Treasure Island Flea (Market)

A brand new flea market opened over the weekend on Treasure Island. Despite living in the Bay Area for several years, I'd never actually been to Treasure Island so I thought this would be a great reason to check it out. Treasure Island Flea is on the Avenue of the Palms, right on the western edge of Treasure Island where you can see all of downtown San Francisco and both bridges. Despite the chilly breeze causing some problems for vendors, it was a beautiful setting for a flea market.

The flea market was relatively small but I imagine that more vendors will join in when people get a better feel of it. There were a few jewelry booths, some vintage lettering and botanical prints, and some interesting collections of antique furniture. I was looking to get a hodge podge of antique dishes but there unfortunately wasn't anything like that. It was nice that every vendor booth was completely unique and carried different stuff from the others, but overall there was a lack of the little knick-knack and treasure bins that I'd expect to rummage through at a flea market. Another downside was that it cost $3 just to get in which, to me, takes away a little from the trifting adventure that a flea market is supposed to be.

Snacking from the food booths and the amazing views of the city made the trip out to Treasure Island still worthwhile for me. The venue has such amazing potential (it's literally just a few yards away from the water) that I really do hope Treasure Island Flea will grow into a cool place to go antiquing. The flea market will take place on the last weekend of every month hereafter, but I think I'll wait a few months before returning to see if more vendors get added to the lineup.

| Photo Credit: Me. |

Weekender Bags That Don't Look Like Gym Bags

Nick was out of town on a business trip for a couple of days but before he left, he tasked me to look for a new weekender bag for him. His one stipulation was that "it not look like a gym bag" because our current bag for overnight trips is an embarrassing blue vinyl duffel bag. I know I never do enough manly posts here, so instead of bookmarking a bunch of bags I decided to put my favorite finds in a composite that I could show to Nick later (some within budget and some not so much). In the cases of large bags and totes, I often prefer the look of masculine bags myself; I'm especially drawn to soft-looking warm brown leathers, contrasting handles, bold white + color stripes, and brass hardware.

| 1. Bally, Terret Bag | 2. Ossington, Houston Duffel Bag | 3. Cole Haan, Handpainted Aviator Duffel | 4. Mulholland Brothers, Hippo Duffel Medium Weekend Bag | 5. Coach, Op Art Coated Canvas Boston Bag | 6. OBEY, Uptown Duffle |

What are other features that savvy guys look for in weekender bags?

| Photo Credit: 1–6. See links provided. |

The Modern Kraft

I took this photo of jars of peanut brittle at my awesome neighborhood ice cream shop, Mr. and Mrs. Miscellaneous. I love the hot pink roses in the background. But I am also drawn to the handwritten, kraft paper labels on the jars of peanut brittle. Kraft paper is paper that is made from pulp, giving it a subtle texture, and nowadays it is made from recycled materials. It's the kind of paper used to make brown paper grocery bags. In the crafting world, I think it's been used in the past for a faux-vintage look, since the paper looks aged, but I've noticed a trend lately towards using kraft paper in more modern presentations like business cards, invitations with sans-serif typefaces, and as eco-friendly gift-wrap. The use of kraft paper in these cases comes off as fresh rather than contrived.

Here are some neat ways to incorporate the kraft paper look into your life. My favorite, though, is the leather bag that is designed to look like a brown paper bag—such a cool take on a classic.

| 1. Ink Whimsy, Hello Flat Notecard | 2. Knot & Bow, Kraft Wafer Seal Stickers | 3. Anve, Saco de Papel | 4. Moleskine, Cahier Notebooks |

| Photo Credit: top. Me; 1–4. See links provided. |

Ferry Plaza Farmers Market

I thought it was silly that I had written about the farmers markets in London and Paris but I hadn't even written about any of the farmers markets in the city that I actually live in. San Francisco has a bunch of farmers markets scattered throughout the week and throughout the city. Last Saturday, I went to the one that wraps around the Ferry Building, which is not at all a bad setting for an outdoor market. The Ferry Plaza Farmers Market has a good number of hot food stalls in addition to produce and flowers, and they even set up tables overlooking the bay for you to sit and eat. Some of the food stalls, like Blue Bottle Coffee and Hog Island Oyster Co., have spaces inside the Ferry Building, while others are street-food-style vendors, like 4505 Meats where I got my tasty, juicy breakfast sandwich shown below.

Something that was a bit of a bummer at this farmers market compared to my experiences abroad was that the presentation of the fruits and veggies wasn't quite at lovely as what I'd seen in London and Paris, where produce was displayed in cute baskets and really packed into stalls to look beautiful and abundant. I've noticed, in general, that presentation is kept more casual at the outdoor markets I've been to in California. But one thing that I did think was neat and unique about the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market was the Veggie Valet service that they offer for free on Saturdays. If you get there early to snag the freshest produce but want to spend the mid-day exploring the Ferry Building and the food stalls, there is a free service where you can drop off your farmers market purchases and they will be kept safely in the shade for the duration of the market. This is pretty handy since the market does get crowded and you don't want your lettuce to get crushed.

I don't know why but I am always drawn to outdoor markets like these. I think I like seeing what's being grown and jarred locally, and I've definitely been drawn into the street food craze. What is unique about the outdoor/farmers markets in your city? Which ones are worth visiting?

| Photo Credit: Me. |

Making Pom-Poms Across the Pond

Instead of a regular posting here today, I'm being featured as a guest on the UK-based blog Wedding Sparrow. I put together this photo DIY tutorial for Sara, who runs the blog for the wedding-obsessed. You can check out the full post, with instructions for how to make the tissue paper pom-poms, here.

Thank you, Sara, for inviting me onto your blog.

If you see a project or recipe here that you would like for me to expand into a guest post for your site, email me at theyuppielifestyle@gmail.com.

Updated on 06|10|11: A few people have commented on the gold-striped tissue paper that I used. It came as part of the packaging when I bought something from Kate Spade!

| Photo Credit: Me. |

A Piece of Doctor Who for Your Dresser

I consider myself a big Anglophile and a big nerd, so of course I am a huge fan of the British science fiction television program, Doctor Who. For those of you who are unfamiliar, Doctor Who is about a sexy alien man who travels through time and space, typically saving the universe but breaking hearts of impressionable young women along the way. They've really tried to spice it up lately with younger actors and cuter outfits, but the sad part is that Nick and I became devoted fans back when it was really really bad Welsh CGI and not a whole lot of production value.

Don't ask me how I noticed this because it is pretty geeky and embarrassing. If you take a look at this still from the "A Christmas Carol" episode, you can see that there are a bunch of pretty, pseudo-Dickensian white knobs on the cloud-controlling switchboards to each side of Matt Smith.

Now, I can't say for certain where the set designers got them, but these knobs look an awful lot like the Ceramic Melon Knobs from Anthropologie. I recognized them immediately because I happen to have them. Anthropologie sells beautiful knobs that are great for sprucing up Ikea dressers, which I have done with mine.

So, if you are a Doctor Who fan wishing to pretend that you have a piece of Doctor Who without going to the extremes of this or this, you're welcome.

| Photo Credit: top. Still taken from this BBC America clip; bottom. Me. |

Happy Weekend and Hello!

This month has been awesome so far for The Yuppie Lifestyle. Many new readers have been sent my way through my feature on 100 Layer Cake, which is really cool, and several of you have even dropped me personal notes to say how much you enjoyed the tutorial and this blog, which just makes my inbox feel filled with joy. I thought this would be a good time to re-introduce this blog and also explain the name.

I started this blog back in 2007 as an old-school journaling sort of blog. It had hardly any photos and its inside jokes were not very entertaining for anyone but myself and a few friends. So, in October of 2010, I scrapped everything and started over, keeping the same name but building a new blog to share the things that I love—things like food, style, themed collections, and crafts. It says "beta" in the header because I feel that it allows me to change things on this blog as I grow. (And because I'm a nerd.)

The "yuppie lifestyle", to me, has nothing to do with money or class. Yes, I do consider myself young, I do live in an urban area, and I can be professional (sometimes). But on this blog, the yuppie lifestyle is one where I encourage you to do what makes you feel youthful, find delight in wherever it is you live, and become a pro at being awesome. By this definition, anyone can live the yuppie lifestyle. I'm just trying to be a good example.

And now, here is a photo of me, so you know that I am not just a cartoon character or an anonymous voice on the internet! (Nick is in it, too. I mention him sometimes.)

And because this is a lifestyle blog, if you enjoy what you read here and think my style jives with yours, I encourage you to check out the other aspects of my daily life that I share on these other social networking sites:

• Like this blog on Facebook to get blog updates and coupon codes!
• Follow me on Twitter where I attempt to use shorter sentences!
• Follow me on Pinterest where I keep track of things I think are cool/pretty!
• Become my friend on Last.FM to see my embarrassing taste in music!
• Add this blog to your Google Reader, which I don't actually know how to use!

(Links to all of these are in the right sidebar as well.)

If there's anything you'd like to ask about that I didn't cover, or you just feel like expressing your own opinion, always always feel free to comment. Or, you can send me an email because I ♥ email.

| Photo Credit: Aubrey Trinnaman. |

Recipe: Soba Noodles with Pickled Salad

Nick is always trying to get me to make Asian food, but by that, he doesn't mean the traditional Chinese vegetable dishes I dreaded growing up; he means taking the Asian flavors and spices that he likes and inventing an Asian-inspired dish that is neither Panda Express nor a plate of steamed choy sum. Here is one of the dishes I'm particularly proud of inventing because not only is it healthy but it is pretty, too. Which makes it taste even better.

Ingredients

| for the pickled salad | 1/4 red onion 10–15 broccoli florettes 1 cucumber 1 carrot 1 jalapeño 1 1/2 cups white vinegar 1/4 cup sugar 2 teaspoons salt water

| for the soba | 2 bundles of soba 1 mango 1 small handful of cilantro 1/2 teaspoon plum sauce 1/2 teaspoon hoisin sauce 1 teaspoon fish sauce 1 tablespoon pickling liquid 1/2 teaspoon white pepper sesame seeds (optional)

Directions
Fill your pickling jar halfway with water and pour the water into a saucepan. Set the jar and the saucepan aside.

Cut your veggies and onion into bite-sized pieces and seed and chop your jalapeño. I very quickly blanched these ingredients by boiling some water, throwing them in for a few seconds, and then rinsing them with cold water. You don't have to do this, but I prefer mine slightly less crunchy than the average pickle. When your veggies are ready for pickling, put them in your pickling jar.

Bring the water in the saucepan, along with the vinegar, sugar, and salt, to a boil. Pour the liquid into the jar and let cool before putting on the lid and putting the jar in the fridge. Let the salad pickle away for at least two hours before serving.

When it is time to prepare the soba, cook the noodles according to the package instructions. Thoroughly wash the noodles in cold water after cooking. (This is an important step for soba preparation that is not always on the package!) Whisk together the liquids/sauces and the white pepper and toss the dressing together with the soba noodles in a large bowl.

Cut the mango into bite-sized pieces and roughly chop the cilantro. Just before serving, scoop out half of the pickled salad with a slotted spoon and add it to the bowl of noodles. Add the mango and the cilantro and give everything a quick toss. Garnish with sesame seeds and serve. Use the remaining half of the pickled veggies for Vietnamese bánh mì or for a fun snack.

Makes 1 large jar of pickled salad and 2 servings of soba.

P.S. My awesome chopsticks, shown above, are from the MOMA but are sadly no longer available.

| Photo Credit: Me. |

Tut-Tut, It Looks Like Summer Rain

We had some random rainy weather here in San Francisco, just when I thought summer was on its way. I think this is pretty lame because I love sunny skies. Some people argue that summer is actually the coldest part of the year here in San Francisco because of the heavy fog that we get in the mornings and evenings, but I happen to live in the Potrero Hill neighborhood, where it is always sunnier than the rest of the city. Lifestyle Tip: If you're thinking of moving to San Francisco but are concerned about the cold and fog, move to the Potrero/Dogpatch area where it always feels about 10 degrees warmer than Golden Gate Park on the other side of town.

While lamenting about how gloomy it was outside, I came across this print by photographer Sarah Illenberger. It's called "Meloncholie" and I think it is the best way to picture summer rain.
If you, too, are feeling meloncholy about the summer rain, here are some cute and summery rain-themed things to help charm the clouds away.

| 1. Kate Spade, Kate Spade Umbrella | 2. Blanca Gómez, Monsieur I Print | 3. Zakka Nouveau, London Fog Tea Towel | 4. Joules, Millie Wellies |

| Photo Credit: See links provided. |

Simple Cupcake and Fringe Flag Card

Here is a card I made for my friend Jess for her birthday last month. This was a pretty different route for me because I usually make cards that involve a lot of straight lines and precise planning. This time I tried to do something simple and cute, so I cut a trapezoid and a dome out of some cardstock, and then freehanded the lines on the trapezoid with a gel pen to make an abstract cupcake wrapper.

To make the fringe-y flag, I first snipped off the ends of a toothpick. Gluing a small cylindrical object onto a piece of paper without the glue showing can be tricky. I cut a little flag shape out of cardstock and glued it onto the card as the base for the flag part. I then used a hot glue gun to sturdily secure the toothpick flag pole to the flag base. (So, the toothpick is only glued down on one end, but I used a decent amount of hot glue.) I cut several small strips of tissue paper and using roll-on adhesive, glued them down on just one end so that they covered the lump of hot glue. The strips don't need to line up perfectly or even be the same color; I used a combination of white and turquoise. Once I felt I had enough layers of tissue paper, I snipped a little wedge out of the free ends of the flag and then made little cuts to create the fringe.

| Photo Credit: Me. |