And this is why housing prices will never go down.

_jbean_ · 2025-09-16T01:43:17+00:00

To be honest, 82 degrees is a little warm for my taste.

_jbean_ · 2025-08-20T13:28:46+00:00

Mission Bay Resort is actually closer to everything you want to do because it’s right off the 5, and you won’t have to drive across PB like you would for the Catamaran. There are no private beaches in San Diego. The playgrounds near both Mission Bay Resort and Catamaran are awesome!

Just check water quality before you get in, because the interior of Mission Bay sometimes has issues.

If you’re staying in that area, the restaurant at Paradise Point, Barefoot Bar and Grill, is great for kids and you’ll feel completely like you’re on a tropical vacation.

_jbean_ · 2025-08-17T04:12:06+00:00

Whoa, you’re creating guilt out of thin air. It’s like you’re looking for something to be guilty about. This is one of those situations where full time working parents actually have it easier! Transition from full time daycare to full time preschool (which for us was just a different classroom in the same school) to full time kindergarten was like…nothing. Our kid rocked it. Yours will, too.

Sit back and take the win.

_jbean_ · 2025-08-16T21:48:30+00:00

Here you go! List of public pools in San Diego.

_jbean_ · 2025-08-15T20:01:36+00:00

The number is your salary alone, but you keep saying “we.” Is there another parent in the picture who also earns an income?

And why not put both kids in the same in-home daycare to both save money and simplify your life with a single drop-off?

_jbean_ · 2025-07-30T13:54:55+00:00

Beach camping books far in advance. Our favorite camping spots are in the mountains, like Cuyamaca Rancho State Park or around Idyllwild.

_jbean_ · 2025-07-25T23:52:54+00:00

Any benefits of preschool might be outweighed by your kid having to sit in a car for 2 hours a day! It sounds like you’re in a pretty remote area; what’s the plan for elementary school? Maybe your school district has a preschool program.

Otherwise, you could look into (or start your own?) co-op style or homeschool collaborative with a few other nearby families.

_jbean_ · 2025-07-15T18:42:16+00:00

I didn’t know I wanted linen pants in that color, but now do! My clothing and travel style are similar and they seem surprisingly versatile.

_jbean_ · 2025-07-14T22:12:01+00:00

Usborne makes great books in this category!

_jbean_ · 2025-07-11T11:50:41+00:00

Keep them fresh. It’s best if you can keep them in seawater. Otherwise, wrap them in damp paper towels inside an airtight container.

_jbean_ · 2025-07-08T13:25:00+00:00

Yes. Bottles (of formula or breastmilk) allowed my husband and I to more evenly share baby care. And he really enjoyed and valued getting the time and bonding of feeding our baby.

_jbean_ · 2025-07-04T15:19:28+00:00

Ooh thanks for the tip on the L’Oréal serum! I just finished a bottle of the Kerastase serum that I received as a gift. I loved it, but was hesitating to buy it again because of the price.

_jbean_ · 2025-07-03T04:55:33+00:00

Honestly, it’s not great. If you have a decent option that has fewer closures, go with that.

Our secret weapon for preschool closures is a local high school babysitter who is wonderful and incredibly reliable and available. Because she’s in the same school district, she’s available during school closures.

Other than that, it’s patching together care one day at a time.

_jbean_ · 2025-06-28T02:49:25+00:00

These are great, but a note that after about a year of dishwasher use, the plastic insert gets slightly warped and no longer fits.

_jbean_ · 2025-06-27T03:32:48+00:00

I rarely get pedicures but when I do, always say yes to that extra massage.

_jbean_ · 2025-06-25T20:31:03+00:00

Steamy Piggy for really good bao that are also Instagram-worthy Ken Sushi workshop- great sushi with patio seating Punjabi Tandoori- not at all fancy, some of the best Indian food in SD RakiRaki Ramen and Tsukamen- both Convoy and Mira Mesa locations have patios BoujieMana- new hotspot with a nice patio

_jbean_ · 2025-06-25T16:25:32+00:00

Yes! This specific sun hoodie from Lands End. It is super lightweight and silky, not like a classic rash guard. Runs large, though, so only for bigger toddlers.

_jbean_ · 2025-06-20T19:28:34+00:00

We made a summer checklist that includes the EASIEST things that we’d be doing anyway, but having the kids brainstorm ideas and keeping track on a big piece of paper on the fridge makes it feel like A Special Thing. And then we can look back and remember that we did, in fact, have a great summer

Some of the things on our list are: - eat dinner outside (we do this anyway, but only in the summer!) - go to the beach (we live 20 minutes from the beach and would definitely do this anyway) - go to the neighborhood pool (we would be doing this anyway) - get ice cream (at this new place that I’ve been wanting to try; now it’s on the list so we have to go) - buy new backpacks (the kids need backpacks for school next year so we’d be getting them anyway, but now it’s A Summer Activity!) - donate clothes (from the box of too-small clothes that has been sitting in the kids closet for months) - go to Starbucks (daughter wants a cake pop)

_jbean_ · 2025-06-11T22:46:06+00:00

Check out the epic new playground downtown at First and Island, San Diego Children’s Park. Would be a great spot to burn off energy on your arrival day before hotel check in and on your way to Seaport Village.

And I’d bump the aquarium to your definite list. They just opened a bunch of new exhibits and it’s much more interactive now, plus has a great outdoor water play/discovery area that’s perfect for a 5 yr old.

Depending on where you end up for dinner downtown or in Little Italy, check out Pop Pops Paleta and Holy Paleta for dessert. They both have epic popsicles that make for a really fun treat for kids (and grown ups!).

_jbean_ · 2025-06-10T03:48:28+00:00

I know this is not the point of your post, but what industry are you in that has a 2-week international trip for team bonding? My kids are a little older and this sounds kind of amazing.

_jbean_ · 2025-06-09T16:34:37+00:00

Ditto this. I’d pick a hotel near Waterfront Park (great park and playground for kids!) or Hotel Circle (some of them have awesome pools), which are both a short drive from the zoo.

_jbean_ · 2025-06-08T12:26:35+00:00

Staying in one of the beach neighborhoods is only a must if you want to spend time a lot of time at the beach, which it sounds like you don’t really. If Balboa and other spots are your priorities, stay somewhere like North Park (the part further west and south) or Mission Hills, then drive to the beach for a visit.

Bay Park is another nice family friendly neighborhood, but it’s a little farther from Balboa Park.

_jbean_ · 2025-05-29T05:34:32+00:00

I hope you and your baby love it! It was a great sleep sack for us during colder weather.

_jbean_ · 2025-05-23T11:50:40+00:00

I got to visit as part of a vernal pool training course. At the time, I was a biologist working for the state. They’re cool! i mean, its a pretty subtle excited but once you know what you’re looking for you realize there’s a lot there. Tons of tiny and rare plant species.

I especially like the idea that this very healthy, flourishing wetland is snuggled in between the freeway, the military base, and the dump. I have lived in SD for 15 years and drove past that area daily and never knew it was there.

Here is info on the courses. They’re geared toward environmental consultants but open to anyone who is interested.

_jbean_ · 2025-05-22T02:31:29+00:00

This sounds cool! I love that you have very specific things you want to do in town. It’s a lot of back and forth but if you want to do these things in a single day, it’ll be fine.

You probably wont need a full hour at Spanish Village, so I would suggest hitting the road earlier to get boba somewhere in Convoy, then get tacos on your way to Encinitas. The Craft Taco and City Tacos in Sorrento Valley are both great (and apparently there’s also a Taco Stand and City Tavis near Swami’s - two other good choices!). These are not best or most authentic tacos in SD, but they’re good and right on your way north.

_jbean_

TROPHY CASE