New Listing - 2760 63rd Street, Sacramento, CA 95817

Adorable updated 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom, 1,292sf Tahoe Park home! You will love the vintage charm coupled with newer amenities. Spacious layout, freshly refinished wood floors, recently painted interior and exterior, remodeled kitchen with granite counters and newer appliances, plus a formal dining area, and a remodeled bathroom. Lots of storage space. Enclosed breezeway offers extra space to entertain or play and connects to a large two-car garage. Located in close proximity to restaurants, breweries, UCDMC, K-12 schools, and Sac State. Offered at $399,000. Don't wait! For more photos and information visit 2760 63rd Street, Sacramento, CA 95817. MLS#18021825

Meet our second addition - Nugget the mini aussie!

I figured with all of the craziness surrounding election day tomorrow, I'd post some lighter stuff. Last year we added a sweet puppy to our family, Citra. Over the summer we decided she needed a sister, so in September we added "Nugget" to our family. Nugget is also named for a variety of hops used in beer brewing, just like Citra.

They are about as sweet as can be together...but don't let those angelic faces fool you. It's been a nonstop dog party at our house for the last 6 weeks! In fact it was very difficult to get them both to sit still for this photo! And they have both stolen my heart. Citra is 13 months old, and Nugget is 17 weeks old. Looking forward to double the sweet companionship.

My husband and I are total craft beer nerds...

So the day after our 3rd wedding anniversary last week, my husband Greg and I sat down at Twelve Rounds Brewing with Sacramento Bee writer Blair Anthony Robertson to discuss the local Sacramento craft beer scene. We were quoted in an article in his "Beer Run" column the following week. You can read that article here.

Greg and I are pretty nerdy when it comes to tasting craft beer. Not only have we hit all the breweries in the greater Sacramento area, but when we travel outside the area, we hit the local breweries in our destination cities as well. As of today we have nearly 200 pins in our United States craft brew map...we just returned from San Diego where we visited 19 breweries, and next month we will be in Salt Lake City for a few days and plan to hit all of the breweries there as well. It's fun! We brew at home too, but that's another post for another time...

Meet Our Newest Addition, Citra the Mini Aussie...

For people who have followed my blog for a LONG time, you may already know that several years ago, I had a really sweet bloodhound named Harold. I was devastated when he had health issues and had to be put down. I have not had a dog since...until now.

Meet "Citra" who has been named for a variety of hops used in beer-making. She is a mini-Australian Shepherd puppy. She is 7 pounds now, and should grow to be about 25-30 pounds. On top of being extremely adorable, she is also extremely sweet and very smart. House-breaking a puppy isn't exactly the easiest thing to do, and she's rolling with it pretty well.

It's so nice to have a sweet dog again, and I look forward to many years of her companionship.

Sacramento Holiday Gift Giving Guide -- celebrate and support some amazing local businesses...

For the last few years in December, I have written blog posts about gift ideas from local Sacramento businesses to give to your favorite resident for Christmas, Channukah, Kwanzaa, or whichever holiday you celebrate. If your holiday festivities involve gift giving, there are many local Sacramento gifts you can give! Here are my top 12 gifts that will make any Sacramentan's holiday, at any age or budget:

• A membership to with the Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates, aka SABA; another gift that keeps on giving! SABA advocates for making Sacramento a more bike-friendly place. Noticed more bike parking around town? Ever taken advantage of their free "bike valet" at a neighborhood event? It's a great organization! Estimated cost: $30/Individual annual membership.
• A ring or a necklace from compliment.; they have something for everyone, from the most girliest girl, to the "gamer babe" sports fan (my favorite, I'm not gonna lie)! Best of all, everything you purchase from compliment. comes with a "compliment" to let your someone special know just how special he/she is. AND a percentage of all sales goes to their scholarship program.
• A subscription to Comstock's Magazine; it's the only monthly Sacramento business magazine! It's always a great read and generally very insightful regarding local commerce, businesses both small and large, and the state of local cities, counties, and otherwise. Estimated cost: $20/year.
• Yummy cookies or chocolate from About a Bite Bakery; by far my favorite local small batch baker. They have provided many thank you gifts for my clients and have some amazing holiday offerings too. They even deliver! Estimated cost for a box of the best "bites" you will ever taste: $18.
• A new or used camera from Action Camera; This boutique camera store offers everything from new and refurbished camera, lenses, and more! They also do cool swap-meets for folks to sell their gear, photo contests, and "meet-up" events for photographers to take photos of neat stuff! Estimated cost: varies.
• A Run Training Program at Fleet Feet; the gift of fitness is a gift that keeps on giving! This super cool running store has a few locations in the Sacramento area (Downtown, Fair Oaks, Roseville, Davis) and offers several training programs for different levels (5k, half marathon, marathon, triathlon, etc). Their store locations offer a huge variety of fitness apparel too like shoes, synthetic socks, nutrition, etc. Estimated cost: $59+
• Dinner at Mulvaney's; one of my favorite Midtown Sacramento restaurants! Neat setting, great ambiance, and amazing food. The menu is constantly evolving, so call ahead or check their website. Estimated cost per person: $50.
• A Growler of beer from Bike Dog Brewing Company;  If you like craft brewed beer, and haven't discovered this place -- you need to go. Tucked away in a warehouse space near the Port in West Sacramento, they brew their beer in small batches on-site...and have a dog and kid-friendly tap room open to the public. They don't serve food, but there is almost always a mobile food truck in the parking lot. My personal favorite is their "Double IPA." Estimated cost per pint: $6.
• Massage from Elite Massage Therapy; Katie at Elite Massage Therapy in East Sacramento whips me back into shape after a long run, and she gives one heck of a theraputic massage too. Estimated cost/treatment: $80/ one hour.
• Some soap from Sudz by Studz;  they make everything from bars of soap, to lotion soap, to lip balm and more. All of their products are hand made from local Sacramento ingredients and cruelty-free. Estimated cost: $10/bar.
• Tickets to a Sacramento Rivercats game; See the San Francisco Giants' affiliate play at Raley Field. I'm a HUGE SF Giants fan, and many of these players are a phone call away from the major leagues! Estimated cost/ticket: $6-30.
• A new home; Sure, I saved the best for last. Nothing says happy holidays like closing escrow on a Sacramento home...sorry if that was a little cheesy! Estimated cost: Priceless. =)

Check out my posts from previous years too -- there some great ideas there as well!
Post from 2013: Sacramento Holiday Gift Ideas

Post from 2012: Sacramento Holiday Gift Giving Guide -- are you giving back to your local economy and small businesses?
Post from 2011; Holiday Gift Ideas -- for your most beloved Sacramento Resident...
Post from 2010; Holiday Gift Ideas for your Favorite Sacramento Resident...
Post from 2009; Sacramento Holiday Gift Idea Guide
Post from 2008; Best Sacramento Christmas Gifts

Finished the California International Marathon 2013...together, just like we planned!

If you have been reading my blog for a while, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, then you will already know that early this year my husband and I made a pact; that I would do a Century (100 mile bike race) with him, and that he would run a marathon (26.2 miles) with me.

Back in September I successfully completed my first Century, and then in November I successfully completed my first 200km (124 miles) bike ride....well this weekend was the California International Marathon. Despite the FRIGID weather conditions, we both finished in about 5 hours, 12 minutes. We arrived in Folsom at the start line around 6:15am and it was about 25 degrees out. Thankfully since we are members of the Sacramento Running Association, we were allowed to spend time before the 7am start in a heated tent! But the race itself was super cold. We had to be on constant look-out for icy pavement, and my hands, feet and face were constantly numb. Needless to say, it was exhilarating to finally cross the finish line shortly after noon. We were greeted by my mom and step-son Cameron, who whisked us away in a warm car. We then celebrated at Hoppy Brewing with a pint and some food, and then went home and rested. It was a great experience to train for this together and complete it together. Looking forward to more running and cycling adventures in 2014!

Have you tried New Helvetia Brewing Company in Land Park yet?

I love my husband. I love beer. And I am really starting to love cycling. So really, is there a better way to spend a lazy non-Real Estate day than to take a nice meandering 20-ish mile bike ride with Greg and stop at New Helvetia Brewing Company in Land Park for beer? I don't think so.

If you have not yet tried New Helvetia, it's pretty cool. They are located in a near brick building at the corner of Broadway and 18th Street in Land Park. They have a tasting bar that is open most afternoons/evenings, and a courtyard as well (where we are seated in the photo).

We were impressed with the brew we tasted (I had the Homeland Stout, and Greg had a Rough and Ready Red IPA) and are looking forward to our next visit there.

It's time for A Taste of Land Park!

It's time for A Taste of Land Park again! I can't believe this is the 12th annual event...I must be getting old! the 2013 event will be on Sunday, June 9th, from 4pm - 7pm. There is a VIP hour from 3pm - 4pm for members of the Land Park Community Association. This year's event will be located on 14th Street between Vallejo Way and Markham Way.


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As usual, there will be several local restaurants, breweries, wineries, and more serving great food and drink! There will be a "Wall of Wine", local craft vendors, and live music as well!

Pre-sale tickets are $30 each and available for purchase online, ($35 at the door) or you can buy them in-person at Vic’s Ice Cream, Espresso Metro, Parkside Pharmacy and Riverside Clubhouse.

Sacramento Holiday Gift Giving Guide...are you giving back to our local economy and small businesses?

For the last few years in December, I have written blog posts about gift ideas from local Sacramento businesses to give to your favorite resident for Christmas, Channukah, or whatever else this holiday season. If your holiday festivities involve gift giving, there are many local Sacramento gifts you can give! Here are my top 12 gifts that will make any Sacramentan's holiday, at any age or budget:

• A 5k Run Training Program at Fleet Feet; the gift of fitness is a gift that keeps on giving! This super cool running store has a few locations in the Sacramento area (Downtown, Fair Oaks, Roseville, Davis) and offers several training programs for different levels (5k, half marathon, marathon, triathlon, etc). Their store locations offer a huge variety of fitness apparel too like shoes, synthetic socks, nutrition, etc. Estimated cost: $89+
• A membership to with the American River Parkway Foundation; another gift that keeps on giving! The parkway is one of the jewels of our Sacramento area, and the Foundation keeps it beautiful. A great cause! Estimated cost: $35/"Seed" annual membership.
• A new bike from Carmichael Cycles; they have everything from road bikes, mountain bikes, cruisers, and all the gear to make you a great rider! The staff is knowledgeable and they do on-site repairs too. Estimated cost: $500+.
• A subscription to Freeplay Magazine; it's the only Sacramento endurance sport magazine! They profile local athletes and give great fitness tips. Estimated cost: $3.50/month
• A California State University, Sacramento sweatshirt; My alma mater! Stay warm this winter while supporting our local CSUS Hornets! My CSUS sweatshirt was a Christmas gift from my mother during my freshman year...I still wear that thing even though it is totally faded and worn out...Estimated cost: $36 - $75.
• A new or used camera from Action Camera; This boutique camera store offers everything from new and refurbished camera, lenses, and more! They also do cool swap-meets for folks to sell their gear, photo contests, and "meet-up" events for photographers to take photos of neat stuff! Estimated cost: varies.
• Dinner at Mulvaney's; one of my favorite Midtown Sacramento restaurants! Neat setting, great ambiance, and amazing food. The menu is constantly evolving, so call ahead or check their website. Estimated cost per person: $50.
• A Growler of beer from Track 7 Brewing Co;  If you like craft brewed beer, and haven't discovered this place -- you need to go. Tucked away in an industrial warehouse space just south of Curtis Park at Sutterville Road and West Pacific Avenue, they brew their beer on-site...and have a tap room open to the public. They don't serve food, but there is almost always a mobile food truck in the parking lot. My personal favorite is the "Soulman Stout." Estimated cost per pint: $6.
• Massage from Elite Massage Therapy; Katie at Elite Massage Therapy in East Sacramento whips me back into shape after a long run, and she gives one heck of a theraputic massage too. Estimated cost/treatment: $75/ one hour.
• A copy of the book "NKOTB and Us", the authorized biography of the New Kids on the Block by Sacramento author Nikki Van Noy. Oh c'mon - someone you know was a New Kids on the Block fan in the 80's!? Estimated cost: $20.
• Tickets to a Sacramento Rivercats game; See the Oakland A's affiliate play at Raley Field. I'm a SF Giants fan, but I do really enjoy these games (especially when they play the SF Giant's affiliate team, the Fresno Grizzlies)...many of these players are a phone call away from the major leagues! Estimated cost/ticket: $6-30.
• A new home; Sure, I saved the best for last. Nothing says happy holidays like closing escrow on a Sacramento home...sorry if that was a little cheesy! Estimated cost: Priceless. =)

Check out my posts from previous years too -- there some great ideas there as well!
Post from 2011; Holiday Gift Ideas -- for your most beloved Sacramento Resident...
Post from 2010; Holiday Gift Ideas for your Favorite Sacramento Resident...
Post from 2009; Sacramento Holiday Gift Idea Guide
Post from 2008; Best Sacramento Christmas Gifts

The forecast does not call for a Sacramento Zombie Apocalypse...

So...If you follow me on facebook or twitter, you will already know that I was showing a house in Elverta yesterday, and my buyer client and I stumbled across an old bomb shelter in the back yard!! It was probably 15' x 30' with cement stairs leading down about 8 feet, and had two "snorkel" like air tubes penetrating the ground above it. CRAZY! My first thought was thank goodness the cold war is over, then my mind wandered and thought -- hmm what a neat place for kids to have a club-house (I know I would have LOVED to play in this in my youth), or a great underground wine or home-brewed beer cellar, or extra storage...or preparing for a zombie apocalypse!??? Anyway, this while my client thought this was totally cool, the house was ultimately not a good fit for him.

Sacramento Oktoberfest Events - 2011

Sacramento Active 20-30 Oktoberfest
Saturday, October 1st at 5pm
Fairtale Town, 3901 Land Park Drive, Sacramento, CA 95818
$30 -- DJ music, german food, beer, and more!
http://oktoberfestsac2030.eventbrite.com/

Davis Sunrise Rotary Oktoberfest
Saturday, October 1st at 6:30pm
Central Park Pavilion in Davis, CA
$20 at the door -- polka music, german food, Sudwerk beer, root beer, and more!
http://www.clubrunner.ca/Portal/Home.aspx?cid=3544

Sacramento Turn Verein's 44th Annual Oktoberfest
Friday, October 7th at 6pm & Saturday, October 8th at 3pm
3349 J Street, Sacramento, CA
$15 at the door -- live music, german food, beer, wine, dancing and more!
http://www.sacramentoturnverein.com/