Author Archives: zenmom

Travel: Peru- Lima Highlights (Fun Facts, Hot Spots and Restaurants)

by in category Food, International Travel, Restaurants, Travel
Feb
21
2012
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Sorry I’ve been MIA for a few days, I just got back from Peru. Before the trip I didn’t know much about the country except for Machu Picchu of course, but now I have a better understanding of the country, it’s food, and it’s people.  This week I want to share with you a 3  part series-Highlights from Lima, Peruvian Gastronomy (the food was amazing), and The Journey to Manchu Picchu. I hope whether or not you have a chance to visit, you will enjoy learning a bit about Peru.

Lima Highlights

We started our trip in Lima which many tour books say get in and get out on your way to Machu Picchu, so I wasn’t expecting much, but I really enjoyed it, especially the flavorful and inventive food.  You have to be a little adventurous though.   From Cebiche, Pisco Sours, and all kinds of jungle fruit I’ve never seen before, we ate our way through town before heading out on our journey to Machu Picchu.

Cebiche at Alfresco-best I’ve ever had! Fresh and sweet not too much lime!Along the way we accidentally walked in on a David Rockfeller private dinner (so we were told later) at Maras Restaurant and experienced an earthquake on our last night, (not major, but still a little scary even for a Californian).

Some of the neighborhoods can be a bit dicey they say especially at night, but most tourists hang out in San Isidro where we stayed, Miraflores right by the water (reminded me a lot of PCH in Santa Monica) or Barranca which is a bit younger. I felt very safe, but we only stayed in these areas.

In Miraflores at Sunset

Some Fun Facts

-Dozens Casinos in Lima. Seems like one on every other corner. What?

-95% Catholic, 2 to 3 year wait for a church wedding

-There is a large Chinese population.  Chinese restaurants are called Chifas (which comes from the Mandarin word-”to eat rice/dinner”.

-This is the City Center (Plaza de Armas) see the fountain on the left in July in celebration of Peruvian Independence Day they fill it with Pisco and it becomes a free giant bar for the city for one day!

Here’s a view from the Westin Lima Hotel and Convention Center-one of the best hotels in the city with great service. Tallest building in Peru at 30 stories, just built in 2011, largest spa in the city.

This is a “Suspiro A La Limena” Popular Dessert-Breath Of Lima-basically a carmel like custard with meringue.  You can see the traffic in the distance. Driving in Lima can get a bit crazy I wouldn’t recommend it.

Magical Circuit of Water

-A beautiful park with 6 amazing water fountains from Magic-the tallest fountain in the park which shoots up 262 feet in the air to Fantasia complete with a laser light show choreographed to music.

 Surprise which you can walk through, but you may get a little wet to Labryrith where locals basically use it as a water park.

It only costs about $2 to get in, but since it’s not in a great walking neighborhood, it’s probably better to go with a tour (for about  $30 each) so you bypass the long line and get a ride there and back to your hotel.It can get really crowded, but worth the trip.

Parque Del Amor-Park of Love-Miraflores

Great for sunset on the cliffs above the ocean.  Reminded me of Malibu.   About 15 minute walk is Larcomar a popular shopping entertainment center overlooking the ocean-which I was excited to see, but turned out to be just like any other mall in the US especially when the hotspots were Chilis and TGI Fridays.

The Restaurants we did enjoy were Brujas de Cachiche (great for traditional food),

Astrid & Gaston (Voted as one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2011)Chef Gaston Acurio star of international gastronomy.

Food inventive and artistic-great for foodies, but what I loved was for the 14 soles cover charge which is about $6 each you get 7 breads, 3 sauces, 3 appetizers, and 6 sweets before you even order an entree.

It was amazing trip without the kids.  If you were wondering how we managed to pull that off?  Lots of help from Grandma and friends and daily use of Skype and Facetime.  (much more economical than calling) Travel Tip: When leaving the country make sure you turn your cellular data off so you don’t get roaming charges when you land in case you get a text, call etc.  You can leave wifi access on to stay connected and just pay the hotel fee instead.

In my next post I’ll show you how they make cebiche, the secret to Pisco Sours and show you the inside of some crazy fruit and what a coca leaf looks like. (yes, it’s what they make cocaine out of!)

 

 

 

My Top Beauty Must Haves!

by in category Beauty
Feb
09
2012
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Do you have any beauty must haves?  I do.  You know it’s those things that you use all the time and when either you can’t find it or you run out nothing else can seem to take it’s place.
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 AlmondThis is what I use pretty much everyday.   I love that it’s light, has SPF and gives me a little natural color. I don’t like the oil free version as much.  I use Almond, Caramel in the summer, but there are several shades.  It can get a little pricey for just 1.5 oz, but now there’s also a limited edition 3.4 oz luxury size so you get more for your dollar.

Shiseido Eye Lash Curler-I could not live without this, well I could I would just have no lashes.  This is the only one that curls my Asian lashes.  I’ve even tried some other popular ones like Shu uemera and other more expensive ones, but this one is the best!

NARS Highlighting/Bronzing Blush Duo Orgasm/ LagunaA make-up artist introduced this blush to me.  It looks really bright in the pan, but you can put on just a little for a natural *** glow, hence the name. I love the pinky-peach color with some golden shimmer.  It comes separate too, but I like the bronzing duo.  It’s great for contour and all over color when your feeling a little blah!


Olay 2-in-1 Sensitive Daily Facial Cloths (Pack of 2)
Olay Facial Wipes- I’ve tried all kinds of make-up removers (liquid, gel, cream), but I always come back to these. Even though they are not specifically for eye make-up they are the only ones that get all of it off so I don’t look like a raccoon in the morning.  They are fast and convenient and I can tear them in half if I don’t need a full wipe.

Maybelline New York The Falsies Volum’ Express Washable Mascara, Blackest Black, 0.25 Fluid Ounce

Maybelline Volum Express-I have tried dozens of mascaras and for the last few years I have been loving the Volum Express line.  They come in 5x, 8x, even Falsies, I can’t tell a major difference, but the more volume the better right?   I’ve always loved Lancome Definicils too, but for the price you can’t beat Maybelline.


Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer This is my must have for special occasions or when I do any type of photo or video shoot.  It gives a smooth silky base and makes my makeup last all day.

What’s in your purse?

*TZM was not paid for this posts, all opinions are my own, but there are some affiliate links.

Appreciating Your “Meaningful Moments” Of Life

by in category Beauty, Zenspiration
Feb
08
2012
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Life is filled with meaningful moments, but the problem is that sometimes we get so caught up in life that we may miss them. So when I was asked what was my MOST meaningful moment of last year I had to think a little. I’ve had a few ups and downs and many great moments from celebrating my 5 year anniversary, traveling with the family, getting back to my pre-baby weight, but what was truly meaningful was not something I did or achieved, it was really a moment.

A moment in time where you feel and notice that, “Yes, this is what life is about!”

That moment was watching my kids play with their great grandfather. It’s amazing that my kids even have a great grandfather in their lives. I could hear their giggles and see the joy in my grandfather’s face. My grandfather is losing his hearing so he usually doesn’t always say that much, he just sits there smiling. But this time we had a long conversation. He confided in me and told me how he was feeling, his fears and frustration with aging, and how thankful he was we came to visit. I felt happy that I was able to be there for him and that my children get to know him. We don’t see him often and I fear I don’t know how many more times they will see him. He is 94. But that moment when I realized truly how meaningful it was, made me tear.

It’s one of those times that fill you with joy and sadness at the same time. I’ve never truly experienced death of a loved one. My grandparents on my father’s side died when he was young, so I never met them and my maternal grandparents and parents are still alive. I’m scared of the day when I will have to cope with that reality, but for now it makes me realize that we always need to make time for these life moments.

We can always say we are too busy for this or for that, but remembering what truly matters are those meaningful moments in life that if you don’t stop to appreciate they will slip by.

Tell me what your most meaningful moment was in the last year for a chance to win one of 10 complete skin care Anti-Age Systems from Meaningful Beauty.

Keep your skin looking great in every moment with Meaningful Beauty- Cindy Crawford’s break through secret for younger looking skin.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Meaningful Beauty. The opinions and text are all mine. Contest Rules.

My Favorite Superbowl Commercials 2012

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I don’t know about you, but I watched the Superbowl mainly for the commercials and Madonna’s Half Time Show was pretty sweet!     Here are a few of my favorites that made me laugh in case you missed it! … Continue reading →

The Chopra Center: Primordial Sound Meditation Weekend

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It’s been 21 days since I started practicing daily meditation.  So why does 21 days matter, well supposedly studies have shown it takes 21 days of consistent behavior to change a habit or create a new one.   So I … Continue reading →

PepsiCo WIN-Women’s Inspiration Network Names Blogger Correspondents

by in category Behind the Scenes, Blogging, Special Events, Zenspirational Women
Feb
01
2012
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The PepsiCo Women’s Inspiration Network – PepsiCo WIN – is an interactive community where you can gain access to exclusive stories and interviews on topics from health and wellness to environmental sustainability to trends and inspirational stories.  It offers global female perspective and idea sharing from leaders, innovators and a community of women around the world.

When I first heard about PepsiCo WIN I was intrigued that a major corporation was focused on topics helping people live more balanced lives and using their access to share ideas, inspiration and forge connections. That is what The Zen Mom is about Wisdom, Inspiration, and Laughter.

So when Indra Nooyi, PepsiCo CEO announced at Blogher 2011 that they were searching for digital correspondents I was really excited to get involved. Especially after hearing her life story and vision.  I had this feeling in my gut that this was something I really wanted to be a part of and when they notified me I had been chosen, I was like what?  It didn’t seem real at first.  Well, today they made the official announcement and I’m honored to be working with PepsiCo WIN and to be in such great company.

Nicole Feliciano, Founder and Editor Momtrends.com-a site that keeps moms in tune with all things stylish and cool. I love her site and how she always keeps me  ”in the know”!

“I’m thrilled to be working on this partnership with PepsiCo WIN. I entered the contest hoping to expand the reach of MomTrends and to be able to share some fresh, compelling content with our community of moms. PepsiCo WIN is giving me the chance to share my findings with my readers. And we all know how important sharing is!”

Tammy Tibbetts is Founder and President of She’s the First, a not-for-profit that sponsors girls’ education in the developing world, helping them become the first in their families to graduate, and nurtures the leadership of young women in the United States. What an inspirational organization!

“I’m so grateful for this opportunity to be a PepsiCo digital correspondent and thrilled to represent the non-profit community and millennial women! I truly believe with online and social media we can make a huge impact on the world, and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can all achieve together with PepsiCo.” 

Each of these women share their insight and knowledge on a daily basis through their blogs and organizations and now they will spotlight even more “moments of inspiration” as we go behind-the-scenes at key digital PepsiCo-sponsored events in 2012 – South by Southwest Interactive (SXSW) Festival, Aspen Ideas Festival, and BlogHer.

“These women were stand-out choices among the compelling entries from a pool of remarkably talented and inspiring women,” said Jamie Stein, Director of Digital Platforms at PepsiCo. “This is a first for PepsiCo and expands on our efforts to support female digital entrepreneurs by giving them insider access. We look forward to reading and watching their coverage. ”

I believe through sharing stories we can inspire and empower each other. I’m excited to work with PepsiCo as a correspondent to bring stories, conversations, and different perspectives to life and to share them with you!

Thanks for being a part of The Zen Mom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 Super Cold Busters For The Entire Family!

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When one of my kids seems like they have a cold coming on I try to pump up their diet with some super cold busters!   It’s that time of year where when one person gets “it” whatever “it” is, … Continue reading →

Happy Chinese New Year 2012-Tradition, Food and Family

by in category Asian Culture, Holidays
Jan
23
2012
5

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It isn’t necessary that you dress your kids like this for Chinese New Year, but I thought it looked cute, so if not now then when, right?

I just finished a big Chinese dinner with my family (my parents came to visit) in celebration of Chinese New Year.  While preparations traditionally start early with the cleaning of the house and a big feast,  the start of the Chinese (Lunar) New Year for 2012 is actually Monday January 23.

The  ”Year Of The Dragon”

The Dragon is the most powerful of the 12 zodiac signs. It symbolizes power and change.  Many are optimistic that it means better times ahead for 2012.

I’ve been celebrating and honoring Chinese New Year traditions since I was a child, but I didn’t always know the significance and what things meant.  Now as a mom I think it’s important to share these traditions with my children.   While it is a celebration, it’s more about unity, being with family and food of course, you can’t forget the food!  Here are a few traditions and their meanings.

Greeting

“Gong Xi Fa Tsai” (Mandarin) or “Gong Hay Fat Chow”(Cantonese) is how people greet others for Chinese New Year, but the translation is not just Happy New Year it meants “Congratulations and Be Prosperous”!

Food Traditions

Fish-symbolizes Abundance because the word fish also sounds like “extra” or “yu”.

Noodles-symbolizes Longevity because they are long.

Dumplings-symbolizes Prosperity-the half moon shape resembles traditional Chinese gold ingots.

Red Envelopes-”Hong Bao”

The custom of giving red envelopes filled with money to the young as a symbol of prosperity and good wishes and blessings for the new year.  If you sleep on them overnight it brings even more luck.

And if your interested in learning about more ways on How You Can Celebrate Chinese New Year With Your Family check out my latest post on Lifetime Moms.

Wishing you a year of good health, happiness and continued success!

 

 

Project Zen: Finding Stillness

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“Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths — Etty Hillesum  I know my blog is The Zen Mom, but being zen doesn’t come naturally for me. I’d like to … Continue reading →

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