AN ODE TO EVERYTHING CALIFORNIA, TRAVEL AND FINDING BEAUTY IN EVERYDAY THINGS.

Sacramento is centrally located in Northern California, making it the perfect basecamp for exploring all that the region has to offer. My husband and I have lived in Sacramento for over 5 years now and we quickly discovered how incredibly convenient this prime location is for road-trips.

Within a 2-hour drive of the city, you'll find plenty of scenic places to visit, including top destinations like Lake Tahoe, Napa Valley, and San Francisco. So whether you're looking to enjoy the great outdoors, experience some of the best wine and dining in the country, or want to explore a big urban city, Sacramento is the perfect starting point for your road-trip.

Dramatic nature sites and breathtaking ocean scenery – it is not difficult to see the allure of Half Moon Bay. If you wish to discover this unspoiled stretch of the Northern California coast, I've handpicked the best things to do and see in the area.

Thanks to its small-town charm combined with incredible vistas, Half Moon Bay has become a loved weekend escape from the hustle and bustle of the nearby cities, San Francisco and San Jose. From excellent surfing opportunities to great hiking spots – Half Moon Bay offers its visitors a wide range of experiences.

Half Moon Bay is my hometown, I was born and grew up here up until I moved away for college. This guide is composed from the perspective of a local with many revealed hidden gems. My blog post is also filled with many of my favorite photos taken over the last several years. Keep scrolling to find all kinds of inspiration for your trip.

Whether you wish to have a romantic laidback weekend with your loved one or a fun-filled getaway with the whole family, Half Moon Bay won't disappoint. But don't just take my word for it – book a trip and see the magic for yourself!

The adorable little neighborhood of North Park, San Diego has been blowing up all over Instagram lately and it's not hard to see why. The streets are painted those pastel colors we love, the walls are filled with urban succulent gardens and the matcha is oh-so-trendy. Not to mention the foodie scene is really happening with cuisine from all over the world, and of course plenty of fusions. Forbes named it one of America’s best neighborhoods for hipsters, which really sums it up.

My husband and I lived in San Diego and North Park was one of my favorite hangout spots. Our perfect afternoon out-and-about in North Park would be eating tacos à la lucha libre style and then sipping green matcha latte while window shopping boutiques. Read on to see North Park's top spots and begin planning your visit to one of San Diego's favorite neighborhoods.

Sonoma County is known as a sophisticated weekend travel locale for adults to enjoy the best that California wine country has to offer. This Northern California destination is home to gorgeous landscapes and world-renowned wineries.

It may surprise you to learn that in Sonoma County there’s plenty of activities the whole family can enjoy. If you are looking for a beautiful, fun and kid-friendly place to vacation, look no further than Sonoma County!

In this guide we outline some of the best things to do in Sonoma and the surrounding areas with your children. Whether you’ve got babies, toddlers or older kids, below you’ll find a variety of vacation itinerary ideas to fill your time with both adventure and relaxation.

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.

With countless hidden gems, Sacramento is a destination that deserves to be on your California travel bucket list. The first time most people visit California’s capital city of Sacramento, they almost always wind up spending some time in historical Old Sacramento. While many cities have their own version “old town”, the Old Sacramento District really takes the cake with blocks of preserved buildings, working locomotive steam trains, shopping and dining, and beautiful Tower Bridge and Sacramento River views.

The Old Sacramento area is home to the highest concentration of historic buildings and landmarks in the state. It has a lovely Old West look and feel, with horse-drawn stagecoaches slowly making their way through its scenic streets. There are over a hundred shops and restaurants, as well as countless cafes and hotels now housed in its attractive old buildings.

Old Sacramento is one of those rare places where there’s truly something for everyone. Within the 8-block grid of Old Sac there’s kid-friendly attractions and not-so-kid-friendly spots. Families can bring their children and simultaneously adults can enjoy more mature activities with booze and sophistication.

This Old Sacramento guide is divided between things to do with your kids and adult only activities for a day out on the town or date night with someone special. There’s also plenty of foodie suggestions for those who enjoy eating well while on vacation.

Just an hour's drive from sunny San Diego toward the mountains, and you find yourself in a completely different world. Julian is a tiny town – just a few streets and nearby farms and ranches. Because of its location in the mountains, there is a much brighter sense of seasonality – the heat in summer, yellow and red leaves in fall, snow in winter, and flowers in spring.

Tourists love coming to Julian, especially during the fall season, because it is one of the few places in Southern California where you can see colorful fall foliage. Combined with the beautiful scenery, it is also a great place to vacation out of town.

Another reason why Fall is great for visiting Julian is that it is apple picking season. Since the town's culture is associated with pies, this dish is a must-try. In Julian, they are baked and sold hot in all kinds of flavors, though the most popular, of course, is the apple pie.

We visited during the second week of November and in our pictures you can see all the holiday festivities and colorful fall foliage. In this guide you’ll see plenty of Julian family-friendly activities and even some romantic weekend itinerary ideas for a couple’s weekend away. For the foodie fans, I’ve also included all the must-try autumn foods and deserts.

One of Northern California's best-kept secrets is Bodega Bay. This small beach town is located right on the bay in Sonoma County. This seaside town is breathtakingly beautiful and an amazing destination for having a whale of a time in the great outdoors, plus enjoying fresh seafood eats.

Driving along the gorgeous California State Route 1 North, you will come right through Bodega Bay. The town itself is small, only 13 square miles, but there is plenty to do and discover. It wraps around the bay perfectly, making for plenty of coastal beach spots to explore.

The most popular activities are hanging at the beach, hiking the nature reserves and boating. Bodega Bay is a beautiful whale hotspot all year round, and you can easily book tickets to sailing here.

This fishing village has become an under the radar tourist destination, offering fresh seafood restaurants, vacation rentals, and coastal views, which makes it a popular weekend beach getaway spot.

La Jolla is the crown jewel of San Diego, known for its luxurious atmosphere and pristine beaches, which are consistently voted as some of the best beach destinations in the world. The immaculate city blocks in this coastal suburb of San Diego offers visitors delightful and family-friendly experiences.

In La Jolla there are so many water-related sports activities to partake in, from walks on the long stretches of sandy beaches to kayaking and surfing, as well as arrays of coffee shops, restaurants, and boutiques to spend your vacation days at. The gorgeous beaches, stunning cliffs, and natural wonders of this coastal inlet provide endless opportunities to explore the outdoors.

La Jolla's charming community vibe is also what makes it so family-friendly. On that same note, a lot of restaurants and stores in La Jolla are fancy and geared for adults and not necessarily appropriate for children. This is particularly true if you have a baby and a toddler like we do. In this guide I provide plenty of options for families with babies, toddlers and older children.

The San Diego city of La Jolla is the perfect spot for a quick weekend getaway. It's got all the vacation essentials you need including colorful murals, artesian food and endless beach sunsets. We all have our favorite activities and foods we like to enjoy during vacation, so I've built a quick and easy guide to popular spots in La Jolla. Looking for amazing Instagram photo spots? Want to eat a delicious meal on a rooftop while gazing on a sunset sky? It's all here!

There are many fun things to do in San Diego - and despite what you may have heard, not all of them break the bank.

If there’s one thing this area is criticized for, it’s that the high-standards lifestyle often comes with a price tag that’s just as soaring.

But San Diego is called America’s Finest City - not its priciest city. While there are some high-priced attractions and establishments that attract the affluent, it’s also possible to enjoy this amazing area without a big budget.

Today we’ll highlight some of the best restaurants, attractions, and locations that allow you to fill your stomach and your day without requiring you to drain your savings in the process. We’ll also mention some of the spots you can head to when it’s time to splurge and treat yourself.

Let’s plan our San Diego day together!

We live in the heart of East Sacramento, which means that Yolo County is right in our backyard. Yolo County is located directly west of the urban Sacramento city blocks and across the Sacramento River. Surprisingly West Sacramento is technically part of Yolo (go figure!) and is the most populated and developed part of Yolo. The further west you travel, the more rural the landscape becomes with quaint countryside scenes.

This blog post guide is filled with photos and stories from our family adventures in Yolo County. Here you’ll find my top recommendations for agritourism farms to visit, foodie and restaurant eats, photography spots and unique shopping experiences.

All around the world, many people are trying to go green or live eco-friendly lives to reduce their impact on the environment. As well as helping out the natural world, going green can also provide some personal benefits, such as saving you money and making certain aspects of your day-to-day life easier and more convenient.

There are lots of ways to become more eco-friendly at home, starting off in the kitchen. And it’s not just about eating organic food or cutting down on the amount of waste you create; there are lots of creative and clever ways to minimize your carbon footprint through kitchen cleaning, organization, and general usage. Let’s take a look at some super easy ways to get started.

Getting a new puppy is one of the most exciting things you’ll ever experience as a pet owner. After all, nothing beats finally getting to pick up your pup and bring them home for the very first time. My family has owned dogs my entire life, and we've welcomed many puppies into our homes. The adorable puppy you see in this blog is Mia, my parent's newest fur baby.

Because puppies are essentially babies, you need to make sufficient preparations to help your pup get acclimated to their new home. To help you give them a warm welcome, this guide has a few tips on how to best spend the first 48 hours with your new pup.

Pregnancy beauty is the stuff of legend. Before you pop, your skin is glowing from the extra blood circulating through your body and your hair is lush from those pregnancy hormones.

After the baby comes? Not so much. Between a lack of sleep, adjusting to your new post pregnancy body, and the postpartum hair loss that affects up to 90% of all women after they give birth, it can be easy to feel out of control.

Fortunately because postpartum hair loss is so common, over the years women have come up with a host of natural remedies that can help you regrow those lost strands. Here are some of my favorites to help you get your groove, and your hair, back, naturally.

This light and aromatic cocktail recipe is a delight for the senses. The blood orange adds a sweet and tart zing, while the lavender and vanilla are fresh and botanical. For the for the piest de resistance, we used fresh lavender that cut ourselves on a California lavender farm.

This summer cocktail is perfect for any warm weather gathering such as the 4th of July or a grown-up birthday party. Your guests will love this smooth and refreshing cocktail which you can serve with a small food bites on a charcuterie board.

For this cocktail recipe we partnered with the expert mixologists from The Mixer who helped us deliver this elegant and elevated cocktail (and mocktail) recipe.

With both of my pregnancies I was extremely curious to know the gender of my babies very early on. Gender reveal ultrasounds are usually around 20 weeks, and it can be a long and impatient wait for eager parents. When you finally know the big news, it’s so fun to make a formal announcement with a creative photo!

This pasta salad may be easy to make, but it really delivers when it comes to flavor! You’ve got the tangy and creamy ranch sauce, smokiness from the bacon and a dash of fresh zest from the veggies. The protein from the chicken really makes this a hearty side dish, and it can even be a quick leftover main dish lunch!

Whenever I have a BBQ gathering coming up, or I need to make a potluck dish for work, this is one of my go-to recipes. If you have a busy schedule, you can make it ahead of time and leave it the refrigerator overnight. It can be served warmed up or at room temperature, either way its delicious!

Once you’ve got all the ingredients purchased, prep work for this recipe just requires chopping up the veggies, cubing the chicken and mixing up the sauces. Next it’s time to cook the pasta and bacon, chop the bacon, and then mix it all up. If you’re working diligently, you can make this recipe in under 30 minutes, and it yields a large amount of pasta salad to feed a crowd.

The Romanesco is very easy to prep and cook with roasting being the most preferred way to eat it. It doesn’t take too many ingredients to bring out the flavor. My recipe below has a mix of nutty, tangy and acidic flavors. Once roasted those little florets are so irresistible to pop into your mouth.

Let’s the honest, as women our periods are a bit of a drag. And it adds insult to injury that they also wreck havoc on our environment because most period sanitary products on the market are not designed with eco-friendly materials.

The average woman will dispose of 11,000 sanitary items in a lifetime, most of which contain plastics and are not biodegradable. Many of these disposed products end up in landfills and our oceans.

The good news is there’s a growing market for both eco-friendly and zero waste period sanitary products. For all my frugal savvy gals, investing in these products will actually save you a lot of money in the long run. It takes an average of 3 period cycles for these products to pay for themselves.

Your 30th birthday is truly a milestone event unlike any other, especially if you celebrate it while pregnant. When you enter into your 30’s era, your life tends to shift and your priorities change. You begin to settle down and focus on big picture life changes. This is all particularly true when you’re about to become a parent to a new baby.

If you happen to be celebrating your 30th birthday while pregnant, you may be wondering how you can still commemorate this special occasion. This particular birthday is known as the “Dirty Thirty” which can imply partying with alcohol and shenanigans. Well obviously the pregnant birthday girl will be responsible and not partake in any unruly or unhealthy exploits. But don’t worry, you can still live it up and have plenty of fun.

This guide is filled with pregnancy-friendly party and activity suggestions. All of them are great choices for any point in your pregnancy, no matter what trimester you’re in during your birthday. I myself have done all of these things during my own pregnancies so I speak from experience. Trust me when I say that you can enjoy plenty of get togethers with friends and family to make your birthday memorable without compromising your baby's health.

I love using blood oranges for cocktails because they add a splash of drama and color to the evening. I always prefer to use freshly-squeezed juice, and then some fruit slices as garnish. This cocktail recipe is super simple but full of sweet citrus flavor, the orange and lime really complement each other.

Styling an oversized wardrobe item like a poncho or a cape can feel overwhelming because it is such a statement piece. The challenge is to still keep a flattering shape and not look overly frumpy. When this look is achieved just right, it really has all those autumn and wintery vibes we love. Plus it will keep you super warm and cozy!

This blog post documents my hair journey from my natural color of strawberry blonde to platinum blonde, silver gray and then rose gold. While I do like my natural shade of red, I definitely got bored after having the same hair color my entire life and I wanted to mix it up. There's a thrill you get when going platinum, like you've got a new spring in your step!

I will admit that I was very naive about this process before I got started and I learned a lot of lessons along the way. Hopefully you’re doing a bit research so that you’ll find yourself better prepared than I did.

Read on to see my top tips on how to dye your hair platinum blonde while minimizing the damage to your hair. I also go into detail about how to care for platinum hair and using platinum as a base for other trendy pastel colors.

One of my favorite trending styles is the new re-vamp of the wrap skirt. It’s such an easy piece to style and fits well on so many body types. These skirts transition easily from Spring to Summer, and you’ll get so much wear out of them. These skirts are perfect for both vacations and everyday wear, even for Sunday brunching!

Flowy boho style dresses are a pregnant woman’s best friend during the spring and summers of pregnancy. They are so easy to wear when you’ve got a big baby bump and you can continue to wear them for postpartum and beyond. These dresses are so versatile and a closet staple for sure, you can wear them to all kinds of events or just around the house. Not to mention that you’ll feel like a Greek goddess in all her glory.

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.

One of the best ways to brighten up cold and rainy days is with your favorite cheerful rain gear. My closet has a few rain shower staples, and in the winter and springtime I wear them often. These raincoats and wellie boots are both stylish and practical - keeping you dry and comfortable.

At this point I’ve been through pregnancy and postpartum twice with my two babies. And while each time was different and had its own challenges, there definitely were some similarities that most women experience.

Getting dressed both when pregnant and in the postpartum months can quite honestly be frustrating. You’re dealing with weight gain, bloating, aches and pains, heavy bleeding and nursing. There’s a lot going on!

I highly recommend building a capsule wardrobe that can accommodate all these needs and make you feel comfortable. During the postpartum phase you’ll pretty much do anything to make yourself feel a little better and cute clothes can do the trick!

Every year Pinterest comes out with the highly anticipated Pinterest Predicts report which provides valuable insight into up and coming trends for the next 12 months. There’s almost always a hair trend report, and for 2022 Pinterest has reported that Rebel Cuts and Colors is the newest hair movement to hit the mainstream population. This means that a rainbow of bright, colorful and pastel shades will be showing up in the tresses of fashion forward folks.

For myself, my hair color journeys have included platinum blonde, purple lavender, silver gray and rose gold pink. This blog post is filled with useful information and tips to help you decide on your next wild child color.