
Taken during my first visit to San Francisco in 2008
Last night my husband accepted an offer for a position within his company at the San Francisco office. As of December we will become California residents. Holy Krakow!!!
We have NO clue as to where to live or what to expect. I’d love any input if you have any. Drop me an email or a comment and I’ll appreciate it immensely! I’m kinda still in shock over here. I’m so going to miss all the sewing friends I’ve met in the UK. But I am looking forward to making new ones in the States.
Having our baby boy (oh yeah, it’s a boy!) grow up closer to family is very important to us. Even though Cali isn’t as close to family as we would like, at least the travel will be easier for them. And much more affordable.
So yeah, there are quite a few changes happening over here. But I am going to soldier on and keep sewing. It’ll keep me from going manic!
I have absolutely no advice to give but OMG HOW EXCITING, you lucky thing x
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Noooo! Or maybe “Yaaay!” Oh – we’ll miss you! But how lovely for your family! π
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Thank you! I’m glad that I got to meet you. I will definitely keep up to date with your happenings through your blog.
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ah, I will miss you! But luckily for us, blogging makes the world smaller! Exciting times ahead π x
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Congratulations to Mr! We’re gonna miss you, but at least with the inter webs we’ll all be able to keep up with you and the mini Mr. How marvellous and exciting, I bet your families are over the moon π
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Thank you! The family is very excited. They haven’t been able to afford the trip to the UK so they are looking forward to being able to see us once we get back.
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Melizza! That’s really exciting news for you, and I’m glad I got to meet you twice while you were still here. As Shivani says though, at least blogging makes the world smaller – and I’ll still be able to admire your fashion sense and copy your excellent taste in shoes from afar π xx
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I enjoyed meeting you as well. If you even go to California please don’t hesitate to contact me.
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A boy! How exciting! And congrats on the exciting move, too.
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Thank you π
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Well, a new adventure, congrats!
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Wow, that is big news! So soon too! I admire your resolve to keep on sewing – I’d definitely be going manic! I hope all the moving stuff comes together for you without too much trouble π
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Thank you! Luckily we will have help with the packing. That helps reduce the stress a wee bit π
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Congrats! That is excellent news! what an adventure!
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Will miss you loads
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I’m already looking forward to your visit! π
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awh we’ll miss you so much Mela but am so happy for you and your wee family. Californ-I-A! Well jel π
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Oh my goodness! Changes indeed! Having moved to NZ & back with a young family I know from experience that it will be very exciting as well as daunting. I hope all goes well with the preparation, and I’m glad to have met you!
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Congratulations! I live in the Bay Area so if there’s anything I can help with let me know.
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Thank you Lizz! If you have any advice as to good neighborhoods I am all ears. We’re open to living in the burbs if needed.
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I lived in the Bay Area for about 15 years and I think you’ll love it! I can’t wait to see where you end up and what you think of the many fabric and yarn offerings — I can’t believe I didn’t sew when I lived there. WHAT????
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I’m looking forward to seeing what SF has to offer in regards to fabric. There will be lots to discover, I’m sure.
Any neighborhood recommendations?
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Sorry I didn’t see your reply. Well, I lived all over the City. The most desirable places in my mind are also the most sunny, i.e., Noe Valley, Potrero Hill, the Marina. I lived on Russian Hill (sort of on the cheaper side over the Broadway Tunnel) and I LOVED LOVED LOVED it. You could walk to North Beach (Italian section adjacent to Chinatown); you could also walk downtown which I did a lot, to work. (I was so so so trim living there). From there, you could also walk to tthe Marina and the shops on Chestnut Street and Union Street. This is the most San Francisco of neighborhoods, in my opinion. It’s beautiful and hilly and you can hear the cable cars running. I had a really cheap and big apartment with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge. The only neighborhood I didn’t really like was the Haight. It’s complicated.
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This is awesome news. If you’re looking for location advice look up Gene and Becky.
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Yes, Greg emailed them today and we got some good feedback. Hoping to avoid unsavory neighborhoods by asking everyone we know about the area.
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How exciting! I bet this change is a bit bittersweet, no? It sounds like you have made some great friends in the U.K. (I’m always a bit jealous of all those blogger meet ups you guys have!) but of course going back βhomeβ, especially with a little boy on the way, must feel great. Just think of all the adventures and new friends that await, and of all the great friendships youβve made in England and how youβll be able to go back for a visit anytime. As for getting ready for the move, as long as you remember to take deep breaths once in a while it will all fall into place π
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It’s very bittersweet. I’ve met such great people here and love my surroundings. But we feel it’s time to move back to the States and start some new roots.
I definitely look forward to returning in the future. London will always have a place in my heart (corny, but so true!).
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Wow! Exciting! (and maybe a little scary?) I hope your move goes well and you find great housing. I live in the South Bay area, so, welcome π
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It’s definitely scary. Luckily we’ve been through this big of a move before so we know what to do and not to do. Here’s hoping for a great place to live. That’s what I am most anxious about since I don’t know the neighborhoods. But I’m sure it will work out.
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So happy for you! Being a native Californian I have a sweet spot in my heart for that state! It will all come together, you know the drill!
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Thank you! Yes, glad we know the whole moving drill. Still stressful but not as much as when we moved to the UK.
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Yay! Congrats on the baby boy. Now you can start making boy clothes (inbetween finding a place to live, moving and gettting a nursery set up!) Whew!
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Is that all? π I have a crazy couple of months ahead. But I can do this!
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YESSSSS!!! We can sew together!!! π
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How awesome! I see a meet up in our future π
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I live around San Luis Obispo, which is about 4 hours south of SF. I can’t wait to meet you!
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Ditto! Looking forward to it!
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Can I crash that party, too?!?
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For sure!!!
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I live in the bay area and where you live depends on your personality and your budget and how much commute time the hubs wants. LOTS of places to get your sewing mojo going, that’s for sure. 3 floors of Britex fabrics in downtown SF will brighten anyone’s day!
There are several lovely neighborhoods in The City, and loads down the peninsula. Try to avoid crossing a bridge if you can….at 5 bucks a pop, it adds up. Unless his company is paying. π
good luck on the move and the baby!!!
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Thank you! A friend mentioned the peninsula (maybe San Mateo) and it seems to offer what we are after.
Britex sounds like a dream. Looking forward to it.
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San Mateo is lovely…. San Bruno, Millbrae, Burlingame and south to San Mateo are great too. Millbrae has thee best donut shop ever, South San Francisco has a Sees candy factory and outlet…but don’t live in south city, been there, done that, it’s changed. The south bay has some great sewing related clubs, stores and events all the time. I live in the far east bay on the delta
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Thank you for the tips! Adding them to my on-going spreadsheet )
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Yay, you are moving to me! I’ll drop you an email if you want to talk bay area specifics (like the best way to get to Britex Fabrics).
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Oh, I’d love it! Thank you!
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Gosh how exciting, best of luck with everything look forward to seeing lots of exciting pics.
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Thank you!
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What a fabulous adventure!!! Congratulations!
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Take me with you!!!!!! I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE San Francisco! And hurray– a boy!
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all kinds of exciting news! SF is wonderful, be prepared to always have layers at the ready. though you can always snuggle with the wee one if it gets windy π
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Just the best news…congratulations to Mr PT.
I’ve never been to the States so no tips. But can I just say that SF is on the list of places the The Husband can accept a job without even asking me. I’m beyond green! π But very happy for you all.
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Thank you. We’re really excited. Nervous. But excited π
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That’s how it should be. What a fabulous adventure for you all.
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Yay, for joining the Cali family. π¦ for leaving the UK. If I am ever up in the Bay Area, I’ll let you know, and if you are ever in SD, please feel free to hit me up.
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Oh man, you’ll be sorely missed Mela, but I’m so glad I’ve gotten to meet your lovely self! I am seriously jealous of you moving to San Francisco…how amazing! And being closer to family will make all the difference when you’ve got the little one. So congratulations to you both and I’m just grateful that we can keep in touch via blogs ;o)
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Thank you Marie! I am so glad I got to meet up with you in Leicester. You are truly an awesomely sweet person and please don’t hesitate to contact me if you are ever in the west coast!
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Mela, I would love to catch up with you on the west coast one day ;o) xxx
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Oh my, what fabulous news ! That’s wonderful congratulations to you all. But the downside is that after having met you a few times, we’ll miss you at blogger meet ups. I’m very excited for you though, back to USA, closer to family. I hope you’ve felt you’ve got the most out of your time over here, you’ve certainly made a lot of friends. Thankfully we have the Internet π
And a boy!! Woo hoo!!!
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Thank you for your kind words. I feel lucky that I got to meet such lovely ladies, including yourself of course.
Thankfully we will be able to keep in touch via the Internet. Thank goodness!
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Where to start, where to start?! On one level, I’m gutted – I’ve REALLY enjoyed getting to know you, and you’re charm personified. (And always up for a cocktail – well, apart from at the mo.) One another level, I’m so excited for you! And on a third level, maybe now is time to start saving for a return trip to San Francisco!!! Britex is amazing – I blogged about it here: http://didyoumakethat.wordpress.com/2012/05/10/the-most-intense-sewing-shop-experience-of-my-life/. I regret not taking in more of the SF fabric shops, though – there are meant to be some lovely ones. You have so many Sewists to connect with out there – Sunny Gal Studios and Sew Well, to name just two! You can see here about when we all met up: http://didyoumakethat.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/san-francisco-sensational-sewing-shin-dig/. (Sorry, I am NOT trying to use this comment to link to my blog, just trying to be helpful!) I loved the Castro area when I visited. Oh, you’re going to have so much fun!
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I really enjoyed getting to know you too. You are more than welcomed at ours if you make it to San Francisco again π
Thank you for your helpful tips. I’m compiling a list of places I have to visit and I’ve added the fabric shops and Mexican place. We LOVE Mexican food. Thanks again!
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Oh, and this is a brilliant Mexican restaurant in SF: http://www.tropisueno.com/index.html. I went back there three or four times!
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Congratulations for that exciting news! I have a surprise for you, check it in my blog π
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I checked! I’ve sent you an email. Many, many thanks!
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I hope you good luck in this new adveture!!!
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Thank you!
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You’ll be closer to me now! Sort of. :0)
Congratulations on your baby boy! This is so exciting.
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Thank you! II’m glad you are back in Canada. We have quite a few cities there on our must-visit list. Maybe we can meet again some day π
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I really hope so! You have a place to stay in Toronto any time. π
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Thank you π
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Oh! HOW EXCITING! I am going to miss you so much but since I am out on the West coast a ton, I know I’ll get to see you more! Congrats on having a boy! So exciting! Big hugs and good luck with the transatlantic move!
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That would be so so awesome. I’d love to meet up again!
Thank you!
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Ah doll face π massive congrats to you and the Mr. You will be sorely missed but the world of blogs makes the geographical one smaller and I’ve always wanted to take a trip to SF so having your lovely self there would just make my itinerary more fabulous π
xxx
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Thank you Rehanon!
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Wowzers! Congratulations. Being close(r) to family is a need I can well understand. Especially with a little’un on the way. Enjoy your remaining time in the UK – especially the wonderful weather (tee hee!) π
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Thanks Rachel!
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Congrats and welcome back to the states π
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Thanks! Looking forward to it!
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Bittersweet really, I remember the early days of our blogger meet ups. Time has flown! I guess we’ll have to cram in a few more get togethers if possible before you and Mr head back across the pond.
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I know! I will definitely see you for ping png for sure!
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