Looking for something fun to do this Sunday?

How about stopping by @TamHolland‘s Art Thing? Actually it’s called Under the Sun Flea Market but for some reason I can not remember that name so I keep calling it @TamHolland’s art thing.  Tamara (aka @TamHolland on Twitter) makes cool stuff like…

Greeting cards. Luggage tags. Checkbook covers. Magnets. Business card holders. Collage goodie bags so you can make your own cool things.

Bean Up The Nose Art will be selling all sorts of goodies at the August “Under The Sun Flea Market” at Beach House Style on Sunday the 28th. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 779 Center Blvd. in Fairfax, CA.

The Marin Twitter Gang will be meeting up there sometime after 1pm so stop by and say hi. #TweetUp

All are welcome! Hope to see you!

Check it out! This event was even mentioned on the Sunset Magazine site!

Full disclaimer: @TamHolland sent me an absolutely beautiful bouquet of flowers today to thank me for inviting the tweeps to her art thing but I had plans to put this post up BEFORE the flowers came. It was actually on my list of things to do after work today list. It was such a wonderful surprise to come home and find this gorgeous bouquet of flowers waiting for me. Thanks Ms. Tamara! I love my Twitter friends!

Marin Mommies has created a great list of Easter egg hunts in Marin and the North Bay.

Check out this list for some hopping family fun in 2011!

http://www.marinmommies.com/marin-county-easter-egg-hunts

And here is some Easter fun for the adults!

This comic makes me laugh every year.

It’s almost Valentine’s Day. Do you have plans?

My daughter who is single came up with a fun idea. Gather your closest single girlfriends, get all dressed up and go out to a fancy dinner and celebrate your freedom. I love it!

If you are in a relationship grab your honey and celebrate your love!

In Marin County (one of the most expensive places on the planet to live) a lot of us are running around like chickens with our heads cut off just trying to keep up with the bills. Keeping up with the Jones in Marin County is next to impossible when many of the Jones are millionaires so I’m content just keeping up with my bills and thankful for my job that offers medical benefits (and an amazingly beautiful commute at sunrise each day). Also in Marin many of us are married with children. All of this combined does not leave much time to celebrate your love with the one you love. You are lucky if you pass him/her in the hallway while heading out the door to your job/kid’s soccer/grocery store/networking event/PTA meeting/gym/therapist/etc…

Two of my favorite relationship expert friends agree on the importance of making time for date night! Here is what they have to say:

“Family stability starts from the top which is why it’s important for couples not to forget to prioritize their relationship.  With kids, work,obligations and the general mayhem of life, it’s very easy to forget to work on the connection and bond.  Ways for couples to do this can take many forms; dinner, walks, picnics, roller skating, coffee dates and kid-free overnights.  The important piece is the uninterrupted alone time, where communication, intimacy and loving attention to each other can occur.” ~Lisa Kift, MFT

“We always recommend that couples prioritize their relationships. When they are dating or engaged, that means carving out time to have fun together…Especially if they are busy working, studying or wedding planning. When couples are married-with or without children- Having fun together is essential for relationship satisfaction and longevity.” ~ Dr. Michelle Gannon

My extended family is going through some very challenging times right now. It’s easy to get caught up in the stress and forget everything else. I’m currently living under the motto of “one day at a time”. Most of my free time is now spent in therapist offices and soon al-anon meetings.  In case you’re wondering why my blogging has slowed down a bit… I haven’t figured out away to put a spin on the family therapy meetings in a blog post while still maintaining the privacy and respect of said family members. So I’ll leave it vague for now…

Despite all the challenges happening around me with the one’s I love, this week was Celia’s birthday and Valentine’s Day is coming up. During my lunch break last week, I wandered aimlessly around San Francisco in kind of a foggy daze wondering what would be a good gift for Celia. I happened upon the outside market in front of the ferry building at The Embarcadero on Market Street. I weaved my way through the artist’s booths when I noticed a booth full of beautiful paintings with hearts. The artist smiled at me and said which one do you like. I was drawn to one that had a big heart in the center of what looked like a bunch of chaos. When I got closer the chaos was words written in English and Spanish words like love, amor. When I saw this, I knew it was the right gift. It showed that love prevails in the middle of chaos and it was also in Spanglish! (The language of my home!)

This blog post is just a friendly reminder to make some time for the ones you love whether they are your spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, child, parent, best friend or a neighbor or even your dog!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

PS. The Marin Happy Hour TweetUp at Pacific Catch is this Thursday, 2/17/11! If you are in the area stop by and say hi. All are welcome (even if you don’t tweet!) More info here: http://tweetvite.com/event/euxc

Around here Whole Foods has been nicknamed Whole Paycheck. After seeing this video by Shane and Chantal Valentine of The Baby Cuisine Cookbook. I think Whole Foods needs a new nickname.

Which do you think is cheaper for organic products? Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s or Safeway. I was very surprised by the results.

Shane and Chantal Valentine are local Marin residents. You can follow them on Twitter @babycuisine. You can also follow Whole Foods on Twitter @WholeFoods.

*green bean image  by Flickr user Chasqui

Come out and taste some delicious soups and desserts at Marin’s Soup and Dessert Challenge.

Mill Valley Community Center

Saturday, January 22, 2011

12-3pm

Restaurants and businesses will be offering their best and letting us be the judges.

Marin’s Soup and Dessert Challenge is a benefit for CIP Marin.

Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Bring the family, all ages welcome. Kids under 12 free!
More info here: http://cipmarin.org/pages/event/event/loving_spoonfuls.htm

Funny thing about this blog… the post that drives the most traffic to my blog is the one I wrote about “affordable haircuts in Marin”. I guess with everything being SO expensive here in Marin people are on the lookout for something affordable. The hair salon has changed names since I wrote the post about cheap haircuts in Marin, although it is still the same great people. Salon Carlos in San Rafael is now called Salon Mirsa. I went yesterday to get my usual $10 haircut.

I like to support local, independently owned businesses but I’m not one to spend big money on a haircut. I’ve also never been happy with haircuts from that big super chain haircut place.

I was happy to discover Salon Mirsa (thanks to Celia who introduced me to the place). Salon Mirsa is kind of unique for Marin County. It doesn’t exactly fit the Marin County stereotype. The main language spoken at Salon Mirsa is Spanish. That’s because Salon Mirsa is located in the heart of the Canal community of San Rafael where most of the residence are Hispanic. But don’t let the language get in your way! The stylists at Salon Mirsa are a very welcoming and friendly bunch. Just tell them you know Sally .

Salon Mirsa has top notch stylists. If you are on a budget and are looking for a great haircut for you or your kids try Salon Mirsa. Tip: all the stylist are great but I especially like Tere.

$10 for a haircut! I don’t think you’ll find a better deal in Marin County.

Pictured below (Mirsa, the owner – Tere, the stylist – Celia, the mountain biker who got her hair dyed blue).

If you are hungry after your haircut you can find some tasty Mexican food nearby at Picante on Bellam Blvd.  Or you can do a little grocery shopping and get a cultural experience all at the same time.

Remembering those we’ve lost. World AIDS Day San Francisco.

Photo by Troy Holden

Beautiful pic of San Francisco City Hall take by Flickr User:  Troy Holden

SFist has some cool pics from World AIDS Day. In Hungary people walked inside a giant condom. And we thought we were the progressive ones.

California ranks second in the nation in cumulative AIDS cases at 157,719, surpassed only by New York. – San Francisco AIDS Foundation

What can you do? Visit  http://www.sfaf.org/get-involved/index.html

Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving!

I got my turkey from Tara Firma Farms in Petaluma. This is going to be the first turkey I’ve ever prepared. I’m feeling kind of nervous. I’ve been asking for advice and I swear there are as many different ways to prepare turkey as there are turkeys. I’ll be taking photos of the process and let you know how it goes.

Read more about Tara Firma Farms here.

Hey, Marin you don’t have to go all the way to San Francisco to ice skate this holiday season!

“On Friday, December 3rd – for one magical, fun-filled night only – Tiburon Holiday Festival 2010 will feature an OUTDOOR ICE SKATING RINK for families, couples, ice skating enthusiasts, and everyone to delight! So grab your coziest scarf and hat and get ready for a once in a lifetime opportunity to ice skate along the shores of the San Francisco Bay with the most breathtaking backdrop of the twinkling, present-wrapped San Francisco skyline.

The evening’s festivities will include: the traditional Fountain Plaza Tree Lighting Ceremony with classic holiday carolers, costumed characters strolling along magical Main Street, wonderful holiday treats, yummy gingerbread house decorating, Winterland Snow Globe Making/Photo Shop for kids, and more! In addition, the town’s eclectic shops and tasty restaurants will be offering budget-worthy discounts and specials to while away the hours.

With spectacular views of the SF skyline, Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco Bay, and Angel Island (plus ice skating too), only a Scrooge would dare miss this memorable San Francisco Bay Area holiday event!” – Shop Tiburon

More info here: http://shoptiburon.info/events/tiburon-holiday-festival-2010-featuring-outdoor-ice-skating/

Yesterday was National Coming Out Day.

In case you are wondering why we need to “come out”? Why we need to talk about it? Why we have to flaunt it in your face?

Here is the reason: there have been at least 6 gay children (that I know of) who have taken their own life since school started this year. In addition, in the last week there have been 2 more teen suicides right here in Marin County!

Last night I stumbled upon the It Gets Better campaign by the Trevor Project on YouTube.

I just wanted to say thank you to The Trevor Project and all those brave people who participated in telling their own stories.

It does get better! If you are straight, gay or anything in between and feeling alone or hopeless right now please ask for help. It does get better.

The Trevor Lifeline: 866-488-7386
National Suicide Hotline: 800-273-TALK (8255)

Also, wanted to thank Ellen DeGeneres for speaking out.