Kid-Friendly Apple Hill Wineries
Kid-Friendly Apple Hill Wineries

Located just under an hour outside Sacramento, Apple Hill is a popular place for both families and adults to enjoy picturesque countryside scenery.

Along with being wine lovers, we are also parents and we don’t always have childcare… so we are always looking for child-friendly wineries to frequent when we have to bring the whole family.

For this guide to wineries in Apple Hill, I contacted each one of the below locations and asked them about their policies around brining children. So you can feel confident when you begin making plans for your trip to Apple Hill.

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TravelGennifer RoseNorthern California, SacramentoComment
The Best Time of Year to Visit Palm Springs
The Best Time of Year to Visit Palm Springs

Palm Springs is one of California’s favorite playgrounds for both bachelorette gals in their 20’s to families with children. This desert oasis offers warmth and sunshine most of the year, but events and temperatures vary from month to month.

Every month of the year offers benefits and challenges with traveling to Palm Springs. I’ve broken down the highlights of each month so you can best plan your perfect vacation.

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TravelGennifer RosePalm SpringsComment
Instagram-Worthy Restaurants in Palm Springs
Instagram-Worthy Restaurants in Palm Springs

Palm Springs is a mecca in the desert for everything modern and fabulous. Of course that means you’ll find some of the best foodie eats inside trendy restaurants with killer aesthetics and decor.

During your visit to Palm Springs you’ll most likely be indulging in plenty of pool time at your fancy hotel. Between sunbathing you’ll be brunching, enjoy patio lunches, happy hour cocktails and then of course dinners.

This blog is all about the best eateries to frequent on your vacation. There’s many options to choose from in Palm Springs, but I’ve narrowed it down to the most Instagrammable and trendy spots for all you cool kids. It’s all about atmosphere paired with good food to really make you feel like you’re in a desert oasis.

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TravelGennifer RosePalm SpringsComment
Non-Maternity Dresses to Wear During and After Pregnancy
Non-Maternity Dresses to Wear During and After Pregnancy

When you’re pregnant getting dressed can be a daily challenge. Your body is growing and changing every few weeks, and you’re probably feeling pretty uncomfortable as well. Maternity clothes can be pretty expensive and you may not want to spend a bundle on maternity pieces you’re only planning to wear for 9 months.

Most of the dress styles in this blog post you can wear throughout pregnancy, during postpartum, and even into your new years of motherhood. The cuts are very forgiving around the waist and hips, giving you plenty of room for your baby bump.

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Fashion & StyleGennifer RosePregnancyComment
The Best Pumpkin Patches and Farms for Photos in Half Moon Bay
The Best Pumpkin Patches and Farms for Photos in Half Moon Bay

Half Moon Bay is known as both a beach town and a cute farming community that comes alive in the autumn season. There are several family farms that convert into festive pumpkin patches for the public to enjoy.

The coast is one of the perfect places to take some time to capture special moments on camera. There’s so many beautiful backdrops for both families and Instagrammers.

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TravelGennifer RoseNorthern CaliforniaComment
Planning Your Elopement Wedding in San Francisco
Planning Your Elopement Wedding in San Francisco

My husband and I had an elopement wedding in San Francisco on July 8th, 2019. The city of San Francisco is a special place for us because it’s filled with so many memories. We met when my husband was a college student at the University of San Francisco.

Our early days of courtship were spent exploring the city, and we eventually got an apartment together in Nob Hill. Getting married in San Francisco was perfectly fitting for us.

This comprehensive guide to eloping in San Francisco covers so many topics including budgeting, legal requirements to elope in San Francisco, selecting a location, reception and your honeymoon.

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TravelGennifer RoseSan FranciscoComment
Common Household Items for Kids to Entertain Themselves
Common Household Items for Kids to Entertain Themselves

When it comes to toys for our kids, we often think the fancier the better. But the reality is sometimes they can be so entertained by the simplest things. And if we are being honest, shiny new toys purchased from the store become β€œold” and uninteresting very quickly. The best part about using common household items is that many of them you have around your house will make perfect toys to entertain them for hours.

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LifestyleGennifer RoseModern MamaComment
Instagrammable Places in Half Moon Bay, California
Instagrammable Places in Half Moon Bay, California

My hometown of Half Moon Bay is really a beautiful place, and still remains an under the radar hidden gem. It's mostly known for the Pumpkin Festival and beautiful pumpkin patches during the fall season. But the reality is that it's a stunning photography location any time of the year.

Half Moon Bay is located 45 minutes south from San Francisco is the perfect destination for a day trip to escape the city. The temperatures are much cooler than most other areas of the bay area, so Half Moon Bay is a great place to escape high temperatures during a heat wave.

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TravelGennifer RoseNorthern CaliforniaComment
Instagram Guide to Los Angeles Murals
Instagram Guide to Los Angeles Murals

I always love a trip to sunny Los Angeles and often times during our adventures I come across a new favorite mural. There’s so many fun and colorful places and public art to photograph in La La Land.

Some of the best Los Angeles neighborhoods to hunt for murals are West Hollywood, Downtown, Santa Monica, Venice, Abbot Kinney Boulevard and more!

This blog post is a collection of murals I’ve found over the years in Los Angeles. I have included as much location information as possible so you can find them yourselves.

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TravelGennifer RoseLos Angeles Comments
Polaroid Camera Photography Projects
Polaroid Camera Photography Projects

I have been brainstorming creative projects where I can showcase my favorite Polaroid photos. I’ve always been drawn to vintage Polaroids, there’s something so nostalgic and whimsical about capturing the moment without the advancements of digital photography.

I purchased both my vintage Polaroid cameras from Etsy vintage sellers and they work great! These days we rarely take the time to print out photos, they usually just live forever digitally. So having something tangible to hold and put on display makes Polaroids extra special.

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LifestyleGennifer RoseComment
Enjoy the Outdoors in Sacramento With These Top Spots and Activities
Enjoy the Outdoors in Sacramento With These Top Spots and Activities

Sacramento is a rare place in California in that we experience all four seasons in all their glory. The springtime is beautiful with blossoms and mild weather, the summer is hot and dry, the fall is magical with colorful foliage and winter is cold and dark. The best time to be outdoors is the springtime and autumn seasons, but there’s still plenty of opportunities in the winter and summer too.

In this Sacramento guide I outline all of our favorite places to be outdoors and enjoy fresh air and sunshine. Here in the city we have amazing parks, bike paths, walking trails with river views, historical districts, urban hangout spots and public art.

There’s also a section about excellent days trips from Sacramento if you want to experience snow, apple picking, beaches, hiking, wine tasting, kayaking and more.

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TravelGennifer RoseSacramentoComment
The Most Instagrammable Coffee Shops in Sacramento
The Most Instagrammable Coffee Shops in Sacramento

When we moved to Sacramento I was very pleasantly surprised to find a thriving coffee house scene. Not only are these java joints serving very high quality crafted coffee beverages, they’ve also done their due diligence to prove a welcoming environment to sip and enjoy.

When I’m building a guide made for Instagrammers, I’m looking for establishments that have both modern and trendy aesthetics, along with ideal photography lighting conditions. You’ll find many spots in and around Sacramento in this guide, so there’s definitely something for everyone.

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TravelGennifer RoseSacramentoComment
Carmel-by-the-Sea with Baby Travel Guide
Carmel-by-the-Sea with Baby Travel Guide

Carmel-by-the-Sea is located 2.5 hours south of San Francisco and it’s a beautiful drive down the Pacific Coast Highway. Visiting the small village of Carmel-by-the-Sea is like stepping into a real life fairytale. Many of the homes are designed as whimsical cottages and they sit adjacent to beaches and picturesque landscapes.

Carmel-by-the-Sea is also an ideal vacation spot for families with babies and young children. It’s very safe, calm and has plenty of baby-friendly dining and activities. We took our little Scout when she was 16-months old and it was a very pleasant trip. In this guide you’ll find many baby-friendly options for where to eat, stroller-friendly places to explore, beaches and hotel recommendations.

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TravelGennifer RoseFamily-Friendly TravelComment
Beet, Watermelon and Feta Salad Recipe
Beet, Watermelon and Feta Salad Recipe

This beet, watermelon and feta salad is the perfect addition to your summer backyard picnic table. The sweet and savory flavors compliment each other and the presentation is bright and colorful. It makes a great light side dish to entrees such as BBQ, sandwiches, burgers and kabobs.

This recipe only has a small handful of ingredients so it's fairly quick and easy to make. I've also listed alternate ingredients and dressings, so you can customize your salad for your guests.

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LifestyleGennifer RoseRecipesComment
California Seasonally-Sourced Produce for your Charcuterie Board
California Seasonally-Sourced Produce for your Charcuterie Board

In California we are so lucky to have a bounty of fresh produce available all year long. We are an agriculture state and many of our favorite fruits and vegetables are grown not far from where we live. I try use locally and seasonal produce whenever I cook and food prep. Making your charcuterie board with seasonal fruits and vegetables can both ensure freshness and make it extra festive special events.

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LifestyleGennifer RoseRecipesComment
My Experience with Cupping Therapy to Help with Migraines and Muscle Pain
My Experience with Cupping Therapy to Help with Migraines and Muscle Pain

Because I regularly suffer from migraines, I often have muscle pain in my neck and shoulders. Finding a drug-free solution to this chronic pain can be difficult, which forces you to open up and try new avenues of pain relief.

In this blog post I will describe my experience with cupping therapy, and hopefully provide helpful information for anyone interested in giving it a try for themselves.

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LifestyleGennifer RoseHealthy & Natural LivingComment
Family Travel Guide to Oahu with a Baby
Family Travel Guide to Oahu with a Baby

Hawaii is a popular place for Americans to travel with their babies, my parents took me to Hawaii for the first time when I was just a couple of months old. Visiting the islands truly feels like an escape to paradise, but you don't need a passport because you aren't leaving the country. Getting a passport for a baby can be a hassle, so this is a big bonus. There's also no Zika is Hawaii so it's a great place to have a baby moon while pregnant!

The people of Hawaii are very welcoming to families and children, you'll find ample baby friendly dining and activities. In this guide you’ll find the best beaches, places to eat, baby-friendly activities and my top parenting travel tips.

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TravelGennifer RoseHawaii, Family-Friendly Travel Comments
One Day in London - How to Maximize Your Time During a 12-Hour Layover
One Day in London - How to Maximize Your Time During a 12-Hour Layover

My husband and I took a summer 10-day trip to the Greek islands during the month of July. We flew from San Francisco to London and then onwards to the island of Santorini. On the way to Greece we had an 8 hour layover in London, on the way back we had a 17 hour layover in London. Both times we wanted to maximize our time in England so we left the airports to do some sightseeing.

Yes, I know what you're thinking - those two long layovers in London are definitely not enough. You're right! Even a week might not be enough to experience the city, take in all the incredible sights, and marvel at London's beautiful architecture. However, if you're there already and have the opportunity to spend the day exploring, you should unquestionably take advantage of it.

Because there are so many things to see and do in London, you may be overwhelmed by the options, which is why I made this guide. It will help you make the most of your time in the city by offering tips for where to go and what to do during your one day in London.

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TravelGennifer RoseInternational DestinationsComment