I look forward to each month's post filled with catalogs from some of my favorite stores: Sur La Table, Williams Sonoma, and more. I clip recipes, ideas for dinner parties, and of course, gadgets. Here's a roundup of some of my favorite gadgets from 2011. The Finds: Cooper Cooler Rapid Beverage & Wine Chiller, $79.95 ; Chicago Metallic Pie Mold, $24.95 ; Cuisinart Pulp Control Citrus Juicer, $29.95 ; Waring DF175 Deep Fryer, 3L Digital, $99.99 ; Kuhn Rikon Spill STOP Lids, Small $24.95 and Large $29.95 ; All-Clad Belgian Waffle Makers , 2-square, $179.95, and 4-square, $199.95; Calphalon Classic Round Waffle Maker, $69.95 ; Personal Embosser with Stand, $39.95 . Not all of the gadgets I clip/pick are practical; for example, waffle makers - haven't yet found a non-dairy recipe that satisfies my tastebuds or a deep fryer - I'm deathly afraid of cooking with hot oil. Did you get any cool gadgets in 2011? Bon Apetit! Eden   Credits: All images taken by their respect...

2011 can be summarized as a year in which cubes and I spent a lot of time together, ate lots of good food, and traveled near and far. Of all the places we ate, two stand out the most: The French Laundry and Rebel. In 2010, we missed out on dining at The French Laundry for our mini-moon. A local gave us a tip for grabbing a table and in February, just in time for my birthday, we received a call that a table was available. The French Laundry lived up to the hype and exceeded our very high expectations. Rebel stood out because until it opened down the street from us, barbecue that gave my Texas barbecue memories a run for the money was in short supply in California. Rebel offers many sauces; two are my faves: Original and Carolina Mustard. I love Original on all the meats and Carolina Mustard on the fries. In addition to great food, there were two transitions. The first, cubes and I got pregnant and are expecting a baby girl in March 2012. The second, after years of being a member of Jew...

Besides my craving for Sour Cherry pie, how does a restaurant keep us coming back again and again? Two words: creativity and consistency. Mission Beach Cafe's menu presents new interpretations of old favorites and consistently delivers well-prepared dishes. First let me say that Mission Beach Cafe has spoiled me when it comes to soup. On Christmas, I immediately compared the first taste I took of a Kombucha Squash Soup at TusCa to the squash soups I get here. And of course, it didn't live up. I don't how they can make vegan soup so flavorful, but they do. When the weather is cool (and even when it's not), I frequently find myself craving soup. Not any soup, but soup prepared like Mission Beach Cafe's soup. (In a pinch, I used to be able to satisfy my soup cravings with Pacific Natural Foods' Organic Creamy Butternut Squash Soup , but now I can't. I'm really going to have to perfect my soup making abilities as we can't always get a table spur of the m...

It seems as though every time I have a blood test, a new vitamin is prescribed: D3 the first time and now Iron. So today's Friday Funny comes from Stan and Jan Berenstain's Marital Blitz (Third Printing, 1969). Ciao Bella! Eden   Credits: All images taken by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life.

Like past years when my stylist was in Palo Alto, I'm getting my hair done for New Year's Eve. Unlike previous years, I'm also getting my makeup done. Because I'm going to be glamorous, I wanted an elegant party font for Font Friday. Hence my choice of VivaldiD CL. VivaldiD CL is available for download from SearchFreeFonts.com . What are you doing for New Year's Eve? Happy New Year and Happy Designing! Eden   Credits: All images taken by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life. Font Fun is a monthly series showcasing a roundup of free fonts or featuring a free printable with a favorite font.

Sexism and stereotypes. I expect that from a 1945 Home Economics text. I'd hope that toy manufacturers and retail stores in 2011 were beyond that as well, but as LEGO proved with their recent launch of LEGOs for girls they're not. Target's toy catalog included checklists for boys (which included LEGOs) and checklists for girls (which included Barbie and other pink items; of course no LEGOs - they weren't yet pink).   I certainly don't expect sexism in a presentation given at the 28th Chaos Communication Congress (#28C3) - a "congress ... organized by the community [that] appreciates all kinds of participation" and that has a " no nerd left behind " approach. On their FAQ page , they even highlight that "[t]he Chaos Computer Club is, by its chapter and by common consent, a galactic organization of all life forms, regardless of their age, gender or upbringing. We are dedicated to providing a safe and comfortable experience for everybody at...

With New Year's Eve celebrations just around the corner, I've been dreaming of eye catching evening attire and metallic clutches. The Finds: Platinum Band Champagne Flutes, Riedel, $44 . Sparkle and Span Dress, Max and Cleo, $117.99 with Gold Accessories ( from back to front ) - Metallic Reva Clutch, $325 , Metallic Logo Clutch, $325 , and Metallic Mini Bag, $265 . Beaded Lace Shift, Maggie London, $158 with Silver Accessories ( from back to front ) - Metallic Reva Clutch, $325 , Metallic Logo Clutch, $325 , and Metallic Mini Bag, $265 . What do you think: Metallics - hot or not? Ciao Bella! Eden   Credits: All images taken by their respective sellers: ModCloth , Nordstrom , Tory Burch , and Williams Sonoma . Collage created by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life.

Lots of Eden-friendly food was to be had in Monterey. We started each day with breakfast at the C Restaurant + Bar. While most days we wandered down Cannery Row for lunch and snack options (check back tomorrow), we ate in on Christmas. Food at the Intercontinental Hotel was delicious. cubes and I had the same breakfast two out of three mornings. cubes favored The Clement Eggs Benedict (top left photo in the collage above), while I favored the Belgian Waffle (bottom left photo in the collage above). On the second morning, I had the Huevos Rancheros de Marisco (top right photo in the collage above). It was a lighter version of the traditional Huevos Rancheros, with Shrimp and Dungeness Crab substituted for pork or beef. The portion was very hearty - I wasn't able to eat all of it. cubes enjoyed his bite of mine so much that he ordered the dish on our last day. On Christmas, the hotel had a modified room service menu. Luckily for me, my favorite entree was available, Pasta with Marina...

For our babymoon we wanted accommodations that offered comfort and service. We chose The Clement Monterey , an Intercontinental Hotel, built in 2007. The hotel is impeccably kept, the staff polite and incredibly accommodating. Miniature bonsai, orchids, a zen garden, and sea otters graced our room. These were nice touches. I hadn't stayed at a hotel that had plants before; it definitely made the room feel more like a home. On Christmas Day, we discovered a candy cane had been hooked to our door - an unexpected touch. The Clement Monterey was also the first property that actually followed its water conservation policy regarding linen replacement. No matter what I've done at other places, wet towels have always been replaced. Here the room was tidied, but as we wanted the linens were not replaced. There were only two minor nits with our room. The package we chose included breakfast. The only downside with this was that we had to go across the street to the restaurant to redeem th...

Over a week ago, I joined cubes at his company's holiday party. They had a photo booth so we took our moment in the spotlight. (We took two turns; the film strip on the right features the best shots.) If you look closely you can see my baby bump. This week on the blog, I'll share memories from our babymoon to Monterey, CA and catch you up on a few places we dined at recently - Farina and Another Monkey - for dinner. I'll also reveal the progress or lack thereof we've made on Gates' nursery. Ciao Bella! Eden   Credits: Collage created by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life.

I'm super excited about our upcoming babymoon. We decided to follow our friends' lead and not go too far from home. (Early in the pregnancy I hd grand plans of flying to Austin, TX, one of my favorite spots in the US, but our favorite airline Virgin America doesn't yet fly there. And the potential of TSA pat downs while pregnant sends shivers up my spine.) The theme for our babymoon is simple: Pampering and Comfort. Unlike our December 2009 getaway to Jenner, CA, we'll be going to a well traveled tourist destination - Monterey, CA . We'll be staying at a hotel that has 24 hour room service, so hopefully we won't spend the majority of our trip driving in search of Eden-friendly food. The other benefit of room service is that someone other than cubes can fetch for me so he gets a break as well. We've also made dinner reservations - and confirmed them - to avoid being turned away by Maitre d's. Besides food, this trip is all about relaxation. To ensure tota...

Earlier this month I came up with the idea of creating a 7x7 photo book of Gates' first 24 months. I think I've finally narrowed my picks for the last of the other two San Serif fonts to two choices: Big Noodle and Telegrafico. Both have very different personalities. Which is your favorite: Big Noodle or Telegrafico? Here's what each font looks like in the layout with the Serif font I chose: Berylium . (Remember that my inspiration for the layout of each page came from a package of tea which has one Serif font and two San Serif fonts.) I'm not sure which font treatment I like better. What's your preference? Big Noodle with Berylium or Big Noodle with Telegrafico? Big Noodle with Berylium Telegrafico with Berylium Both Big Noodle from Sentinel Type and Telegrafico by Salvo Nicolosi are available for free for personal use from Dafonts.com . (The other San Serif font used in the layout (not shown) is Tall Films by GemFonts, also available for free for personal use ...

One of the best things about Jewish holidays is the food, specifically the sweets. Sufganiyot for Chanukah and Hamantashen for Purim. Where does one get these delicacies in the Bay Area if they don't want to bake? Saul's in Berkeley. Last night I came home with a dozen latkes, a pint of applesauce, and a dozen Sufganiyot. cubes had not tried Sufganiyot before and bit in eagerly. He really liked the jam filling. (I love the jam filling and never think Syfganiyot can have enough. Maybe next year I'll try my hand at making a batch.) He tends to prefer savory over sweet so latkes remain his favorite Chanukah treat. What holiday treats have you been overindulging in? Sprite, once again, wanted to be in on the lighting. Instead of watching the candles and enjoying our treats, we spent most of the time catching Sprite before a whisker or tail brushed the flames. Any suggestions for keeping curious cats away from lit menorahs? Bon Apetit! Eden   Credits: All images taken by Eden ...

For almost a year now, I've watched my Klout scores (yes I mean scores) rise and fall while I remained an Explorer . ( Klout attempts to measure one's online influence.) While Klout occasionally has hiccups , it can be a tool for learning. Last Friday, before I started playing with my profiles again, my scores were 28 and 34. My Klout styles were Conversationalist ("You love to connect and always have the inside scoop. Good conversation is not just a skill, it's an art. You might not know it, but when you are witty, your followers hang on every word.") and Socializer ("You are the hub of social scene and people can count on you to find out what's happening. You are quick to connect people and readily share your social savvy. Your followers appreciate your network and generosity."), respectively. (By the way, I'm pretty excited that I've graduated from Explorer where I was firmly planted for most of the year.) With one profile, I've earn...

Last night cubes and I lit our menorah for the first night of Chanukah. Even though it's a minor holiday, I was excited as it's my first holiday as a Jew. It was nice to spend a quiet hour with him eating dinner without a TV show playing in the background as the candles burned down. The celebration begins by putting the candles into the menorah from right to left. (The candle in the middle is the shamash or helper candle. It's used to light the other candles.) On the first night of Chanukah, three blessings are said before the menorah is lit. (In the collage above, the two blessings that are said each night appear below the menorah.) From Chabad.org , the three Chanukah blessings are: ( Said only on the first night ) Phonetic pronunciation: Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech Ha-olam a-sher ki-de-sha-nu be-mitz-vo-tav ve-tzi-va-nu le-had-lik ner Cha-nu-kah. English translation: Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His comman...

Until last Thursday, cubes and I had never dined at Pauline's Pizza on Valencia, even though we walked by it many times. I'd always assumed that Pauline's served deep dish pies, something that typically is off limits for me. And... Pauline's is almost always packed with a crowd gathered outside, waiting patiently for their turn to dine. Last Thursday there was no line, and with the exception of the private dining room, the main room was empty save for one family. First, let me say that Pauline's doesn't serve deep dish pies. They specialize in a thin crust that's more like a focaccia or flat bread. They offer fresh, in season, organic ingredients from one of their farms and wine from their winery. (The asterisk on the specials menu identifies produce from their farms.) We decided to split the salad special, an appetizer, and a medium Pesto Pizza. The salad special arrived at the table, arranged like a work of art. It was hard to take the first portion and m...

On Sunday, we finally made it out to Destino for brunch. (Lately most mornings I'm feeling too tired to leave the apartment, so cubes brings food to me.) In short, great flavor and healthy portions at reasonable prices. If you love Latin American flavors, add Destino to your list of must go to stops. Destino's brunch menu starts with favorites from their dinner menu - Ceviches, Lomo Saltado, and more - and adds traditional breakfast favorites such as Eggs Benedict, Huevos Rancheros, and Omelets. They also offer a three-course prix fixe for $24. (I ordered the prix fixe, expecting that the portions would be smaller than if I ordered the selections a la carte. I was wrong - the portions were the same!) For my brunch, I chose the 3-course prix fixe as I couldn't decide between a couple of items. I had Triple Chocolate Chile Bunuelos (top right in the collage), Tacos de Pescado (bottom right in the collage), and Arepas con Ropa Vieja (top left in the collage). cubes went old s...

Today's font choice - Geomancy from One by Four Studio - is perfect for a night out on the town. (For those who've been following my dress saga this week, good news the black lace cocktail dress fits!) Happy Designing! Eden   Credits: All images taken by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life. Font Fun is a monthly series showcasing a roundup of free fonts or featuring a free printable with a favorite font.

Who doesn't love washi tape? Other than my husband. (I now have a Lincoln Beautyware kitchen wrap and paper towel organizer filled with washi tape of all sizes, designs, and colors and am constantly on the hunt for more as new patterns and colors are released each season.) Today I have a roundup that even he'll love: digital washi tape.     For those without an abundance of space or who prefer pixels and those on a budget, here's a roundup of some of the free washi tape downloads I've come across in my Internet travels. Tape strips (PNG) from &Cute Tape strips (polka dots) (PNG) from A Typical English Home Tape strips (stripes) (PSD) or (PNG) from Creative Comforts (site no longer online) Tape strips (PNG) : 6 from Bonjour! Our Life and A Little Inspiration Lace strips (PNG) from Sweetly Scrapped Old sticky tape ( JPG ) or Photoshop brushes from Fuzzimo Tape strips (PNG) from Designs By Miss Mandee Tape brushes (PSD) : 57 from Colorburned   Cre...

Today's post was going to be about my travels to date around the bay area searching for the perfect Chicago-style dog. While flipping through my endless supply of food photos, I got distracted by other goodies I can't have at the moment. Two such goodies I forgot to include in Monday's list : ceviche and Another Monkey 's Thai-style Tom Yum Shrimp Nachos. In case you're curious about why I was on the hunt for the perfect Chicago-style dog before we got pregnant here's the story. When I lived in Austin I fell in love with this hot dog: Vienna Beef dog on a Poppyseed bun served with a crunchy dill pickle spear, two beefsteak tomato wedges, and two sport peppers, topped with sweet pickle relish, diced onions, yellow mustard, and a dash of celery salt. Surprisingly it's hard to find this delicacy in the bay area. In a future post, I'll reveal the hits and misses from my search. Know of a spot that serves up a Chicago-style dog in the Bay Area? Please share! ...

One detail that both of my holiday dresses share is a bow. One option (the one that might not fit come Friday) has two bows. The other option has one. Both are from the 1950s/1960s, designed by Toni Lynn. Not familiar with Toni Lynn? She designed the maternity clothes for Samantha of Bewitched . You can see more photos of my Toni Lynn finds on Flickr . Bows: Do you love them or hate them? Ciao Bella! Eden   Credits: All images taken by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life.  

Now that I might not be able to wear my black cocktail dress, I need to find a pair of shoes to wear with my alternate outfit - a floor-length, magenta gown. I'm thinking a pair of simple grey mary janes or sandals. The Finds (top clockwise) : 15-A5105 F11 by Amiana, Grey Satin, $83 , Zappos.com; Tinah Sandal, Metallic Kidskin, Lauren, $49.99 ; Driven Pumps by Naturalizer, Elephant Skin Suede, $79 , Macys. What color would you wear with magenta and bubble gum pink: Metallic Silver/Gray, Metallic Gold, Something Else? Ciao Bella! Eden   Credits: All images taken by their respective sellers: Macys , Ralph Lauren , and Zappos.com . Collage created by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life.

Come Friday I may not fit my gorgeous, black lace vintage cocktail dress. I definitely won't fit it come New Year's Eve. Up until last week I fit it, I had inches to spare even. Now I don't. If the baby bump was the culprit, I'd be less sad, but it's not. The dress doesn't fit across the bust. I do have other options: a less formal dress that still fits and a floor length, magenta linen gown with matching evening coat. Rather than focusing on something I can't control, I'm going focus on what I'll be able to have again soon (we've only got 1/3rd to go!). What I'm Most Looking Forward to About Not Being Pregnant Oysters on the half shell Medium rare steak Bacon French toast Poached eggs Charcuterie Hot dogs Hot dogs with cheese beans Potato salad Hot toddies A steaming hot soak in a bubble bath A dip in a hot tub A hot stone massage Small talk about the weather or what I did this past weekend Personal space Sleeping comfortably on my back My w...

I love wandering through old houses, admiring the architecture and furnishings. One "ranch" that I frequented a lot as a child was Hearst Castle. Over Labor Day, cubes and I joined friends on a tour there. Not much has changed since I was a child. Zebras still roam the ranch; we saw some grazing along the edge of the highway as we drove in. The architecture and decor is still larger than life. The tours themselves have changed. All now include viewing the gardens unescorted (a boon for photographers as you have as much time as you want exploring and capturing the details). It was in the 70s when we visited, a little too hot for me to comfortably tackle stairs and explore the grounds while pregnant. The "gardens" include both the outdoor Neptune pool as well as the Indoor Roman pool. (More photos of the Indoor Roman pool - my favorite spot at Hearst Castle are on Flickr .) Getting to walk on the gold leaf tiled floor after years of tours warning you to be careful not...

Today I'm off to Redwood City for Marketo's Revenue Rockstar Tour . So all I'm thinking about is a purse roomy enough to hold my devices and notepad and a cozy jacket. The Finds: Westfield Faux Fur Red Coat, $75.99 , Ruche; Elegant Entourage Bag, $49.99 , ModCloth. Ciao Bella! Eden   Credits: All product images taken by their respective sellers: ModCloth and Ruche . Collage created by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life.

One book that's a permanent fixture on my bedside nightstand is The American Woman's Encyclopedia of Home Decorating by Helen Koues, originally published in 1945, printed in 1952 by The Garden City Publishing Company. Everything you ever wanted to know about home decor is covered. For example, do you want to bleach or stain when you refinish furniture? Can you recognize the difference between English Tudor and English Jacobean? When I began thinking about Gates' nursery I wondered if any of my books had advice; of course this encyclopedia did - an entire chapter! (Larger photos of a few of the pages can be viewed on Flickr .) Some of the advice I found: As they begin to notice what is about them, their education should begin. Animals, flowers, trees, the alphabet, boats, trains, and objects with which they will live the rest of their lives, may gradually be introduced (by pictures) into the surroundings. (p.266) A sense of beauty can be cultivated by the care you take in p...

On our one year wedding anniversary, cubes and I headed down the coast to join friends at the Madonna Inn over Labor Day weekend. For me, coming back to San Luis Obispo and the Madonna Inn was like coming home. Special events, such as my grandparents' 40th wedding anniversary and my grandfather's 90th birthday party were held here. Each room at the Madonna Inn is themed. Our room, the Love Nest, was decorated with birds and hearts. Because it was our anniversary, we were greeted with a balloon and a complementary bottle of champagne. With the exception of the flat screen television, when you stay at the Madonna Inn you step back in time. For dinner, we dined at Alexander's Gold Rush Steak House. The dining room had the animatronic showgirl on a swing that I remembered from childhood. Between booths, butterflies flitted. (If you visit during the Holiday season, you'll see carolers instead.) On Friday, I'll share the rest of the photos (Hearst Castle in San Simeon) fr...

With the cold weather upon us all I want to do is buckle up and toss on my favorite pair of boots. Maybe it's all the pirate movies I watched growing up but when I think of buckles and stepping out on the town I think ruffles and lace. The Look: Fur Hood Duffle Coat, $119 , Dorothy Perkins; "Imply" boot, Franco Sarto, $149.90 , Nordstrom; Marcella Tiered Lace Dress, $49.99 , Ruche. Yes or no to buckles and lace? Ciao Bella! Eden   Credits: All images taken by their respective sellers: Dorothy Perkins , Nordstrom , and Ruche . Collage created by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life.

For months, we've walked by Locanda. Every once in awhile we'd pop in to see how long the wait was - never a wait less than an hour or more. Last night while dining with our PR team, I found out why. Amazing food. Great service. First let me say that everyone should start with the Jewish Style Artichokes. The sweetness of the artichoke is offset beautifully by oregano, salt, and pepper. The stem was moist and juicy while the leaves were crisp. A simple presentation with full flavor. I ate my half very slowly savoring each bite. Along with the artichokes, we ordered a couple of sides as appetizers: the brussels sprouts and the broccoli romanesco. I wasn't able to eat the brussels sprouts as they were finished with pancetta. We'd order two plates for six of us. Everyone oohed and ahhed over them and those who were sharing the plate with me, happily snapped up my portion. In exchange, I was treated to extra of the broccoli. If anchovy puts you off, don't fear; the flav...

Growing up we'd often head to Morro Bay for part of our summer vacation. For dessert, Grandmother would serve a fresh baked pie, either one she'd made or one from Linn's. This past Labor Day weekend, cubes and I headed down the coast to San Luis Obispo. (I'll post other snapshots from the trip throughout the week, where we stayed and what we saw on our Hearst Castle tour.) On our way home we had some time to kill before our tour at Hearst Castle. We decided to follow the signs and visit Linn's Original Farmstore. At the farmstore, we picked up some potpourri, olliberry preserves, and an olliberry pie. While we sat outside on the patio, we were greeted by a farm dog and a peacock. The pie was delicious and the day was gorgeous. Happy Travels! Eden   Credits: All images taken by Eden Hensley Silverstein for The Road to the Good Life.

Sunday I awoke craving waffles. Most weekends cubes and I go out for brunch at least one day. Unfortunately none of our regular haunts Mission Beach Cafe, Chow, or Pork Store Cafe offer waffles. A quick search on the Internet revealed waffles were just around the corner at It's Tops Diner . It's Tops Diner has been open since 1935 and is styled as a 1950s diner. There's a jukebox at each table. You pick artists you like - none of the songs are listed. The tables are covered with Formica, the booths in vinyl. The one waitress greets you with a smile and waves you in. The food is simple, all day breakfast, hamburgers, sandwiches, and milkshakes. Tips on FourSquare recommend the pancakes, plain and simple. They've also received best burger in the city. It's good, reasonably priced comfort food. I had the standard buttermilk waffles. cubes had the 49ers Touchdown. The waffles were good, nice and light. I prefer a slightly crisper waffle but they hit the spot and I polis...

We live in a gorgeous one bedroom Edwardian apartment. Since May, we've been trying to find a similar space with two bedrooms in The Mission, Potrero Hill, or Noe Valley neighborhoods. We've been unlucky enough to come in second on multiple places. So we're going to make our cozy apartment work for three. Our apartment has lots of storage space: a small closet with drawers in the bedroom, a walk-in linen closet off the hall, an old maintenance closet that's been converted to a storage room, and a walk through closet that runs the length of our living room. Unfortunately, we - or rather I - have a lot of stuff. So our storage space is pretty much full to capacity. We've decided to convert the old maintenance closet/storage room, a 4' by 11' space, into a nursery for Gates. It was originally going to be an office for cubes (photo in top left of the collage above). This means that with the exception of part of the shelving system, everything in the "offic...

We share our apartment with a four-legged ball of fur - a Maine Coon Cat named SpriteKat. I take that back, she grants us permission to live in her domicile. SpriteKat has been in my life since 2006, when I dreamed her into existence. I wrote down the description of a cat I wanted into a lease and within a week, I found SpriteKat (the living replica of the cat I described) on a rescue site. She was abandoned by her first owners when they moved and had been living on the street for approximately six months, without any front claws. When the first shelter in Modesto found her, her fur was a tangled mess. She was transferred to San Carlos, a no-kill rescue facility, and adopted. Unfortunately for her, her first forever home tried to sell her on Craigslist. Luckily for me the rescue facility found her again. Why did I fall in love with SpriteKat? Her personality. Every morning at the rescue facility, the workers would find her out of her kennel, curled up on the front desk. Replaying the v...