Summer is here! This means sunny days, walks outside, visits to parks, parties outdoors, barbecues, and vacations. I have somewhat sensitive skin and started noticing some dark spots on my skin in the past few years. I have always been aware of wearing sunblock regularly and hats when out in the sun. It was challenging to wear hats at outdoor events when I was working at Continue reading
Let All That You Do Be Done With Love – 1 Corinthians 16:14
I saw this little chef statue next to a coffee shop. The verse made me reflect on how I often say, “If you are going to do something, do it well” (I say it mostly in Spanish). I don’t know where I learned this quote, perhaps from my maternal grandmother. In writing this post I searched on Google for the quote and couldn’t find it. I did find a similar quote from Walt Disney, see that one Continue reading
Personally, I believe one’s shoes say a lot about a person. Some shoes may say comfort was the priority today, others say fashion was the priority regardless of the practicality of the shoe, then there are lots of styles and preferences in between those two categories. My love for shoes started Continue reading
Pilar and I had a fun evening at the San Diego International Film Festival’s Kick-off Party, & an unexpected visit to the Pendry Rooftop Bar & Pool! It’s very nice! Click on video to watch! Thanks for watching! If you like this video, please Like it & Subscribe to my Youtube channel to receive Continue reading
The holidays are in full swing, we still have New Year’s Eve and Dia de Reyes (Three Wise Men Day) parties coming up. It is fun to indulge in our favorite meals and drinks during the holidays, but after a month of parties and dinners, all those calories can add up. An easy way to cut a few calories from Continue reading
This week is Thanksgiving. During this time of the year, I reflect (even more) on the many blessings in life and everything I am thankful for! I feel very fortunate, and thankful with God and life. One of the biggest blessings in my life is Continue reading
Heels are a staple in my closet. I love wearing them, and my feet have gotten pretty good about standing and walking in them for hours. For certain speaking engagements and when I host events, I will stand on my feet for up to six or eight hours. It can take a toll on my feet. I have a handful of Continue reading
This mug is a gift from my friend and colleague, Claudia Llausas (anchor and reporter, at Azteca San Diego 15). Claudia and I knew each other even before we started working together at ABC10 and Azteca San Diego. We met Continue reading
The biggest joy in my life is family, from my grandmother, to my youngest nephew, and all my relatives in between! At the end of the day, they are the most important aspect of my life and my happiest memories have been lived by their side. I was fortunate to have met Continue reading
Hi friends – today Lola and I were at Westfield Mission Valley, and we when we walked by Loehmann’s we noticed it had “Going Out of Business” signs. The entire store was on sale. I inquired and was told all the items in the store went on sale about a month ago. The last day the store will be open is this Sunday, February 9. Five days left, all items are on sale for 50% – 80% off the marked price. It took us about an hour of sorting through the racks and shoes, then try them on – and we found good sales! I found four items, two for me, two for gifts. I was tempted to buy two more Joe’s jeans (at $50 each) and a pair of Cole Haan shoes, but decided not to get them.
My biggest fid were these blue tuxedo Joe’s skinny jeans for $50! They were priced at $99, and retail for $185. I have other Joe jeans, so I knew this was a good deal!
Lola found four items as well – her bet purchase was a pair of stylish black leggings (just last week, we had seen some very similar at BCBG for four times the price)!
There are all kinds of items, clothes, shoes, purses, hats, socks, scarves, accessories, even the store fixtures are for sale. There were plenty Joe jeans in multiple colors and sizes. I also tried on some cute skirts and dresses.
It may take you a while to look through the racks, but it will be worth your time, you can find great deals!
Happy shopping friends!
Hugs,
Paola
Front view of the jeans.
Back view of the jeans.
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Hi friends! Do you have a favorite outfit this season? Mine is this red jacket from Arden B. I bought it before the winter season began and have worn it many times this holiday season! It is warm, comfortable, and can be worn open or closed. I like it so much that I have worn it for work, casual outings, and on recent trips to San Francisco and Newport Beach (these pics were taken at South Coast Plaza in Newport). It was practical for traveling because it did not get wrinkled in my carry-on bag, always a plus. It can be dressed up with a skirt (or dress) and heels, or worn with jeans and boots – as I wear it here! I also purchased the jacket in a camel color, but have only worn that one twice. We have a few weeks of chilly weather left in Southern California (ok, our version of chilly weather), so I will try to wear this red jacket a few more times….I’ll stretch the season out and continue wearing the jacket as long as I can! I get compliments every time I wear it, which is always nice. Most importantly, I feel great…confident and stylish every time I wear it, you can’t beat that! For all these reasons, this is my favorite outfit of the season!
Which is your favorite outfit of the season?
Hugs,
Paola
PS – I wore my hair up to accentuate the high collar & ruffles the jacket has. I also applied red lipstick, this is my favorite Chanel tone for the season (a gift from my comadre Marissa, comadre = mother of my goddaughter).
Jacket: Arden B. (ArdenB.com, purchased at Horton Plaza location); Pants: H&M; Tank Top: Banana Republic; Boots: Paolo (Paoloshoes.com, purchased in San Francisco, they are super comfortable, I wear them to work & for travel); Belt: purchased in San Francisco; Long Necklace: Target (Target.com); Lipstick: Chanel, Rouge Coco 36 Lune Rousse (Chanel.com, purchased at Nordstrom, Nordstrom.com); Cross Pendant Necklace: Vatican (purchased at the Vatican in Rome, found this site for the store vaticangift.com); Purse: Louis Vuitton (this is the purse I use daily, so you may see it in various posts, I love this purse.
My teeth are important to me. Not just the appearance of my teeth, but the health of my mouth. I will need my teeth the rest of my life, so I try to take care of them. One of the products that I use to keep my teeth healthy is my Sonicare toothbrush. I have had a Sonicare toothbrush for about 15 years. I remember buying my first Sonicare for about $100 at Costco. Every few months I would change the brush head. That one lasted about 10 years, until I took it on a long trip to Europe and busted it by using the wrong converter for the charger. The charge lasts about 10 days, so the other times I had taken it on trips abroad I wouldn’t take the charger because I didn’t need it. If I was on a trip for more than ten days, I would use it as a manual toothbrush on the last days. After the trip where I busted the toothbrush charger, I did some research regarding prices and bought another one at Bed Bath & Beyond for about $90 (I used the store’s 20% off coupon). Believe it or not, a few years later, while on my honeymoon in Europe, I busted it again with the converter. I remember hearing a small blasting sound in the hotel room after the brush had been plugged in for about an hour, the next day my toothbrush wasn’t working. So, I bought another one, this time at Target, for about $75 or so (with mail-in-rebate offer). I preferred the first one I bought because it did a vibration motion which notified me when it was time to move to my other arch of teeth. The one I currently have does not have a vibration motion notification, but it does stop brushing after 2 minutes, which is the recommended time to brush your teeth. Needless to say, I have not taken my charger with me in the past trips we have made abroad. I plan to keep this toothbrush for a long time!
You may be asking yourself why I keep buying it over and over again. First of all the quality is excellent, I had the first one for about 10 years! It still worked perfectly. The handle had turned slightly off-white, but mechanically it was fine. I would probably still be using it if I hadn’t charged it improperly in Europe. I like this toothbrush because in addition to seeing the difference in my teeth, I feel it in my mouth. My breath is fresher in the morning when I use this to toothbrush. To avoid traveling with the toothbrush’s case, which is a bit bulky, I occasionally use a manual toothbrush on weekend trips. I can feel the difference on my teeth and in my breath when I wake up when I use a manual toothbrush.
According to usa.philips.com, the Sonicare toothbrush has three engineering innovations: Sonic technology drives bristle tip velocity, clinically proven results, and dynamic clean action for clean feel. It delivers more strokes in two minutes, than a manual toothbrush can in one month. It also removes up to seven times more plaque, resulting in a cleaner and healthier smile. It has soft bristles, a powerful clean, gently massages the gums which stimulates blood circulation and helps dislodge plaque.
It is true – the bristles are soft and my mouth feels really clean after I use the toothbrush. I have had less plaque and a healthier smile!
I decided to write this post because the Sonicare toothbrush is one of my favorite products – and it is on sale tomorrow and Saturday at Macy’s. When I saw the ad for the toothbrush, I started to think about who I could buy it for as a Christmas gift! It is that good of a deal. It is on sale December 20 & 21, before 1:00pm, for $39.99. That is the lowest price I have ever seen it at. It is regularly $199.99 and will be $79.99 after 1:00pm. So, if you want to buy a gift for yourself – get this toothbrush, your smile will appreciate it! Even though $40 may seem high for a toothbrush, if you buy four or six manual toothbrushes per year, you are already spending about $40 per year. If taken care of properly, a Sonicare toothbrush can last you for years, you only need to buy the brush heads and clean the base occasionally. I buy my replacement toothbrush heads at Target for about $25 for two. If you brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time, the brush head should be changed about every three months. The heads have a color indicator that let you know when it is time to change them.
If you miss the Macy’s sale, you can also find it on sale at Bed Bath & Beyond, a set of two Sonicare toothbrushes is $129.99. So, you could give it as a gift to your spouse or another family member….and for yourself at the same time!
Do you have a favorite toothbrush? If you buy a Sonicare, let me know what you think.
Hugs….and happy brushing,
Paola
This is the sale Macy’s is having on December 20 & 21, 2013, before 1:00pm.
This is the 2013 holiday ad from Bed Bath & Beyond.
This is my toothbrush at home – I keep it plugged in next to my bathroom sink.
This is the toothbrush case. It was included with my first toothbrush and I have been able to continue using it with my other toothbrushes. The brush heads come with covers, so those could be used to protect the toothbrush when traveling (if you don’t buy the case).
One thing we may all have in common these days is that we all seem to be busy, way too busy, as if there just aren’t enough hours in the day (at least on weekdays). Am I right?
I had acne when I was younger and still get a break-out occasionally, so in addition to taking care of my skin to preserve it looking nice and healthy, I try to avoid breakouts by removing my make-up daily. This is an important part of my daily beauty routine and helps my skin breathe at night, particularly because I wear heavy make-up when I have television shoots. Some nights, I am just exhausted or busy, and I don’t remove my make-up as soon as I arrive at home. I will make dinner for my husband, then clean the kitchen, do stuff around the house, prepare my outfit for the next day, and before I know it, I am in my pajamas and in bed….dreading that I have to get up to remove my make-up. Particularly in cold weather, it is hard to get up from under the warm covers. Sometimes, I’ll say to myself, I’ll just sleep a little and get up later to remove my make-up. That works sometimes, but I don’t rest very well because I keep thinking that I have to get up to wash my face. About 90% of the time I will get up to wash my face, but that interrupts my sleep, which is not optimal.
On a recent weekend trip to visit my mom we stayed up into the wee hours of the morning catching up. Once we were getting ready to go to sleep, she pulled out her make-up removal towelettes. I noticed how she easily removed her make-up with the towelette and she told me how much she likes them. So, I tried one and it removed my make-up pretty well and my skin felt soft and hydrated the next morning. I am not certain it is as effective as using my usual make-up remover and face wash, particularly because I don’t apply face moisturizer & eye cream when I use the towelette, but it is definitely better than going to sleep with my make-up on. I recently purchased Olay Wet Cleansing Towelettes and keep them next to my night stand. On nights when I am super tired, like last night….I simply pull one of these out and remove my make-up as I am laying in bed, then just apply lip moisturizer (which I keep in my nightstand drawer). So, if you are a busy person like me and sometimes wish there was a simply option to removing your make-up on long days, you may want to try this option. It works for me and I am pretty selective about what I use on my face! Have you used make-up removal towelettes on your face? If yes, which one’s do you use?
Hugs,
Paola
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Look at how much make-up they removed. I even use them to remove the eyeshadow, mascara, & lipstick.
I purchase the Olay make-up removal towelettes for sensitive skin (alcohol-free), but there are many other brands as well. I purchase these at Target for $4.99 (packet of 30 towelettes). You can find these type of products at Walmart, Target, CVS and many other drug stores.
We all have what is called a “go to” item in our closet, be it a dress, suit, skirt, top, jeans…an item we know will not let us down. I have multiple “go to” items! This one shoulder, floral blouse is on of them. I bought it for a trip to Miami. Then, I wore it in Las Vegas for dinner with friends (with other couple’s), to emcee and do the Ribbon Cutting at the Grand Opening of restaurant at Westfield Mission Valley, for my hubby’s birthday party, and recently to a baptism. I was close to wearing it to this year’s Mana de San Diego Brindis Gala, but chose to wear a black dress instead (which has recently been added to the “go to” list). I like that I can wear the top with a mini skirt or capris for a Miami brunch on the beach look, or dress it up with slacks or a skirt and heels for a dressier look. It is also good for a day or night look, by changing the accessories, purse, and shoes! Plus, because of the materials, it is easy to wash at home & doesn’t require ironing (which also makes it a good item for traveling)! That is music to my ears! This how I matched it…to wear to the baptism! What is your favorite “go to” item?
Hugs,
Paola
Todas tenemos artículos en nuestro closet que nos encantan, artículos que sabemos “no nos fallas”, ya sean unos jeans, falda, vestido, o blusa. Yo tengo varios artículos que “no me fallan.” Esta blusa de un hombro es uno de estos artículos. La compre para un viaje a Miami. Despues, me la puse para una cena con otras parejas (amistades) en Las Vagas, para hacer el corte de listón y participar como maestra de ceremonia de la apertura de restaurante en Westfield Mission Valley, la fiesta de cumpleaños de mi marido, y recientemente para ir a un bautizo. Casi me la pongo para la recepcion de Brindis de Mana de San Diego, pero decidi ponerme un vestidito negro (que ya agregue a la lista de articulos de ropa que no me fallan). Me gusta que me puedo poner la blusa con una mimi falda o capris como un look mas casual para un desayuno junto a la playa en Miami. O puedo cominnarla con una falda o pantalones, tacones y cambio de bolsa y accesorios para un look mas formal durante el dia o la noche. Y debido al material es facil lavarla en casa y no requiere de plancha (asi que tambien es practica para viajes)! Esto me encanta! Asi es como me la combine para el bautizo recientemente. Cual es tu articulo “que no te falla” favorito?
Un abrazo,
Paola
Blouse/Blusa: Forever 21; Shirt/Falda: Nordstrom; Shoes/Zapatos: Cathy Jean; Purse/Bolsa: Coach; Bracelet/Pulsera: Bought in New York at shop on 5th Ave (I’ve had it for a while)
HOW I WORE IT FOR OTHER EVENTS:
Emceeing a Quinceanera Expo Runway Show – it was in North County San Diego, in August, the weather was so hot, this blouse was light & perfect for the occasion!
Participando como maestra de ceremonia de la Pasarela de Quinceanera Expo – fue en el Norte del Condado de San Diego, en Agosto y estaba haciendo muchisimo calor, esta blusa es ligera y fue perfecta para la ocacion!
I was the emcee and had the honor of doing the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Grand Opening of Tora Restaurant at Westfield Mission Valley. Photographed with my colleagues from the television station, Azteca San Diego, Marketing Director at Westfield Mission Valley, staff at Tora Restaurant, and guests.
Como maestra de ceremonia y tuve el honor de hacer el Corte de Liston para la Apertura del Restaurante Tora en Westfield Mission Valley. Fotografia con mis companeros de la televisora, Azteca San Diego, el Director de Mercadotecnia de Westfield Mission Valley, personal del Restaurante Tora, e invitados.
I was at an event at Viejas Casino & Hotel recently and arrived early. Since I was early, I went to the Viejas Outlet Center and was pleasantly surprised to see they have a Coach outlet store. I have a few Coach purses and like them, particularly because of the good quality! The leather purses last forever! During this visit, I bought a few small purses for myself and liked them so much, I bought four for gifts! My nieces, sister, and Lola got Coach purses as gifts for their birthdays (all their birthdays are close to each other).
I particularly like this light pink purse because, first of all, it is adorably cute! Secondly, the color is versatile. Plus, it is leather, so it will last me for a long time. My wallet, cell phone, lipstick, lip liner, powder, & keys all fit – also known as the basic items I need in my purse for an outing. I know Coach purses can get a bit pricey, but since I was at the Outlet Center the prices are more reasonable and they are worth it!
I also like that I can use it as a clutch or with the strap, this is what I call versatility! And because it is leather, you can clean it if for any reason it gets dirty.
I’ve already used it a few times, for dinner out with my hubby and for a baptism. I’ll post a picture of how I wore the purse with an outfit soon.
For me, purses are a fun part of being a woman! They are an accessory that can help dress up an outfit or add that extra touch to any attire!
Find similar Coach pink purses here & here.
If you live in San Diego or close by, there are also Coach outlet stores at the Carlsbad Premium Outlets and at Las Americas Premium Outlets in San Ysidro. Simon Fashion Valley mall and Westfield North County have a Coach stores (non-outlet store).
What was your last good find? Do you have a favorite purse? Share your good finds with me!
Hugs,
Paola
PS – Light Colored Coats You Can Wear Year-Round & picture of Lola with the Coach purse I gave her (love how she matched it)!
There are some beauty tips that are pretty basic and simple, yet have great results! I have a few beauty items in my night stand, one of them is a small jar of petroleum jelly, I use the Vaseline brand. I have been using this product every night to moisturize my lips for years! I keep this tiny jar of Vaseline in my night stand, this way, it is the last thing I do just before I turn off the light to go to sleep. Since I keep it in my nightstand, it is convenient, at an arms reach & I don’t forget to apply it. Even when I travel, I have a small tube of it in my bag with my facial products & place it on the night stand at the hotel. Due to the weather and in my case, the make-up, lip liners, and lipsticks I use, my lips can get dry. Just a dab of Vaseline at night helps keep my lips moisturized year-round. I don’t use chap sticks throughout the day, and don’t need them because this nightly routine does the trick! Occasionally, I also apply a little on my nail cuticles and hands to moisturize them.This tiny container costs only about $1 and lasts for months. You can find it at most pharmacies, grocery stores, or Target/Wal-Mart. I like using this tiny jar because it does not take up hardy an space in my nightstand.
Petroleum jelly contains a mixture of mineral oils, paraffin, and waxes which will moisturize your skin and help protect and repair it from dryness, according to Livestrong.com. It helps your skin retain more moisture, so it will repair itself.
So, give it a try…put some petroleum jelly or lip moisturizer in your night stand and start a nightly routine to keep your lips moisturized and looking luscious!
What do you use to moisturize your lips? Do you include a lip moisturizing product in your evening routine?
Hugs,
Paola
Note: As with any new product, if you have never used petroleum jelly, test it by applying a small amount on your skin, to ensure you do not have an allergic reaction.
This is the third time I buy this eye shadow, lipgloss, and blush palette kit at Nordstrom. They call it Deluxe Beauty Essential Palette. It is one of the products included in their current Nordstrom Insider Access Anniversary sale, for Nordstrom card holders. It is on special sale for $28.90, after this sale it goes back to $42.95 (if you can find it), the sticker says it is a value of $150. Last time I bought it for about $40+.
I bought this type of palette two years ago and have used it a lot! I posted a pic of my used palette below. I like it so much, I bought one as a gift for my friend Lizeth. I don’t wear lots of eyeshadow on a daily basis and usually wear neutral colors. I use this palette mostly for special occasions, evening looks, or when I want to get more creative with my eye make-up. It is also useful for daily use if you like to change your eyeshadow colors around or change tones according to seasons. I have also used it for the make-up tutorials I am starting to record for my vblog (coming soon). The blushes are the items I went through first. I like the lipgloss’ because there are so many options! I particularly like the very light pink and pale colors for a nude lip when I do a smokey eye. The quality of the eyeshadows, blushes, and lipsticks/lipgloss’ are good. The eyeshadows last all day or night (I apply them over Urban Decay eyeshadow base), and the blushes and lipsticks last several hours.
This palette comes with 1 bronzer (which I like!) and 4 small brushes, which are new and useful additions. It also has 79 eyeshadows, 8 lipgloss’, and 4 blushes. This is a great value for all the items included and the variety of eyeshadow colors.
I suggest this palette if you are starting to wear make-up, want to increase your creativity with eyeshadows, or want to use it like I do for special occasions or when you get the desire for additional eyeshadows. It is also practical for everyday use, but you may run out your favorite eyeshadow colors because the individual quantities per color (eyeshadow squares) are small. You can’t beat the price, this is the lowest I have ever seen it! If you were to buy separate eyeshadow, lipstick, & blush palettes you would spend more.
In order to give you accurate information, I called Nordstrom today to confirm this palette is still on sale and it is! The associate told me the price is still $28.90, quantities are limited and that price will only last for one more week. This item also makes a nice gift! So, if you have a friend’s birthday coming up or want to start your holiday shopping, this will make a nice gift! Or, you can “gift” it to yourself, like I did!
Have you used this type of palette before?
Hugs…and stay beautiful,
Paola
This is my current (old) palette. As you can see, I went through all the blushes and a few eyeshadow colors, and used many of the eyeshadows and lipgloss’.
This gallery contains 3 photos.
I have what I call – “Best Purchases I’ve Ever Made!” My husband chuckles every time he hears me say that. They are those items that are not only useful, they also bring joy to your life and they are … Continue reading
This is a picture of our library at home. My husband and I greatly enjoy reading, as inviting as the chairs in our library are, we usually read in our bedroom or on flights. When I arrive at home after a long day at work, I usually go straight to the kitchen to make dinner for my hubby, or to our bedroom to change and begin relaxing. Between the both of us we probably have way too many books – we keep more books in our offices and our nightstands – and seem to have a hard time detaching from them. We do buy books as gifts. We have books in English, Spanish, and German (as well as Italian, French, Mandarin, & other languages from our travels). My husband reads all sorts of subjects. I mostly read non-fiction books – I really enjoy biographies, leadership books, history, fashion, and self-improvement topics. I think I’ve only read two novels, even though I do like watching movies often (just for entertainment). I love visiting libraries and regularly check out books. Reading is one of my hobbies, a guilty pleasure. I can spend an entire weekend reading a book cover to cover. For the most part I am reading two to three books at a time.
Books have been a part of my life since I was a child. We went to a catholic school and they had a program with a local library to encourage children to read more, when students reached a goal they would get ribbons and a free personal pizza from Pizza Hut. Funny the things we remember from our childhood. Reading lead to spelling contests, my mother says she was proud her little Latina daughter would win spelling contests in English. Growing up I don’t remember thinking I was Hispanic or different, not even encountering racism. I played with our neighbors, was involved in clubs at school, became a Brownie and a Girl Scout, we were perfectly assimilated. I think being born here and learning the language at an early age helped.
I have learned so much from books, about so many topics….a book can transport you to another country, teach you about other cultures….and even take you to another world! I have many favorites….the Oprah Winfrey biography has been inspirational, as have the Jack Welch books, and more recently Lean In…..too many to list! Now, even with tons of information at our fingertips via the internet, I love to curl up with a good book, to feel the pages, and get lost in the story….trying to find some type of a learning experience from every book!
Happy reading to everyone!
Did you have a favorite book growing up? Do you have a favorite book or which was the last book you read? Any suggestions you recommend on good non-fiction books?
Hugs,
Paola