Spanista » Self Care Rituals, Reflections & Resources for Joyful Living by Ginny Shiverdecker

  • Spa Style & Self Care Reflections, Rituals and Resources for Joyful Living

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  • About Spanista

    Ginny Shiverdecker, Creator of Spanista is Spa Wellness Enthusiast, Adventurer Seeker and Brand Builder.
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Dear Wellness Seekers,

10 Things to Love About Fisherman’s Wharf Through Spanista Eyes offers a guide for stimulating the senses in a way that makes you feel really alive. This trip is about finding the fabulous things about this eclectic corner of San Francisco. To me it is akin to New York City’s Times Square but breathtaking and vibrant Bayfront. Swarming with tourists gives it has a certain kind of energy – an international edge 24 hours a day. The Adventure Seeker in me loves the mixology. So ti is with this in mind that my quest is to bring your 10 Things to Love About Fisherman’s Wharf.

When traveling for enjoyment I stay open to what comes across our path. My belief is not to over book or over commit. The happiest and most memorable times can emerge from the spontaneous moments. The times when one does not have not set expectations on time, place or people. It good things and times find their way to you.

So here are 10 Things To Love About Fisherman’s Wharf only San Francisco could offer:

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1. Bouden Bakery – Starting the day with great coffee and breakie – Gator bread anyone?

 

 

 

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2. Flowering Sidewalks – Splendor in a rainbow of colors during your walkabout

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3. Levi’s Park – A respite from the crowds this is a peaceful place to ponder what is next.

 

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4. Gerindelli Square – The original quality chocolatiers of The Bay area holds its place as its favorite.

 

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5. Mashka Jewelry Store – Express you distinctive style with original pieces that are timeless.

 

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6. Sabella la & LaTorre’s – A favorite – What is better than authentic Italian cooking with fresh seafood?

 

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7. Fresh Crab – Pick your favorites and watch them cooked to perfection while you wait.

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8. 19th Century Impressionism – Amidst gritty street action is beauty by famous artists to feed the soul with beauty.

 

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9. LaLine – Self Care splendor discovery that is fun and chic – more on this later this week.

 

10. Come back tomorrow to see what number 10 is. You may really enjoy it.

What are your favorites?

 

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

 

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf Next Adventure for Spanista lies over the Golden Gate Bridge after having a fabulous time in Wine Country. What gets better than it?  That is easily answered.  The hype vibe of The City of the West. Having lived in New York it amazes me how different San Francisco is to Manhattan, even though they are both surrounded by an ocean front and amass an eclectic mix of cultures that define day-to-day life as they each have rich historical context that sets them apart. The counter-culture point of view runs through its blood stream. You see and feel it everywhere. So I was on a quest to uncover the unique expressions of Self Care in this part of The City – that includes more delights and a special Spanista Travel Diary Experience to share.

I was drawn to the character of Fisherman’s Wharf.  Most times when I visit The City for business reasons, I  stay on Union Square where most of the well know corporate hotels are located. This time Spanista wanted to explore another side of the city’s colorful waterfront lifestyle with new eyes. Setting the stage for this story starts with a warehouse style boutique hotel – Pier 2620 at North Beach and Telegraph Hill.  All within walking distance of our destinations which we enjoy. (And we found a way to get around the killer hills.) After taking our Australian friends to the airport where we bid our goodbyes until our next visit, they fly onto Alaska’s Kodiak Islands. We dropped the rental car and felt free  to explore.

The Pier 2620 Hotel is a one of a kind. Urbane, intimate, friendly. There are botanical touches throughout like the inspired natural arrangements in the pics.  Best of all we discovered the structure wrapped around a well-appointed courtyard. Often after a day of boisterous day activity we found it a soothing respite from the world outside. A great spot for quiet chat, reading or an early evening glass of wine before the start of an evening. The Hotel location is really great as it does give you full flavor of the neighborhoods in this part of this city. No matter your mood – everything is walkable distance which enhances people watching opportunities which we love – or as the French say  – Flaneur!

Upon checking into Pier 2620 it took a bit of extra effort to get a room to match our needs – I prefer a quieter room not in the mainstream traffic ways. I prevailed with the help of  with a desk attendant who saw to it that we would be comfortable.  Special thanks to her.

It was early afternoon now and we were starved – knowing we were steps away from great seafood but a bit over the white tablecloth experience we wanted to find a great food truck. Heading for the water front we soon came upon aSan-Francisco-FishermanPINIMAGESan-Francisco-FishermanPINIMAGEfish and chips truck called The Codfather Fish & Chips – the aroma was too good to pass by. ( 4.5 rating on Yelp). We stooped to survey the crowded tables crunched together in a space no bigger than ann average sized bedroom. The Codfather was the right place for the playful street mood we were in.  On holiday it is about savoring the local fare and this simple real food feeds the soul in a different way. Yuma-a yuma!  In fact there was not room for a full dinner that night – just late night dessert and wine.

The Hotel Bar offered a DIY Wine Service – this was something I noticed at out hotel in Sonoma as well. Perhaps you have seen them before? It was new to me – of course the technology for this unique device would come from San Fran right? No human needed to serve – just one to pay and drink it appears anytime your wish! All in all a good day.

Spanista Takeaway: When traveling the hotel and location of the room can enhance or detract from your Self Care intentions for your trip. Tell them at the desk you want to visit the room they assign you before committing to take it and DO NOT TAKE YOUR LUGGAGE to the room. Keep it int he lobby with a bell captain of fellow traveler. If the room is acceptable great – if not  look behind the door to define the layout of the hotel. Look for rooms that are more accommodating. Pick a couple and head back to the desk with a friendly, respectful but firm attitude for the guest reception and two other rooms that could be better. Ask to see it and do not take your luggage to the room until you are happy. Lesson is NEVER SETTLE.

Have you ever settled for a less than desirable hotel room and regretted it? Do tell.

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

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Spanista-Welleness-Tip-Daydreaming.jpegPINIMAGEDear Wellness Seekers,

Spanista Friday Wellness Tip: Crazy About Daydreaming. When I was a child daydreaming was a source of entertainment, escape and joy. No electronic gadgets kept me occupied from morning until night like our kids have today.

I am a big fan of what I call Dedicated Daydreaming. This creative art form has been lost in our fast paced, technology dominated world. Yet it offers us so much. It is the ultimate personal ap: simple, free, accessible when ever you want it. Returning to daydreaming as an adult ( great way to spend airplane fly time) I re discovered a unique way to create or imagine “what if”. For example, one of the most prolific young imagineers was Steven Spielberg and he still does it today. It is a practice I would like us to reclaim as part of our Spanista Self Care Journey to Joy.

Let’s step back a moment and recall those times when we were able to just relax and day-dream for a while. Did you ever find yourself daydreaming about your future or your goals?  Perhaps like me, you had downtime on an airplane ride? What emerged? Perhaps a fantastical story or an idea for a new adventure or an idea that came from allowing your brain to relax on something that makes you happy? How did you feel during and after the experience? Optimistic? Happier? Exuberant?

If so, count yourself as one of the lucky and blessed. Studies show daydreaming boosts endorphins, the feel-good hormones in the brain.

While doing my research for this post I came upon this point of view by Indre Viskontas for MotherEarth.com about neuroscientist Dr. Daniel Levitin who penned the book “The Organized Mind”.

Ms. Viskontas writes – The science of what distinguishes restorative daydreaming from maladaptive mind-wandering is still in its infancy. But as Levitin notes in The Organized Mind, when you’re not fully engaged in a task, the default network “eagerly shifts the brain into mind-wandering” and “hijacks your consciousness if the task you’re doing gets boring.”

But Levitin points to another feature of daydreaming that goes beyond simply giving your brain a rest: creativity. “The history of science and culture is filled with stories of how many of the greatest scientific and artistic discoveries occurred while the creator was not thinking about what he was working on,” writes Levitin, “not consciously anyway—the daydreaming mode solved the problem for him, and the answer appeared suddenly as a stroke of insight.”

What Levitin describes is the new science of what’s happening in the brain when it’s at rest. When scientists first developed the neuroimaging tools that allow us to peer into healthy, active brains, they were mostly interested in what was happening in the brain when their subjects were doing something. Anything. From simple arithmetic to jazz improvisation, and everything in between. But in 2001, two neuroscientists discovered that even when the brain is supposedly “doing nothing,” it’s surprisingly active. In fact, there’s a set of interconnected brain regions that seem to work in concert when we’re passively waiting for something to do—neuroscientists call it the default mode network. Per Ms. Viskontas.

If you are into learning more check it out via this link….

How Daydreaming Can Fix Your Brain | Mother Jones

This reference article and quotes were written by  neuroscientist, Indre Viskontas.

This book can be purchased on Amazon.com.

So next time life presents a few challenges and you are ready to pull your hair out, do yourself a favor and start daydreaming about your next walk on the beach or the organic farm you’ll own someday. Your brain will thank you for it.

Spanista Friday Wellness Tip: Happy Daydreaming!

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

Spanista Recommends The Art of Terroir Author Rod Smith – a beautiful photo journal and story of the romantic artisan history of “terroir” and its emerging influences on the California Wine Culture. You may have noticed the book was the last pic in yesterday’s post about J Vineyards Bubble Room Ultimate Wine Pairings Experience. I was asked about the book and thought I would share more about it as “terroir” was indeed a rich topic of conversation over the sumptuous J Cuvee 20 NV Magnum Russian River Valley and a sweet dessert of peaches and tomato. The three in combination stimulate curiosity and day dreams.

This French word “terroir” evokes the passionate power of the human touch and sensitivity.

Its origins are traced back to nature’s craftsman who tended to the vines in small plots of land owned by vinters. These wine artists are obsessed with powerful alchemy of the perfect set of elements that would create an extraordinary wine unique to the soil and specific geography. Terroir is associated with “Old World” practices where in vineyards have unique characteristics that surface in its wine and makes each seasonal harvest of grapes a unique experience. By comparison California winemaking has been seen as applying “New World” methods. Recently however the strengths of terroir methods have been rediscovered and reapplied by some vinters seeking deeper purpose, authenticity. The results brought about by this philosophy are distinctive and of high value that are evident in the wines.

Why?

To wine makers, “terroir” evokes the mystical melding of light, water, soil, air, and human touch that creates a wine unique to its origin. The Art of Terroir explores this mysterious phenomenon through captivating photographs showcasing the seasonal beauty of the Northern California wine country. James Beard Award-winning wine writer Rod Smith enhances this lovely portfolio of images with lyrical descriptions of the alchemy of terroir. The result is sure to appeal to wine enthusiasts the world over.

Spanista Self Care Tip: This lovely book is informative but also encourages day dreaming about adventures into California Wine Country, meeting some of its visionary’s and this romantic way of life. Spanista encourages daydreaming for many reasons. Right brain stimulus like environmental photography expands  your mind allowing you to escape and escape is a stress reliever. Added benefit is it makes a great coffee table book to add to your collection. One you can enjoy again and again with a lovely glass of wine. Or to give as a gift at the holidays with a great bottle of J Wine perhaps?

You can find The Art of Terroir Author Rod Smith on Amazon.com.

Should it become part of the Spanista Book Club?

To Your Self Care Journey To Joy,

Ginny

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Dear Wellness Seekers,

J Vineyards Bubble Room Best of Sonoma Wine Pairings Experience is a joyful story to tell. Yesterday I shared an introduction to Judy Jordan’s visionary J Vineyards giving you a flavor for her French inspired taste and development of California’s finest sparkling wines and modern culinary sensibilities. ( Scroll down to see it.) I was captivated from the first moment I stepped on the wooden bridge that led to the Visitors Center.

Part 2 of The J Vineyards Story takes us into the J Bubble Room which promises to be the premier tasting experience in Russian River Valley. A very clean, contemporary esthetic brings this full service tasting salon to life. Ceiling to floor windows offer openness and natural light with the view overlooking the lovely patio and beautiful Monet Water Lily Gardens. While sipping our welcome glass of J Cuvee Brut and wondering about checking out the modern crystal glassware and decanters a lovely greeter came to collect us and escort us into the Bubble Room. We purposely picked the last afternoon seating of the day so we could fully enjoy it and not feel rushed.

The Bubble Room is a beautifully appointed tasting salon offering a couple of options for seating – a great room sofa scene by the fireplace and two communal tables close to the windows.  Because we reserved the Ultimate Pairings Experience, happily this worked in our favor as we enjoyed a table to ourselves. We love meeting new people on our adventures but we soon realized the benefit was the attending staff were fully devoted to us. This proved to be very entertaining indeed as we generated loads of conversation with the staff anxious to learn all we could about J Vineyards and the Wine.

The table setting was anchored by this beautiful floral bouquet that I adopted as my backdrop for the featured wines that flowed as freely as a waterfall. The menu in the pic here was positioned at every place setting. You can see it featured a marvelous 5 Course Pairing Meal including rare library and small-production wines, served with delicious, organic and locally sourced fare. While the Salon was both roomy and comfortable, at first we were aware of the interesting looking people near us but as the service staff started to introduce themselves and bring upon us the first flight of BRUT we soon were lost in our own little world. The Culinary Theme is “A Celebration of Tomatoes” making for a fresh, colorful and flavorful menu by Executive Chef Erick Johnson.

 

Sparkling wine adds to our celebratory spirit. We were hooked from the first taste of J Cuvee XB,NV, Russian River Valley Brut and 2007 J Vintage Brut Russian River Valley the First Course with shrimp and ricotta with special tomato treatments. And it just got better with the Second Course 2012 J Vineyards Bow Tie Chardonnay with yummy Corn Ravioli. And even better was the 2012 J Vineyards STRATA Pinot Noir Russian River valley with the Prime Filet! Exquisite!

Taking us on the journey of J Wines and Food Pairings was Liz who made for a delightful host. She eloquently spoke of J Wines history while expounding her knowledge of Brut and Champagne and how J Wines played on the world stage. She suggested how the food wine combinations should be enjoyed to achieve the optimum effect on the palate. We had a robust conversation with Liz and her staff and we all became fast friends evidenced in the their autographing our menu.  They were so passionate and attentive doing all they could to assure we  had a fantastic and memorable experience. They were a real plus to the experience.

We moved onto the Fourth Course of Cheese which is one of my favorite French traditions. This Wisconsin girl  says there will always room for world-class cheese and a smooth 2012 J Vineyards Bow Tie Pinot Noir. And finally we wrapped up the moments of living large, love and laughter with the Dessert Course which was perfect combo of J Cuvee 20 NV Magnum, and Dry Creek Peaches with vanilla and tomatoes. REALLY SMASHING!!!

How does one sum up such a luxurious well-balanced experience but by saying MAGNIFICENT.We all rated it 5 stars and would highly recommend it.

Judy Jordan’s J Winery is indeed an Ultimate Spanista Self Care Experience to be shared with loved ones. A time to treasure that will be remembered the rest of my live.

Thank you to everyone at J Vineyards for making our visit the extraordinary. J Sparkling is now my favorite American Sparking Wine and Vineyard. Well done Judy Jordan – you rock. Congratulations on following your dreams and making such a great success of it.

To Your Self Care Journey to Joy,

Ginny

 

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