Motivation | Self-Reflection for the New Year

January 5, 2016February 7, 20164 Comments

Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back, everything is different.

C.S. Lewis

Balboa Park, San Diego, CA

Usually with a New Year, comes a time of reflection. You all hear that saying, “New Year, New Me!”, meaning that this year will be different, this year, you’ll make that change. But is that really true, or have you already changed?

Change can mean a number of things. Change is defined as to “make or become different”. A change can take on many forms. It can be tangible, intangible, physical, or emotional.

Personally, I don’t believe in the “New Year, New Me” mantra because we are constantly evolving. You may be making goals for yourself for this new year, and that is great! But it’s not because this year will be different, it’s because of how your life has already changed. You are already starting off this year as a new you!

Take the time for self-reflection right now. Perform an introspection of who you are, where you’ve been, and how you got there. Find the things that you are grateful for.

Maybe this past year has been tough. Maybe you experienced some very difficult days, or even months, but remember that those things have passed, or will eventually pass with time. Every day will not be difficult. Decide how you want to move forward from here. It’s already the new you.

XOXO

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OOTD | New Year, Same Shoes

January 3, 20165 Comments

Happy 2016 lovelies! It’s a New Year, but the same me. 😜 Went for a ‘kind of’ hike up Soledad Mountain in San Diego the other day. I say ‘kind of’ because we drove to the top, then “hiked up” the set of stairs. 🙂 teehee

It was sweater weather. The sun was out and the sky such a vibrant blue. The view from the top of the mountain is incredible. You can see the whole La Jolla coast.

I wore my favorite studded booties in tan, a black and white plaid shirt, jeggings, and light grey pull-over.

I love the ribbed texture of the pull-over. The material is so soft and warm.

In the spirit of the holidays, I went with a dark red polish.

I kept the accessories simple with a black Betsey Johnson bow ring and small black Marc Jacobs clutch.

How did you celebrate the first day of the New Year?

XOXO

Atotonilco el Alto | Las Calles Compuestas, Jalisco, Mexico

December 30, 2015January 17, 20161 Comment

“Las Calles Compuestas” is an annual tradition which celebrates the feast of the Immaculate Conception from November 30 to December 8 in Mexico. Atotonilco el Alto is a province of Jalisco, Mexico, that is more famously known for this celebration.

The literal translation of the name of the celebration is “Composed Streets”. The origin of the name for this tradition stems from the fact that this feast is not just celebrated in churches or the city plaza, but instead in the city streets.

Each street is adorned with paper mache flowers and cloth overhead .

Music, food, drink, and fireworks are also used as part of the celebration.

Some of my relatives recently traveled to Mexico and were able to attend this celebration. They were kind enough to share their photos so that I could share them with you.

Please feel free to ask any questions. Hope you are having a great day. 🙂

XOXO

Julienne | Eggs & Creme Brûlée French Toast in San Marino

December 26, 2015December 26, 2015Leave a comment

Feeling a little fancy, I decided to dress up and venture out to Julienne’s in San Marino to enjoy a nice breakfast with fancy toast. The weather was just a bit crisp but sunny. We opted to sit outdoors since the overhead heaters made for a comfortable environment. This was my first time trying the restaurant, but I had heard great reviews about it.

Julienne’s is well known for their breakfast. Their signature dish is a creme brûlée French toast served with fresh strawberry sauce and creme anglais. Of course, this was the first item I had to try!

Baked Crème Brulee French Toast with Fresh Strawberry Sauce and Crème Anglais

This dish is so decadent and sweet! I would recommend sharing it so that you don’t end up in a sugar coma.

The ambiance of the restaurant is intimate and quaint. The restaurant consists of a dining patio and three adjacent store fronts, one of which serves as a gourmet market and gift shop. During this particular visit, holiday music played in the background and the restaurant was decorated with twinkle lights and garland.

Raisin Rosemary Toast with Butter and Jam

Complimentary Rosemary Raisin Toast with Butter and Jam

After looking over all of the egg options, I opted for an omlette. While all the egg dishes sounded delicious, the Green Omlette caught my attention since it was served with avocado.

Green Omlette – Asparagus, Broccoli, Spinach, Scallions, Avocado, Feta and Roasted Pepper Salsa

Everything was fantastic. From the complimentary toast to the ambiance. Julienne’s is a great place to start your morning with your girl friends chatting over a hot cup of coffee. Or a nice date place to take that special someone or even mom and dad.

Breakfast is served Monday – Friday from 7:00 am to 10:45 am, with an intermission menu available from 10:45 am to 11:30 am. Brunch is served all day Saturday and the restaurant is closed on Sunday. Check out their website or Yelp for more information.

RECIPE: Hot Spiced Apple Cider

December 21, 2015Leave a comment

What smell is more comforting than that of cinnamon apple lingering throughout the house. It is a wonderful combination that is associated with the holidays and hopefully has the ability to transport you in time.

Wanting to get into the mood of the holiday season, we took a Trader Joe’s spiced apple cider mix and took it up a notch. By adding allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and lemon slices, and boiling the mix on the stovetop, we were able to highlight the flavors of the ready made cider and bring forward the hints of citrus.

Baby it’s cold outside!

Ingredients

1 Teaspoon Allspice

1 Tablespoon Cinnamon

1-pinch Nutmeg

5-7 Cloves

1 Quart Spiced Cider (Trader Joe’s) – Or substitute apple juice

Optional: Slices of citrus to taste – lemon, orange, or pineapple. Or substitute a splash of juice.

Directions

Bring the spiced cider to a simmer. Add all of the dry ingredients and optional citrus flavors, and whisk. Simmer over medium heat for 15-20 minutes. Serve in mugs and enjoy! Yields 3-4 servings, depending on the size of your mugs. 🙂