
Weekend Wrap Up: Celebrating Sophia’s Minnie Mouse Themed 1st Birthday Party
Joanne
Cousins, Dahlia (left) & Kailana (right) celebrate Sophia’s (center) First Birthday! This weekend, we headed to Fremont to celebrate my cousin’s daughter’s First Birthday! See how we celebrated her Minnie […]
Foodie Fridays: How-to Make Guilt-Free “Ice Cream”
Joanne
In honor of the NBA All-Star Weekend & Valentine’s Day, I tried this quick, easy & very healthy “ice cream” from Stephen Curry’s wife, Ayesha. This is a perfect dessert […]
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 […]
“Make it” Monday: Food Edition – DIY Coconut Chia Pudding Bowl
Joanne
Here is a super easy recipe for something that is both healthy and tasty! Chia seeds are great for fiber, anti-inflammatory omega-3s & will help you debloat after all that […]
Thrifty Thursday: Target Hack – A Valentine’s Day Keepsake from Baby
Joanne
February is just around the corner which means Valentine’s Day is almost here. Create this sweet Valentine’s Day Keepsake from your little munchkin. I made this hack by buying a Christmas […]
Weekend Wrap Up: Celebrating Nathalie’s ‘Tangled’ Theme 4th Birthday
Joanne
This weekend we celebrated my niece Nathalie’s 4th Birthday. The theme of her party was based on the movie Tangled, a fun Disney movie based on the classic Rapunzel story. […]
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 […]
Thrifty Thursdays: DIY Baby Food on a Budget (Stage 1)
Joanne
Nom nom nom. Eating for babies is such an adventure! We started feeding Dahlia solids at 6 months old. I wanted to be able to make her food knowing that […]
“Make it” Monday: DIY Starburst Mirror
Joanne
Hope you are all enjoying your 3-day weekends traveling or enjoying the snow as we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I, on-the-other-hand, have been home taking care of […]
“Make it” Monday: DIY Papier-Mâché Newsprint Animal Deer Head
Joanne
This is probably one of my favorite DIY projects to date & I still get asked by many on how I made it. The inspiration actually came to me when […]
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: 10 FUN Family & Budget-Friendly Games for your Holiday Party
Joanne
Well, it came and it went. Christmas is over – that was fast! I hope you had a great one. I know we did! This year was different; we actually […]
“Make it” Monday: DIY Holiday Photo Shoot at Home
Joanne
Happy “Make it” Monday! BEFORE AFTER If you didn’t get a chance to send out any Holiday Greetings via snail mail, here is an easy DIY Holiday Photo Shoot you […]
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 […]