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 […]
‘Make it’ Monday: Make Customizable Cards with Basic Invite
Joanne
Kids
Joanne
Day Trip to Waco, Texas: Magnolia + More
Joanne
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 […]
Introducing our Kindergarten Grad, Dahlia!
Joanne
When Dahlia started Kindergarten, I decided I would take a photo every single day when we got ready or while doing drop off, so I could prepare a slideshow for […]
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 […]
Happy 1st Birthday to my Rainbow Baby, Ivy
Joanne
Dearest Ivy, Ivy, your name signifies faithfulness. We kept the faith even before you came into existence. Before we had you, I had a miscarriage. There was never a doubt […]
2018 Year in Review
Joanne
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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 […]
She’s Here: Ivy Frances Sato
Joanne
On Tuesday, July 10, 2018 at 4:16am, we had our second baby girl, Ivy. I want to remember these moments forever and enjoy the newborn phase because it goes by […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
From Blog to Vlog: Dahlia’s First Makeup Tutorial
Joanne
All I did was roll the tape. She did everything on her own. No script and her first take…
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: 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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
‘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 […]
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 […]
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: 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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Wellness Wednesday: the Best Family-Friendly Fall Fun Runs
Joanne
Also find my article here: https://www.bayarea.com/2016/09/16/bay-area-fall-fun-runs/ It’s the best time of the year in the Bay — leaves are changing color, the air is crisp and cool, and […]
“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 […]
“Make it” Monday: DIY Emergency Kits for Kids
Joanne
Dahlia starts preschool this week and though I am excited for her, reality is setting in that she’s growing up to be a sweet little lady. I want to protect […]
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 […]
Wellness Wednesday: Gotta Stretch ‘em All for Pokemon Go
Joanne
Have you finally gotten used to seeing people walk around town with their heads down and phone in hand? Well, ya better – because the benefits of Pokemon Go far […]
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 […]
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 […]
Wellness Wednesday: 7 Benefits of a Baby/Toddler Swim Class
Joanne
~We have been taking Dahlia to Swim class at La Petite Baleen in San Bruno for a little more than 6 months now & I can’t stress how much she’s […]
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 […]
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 […]
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: New England Lobster Co. | A Hidden Gem in Burlingame| Kid-Friendly + Pet-Friendly
Joanne
It’s Flashback Friday and I can’t believe how little Dahlia looks in these photos :(. She must’ve been about 7-8 months old. Time is flying by so quickly that I […]
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 […]
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 […]
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: 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 […]
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: 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 […]
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 […]
“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 […]
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 […]
Foodie Fridays: Kabul Afghan Cuisine | Burlingame
Joanne
Burlingame is known for being very kid-friendly and pet-friendly and that’s one of the reasons we love coming to this downtown area. You can shop, walk and eat anywhere here, […]
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 […]
The Holidays are Here…Let’s Party!
Joanne
Today, the husband and I were invited to our Aunt’s company’s holiday party for children in San Francisco. Since we now have a little one, we obviously said, “YES!” even […]