My Best Travel Hacks for Long Haul Flights
My Best Travel Hacks for Long Haul Flights

While we love to travel to far away lands and explore new cultures, I have to admit that I do get a feeling of dread when I think about the long flight. The thought of being stuck on a compact plane for over 10 hours is certainly the least glamorous part of international travel.

In my lifetime I’ve traveled from California to Greece, England, Ireland, Spain, Japan, India, Mexico, Nigeria, New York, Hawaii, Bahamas, France and Holland. During these long haul travels I learned some tricks and travel hacks to make the air travel more tolerable. If you’re able to arrive at your destination well rested and relaxed then you’re setting yourself up for an awesome trip.

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TravelGennifer RoseInternational DestinationsComment
Sacramento Craft Beer and Breweries Guide
Sacramento Craft Beer and Breweries Guide

There’s over 90 breweries in the greater Sacramento area giving enthusiasts a steady stream of new places to explore and beers to taste. Many of these Sacramento breweries are opening up their doors to the public, often with restaurants serving fresh artesian food.

In this blog post I will highlight some of my favorite beer-centric establishments and events in NorCal Gold Country. This is s great resource for planning foodie and drink-themed weekend road trips to Sacramento.

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TravelGennifer RoseSacramentoComment
Foodie's Guide to a Weekend in Pasadena
Foodie's Guide to a Weekend in Pasadena

Pasadena is known for beautiful tree-lined streets, lot’s of greenery and flowers, and grand architecture. Being more inland, when you visit Pasadena your trip will be less about the beach and more about the finer things in life… like good food! During our visits to Pasadena, we pretty much eat our way through the town with pleasant city walks in-between meals. In short, Pasadena is a foodie’s paradise spot for a weekend retreat.

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TravelGennifer RoseSouthern California, Los AngelesComment
Top 30 San Diego Instagram Spots for Photos
Top 30 San Diego Instagram Spots for Photos

San Diego is one of those bucket list California road trip destinations. It’s got everything you’re looking for in a vacation - warm sunny weather, beaches, palm trees, trendy restaurants, shopping and of course Insta-worthy photography locations.

In this guide I’ve listed over 30 San Diego spots where you can take bright and colorful vacation photos. The list includes the best neighborhoods to hangout, beaches, parks, where to eat and of course flower fields.

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TravelGennifer RoseSan DiegoComment
Neighborhood Guide to Hillcrest in San Diego
Neighborhood Guide to Hillcrest in San Diego

One of the liveliest neighborhoods in San Diego is the Hillcrest Gay District. The streets are filled with vibrant colors and friends gathering to meet up for brunch, not to mention the thriving nightlife scene.

Hillcrest is known as the most diverse area of the city because they welcome all kinds of people and they have a strong LGBT community. Although San Diego in general is considered to be very gay-friendly, Hillcrest is truly the hub for gay-owned businesses and events.

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TravelGennifer RoseSan DiegoComment
The Clean Eating Grocery List from Raley's O-N-E Market
The Clean Eating Grocery List from Raley's O-N-E Market

We’ve all had those moments where you’re standing in the grocery store examining a food product to figure out if its actually as healthy as it claims to be. The food industry has come up with all kids of deceiving ways to cut costs and artificially enhance products, and as a consumer it can be very difficult to know exactly what you’re consuming. Not to mention wether the brands you’re purchasing are using eco-friendly and sustainable practices. In a traditional grocery store it can be an endless guessing game with no real answers.

Raley’s O-N-E Market is a new type of grocery experience where you can feel confident that you’re making legitimate healthy decisions. Every item they sell inside their stores has high quality ingredients, organic when possible, minimally processed and sustainably sourced.

In order to maintain their very high standards they don’t foods that contain anything on their banned ingredients list. This comprehensive banned ingredients list is very lengthy and covers all kinds of categories such as food, drinks, beauty and wellness, household supplies, home and garden and more. It truly is a one stop shop for everything on your shopping list!

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LifestyleGennifer RoseSacramentoComment
Plant Based and Vegan Charcuterie Board Ideas
Plant Based and Vegan Charcuterie Board Ideas

If you’re looking to put a healthy twist on the classic charcuterie board then look no further! While traditionally these boards are filled with fatty deli meats and dairy cheese, I have listed several plant based and vegan options for a lighter and healthier assortment.

These types of grazing boards are easy to throw together and can be served for all kinds of occasions. From date night to larger gatherings, a pretty charcuterie board instantly makes it a party!

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LifestyleGennifer RoseRecipes, Healthy & Natural LivingComment
The Summer Guide to Auburn, California
The Summer Guide to Auburn, California

The gold rush town of Auburn in Northern California is often considered the summer playground for the city folk living in San Francisco and Sacramento. Auburn is centrally located between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe with one hour drive from each city. For many years it was considered a stop over spot on your way to Tahoe, but more recently travelers have realized that the history and charm of Auburn make it a great weekend destination.

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TravelGennifer RoseNorthern California, SacramentoComment
The Sacramento Brunch Guide
The Sacramento Brunch Guide

Brunch, the most important meal of the weekend! The Sacramento brunch scene is always buzzing on the weekend and you’ll see so many people out and about in Midtown and East Sacramento. My friends from San Francisco love to come up and visit Sacramento to soak up some warm sunshine and eat some yummy brunch food.

We’ve been living in Sacramento for over 3 years now and I’ve seen so many new trendy restaurants open up. Needless to say, I am very willing to taste test each one to give you the scoop.

Read on to browse my list of top 20 Sacramento brunch spots and start planning your weekend. P.S. You know many of these restaurants are so Insta-worthy because that's how we roll.

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TravelGennifer RoseNorthern California, SacramentoComment
Bloggers' Guide to Photo Styling with Props
Bloggers' Guide to Photo Styling with Props

Take your blog and social media photography to the next level with perfectly selected and styled props. Creating content is not just about the written text, your image quality is also a very important component to compliment your prose. These small token props can really set the stage and tell a story just using visuals. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words!

Investing time and effort into your photography will really pay off, especially because high quality images are very valuable. When it comes to styling your photos, it takes a lot of trial and error to develop your own aesthetic and find your groove. You want all your visual content to have a cohesive look and feel throughout your blog and social media, which means you need to develop a signature style.

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School for BloggersGennifer RoseComment
San Diego Foodie Guide for Instagrammers
San Diego Foodie Guide for Instagrammers

The San Diego eateries I’ve chosen for this list are popular with the Instagram crowd because they’ve mastered the art of trendy decor and creating fun photo opportunities for patrons. You’ll find brunch restaurants, ice cream shops, cafes and perfect date night places.

These top picks can be found all over the San Diego area because there’s just so many cute neighborhoods in this colorful city. Whether you’re a visitor on a beach vacation or a local, there’s always be new areas to explore.

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TravelGennifer RoseSan DiegoComment
Foodie Photographer's Guide to San Francisco
Foodie Photographer's Guide to San Francisco

Like most people I enjoy indulging in delicious food but I especially love it when your meal is also a feast for the eyes! I often bring my camera with me when I go out to eat because fancy eats can truly be a fun subject to photograph. I like to call it β€œPoetry on a plate!”

In this blog post I’ve listed San Francisco eateries where your meal is truly an experience and there’s ample opportunities to capture beautiful photos. Whether it’s for Instagram or your personal portfolio of photography, these spots are filled with natural light and airy aesthetics… and of course yummy eats!

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TravelGennifer RoseSan FranciscoComment
The Ultimate California Highway 1 Road Trip Guide
The Ultimate California Highway 1 Road Trip Guide

I grew up in the small coastal town of Half Moon Bay, located 30 miles south of San Francisco. Driving up and down the Pacific Coast Highway (also known as Highway 1) was a regular occurrence in my childhood. I didn't realize until later on in my adulthood how lucky I was to experience such scenic ocean views everyday. As a local I love to share the love and tell where to find my hidden gems spots.

Beginning from North to South, I've built the ultimate guide with the top spots along Highway 1 worth pulling over for!

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TravelGennifer RoseNorthern California, Southern CaliforniaComment
Sneak Peek at the Christmas Prime Rib Dinner from Raley’s
Sneak Peek at the Christmas Prime Rib Dinner from Raley’s

There’s a good chance you spent the week of Thanksgiving running around the grocery store picking up ingredients, followed by long hours laboring in the kitchen. Give yourself a break from all the frantic shopping and cooking with a premade holiday meal from Raley’s.

We were lucky enough to get an early preview of Raley’s Prime Rib Christmas dinner. We had no problems being taste testers of this family sized feast!

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LifestyleGennifer RoseHoliday SeasonComment
Best Photography Locations in San Francisco
Best Photography Locations in San Francisco

I first started my blogging career back when I lived in the bay, and we spent pretty much every weekend looking for new San Francisco photography spots for the blog and Instagram. Over the years we covered every corner of the City by the Bay and captured memorable pictures on my camera.

In this guide I’ve got over 30 San Francisco photography locations. Some of them are familiar iconic landmarks and others are hidden gems known by locals. Both San Fran newbies and veterans will find inspiration for your next urban photography adventure, I promise!

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TravelGennifer RoseSan FranciscoComment
Planning Guide to a Traditional Nochebuena Holiday Celebration
Planning Guide to a Traditional Nochebuena Holiday Celebration

My household is comprised of mixed heritages so we celebrate the holidays in all kinds of ways. My husband’s family comes from Mexico and on my side we are mostly English and Irish. Our kids are lucky to have so much diversity because it just means more reasons celebrate!

Christmas Day is the big event for most Western cultures with a morning family brunch, opening gifts and then a big Christmas dinner. In Latino households Christmas Eve is known as Nochebuena which translate to β€œA Good Night” in Spanish. Nochebuena is the biggest evening of celebration for traditional Mexican families and it’s the one my husband remembers most from his childhood.

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LifestyleGennifer RoseHoliday SeasonComment
Checklist and Shopping Guide for Second Baby
Checklist and Shopping Guide for Second Baby

We’re about to re-enter the crazy world of labor and delivery, and then having a newborn. But this time around we also have a 2-year-old toddler in the mix, which definitely makes things a bit more complicated.

By the time your second baby arrives you’re already in full-blown parent mode. Fortunately we already know how some of the journey ahead will go, but learning to balance our attention to two children is a new experience.

Having the right gear can definitely make the transition easier for both the parents and the children. You may also want to refresh your baby gear with new and upgraded products. Some items can be re-used from your first baby, and others may have to replaced.

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LifestyleGennifer RoseModern Mama, PregnancyComment
Locally Made Holiday Foods and Desserts in Sacramento
Locally Made Holiday Foods and Desserts in Sacramento

The city of Sacramento does an excellent job of making the holiday season extra special. It’s one of the few places in California where the trees change into vibrant colors, and the fall foliage really hits its peak the week of Thanksgiving. For Christmas there’s twinkling lights and trees adorning the Downtown and Midtown streets.

There’s many locally owned restaurants, artisans and foodie shops in the Sacramento area that have seasonal offerings. You can find your favorite holiday foods and sweets available during the months of November and December. These foods and treats are either available to order online and take home or you can enjoy them on-site.

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TravelGennifer RoseSacramento, Holiday SeasonComment