photo spot hunting - sacramento [DOCO]

last week we made a trip downtown to take some special photos for mother's day presents.  our friends Lisa & Geoff of The Goodness had just finished their art installation at the Downtown Commons area by the Golden One Center [DOCO] and I figured it was a good excuse to head down on a school night!

let's just say we were not let down with the ample photo walls that little area presented.  and, because it was a photoshoot with a purpose, I felt like everly was really on board.  sometimes, she isn't always thrilled that I have a camera with me most of the times of her life.

^the living walls are on the sides of the Golden One Center itself^

^popsicle display is across from the macy's entrance^

^and this fun mural was right at the top of the escalated from the parking garage^

I like this last one, even though slightly out of focus, it is really channeling her inner judgmental ballet teacher that I think she is rocking 24/7.

sometimes, you just need to go out for ice cream [gunthers - local-lovin']

this week has been a funny one.  either everly is having the best day ever, or man, the tears. we are back on a real clothes struggle.  she just doesn't seem to like how anything feels.  we have just the right socks [extra thick super hero socks are her jam], but if she puts them on just a little off, then there are instant tears.  again, we're working on it.  so besides the frequent rainy spring break days, and some real toddler meltdowns, we were feeling like we just wanted to get out for a bit.  we haven't been to Gunther's since last summer, so a treat it really was.  I've also realized I love ice cream when it is cold, but not my go-to favorite at Gunther's - the 50/50.  those are best to save for a really hot day, so instead, I tried the flavor of the month, black raspberry oreo.  um, yes, please and thank you.  maybe we can get back one more time this april for another scoop!

the parlor & $2 tuesdays [local lovin']

of course, when it is over 100 degrees for too long, you start going a little crazy. and not that we really needed another reason, but $2 tuesdays at The Parlor was a pretty good one to stop for some ice cream after our evening at the Crocker Art Museum.  and yes, our kid had a shave ice and donut in the same night, let's not worry about it too much.

we each got what we wanted, I had a single scoop of Everything but the..., everly got her plain whole glazed donut, and the mr. got his ice cream puff, which is pretty much if you take my order, and ev's order, and slice it and mush it together in a panini like press, well, that's what he had.

and because we don't look quite as cute eating our dessert, here's too many photos of everly eating hers...

^she seems to really be getting the 'show my your food' photo down^

$2 single scoops

$2.95 ice cream puffs

every tuesday @ The Parlor

ten on ten [10.1]

the past few months I have been unable to complete my ten on ten sets. mostly, I just could never seem to keep my camera out for a full day. but not participating in the project at all was killing me.  so, every tenth I'm going to try something new.  ten photos on the tenth, but probably over ten minutes, not ten hours.

and to really mix things up, this is my first set that I haven't taken myself.  instead, the mr. went to the zoo with some new neighbor friends and their granddaughters, so here was their 'ten'.

happy tenth - see other sets here

Gather: Oak Park [local lovin']

Last night our little family made our way to Gather: Oak Park.  Thanks to social media, I stumbled upon this little gem.  Oak Park has been a neighborhood with a pretty serious reputation, not in a good way, and a place that I can admit I've not spent much time in.  However, thanks to our mayor and the efforts of many of it's residents, Oak Park is an up and coming neighborhood worth noticing. Gather occurs every second Thursday of the month from May-October.  It is a mini food truck and local vendor gathering place that celebrates all good things local food and drink.   The space is tiny and quaint, and I was a real big fan of it.  Long tables for eating lines the center of the space, welcoming interaction with all who are in attendance. Not to mention, I appreciated getting to eat some amazing food truck grub, at a table, and not on the ground like I sometimes find myself doing.
We tried the Slightly Skewed food truck offering grilled Asian street food.  Yum.  Seriously. Yum.  Now I will admit, sometimes I think food trucks are over-rated.  There are a few I just feel downright sick after ordering from.  And it isn't because the food was spoiled, but just way TOO much going on.  However, Slightly Skewed offered me one of the best burritos I've ever had!  The California Burrito needs to happen for more people, just sayin'.  It also worked out that they had one amazing side of steamed rice for that little girl of mine who just can't get enough rice.  We also tried the Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffee and Smoothie stand for Everly.  She wanted the plain strawberry smoothie, and I'm going to say it was a simple yet amazing choice. 
And because she's two, Everly spotted the balloon artist immediately.  I'm pretty sure she's never seen balloons like this before, but she did know one thing, she really needed to have one.  Thankfully the Mr. had a few dollars in his wallet so we could make this very basic dream come true.  After seeing a few girls get matching penguins, Everly decided on a sea turtle.  This little guy turned out so cute, just like Squirt from Finding Nemo.  And as you can see, he was a hit!

happy weekend everyone!

Next Gather: Oak Park happens September 10th!

it is tree picking season - Doug's Christmas Tree Lot [local lovin']

This is only our second year in a "real house", and so, our second year with a "real" christmas tree.  When we lived downtown, the steep steps always made that mr. of mine get a pass from hauling the real deal up into our flat, but now we only have two tiny steps into our home, so fresh cut pine, here we come!  This year we trekked the extra distance to get a tree from the lot I've grown up going to, and I must say, we got the PERFECT tree for our home, and for a steal [in my opinion at least].  Doug works extremely hard to make sure every family is completely satisfied, even when the lot is full with people.  Many of his employees have been with him for years, so I suggest if the kid looks like he just stepped out of an Abercrombie ad, you've got the wrong guy to help you.  Don't get me wrong, the young guys working there were trying, but they were fish out of water, and we were there on opening day.  So, I suggest finding a guy whose hands look like they have cut down a tree, and you will be golden! Here's our time at Doug's Christmas Tree Lot.

and because I'm cheesy and love taking photos

in the same place every year

here we are the last two years

The details:

Doug's Christmas Tree Lot

5465 Pacific St.Rocklin, CA 95677
Phone: (916) 521-7846