My Week In Photos – November

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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!

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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!

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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).

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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.

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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!

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

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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!

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

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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.

1456530_353988334738244_1914415482_nMy 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!

A Weekend in Laguna Beach

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

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The flowers throughout the resort were elegant & beautiful!

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Our room was very nice and spacey, with a small walk-in closet.DSCN5730 DSCN5732

This corner cabinet was where the safe & refrigerator were located.
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The view from our room….to one of the pools on the property.DSCN5747 DSCN5748

There was an art exhibit of elephants located in the lobby and main corridor area, so cute & unique!DSCN5749 DSCN5752 DSCN5756

The option for outside, casual dining. DSCN5768 DSCN5770

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

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

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This is the larger pool. DSCN5784 DSCN5791 DSCN5796

Walk along the beach….breathtaking views! (forgot my hat, but had on sunblock!)DSCN5803 DSCN5804 DSCN5809

The resort sits atop a hill right on the ocean.

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

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There were multiple options for recreation.

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We did a little shopping at the Fashion Island mall in Newport Beach.DSCN5874

Arriving back in Laguna Beach.

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Having lunch with Suzi and her family in Laguna Beach.

DSCN5878 DSCN5876 DSCN5879 DSCN5880We also had dessert with Suzi’s family! The desserts here are a work of art! I enjoyed a fruit tart!

Sonnora Waldhotel & Restaurant and Black Forest – Germany

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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.

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The entrance to the Hotel.DSCN4982 DSCN4979 DSCN4969 DSCN4983 DSCN4966

The lobby area.DSCN4962 DSCN4985

A sitting room with views of the garden.

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The entrance to Sonnora Restaurant.

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The dining room at Sonnora Restaurant.

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Our hotel room – a suite with a terrace. DSCN4929 DSCN4925 DSCN4930

It always a nice treat to have bathrobes & slippers!

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The living room area of our suite.

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Picture of the entrance, the suite has an alcove with a closet, safe, mirror, & dressing area.

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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.

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The terrace (balcony) & garden view from our room.

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A picture of the beautiful garden area – so picturesque!

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The view from the balcony seating area of the breakfast dining area.

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More options for outside seating.

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Another view of the gardens.

DSCN4958A picture of part of the breakfast dining room.

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It was a “European” style continental breakfast.

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I wasn’t hungry at breakfast time, so I only had a cup of coffee. The individual coffee pot was a nice touch.

DSCN4959A private dining room located in the breakfast area.

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As we were checking out, Chef Thieltges came out to greet us.

Spa Day in Baden Baden, Germany

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

Hugs,

Paola

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

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

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This is the lobby of the spa.

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

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

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

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

Germany: Kurhaus Casino & Kaefers’ Restaurant

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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.

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This is the main entrance to the Kurhaus Casino.

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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.

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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.

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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!!!

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

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The area where the chefs prepare the appetizers.

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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!

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

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

My Weekend in Photos: Labor Day in Las Vegas

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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.

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

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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!

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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!

DSCN4285 DSCN4286 DSCN4288 DSCN4291Monday 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.

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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. DSCN4463 DSCN4430 DSCN4482 DSCN4464 DSCN4468 DSCN4469 DSCN4438 DSCN4443 DSCN4448

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!

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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.  

Weekend Trip to San Francisco

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.

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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.

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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!

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

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

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

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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!

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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!sf airport gates pic aug 2013

My Weekend In Photos

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!

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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