Graduations, Birthdays, Parties, Walks….Life

Posted on June 8, 2014 by phjiao

Hi friends,

The past two weeks have been a whirlwind. June is a fun month because it filled with family and friends’ birthdays, plus my birthday. This year, the start of June also included three graduations and many fun events! It has been fun, but also a bit exhausting. I am also going through the process of dental surgery, which has required multiple dentist appointments (I am thankful for having a good dentist and that this has a solution).

I am happy to finally have a Sunday at home, to sip my cup of coffee and relax, write a blog post, and catch up on things around the house.

This blog, is a hobby for me, something I do on my free time, but also something I enjoy and am committed to. It is my way of sharing life experiences, things I learn, thoughts, and a positive platform. I appreciate your support greatly! It touched my heart recently when Lola told me that one of her friends, who reads my blog often, asked if I was doing ok since I hadn’t posted in a few days. It takes time to write each blog post and choose the pictures. So, sometimes I have to decide if I have time to write a blog post today….and sometimes I don’t. Sometimes, after a long day at work and an outing that evening, going to sleep wins over writing a blog post, ha! These past two weeks, I had a commitment every single day, and I had fun, it is part of enjoying my life, and time with family and friends. My busy social schedule left me without time to write blog posts. Thank you for understanding and for your support! Your words encourage me to continue writing this blog!

Here are a few pictures from the past two weeks….hope you like them!

What were you up to this past week? Did you go to any graduations, birthdays, or parties?

Best wishes for a great week – and let’s stay in touch!

Hugs,

Paola

The outings started with a night at the theatre. After seeing a great performance, my hubby wanted a hamburger, so we stopped for a late dinner. He had a hamburger, I had a few of his fries.

Thursday night, we discovered a new Indian restaurant. The art at the restaurant is beautiful!

Friday night, Lola joined me for the San Diego County Fair’s Media Party. It is held a week prior to the Fair’s opening and one of my favorite parties of the year! We didn’t stay too late this year because the next day I had to get up very early for a 5K walk.

I got up bright and early on Saturday to give a welcome & participate in the Live Well San Diego 5K Walk/Run! Lola was in town, so she joined me. It was a wonderful event, we had fun and we got some exercise!

The Little Italy Mercato (farmer’s market) is held downtown on Saturday mornings. I’d wanted to visit it for a while, but Lola is usually out of town on weekends and I usually don’t go downtown on weekends. So, since she was in town and the Walk was held close to downtown, we headed to Little Italy after the Walk. We stopped to say hi to my brother at his booth, he sells plants there – that’s his hobby. So proud of him! We bought some fruit, it was juicy and sweet, and a silver necklace. I’ll be going back!

Sunday, my sis & nephew joined me for Mauricio’s #1 Birthday Party (my friend Lizeth’s son). He’s a cutie! It was nice to spend time with Lizeth & her family – and my sis and nephew as well!

On Monday, my niece turned 15 and we got together to celebrate with a cake! She will have her Quinceañera party later this year! We are all looking forward to it!

On Tuesday, I went to an election night party downtown – and left in time to vote on my way home before the polls closed!

A family friend’s daughter graduated from high school and invited us to her graduation on Wednesday evening. We had a delicious Cuban dinner at their home after the ceremony.

Thursday, my adorable nephew Andrew graduated from kindergarten! We went to the Ceremony at his school, then my family went to lunch together and I went back to work. Later that afternoon, we had cake at his home to celebrate!

Thursday evening, my friend Elsa and I went for a walk at Lake Murray. It is beautiful and relaxing! I found a new place to exercise & maybe even go for a bike ride.

I have been wanting to go to Coronado for a while. So Friday after work, Lola and I met in Coronado and went for a walk! It was the perfect way to end a long week! We did some exercise and afterwards, went browsed through a few shops on Orange Avenue and did some shopping at the Hotel Del’s stores. I bought some coloring books for my nephews and discovered a great little jewelry store. We live in an amazing County that has so many areas to explore and Coronado is a beautiful city in the region! We saw this large and cuddly dog during our walk, just had to get his picture!

Saturday, I had fun watching my nephew! This visit deserves its own post, I’ll write about it later on.

Saturday night, we got together with my comadre to celebrate her birthday! It was nice to see her and her family! I enjoyed spending time with my goddaughter, she’s a beautiful and sweet little girl!

My Week in Photos

Posted on April 28, 2014 by phjiao

Hi friends,

Hope you had a great week….and weekend! This past week, was extraordinarily busy for me….and very fun! There was lots going on! I know I haven’t written a Week In Photos post in a while, but I’ll try to get back to posting these since some of you commented that you liking seeing them, thanks!

What did you do this past week….and weekend?

Hope you like the post & have a great start to your week….May starts in a few weeks! Unbelievable how fast time goes by. I wish you an amazing, productive, and HAPPY week!

Hugs,

Paola

My week started with meetings for Live Well San Diego, a partnership the stations have with the County of San Diego for this program. I manage the stations partnership and this is a very exciting project for me! I am motivated & inspired to work on this initiative! I also hosted an interview for Azteca San Diego regarding Live Well San Diego, called Vive Bien San Diego in Spanish!

This week was full of festivities at the station, one my colleagues in the department had a birthday and we celebrated with this delicious tres leches caramel cake (from Costco). I had never had the caramel version, it was different & yummy!

This was my boss’ last week at the station and the department staff went out to celebrate his farewell lunch. The lemonade glasses were cute and I had a Pellegrino, for some odd reason these are the only two pics I have from the lunch. We were all reminiscing and chatting, maybe that is why I didn’t take too many pics. We also had cake for him at the station.

Someone very kind left Thursday’s Union Tribune newspaper on my desk at the station….Lola and I are in it! Thanks for this anonymous act of kindness 🙂 I showed it to Lola, she always gets a kick out of pictures of us in publications. Also, thanks to the photographer for taking our picture! We met him last week at FWSD’s Flaunt Your Fashion event.

Lola and I went to the movies at Westfield Mission Valley, we saw The Other Woman….and she took my outfit of the day pics before the movie. I changed my shoes and took off my jacket, and we managed to take a 30 minute walk outside the mall before the movie started. She also motivated me NOT to buy See’s chocolates before the movie. I love See’s chocolates and there is a store at the mall. We each had a See’s chocolate lollipop instead, it has less calories and fat. I’ll post those outfit pictures soon!

My goddaughter had a play at her school and we visited her classroom afterwards. They called it the “After Party with the Cast!” She showed me around her classroom & shared her school work with me. She is such a sweet girl, beautiful, and smart! Just like her mom, my comadre.

I went to San Diego Magazine’s Best of North County event on Friday evening, it was fun! One of the best events I’ve been to in San Diego! We spent time with Catherine Arambula (far right), from Mana de San Diego, and Karen Mullen (second from right), from San Diego Magazine. Lola is the one in the light green jacket.

Bright and early on Saturday, I participated at the March for Babies at Balboa Park. It was nice to spend time with my 10News and Azteca San Diego colleagues and friends. The weather was windy and cold, and it started to rain just as the walk portion started, look at the banners on the stage….the wind broke them off! We were still there, with thousands of San Diegans, supporting the March of Dimes, a great organization that helps moms and babies!

After the walk, I went to the baptism of my friend Lizeth’s baby boy. It was a nice ceremony at St. Pius X (I went to grade school at St.Pius, it was nice to visit the church again). The baby looked adorable & Lizeth was beautiful! Her dress was perfect for the occasion and the headband looked wonderful on her – a nice touch, loved the look! After the ceremony, she had an intimate luncheon with family. I was honored to have been invited to share in this very special moment! Lizeth is one of my closest friends, like a sister to me. It was nice to catch up with her and her family, her mom is an aunt to me. She is a very wise woman! I visited Lizeth the day her baby was born…. and look forward to seeing him grow up! Many more celebrations to come as he grows up!

She had keepsakes & so many cute details for the baptism….and for dessert, multiple types of cheesecakes, delicious! I had a piece of the key lime pie!

Lola and I went to FWSD’s Spring Into Fashion Showcase at Harrah’s. We had fun, as always….ran into some of the designers I know and some new one’s as well. It was nice to see a few Hispanic designers at the Show! I took lots of pictures and will write a blog post about the event this coming week.

Finally, Sunday arrived…..as much fun as I had during the week, I needed a day to rest and re-charge at home. I even took a nap in the middle of the afternoon, because I was feeling sleepy, it was a Sunday, and I needed it. I had been invited to attend two events held today, but knew I would have a full week, so I had declined. I know my limits and have learned to say no, and dedicate some R&R to myself. I have another full week ahead of me, it would have been too much to work seven days straight. I also wanted to give my skin a break, when I have shoots and work events, I wear pretty heavy make-up. I like to give my face at least one day to breathe…I call it no make-up Sunday! I’ll write a blog post soon about learning to say no and allow yourself some down time.

Sunday afternoon, I was looking at pictures on the March of Dimes California Facebook page and saw that they posted this picture of me from the March for Babies walk in Oceanside two weeks ago. I shared it on my Facebook page.

They had also posted this for the March for Babies held Saturday at Balboa Park, this was the caption: “We’re looking forward to welcoming Kimberly Hunt 10News and Paola Hernandez of 10News – ABC San Diego KGTV and Azteca América San Diego: AztecaSD.com as our March for Babies hosts and media sponsors for our San Diego event in Balboa Park Saturday, April 26. Be sure to say hello and thank them for their incredible support!”

As you can see….I had a full and HAPPY week! Feeling blessed and looking forward to having another awesome week! Be HAPPY!

Week In Photos

Posted on February 23, 2014 by phjiao

Hi friends,

The past two weeks have included many fun moments, but also a nerve wrecking moment for me. My apology for not posting all week, it’s been a busy week. Work has been wonderful, lots going on, as always! The day that had me nervous was the day my husband had knee surgery. Thankfully, the surgery went well and he is recuperating at home. The preparation for his surgery, the day of the surgery, and now his recuperation has been consuming my attention, emotions, and time. I love my husband dearly, my family is the most important thing in my life, so I am grateful to God that he is doing well. Thank you all for your good wishes and prayers! Here is my Week In Photos, hope you like the pics! What have you been up to?

Hugs,

Paola

Español: Hola amigos,

Las pasadas dos semanas han incluidos muchos momentos divertidos, pero también unos días de nervios para mi. Disculpas por no poner notas esta semana, ha sido una semana muy ocupada. El trabajo va muy bien, muchas grabaciones y demás, como siempre! El día que me tenia de nervios fue el día que mi esposo tuvo cirugía de su rodilla. Gracias a Dios, la cirugía fue exitosa y el esta en casa recuperadose. La preparación para su cirugía, el día de la operación, y la recuperación han consumido mi atención, emociones, y tiempo. Quiero muchísimo a mi esposo, mi familia es lo mas importante para mi, le estoy agradecida a Dios de que el esta bien. Gracias a todos por sus bueno deseos y oraciones! Aquí les comparto mi Semana En Fotos, ojalá les gusten las fotos! Que has hecho estas semanas?

Un abrazo,

Paola

It was fun to see our Disneyland friends, Jesse & team – I hosted an interview for Azteca regarding the special promotion they have for So. Cal & Baja California residents. It’s a great deal!

Fue divertido ver a nuestros amigos de Disneyland, Jesse y equipo – conduje una entrevista para Azteca sobre la promoción que tienen para residentes del sur de California y Baja California. Es un super descuento!

My hubby went to a Chinese New Year Celebration event & brought me back these Godiva chocolates, delish!!

My marido fue a un evento en Celebración al Ano Nuevo Chino y me trajo estos chocolates Godiva, deliciosos!

Hosted an interview for the Red Carpet Gala – Academy Awards Viewing Party, benefiting the Campership Council.

Conduje una entrevista sobre la Gala Red Carpet – evento para ver los Premios de la Academia, los fondos recaudados benefician al Concilio de Campamentos.

Lola & I were at Westfield Mission Valley….and when we walked by Loehmann’s we realized it was closing! We found a few items on clearance sale! This became my Find of the Week post!

Loa y yo estabamos en Westfield Mission Valley… y cuando pasamos por Loehmann’s nos dimos cuenta que la tienda iba a cerrar y tenian una super especial! Encontramos varias cosas en especial! Esta se convirtio en mi nota – Compra de la Semana!

We celebrated my brother’s birthday – I enjoyed time with my nieces! Two of my favorite young ladies!

Celebramos el cumpleaños de mi hermano – disfrute pasar tiempo con mis lindas sobrinas!

Finally, Sunday arrived….I got to sleep in and relaxed while I sipped my cup of coffee!

Por fin….llego el domingo y pude dormir un poco y tomarme un cafecito relajadamente!

Hosting an interview regarding the 2014 San Diego Festival of Science & Engineering.

Conduciendo una entrevista sobre el Festival de Ciencia e Ingeniería de San Diego.

I don’t attend too may events after work anymore – I made the exception for this reception, Lola & I had fun at the Election Night Party! Pictured with Pedro Anaya (Party host) and Luis Monteagudo from the County of San Diego.

Ya casi no voy a eventos después del trabajo – hice la excepción para esta recepción, Lola y yo nos divertimos en la Fiesta de Noche de Elección! En esta foto salen con nosotros Pedro Anaya (el anfitrión del evento) y Luis Monteagudo del Condado de San Diego.

It was our three year wedding anniversary! Went by fast! My hubby sent me flowers, a balloon, chocolates, and this cute teddy bear, loved them all! I shared the chocolates with him 😉

Cumplimos tres anos de casados! Que rapido! Mi maridito me envío flores, un globo, chocolates y un oso de peluche. Me encanto! Comparti los chocolates con el 😉

Dress fitting at Aurora’s Bridal – for the dress wore to emcee the Quinceañera Expo.

Fui a medirme el vestido en Aurora’s Bridal – para el vestido que use para ser maestra de ceremonia en la Quinceañera Expo.

Recorded a commercial at Courtesy Chevrolet.

Grabe un comercial en Courtesy Chevrolet.

TC & the Disneyland team were back – this time I hosted an interview on ABC10 regarding the Aulani A Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii. Mickey always makes me smile, so cute 🙂

TC y el equipo de Disneyland regresaron – esta vez conduje una entrevista para ABC10 sobre Aulani A Disney Resort & Spa en Hawaii. Mickey siempre me hace sonreir 🙂

Hubby came back from a business trip on Valentine’s Day & surprised me with a cute card & chocolates!

Mi maridito regreso de un viaje de negocios el Día de San Valentin y me sorprendió con esta linda tarjeta y chocolates!

While catching up on friends’ Facebook posts, I found out House of Cards Season 2 was on Netflix….my Saturday evening was consumed with watching the episodes!

Mientras estaba poniéndome al tanto de las notas de mis amigos en Facebook, me entere que la segunda temporada de House of Cards ya estaba disponible en Netflix…el resto de mi sabado se consumió con los episodios!

Let the transformation begin…thanks to Ivonne & her team from K Bello Salon, they did my hair & make-up for the Quinceañera Expo!

Que comience la transformación….gracias a Ivonne y su equipo de K Bello Salon, me maquillaron y peinaron para la Quinceañera Expo!

Behind the scenes at Quinceañera Expo, about to go on stage to emcee the fashion show.

Detrás del escenario en Quinceañera Expo, a punto de subir al escenario antes del desfile de modas.

Emceeing – on stage during the Quinceañera Expo fashion show.

Conduciendo – en el escenario durante el desfile de modas de Quinceañera Expo.

With Aurora, from Aurora’s Bridal, this is the dress I wore to emcee the event. It’s beautiful!

Con Aurora, de Aurora’s Bridal, este es el vestido que use para el evento. Esta precioso!

Fixing my microphone – just before hosting an interview regarding the San Diego Latino Film Festival, with the founder, Ethan Van Thillo, & documentary producer, Nina Piza.

Acomodando mi microfono – antes de la entrevista sobre el Festival de Cine Latino de San Diego, con el fundador, Ethan Van Thillo, y productora de uno de los documentales, Nina Piza.

Took my hubby to the hospital for surgery and have been taking care of him at home as he recuperates (& taking him to therapy). He’s using crutches & I’ve been filling the ice machine multiple times per day to ice his knee.

Lleve a mi esposo al hospital para su cirugía y lo he estado cuidando en casa durante su recuperación (y llevado a terapia). Esta usando muletas y le he estado llenando el aparato de hielo para ponerlo en su rodilla, ayuda para que se deshinche la rodilla.

Arriving at the Salvation Army’s Golden Bell Awards, I was one of the award presenters during the program.

Llegando a los Premios Golden Bell del Ejercito de Salvación, fui unas de las presentadoras de premios durante el programa.

I was also an award recipient. We are honored to receive the award – pictured with my 10News colleagues, Robert Santos & Melissa Mecija!

También recibí uno de los premios. Fue un honor ser recipiente del premio – fotografía con mis compañeros de 10News, Robert Santos y Melissa Mecija!

Award recipient group picture – a rare picture with anchors and reporters from all the major television stations in the San Diego market.

Fotografia de grupo de los ganadores del premio – una foto única, con conductores y reporteros de las televisoras mas grandes de la region de San Diego.

Decided to bring my Golden Bell Award home (instead of displaying it at work with other awards) – proudly showing the Award to my hubby!

Decidi traerme mi Premio Golden Bell a casa (en lugar de ponerlo en la oficina con otros premios) – estaba orgullosa de mostrarselo a mi esposo!

Week in Photos

Posted on January 19, 2014 by phjiao

Hi friends,

Hope you are enjoying the MLK holiday weekend (a looong weekend)! This past week was busy….as usual, but also fun. The Quinceanera Expo is coming up and I was asked to be the emcee again. I am looking forward to the event and this week went to Aurora’s Bridal for the dress fitting. I will be working with Aurora, dress designer and boutique owner, on the dress I will wear for the event. The stations sponsored the YMCA’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Human Dignity Awards Breakfast and I attended, it was an inspiring and wonderful event!

This week, my sister was still on break from school (she is a teacher), so I visited her and my nephews after work one night and we all went for a walk to get some exercise (the boys were on push carts/car toy strollers). After our walk, I played with my nephews and enjoyed a delicious dinner sister made. It is such a treat to see them on a weeknight!

My hubby, Jim, had a cold the week my nephew, Joel, was born, so he wasn’t able to meet him. This week he was finally able to join me for a visit to my brother’s home and met the baby!

This week, I found some healthy snacks – ready to eat fresh pico de gallo cups – with jicama, cucumber, & orange. On Thursday, I went to a Zumba class with a new instructor and enjoyed the class! I will definitely be back to that class. It is the little things in life, like this, that bring me joy, ha!

Hope you continue to enjoy the weekend & holiday!

How was your week? What are your plans for the weekend? Are you going to the MLK Parade in downtown San Diego on Sunday or in your town?

Hugs,

Paola

I started my week with a visit to Aurora’s Bridal for the dress fitting for the upcoming Quinceanera Expo – I will be the emcee.

Got out for a walk with my sis and nephews 🙂

Attending the YMCA’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Human Dignity Awards Breakfast.

Quinceanera Magazine produced a promo spot for the upcoming Quinceanera Expo….ahhh, it was nice to see they included shots of me from past events – where I also participated as emcee. I posted the video on my Facebook page if you’d like to see it. I am looking forward to emceeing the event – hope to see you there!

I buy fresh papaya at Northgate Market about once a week and was pleased to discovered they now sell fresh pico de gallo cups. I got a cup and ate it as an afternoon snack. It is a healthy, low-cal snack!

I am enjoying time with my hubby and family this weekend….made waffles for breakfast for my hubby (I ate one, it was delicious!) and he met my nephew, Joel 🙂

My Week In Photos: Start of January

Posted on January 15, 2014 by phjiao

Hi friends! The holidays have past and I am back in full gear at work! I had already started planning the stations’ community outreach projects for 2014 last year and the first week of January was busy with interviews, lots of meetings and production work, as well as scheduling. I am looking forward to the projects we are going to work on – they involve lots of support for the local community & San Diegans, so excited!

The highlight of my week was the birth of my nephew, Joel! He is a cutie! My brothers family did not live in San Diego when my sister-in-law was pregnant with my nieces, so I did not get to see her pass through the stages of pregnancy. It was wonderful to see her body change as the baby grew and to see the baby development in the ultrasounds! This baby is such a blessing! The entire family was excited and we were anticipating the birth with much joy! The baby was born on a Friday afternoon and the lobby area at the hospital started filling up fast as we all headed to see my sister-in-law and meet the baby! We had to take turns to enter the room, you could tell we are a big Mexican family, ha (it’s wonderful)! I have been spending more time (more than usual) with family these past few weeks, to offer support with the new baby & my nieces, as well as visiting my sister and nephews before they all go back to school (my sis is a teacher). My sister-in-law sends me messages with pics of the baby, so cute, they brighten my day! I look forward to seeing Joel grow up & to loving him!

Hope your first week of January was good! What have you been up to? Any exciting plans for January…or 2014? Do share!

Hugs,

Paola

Meet Joel! I am a proud aunt!

Claudia Llausas, Azteca San Diego anchor/reporter, and I enjoyed meeting viewers at the 10News Experience & Azteca booth at the San Diego International Auto Show.

Interviewed YMCA representatives, Michael Brunker and Luciano Villela, regarding the upcoming YMCA Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Dignity Awards Breakfast. I am looking forward to attending the event on January 17.

With Luciano Villela, YMCA Board Member.

Celebrated Dia de Reyes – Three Kings Day. Did you have rosca?

I interviewed Rafael Sigler, spokesperson for Freeway Insurance – it is always a pleasure to work with him, he’s a pro & always prepared!

Lola and I went to see the new Hercules movie, in 3D! It was great, full of action, and good special effects! Every time I would look over at Lola to make a comment, I would laugh because we looked so funny in the 3D glasses. We took a pic as we were leaving, ha! Lola thought we looked dorky in the pic, but I think it is a fun pic….since it was a 3D movie (maybe we do look a bit silly). It still made me laugh when I posted it here, ha!

Went to see Disney’s Beauty and The Beast musical – amazing & beautiful! It’s become one of my favorite Broadway shows!

My Week in Photos – Last Days of the Year

Posted on January 2, 2014 by phjiao

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!

My Week In Photos – The Start of December

Posted on December 17, 2013 by phjiao

December is always a festive month. The holiday season has already started with Thanksgiving and there are just a few weeks left in the year. At work, there is lots to complete before the end of the year….and let’s not forget lots of Christmas shopping to do. There are also lots of joyous and festive occasions, such as Continue reading →

My Week In Photos – November

Posted on December 15, 2013 by phjiao

November was a very busy month! I am usually quite busy, but during November we launched a new holiday initiative called Month of a Million Meals at the television stations where I work. I am managing the initiative, it is a large undertaking, starting the campaign from scratch and working with Feeding America San Diego to raise one million meals for local families in need. It has been a true pleasure to work with the Feeding America San Diego staff and to be part of such a good cause! This campaign was huge because it involved multiple facets, promotion on various platforms, a Holiday Celebration Event at Westfield Plaza Bonita and working with multiple departments within the stations, in addition to the external partners and cross-promotion with other media. We started from scratch, from developing the plan, the promotion, the logo, landing pages, promo spots and scripts, to working with the station anchors and reporters (as well as a national TV host & the Azteca America Network reps), and of course, translating everything to Spanish for the Azteca station….and much more! I am glad to say the campaign has been successful! We rolled out the campaign a few days early and even though it has been many, many hours of working late, it has been worth it because we will help so many families! We still have a few more weeks to go, the phone bank this coming week and some more production and web postings, but we are doing well! In addition to the campaign, I had my regular projects and television hosting responsibilities to complete, and planning for 2014, so there was lots going on during November! Anyway, this is the reason, I have not been as active on my blog as usual, but I seem to be getting back to my normal work schedule, so I plan to post on a regular basis again! Thank you for your patience & support!

Instead of doing a “Week in Photos” post, this is “the last weeks of November.” Have you worked on any large projects that have consumed your time and required you to work longer hours?

Hugs,

Paola

The picture posted above is from the first Month of a Million Meals interview I hosted on Azteca San Diego (I also produce these interviews – for both ABC10 & Azteca San Diego). In total, we produced eight interviews for the campaign over a six week period….compared to the two interviews we usually do for station sponsored events – you can see why this is such a large campaign!

Due to my schedule, I haven’t been able to attend too many events these past few weeks, but did make it to Mana de San Diego’s Brindis Gala. The theme was Dia de Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and it was a fun event!

Special thanks to my hubby….he’s been very understanding of my hectic schedule, he’s been so supportive, he’s even been getting take-out for us to have for dinner on nights that I’ve had to work late! On this night, he got it at Boston Market…I had the mashed potatoes & corn for dinner, and the chicken for lunch the next day (this is a large piece of chicken).

And he even gets dessert! This was his, but I had two spoonfuls of it, delicious! He knows I try to eat healthy, so I usually only have a bite of his dessert.

In between the other shoots for commercials and community interviews, I also had the pleasure of hosting an interview with Rafael Sigler from Freeway Insurance. He’s a pro & it’s always a pleasure to work with him!

The time changed and it was usually dark by the time I left the office…I did catch this sunset one evening.

Another night, my hubby took me to dinner to Five Guys Burgers & Fries, I didn’t eat a burger, but did enjoy their fries, just the right crunchiness, super tasty! I will definitely be back!

I put out a few Thanksgiving decorations and enjoyed relaxing with a cappuccino at home on one of the weekends!

I had the opportunity to appear with 10News’ Bill Griffith in promotional spots for ABC10 & Azteca San Diego 15 for Month of a Million Meals’ Donation Day at Westfield Plaza Bonita’s Holiday Celebration.

My hubby & I had a trip to Hawaii planned, so in between it all, I took a few days to get away with him. I was replying to e-mail and taking calls – while sitting by the pool or on the beach, so I was able to enjoy the trip!

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!

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 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).

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

My Weekend In Photos

Posted on July 29, 2013 by phjiao

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

Highlight of My Work Week

Posted on July 27, 2013 by phjiao

I have busy weeks every week, but I laugh and have fun at work everyday! Really, I do! We have a great team & they say the funniest things! My days are stressful & full of deadlines, but I love what I do & feel fortunate to have a career that I enjoy! This week was quite good, with lots of production, shoots, and exciting projects moving forward. Every month, I meet with the Salvation Army Public Relations Committee. We are mostly women & recently Jesse Navarro joined the committee so we took a group picture. The women that form this Committee have become my friends and I look forward to seeing them every month! This Committee does so much to help the underprivileged, it is very satisfying work. The meeting was one of the highlights of my work week.

The other highlight was hosting and producing the interviews for Races at Del Mar, mainly because of their spokesperson Luis Valdivia, Marketing Manager, Del Mar Fairgrounds, and meeting Craig Dado, VP Marketing Del Mar Races/Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. In addition, I got to work with Robert Santos, 10News anchor, one of my favorite people at the station! Luis and I have known each other since we volunteered on the board of the San Diego County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (in my mid-twenties). I was working for a non-profit at the time and Luis was working for a public relations agency, this was about 10 years ago. He is a genuine person, a professional, and always kind. We’ve known each other so long we joke and can also be direct when it comes to business matters. It was my first time meeting Craig, but he was nice! It’s always nice to meet new people and even more when they are nice!

What was the highlight of your work week? Maybe….seeing your co-workers/friends, helping a client, getting a promotion, saving a life? Share your highlight of the week!

Hugs….now, let’s enjoy the weekend!

Paola

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Germany: Kurhaus Casino & Kaefers’ Restaurant

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