You may remember when we first gushed about the Saguaro Hotel in our colorblocking trend story. Designed by Peter Stamberg and Paul Aferiat of Stamberg Aferiat Architecture, the 194-room Joie de Vivre hotel opened in November of 2011 to reveal a desert oasis inspired by the surrounding flora and Latin/Southwestern culture. Now, we're revisiting to take a closer look at Stamberg and Aferiat's Read more

MARCH, San Francisco's newly remodeled home goods store, merges airy modernism with utilitarian craftsmanship for a space that has local foodies and designophiles in a tizzy. The lovely wares for the kitchen, pantry, and table, some of which are created exclusively for MARCH, aren't the only things this space sells. Even more covet-inducing is the irresistible aesthetic. Flooded in natural light Read more

With New York Fashion Week only a couple of weeks away, we're admittedly preoccupied with what we'll be wearing. Sure, the runways take center stage, but killer street style is half the fun. To that end, we're handpicking our favorite pieces to pack for the action because you never know when you might get snapped. Here's a little fodder for your outfit planning and a peek at the essentials we'll Read more

Blocks are a basic toy, but the wooden, cardboard or fabric cubes can inspire a love of learning for little ones. Kids use them to count, to read, to learn. The toy box staple also allows them to design, construct and work with their hands. Check out these five sets that will get your child building. Read more

Art supplies and crafts collection, designed by a real-life designer, at Target prices? Sign me up! When Todd Oldham first published Kid Made Modern ($16) almost three years ago, he created a minirevolution in the world of arts and crafts. Inspired by the most influential midcentury artists — including Alexander Calder, Charles and Ray Eames, and Marimekko — he sought to teach lil ones about Read more

Now that the rainy season is upon us in San Francisco, I'm buckling down to focus my energy into some postponed DIY projects this weekend. Since it doesn't look like it will clear up until the middle of next week, I'm going to see if I can slip in more than one. I was thrilled to find tutorials for stealing the look of products that are trending now, like block-printed fabrics, gold-dipped Read more

Kids at heart will love the Connect Design Block Case ($29) for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S. Not only does this rubber case look like a giant LEGO block, but it comes with a moveable LEGO-like piece to keep your camera lens covered, keep your earphone cords organized, and even act as a stand to keep your phone upright so you can watch videos. For $29 bucks, I think that's a steal. Read more

January is a time of many resolutions, many among them culinary. Regardless of your skill level at the stove, it never hurts to go back to basics and focus on rudimentary recipes that are the building blocks for so many other dishes. These aren't too complicated or expensive, and once you master them, we reassure you that you'll use them over and over again. Here are 10 fundamental dishes that Read more

Ask most moms the biggest hurdle to having an organized home and you're sure to hear a chorus of "toys!" Sure, we try to keep our lil one's dolls, trucks, blocks, and puzzles under control, but there's just so much of it and so little space to put it in! As we work to better organize our lives in the New Year, we turned to Sarah Giller Nelson, a Chicago-based professional organizer and the owner Read more

Although taxes are due in April, you should get started in January so you'll be less flustered come tax time. Also, your W-2 will be coming in the mail, so it's the perfect time to organize your paperwork. Start prepping now so you can get your refund even sooner. Kathy Pickering, executive director of The Tax Institute at H&R Block, names the top things to know before you file a 2011 return. Read more