Spring Fever in Napa Valley!

Min Agostini Teal Dress, Chloé Sunglasses, Vintage Jewelry, Kenneth Cole Nude Sandal

Let's find a beautiful place to get lost in the mustard flowers...

Spring in the Napa Valley casts a strong spell, with its yellow-hued vineyards, 70-degree days and cool nights warmed by vino and night bocce ball (in my case). This time of year leaves a stunning yellow trail of mustard blossoms that literally causes cars to stop in their tracks and admire the bold beauty. It’s also the perfect transitional season to shift from boots and fussy layers, to light airy dresses, sandals and lots of sunshine.

Today’s look was inspired by the recent election of Argentine, Pope Francis. I swept through my closet and found this dress that I had purchased on my last trip to Buenos Aires. It’s made by one of my favorite Argentine designers, Min Agostini, whom I happened to stumble upon during one Sunday afternoon at the popular San Telmo Street Market. Agostini uses her skills as an architect to bring a new level of structural innovation, which I absolutely adore when designed right - hence the cap sleeve ruffle and bubble bottom. I can't wait to go back! 

Ceja Vineyards Wine Club Cruise

Sail away with me to paradise...

There is nothing more appealing than leaving the chilly California weather during February and embarking on a cruise to the Western Caribbean! In fact, this was no ordinary cruise and instead marked our inaugural Ceja Vineyards wine club cruise with over 100 of our fabulous club members. Traveling will forever remain a huge passion in my life and this trip was nothing less than unforgettable and amazing.

The Celebrity Silhouette was our home for seven days, which was not only grandiose but also luxurious in every facet. We set sail from Fort Lauderdale and leisurely made our way to Cozumel, Grand Cayman Islands, Jamaica and Haiti. Each stop was simply breathtaking with gorgeous panoramic views of crystal clear Caribbean water, white sandy beaches and lush vegetation.

Our agenda was relaxed but was naturally interweaved with socializing, dining and getting to know our wine club members on a personal basis. We held exclusive food and wine pairing dinners and tastings that were both educational, entertaining and fun! Overall the experience was such a huge success that we will be embarking on a wine club cruise every year. So, who’s coming with us next time? Ole!

Take Me to Apple Hill

Over Thanksgiving weekend, I had the opportunity to explore Apple Hill, nestled away in the high Sierra Foothills. It couldn’t have been a more beautiful November day that simply screamed of fall with all of the vivid yellow, orange and red hues highlighting the apple trees and vineyards.

It was the perfect fall outing spending the day visiting apple farms and wineries and was a refreshing change of scenery being surrounded by the rustic charm and beauty. I was like a little kid in a candy shop with every stop we made. From the endless apple orchards, to the pies baking at the roadside stands {you have to try the apple crisp & hot apple cider at Kids Inc.}, to the quaint tasting rooms scattered throughout area.

This is unquestionably a fun playground not only for kids but for adults too. Did I mention there's also a micro-brewery? Umm, yes please! You’re never too old to love going to Apple Hill and I will now make it a yearly fall tradition. 

P.S. What traditions do you have during the holidays?

Postcards from Puerto Vallarta

Oh hello, Thanksgiving week! I just came back from spending 10 glorious days in Puerto Vallarta.  This was no ordinary trip and in fact I was there for work (yes, work) promoting Ceja Vineyards wines at the Festival Gourmet International at The Grand Mayan Resort. It was quite the honor to participate considering my mom was the invited chef at Tramonto Restaurant. I also acted as her Sous Chef and we both joined forces to heavily promote our wines during the winemaker dinners every evening.

I had been to Puerto Vallarta once before as a kid but now I could really appreciate the lush landscape, the vibrant culture and the beautiful beaches. We had a strict agenda most of the time but during the day we had a few hours to escape and explore the quaint colonial town, eat fresh fish on the beach and catch some rays with a refreshing Paloma in hand.

Here are a few highlights of the trip - both working & relaxing. 

Every night I was floored by the reactions that the guests had of the delicious food, the wines and the overall dinning experience. We couldn’t have done it without the help of such an amazing and cohesive team at the Grand Mayan Resort. From the talented chefs, to the sommeliers, to the servers at the restaurant, everyone collaborated as a unit and made it a 5 star experience – both unique and unforgettable. I can’t wait to go back and do it all over again!

Chefs: Cassandra, Felipe, Amelia & me in Tramonto's kitchen

Grilled Chile Relleno

Tortilleria "tortilla bakery." They make over 50,000 tortillas a day for the entire resort

Testing our recipes with the chefs

Lobster + Ceja Chardonnay

Inside the test kitchen

Inside the restaurant, working the floor

Sail Away With Me To San Diego

Last weekend I spent a few incredible days learning how to sail with my entire Sonoma State University EMBA class. It was one of the best experiences of my life, proving to be both intense and rewarding. Until last Thursday my few sailing experiences included a sunset sail with a bottle of wine, while comfortably being nestled under blankets, thinking that this was the life. Le sigh. Despite the less glamorous setting, this excursion was even better than I ever imagined, while getting to know some pretty stellar & dynamic people.

In fact, the goal of this experience wasn’t just to learn how to sail, but instead was to focus on leadership and team building while having fun! Let me emphasize by telling you that those are not easy skills to hone while also learning to do something as physical and technical as sailing with the aim of winning a competitive race. My muscles are still screaming. Yelp!

I feel so lucky to have shared this experience with all of my classmates and can’t wait to see how the next 16 months unfolds {hold on to your pantalones!}. These are the people and relationships that I feel are going to be important to me for the rest of my life, something rare and truly special.Isn’t that simply marvelous? Sailing in sunny San Diego wasn’t too shabby either – it was amazingly gorgeous!

P.S. Today is also my beautiful mom's birthday! Happy Birthday Mamacita! You're such a beautiful soul - compassionate, generous, hardworking and kind. I hope your day is full of as much joy as you bring to my life. Te quiero mucho!