"My husband bought this house in 2005. Together we decided to gut and renovate it. I took the lead on guiding most of the design and aesthetic, while my husband kept my feet on the ground as we made final decisions. We moved back in September of 2011 a few days prior to the birth of our first daughter."

Ashley wears an Ulla Johnson top and AMO Denim jeans. Zoey wears an Alice + Ames dress and Wee Ones hair bows. Sloan wears an Alice + Ames dress and Hello Shiso hair clip.

"Our renovation took a little over a year. Our motivation to renovate was driven by removing the dangerous spiral staircase that stood in the center of our home, take advantage of the unused third floor, and to put the city view as the focal point of our living space. Our previous space lacked natural light in many of the rooms and it was important to us to create a space that allowed light to pour into all of the main living spaces. I spend a lot of time in the kitchen, so ensuring the kitchen allowed me to move seamlessly throughout this space while spending time with my children was important to me."

"Colorful, modern, joyful, and playful. I grew up in a white house, and as we were planning our home I was excited to play with unexpected colors that bring me so much joy."

"We are very thoughtful about what comes into our home. My husband loves to purge, so we are sure to only bring things into our house with clear intentions."

"The black and white pieces hanging in our dining room are drawings of the front of our home and San Francisco City Hall created by artist Mike Giant. We were married at City Hall and built this home together, so these pieces both hold a special place in our hearts. The sign over our family room couch is an antique removed from a Hayes Valley corner store and it feels like we own a piece of the city’s history."

Vibrant colors, everywhere!

"Every room is a play room. Our girls always want to be where we are, so we try to have the things they love accessible in all areas of our house. We also found that at a young age they barely played with toys. As new parents we were always searching for the perfect toy that would engage our first child, and never really found it! Our kids were always stealing spoons, bowls, beans from my pantry, rocks from outside, and things around the house to create some imaginary game. We began preschool in a Waldorf-inspired school and I greatly appreciated learning how in many ways the simplicity of less toys can go a long way with children’s creativity. This modern world provides so much input. We found by being thoughtful with the toys that were around our house, often our kids became more engaged with the toys they have. We purge toys often!"

The cutest Dutch doors.

"I am a family nutrition coach and founder of Vibrantly Healthy Kids. I teach parents how to raise children who enjoy eating vegetables and a variety of healthy food. I am also a graduate student on the path to becoming a Family Nutritionist with a focus in Functional Medicine. I utilize Vibrantly Healthy Kids to catalogue what I am learning through my education and clients, in order to provide additional tools to other families."

"Eat more whole foods, foods that are as close to their natural state as possible. Increase the offering of vegetables and fruits. Many parents often do not realize it takes children 8-10 tries to enjoy a new food. Do not give up too soon! Remove or reduce your reliance on processed foods. Often times these foods can be distracting from the important foods our children need to grow and develop. Read labels, you will be surprised how many packaged foods have added sugar, chemicals, or things you have never even heard of. Reduce your reliance on pasta, cheese, bread, macaroni and cheese, and pizza. Eating these foods over and over again develops children’s tastebuds to prefer often bland, refined grains and cheese. Remember, what we feed kids influences what they like. Parents often set out to discover their child’s favorite foods, but it is important to realize everything we expose them to help them develop their palette. If we expose them to a variety of foods and flavors, they will be more open to experiencing a variety of foods and flavors. The more narrow the offering of food, the more narrow their preferences."

"Prior to moving to San Francisco, I was suffering from numerous chronic conditions. My diet consisted of empty calories, chemicals, processed foods, and endless amounts of sugar. I saw a litany of medical professionals, all of whom reviewed my symptoms, yet gave little consideration to—and little guidance on improving these conditions through—my lifestyle choices. When I met my husband, he introduced me to the importance of organic food. After quitting my job in retail, I started taking my health seriously. I knew I could no longer continue on the path I was on. I began to see integrative doctors, naturopathic doctors, and acupuncturists who helped me make lasting changes in my lifestyle. These changes allowed me to find relief from all of my symptoms without medication. By making better choices about what I put into and on my body, I felt healthy for the first time in my life. When my daughters were born I sought care from an integrative pediatrician who shared our values and she has been one of my greatest partners in raising healthy eaters and healthy kids."

Who wants kale chips?

"I think the biggest challenge is removing distractions. Refined sugar-filled snacks, macaroni and cheese, cheese sticks, and crunchy processed snacks are often way more enticing than broccoli. If given the option, most children would prefer the processed snacks and sugar. I do think there is a time and place for these foods, but many children have come to expect this as their regular routine. They forgo nutritious foods as they know there is a more enticing food available at snack time or if they wait long enough their parents will give them an option they prefer. If you can find a way to reduce the distracting foods from your home, you will have an easier time increasing your child’s affinity for a variety of healthy foods."

"Banana pancakes and these muffins are easy to make in the middle of the week. A few of our favorite dinners: Sweet Potato Curry Soup, Brown Rice and Thai Basil Chicken, and Wok Fried Rice with Vegetables and Cashews."

"The following bloggers taught me how to cook. My New Roots and her books Naturally Nourished and My New Roots. 101 Cookbooks and her books Near & Far, Super Natural Cooking, and Super Natural Everyday. Green Kitchen Stories and their book Vegetarian Everyday. Smitten Kitchen, and all of Ottolenghi’s books: Plenty, Jerusalem, and Plenty More."

"I have a 90/10 rule. I try to make healthy choices 90% of the time, so that I can relax on my choices 10% of the time. Talented local chefs are my celebrities! I am in awe of what so many Bay Area chefs bring to life with the bounty that Northern California offers. We have great appreciation for a variety of foods and enjoy exploring all of our local restaurants that use local, sustainable ingredients. I believe in all things in moderation. When we are out at restaurants, we want to be able to enjoy the experience the chefs are creating as much as possible. When it comes to our kids, we try to emphasize good choices most of the time, but there is always room for 'sometimes' foods like pasta, pizza, and cookies."

"Many of the parents I encounter understand what good nutrition looks like, but are unsure how to teach their children to enjoy these foods. It is equally important to think about how to create healthy routines around food, as it is to consider what food to offer your child. Getting into the habit of eating at the table at a young age can save parents down the road. Eating together at the table when possible as a family. Exposing your children to the foods you enjoy as an adult from day one of feeding can be really powerful. I do not believe in 'kids food.' It is possible for kids to enjoy most of the food their parents eat. While in the early months of eating food must be presented in a away a child can navigate, most of the foods can be the same foods parents enjoy. If we hope for our children to develop a palette for the food we enjoy, we must expose them to these foods at a young age. I find these tips help parents raise healthy eaters and avoid raising picky eaters."

"The kids and I start our day with a plate of seasonal fruit, followed by banana egg pancakes, eggs, buckwheat waffles, or a banana cacao protein smoothie. Our school lunch boxes usually include quinoa with tamari, sardines, vegetables, fruit, olives, and sometimes fermented foods. I often pop into a few of my favorite healthy, local spots for lunch while the kids are at school. These include Seed + Salt, As Quoted, or Nourish. On weeknights, a typical dinner might be three seasonal vegetables prepared in various ways and a side of protein (wild salmon, roasted organic chicken, free range sausages). My other favorite dinners are fried brown rice with vegetables and various vegan soups. Our favorite snacks often consist of trail mix filled with organic nuts and dried fruit, protein muffins, fruits, and vegetables."

That mama love.

The girls' mini-kitchen with seasonal flower and veggies charts.

"I grew up in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, PA and attended college in the city at University of Pittsburgh as a business major. After college, I became a fashion merchandiser at American Eagle. I had always dreamed of moving to California, and fashion retail was the path to making this a reality. I relocated to San Francisco to work for Banana Republic in 2005 and finished my career in fashion at Tea Collection. In my twenties, I found so much joy in working alongside ambitious women who became lifelong friends and I hope my new endeavors allow me to do the same."

"When I met my husband, work was my life. I was a highly motivated individual who did not let anything compromise my career, at times even sacrificing my own health. My husband has run his own business from the comfort of his home for 15-plus years and is incredibly blessed to have an amazing work-life balance. Once I crossed over into motherhood, I realized how important it was to me that I also have the flexibility to be present for endless diaper changes, sleepless nights, scrapped knees, and school field trips. I also realized prioritizing my health would be a great gift to give my children. I knew that my current career could not allow me this flexibility and settled into walking away from fashion retail."

"Prior to my first pregnancy, I began learning about the importance of lifestyle choices and how they contribute to your health. I realized that what we put into our bodies, onto our bodies, our thoughts, and what we allow into our homes can have profound positive and negative effects on our health. After having my first daughter, I was even more engaged in this conversation and spent hours researching nutrition and products in hopes of equipping myself with the right information to support my child’s health. I quickly realized it was time to turn my newfound passion into my next career."

"It is the people that surround me, and there are many that make it possible. I am beyond grateful to have a partner who creates time and space that allows my children to be nurtured, while I am chasing my dreams. I would be lost without our incredible caregiver who I love and loves my children to the core."

A peek into Sloan's room.

"I have an incredible community of women entrepreneurs and mothers who are always cheering me on from the sidelines. I tell my friends, 'We can have it all, just not at the same time!' At any given time I am trying to balance my family, myself, my marriage, my clients, my company, my studies, and my friendships. My supportive community of friends is always there to celebrate the triumphs, plot our next moves, and commiserate our shortcomings over a glass of wine!"

"I love that success means helping a family or a child get one step closer to living a healthier life. I feel blessed that families allow me to be a part of their parenting journey, which I know is incredibly personal. I am ecstatic when I get a text or a picture from a parent celebrating their child eating vegetables or trying new foods."

"I am excited to be collaborating with local companies, practitioners, and publications to share my passion for family nutrition in the coming months. I look forward to continuing to work one-on-one with families in the Bay Area and outside of California to support their nutrition needs. When I am not working or chasing my kids around, you will find my at a local library or workspace studying to complete my master’s degree. Once school is complete, I plan to partner with Integrative Pediatricians to take on patients with more complex childhood disorders."

Tuck-in time!

"Their spaces were places that I could be a bit more playful with until they have stronger opinions. I love wallpaper. I have endless dreams about wallpapering the entire house from floor to ceiling, thankfully my husband continues to counter balance this. Books and clothes are likely their most prized possessions. Zoey became very particular what she wants to wear and started picking out her clothes prior to her second birthday. She has had the same influence on her sister, Sloan. You can find them changing their clothing at least three times per day. I have finally learned to embrace this routine!"

Sloan wears a NellyStella dress and Hello Shiso hair clip.

"I feel honored to be chosen to guide these girls through this world. I never realized how much this responsibility would force me to grow and change in ways I never imagined. I have fallen in love with my partner through an entirely new lens and parenthood has redefined what it really means for us to be partners. It brings me so much joy to see the way my two girls have softened all of his edges and how their love lights up his world. As a foster child who grew up in a loving family without any biological connections, it is strangely beautiful seeing parts of me come to life in my children."

"I think it is a beautiful responsibility to raise kind, independent humans in this modern world. I have learned to accept that I cannot be great at everything as a mother and try to surround our family with a community of people that bring so many wonderful things into my children’s lives. I feel blessed that they have so many other wonderful role models that have strengths that balance my weaknesses."

"My tribe, which includes my mother, my sister-in-law, and my friends (you know who you are). I am blessed to be surrounded by so many dynamic, loving women who show me what it means to show up as a mother and friend everyday."

Zoey wears a NellyStella dress.

"I read endless articles from a variety of sites, there is so much great content out there. Simplicity Parenting was the one parenting book that just made total sense to me."

"I am a multi-racial child adopted from a foster home as a infant by a black Catholic family. I had a kind, supportive older brother. I was surrounded by hardworking, loving parents who broke glass ceilings in their time. I grew up surrounded by a huge extended family. My mother had a thriving career, but was also able to step away from her career from time to time to be with her children as we needed. My parents created a great life with very little to their names other than solid educations. Throughout our childhood, my parents emphasized the power of education as a stepping stone to the futures we wanted and challenged us to do whatever made us happy as individuals."

"I was raised by a father who spent his childhood surrounded by the Jim Crow laws of Mississippi, along with a grandfather who left the South as his boss thought he owned him. I had a mother who was the first African-American woman to attend her high school. I myself was one of few individuals of color surrounded by a white affluent community in a place where many did not talk about or celebrate differences. My parents were active in bringing together families that allowed black children to see mirrors of themselves in our community. My parents emphasized the importance of acknowledging and celebrating our identities, history, and black culture. I am working hard to keep this alive for my daughters in a city where there seems to be a black exodus. I hope they are able to grow up celebrating all the pieces of their rich histories and identities and I work hard to bring this to life for them."

"Stay true to who you are and what you value as a family. Build your tribe with great people. Do the best you can with the gifts you have to offer, and that will be enough."

"Zoey Jay is my oldest. Jay is the name of my late grandad, my father, and my brother. My youngest is Sloan B. The B in Sloan’s name represents my maiden name, Bullie, my late maternal grandmother, my best friend Betty, and Michael’s late maternal grandmother, Belle."

"I was raised by a mom who had a strong sense of self and a very healthy body image. I am passionate about passing this experience onto my daughters and feel incredibly equipped with the tools to do so."

"While I appreciate my partner, motherhood can still be an incredibly isolating experience. I have a group of mom friends that consistently show up for me in my life and at times it feels as if we are co-parenting together. I have collected these friends through the various stages of my life, from college and beyond!"

"There were not any major complications during my pregnancies. I never enjoyed being pregnant. I would go to prenatal yoga and sit across from women who would rave about loving pregnancy. I could not relate at all! It was likely my never-ending nausea and various other bizarre symptoms that didn’t allow me to truly enjoy the experience!"

"Relaxed, comfortable, and refined. I think a great pair of shoes, a hat, or great jacket can make any look stand out and feel put together."

Ashley wears an Alice and Olivia skirt and Vince tank.

"My fashion days were a mix of way-too-short dresses and high heels, coupled with more functional and comfortable clothing that is slightly androgynous. As I entered into pregnancy and motherhood, comfort and function took a more central role in my wardrobe. Our girls love all thing colorful, tulle, and feminine, and I find these things are slowly creeping into my wardrobe, as well."

"My staples are suede sneakers, Birkenstocks, high-waisted denim, button-up, easy, flowing blouses or work shirts, hats, and a great leather jacket for chilly San Francisco days. As for brands, Mother Denim and AMO Denim, as they just fit well. N.D.C Made by Hand suede sneakers and Birkenstocks for comfort and chasing after kids. Outdoor Voices, as I hit the gym for high intensity workouts 3-4 times a week when possible. I love that their line feels like fashion fell in love with fitness. I do most of my shopping online, but when I get a few moments, I pop into Dish in Hayes Valley and always find great pieces."

"My best beauty routine is working out 3-4 times a week. On good days I skip tossing my hair in a bun and give my long hair a few minutes of attention. My daily routine includes BeautyCounter’s Charcoal Cleansing Soap Bar from head to toe. When time is on my side, I apply a little organic coconut oil or Booda Butter to my skin, coconut oil as a deep conditioner for my hair, face oil, and under-eye cream. For a rare night out without the kids, I might apply a little cheek and lip color. I trust Credo Beauty and BeautyCounter for finding safe, healthy beauty products."

Ashley wears a Christy Dawn dress. Zoey wears a Peas and Queues dress. Sloan wears a NellyStella dress.

"As a former fitness instructor, workouts are non-negotiable. Sweating keeps my feet on the ground and my head clear. I try to work out 3-4 times per week. My badass personal trainer and mother of two, Bianca Buresh, keeps me sane and sweating a couple times a week. When I can’t hit the gym with her, I am thankful she has an awesome at-home program that is perfect for busy moms. For the first time in my adult life, I have abdominals!"

"I throw balance out the door. There are moments when my marriage, family, and clients are thriving, but my friendships and self-care are on the back burner. I do my best to set intentions by week and month to ensure the things that are important to me are given their moment in the light."

The cutest modern playhouse.

"I love the rich cultural experiences and people that exist in this city. The endless activities, art museums, children’s museums, and events at our fingertips, coupled with the breathtaking beauty and landscape that is around every corner. We also love that our girls have developed a taste for a variety of foods, including sushi, ramen, Mexican, Vietnamese, Thai, and so many more. Foods I didn’t have access to as a child."

"We hope to continue to make San Francisco our home and have a hard time imagining living anywhere else."

"We love Chrissy Fields beach, Dolores Park, and hiking the Wood Line in the Presidio as a family. Name Gaji, Little Chihuahua, Farmhouse Thai, and Fish are our favorite family eats. For date night there are so many favorites, we have had great meals at The Slanted Door, Frances, Firefly, Octavia, Babu Ji, Cala, and Al’s Place. Our favorite date night ritual is to end the night at Dandelion Chocolate, enjoying the delicious creations of their pastry chef, Lisa Vega."

Keep following along with Ashley, Zoey, and Sloan on the Vibrantly Healthy Kids blog and Instgram feed.