Gates loves to help in the kitchen. When she was putting everything into her mouth this could be somewhat challenging. Now it's less of a challenge, but with these vegan chocolate chip cookies, you don't have to worry about your little one ingesting raw egg.     Refined-sugar free. Dairy-free. Vegan. Three words that will have a little one turning up their nose before they ever take a taste. But these cookies are sure to be a crowd pleaser. Gates wanted to eat the batter instead of shape and bake a batch of cookies.  

When Gates was born, it became important to me that she believe anything was possible. I wanted her to be able to do whatever she dreamed. At that moment, I realized I needed to follow my dreams so that she would have a role model.     Because actions speak louder than words, my actions needed to support my words. I wanted to tell her I believed in what I was doing, that I had dreamed big and hustled. So, I changed my career path .  

Education has always been important to my family. Sadly, the education system in California (as well as in the United States) has not always been up to the task.   New math. The subsequent "back to basics." Phonics instruction. "Look-say" approach to reading. "Whole language" approach to reading. No Child Left Behind. Growing reliance on standardized testing. Every Student Succeeds Act.   Everything in education is controversial: it's enough to make one go crazy! And now, children's use of technology seems to be on this out and then in, then possibly out rollercoaster.     How do you separate politically driven standards from learning practices that engage your kids?   I can't even begin to imagine how educators manage to keep up with all the changes, but the truly amazing ones continue to engage and to inspire their charges.  

San Francisco's foodie scene is full of hidden gems, especially because residents often hole up in their base neighborhoods and seldom venture out. If you haven't made Cow Hollow a destination for a girls' night out or a date night, get there as soon as you can. And land at Palm House on 2032 Union Street.     Do you know the history of Cow Hollow?  

It's May and that means it time once again for the Spring Mindful Consumption Challenge. The 8 for 4 Challenge: 8 items of clothing for four weeks.     Last May I set out to see if I could wear six items of clothing for four weeks ( a creative challenge initially raised in 2010 by a now offline website, SixItemsorLess). My goals? To examine how I was spending my fashion dollars. To go through my closet and donate any items that still had yet to be tailored or still had tags still on them.   Could you wear just eight (or six) pieces of clothing for four weeks?  

Later this month new literature, The Art of Having It All: A Woman's Guide to Unlimited Abundance, will be adding to the Having It All debate. And from its dust jacket, I'm realistic that this will be just one more source exhorting women of the evils of choosing parenthood over a path to an executive office.     How do you manage to "have it all"?   Why is Having It All so enticing? Because no one wants to have to chose. We all want to believe everything and anything is possible. What follows are my thoughts on whether Having It All is a myth or an obtainable reality.  

Courtship is thrilling. Every day takes a back seat to romance, to the thrill you feel when you see each other. You plan trips to get away, to escape the ordinary and just be together. And then the newness wears off or schedules get in the way.     How do you make Valentine's Day special?   With our busy schedules, cubes and I aren't always able to get away from the hustle and bustle of the everyday. So this year, I'm surprising him with a romantic glamping retreat for two--no travel or babysitter required!