Kicking Stones…

Posted on October 8, 2013 by Gigi in Inspiration, My Life, Well-Being 4 Comments

Big Stone…

For me the inspiration for a post usually begins with something that I observed, read, heard, experienced or felt. Today I was thinking about milestones and how easy it is to get caught up in when certain events should happen in our lives. How you feel like a loser if you have missed some “stones” or stumbled on a few or maybe you are just starting to creep up on a one or two. There is always that someone who is doing more, has a thriving career, perfect kids, etc., but the truth is we have to accept where we are and know for whatever reason that is our plan for the moment.

For me two years ago I did not know at the ripe young age of 54, I would be launching a photography business, one where many photographers my age are well established, some world renowned, while I am just mastering really understanding my complex camera and my flashes. Instead of harping on the “I have so much catching up in my field” syndrome, it is easier for me to evaluate what I have to offer, for example I am an expert on photographing women over the age of 40, I know that demographic very well or that I bring to my business a brain that has scoured magazines for the past 40 years and so many beautiful images are permanently imprinted in my brain.

I have learned to be at peace with my life and where I am and accept that there will be adversity, and as painful as it is everyone is not going to embrace you or support your choices, some may even criticize you and ask you questions such as “Are you doing that as a hobby” or ” really…someone going to pay you for that” and that is OK-it will make you a stronger person.

So where ever you are start jumping over those stones or better yet put on a pair of steel toed boots and start kicking them out of the way…

Happy Tuesday!

Xoxo,

Gigi

Photographer Gigi

RANDOM

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Gigi in Inspiration, Quotes, Well-Being 7 Comments

I feel as though I am playing catch up, from the weekend, the late nights are catching up with me, and it is times like this that I feel all my 54 years. Fall is here, Scandal will be back on Thursday, and there are not enough hours in the day to do all the tasks I need to do before the year ends. I have a little bit of traveling in the next few months: DC, New Orleans, NYC and Italy. I have learned to pace myself and do what I can do each day and always make time for simple pleasures, such as taking a long bath with fragrant oils, having tea ie. brewing loose tea leaves, teapot, china tea cup etc., a little piece of chocolate basically finding pleasure in something every day. Came across this quote and really like what it says, our environment and the things we choose to surround ourselves with is so important and contributes to our well being.

Quote

Love this, after 25 years of living in the same place I have accumulated a lot of items, some which are not useful or beautiful and I am slowly editing or repurposing them. I no longer have the need to hold on to everything, freeing the clutter enables me to think clearly and focus, and speaking of focus I finally have a logo for my business and I am happy to have “it” debut here:

my logo…

Thanks to my friend Kim Jones owner of Kgrafix Creative Design, (949 500-0090) for her patience and understanding me, when I could not find the words to explain what I wanted the logo to look like.

October 1 is the perfect day to start a fall workout plan, I like to switch up what I do, to keep it interesting and challenging my body. I need to bump up my cardio so i’m looking for something fun to add to the mix, maybe revisit bootcamp. Do you like to change your workout? Or do you have a tried and true plan that you stick to?

Reinvent

So friends, do something pleasurable today and if needed start editing things that no longer serve you…

Xoxo,

Gigi

QUOTE

Posted on September 24, 2013 by Gigi in Inspiration, photography, Quotes Comments Off

Love this Quote …

YES!

You may get tired of this reoccurring theme in a lot of my posts, but it is so true, and once you embrace this concept you will see how life changing it can be. It does not have to be a different career, it could be something simple like going to a show by yourself, taking up a new hobby, a yoga class, going back to school, just as long as you are doing something that you have “always wanted to do”. The real beauty of this is that if you do something and realize that perhaps it “is not all that” at least you tried and you had that experience.

I always loved photography, and always had my little point and shoot camera with me, nothing sophisticated, just an inexpensive camera I kept in my purse and pulled it out daily to capture moments and observations of my day and the kids and all the “cute” things that they did, btw this is before digital, so I have boxes and boxes of snapshots for each year…another project I need to address one day.

When my brother was alive we took a photography class together about 13 years ago, I remember because Amani was 10 and Reggie was 4 and at the time I could not juggle everything and it was not my time, so I dropped out of the class, however my brother became a professional photographer and changed his life. He departed earth almost 4 years ago, so I know it was my time to pick up where he left off, I know he is smiling looking down on me saying something like “You got this Sis, you can do this”…

GiGi

So my friends, go do something YOU always wanted to do…let me know, I’d love to hear from you.

XOXO,

Gigi

Golden Gladiator #1 Rosetta

Posted on September 20, 2013 by Gigi in Aging, Girl Crush, gladiator, Inspiration, Mother's 5 Comments

I love celebrating women who live life to the fullest, especially women who are of a certain age, that are embracing who they are at every decade never missing a beat. So I am thrilled to present to you my first “golden gladiator” Rosetta.

Rosetta

Rosetta and I met when our girls were in pre-school 20 years ago. Initially it was a friendship based on our little girls, getting them together for their play dates.

They were like siamese twins, so of course our friendship blossomed over time we spent sitting in the park watching the girls and talking about everything. Now those girls are young ladies finished with college and starting their careers. Although we were blessed to be able to focus on our families, we never forgot about who we were as women, outside of our role of full time moms. I sat down with Rosetta and over a cup of tea we chatted about her recent graduation from law school (btw at the top of her class) at the young age of 56.

GIGI: I remember when we met, two things you shared with me: 1. that you were fluent in french and had lived in Paris 2. that you wanted to be a lawyer.

Rosetta: At the age of 15 I decided I wanted to be a lawyer. After graduating from USC I moved to Paris, while there I had a near fatal accident. I moved back to the states to recover. While home I attended a party where I met my husband, we got married started our family, and I put my law school dream on the top shelf.

Rosetta

GIGI: Why did you decide to go to law school now? I remember you went back to school in 2006 and completed your real estate license, and then you got your brokers license and had established your business and were doing quite well.

Rosetta: It was always my plan to get my law degree at some point. My older daughter had graduated from college and my younger daughter had started college so the time was right for me, my husband was supportive of my plan as well.

GIGI: Was it difficult returning to school, considering you were a little more “mature” than the other students? I remember when I returned to school many times I was older than my professors.

Rosetta: Not at all…quite the opposite, I was not “trying to meet someone” so there were no distractions, I was so much more prepared than some of my younger counterparts. I could manage my time- all those years of balancing my family and their lives came in handy. I also stood out in my class, I “dressed everyday” the younger students were very casual and I was focused on my course work.

GIGI: Were there times when you got discouraged?

Rosetta: Yes, every semester I doubted myself. But what kept me going was my husband, morning runs with my running partner Angie, and my support system of 3 women who I met with regularly. I also always had a positive attitude and studied nonstop, basically I did what ever I had to do to do the work.

GIGI: What is your passion? And any advice to those who may be thinking about making a life change, later in life?

Rosetta: My passion is for women and property. Through my real estate business I have seen so many women who are not prepared and as a result they end up in poverty by making uninformed decisions. My advice is to follow your passion whatever it is, and never give up. Do not let your age be a deterrent.

GIGI: Well I know you will make a difference and come up with a plan or a program empowering women you have always been a “giver” as long as I have known you.

Rosetta J.D.

Rosetta I want to share with my followers some of your tips on “keeping it together” you are beautiful inside and out and your body is slamming…

1. Pray everyday

2. I fast 2 days per week

3. I run 2 to 3 times per week (6 miles)

4. 2 days per week I go to the gym and do strength training

5. sit ups, push ups, hydrants 200 per day of each

6. weigh daily

7.watch my diet, but I don’t deprive myself of a treat now and then

8. always purpose to weigh what it says on my license on my birthday

9. Peace

There you have it from gladiator Rosetta…with her plan we would all be ready for “battle”.

Rosetta

Happy Weekend Everybody

XOXO,

GIGI

To Do Lists…

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Gigi in Inspiration, My Life, Well-Being 3 Comments

I don’t know about you, but there are so many things I want to do, places I want to go, experiences I want to have-before I am to old or in my case “older”. My daughter Amani turned 23 yesterday, as I looked at her birth announcement that I have framed along with all our yearly holiday photo cards that each year are retired to a permanent montage on the wall, as cliche’ as it sounds ” time really does zoom by”. I am reminded every morning as I glance at my “family” life.

Birth Announcement

The Wall

Everything on my list really is doable-the fantasy things, such as living in a foreign land are just that fantasies, and I don’t focus on the “have it all” list either. For the most part I’m content where I am, not Jones-ing for a new car or a bigger house, or another designer bag, OK maybe a pair of shoes but I’m good where I am. Going to Brazil, Madagascar, Bali, New Zealand are just a few destinations on my long list, I know I will get to those eventually, it is the day to day lists that are sometimes overwhelming. I often feel as though there is not enough hours in the day to do everything, perhaps it is because I am always bombarding my brain with new information, and like my MAC it starts going real slow and of course my friend “time management” is always at my backdoor.

I’m a list writer and before I go to bed I jot down my “to do” list, you know the usual suspects, go to the cleaners, bank, store etc. or clean this up, email and such, those lists I handle pretty well. The list that challenges me is the one that has items like this:

1. kids need to be responsible adults and be able to take care of themselves.

2. We need to be healthy – so we can “see” item 1.

3. keep spiritually grounded

4. don’t let the small shit, get to me…

5. take quality time for those that are important to me–tomorrow is not promised…yeah another cliche-but this year I have learned the hard way

6. continue to take a stand-even if it means fallout

7. have a desaster plan in place – ie. if Reggie’s stroke really would have been bad- What was my plan?

8. keep working on having that “jamming” beach body- never give up

9. apply lotions and potions every night-and when that fails go for the big guns–

10. Every day live a FULL life- take time to do something SPECIAL

Happy Monday and let me start on my lists…

XOXO,

GIGI

Gigi

REINVENT YOURSELF-REALLY IT’S OK

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Gigi in Inspiration 4 Comments

Reinvent

I’ve been recreating myself for 50 or so years. Sometimes I think about what would my life had been like if I had chosen a more traditional career path- one in which I would be around the corner from retirement.

I bounced all over the place, from IBM to peddling Chocolate brownies, I have worked retail, at a nudest colony, taught aerobics, and dabbled in Interior design a bit. Now reinventing myself as a photographer, a newbie learning the craft simultaneously, my past skills only being the master of my little point and shoot camera. At times it is daunting, the thought of starting something that most photographers my age have been doing for 25 + years.

Gigi photographer

I have learned in my years on this planet that it is more important to a least attempt to try something you are passionate about, than to wake up one day and wonder WTF where did my life go and what have I done that I was excited about.

Reinvention is important for all aspects of your life, not just the career piece, staleness can set in your relationship, marriage, work outs, image, and there is nothing attractive about being dull. While it is easy to be a “creature of habit” we all are guilty of that at times, it is not that difficult to keep things fresh and interesting.

WAYS TO REINVENT YOURSELF–most of these I have done numerous times…Reinvention is a way of life for me!

1. Change your diet-side bonus you will reap all sorts of benefits–I was raised on the standard american diet and have gone full circle ending up vegan.

Sexy vegan food

2. If you have been wearing the same “hair do” for the past 15 or so years it is time to change it up–I’ve been long dark & straight, asymmetrical bob, and currently natural curly and light.

long dark hair

3. If your relationship/marriage is becoming “routine” FIX IT FAST be creative do some of the things you did in the beginning, continue to date and do new things with your partner.

Reggie & Gigi

4. Switch up your workout- or bodies get used to a workout and you have to shock it by doing something else, especially if you are trying to lose weight. I have done everything from spinning, to pole dancing, yoga, zumba, pilates, swimming, boot camp, and I am always willing to try the next “thing”.

love yoga

5. Do something you have always wanted to do-ie. sky dive, marathon, triathlon, travel, move, whatever it is make and plan and make it happen.

My First Tri

6. Learn something new, a language, cooking class, art class, the point is challenge yourself.

7. Freshen up your image, sometimes just doing something different with your exterior self will get the ball rolling.

8. Don’t be afraid–just DO IT.

Gigi the Dominatrix

Start this weekend…Happy Friday Everyone!

XOXO,

GIGI

TIME MANAGEMENT

Posted on June 4, 2013 by Gigi in Inspiration, Well-Being 4 Comments

Inspirational Quotes about time Benjamin Franklin (Photo credit: hot4sunny)

I’m having a time management problem. I feel as if on any given day I have so many loose ends and not enough “time” to finish anything, I started thinking about why am I not completing tasks. I make lists, have goals, and wake up with the right intentions everyday. I don’t have an attention problem, but I realized at times I am so easily distracted, so I started thinking about this and came to the conclusion that I don’t have a Time Management problem, I have some resistance to some of the tasks that I should be doing.

TIME

So today I decided I am going to examine why I have this avoidance to certain things and how I am going to take charge, because my potential is being blocked, by what I thought was a time management issue. There are 24 hours in each day and I work from home, so there is NO EXCUSE. I decided I would write my list of these obstacles and figure out how I am going to address each one.

TRUE

Here is my list:

WHAT: Photoshop

WHY: I have to learn it and master it PERIOD! I realize I have some sort of block to learning PS. The only good thing is that I have to try and get the best image possible out of camera. I think part of the problem is that I see so much bad PS and I don’t want to become a photoshop monster doing obvious edits that can be spotted a million miles away, I want to really learn it well so that my images still look natural and beautiful.

HOW: I am in an intense workshop and I am taking a class online at Lynda.com. I will learn before the month is over, and you will hopefully see an improvement in my images.

WHAT: Correspondence

note

WHY: I don’t have a have a resistance to correspondence, I just let it pile up and then I am overwhelmed. I will get emails and forget to respond, I only have two addresses, but one I am ashamed to admit has 15,000 emails. This becomes a problem, for example, when I have purchased tickets and I get the email link and forget to open it and then it is “lost” and I have to waste time doing a search for it.

HOW: Everyday I am going to take 15 minutes to go through current mail and a few minutes to delete emails that are not needed and I will get off of weird mail lists like my daughter’s college, she has graduated and I don’t need to read about who needs to sublet an apartment.

WHAT: Clutter

clutter

WHY: Clutter is so distracting! Yes. I admit I have lots of clutter, it is like a dirty little secret, that nobody sees cause it is hidden away…in the garage where no car can park, my kids closets, in a storage unit that is sucking money away each month for items that I have forgotten.

HOW: I’m going to get rid of what no longer serves me. I will give away, throw away, and try my hand at selling a few things on ebay, but the bottom line is I have to clear some of this stuff. today I threw away a bunch of empty shoe boxes I was keeping, because I thought I could use them to store “stuff”.

How is your time management? do you manage to get all your “to do’s” done in a timely manner? I am open to any advice you may have…

Xoxo,

GiGi

Gigi

What IS Time Management?

WEDNESDAY QUOTE

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Gigi in Inspiration, Quotes Comments Off

YES!

Do you have days where you feel like this sometimes? Or is it only me? I saw this circulating on facebook and thought about what would it be like to leave my “life” as I know it and go away and never come back. Reggie and I, especially when we travel often think about selling our home, business, and material possessions and setting up a kite surfing shop on a remote beach on the other side of the world. Or maybe a juice bar and a photo booth…or a fitness business, leading bike tours, or organized hikes. Just getting away from the rat race. Since his health scare we really have had that dialogue about what does the next ten years look like for us, twenty? Do we really want to do the same thing forever?

We have met people on our travels that have done this. There was a couple we met when we traveled to the San Juan islands who took an early retirement from their corporate jobs in the bay area, sold everything, bought a little house and started a lavender farm. We met lots of americans in Costa Rica that have set of various businesses, everything from musicians performing at the hotels, to wedding coordinators, to tour operators.

For us that magical place would be somewhere tropical on a beach. A place where little would be needed to live comfortably. A place where fresh food was abundant, the climate was consistent, and days end with beautiful sunsets. Where would that place be for you? Share your fantasy? Maybe we will all end up somewhere together…You never know.

XOXO,

Gigi

Black Sand Beach Costa Rica

Excuse Me Weight, Don’t Go So Quickly

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Gigi in Fitness, Inspiration, Well-Being 3 Comments

Wait, Weight

Don’t go so quickly at least say good bye.

I’ll miss you and never forget you.

Always Love,

MY BODY

Springtime is the time of year that I like to kick start my fitness program- bump it up a bit. The weather is nicer and the Cali version of winter clothes can be put away. Having a July birthday I always make that my goal date to accomplish some measure of change. Sometimes I’ll try a new workout or do a yoga challenge, sign up for a triathlon or just do more of the same but bump up the frequency or the intensity.

Chair Pose

I started doing a lot of yoga before my big “50” birthday and still enjoy it and have made it part of my life.

My First Tri

Did my first triathlon a couple of years ago. Really like the challenge of doing three sports and would like to do another.

LA Marathon 1998

Started running around my big “40” birthday, did 4 marathons and now run occasionally, not my favorite activity, but I know it is good for me.

Although weight loss is not the goal it is always lurking in the shadows, that magic number, whether it is a pre-pregancy weight, or weight before marriage or weight at a certain age-most of us have that number that we like to see at our annual doctor visit. Weight is not usually our friend. We are not happy when it comes around, we try to ignore it but it keeps coming regardless. As I get more mature or older I find that this “weight” tries to come around more often landing in random places. Perhaps it is hormonal, or metabolism changing, not really sure, but as my friend Angie says “We ain’t going out like that!” It is easy to let “weight” be your new friend, to welcome her and be hospitable and let her hang around until she becomes a permanent part of you. As difficult as it may seem you have to kick “weight” out, put her on the street and realize it is not a healthy relationship and she will bring you down.

Do you find “weight” trying to creep up on you? Do you find your body being deceitful and hiding weight? Do you care about the scale or do you only worry if your clothes start fitting a little snug? What is your spring training regime? Or are you one of those year round warriors? Share What strategies work for you keeping weight under control and “checking it at the door” when needed.

I will be keeping you posted in the next few months on my program.

XOXO,

Gigi

MY BOOK ONE PAGE AT A TIME

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Gigi in Inspiration, Well-Being 2 Comments

PAGE 1

This quote was circulating on FB. Being a closet writer this really resonated with me. Page 4, in my “book” would be a page turner already Drama, Drama, and more Drama, but if things were dry and predictable would life really be interesting? We all are creating pages in our “books”, surprising plot twists, disappointing endings, scandals, and other bazaar occurrences. Some pages we have no control over. My book will be full of cozy parties with interesting characters and lively conversations, travel to some exotic places and some familiar places, and creating quality memories with my family. Beautiful interiors, good food, glamour, fashion, curly hair and age defying feats will be sprinkled throughout. Of course there will be a few weddings, birthdays, and some surprise celebrations to keep things interesting and to introduce new characters. A little Mystery, a lot of fiction, a few jaw dropping cliff hangers, some magical realism and of course lots of fantasy. I am looking forward to my book and delighted to share most of the pages here with you.

What will your book look like?

A mystery, novel, nonfiction, fantasy historical novel, or maybe a thriller?

Remember you want your book to captivate your reader and take them away.

HAPPY FIRST WEEKEND OF 2013

Xoxo,

Gigi

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