Where to Stay in Santorini – Fira (Thera) or Oia?
Where to Stay in Santorini – Fira (Thera) or Oia?

My husband and I spent a couple weeks traveling through the Greek islands during the summer month of July. During the process of planning our trip, I did a ton of research on the island of Santorini. Specifically I wanted to know if we should plan on booking our hotel in the city of Fira (also known as Thera) or the village of Oia. There are pros and cons to each location, and it ultimately boils down to what kinds of activities you plan on partaking during your Greek island trip.

Read on to see my detailed breakdown of both the Santorini cities Thera and Oia. I also provide activities and itinerary suggestions for each location, making planning your own trip a breeze!

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TravelGennifer RoseInternational DestinationsComment
Guide to Buying Boho-Inspired & Unique Engagement Rings
Guide to Buying Boho-Inspired & Unique Engagement Rings

When my husband and I got engaged, I knew I wouldn’t be a traditional bride. For our nuptials we threw all the traditional rules out the window and eloped in San Francisco. My bride style was very much boho inspired and I wore a blush pink wedding dress.

While I do have my grandmother’s wedding ring, I still wanted to pick out my own engagement and wedding ring that reflected my personal taste. This sent me down a rabbit hole of researching bohemian inspired engagement rings, which ultimately led to this blog post.

In this guide I will share my findings and insights on picking the right gemstone and setting for your engagement ring, alternative kinds of diamonds available such as lab-created and conflict-free, how much to budget for an engagement ring and how to find reputable jewelers.

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Fashion & StyleGennifer RoseComment
Honest Review of the Blacklight Run
Honest Review of the Blacklight Run

My friends and I bought tickets to the Blacklight Run in San Jose. I had no idea what to expect before our arrival, it was definitely a big surprise! In this blog post I will outline all the details, including both the pros and cons of the event. This may help you decide if you want to try it out for yourself.

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TravelGennifer RoseComment
Top 10 Best Cities in North America to Own a Vacation Property
Top 10 Best Cities in North America to Own a Vacation Property

It’s a widely accepted fact that owning real estate is one of the best financial investments you can make. My husband and I own two homes in Sacramento - we live in our East Sacramento house and we rent out the other to tenants. Our next big venture will be to invest in a vacation home that will most likely be rented out the majority of the time.

The process of acquiring real estate requires a lot of research beforehand. But the type of research you’ll be looking into really depends on the end use of your property. In the next several paragraphs I will go into detail about all the important checklist your vacation property must have to be successful.

Additionally, this blog post explores the top ten cities in North America that we have been looking into and I’ve reported my findings to help anyone make an informed decision about investing in their own vacation property. Whether you're getting a house for convenience, sentimental value, or investment, I've outlined why each city should be a contender in your house hunt.

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Travel, LifestyleGennifer RoseHomeownershipComment
How to Dye Your Hair in Colorful Pastel Shades
How to Dye Your Hair in Colorful Pastel Shades

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.

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Fashion & StyleGennifer RoseBeauty & SkincareComment
Top 30 San Diego Locations for Engagement and Wedding Photos
Top 30 San Diego Locations for Engagement and Wedding Photos

Your engagement and wedding day are momentous occasions in your life and you will want your pictures to mark the moment and reflect the sentiment. You'll want to capture the beauty and romance of your union with your partner in a location that reflects the happiness you shared in those moments. This is why the unparalleled ambiance and scenic landscapes of San Diego are ideal for booking for photography session.

San Diego is truly a beautiful city, with great weather and plenty of photo opportunities during all four seasons. It offers a variety of unique locations, such as scenic neighborhoods, modern urban backdrops, gorgeous beaches, and picturesque natural landscapes, all just a short drive away from the city, making it an ideal spot for your engagement and wedding photos.

In this blog, I’ll go through some of my favorite spots that you can choose from, I’ll mention some places for family photos in San Diego, and discuss the benefits of investing in a professional photoshoot for your engagement and wedding.

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TravelGennifer RoseSan DiegoComment
How to Go Platinum Blonde: 7 Tips to Dyeing Your Hair Without Damaging It
How to Go Platinum Blonde: 7 Tips to Dyeing Your Hair Without Damaging It

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.

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Fashion & StyleGennifer RoseBeauty & SkincareComment
Top 10 Epic 30th Birthday Travel Destinations
Top 10 Epic 30th Birthday Travel Destinations

Is your 30th birthday coming up? Do you dream of going on a trip and celebrating this special occasion with a bang? Being that I am a woman in my 30's I can tell you from personal experience that you are entering a new era in your life... and your 30's will kick ass! As a travel aficionado I highly recommend marking this milestone birthday with that dream trip you've always wanted to take but just hadn't gotten around to it yet.

Whether you're looking to plan a trip with friends, searching for an ideal foodie destination, or a romantic couples trip, in this article, you'll come across ten very promising trip ideas, both in the U.S. and abroad. If you're going to celebrate your dirty thirty birthday, let's do it in style!

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TravelGennifer RoseComment
A Weekend Guide to Half Moon Bay – Top Things to See and Do on the Coast
A Weekend Guide to Half Moon Bay – Top Things to See and Do on the Coast

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!

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TravelGennifer RoseNorthern CaliforniaComment
Healthy Kombucha Swaps to Help You Reduce your Sugar and Alcohol Intake
Healthy Kombucha Swaps to Help You Reduce your Sugar and Alcohol Intake

Once upon a time, many years ago, this gal had a slight addiction to Diet Coke. I loved the carbonation, the slight sweetness and the extra zip of energy that it gave me. Fast forward into the future, I am now very aware of the unhealthy additives in sodas and I very rarely ever drink the stuff.

Removing soda from my life means that I had to somehow replace my favorite afternoon pick-me-up, which is how kombucha entered my life. I don’t remember the exact day when I first tried kombucha, but I know that it left a strong positive first impression and it wasn’t long before I was hooked. It really is a win-win when you can find a new guilty pleasure habit that is truly good for you.

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LifestyleGennifer RoseHealthy & Natural LivingComment
Greek Islands Packing List: What to Pack for Greece in the Summer
Greek Islands Packing List: What to Pack for Greece in the Summer

My husband and I spent 10 days vacationing on the Greek islands during the month of July. Greece is definitely a favorite summer vacation spot because the Mediterranean climate brings warm temperatures and the ocean water is perfect for swimming.

Whether you are going to a tourist hot spot such as Santorini, or seeking a calming and relaxing scene on a quiet Greek island, the Cyclades islands is the place to go for an idyllic summer vacation.

Once you’ve booked your tickets and planned out your vacation itinerary, the last step is figuring out what to pack for a trip to the Greek islands. In this practical guide I’ll give you valuable advice that I learned during our trip to Greece. I will give myself kudos on doing a pretty good job when packing my own bags, but there were a couple vital things that I completely forgot about. Read on to see everything you will need (and some things you won’t) during your Greek summer vacation.

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TravelGennifer RoseInternational DestinationsComment
The Postpartum Underwear Guide Every New Mom Needs
The Postpartum Underwear Guide Every New Mom Needs

One of the many new experiences that you’ll encounter after you’ve had your baby is the realization that regular underwear is just not going to cut it anymore. At least for a while, anyway!

You’re going to need panties that can keep large pads in place to absorb the bleeding, discharge, and possibly even incontinence that you’re going to deal with in the days, weeks, and possibly even months after you’ve given birth.

Luckily, there's no need to ruin your Victoria’s Secret lingerie or favorite Agent Provocateur thong. And chances are, you won’t feel like wearing them either. Products known collectively as postpartum underwear are here to save the day. They’re the perfect option for new moms as they're designed specifically for this purpose.

Need a little more info on what postpartum underwear is and what it does? Not sure if you need to pack a pair or two into your hospital bag? Or just confused about the many options available? Let’s have a look at some of the most frequently asked questions new mothers ask about postpartum underwear and everything that goes along with it.

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Fashion & StyleGennifer RoseModern Mama, PregnancyComment
Over 20 Santorini Instagram Spots to Photograph During Your Greek Islands Vacation
Over 20 Santorini Instagram Spots to Photograph During Your Greek Islands Vacation

One of the world’s most bucket-worthy places to visit is the Greek Island of Santorini. Right off the mainland of Greece there are literally thousands of small islands, and of those a little more than 200 are inhabited. But the single most scenic and iconic village is Oia which is the crown jewel of the Santorini island.

No doubt you’ve seen photos of the famous whitewashed buildings with the blue dome rooftops. While this style of architecture can be found all over Greece, the village of Oia has the most vibrant and preserved buildings situated right next to each other. The natural way the locals built their community right along the edge of the caldera turned out to be the most picturesque and photogenic layout. Very Instagrammable to say the least!

In this guide I will breakdown all the best Insta-worthy spots in Oia, Santorini and also other photo spots around the island of Santorini. If you’ve booked a stay of few days in Oia, you’ll have plenty of time to cover all the classic Instagram photo spots in Oia and then take day trips to other parts of the island.

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TravelGennifer RoseInternational DestinationsComment
Top 10 Travel Video Ideas for TikTok and Instagram Reels
Top 10 Travel Video Ideas for TikTok and Instagram Reels

It's not difficult to see why travel video content is so popular on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. With their short, easily digestible snippets, they make for convenient viewing when you're on the go. Plus, who doesn't love getting a sneak peek into incredible destinations all over the world?

The way we share travel experiences with friends and family has evolved alongside social media platforms. TikTok and Instagram's short video clips are now among the most popular ways to document and share a trip. Use them to highlight some of the most picturesque, unique or unexpected parts of your travels to inspire wanderlust in your followers.

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School for BloggersGennifer RoseComment
Top 5 Affordable Clean Beauty and Skincare Brands That Won't Break The Bank
Top 5 Affordable Clean Beauty and Skincare Brands That Won't Break The Bank

Change can be a hard thing, especially when it comes to our ritual beauty routines. While we’ve been loyal to old-school beauty brands for decades, we were blissfully unaware of the detrimental and toxic ingredients hidden inside our favorite makeup and skincare. But fret not, there’s a new era of beauty beginning and I’m here for it!

When you begin doing research on the latest and greatest clean beauty products on the market, you’re sure to have a moment of sticker shock when you see the prices. Not only are the averages prices doubled, but in many cases tripled from what you are used to spending. It really is a mental exercise to wrap your mind around spending the extra dollars for quality ingredients that both benefit your own body and the planet.

The good news is that with a bit of strategy and resourcefulness, you can actually find bargain deals on clean beauty products that perform beyond your expectations and even still feel luxurious and pampering. I myself have been down several rabbit holes searching the internet for my new favorite and go-to clean beauty and skincare products to always carry in my cosmetic bag. Read on to see my discoveries!

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LifestyleGennifer RoseBeauty & SkincareComment
Travel Guide to Folsom, California - Family-Friendly Things To Do
Travel Guide to Folsom, California - Family-Friendly Things To Do

The small historical gold rush town of Folsom is one of those California hidden gems that make for an excellent day trip from Sacramento or a weekend trip from the San Francisco Bay Area.

Folsom is a popular travel destination because it’s filled with historical charm, lots of shopping spots and tons of outdoor water and nature recreation for weekend warriors.

Our family lives in the city of Sacramento which is a short 30 minute drive from Folsom. Over the years we’ve visited Folsom more times than I can count and each time we discover something new and fun.

This Folsom guide will cover over 25 family-friendly things to do. Whether you’re looking for a leisurely weekend getaway or an action packed vacation, there’s something for everyone in Folsom.

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TravelGennifer RoseNorthern CaliforniaComment
How to Build a Maternity Capsule Wardrobe with Pregnancy Clothing Essentials
How to Build a Maternity Capsule Wardrobe with Pregnancy Clothing Essentials

Putting together this blog post was like a walk down memory lane from the last 4 years. I am a mama to two little ones and I recently wrapped up my second pregnancy. My maternity style consisted of a mix of comfort essentials, pieces from trendy maternity lines and non-maternity clothes that I was still able to wear and style with a baby bump.

Dressing for pregnancy was definitely more of a challenge than I expected. I'm not gonna lie, I definitely had days were I just felt so uncomfortable and all I wanted to wear was leggings and an oversized sweatshirt. But with some creativity and trial and error I found some staple pieces that I wore over and over again through both pregnancies.

In this blog post I get into the weeds of the challenges of maternity dressing and I explain how investing in a maternity capsule collection can help you get dressed everyday with a growing bump. I hope that you will find my story informative and relatable because let's be real, pregnancy isn't always a walk in the park.

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Fashion & StyleGennifer RoseMaternity, PregnancyComment
Guide to the Most Colorful Murals in Sacramento, California
Guide to the Most Colorful Murals in Sacramento, California

Sacramento is an especially colorful city with Insta-worthy murals scattered all over our favorite neighborhoods. We can thank the curation efforts of Wide Open Walls, an organization that commissions world-famous mural artists to come paint the walls of Sacramento.

This blog post is a collection of my favorite Sacramento murals. I especially love that so many of these murals are painted by women and they have such a sweet feminine esthetic. Most these murals are located in popular areas in Sacramento to eat out and hang with friends. Next to each mural I’ll give a few suggestions on things to do and see in that neighborhood.

In this mural guide you can hover over each image to see the full description and location of each mural. Some of them are located on Wide Open Walls Mural Map and I’ve put the link in a button next to the photo. By the way, many of these murals don’t have names (or I can’t find the name) so I give them by own descriptive name for reference.

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TravelGennifer RoseSacramentoComment