My dear friends, I’ve come to the very difficult decision that it’s time for me to hang up SFGirl. As I told you a few months ago, I decided to change things up here to try to give you more of what I thought you wanted in a more condensed fashion, posting a compilation of my blog series just once a week rather than several times per week. Alas, my project has not been quite the blazing success I had hoped for, and either because of a reduction in the number of posts or for reasons only known to the universe, I’ve lost a lot of subscribers. Therefore, I’m finding it’s time for SFGirl to end ..read more

Gosh, it’s been miserably gray at the beach lately. Gray May/June Gloom is a real thing, and it’s starting to wear on my mood. You know the saying, ‘When Life Gives You Lemons…’ Well, inspired by lemonade, I’m making us our very own sunshine this week. Sometimes, I find it helps to lift my mood with something as simple as putting out a fresh bowl of lemons (even better when my neighbors leave out their freshly picked extras with a ‘free’ sign) or some fresh flowers like the crazy cheap Daffodils Trader Joe’s has an abundance of right now. Just a smidge of yellow can go a long way to perk yo ..read more

Hello readers, I hope all is well. I will see my doctor again this afternoon and see how this foot of mine is doing besides boring me to pieces. Wish me luck. As I’ve been lounging around perusing Pinterest, I've been noticing a new trend emerging—the incorporation of black curves, waves, and scalloped edges. They’re kind of everywhere, especially in home accessories. I see scalloped edges all over the place—a bit of a departure from traditional straight lines and stripes, and this version has a more vintage-modern aesthetic along with a touch of whimsy. You might wonder how something as si ..read more

I’m not a big fan of ‘the mall’—at least not anymore. When I was a teen, the mall was happening, and I couldn’t get enough of it. Our hang was Topanga Plaza, mainly at Contempo Casuals, Judy’s, Wallichs Music City, and, of course, the food court and the Ice Capades skating rink on Friday nights. I even worked in the mall—in a humiliating former bird atrium, the mall converted into a tiny iron-on tee-shirt shop, of which I’ve blocked out the name. But things have changed, and I’m no longer a mallrat. Instead, I favor shopping small, unique boutiques and online makers locally and from around ..read more

Since being laid up with this darn foot for the last few weeks, I've really been missing my morning beach walks with Frances. And since I’ve always been drawn to a rather aquatic color palette, that’s what we're looking at today. Decorating with neutral undertones, adding seafoam greens, teal, and pale aqua blues is a lovely way to create a fresh, calming vibe to your space. These muted, subtle colors have a soothing, tranquil feel that’s pretty perfect when you want to dial down the intensity of our manic world a bit. Like the incredible Glass House in São Paulo by architect Lina Bo Bardi ..read more

I know I’ve been going on about my trip to Rome, but today, I’m giving equal time to Paris. I have a love affair with both cities and honestly, I’ve been in such an excited state of mind about traveling to Italy that I’ve felt a bit guilty—like I’ve been cheating on my best friend, France. But I’ve been getting numerous requests lately on where to stay, shop, and eat in Paris; I thought I’d give a condensed recap for all of you wondering what I love about Paris. Both destinations have their own unique charms, of course, but for a classic European getaway, you really can't go wrong with the ..read more

I’m still here, horizontal. Perhaps I should attempt the above mode of tanning my legs; alas, the giant boot does not allow for very pleasing tan lines. I’m finding myself vacillating between a pure pity party and ‘Oh well—stuff happens,’ if that makes any sense. As I write this, I should be in Mexico, indulging in spa treatments, and instead, I’m shuffling around with a cane and a walker, trying to microwave meals and get to the loo without falling down again. It’s an interesting experiment, if you will, in self-sufficiency. I’m terrible at asking for help, but quickly realizing that I can ..read more

Well, I'm officially back in the “broken bone” club (yet again). Who would have thought a simple misstep could land me flat on my back, my leg encased in a giant, ugly boot of shame? I've fractured two bones in my right foot (the same foot with a broken ankle in 2005—thus the pins you see in my x-ray) simply by stepping down awkwardly onto the one, single-ass stair into my bedroom. Apparently, I have not yet learned the art of walking properly. As I lie here, gazing forlornly at the ceiling with my trusty sidekick Frances at my side, I'm finding I have plenty of time to make some, s ..read more

Artwork with kind permission by Andrea Ferolla. This week, I’ve got travel on my mind. I’m off to Italy in late August for my niece’s wedding, and I’m counting the days. Yes, I know it’s a few months off, but I’m fully immersing myself in all things Italian and have appropriately switched my Duolingo language lessons from French to Italian. This is what I do—I go all in, researching and mapping cafes, shops, and sights to see. I’m first headed to Rome for about a week, and then on to Tuscany for the wedding, and then back to Rome for a few more days. An Airbnb in Monti. I’m traveling sol ..read more

A few posts ago, I shared some Spring kitchen inspiration, and with the weather warming up even more, I’m now inspired to share some Spring tablescape ideas. I love cooking for friends and family and throwing any dinner party they’ll allow me to. When I lived in Echo Park, my friends jokingly called my home The Restaurant, and I was happy for it to be considered as such. I cooked them everything from my big salads to something we called the miracle chicken (we called it that because whenever I made this particular roast chicken for potential boyfriends, they usually stuck around a few years ..read more