Honored to be named Glamourbaby of the Week

Huge thanks to The Glamourbaby Diaries for naming me Glamourbaby of the Week!

My Grandma Shirley and her great love, my Grandpa Bob

It was so much fun to reflect on my glamour influence — My Grandma Shirley Barber, and to consider how her good example set me on a path of service. Here's the full piece: Glamourbaby of the Week. 

A little preemptive Thanksgiving

There's so much to be thankful for this year. I thought it best to take a moment to share some gratitude, in no particular order: 

Stinson Beach sunset

Bazaar Café, supporting the local arts community

My officemate

My other officemate

Time with family celebrating my brother Adam's wedding in Seattle, 

& of course, my handsome husband

And, a little extra warmth in the midst of autumn's arrival here in SF. 

Three days before autumn

With school back in session and summer vacations becoming memory, morning rituals capturing that early morning sun (or fog) are more important than ever to get us moving forward into the day. A Twitter post and blog post by author of The Second Lunch, referencing a blog post by Tea and Cookies, got me reflecting on my own morning habits. So meta, as I have this cup of tea...

Now that I'm a student again, I've had to carve a serious routine to make my days feel structured —green tea in the morning. While waiting for the kettle, I feed the cat and dog. Once tea is ready (two bags at once in a really large silly mug), grab my over sweater and the dog leash — we're off.

Each morning we take a new route, and each morning I challenge myself to see my neighborhood in a new light. Here, a neighbor's garden with the last hurrah for her rose bush;

the local party supply store after a big sale the weekend before, balloons holding their breath;

a California home reminding me of my Midwestern roots (and the flag in the window reminding me with a symbolic gesture to make sure my voter registration is up to date); 

these images in the fog or sun shift. The quality of light each morning illuminates different shadows, paint colors, the harried race to get to work on time, or retirees checking to make sure they're not in a street cleaning parking space. I transit through the morning routines of others with Thea Bear happily on her leash sniffing it all in. These habits all capturing whatever I can take in before the email and calls begin, and each morning, trying to remember to hold on to as much daylight as I can. With fall coming, twilight starts a bit earlier each day.

One vote supports Sub-Saharan African orphans

Friends,

I've nominated one of my dearest friends Michelle Averna and her nonprofit Fount of Mercy for a GOOD Maker/Oxfam Award.

Please consider casting a vote for her here: http://oxfamamerica.maker.good.is/projects/FountofMercy

A little background: 
Fount of Mercy was  founded in 2006. In its six years, this nonprofit organization has built indigenous Sub-Saharan African organizations’ capacity to provide educational opportunities for orphans and vulnerable children, and vocational opportunities for caregivers in their communities.


What $1,000 would do for Fount: 
Generous support from Oxfam would enable Fount of Mercy to launch their Women’s Public Health three-prong cycle. The first cycle provides an environment where participants can ask questions about their own health, learn new facts, and demonstrate their learning. The second creates a safe space where small groups of women discuss issues of womanhood and will access empowering knowledge. The final cycle identifies potential leaders, offering mentorship and support to become the future health educators of their communities. With this gift Fount of Mercy will implement their full Women's Public Health cycle with three local Ugandan organizations. Fount will hire and train a local part-time Community Health Initiative Program Associate.



Thanks for considering and clicking on. 
Erin


PS: Voting closes Thursday, March 29th at 12:00PM PDT. 

With love to 2011, a year in photos

We welcomed the New Year with poppies, succulents, and oodles of neighborhood doggie walks.

I traveled to Orr Hot Springs with my Aunty Mary. We stopped at Portuguese Beach along the way. 

I returned to The White House, this time as a guest. I've never been so excited to stand in a security line.

We went to Coachella with our dear friend David and his family. Duran Duran brought the house down.

My sister and soon-to-be sister-in-law both graduated from the University of Washington this year with graduate degrees. It was a treat to celebrate with them both. 

I spoke on a panel at the National Conference on Volunteering and Service in New Orleans and was inspired by the goodwill and energy of the 2,000+ attendees in the room.

My cousin Alana took me to the La Brea Tar Pits and the Museum of Jurassic Technology. The latter might be may favorite museum of all-time other than the Flint Institute of Arts. (Really, many thanks to Viola E. Bray who donated so many works to the people of Flint, MI.)

Tim and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary up in the hills along the coast. We think Thea Bear liked the trip best. Though, the lack of sirens and sounds of woodland creatures seemed a bit unsettling. 

I became a member of the Leadership SF Class of 2012. This Trusteeship for the city has already broadened my experience in just four short months. 

We marked our one-year anniversary at ICHI Sushi. Thanks to Married with Dinner for celebrating with us and bringing us the cutest Japanese pastries we've ever seen! 

I went to Oahu and visited the Foster Botanical Gardens. What an opportunity to sit under this Sacred Fig, one of only three clones of the Bodhi tree that the Buddha sat under. Truly humbling. 

My Lani Kai stomping grounds with Aunty, Barbara, Donna, and a whole cast of wonderful characters for a gorgeous moonrise evening. 

My best friend Bernadette opened up The B. Hive, a fantastic vintage and consignment shop in Goodrich, MI. The top bird necklace is from one of her artist collections. 

The familiar sights of home. 

And, familiar sights of my new hometown coming up on 2012. Welcome, Year of the Dragon. 

Winter started working its way to Spring

In San Francisco, the early crop of tulips always give you a little hope

A brisk run along China Basin park is always a good way to warm up

And yet, Thea Bear tried to woo me with her nap prowess

I baked a whole lot to warm up the kitchen

There were threats of a shut down

And still, more flowers came. 

Coming up on my 32nd birthday

And, I've been traveling these past few months. Here's a snapshot of winter to spring:

This is how it all kicked off, with a Cole Hardware Charlie Brown tree

Then, ice skating in Union Square happened

The big tree in Union Square was pretty great 

Neiman's shop windows were gorgeous

I got a couple of great cocktails from 25 Lusk

And ornaments for my own little tree from Macy's top floor

The escalator ride was worth it,

 & it was a great way to welcome in 2011.