Category — lifestyle & food

This post is in collaboration with Nescafé with Coffee-mate. Story and opinions are my own.

There are two things that I need to get me going in the day – Coffee and Art. If I don’t drink my morning cafecito, I feel like I’ve missed something. It’s been a ritual of mine since I was about … 22 years old. I started a job in Wall Street (while working on my art teacher credentials) and wanted to partake in the morning coffee talk with employees so I grabbed a cup of coffee, and played grown up with everyone. I was right out of art school, and had never done the corporate thing. Needless to say, I never did fit in, but I’m thankful for that experience because I used it toward the art history career a later embarked on. It taught me about the importance of daily rituals and routine. I took my coffee habit with me all through the museum world and now as a content creator. It was especially a much needed pick me up during grad school and those long nights studying. To this day, there is nothing like sitting down with one of my art books and a warm cup to set the tone for perfect Sunday afternoon.

I’m a big fan of flavored coffee especially during the holiday season. For some reason, I start craving flavors like Vanilla and Hazelnut. I was sent a few Nescafé with Coffee-mate products to try, and I really love the taste. My personal fav is their French Vanilla creamer to go with my French art books. OK, totally not planned but as I’ve said before, I have a thing for the French.

If you want to have your own book and cafecito experience, I’m giving away a two week supply of Nescafé with Coffee-mate Creamers for one lucky reader. All you need to do is tell me in the comments section below what you think is the perfect pairing – Ingredients, a beverage, a snack – Whatever it is, tell us what you think goes better together?

The winner will be randomly chosen through Random.org. The giveaway ends Tues, November 4th at 9am PST. By November 5th, the winner will receive an email in addition to me announcing it here on the blog. The winner must respond within 48 hours otherwise another winner be chosen. US only. Good luck!

Remember that POT restaurant post? The one with the amazing Korean dishes like BBQ Galbi and Kimchi fried rice? Well, that restaurant is located at the LINE Hotel, where the We All Grow Summit (W.A.G) is going to take place (I write all about the summit here). We’re very excited to have this conference at the LINE in Koreatown. It’s so important for us to show the different cultures of LA. The ones you don’t see on TV and hear about in music. When I first moved here, it was either the west side or the valley … and nothing in between. That is, until I started going to art shows around the city, which gave me a whole new perspective about this new place I call home.

The LINE is perfect for W.A.G. From the Sydell Group, Roy Choi, Houston Brothers, Sean Knibb and Poketo, the hotel defines collaboration and vision. Latina Bloggers Connect was founded on that principal – Community. Together, we support bloggers and brands in building authentic collaborations. When the two meet, lots of magic happens – stories are shared and long-term relationships are developed. And like LBC, the LINE is loud and proud about its cultural pride, diversity and roots. Every where you turn, you will be reminded of the area’s many cultures and urban subcultures illustrated by the strategically placed religious candelas, bowls of fruit, lollipop roses, tamarind sticks, stickers and bodega bowls of candy placed around the bar.

Then there are the outdoor areas like the Commissary, which is a greenhouse focused on fruits and vegetables and homage to all the people and families in Southern California who work on farms to bring food to the table. What’s there not to love about that?

Aaaah, the accommodations. These beautifully designed concrete rooms have a fantastic view of the Hollywood Hills and city sky line. With desks as headboards (which is an awesome use of space), it’s perfect for those, like us, who need our laptops to pay the bills. I’ve spent many nights during travel on the computer in an uncomfortable chair. I really like how you can face the sunshine while you get that to-do list done. Also, note the upholstered chair in a vintage Mexican serape. Another added touch that celebrates the cultures of the community.

You’ve probably seen this picture before. It was shot during my first visit to the LINE when Ana introduced me to the space to check out all the cool things W.A.G. guests will be a part of. This random picture is actually one of my favs, as it features art (Curtis Jere Birds In Flight) and my work (which also takes place on my phone)

Too bad the conference takes place in February or you would have found me by the pool the whole time. Surrounded by citrus trees, flowers and the Commissary, this might be may favorite spot in the entire hotel. The jury is still out on that one. I will need to test this out during warmer seasons.

And, finally, here’s part of the WAG and LBC team taking it all in by doing something we rarely do – Relax. Like I said, we’re excited (nervous, anxious) for the launch of this summit. Moreso, the opportunity to unite with old friends, colleagues and meet new talent and future partners. Great hotel for this kind of reunion. If you want more info, check out the LINE hotel site. Until the next post!

So. It’s Hispanic Heritage Month. And with all of the things I could have written about to cover this month, look what I chose. Tostones. I always have food on my mind. I can’t help it. But, this delicious little plantain delight is more than just a snack or side dish for me. They represent the moments my mom had a little bit of extra time in the kitchen (between working and going to school). It was like “Oh! Mom’s making tostones! It’s about to be an awesome day!”. They were also the addition to her a-ma-zing sopa de camarones, which is what she makes me whenever she visits.

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BELLAGIO

If you’re going to Vegas for the weekend (arriving on a Friday night and leaving Sunday afternoon) with a full Saturday to yourself but overwhelmed by all the Vegas dining options, here are three great places you should try: Bellagio for breakfast, Yusho for lunch and Heritage for dinner.

The Bellagio is a beautiful luxury hotel with an equally exquisite dining experience, especially for breakfast. I suggest you start your day nice and early and take advantage of their huge buffet, which incorporates several cooking stations and beautifully presented fresh fish, fruit and savory meats. Whatever your preference, you will be covered with Italian, Japanese, Chinese, seafood and American cuisine options … and champagne for that mimosa you will want to drink as you gaze at the gorgeous fountains outside.

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DELANO HOTEL, LAS VEGAS

If you were on my blog a few days ago, you probably noticed that I switched up this post. Long story short, a few things will be changing and resuming around here but more on that later. I really want to tell you about my recent visit to Las Vegas.

As I mentioned in the post (before this here revision), I’m a Vegas Virgin. I can’t really count a trip with a friend to help her with work and a conference a bona fide Vegas experience. But what does that mean anyway? What is a Vegas experience? With everything at your fingertips, I think it’s what you make it to be. In this case, the MGM Resorts invited me to see all the different facets of Vegas, which included fine dining, swimming with dolphins, shows, concerts and luxurious comfort by way of the Delano Hotel.

The Delano Hotel had been open just a few weeks before we stayed, and it was totally my kind of hotel – Intimate, stylish and modern with beautiful designs throughout. The hotel echoes the tropical, chic design of the Delano in Miami’s South Beach (with a desert touch of course), which I’m all about (I have a thing for Miami). The entrance is super chic with a stone entry, wood-slatted gate and a beautiful boulder from the Nevada desert. But what I loved most about the hotel was the personalized experience, amazing service and that a 24-coffee bar, lounge and café were minutes from your room with lots of tasty dishes and beverages to choose from. When I travel, I typically stay at massive hotels that don’t make grabbing a quick cup of mojo in the morning convenient. It typically requires a 100 story trip down to the lobby, which leads me to an escalator to another lobby that leads me into a corridor … You get it. It’s just pure torture for a person who needs a morning coffee to function.

Aside from the pillows, which are better suited for propping up to watch TV or read, the bed was fantastic. I slept like a baby and felt well-rested in the morning, which I needed to be because we had quite a full itinerary. But don’t feel bad about my busy schedule. One of my stops between wining and dining was the Delano’s Bathhouse Spa, which included a hot desert stone massage (o-m-g that was divine). Poor me. But I do have to admit that I was a bit nervous at first because the massages I get are therapeutic for treating TMJ disorder (hello, trigger point therapy and the stretching of my SCM muscle). But this was relaxing and gentle, so it all worked out just fine (one bad massage can set me back).

… But back to that suite I had the privilege of staying in. I love that the decor was all neutral colors with white linens and gold accents throughout the room and void of floral carpets and generic wall prints. The rooms feature large (ahem, sexy) photography of underwater scenes while the flooring is completely covered in a really pretty soft gray geometric print carpet. You can’t see it in this picture, but opposite of that couch hung a nice sized flat screen TV.

Urban Outfitters top and necklace, Zara skirt and heels

The day before our trip, I just looked at my closet aimlessly. The itinerary was full so I had no idea what to pack and I wasn’t sure if I was going to have enough time to change in between events. Thank goodness I had a few old faithful rompers/jumpers that are easy to throw on quickly. I also made sure to pack comfortable tops that could go with jeans or a pencil skirt. Although Vegas was bordering on a 100 degrees, I had to wear my white faux pencil skirt with a slouchy tee for one of our dinners. It’s a silhouette that works for my body every time. I was ready to go but my packing wasn’t complete without lots of statement pieces to dress my outfits or to switch a look from day to night.

Stay tuned for a tasty post coming up, which will include my fantastic Vegas dining experience. Thank you so much MGM Resorts!

Domestic violence and financial abuse … It’s such a personal topic, I don’t even know where to begin. I can’t say that I’ve been a victim of domestic violence on a physical level nor has anyone tried to purposely ruin me financially. But I will say that I was emotionally impacted by these forms of abuse when I was child, and in many ways it has shaped who I am today. At a young age, I said I would never be with a man who did not value me, and I’ve stayed true to that statement. But that outlook has had its pros and cons. My threshold for what I see as an authentic, loving relationship has fallen into the category high expectations; therefore, my tolerance for many things pretty much falls short. Hey, I can admit that about myself. I really do not like my life complicated. It’s too short and precious to be in an unhappy situation. However, I refuse to let that situation define me or continue to victimize me by living in my day to day thoughts. It made me a stronger person and has no power over me. The domestic violence I did experience became a story of triumph. It was the reason why education was pushed on me along with the belief that I can be anything I wanted. I was raised to pursue what made me happy, and that was art. It was my outlet, especially when I witnessed situations that scared me. I saw that through education, knowledge and belief in oneself anything is possible. I also saw that it is not easy to just get out of those situations, and that it takes a tremendous amount of support. That is where we all come in. One of our current campaigns is with the Allstate Foundation’s initiative called Purple Purse. Through this program I learned that domestic violence affects 1 in 4 women in her lifetime, which is more than breast, ovarian and lung cancer combined, and that most people don’t associate financial abuse with domestic violence but it’s the #1 why the victim stays. I totally get how this could happen and I am fortunate to have had loving family members who were always supportive.

When I look back at those years, I don’t feel anger or shame. I feel proud that we all came so far from a place of darkness, and that we were able to harness that experience into creating a life with purpose. I eventually pursued art and worked with children from at-risk communities who had a passion for the arts and my mother (because it was obvious this post was about her) became a Psychologist. She too worked with at-risk families and children. It was quite a long road, but we made it.

I would love for you to join us today at 5pm PT/8pm ET as we discuss domestic violence online with Purple Purse. Many of us have stories to share … And if our conversation reaches at least one person who needs help, we’ve done our job.

Today I present to you a whole lot of saucy deliciousness from POT. If you love Korean food and you live in LA then there’s no need for me to introduce the chef behind these amazing dishes, Roy Choi (the genius behind the Kogi food truck).

We recently announced that we will be hosting our We All Grow conference at the Line Hotel in K-Town, which is also the home of POT restaurant. The hotel itself has a swanky vibe when you first enter but upon further inspection it echoes much of the Latino and Asian sub-cultures of LA (more on the hotel in another post), which includes every day objects like bodega items, toys and balloons deliberately placed within the sleek design of the hotel. It is not the Standard by any means, which is perfect for this native New Yorker who misses the gritty beauty of the city and the savory joy of eating at a restaurant that embodies the local community. If you’re looking for a food and cultural experience, then this is for you. If you want romance and ambiance, you may need to keep driving down Wilshire.

I’m not a food critic and can’t say that I’m versed in Korean cuisine (whether it’s from Seoul or LA) by an means, but I like food with a kick and a lot of soul – and this certainly delivers. I’ve been to POT three times already and I can’t leave without ordering the steamed dumplings and the Old School, which is marinated rib-eye bulgogi mixed with noodles, kimchi, scallions and sesame. And, yes, it reheats well. Nothing like having this for lunch the next day. The servings are not small so that’s an important one to know.

My last visit was for a work meeting so I got to try a few new things from the menu, like their BBQ Galbi and the Redono Beach, which is a pot of spicy crab mixed with bean sprouts, onions, tofu and mira. The dish was good but not my favorite, as I tend to favor the BBQ dishes. But worth a try if you’re a seafood lover.

While you’re enjoying your dish, take a second to look at the details that make this place all the more personal. Each table has cubbyholes underneath to store bowls, cups and chopsticks because there will not be a whole lot of room on your table for such clutter. And take a look at the walls (2nd picture on top). The decor may look like floral wall paper from afar but what you see are actual real dried flowers pressed into the walls, which gives the space that homey feeling you get when you’re eating a local comfort food spot after an exhausting day. You know that feeling.

No matter what you order, you have to get it with the Kimchi fried rice. I can eat this whole thing alone. It’s so good, and I’m super excited that I will be able to share these meals with my blogger friends from all the country in a few short months. Blogger or not, you have to give this place a try.

POT is open daily from 11 AM-11 PM.

This week has been absolutely full. Notice I said full and not busy? Big difference. From the work I do to the decisions I make every day, each action is filled with intent and purpose. Even on those days when I’m color coding Excel sheets, the bigger picture keeps me going – Building and strengthening online communities. Outside of work, I wear many other hats as well. As I sat through this week’s PTA meeting and went through pages and pages of budget reports, I’m there (we are all there) to ensure that our kids have a wonderful high school experience. I was also happy to receive a phone call asking me to chair the school’s annual art contest and exhibit along with the district. I have a lot on my plate but I could not say no.

But what does the PTA and work have to do with these pictures? Not much. But this house is far more beautiful to photograph than my piles of paperwork and keyboard, no? Part of the perks of working so hard is being able to attend fun events hosted by brands like L’Oreal. Although I was there to work, it was exciting to be invited to the infamous Sheats Goldstein residence. While everyone gathered to network, I found myself more fascinated with the organic architecture of the home. I didn’t get to see everything because I didn’t want to be that weird woman walking around with a camera. But I would not mind being invited back to really take in all of the architectural details, the view and its amazing (and scary) open terrace.

I hope you all have a lovely Labor Day weekend!