Month: May 2016

The Strangest Weekend – How to Detox From It

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This past weekend wasn’t the best I’ve had. Even though I was away from home, thinking I would spend the three days  to refresh, regroup, revamp and just relax. Instead it went something like, run crazy errands, clean up, and too many other unplanned chores. So, in order to shake off the damage this weekend caused my nerves. I decided to plan a few things the next few days  to help clear up my negative thinking: Tuesday: After work – go out to dinner here for the best El Salvadorian food. Wednesday: Outdoor lunch with a friend here since we are going to have  beautiful weather in SF before the foggy summer. And then go watch hubs play softball in suburbia. 🙂 Thursday: Go trekking along the coast, and have drinks here Friday:  Go see this matinée  – and make a special dinner at home Saturday:  Attend a graduation party to which I originally said No to. But why not? Sunday: Buy a new phone (its time) and head to  Napa I think this sort of …

Boutique Hotel Pick – Hotel Panache – Paris, France

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There are those who understand Paris in the same way that I do.  I know you are out there. 🙂  But just in case… For years the hubs had trouble understanding my love for this wonderful city – not so much the romantic aspect of it. But because of the fact, Paris stands for everything  a creative mind needs to feel inspired, and from that infuse, be able to create the most magical of things, tapping into emotions within us that we often times have trouble seeing or not see… intentionally. And so I spend a lot of time in my day, researching for all things Paris that I find inspiring and this time around, I discovered Hotel Panache – the decor alone says it all…  

Travel: A Collection of Hotels I am Taking Into Consideration

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I have a handful of hotels throughout your Europe, I have built a friendship upon, with the staff. Meaning to say, I email them directly, get my rates and dates locked in and just show up, without having to worry much about if we’ll like the place, safety, and all other concerns while travelling: Except, this list came out and I am truly torn…about what I am familiar with, or these wonderful places I’d love to stay. Isn’t travelling supposed to be an adventure anyway?  Check out the one’s I am thinking for this year’s trip:  

Food: Honey and Brie

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Honey is something I hated most of my life. I suppose it’s because my mother forced it down my throat when I was young, every morning, to get my day started. It was  old-world traditions. Until one day, while at work trying to add sugar to my cup of tea, and discovering there wasn’t any, I turned to Honey to sweeten the drink and discovered just how much I loved it on oatmeal, over a cheesy spread, with figs, drizzled over prosciutto, and too many other ideas to list here, except this: 

Happy Blogging Anniversary To Me – 2016

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I’ve been blogging for a long time. At first it started as a place I would simply put down my thoughts. You know – kind of like a diary. I signed up with blogger, kept it on a private setting, and just jotted down every thing that was – lets say – eating at me. Until I realized, focusing on the negative wasn’t really making me feel better. So, I launched a second blog, see here, where I began to talk about all things in the entertainment industry.  At the time I was living in Los Angeles, for work of course, and felt since I was going to movie premiers and red carpet events and other wonderful gatherings within the entertainment industry, that movie blogging was it. When I transferred back to San Francisco, I wanted to do more with my blog, especially since my passion is traveling (first) writing (second). So somewhere in there RawSilk&Saffron was born, although I could have sworn it was more than six years ago for this amazing blog. Hmmm …

Food: Nutella Mousse Brownie Bites – What?

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I think this is by far the strangest post you’ll see on my blog, where I share with all of you a recipe I found here, and then try to talk myself out of downing a dozen or more, since I try to eat healthy at all cost. But, I do have a weakness for Nutella, aaaaand, there are times in a month I need chocolate-cake, brownies, cookies, more chocolate, and then some more, the drizzly kind, and the candy covered ones. So, here it is for those of you who feel my pain, OR simply my type of strange cravings:

Decor: Think Like The French

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I’ve always know that  I had some sort of deep-rooted connection to the French way (in this case) of decorating. Something my immediate family doesn’t find so appealing, when I recommend the style to add a certain flair to their homes and such.  So you know what I did? I shared this article with them about 10 Things The French Always Do When Decorating, and it got them thinking since they are going to see more of these concept in my over the summer remodel. Maybe that will inspire them (smile).  Here’s what the article says in a nutshell or two or three:  “There is more perfectionism in American style than in France.” The French treasure family heirlooms and pieces that aren’t pristine. They won’t dismiss a chair if the leather is stained, and don’t mind a crooked hardwood floor. The result: a space that feels more lived-in than immaculate. “The French love to mix vintage and contemporary furniture, whereas there is more homogeneity in the American style,” “Don’t worry too much about how pieces …

Travel: Suggested Read While Travelling to Italy or Anywhere

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Choosing the right book to read while travelling is very important. It can either set the mood or destroy it. I, for one, would never consider reading a mystery novel on a vacation planned strictly for some rest and relaxation. The story would bother me so much, I wouldn’t be able to relax.  I do however, choose books themed for the places I visit or a novel-escape. Such as a million and one books (okay 50 or so) books I’ve read and collected on Paris to read while on the plane to my favorite city, or upon my return, to keep the momentum going. So, here’s my suggestion if you are planning a trip to Italy this year or long to travel to Italy just in general and wish to get inspired. Order Piazza Navona (paperback) or e-book, and immerse yourself in the most delightful, funny, charming, lovable story you can possibly imagine. Here’s what others are saying about the book: Anne-Marie Reynolds for Reader’s Favorite – 5 star ratingPiazza Navona had me laughing, crying, and …

Lifestyle: A Place Is Not A Place Until It’s A Seaside Cabin

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One of the benefits of being a writer is that you spend a lot of time falling in love with wonderful places, and extraordinary lifestyles, and interesting people, which and that inspire to create a story-no matter the genre-stories come from the passion writer feel about something o someone. I do a lot of research online, as you may have already noticed from this fun place called RawSilk&Saffron, and when I stumble upon something that sparks an interest or is best suited for a whole or part of my storytelling, I, Bookmark it, the old-fashioned way, right into a folder on my computer, I set up for every novel I’ve published, and the ones I plan to write. So you can imagine my excitement when I stumbled upon these amazing photographs of a Seaside Cabin-I have no clue as to where it is-adding to a folder-for a wonderful story I have thus far drafted. The Seaside cabin is surely a scene I need to add OR, simply escape to if I can only figure out …