Top 10 Low-Maintenance Houseplants that Are Nearly Impossible to Kill
Top 10 Low-Maintenance Houseplants that Are Nearly Impossible to Kill

When it comes to indoor plants, let’s face it – everybody loves them! They can spruce up a place and make it look more welcoming, warm, and filled with positive energy.

However, not everyone has a knack for keeping houseplants. I have to admit that I have unintentionally killed my fair share of potted plants. I have no problems caring for my human children and my dog, but for some reason my plant babies never seen to survive more than a couple months.

For this blog post I sought out the expert advice of a botanist who could provide valuable advice and knowledge to those of us who are not born with a green thumb. Below you’ll find a list of low-maintenance houseplants that can still flourish with forgetful and preoccupied caretakers.

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LifestyleGennifer RoseComment
San Diego Areas to Explore During a Bachelorette Destination Trip
San Diego Areas to Explore During a Bachelorette Destination Trip

No matter the type of experience you wish to share with the girls at your bachelorette party, to make it impeccable for you, America’s Finest City will lay it out on the canvas of the finest weather you could dream of.

In the mood for wine-induced gaiety wrapped in classy sophistication? Wanting to explore sites that offer different scenery and heart-throbbing adventures every five minutes of the walk? Driven by the desire to bask in the sun of the finest beaches? Up for a hiking challenge with breathtaking views while compiling a collection of quirky pics?

 Whatever your preferences, the San Diego area has a whole array of body and soul-pampering experiences to make for a stupendous catalog of life-long memories. Let’s jump right to the list of tempting bachelorette destination choices!

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TravelGennifer RoseSan DiegoComment
Top 10 Natural Home Remedies for Postpartum Hair Loss
Top 10 Natural Home Remedies for Postpartum Hair Loss

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.

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LifestyleGennifer RoseModern MamaComment
Sparkling Blood Orange and Lavender Cocktail (Plus a Mocktail Version!)
Sparkling Blood Orange and Lavender Cocktail (Plus a Mocktail Version!)

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.

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LifestyleGennifer RoseRecipesComment
The Best Things to Do in North Park, San Diego
The Best Things to Do in North Park, San Diego

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.

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TravelGennifer RoseSouthern California, San DiegoComment
Family-Friendly Guide to Sonoma County - Top Things To Do with Kids
Family-Friendly Guide to Sonoma County - Top Things To Do with Kids

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.

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TravelGennifer RoseNorthern California, Napa ValleyComment
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
40 Bucket List Things To Do Before You Turn 40
40 Bucket List Things To Do Before You Turn 40

So, your 40th birthday is on the horizon. Congrats! You might feel a little bewildered about this next chapter, wondering whether you’re still considered young (or over the hill). Is it time for your mid-life crisis yet? Hint - you’re as young as you feel!

Regardless, turning 40 is a remarkable milestone. It is time to reflect on your life, the past as well as the future. If you’ve been living all footloose and fancy-free, maybe it’s time to finally start “adulting” and working towards big goals and building a sustainable future. 

Where your 30th birthday was about saying goodbye to the wild days of your 20s and entering the “30, flirty and thriving era”, your 40th birthday is going to be more about creating the ideal life for yourself with all the life experiences and wisdom you’ve gained.

I myself am turning 37 years old on my next upcoming birthday. I will admit that the second half of my 30’s really snuck up on me, but I’m doing my best to embrace this new era of womanhood. This blog post is not only things to do on your 40th birthday, but also how to approach midlife with gusto and zest for life.

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LifestyleGennifer RoseComment
Travel Guide to Yolo County - Hidden Gems & Small Towns to Visit
Travel Guide to Yolo County - Hidden Gems & Small Towns to Visit

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.

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TravelGennifer RoseNorthern CaliforniaComment
Creamy Chicken and Bacon Bowtie Pasta Salad Recipe - Perfect for Barbecues and Potlucks!
Creamy Chicken and Bacon Bowtie Pasta Salad Recipe - Perfect for Barbecues and Potlucks!

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.

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LifestyleGennifer RoseRecipesComment
Top California Coffee Shops and Local Chains for Coffee Lovers
Top California Coffee Shops and Local Chains for Coffee Lovers

Foodie travel is a top trend for travelers of all ages. Maybe it's the influence from foodie rockstar Anthony Bourdain, but it's not uncommon for vacationers to build their travel itineraries around the restaurants and cafes they hope to visit. Coffee lovers are particularly devoted to their caffeinated brews and find it necessary to fuel their addiction with quality coffee while on the road.

Each city has its own popular and tried and true coffee locations. If you are planning to road trip and venture around California, you'll need to know where to get a great cup of joe. Don’t worry as we will introduce you to the most exceptional coffee destinations that you shouldn’t miss in the Golden State. These places will be just perfect for your morning routine and help start your vacation days off right.

All of the coffee shops listed here are places I have personally visited during my many travels around the state of California. Each one had some special qualities which made it stand out as exceptional. I’ll do my best to paint a picture of what it’s like to sip a hot cup of coffee inside one of these noteworthy cafes.

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TravelGennifer RoseNorthern California, Southern California, Los Angeles, San Diego, San FranciscoComment
Visitor’s Guide to Old Sacramento - Top 20 Family-Friendly & Date Night Things To Do
Visitor’s Guide to Old Sacramento - Top 20 Family-Friendly & Date Night Things To Do

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.

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TravelGennifer RoseSacramentoComment
The Complete Travel Guide to Julian, California
The Complete Travel Guide to Julian, California

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.

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TravelGennifer RoseSan DiegoComment
Bodega Bay Family Travel Guide – Kid-Friendly Things To Do
Bodega Bay Family Travel Guide – Kid-Friendly Things To Do

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.

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TravelGennifer RoseNorthern CaliforniaComment
25 Baby Bump Friendly Boho Dresses
25 Baby Bump Friendly Boho Dresses

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.

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Fashion & StyleGennifer RoseMaternityComment
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