new years in tiburon

welcome 2015!

we got back to SF just in time to celebrate the 

new year across the bay in the charming town of

tiburon. what i love most about living in the city is 

that we can escape so easily to amazing places that

feel so far removed from the busy city. tiburon is a

perfect example...it's just a ferry ride away and all of

a sudden you're in a pretty little coastal town relaxing.

i adore it and knew it was the ideal place to celebrate 

the last few days of 2014 before coming back to the

city on new year's eve to ring in 2015 with friends.

we mostly relaxed after spending busy holidays with

family, talked about goals and plans and dreams and

wishes for 2015, and ate well. here are some photos

from our little getaway before 2014 came to a close! 

waking up to this view at the waters edge hotel is

hard to beat! it is aptly named, right on the water

with a view looking back at san francisco. 

breakfast in bed is a favorite way to start any morning.
the best part is, this is included in the stay! ^^

we will be returning to this place! ^^


the hotel also offers complimentary bike rentals, so you
can pedal around town and into some of the pretty, hilly
neighborhoods full of dream homes and views. i love that
you can see sweeping views of the golden gate bridge,
{seen above}...the city, and the hills of sausalito. heaven!

i spy...green green grass, sparkling blue ocean,
a view of the city, and my husband biking along ^^

the deck of the hotel is the best spot to hang out ^^


i'm a sucker for those bay views.

 million dollar view ^^

does anyone else dream of moving into these hills?

i'm really proud i didn't crash on my bike since i 
was snapping photos at every turn! i couldn't 
help myself, it was too stunning! do you blame me?
(i promise i had a helmet on, dad! :)

i loved that the hotel had binoculars in the rooms -
between angel island, the ocean, the city view, and
the hills, there is a lot to take in out these windows! 

the ferry honestly drops you off AT the waters edge
hotel, and you can see the dock from the windows.
it's a pretty perfect way to get here from the city! 
 

we couldn't believe all of the pelicans in front of the 
gg bridge. we sat and watched them dive for fish.^^

we also biked onto the little island of belvedere 
which is now connected to tiburon ^^

we spent an afternoon wandering the little downtown
and ark row...a little too much time was spent in our
favorite shop vineyard vines! {remember it from here?}

i love winter here.


and i loved that the holiday decorations were still up!

looking out across at our city ^^

^^ ideal for sunny lunches


we loved taking the blue & gold fleet ferry both ways 
for this trip. we didn't have to worry about parking, 
driving, traffic, or tolls. instead we had a gorgeous ride 
on the ferry and got dropped off steps from our hotel 
and restaurants. it is the perfect getaway for locals or 
visitors to the bay area! since we live right in the city 
and sold our car, we are big blue & gold fleet fans for 
these kinds of getaways to towns around the bay.



2015 is looking bright!


we had a memorable new year's eve eve dinner at a great
new tiburon restaurant, luna blu. it's italian owned and
right out on the water. it was a chilly night with some
wind, so they buttoned up the deck, turned on the heaters
and gave us blankets. it was so cozy and beyond charming!



how about this unique frisel salad? the pine nuts, 
tomatoes, frisee lettuce, & gorgonzola in a cherry
balsamic dressing was so light but so rich. ^^

like many great restaurants, the menu here rotates
based on what is in season. i doubt you'll be
disappointed anytime you visit, because the
personal touch here makes the food so satisfying.

homemade cream puffs + chocolate mousse ended
the meal with a bang. we left full but so happy! ^^

restaurants are memorable when they feel personal.
you have to go here not only for the top notch food,
but especially to meet darling chef renzo and his wife
crystal. they go around and talk to almost everyone.
renzo is from italy, and crystal is british. she told us
their amazing story and we left feeling like we had two
new friends. i always love hearing the story behind a place.

you can't miss luna blu right on main street
in town. the patio is pretty day or night!

after a dreamy stay, we left tiburon right in time to
celebrate new year's eve back in the city.

ferry riding back from our getaway ^^

^^ i loved this view as we came back into the
city to celebrate new year's eve after a relaxing
stay across the bay! so close but it feels far away.


bye, tiburon! hope to see you more in 2015.

xo

brunch is best when...

you've earned it.

we definitely earned this brunch...

with a bike ride up up UP lots of hills to 

see a new view of our city, explore some pretty
mosaic steps, and then bike back across the city
with pancakes in mind the entire time. i was SO
ready for this meal by the time we locked our bikes
up and got seated, and it made it ten times better!

when we have a free weekend i have goals:
to see something new & eat somewhere new.
check & check ✓✓
(luckily, in this city those things are always possible!)

mymy cafe was the best brunch i've had in a long time,
and not just because we had biked lots of hills before. 
this is a place that we pass every time we walk up
california street right by our apartment, & there's always 
a long line of locals from the neighborhood -- so we
knew it was a must-try. this is one of those hidden
gem spots: a great breakfast without too long a wait
for the top notch food! honestly, i will return here for sure.
with so many restaurants to try in this city, it's not often
that we return back to the same ones -- but this will be one! 

^^parma benedict = a delicious italian twist on 
eggs benedict with prosciutto, fresh melted
 mozzarella, roma tomato, basil, grilled 
asparagus, hollandaise sauce, and grana 
padano sprinkle. it was served on italian 
bread slices instead of an english muffin
and it was just different enough while still
tasting like the familiar benny. there are a
few different kinds of benedicts so i'll just 
have to come back to try the rest!

and these pancakes? i can't talk about them or
i'll have to head right back down the street and
get some more right now at 10 at night. they are
blueberry soufflé pancakes and they were even 
more amazing than they look. trust me. this 
texture and flavor and lightness was heavenly.
they were going..........going...........gone! 

some breakfast places are just good & solid, but 
others are extra special. this is one of those! 

it's unique + satisfying + perfect whether 
visiting or local! just promise me you'll do brunch
when you're in san francisco...after all, it is coined:

this postcard makes it clear to me 
that we live in the right place :)

xo