SFBayStyle

Piggy Paint - A Treat For Your Little Diva

Since the beginning of sandals season, my "girly" daughter has been asking for her first pedicure.  But because of the harsh solvents and chemicals found in nail polish, I've felt reluctant to indulge her.  As her birthday rolled around, I was delighted to come across Piggy Paint, a line of nail polishes for kids made of non-toxic ingredients that are "as pure as mud."

Piggy Paint is an odorless, water-based formulation that dries into a natural resin film.  It comes in 14 colors from light pink to sparkly fuschia, classic red, as well as more unusual (and boy-friendly) shades of green, orange, yellow, blue, silver and black.  The birthday girl's favorite was Forever Fancy, a sparkly bright pink.  Girls Rule! was more purple-y and a hit with some of her pals.

Back to School with PlanetBox

Is it too early to be thinking about school? My little munchkin will be off to kindergarten this fall, and she asks about it every other day. In her excitement to eat lunch at school, she's already tested out her PlanetBox - a surprisingly fun and "stylish" stainless-steel lunch tray.

PlanetBox couldn't have landed at a better time, as I've been trying to purge plastic from our kitchen due to concerns about BPA and other potentially harmful chemical effects. In addition to being a safe and eco-friendly part of a no-waste lunch, the 'Box has some other nice things going for it.

First, the inside reminds me of a TV dinner tray. (I wonder, do TV dinners even exist anymore?) Since my kids tend to get all bent out of shape when one kind of food touches another food, they like having five separate compartments - and only one latch to open. Extra sidecar containers are great for snacks and can also handle messier foods, such as yogurt, melon chunks, and applesauce.

Cocola Bakery : The Secret Location

 

Tucked away in the industrial zone of Redwood City is a little-known oasis - the French bakery for Cocola.  Foodies who frequent Santana Row and SF probably know the café as another top place to savor pastries and espresso.  And if you're a French macaroon fan, this is your haven.

At my first visit to Cocola, the owner graciously gave my two kids a tour of the bakery behind the tiny retail storefront.  The kids loved seeing the giant-size equipment and the team of bakers turning out the delicacies they had seen in the display cases.  Since then, I've been stopping by whenever I happen to be within a mile of the bakery.

Frog Hollow CSA Program - Local and Delicious

My kids and I look forward to Wednesdays, because it's our Fruit Day - and today I'm reminded to spread the word about Community Supported Agriculture (CSA).  As members of the Frog Hollow Farm CSA program, we look forward to picking up a box of locally grown organic fruit from a neighbor's porch each week.  Each box brings a nice surprise, and the program has helped my family eat healthier while supporting a wonderful organic farm in the East Bay.

Community Supported Agriculture is an idea that is said to have originated in Switzerland and Japan during the 1960s.  'While it's easy to think of today's CSA as a fruit delivery service, CSA's have played an important role in helping organic growers to maintain their farmland by providing a reliable base of working capital.  In exchange, families reap the farm's bounty throughout the year, while ensuring that produce they consume is locally produced using sustainable and environmentally friendly methods.

Dressing up your little man

Everyone seems to say that shopping for boys isn't nearly as fun as shopping for girls. That may be true, but perhaps that makes finding a nice outfit even more exciting. This week I'm shopping ahead for recitals, weddings, and other special occasions coming up throughout the new year - and hoping to get some good deals while avoiding those stressful, last-minute searches down the road.

Cabaret Brewed Chocolate

It's the end of a long day, a long week... From the kitchen, a small jar with a cinnamon-colored label catches my eye: Cabaret Brewed Chocolate. I boil some water and read the label:

"Stir in a teaspoon in half a cup (4 ounces) of hot water and see how you feel after 20 minutes," it says. Just a teaspoon? Hmm ... looking at my huge mug, I scoop a tablespoon of what looks like watery Hershey's syrup and add boiling water. The faint aroma reminds me of hot cocoa. Mmmm...Too hot to drink. Impatient, I add a splash of milk.

Late Summer Beauty Promos

The end of summer is a great time to shop for beauty products, especially if you have a weakness gift-with-purchase promotions. Nordstrom is offering a fabulous sampler tote for purchases over $100, and Saks has a make-up bag filled with beauty and fragrance samples when you spend at least $85. Neiman Marcus is featuring an Estee Lauder "Dream Event" tote with samples.

The most unusual offer I've seen? Le Mystere is giving away free panties with the purchase of any of the new Le Mystere Skin products. The online order form doesn't seem to let you specify what size of seamless panties to wear with your eye cream, but perhaps if you hurry over to Bloomingdale's in person, you can get matched up with a comfy pair.

(And if panties aren't on your wish list, also check out Bloomie's promos for Bliss and Molton Brown.)

Rebecca Minkoff French Tote

I can always use another good-size day bag. This roomy leather tote from Rebecca Minkoff captures the charm of luggage from a vintage era, complete with embroidered French travel decals. It's big enough so I can stash a book, a magazine, and my laptop (my 17" MacBook Pro slips into in a neoprene sleeve from Built NY and packs right into my sac du jour). Find the French Tote online - along with Rebecca's trendy Morning After bags - at Shopbop and RavinStyle.

Happy prints from Orla Kiely

I've been a fan of British designer Orla Kiely for years. Her bold studies of pattern and color have been the basis for a range of feel-good accessories that are practical though hard to find. But the other day I spotted a few of her bags at Nordstrom and am excited to see her brand gaining more visibility in the U.S.

Like the cute laminated totes I'm fond of, her home items - wallpaper and coffee mugs - are also fun and retro-funky; I wish I knew where to find them locally. Her clothing collection looks decidedly Brit, something of a hip cousin to the U.K.-based Boden women's line.

Orla's bags can sometimes be found at Anthropologie stores and boutiques such as Behind the Post Office (SF) and Leaf and Petal (Palo Alto). Sadly shipping and exchange rates make it unfavorable to shop via her online store, but it's there if we need it.

In the Swim with Vilebrequin

Ah, California! The weather has turned gorgeous, and the kids can't wait to go swimming. And I'm dreaming of beach vacation somewhere tropical...

As my mind wandered poolside the other day, I came across the most charming swim trunks by Vilebrequin over at Wilkes Bashford. Soft and nicely weathered-looking, they come in at least a dozen adorable retro/modern/whimsical prints, as well as a choice of lengths. It was almost too hard to pick just one pair, but I have to say it's easier for me to buy a swimsuit for someone other than myself!

If you're shopping online, Valebrequins are also at Neiman-Marcus - they even have matching father-son swim trunks - as well as the Vilebrequin online store. (Maybe because they're French, be sure to double-check the size chart before buying and plan to size up.)

The Last of Winter’s Ski Buys

Yeah, I know... it's feeling like spring here in the Bay Area. But all winter long, I've been jonezin' for a new ski jacket. Ski week was a great time for markdowns, and the inventory is still good. So why not? Deals abound, and there's plenty of snow in Tahoe for spring break. Besides, whether or not you have a few more runs planned, the gear will all be ready to go when the next season comes around.

At the boutique Mine at Northstar, I found plenty of quality kids' wear on sale, including a darling, fit-for-a-princess jacket and pants set from Obermeyer - it's aptly named Belle. One of the wonderful things about Obermeyer is that the sleeves and pant legs are made with a bit of extra material, so when the clothes get too short, you can easily pick out a few stitches to let them out for a bit more wear. My son's jacket from last year will easily last through the next ski season.

Mac Book Air: Geek Chic and Green

            

                        

Perhaps the next hottest accessory for the tech crowd and greenies alike will be the new Mac Book Air. Thinner, lighter, and gorgeous in its design, Apple's new laptop weighs in at a mere 3 pounds. There's no doubt that it'll turn heads and start conversations with perfect strangers, much like its cousin the iPhone did last fall.

Since MacWorld isn't part of my world anymore, I couldn't resist checking it out virtually. Does the name "Air" refer to the minimalist form factor? The sleek aluminum clamshell opens up to reveal a bright, 13.3-inch screen that's backlit using LEDs. Kudos to Apple!

Amazon.com: Prime Time

Anyone out there still Christmas shopping? Every year I tell myself that I'm going to get it done in during the less-crazed summer months. But it never happens. And every year I put on my midnight-shopper hat to try to beat the Christmas Eve deadline.

If you use Amazon.com and tend to need things in a hurry, Amazon Prime just might be your cup of eggnog. For $79/year - roughly what a Costco membership costs - Prime gets you free two-day shipping on most items sold by Amazon. (This means you can order as late as Thursday, December 20, though it would certainly be cutting it close...)

Keepsake storybooks starring your little one

Like so many preschoolers, my daughter loves to make herself the star of any story: Clara in the Nutcracker, Ariel in the Little Mermaid, June from Little Einstiens - well, you get the picture... So I was pretty excited when my hip friend Sharon told me about a suite of custom storybooks developed by Margo Redfern, a Bay Area mom of four.

Personalized books from FlattenMe.com make a lovely keepsake and unique holiday gift for the special little ones on your list. The company offers several titles for kids age 2 to 7. Once I uploaded my daughter's photo to the website, a hardbound copy of "Skylar and Tuesday the Mushroom King" followed in the mail soon after.

Calling all bag ladies!

I love this time of year! The crisp fall air, trees dropping colorful leaves, and this week the whole world seems to be on sale at 30-40% off. In fact, this seems to be *the week* for designer handbags. Genie at Nieman Marcus gave me heads-up about their pre-sale on Tuesday, but by the time I straggled in, pickings were already slim.

So in case you didn't make it to opening day at the stores either, there's still a nice selection online. Here are a few links to some of the best bag sales on the web:

Arkitektura Sale This Weekend

If you're looking for modern European furnishings for your home, be sure to head over to the Arkitectura In-Situ sale this weekend. Arkitectura carries quality furniture, fixtures (hello, kitchen and bath remodellers!), and accessories from more than 65 designers.

Even if you're not redecorating, the showroom is beautifully styled and definitely worth a look - just for the inspiration. Arkitectura has a reputation for being the city's mini-Limn: super-stylish but a bit more accessible and affordable. It's hard to leave without picking up a really cool lamp. Or some sleek-but-practical kitchenware.

Arkitectura is located at 590 Ninth Street, between Brannan and Bryant. Sale hours are 10-6.

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If you're looking to buy a house, for people who don't live in a house would love to have the opportunity to have their own home. Different types of houses like modular houses or prefabricated homes are ideal for starter homes.

Oilily Sample Sale

Attention, Oilily fans... Today could be your lucky day! The Oilily boutique has some fabulous deals at their sample sale - but only for a few magical sizes...

If you're a women's Medium - or if your kids wear European size 80 (about 18 months) for the baby/toddler line or 104 (size 4 to 5 years) for girls and boys  - hurry on over to the Stanford Shopping Center today this weekend.

Rebecca & Drew Manufacturing

When I think about impeccably tailored shirts for women, Rebecca & Drew Manufacturing is usually first to come to mind. Back in my bustier days, it was hard find a woven shirt that didn't pooch out after being tucked into a skirt or trousers. Or one that could be worn untucked without looking baggy or tent-like.

I love R&DM for their unique sizing: Shirts are fit based on bra size (from 32A to 38DD) and length (regular or long).

Here's an elegant fitted shirt with poet sleeves that easily makes the transition from day into evening. Detailed with covered buttons (oh, how I *love* these buttons!), it''s available in a trendy-yet-timeless pearl-gray cotton-silk blend, as well as perennial black.

Also gorgeous-in-gray for this season is their new V-neck sheath dress, which could easily be dressed up or down. I imagine the sizing options would make for a relatively customized fit that you might otherwise need to go to a tailor for.

Twelve by Twelve

Sometime recently, Forever 21 launched a new line for those of us who said goodbye to 21 a long time ago. Twelve by Twelve is geared toward post-teenage women looking for up-to-the-minute, trendy styles. Check it out for some ultra-affordable Quick-Fix Shopping (antonym: Investment Dressing).

Forever 21 is both famous and infamous for their value-priced designer knock-offs - some of which so closely resemble the originals as to draw the wrong kind of (legal) attention. I've paired a few sweater tops with my favorite jeans and found them to be comparable in quality to The Gap, Old Navy, and Target - other QFS stand-bys. Fabrics from Forever 21 tend to be drapier, and cuts are more fitted and stylish.

The Cottswald Cocoon Sweatercoat (pictured) and Countryside Cable Sweatercoat - both 100% wool - are among the priciest items at $48. A cotton-cashmere blend hoodie set me back $38. Other tops are generally in the $20 range.

Currently the nearest retail location carrying Twelve by Twelve is in Southern California, so those of us in the Bay Area will have to shop online. After all, we all need a quick fix now and then.

The Perfect Outfit from Polyvore

I just love when those technology folks do something nice for the fashion-obsessed! A new site - Polyvore.com - now lets us create virtual ensembles by choosing items from a vast variety of shopping sites from all over the web.

You can search - by store, keyword, or color - from thousands of shoes, clothing items, and accessories that already loaded into the Polyvore Editor. The quantity of items is almost overwhelming, but  searching by designer seems to work especially well. The images link back to the original retailer, so in most cases, you could actually put together an outfit and then click over to buy the various pieces.

Or add the Polyvore "Clipper" tool to your browser. With just a few clicks, you can add images to your personal collection while shopping your favorite sites. It worked flawlessly on my Mac, and I was able to add some recent purchases to my growing Polyvore collection. Just click and drag to arrange and accessorize your outfit collage-style.

You can even Explore outfits created by other Polyvore users; there's a virtual community starting up where style mavens can mark favorites and exchange comments.

Despite the not-so-groovy name, Polyvore is an innovative, useful, and fun addition to the world of online fashion. It's worth checking out whether you're a professional stylist (like Melissa), a shopaholic, or if you just want to indulge in some artistic fantasy fashion.