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!)

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.

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.

 M&M’s “Sexy and I Know It”

This was my favorite! Did I really just see a naked M&M?  Either way I Iike smart women and LMAFO!

Oikos Yogurt  ”The Tease”

Starts off a little sexy with John Stamos ends with women’s empowerment.  Never get in the way of a woman and what she wants!

Chevy Apocolypse-

I’m not usually into car commercials, but this had great effects and the Twinkie reference made it for me.

The Voice Promo

This was super entertaining.  Makes me want to be an action star. Does Betty White ever get a break?

The Doritos Sling Baby was pretty cute and  I also enjoyed Jay Leno’s promo with Madonna.  What were your favorites?

My original goal after my Primordial Sound Meditation Weekend at The Chopra Center last month was 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes at night.   I have been consistent in the morning, but have missed many of my night meditations, especially on the weekends.  It’s been hard with 2 kids, but I am committed to making meditation a part of my life. My excuse is usually that I’m too tired, but then I try to remember the fact that they say meditating for half an hour provides more psychological rest than a full night’s sleep.  And who couldn’t use more rest.

You may be asking Primordial what?  Isn’t meditation just sitting in a room in silence and not thinking, why do you need to go to a class?  Well you don’t, but I had never really done any specific type of meditation practice and didn’t know where to start so a weekend retreat without any distractions is just what I needed.

Primordial Sound Meditation

It is a meditation technique rooted in the Vedic tradition of India revived by Chopra Center co-founders Deepak Chopra and David Simon. They give you a personal mantra (sound), which when repeated silently, helps quiet your mind and get you to a deeper more peaceful place.  So instead of just saying Ommm like you do in yoga the mantra you get is supposedly the vibration the universe was creating at the time and place of your birth. (there are about 180 to choose from)  I know you’re probably saying really how can they figure that out, but either way it’s kind of cool.

If you haven’t heard about the Chopra Center it is in Carlsbad at the La Costa Resort and Spa. I can’t believe I’ve been to La Costa before and didn’t even know it was there.  It’s the first time they offered the Meditation Weekend (8-5 pm Sat and 730-4pm on Sunday.)  Many of their retreats which all include some sort of meditation are all inclusive either 3 day or week long getaways and can get really pricey, so this was a great introduction that fit into my schedule. (costs $295 vs. $375 for a normal 3 day class)

It was more class time than I thought it would be, but then again how long can you meditate and the instruction gave you a chance to understand the origin, benefits, and put together a vision for your practice.  There was a group of about 50.  We started with an introduction and meditation then we received our mantra individually, then had a group meditation and ended with a Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga class (great for all levels, power yoga it is not.). The next day we started the morning with a yoga class and then continued with more meditation and focused on our next steps so we would walk away with a plan.  The instructors were relatable and supportive.   I really enjoyed reading in the Chopra Center bookstore lounge and drinking the tea!

If you’re not in the area,  they also have a Free 21 day guided meditation challenge online which starts on February 20th.  It’s not the same as Primordial Sound Meditation, but great way get some balance and focus and explore meditation.

For more on the guided meditation and what led me to this place check out Project Zen: Finding Stillness.

”Namaste - may the light in me, honor the light in you…”

*The Zen Mom was not paid for this post and paid for the Meditation Weekend on my own dime.

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.

1. Ginger Lemon Honey Tea

Who needs to buy a tea bag, when you can make this at home in minutes. Basic and simple, but has some great cold busting properties (Ginger-anti-inflammatory, Lemon-Vitamin C,  Honey-soothes sore throats) and makes you feel warm inside. My kids love it too, but make sure you cool it down for them.

(serves 2) Just boil a a few cups of water with a few slices of ginger for 5-10 minutes, then squeeze in juice from 1/2 a lemon and few teaspoons of honey to taste.(The kids may want more sweetness-when they are sick I don’t mind adding in more if it’s good for their throats).

*If you really want to boost it up- you can add in some minced garlic and dash of cayenne!

2. Pumpkin Pancakes

Pumpkin is full of Vitamin A which helps keep the respiratory system healthy and it’s easy to add to foods for some cold busting power.   I like to add canned organic pumpkin to my recipes.    You can add it to your pasta sauce, muffin recipe, but I like to add it to my pancake batter with some cinnamon.  Kids don’t love to eat vegetables, especially when they are sick so this gives them some good vitamins in the morning without a fight!

3.  Spinach Blueberry Smoothie

  I usually don’t like my kids to have icy drinks when they are sick, but if you are already making fruit smoothies a good way to add some cold busting power is to add spinach.  Blueberry smoothies hide the green color, if your kids don’t mind the green you can use mangos for the vitamin C.

4. Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice

Its much better than from the carton, especially if you want the Vitamin C boost.  You can also add a squeeze of lemon or ginger for an extra boost.

5. Chicken Soup

 This is a classic remedy, but it’s great.  If you don’t have time to make your own.  Just buy a carton of organic chicken broth, add a few pieces of ginger and garlic and boil.  Then just drink it warm for a soothing savory treat!

Here’s to staying healthy!

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!

I haven’t read my horoscope in ages, but I’ve always been intrigued by Astrology.  Most of the time it’s just fun entertainment in whatever newspaper or magazine I am reading, but there are some that really give you some great insight and observations.

I read my 2012 Libra horoscope on Lifetime Moms and OMG!  It really was right on, not because it had great things in it, but it was talking about things I was already doing or thinking about.  Anyways, that may not be the case for you, but it’s still fun to check it out.  What’s your sign? What does your year hold?

Here’s a link 2012 Horoscopes.  Enjoy.   I would love to hear what you discover!

“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 think I’m optimistic and balanced person but being zen is something I have to work at. One of my goals for this year was to be more peaceful, more zen if you will.

We’re all busy and as moms we are not only busy for ourselves, but usually busy for our families taking care of the things that most people don’t even notice.  Life moves fast-with the house, our husbands, our kids schedules, our work or just responsibilities, then on top of that keeping up with friends, our social networks, television, technology, our hobbies, whatever. It can be exhausting.

So this week on Project Zen we are focusing on stillness.   I just came back from a Primordial Sound Mediation retreat at The Chopra Center (I will share my experience in depth later.) But for now I wanted to share some of the things I learned and what brought me to this place.

I’ve done yoga for years, but have never done meditation, okay maybe I’ve sat in a room trying to be peaceful and quiet only to have my to do list run through my head, but I never had an actual mediation practice.   I always thought I’m busy enough who has time to meditate.  If I have extra time I rather workout or pamper myself, but this year I realized I need to make time to hear myself.  By slowing things down a bit, I might actually find I have more time rather than less.

I started with the free 21 day guided meditation challenge-studies have shown it takes 21 days of consistent behavior to change a habit or create a new one.  This is different than the Primordial Mediation I did this weekend, but the guided mediations are very enlightening and soothing. It’s free and a new challenge will start any day now. (I will update my blog and Facebook once the new challenge starts) I loved that it was online and that I could access it anytime.

They open you up to questions in your life

Who are you?

What do you want?

What is your purpose in life?

How can you serve?

After this weekend I am now committed to meditating 30 minutes in the morning 30 minutes at night.  It’s going to be a challenge, but I’m going for it. While you may not want to take up a formal meditation practice I think it’s important to take some time to be still.  Whether it’s just 5 or 10 minutes in the morning or in the evening or just taking some time in your car to hear our inner voice.  Close your eyes, breathe and listen to yourself. Here are few things I learned this weekend that helped put mediation into perspective.

-Meditation is not about forcing the mind to be quiet; rather it’s a process to rediscover the quietness that’s already there.

-Don’t worry if you sit down to be still and your brain won’t be quiet.  The human brain has about 70,000 thoughts a day.  Mediating is not about not having any thoughts, but rather slowing them down.

-To live a more balanced life we need to focus more on being than doing.

Happy Stillness!

*TZM was not paid for this post, all thoughts are my own.