All posts filed under: Lifestyle

What Are Your Plans This Weekend

The air quality near San Francisco is deemed very unhealthy this morning, seems almost overnight new fires have sparked or spread. Since by Thursday morning we were able to breathe a little, but throughout the night it became unbearable once again-this time the smell of rubber burning is the best way to describe  it.  What’s worse is that there is no rain  in the forecast, so the idea of this situation lingering on, is concerning. Our next door neighbor decided to have a small classroom in the garage of his home. Where six kids plus their parents would try their best to give their children the classroom experience needed for positive development. They kids have recess in the backyard, and a lunch time outdoors, all monitored by different parents each day. It’s kind of refreshing, since their time for a break, is the time I take my break from my computer, which I normally don’t do. Discovering new trails is pretty much out of the question for us this weekend, as there is nowhere to …

Lifestyle: Trivia Distractions

As 2020 continues to evolve in ways none of us has ever imagined possible, we need to remember that for the sake of our mental health, we must find ways to distract ourselves – even if for only a few hours a day. We must make time for simple or small distractions to build up the tolerance needed to sustain humanity as we know it. For this very reason, we will continue the positive thinking approach at Raw Silk and Saffron and hope. That through this process, we can become solid. With that said, I was watching a comedy special on Netflix last night, and it got me thinking more so than laughing as the comedian Demetri  Martin pointed out one trivia after another to get us all thinking. It was the most refreshing show comedy skit I’ve seen in a while.  I highly recommend a gander. Until then, here’s what got me curious enough to share: And just in case the above did not distract you in a positive way, then read on about …

What Are Your Plans This Weekend

On Monday I knew exactly what I wanted to do on the weekend, but by Tuesday, the fires (some say due to the electrical storms we experienced in California) near Napa/Sonoma – across the Golden Gate, pretty much most of Marin county, quickly covered the skies, since then making it very difficult to breathe, let alone consider being outdoors. Sadness on all levels as this year continues to be the most challenging. But we must stay positive, focused, and aim to find some joy in our every day life to keep on going. I know most of you are busy these coming weeks prepping your kids for school – whether virtual or in an actual classroom, the concerns are the same for parents in striving to make the coming academic year a healthy and productive one for everyone. There are other concerns of course – political, economic, relationships and mental health – about those we can all discuss if you like or stay on a positive note here at Raw Silk and Saffron. Please drop …

Lifestyle: Work Life Balance

I feel these days I work more hours and do more chores than before COVID-19. Checking work emails the second I wake up, which is four in the morning and then again at night right before bed (mind you we are a global company) But that does not excuse the fact, I find it difficult to disconnect from work after an eight hour shift.   Are you finding yourself doing the same? The other craziness I’ve noticed is how high the chores have piled up, each day with hardly any downtime during the week (I force my long walks over the weekend to help recharge) but that’s not enough, because by the end of each day, I am drained. As always, the internet reads my mind and sends reminders like these (countries with the best work-life balance in Europe) to help me adhere to some sort of normalcy. For the rest of the surprising countries, go here   – How do you work-life balance? featured image source and full credit

What Are Your Plans This Weekend

This week seemed extra long for some reason, but I am glad that today is Friday and the planning for the weekend is in full force – chase sun, leave town. The same goal, but different places. I think a drive to Sonoma on Saturday is in order again – in search of a new trail and Sunday, perhaps the sun will force its way through the fog and we can walk through Golden Gate Park.  We’ll see. In the meantime, I found a few interesting finds online which naturally I feel the need to share and a few films – worth snuggling up on the sofa with a bottle of wine and pop corn – my favorite combination and simply allow your mind to escape. what are you doing this weekend? {featured image source and full credit}

Interesting Topics For The Week

I know we are all busy, too busy juggling life, family, back to school and other important milestones. But sometimes it is good to hit that pause button and just get lost in the otherwise… This article about a classic Hollywood star is endearing This one about a time-capuled town on the verge of revive after 50 years of desolation. And if you’ve ever wanted a home in the French countryside, you might want to read this article.

What Are Your Plans This Weekend

Not a week goes by where I am simply existing. There is lots to do, and plan and think about and since I do most of it over the week, the weekend, is where I want to let loose. This week is one of my favorite co-worker’s last week and that’s made me sad. Since she lives across the country,  it’s not like we can maintain a girls night out type of relationship. We spoke for an hour on the phone this morning, and promised we would Zoom with cocktails sometime in the near future. Like so many of us do, but somehow life gets in the way and then, we end up only wishing one another a happy birthday on Facebook. The other tidbit – since I live in San Francisco, in a home built on not so solid ground, I’ve seen a shift in the structure for a year or so now, and it got me reaching out to get a quote from an engineering firm or two. I discovered, it would be …

Weekend Wrap and Mood For The Week

Welcome back everyone and I hope you had a nice weekend. I would love to hear all about it if you care to share. Otherwise, I am glad you have you back here, humoring me a bit with my this and that thoughts I share sometimes planned and other times on a whim. While I walked over 7 miles each day, I spent the time contemplating so many things – out loud to my walking partner and some inside my head. Thoughts like… What makes people so angry in life that they need to lash out one way or another? Wondering how much longer can small businesses sustain under this new lifestyle? Would you shop for work clothes, if you knew you might never be able to return to an actual office? Would you travel across the country and visit with family and friends, when the pandemic is still not contained in the U.S.? Is hate a type of mental disorder? Or hate is needed to fuel humankind to succeed? Will I ever want to …

Lifestyle: How to Celebrate a Centenarian Birthday

While walking across the city – five miles or so as often as possible, my partner and I discuss longevity and our plans for when and if we are too sick to care for ourselves. Yes, this is a big concern, more so since COVID and the fight to be mindful of the elderly. I keep mentioning 80 as my number and based on the lifespan and ailments in my family, I figured the number makes sense. Weird topic to ponder over, maybe. But when our wold has become so small, and the problems have become bigger than anticipated, your mind will go there at some point or another. The other day I watch Down to Earth on Netflix, where Actor Zac Efron travels the world with Darin Olien, a wellness expert to explore healthy, sustainable ways of living. Episode 4 – was the understanding of Sardinia’s centenarian generation and their lifestyle – which implied, eat lots of pasta, walk, and keep a positive approach to life and avoid stress. (Can you see my eyes …

Friday Wrap and Chasing Sun

Still feeling a bit queasy but the ‘show must go on’ in my case ‘life must go on. While perched against a dozen pillows in bed, I stared at the television set in a lowest volume setting possible and watched the silliest of films the last couple of days, in between much napping to recover or try to anyway. This weekend, I am going to chase the sun since the city will now remain gray for the next two months. Another drive somewhere warm, a picnic in a central park, a nap under the trees sounds wonderful and one I am aiming to achieve this coming weekend. No chores, no worries, simply do my best to soak it up. How about you? What are your plans? Just in case you are wondering – the featured image of Golden Gate Park taken by your’s truly