Growing up as one of six children, my parents would occasionally take us on individual dates and they were such a highlight! Today in partnership with the new Uber Black Henry and I are taking a little Saturday morning date here in Oakland if you’d like to follow along…
Thanks to Uber for sponsoring this post.
Getting a bit of individual attention as one of six kids was a rate treat growing up. Our family now isn’t nearly as large, but I still love planning little dates with the kids. Edie and Dot request it constantly, but Henry’s in that great inbetween stage at age 11 where he’s part teenager, part kid and is pretty independent. It’s a stage I actually really love. He’s still so curious, imaginative, and sweet, but also totally able to understand abstract adult concepts. I really do love spending time with him.
Lately, he’s been really interested in photography so I thought it would be fun to take him up to the Redwood Groves in the Oakland Hills on this rainy Saturday day to take some pictures together. Many people don’t realize how much beauty is up in those hills. There’s so much to explore and it feels so far from the city (even if you’re only a few minutes from downtown Oakland). The drive up is so beautiful through the windy hills and fog.
To make our date extra special we requested an Uber Black trip. Have you used this premium product from Uber before? It really makes things feel special. I love it for fancy dates with Jared and special occasions.
My favorite part about it are the new preferences you can request beforehand when you schedule the ride. Before you even get into the car you can request temperature preferences, request luggage support, and even request a silent ride if you aren’t in the mood to talk. Yeees! I love having these options!
Because we were lugging around a big camera bag we opted for the luggage support. The driver hopped right out to help us with the bag and opened doors for us. It felt really special, and Henry was very excited about the royal treatment, which is exactly how I want these dates to feel for the kids.
Henry has been showing a lot of interested in macro photography and interesting angles, so a Redwood grove seemed like the perfect spot to play around with the camera. We tried to find small, interesting things to photograph. Playing around with the settings and different lenses. The neon green moss is incredible, and the angles looking up towards the treetops are so stunning.
Down the path we found some really amazing natural structures and even a swing to play on. There is always something fun being built in those woods, I’m imagining it would be fun to have a picnic here on a hot day. I love how adventurous Henry is, always willing to try something new and fun. He was so into that swing!
We requested another Uber Black trip and on the walk back Henry told me he was craving onigiri, which is a favorite snack of his we discovered in Japan together when we took a trip there just the two of us a few years back. It’s like a sushi roll in a triangular shape, just larger with more rice. In Japan you can buy them at the convenience stores. Sometimes here I pick them up for his lunch at Berkeley Bowl, but was excited to try them fresh. So we headed down from the hills to Rockridge for the next part of our date together.
This was my first time trying this spot Oori Rice Triangles. Super casual and delicious. Henry picked a couple crab onigiri and I picked a spicy tuna one. Yummy! I’m excited to head back soon. A great, fast snack when you’re running around or need a quick meal. In classic 11 yr old form, Henry picked a funny name for his order and then couldn’t stop laughing when they called out his name.
Of course. The rain started picking up when we left, so requesting another Uber Black trip was perfect. We requested a warmer Temperature Preference even before they arrived. It’s those little things that make a difference, right?
Really love these little dates with Henry. I told him on the way home that he better let me continue to take him on dates when he’s a 16 yr old towering over me. “Sure, mom”, he said, “we’ll just have to call them hanging out instead though”. Okay, fine. I’ll agree to compromise on that!
Photography by Benedicte Lasalle for Say Yes
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I do not get tired of repeating that women definitely need an individual photo shoot https://mediaonemarketing.com.sg/top-photography-studios-singapore/ ! We rarely see ourselves from the outside and do not always understand what eyes others look at us with. Snapshots provide this opportunity. Looking at the pictures taken by a professional photographer, women seem to discover themselves. As a result, we see a transformation that is like a miracle!
Such a lovely date idea! Beautiful photos too! 💕
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
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