Christmas in San Francisco - Top Things to See During the Holiday Season
Christmas in San Francisco - Top Things to See During the Holiday Season

It's the most wonderful time of the year, and I'm here for it! I'm a big fan of Christmas. I love the decorations, the sweet aroma of cinnamon and nutmeg, the cheery lights, and all things sparkly. When a city's festivities and spirit bring on the holiday joy, it makes for an especially memorable experience, and San Francisco will always have a permanent place in my heart for that.

I grew up in the small town of Half Moon Bay which is located just south of San Francisco. My husband and I eventually moved into a tiny apartment in the heart of downtown San Francisco, and we got to experience Christmas in the city firsthand.

In this guide I’ve rounded up my top things to see in the month of December should you find yourself spending the Christmas holiday season in San Francisco. From picture perfect holiday card spots, to the best yuletide sweets, and of course Christmas shopping, we’ve got everything you need for a festive itinerary while on your California winter vacation.

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TravelGennifer RoseSan FranciscoComment
Top 20 Halloween Alternatives to Trick-or-Treating that the Whole Family Can Enjoy
Top 20 Halloween Alternatives to Trick-or-Treating that the Whole Family Can Enjoy

October is the true beginning of the fall season and the entire month is filled with festive Halloween events. With every passing week of the month, the children’s anticipation builds up for October 31st. For most families Halloween night is synonymous with the time-honored tradition of trick-or-treating. Many children celebrate Halloween by dressing up in costumes and visiting neighbors in your neighborhood in search of candy.

So why would you decide against celebrating Halloween with trick-or-treating? There are several reasons to possibly avoid taking to the streets on Halloween. Some neighborhoods are not suitable for walking door-to-door, they may be too spacious and rural. Other places may just be unsafe and not very child-friendly. Extreme weather can hinder trick-or-treating or maybe your tweens are just getting too old.

No matter what your reasons, my guide is filled with many fun and festive Halloween alternatives to trick-or-treating. My suggestions are great for children of all ages (and for adults too!). Your friends and family won’t be disappointed with the spooky fun you’ll be serving up!

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LifestyleGennifer RoseHoliday SeasonComment
Guide to Decluttering Your House Before Christmas
Guide to Decluttering Your House Before Christmas

Christmas is a time of celebration, but it’s also a time of accumulation. The tradition of giving gifts means that by January we’ve got a slew of new items in our home that we need to find a place for. It’s very easy to discover that clutter has begun to pile up around the house after the festivities have ended.

The best way to combat this holiday untidiness is with planning ahead before you get into the thick of the gifting season. In this blog post I will outline the best ways to purge your house of unwanted items and then organize your home so that new items can be put away easily.

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LifestyleGennifer RoseHoliday SeasonComment
Christmas in Apple Hill - Top Things To Do in Apple Hill During the Holiday Season
Christmas in Apple Hill - Top Things To Do in Apple Hill During the Holiday Season

Apple Hill is essentially an outdoor playground for families, with numerous farms that welcome visitors. While Apple Hill is known for its apple picking in the fall season, there is also plenty to do during the months of Thanksgiving and Christmas. This scenic area of Northern California is not just about apple orchards. Here you can taste fine wines from local wineries, attend unique seasonal events, picnic surrounded by picturesque scenery, and enjoy classic holiday traditions.

Visitors have been coming to this beautiful area for over 50 years, and believe it or not, the popularity of these farms continues to grow in modern times. With so much to do in Apple Hill, you may need some advice on where to start. Read on for suggestions on some of the most popular things to do during the holiday season.

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TravelGennifer RoseSacramento, Northern CaliforniaComment
The Best Christmas Gifts for All Five Love Languages
The Best Christmas Gifts for All Five Love Languages

The 5 Love Languages is both a theory and best selling book on how to improve your relationships with the loved ones in your life. Chapman’s advice is simple and uncomplicated, but still very impactful and easy to implement.

In a simple summary, every individual has both primary and secondary ways that they prefer to give and receive love. As individuals we are all unique in how we express emotions, and sometimes we have a hard time communicating or acknowledging those feelings with our loved ones because we we’re aware of their particular love language.

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LifestyleGennifer RoseHoliday SeasonComment
How to Style a Sweater with Overalls
How to Style a Sweater with Overalls

During my last trip to New York City I packed my favorite pair of comfy denim overalls and a bright and colorful sweater. It was the month of October and the seasons were still in transition from summer to fall. It was warm enough to wear overalls and flat sandals in the daytime, but it was nice to have a sweater for those chilly breezy moments.

At the time I was 6 months postpartum after having my daughter and I wasn’t fitting back into my pre-pregnancy clothes just yet. Overalls were the perfect maternity staple, and also awesome for my postpartum wardrobe.

Both my overalls and sweater are from Modcloth, which always has amazing colorful and trendy clothes. They especially have the best rainbow styles!

In this guide you’ll find all kinds of style tips and inspiration for your own sweater and overall outfits. From season to season, this wardrobe combo is an easy to wear and can be worn to all kinds of daytime events.

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Fashion & StyleGennifer RoseComment
Top 35 Hidden Gems in Placer County - Top Things to Eat, U-Pick Farms and Swimming Holes!
Top 35 Hidden Gems in Placer County - Top Things to Eat, U-Pick Farms and Swimming Holes!

If you're looking for a county escape that's far enough away to feel like a mini-vacation but still close enough to get back to the city on Monday morning, Placer County is the place for you.

In Placer, the off-season is not a thing, meaning there is never a bad time to pick up the kids and take the family on a spontaneous weekend getaway that you will all enjoy. Whether you want an action-packed weekend full of adventure or a more laid-back, relaxing time with the family, I guarantee Placer County won't disappoint.

Located just 130 miles away from San Francisco, the area is home to over 1,400 square miles of unspoiled land, beautiful rolling hills, and breathtaking views stretching from the historic Gold Country Foothills to the High Sierras of North Lake Tahoe.

There's no other way to say this: Placer is a superstar Northern California region for outdoor activities, offering something for everyone. From hiking and cycling to boating, fishing, or just relaxing on the lake or river beach, there's no shortage of ways to enjoy your time here.

In this blog, I'll go over some of the best hidden gems in Placer County that will make your trip unforgettable. Whether you’re there for a day trip, a weekend warrior or even a longer extended stay, you'll never be bored. I've also included plenty of adult-friendly things to do for couples who are on a romantic weekend.

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TravelGennifer RoseNorthern CaliforniaComment
Family Guide to Fairytale Town Children’s Park Inside William Land Park in Sacramento
Family Guide to Fairytale Town Children’s Park Inside William Land Park in Sacramento

Fairytale Town is the perfect affordable, and fun place to spend time with your kids or grandkids, keeping them from watching too much TV or video games during school breaks and getting them out and about in the great outdoors.

It's ideal for the little ones to run around and enjoy themselves while exercising their brains with fun literacy games and colorful play sets that challenge them to use their imagination and keep them entertained for hours.

In this blog I'll take you through some of the best things you can do and all you need to know about the park. After this quick read you’ll be prepared and ready to maximize your day of family fun in Fairytale Town.

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TravelGennifer RoseSacramentoComment
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
DIY Yayoi Kusama Painted Pumpkins
DIY Yayoi Kusama Painted Pumpkins

Halloween is coming up quickly this October and we decided to get crafty with some DIY pumpkin painting. My 2-year-old daughter Scout insists that Halloween shouldn’t be scary, so instead we decided to make it colorful and full of art.

Keep reading to see my step-by-step guide to planning and creating your own Yayoi Kusama inspired painted pumpkins for the fall season.

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LifestyleGennifer RoseHoliday SeasonComment
Creating a Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board in 3 Simple Steps
Creating a Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board in 3 Simple Steps

We are officially entering into the month of December, which means the magical holiday season is upon us. It’s a time for gathering with family and friends, spending quality time with loved ones.

Putting out a spread of food is a must and one of my favorite ways to feed a crowd is with an impressive charcuterie board filled with an abundance of foodie favorites.

If you’re new to building charcuterie boards, fret not! These culinary creations may look tricky or intimidating, but I promise it’s actually quite simple when you follow my easy steps. And the best part is that there’s really no wrong way to build a charcuterie board, it’s all about what you and guests like to eat!

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LifestyleGennifer RoseRecipes Comments
Over 25 Global Cuisines to Try in Sacramento
Over 25 Global Cuisines to Try in Sacramento

Take your tastebuds on a trip around the world without ever leaving Sacramento. This blog post is filled with all kinds of global cuisine, some of them are traditional authentic and others are inventive fusion foods.

We moved to Sacramento in 2017 and we’ve seen California’s capital city become a coveted foodie destination with so many new restaurants opening up. I have to constantly be updating my Sacramento guides because the city is growing so fast!

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TravelGennifer RoseSacramentoComment
Family-Friendly Guide to Sacramento - Top Things To Do with Your Kids
Family-Friendly Guide to Sacramento - Top Things To Do with Your Kids

My husband and I moved to Sacramento with two goals in mind, to buy our house and start a family. We’ve been living here in Sacramento for over five years now and we have a toddler and baby. We love exploring our city and finding new and engaging ways to entertain the kids.

Sacramento is a great place for families to both live and visit, with plenty of activities to keep children of all ages thoroughly amused. In this guide, we've put together some of the best things to do in Sacramento that are perfect for families. From visiting tourist attractions like the California State Railroad Museum to enjoying the great outdoors at one of the city's many parks, there's something for everyone in Sacramento.

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TravelGennifer RoseSacramentoComment
Top 15 Stunning California Lavender Fields at Farms You Can Visit and U-Pick
Top 15 Stunning California Lavender Fields at Farms You Can Visit and U-Pick

The list of reasons why people loved to visit lavender fields is literally endless. Amazingly scented and full of olfactory delights, a visit to the vast fields of purple blooms is nothing short of time well spent.

Besides their captivating floral fragrance, the alluring beauty of lavender fields makes them picture-perfect as well as a great source of photography inspiration. But there’s more to lavender fields than just being the perfect backdrop source for your next Instagram post. Visiting a lavender farm is a wellness and holistic experience.

But when is the best time to visit California’s lavender fields? What are some of the best fields to visit, where, and what are they like? Read on to see our comprehensive list of visitor-friendly lavender fields in both Northern and Southern California.

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TravelGennifer RoseNorthern California, Southern CaliforniaComment
Family Guide to Funderland Amusement Park Inside William Land Park in Sacramento
Family Guide to Funderland Amusement Park Inside William Land Park in Sacramento

If you are looking for a fun day out with the family, then Funderland is your place. This small amusement park inside William Land Park in Sacramento, California is perfect for families with young children. Funderland is a long-standing family-friendly destination that’s been providing wholesome entertainment for kids since 1946!

This guide was made to help Funderland first timers plan their visit and come prepared for a day of fun. Learn about all the things you can do inside the park and what kid ages are best.

The day that we took the photos in this blog post, my daughter was 3-years-old and my son was 1-year-old. If you have super young kids like mine, I will tell you what you can do with them at Funderland and if it’s worth your time to visit. For older children over the age of 5-years-old there’s plenty of rides for them.

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TravelGennifer RoseSacramentoComment
Yankee Jims Swimming Hole: 10 Things to Know Before You Visit This Northern California Hidden Gem
Yankee Jims Swimming Hole: 10 Things to Know Before You Visit This Northern California Hidden Gem

The scene at Yankee Jims is totally picturesque with turquoise clear waters surrounded by rocky mountains and a vintage style suspension bridge hanging way above. The water is a little chilly when you first get in but on a hot summer day it feels amazing. Between June - August the summer temperatures easily reach the 90’s to the 100’s.

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TravelGennifer RoseNorthern California, Sacramento Comments