At Sea with Casa Ceja Wine Club

I feel pretty fortunate to call this life of mine work.I just got back from an eastern Caribbean cruise with 120 of our awesome Casa Ceja Wine Club members. The Celebrity Reflection was our home for seven days, which is undoubtedly the most luxurious and magnificent ships I’ve been on. Our agenda was relaxed but was naturally interweaved with six exclusive wine focused events (heaven for foodies and winos). Some of my favorites included, a winemaker luncheon, a cooking demo and a salsa dance cocktail fiesta, all in which were entertaining, informative and fun!

We set sail from Miami and leisurely made our way to St. Maarten and then to St. Thomas to explore the breathtaking U.S. Virgin Islands. Each stop was simply glorious with stunning panoramic views of crystal clear Caribbean water, lush vegetation and white sandy beaches - paradise in a nutshell.

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P.S. Stay tuned for the announcement of our third cruise, as this location is a mystery destination.

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!

Twenty Eight Candles

28 Lessons for 28 Years

Yep. Yesterday I turned 28. Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way…

• A new year equals new beginnings.
• Laughing is the best medicine in the world.
• Yelling will lead to nothing but tears and disappointment.
• Take a chance with love. You will regret it if you don’t.
• Eat more vegetables + drink more water. Daily.
• It’s ok to let your guard down when someone makes you feel good.
• Be passionate about what you do and you will never have to work a day in your life.
• Life is too short to drink bad wine.
• Relationships take work. A lot of work.
• Cherish your time with your grandparents + parents. They are a part of your history and legacy.
• Seek a mentor in your professional career. New insight and perspective is valuable + refreshing.
•  People make mistakes. Listen to their side of the story before you shut them out of your life.
• Never stop reading. Our brains are only as good as what we digest intellectually.
• Do something that challenges you {everyday}.
• Work hard and play harder.
• Exercise as much as possible. The older you get the harder it is to loose weight.
• Never cheat. Not on exams, taxes, or on your boyfriend/partner.
• You can never own too many dresses. Treat life like a runway.
• It’s ok to splurge on yourself once in awhile. You deserve it! (hello, Chloé bag).
• Random acts of kindness are always appreciated and never expected.
• People will come and go in life but family + best friends will always be there for you.
•  Girls night out motto: Be sexy not sloppy…
•  Smile more often and people will notice.
• Ask for help when you need it. Being stubborn and proud is not a good thing.
• Education is the best investment in life. Taking out student loans shouldn’t make you hesitate.
• Drink more green tea & less coffee.
•  A true best friend will support you and be there for you no matter what.
• When in doubt, pop champagne and dance on the table.

Some of these were easier to learn than others {and it’s still a work in progress} but I’m grateful for each experience. Have a great weekend! 

Dia de los Muertos

If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance. - G.B. Shaw

Oh, hello November. October has come and gone in such a rapid sweep (Go SF Giants!), that I have officially welcomed fall and all of its autumn glory. This is unquestionably one of my favorite times of the year, which begins the holiday season with Dia de los Muertos – Day of the Dead. In my culture this is an honored holiday that celebrates and remembers the lives of passed loved ones.

It sounds a bit more morbid that it really is but this national Mexican holiday celebrates death and welcomes the departed spirits home. One of the most important symbols is the calavera, which stand for “skull” in Spanish. Raging from the calaveras de azúcar “sugar skulls” to artwork, these colorful skulls are used to adorn the altars for the dead.

Recently the popularity of calaveras has developed into a highly artistic style of make-up design, combining stunning and elaborate face-paint with various flowers and beads. Here are a few beautiful examples of Mexican skull make-up art, fashion and color that took my breath away…

My Best Friend's Wedding

This past Saturday was the wedding of one of my dearest and best friends, Kendall, and her main squeeze, Adam! I’ve known Kendall since we were 12 years old - we met when we joined forces to run our middle school’s ASB Leadership team. Yup, we were pretty damn cool back then {15 years later we still are!}. Watching her walk down the sweeping steps overlooking the stunning rustic setting, looking positively glowing and beautiful, was unquestionably an unforgettable vision. It was even more special to walk down the aisle as one of her bridesmaids.

The entire day was romantic and beautiful. As the festivities unfolded, we sipped on refreshing cocktails, savored a delicious BBQ dinner, and socialized with our very best friends. The wedding party was equally as fun with a total of 20 bridesmaids and groomsmen in tow, yowzaa! I love that she included all of her dearest friends and family members to share this special moment in her life. Congrats again to Mr. & Mrs. Klein! I feel so happy and so fortunate to know two amazing and lovely individuals who compliment each other so well. ♥

The Newlyweds

Toasting to Kendall + Adam + to our health

Mamacita + beautiful baby Emelina Pearl