Bright Lights, No Nap

I took Emma to San Francisco today, to visit a dear friend. It was her debut in the big city, and I think she had a wonderful time. The three of us walked all over, enjoying the hustle and bustle of a city that is teeming with energy and activity.

Our first stop was Bloomingdale Kids in the new mall on Market Street, where I found a benevolent-looking catepillar reminiscent of a Dr. Seuss character. Fittingly, I have named him Seuss. (I hope Emma doesn't mind.) He boasts a rainbow of colors, a rattle, squeaky mid-section parts, and a tail with a bell. Kids get the coolest things! And, he was a modestly priced, I must say.

Feeling peaked after our initial walk, we headed to the food court, where Emma got to try miso soup, broccoli, a bean and some carrots. The miso was a big hit with her. I think the carrots were underwhelming. Ah, well, you can't win 'em all, right? She was also shamelessly eyeballing my tempura prawn, I might add.

After grabbing something to eat, the three of us walked around the Market Street mall, went outside and checked out the mothership of all things cosmetic and good-smelling: Sephora. Emma drank it all in, loving the abundance of colors and light, the delighted sales people upon seeing their youngest customer ever, and the intoxicating, yet cloying, bouquet of a hundred different perfumes hanging on the air.

Next, we grabbed the mana from heaven, a.k.a. coffee from the much-prized Coffee Bean, and headed back down Market to see the sights. After a few hours of walking, we girls collapsed in an exhausted, but contented, heap in the car and headed home. A glorious day!