A Weekend in Laguna Beach

Posted on November 22, 2013 by phjiao

Weekend getaways with my hubby are a nice way for us to spend time together, while enjoying a mini-break away from home. Getaways sometimes take an effort to plan on both of our parts because we have to arrange our schedules ahead of time and work extra hours to prepare to be out of town, but it is always worth it!

We recently went to Laguna Niguel, in Orange County. We stayed at The Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel, which is a beautiful resort! We spent the morning enjoying the property, discovering the multiple recreational activities, decorations, and flowers the resort has, as well as relaxed at the spa and did some reading. One of my favorite ways to exercise is to go for long walks…and it doesn’t get much nicer than a long walk next to the beach! A close friend of mine, Susy, lives in Orange County with her husband and adorable baby. We were able to meet them for lunch over the weekend – it was nice to catch up with her! We did a little shopping…..and enjoyed the OC! Laguna Niguel is just about 90 minutes from San Diego, even if you don’t stay overnight, you can visit on a day trip, it is worth it! You can enjoy the beach, the shops, and the wonderful weather! What is our favorite weekend getaway destination?

Hugs,

Paola

The flowers throughout the resort were elegant & beautiful!

Our room was very nice and spacey, with a small walk-in closet.

This corner cabinet was where the safe & refrigerator were located.

The view from our room….to one of the pools on the property.

There was an art exhibit of elephants located in the lobby and main corridor area, so cute & unique!

The option for outside, casual dining.

The gym was spacious, with an amazing view of the beach, & well supplied. This gym could almost make one want to exercise, haha!

I spent part of my day at the spa…..relaxation time!

This is the larger pool.

Walk along the beach….breathtaking views! (forgot my hat, but had on sunblock!)

The resort sits atop a hill right on the ocean.

I love andorak chairs…and what a view you get from these & the one’s below!

There were multiple options for recreation.

We did a little shopping at the Fashion Island mall in Newport Beach.

Arriving back in Laguna Beach.

Having lunch with Suzi and her family in Laguna Beach.

We also had dessert with Suzi’s family! The desserts here are a work of art! I enjoyed a fruit tart!

Halloween: A Family Tradition in Costumes

Posted on November 9, 2013 by phjiao

It seems just a few years ago, Halloween for me was about dressing up to go to a party at a night club or friend’s house. Then, the television station where I work sponsored a family-friendly Halloween event at a local mall and I spent three years in a row working on Halloween night, which was fun because I would get to meet viewers and lots of cute children in their costumes. I’d head to my friends parties afterwards. The last Halloween party I went to was about three years ago at my friend Pablo Palomino’s house, it was fun! Now that I have nieces and nephews, Halloween for me is about spending time with them, talking to them weeks ahead of time about which costume they want to wear, and then taking them to trick-or-treat on Halloween night! Five years ago, my nephews weren’t even born and my other brother did not live in town. So, it was funny because we took my nieces trick-or-treating and there were seven adults and two children, haha! We’d all stand on the sidewalk as one adult walked them to the neighbors door to knock.

This year, we got together at my sister’s house and all the kids were in costumes. She was also wearing a Hawaiian costume. I have a few costumes at home from past years and decided to wear the geisha costume to match with my nephews Asian theme as a ninja. All the kids looked adorable in their costumes! After trick-or-treating, we went back to my sis’ house and had snacks, chips, with chamoy, chile, & lime of course, we are Mexican after all! Now, getting together on Halloween to go trick-or-treating with the kids has become a family tradition. We are building fun memories and these moments are priceless for me! What did you do this Halloween? Do you have any Halloween traditions?

Hugs,

Paola

Let the trick-or-treating begin!

Some of the neighbors really went all out in decorating their homes!

My sis and adorable nephew! I love how she is always smiling!

My sister-in-law with my nephew. Guess who she was dressed as (she is missing her black frame glasses in this pic)? What a clever costume!

The two little one’s going up to a house and ringing the bell, they are growing so fast!

Group pic 🙂

This lady’s house had scary decorations, she was sitting at a table at the door passing out candy and even had a smoke machine going.

The whole trick-or-treating gang (except my brother – he took the pic).

My brother – also – taking pics of the kids.

This house was super scary, I went up to it with my older niece’s…you can’t see it here, but this car in the driveway had smoke coming out of it….the entire driveway and path to get candy was decorated in a spooky manner!

This person had an inflatable costume, it was huge!

My sister and her youngest son, she had bought him another costume, but he wanted to be a lion again, so they put last year’s costume on again! He would roar after he told you he was a lion, so cute!! Love my sis & this little boy!

She had drinks and snacks set up for us to enjoy after trick-or-treating 🙂

My niece was dressed as a pirate, she is a sweetheart of a girl!

My sis had an assortment of chips for us to snack on…can you see all the chile bottles and lemon squeezer in the background? Yummy snacks!

Dia De Los Muertos: Remembering Abel, Galo, & Grandfather

Posted on November 4, 2013 by phjiao

Thank you all for reading my blog posts. The blog is growing and the topics are expanding as I go along. I not only want it to be about fashion and beauty, but also about life experiences I have learned and live – as a woman, Latina, American, daughter, sister, niece, friend, granddaughter, aunt, professional, and now wife. I feel very blessed to have the life that I have and try to remain positive everyday. Seeing the best in people, living my life to the fullest, and trying to learn from every experience – good or bad experiences. But, not everyday is happiness and bliss. I had a recent death of a close relative and it has been one of the hardest and most painful things I have experienced. I want to dedicate this post to him, my Uncle Abel. The tears are falling down my face as I write this post. I am not sure if you have noticed, but in the past few weeks I haven’t posted much, I have been very sad due to his passing, but as my mom says, God does not want us to be unhappy or to suffer. We all mourn in different ways. I tend to continue with my work responsibilities and keep myself busy to get through the sadness, then mourn and cry when I am alone or with family. I have lost three close relatives in my life: my grandfather (he was 64, I was 16), my uncle Edgardo (aka Galo, he was 33, I was 29) and three weeks ago my Uncle Abel (he was 42, I am 39). I have also lost my cousin Antonio (he was 2) and my grandmother (she was 88) on my father’s side, but I was not as close to them.

Abel was the youngest of my mom’s brothers, my mom is the eldest (my grandparents had eleven children). We grew up more like cousins than as uncle-niece. I have fond memories of spending many summers in Mexicali, playing with Galo, Abel, my aunt Miriam and my brother Paul. The five of us were very close in age. They would visit us in San Diego and we would go to Mexicali often. As we grew into adulthood, we continued to spend time together, going to parties and night cIubs together. Later, I saw with joy how Abel formed a beautiful family with his wife Tanya. I would see him often at family gatherings, he was always cheerful! He’d greet me with a big smile and strong hug, and tell me about his projects, how he was working hard to grow his business, everything he would do was with his family in mind! His death has been one of the most painful and difficult things our family has gone through. He was young and his death was very sudden. Our faith has helped us. We will never overcome his death, but we will have to learn to live without his presence on earth. I believe in angels, spirits, and in heaven. Our family now has three angels in heaven. I heard recently that when a loved one passes, you now have an angel you can call by name. I believe this is true, we now have three strong men in heaven, three angels and a baby angel, we can call by name.

One of the blessings in my life that I am the most appreciative for is my family. I was blessed to be born into a large and loving Mexican family. They have blessed me with an unconditional love that is priceless! They have taught me many lessons and it is from them that I have learned my strong work ethic, that anything is possible if you work hard for it, to stay positive, to stay humble, and to always be appreciative of our blessings! They have shown me the importance of family! It is a wonderful sense of belonging and love that is hard to describe, but is amazing and wonderful! Their love warms my heart and just the thought of my family makes me smile! The most joyous moments of my life have been spent with them.

On this day of the dead, I remember these three men. I love you and miss you! Thank you for loving me and for being such good role models. You have left some great children and your legacy will continue in them and our family! Your spirits live with us and I look forward to someday reuniting with you in heaven!

Who do you remember on this Day of the Dead?

Hugs,

Paola

At grandmother’s home: My brother, grandmother, and Uncle Abel (taken about 15 years ago)

At my grandmother’s birthday party: Uncle Abel dancing with Uncle Diego, Abel’s wife Tanya is smiling in the background

At family party: Uncle Galo with his wife Lourdes, me, Aunt Elvira, & Uncle Tony (taken about 16 years ago)

My maternal grandparents

My grandparent’s 25th Wedding Anniversary: we were part of the wedding party (L-R front row: Aunt Cynthia, Uncle Galo, me, brother, Aunt Miriam, uncle Abel; behind us are my grandparents)

At La Rumurosa with my grandfather (L-R: Uncle Abel, Aunt Miriam, Uncle Galo, brother, I am sitting on my grandfather’s lap)

At Grandfather’s desk at his business: my sister Monique is on grandfather’s lap, Aunt Miriam is to his right, Uncle Galo is wearing the yellow cap, I am standing in the corner holding a doll

My grandfather

Trick I Use to Not Eat Too Many Halloween Treats

Posted on October 29, 2013 by phjiao

Tis’ the Season! For me, Halloween marks the beginning of the holiday season! At this point of the year, I am happy enough to maintain my weight, to try to lose weight would be very, very challenging, haha! In addition to all the fun parties and outings, there is shopping for gifts and for food for special events, putting up decorations, wrapping gifts, and lots more to do. This leads to changes in my routine, in particular less time to exercise. I enjoy the holidays and like to also enjoy the special meals served this time of the year! It is all about moderation. For Halloween, I have tricks use to avoid eating too many treats!

1) Buy Candy I Won’t Want to Eat: I try not to buy chocolates because they are my guilty pleasure, so I know I will want to eat them! I usually buy hard candy, such as lollipops, or Starburst to give out. This way, I am not tempted to have some of it because I don’t really like these types of candy.

2) Don’t Open the Bag: If I don’t open the bag until Halloween night, I won’t eat any before that night.

3) Give Away Left Over Candy: As much as I love chocolate, any chocolates we don’t give out will be taken to my office or my husband’s office, to share with co-workers. If we don’t have it in the house, we won’t eat it. If we keep it at home, we will eat it, all of it, even if over a few weeks, that is lots of additional calories and fat!

This year my hubby bought the candy we will give out. Yesterday, he came home with all these chocolates! What? This is not a good strategy for me! This does not follow my tricks to not eat too many treats! It is like torture for me, haha! I had two pieces last night and four today! Yes, four! I didn’t open the bag of Twix to ensure I don’t eat any of those! I usually keep chocolate at home, but buy chocolate covered almonds or malt balls, so if I have a craving for chocolate I’ll just have a few small pieces, not an entire candy bar.

Ironically, I had just gotten home from a Zumba class at the gym before I took this picture! And yes, I ate some chocolate. It’s so hard to resist!

Happy Halloween everyone! Enjoy the treats, just don’t have too many! And if you do eat too many, exercise more or watch your calorie intake in other meals for a few days. Or, if you want to avoid eating too many treats, try the tricks I listed above….and don’t let your husband buy candy you will want to eat!

What is your favorite Halloween treat?

Hugs,

Paola

I LOVE CHOCOLATE!

Darn…I want one! The temptation! To taste the sweetness melting in my mouth!

And, I just had to have one!

Or two!

Yikes, look it all the calories and fat in three pieces!

And…the calories in two pieces of these! Note to self: Tell hubby to please not buy chocolates for Halloween next year! Or at least not chocolates I like! I didn’t open the large bag because I don’t really love the chocolates in that package!

Spa Day in Baden Baden, Germany

Posted on October 12, 2013 by phjiao

During our vacation to Germany, we spent a day at Baden Baden, a city known for its mineral spas. I had been there on vacation with my sister about 10 years ago. I recorded a video blog, so I wasn’t able to take many pictures and taking pictures inside the spa is not allowed. We spent the day at Caracalla Spa enjoying the mineral water pools and jacuzzis, as well as the steam rooms. Afterwards, we did a little shopping at the gift shop and headed to dinner. We found a little Prague style restaurant in town, just a few blocks from the spa. My hubby ordered a dumpling soup and goulash. I don’t really like goulash or dumplings, so I had a broiled potato (this was pretty much what I ate daily on our vacation to Prague a few years ago). Of course, I tried a few spoonfuls of the dessert, how can you say no to a sundae? I can’t! We had a relaxing day in Baden Baden! If you visit Germany and have time to make a side trip, I definitely recommend Baden Baden. It is a cute & quaint town, with wonderful and unique spas! We’ll probably come back in a few years!

Hugs,

Paola

PS – Our trip to Germany: Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, enjoying Sonnora Waldhotel & Restaurant and Black Forest in west Germany, and visiting Kurhaus Casino & Kaefers’ Restaurant.

This is the entrance of the spa (picture taken from the inside looking out).

This is the lobby of the spa.

Our table had flowers and a small candle, always a nice touch!

My hubby ordered dumpling soup and his mexo-mix soft drink (Coke & Fanta mix).

I ordered a broiled potato, in the background you can see the goulash dish my husband ordered.

We shared dessert. The sundae was delicious….and huge!

Porsche Museum – Germany

Posted on September 30, 2013 by phjiao

During our recent visit to Germany, we went to the Porsche Museum – it is located across the street from the Porsche factory in Stuttgart. The 911, Boxter, and Cayman are manufactured in Stuttgart (the Cayenne is manufactured in Leipzig, Germany). There is also a Porsche dealership across Continue reading →

Germany: Kurhaus Casino & Kaefers’ Restaurant

Posted on September 26, 2013 by phjiao

My hubby and I went on vacation to Germany last week. We have a home in Germany and he goes there a few times per year. It is quite the trek & a long flight, so I make the trip with him once a year. This time we visited Baden Baden (one of my favorite cities), Stuttgart, the Black Forest area (west Germany), the city of Nancy in France, and of course, Wiesbaden, my hubby’s hometown. He was born and grew up in San Francisco, so that is really his hometown, but he also grew up in Germany. I recorded a vblog and will try to get it posted soon. I’ll post the pictures from our trip in parts since it takes me a while to select and upload them.

Our trip was from Friday to the next Sunday, so we were gone for 10 days. We took an evening flight and landed the next day around 3:00 pm in Germany. I am not good at sleeping during flights and don’t like to take sleeping pills, so I had bad jet-lag on Saturday. We made a quick stop to buy some snacks and water, and headed home. I slept all afternoon and woke up the next day! Geez! We spent Sunday at home, which was nice since I still had jet-lag. Monday we did some shopping and went out to a Restaurant we visit each time we go to Wiesbaden, it is called Kaefers’, a french bistro style restaurant, located inside the Kurhaus Casino. My hubby waited patiently as I took pictures of our dinner and dessert. It was a mellow first three days to start off our vacation, the rest was non-stop – fun – with daily visits to different cities! Next post will be….visit to the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, I took lots of pictures…coming soon!

Hugs,

Paola

PS – Our visit to the Porsche Museum, a spa day in Baden Baden, and enjoying the Sonnora Waldhotel & Restaurant and Black Forest in west Germany.

This is the main entrance to the Kurhaus Casino.

Kaefers’ Restaurant…we call it the ladybug restaurant because there are lady bug figurines on the table and painted on the glasses. Lady bugs are supposed to bring good luck…or so the belief goes.

They bring you freshly carved carpaccio as an appetizer with a bread basket….but, as in many European Restaurants, they charge you for the bread & carpaccio.

My husband had a meet dish, I had this yummy salad (which I order each time we eat here)….to my surprise there was goat cheese on the bottom, I had forgotten that! The salad was so large I took most of the salmon home and had it the next day for breakfast with some fresh bread! I eat so much bread when I am in Europe….you find it freshly baked everywhere, even at gas station stores! Love it!!!

We had the strawberry tart a la mode for dessert, it was delicious!

The area where the chefs prepare the appetizers.

This is a beautiful cheese cart they have….cheese is a huge staple for meals in Europe…as an appetizer, snack, part of a sandwich, and dessert when served with fruit!

The carving station where waiters carves the carpaccio fresh for each table!

They bring you your receipt in this colorful lady bug container, with two chocolates wrapped in lady bug foil. Cute!

Happy Mexican Independence Day

Posted on September 13, 2013 by phjiao

Mexico’s Independence Day is celebrated on September 16….not Cinco de Mayo as some may think 😉 I attended the Anniversary of Mexican Independence event organized by the Consulate of Mexico. It was a very nice event with dignitaries, award recipients, and performances by ballet folkloric and the Student Mariachi from San Diego State University. The ballet folkloric performances were beautiful and the Mariachi music gave me goosebumps, it was such a delight to listen to! The event was held at the San Diego Museum of Art with a reception after the program. The food was delicious, of course a Mexican menu, with sopes, tamales, empanadas, pastel tres leches, tacos, salad with queso fresco, aguas frescas, and traditional popsicles made from fresh fruit! Happy Independence Day to Mexico and all of it’s people, as a Mexican-Amreican, I include myself in the celebration! I get to celebrate the 4th of July & 16th of September! Did you know Mexican Independence Day is on September 16? How do you celebrate Mexican Independence Day?

Hugs,

Paola

My Week In Photos

Posted on September 13, 2013 by phjiao

Hello friends!

The weather cooled down a bit this week, it got back to regular San Diego weather, which was nice because I got to enjoy two outdoor evening events this week! Every week I have multiple reasons why I love my career, this week two stand out – the Miramar Air Show and the Walk for Autism Speaks. I produced and hosted interviews for both events this week. These events are coming up in October and the stations (where I work) are supporting them! I am looking forward to both events, they each support a great cause!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend! Do you have fun plans? Do share!

Hugs,

Paola

With the MCAS Miramar Air Show representatives.

With the Walk for Autism Speaks representative.

At the Anniversary of Mexican Independence Event, organized by the Consulate of Mexico (pictured with Lola Raggio). The Mariachi is from San Diego State University’s Music Program.

Enjoyed delicious food at the Latin Food Fest’s Opening Night event! It was nice to see some friends at the event – pictured with Kim Rescate, Ana Pines, and chefs.

Did an interview with Marco Puente, reporter for City College TV, during the Latin Food Fest. It was a delight to meet Marco!

Latin Food Fest

Posted on September 13, 2013 by phjiao

Being Hispanic, it is always nice to hear of events that portray Mexico and Latin America in a positive way! The 2013 Latin Food Fest had it’s Opening Night on Thursday and I attended. It was nice to see the multiple exhibitor tables that highlighted a variety of Latin food and drinks! There were restaurants and wineries from the Southern California and Baja region, as well as Latin culinary celebrities (chefs). The food was exquisite, from gourmet tacos, to seafood dishes, delicious desserts, chocolate, coffee, & more! The Fest also includes 14 events, such as tasting parties, educational seminars, celebrity chef demonstrations, and a benefit dinner. If you have an opportunity stop by the Latin Food Fest this weekend, it runs until Sunday (9/15), your palate will thank you. For more details, visit: www.latinfoodfest.com Do you have a favorite latin dish? Do share!

Hugs,

Paola

I did an interview for City College TV with reporter Marco Puente.

My Week in Photos

Posted on September 8, 2013 by phjiao

Happy Sunday everyone! This week was a bit different for me because of the Labor Day Holiday. It was a short work week and went by super fast! We started the week in Las Vegas and ended it with family on the soccer field at my nephew’s first soccer game. Somewhere in there, I managed to get in some exercise and even took a nap on Saturday! Best wishes for a great week…starting tomorrow! How was your week? Share your pics!

Hugs,

Paola

Feliz domingo a todos! Esta semana fue un poco diferente para mi debido al festejo del Día del Trabajo. Fue una semana corta de trabajo y se paso súper rápido! Comenzamos la semana en Las Vegas y la terminamos con familia en el primer partido de fútbol de mi sobrino. De alguna manera, entre todo eso, logre hacer un poco de ejercicio y hasta me tome una siesta el sábado! Les mando los mejores deseos para una semana excelente….comenzando mañana! Como estuvo tu semana? Comparte tus fotos!

Un abrazo,

Paola

We spent the holiday weekend & started our week in Las Vegas – we stayed at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.

Pasamos en fin de semana largo y comenzamos la semana en Las Vegas – nos quedamos en Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.

I did some shopping in Las Vegas – at the Miracle Mile Shops – I may do a post on the items I got!

Hice algunas compras en Miracle Miles Shops durante nuestro tiempo el Las Vegas – quizas hare una note despues sobre los articulos que encontre!

It was nice to spend time with my friend Rosy & her husband Chris, while in Las Vegas! We had dinner on the first night….and did some more shopping at the Forum Shops at Caesar’s. The next day, they took us out on their boat for a day on Lake Mead. It was so relaxing and beautiful!

Me dio gusto ver a mi amiga Rosy y su marido Chris, durante nuestra visita a Las Vegas! La primera noche salimos a cenar….e hicimos mas compras en Forum Shops en el Caesar’s. El siguiente da nos llevaron a pasear y pasar el dia en su lancha en Lake Mead. Esta muy bonito el lago y fue relajante pasearnos en la lancha!

Back to work – attended A Day of Joy fundraising reception for Ronald McDonald House Charities.

De regreso al trabajo – fui a la recepcion Un Dia de Alegria, para recaudar fondos para Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Exercise choice for the day: Pool Time! With this warm weather, the pool was a good & fun choice for my workout with Lola!

Ejercicio para el dia: Alberca! Con este clima cálido, hacer ejercicio con Lola en la alberca fue una buena y divertida opcion!

From Casual Friday to Casual Dinner. I love sushi! We found a place that serves good sushi and has menu options my hubby likes, from teriyaki to steaks. We had dinner there with some of his work colleagues/friends.

De Viernes Casual en el Trabajo a una Cena Casual. Me encanta el sushi! Encontramos un restaurante que tiene buen sushi y tambien una variedad de opciones en el menu que le gustan a mi marido, desde teriyaki hasta carnes. Cenamos ahí con sus compañeros de trabajo/amigos.

Saturday morning, we went to see my nephew’s first soccer game & cheered the team on! At this age, all games end in ties, too cute.

El sábado tempranito fuimos ver el primer partido de futbol de mi sobrino, para hecharle porras al equipo. A esta edad, todos los partidos terminan en empate, que lindos.

Went out for Saturday brunch with my hubby. Since our weeks are so busy and I occasionally have work commitments on weekends, plus we travel quite a bit, I enjoy making breakfast for him at home on weekends, but this Saturday we went to brunch. I ate the muffin, it was large & delicious! Didn’t finish my salad, it is still in the fridge, may have it today.

El sabado salimos a desayunar. Como nuestras semanas están tan ocupadas y ocasionalmente tengo compromisos de trabajo en fin de semana, y viajamos seguido, los fines de semana que estamos en casa me gusta hacerle desayuno a mi maridito, pero este sabado salimos a desayunar. Me comi el panquecito, estaba grande y delicioso, no me termine la ensalada, todavía esta en el refigerador, quizas me la coma hoy.

Hoy domingo hemos estado en casa, me encantan los domingos relajados en casa. Le hice waffles para desayunar a mi maridito y disfrute de mi capuccino!

My Weekend in Photos: Labor Day in Las Vegas

Posted on September 4, 2013 by phjiao

Happy Labor Day everyone! Hope you had a good holiday & long weekend! My hubby & I make it out to Las Vegas a couple of times every year. It makes for an easy & fun weekend getaway. We don’t really gamble & I did the club thing when I was younger. We try new restaurants or the classics for dinner, do some shopping, he golfs, we walk around the casinos, go see a show, or he takes us on an aerial tour of the surrounding areas. I have a good friend, Rosy (and her husband) that lives out there and it is always nice to visit her while we are there! Thankfully, this time she was in town, we missed her the last two times we visited because she was also traveling.

My hubby had purchased a Planet Hollywood hotel package for Las Vegas at a silent auction at a charity fundraiser we attended last year. He realized recently that the package was about to expire, so we booked the reservation. It was kind of a last minute trip.

Our room had a Christopher Reeve theme with a few Superman & movie frames:

We arrived Sunday. To my pleasant surprise, the Miracle Mile Shops mall is located within the hotel! My sister had mentioned it, so I asked about it when we checked-in! In the afternoon, my hubby took a nap and I went shopping! With my schedule, I rarely have time to go to the mall. I buy a few things on-line, but prefer to try clothes & shoes on before purchasing them. There was a modern bar called Halo in the mall, so Vegas!

We met Rosy for an early dinner at Trevi’s Restaurant at the Ceasar’s. We’d been there before, it is a nice restaurant with cafe style seating next to the large Fountain of the Gods, and we know the food is good. For dessert, which we shared, my hubby ordered Spaghetti Ice, too cute, the spaghetti and meatballs are gelato, the sauce was strawberry syrup, and the shredded cheese was white chocolate! After dinner, we did a little more shopping at the Forum Shops at Caesar’s – they close at 11pm!!! Wow, only in Vegas! We’ve been to this shopping center many times before, it is beautiful – and I like the stores, it’s a must see when in Vegas, love it!!! It was nice to spend some time with Rosy and get a friend’s perspective when shopping!

Monday was Lake Mead day. Rosy and her husband have a boat, so they took us out for the day – it was beautiful and very relaxing! So relaxing that I took a nap in the middle of the afternoon on the boat! I’ll make a separate post of Lake Mead, I took lots of pics and it deserves its own post. Rosy has taken some photography classes and it is her hobby, so she gave me some tips! Even though I had packed a red summer dress for the day on the lake, I showed my hubby a little black & white dress I had purchased the night before at H&M (at the Miracle Mile Shops) and asked him which one I should wear – he chose the H&M dress. It was perfect for the day since it is very light & comfortable.

Tuesday was check-out day. I had set my alarm for early, to try to perhaps go for a walk in the other casinos or do some shopping, but my body was tired and we both decided to rest instead. We are not big fans of buffets, but the package included a buffet at the hotel’s Spice Market, so we ate lunch there. I had a little bit of sushi, a few bites of lasagna, some blue cheese, hummus, and dessert. I am a sucker for dessert, so I saved my calories for dessert! The array of desserts was beautiful! I had a few spoonfuls of ice-cream with strawberries, a little creme brulee, and the apple filled crepe, just tasting a bit of each was enough for me! Yummy! I was satisfied, but not stuffed, a concern of mine with buffets.

Our flight home was in the early afternoon….and it always makes me chuckle to see all the slot machines at the airport! This airport is unique! Even though my hubby and I aren’t gamblers, he played for a little while at the slots machines on Saturday night. While I stopped to take the pictures at the airport, he sat a machine and played a few minutes, too funny!

Have you been to Las Vegas? Share your most memorable Vegas story….PG story that is, just kidding! Remember, as they say, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!

Hugs,

Paola

PS – Our visit to the Aulani Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii.

Santo Day Celebration

Posted on September 1, 2013 by phjiao

Today is my grandmother’s “santo” day. A “santo” day is the day commemorating the saint you are named after. She is still enjoying the summer by the beach, so my aunts organized a family gathering over here to celebrate her “santo” day! My grandmother, which I affectionately call Mamita (means mommy), is a very special person in my life. She has given me good advice my entire life. Her wise words have stayed with me and she has influenced me in many positive ways. Her words helped me be aware and appreciative of how fortunate and blessed I am, and to never take things or people for granted. That family is precious and important, to be a strong woman, but also to be humble….and so many more lessons. Most importantly, she has taught me that you reap what you sow (like in a karma way), and what unconditional love and acceptance feels like. She has been an excellent daughter, wife, mom and grandmother…and sister, mother-in-law, aunt, and friend. This is why, she is always surrounded by those of us that love her. She is never alone. We are always visiting her and enjoy spending time with her. She is still very independent, and we try to help her as much as she lets us…..to take care of her, like she has taken care of all of us in her family! Even though she has many grandchildren, she has the gift of making you feel like you are the only person in the world when she speaks with you, to focus on you in that moment and make you feel like the most important and loved person. That is a unique and rare ability I have only seen in some high level elected officials, CEOs, priests, and a few people that are very charismatic. She has formed a loving and caring family, and that is a beautiful thing! My life would not be what it is today, if it wasn’t for her. My Mamita has been a wonderful and positive role model in my life, I can only hope to be that wise some day! I thank God for the blessing and good fortune of being her granddaughter! Happy Santo Mamita – I love you!

So, next time you see or speak to your grandmother, remember to tell her how important she is to you!

Are you close to your grandmother and do you have a special story you’d like to share?

Hugs,

Paola

We took a spontaneous pic of just the girls: Mamita, surrounded by some of my aunts, cousins, mom, sis & me (this is only about 1/4 of the family members that were there today).

My Week In Photos

Posted on August 31, 2013 by phjiao

Hi friends,

Hope you had a wonderful week! For me, this week definitely felt like summertime, not only because it’s been warm, but also because I did some fun outdoor activities and even went to a pool! The weather has been warmer than usual, past pleasantly warm to just hot, in the 90’s, which is very high for San Diego! Thankfully, there is air conditioning! Work-wise, it was a busy week with many shoots, but this is what I call the fun part of my job, mostly because I get to work with a great production team! I always enjoy interacting with the external folks we work with, in my case mostly the representatives from the events we sponsor. Best wishes for a wonderful long holiday weekend – happy Labor Day everyone!

Do you have any thing fun planned for the holiday weekend?

Hugs,

Paola

Shooting the Miramar Air Show promotional spots! I love working with the team at MCAS Miramar! The funds raised through the Air Show benefit programs for military families! Another reason why I love my job, we are making a difference!

Brought my sister some coffee & her favorite coffee cake – stopped by for a quick visit to wish her well on her last day of vacation before she returned to work – her summer break is over.

Gave welcome at theater for Latino Film Festival’s Cine en tu Idioma – film series!

Enjoyed a warm summer afternoon at the Farmer’s Market with my sis & nephews! They are so cute!!

Went to the Charger’s vs 49ers game at Qualcomm Stadium – thanks to my hubby for inviting me! This was the view from our seats at the 50 yard line.

Mixed up our exercise routine – had fun at the pool with Lola, while we got a workout and caught up on our week. My amiguita Lola is as close as sister for me! Her friendship brings joy to my life!

Shot a commercial for an Azteca client. Shooting promo spots and commercials is what I call the fun part of my job! Thanks to my colleagues in production – they did a great job directing the commercial shoot and the spot looks wonderful!! I look forward to seeing the commercial on-air (it’s for a shampoo).

Spontaneous Summer Afternoon

Posted on August 29, 2013 by phjiao

I know farmer’s markets are very popular right now. For years my sister had been telling me about their outings on Tuesday’s to the Farmer’s Market at the Otay Ranch Center in Chula Vista. Even though I lived in Eastlake for years, just a few blocks from the Center, I had never been to the Farmer’s Market. My sis and I try to see each other often and speak on the phone almost daily. Yesterday, during our call, she invited me to the Farmer’s Market and I accepted. Her husband was going to meet us there. After work, I changed out of my suit and into casual clothes. We headed to the Center and had a nice, relaxing afternoon. I was amazed by the multiple options of food. My sis bought an ice-cream for the boys and that just painted the perfect picture of summer, children enjoying an ice-cream! We started to reminisce about our grandfather and how he would buy us ice-cream and the fond memories we have of him. There was also a jumper for kids and some booths with fruits and vegetables. The Center itself is beautiful and designed to be walkable! When my brother-in-law arrived, we had some dinner from the Farmer’s Market booths and sat in the open area by the food court. It was so relaxing and the weather had gotten to the perfect summer warmth! After dinner, we did a little shopping. Before I headed home, I stopped by The Cheesecake Factory at the Center to get a cheesecake for my hubby.

If you are like me, your weeknights are usually a bit structured and you follow a routine during the work week, but it is nice to every once in a while break the routine and enjoy an outing, making for a spontaneous summer afternoon of fun!

Have you been to a Farmer’s Market?

Hugs,

Paola

The Joy of Cinema

Posted on August 28, 2013 by phjiao

As a fan of movies, I am a supporter of film festivals. I have seen hundreds of movies, many for pure entertainment (i.e.: blockbusters, comedies, chick flicks), some for their message about society, and I enjoy documentaries to learn about an infinite number of subjects, such as history, nature, biographies, travel, and more. Over the years, I have been to a number of film festivals. The San Diego Latino Film Festival is presenting Exitos de Cine Latino (Successes in Latino Cinema) through August 29th at two local theaters. I have enjoyed seeing a few of the movies. If time permitted, I’d see more of the movies! This festival showcases movies from Latin America, Spain, and Mexico, meet and greets with movie directors and actors, and nightly musical performances at the movie theatre. The proceeds benefit the San Diego Media Arts Center’s programs. The television stations (where I work) are sponsoring the festival and we had the opportunity to give a welcome before one of the movies. It was nice to see a good turn out, run into contacts from radio stations and the festival organizers, as well as support a good cause. If you have an opportunity, stop by and catch a movie! For more details, visit: www.sdlatinofilm.com. Have fun at the movies!

Have you been to a film festival before? Have you been to the San Diego Latino Film Festival?

Hugs,

Paola

Espanol: Como fan de peliculas, apoyo a festivales de cine. He visto cientas de peliculas, muchas por entretenimiento (comedias, éxitos de cartelera, y comedias románticas), algunas por su mensaje social, y disfruto documentales para aprender sobre un gran numero de temas, como historia, la naturaleza, biografías, viajes, y mas. Al paso de los anos, he ido a varios festivales de cine. El Festival de Cine Latino de San Diego esta presentando Exitos de Cine Latino hasta el 29 de agosto en dos cines en San Diego. He disfrutado de ver algunas de las películas. Si tuviese mas tiempo disponible, viera mas de las películas! Este festival presenta películas de Mexico, Latino America, y España, oportunidades de conocer a directores y actores, y entretenimiento cada noche en el cine. Los fondos recaudados benefician a los programas del Media Arts Center de San Diego (Centro de Medios). Las televisoras (donde trabajo) son patrocinadoras del festival y tuvimos la oportunidad de dar la bienvenida antes del comienzo de una de las películas. Me dio gusto ver que habia bastante gente en el festival, encontrarme a compañeros de radiofusoras y los organizadores del festival, y poder apoyar esta buena causa. Si tienes la oportunidad, ve a ver una o varias películas! Para mas detalles sobre el festival, visita: www.sdlatinofilm.com. Que se diviertan en el cine!

Has ido a un festival de cine? Has ido al Festival de Cine Latino de San Diego?

Un abrazo,

Paola

Day at the Museum

Posted on August 26, 2013 by phjiao

This weekend, we visited the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center (science museum) at Balboa Park in San Diego. We had a wonderful time! Time I spend with family is always fun and cherished! My nephews had a fun time playing and trying out the interactive exhibits…..and we adults, also participated in the games and activities. We had many laughs! Our visit included seeing the exhibit halls in the museum and a movie at their IMAX theatre. We saw Flight of the Butterflies, which is beautiful and educational, it made me have a better appreciation for the Monarch butterfly and it’s incredible ability to migrate. We spent about four hours at the Museum and the time flew by because we had so much fun. Afterwards, we got bought some snacks and ice-cream, which we enjoyed while sitting next to the Bea Evenson Fountain just outside the museum. This is a wonderful museum for families! Here are some pictures from our visit.

Have you been to the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center? Have you been to Balboa Park? If yes, which is your favorite museum?

Hugs,

Paola

Español: Este fin de semana visitamos en Reuben H. Fleet Science Center (museo de ciencia) en Parque Balboa, en San Diego. ¡La pasamos muy bien! ¡Aprecio el tiempo que paso con mi familia y siempre es divertido! Mis sobrinos se divirtieron mucho jugando y participando en las exhibiciones interactivas….y nosotros, los adultos, tambien participamos en los juegos y actividades. Nos reimos bastante! Nuestra visita incluyo ver las varias salas de exhibicion y una pelicula en su cine IMAX. Vimos Flight of the Butterflies (El Vuelo de las Mariposas), esta muy linda e interesante, me hizo tener un mejor conocimiento sobre la mariposa Monarca y su increíble habilidad de migrar (desde Canada y Texas hasta Mexico). Pasamos como cuatro horas en el museo y el tiempo se paso volando porque nos divertimos mucho. Despues, compramos unas botanas y nieve, y nos sentamos a disfrutarlas junto a la Fuente Bea Evenson que esta afuera del museo. ¡Este es un excelente museo para familias! Aqui les comparto unas fotos de nuestra visita al museo.

¿Has ido a este museo de ciencia? ¿Cuál es tu museo favorito en Parque Balboa?

Un abrazo,

Paola

My Week in Photos

Posted on August 24, 2013 by phjiao

Hi friends,

What a week- it flew by! I was looking forward to this week because I had a number of fun plans: a shoot with the March of Dimes, lunch meeting with “business friends,” set date to exercise with Lola, and the Francis Ford Coppola Winery Dinner! The weather was warm and more humid than usual for San Diego, so I wore lighter & more casual clothes….it definitely felt like a summer week! How was your weekend? Good I hope!

Que semana – se paso volando! Estaba anticipando esta semana con gusto porque tenia varios planes divertidos: una grabacion con el March of Dimes, una comida com amistades, una fecha reservada para hacer ejercicio con Lola, y la cena del vinedo Francis Ford Coppola. El clima estuvo calido y mas humedo de lo normal para San Diego, asi que me puse ropa mas ligera y casual….definitivamente se sintio como una semana de verano! Como estuvo tu semana? Ojala y muy buena!

Hugs / Un Abrazo,

Paola

Interviewing Danitza Villanueva, volunteer, March of Dimes and editor, Giving Back Magazine, regarding the March of Dimes’ Golf for Babies Tournament, which the stations sponsor.

Right after the interview, pictured with: Justino Castillo, our wonderful studio floor director; Danitza Villanueva, and Lowry Champion, executive director, March of Dimes.

It was a treat to attend the Francis Ford Coppola Winery Dinner since they makes some of my favorite red wines! Had a nice time with my hubby at this dinner – we learned a great deal about the winery, other resorts they have, and the various wines! A truly delightful night…with good people…and delicious food paired perfectly with Coppola wines!

A part of my weeks that is always fun! Exercise day with my bff Lola! We walked by the bay and got to catch up….always fun and time I look forward to! (this pic was taken a few weeks ago, but we look the same, promise :))

I am trying to eat healthier….so I keep fresh & nutritious food around, so it is easily available and I can stay on track. Bought these delicious and super large grapefruits this week! I’ve been pretty good about alternating between a grapefruit, papaya, and oatmeal for breakfast – all healthy options and simple to prepare! Tip: I keep fruit in my fridge at work and buy the papaya already chopped up.

I have been adjusting my schedule to get into work earlier…which means I am having to go to sleep earlier! On this night, it was past 11:00pm and I had not removed my make-up yet….ahh, I had to get out of bed just to remove my make-up. I am pretty good about removing my make-up ,and adding my moisturizer and eye cream almost 99% of the time – and I notice the difference in my skin. It looks healthier when I sleep enough hours and remove my make-up, keeping it well moisturized.

For the past few weeks, I have been working on the stations sponsorship of the Exitos de Cine Latino – Film Series/Festival. The Festival is finally here! We set-up our exhibitor table at the movie theatre and I am looking forward to attending!

Part of my work is collaborating with local organizations and supporting non-profits. This is one of the most rewarding parts of my job. I had a lunch meeting with Suzi Woodruff from the Salvation Army and Javier Tirado from Westfield Plaza Bonita. They have both become friends and it was a pleasure to see them both, as we discussed projects and enjoyed a tasty meal at El Torito at Plaza Bonita. They made the guacamole fresh and prepared the chicken fajita salad I ordered, right there next to our table. Suzi caught a picture of me taking a picture of the moment the guacamole was being prepared (notice the note on the back of my phone, a Post-it reminded me to buy milk for our kitty, haha, but hey, this post-it on the cell phone reminder works for me). I hadn’t been to an El Torito in years, but after this fresh and delicious meal, I’ll be back! I must confess, I ate way too many tortilla chips…but, it all balances out since I had a salad. Even though I am trying not to eat tortilla chips at home, I do eat them when I eat out.

PS – Celebrating my birthday with a visit to the Francis Ford Coppola Winery. And, Opening Night at the San Diego Latino Film Festival.

My Week in Photos

Posted on August 19, 2013 by phjiao

Hi friends,

This week was full – busy as usual, but I wouldn’t have it any other way, it was also fun & productive! I had the opportunity to produce an interview for the March of Dimes’ upcoming Golf for Babies, had a meeting with our Ad Council rep, and attended a reception in honor of Ed Lopez, in recognition of his new position. On a personal basis, I was looking forward to Friday because we took my nephew to see the animated movie Planes. My hubby went for a flight (his hobby) Saturday morning and has been working on project, so my plans for the weekend were to catch up on sleep! Which I was able to do yesterday morning. Even though they say you can’t really catch up on sleep, I feel like I did and feel rested today.

I produced an interview for the March of Dimes’ Golf for Babies Tournament. It is always nice to see their staff and catch up on how their projects are coming along. The stations sponsor the Golf for Babies event, so I have been working with the March of Dimes for a few years now. I am looking forward to the Tournament in September.

One of my responsibilities at the stations is to select the PSAs we air, which is based on a list of criteria. About once a year, I meet with our Ad Council rep and he brings me up to speed on the latest PSAs and campaigns. The PSAs are all for non-profits and to help get their message out. Helping non-profit organizations is one of the favorite parts of my job! I feel…actually, I know, we are making a difference in the community we serve!

Here’s a group picture taken at Ed Lopez’s reception. The reception made me think about networking and how people you meet at work related events can become contacts, then lead to what I call “business friends” and even personal friends. I posted about it earlier this week.

Friday was probably my favorite day of the week. I felt giddy all day because my hubby and I had made plans to take my nephew to see the movie Planes. It was so much fun to see him, he is adorable and a true joy in our lives! After the movie, we met my sister, other nephew, and brother-in-law for dinner. It was nice to see her and my nephews, to play with them and catch up with my sis. It warmed my heart that as we were leaving the restaurant, my younger nephew (who is starting to speak) asked me if we were coming over to his house to play further, so cute!

This weekend, I got to catch up on sleep, relax, watch a movie, and read. I know it may seem silly, but I really enjoy cooking breakfast for my hubby on weekends. And for me, just being able to sit and enjoy my fresh cup of coffee is a treat reserved for weekends when we are at home!

Now, time to prepare for my workweek!

How was your weekend? Did you do anything fun, catch up on sleep….or relax?

Hugs….and best wishes for a great week,

Paola

Weekend Trip to San Francisco

Posted on August 14, 2013 by phjiao

This past weekend we visited San Francisco (SF). We have our second home there and it has become my second favorite city! My hubby was born in SF, so this is his hometown. This time we hadn’t been there since June due to our busy schedules. Since we are up there often, we don’t do the typical touristy things, but we do like to get out and explore the city. We enjoy visiting the restaurants, the shops, and just driving through the city, by the bay, seeing the architecture, homes, and people watching is always interesting in SF! We have friends up there, so we usually do something with another couple while we are there. I usually do not take pictures while we are in SF, unless it is something special, but this time I decided to take some so I could share the experience with you, hope you enjoy it!

Friday, we ended up getting in late because our flight was delayed, which is very common for SF. On Saturday, we relaxed in the morning, which I really like to do in SF – I am able to disconnect because when I am home there is always something that needs to be done. In SF, I sit in the living room and enjoy the view of the bay, while I have breakfast or read a book. I was able to write a blog post, then we got ready and hit the city.

A location we must visit every time we go to San Francisco is my hubby’s favorite German restaurant, Suppenkuche. He gets his German fix! I usually order a soup or salad – and love their bread. My hubby rarely drinks, but at this restaurant he usually orders a beer with his dinner. It is a small place and gets very crowded and loud, so we learned the trick is to get there as soon as it opens. We arrived five minutes before the door opened and there were already people in line waiting for the restaurant to open! That says lots about a place! It is a casual restaurant and they sit you at tables with other people. After dinner, we like to walk around the area on Hayes Street, do some window shopping and stop by a few key stores we like, in particular two travel stores and I like an Italian shoe store called Paolo. We noticed a new mens clothing store and a coffee shop that are built out of containers. San Francisco has so many unique shops, always interesting!

Have you been to San Francisco? What is your favorite thing or place to visit at the city?

Hugs,

Paola

PS – Our trips to Hawaii and Baden Baden in Germany.

We went for a walk by the bay, and a drive through Fort Mason and the Presidio. It is a national park and beautiful! I like seeing all the tall trees in the area!

Driving through the city allows me to see a new street or houses we had not seen in past visits.

While we are in SF, I always like to get a glimpse of the bridge…

…and of course, going over it never gets old.

Sunday, we met some friends and went to the Walt Disney Family Museum. It is run by the Disney Family Foundation. I did not even know it existed. It was a nice place to visit, lots of information regarding Walt Disney and his family, his beginnings, plans, and many successes! It was very interesting and informational! Plus, it has the Disney magic touch, with lots of nice exhibits and videos! I may do a separate posting on the Museum, I have more pictures to share and it was that interesting! It was also inspirational – Walt Disney was a visionary, artist, and driven! He wouldn’t give up on his dreams and visions, and created an amazing company that is known around the world!