How to Make 2017 The Best

Posted on January 17, 2017 by Gigi in Holiday 4 Comments

Gigi 2017

“I made no resolutions for the New Year. The habit of making plans, of criticizing, sanctioning and molding my life, is too much of a daily event for me.” – Anais Nin

It’s Tuesday, January 17th and I am posting my first post of the year, actually my first post in a while. I’m cleaning my slate and refocusing my purpose, not making the ubiquitous resolutions, but taking inspiration from the Anais Nin quote as my guide. Making each day matter.

I’m always working on self, constantly pushing myself to be stronger, always striving to be the best version of me that I can be… not always easy. I’m back to my yoga practice, which is a good thing, those couple of hours on the mat makes a difference.

My photography is progressing, I’m growing as an artist, searching for my voice, balancing clients with my personal work. I’ve come to the conclusion that I will never be caught up and that’s okay, to be in a continuous state of “work in progress”.

Gigi photographer

So back to the question, How to make 2017 the best?

Start by doing as much good as you can.
Stop doing shit you hate.
Love your body more.
Make time for yourself- be selfish
Forgive and Forget

Gigi Maldives

2017 a year where I slowly peel away little pieces of the life I desire. At my age there is more life behind me than ahead of me… that’s a fact.

Did you make any resolutions ? I’d love to know…

“You make a life out of what you have, not what you’re missing.” -Kate Morton, The forgotten Garden

Xoxo,

Gigi

Welcome 2016

Posted on January 4, 2016 by Gigi in Life Style 10 Comments

2015 was a year filled with some highs and some lows. I am planning on 2016 to be a ~~good~~ great year. As time seems to fly by faster and faster the older I get, I’ve been finding it more important to savor blissful moments and reflect on the things that made me smile, my son’s graduation from high school, underwater photography, my east coast travels, spending time with friends- experiences that contribute to my well being.

one of my favorite underwater portraits

With a new year comes a time to renew, start fresh, with new goals, ideas and opportunities. While I did not make an obligatory “New Years” resolution list, I decided one of my goals is to just be present- present and engaged in the moment- being the best version of me each and every day.

I also plan to focus each month on an objective- January being organization. Everything from my home, (editing stuff and getting rid of what no longer serves me), to my workouts,(having balance returning to a consistent yoga practice) business (organizing my schedule so I have time for my continuing education) and family (always having quality time for them).

We are all on our life journeys , maybe it is a career shift, relocation, divorce, change in family dynamics, health challenge or perhaps working out the kinks in a new business as I am, allow yourself the space for those unexpected uncertainties that can come out of nowhere and turn your life upside down.

This last quarter was especially difficult, hence my disappearance from here…so sorry, but if any of you are still around I’m back!

Did you make New Year resolutions? what do you hope to accomplish? I’d love to know…

xoxo,

Gigi

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Happy New Year, I’m Back…

Posted on January 12, 2015 by Gigi in Holiday Comments Off

Okay. I’m back after my little hiatus. Happy New Year!!! Hope you had a wonderful holiday.

2014 ended with a bang, lots of photo shoots, both kids home for a few weeks, holiday shindigs, Kinky Boots, hubby’s birthday, Selma, sprained ankle, Christmas and the hustle and bustle of life.

holiday 2014

Did you make New Year resolutions? I skipped them this year because they typically are the same ones year after year…”get in shape”, “eat cleaner”, “spend more quality time with friends and family” yada yada yada. I realize I’m always working on these, part of who I am, however I do make goals for the New Year. Most are business related, master artificial light, make more short films and work on some personal projects- like “glorious silver hair” capturing gorgeous women, maybe men too, with silver, grey, and white hair, some sort of book featuring “post 50 women”, a self portrait project, and perhaps even a show.

As far as GGM’s I have a lot of things planned, like sharing more recipes, interesting finds, tidbits of making life more enjoyable and my quirky take on this thing called life. Of course, more images, have to share them some where and an occasional short film.

Lots of happiness to you, its nice to be back! XOXO,

Gigi

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Reggie celebrated 63 years on planet

New’s Years Eve

Shopping

Holiday

kinky boots

Christmas Eve

holiday shindig

mommy & daughter

out with the girls…

Me and Mister…

NYE EVE… And what I learned from the Italians

Posted on December 30, 2013 by Gigi in My Life, Thoughts, Travel 1 Comment

On this “NYE” eve, like most of us I can’t help but to reflect on the past year. There were highs; my son’s acceptance to SYA Italy, our family trip to Thailand, my annual girls ski trip to Colorado, my launch of 54 Couture Portraiture, and my collaboration with a fellow artist forming PS Couture. There were lows as well; my husband’s stroke, my brother-n-law’s untimely death, breast cancer attacked my family like a stealth bomber, absence of a close friendship, and the loss of an unborn child. My observation in all of this is that life is constantly changing and waits for no one. The good and the bad have to be embraced, cherish the good and try and make sense of the bad.

mi familia

The past week I was in Italy with my family, a first for us celebrating Christmas away, while there I did a lot of people watching and observed the italians zeal for life. They smoke and drink with abandonment, savor their meals, upon meeting men kiss one another, and all the women from baby girls to 80 plus year-olds are “dressed”. The women my age are not trying to emulate their daughters, they are sporting silver hair, wearing body conscious clothes and always so effortlessly chic. I loved seeing people riding bikes, fully dressed in street clothes, going about their day.

Spanish Steps

It was refreshing not to see Starbucks. Yes. I do love Starbucks and have been known on more than one occasion to even cruise through a drive-thru. Here you did not see people walking around with paper cups, if you have a coffee or tea your are sitting in a cafe with a “real” cup and saucer, and oh none of this “tall”, “grande” and “venti” business, everything is served in a regular cup. The culture does not seem driven by convenience, no taking food away in containers and meals with your family are important.

Cafe

What I learned from the Italians:

1. If I don’t have time to sit downn and drink my tea or coffee–I don’t need it.

2. No more wearing my “workout” clothes as street wear- finish working out and get dressed-enough said.

3. Prepare more meals at home, with the kids being away it is so easy to just pick something up.

4. Spend more time with family.

5. Continue to find joy in simple things ie. having fresh flowers just because…

flowers are everywhere in Italy…these were sold from the back of a truck

6. Having friends over just because–the art of home entertaining seems lost-

7. Make more rituals-make your bath like a spa-why not?

love my bathtub…

8. Ride your bike for transportation in your regular clothes-and put your groceries in the bike basket–get rid of the Costco card and stop buying thngs in bulk…

9. Laugh out loud often- even if for no reason

10. And lastly…Drink more red wine or juice or kumbucha…water–just drink

10.5 Yes…a bidet

11. Say “Ciao” “Grazie” and ” Allora”

Ciao,

XOXO,

GIGI

Gigi in Rome

WELCOME 2013!

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Gigi in Holiday, Party, Recipes, Thoughts Comments Off

Happy New Year, Everybody!

The past year had some exciting moments, as well as a few setbacks. I am welcoming 2013 with open arms. For many the New Year is a time for renewal, a chance to start over. I think about all the things that have happened this past year, my daughter graduated from college, the start of Gigi’s Meanderings, our family trip to South Africa, a few of the highlights. 2012 also had a few challenges, my breast cancer scare and helping my daughter relocate to New York City.

While I’m not a resolution kind of girl, I do like to embrace a theme for the New Year. My theme for 2013 is “Making each day count”. What this looks like to me: Taking time daily for simple rituals that enrich my life and the lives of my family and friends. We live in a society where everything is rushed, between texting, emails, facebook, instagram etc. we are getting away from traditional forms of communication. We have hundreds of facebook friends, but when was the last time you had tea with a friend, just because? Spent a few hours with a friend doing nothing? Pulled off the road to take advantage of watching a beautiful sunset? I will be sharing these moments with you and hopefully you will share with me and we can keep each other inspired and reminded to make each day count by doing something simple to enrich your day.

I celebrated NYE with good friends,lots of delectable tidbits and chilled flutes of bubbly. 9-ish my guests began arriving armed with beautiful desserts and savory appetizers, we had everything from black eyed pea soup to spinach balls. I made my favorite salad inspired from one I used to order from Marston’s in Pasadena. It is always a crowd favorite.

Gigi’s Marstons salad

spring mix salad greens, mandarin oranges, green apples cut into cubes, avocado cut into cubes, green onion, candied pecans, golden raisins, (optional feta cheese) toss with a poppy seed dressing.

I made tiares for all the ladies, should have took pictures of these, they were adorable. We toasted, listened to my mix and conversed and welcomed in the New Year. I love entertaining at home, and plan to do more little gatherings this year.

I look forward to blogging 2013 and sharing my thoughts and discoveries on living a rich fulfilling life.

Xoxo,

Gigi

As promised a few pics from NYE.

Gigi & Molly

The Ladies

Zapatos

The Fellows

New Year

How to Make 2017 The Best

Welcome 2016

Happy New Year, I’m Back…

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