I forgot to tell you guys about my birthday weekend. I had the best birthday with my friends and then went to San Diego with my boyfriend. My friends threw this big party for me and I danced and ate so much. It felt so good to be surrounded by my friends celebrating this special date.

On Sunday I spent the day with my boyfriend in San Diego. It seems like lately I’ve been going to San Diego a lot; I just love it there. We started the day with a trip to Old Town San Diego and then we went for lunch at my favorite Mexican restaurant in old town: Coyote Café. They have the best freshly made tortillas. The dough is just amazing and they are always served warm with butter. You have to try them if you go to San Diego. I could eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For lunch I had the shrimp quesadilla; it was so amazing. The shrimp was perfectly cooked, and it had a bit of a kick from the peppers, so delicious.

After a fulfilling lunch, I was ready for a walk to digest some of the food. We decided to check out the Ocean Beach and Pacific beach. Pacific Beach has a great boardwalk and an array of stores and shops. Ocean Beach was really interesting; very hippie and bohemian. It also has the world’s largest piers, I was told.

With all that walking my appetite was enticed and I was ready to eat again. Since I don’t eat this much everyday, my birthday is the perfect day to indulge. And as I always tell you, you need to have 1 to 2 days a week where you indulge. Its always about moderation. For dinner, we went to Coronado Island to go to the Italian restaurant Il Fornaio. They have one of the best views on the island with an amazing view of the marina and you can see downtown San Diego too. Just spectacular!

But the day wouldn’t have been complete without a mandatory visit to the Ghiraldelli chocolate shop. I absolutely love their hot fudge; it just goes amazing with the French vanilla ice cream. Simplicity at its best!

I had an amazing weekend and now I need to get ready for a shoot that I’m doing today. I’m doing this small part in a movie and I need to go over my lines and get dressed. I can’t wait to see what wardrobe has picked out for me for the scene, but don’t worry, I will let you know.

Time to memorize, need all my focus here, talk to you later!

My day started great today. The sun was shining through the window and I woke up with a great sense of happiness. You know when you have those days where you feel like you’re invincible  and that nothing is impossible? And you feel as if nothing can stop you from achieving whatever you desire in life. Well, my day started like that. I knew it was going to be a great day. 

As I get to the kitchen this morning, I see that my boyfriend has prepared me breakfast. I was working until late last night, so he wanted to surprise me with a nice and healthy breakfast. He knows that I love whole-wheat pancakes with blueberries, and that’s exactly what I got. See, all my wishes are coming true. 

After eating every last piece of my amazing pancakes, it was time to do some work. Me and my boyfriend discussed the plans for the new bottles we have coming, and go over the designs and colors that we like. It feels so good to have my own company and to be able to work with my boyfriend, discuss ideas, and then see the final product. I got so excited the other day. I saw someone with one of our Likida bottles and it is truly a reminder that dreams can really come true. You just have to make them happen. Don’t fear the unknown; embrace it and it will be sure to pay off. There is nothing to loose, only something to gain! 

After getting all the work done for the day, we decided to do one of our favorite things: go to the movies! By the way, I loved Bruno. I know for a lot of people, it’s a bit over the top, but I laughed so much. I think Sacha Cohen (actor, producer, writer) is a genius! 

My boyfriend wanted to take me out for dinner and try this Mexican restaurant close to the movie theatre. This place has a great outdoor sitting area by the water. It has definitely been an amazing day, and nothing will be better than my BCBG silk halter dress to finish a dream day! I told you I was obsessed with dresses; here’s another one that I love that’s perfect for my dinner and movie date.

This is what Taylor said, “Comfy!!” Bring shape to a straight body in this knit dress. Don’t be shy to show your hidden curves.

Who says business meetings are boring? With this look, bring style to your workplace. Although look is layered, it adds shape to Taylor’s straight body. Deal is signed!

I absolutely loved The Proposal; it was funny and romantic at the same time. What a perfect combination. I thought Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds had great chemistry and the situations were just hilarious. A perfect date movie, either with your boyfriend or your girlfriends; I’m sure that you will love it. Let me know what you think and if you agree with my movie review!!

It’s Friday again, one of my favorite days of the week, for obvious reasons. And as you know, the weekend equals fun and parties!! I just have to do a bit of work this morning and then I’ll probably go for a nice swim on the beach. It’s so beautiful, and I can’t wait to feel the water on my feet and the warmth of the sun on my body. Whenever I’m at the beach, I feel at peace; it’s so relaxing and invigorating. It probably has to do with the fact that I grew up on an island. I formed a special bond with the ocean! My mom used to call me mermaid girl, I loved the water so much. I was always playing in the water, and never fearful of all the waves! We have pretty strong waves in Portugal. If you ever venture to the Azores, be on the look out, but also be prepared to eat the most amazing seafood in the world. I know it sounds a bit pretentious, but in all honesty, I haven’t had better shrimp or seabass! A must try, for sure!

I hope my meetings go quick, I can’t wait to go to the beach. I’m meeting my friend Samantha; it will be great to catch up with her!

It’s my birthday this weekend; I can’t wait to celebrate it. A big party with all my friends on Saturday and then a more intimate and romantic day with my boyfriend in San Diego!

It’s going to be so much fun, I just love birthdays!

Today I started my day started early by going to the gym early for spin class. I love spin classes because they really get my adrenaline pumping and get me ready for my day.

I had an audition early this morning for this catalog and I was really excited. I always get a little nervous before a casting, even though I’ve been on so many. I always get butterflies in my stomach, but you know what, a little bit of nerves actually help; it gives me the energy I need to do well.

It’s summer already, and I’m feeling the heat! Summer, for me, equals dresses. Love them. I know I’ve already mentioned my love for dresses, but I really love them, and when you have a passion for something, you just can’t stop talking about it right?

During the summer time, my boyfriend is always making fun of me, and asking me if I own any pants or if dresses is all I have! 

For my casting I felt nothing would work better than one of my favorite dresses, my chiffon dress by Max Studio. I absolutely love this dress. The design is so unique. I feel confident, I’m ready for my day, I don’t know what I would do without my dresses!! 

The casting went really well. They loved my dress and loved the way I looked in their outfits. I think I got the job because they said they were going to call my agency tomorrow and schedule the shoot. I tried to play down my excitement and not look too excited. I wanted to keep my cool. As soon as I got to my car, I started screaming out of happiness. As I pulled out of the parking lot, the security guard is looking at me in a weird way. I think he saw me screaming in my car!! He must think that I’m going crazy. Well, I guess all of us have a little insanity inside of us. And insanity out of happiness, I believe is always justified!

I had so much fun with Veronica last night. I feel like she is on the right path now. She promised me that she was going to speak with her man and settle it once and for all. She just can’t continue like this. It’s really getting to her and I hadn’t see her laugh like we did last night in a long time. It was great to see her having a good time.

There is something about laughing that makes you feel good. A smile and laughter can really turn a situation around. Try this little trick; if you’re feeling really irritated or feeling a little down, just smile, even if you don’t really feel like it. You will notice a change immediately. You’ll realize that whatever is bothering you is not worth all your energy. It really works for me. I do it all the time, especially when I’m stuck in traffic, which can be really irritating. I make an effort to smile and relax, and instead of thinking about all the traffic, I take that time to focus on the things that I am thankful for! Here I go again, putting on my life coach hat, once again! But, no, really try my smile technique and let me know how it worked out for you!

So, back to my girl’s night yesterday. Veronica wore a beautiful Robert Rodriguez dress that looked amazing on her. All the guys kept glancing at her. I told her to go talk to this really cute guy who wouldn’t take his eyes off her. She went and introduced herself and he was so shy that he almost starting shaking when she approached! Shyness, for me, is definitely a plus; it shows sensibility and warmth! Love that! They exchanged numbers and promised to keep in touch. He seems like the perfect match for her. She needs someone caring and sensitive. I can’t wait for Veronica to find her perfect match, someone who really takes care of her and is there for her when she needs it.

Tonight, I’m going to see Bruno. I can’t wait!

It’s been so much fun with Laura lately! Having great friends is really something to cherish. Great friendships are sometimes hard to find, so make sure to cherish your good friends, and be there for them when they need you because you know they always have your back when you’re feeling down or need a little pick-me-up.

I’ve known Laura since we were three years old and she is definitely a sister to me that I will love and cherish forever! Sometimes you get caught up in the craziness of life and forget to give a little time to those who matter the most, so take a moment now, and think of a friend that needs a little uplifting, and do something special for her today; she will definitely appreciate it. And I promise you, there is nothing better than putting a smile on the face of those we love!

Ok, time to get to business again. Looking through today’s schedule, it doesn’t look too bad. I have a couple of meetings in the morning, lunch with my friend Catherine and then one more meeting in the late afternoon. I may try to fit in a happy hour drink with my friend Veronica; I haven’t seen her in a while. She is feeling a little down because this guy that she’s been seeing keeps playing with her emotions. He’s telling her that he loves her, and then he disappears for a week, and then comes back again, telling her that he missed her and that she is the girl of his dreams. She wants to have a relationship, and I told her she can’t continue on like this. It’s really getting to her, and she’s not focusing on her career and she’s letting him take control of her life.

I want to take her out, and try to talk some sense into her because she needs to start valuing herself and give this guy an ultimatum; either he will be there for her and starts acting like a real boyfriend or she needs to move on with her life. If it’s meant to be, it will happen. Valuing herself will only help her self-esteem and get her confidence and focus back, so she can start living again!

Sorry, I just went on and on about Veronica’s drama, but it gets me so mad when some women let men take control of their life. Come on ladies, you are worth so much more, don’t let any guy play with your feelings. Remember, always value yourself!

Ok, back to my meetings. I need an outfit that is going to be great for my meetings in the morning, lunch in the afternoon and then drinks with Veronica. My Elie Tahari black suit with my ivory Sutton/ Studio tank will go perfect underneath. I can just take my jacket off at night, and it will be perfect for a girl’s night with Veronica. 

Time for the first meeting, see you soon!

Perfect going out attire for a straight shape that hugs the body in all the right places to bring out the hidden curves. Jewels in the front enhances the look while minimizing the need for elaborate accessories. Have fun!

We had so much fun in San Diego; Laura loved Old Town and the homemade tortillas. She can’t stop talking about them! She loved seeing all the museums at Balboa Park and loved the shopping in the Gaslamp District. There are some cute boutique stores there, and you can find really cool jewelry and shoes.

In Portugal, we are really big on sweets, even if we’re super full. We always seem to have some space for dessert. It’s like we have a special space reserved for dessert and we can never resist homemade sweets and ice cream. But, of course, everything in moderation. That way you can really enjoy when you have you special treat! Needless to say, Laura was in heaven when I took her to the Ghirardelli chocolate shop and she couldn’t stop raving about the amazing chocolate fudge. It’s really to die for! You must try it with French vanilla ice cream and the hot fudge on top. It’s a match made in heaven! When the ingredients are good and fresh, the simpler the better!

After all that eating, we were both ready for a nice run this morning. Running on the boardwalk for a couple miles, while enjoying the beautiful scenery, there’s nothing better than that. After a nice run, I always feel like my mind is clearer and sharper. When I’m running I usually have a lot of deep thoughts about life and the decisions I need to make. Somehow, running just makes me think clearer, and I am able to decide a lot of issues that I am otherwise too busy to deal with. I believe it’s the contact with nature that really opens up your mind and spirit and in those moments everything seems easy and you start appreciating everything that you have. It’s important to see life as a gift that is definitely worth enjoying!

Ok, so after a nice run, I took Laura to breakfast at a local café. It has a great view of the ocean and the most amazing blueberry pancakes. Did I mention the pancakes are wholegrain, so you can feel good after having them. We’ve had some heavy food lately; I was thinking later I’d take Laura to Cefiore to have a yummy frozen yogurt with strawberries!!

Today I took Laura sightseeing in Beverly Hills, and then later I’m taking her to this wrap party for this film my friend Ryan just produced. She is so excited to see all the celebrities, but she promised me she would remain calm and poised. She wants to look extra special tonight with all the celebrities, and wants to make sure she dresses the part.

I have a surprise for her. I bought her this beautiful green, Robert Rodriguez, long silk dress. I got it at 365hangers, so I got it for a really good price. The dress is just amazing and it has a sweetheart bodice with a long cascading front tie with a sweeping silk chiffon skirt. I know she is going to love it. Green is her favorite color, and this dress has a pistachio tone that is just going to look amazing on her!!

For me, I’ve decided on something more simple, but still dressy enough for the event tonight. I want my friend Laura to be the star tonight. I’ve decided on my Ralph Lauren Tunic; it has a golden linen neckline that gives it a special touch, and the gold neckline against the white looks just stunning! My Ralph Lauren golden silk ankle pants will go perfect with my tunic. My gold earrings and heels will complete my golden look!! Time to surprise Laura with the dress. I can’t wait to see her reaction!!

We had so much fun in Santa Monica yesterday. We went on the Ferris wheel and Laura took so many pictures. She bought the usual tourist buys, it’s hard to resist. She loved the Third Street Promenade and I took her to one of my favorite crepe places in Santa Monica. I told her she had to try the nutella crepe with coconut, it’s to die for!! They roll up the crepe, so you can take it to go, eat and shop at the same time; what a perfect combination! If you have never tried or heard of nutella, you must try this amazing Italian conception. It’s a chocolate hazelnut spread, that’s so delicious, you can put it on everything: bread, pancakes and even make a chocolate panini, with some mozzarella. I know it’s sounds weird, but you have to try it out. I’m sure you will love it! Nutella is one of my many obsessions!!

Today I’m taking her to San Diego. It’s so beautiful there, and there are so many things to see. I really had to plan the day to make sure we got to do everything. I love putting together all the information and places to visit and eat, and then creating a mapped guide for the trip. My boyfriend doesn’t like my planning too much, he likes to be in the moment. I do too, but I feel you always benefit from planning some of your trip out, and, then, if you decide to do something else, you can see what other options you have. My boyfriend always ends up thanking me for getting all the information together; it allows us to enjoy many of our vacations so much more and not lose a lot of time trying to figure out where we’re going. See, a little planning doesn’t do anyone any harm!!

Ok, so for San Diego, I have to take her to Balboa Park. There are so many museums to see there, we’ll probably only be able to see a couple, otherwise it would take us a couple days to see them all. If you get a chance to go to San Diego, make sure to stop by Balboa Park, even if you’re not a fan of museums. It’s so beautiful to just walk around, they have so many amazing gardens and great hiking spots. After Balboa Park, I’m taking her to Old Town to one of my favorite Mexican Restaurants; they have the best homemade tortillas, amazing margaritas and super delicious quesadillas!! After lunch we’ll walk around a bit and I’ll show her around Old Town and show her the birthplace of California. You can experience early Americana, with it’s distinctive “West Coast Style” Spanish flavor! There are a lot of historic hotels and houses where you can walk through and see old-fashion kitchens, bedrooms, and the fashions of the time. Back then, women’s clothes were very feminine and expertly tailored to fit each women’s body. The dresses are just amazingly beautiful and detailed.

After a long walk, I know she will be hungry for some sweets, and nothing will feel more refreshing and delicious than the Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop in downtown San Diego, in the Gaslamp District area. The vanilla ice cream with the ghirardelli hot fudge is to die for. The combination of the hot and cold, makes it just heavenly, and when you go into the store, they always give you a free chocolate to try as well. For me, you can never go wrong with chocolate. I know she’s going to love it!

I better hurry now, otherwise we won’t have time to do anything, better wake her up! My San Diego plan is done and now it’s time to get dressed. Laura wake up!! San Diego here we come!!

I went for a nice run this morning. The sun was shining and the wind was calm. All I could hear were the waves crashing, it was so quiet. I’m an early riser and I can’t really sleep past 8 a.m. This morning I was up at 7 a.m. and went for a nice run on the beach. It felt so good and I hope I burned off a little bit of the calories from dinner last night! Laura had such a great time, she loved the restaurant. I had this amazing risotto, which melted in my mouth and Laura tried this homemade pasta dish with pesto. I tasted some of hers, and it was divine! She got so excited because she got to see some celebrities. Living in LA, you get so used to it, but for all the tourists, the first thing they ask is if I’ve ever seen any celebrities and where can you find them.

Thankfully she didn’t freak out; she was very poised and acknowledged them very quietly. I was a little nervous because I wasn’t sure how she was going to react with her first celebrity sighting. I’ve witnessed some crazy reactions and its no wonder celebrities always try to walk around unrecognized. I was once at the Cheesecake Factory in Beverly Hills, and this lady started screaming when she saw Leonardo DiCaprio walk in. I was told this lady was a regular to the restaurant, and she just kept screaming Leonardo I love you. You could see he was uncomfortable and upset that his cover had been blown. He had walked in very discreetly with his hat on, most likely, hoping no one would notice him, and this lady destroyed any chances of him going unrecognized. Laura was definitely more discreet and kept her cool. She acted like a true Angeleno!

I let Laura sleep in while I took care of some business. I had an early meeting scheduled today with my investors over brunch. We’re trying this place in Manhattan Beach called 12th and Highland. I heard they have a great brunch, and that it will be quiet enough for our meeting.

For the meeting today, I decide on a champagne colored dress by DKNY, with a splash of red at the bottom. It’s a beautiful summer dress with enough sophistication for a professional meeting. The great thing about this dress is the color at the bottom. I hate feeling drab in professional clothes and this dress always brightens my mood.

After my meeting, I plan on taking Laura to the beach areas and show her around Santa Monica and Venice Beach. The day is so beautiful; it’s just perfect for walking around the beach towns. I know she’s going to love the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica. It’s so great for shopping. It’s this big, long street, filled with shops and restaurants. It’s so great because you’re outside, so you get to enjoy the nice weather and still do some shopping. We should pass by the famous Santa Monica pier, it’s such a famous staple in the Hollywood movies, I’m sure she will want to take a picture to show everyone back home. And, I know just the perfect place for lunch, with an amazing view and great seafood. The name says it all: The Lobster. Make sure to try the Santa Monica Style Cioppino, it has shrimp, clams, lobster, crab and so many other delicious additions from the ocean, it’s to die for. A must-try at The Lobster!

But, now it’s time for yummy French toast at brunch with the investors, enjoy your day everyone!!

I loved the movie yesterday, it was so funny. I’m late, but if you haven’t seen The Hangover you should! It’s so hilarious, my cheeks were hurting. I couldn’t stop laughing. If you’re feeling down, this movie will definitely cheer you up! A lot of crazy things happened to them on their trip to Vegas. You have to see all the crazy and insane experiences they go through. The ensemble of actors in the film is just perfect; they are so funny together and it was perfectly cast. It gave me inspiration to take a trip with my girlfriends and embark on some fun adventures, though not as crazy as the movie, for sure.

(more…)

This past weekend was so fun because I got to catch up with a couple of my girls from 365. We did a photo shoot and I always have so much fun. It was me, Mia and Celeste, and we had SO much to catch up on, not to mention all the gossip. Did I say gossip? I meant conversation!!!

(more…)

I had so much fun at the party last night. I saw a preview for my friend’s Carlos’ film, and it just looked amazing. He got such amazing reviews from all the people there, it was a great night for him. I’m so proud of him; he’s such an amazing person, very focused on his work, and I’m so happy he’s finally getting recognized for all his hard work!

After, a couple of days of being on set, it’s time now to put my focus back on Likida. I need to do some paperwork today and I have a couple of meetings scheduled with the designer and photographer. Everything seems to take a long time to get done. I don’t know how many meetings I’ve had with the photographer and Web designer, trying to get the website the way I want it, and making sure that our bottles are being well displayed and advertised. I really need to get a meeting again with our marketing guy. We need to work out a plan for the next weeks, to do a couple more shows, and also once we have the new bottles, to introduce them in the market as well.

(more…)