What a fun surprise to come home yesterday afternoon to a Goody Foods snack box on my front porch!  A few of you may know that I don’t eat snacks.  I eat 3 (rather large) meals a day, and between those meals, I just don’t eat.  So it is a little hard for me now with a preschooler who wants to have snacks all. day. long.  I really try to avoid the processed, packaged snacks from the grocery store.  So I try to serve as many fresh fruits and veggies as possible, and also make healthy snacks when I can.

A few weeks ago when I heard about the healthy snack boxes from Goody Foods, I was intrigued.  Not only is everything completely healthy, homemade, and preservative-free, you sign up for a subscription and a fresh box shows up at your house every Sunday.  It doesn’t get any easier than that to give your family healthy snacks.

This week’s box included Cranberry Scones, Maple Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, and Cherry Chocolate Energy Bites.

I am impressed.  And for a non-snack eater to be impressed with snacks, that says something.  Everything is delicious.  (Well, I didn’t actually try the Energy Bites because I don’t eat chocolate, but I haven’t heard any complaints yet!)  I love that everything is made with all natural, seasonal, healthy ingredients.  I love that each week is a different selection of snacks to expose your child to many different tastes and textures.  And I love that in true San Francisco fashion, everything in the cute little box is compostable.  (And how cute is that box!?!)

For all of you in San Francisco, save yourself the 20 minutes waiting in line to park at Trader Joe’s to buy snacks, and give Goody Foods a try.  You won’t be disappointed!  (As of now, Goody Foods Snack Boxes can only be delivered within the city of San Francisco, but hopefully they will expand soon.)

Last year we started an Activity Advent Calendar, with a fun Christmas activity planned for each day of December.  It worked out great for us, so we are doing it again this year, with a few changes to our list.  While it seems like a lot to do, most of the activities on our list are things that we are going to do anyway (cut down the tree, wrap presents, mail Christmas cards, etc), or things that are pretty easy to fit into our day (movie night!).  The rest are things that I really want to do before Christmas (make gingerbread houses, christmas crafts, etc) but probably won’t get around to if they aren’t on my calendar.  A lot of my ideas never actually happen because I either forget, run out of time, or don’t plan ahead and lack key ingredients / supplies, so making a plan is perfect for list-loving me.  And I love that it makes even wrapping presents into something exciting.

Since we are back in San Francisco now, I added a few activities this year like ice skating, going out to see the neighborhood lights, and going to the Nutcracker.  These take extra time and planning, but I am just so happy to have the option to go out and enjoy the holiday season that I really want to take advantage of it.

Our activities are printed on little cards, and slipped into the pockets of our Santa Advent Calendar, so it is very easy for me to switch things up if our schedule changes last minute, or I forget to buy the graham crackers.  And if things get really crazy, no one will ever know if we skip going to Union Square and instead have an extra movie night.  :)

Here is what is on our list this year:

• go cut down a christmas tree & decorate it
• decorate the house
• purchase gifts for a child / family in need
• write a letter to santa
• family movie night with christmas movies (like this, this or this) and popcorn
• sing christmas carols
• go to the academy of science to see the reindeer
• address and mail christmas cards
• get all dressed up and go see the nutcracker
• make gingerbread houses out of graham crackers
• drive around to see neighborhood lights (and tom & jerry’s house in noe valley)
• breakfast for dinner pajama party
• get a new ornament for the tree (or 12 because these are so bright and cheerful!)
• build a fort with christmas lights
• donate old clothes / books / toys to a homeless shelter
• make paper snowflakes
• go see the christmas tree at union square
• christmas craft day (more on this to come)
• go visit Santa & take pictures
• make christmas gifts for teachers
• perform a random act of kindness
• go ice skating (we don’t live near snow, but we do live near embarcadero Center!)
• wrap presents
• have a slumber party out by the christmas tree
• make and decorate christmas cookies (and save some to leave out for santa)

I will be back soon, but for now, I am busy loving every second of being back in my favorite city.

Source: Best Made Co via kaley on pinterest

clockwise from top left:
This is San Francisco
Journey Around San Francisco From A to Z
Larry Gets Lost in San Francisco
Good Night San Francisco
San Francisco, Baby!
Frommer’s San Francisco *
San Francisco: The Alphabet Book
123 San Francisco
Above San Francisco
Maybelle the Cable Car
Count to Sleep San Francisco
The City by the Bay: A Magical Journey Around San Francisco

What is your favorite kid’s book about San Francisco?  Are we missing any must-reads?

* When you are looking for kid’s books about a particular city, don’t forget about travel guides.  They are full of great photographs and fun facts, and you can always skip over the boring parts about accommodations and restaurants.  We have a few different San Francisco guide books, and interestingly enough, they are some of the most requested bedtime stories right now!

Who else is obsessed with Miroslav Sasek’s “This Is” series?  We have quite a few already, but I really wish he had written a “This is Honduras” version to round out our collection.  :)

When are you moving?

We do not have an exact date, yet.  I might get about a week’s notice, maybe a few days more.  It is so frustrating, but that’s how it is.  I am just looking forward to living in the United States again!

Is it scary making an international move with a toddler?

Yes and no.  Moving is definitely stressful, no doubt about it, and it takes even more planning when you have little ones.  Luckily I am a super over-planner who loves to-do lists.  I will post all of my tips about moving with kids as we are in the process…so you will hear all about it in the next few weeks / months.

Are you going to be taking sessions in San Francisco?

I will start taking a limited number of sessions in San Francisco and around the bay area in August, 2012.  If you are looking for a maternity photographer, birth photographer or newborn photographer in San Francisco, email me!

I live in San Francisco and want to meet up / have a play date / shoot together.

Awesome!  Email me and let’s do it.

How much are you in love with San Francisco?

Ummm…have you seen my San Francisco pinboard?  You could say I am mildly obsessed.  It is only the best city in the world!  :)

We are moving back to San Francisco!!!

Source: image via Kaley on Pinterest