Pilates Core Work Out

I must say that Pilates is excellent to tone muscles, especially the core abdomen post baby. It has been a year since Olivia was born and I just added the Mari Winsor Pilates DVD to my daily exercise. I noticed a major difference within a week and it is only a 20 minute video. Sometimes that is all I have time for at once. I can see my stomach muscles again and that makes me feel like pre-baby weight is around the corner. Very exciting. Skeptics, try it yourself! For more info on Pilates click on the link. http://www.divinecaroline.com/22176/77733-pilates-strengthen-core



Pilates com bola: controle sua ansiedade
Originally uploaded by metalifepilates

Pilates to Strengthen Your Core - DivineCaroline

Pilates to Strengthen Your Core - DivineCaroline

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Please check out this link to Divine Caroline as I wrote something that was published there recently. Thanks!

Inspiration for Color

I just bought a deep orange pair of high heeled strappy sandals. I am delving into color this summer and the inspiration comes from a mini vacation to San Diego at the end of May. We ended our trip in the old town of San Diego, where Mexican art is rampant and is as true as being in old town Zihuatanejo. We browsed some of the best Mexican artisan stores and soaked in the bright colors and warm feel of our neighbors to the South. It was also home to one of the best chile rellenos I've tasted that wasn't hand crafted in my grandma's kitchen. I don't think I'd do bright paint indoors, but a red door is something I love in a home. I was struck by this green door as well, Mexi shabby chic.

Small village in France

I saw this couple sitting in the early evening. I thought it was a nice little snapshot into small village life in France.

The Marais

Inspirational Paris...this is my favorite city in Europe for many reasons. One reason I feel this way is the beautiful store fronts that adorn the city and the many adorable cafes that you can stop for a cafe creme, beer and to people watch. These photos were taken in the Marais District mostly. I fell in love with this district immediately. It boasts quaint restaurants with fresh and rich dishes, and the little shops were so charming. It was a comforting and truly unique place to be. Each district of Paris offers something completely different, but I especially enjoyed the languid pace of that one Sunday afternoon I spent there.

Goldfinger at Dolores Park

The Breakfast Club at Dolores Park, San Francisco, July 26, 2008
Originally uploaded by /\/\ichael Patric|{

Summer in the city means that movies in the park will begin. Saturday night's free feature is Goldfinger. Truck over to the Mission District to see James Bond on a giant screen. Grab a blanket or two, some of your favorite nibbles, a bottle of wine and go! Dolores Park has a nice slope that simulates stadium seating but with a well lit up backdrop of downtown and the bay bridge. Last year the fog rolled in, as did the teen angst of the Breakfast Club. We'll see what happens tomorrow night as we watch 007 in the fresh night air.

Masala Dosa

dosa fillmore in San Francisco - Masala Dosa
Originally uploaded by Bonnibelle78

One of the many dosas on the menu. The dosa come in different shapes and stuffed with different ingredients. This one has cabbage, pea and carrots. The sauces are sambar, coconut and tomato chutney.

Chandelier at Dosa Restaurant

Chandelier - Dosa restaurant Fillimore San Francisco
Originally uploaded by ShashiBellamkonda

The romantic chandelier at Dosa on Fillmore, a top 100 restaurant in San Francisco.

Dosa on Fillmore

Dosa on Fillmore
Originally uploaded by Premshree Pillai

A few of the lovely things they have at Dosa.

Dosa on a Tuesday

dosa on a monday
Originally uploaded by lcrisan

We went to dinner last night at Dosa on Fillmore. It is South Indian cuisine, which is something I am not schooled in. The restaurant was beautiful and contemporary with sleek dark wood, a communal table and many tea candles. All the lighting and wall fixtures were gorgoeus. The first thing I saw was a chandelier that looked like a lit up feathery animal or sea anemone. It was very romantic and a wonderful place for a date. And yes we date, even though Cain and I are married. I would go back for the libations alone. I ordered the bowler, which had pisco, mango and lime. It tickled my tongue, literally.

If you've never had a dosa before, it is the Indian version of a crepe that you dab with special sauces. Mine was filled with peas and home made farm cheese. It was delicious. We also had chile rubbed prawns and chicken korma with coconut aromatic rice. My senses were alive after the meal. I will go back with anyone that wants to go because It was unbelievably tasty. The restaurant is also a green establishment from the ground up to the food on the table. One more reason to go back, as if you need one.

ODC Ballet

Ballet Dancer & Ballet Jumps: Grande Jeté "Ballerina in Flight" - Dance Portraits in Columbus, Ohio
Originally uploaded by WB - CMH

This weekend I took a tough ballet class from Augusta Moore at ODC Commmons www.odcdance.org in San Francisco. Having not a lot of time lately for dance, I was not in top shape but managed to power through the inventive class armed with my technique. Moore's modern style and inspiring choreography kept me pointing my toes through and through. I survived with just a little muscle soreness and came out with better posture. Can't wait to dance again! It is my crack.

I came across a funny article recently. The members of the ODC Dance Company challenged Cal Berkeley's athletic department to a toe to toe competition to see who is more fit, the dancers or the athletes. The dancers went against members of the men's water polo, volleyball, soccer, track & field, golf and swimming teams. This is the third year that they've competed and I really want to attend next year to see it myself. It turns out that ODC beat CAL again this year when it came to strength and agility. And I see why, their bodies are fine tuned artistic and athletic machines.

Travel This Summer

June is almost half way over, have you planned your summer travels yet? I know that more Americans are taking local trips by car this summer, but I also know there are amazing deals to Europe if you can snag them up quickly. My current favorite site is Travelzoo. I just saw a deal to Spain roundtrip from SFO to Madrid for under $300. The dollar is down, but Europe is still a possibility with cheap flights to help take some of the load off. I don't know about you but I am itching for a trip to Spain or Italy. I went two summers ago to France for three weeks and the memories were worth the bad exchange rate.



Nice, France

Sulle punte

Would rather be dancing!

Sulle punte
Originally uploaded by MarcoBer

I hate Yoga

I just got back from a yoga class and realize that I have a love hate relationship with the practice. Everytime the teacher said PLANK, I wanted to plank him on the head and leave...but I didn't. And DOWNWARD DOG was like an insult that I hated to hear. Why the torture then? For one, I have 10 pounds to get back to pre baby weight and for two, I like stretching and balancing, just not on my wrists. The whole thing tests my patience but relaxes me at the same time. How is that possible?! I get through class with images of my lean body coming back and images of walking down a beach again soon. Here are the images that come to mind. Some days I love yoga but most days it is just hard! I guess that is why I will go back next week, to see if it gets easier.

Tartine Bakery and the sky

I hope you had a beautiful weekend. I spent the weekend out doors for the most part. I would normally go to the Union Street festival and make my way through the crowds of happy people, but instead opted for a Mission trek. After seven years in the city, I finally sampled Tartine Bakery & Cafe. I have read the reviews and seen the endless lines and decided it was time. I didn't go for a sweet but tried a decadent slice of quiche with Swiss chard and squash. The crust was perfect, the texture lovely and eggs can be quite creepy for this texture conscious person at times. The quiche was satisfying but I must go back for a sweet next time or a croissant. Ok, it is true, I adore Tartine and can't wait to go back. Another thing that was delicious this weekend was the weather and the skyline.

Land's End

It was a warm and sunny June afternoon. When visibility is as clear as it was today and the clouds are sparse, I like to head to Land's End. It is breathtaking on a cold and dense day in a romantic yet haunting way. That was not the case today as summer has officially begun and we got a little feel of it. Despite the sun, I was dressed in layers as I toddled with my 13 month old newbie walker on the path that overlooks the bay and the Pacific. With a little one, the new parking lot means easy access and a calm stroll on a marked path. You can go off road a half mile or so into the walk as the path turns into a dirt and rock meandering hiking trail that has sweeping views of the deep blue bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. Needless to say, we turned around at that point. The cliffside and rocky terrain was too interesting for a young curious baby to steer straight. We took in the rays, the Golden Gate views and my little girl, of course, tried to eat the gravel.



Photos by Lena Watanabe

The Conservatory of Flowers

I just got back from a quick jaunt to San Diego for some R & R, but more on that later...
One of my favorite places to visit lives in the Golden Gate Park, the Conservatory of Flowers. I went recently with a friend and her lovely daughter. We found a lily pad that was larger than Maisie in one of the micro-climated rooms. It can hold a man of about three hundred pounds. I urge you to go seek out the Conservatory of Flowers when you need a reminder of deep heat, it can warm the soul and you to the bone. Aside from the wonder inside, the grounds are spectacular. When in bloom, stop by the gem of a garden of Dahlias that is politely hidden to the right of the conservatory. To me, dahlias are proof that there is a god out there. They are perfection in soil.