A Day in Paradise (Malibu, California)

I guess I’m a little more spontaneous then I’ll admit. A 90 minute car ride in Los Angels traffic and I made it to Paradise Cove beach, in Malibu, California. Just a simple day for a simple girl. 

If you’ve never been to Paradise Cove, I will warn you that parking is pricey at $35 (Mon-Friday), close to $50 on the weekends. A local restaurant will validate your parking for four hours with a minimum food/drink tab. 

Also, it’s a rather small beach in comparison to my usual favorite beaches to visit, such as Huntington, Laguna, Dana Point, and La Jolla, which are located in Orange County, California and San Diego. But, like my usual response to things that don’t meet my  expectations, I made the most of it! I noticed a  small, flat surface at the bottom of a cliff that looked like water was only slightly covering the surface, which made my mind start thinking, “There’s something more on the other side.” So in true Lisa fashion, I went past the boundaries that most people stay behind and went trucking through some waves and rocks to climb around a mini cliff to another, more secluded, beach.  I’m inquisitive by nature, and thankfully so, because the private spots are always the best! Enjoy!

Super Heroic

Had a nice time at the Hollywood Castle, celebrating the team of Nerf, Footlocker and Super Heroic, a brand centered around kids at play. I don’t know about your childhood, but without aging myself fully, I can honestly testify that electronics weren’t my focus. I was too busy climbing trees, roller blading, riding my bike, swimming, playing tag, and watching friends at the skate park, football field or on the basketball court.

Fast forward to the world of social media, Fortnite and several other avenues of the “operated by batteries-only” lifestyle, the days of walking through your neighborhood and hearing children giggle and play tag or catch, are starting to look like a past time. 

Thankfully, through the creative lens of Super Heroic, they are reintroducing an energy force that is geared around freedom and  enthusiasm to motivate kids to get outside and in tune with an active lifestyle that’s full of adventure! So the only question left, would be, what’s your superpower? 

Thanks for allowing me to be a part of your special event, #superheroic, I had a blast! ⚡️

TRY THIS JUICE BY OPEN SOURCE ORGANICS

Open Source Organics

"Raw. Vegan. 100% Organic" - Open Source Organics

Talk about being in the right place at the right time! About a year ago, I did a three mile hike in the West Hollywood hills area, and upon my final steps back to the parking lot, a food truck was waiting there. Being a girly girl and a lover of country-chic designs and clean lines, I locked my eyes on the cute mason jar full of juice. They were large in size, and if I recall correctly, about $9.

 "Hmm...Not bad," I thought, for something that was vegan, healthy and only made up of simple ingredients.

I was excited to try it, and picked out my juice, "Apple Pucker."

 The gluten-free, 100 percent organic and "made with LOVE," mixture of apple, lemon and mint tasted delicious, and its mojito resemblance (sans alcohol and additional sugar) was the perfect resource my body needed post-cardio sesh.

For weeks, er, months after that initial meet and greet, I couldn't forget that juice. Something about it was just THAT different to me. Thankfully through a diligent search and determination to not give up, I found out the name of the company that made this joyous concoction, Open Source Organics, and the rest is history.

If you're a foodie, like to live healthy, on a special diet, or just want to try something new, check them out. You'll be happy you did.

Open Monday-Sunday 7 am - 8 pm  7107 W Sunset Blvd, Hollywood CA, 90046 

 

Photo by @shoesdogsandchocolate

Photo by @opensourceorganics

Photo by @misoo_hungry

 

shoesdogsandchocolate

What I Learned in 2016

Can you believe we only have a few more hours until we say goodbye to 2016 and hello to 2017?! It's crazy, right? 

With so many world events that have taken this year by the horns, I'm sure we've all had a few  personal experiences we'd wish never made a pit stop, but what is life without some downfalls? We can't have it all, and life is never perfect, but we can learn a lot through these ups and downs and make the best out of it, or perhaps even learn from them. 

Here's what I learned this year:

• I'm a Go-Getter

This isn't something necessarily new to me, but it's definitely worth acknowledging. I can't sit still. I don't like wasting time and I definitely function at a higher speed than most. Whether it is about health, fitness, work or organizing my closet and then reorganizing it again, I must see things progress. Everything has an order; a place in this world, and in order to see these things fit into their proper space, I create a hands-on approach to make sure it gets done. I guess you can say I'm a type-A personality. Although mostly wonderful, this type of personality can be difficult to have at times because it can make me a perfectionist and allows for frazzled moments with others who are inactive to pursue their dreams or resolve health issues. This leads me into the second thing...

• Accepting People As They Are

People show you who they are every day. Whether happy and make every situation positive, negative and dismissive or smile to your face and live a secret life behind your back (trust me it happens). People will show you who they are, the type of person they connect with and what you can expect from them. Don't make anyone be who you want them to be, but rather listen to what they are saying to you. You'll spend less time problem solving, and more time living your best self.

• It's OK to Say "NO"

It's definitely ok to say no. Your life and your time is precious, and spending it with who and as you wish, is and SHOULD BE a definite priority. 

• New Things Are Scary but Worth a Try If Your Heart Is In It

This one is pretty straightforward, but we all need a little reminder that stepping out of our comfort zone can be a bit scary, and that's normal. When I started my new job a year ago, I was pretty scared. It was something I had wanted to do for years, but never had the right opportunity. Then with a LOT of persistence (TYPE A), a lot of patience, learning from others and weaving in my own skills, I landed the job of managing a magazine for a large organization. A huge dream come true; and a huge goal accomplished. My heart was there and so was the fear, but if I let the fear outweigh my heart's desire, I would have never pursued this job, and I'm so glad I listened to my heart. 

• God Has A Plan For You

Simply put, everyone's journey is their own. God intended yours to move just as fast (or slow) as needed. The route may change course and your abilities, function or outlook may change from time to time, but you are right where you need to be. Trust Your Journey.

Now that I've shared what I learned, it's time to set out some new goals for 2017! I'm very much ready to do this, and I hope you'll join me. Grab a pen and paper and write out a few goals of your own. There's no rush, take your time. Vision your goals. Let's go!

Goals for 2017:

1. Do Yoga 1 to 2xs a week. 

2. Drink More Water (with lemon)

3. Say "No" to Things You Don't Want To Do

4. Be OK with Your Fitness Journey and Progress 

5. Spend More Time Doing what You love

6. Get More Sleep

7. Do More Things Outdoors 

~ Now for a little fluff, here are some pictures to share my favorite IG posts of 2016 ~

Happy New Year! May Your Blessings be Abundant!

Chado Tea Room Downtown LA

Whether you're looking for a light lunch, need a spot for a new date, or are just interested in trying something new, make a reservation at Chado Tea Room in Downtown Los Angeles, California. 

Located on first street, in the heart of Little Tokyo, this quaint spot sits inside the Japanese American National History Museum, which makes for a great pair when you want to walk off all the delicious treats and cups of tea you'll consume.

The small, but friendly tea house carries over 400 flavored teas, that range from black to champagne infused.

Have any questions? The friendly staff will explain it all and even offer recommendations. 

My little group went all out and spruced up the experience with fancy hats...

Cheers to an afternoon well spent. 

If I could make one suggestion, it would be to splurge on the full "afternoon" tray of sandwiches and desserts full of smoked salmon, turkey and cranberry and orange marmalade, scones and carrot cake. 

Absolutely delicious! Enjoy!! 

For more information on Chado Tea Room, call

 1 (213) 258-2531or visit www.chadotearoom.com

Take a hike! (or two)

Need some thing to do this weekend? Try one of these two hiking trails located in the always beautiful and sunny, Southern California. 

The first trail is Eaton Canyon, a three an a half (3.5) mile hike round trip, located in Pasadena. You may bring your dog but a leash is required. 

The trail starts out smooth with minor hills to warm your legs up, but as the hike progresses, so does the amount of natural barriers. I wouldn't recommend bringing small children or babies in a carrier as the hike intensifies rather quickly. 

Measuring your agility is also important, as If it's below medium to high, I would sit this one out. 

Streams and rock gather throughout the hike, causing slippery foundations to cross through. If you can manage leaping through water, you'll enjoy the trail. 

Be sure to wear comfortable and stable hiking boots, as regular shoes may cause you to slip and potentially hurt yourself. 

A few hikers had to limp back to the parking lot due to busted knees and elbow scrapes. Not a great way to start your weekend. 

Nature will wow you on this trail, and if you can make it to the top, the waterfall at the end will make your accomplishments worth the journey. 

For more information on Eaton Canyon and trails, visit ECNCA.ORG 

The next trail is Claremont loop, a five mile (5.0) round trip, extra steep, curvy nature trail in the San Bernardino mountains. 

I will caution you, although this is a man-made trail, it is deeply nestled in the wilderness; a home to mountain lions, mule deer, snakes and much more. 

When you first start on the trail you'll have two options: left for a medium hike, right for a more strenuous one. Of course, we chose the right. 

Many people showed up to hike this trail: some beginners, others, well-seasoned professionals, runners, bicyclist  and fun-going nature lovers. Pets are welcome with an on-leash policy. 

Second pre-caution. Be courtesy of your pet's stamina, weight and age. Bring plenty of water for you and your pet and be prepared to carry your pet down the mountain if they should get hurt. We saw a few dogs struggle on this hike, one collapsed and another injured himself. Be mindful of your pet as they can't communicate properly. Assessing their needs are important on a trail like this.

Continuing up the mountain you'll find a few rest points to rejuvenate weary legs. 

I took full advantage of these.

That's not to say I didn't push through the tough terrain, because I did, and if you are looking for a great booty workout, this hike is for you. 

The views are also beautiful and the air is crisp. 

When hiking a long trail such as this one, it's easy to get lost in thought, but try not to as you'll need to be aware of your surroundings at all times. Especially as you may come face to face with an animal.  

If you should come face to face with an animal, stand your ground but also be respectful of their turf. We stood tall and still. The main deer walked towards us to evaluate his own concern and our response. Once he saw that we were of no harm to him, two more deer walked towards us and down the side of the mountain away from us, which cleared our path to continue on. 

Amazing but a little scary. So again, as mentioned before, be well aware of your surroundings, watch out for your pets, yourself, and respect the wilderness and I guarantee you'll enjoy this hike. 

For more information visit, Claremont Wilderness Park

Happy trails to you!