Mantra Monday: I am resilient, I am focused

We all face hurdles each and every day. Some days are harder than others; some days are easier than others. When something happens that catches you off guard or makes your day a little harder its important to stay focused. Throw yourself into what you are doing and say to yourself "I am resilient, I am focused."

NYC: Eataly

A few streets away from Union Square lies one of the most unique restaurants I have ever been to, Eataly. 

This is another one of Mario Batali's restaurants that has mastered Italian food once again. I have been to several of his restaurants located in NYC and LA, but I have never come across one so different. It was set up like an Italian marketplace with different stations. There was a panini station, mozerella bar, seafood station, pizza station, gelato station, etc.

 Eataly also sold many Italian products and also sold food in a deli style. 

My boyfriend and I opted for the pizzeria station since we had just flown into NYC on the red eye and all we wanted was a piece of pizza and some wine.

 I recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting NYC. This was an amazing find and I can't wait to go back to NYC one day and try another station. Maybe the Gelato? 

Meat and Cheese Deli 

Fresh Fruit- I like the way its displayed in baskets for a marketplace feel

Our first pizza in NYC - YUM!

Freshly butchered meat

Piggy bank above the meat dept.

Holy Lobster!

Varieties of Pasta: they had so many!

NYC: Sweets

Went to a candy store in Hell's Kitchen which seemed to specialize in gummy candy. Every animal and type of food was turned into its own gummy rendition. I love gummy candy and was so delighted at all the selections!
See all the fun ones below. My personal fav were the gummy penguins.

New York City and Boston Vacay!

Yes, it's that time of the year again. I am heading on vacation. This time I am going to NYC and Boston. I've never been to Boston and I AM SO EXCITED. I'll be sure to keep you all updated on my adventures in these two cities! I think I am most excited for the great food in NYC and experiencing Boston  for the first time.

Bon Voyage! :)

Mantra Monday: Set Intentions Daily

Today's mantra is set an intention daily.

I used to get very confused in yoga when a teacher would tell me to set my intention for the class (usually done at the beginning of the class). In turn, I started to set goals for myself during each class. I would try to hold certain poses a little longer, try something new, or make myself go to my ultimate edge.

Recently, I learned that there is a big difference between setting an intention and setting a goal for yourself.

When you set a goal for yourself, you are striving for a particular outcome in the future. When you set an intention, you set a focus on something that is going on in the present. This can be something that is going on around you and your life or it can simply be a focus on just breathing. Whatever it is, it should be something that will help you through what is going on right now rather than what is to come. Sometimes I even set my intention for someone in my life that needs good energy coming their way. Setting an intention will help you live in the moment and really enjoy life as it is.

So take a minute and revel in the present and set an intention each and every day.

Happy Mantra Monday!

We volunteered and so should you!

I love that my work has a volunteer event every quarter and everyone at the company takes a half day off of work to help a charity in need. This quarter we helped out an organization that helps children in crises that run away from home. This organization is called Angel's Flight located in south Los Angeles. Here the children are given clothing, food, medical care, counseling, recreation, and schoolwork. The ages of these children range from 10-17 years old. 

My work came in and saw what needed to be done and delegated jobs that the could really help the organization. We repaved the asphalt and painted a basketball court so that the kids would have somewhere nicer to play. We organized their clothing closet and painted murals in the children's bedrooms to make it a little happier.

 I only captured a couple pictures of the mural painting since that was the assignment I was given, but I really feel that this will have an impact on their daily lives and give them a nicer place to go in this time of need. 

Volunteering is great for the soul and everyone should do their part and lend an extra hand. There are so many people and places that could use a little extra care and help and you can make the difference!

Very Belated Mantras and Making it Count

Hey everyone! Sorry I went quiet for awhile. I have been using up all my free time at my new gym (time to get in shape for summer!) and at work. Not to mention, I haven't been feeling too inspired lately. But today was an incredible day, and I think you will be hearing more from me again!

After work, I had a heartfelt yoga class where the mantra was simply to give gratitude and say thank you. It was refreshing to give gratitude to the many people and things in my life that make it wonderful. And then after class, I reconnected and reconciled with a dear old friend that I haven't spoken to in years. It was  one of those feel-good extraordinary days.

And then I saw this video on YouTube and it made me realize how thankful I really am for everything in my life and how I need to make each and every moment count. My favorite mantra thus far, make it count!

Enjoy the video!

Yoga Review: Equinox Santa Monica

At every gym I've ever gone to, the yoga classes are never like the classes at yoga studios. This was always a part of my hesitation of going to the gym and attending a yoga class because I felt deeply disappointed that I just spent an hour or so in a class that didn't do a thing for me. Because gym yoga is usually not the best, I naturally would gravitate to yoga studios for my yoga fix.

With my mantra from last Monday, it got me thinking that I would like to join a gym that really motivated me to get some cardio into my life. I looked into Equinox and signed up for a 3 day free trial membership. After checking out the group fitness schedule, I noticed that they had a number of reputable yoga teachers teaching some of their classes. I just had to try these classes out and was really pleased with the intensity of the two that I took.

Since going to Equinox costs about the same as a yoga studio membership, I think I found the perfect situation. I can have my cardio and yoga studio quality yoga. :) Not to mention the gym is gorgeous! It over looks the ocean and has Kiehl's products in the locker room. So happy that this gym understands the importance of great yoga classes for their guests.

Mantra Monday

It's springtime! I love spring! I love spring colors, peeps, and that the days feel longer and brighter! This is a time to feel rejuvenated and get ready for the warmer weather to come. This warm weather means summer is around the corner and it is time to get fit.

For that reason, today's mantra is Get Up and Move! I am inspired lately to get up and move my body, whether it be an intense gym workout or a power yoga session. Summer, more sunshine and beach days are coming soon! What are you doing to ramp up your current workouts?

Gorgeous Spring arrangement at my office! Loving Spring!

Springtime Cookies

This weekend was a lazy rainy one in LA and to entertain myself I decided to try and make some healthy-kind-of-not-really cookies from scratch. I have never made a thing from scratch so for my first attempt I think I did a great job!

What I used:
Whole wheat flour (the only semi-healthy ingredient! Haha)
Sugar
Eggs
Unsalted butter
Vanilla extract
Salt
Frosting- 2 kinds: strawberry and buttercup cupcake icing from Betty Crocker

See the pics below:

Mantra Monday

Hi everyone! It's Mantra Monday! I was walking down Main St. in Santa Monica and came across this delightful mural.

I don't know about you, but this Monday has been pretty good for me so far. I think it's important to do something for yourself today during the beginning of the week craziness and just remember that you are beautiful! :)

St. Paddy's Day Treats

I haven't tried baking any treats lately for the sake of being healthy and with St. Paddy's Day this week, I decided to splurge and get a little fancy with a normal batch of cupcakes. I found a decorating kit that really transformed the decorations on my cupcakes. I usually bake the cupcakes then put the frosting on them immediately after the oven because I can't wait to eat this delicious treat.

Using this decorating kit was really simple and made the frosting process far more fun! This kit had tons of bottles and decorating metal tips that could personalize each cupcake and make fun designs. I played around with the kit and made many different designs on my cupcakes. I have a long way to go with becoming an expert froster, but I think I did really great for my first try. Also to add to the fun of the holiday, I added in some green food dye to some of the frosting and the cake batter. 

I loved using the decorating kit and I don't think i will ever be able to make cupcakes the way I used to  now that I found this! Check out my cupcakes below:

Betty Crocker 11 piece decorating kit

San Francisco trip

San Fran was an awesome time although I only got to spend 16 hours there. It was a very short and fast trip. I wish I could have stayed longer! This city is amazing and I plan on going back very soon and spending more time there. See my pics below:

Rainy SF day: View from the pool balcony at the Huntington Hotel

View of the city from the Top of the Mark

Pool at the Huntington Hotel

Enjoying my quiet time at the spa

Map of the city

Grace Cathedral in Nob Hill: Gorgeous!

Me in front of the breathtaking view at the Top of the Mark

Yoga room at the SFO Airport

Last week, I went on a blogging hiatus due to a crazy whirlwind of a week at work. During my crazy week, I got to visit San Francisco for a client event which was really fun and exciting! My first business trip ever! 

While walking through the airport I noticed that there was a Yoga Room available to travelers! Only in San Francisco you would see something like this! How amazing is that? I think this is a great idea for people who travel a lot and don't have time to exercise or expect to be sitting on a plane for hours at a time. 

Yoga Room sign- A little bit fuzzy as I was trying to rush to the terminal

Would you take advantage of a yoga room at your local airport?

Shutterfly Photobook

Click here to view this photo book larger

This past weekend I was suppose to go to Mammoth for a work trip, but I got sick and had a bunch of free time on my hands. I decided to make a photo book from my trip to Thailand. ( I still haven't printed my pictures and the trip was in October!)

Shutterfly has so many amazing ideas to share photos with loved ones. I think my next purchase will have to be one of those pictures on a canvas. I need more art in my living room and having a personalized picture would mean a lot to me. Check out my latest photo book.

Griffith Observatory Hike

Last weekend was a REALLY hot weekend in LA. On these days, I am itching to get outside and do something active. Not only do I love yoga, I love hiking also. On Sunday, we decided to do a hike in Los Angeles where we could see the Hollywood sign and get a great view of the city. 

What outdoor activities do you do? I want to know!

xo,
Erica

Birthday Resolutions

Every year I get really excited about my birthday. I think of it like most people think of New Year's Day. On this day, I reflect about the past year of my life. I think about the good, the bad, the ups, the downs and everything in between. Most people make New Year's resolutions on New Years Eve.  But for me, my birthday is when I set personal goals for myself and strive to meet those goals within the next year. Some of my goals include keeping in touch with old friends, eating better, and fully immersing myself into yoga.

A few pics from my birthday party this past weekend:

my friend Marco and I

twinsies in yellow. me and abby

me and my handsome boyfriend

me and my best friend in the whole entire world :)

Do you make birthday resolutions? Do you have any traditions on your birthday?

xo,

Erica

Mantra Monday!

It's Mantra Monday everyone!

I don't know about you, but I had a fun filled LA weekend which has inspired my mantra for today.

I gave into my ultimate vice this weekend and totally broke my pact with myself of forgoing pizza for lent.

After a delightful Hollywood Sunday hike in the 85 degree weather (maybe even hotter!), we decided to grab a bite to eat in Larchmont Village. I am a sucker for the pizzeria here and had to get a slice. After the move to Santa Monica, going to Larchmont was truly a treat for me and I just couldn't resist.

With that said, today's mantra is "Treat yo' self" (yes, I've been watching some Parks and Recreation lately!)

So whatever you are doing today, just remember that it's ok to treat yo' self.

Pics from the weekend recap coming later this week :)

xo,
Erica

Ready for the Weekend

It has been a crazy week. I am SO ready for this weekend. My boyfriend and I have guests coming into town which makes for a fun and non-stop LA weekend ahead of us.

Things on my list to do: Friday night yoga and healthy dinner  in Santa Monica with my favorite yogi friend; playing tour guide across Los Angeles; a visit to Dry Bar on Saturday before some pre-birthday festivities; and a lovely Sunday hike. Will report back with any interesting news!

Do you have an exciting weekend ahead? Are you ready for the weekend? One more day!

xo
Erica

Leap Day!!

It's Leap Day everyone! It happens every 4 years. This means we have 366 days this year, so we get an extra day! How are you taking advantage of this bonus day? Are you making the most of it?

picture above my kitchen table. kids taking a leap off a pier :)

And happy birthday to all the leaplings out there! :)

Rainy LA Nights

It's been cold and rainy the last few days. When I say cold, I mean cold by LA standards that is. I know the cold in LA doesn't come close to weather across the country, but for this native beach girl...it's cold!!!! 

I have a ritual before I go to bed and have a cup of decaf tea. I feel that it relaxes me and lately it really hits the spot with this chilly weather. Tonight, I am warming up with a cup of Calm Tazo tea while I blog and cuddle up on my couch. 

What do you do to stay happy during rainy & chilly weather?

Mantra Monday

Welcome to the first Mantra Monday of many! :)

Everyone hates Mondays. It's the first day of the week which means you probably have a lot to catch up on at work or need to get things in line for the week. I decided that every Monday is the day that you should start the week on a positive note. You should feel inspired, happy and optimistic about the week ahead! Every Monday, do something for yourself and be positive.

In a yoga class last week, I was sitting in pigeon pose and my teacher says,  "It's only a big deal if you make it a big deal."

I had a really rough work week last week and I tend to stress over the little things (which is a terrible habit) and that saying couldn't be more fitting. So this week it's time to remember IT'S ONLY A BIG DEAL IF YOU MAKE IT A BIG DEAL.

Happy Mantra Monday everyone!
xo
Erica

Decoupage: Attempt #2

After heading to the LongBeach Flea Market, my boyfriend and I felt inspired to re-do our coffee table. We felt it was a little too collage looking and a little too busy. So we decided to scrap the entire table and start from scratch.You can see pictures and process here of my first attempt at a DIY decoupage coffee table. 

Below are the pics of the new table.  We decided to use pages out of a book and not pictures this time. It allowed for a cleaner and simpler look. We opted for one of my favorite books, Catcher in the Rye. We couldn't be happier with the results.

It's that time of the year again... What will you give up?

Every year I try and give up one thing during Lent. I am not particularly religious, but I do like the thought of giving up a vice for 40 days and 40 nights. I like to see how much self- control I actually have. One year I gave up pizza, another year I gave up chocolate.

I think this year I will go for the gold and give up pizza AND chocolate. It might be a little ambitious to give up two things. But let's push my discipline to the test!

What are you going to give up this year?

An early birthday present to myself...

I LOVED my Marc by Marc Jacobs purse. It was a bright and bold eggplant purple color that I used to think went with everything I wore. It was my go-to bag for everything. I could even fit my lap top nicely into it along with everything else (my wallet, keys, etc.) But the time has come where I need to retire it. The color has faded and the stitching is starting to rip vigorously on the straps. I pretty much wore it to death and it lived an amazing long life.

For my birthday this year, I decided that I would treat myself and get a nice new bag. I saw this gorgeous Foley and Corinna bag on Gilt.com and knew that I had to get it. I snagged this new wardrobe staple for $ 224 including taxes and shipping (original price is $345)! It is perfect for everyday wear. You can hold it like a satchel purse and remove the long strap, or you can fold it as seen below and use the long strap to wrap around your body or over the shoulder. This time I grabbed it in more a neutral color that looked a little more classic than my last purse.

Foley and Corinna Lady City in Taupe

Do you ever treat yourself on your birthday? I'd love to know if you do and what do you do?

xo