Many of us are still celebrating the holidays….some of us are back to work and some people are on vacation until January 6 this year because that is when the first Monday falls after New Year’s Day. Many of us keep celebrating until January 6 every year because Continue reading
Hi friends, hope you are having a nice holiday season! I worked through the Christmas holiday, but did take Christmas day off and we went out of town to spend Christmas Eve and day with family! I was back to work December 26. We hadn’t been to San Francisco for a few months, so I took a few days off during the last week of December to go to San Fran with my hubby. We were back in town for New Year’s Eve, to welcome the new year with family!
The weeks before Christmas were packed with work, hosting interviews, writing scripts, production, planning for 2014, a phone bank for the Month of a Million meals campaign, completing goals…oh and a visit from a very famous Mouse & his friend Donald Duck….and this was just at work. In my personal life, it was the normal holiday busyness, shopping for gifts, preparing for Christmas, and the pleasant side – spending time with family and friends! It was a packed few weeks, but tons of fun!!! How did you prepare for the holidays?
Hugs,
Paola
One of the favorite (& most fun) parts of my job is hosting interviews – particularly when my friends from Disneyland come to the stations! They were doing a media tour regarding the Holidays at Disneyland Resort. This was the Hispanic marketing team – I hosted & produced the interview for Azteca. This year Mariachi Divas joined the holiday team, it was a special treat to meet these Grammy Award winning musicians! Donald Duck danced to the holiday music performed by Mariachi Divas! So cute, an unforgettable moment 🙂
I purchased a “veladora,” votive candle, for the Virgin Mary’s Saint Day (Santo). I’ve been pretty good about turning it on to pray every day (when at home), even if just for a few minutes, and being thankful for all my blessings! 
We shot the mid-campiagn interview for the Month of A Million Meals campaign.
Later in the week, Mickey Mouse stopped by the station with the Disneyland Resort general market team. I hosted and produced an interview for ABC10 regarding the Holidays at the Disneyland Resort. Even though I have been producing and hosting these interviews for years now, I always feel giddy when I see Mickey Mouse! How lucky am I to get to interview Mickey Mouse at work?
My hubby and I went to Newport Beach and stayed at the Fairmont Hotel for a little weekend getaway. They had beautiful Christmas decorations and this amazing gingerbread house! It was nice to get away during the hectic-ness of the holidays and have a relaxing breakfast….and sip my coffee calmly.
While in Newport Beach we had dinner at an Italian restaurant. I enjoyed the best seafood risotto ever! It was so good that I brought the leftovers home and had it for lunch the next day, ha!
We did some Christmas shopping at Fashion Island (in Newport Beach). There was an amazing Christmas tree (super tall, compare it to the palm trees in this pic) & beautiful holiday decorations.
It was my niece’s birthday and we went to her party at Lazer Journey! Love this little girl! It’s a pleasure and honor to be her aunt, and see her grow up!
The Donation Day Phone Bank we organized for Month of a Million Meals on ABC10 & Azteca San Diego was successful! Chopper the Biker Dog joined us for part of the Phone Bank, such a cute doggie!
I watched my nephews on a Saturday and we decorated a gingerbread house – it has become a holiday tradition! It was fun to spend the day with them!
My hubby started the fireplace on one of the weekends and I enjoyed it while sipping my morning coffee!
The weekend before Christmas, I spent a few hours wrapping the final batch of gifts.
We shot the last interview for the Month of a Million Meals campaign – a last push to ask for donations, we were close to reaching the goal and still had a week to continue fundraising!
The day before Christmas Eve, we shot a series of promo commercials with my nieces at my home. The promos are for the Community Calendar segments I host on Azteca San Diego 15. My nieces appeared in them, so we scheduled the shoot at a time when they were on break from school. Thanks to the wonderful team of producers and videographers I work with the spots look excellent! It was a fun shoot – I’m so proud of my nieces, such talented young girls!
Took a few days off from work before New Year’s Eve to go to San Francisco with my hubby.
Went to South Coast Plaza in Orange County for some after Christmas “sales” shopping. This is one of my favorite shopping centers. The holiday decorations were beautiful.
Welcomed the New Year in San Diego with my hubby and family! We went to dinner at my brother & sister-in-law’s home, it was delicious & fun! We all stayed up past midnight (nieces included) and welcomed 2014 with joyous celebration!
Our family is very happy that my sister-in-law is expecting a baby…it’s a boy! She looks beautiful! To celebrate her pregnancy my sister, Monique, and I organized a baby shower for her and some of her closest friends. It was a lovely day filled with joy and Continue reading
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!
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!
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
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and women (and men) everywhere have been dressing in pink to support the cause. I even wore pink to Continue reading
During our recent vacation, we spent two days in the west part of Germany, known as the Black Forest region. We visited friends at their home and had dinner with them at Sonnora Restaurant. We had dinner there two years ago, they have exquisite french cuisine! My husband has dined there many times over the years. It is one of the best restaurants we have been to! It is elegant and beautiful, they have excellent service and the food is amazing. Sonnora is one of the top restaurants in Germany, with three star rating and international status. The Restaurant is a destination in itself. People from other countries and Germans from all over come to enjoy this experience and cuisine! Our friends know the Chef, Helmut Thieltges (he’s also the owner), and after dinner we had the opportunity to meet him, this was quite a treat! It was a wonderful evening with friends!
We stayed at the Sonnora Waldhotel (means forest hotel) which is adjacent to the Restaurant. The area is beautiful, with tall forest trees! The gardens are so picturesque, it felt like we were in a Hansel & Gretel fairy tale! I recorded a video blog of our visit to Sonnora and will post it soon. The experience is unique and the location is breathtaking, here’s a link to the Sonnora Waldhotel & Restaurant, if you’d like more details. If you are in a foodie, chef, or just enjoy fine dining this is a must visit restaurant! Hope you enjoy the pictures!
Hugs,
Paola
PS – Our trip to Germany: Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, spa day in Baden Baden, and visiting Kurhaus Casino & Kaefers’ Restaurant.
The entrance to the Hotel.
The lobby area.
A sitting room with views of the garden.
The entrance to Sonnora Restaurant.
The dining room at Sonnora Restaurant.
Our hotel room – a suite with a terrace. 
It always a nice treat to have bathrobes & slippers!
The living room area of our suite.
Picture of the entrance, the suite has an alcove with a closet, safe, mirror, & dressing area.
It was nice to have fresh fruit provided in the room! I wasn’t hungry at breakfast time, but I took a banana & kiwi to go.
The terrace (balcony) & garden view from our room.
A picture of the beautiful garden area – so picturesque!
The view from the balcony seating area of the breakfast dining area.
More options for outside seating.
Another view of the gardens.
A picture of part of the breakfast dining room.
It was a “European” style continental breakfast.
I wasn’t hungry at breakfast time, so I only had a cup of coffee. The individual coffee pot was a nice touch.
A private dining room located in the breakfast area.
As we were checking out, Chef Thieltges came out to greet us.
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 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!
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.
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).
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
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
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!
By Sunday night, it was time to come home….we love visiting San Francisco (and will be back soon), but it is always nice to come home to San Diego!
The circus is in town! We don’t have children yet, but I really enjoy spending time with my nieces and nephews and taking them to theme parks, movies, various outings, and this week to Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey. This time the theme is Built to Amaze! And amazing it was! We were awed and left in surprise by not only the acrobatic performances, but also the animal presentations! They are so cute, from horses, to doggies, tigers…and my favorite, the elephants! The joy and amazement on my nephew and niece’s face is priceless to me. Ringling’s performances are not only for children, they are also very entertaining for adults! My sister and I had a wonderful time, and many times we were the ones with our jaw opens by the acrobatic performances and smiling when the animals came out! In addition to the circus performance, ticket holders have an opportunity to see the animals up close before the show begins at the Animal Open House. There is also an All-Access Pre-Show on the arena floor, with games and activities for children, a jumper, wardrobe section for children to try on the costumes, music, dancing and fun!
Ringling is in town for a few more days, you can catch a performance today or tomorrow at the Valley View Casino Center (previously Sports Arena). More information can be found at Ringling.com. And, it is a traveling circus tour, so you can catch it in other towns as well! Have fun at the Circus – we did!
Hugs,
Paola
Espanol: El circo llego a San Diego! Nosotros todavia no tenemos hijos, pero me encanta pasar tiempo con mis sobrinas y sobrinas, y llevarlos a parques de diversion, el cine, a pasear, y esta semana a Ringling Bros. And Barnum & Bailey. Esta vez el tema es Built to Amaze que significa Construido para Asombrar. Y la presentacion circense si que es asombrosa! Las presentaciones acrobaticas y de los animales son impresionantes! Los animales estan preciosos, desde caballos, perritos, tigres….y mis favoritos, los elefantes! El asombro y la expresion de felicidad en las caritas de mi sobrino y sobrina no tienen precio para mi! Las presentaciones del circo Ringling no son solo para ninos, tambien son impresionantes para adultos! Mi hermana y yo nos divertimos mucho, varias veces eramos ella y yo las que nos quedabamos en asombro y boquiabiertas, y por supuesto sonriendo con las presentaciones de los animales! Antes de la presentacion del circo, las personas con boleto de admision tambien tienen la oportunidad de ver a los animales de cerca en el Animal Open House. En la arena hay un show antes de la presentacion con juegos y actividades para ninos, bricolin, bailes, disfraces circenses, bailes, musica, y diversion!
Ringling esta en San Diego por unos cuantos dias mas, lo puedes ver hoy o manana en el Valley View Casino Center (antes Sports Arena). Puedes encontrar mas detalles en www.Ringling.com. Y, por si no vives en San Diego, Ringling es un circo que anda de tour, asi que lo puedes ver en varias otras ciudades. Que se diviertan en el circo – asi como nosotros nos divertimos!
Un abrazo,
Paola
It’s hard to believe another weekend passed! It definitely felt like summer time because we went to the Races in Del Mar, and to visit my grandmother and aunts in Rosarito, something we do each summer!
Friday, we went with a group to the Races in Del Mar, it was fun, nice to see the beautiful horses, and to spend time with my hubby & friends!
Saturday I woke up excited, felt like a little girl! For a few weeks now I had been anticipating this weekend because I made plans to to go visit my Mamita (grandmother) and aunts in Rosarito! They spend some time there in the summer. We’ve had plans the past few weekends, so this was the Saturday I had reserved to go visit my beloved Mamita! She is very, very special to me, as close as a mom, one of the wisest people I know and has shared her advise with me over the years. Fortunately, my nieces were able to go with me, so it was like old times (when I was single), and we took a day trip to Rosarito! Just the three of us! It was a treat to spend time with my nieces! I still see them often, but don’t get much one-on-one time with them! They are growing so fast! We chatted during the entire drive and while visiting my Mamita. It was nice to see my grandmother, aunts, cousins, and mom was also visiting, so it was an extra nice time with family!
Sunday was a relaxing day at home! Finally! We’ve been busy lately, with all kinds of fun plans & outings, but I was looking forward to being at the house & enjoying our home! I made myself a cappuccino, ok two cappuccinos to start my day, and enjoyed the day with my hubby! We did not leave the house all day….ahhhh, I needed a day like this! The car search continues, so we spent time looking for cars on-line. I decided I wanted to make my own homemade baked plantain chips, which ended up becoming a four hour process. They came out yummy, but I decided I will just stick to buying them at Trader Joe’s. Their plantain chips are quite healthy, low on fat & sodium, and natural with only oil and salt. Plus, they keep longer. But, at least I tried it and realized they are probably just as fattening due to the oil the recipe included. I’ll write a separate post of the recipe I used (found it on-line) and steps I followed.
We got to spend some time with the kitties! They are so cute! My husband showed me a trick Blackie does – when he climbs on his back. I must admit, I’ve become quite attached to the kitties! I was not much of a cat person when we first got married, but I have become attached to both of them!
Hope you had a wonderful weekend too! What did you do?
Best wishes for a great week! Let’s get lots done this week!
Hugs,
Paola
Another fun weekend! I feel fortunate to have friends and family that include us in their festivities! My career also keeps me busy and provides opportunities to attend interesting events!
What did you do this weekend?
Mine was packed with fun outings:
Friday, after work, I went to the The Family Health Center’s – Spirit of the Barrio Fiesta. It was a fun event! They had an “Elected Officials Tamal Making Contest.” I spent time with my friend Carlette Lewis at the event, we used to work together eons ago at the Workforce Partnership and have remained friends. It was nice to catch up with her!
Saturday was a very anticipated day – my nephew Andrew’s 5th Birthday Party! It was nice to celebrate this amazing, cheerful little guy that brings so much joy to our lives! I love my nephew so much, he is very important in my life! It was nice to see family and friends!
After the party, we went to my sisters home to unwrap the gifts. It was a fun day with family and friends as we celebrated one more year in our beloved Andrew’s life! He is a true blessing in our lives!
A funny story about my outfit that day is that I tried it on with about three pairs of shoes, all wedges, to decide which one’s I would wear. When I arrived at the birthday party I was handed a pair of socks to wear – instead of my shoes. I had forgotten about the “no shoes” rule at this location 🙂 I felt like Carrie in Sex & the City, from the episode where she is asked to take her shoes off as she arrives at a child’s birthday party, haha! I was fine with it, I just laughed because I had put some thought into which shoes looked best with my outfit.
Sunday, we went to Long Beach for baby John’s baptism. John is my friends Susana & John’s son. He is a cutie! Susana and I have been friends since college. She has been a good friend to me throughout the years, always lending an ear when I needed career advice. I was meeting baby John for the first time, he is adorable! I have remained in contact with Susana and had seen many pictures of him. He is a beautiful baby, even more adorable in person! He could be a Gerber baby!
By coincidence during our drive to Long Beach for the baptism we got a call regarding a car we had looked at on-line (I am considering getting a different car). Since we were going to be in the area we drove a bit further north to Los Angeles after the baptism to see the car. By that time, I was in need of coffee – and we searched for a Starbuck’s! I drink coffee every morning, either at home or work, but rarely go to a coffee house to get one. The coffee was a nice treat! I really enjoy road trips with my hubby because we chat about a million things, from plans we have, to our thoughts and opinions, to stories about our past. My hubby in one of the smartest and wisest people I know (and I know some smart people!), which leads to interesting conversations. My hubby’s previous boss describes him as MENSA due to the amount of knowledge and level of retention he has. After a long day & the road trip, I was ready to hit the sack by the time we got home! But, as we say in Spanish, “La bailada nadie me me la quita!” Which means, “no one can take the dancing away from me” referring to the “good time I had”!
Happy Monday to everyone – and best wishes for a productive week! Make it a great one!
Do you have any big plans for the week?
Hugs,
Paola
This was a fun weekend…it went by too fast! Hope you had a great weekend! What did you do? Share your pictures with me! Here are some pictures from my weekend.
Friday evening, I did some power shopping in three hours! Found a few more gifts I needed for my hubby’s b-day and my nephew’s birthday party is coming up, found more gifts for him! I also bought gifts for two baptisms I have coming up. This should get me through shopping for the next few weeks, phew! I still want buy a Sulley stuffed animal that my nephew would like for his birthday. I managed to wrap my hubby’s & nephew’s gifts Friday evening. I will wrap the baptism gifts this week. I used to spend hours wrapping gifts in boxes and with gift wrapping paper – they do look nice, but lately I’ve opted for using gift bags 😉 They look nice, are practical, and much faster to wrap! I still wrap a few gifts…but, not all the time.
We bought this playset for my nephew on one of our trips (as a birthday gift), hope he likes it!
Saturday, we headed to the Bastille Day Celebration with my compadres! We had a wonderful time! Lots of laughs, good food, excellent wine, and most importantly great company!
Sunday was my hubby’s birthday celebration. We went to dinner with family at his favorite German restaurant (pretty much the only one in San Diego)…..Kaiserhof Restaurant. It was nice to see family….especially my nieces and nephews, and of course, to celebrate my hubby! My nephew selected the cutest birthday card for my hubby. He knows we have cats, so he got him a card with cats & even wrote a message inside himself (he is 4, which makes this super cute). My other nephew helped blow out the candles! We had a fun time and my hubby enjoyed his little celebration!
Best wishes to everyone…have a wonderful week!
Hugs,
Paola
Do you have a sister? I do, her name is Monique, and she is a blessing in my life! Today is her birthday and I visited her to give her a hug, gifts, and celebrate her day! Our friends know that we are very close, and many have said they admire the friendship and special relationship we have. A relationship with a sister is a unique one. My sister is not only family, she is my closest friend, confidant, and supporter. She is one of the most important people in my life and that I love the most. I can confide in her about my most personal things, I know she will not judge me, and that our bond is very special and strong. She can understand and relate to what I go through, regardless of the situation. That is a nice feeling.
I am thankful to God for blessing me with such a wonderful sis! We see each other often and chat on the phone almost daily. Every time I see her, I automatically smile! If I don’t see her for a week I already miss her and my nephews! On special days, like today, I stop and reflect on how nice it is to have a sister like mine, of how fortunate I am.
My sis is only three years younger than me, so we have been part of each other’s lives since she was born – well, our entire lives! We shared a room growing up and continued as roommates when we moved back to San Diego in our early twenties – I was starting my career, she was studying at SDSU. She was my roommate until she got married. I remember that on her wedding day she got ready at our home (vs. our parents home). I got ready at her home for my wedding.I was her maid of honor, she was mine. I was in the delivery room with her when she gave birth to her beautiful two boys. I have been in the emergency room with her and she has brought me chicken soup when I have gotten sick. We have cheered each other on, celebrated our successes, and been each other’s shoulder to cry on or lent an ear when the other simply needed to vent. We have partied together and grown together, supporting each other every step of the way, through each stage of our lives. We can laugh, cry, and be silly together! Regardless of what life throws our way we say, at least we have each other and we are oh so thankful for that!
So, today on her birthday, I wish her the best – health, happiness, and pray for many more years of nice memories as sisters! Happy Birthday sis – te quiero mucho hermanita!
Do you have special memories with your sister or a close friend you consider a sister? Share them here.
Hugs….to you and all the sisters out there,
Paola
