Feeling Naked Without This

Posted on September 9, 2014 by phjiao

Is there an item that you wear everyday that you feel naked if you do not have it on? Be it a piece of clothing, jewelry, make-up?

Apart from my phone, I never leave home without this item: my wedding ring. It is funny, but it has become such a part of what I wear everyday. I was thinking about it the other day. Why is it so important to me to wear it everyday and why do I feel like something is missing if I don’t have it on? I came to the conclusion that wearing my wedding ring everyday when I leave the house is like taking a piece of my husband and our love with me. Every time I look at the ring, it reminds me of him, of us, our marriage, and the love we share. I know, may sound cheesy, but it is true.I even wear it to go to the gym. I sometimes go to the gym without any make-up or earrings, but I am always wearing my wedding ring.

For some, the one item they feel naked without may be a watch, lipstick, mascara, a certain necklace, a pair of earrings, or a scapulary. What item do you wear everyday that you feel naked without? Do you know why you feel this way? Does it just make you feel better or is there an emotional connection to the item?

Hugs,

Paola
Tying my tennis shoes before heading to the gym to workout.

Age: Can Be A Sensitive Topic

Posted on September 9, 2014 by phjiao

Today at the gym, a woman asked me my age. She’s a stranger and right out just asked me my age. We were exercising on the stationary bikes (she was two bikes away from me) and I was reading a book, when she greeted me with a “hello” and asked me what I do to stay thin. I smiled and replied, “exercise and diet.” Then she asked me if I had children, to which I replied, “no, not yet.” After that, she asked my age and before I could answer, she immediately followed with, “Are you in your thirties? You look like you are in your early thirties.” Then she said, “I am fifty.” Her directness kind of surprised me. For some women, unless we are at the doctor or filling out some type of official application, asking our age can be a sensitive subject. Men, for the most part, could care less about sharing their age with others.

For me, age is a number and the most important things are to feel happy with your life (at whatever stage you are at), and to be healthy! I am happy to be at the point of my life that I am at and to have learned from my experiences over the years. In certain aspects, I think I am wiser now than I was ten years ago and I try to no longer sweat the small stuff.

Even though I consider age as a number, I’ll never forget a physical I took when I was in my late twenties, which at the end said, “based on your results, you have the health of a 17-year-old.” Yes, a 17 year-old! Yay! So, as long as I feel good and am healthy, that is what matters.

Age is also in one’s attitude. There are people who are 17 that seem like they are 100 or more, and others that are 80 and seem like they are in their twenties because of their positive spirit and energy! I choose to try to stay positive and in good spirits! How about you?

I saw this test recently (on bitecharge.com) and took it, just for fun. It is quick, with only 10 questions that supposedly determine “How Old You Are At Heart.” Not sure what the questions are based on (the site does not provide an explanation), but I took it anyway. I am 25 at heart, and you?

Do you think women are more sensitive about age than men? When was the last time someone asked you your age? Do you freely shared your age?

Hugs,

Paola

PS – Birthday Vacation at Calistoga Ranch & Thoughtful Birthday Gifts I received.

Weekend Fun

Posted on September 6, 2014 by phjiao

This week flew by! What are your plans for the weekend? My husband is preparing for a hunting trip, so I’ll be spending some time with him in his man cave 🙂 I also plan to spend time with our kitties and hopefully relax like Blackie does. He loves to lay by the window and get some sun. I think he enjoys the view from our patio more often than we do! I will also do some reading and catch up on my magazines. Once they start getting stacked on the coffee table, it is time to go through them. Hope you have a nice weekend!

Here are some links from the web – some are fun, some are yummy, some made me reflect, others are just cute! Hope they make you smile.

Hugs,
Paola

I would have loved to have one of these dolls when I was growing up. Would you buy one? / Me hubiera encantado tener una de estas muñecas cuando era niña, tu comprarías una?

Not your average French manicure: Six French manicures that are far from boring. / Seis estilos diferentes de manicure Francés.

Add some fall spice to your pancakes. / Añadele un toque de otoño a tus hotcakes.

This song made me start dancing in the living room…because, how can you not dance to it? Did your hips start moving when you listened to it? / ¡Esta canción me hizo bailar en la sala!

Fashion Week New York is in full swing: Live from Fashion Week. / Fashion Week en Nueva York.

Roseanne Barr remembers Joan Rivers: Hail, Hail, A Vagenius Has Left This Realm. / Roseanne Barr recuerda a Joan Rivers.

Mix it up with these healthy breakfast muffins. They look pretty too! / Panques nutritivos para el desayuno.

Ariana Huffington invites you to try 33 Days to More Well-Being, it’s free! I signed up. / 33 Días Hacia Sentirte Mejor.

Movie I am looking forward to seeing: Romantic comedy with Tina Fey, Jason Bateman, & Jane Fonda, need I say more? / ¡Película que estoy anticipando con gusto ver!

Small romantic wedding – in France. Glad to see Brad & Angelina got married – and shared pictures. Not that it is any of my business anyway 🙂 / Brad y Angelina se casaron – y comparten sus fotos.

For my yogi friends: X-ray Body in Motion – Yoga. / Para mis amigos yogi: Rayos-X Cuerpo en Movimiento – Yoga.

If you watch a DVD: I found this movie interesting and suspenseful, plus I like Liam Neeson movies. Thumbs up & it’s available at RedBox for a dollar & cents. / Si vez un DVD: esta película me gusto – y esta disponible en RedBox por un dolar y centavos.

Hundreds of umbrellas float above streets in Portugal – simply beautiful! / ¡Cientos de paraguas flotan sobre calles de Portugal – hermoso!

If you like Soda Stereo, you’ll miss him & his music. Si te gusta Soda Stereo, lo extrañaras a el y su música.

Looking Good While Exercising = Feeling Good

Posted on September 5, 2014 by phjiao

As you know, I try to exercise often, to maintain my weight, but it is also part of my lifestyle. I feel better when I exercise – and sleep better, it also helps me de-stress! I try to find ways to make exercise fun. Lola, my close friend and exercise buddy, is part of that fun! We exercise together at least once a week.

I try to have a variety of exercise outfits that I like, and most importantly that I feel comfortable in. It makes me feel good to look good (& comfortable), even when I am exercising. Lola is the same way. Every once in a while, she’ll show up with a new exercise polo, cute top, or complete outfit! I mostly wear exercise tank tops and black leggings. Last week, I was looking for some new sports bras and went to TJ Maxx because the store is close to the gym, plus my friend Edna had mentioned a necklace she bought there. I hadn’t been to that store in years. To my pleasant surprise, I found a few other nice items…and this cute RBX Active exercise top (only $14.99), all at great prices! I liked the exercise top so much, that I bought one to give to Lola as a gift!

Yesterday, when I walked into her home, she immediately complimented me on my new exercise top. I said thank you and then gave her a gift bag. Inside was the exercise top for her! She started to laugh and even her husband got a kick out of it. This is not the first time I do this, in the past, I have given her exercise tops & outfits that I also buy for myself, but this was the first time I was also wearing that same item.

I have a few favorite exercise tops and pants, and it seems I wash them every week. But, I promised myself I will start using the exercise clothes at the bottom of my drawers, to add variety to my exercise ensembles.

Do you have any favorite exercise outfits? Do you feel better when you exercise in cute outfits? I’d love to hear about them – and you can also share pictures along with your comment 🙂

Hugs,

Paola

POST PHOTOS, click “Read More” & ESPAÑOL oprima en “Read More”

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Date Night: Sushi On The Rock – La Jolla

Posted on August 29, 2014 by phjiao

Date night is a good way to change up your routine, get out on the town, and see new places! My hubby and I eat out a few times per week, but usually at a handful of places close to the house or we get take-out. The rest of the nights I cook him dinner, make a snack for me (I try not to eat a heavy dinner) and we eat together at home.

I had been wanting to go to La Jolla and finally talked my hubby into it. He is such a sweetheart that he even accepted to go to Sushi on the Rock with me….and he doesn’t like sushi. I used to spend more time in La Jolla when I was single, usually dinner with friends or out on a date. Sushi on the Rock was one of my favorite restaurants, mostly because I love sushi….oh, and the food is good, there is a nice view from their patio, and the prices are reasonable.

It was nice to go to La Jolla on an official “date night” with my hubby. I put on a little black summer dress and we were on our way to La Jolla. We had a nice conversation and laughs over dinner. It was a relaxing evening, no rush to get home to get things done! We did a little window shopping on Prospect in La Jolla after dinner. I bought a hat and my hubby bought some books. Overall, it was a very nice evening! We got out of the house, change up our routine, and connected over “date night!” We even held hands as we walked around La Jolla, how romantic….what more can a girl ask for?

Below, I share some pictures from our date night….hope you like them!

Do you go out on date night? Where? Do you have a special place you go to or do you go to different places?

Hugs,

Paola
En ESPAÑOL después de estas fotos.

Arriving in La Jolla. / Llegando a La Jolla.

My entree….my favorite, a rainbow roll (took the California roll home, it was too much food). / Mi platillo….mi favorito, el rollo arco iris (me lleve el rollo California a casa, era mucha comida).

My hubby had egg rolls & fried rice. / Mi marido ceno los rollitos de primavera-chun cun y arroz frito.

We shared dessert, deep fried sundae….I had two bites & the strawberries 🙂 / Compartimos el postre, un sundae empanizado…me comi dos cucharadas y las fresas 🙂

There are a multiple art galleries in La Jolla, with beautiful pieces! / ¡Hay varias galerías de arte en La Jolla, con piezas hermosas!

Some stores already have fall attire displayed. / Algunas tiendas ya tienen ropa de otoño en sus ventanales.

Geppetto’s, one of my favorite toy stores. / Geppetto’s, una de mis tiends de juguetes favoritas.

Benefit was closed after we left the restaurant, I’ll have to come back! 😉 / ¡Benefit estaba cerrada depués de que salimos del restaurante, tendré que regresar! 😉

ESPAÑOL: ¡Salir una noche con tu pareja es una buena manera de cambiar la rutina, salir a pasearte en la noche, y ver lugares nuevos! Mi marido y yo salimos a cenar unas cuantas veces por semana, pero por lo regular es a restaurantes cerca de la casa u ordenamos algo para comer en casa. El resto de las noches, le hago cena y yo me preparo una botanita (no me gusta cenar platillos pesados) y comemos juntos en casa.

Tenía ganas de ir a La Jolla y por fin convenci a mi marido. Es tan lindo conmigo que hasta acepto ir a Sushi on the Rock… y a el no le gusta el sushi. Antes, cuando era soltera, yo pasaba mas tiempo en La Jolla cenando con amistades. Sushi On The Rock era uno de mis restaurantes favoritos, principalmente porque me encanta el sushi…ha, y también porque la comida es rica, tiene buena vista del patio, y los precios no son caros.

Fue lindo salir a La Jolla con mi maridito en una salida romantica “oficial.” Me puse un vestidito veraniego negro y salimos rumbo a La Jolla. Tuvimos una conversación amena y risas durante la cena. Fue una cena relajada, sin tener que apurarnos para llegar a casa por un pendiente. Después de cenar, salimos a caminar y ver las tiendas por Prospect en La Jolla. Me compre un sombrero y mi marido se compro unos libros. ¡Fue una noche muy amena! ¡Nos salimos de la casa, cambiamos la rutina, y nos conectamos en una “noche fuera!” Hasta nos agarramos de la mano mientras caminamos por La Jolla, que romántico… qué mas puede pedi una chica?

Aquí les comparto unas fotos de nuestra noche fuera…. ojala les gusten.

¿Tu sales en una noche romántica con tu pareja? ¿A dónde? ¿Van a algun lugar especial o cambian de lugares?

Un abrazo,

Paola

Celebrando Latinas 2014 Conference Photos / Conferencia Fotos

Posted on August 29, 2014 by phjiao

The Celebrando Latinas Conference was wonderful! An inspirational day for Latina women to listen to excellent speakers, get motivated, pampered, get a mini-make-over, do some shopping, enjoy a fashion show and dedicate a day to Continue reading →

Have Fun With Dinner: Making Pizza At Home

Posted on August 27, 2014 by phjiao

Lately, I’ve been cooking more for my hubby and trying new recipes. We both like pizza, but of course, I rarely eat it because Continue reading →

Organizing Your Bracelets For Maximum Use

Posted on August 26, 2014 by phjiao

Bracelets are an accessory that has been worn since 5000 BC, dating back to the Egyptians. Right now, wearing multiple stacked bracelets and even wearing them on both arms is in fashion. I have multiple costume jewelry bracelets. As with most of my other accessories, the 80-20 rule applies to my bracelets. It seems I wear 20% of the same bracelets, 80% of the time.

I have a walk-in closet and a dresser area with a mirror where I get ready every morning. The last things I put on are the accessories. My closet is pretty organized, I have select drawers and jewelry boxes where I keep my costume jewelry. Last year, I purchased a hanging jewelry organizer. I originally planned to place it on the wall behind the closet door, then realized it was more practical to place it next to the area where my dressing area is, since that is where I get ready every morning. Every night, I will lay out the jewelry that I plan to wear on the dresser. I started to notice I was wearing the jewelry from this hanging organizer more often and would sometimes forget I had the other bracelets stored in the jewelry drawers and jewelry boxes. Does this happen to you too?

On a recent visit to The Container Store with my hubby, I noticed an acrylic jewelry stand. I bought it so I could keep additional bracelets on my dresser area. If I see the bracelets out and keep them handy, I will wear them more often. I was pleased with the number of bracelets that fit on the stand. I may need to buy one or two more jewelry stands for the other bracelets I have in the drawers.

How do you organize your bracelets? Do you have many bracelets? Does the 80-20 rule apply to your jewelry wearing habits?

Hugs,

Paola

En ESPAÑOL después de estas fotos.

One the jewelry box drawers where I stored bracelets.

I also stored bracelets in a drawer.

The hanging jewelry organizer (similar one sold at The Container Store & Bed Bath & Beyond). I keep bracelets in the larger compartments.

The acrylic jewelry stand from The Container Store.

Initially I placed 8 bracelets on the stand.

Then, I noticed I could place a few more on the bottom section, to maximize the use of the stand (the bracelets on the bottom are cuffs that open on one side).

ESPAÑOL:

Las pulseras son un accesorio que ha sido usado desde 5000 AC, desde los tiempos de los Egipcios. Ahorita, usar varias pulseras a la vez esta muy demora. Tengo varias pulseras de fantasía y como la mayoría de mi joyería, la regla del 80-20 aplica a mis pulseras. Parece que uso 20% de la misma pulsera, 80% del tiempo.

En mi closet, tengo un área con un tocador donde me arreglo cada mañana. Lo ultimo que me pongo son los accesorios. Tengo unos cajones y joyeros del otro lado del closet donde guardo mis pulseras. El año pasado, compre un organizador de joyas que se cuelga. Originalmente planeaba ponerlo en la pared detrás de la puerta del closet, pero me di cuenta que seria mas practico tenerlo cerca del tocador donde me arreglo. Cada noche, saco los accesorios que me voy a poner para el siguiente día y los dejo sobre el tocador. Comencé a notar que estaba usando las pulseras que estaban en el organizador de joyas mas seguido y aveces se me olvidaba que tenia otras pulseras guardadas en los cajones y los joyeros. ¿Esto te pasa a ti también?

En una visita reciente a The Container Store con mi esposo, vi esta base de acrilico para pulseras. La compre para poder acomodar mas pulseras en mi tocador. Si veo las pulseras y las tengo a la mano, me las pondre mas seguido. Me dio gusto que pude acomodar varias de las pulseras en la base. Quizás ocupe una o dos bases mas para acomodar otras pulseras que tengo el los cajones.

¿Cómo organizas tus pulseras? ¿Tienes varias pulseras y las usas seguido?

Un abrazo,
Paola

¡Celebrate A Ti Misma! Dedicate Un Día en Celebrando Latina

Posted on August 20, 2014 by phjiao

¿Cuando fue la ultima vez que te dedicaste un día a ti misma? Como mujeres cuidamos a muchas personas, los hijos, el marido, hogar, trabajo, y más! La ultima persona a la que pensamos en cuidar aveces resulta ser uno misma. Somos fuentes de amor para nuestras familias y amistades, pero si no nos cuidamos, esa fuente se puede secar. Es fácil caer en la rutina de las ocupaciones de nuestras vidas cotidianas. No nos damos tiempo para aprender cosas nuevas que nos motiven, ir a que nos consientan en una estética, o simplemente de respirar profundamente. ¡Tu haces mucho y te mereces Dedicarte un Día a Tí – el 23 de agosto!

Es por esto, que Fanny Miller, editora y presidenta de Periódico El Latino, tuvo la visión de crear la Conferencia Celebrando Latinas. ¡Es la Conferencia mas grande en Español en todo el país creada especialmente para mujeres Latinas, como tu y yo! ¿Apoco no es emocionante poder ser parte de esta gran Conferencia? ¡A mi si me emociona! Es un día dedicado a ti, la mujer Latina de hoy que tiene muchas responsabilidades, pero aun así se quiere superar, aprender, divertirse, y ser feliz. ¡Será un día para rodearte de la energía positiva de mujeres como tu y de conectarte con otras Latinas!

Te podrás dejar apapachar con un mini-cambio de maquillaje y ver lo ultimo en las tendencias de la moda en el desfile de modas. Habrán sesiones educativas que te motivaran, con temas de: autoestima, éxito, valores, nutrición, carreras profesionales, y finanzas. Contara con la participación de oradores reconocidos, una Expo con exámenes de salud gratuitos, belleza, tecnología, y negocios. El día culminará con la Fiesta Celebrando con música y entretenimiento. Ademas, tu boleto incluye almuerzo – todo esto y mas en el hermoso hotel Hilton Bayfront en la bahía de San Diego.

¡Unete a mi y Latinas en San Diego, trae a tu hermana, mamá, y comadres, y ven a Celebrando Latinas! ¡Será un día divertido, que enriquecerá tu vida, y recordarás!

¡Yo estoy anticipando con gusto el día de la Conferencia y espero verte ahi! Para mas detalles y comprar tu boleto, visita las oficinas de El Latino, en 555 H Street, Chula Vista, visita www.CelebrandoLatinas.com, o llama al 619-426-1491. Compra tu boleto hoy ya que se agotan.

Un abrazo,
Paola

Expanding Your Happiness: 21 Day Meditation Experience with Oprah & Deepak

Posted on August 19, 2014 by phjiao

Super Soul Sunday on OWN is one of my favorite shows. Every Sunday morning I look forward to watching it. The shows are inspirational, thought provoking, and positive. They often make me reflect on my own life. Oprah Winfrey hosts the hour long show, and interviews one person on each program, usually an author, athlete, business leader that has gone out of the box, poet, guru, musician, or actor. Each one of them has an inspirational story to share.

Recently, Oprah interviewed Deepak Chopra on the program. During a commercial break, I saw a promo regarding the Oprah & Deepak Expanding Your Happiness – 21 Day Meditation Experience. I went on my iPad and looked it up on the OWN website, made a note of the date and later registered on-line. Did I mention, this meditation experience (guided meditation) is FREE? It is FREE!! Oprah & Deepak have partnered in the past for free on-line meditation programs, but this is the first time I was aware of the dates and signed up to participate. I didn’t know what to expect, but being a fan of both of them, I knew it would be good!

The meditation started a few days ago. I’ve been doing it for a week now and love it! I find (make) the time at night, to meditate just before I go to sleep. I use my iPad to sign-in to the site, put on my earphones, an eye mask, turn off the bedroom light, and place the IPad next to me (I close the cover to avoid the bright light). It is very relaxing! I am able to meditate, to listen to the positive messages shared by Oprah & Deepak in the opening of each meditation session. Each session is only 20 minutes and there is a theme for each day. Below are samples of themes thus far. The meditations include relaxing nature music which soothes my mind after a busy day! I feel like I am at a spa….but I am at home, meditating!

You can still sign up – for FREE! Each meditation theme stays posted in the site for five days. So you may miss only a few of the starting days, but no worries, you can start on the first day available on the site. You can sign-in to do the daily meditations at a time in your day that is convenient for you. I promise you, it is wonderful!

Hope you sign up and enjoy it as much as I am enjoying it! You deserve to dedicate 20 minutes in your day to your well-being! This meditation practice brings me peace every night and is the best way to end my day in relaxation!

Do you meditate? Have you heard of this Meditation Experience with Oprah & Deepak? If you are already signed-up for it, what do you think? Are you enjoying it?

Namaste friends (& hugs too),

Paola

Healthy & Low-Cal Ice-Cream – It Exists!!

Posted on August 13, 2014 by phjiao

Who doesn’t like ice-cream? I sure like it! But, I rarely buy it for our home because it is one of those desserts which Continue reading →

Birthday Vacation: Francis Ford Coppola Winery

Posted on August 7, 2014 by phjiao

Hi friends –

My hubby and I had been wanting to visit the Francis Ford Coppola Winery in Northern California for some time. He had already been to the Winery about five years ago, but we wanted to go wine tasting together. During one of our visits to San Francisco last year, we had made a dinner reservation at the Winery, but decided to stay in the city instead and ended up canceling the reservation. When we were planning the trip for my birthday this year, my hubby suggested we visit the Winery. It was a wonderful way to spend our last day in wine country!

The Francis Ford Coppola Winery is owned by Coppola – the famous movie director. We have enjoyed their wines over the years and it was a treat to visit the Winery. It is a unique winery, because it has a Hollywood twist to it, with memorabilia from many of Coppola’s & his daughter Sofia’s movies. The views of the vineyard are breathtaking and there is a pool where families can enjoy their day. The history of the Winery and Coppola’s vision for it can be found on the website.

The Winery is a destination worth visiting! You can spend the entire day there…..do some wine tasting, take a tour, have an Italian lunch, visit the Movie Gallery (museum), buy some wine or movie related gifts, take a dip in the pool or catch some rays in a lounge chair as you relax….then do some more wine tasting at one their multiple bars.

I’ve been to multiple wineries and this one is a special one! If you visit wine country in Northern California, this is a must see winery! The visit will be memorable!

Here are some pics from our visit, hope you like them!

Have you tried the Coppola wines? Do you have a favorite winery?

Hugs,

Paola

PS – Birthday Vacation at Calistoga Ranch in Napa, the The Auberge Spa, and Mount Shasta. Plus, thoughtful birthday gifts I received.

Arriving at the Winery.

The gates at the entrance are a popular picture spot

The first thing you see when you arrive is the guest services area, like you would see at a theme park. Staff is super friendly and one of them even walked us to the restaurant.

We had lunch at Rustic – it is traditional Italian cuisine & delicious!

My hubby opted for the Tasting Menu.

My hubby’s main entree – rigatoni and meatballs.

I ordered a caesar salad as my entree.

We tried the wine flight.

And, he selected Panna Cotta for dessert.

They also brought me a little cake because we were celebrating my birthday!

The restaurant also offered an assortment of wines and cocktails.

The patio seating at Rustic – with an amazing view!

Gorgeous!

The bar located just outside of Rustic.

The exhibits from the Movie Gallery (museum) – continued below.

One of the tasting bars – located in the middle of the Movie Gallery.

The desk & chair from The Godfather movie! Awesome! Those movies are classics!

Coppola’s many awards!

The second level of the Movie Gallery.

The gift shop.

The tasting bar located on the second level.

Poster from the movie his daughter, Sofia Coppola, directed.

Picture with his daughter.

The Pool Cafe.

The pool & cabines area (cabanas).

The Pavilion.

Every detail follows the Winery’s theme – even the elevator had movie memorabilia!

It was a beautiful, warm & clear day – to visit the Winery! The perfect way to wrap up our vacation in Northern California!

We headed back to the city – San Francisco to catch our flight back home. No matter how many times we drive over the bridge, it never gets old! We love SF!

Learning to Meditate: Clearing My Mind Before Going to Sleep

Posted on August 5, 2014 by phjiao

Hi friends,

Learning new things and about other cultures is fascinating to me. I believe in personal growth and continuous improvement. Over the past years, I have learned from my experiences, and have become a more positive, balanced, and reflective person. Guess it comes with age – and experiences (good and bad experiences). To a certain degree, I have also become a calmer person, a more understanding and accepting person. I work everyday on trying to be appreciative and demonstrate gratitude for the many blessings I have, to let go of the things I cannot control or change. In the past few years, I have adopted the motto, “As long as someone is not hurting me or affecting me (or a loved one/others) in a negative way, then I just let it be and focus on the positive things in my life.” I can only control my words and actions, not those of others. Life is short, I try to enjoy it and am trying to live in the moment, which can be hard to do with my type A personality.

In the past, I have practiced yoga and found it to be relaxing. Lately, I have had so much on my mind and find it challenging to turn off my thoughts even during yoga. My thoughts just enter my mind a thousand miles a minute, making it difficult to get into my “yoga relaxation zone.” Sometimes, it is exhausting to have so much on my mind. Exercise and yoga have always helped me de-stress, and I am hoping to get back to that place soon – where I can clear my mind and make the best decisions.

I had read about meditation before and have been reading more about it in the past few weeks. I have become very interested in the subject and am trying to learn how to meditate. The first meditation technique I learned during a class was from Brooke Bunge, yoga instructor, at Calistoga Ranch. Brooke told me to relax in a comfortable position, focus on my breathing, and either to repeat a word of choice or to count my breaths. By word of choice, she meant a word that applied to the moment, if I wanted to relax to repeat that word, if I wanted change to repeat that word, if I wanted clarity, to repeat it, you get the drift.

Since we returned from Calistoga, I have tried to meditate every night before I go to sleep. I start by laying on my back (in bed) in a comfortable position, then repeat the word “peace.” Or, if I have had a very hectic day, I repeat “relax”over and over. I place my hands on stomach so I can feel the breathing and be aware of it. I start with deep breathes and then gradually more relaxing breathes. Many thoughts drift through my mind (mostly my “to do” list, or things that happened during the day, or thoughts of things that are months away), I just try to keep repeating the word and visualizing what “relax” represents for me. At some point, when I am ready to go to sleep, I turn on my side because I can’t sleep on my back. Then, before I know it, I feel relaxed and fall asleep without the hundreds of thought continuing in my mind.

I have also tried meditating at the gym as part of my cool down after exercising. I’ll share more about what seemed like loooong 10 minutes of meditation in one of my next posts. I have also found some interesting materials to read and a meditation that will be done globally. Oprah will also be hosting a free 21-day Meditation Experience, along with Deepok Chopra. I signed up for both. I’ll write about these soon!

Have you meditated? What do you think of meditation?

Hugs,

Paola

Birthday Vacation: The Auberge Spa at Calistoga Ranch

Posted on August 1, 2014 by phjiao

Hi friends,

Hope you are all doing well! Sorry, I’ve been absent for a few days. I’ve been dealing with some things. For now, writing and sharing with you is a nice experience for me and brings me peace, so I will continue to share. I appreciate your support and hope you like these posts – at least as much as I like sharing them with you!

I am continuing with the pending posts from my birthday celebration – here are the pictures from The Auberge Spa at Calistoga Ranch. It was quite a treat! The spa is on the property, nestled in the wooded canyon of Napa. The Spa’s website describes it as a “rejuvenating natural Napa spa sanctuary,” and it is just that, a sanctuary! The spa is unique, it is completely open and feels like you are in a tree top in the middle of the canyon. There are multiple relaxation areas, soaking pools that overlook the creek, outdoor garden showers, and an area with lounge chairs where you can enjoy some natural rays from the sun.

Before our trip, my hubby and I had booked appointments to go to the spa together, but then he found out his favorite soccer team was playing in the finals of the World Cup, so we called to change his appointment to an earlier time so he could enjoy the game (BTW, the team he was rooting for won). My hubby got a sports massage, I got a Classic Ranch Massage (swedish massage) & customized facial. The massage was quite good, they have a signature oil, among other massage oil options. There was one unique method during the massage which I had not experienced in the past – while I was laying on my back with a massage roll under my knees, the massage therapist held my legs up and rocked them from side to side, then folded them to each side for a few seconds. It was similar to a stretch done in yoga, but she was holding the weight of my legs. She said it as a good stretch for the lower back. For the facial, I lucked out with the lead esthetician – she gave me a skin analysis and a facial which included peptides and multiple natural antioxidants. She also gave me their signature sculpting facial massage, which is used in Japan, and is supposed to tone and firm the skin. This sculpting facial massage was a first for me.

The spa feels very private and because I booked my treatments for the middle of the day, I was the only one there. I had the entire spa to myself! It was very relaxing! During my facial, I asked if the spa is open to the public. I was told the spa is reserved for the exclusive use of guests staying at the resort, which explained why felt so private and quiet. It kind of makes sense since there is only one entrance to the Resort and once you check in, you are transported everywhere on golf carts. She did tell me that previous resort and spa guests can visit the spa by calling the spa directly and mentioning they had a treatment there in the past. So, they may make the exception for previous guests.

I bought a moisturizer for my face and a peptide cream. I started using the moisturizer recently, let’s see if I notice a difference.

Here are some pics from my visit to the spa – hope you like them!

When was the last time you went to a spa, or got a massage or facial? Do you have any spa recommendations?

Hugs,

Paola

PS- I’ll share pics from our last day in Napa and our visit to the Coppola Winery in one of my next posts.

Arriving at the spa – the signage says Bathhouse.

The key for my locker – cute, a Calistoga Ranch wine cork is used as a key chain (the resort has its own wine).

The women’s dressing room area, there are only fourteen lockers, it is quite a private resort.

They have all the regular “freshen up” amenities available at a spa. I took a quick pic in the robe 🙂

Outside of the women’s dressing room area, there is a private sitting area and two outdoor showers. The other lounge areas, outdoor showers, and soaking pools at the spa are co-ed.

One of the sitting areas.

The refreshment area.

The weather was warm – I stayed refreshed with this fruit infused water.

The main lounge “relaxation” area.

There was also a variety of hot teas available.

The lounge chairs overlooking the creek.

This jacuzzi is kept hot, due to the war weather, I opted for the soaking pool (pictured below).

I saw this beautiful dragonfly on my way to the soaking pool.

I enjoyed some time in this soaking pool. It was nice that it was covered, so I got shade (& protection) from the sun.

Behind those glass doors there is a sauna. The towels in the bowl are kept on ice. I freshened up at this outdoor shower before I went in for my massage and facial.

Overall, the spa is amazing! Just like the spas we see in magazines!

Hope you liked these pics! I’ll share pics from our last day in Napa and our visit to the Coppola Winery in one of my next posts.

Bold Pattern Dress: Jade & White

Posted on July 10, 2014 by phjiao

Hi friends –

I hope your week is going well. Patterns are in, be it squares, lines, polka dots, of graphics, they are everywhere. I usually wear sold colors, mostly because they look better on camera. On a personal basis, I prefer solids because I like sleek lines and classic styles. Plus they can be easier to mix and match, and make one look slimmer. Having said that, I have been incorporating more patterns into my wardrobe and having fun with it!

This dress is fun to wear – and probably one of the pieces with the boldest patterns in my closet! I can match it with different styles of shoes & jewelry, which is always a plus. In winter, I can wear it in with boots, or tights and booties.

The dress came with a wrap around belt made of the same material. For this look, I changed it up by adding a white belt, jade jewelry, & pewter heels.

Hope you like the look!

Do you have dresses with bold patterns? Or, do you wear solid colors more often?

Hugs,

Paola

Dress: Kohl’s; Shoes: Coach, Macy’s; Belt: Ann Taylor; Necklace: Tiffany & Co; Earrings: Jade & Silver, Lolita’s Creations; Ring: Macy’s Fine Jewelry; Bracelets: jade (purchase d on vacation in China)

Photos by: Lola Raggio

Birthday Vacation – Part 2: Calistoga Ranch

Posted on July 7, 2014 by phjiao

Hi friends,

For the second part of my birthday trip, we spent two days at Calistoga Ranch – An Auberge Resort, in Napa. It is an amazing Resort! This is where we celebrated my birthday. My hubby really outdid himself with this gift! Every detail was taken care of, it was a very nice & personalized experience!

The resort is set back into the mountains of Napa , with only about 60 lodges on the property, giving guests privacy and tranquility. Each lodge is located on an individual lot and guests are transported throughout the Resort on golf carts.

Here are some pictures from our stay at Calistoga Ranch! If you want to celebrate a special occasion, I recommend this resort! It will be a memorable & unique experience!

Hope you like the pics!

Have you been to Napa? What was a memorable vacation you took?

Hugs,

Paola

PS – I’ll share pics from our visit to the spa in the next blog post.

Arriving at Calistoga Ranch.

This is where guests are greeted upon arrival.

The reception area.

This was our lodge – 138 Lake. It was a little piece of heaven in wine country!

We were greeted with a birthday surprise! Such a treat! My hubby had made the arrangements for this, ahhhh, so romantic!

My hubby had also gotten me a spa package for the next day.

Our room…..heaven!!!

Each lodge comes with it’s customized IPad.

This bathroom is gorgeous! With a bathtub in the middle, shower in the corner, and two separate vanity sections. It has windows looking toward the outdoor shower.

Of course, the women’t vanity is the larger one….that is what our host told us as part of the tour of the lodge.

The outdoor shower….amazing! I showered here that evening. It was nice to look up to see the stars at night!

The walk-in closet.

During our stay, I enjoyed a relaxing bath with these citrus salts.

Our deck. We sat here to enjoy some Calistoga wine in the afternoon.

The weather was in the 90s, which is quite warm for me, so I was wearing a light summer dress with sandals. I had brought another dress & heals to change into for dinner, but it was so warm and the restaurant has an outside deck, that I decided to simply add a light scarf to my outfit and remove my hat. And, I called the restaurant ahead of time to confirm casual attire was appropriate.

Our room was turned down for the evening. Robes & slippers are always a nice touch.

Fresh water was set by our bed for the evening.

I was going to try to take a stroll before dinner….and this rascal surprised me! More like – startled me! He was on the deck located by the entrance of the lodge, I couldn’t leave without crossing his path. I am afraid of large squirrels because once in San Francisco a squirrel (a small one) climbed up my husband’s sweater and almost tried to get into his shirt! So, I stay cautiously away from them. This particular critter was quite big, it looked more like a big cat than a squirrel!

It kept running on our deck and onto the tree. I took these pictures from inside the room.

He kept me hostage for about 15 minutes!

Then, I realized he was thirsty. By that time, we were ready to head out for dinner and my hubby went on the deck to ensure the little critter went back to the canyon side (and off our deck!), before I came out of the room.

This is the walkway toward our lodge.

The wine cellar.

The restaurant. It is only available for guests staying at the Resort.

The restaurant overlooks a lake and canyon area, these deer were just a few steps away from us.

My hubby had the three course menu – with steak as his main entree.

I stuck to one entree – a lamb dish. I rarely eat meat, this dish was tender and quite tasty, with mushrooms and pasta!

My hubby had some sorbet for dessert (sorry, not pictured)….at the end of the dinner, they brought us these little lemon tart treats, so cute! Perfect for the palette!

I went for a walk throughout the Resort in the evening. It was quiet and serene. You can definitely disconnect and relax here.

The pool was open 24 hours and lit up for the evening (but nobody was there).

The next day, we got an early start and enjoyed room service for breakfast. I started this new year right, with fresh fruit and rich coffee! It was a treat to have a relaxing breakfast with my hubby! The perfect way to start my birthday!

After breakfast, I took a yoga class on the deck. I was able to stretch, relax, and reflect. A wonderful start to a relaxing day!

This is Brooke Bunge, the yoga instructor. Her class was excellent! She taught me some relaxation and meditation techniques. I have been using them every night before I go to sleep and they help me clear my mind.

After yoga, I changed into a summer dress and went for a walk.

The restaurant – with the mountains in the background. This view was breath taking! I was glad I ventured over the bridge and got to see this view.

The pool area looked even more beautiful during the day!

Oh yes, there was a gym….an open air gym overlooking the pool. It was a little too warm for me to use the gym. There was also an enclosed section with air conditioning….in case you are wondering, because I did!

The Resort also had bicycles guests could borrow. There are some vineyards close by making for a scenic bicycle ride.

After the walk, I headed back to our lodge to change for my appointment at the spa. I’ll write about my spa experience in my next post. It is a unique & beautiful spa….I’ve never been to a spa quite like this one, it made me feel like I was at a spa located in a tree top!

4th of July Celebration

Posted on July 6, 2014 by phjiao

How did you spend the 4th of July? Did you go to the beach, a barbecue, and did you go see fireworks? We went to the 4th of July Celebration held at the Olympic Training Center. It is a family friendly event, with music, dancing, children’s activities, food and of course, fireworks.

We brought our own little picnic table and chairs, and set up in the grass area. It was fun to catch up with my sister and spend time with the boys!

Afterwards, we went to my sister’s home for a visit and they gave me my birthday gifts! I hadn’t seen my sister in about two weeks and missed her. We enjoyed a margarita and chatted for a while! It was a fun fourth of July with family!

Here are some pics from our time at the event….in case you want to take a look 🙂

Hope you enjoy your weekend!

What did you do this 4th of July?

Hugs,

Paola

We set up our picnic table & chairs in the grass area. That evening we gave our nephews the animal finger puppets we brought them from Mount Shasta, they played with them all evening!

My nephew was in the front yard of his home waiting to greet us when we arrived! He was waiving the flag & dressed in a red, white, & blue RL Polo shirt, very stylish & appropriate for the 4th! He also had a lei on, too cute!

There was music & dancing!

And food…..I got some tri tip & potato salad for my hubby.

It was nice to see lots of families dancing this year!

Then, the fireworks started!

My favorite part was seeing the amazement in my nephews faces!

There were lots of oohs & aahs!

Margarita time!

ESPAÑOL:

¿Como festejaron el 4 de julio? Fueron a la playa, una carne asada, o a ver los fuegos artificiales? Nosotros fuimos a la Celebración del 4 de Julio organizada por la Asociación de Eastlake, en el Centro de Entrenamiento Olímpico. Es un evento para toda la familia, con música, baile, actividades para niños, comida, y por supuesto fuegos artificiales.

Trajimos nuestra propia mesa y sillas, y nos acomodamos en el area de vacate. ¡Disfrute el tiempo con mi hermana y sobrinos!

Después del evento, fuimos a la casa de mi hermana y me dieron mis regalos de cumpleaños. Tenía casi dos semanas que no veia a mi hermana y la extrañaba. ¡Disfrutamos unas margaritas y platicamos un rato! ¡Fue un 4 de julio divertido, con la familia!

Aquí hay algunas fotos del evento…..por si las quieren ver 🙂

¡Ojala disfrutes tu fin de semana!

¿Qué hiciste el 4 de julio?

Un abrazo,

Paola

DVD for the Holiday: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Posted on July 4, 2014 by phjiao

Hi friends,

Hope you are enjoying your Fourth of July holiday! We are relaxing at home today, while I catch up on the blog. Later on, we’ll meet my sister, brother-in-law, & the boys to head to see fireworks in Eastlake. I am excited to see them!

This long weekend, is ideal for watching a movie or getting a DVD to watch in the comfort of home. Recently, I watched The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and it is a movie that made me reflect! First of all, I like Ben Stiller and think he is an entertaining actor. Ben plays Walter Mitty, he also produced and directed the movie. The movie takes you through what begins as Walter’s ordinary life, transformed by some amazing trips. The changes he makes are somewhat forced on him due to changes at the company where he works. It also includes a romantic story with his Kristen Wiig. And of course, I have to mention that there is a brief part by Sean Penn, he always seems like Mr. Cool, ha! Overall, it is an entertaining, feel good movie, with some amazing locations! I liked it more than I had expected to, which is always a nice surprise. It is rated PG, making it a good option for the entire family.

We rented the movie at Red Box and enjoyed watching it at home. You can watch the movie trailer here: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Will you be watching any movies this weekend? Do you recommend any good DVD movies you’ve seen recently?

Hugs,

Paola

Birthday Vacation – Part 1: Mount Shasta

Posted on July 2, 2014 by phjiao

Hi friends,

To celebrate my birthday this year my hubby asked me what I wanted to do. I chose a trip! We couldn’t go too far because both of us could only take a few days off from work. He chose the location – and I agreed! We went to Northern California for five days. Initially, we were only going to go to Napa and maybe spend a day in San Francisco, but we’ve been there multiple times, so we decided to add Mount Shasta to our mini-vacation. We went to Mount Shasta, Calistoga Ranch in Napa, and Santa Rosa in Sonoma – in that order.

Our trip started with an early morning flight to San Francisco. After landing, we picked up our rental car and drove to Mount Shasta, which is about a four hour ride. We were both in a relaxed mode. About an hour into the drive, we stopped to pick up snacks and have some breakfast. After breakfast, I took over the wheel and drove the remaining portion of the trip on interstate 5. My hubby is from San Francisco, so we visit often and have been to the surrounding cities in the past, but never as far north as Mount Shasta. It is a simple drive (once you get out of the city) on the 5, mostly passing multiple cities on the boundary of the freeway, followed by lots of open land and fields. During our drive, I saw a few sunflower fields and they reminded me of my sister, since that is her favorite flower. Once we hit the Mount Shasta area, the drive was filled with amazing landscape, it was mountainous with large forest trees as far as the eye could see.

We checked into Mount Shasta Resort. We had a cabin nestled in the mountain, right next to Lake Siskiyou. The cabin was just the perfect way to spend some time in the forest, relax, and connect with mother nature.

After we got settled into our cabin, we took a nap and then went out to explore the city and have some dinner. There wasn’t much to see, just a few little shops, restaurants, and lodges. When we returned to the to the cabin we went for a walk around the lake area.

The next day, I slept in, which was nice! My body needed the rest. Mid-morning, I went to the clubhouse to pick up some breakfast for us. We had breakfast on the patio, with a view of the lake. It was very relaxing! Later in the day, we went to Shasta-Trinity National Forest and stopped at a few of the surrounding towns. We wanted to see waterfalls and chose to go to the Middle Falls overlook trail.

That evening, we went back to Mount Shasta for dinner at Liliy’s, a cute local restaurant with a french menu. The next day, we were going to visit the Mount Shasta Museum and the Mount Shasta Trout Hashery. It is the largest trout hatchery west of the Mississippi ( located next to the Museum). Since it was still early, we decided to find the Museum, so we knew where to head the next day. To our pleasant surprise, the Museum was still open because there was a play being performed that evening. We got to see the Museum and walk around the Hatchery. The Museum is small, but has some interesting exhibits regarding the history of the area. We really couldn’t see the trout in the water because it was getting dark, so we decided we’d come back the next day.

On our last day in Mount Shasta, we watched the World Cup match (Mexico vs. Netherlands) in the morning. I was disappointed that Mexico lost, but we never lose hope, they is always the next World Cup to play in again (I am following Mexico, USA, & Germany). After the game, we headed to the clubhouse for brunch and to check out. The Resort has a beautiful golf course, which the restaurant overlooks.

After brunch, we went back to the Museum to check out the trout hatchery. It was very interesting and fascinating. The hatchery is operated by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and funded from fishing license fees. It is open to the public and admission is free. There are small vending machines where you can buy food to feed the fish. It was interesting to see the multiple tanks that the trout are kept in and the process followed to raise them. The entire process takes 18 months, from hatching to release into a lake. I had never seen so many trout in one place!

After visiting the Museum, we started our drive towards Calistoga Ranch in Napa. I’ll share pictures of Calistoga Ranch-an Auberge Resort in my next post.

Hope you like these pictures from our visit to Mount Shasta!

Have you been to Mount Shasta or Northern California? Do you go camping? What do you prefer – to stay in a cabin, tent, or RV?

Hugs,
Paola

Mount Shasta.

This was our cabin.

This was our rental car. It was perfect for the drive in the mountains and wine country!

My hubby’s dinner. I ate the asparagus, it was delicious!

My dinner – it was a tasty salad! The dressing was one of the best vinagrettes I’ve had!

We shared the mud pie a la mode dessert!

Enjoying breakfast on the patio!

We took a selfie 🙂

Lily’s Restaurant.

The Clubhouse at Mount Shasta Resort.

The Trout Hatchery.

Summer Work Casual

Posted on June 26, 2014 by phjiao

Hi friends,

With summer comes warmer weather and that lends itself for a more casual attire at work. In the first few years that I worked at the television station, I wouldn’t wear jeans to the office, not even on casual Fridays. I was coming from a job in government, where I would wear suits everyday. Over the years, I have adapted to the attire at the station, which is more casual, and I like it! I’ll wear jeans on some Fridays and every once in a while during the week. I always try to dress them up with heals, accessories, and always have a business jacket with me – for meetings, particularly external meetings. Plus, with the air conditioning at work, I usually get cold and need to have a light cardigan sweater or business jacket on.

I am really enjoying wearing these dark blue skinny jeans. They are not only stylish, they are comfortable, and since they are dark, they can be dressed up easily. Oh, and because they are dark, they are slimming, a very important plus!

I matched them with a bright salmon blouse from Ann Taylor, gold accessories, and leopard print heals in white with brown. The heals are a medium height, making them comfortable to wear all day.

So, next time you want to dress up some jeans for work, add some heals, a silky blouse, and accessories!

Remember – comfort is important! Wear clothes that you feel comfortable in and you’ll be smiling all day! The most beautiful woman, is the happy one!

Hope you like the look!

Do you wear jeans to work? Do you wear them only on casual Fridays? Do you dress more casual during the summer?

Hugs,

Paola

This is the business jacket I wore over my shoulders at work during the day. / Así utilice mi saco de trabajo durante el día.

Blouse/Blusa: Ann Taylor; Jeans: Forever21; Shoes/Zapatos: Ann Taylor; Necklace & Bracelet/ Collar y Pulsera: Forever21

ESPAÑOL:

Hola amigos,

Con el verano viene el clima más cálido y eso se presta para vestir más casual en el trabajo. Los primeros años que trabaje en la televisora, no me ponia jeans para ir a la oficina, ni siquiera en viernes casual. Venía de trabajar en un puesto para el gobierno donde usaba trajes diario. ¡Al paso de los años, me he adaptado al atuendo que usan en la televisora, que es más casual, y me gusta! Algunos viernes me pongo jeans y de vez en cuando entre semana. Siempre trato de hacer que los jeans se vean como un atuendo más formal combinandolos con tacones y accesorios. Siempre tengo un saco de traje conmigo – para juntas, particularmente juntas fuera de la televisora. También debido al aire acondicionado en la oficina, me da frío y me pongo un suéter ligero o saco de trabajo.

Estoy disfrutando usar estos jeans azul obscuros estilo “skinny”. No solo están de moda, también son cómodos y ya que son obscuros es fácil hacerlos ver más formales. ¡Y, como son obscuros, hacen que uno se vea más delgado, y eso ayuda!

Los combine con una blusa de tono salmon vibrante de Ann Taylor, accesorios dorados, y tacones leopardezco en blanco con cafe. El tacón es de altura mediana, así que es cómodo para uso durate todo el día.

¡Así que, la siguiente vez que desees hacer que unos jeans se vean más formales para ponertelos para ir al trabajo, combinalos con unos tacones, una blusa de seda, y accesorios!

¡Recuerda – la comodidad es importante! ¡Utiliza ropa en la cual te sientes agusto y todo el día estarás sonriente! Wear clothes that you feel comfortable in and you’ll be smiling all day! La mujer feliz, es la más bella!

¡Ojala te guste el atuendo!

¿Tu te pones jeans para el trabajo? ¿Utilizas atuendos más casuales para el trabajo durante el verano?

Un abrazo,

Paola

Photos/Fotos: Lola Raggio

Paola's Lifestyle

Life Experiences, Entertainment, Travel, Motherhood, Beauty, Fashion & More

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Summer Work Casual