It's a dirty job but someone's got to do it

Last week I traveled to California for work. I stayed at the Ritz-Carlton at Laguna Niguel. What can I say...it's tough to complain about the long days, stress and jet lag when you're staying at the Ritz. Along with the Montage at Laguna Beach, which is just a couple miles up the coast, this is one of the most beautiful hotels I've ever stayed at.

The public spaces are full of beautiful details. 

Every window has a view of the ocean

The rooms are absolutely gorgeous

And the views are magnificent

That's the hotel up on the cliff. The Salt Creek Beach is a known surfer spot. There were numerous surfers out every day, and various schools' surf teams came out to surf early in the morning. The surfers were out there from morning dawn to sunset, waiting for that perfect wave. 

Worktripping

I had the privilege to attend a conference at Boca Raton, Florida, this week. Work trips are exhausting as you have to be "on" from dawn to dusk, but you can still find small pockets of breathing space. And since the beach is my happy place, I love to go to trips where I have a chance to enjoy the salt water, breathe in the ocean air and meditate by the waves.

I stayed at the Boca Raton Resort and Club, which is a historic, and gorgeous, upscale resort. 

The view from my room was pretty nice. 

The resort was surrounded by luxurious yachts. Life goals... 

The resorts's signature pink color. And the beautiful fountains everywhere. 

The entrance in the end of the long palm-lined road makes an impact. 

Beautiful gardens and the lush plants. Wish I could bring some home! 

I sneaked away one evening for my therapy session by the beach. Salt water cures everything. And meditation by the waves cures the rest. 

Since I didn't get a chance to shop, and the resort shops were crazy expensive, I got creative with the souvenirs for kids. One of the parties I attended had this "island-art" station where you could get name art made. I wasn't popular on the line since I had three names to be made into art, but that was my only chance to get a cool souvenir for the kids. 

About Work Trips

Traveling for work is not always as glamorous as it may seem. Work trips are tiring, because you have to be "on" all the time; you have to do the work you went there to do, but you also have to do the work that you have to do back at the office, or at least some of it so you won't be totally backlogged when you get back. But it's not all doom and gloom, especially if you get to travel to some really beautiful place, like Laguna Beach where I traveled this week. The conference I attended was at the Montage, Laguna Beach, which is one of the most amazing hotels/resorts I've ever been to. 

This was the view from my room. I walked in and snapped a picture. 

Then I went out to get some provisions and take-out from the little strip mall across the street. It's hidden behind the trees... 

I came back to my room and watched super bowl while eating my take out and having a complimentary glass of champagne, courtesy of the hotel. 

The next morning I woke up early (body still on NY time) and went to the gym for a quick work-out. Even the rainy weather didn't dampen my mood. This is the prettiest view I've ever seen from any gym I've been to. 

And then, time to make the donuts.. or get ready and sit in hotel conference rooms for the rest of the day attending sessions, networking, and trying to absorb information.

  (I"m wearing Banana Republic pants, H&M blazer, Zara top, Cole Haan pumps, Gucci bag).