I love noticing random little details.

Pip LOVES Pier 39 - especially the carousel. Like really, really loves it. She loves it so much that she says “horsie” in her sleep after a trip there. We’ve been taking her there every week. We can’t resist being the coolest parents ever in her little eyes. Needless to say, I have become quite familiar with the carousel.

We were watching Amelie for the trillionth time the other day and I noticed that the carousel (where Amelie returns the photo album to Nino) in the movie is the exact same carousel we have at Pier 39.

It is silly how happy this makes me.

This book has been making me happy. This is my favorite image.

How much do you love this guy?

This is my grandfather’s uncle and namesake. I just love this photo.

I have some wonderful news that I’d love to share.

My hubby owns a screenprinting shop called The Fallout Shelter. Last month was the 2nd anniversary of his being completely self employed - though he ran the shop part time for a few years before taking the leap. As you can see from the madness above, it is a small shop. It is called The Fallout Shelter because it is in a basement space on Market St. It reminded M of an old bomb shelter. It was a great place to start out, but he is outgrowing the space. Which brings me to the good news…

We’re moving shop! (I say “we” - supposedly I help when I can, which turns out to be once every couple of months or so. If you ever order from us, you might occasionally get an email from me - don’t be alarmed! M is fine.) Last week M signed the lease on a commercial space on 2nd and Townsend, one block from the ballpark. (Neither of us are sports fans, but is is a nice area.) The space is perfect. It’s still on the smallish side, but bigger than the current location and the layout is better. He’s moving in mid May.

I am so proud of my hubby! He’s movin’ on up!

Photo by our friend Ben.

It was a very busy week that had a really fun end to it. We decided to take Pip to Pier 39. Now if you live in San Francisco, right now you’re like “Why would you go there?” and if you don’t live here, you’re like “What’s the big deal?” Well frankly, it’s super touristy and no one who lives here ever goes there.

I haven’t been there once in the 10 years that I’ve lived here. I think the last time I was there was when I was in high school and we would escape the ‘burbs by “going up to the city”. I use quotes because Pier 39 isn’t really the city, but we were young. What did we know?

Anyway, we took Pip there because she loves boats. Well, maybe fascinated by boats is more accurate. She loves Finding Nemo, so if you call saying, “Uh oh! Da boooat! Da boooat!” every time she sees one, fascinated by boats - then boy, is she fascinated by them! We ended up having the best time. Who knew? I remember it being pretty shabby in high school and it’s not now. They must have made it over at some point, but I have no idea when.

We got crab sandwiches and clam chowder at some little order at the counter kind of place (table service and Pip don’t get along at the moment) and they were pretty good - cheap too. Then we went to look at the boats docked there. “Uh oh! Da boooat!” Then we rode the carousel. I didn’t even know there was a carousel and we are a carousel loving family. “Ho! Ho!” (That means horse.) Then we went to the arcade - M loves arcades. We ended the evening by getting hot chocolates (”Hhhot! Hhhot!”) and going to see the seals.

It is a much different experience going there with a child. I was surprised at what a good family place it is. We went early enough in the evening that we avoided most of the kids escaping the burbs. I am quite sure that we were the only locals there, but we had fun.

Are there any really touristy places you like to go to?

I saw these on Design*Sponge this morning and I have to have them!  Porcelain replicas of antique milk bottles by ceramic artist Alyssa Ettinger. 

I took yesterday and today off from work to give myself a little Spring break. Yesterday I helped my best friend celebrate her birthday. I made her lunch, we went to the beach, I made her this for dinner and baked her a cake.

Today is Family Fun Day. We had grand plans of getting out of the house early, driving down the coast a bit and getting back early enough for Pip’s nap. Well, we didn’t make it out of the house before Pip’s nap (oops) so M went to work for a little bit while she naps. We are going to have family fun when he gets back. Instead of going down the coast I think we will stay local and go to Musee Mecanique. We’ll see.

The above photo was taken in Golden Gate Park about 90 years ago. The girl on the far left is my grandmother Estelle. My great grandmother Elsie May is the woman in the hat with flowers. The little boy in the middle and the two little girls to his right are my grandmother’s brother and sisters. The rest are cousins, aunts and uncles. I imagine that day was a day very much like today.

Enjoy your weekend!

More beautiful images of damaged and discarded books - this time from Cara Barer.  She says on her wesite: 

“With the discarded books that I have acquired, I am attempting to blur the line between objects, sculpture, and photography.” 

Beautiful images of books by Abelardo Morell. Also see his Alice in Wonderland series and his camera obscura series.

Did I mention that I love beauty products? Take a look at the beautiful packaging on these Portuguese goodies I came across on Design Mom.

Photo via Wallpaper