Kristina "Cupcake Commando" R.'s Profile

This spot has had so many different incarnations...but Little Chihuahua has settled in and seems to be digging its claws into the ground.  It's the perfect casual, kid-friendly restaurant for Noe Valley.

I appreciate their casual vibe and the fact that they go out of their way to make families feel welcome.  There's plenty of stroller room, an abundance of high-chairs, kid-loving employees...it's the go-to place for nannies and stay-at-home parents alike.

When I first tried Little Chihuahua, I remember trying to push our stroller through their door and having a very challenging time.  Without hesitation, the woman behind the counter jumped to my aid and held it open for me.  I thought that was very kind of her.  

The next week, I arrived for lunch and saw that the entire door had been replaced with a friendlier, ADA compliant door.  Obviously, the owners are proactive about  making improvements to their establishment that will ultimately welcome the entire neighborhood.  Kudos to them.

That said, I love their watermelon frescas and carnitas quesadillas.  Muffin tops developing on my midsection because of said frescas and quesadillas?  Not so much.

Charles has consistently done quality work and at a fair rate.  His work has been shown in magazines and lauded as professional and well-respected.  

I have never had a negative experience with Charles, and hope to continue to keep him as a professional contact for all of my landscaping needs.

Let's get this out in the open...this is not a true blue "restaurant." This is a dive bar that serves really good gumbo and jambalaya.  We had no idea from the description on our online coupon, however, and took our toddler with us.

There is no getting around the lack of charm when it comes to the surroundings, however.  And had I known it was a full-fledged dive bar, I would not have brought my young son.  Understandably, they didn't have highchairs available.  

That said, I had good food here.  The gumbo and jambalaya were both excellent.  I had the po' boy, which wasn't the best I've tasted but it was enormous...easily enough to feed two.  The étouffée wasn't quite ready to be served, so we missed out.  

We had gone the month before for their brunch, which was was far less satisfying and, I believe, overpriced.  

Aside from the regulars that looked slightly annoyed at the sight of us, the service was very friendly and we felt welcome.

About the online coupon deal that states "dine-in only.":  Although I understand the need to tip the waitstaff and get people in the door, it seems silly to force people to "dine-in" when you don't provide places for every member of the party to sit.  My kid had to sit in his stroller and eat his food, which was a good foot above him on the bar table.  

It would have been nice if they had given us a break about their steadfast rule.  We even offered to pay full tip on a take out order, but they wouldn't make an exception.  Unfortunately, we won't be back any time soon, not because we wouldn't want to, but because we simply can't.

(My husband's suggestion?  A take-out window, like Little Skillet does so well.  I'd be there every week!)

Admittedly, I am not a skin care fanatic.  I'm terrible about my skin care routine, and have been lucky my skin has not drooped to my shoulders as far as wrinkles are concerned.  The sun is wonderful for so many things, but youthful skin is not one of them.  

We all have sun-damaged skin, and unless you've been living in a cave your entire life or your skin care routine has been extraordinarily strict since childhood.  My skin is definitely no exception.

I made an appointment with Erika for a microdermabrasion, thanks to an online coupon deal that helped ease the cost of the $145 session.  After easily parking on Shipley, an alley off of 5th Street, I rang the bell of a nondescript looking apartment house.  

The studio is hidden away downstairs, past the recycling bins and PG&E meters.  Erika led the way to her small and cozy room, equipped with all the necessary tools and resources.  

After 15 minutes of discussion and form-filling, she took a look at my skin to analyze what would best suit me as far as treatment.  There was a gentle lecture about skin care that felt not unlike a visit to the dentist.  Erika takes skin very seriously.  This was obviously not going to be just another facial appointment.

And it's definitely not "just a facial."  This is not your usual spa treatment-type experience.  Erika is a professional in the most serious sense of the word, and she seems very dedicated to helping her clients maintain healthy, youthful skin for as long as possible.  Her approach is very friendly, but she does give you a crystal clear message with no bones about it:  Take care of your skin now.  It's never too late.

The procedure was an hour, including a mask and extractions.  The mask was particularly interesting, and chocolate based.  I also asked for an additional waxing, which she gladly performed.  After sitting up and looking in the mirror, the difference was visible right away.  Although there was some redness (which disappeared within hours) my skin was soft, supple, and the lines seemed less crater-like.  I was sold.

The products are mostly Rhonda Allison, a Texas-based company.  Everything is all-natural, plant and fruit based, and very gentle on the skin.  

Although I purchased the mineral powder brush-on SPF 50 ($60) and the retinal lotion ($30), there was no real "hard sell" that I loathe at the popular spas.  Erika simply suggested what might be best for my lifestyle (lazy and too busy to care) and my immediate skin care needs (not getting any younger.)  The prices were not cost-prohibitive, and I felt confident that she was genuinely thinking of my best interest and knew her stuff.  

As for microdermabrasion, I am hooked.  I will be on the corner begging for loose change to make my next appointment a reality.  Anyone want to babysit my two kids while I'm being pampered?  Come on, now.  Poopy diapers and baby vomit are the BEST.

And by the BEST I mean GROSS.

Phoebe Hearst Preschool (aka Golden Gate Kindergarten Association) is alive and well, and known as the oldest pre-school in San Francisco.

They've closed and moved to Fillmore Street to add some swank to the neighborhood!

Panic.  Sheer terror.  Screaming.  Oh, the horror...the horror.  This is what happens when your toddler loses his beloved plushy.  Some parents have been known to scour the streets of their neighborhoods, peeking into nooks and crannies, just in case there might be the slightest chance that one and only, irreplaceable plushy is there.  The alternative?  A child that will destroy your coveted sleep for the rest of eternity.  That's what it feels like, anyway.

Tintin is a rare find here in the U.S.  Sure, you can find the books tucked away in bookstores here and there.  But a Snowy plushy?  Fat chance.

It happens that my own, normally sweet little tot was given one of these adorable plushes, and he has grown quite attached to it.  In fact, he can't sleep without it.  The "snow" part of the doll has turned into a dingy, grey, molted slobber pad, which requires me to throw it in the wash when the kid isn't looking.  This plush is being loved...to death.

One day, I thought to myself, "Oh good God, what if we LOSE Snowy? THIS CAN NOT HAPPEN."  For if it did, holy cats.  

After scouring San Francisco for a "back-up" Snowy, I found none.  I began hunting on the Internet.  Thinking I had found a replacement, I ordered it.  When it came, it was a towering Snowy, humongous and comically large.  My toddler was not fooled.  He took one sniff, chewed on his huge nose for a second, and pushed it aside with disdain.

I continued my search until I found what seemed to be the ONLY snowy plush (sitting, not standing on all fours) in civilization.  I checked the size several times before pushing the "place order" button.  When the box arrived four weeks later, I found the perfect Snowy decoy.  He's currently residing in my son's crib being slobbered on, doomed to a life of enthusiastic hugs for the rest of his life.

Thanks to the Tintin Shop, my sleep is safe once more.

After having a baby, I had hair that looked not unlike a cave woman on a humid day.  It was alarming.  I decided to sneak out for a hair cut while my kids and husband were napping, not an easy feat.  The salon had to be worth my efforts.  After perusing the internet, NVS seemed to fit the bill.

This unpretentious, stylish, and well-appointed little salon is just what I was looking for.  They are also located in Noe so I don't have to schlep over to Union Square, pay $15 for parking, and deal with...well, Union Square.  The parking on the street near NVS is reasonable, and I had no trouble at all walking to the salon from 24th Street after doing some window shopping.  

I called the salon after walking past them about five hundred times on my walks with my newborn.  Erin was the stylist that I booked with, purely based on what I had read in reviews.  

She was very friendly, welcoming and addressed my particular concerns...I needed an easy cut that was going to be a cinch to maintain.  In addition, I had pregnancy hair, and the possibility it was all going to fall out of my head in a few months when the hormones adjusted was another issue.

In an hour, she had my hair swishing like a shampoo commercial.  It was a perfect style for my post-pregnancy needs.  In addition, she was so charming and easy to like, the time flew by.  It was well-worth the $85 plus tip for that alone.  Erin is a rock star.

I'll be back to try the massage and eye brow wax when I get another free hour of time away from my two kids and husband...that would be some time when Donald Trump becomes President of the United States.

I'm addicted to Sprout.  It's my new favorite store when I'm strolling in the Marina.  

They have everything and more for the nouveau mom with money to burn.  Mind you, this is not a bargain basement type of establishment, which is a problem for penny pinchers like me.  

But it's fun to explore the organic baby clothes that will fit for two weeks yet cost more than my entire outfit.  I love the fancy cribs that cost more than my first car did...by a LOT.

They also have strollers, baby food, snacks, books, blankets, wraps and carriers.  It's a Babies-R-Us wrapped in a Prada shell.

The store is very considerate about families with young tots, which is a huge bonus when you're with a rambunctious 1 1/2 year old who has tired of shopping with mom.  The playroom is a definite draw, as long as you have time to monitor your child...or have a fabulous husband to do it while you shop.  In addition, they hold workshops for kids and adults alike...check their website for deets.

They also offer story time at 4:00, and a changing room for wet and muddy bottoms, complete with diapers.  

This is a swanky place for a swanky baby.  I'm not sure we qualify, but we will definitely be taking advantage of this fabulous store again.

We love Small Frys!  It's not the most economical shopping trip, but they offer a pretty good variety of children's clothes.  I love the Zutano and Petit Lem outfits.

They also have a profile artist that comes twice a year.  We look forward to the special keepsakes he makes with just black paper and a pair of small, sharp scissors.  

In a pinch, I've used their changing room and found emergency diapers in most sizes in a basket, as well as some wipes for convenience.  So thoughtful.

It's a great neighborhood store that I try to patronize as much as I can afford to.  Noe Valley needs more places like this!