nouglyduckling
No Ugly Duckling
Mommy and Marketer. My insights on living a happy and wonderful life.
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#MO19
If you’ve read my previous blog post or seen any of my social media posts, you know that I recently attended Maison & Objet, which is a tradeshow that boasts itself as the international authority for home decor, interior design, architecture and lifestyle culture and trends.
I think the organization may be right on that claim as I was floored and overwhelmed with all the latest trends for the home.
With 8 halls including cookware, kids items, gift and fashion accessories, fragrance and wellness, and lighting, fabrics, and furniture - almost 3,000 exhibitors - there were abundant amounts of design eye candy, to say the very least.
I attended the show for two days and mostly focused on two halls, which were the home fragrances hall, and kids and family and smart gift hall, and I loved some of the innovation I was able to see. As you may have guessed, natural, organic, and plant-based products continues to be the ongoing direction for home fragrances.
In the home fragrances hall, here are a few booths that caught my eye. I spoke with the owner of Vanilla Blanc London and I really liked his brand. The diffusers are made from chemical free organic ingredients of the highest grade sourced locally in Surrey, England, and their packaging is also committed toward sustainability. Also, while many of the companies I saw did not have US distribution, this company has distribution in Whole Foods!
I loved speaking with this husband and wife team who just launched their brand, La Promenade. They were so lovely! They actually started off as perfumers and then branched out to create their own line of diffusers and candles. Each perfume is developed and produced in Grasse, with carefully selected raw materials. All the candles are based on vegetable and mineral wax to restore the best perfumes and have a cotton wick.
I also enjoyed speaking with the company representative from Sprekenhus, a Norwegian apothecary brand that launched in 2010. Based on the Scandinavian tradition where functional design meets beauty in simplicity, their hair and body care products are made from botanical and laboratory distilled ingredients. One of their best selling products is their Argan Oil, but they also have great candles and skin care products.
Finally, I spoke for quite a while with the representative from Made by Zen, a British lifestyle brand that had some of the most beautiful diffusers I have ever seen! Made of Parisienne cut glass, hand blown glass, or the gorgeous hand finished mother of pearly glass mosaic diffuser seen below, it will be a cinch to elegantly diffuse essential oils throughout your home.
As you can see, there were so many fantastic home fragrance goodies! Here are more photos, including a stop at homegrown, OC-based Voluspa, which is a former client of one of the companies I worked for. Their new rose line is beautiful.
The next day I hit the Kids and Smart Gifts Hall. Again, so many fantastic goodies to drool on. Here are just a few. I especially liked the kids puzzles from Londji. Jax loves doing puzzles so I wanted to buy a few off the spot! I also loved the backpacks from Trixie. I also wanted to purchase one for Jax, but alas, the buying day was on Tuesday and I left Paris Monday morning.
Finally, it was impossible to not discover new furniture and lighting, since it is primarily an interiors show! Check out these beauties below, including the first photo: a fantastic chandelier from Lladro!
Clearly, a very productive trip and an awe-inspiring show. Suffice it to say, trends are most definitely discovered here, so I have bookmarked this tradeshow for the future!
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J’aime Beaucoup Paris!
In late November last year, my dear friend and former L’Oreal colleague Michelle told me that she was going to be in Paris for Maison & Objet in January.
So, I took the opportunity to meet her there and bring Jax and Ry with me, too. This was my 4th time in Paris, but a first for both Ry and Jax.
Where to start? First, the trip wasn’t nearly long enough - we arrived Friday evening and left Monday morning but I will not complain. It is wonderful that we live in Portugal and can hop on a plane and fly merely 2 ½ hours to do a weekend in France! But, because I spent some time at Maison et Objet to do some work-related marketing research (blog post to come), that also cut into my leisure Paris time. Still, all in all, we were able to see and do a lot.
For those of you interested, here was our loose agenda:
Friday night: Arrive, eat a quick dinner by our AirBNB and head to the Eiffel Tower! Gorgeous! It is a sight to see it at night.
Saturday:
I am an early riser so I went to get pastries at Blé Sucré. It opens at 7am and I was pretty much there at 7:05am. We stayed in Le Marais near the Opéra Bastille area and I had read that Blé Sucré, located within walking distance, has some of the best croissants in Paris.
Anyway, as I was walking the gorgeous streets of Paris, and watching the sun rise in Bastille with its picturesque pink skies, I seriously channeled Rose from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and in my head, I was wondering how to convince my Abe (Ry) to drop everything and live here. This despite the fact that it was freezing. Who gets me??!?
There is just something about Paris – it is so beautiful, cultured, and sophisticated that even Michelle was saying that she feels her most beautiful in Paris. I wholeheartedly agree, and I sure am envious that she will live in Paris part-time starting in April. She already lived here for 5 years, then moved to London for 3 years, and is now back in Northern California to be closer to her parents. But soon she will be able to work remotely and live in Paris part of the year. Sounds perfect!
Anyway, after Ry and I inhaled our croissants and Jax finished his gluten-free strawberry, banana, and honey crepe that I got at Crêperie Elo Bastille, we were ready to tackle the Metro and go to Fondation Louis Vuitton to see the the approximately 120 artworks of Jean-Michel Basquiat. The Fondation is fairly new as it opened in October 2014 as a space to celebrate artistic creation in all its forms. Commissioned by Bernard Arnault, the gorgeous building was designed by architectural genius Frank Gehry.
The Basquiat collection is amazing, and extensive - spread over four levels! With so many canvases available to observe, I was able to get a really good feeling of Basquiat’s works and message and was incredibly inspired. To top it off, our timing was perfect because the exhibit took place from October 3, 2018 to January 21, 2019, and we saw it on January 19th! The exhibit was supposed to end on the 14th but they extended it a few days, so when I saw that when I was still in Portugal, I booked our tickets right away to make sure to get one of the last remaining slots.
After the Basquiat exhibit, we took the metro to the Louvre. As we know, a trip to Paris is not complete without seeing the Louvre and Tour Eiffel and I wanted to make sure Ry and Jax would see these Parisian landmarks. Even though the temperatures were below freezing, we were able to walk around and grab a few photos.
After that, I hit the clothing shops! My friend Angie, a Parisian native and owner of Artisan Lofts had previously directed me to her blog with a list of her favorite stores, so I hit Sezane and the Maje outlet. But just before that, Jax and I also stopped by a Maison Georges Larnicol chocolate shop, so he was able to get some Parisian treats, too.
After all this, I left Ry and Jax and went all the way to the Parc de Expositions to go to the Maison et Objet EXPO. Amazing, beautiful, and overwhelmed with all the home design and beauty eye candy, but one of the best trade shows I’ve ever been. Stay tuned for my blog post on that!
Sunday:
On Sunday, I spent the good half of the day at M&O, after first getting Jax yet another gluten-free crepe that he loved so much and strolling to the Place de Vosges, which was peacefully empty on a quiet Sunday morning.
At M&O, I finally met up with Michelle and her work colleague Lynette, and after a few hours of walking the various halls we hadn’t already seen, we called it quits and went to Jacques Genin, the most exquisite and sophisticated chocolate and patisserie shop I’ve ever seen. Leave it to Michelle, who is the most discerning foodie, to take us to this elegant place. It was heaven! I couldn’t leave without purchasing some of their chocolates and caramels and of course, the chocolates were packed in a beautiful tin. Yes, a heavy, substantial tin box.
I also did another quick shopping stint, dropping by the hip and trendy 3 story concept store, Merci and also to Leon & Harper.
We finally went to dinner at Semilla and because it was Paris Design Week, caught this gorgeous linen lampshade street on the way to the restaurant:
Dinner w my fabulous, sophisticated friend of 20 years!
Monday:
Time to head to the airport but not before waking up early to go to Du Pain et Des Idées. I swear, I will fly back to Paris just to grab more of their delicious bread and pastries. Their reputation is worth it. And because I am an early riser, I again was there when it first opened and there were no lines!
Au Revoir, Paris! Til next time!
#paris#MO19#lemarais#eiffeltower#toureiffel#louvre#semilla#parisfashion#basquiat#fondationlouisvuitton#sezane#jacquesgenin#dupainetdesidees#blesucre#bestcroissants#bestparispatisserie
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Flashback to Africa!
My friends Renee and Stefan are soon off to Tanzania to celebrate Stefan’s 40th birthday, and it reminded me of the time that I went to Africa on behalf of the Bio-Oil business in 2006.
I sure am jealous that my friends will soon get to experience a safari! To this day, it is one of my most favorite trips and memories - to be able to spend time with these majestic animals in their habitat was so incredibly peaceful and meditative.
Unfortunately, most of my photos are not with me here in Portugal but I do have some fun ones that I had on my hard drive so I thought I would post it here.
I will have to do a thorough recap and dig in the future, but in the meantime, here are a few favorites!
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Feliz Natal!
It is now 2 days after Christmas and as we finish off the year (and before it is all just a memory), I wanted to share just some of the festive holiday decorations we’ve been able to see here in Portugal this year!
Likely because I am seeing it all with a fresh pair of eyes, but Portugal sure goes big for the holidays! In Albufeira, almost every roundabout (and there’s at least 15) has some Christmas lights!
Like the US, all the malls here also have fun, festive decor.
Not to mention that every town has their own way of celebrating the holidays! The Cascais Christmas Village:
Loule’s Aldeia Dos Sonhos:
Guia’s quaint streets with Nativity scenes:
Lisbon’s cosmopolitan, bustling areas:
Plus, lots of Christmas markets everywhere!
In Portugal, codfish (bacalhaus) is served for all special occasions so I saw quite a few of these Christmas trees:
Finally, as a majority Catholic country, there are a lot more nativity scenes here in Portugal, which is so wonderful and refreshing:
❤️🎄🎁🎅🏼 From our family 👪 to yours, wishing all the Happiest Holidays and a Happy 2019!💥🥂🍾
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A Yoga Day in Boliqueime
Although I have been faithfully practicing yoga for years now, I have never been on a yoga retreat. I don’t like to take several days away from Jax because honestly, Ry cannot handle it. (Different day, different blog post).
Regardless, I was so happy that I was able to take a FULL day (left the house at 8:30am and did not arrive home until past 9pm) yesterday (Sunday) to enjoy a perfect yoga retreat in Boliqueime, a mere 15 minute drive from Albufeira.
I joined my fit friends Renee and Angie for a relaxing, peaceful day of yoga, hiking, detoxing, vegan food, and other like-minded yogis with Lulu, the owner and expert yogini from Lulushanti Yoga.
The day was simple: We started the day with a 2 hour yoga flow sequence, followed by a delicious vegan lunch, then a 45 minute hike around Boliqueime where we saw the most perfect rainbow, then a couple hours to chill at the home. The participants who had been there since Friday had booked massages or astrology readings during this time, so Renee, Angie, and I took the time to read and hang out. At 5pm, we had another yoga session - this one was a sequence of moon salutations. I had only done sun salutations before so this flow was really new and interesting (hard!) for me. We finished the evening with another yummy vegan meal at 7pm.
The beautiful retreat home
Tree pose overlooking Albufeira!
Great capture of our delicious vegan lunch from my friend Renee's Instagram page: @portugalliving_lerneby
All in all, it was a perfect day despite the rainstorm that happened around 4:30pm. It only lasted about an hour and by then we were already inside doing yoga!
Trying to find my center during a headstand
So, I’m grateful for this yoga practice since this Thursday is Thanksgiving in the U.S. and there is no Thanksgiving here in Portugal. Sadly, it will be just like any other day. I am already missing the gatherings and turkey. Have a great Thanksgiving week, friends!
A gorgeous rainbow on our hike!
#yoga#yogalife#yogalove#yogaretreat#detox#vegan#lulushanti#portugal#algarve#boliqueime#thankful#gratitude
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We’ve Moved to Portugal - Part 2
#WTH ?!?!
Since our Portugal move took plenty of you by surprise, I thought I would take the time to write a follow-up blog post and answer a few of the most prominent questions:
Why the move?
As many of you know, our 4-year old son Jax finished Pre-K last June. However, since Jax has a late December birthday, in the state of California, he cannot start Kindergarten. Children have to be 5 years old by September 1st. Kids are eligible for TK (Transitional Kindergarten) if their birthdays fall between September 2nd - December 2nd. So, Jax’s entire class graduated to Kindergarten except for him and his friend Ethan whose birthday is December 7th. Sadly, these two little guys would have to repeat the year they just finished so we thought this would be the ideal time to go abroad for the year. Plus, Ry and I have wanted to live abroad for a while. It is much easier to do this while Jax is still young and not in the thick of school rigor.
Why Portugal?
When we knew we wanted to go abroad, I went online and googled “cheapest places to live abroad” and Forbes had published this article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurabegleybloom/2017/01/11/quit-your-job-and-live-abroad-places-so-cheap-you-might-not-need-to-work/amp/. Based on this, I told Ry, let’s go to Europe and suggested Spain. But when Ry was doing more research on where exactly we should stay, he found Portugal to be more appealing. I was like, “ok!” And that was that. We decided to stay in the Algarve area since it seemed so similar to Laguna Beach. And it is in so many ways.
Are you guys working?
Yes. Both Ry and I are self-employed and were able to maintain our clients. And in fact, we have both taken on more clients since our move here! Ry is a software engineer so he has always just needed a computer to do work from anywhere. Me? I got lucky! After I told my awesome clients about our plans to live abroad for the year, they worked with me so that I could work remotely since the bulk of what I do is writing, managing social media platforms, or preparing marketing or new business presentations. We now have WhatsApp and Skype in place so I easily do weekly video conferences! Are they the best or what? This is another reason why I give them my 110%!!
What about your California home?
We rented it to a lovely young couple who moved from NYC! I mean, I originally moved to Laguna from NYC 16 years ago and I love New Yorkers, so there we go! They have been great, responsible tenants. We packed up our entire house and now it is in a storage unit in San Juan Capistrano.
Is Jax going to school?
Yes. We found a fantastic bilingual Montessori school a mere 5 minute drive from our place. It literally opened last month as the first and only Montessori school here in the Algarve, and because of our lucky timing, there was an opening available when most private schools have waiting lists and are already booked for the school year. The school is run by a South African educator who married a Portuguese man and settled down here 8 years ago. Morning classes are conducted in English and the afternoons, which are less structured, are supervised by a Portuguese lady. Jax is the only American of the 8 total students. His classmates are Swedish, French, Norwegian, South African, and Portuguese.
Hope that answers a lot of your questions! Feel free to shoot me an email if you need more details!
Bom Dia! Obrigada!
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We’ve Moved to Portugal!
Many of you already know this, but I thought I’d write a formal post to let you know that we’ve officially moved to Portugal!
As of this coming Wednesday, we will already be here for 3 weeks! Time has definitely flown but we are really loving it here.
The funny thing is, I am writing this post because Daylight Savings Time ended in Portugal this morning at 2am. We were about to head to church and then I looked at my phone and laptop and the time was an hour behind! In the US, Daylight Savings Time ends next Sunday so I was so confused. But now I have a spare hour - woohoo!
Anyway, I will write a lot more soon. In the meantime, many of you have already been receiving our Friends and Family newsletter. If you’d like to be part of it, please DM me and let me know your email and you’ll get the next one.
Also, I decided to create an Instagram page to document some of the pretty sites we’ve seen since we’ve been here. I am in no means a professional photographer, but instead of monopolizing my personal pages with pretty scenic shots, I thought I’d share them on a separate page. Feel free to check them out at @nouglyduckling.
That’s it for now. More later! Obrigada!
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Binging on To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
You guys, I am obsessed with Netflix’s movie, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. It premiered on Netflix last month, and if you haven’t watched it, do so now.
This teen rom-com is so dang cute and adorable, and maybe because high school was so long ago for me now, I hearken back to these halcyon days, and wish that my life could be this fun and simple.
Also, since I went to an all-girls’ Catholic private high school and did not experience any of the angst in the movie, it makes me wish I had. For those of you who know me, I always go back and forth on whether it would have been better for me to go to our local public school instead of the exclusive, somewhat sheltered environment I did attend.
Alas I did not, but I have accepted that my high school experience successfully led me to where I am now, which is a pretty great life.
Regardless, I think that the movie has really tugged at my heartstrings because the character of Peter Kavinsky is just perfect and actor Noah Centineo plays him perfectly. Obviously he isn’t perfect, but he has all the characteristics of the ideal leading man in a movie: good looking and hot, athletic, funny, romantic, kind, generous, thoughtful, and sweet. The most amazing boyfriend. And I literally cry at the end of the movie every time because Lara Jean (the protagonist, played by the oh-so-cute Lana Condor) is so lucky to have such a great guy and love – in high school! Ahhh… the virtue of YOUNG love.
I did not experience this cuteness.
Maybe that’s another reason why I love this movie so much. It is a fairytale! Does a person like this actually exist? In my experience, most guys are not that self-actualized enough to look beyond themselves and their ego. Seriously. What high school, college, or even (sadly) post-college guys do you know who are sensitive or courageous enough to be this generous to another person? Most of them need ego stroking and are only thinking about what’s in it for them.
Yikes. Am I a cynic? Hopefully my older age isn’t making me bitter. I will make sure my son embodies these positive traits.
Anyway, after I watched this movie for a third time, I told Ry that I wanted him to write me notes. Let’s see if he does. Of course, I don’t want to bash on Ry because I did get lucky with him – he is an incredibly loving and kind person, and good looking and athletic, too.
I guess I just want to live in the fairytale.
PS - The soundtrack for this movie is ON POINT!
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Mid Life Metamorphosis
Every day I write a story in my head and kick myself for not finding a way to write these thoughts down. I recently gifted myself a portable keyboard just to remedy this problem so let’s see if I actually use it.
This last year, I started writing two books. Alas, not one is finished and not one is even close to done. But it’s a start, so for 2018, let’s see if I can accomplish something. I’m setting my intention now, I’m putting it in writing, and I’m telling you people about it. Apparently that action is supposed to make you feel more accountable and gives you incentive to get it done.
I’m in my 40s now and it is hard to admit it. As I’m writing this, I’m sitting in an airport waiting for my flight to board while I listen to a girl who just turned 21 talking to some guy who is not much older. Ahhh, to listen to youth.
Regardless, hitting my 40s has changed my perspective and life motivations. I wouldn’t say mid-life crisis because it’s not really that catastrophic. I am going through a metamorphosis of sorts. I reflect on my past and I am not that same girl armed with an MBA in hand and working 12-hour days at L’Oreal USA while living the quintessential New York City lifestyle.
I’m not even the California chick who was working a high-powered corporate job and jet setting all around the world on behalf of company business. I’ve been to 6 of the 7 continents, and on a nice executive budget for the most part. Maybe one day I’ll make it to Antarctica. And platinum status? Yes. First class 95% of the time. That seems like a lifetime ago and I am forever grateful for that experience, but really I don’t recognize that #bossgirl.
Now my identity rests on the fact that I survived stress-induced, life-threatening sepsis and thankfully became a mom. Gone is my hard charging life. Most days I prefer to hang out at home, eat well, sleep well, and exercise faithfully.
But I still struggle with my career. It is hard to reconcile my old life with my new one so I am in this perpetual state of finding out where my talents lie so I can use them to serve the world. Because, isn’t that why we were created in the first place?
My career as a marketer served me well so I have a nice consulting practice. My current clients are a Godsend. They provide interesting stimulation and learning while giving me the flexibility to focus on what matters most to me - my family and closest friends.
My son is almost 4 years old now, and I cannot believe it. Ry and I have been together for almost 10 years and unless I look at old pictures, many days it feels like we’ve just begun. They say that the days are long but the years are short, and that absolutely rings true for me.
So, as we say goodbye to 2017, I’m open and excited for new possibilities. I wonder what this next year will bring?
I’m looking forward to this adventure called life, and those taking this trip with me. You know who you are - thank you for ever being my supporters. I love you so much.
Does anyone have any cool goals for 2018? Share them with me!
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Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Gluten-Free Cookies
Every year my dear friend Nikki throws a Christmas cookie exchange. It is one of my favorite holiday events. Sadly, this year’s event was canceled since Nikki moved to Houston and had last minute work issues dampen our yearly event plans. Boo.
But that did not stop us from baking cookies!
As many of you may know, my son has HORRIBLE eczema. The poor thing has rashes all over his elbows and knees and I will do almost anything to prevent him from scratching. He was diagnosed as a baby and we went to an allergist. After a blood test revealed that he was allergic to almost everything - nuts, wheat, dander, blah, blah, blah, we put him on a gluten-free diet. We were able to slowly wean him off that diet and he started eating regular bread products but I think this year’s ridiculously dry weather has activated and exacerbated the eczema.
Now it’s back to no wheat, no dairy, and no eggs... which seems to be making a HUGE difference. So, for all you allergy sufferers out there, here’s a delicious cookie recipe that you can make!
Ingredients:
Vegan buttery spread
3 cups gluten free oats (blended to a flour)
1.5 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup dairy-free dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup candy coated chocolate (this is optional - note that this is not dairy free but a small amount is ok for my son)
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat cookie sheet with vegan buttery spread.
2. Add the gluten-free oat flour, baking soda, and salt to a medium-sized bowl and mix to combine.
3. Add the applesauce and sugar to a mixing bowl and beat on high until light and cream, about 5 minutes.
4. Add the maple syrup and vanilla extract. Beat on medium high speed until thoroughly mixed, about 2 minutes. Slowly pour in the dry ingredients, mixing on low until the dough is combined.
5. Refrigerate the dough for 10 minutes and then add the chocolate chips, cranberries, and candy coated chocolate.
6. Drop the dough by tablespoons onto the prepared baking sheets.
7. Bake until the edges are golden, approximately 13-15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cookies cool on the trays for 2 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.
Mixing the cookie dough
Above are some of the ingredients we used to make the cookies
Cookie success!
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My New Hipster Toothbrush
I must have a thing about oral health because I wrote about my son’s toothbrush here, but now I want to let you in on my own newest toothbrush: Quip.
I found out about Quip from a friend of mine and she was so convincing about its superiority that I had to get one for myself!
Ta Da! Check out my sleek, cool toothbrush.
BuzzFeed calls it the “iPhone of Toothbrushes” and Time Magazine named it one of the best inventions of 2016. Dentists and designers collaborated to create the ultimate gorgeous and efficacious toothbrush.
There are two models: a $25 plastic one (either blue or green), and a $45 metal one (silver, gold, black, or copper). I, of course, splurged for the gold one. It is still cheaper than my Sonicare.
It is so super slick but I love that it is an electric toothbrush because I got so sick and tired of using my Sonicare. I was constantly replacing it. My last one decided to just give up on me for no reason at all, even though I barely had it a full year.
With Quip, I don’t have to deal with a bulky brush or wired charger. Quip’s slim design and travel-ready holder makes it very easy to brush your teeth anywhere you are. Another bonus: fresh brush head refills are delivered every 3 months before they become unhygienic and incapable of cleaning — for just $5.
So, friends, join in on the toothbrush fun with me and help me get my refills for free by using this link: https://www.getquip.com/rf?referral_code=tricia289014446039
My code is: tricia289014446039
Let me know how it goes!
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My Latest Skincare Find: Sea of Elements
I don’t usually deviate from my regular skincare regimen, but I do when I am intrigued by a product (or line) that looks like it is truly innovative and efficacious.
When my friend Christine, a beautiful yoga certified instructor, asked for some marketing help for her friend’s company, I was absolutely on board. Not only do I love the ayurvedic aspect to the line, I knew that Christine, someone who is actually studying and practicing ayurvedic teachings in her daily lifestyle, wasn’t blowing smoke up my butt with false claims. Believe me, I have worked on lots of products that don’t have any innovation.
So, first, you must check out their website: https://www.seaofelements.com/ because I wrote a lot of that copy!
Then, take a test to find out your dominant dosha. We all have elements of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, but one is more prominent than the others. Here’s one from Yoga Journal. My dominant dosha is Kapha, primarily because I tend to have oilier skin.
Anyway, I am absolutely in love with the invigorating facial elixir. It is made from pure organic plant oils, including sunflower oil and rosehip seed oil, as well as lavender, bergamot, Vitamin E, and clary sage. So, forget Vintner’s Daughter Botanical Serum ($185) and La Mer’s Revitalizing Serum ($195)! (I mean, really?) This $25 bottle is my better, cost-effective substitute. Literally upon use, my face instantly feels hydrated and replenished so I can maintain youthful skin. Plus, I trust the ingredients. Another plus, the products are in cobalt blue glass jars because of their healing energetic qualities but can be repurposed, reducing waste. It is my new nighttime moisturizer.
I also have the Balancing Face Dust ($18) and the Invigorating Facial Mist ($29). You can use the both together to create a face mask. I have yet to do this so I will keep you posted. To tell you the truth, I am terrible about doing masks, but I will definitely do this one. But, I do use the facial mist just before applying the elixir for that extra dewy feel.
So, yay for an ayurvedic skincare line that addresses my wellness focus. I just love it.
On a final note, one more ayurvedic practice I have recently incorporated into my daily routine is oil pulling. Every morning before I brush my teeth, I swish about a tablespoon of cold pressed organic sesame oil in my mouth for approximately 10-15 minutes and then spit it out. Here’s more info on the benefits of oil pulling, but it is an ancient Ayurvedic remedy for oral health and detoxification.
Let me know if you’ve ever done this!
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Our Day at the Museum of Ice Cream
So, Forbes Magazine headlined an article in April: “Why L.A.'s Museum Of Ice Cream Is The 'Hamilton' Of The Frozen Snack Scene” followed by another article a few weeks later: “Museum Of Ice Cream Is The Hottest Ticket In Los Angeles.”
And boy, were they right. Thanks to my friend Lish (who works with Lolli Swim, the super cool swimwear company), I got the heads up on when to purchase during the release of the 2nd round of tickets in Los Angeles (because those first set sold out in a blink). Well, luckily for me, I got in and secured my July tickets in May, and yes, that 2nd round sold out in a blink, too.
But now I can testify that it lives up to the hype. The museum was so fun! Who doesn’t love candy-colored galleries with installations of ice cream-themed art with samples of candy and ice cream as you roam? It was definitely a hit with my 3-year old! And the museum was perfectly made for Instagrammers (cuz there were a ton of those there, too).
Here are just some of the sweet pics we took while we were there. San Francisco, get ready! The installation leaves L.A. at the end of the month and heads up to you in September.
Ahhh... let us in to all the fun!
Waiting in the front lobby and snacking on yummy Dove chocolates.
The infamous Beyonce pose!
See. This is from the Museum of Ice Cream’s Instagram account.
Ice Cream Hotline. Send ice cream ASAP!
In the infamous Sprinkle Pool!
vimeo
Angel wings in the sprinkle pool
Perfect end to our trip! Eating an ice cream sandwich on an ice cream sandwich swing!
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Buy Hand in Laguna Beach
There are so many wonderful things about living in Laguna, and of course, the adorable shops and boutiques are some of my favorites. Maybe I will eventually write a post about every single one of these finds, but for now, I will focus on this sweet little shop my dear friend and I discovered while doing a neighborly walk around town: Buy Hand.
The store has been in existence since 2012 but I only just noticed it when it moved to its newest location in the HIP district earlier this month. Owned by two sisters originally from Canada but now live in Laguna, this shop specializes in gifts and jewelry handcrafted in the USA and around the world - a trove of one-of-a-kind treasures for the home, body and soul, with a focus on global fair trade items. I really enjoyed meeting Vidya, one of the sisters, and was inspired by her passion for providing unique, handmade items that support local artisans but also our Laguna community.
Check out the beautiful store here:
The store is fantastic, but there is also a magnificent patio outside those doors that is a peaceful oasis.
The baby stuff is adorable!
Gorgeous jewelry!
I had to buy one of these candles for my office. It is a true unique purchase! The candlemaker, a local, created this scent just for Buy Hand, and it smells heavenly!
Yoga tanks made from a local Laguna artist. I already own one that I bought from her directly when she was at the Sawdust Festival, but my friend bought several here. The material is softer than a pillow.
The beach is my happy place!
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Leaving a Legacy
Earlier this month, my dear friend Geri Kate invited me to come with her to the annual CHOC Cherishes Children’s Gala at the Monarch Beach Resort, which hosted almost 1,000 of the community's most prominent residents. I was thrilled to go, not only to support my friend and her family, but also to see the amazing Grammy-award winning Alicia Keys, who was the star act for the night.
As a non-profit hospital, CHOC (Children’s Hospital Orange County) relies on community support to provide leading-edge care for infants, children, and adolescents in this area. CHOC is Orange County’s only pediatric health care system. This year, the gala raised a record $5.1 Million, with the aid of a generous $1 Million gift announcement from the Argyros Family Foundation.
I was ignorant of the Argyros name before this event, but the family was very integral to the success of the evening. Stephanie was one of the gala’s co-chairs, and her father George celebrated his 80th birthday that night. I believe George immigrated from Greece, became a successful real estate developer, a former United States Ambassador to Spain, and former owner of the Seattle Mariners baseball team. Quite a list of lofty accomplishments! His wife Julia, a beautiful lady who reminded me of Joan Collins, was the one who presented the $1 Million gift to CHOC.
Anyway, it left me thinking what an amazing thing that this family can make this incredibly generous charitable gift to the community. Clearly, not everyone will be able to do this in their lifetime. Sadly, there are people that leave their families in debt when they die. I really hope that I will be in the former category and will be this giving one day.
In the meantime, here’s a shout out to some wonderful people who made me look my best that night. Definitely send them some love if you’re in need of their services!
My next door neighbor Morgan Arevalo, a crazy talented stylist, did my hair that evening. I loved my braids and my hair side flower!
The super amazing and professional Erica Kawai did my makeup!
The Monarch Beach Resort outdid themselves with the tent and decor!
Desserts were delicious!
My bidding number for the auction. Alas - it was a bit too steep for me! One day...
A parting gift! A CHOCO bear from Herrington Teddy Bears. I left him on my son’s high chair when I got home, and he was so excited to see him in the morning!
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Best of all! The super-talented Alicia Keys, front and center! (Video by @ladygeri)
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#HaveHeartDoWell
My friend Gail Cayetano, Partner and Co-Founder of the conscious jewelry line Cayetano Legacy Collection, is a superwoman. I do not exaggerate. Three weeks after giving birth to her second baby, she was moving and shaking as one of the founders and co-creators of The Heart Series Conference, which took place in LA this past Thursday and Friday on February 16th and 17th, at Playa Studios in Culver City.
In 2014, she and her other super amazing co-creator Megan Sette, Founder of M Collaborative, a boutique cause-marketing agency, had the idea to bring together the community of companies working to do good after a conversation that they themselves were looking for such a conference for social enterprises. Thus The Heart Series conference was born - the only conference specifically targeted to businesses making a bigger difference in the world.
Now in its third year, the two-day conference features an outstanding group of leaders from a variety of socially conscious brands.
I was happy to be part of the team that made this year’s conference possible, and really enjoyed meeting some fantastic leaders with goodness at the forefront of their driving mission. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.
By the way, the conference was so inspirational that their hashtag #haveheartdowell was the #2 trending hashtag in all of Twitterland on Thursday! If you are moved to learn more about the intersection of businesses x bettering the world, don’t forget to reserve next February 15 and 16 for next year’s conference.
Largest turnout yet. Over 200+ socially-conscious and mindful business leaders congregate, collaborate, and share best practices.
Look at the gorgeous succulents adorning the conference space - from the speaker stage to a photo wall provided by sustainable company Shop Succulents.
There were so many remarkable speakers! Here is the panel that discussed “Establishing Meaningful Business Relationships”: From L to R: Justin Wolff/Yoobi, Monika Wiela/Give Back Box, Danielle Silber/International Rescue Committee, Francis Aquino/Headspace. (Photo credit: Monika Wiela)
Here I am with the smart and beautiful Abby Maldonado from Pinterest, who spoke with Madeline Di Nonno, the CEO of the Geena Davis Institute about “Creating a Diverse & Inclusive Culture.”
Producer/Writer/Choreographer Nigel Lythgoe (American Idol, Gladiators, and So You Think You Can Dance) and Director/Producer/Choreographer Adam Shankman speak with Maggie Chieffo, Editor-in-Chief of Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls about their organization, Dizzy Feet Foundation and the importance of arts as a tool for creativity and innovation. (Photo Credit: Sustainable Venice)
Loved meeting these two socially-conscious CEOs! On the left is Scot Tatelman of State Bags. For each bag purchased, one fully-stocked backpack is hand-delivered to an American child in need. I bought a backpack for my son and there is a promo code that is available until Monday, 2/20 for 25% off your purchase: heartseries. Get it while you can! Rheena Mae of MaeMae Jewelry, sitting on the right, is a power manifestor! She told me the story of how she doodled a picture of her jewelry shop at last year’s conference. That was on a Friday and by that next Tuesday, she was signing a lease for her storefront in the trendy Atwater Village. I also want to do a shout out to Danny Wright, founder of Gravity Water. I forgot to take a photo but I loved Danny’s mission to harvest clean rainwater so that all children can have clean water to drink.
Remarkable women! Saren Stiegel (L) of The Glow Effect and Madeline Di Nonno, CEO of the Geena Davis Institute work to empower women and make sure our voice is heard and represented.
Here I am with the incredible team! From Left to Right: Sam Avery, Gail Cayetano, and Megan Sette.
The food and beverage sponsors were exceptionally generous. Above is just a small representation from Chomp Eatery, True Food Kitchen, Suja Juice, Verve Coffee Roasters, and Boxed Water is Better. Other partners included Chipotle, LYFE Kitchen, Califia Farms, Isabella’s Cookie Company, Munchery, Deep River Snacks, and ZICO Coconut Water.
Last but not least, don’t quit your day dream! It is heartening to hear what so many people are doing to spread positivity in the world, and how The Heart Series is at the helm by organizing like-minded people to make an even deeper impact.
#haveheartdowell#theheartseries#gailcayetano#megansette#cayetanolegacycollection#mcollaborative#shopsucculents#playastudios#culvercity#yoobi#givebackbox#internationalrescuecommittee#headspace#pinterest#geena davis institute#dizzyfeet#statebags#maemae#amypoehlersmartgirls#thegloweffect#gravitywater
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Bala Shala Baby Yoga
Ever since my baby was 15 months old, we have been faithfully doing baby yoga classes at Bala Shala in Laguna Beach. Along with swim and soccer, it is one of my son’s favorite activities. Staci Bina, founder and owner, is incredible. Not only is she quite the strong and skillful yogini, she is a natural teacher and really makes yoga fun for the toddlers in the class. We love her so much and she has become a dear family friend.
Now that my son just turned 3, he does yoga sequences with me when I do yoga videos at home. He loves to get out both his and my mats, use my yoga blocks and strap, and try to do all these fun moves with me. This baby will be better than me one day. He can almost do a handstand!
Bala Shala, meaning child's house of learning, teaches the philosophy of Yoga through a variety of fun and engaging tools: yoga poses, games, and activities that promote strength, flexibility, and coordination teaching kids valuable lessons building confidence, inner strength, a feeling of well-being, and mindfulness.
I highly recommend introducing yoga to your youngsters, and of course, with Staci’s attention to kindness, mindfulness, and generosity in addition to the physicality of practicing, Bala Shala is the best.
Blast from the past. Yoga at 15 months old.
Halloween yoga at 20 months old.
We start our class with Miss Mousey. Rub your hands. Sit up tall. Take a deep breath. Ohhhhmmm.
Ahhh! Savasana. Still his favorite pose.
Bala Shala has now moved the Parent and Me yoga classes to the gorgeous boutique, Soul Project! Here are some of our favorite animal poses: Lion, Panda, Horse, and Unicorn.
Doing an L-Dog on Mommy.
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